Debates of March 7th, 2012

The Speaker Andrew Scheer

Order. The hon. parliamentary secretary has the floor.

Dean Del Mastro Peterborough, ON

Mr. Speaker, I can hear them as well.

Let us be clear. The exaggerated allegations coming from the members opposite demean the millions of voters who cast legitimate votes in the last election.

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

Mr. Speaker, according to media reports, Peggy Walsh Craig of Nipissing received a phone call during the 2011 election campaign asking her if she intended to vote Conservative, to which she said no. She received a second call just prior to election day claiming to be from Elections Canada to tell her that her polling station had moved.

The Conservative MP from Nipissing won only by 18 votes.

Can the Prime Minister categorically tell Ms. Walsh Craig and other voters in her riding that no one associated with his party had anything to do--

The Speaker Andrew Scheer

The hon. Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister.

Dean Del Mastro Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and to the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs

Mr. Speaker, that is right. We do have an outstanding new member of Parliament for Nipissing—Timiskaming who was democratically elected by the voters of that riding.

What I can say categorically is that the exaggerated allegations by the member opposite and her party demean the millions of voters who cast legitimate votes in the last election, including those in Nipissing—Timiskaming.

The opposition paid millions of dollars to make hundreds of thousands of phone calls. Before those members continue these baseless smears, they should prove their own callers are in fact not behind these reports.

Peter Julian Burnaby—New Westminster, BC

Mr. Speaker, a budget is all about choices.

For the NDP, the choice is clear: we must choose to help families. The Conservatives would rather deceive families by hiding their intentions. As the Premier of Ontario said, they are playing a shell game with taxpayers' money and making the provinces shoulder the burden of the federal deficit.

Why are the Conservatives making the provinces pay the price for their irresponsible cuts? Why must families always pay for the Conservatives' mistakes?

Ted Menzies Minister of State (Finance)

Mr. Speaker, the only irresponsible choices in this House have been that the NDP has voted against every policy we put forward to reduce taxes for Canadians.

It is rather ludicrous that the member would stand up and suggest that Ontario is not getting its fair share. In fact, it is getting 77% more federal transfers than it did under the old Liberal government.

Peter Julian Burnaby—New Westminster, BC

That was a nice try by the minister, Mr. Speaker. The government was forced to do that with agreements with the previous government.

Since May 2, the government has been making reckless cuts. The plans include cutting $33 million from food inspectors, $29 million from transportation safety, a 43% cut to the Environmental Assessment Agency. The Conservatives gut programs that protect Canadians to spend billions on flawed F-35s and their expensive prison agenda.

Why are the Conservatives so irresponsible? Why will they not put families first for a change?

Irene Mathyssen London—Fanshawe, ON

Mr. Speaker, and you voted against veterans. Last month—

The Speaker Andrew Scheer

I never voted against veterans. I have had to remind several members to address comments through the Chair. I hope they will take my urging seriously.

The hon. member for London—Fanshawe has the floor and I would ask her to address her comments through the Chair.

Irene Mathyssen London—Fanshawe, ON

Mr. Speaker, those members voted against veterans.

Last month, EDM closed up shop and drove hundreds of good Canadian jobs to Indiana. Those workers still have not received their records of employment and they cannot apply for EI. They were promised three weeks ago and still absolutely nothing. Of course, because of cuts to Service Canada, it could be months before they and their families ever see a penny from EI.

Why did the Conservatives raise billions on corporate tax giveaways instead of supporting out-of-work Canadians and the services that they need?

Diane Finley Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development

Mr. Speaker, Service Canada is working to ensure that those who have been laid off through no fault of their own do get access to the benefits to which they are entitled just as quickly as possible.

When it comes to supporting workers, our government has delivered. Through our economic action plan, we offered a wide range of supports, such as extending the targeted initiative for older workers. The NDP voted against it. We also provided unprecedented funding for training through the provinces and territories to help those who had lost their jobs to get skills for the new jobs of today and tomorrow. What did the NDP do? Those members voted against it. Why do they keep voting against workers?