House of Commons Hansard #144 of the 37th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was quebec.
Wayne Easter LiberalSolicitor General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, surely in these times the hon. member is not saying that CSIS should not do its job at home and abroad. I certainly believe it should.
The fact is, no, the mandate has not changed. The mandate is in fact the same. The job of CSIS is to protect and enhance the national security of Canadians. It is doing that and will continue to do that under the various authorities granted to it by Parliament.
Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
Mr. Speaker, it seems that the environment minister is another big one that did not get away from the Irving fishing lodge scandals.
While he was staying at the lodge, we doubt the minister raised Irving's chronic history of dumping effluent into the water. We also doubt he raised the fact that of the five times Irving has been caught polluting, it has been fined only once.
NAFTA's environment commission is demanding a full inquiry into Irving's polluting ways but our environment minister has strangely always remained silent and has refused to take a stand.
Would the minister put an end to any perceived conflict of interest and agree today to support the NAFTA environment commission's inquiry into the Irving pollution?
David Anderson LiberalMinister of the Environment
Mr. Speaker, no enforcement decisions come before me as minister. Under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, enforcement officers are responsible for enforcement actions, not the minister. Departmental policy is that I am only informed after the event, when the information is being publicly released to all members of the House as well as myself.
Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
Mr. Speaker, on the subject of ethics, I wonder if the Minister of Justice thinks it is ethical to charge 500% annual interest on loans, or even legal. That is what money marts and pawn shops charge now that the chartered banks have abandoned their obligations to provide basic services to Canadians. In fact, 14 branches have closed in my riding alone.
If the government cannot or will not bring the banks into line, will it at least begin to enforce the usury provisions of the Criminal Code and put an end to this outrageous exploitation of low income people in the inner city of Winnipeg and other cities in Canada?
Maurizio Bevilacqua LiberalSecretary of State (International Financial Institutions)
Mr. Speaker, if the hon. member were to read Bill C-8, I am sure he would recognize that one of the major components of Bill C-8 is in fact consumer protection.
Also, above and beyond that, we have created the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada to address precisely some of those key concerns, as well as generate the type of competitive environment required so that people have choices.
Jay Hill Canadian Alliance Prince George—Peace River, BC
Mr. Speaker, it is now tragically clear that our Canadian Forces need more protection against a greater level of threat, especially in Afghanistan.
The government has belatedly admitted the need for more armoured utility vehicles, yet the defence minister has also stated that the anticipated new replacement vehicle for the Iltis will provide no armoured protection.
Why is the government continuing with its plan to replace the antiquated, rusted out Iltis with an equally unarmoured vehicle?
John McCallum LiberalMinister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, I might point out that the military professionals have reassessed the situation. That is why we are in the process of sending armoured vehicles to reinforce the situation, to give the command a greater flexibility on the ground.
I would also point out that half of the patrols continue to be on foot, which speaks to the need to reach out to the people of Afghanistan, in part, to protect our own people. It is defence 101, that by befriending the local population they are less likely to shoot at us and will give us intelligence information that is very valuable.
Jay Hill Canadian Alliance Prince George—Peace River, BC
Mr. Speaker, unlike the minister, Canadians are well aware of the necessity to replace our military's over-age, undependable, unarmoured Iltis.
Unfortunately, the level of political interference involved with its replacement has left only one supplier willing to sell its vehicle to the government. Therefore the Minister of National Defence has not had the opportunity to select the best vehicle for our military.
I am asking about the replacements, not about what is going on at the moment in Afghanistan. Given this, will he commit to ensuring that these new utility vehicles have enough armour to adequately protect our troops from mines right now?
John McCallum LiberalMinister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, as I just said, additional armoured vehicles are in the process of being airlifted to Afghanistan at this time. We have advanced the position of the new vehicles on the production line and they as well will be delivered to Afghanistan at the earliest possible time.
There has been a healthy discussion in Afghanistan among the soldiers. The consensus is that no one vehicle is ideal but this new vehicle is clearly superior to the Iltis. We will get that vehicle there as quickly as possible, as well as the additional armoured vehicles that are on the way.
Serge Cardin Bloc Sherbrooke, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs keeps saying that Canada is one of the most decentralized federations in the world and that Quebec's distinctiveness is fully recognized. Yet, since 1996, Ottawa has implemented at least seven new programs for which an equivalent program already existed in Quebec.
How does the minister explain that Quebec was not entitled to opt out when Ottawa established the Canada child tax benefit, the Canada Foundation for Innovation, the health transition fund, the research centres of excellence program, the Canada prenatal nutrition program, the Canada millennium scholarships, the employability assistance program for people with disabilities—
Intergovernmental RelationsOral Question Period
The Speaker
The hon. Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs.
Stéphane Dion LiberalPresident of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs
Mr. Speaker, each of these initiatives had been very well received by Quebeckers and negotiated with the Government of Quebec. In each instance, including the millennium scholarships, the Government of Quebec was able to say that its jurisdiction was respected.
Serge Cardin Bloc Sherbrooke, QC
Mr. Speaker, we probably do not read the same news from Quebec.
Will the minister acknowledge that Quebec was not allowed to opt out simply because the purpose of the social union agreement is to make Quebec a province like any other?
Stéphane Dion LiberalPresident of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs
Mr. Speaker, I have never seen a province like the others. I do not know what that is. I know that Quebec is a unique province and that Newfoundland is also unique in its own way.
However, that is not the crux of the issue. The crux of the issue is that if the hon. member insists on believing that the social union agreement does not recognize the right to opt out, then he did not read it.
Myron Thompson Canadian Alliance Wild Rose, AB
Mr. Speaker, recently at an international conference on child exploitation, held in Toronto, police chief Julian Fantino said:
I have been both embarrassed and ashamed by the performance of our criminal justice system that in essence has put the rights of pedophiles ahead of the rights of children.
When will the Minister of Justice put children first and do away with conditional sentencing, which is nothing more than house arrest, for child pornographers?
Martin Cauchon LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, the member's question on the protection of children in our society is very important.
The member knows full well that Canada has one of the best pieces of legislation in the world and it is one that we are actually improving. He also knows that Bill C-20, a bill ensuring that we offer much better protection to our children here in Canada, is before the justice committee. I invite all parties in the House to support Bill C-20 and ensure the bill is passed as soon as possible.
Myron Thompson Canadian Alliance Wild Rose, AB
Mr. Speaker, I know nothing of the sort, nor does Chief Fantino.
I would like members to listen to what else he had to say. He said that regardless of Bill C-20 and political assurances to the contrary:
--Canada lacks both the vision, the determination and the moral courage to address this issue.
When will the minister find some courage and start leading the fight against child pornography, instead of sitting on the sidelines and never even bringing up the rear? Will the minister commit today to eliminating all defences for child pornography?
Martin Cauchon LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, as I said earlier, we should make sure that we pass Bill C-20 as soon as we can. Bill C-20 is in answer to the Sharpe decision of the Supreme Court, as we know very well.
Over the past few years we have enacted new provisions and new offences within the Criminal Code in order to increase the protection of children. I am talking about the question of Internet luring, which is a brand new offence. We have created, jointly with the Government of Manitoba, a new tool for police forces called Cybertip.ca, which is a very effective tool.
We will keep working together in order to offer young Canadians the best protection possible.
Roy H. Bailey Canadian Alliance Souris—Moose Mountain, SK
Mr. Speaker, there was unanimous consent at the veterans affairs committee to extend the VIP benefit to some 23,000 additional war widows. There were rumours that the government agreed and would make an announcement. War widows who were also expecting this announcement have been saddened by this and they are losing faith.
Has the minister forgotten the needs of 23,000 war widows who have contributed as much as those widows who are currently in this program?
Rey D. Pagtakhan LiberalMinister of Veterans Affairs and Secretary of State (Science
Mr. Speaker, the government has not forgotten the needs of any veteran in this country. The government has been seized with this issue.
I can assure the member that the department continues to be engaged in this issue and has been engaged in this issue for over a year now. When we made the announcement last May we were not able to proceed for all because of the fiscal reality. However I assure the member that we have not forgotten any veteran for any need he or she may have.
Roy H. Bailey Canadian Alliance Souris—Moose Mountain, SK
Mr. Speaker, no member of Parliament on any side of the House could read the number of letters that I have received from these war widows without being touched by their condition and their plight, while at the same time ashamed of the government for its inaction.
How can the government, with a boasted surplus of billions, continue to keep these war widows at the bottom of the priority list?
Rey D. Pagtakhan LiberalMinister of Veterans Affairs and Secretary of State (Science
Mr. Speaker, we too continue to be touched because these are very human issues. The government will continue to be sensitive to the needs of veterans.
Christiane Gagnon Bloc Québec, QC
Mr. Speaker, the CRTC held public hearings on the distribution of Bell ExpressVu and StarChoice satellite services. Regional stakeholders have been requesting for a long time that satellite retransmission companies broadcast regional news locally, in the Mauricie and Saguenay in particular. The Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage made a recommendation in this respect.
Could the heritage minister tell us whether she intends to defend the regions by giving a favourable response to the committee's recommendations?
Carole-Marie Allard LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce in this House that, with respect to the standing committee's report on the situation of broadcasting, which was tabled last summer, the department will be able to provide my hon. colleague with an answer within a few days.
Brian Pallister Canadian Alliance Portage—Lisgar, MB
Mr. Speaker, the paycheque for every working Canadian has a deduction box on it for EI. People work under the assumption that the money taken off a cheque goes to EI.
If people were working under that assumption they would be wrong because over the last decade the government has taken $45 billion away from working Canadians, which, according to the Auditor General, has not gone to EI at all.
My question is for the Minister of Finance. Would he admit today in the House that the money taken off these cheques was taken under false pretenses?