House of Commons Hansard #103 of the 38th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was community.
Christiane Gagnon Bloc Québec, QC
Mr. Speaker, in the area of child care, there are still no serious negotiations between Ottawa and Quebec. Yet, as Quebec minister Benoît Pelletier said earlier this week, Quebec's request is simple and could be settled quickly. Ottawa simply has to recognize Quebec's right to receive the federal money unconditionally.
What is the government waiting for now to settle this issue with Quebec and to give it, unconditionally, the money to which it is entitled?
Lucienne Robillard LiberalPresident of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs
Mr. Speaker, once again, the Bloc Québécois' information is not accurate. Currently, there are ongoing negotiations between both governments to come to an agreement on child care services. We have always said that Quebec is a leader in this area and that we would recognize this fact.
We have also said that we are perfectly capable of reaching an agreement with the Quebec government. This is why talks are continuing right now.
Christiane Gagnon Bloc Québec, QC
Mr. Speaker, Quebec may be number one as regards child care, but it may be dead last to receive the money.
The Quebec network is a model to be followed, and it is recognized as such by the OECD. On December 14, the Prime Minister stated that Quebec would receive the child care money quickly and unconditionally. That was made clear at the time.
What is the government waiting for now to quickly settle this issue?
Eleni Bakopanos LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Social Development (Social Economy)
I am very pleased to announce that we have already signed agreements with five provinces. These are very good agreements in principle, and we are—
Eleni Bakopanos Liberal Ahuntsic, QC
Mr. Speaker, they do not want to listen, but it does not matter. Negotiations are continuing. We will continue to negotiate, and we will achieve the same results that we achieved with the other five provinces. We will sign an agreement.
Deepak Obhrai Conservative Calgary East, AB
Mr. Speaker, the Canadian Race Relations Foundation states that the refusal to recognize foreign credentials by professional bodies amounts to systematic racism. Since 1993 we have been calling to address this issue. We still do not have any evident action from the government, just lip service. Why? Why no action?
Peter Adams LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development
Mr. Speaker, through the foreign credentials recognition program, we are working with the provinces, the territories, regulators, sector councils, professional associations and others to improve the recognition of work experience, credentials and skills obtained overseas.
We have committed $68 million already to improve foreign credentials recognition. Significant progress is being made, especially in the areas of health care for nurses and physicians, as well as in engineering.
Daryl Kramp Conservative Prince Edward—Hastings, ON
Mr. Speaker, the First Nations Technical Institute in my riding is one of Canada's leading colleges in its field. However, its very survival is seriously threatened by a cutback in the government's funding. Layoffs are taking place as we speak. Students in multi-year programs are being left on the streets and this shining star in aboriginal education is on the verge of collapse and closure.
Will the Minister of Indian Affairs commit today to fully, and I do mean fully, restore the first nations funding in Tyendinaga?
Ethel Blondin-Andrew LiberalMinister of State (Northern Development)
Mr. Speaker, we are committed to improving education for first nations students. It has been part of the round table process. We have already committed $1 million this year to the First Nations Technical Institute to support the ongoing post-secondary program.
The officials have reviewed the institute's business plan and we are giving consideration to a new proposal for an estimated additional $600,000 in programming support.
Lloyd St. Amand Liberal Brant, ON
Mr. Speaker, my question is also for the Minister of State for Northern Development.
On April 19, 2004 aboriginal leaders met with federal ministers and parliamentarians, including the Prime Minister, to discuss how we could work together to improve the lives of aboriginal people.
The government said it was committed to changing the way we deal with aboriginal people. What action has the government taken since the round table toward meaningful change for aboriginal Canadians?
Ethel Blondin-Andrew LiberalMinister of State (Northern Development)
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Prime Minister restated his commitment to meet later this month with the national aboriginal leadership. Over the past year, follow-up sessions have taken place on six key policy priority areas identified by the round table on health, education, lifelong learning, housing, economic opportunities, negotiations and accountabilities for results.
At our upcoming policy retreat, we look forward to discussing the next steps in our renewed relationship with aboriginal Canadians. Together we are closing the gap between--
Aboriginal AffairsOral Question Period
The Deputy Speaker
The hon. member for Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge—Mission.
Randy Kamp Conservative Dewdney—Alouette, BC
Mr. Speaker, when the fisheries committee tabled its report on the disastrous 2004 sockeye salmon fishery, it included, along with its 12 unanimous recommendations, a request for a response within 60 days. It did so because of the concern that some serious problems needed to be corrected before the 2005 season.
Those 60 days expire tomorrow. Will the minister tell us today if he is going to continue to ignore us or is he going to implement our recommendations?
Geoff Regan LiberalMinister of Fisheries and Oceans
Mr. Speaker, I have indicated previously that I appreciated the work of the committee and its report. I reviewed it and we will table a response in due course.
Randy Kamp Conservative Dewdney—Alouette, BC
Mr. Speaker, we can only wish that the government would work as hard to ensure the survival of Pacific salmon as it does to its own survival.
Our report and the post-season review of Justice Williams highlighted the fact that there was a serious problem with enforcement and called for increased enforcement efforts. However, an internal DFO document reveals that there is a plan to reduce the number of fisheries officers in the Pacific region, so we are very concerned about the future of this resource.
Why is the minister continuing to refuse to fix the problem and make a real commitment to enforcement on the Fraser River?
Geoff Regan LiberalMinister of Fisheries and Oceans
Mr. Speaker, my hon. colleague knows that what he is saying is not actually accurate. That is not how it will work. He knows, for example, that we are focusing efforts on the Fraser River. We will not be focusing as much perhaps on dealing with cottagers and their docks or with farmers and their culverts. We do want to focus on the important issues of the Fraser River fishery, for example.
Marcel Gagnon Bloc Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC
Mr. Speaker, once again, the interests of Quebec are not being served. Over the past 12 years, seniors have been denied money to which they are entitled. This government brags about the money it is allocating for seniors in its budget, and yet, it still refuses to reimburse the 68,000 seniors who have been deprived the guaranteed income supplement.
How can the Prime Minister throw billions of dollars about, here, there and everywhere when he owes so much money to seniors?
Tony Ianno LiberalMinister of State (Families and Caregivers)
Mr. Speaker, I know of the member's interest in seniors as we spoke earlier this week. However, he is also very much aware that the government is committed to ensuring that low income seniors have more opportunities in our society. In the budget, which he unfortunately voted against last night, the $2.7 billion over five years for low income seniors, especially in his region, will be very beneficial to many of the people who want to have the standard of living as he does.
Françoise Boivin Liberal Gatineau, QC
Mr. Speaker, people are increasingly surprised to see the Bloc Québécois insist on opposing Bill C-9, which will facilitate access to federal funding to help regions suffering economic difficulties.
Can the minister explain how the Bloc Québécois' systematic obstruction might harm the economic development of the regions of Quebec?
Jacques Saada LiberalMinister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec and Minister responsible for the Francophonie
Mr. Speaker, obviously it bothers the Bloc Québécois that we have a presence in Quebec with our 14 regional offices. It bothers them that we listen to the regions, their mayors, their businesspeople, their social economy stakeholders and their entrepreneurs. It bothers them that our contribution is recognized because this infringes on their goal of marginalizing the Government of Canada's intervention for the good of the regions of Quebec.
However, if the people of these regions in Quebec are pleased with the effective work we do, it does not bother me much that it bothers the Bloc. We will not shirk our responsibility for regional development just because the Bloc wants us to.
Mark Warawa Conservative Langley, BC
Mr. Speaker, the justice minister continues to leave our children at risk. He knows that experts are recommending that the age of sexual consent be raised from 14 to 16. He knows that international pedophiles are coming to Canada because we are one of the few countries that have an age of consent of 14.
When will the justice minister truly protect our children by raising the age of consent from 14 to 16?
Irwin Cotler LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, the member opposite does not appear to appreciate that non-consensual sex, regardless of age, is a sexual assault. He does not appear to appreciate that the age is now at 18 for all predatory sexual conduct with respect to vulnerable child prostitution and the like. He does not appear to appreciate that we have recommended in our new legislation a new category to protect against sexual exploitation. If the members opposite allow the legislation to pass, they will have the protection they want.
Robert Bouchard Bloc Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Canada Revenue Agency is currently restructuring its services in all of its tax offices and tax centres across Canada. In Quebec, a number of people located in the regions, like Rouyn-Noranda, Sherbrooke, Rimouski and Chicoutimi will be cut off from an essential front line service.
Can the Minister of National Revenue understand that taxpayers in the regions of Quebec are entitled to the same services as taxpayers in the major centres?
Geoff Regan LiberalMinister of Fisheries and Oceans
Mr. Speaker, Canadians enjoy one of the lowest postal rates in the industrialized world, because Canada Post operates as efficiently as possible.
Canada Post's postal network has changed significantly in recent years, throughout the country. With the improvements made to mail processing operations in Quebec, Canada Post will be able to maintain or improve service to the clientele of the region involved. Collective agreements will be honoured, and the operational changes will not result in lost jobs.