Debates of Dec. 10th, 2012

175th Anniversary of Kingdom of Saguenay—Lac-Saint-Jean

[Claude Patry, NDP, Jonquière—Alma, QC]

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to speak to you about the 175th anniversary of the kingdom of Saguenay—Lac-Saint-Jean. When I think of my region, I immediately think of the silvery cross in the centre of our region's flag. To me, that cross symbolizes Arvida. It symbolizes the strength and determination of the aluminum workers who developed the industry.

The heart of our 175 years of history is this labour town, which took its name from the initials of Arthur Vining Davis. The town was built in just 135 days to meet the needs of Alcoa, and it did not take long to figure prominently in the history of both the region and the world. As early as 1942, the remarkable work of the employees at the largest aluminum smelter in the world enabled Arvida to support the war effort.

These days, it is our architecture and urban planning that have become world-renowned. In 2012, Arvida was recognized as a national historic site of Canada, the first step towards having the Sainte-Thérèse neighbourhood recognized as a UNESCO world heritage site.

As a proud resident of Arvida myself, it is with great pleasure that I wish everyone there a happy 175th anniversary.

International Trade

[Bev Shipley, Conservative, Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON]

Mr. Speaker, our government's economic action plan has made Canada a leader during troubled economic times.

Today, Canada has the lowest debt burden and the strongest job creation record in the G7. Since July 2009, over 880,000 net new jobs have been created.

One key to this success is our government's ambitious pro-trade plan, which includes negotiations toward a comprehensive trade agreement with the European Union, an agreement that will boost bilateral trade by about 20%. That is like a $1,000 increase to the average Canadian family's annual income or 80,000 new jobs for Canadian workers, similar to the 800,000 employed in the manufacturing sector in my home province of Ontario. Eliminating European tariffs on Canadian exports will create jobs and opportunities for those hardworking Ontarians and their families.

It is truly an honour to be part of a government that is focused on the priority of Canadians.

Robert Grégoire

[Laurin Liu, NDP, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in the House to mark the upcoming retirement of Robert Grégoire, who has been managing the Centre d'entraide Racine-Lavoie since 1989.

He is responsible, in particular, for expanding Maison Richelieu, which houses the Centre d'entraide Racine-Lavoie, and for starting a number of organizations that help people in need. I am thinking, for example, of the Fondation Émile-Z.-Laviolette, the Grenier populaire des Basses-Laurentides, the Comité d'aide alimentaire des patriotes and Droits et obligations des sans emploi.

Mr. Grégoire has been an important leader in our community. He has led his staff and the volunteers at the support centre in helping people in need to develop their potential, become more autonomous and have a greater sense of dignity.

We know that we owe him a great deal, and we thank him for all the years he has spent helping others.

Justice

[Rick Norlock, Conservative, Northumberland—Quinte West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, our government is committed to ensuring that our correctional system actually corrects criminal behaviour. That is why we have introduced and passed numerous bills to strengthen offender accountability.

Recently a group of killers, thieves and rapists filed a lawsuit against the government, claiming that prison was a shock to their system and that it has taken away their ability to connect emotionally with the outside world. Without the slightest hint of irony, this group has inflicted enormous carnage on law-abiding Canadians, and claims that it must now self-deaden in order to deal with prison conditions.

This lawsuit is a shock and is shocking. It is an insult to the victims of these heinous criminals. Our government's priority is protecting victims and standing up for law-abiding Canadians. The fact of the matter is that prisons are not hotels or resorts, and we make no apologies for that.

Our government will work to ensure that no taxpayers' dollars go to thugs and criminals who seek to take advantage of our legal system.

Recognition of Service

[Judy Foote, Liberal, Random—Burin—St. George's, NL]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Lieutenant Colonel Lisa Smid from the small rural community of Rushoon, population 319, in my riding of Random—Burin—St. George's.

Lisa's most recent promotion took place on November 23. Lieutenant Colonel Smid's military career to date spans 22 years, and has seen her posted in Ontario, Manitoba, Quebec and Alberta. Impressively, in addition to her military training, Lisa has a civil engineering degree and a master's in business education, both from the Royal Military College.

November was a busy month for Lisa and her family. In addition to her promotion to lieutenant colonel, Lisa and her husband, Ryan, and daughters, Tatyana and Natalya, joined her parents, Patrick and Marie Cheeseman, and other family members to celebrate the 107th birthday of her grandmother, Mrs. Margret Moores who lives in Rushoon with Lisa's parents.

As Lieutenant Colonel Smid's career continues to flourish in the Canadian armed forces, I ask all members to join me in recognizing her exemplary service and dedication to our country, and that of all the men and women serving in the Canadian military.

The Economy

[Joyce Bateman, Conservative, Winnipeg South Centre, MB]

Mr. Speaker, during this period of global economic uncertainty, Canadians can trust our Prime Minister and this government to provide stable and sound management of our economy.

Our last budget was called the “Jobs, Growth and Long-term Prosperity Act”. Members need only look at the strong growth we experienced in November, when 59,000 net jobs were created, to see that our plan is working.

That brings the total to over 880,000 net new jobs created under the leadership of our government since July 2009. However, as we have repeatedly said, Canada is not immune to global challenges. That is why it is crucial that we say no to irresponsible policy, like the NDP's proposed $21 billion carbon tax.

The choice is clear for Canadians: job growth or an NDP carbon tax.

National Defence

[Chris Charlton, NDP, Hamilton Mountain, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Conservative mishandling of the F-35 contract fiasco is yet more evidence that Conservative managerial incompetence really is limitless. The program costs have gone from $9 billion to $16 billion to $25 billion and now onwards and upwards to a reported $46 billion.

Conservatives knowingly ran the last election campaign with two sets of books: one for themselves and a different set of numbers they shared with the Canadian people.

Now we see that they cannot even properly shutdown their boondoggle in the making. Audit reports and cabinet meeting decisions are being leaked. Conservatives are as lost as a monkey in an IKEA, but at least the monkey was wearing a coat to cover his shame.

From day one, the NDP has demanded a fair, open and transparent bidding process to replace our F-18s. In response, Conservatives made up a wild attack on the opposition.

We urge the Conservatives to try out some accountability for once. Like the monkey, it might help cover some of their embarrassment.

Leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada

[Scott Armstrong, Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester—Musquodoboit Valley, NS]

Mr. Speaker, as Canadians make plans to head home for Christmas, the NDP leader's carbon tax will be on their minds.

The NDP leader's plan to increase the cost of fuel will make bus trips, train trips and airline trips much more expensive, more expensive for students trying to get home and more expensive for resource workers trying to get home. In fact, the NDP leader's $21 billion carbon tax will sadly make the difference on whether some people can afford to get home for Christmas at all.

On this side of the House, our government will fight this carbon tax and fight the NDP leader's plan to ruin Christmas for travellers. Canadians can count on Conservatives to protect Christmas by keeping taxes low.

Foreign Investment

[Thomas Mulcair, NDP, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, our society is based on the rule of law. Parliament enacts legislation and the government executive is responsible for enforcing it and applying it equally to everyone.

Last Friday we learned that the Prime Minister did not think he needed Parliament to change the law. In the Nexen case, he said that as long as there were exceptional circumstances, he could continue to approve foreign takeovers even if there was no net benefit to Canada.

When did the Prime Minister decide that he could change the law on his own?

[Stephen Harper, Conservative, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the government is changing its guidelines, not the law itself. We have been very clear on that. We are operating under the law.

In terms of the specifics that the leader of the NDP raises on exceptional circumstances, we have been very clear that controlling interest takeovers by foreign governments in the oil sands are extremely unlikely to be approved in the future by this government.

[Thomas Mulcair, NDP, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, two years ago Conservatives agreed with us that those rules needed to be clarified and changed, discussed and enacted in Parliament. They no longer need Parliament. The Prime Minister is going to make them up as he goes along.

However, here is the problem. How are foreign companies supposed to know what those rules are? If it was not fair on Friday, how is it fair today? How do you keep making up those rules as you go along? This is Parliament. We make the rules. You enforce them, apply them—

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

I will once again remind colleagues to use the third person when addressing each other, not the second person.

The right hon. Prime Minister.

[Stephen Harper, Conservative, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I note with some satisfaction the very positive reaction of markets and the vast majority of Canadians to the announcements that the government made on Friday.

What we have done is this. We have given the kind of clarity that private investors need. At the same time, we have reserved discretion and we need discretion to ensure that when we deal with foreign governments, this government has the capacity to protect the best interests of this country and its citizens.

[Thomas Mulcair, NDP, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, that is clarity, except for the “exceptional circumstances”.

What does that mean? It means they decide what it means on Friday, but that things can be different on Monday, which is not a problem. That is what this government does. This is consummate arrogance.

The public is entitled to be consulted. Under the investment agreement, China would now have a right to purchase shares in anything pertaining to leases on reserves in the Rockies and in western Canada.

They are saying that they can give our natural resources to a foreign power without even listening to the public.

[Stephen Harper, Conservative, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the NDP is quite clearly desperate after seeing the positive reaction by markets and the vast majority of Canadians.

Our position is clear: Canada will remain open for business, but that does not mean Canada is for sale to foreign governments.

National Defence

[Matthew Kellway, NDP, Beaches—East York, ON]

Mr. Speaker, gross Conservative mismanagement on key issues is not limited to foreign investment. The facts about the F-35 fiasco continue to emerge. Over the weekend more details about the KPMG audit were leaked to the media. There were $46 billion reported. That is five times the number the Conservatives started with. Of course a number north of $40 billion is not news. They have just been sitting on it for quite a while.

Will the Minister of National Defence finally admit that the jig is up, admit he was wrong and hold an open competition?

[Rona Ambrose, Conservative, Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for Status of Women]

Mr. Speaker, as you know, the National Fighter Procurement Secretariat has been set up to ensure transparency and due diligence is done before the decision is made to replace our CF-18s. We are committed to completing its seven-point plan and moving forward with our comprehensive and transparent approach to replacing our aging CF-18 aircraft. When including more years in operations and maintenance cost estimates, it goes without saying that the dollar figure will be proportionately higher.

[Matthew Kellway, NDP, Beaches—East York, ON]

Not just yet, I take it, Mr. Speaker. However only two years ago when faced with questions from the NDP on the skyrocketing cost, the defence minister puffed out his chest, dismissed the concerns and said, “If we don’t make this purchase there is a real danger we'll be unable to defend our airspace...exercise our sovereignty or...share our responsibility to both NORAD and NATO”. Coming from the Minister of National Defence, that is some serious stuff.

If he still believes what he said, will he now defend himself against his own party?

[Rona Ambrose, Conservative, Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for Status of Women]

Mr. Speaker, as I said, the National Fighter Procurement Secretariat has been set up to provide independent oversight and maximum transparency in the decision making process to replace our CF-18s. No money has been spent on the acquisition of any new aircraft and we will not purchase any replacement until the seven-point plan is complete. That includes a full options analysis, not simply a refresh of work that was already done.

[Bob Rae, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, on November 3, 2010, in speaking of the F-35 contract, the Prime Minister said “It would be a mistake to rip up this contract for our men and women in uniform as well as the aerospace industry”.

Does the Prime Minister now stand by those words, or is he admitting that in fact there is no such contract, that there is no such deal and that the government is completely floundering in the face of additional information from KPMG and others?

[Stephen Harper, Conservative, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, as has been pointed out many times before, the government has not spent any money on the acquisition of new fighter jets. The government has enunciated a comprehensive seven-point plan going forward to ensure that our military does have new aircraft when the time comes to retire the current CF-18 fleet.

[Bob Rae, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of National Defence said this about the F-35s on September 15, 2010: “If we don't make this purchase, there is a real danger we'll be unable to defend our airspace, unable to exercise our sovereignty, or unable to share our responsibilities through both NORAD and NATO.”

We have a right to know: was the minister right when he said that in 2010, or is the Minister of Public Works correct now in saying that there are no contracts—

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

Order, please.

The Right Hon. Prime Minister has the floor.

[Stephen Harper, Conservative, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, it is clearly important to remind the leader of the Liberal Parti that the government has not yet spent any money to acquire new fighters, and I have said that on a number of occasions.

However, it is essential, for the reasons cited by the Liberal leader, that we have fighters to replace the existing aircraft when our air force needs them in the future.

Foreign Investment

[Bob Rae, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, during an election campaign the Prime Minister was quite happy to tell Canadians that there was a firm contract and that anybody who decided to rip up that contract would be acting against the best interests of the country. Now he says exactly the opposite.

On the Nexen file, is the Prime Minister prepared to make public today the commitments that the Chinese company has made with respect to the purchase of Nexen and that Petronas has made with respect to its purchase? Are those terms and conditions going to be made public, yes or no?