Debates of Nov. 23rd, 2012

First Nations Financial Transparency Act

[Mike Sullivan, NDP, York South—Weston, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I did see another member rise, but I did not see the member for Halifax rise.

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

I can assure the member I did see the member for Halifax rising.

The question is on the motion. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

No.

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

All those in favour will please say yea.

[Some hon. members]

Yea.

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

All those opposed will please say nay.

[Some hon. members]

Nay.

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

In my opinion the yeas have it.

And five or more members having risen:

Call in the members.

(The House divided on the motion, which was agreed to on the following division:)

Vote #509

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

I declare the motion carried.

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Mr. Speaker, I thank all my colleagues for their warm reception.

We do not support the bill. I move that the debate be now adjourned.

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

We are on a time allocation motion. Under the rules of time allocation, the hon. member cannot move that the debate be now adjourned. That motion is out of order.

Resuming debate, the hon. member for Kootenay—Columbia.

[David Wilks, Conservative, Kootenay—Columbia, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and--

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

The hon. member for Winnipeg North is rising on a point of order.

[John Baird, Conservative, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

Everyone, the member wants to be heard.

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the support from the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

My hon. friend from Scarborough—Guildwood had also risen to speak. I would be interested in hearing what he might have to say. Therefore, pursuant to Standing Order 62, I would move that the member be now heard.

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

I appreciate the interest of the hon. member for Winnipeg North in hearing his colleague's speech. Unfortunately, I had heard the hon. member for Kootenay—Columbia begin his remarks, so he already has the floor. Perhaps the member from Scarborough will have an opportunity some time later in the day.

The hon. member for Kootenay—Columbia.

[David Wilks, Conservative, Kootenay—Columbia, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I am glad that the games have ceased for a few minutes.

Accountability requires transparency. Not all first nations leaders are willing to release information to the community about how public funds are spent. Some choose also not to divulge this information, which results in their members wondering how much chiefs and councillors receive in remuneration.

First nations members have every right to expect a higher standard. Indeed, they deserve the same measure of accountability and transparency enjoyed by other Canadians, whose assurance of access to information about their government's activities is enshrined in legislation.

As the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development has noted in his remarks to this chamber, this government has ensured that Canadians have ready access to the information they need to judge our actions as parliamentarians. The first legislation we brought to the House back in 2006 was the Federal Accountability Act, which increased public oversight into how Canadian dollars are spent.

Not only do we publish public records about how every dollar is spent at the federal level each year, we also disclose the salaries of members of Parliament through the Parliament of Canada Act and the Salaries Act. These two pieces of legislation also lay out a transparent formula to calculate salaries and to provide the publication of details of both the regular incomes and special allowances added to salaries of MPs who take on extra responsibilities. Disclosure of other income and expense information is also treated under conflict of interest and ethics legislation.

The Government of Canada is not the only jurisdiction that requires the disclosure of audited consolidated financial statements and salaries.

My hon. colleagues from Newfoundland and Labrador will attest that their province has a financial accountability act that commits the provincial legislature to table public accounts each year. The province's transparency and accountability act stipulates that the ministers must account for government entities for which they are responsible each year in an annual report that includes an audited consolidated financial statement that then compares with the funds approved by the legislature's assembly. The Newfoundland and Labrador municipal act also requires that local community leaders make their financial statements and auditor's reports available to the public.

Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick have similar laws. Each has a financial administration act that obliges the two provinces respective legislatures to account for public spending from the previous fiscal year and both have municipal acts that require the specifications of the types of information that must be made available to the public.

Likewise, Ontario, Saskatchewan and Alberta all have legislation governing the duty of municipalities to prepare and publish annual financial statements.

Territorial governments also uphold this high standard. The Government of the Northwest Territories makes its annual financial statements readily available on its website. The Government of Nunavut's financial administration act requires the government to publicly account for its expenditures for the previous year by laying the public accounts before the legislative assembly.

The precise wording of the transparency and accountability legislation obviously varies from province to province, but the fact remains that almost all Canadian taxpayers have a guarantee in law that they can access the basic financial information they require in order to hold their elected representatives accountable for their decisions and actions.

Many governments also disclose the salaries paid to elected officials, from premiers to the legislative backbenchers to mayors and town councillors. Federal employee rates of pay are posted on the Treasury Board of Canada site. The salaries of members of many provincial legislatures are set by legislation and made available to the general public. Disclosure of the income and expense information is often treated under conflict of interest or ethics legislation.

Nova Scotia's act respecting the public disclosure of compensation in the public sector applies to the public sector as well as not-for-profit organizations receiving over $500,000 in public funding. These groups are required to post remuneration information on their websites for employees receiving compensation of $100,000 or more. If they do not have a website, they need to make the information available on a publicly accessible website.

Similarly, in Manitoba the public sector compensation disclosure act requires public sector bodies to disclose to the public the amount of compensation it pays annually to each of its officers as well as employees whose salaries are $50,000 or more. Along with this legislation, the Manitoba legislative assembly act sets out that the remuneration allowances and the retirement benefits of members be established by the commissioner. Furthermore, the regulations require that members post expense reports on the legislative assembly website.

In addition to various provincial and territorial legislation, a number of municipalities have passed bylaws requiring the release of information about the remuneration of mayors and councillors as a best practice.

Clearly, what is being asked of first nations leaders is nothing more than what is expected of their counterparts in other jurisdictions across our great country. In fact, in some respects, this legislation demands less. Bill C-27 would focus only on the disclosure of remuneration of elected officials of first nations governments. I remind the House that self-governing first nations, under the terms of their self-government agreements—

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

The hon. member for Kootenay—Columbia will have two minutes left for his remarks after question period. Right now we will move on to statements by members.

The hon. member for Simcoe—Grey.

Member for Papineau

[Kellie Leitch, Conservative, Simcoe—Grey, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today because I am concerned, both as an Ontario MP and actually an Albertan who grew up in Fort McMurray, about the comments made by the member for Papineau. He said:

I'm a Liberal, so of course I think so, yes. Certainly when we look at the great prime ministers of the 20th century, those that really stood the test of time, they were MPs from Quebec...

Sir John A. Macdonald and Lester B. Pearson, both of whom were MPs from the province of Ontario, were outstanding prime ministers. I think all Canadians would agree with that.

I ask the MP for Papineau this. Are these outstanding Canadians, who founded Canada and who built Canada's international reputation, not good enough for the member for Papineau? This is just simply dangerous and also challenging information, as both an individual who grew up in Alberta and an Ontario MP, that I just find unacceptable.

I am here for all Canadians. I think all members are here for all Canadians. We all aspire and think all Canadians should aspire and could become the Prime Minister of Canada.

Organization for Homeless Youth

[Réjean Genest, NDP, Shefford, QC]

Mr. Speaker, last Saturday in my riding, the Auberge du coeur Sous mon toit celebrated its 40th anniversary with over 100 guests and about 15 beneficiaries. They were celebrating 40 years of volunteer work to help young men between the ages of 17 and 35.

The organization welcomes, feeds and provides full-time housing for about 20 young men who are homeless or in difficulty, in order to help them reintegrate into society. To date, over 2,000 young men have been able to regain control of their lives with the help of this organization. Today, they are making a positive contribution to our society. The organization's director was one of the first beneficiaries 40 years ago.

I was touched and moved by the modesty and dedication of the workers and volunteers. At the party, a single common goal was clear: to continue to help young men in difficulty.

Congratulations to Auberge du coeur Sous mon toit and all the best in the future.

Canada Cup of Curling

[Ray Boughen, Conservative, Palliser, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to announce that Canada's top 14 curling teams will be throwing rocks next week in Moose Jaw at the 2012 Capital One Canada Cup of Curling.

With our provincial counterparts, our government jointly invested $23.5 million to help build Mosaic Place, allowing Moose Jaw to host its first ever national sports championship. Moose Jaw Ford Curling Centre will serve as “The Patch” where fans and competitors can meet and mingle.

I would like to congratulate Danielle Sicinski and the entire committee for organizing what promises to be a successful event. I would like to wish the best of luck to all teams with a special mention for my home province team of Stefanie Lawton and many Saskatchewan athletes competing on other teams.

Moose Jaw will be surely rocking from November 28 through to December 2: Hurry hard.

Children and Poverty

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

Mr. Speaker, this week we commemorated the UN's adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989. The fact is that many children in this country still do not have access to the resources they require for their physical and intellectual development.

Canada has virtually unlimited material resources, and yet it struggles to provide children in our communities with the tools they need for their education and their well-being. Our country is very fortunate, and we therefore have a moral obligation to, at the very least, provide our children with what they need for their personal development.

The lack of water, food, clothing and housing in some communities is unjustifiable in light of our means, and we in this House must find solutions. We speak on behalf of the thousands of Canadian children who live below the—

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

The hon. member for Kildonan—St. Paul.

Polish Gymnastic Association Sokol

[Joy Smith, Conservative, Kildonan—St. Paul, MB]

Mr. Speaker, today I am excited to announce that this Sunday I will be participating in the 106th anniversary of the Polish Gymnastic Association Sokol of Winnipeg. This association is a non-profit organization that has enhanced the Polish culture in Winnipeg. It has participated in our famous Folklorama and has organized the annual “Polish Fest” where there is a great turnout to watch the Polish dancing and hear the extraordinary Polish choirs.

Youth flock to the association in large numbers to practise their traditional dances and to sing in the choir. Recently, the Sokol Rhythmic dancers won a gold medal in the prestigious Western Canada rhythmic dance competition.

This is an organization that has added much value to the culture and life of Winnipeg, not only for the Polish community, but for all of us.

I congratulate the volunteers on this most auspicious occasion for their 106th anniversary.