House of Commons Hansard #192 of the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was open.

Topics

National DefenceOral Questions

2:35 p.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh!

National DefenceOral Questions

2:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer

Order. The hon. Minister of Public Works has the floor.

National DefenceOral Questions

2:35 p.m.

Conservative

Rona Ambrose Conservative Edmonton—Spruce Grove, AB

Mr. Speaker, when we became aware of the concerns raised by the Auditor General, we immediately pressed reset on this process, and we have set up a secretariat to ensure that there is maximum oversight and due diligence, including independent oversight. Again, no funds have been spent on the acquisition of any fighter aircraft and no funds will be spent until we do the due diligence necessary.

Standing Committee on Public AccountsOral Questions

2:40 p.m.

NDP

Mathieu Ravignat NDP Pontiac, QC

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the chair of the public accounts committee.

On March 6, 2012, the public accounts committee agreed to a public hearing on chapter 5 of the 2011 fall report of the Auditor General entitled, “Maintaining and Repairing Military Equipment—National Defence”. This is an important audit of the Department of National Defence. A public hearing on this chapter was scheduled, but postponed.

Will the chair of the committee please inform the House as to the status of rescheduling this public hearing on chapter 5?

Standing Committee on Public AccountsOral Questions

2:40 p.m.

NDP

David Christopherson NDP Hamilton Centre, ON

Mr. Speaker, chapter 5 of the fall 2011 Auditor General's report is indeed an important audit of the Department of National Defence. That is why the committee chose that chapter. That is why we actually scheduled a public hearing. We set aside the public hearing and postponed it to allow the committee to work on the Auditor General's report on the F-35. We have now completed that work and that study and have tabled the report here in the House. Chapter 5 remains on the committee work plan and it is my hope that public hearing will be rescheduled for the very near future.

Government ServicesOral Questions

2:40 p.m.

Liberal

Dominic LeBlanc Liberal Beauséjour, NB

Mr. Speaker, long after the Conservatives are no longer in power, people will remember that the Conservatives created the largest deficit in Canada's history. They will also remember that, because of the Conservatives' financial incompetence, our veterans lost the right to a proper burial, people who lost their jobs were unable to access employment insurance, and the safety of the food we eat was compromised.

Why do all these people have to pay the price for the Conservatives' financial incompetence?

Government ServicesOral Questions

2:40 p.m.

Parry Sound—Muskoka Ontario

Conservative

Tony Clement ConservativePresident of the Treasury Board and Minister for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario

Mr. Speaker, we continue to move forward with a plan that ensures that we will eliminate the deficit in the medium term and continue to make the investments that are necessary for our economy, job creation, research and development and commercialization of that research and development, training and making sure we have the properly skilled people in the right jobs across this country. This plan is working. We will continue with this approach. This is the approach that has been lauded across the world as the best approach not only for Canada but also the rest of the world.

Government ServicesOral Questions

2:40 p.m.

Liberal

Dominic LeBlanc Liberal Beauséjour, NB

Mr. Speaker, irresponsible Conservative financial management has led to a record $600 billion debt and now vulnerable Canadians are paying the price. Cuts to front-line services at immigration offices, Veterans Affairs and Service Canada mean that real people with real problems cannot get real help. A single parent searching for information on a child tax benefit cannot wait on hold for three hours on a 1-800 number.

Why are vulnerable Canadians being punished by this irresponsible Conservative financial management?

Government ServicesOral Questions

2:40 p.m.

Parry Sound—Muskoka Ontario

Conservative

Tony Clement ConservativePresident of the Treasury Board and Minister for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario

Mr. Speaker, the fact of the matter is that we have made sure that essential government services to the public have been ring-fenced and protected from our budget reviews, because we know that we have to deliver excellent public services to Canadians.

At the same time, we look for waste and inefficiencies. We remove these things from the budget. We make sure that we do better for less. That is what Canadians expect. They do not want the failed high tax and high spending policies of former Liberal governments.

The EnvironmentOral Questions

2:40 p.m.

Liberal

Kirsty Duncan Liberal Etobicoke North, ON

Mr. Speaker, thanks to Conservative incompetence on the economy our national debt is an astonishing $600 billion. Yet despite the spending, all the environment sees is cuts. The government is cutting 30% of scientists at Parks Canada, mothballing the ELA, cutting ozone research, downloading waste management to the provinces, reducing air and water quality monitoring, and the list goes on.

When will the government stop making the environment and the health of Canadians pay for Conservative incompetence on the economy?

The EnvironmentOral Questions

2:40 p.m.

Calgary Centre-North Alberta

Conservative

Michelle Rempel ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of the Environment

Mr. Speaker, the list does go on. We have increased the amount of parkland protected in this country by more than 50%. We have the cleanest air in the world. We have cleaned up Lake Winnipeg and Lake Simcoe. We have enacted a world-class chemical management plan. For the first time, we are seeing a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions while our economy grows.

By contrast, the Liberals tell Alberta MPs to go home, to go back to where they came from. Under the Liberals' tenure, greenhouse gas emissions rose by 30% and they proposed a $15 billion carbon tax.

Our government is getting it done when it comes to the environment.

Public Works and Government ServicesOral Questions

2:45 p.m.

NDP

Linda Duncan NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Minister of Public Works suggested that her new anti-corruption measures would address any subcontracting problems or illegalities, including under the SNC-Lavalin management contract.

While I appreciate her generous offer for a briefing, which I am certain my colleagues at the Standing Committee on Government Operations would enjoy, could she clarify today how precisely these measures will be made retroactive to existing contracts and subcontracts, and are they being applied and enforced by the government or by contractors?

Public Works and Government ServicesOral Questions

2:45 p.m.

Edmonton—Spruce Grove Alberta

Conservative

Rona Ambrose ConservativeMinister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for Status of Women

Mr. Speaker, as I said yesterday in the House, our contractual obligations are with the general contractor. In this particular instance, the contract with this general contractor is for the operations and maintenance of our federal buildings. Our objective is always to have high quality work done at the lowest cost to taxpayers. This general contractor did put in the lowest compliant bid.

In terms of this general contractor, when specific allegations were made we brought in PricewaterhouseCoopers. We have implemented all of the auditor's recommendations with this general contractor.

Public Works and Government ServicesOral Questions

2:45 p.m.

NDP

Alexandre Boulerice NDP Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC

Mr. Speaker, we are talking about a company that has seen its former chief executive and another former top executive arrested, a company about which there are serious doubts in cases involving corruption and kickbacks. There is even one case in Quebec, and that is the case of the McGill University Health Centre, which was run by a good friend of the Conservatives, André Arthur, who now lives in the Bahamas.

It is time to be transparent and force SNC-Lavalin to hand over all the documents related to the subcontracting of federal building maintenance.

How can the Conservatives overlook the fact that SNC-Lavalin and other companies are lining their pockets by using our money to subcontract?

Public Works and Government ServicesOral Questions

2:45 p.m.

Edmonton—Spruce Grove Alberta

Conservative

Rona Ambrose ConservativeMinister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for Status of Women

Mr. Speaker, again, our contractual obligations are with the general contractor. In the instance of this general contractor, our contract with them is covered by our integrity framework. We have all of the measures in place to protect taxpayers' dollars in regard to our contractual obligations with the contract for operations and maintenance of federal buildings.

Minister of State for Small Business and TourismOral Questions

2:45 p.m.

NDP

Rosane Doré Lefebvre NDP Alfred-Pellan, QC

Mr. Speaker, one would think that the Minister of State for Small Business and Tourism would have learned from his difficulties and would be more careful in the future.

After all, he already lost his job for leaving secret documents at his girlfriend's house. But no. He allowed a French camera crew to film him hiding his car keys. But now that the whole world has seen the video, his hiding place is no good anymore.

What is more, yesterday, he told us that it was just a joke. Generally speaking, people who repeatedly show a lack of judgment are not very funny.

Is this really acceptable behaviour for a minister of the Crown?

Minister of State for Small Business and TourismOral Questions

2:45 p.m.

Beauce Québec

Conservative

Maxime Bernier ConservativeMinister of State (Small Business and Tourism)

Mr. Speaker, once again, the opposition is trying to create a tempest in a teapot.

I would like to reassure my opposition colleagues that I never carry government documents in my personal vehicle. I would also like to tell official opposition members that my staff and I follow all the Government of Canada document security guidelines.

Minister of State for Small Business and TourismOral Questions

2:45 p.m.

NDP

Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON

Mr. Speaker, what we have seen from this cabinet is a Prime Minister who has established no standards for the ethical accountability of his ministers.

Enter exhibit A, the member for Beauce. He has already been bounced out of cabinet once for losing sensitive documents, and we now find that when he goes jogging, he leaves the keys to a minister's car on top of the car, and he does it on international television.

For God's sake, will the Prime Minister at least appoint a ministerial nanny to keep him from getting into any more trouble?

Minister of State for Small Business and TourismOral Questions

2:45 p.m.

Beauce Québec

Conservative

Maxime Bernier ConservativeMinister of State (Small Business and Tourism)

Mr. Speaker, the opposition is making a mountain out of a molehill.

I want to be very clear and reassure the members of the opposition that I never carry any government documents in my private car. My personnel and I follow all of the directives concerning Government of Canada documents.

Public SafetyOral Questions

2:50 p.m.

Conservative

Rick Norlock Conservative Northumberland—Quinte West, ON

Mr. Speaker, Canadians have been concerned regarding recent events near the border crossing at Stanstead, Quebec. Numerous van loads of asylum seekers have clandestinely crossed the border.

Could the Minister of Public Safety please update this House on the measures he is taking to protect our immigration system and to ensure that the generosity of Canadians is not taken advantage of?

Public SafetyOral Questions

2:50 p.m.

Provencher Manitoba

Conservative

Vic Toews ConservativeMinister of Public Safety

Mr. Speaker, Canada is well known as a tolerant nation, accepting of newcomers who want to work hard and play by our rules. Unfortunately, that generosity also makes us a target for criminal organizations that traffic in misery by carrying out human smuggling operations.

Today I designated five groups of migrants who illegally crossed the border near Stanstead, Quebec as irregular arrivals. This designation carries with it certain consequences.

Human smuggling is a dangerous and despicable crime. Our message is clear to those who contemplate a human smuggling operation: do not do it.

Arctic CouncilOral Questions

December 5th, 2012 / 2:50 p.m.

NDP

Ève Péclet NDP La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC

Mr. Speaker, international Arctic experts are worried about Canada's priorities as our country prepares to chair the Arctic Council for the next two years.

Canada wants to focus solely on resource development, which is not at all compatible with the priorities of the other member nations of the Arctic Council. Major issues must be addressed, such as the melting polar ice cap, transportation, oil spill prevention and fisheries management.

What are Canada's priorities for the Arctic Council?

Arctic CouncilOral Questions

2:50 p.m.

Nunavut Nunavut

Conservative

Leona Aglukkaq ConservativeMinister of Health

Mr. Speaker, I want to remind the member that Canada will take over the chairmanship next year. We will work with northerners to develop a solid agenda that represents the interests of northerners.

While we are out consulting and investing in northerners, the member for Western Arctic is voting against things like the Inuvik-Tuk highway and any investments in northern health care.

If the opposition members are concerned about the north, then perhaps they could start voting in favour of the north.

Arctic CouncilOral Questions

2:50 p.m.

NDP

Dennis Bevington NDP Western Arctic, NT

Mr. Speaker, I do not really have to answer any of those things.

Arctic CouncilOral Questions

2:50 p.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh!