Debates of Oct. 30th, 2012

Public Accounts of Canada

[Tony Clement, Conservative, President of the Treasury Board and Minister for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario]

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to table today, in both official languages, the Public Accounts of Canada 2012.

The Government of Canada is committed to strong financial management and reporting to ensure accountability and transparency. For the 14th consecutive year, the Auditor General of Canada has provided an unqualified audit opinion of the Government of Canada's financial statements and, indeed, the Government of Canada can be justifiably proud of this record.

Government Response to Petitions

[Tom Lukiwski, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8) I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to 59 petitions.

Business of the House

[Gordon O'Connor, Conservative, Minister of State and Chief Government Whip]

Mr. Speaker, there have been consultations and I would ask for unanimous consent for the following motion. I move:

That, pursuant to Standing Order 45, any deferred recorded division, scheduled to take place on Wednesday, October 31, 2012, immediately before the time provided for Private Members' Business pursuant to Standing Order 98, be deferred anew until Wednesday, October 31, 2012, at the expiry of the time provided for Oral Questions.

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

Is that agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

(Motion agreed to)

[Brian Masse, NDP, Windsor West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to seek unanimous consent to move the following motion: That, notwithstanding any Standing Order or usual practice of the House, clauses 179 to 184 of schedule I, related to the construction of a bridge spanning the Detroit River between Windsor and Detroit, be removed from C-45, A second Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 29, 2012 and other measures, and do compose Bill C-47; that Bill C-47 be entitled “an act respecting a bridge spanning the Detroit River between Windsor and Detroit and other works”; that Bill C-47 be deemed read a first time and be printed; that the order for second reading of the said bill provide for the referral to the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities; that Bill C-45 retain the status on the order paper that it had prior to the adoption of this order; that Bill C-45 be reprinted as amended; and that the law clerk and the parliamentary counsel be authorized to make any technical changes or corrections as may be necessary to give effect to this motion.

We are proposing this because the new bridge between Windsor and Detroit has been a long process in evolution and included new legislation that was passed under the International Bridges and Tunnels Act. That process has been defined and developed, and we want to make sure that it is consistent.

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

Does the hon. member for Windsor West have the unanimous consent of the House to propose this motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

No.

Parks Canada

[Megan Leslie, NDP, Halifax, NS]

Mr. Speaker, as you probably know, there were recent cuts announced to Parks Canada. Some of those cuts will impact the Rideau Canal, which is a UNESCO world heritage site, and the Trent-Severn Waterway. I have a petition in which the petitioners are asking Parks Canada not to reduce the hours of operation or shorten the seasons of operation and to return service to 2011 levels.

They are also asking for Parks Canada to receive the necessary funding for both the Rideau Canal and Trent-Severn Waterway to return to 2011 operating hours and lengths of seasons in order for Canadians and visitors to safely enjoy these waterways. The petitioners and I look forward to the minister's response.

Experimental Lakes Area

[Lise St-Denis, Liberal, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

Mr. Speaker, today I wish to present five petitions signed by Canadians from several provinces who are calling on the government to reverse its decision to close down the Experimental Lakes Area, in order to protect aquatic ecosystems.

Need I add that that program has allowed scientists to gather data after monitoring fresh water in Canada and that the research conducted in the Experimental Lakes Area has earned international recognition?

[Anne Minh-Thu Quach, NDP, Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present four petitions.

The first petition has to do with safeguarding the Experimental Lakes Area.

People from across Canada have signed this petition calling on the government to recognize the significant impact of the research done there and to continue to fund that research and support scientists.

Kyoto Protocol

[Anne Minh-Thu Quach, NDP, Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition was signed by many Canadians who oppose Canada's withdrawal from the Kyoto protocol and who want to ensure that Canada has a clear plan to fight greenhouse gases.

Pensions

[Anne Minh-Thu Quach, NDP, Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I wish to present two more petitions signed by people from my riding of Beauharnois—Salaberry. The petitioners want the government to continue funding old age security and to reconsider its decision to increase the age of eligibility from 65 to 67. These people want to continue enjoying the protection of the government.

House of Commons

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

Mr. Speaker, at a time when there is a great need for attention to issues like bedside care, our old age supplement programs and increasing community policing, I have a petition from individuals asking the government to rethink its argument that there is a need for additional members of Parliament here in the House of Commons.

The petitioners are asking the government to maintain the current number of MPs at 308.

Experimental Lakes Area

[John Rafferty, NDP, Thunder Bay—Rainy River, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have petition calling on the government to recognize the importance of the Experimental Lakes Area and the government's mandate to study, preserve and protect aquatic ecosystems.

The petitioners are also asking the government to continue to staff and provide financial resources to the Experimental Lakes Area at the current or higher level of commitment.

[Jinny Sims, NDP, Newton—North Delta, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition on behalf of Canadians who are very concerned about Canada's Experimental Lakes Area.

The petitioners are calling on the government to reverse the decision to close the ELA research station and to continue to staff and provide financial resources to the ELA at current or higher levels of commitment.

[Carol Hughes, NDP, Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of a petition with respect to the Experimental Lakes Area as well.

The petitioners indicate that since 1968 the Experimental Lakes Area has been the global leader in conducting whole ecosystem experiments. The petitioners are extremely concerned about these closures. They recognize the importance that this has played in preserving and protecting aquatic ecosystems, and would like the government to reverse its decision to close the Experimental Lakes Area research station. The petitioners also ask that there be continued support for the staff and financial resources at the current or higher level.

Citizenship and Immigration

[Andrew Cash, NDP, Davenport, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to submit a petition on behalf of residents of Toronto, over 50% of whom were not born in Canada.

The petitioners continue to express serious concerns about Bill C-31 and, among other things, the dividing of refugees into tiers based on their country of origin and unnecessarily punishing them as a result.

Questions on the Order Paper

[Tom Lukiwski, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, the following questions will be answered today: Nos. 852, 858 and 872.

Question No. 852

[Paul Dewar, NDP, Ottawa Centre, ON]

With regard to the 29.2 million dollars in Strategic Review reductions assigned in the 2012 Budget to Parks Canada for fiscal years 2012-2013, 2013-2014, and 2014-2015: (a) what are the overall reductions for National Historic Sites (including historic canals, and federal funding in support of national historic sites not administered by Parks Canada), federal heritage buildings, heritage railway stations, heritage lighthouses and historic places; (b) of the 638 full time equivalent (FTE) position reductions announced by Parks Canada, how many will be taken from each of the program elements referred to in (a), and how many of those positions are in (i) Parks Canada field units, (ii) service centres, (iii) the national office; (c) what are the specific impacts (expressed in dollar and FTE reductions) on each National Historic Site (including Historic Canals) administered by Parks Canada; (d) what are the specific impacts (expressed in dollar and FTE reductions) on support for (i) national historic sites not administered by Parks Canada, (ii) federal heritage buildings, (iii) heritage railway stations, (iv) heritage lighthouses, (v) historic places, including the Canadian Register of Historic Places and Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada; and (e) what is the reduction in operating hours and other services to the public for each National Historic Site, including Historic Canals, administered by Parks Canada?

[Peter Kent, Conservative, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, Parks Canada is contributing to government efforts to reduce the federal deficit by decreasing its operating budget by $29.2 million. In addition, the agency must also absorb salary increases as announced in budget 2010, along with inflationary increases. To do this, Parks Canada is undertaking several measures to improve internal efficiencies and reduce costs while focusing on agency priorities and quality service delivery to Canadians on our important mandate, including consolidating and streamlining service centres and the national office; aligning the seasonality of its workforce across functions to the highest requirements; and focusing recreational boating service at canals and creating new waterway management units that are 100% dedicated to canals.

In 2011, national historic sites under the administration of Parks Canada were generally open from the Victoria Day weekend to the Thanksgiving weekend. In 2012, the majority of national historic sites have maintained similar opening and closing dates; however, some sites opened on June 1 and closed on the Labour Day weekend. There was no change to the 2012 operating season at historic canals. No decision has been made with respect to operating hours for the 2013-2014 season at those canals.

The reductions made by Parks Canada will have no impact on support provided by the agency for national historic sites not administered by Parks Canada, federal heritage buildings, heritage railway stations, heritage lighthouses or historic places, including the Canadian Register of Historic Places and the Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada.

In 2013, Parks Canada will move to self-guided visitor activities at less visited national historic sites while maintaining guided activities at the busiest national historic sites. No Parks Canada national historic sites have been closed as a result of the reductions.

The overall reductions related primarily to national historic sites include the following: approximately 90 FTEs in field units, $5.2 million; 54 FTEs in service centres, $3.8 million; and 24 FTEs at the national office, $1.8 million. This amounts to a total of 168 FTEs, $10.8 million. Please note that these reductions do not include cuts related to historic canal operations, as analysis is ongoing.

Parks Canada will continue to maintain programs and services across its parks and sites to tell the stories that are important to our national identity, manage species at risk, provide meaningful experiences that promote an understanding and appreciation of Canada and support communities through tourism, as it has done for the last 100 years.

Question No. 858

[Jean Crowder, NDP, Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC]

With regard to hospitals, clinics or sanatoria established by the government to treat First Nations, Inuit or Métis with tuberculosis: (a) how many such hospitals have been established by the government; (b) what area did each hospital serve; (c) how many patients were treated at each hospital; (d) what was the average length of stay for patients; (e) how many patients returned to their community after treatment; (f) how many patients did not return to their community; and (g) what was the age breakdown of patients?

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Minister of Health and Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency]

Mr. Speaker, historically, and in keeping with the treatment models of the time, the federal government supported hospitals specifically to treat tuberculosis or TB. However, as the rates declined and treatment regimens changed, these hospitals were no longer needed and many were converted to provide more general health care services. Rates of TB in Canada have significantly decreased since the 1950s, falling to a rate of 4.6 cases per 100,000 population in 2010. This decrease in rates was largely due to the discovery of antibiotics for TB in the late 1940s. The introduction of this effective treatment greatly shortened and facilitated recovery, thus decreasing the need for hospitals dedicated to the treatment of TB.

Health Canada does not have historical data specific to hospitals supported by the federal government for the treatment of TB.

Currently, provinces and territories have the legislated authority for TB prevention and control within their jurisdictions. Health Canada supports TB prevention and control in first nations on-reserve by either providing services directly or providing funding to first nation communities, first nation organizations, provinces or regional health authorities for the delivery of services.

The Public Health Agency of Canada does not collect information on hospitals or centres that treat tuberculosis. However, the Canadian Tuberculosis Reporting System, CTBRS, managed by the agency, collects information on all individual reported cases of active tuberculosis diagnosed among aboriginal people in Canada. Reports of all new active and re-treatment tuberculosis cases are annually submitted to the agency by all provinces and territories. For more information on the CTBRS and the most recent data available, please consult the following website: http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/tbpc-latb/pubs/tbcan09pre/index-eng.php.

Question No. 872

[Hedy Fry, Liberal, Vancouver Centre, BC]

With regard to emergency preparedness at the Department of Public Safety and the decision by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission to develop four additional nuclear reactors at the Darlington Nuclear Power Generation Station: (a) what are the plans in the event of a nuclear accident at Darlington for (i) communication to radioactive-affected areas, (ii) evacuation to specified and alternative areas in the event of changes in wind directions, (iii) immediate health care to evacuees, (iv) immediate protection for emergency workers, (v) patients already in hospital who would need to be evacuated outside the affected zone, (vi) accurate and timely information to the media; (b) what are the plans for ameliorative distribution of iodine tablets; (c) what immediate protective measures will be promoted and how will information about these measures be communicated; (d) what is the replacement source of power in the event that the accident eliminates the use of the Darlington nuclear reactors; (e) what are the plans to ensure access to uncontaminated food sources and distribution channels; (f) have emergency workers been trained in the handling of radioactive material and actions within radiation contaminated areas; (g) where will additional emergency workers be drawn from and what arrangements will be made to register all workers and follow their radiation exposure levels; (h) what are the plans to measure soil and plant contamination and what is the baseline radioactivity in the biosphere in the 100 kilometre zone around Darlington; (i) will all potential victims of an accident be registered, including their locations at the time of the accident, and will there be epidemiological studies of subsequent effects; and (j) what are the plans to provide support to evacuees including (i) mental health care, (ii) finding re-employment for those whose jobs have been lost, (iii) redirecting the expertise of the nuclear power plant workers, (iv) providing income support and how would it be indexed to affected people?