Debates of June 20th, 2014

Infrastructure

[John McKay, Liberal, Scarborough—Guildwood, ON]

Mr. Speaker, there are two seasons in Canada: winter and construction. Every morning, GTA residents wake up to their daily nightmare, transit gridlock, which some estimates blame for a $1 billion annual loss in productivity. The $600 million the Conservatives owe the people of Ontario would go a long way toward alleviating GTA commuters' daily frustrations by financing a transit infrastructure fund.

Where is the cheque?

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, my colleague is once again misleading the House. He is completely out to lunch. We have increased funding, we have given municipalities more flexibility and we have signed agreements with the majority of the provinces and territories regarding the federal gas tax fund, which is more flexible than before.

The Environment

[John McKay, Liberal, Scarborough—Guildwood, ON]

Mr. Speaker, following President Obama's proclamation that he is regulating America's largest emitter, Secretary Kerry instructed U.S. diplomats that it is a priority that requires “elevated urgency and attention”.

Since we know that the Minister of the Environment has no ongoing negotiations with our largest emitter, could the Minister of Foreign Affairs tell us whether he has issued similar guidelines to Canada's diplomats, or are we offside once again with our largest trading partner?

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, many people forget that Canada represents less than 2% of global emissions, while the United States produces almost 20%, and that coal-fired electricity energy generation in the United States produces twice the greenhouse gas emissions as all the emissions produced in Canada.

We are pleased that the United States is following in Canada's footsteps. We will continue to build on our record and work with the United States to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions internationally.

Citizenship and Immigration

[Libby Davies, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Mr. Speaker, today on World Refugee Day, with a global refugee population surging past 50 million people for the first time since World War II, it is time for the Conservatives to recognize the failure of their policies. Instead of a fair and accessible process, the Conservatives have passed laws to shut out refugees and cut access to health care and have spun themselves in circles on the Syrian refugee crisis. Canada must do better.

Will the minister commit today to focusing on protection for refugees instead of playing political games?

[Costas Menegakis, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, since our government's comprehensive reforms to Canada's asylum system took effect, the number of new asylum claims from safe countries has decreased to historic lows, ensuring that genuine refugees, truly vulnerable people from some of the world's most vulnerable, volatile areas, receive faster and fairer protection. Claims from democratic countries are down by 87%, saving taxpayers more than $600 million so far in welfare, education, and health care costs.

Canada has a long and proud tradition of providing protection to those who need it most, and we will continue to do so.

[Paul Dewar, NDP, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, we used to have a proud tradition with regard to refugee claimants seeking asylum. However, the numbers have dropped by half, so the government's numbers about people trying to get access are actually wrong.

Let us be very clear. Today is World Refugee Day. The UN has asked Canada to support and receive 10,000 Syrian refugees. What we heard from the government today is that while it will provide some money, it will not provide safe passage to refugees.

The people of Syria need Canada's assistance. They need Canada to assure them that we are going to give 10,000 refugees support here.

Syria is calling. Is the government going to answer the call and help the refugees of Syria, yes or no?

[Costas Menegakis, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, the member's rhetoric is completely wrong. I have said repeatedly, as has the minister, that our government is one of the most welcoming countries in the world. We welcome one out of every ten refugees worldwide, but members need not take my word for it. Here is a comment from the Dandachi family—a refugee family from Syria, the member will be interested to know.

Here is what Mr. Dandachi had to say:

I thank Canadian government and I thank all Canadian people for what they are doing for us. They are doing their best things and giving us everything. I will not forget (the moment) in my life when I came to Canada.

He said that the 17 days he has been in Canada have felt like a honeymoon.

[Alexandrine Latendresse, NDP, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Mr. Speaker, three million people have had to flee Syria as a result of the civil war. Instead of reaching out and doing as much as possible for these refugees, the Conservatives would rather argue over numbers. The worst is that they are not even able to tell us how many refugees sponsored by the government are now on Canadian soil. This is yet more proof of the Conservatives' incompetence.

We will give them another chance to give an answer to a very clear question: of the 200 refugees sponsored by the Government of Canada, and not by other organizations, how many are currently on Canadian soil?

[Costas Menegakis, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, we are happy to say that over 1,150 people from Syria have settled in Canada since the start of the Syrian conflict, but once again, do not take my word for it. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees recognizes Canada's international leadership when it comes to providing assistance. This is what Commissioner Guterres said:

Canada has always been extremely generous in relation to international solidarity on refugee issues. So I’m confident that Canada will give a positive and adequate response to the needs that today exist.

[Alexandrine Latendresse, NDP, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we still do not know how many government-sponsored refugees are here. That is completely unacceptable.

Not only have the Conservatives shown their inability to provide assistance to Syrian refugees, but they have also cut health care services for refugees. The best way to evaluate a government is to look at how it treats the most vulnerable members of society. What the Conservatives are saying is that if you are a refugee as a result of conflict or persecution, you should definitely not get sick.

On this World Refugee Day, will the minister change his attitude?

[Costas Menegakis, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, we have said repeatedly that we welcome one out of every ten refugees around the world. We have welcomed 1,150 Syrians since the start of the Syrian conflict. We are very proud of our government's action in looking after those people in the world who need it the most.

Shamefully, when we brought refugee reforms into Parliament for votes, the NDP was the first party to stand up and vote against any assistance that we want to give these vulnerable people around the world. Shame on the member for saying that.

Employment

[Rosane Doré Lefebvre, NDP, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

Mr. Speaker, it is not just the Canadian workers who have been replaced by cheap labour that are the victims of the current program. Temporary foreign workers have been exploited and abused. Some of them have had part of their pay withheld by unscrupulous employers. Others have had to work in conditions that were hazardous to their health and safety.

Will the Minister of Employment commit to releasing not only the list of employers using the program but also the job descriptions and the wages associated with those positions?

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

Mr. Speaker, today, we will announce fundamental changes to the temporary foreign worker program so that Canadians have first crack at the jobs available in Canada. These changes will prevent employers from abusing the program and exploiting temporary foreign workers. One of the measures is designed to ensure more transparency by requiring the program to issue a report every three months on the number of companies that made a request for temporary foreign workers. That way, more data will be available to Parliamentarians and the general public.

[Alexandre Boulerice, NDP, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the government is promising us for the 136th time that it is going to solve the problem. The temporary foreign worker program was irresponsibly managed by the Liberals and the Conservatives. The Conservatives have no idea what the local needs are because they gutted Statistics Canada. The department's database is unreliable, much like this government. Despite all their fine promises, the Conservatives did not send inspectors to visit the companies that hire temporary foreign workers.

As a result, some employers took advantage of temporary foreign workers while the Minister of Employment and Social Development turned a blind eye to the problem. How are we supposed to trust the government to find ways to fix the temporary foreign worker program now?

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

Mr. Speaker, I do not know whether there was a question there.

I repeat that the government took action today after two years of consultation with all parties involved, including unions, to reform the program and ensure that Canadians have first crack at the jobs available in Canada, as well as to deal with employers' misuse of the program. We will make sure that there are consequences and penalties for employers who abuse the program.

[Pat Martin, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Employment wears everything that is wrong with the temporary foreign worker program like some big stinking albatross around his neck. Now, at the eleventh hour, he wants to put lipstick on a pig, not to mix metaphors, on the very day that we adjourn for the summer. He knows that not a single temporary foreign worker should be working in our country if there is a single qualified Canadian available for that work.

In whose interest is it to give away Canadian jobs and drive down Canadian wages? What is he doing for all those people who were displaced while he mismanaged this program for the last eight years?

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

Mr. Speaker, what we hear is the very typical demagogy of the NDP that I do not hear from NDP provincial governments. When I talk to NDP provincial governments, what they raise with me is the opposite concern. They raise concern about certain regions and industries that do not have Canadians applying for jobs. They ask that we take a prudent approach to ensuring that we do not negatively impact those businesses and in turn end up causing Canadians their job.

That is why today we are taking a tough but fair approach, a balanced approach that will crack down on abuse, will ensure that Canadians come first and that ensures this program operates only and always as a last and limited resort.

Justice

[Mylène Freeman, NDP, Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC]

Mr. Speaker, when the Minister of Justice was forced to explain why so few women and minorities sat on the bench, he claimed judicial advisory committees were improving things. The problem is that those committees themselves are examples of gender imbalance, with 75% men. In the last round of appointments, the government named 10 more men. That is not progress.

Here is an idea. When an NDP justice minister wanted greater diversity, he wrote to lawyers inviting them to apply. Has the minister at least done that?

[Robert Goguen, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice]

Mr. Speaker, judicial appointments are based on one single criteria and one single criteria only: merit and legal excellence. Since coming into power in 2006, 182 women judges have been named to the superior courts of the provinces. This is a 17% increase in the number of women in the judiciary. They are critical to the judicial process.

We will continue to encourage women to apply for these important positions because we know they are good for the country.

[Mylène Freeman, NDP, Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC]

Mr. Speaker, instead of trying his best to make the courts more representative of our communities, the Minister of Justice has abdicated his responsibilities. He should have admitted his government's failure to appoint judges in a manner that reflects Canada's diversity and promotes gender equality. It is his responsibility to appoint judges. Will he make an effort to ensure our courts are more representative?

[Robert Goguen, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice]

Mr. Speaker, we are very pleased with the judges we have appointed to superior courts in various provinces. Chief Justice Nicole Duval is the first female chief justice to sit on the Quebec Court of Appeal and Justice Guylaine Beaugé, who was born in Haiti, is the first black woman to be appointed to the Quebec Superior Court.

There are others. In Alberta, four empty seats have been filled by four highly qualified women. In Ontario, two empty seats have been filled by two highly qualified women. In B.C., two out of four empty seats were filled by women. We will continue to appoint highly qualified women to provincial superior courts.

Aboriginal Affairs

[Lise St-Denis, Liberal, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Justice recently delighted us with his sexist comments about the role of women in our judiciary. Given the contempt that his government has shown the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, his comments clearly sum up how the Conservatives feel about the judiciary.

Can the minister explain if his thoughts on the role of women in society has inspired his refusal to investigate the disappearance of thousands of aboriginal women in this country?

[Robert Goguen, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice]

Mr. Speaker, in recent years, there have been at least 40 investigations and studies. Nothing has come of them. Violence continues to be a problem in aboriginal communities. We will invest $25 million in these communities. We will work with them in order to truly address the problem, and that is how we will reduce violence against aboriginal women.

Justice

[Ted Hsu, Liberal, Kingston and the Islands, ON]

Mr. Speaker, visible minorities make up 19% of Canadians, yet in the last six years, only 1.5% of federal judicial appointments were visible minorities. That is three judges, not even enough to fill a Conservative photo op.

The justice minister says that Conservatives appoint so few visible minorities because few apply. The Prime Minister recently said, “You can't manage what you can't measure”.

Therefore, will the justice minister commit to releasing data on how many women and visible minorities apply for federal judgeships?