Debates of Feb. 14th, 2012

The Speaker Andrew Scheer

Order. I am sure the minister appreciates the help answering the question, but he has the floor and members should be silent while he is giving his answer.

The hon. Minister of Natural Resources.

Joe Oliver Eglinton—Lawrence, ON

Mr. Speaker, the fuel quality directive is an unscientific attempt to stigmatize the oil sands and is trying to subject Canadian interests to discriminatory treatment , which we oppose, and increasingly other European--

The Speaker Andrew Scheer

Order. The hon. member for Burnaby—Douglas.

Kennedy Stewart Burnaby—Douglas, BC

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives came back from China congratulating themselves for selling off Canadian raw resources. With the Enbridge CEO in tow, they told the Chinese not to worry about Canadian opposition because they will just ignore it. The northern gateway will ship 21,000 refining jobs out of Canada for two pandas.

Would the minister confirm that according to his government's calculation, one panda is worth more than 10,000 Canadian jobs?

Joe Oliver Minister of Natural Resources

Mr. Speaker, the trip to China was extraordinarily successful in building a relationship with the largest consumer of energy in the world, a country which, 25 years from now, will represent one-quarter of energy demand globally.

We are going to have an opportunity to sell our resources and exchange investment opportunities in both countries, which will generate hundreds of thousands of jobs and billions--

The Speaker Andrew Scheer

The hon. member for Nickel Belt.

Claude Gravelle Nickel Belt, ON

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives are not listening to the public. They prefer to conspire with oil lobbyists on building new pipelines. Canadians and the first nations do not want new pipelines. Experts have said in committee that this approach was harmful to Canadian refineries, which have lost 10,000 jobs since 1989.

Why give priority to the interests of the major oil companies, but refuse to listen to the concerns of Canadians?

Wladyslaw Lizon Mississauga East—Cooksville, ON

Mr. Speaker, I was shocked to learn that last year alone, Canada received 5,800 refugee applications not from Africa or Asia, but from the European Union. Almost all of these claims were found to be bogus. These bogus claims cost taxpayers almost $170 million in just one year.

The increasing number of unfounded refugee claims is causing a lot of concern among Canadians, including my constituents in Mississauga East--Cooksville.

Could the minister inform the House of what the government is doing to address this important issue?

Jason Kenney Minister of Citizenship

Mr. Speaker, it is peculiar that Canada is receiving more asylum claims from the democratic rights-respecting European Union than from Africa or Asia.

Nearly all of these claims are determined to be unfounded. Over 95% of these claimants withdraw or abandon their own claims. The evidence before us suggests that most of these claimants are taking maximum advantage of generous Canadian social benefits, such as provincial welfare and welfare federal cash transfers. There has been a criminal prosecution into human trafficking and welfare fraud in Hamilton.

We must take action to protect the integrity of Canada's immigration system and to avoid our generosity being--

The Speaker Andrew Scheer

The hon. member for Sackville--Eastern Shore.

Peter Stoffer Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS

Mr. Speaker, last year Jennifer Stoddart, the Privacy Commissioner, said department officials at Veterans Affairs broke the law and breached the Privacy Act with respect to Sean Bruyea and other veterans. We were told by the Conservatives that no longer happens, that it cannot happen again.

In the news the other day we found out that the private information of Harold Leduc, a 22 year veteran who serves on the Veterans Review and Appeal Board, was recently scattered throughout the department, denigrating him in front of all of his peers. How the government could do that to veterans is beyond me.

Will the Minister of Veterans Affairs stand in his place, look into the camera, and apologize to Harold Leduc? Will the Prime Minister now call for a judicial inquiry into--

The Speaker Andrew Scheer

The hon. Minister of Veterans Affairs.

Steven Blaney Minister of Veterans Affairs

Mr. Speaker, as a government we care every day of the year for our veterans and we will continue to do so. Any show of disrespect toward our veterans is unacceptable and actually shocking.

As the member knows, the Veterans Review and Appeal Board is an arm's-length organization. When privacy breaches occur, I expect corrective measures to be put in place according to the most stringent policy.

Let me be clear. When the board renders decisions which affect our veterans' lives, fairness and equity are and have to remain the sole criteria.