Debates of Feb. 16th, 2005

The Environment

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, that has nothing to do with Kyoto. The New Democratic Party, which wants to get a lot of mileage out of Kyoto, has no fiscal plan to finance its policy. Between these extremes, there is the Liberal Government of Canada, which will enable Canadians to achieve the Kyoto objective while keeping finances sound.

Hydroelectric Dams

[Peter MacKay, Conservative, Central Nova, NS]

Mr. Speaker, anyone at all can get into a power plant. From Kitimat to Churchill Falls, hundreds of major dams are exposed to the al-Qaedas and Hezbollahs of the world.

Unaware, even yesterday of the Radio-Canada revelations, the minister is getting lost in her explanations. North America' s energy is threatened, and she is asleep at the switch.

What role will she give CSIS in this matter, this very day?

[Anne McLellan, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness]

Mr. Speaker, in reference to the specific commentary around Hydro-Québec, this is a matter first and foremost for Hydro-Québec and then for the province. That is why Premier Charest and Minister Chagnon this morning asked the Sûreté du Québec to investigate the situation as it relates to Hydro-Québec.

Most of the critical infrastructure in this country is owned by the private sector. We work with the private sector, local governments and provinces. We are in the process of developing a critical infrastructure protection plan.

[Peter MacKay, Conservative, Central Nova, NS]

Mr. Speaker, over two years ago there was a blackout that left much of Ontario and all of the PMO in the dark. Apparently the Deputy Prime Minister is still in the dark.

What I asked her yesterday about the protection of a dam in Quebec, she did not have a clue. Last night Radio-Canada revealed how easy it would be for a terrorist to cripple the energy supply.

RDI reporters were able to walk directly into two centrally controlled major dams that are power supports for all of North America. It has been four years since 9/11 and we do not have a critical infrastructure plan nor do we have an updated Emergency Preparedness Act.

Why has the government not acted to protect--

[The Speaker]

The hon. Deputy Prime Minister.

[Anne McLellan, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness]

Mr. Speaker, I find it very strange that a party that is usually in the business of respecting things like provincial jurisdiction would suggest, as it relates to most of the critical infrastructure in the country which is owned by the private sector and regulated by provinces, that somehow we should simply step in, push them aside and tell them that we will protect their critical infrastructure.

Premier Charest and Minister Chagnon did the right thing this morning when they called upon the Sûreté in the province of Quebec to work with Hydro-Québec around the issues that were raised yesterday and we will--

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Edmonton—Spruce Grove.

Child Care

[Rona Ambrose, Conservative, Edmonton—Spruce Grove, AB]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Liberals voted against allowing parents to choose different child care options and voted against--

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker]

Order, please. The hon. member for Edmonton—Spruce Grove has the floor. I am sure she appreciates the assistance with her question but she has the floor and we will all want to hear her question, especially the minister to whom it is directed.

[Rona Ambrose, Conservative, Edmonton—Spruce Grove, AB]

--tax measures that support those child care options.

Let us be clear. The Liberal plan does not even scratch the surface to address the child care crisis in the country and it does not address the needs and desires of parents for choice in child care.

Will the Minister of Social Development explain why the Liberal plan only offers one option?

[Ken Dryden, Liberal, Minister of Social Development]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member talks about choice.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker]

The hon. Minister of Social Development has the floor.

[Ken Dryden, Liberal, York Centre, ON]

I suggest, Mr. Speaker, that she look at her own party's platform, the $2,000 child tax deduction in the last election--

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker]

The minister has the floor. Obviously his answer is a popular one.

[Ken Dryden, Liberal, York Centre, ON]

--for child care, how it means almost nothing for parents and putting money in parents' pockets--

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Edmonton—Spruce Grove has a supplementary.

[Rona Ambrose, Conservative, Edmonton—Spruce Grove, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the proposed Liberal child care system is not about children. It is about politics. This is a ludicrous approach to raising and educating children. Young Canadian families deserve more, and Canadians need to know that the Liberals have not and will not entertain choices for how they may want to care for their children.

Will the Minister of Social Development admit his plan never once entertained choices for child care?

[Ken Dryden, Liberal, Minister of Social Development]

Mr. Speaker, as I was trying to say before, that party's platform in the last election for child care means almost nothing in the pockets of parents for child care. It brings Canadians no closer to affordable child care. It is completely contrary to building quality. I ask the member and the party opposite to be honest, do the math, think and see where they end up.

Public Transportation

[Caroline St-Hilaire, Bloc, Longueuil, QC]

Mr. Speaker, with the coming into force of the Kyoto protocol today, it is now imperative the federal government take concrete measures, and promoting public transit is one of them. In fact, the Minister of Transport said publicly that he is open to the idea of making the cost of public transit passes deductible for income tax purposes.

With the next federal budget just days away, what initiatives has the Minister of Transport taken in this respect, and has he finally managed to convince his colleague, the Minister of Finance?

[Jean Lapierre, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, I think that one of the initiatives of this government that will be included in the budget will, of course, be the transfer of the gasoline tax to help municipalities, and particularly larger cities, set up adequate public transit services. We are talking about hundreds of millions of dollars that will help build and put in place public transit infrastructures. This is the best news that large cities will have heard in a long time.

[Caroline St-Hilaire, Bloc, Longueuil, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Transport talks a good line and is a master at diversion. However, as far as concrete measures are concerned, we are still waiting.

So, should the Minister of Finance oppose this idea, will the Minister of Transport introduce in the House a bill similar to the one I tabled, providing for a tax deduction for public transit costs incurred, something which, according to the minister himself, would help increase significantly the use of public transit?

[Jean Lapierre, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, there is nothing more concrete than actual transfers to Canadian municipalities and cities. With these transfers, they will be able to modernize their public transit services and put money where it is needed to ensure that environmental objectives are achieved. Public transit is indeed a priority and there will money for it in the budget. Do not give it a thought, kindly rejoice.