Debates of Feb. 16th, 2011

Bob Rae Toronto Centre, ON

Mr. Speaker, on December 16, 2009, the Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism gave a speech in Jerusalem in which he linked KAIROS to the Canadian Arab Federation and Canadian Islamic Congress as being part of an anti-Semitic approach to public policy. He said that KAIROS was taking a leadership role in the boycott movement and that was the reason for the de-funding.

My question is actually for the Minister of International Cooperation. I would like to ask the minister this simple question. What conversations did she have with the Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, or with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, or with the Prime Minister's Office that would lead her to that false and unfair conclusion--

The Speaker Peter Milliken

Order. The hon. government House leader.

John Baird Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

Mr. Speaker, I certainly have not read the speech in question by the minister of immigration. I am pleased that the foreign affairs critic for the official opposition is reading the speeches by the minister. He could certainly learn a terrific amount. The minister of immigration has done an outstanding job.

I believe what we have seen is that, at the committee in December, the Minister of International Cooperation said more than 10 times that she was the one who made the decision.

Bob Rae Toronto Centre, ON

Mr. Speaker, on March 8, in response to a question from my colleague from London North Centre, the minister answered this way.

She responded in writing as follows: “The CIDA decision not to continue funding KAIROS was based on the overall assessment of the proposal, not on any single criterion.”

My question for the minister, the same minister who is still refusing to answer questions today, is the same: why did she not say, on March 8, that it was her decision and not CIDA's decision?

John Baird Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

Probably because, Mr. Speaker, she had said it 10 times on December 9 when she appeared before the parliamentary committee, when the member opposite was right there.

Stephen Harper Prime Minister

Mr. Speaker—

The Speaker Peter Milliken

Order, please. The right hon. Prime Minister has the floor. We will have some order.

Stephen Harper Calgary Southwest, AB

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his question.

Canadians and our government are pleased to inform the House that His Royal Highness Prince William and Ms. Catherine Middleton will make Canada their very first official tour as a couple following the royal wedding in April.

The Speaker Peter Milliken

Order, order. The right hon. Prime Minister has the floor. We will have some order, please.

Stephen Harper Calgary Southwest, AB

Mr. Speaker, His Royal Highness and Ms. Middleton will visit all regions, meet Canadians from all walks of life and experience first-hand the beauty and vastness of this country.

I am sure Canadians will be as wildly enthusiastic in their reception of this visit as all members of the House appear to be.

Dennis Bevington Western Arctic, NT

Mr. Speaker, Dawood Hepplewhite of Sheffield, England cannot leave Canada because he is on the U.S. no-fly list. Why? Because he once went for a job interview in Yemen. The Conservatives' Bill C-42 would hand over passenger information to the United States and cases like this would dramatically increase.

Will the Conservatives wake up and realize this is a bad deal for Canadians? Will they finally scrap Bill C-42 and negotiate a new deal with the United States that better protects the rights of travellers?