Debates of May 4th, 2012

The Deputy Speaker Denise Savoie

Order, please. The hon. Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of the Environment. I am sure we all want to hear the answer.

Michelle Rempel Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of the Environment

Madam Speaker, I believe it is unparliamentary to talk about where backbenchers are, so I will not mention where the backbenchers are in the Liberal Party today.

I believe that our parks system will continue—

The Deputy Speaker Denise Savoie

Order, please. I would like to ask for a little order in the House while the parliamentary secretary—

The Deputy Speaker Denise Savoie

The hon. Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of the Environment.

Michelle Rempel Calgary Centre-North, AB

Madam Speaker, our government is committed to ensuring that our parks are well promoted and well visited. They are part of Canada's national brand. They are respected around the world. What we have put forward in the budget will ensure that the parks are well staffed during peak seasons for years to come.

Joyce Murray Vancouver Quadra, BC

Madam Speaker, tens of thousands of international students flock to British Columbia every year, bringing in over $0.5 billion of direct revenues for our communities and our small businesses. Canada-wide, this industry is worth $8 billion. However, the government is eliminating visa services in some of the most important countries that are the source of these students. Now those students will likely go to other countries to learn English.

Why would the government attack the international education industry, one of the engines of our economy, at the very time that this economy is sputtering?

Jason Kenney Minister of Citizenship

Madam Speaker, we are doing no such thing. We are not removing visa services from any country. We are doing things more efficiently than in the past, which means that students can apply online. They can also go to visa application centres, which provide professional service.

I know the Liberals do not like to hear the facts. The fact is that there is a huge increase in the number of student visas issued over five years ago. More foreign students are coming to Canada and benefiting from our educational experience.

Paul Dewar Ottawa Centre, ON

Madam Speaker, yesterday the President of the Treasury Board alleged that his government's wasteful use of drivers and limos is par for the course for government. He assumed the Manitoba NDP government uses drivers and cars as wastefully as his government, yet in Manitoba none of the ministers have cars and only the premier has an assistant whose duties include driving.

I have a very basic question. Will the President of the Treasury Board get up and apologize and clear the record and clear his name and the reputation of the NDP government?

Andrew Saxton Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board and for Western Economic Diversification

Madam Speaker, we are always looking for ways to run the government at a reasonable cost to taxpayers. Ministers work long hours and drivers frequently have to work the hours that their ministers are working. Salaries and overtime for drivers employed by the public service are based on collective agreements with the unions.

Paul Dewar Ottawa Centre, ON

Madam Speaker, hard-working Canadians expect their elected officials to be prudent and sensible with their money.

There is no excuse for racking up $600,000 in overtime fees alone, yet the President of the Treasury Board decided to point fingers at an NDP government, which is more fiscally responsible and prudent than the Conservatives are.

Will the Conservatives pledge to learn something about financial wisdom and manners from the NDP government in Manitoba?

Andrew Saxton Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board and for Western Economic Diversification

Madam Speaker, as I mentioned, we are always looking for ways to run the government at a reasonable cost to taxpayers.

I will tell the House what we have done. We have frozen the salaries of MPs and senators, reduced ministers' office spending, reduced the cost of travel and reduced hospitality spending. This government has taken real action to reduce the cost to taxpayers.