Debates of Nov. 17th, 2014

Ethics

[Ève Péclet, NDP, La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives have found a new way to dip into taxpayers' pockets by issuing tax receipts to Dean Del Mastro's friends, who are trying to keep him out of jail. At the end of the day, it is the taxpayers who will pay the legal fees for the Prime Minister's former parliamentary secretary.

Does the Minister of National Revenue, whose new priority is to target birdwatchers, really believe that taxpayers should foot this bill?

[Paul Calandra, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and for Intergovernmental Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, I have already answered that question.

At the same time, it is the NDP that has been found guilty of misusing over $1 million worth of taxpayer funds. Those funds were meant to be used for non-partisan purposes. We know the NDP redirected those funds into paying for partisan political offices in parts of the country where it actually has no members of Parliament.

I hope the NDP will do the right thing and repay taxpayers the over $1.5 million that it owes.

CBC/Radio-Canada

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Canadians who marched for CBC/Radio-Canada yesterday have every reason to feel betrayed by the Conservatives.

On May 3, 2011, the heritage minister made the following statement: “We have said that we will maintain or increase support for the CBC. That is our platform and we have said that before and we will commit to that.” In 2012, however, the government slashed $115 million from CBC/Radio-Canada's budget. It sucked the life out of CBC/Radio-Canada.

Why did the Conservatives break yet another promise?

[Shelly Glover, Conservative, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages]

Mr. Speaker, he was actually the one who made cuts when he was minister.

The president of CBC/Radio-Canada had this to say about the weekend's events: “All of our employees are currently engaged in a transformation process that will enable us to meet the challenges of the new media world that are facing all large broadcasters.”

CBC/Radio-Canada is attracting fewer viewers than before, despite the fact that it is receiving more than $1 billion in direct subsidies from taxpayers each year. The changes to CBC/Radio-Canada are a result of that decrease. It is up to CBC/Radio-Canada to deal with it.

Citizenship and Immigration

[John McCallum, Liberal, Markham—Unionville, ON]

Mr. Speaker, a direct quote from today's media report on Syrian refugees is as follows, “Only 219 had actually been resettled from overseas, of which 93 had arrived in 2014 and would count toward the commitment to take in 1,300”. The big 1,700 number he uses includes Syrians already travelling in Canada and other permanent residents.

Would he stop playing with numbers, which is what he always does, get serious with Canada's long-standing generosity and admit at least 10,000 Syrian refugees as government assisted refugees?

[Chris Alexander, Conservative, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, we just heard once again why Canadians understand, and certainly Syrian refugees understand, that the one member of Parliament who they cannot count on to get the facts straight is the member for Markham—Unionville.

There are no permanent residents who came as part of that 1,782. They are protected persons. They are refugees. We went over our commitment for government assisted refugees, and there are hundreds of private sponsors who have put in their applications and who will take those numbers even higher.

What is embarrassing with both the NDP and the Liberals is their refusal to recognize Canadian humanitarian achievements when we work hard to achieve them. We have resettled 20,000 Iraqi refugees.

CBC/Radio-Canada

[Pierre Nantel, NDP, Longueuil—Pierre-Boucher, QC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, I took to the streets of Montreal with more than 25,000 people who were demonstrating their love for CBC/Radio-Canada. There were protests from Montreal to Gaspé and in Sherbrooke, Moncton and Ottawa. It was a massive demonstration that was organized by Nicolas Bédard, who feels it is unacceptable that our public broadcaster is being dismantled. We all chanted in unison that we love the CBC and it is important to us.

Will the minister finally hear the message?

[Shelly Glover, Conservative, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages]

Mr. Speaker, as I said today, I fully understand the important role that CBC/Radio-Canada plays. It is attracting fewer viewers than before, despite the fact that it is receiving more than $1.1 billion from taxpayers each year.

The changes to CBC/Radio-Canada are a result of that decrease. The corporation is responsible for its own activities. I leave that to the corporation.

Once again, I fully understand the important role that CBC/Radio-Canada plays.

[Pierre Nantel, NDP, Longueuil—Pierre-Boucher, QC]

Mr. Speaker, at just $28 per Canadian, Canada ranks really low when it comes to funding our public broadcaster. It is hopeless.

The CBC cannot function properly without adequate parliamentary funding. I am repeating this because it seems that the Liberals and some Conservatives clearly do not understand it. In a letter published Friday, even Hubert Lacroix admits that he does not have the resources needed to fulfill the public broadcaster's mandate.

Some 25,000 ordinary Canadians are worried. Will the minister ever see the light and understand that?

[Shelly Glover, Conservative, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages]

Mr. Speaker, as I just said in French, I understand perfectly well the important role the CBC plays. That is why we provide it with over $1.1 billion every year.

I want to repeat the quote from the president of the CBC with regard to this issue, “Our employees are currently engaged in a transformation process aimed at helping us meet the challenges of a rapidly changing media environment to which no mainstream broadcaster is immune”.

That is the point. CBC is not the only one faced with this changing demographic in the television and broadcasting industry. We must all adapt, but it is getting $1.1 billion.

National Defence

[Earl Dreeshen, Conservative, Red Deer, AB]

Mr. Speaker, last week, on November 11, we all took time to reflect on the service and sacrifice of our veterans and serving members and for their courageous dedication to our country.

We were also reminded that the fight against oppression and tyranny is not limited to the past century and that it continues on different battlefields today.

We now have confirmed reports that ISIL has murdered Peter Kassig, a former U.S. army ranger who was an aid worker in the region.

Could the Minister of National Defence please provide an update on Operation Impact and how the Canadian Armed Forces are contributing in the fight against ISIL?

[Rob Nicholson, Conservative, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, this week a series of coalition missions were conducted where ISIL was known to operate in the area north of Baghdad. An RCAF CF-18 struck an ISIL artillery piece by using laser-guided ammunition in support of Iraqi security forces' ground operations in the area. This denied ISIL the military means to attack either the Iraqi security forces or the coalition assets.

This strike demonstrates Canada's resolve to tackle the threat of terrorism and to stand with our allies against ISIL's atrocities against innocent women, children and men. We condemn these barbaric actions and will continue to support the security forces in Iraq in their fight against these terrorists.

Consumer Protection

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Canadian consumers believe in and benefit from a fair and open competitive marketplace.

A few days ago, Club Coffee filed a complaint with the Competition Bureau, seeking an investigation into the behaviour of the largest foreign corporation operating in Canada in the field of single-serve coffee pods. Five other companies support the complaint, including Granville Island Coffee Company and St. John's-based Jumping Bean Coffee.

Could the government assure the House that an investigation will be promptly undertaken?

[James Moore, Conservative, Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, we do not direct the Competition Bureau in its investigations or the timeliness of its investigations. However, this is a very good moment because if the biggest concern we have in our country right now, according to the questions from the opposition, is a lack of choice in coffee, we are doing pretty good as a country. It is a good sign.

Added to that, we have given the Competition Bureau extra powers. In fact, as has been reported by the Competition Bureau in its annual report, the estimated dollar savings per annum to consumers by the bureau, because of the new powers we have given it, are $572 million in the pockets of consumers. We are standing up for consumers in every way.

Quebec Bridge

[Denis Blanchette, NDP, Louis-Hébert, QC]

Mr. Speaker, this weekend, CN paid for advertising in the Quebec media. CN clearly does not plan on painting the bridge. It is even prepared to give it away—yes, to give away the bridge—just to make the problem go away. Once again, CN is demonstrating that it is not a responsible corporate citizen.

Now the question is whether the Conservatives will honour the promise they made to the people of Quebec City. Will the minister ever take responsibility and ensure that the rehabilitation of the Quebec Bridge is completed?

[Jeff Watson, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, there has been no discussion of any transfer. To be clear, we are not interested in that option.

CN, which owns the Quebec Bridge, is responsible for painting the Quebec Bridge.

National Defence

[Joe Daniel, Conservative, Don Valley East, ON]

Mr. Speaker, once again the brave men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces have acted with professionalism, bravery, and selfless courage in the face of danger. While stationed in Antalya, Turkey, several members of HMCS Toronto responded to a fire on the second floor of the restaurant where they were having a meal ashore. Without hesitation, our armed forces members acted not only to put out the fire but to assist those in need.

Can the Minister of National Defence please provide further details on this incident and the brave actions taken by our crew on HMCS Toronto?

[Rob Nicholson, Conservative, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, all members of our Royal Canadian Navy ships companies are trained in first response firefighting techniques. Clearly, these officers and crew were in the right place at the right time.

I would like to personally commend the efforts of Lt. Samuel Gaudreault and Lt. Daniel Willis, who first detected the fire and rushed to assist. Leading Seaman Jean-Francois Martineau and Able Seaman Chris Richards then hurried to provide further support. Master Cpl. Shirley Jardine and Cpl. Jo Boivin, from the ship's air attachment, also provided first aid assistance.

These courageous actions of our members who helped put out this fire once again demonstrate that the Canadian Armed Forces are ready for any challenge. Ready, aye, ready.

Access to Information

[Mathieu Ravignat, NDP, Pontiac, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the President of the Treasury Board recently launched Canada's action plan on open government 2.0. How hypocritical. Access to information complaints increased by 30% last year. The Information Commissioner of Canada is so overloaded, she no longer has the resources she needs to help users.

Will the minister honour his commitment to transparency and provide the commissioner with the means to do her job?

[Tony Clement, Conservative, President of the Treasury Board]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to report that the federal government has in fact increased its reaction, data, and access to information requests by 27%.

Over six million more pages were released last year. That is two million more pages than the year before. In fact, as a result of our new open data and open government action plan, we are going to put more information online and have more data available for citizens, researchers, entrepreneurs, and the public.

We are proud of our record.

Rail Transportation

[Jean-François Fortin, Forces et Démocratie, Haute-Gaspésie—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Lac-Mégantic disaster showed that everyday citizens are the ones who have to assume the risks, including the financial risks, of shipping oil. Elected officials on Montreal's south shore are joining others in Quebec to reject this idea. They are calling on the federal government to require oil companies to create a mitigation and compensation fund for modifying dangerous infrastructure, training first responders and paying for any spills.

Instead of trying to have us, like the NDP and the Liberals, believe that the solution is to build pipelines, will the minister listen to local officials and force the creation of a mitigation and compensation fund?

[Jeff Watson, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, quite the opposite. The Minister of Transport has been doing everything in her power to ensure that we are responding appropriately with respect to rail safety, including in the transportation of oil by rail.

We have taken a number of important actions in that particular regard. As well, the Canadian Transportation Agency has been tasked with looking into questions of liability and will be reporting back on that matter.

Taxation

[Brent Rathgeber, Independent, Edmonton—St. Albert, AB]

Mr. Speaker, unlike other members of the opposition, I actually support the government's intention to introduce income splitting, because I support income tax relief generally. However, I do agree with the opposition that income splitting will benefit far fewer Canadians than would generalized, broad-based tax relief.

Why does the government prefer boutique tax credits and a complicated tax code over simply lowering income tax rates for all Canadians?

[Jason Kenney, Conservative, Minister of Employment and Social Development and Minister for Multiculturalism]

Mr. Speaker, I think the question was criticizing the platform the member was elected on. The electors of Edmonton—St. Albert sent him here to fight for income splitting, not to argue against it.

In terms of broad-based tax relief, that is exactly what the government has done with over $200 billion in tax relief, saving the average family $3,400 a year—that is before this most recent tax cut—bringing the total federal tax burden down to its lowest level as a share of our economy since the 1950s.

We are expanding the horizons of human freedom by reducing taxes, and we are proud of it.

Health

[Manon Perreault, Independent, Montcalm, QC]

Mr. Speaker, it is difficult to boast about open federalism when the provinces have to pay for the government's unilateral decisions. For example, the cuts to employment insurance are putting increased pressure on welfare services across the country. It is irresponsible to go after health care. When it budgets for federal transfers, the government must ensure that everyone has access to local health care services.

What is the government doing to ensure that the next round of cuts will not affect public health care?