Debates of June 22nd, 2011

The Speaker Andrew Scheer

I am not sure how the hon. member expects to hear the answer to the question when his colleagues do not allow him to finish putting the question. He still has a few seconds left. If he wants to finish his question, then I will recognize the hon. minister.

I will go to the member for Timmins—James Bay for a very brief summary.

Charlie Angus Timmins—James Bay, ON

Quite simply, Mr. Speaker, when will he do the right thing, stand up, and be responsible to this House and to the people of Canada?

John Baird Minister of Foreign Affairs

Mr. Speaker, the member opposite wants to talk about insults. I think there could be no greater insult than to break faith with the people who elected us and say one thing before the election and do another thing afterward, like this member did with the gun registry.

Rob Nicholson Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

Mr. Speaker, the NDP has spent the last two years professing its concern for the treatment of Taliban prisoners. Yet, as soon as there was a process in place where it could examine thousands of documents, it immediately headed for the door. If the members were that worried about Taliban prisoners, I would have thought they would have shown up for work.

Yvon Godin Acadie—Bathurst, NB

Mr. Speaker, almost two years have passed since the former Speaker of the House of Commons ordered the Conservatives to find some means of providing MPs with access to documents concerning allegations of torture of Afghan detainees, all the while bearing in mind national security issues.

One year after a lame committee was established, it seems that the government is preparing to table a boatload of documents that, unfortunately, are not available in both official languages.

How much time do they need to do the job properly?

Rob Nicholson Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

Mr. Speaker, that is exactly what we did. We put in place a process whereby their other colleagues in the opposition, the Bloc and the Liberals, examined thousands of documents over the months, but the NDP members did absolutely nothing.

NDP members say they are concerned about Taliban prisoners, but let us face it, with friends like the NDP who needs enemies.

Olivia Chow Trinity—Spadina, ON

Mr. Speaker, Canada's bridges are falling down and the minister responsible is falling down on the job.

Four times in the last six months basketball-sized chunks of concrete have fallen down from Montreal's bridges near Champlain and Mercier, and just last Monday, a few days ago, from Toronto's Gardiner Expressway. It is a miracle that no one has been seriously injured.

Instead of cutting the infrastructure stimulus fund, why does this minister not do something to stop the concrete from falling down on innocent drivers and pedestrians?

Denis Lebel Minister of Transport

Mr. Speaker, like my colleague and the Leader of the Opposition, I was also in municipal politics. No government has ever put as much money into infrastructure to help municipalities across the country as this government. Our government has invested the most money to improve road networks, drinking water systems and waste water treatment. We will continue to do so.

Jamie Nicholls Vaudreuil-Soulanges, QC

Mr. Speaker, the minister can blame the provinces, or the cities, or even the Liberals, but the fact remains that this government has no long-term plan for maintaining and replacing Montreal's bridges.

Even worse, by reducing corporate taxes, it is mortgaging our ability to meet future needs.

The people of Montreal will suffer greatly this summer because of horrible bottlenecks.

What is the minister waiting for to take action?

Denis Lebel Minister of Transport

Mr. Speaker, the new NDP member should know that investing $680 million in Montreal's bridges takes a plan and requires working with people who have carried out studies. It means investing in the right place, as we always do.

It is common knowledge that responsibility for managing city traffic rests with the municipal authorities. We will continue to ensure the safety of federal structures and do the required work.

Hoang Mai Brossard—La Prairie, QC

Mr. Speaker, by investing only $228 million over three years on infrastructure in the greater Montreal region, the minister is clearly ignoring the crisis that people there are experiencing.

The Premier of Quebec was clear: the federal government must make a commitment now to replace the Champlain Bridge.

The studies have been done. The Government of Quebec is ready. Montreal and the south shore are ready.

What is the minister waiting for to announce a new bridge right now?

The Speaker Andrew Scheer

Order, please. We cannot keep having standing ovations after every question. We will be here until 4 o'clock.

The hon. Minister of Transport.