Debates of June 13th, 2014

The Environment

[Linda Duncan, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Mr. Speaker, perhaps the government could check that. The majority of electricity in Alberta comes from coal power.

The Conservatives malign U.S. efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions, yet we remain way behind our neighbours in reducing energy costs for the federal government.

In 2005, the U.S. passed a law imposing mandatory energy reductions and renewable power targets for all federal departments. Even George Bush enacted an energy security law for Americans. Where is the parallel and long-promised Canadian clean energy strategy, or was it deep-sixed with the demise of Bruce Carson?

[Colin Carrie, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, Canada is a leader in the environment. What Canadians need to know is that we only account for less than 2% of global greenhouse gases. For this reason, Canada supports the international agreement on climate change that includes real action by all emitters.

In the meantime, our government is doing our part by taking action to reduce greenhouse gases in Canada. Since 2006, we invested significant funds in more efficient technologies, better infrastructure adaptation and cleaner energy. We have done it without a $20 billion carbon tax.

We are protecting the environment. Canadians want us—

[The Acting Speaker, Conservative, Barry Devolin]

Order, please. The hon. member for Brant.

Ethics

[Phil McColeman, Conservative, Brant, ON]

Mr. Speaker, as Canadian taxpayers found out this week, 1,800,000 first-class stamps do add up. The NDP found out that it was responsible to repay $1.17 million to Canada Post for abusing and misusing its MP mailing privileges.

Canadians want to know that MPs are respecting taxpayer money. Could the chief government whip tell us what steps are being taken to ensure there is accountability in the House?

[John Duncan, Conservative, Minister of State and Chief Government Whip]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives have led the way in ensuring transparency and accountability. We are the only party that has been posting our MP travel and hospitality expenses fully and voluntarily since last October. We will continue to be transparent and respect taxpayers.

On the other hand, the New Democrats have refused to post their travel and hospitality expenses from the beginning. They have refused to be transparent and they have refused to be accountable. Now they are refusing to pay Canadians back for what they owe the—

[The Acting Speaker, Conservative, Barry Devolin]

Order. The hon. member for Cape Breton—Canso.

Regional Development

[Rodger Cuzner, Liberal, Cape Breton—Canso, NS]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday in question period in response to a question, the Minister of Transport said that she will work with Mayor Cecil Clarke to help out the Cape Breton Regional Municipality.

So far, the Conservative government has walked away from its commitment to Mayor Clarke to provide fifty-cent dollars on municipal infrastructure projects. It has cut 160 EI processing jobs in his backyard, shut down the Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation, run away from the MV Miner, and shut down the Veterans Affairs office in Sydney.

Cape Bretoners want to know: is the minister working with Mayor Clarke, or is she just working him over?

[Gerald Keddy, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Revenue and for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency]

Mr. Speaker, the reality is that our government is committed to supporting economic development in Cape Breton and throughout Atlantic Canada.

The hon. member went off on several issues there, but on ACOA, we maintain the office in Sydney. The minister has also directed ACOA staff to re-staff the office in Port Hawkesbury in order to better assist entrepreneurs, local economic development organizations and community leaders in Cape Breton.

Public Works and Government Services

[Anne-Marie Day, NDP, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we recently learned that the construction of the Quebec City covered ice rink will be delayed.

The minister committed to paying for one-third of the cost of construction. She promised us that the old building Canada fund would make the project possible.

Now they are telling us that the money might no longer be available.

Did the minister carry over the money earmarked for the ice rink this year, and will she commit to delivering the federal money that was promised until the project is complete?

[Bernard Trottier, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Works and Government Services]

Mr. Speaker, our government is determined to provide the men and women of the Royal Canadian Navy and the Canadian Coast Guard with the equipment they need and to provide taxpayers with the best value for money.

Many companies, including the Davie shipyard, will be able to participate in our national strategy and in these contracts.

Canadian Heritage

[James Lunney, Conservative, Nanaimo—Alberni, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the Vancouver Aquarium is a jewel in Stanley Park. Millions from around the world have come to visit this world-class facility, which is dedicated to the conservation of aquatic life and to education and research.

Today is the grand opening of the newly renovated Vancouver Aquarium. This project has added 55,000 square feet of high-tech exploratory space. It is the most ambitious project ever undertaken by the aquarium. It vastly improves the habitats of more than 50,000 fish and animals.

Can the minister please update this House on how this important project will help the Vancouver economy as well as the province of British Columbia?

[Ed Holder, Conservative, Minister of State (Science and Technology)]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to acknowledge the member for Nanaimo—Alberni from the great province of British Columbia for that question.

Today in the heart of Stanley Park, local residents joined our government and the Province of B.C. to celebrate the completion of extensive renovations to the Vancouver Aquarium, which hosts over one million visitors per year.

These renovations will help maintain the aquarium's reputation as a world-class leader in aquatic research and as an international destination, providing hundreds of local jobs and generating over $100 million annually for the local economy.

Through the Vancouver Aquarium's revitalization expansion, our government is showing its continued commitment to tourism, jobs, and the local economies of—

[The Acting Speaker, Conservative, Barry Devolin]

The hon. member for Haute-Gaspésie—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia.

Intergovernmental Relations

[Jean-François Fortin, Bloc, Haute-Gaspésie—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia, QC]

Mr. Speaker, on one hand, we have the Liberal and NDP leaders who are hiding under the robes of the Supreme Court justices to avoid having to acknowledge the merits of the Quebec bill that allows those who are suffering and close to death to die with dignity.

On the other hand, we have the Minister of Justice, who is fearmongering and threatening criminal action against Quebec doctors who obey Quebec law.

Quebec does not care about the minister's threats. It clearly stated that Quebec prosecutors would not prosecute doctors who obey Quebec law, which falls under health care.

Will the Minister of Justice stop using scare tactics and misleading Quebec doctors and Quebeckers who are terminally ill?

[Bob Dechert, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice]

Mr. Speaker, as the member will know, Parliament dealt with exactly that issue four years ago. It was defeated with votes from members of all parties in this House. The government has no intention of reopening that issue in this session of Parliament.

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

Mr. Speaker, economists from the Bank of Montreal this week reported that the Alberta economy is in a league of its own and that more, not fewer, temporary foreign workers are required.

However, given higher unemployment rates in other regions of the country and the Conservative government's lack of political will to provide meaningful reforms to the temporary foreign worker program that will allow employers who play by the rules access to the program, will the government take the Alberta labour minister up on his offer to devolve responsibility for the temporary foreign worker program in Alberta to the Alberta government?

[Scott Armstrong, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Employment and Social Development]

Mr. Speaker, the purpose of the temporary foreign worker program is to provide workers for employers who cannot find available Canadians in areas of acute labour shortage in certain regions and certain sectors.

The minister has already made several indications that he is going to make new announcements to tighten up this situation to ensure that all employers follow the rules and always offer the jobs to Canadians first before they approach temporary foreign workers.

Justice

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

Mr. Speaker, the government claims that Bill C-36 would keep sex workers immune from prosecution except at or near where children are present. However, when it comes to child prostitutes, they are not only reasonably expected to be present wherever the child is selling sex, but a child is in fact present.

Does the government seriously intend to prosecute the most marginalized and most exploited members involved in this trade, the child prostitutes?

[Bob Dechert, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice]

Mr. Speaker, through Bill C-36, the government is balancing the interests of protecting vulnerable Canadians and minors and our communities. Bill C-36 shows compassion toward those trapped in this awful practice. It would also crack down on those responsible for exploiting the persons who are trapped in this industry. That is what Canadians want us to do, and that is what Bill C-36 would do.

Government Response to Petitions

[Tom Lukiwski, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to 31 petitions.

Rouge National Urban Park Act

[Bernard Valcourt, Conservative, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-40, An Act respecting the Rouge National Urban Park.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

Justice and Human Rights

[Bob Dechert, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the sixth report of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights in relation to Bill C-13, An Act to amend the Criminal Code, the Canada Evidence Act, the Competition Act and the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Act.

The committee has studied the bill, and has decided to report the bill back to the House with an amendment.

Health

[Eve Adams, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the fifth report of the Standing Committee on Health in relation to Bill C-17, An Act to amend the Food and Drugs Act.

The committee has studied the bill, and has decided to report the bill back to the House with amendments.

Transport, Infrastructure and Communities

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the third report of the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities entitled “Interim Report on Rail Safety Review”.

Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report.

[Hoang Mai, NDP, Brossard—La Prairie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to add some comments regarding the majority report of the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities that was just tabled.

We studied rail transportation of dangerous goods and safety management systems. I would like to thank all the witnesses who took the time to come and share their views, as well as the Library of Parliament analysts who worked extremely hard so that we could produce a well-balanced report.

We will nevertheless be tabling a supplementary report to differentiate our way of doing things from that of the Liberals and Conservatives, who let things go and allow rail companies to self-regulate. We addressed such issues as inspections, audits, violations, exemptions, better planning, emergency preparedness and safety management systems. There is a full explanation in the supplementary report, and I invite all members to read it.