Debates of March 16th, 2012

Randall Garrison Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC

Mr. Speaker, I thank the minister for his quick action.

Given that many countries fail to recognize lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights and therefore the ongoing threats to safety of lesbian and gay travellers in those countries, it is clear more needs to be done both to oppose the discrimination and to provide protection to Canadian travellers.

Will the minister commit today to improving the travel advice offered to Canadians on the Foreign Affairs travel advisory site by adding specific warnings for countries where it is unsafe for LGBT travellers?

John Baird Minister of Foreign Affairs

Mr. Speaker, we are concerned when Canadians travel abroad, for their health and safety. We will certainly look at that. We have already done the advisory with respect to St. Petersburg.

One of the core responsibilities that I have as Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs is to promote Canadian values around the world and I will continue to do this.

Isabelle Morin Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC

Mr. Speaker, this year, for the first time in nearly 40 years, millions of young Canadians are being deprived of an important job search tool. I am talking about youth employment centres, which have suffered further cuts. Certain groups in my riding are particularly worried about how this will affect youth at risk.

Need I remind this government that the youth unemployment rate is double the Canadian average?

Why are the Conservatives abandoning our youth?

Kellie Leitch Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and to the Minister of Labour

Mr. Speaker, in 2010-11 the youth employment strategy actually helped over 57,000 youth get the jobs and the skills they needed so they could successfully enter into the workplace. There is a permanent increase in the Canada student jobs, almost 40,000 jobs every year.

This government is moving forward, ensuring that young people have the jobs and the skills they need to enter the workforce. Why does the NDP keep voting against every one of these initiatives?

Manon Perreault Montcalm, QC

Mr. Speaker, people with disabilities who did not vote the right way are victims of discrimination. Information from the Department of Human Resources and Skills Development shows that nearly 85% of the $67 million from the enabling accessibility fund was used for projects in Conservative ridings.

How does the minister plan on remedying this disgusting imbalance and ensuring that all Canadians with disabilities are treated fairly?

Kellie Leitch Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and to the Minister of Labour

Mr. Speaker, the government created an enabling accessibility fund to help ensure community centres and public places were available and accessible to people with disabilities. The NDP voted against every one of those initiatives.

Projects were approved based on recommendations from public servants. The number of projects approved corresponded to the regions and proportionally to the applications received. Unfortunately, with so many applications, not all of those that applied would receive funding. However, every one of the projects that was chosen was based on merit.

Lawrence MacAulay Cardigan, PE

Mr. Speaker, there is not a fisheries group in Canada that I have spoken to that supports the elimination of the owner-operator policy. They understand that it would be devastating to the fishery and devastating to the community where these fishers live.

Will the government listen to the fishers and the community leaders where these fishers live? Will the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans indicate to the House that he will not take our inshore fishery and give it to the large corporations in our country and, in doing so, destroy the economy of hundreds of small communities in Atlantic Canada?

Keith Ashfield Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway

Mr. Speaker, that is exactly what we are doing. We are listening to fishermen from across the country, and Canadians in general, about how we can move the fishery forward, how we can improve the fishery.

Unfortunately the member across did not spend enough time listening to the fishermen and Canadians. That is why he is way down there.

Sean Casey Charlottetown, PE

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Minister of Veterans Affairs had a letter in the Charlottetown Guardian, praising the employees of his department. However, last Saturday he had a letter in the Chronicle Herald calling them a bloated, inefficient bureaucracy.

Why is the minister speaking out of both sides of his mouth? Is he not aware that we have Internet on Prince Edward Island? Why is he is calling the employees in his department inefficient, bureaucratic and stupid?

Eve Adams Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs

Mr. Speaker, our Conservative government values the good work done by our public servants. In fact, the folks at Veterans Affairs have dedicated their lives to providing wonderful service to our veterans.

We recognize the good work done in Charlottetown. It will remain a key focus of ours.

Ruth Ellen Brosseau Berthier—Maskinongé, QC

Mr. Speaker, last week we asked questions about the future of the Shawinigan-Sud Tax Centre. The parliamentary secretary responded by talking about employment insurance. The nonsense just keeps coming.

The question was clear: is the CRA tax centre in Shawinigan closing its doors or not?

Are hundreds of well-paid jobs going to disappear?

Gail Shea Minister of National Revenue

Mr. Speaker, no final decisions have been made. We know we must spend taxpayer money wisely, while ensuring that our government programs are both efficient and effective and deliver a high level of service to Canadians. They must do all of this and ensure that the integrity of our tax system is also protected.

Gail Shea Minister of National Revenue

Mr. Speaker, the clear answer is that no final decisions have been made on any centres across the country.