House of Commons Hansard #112 of the 38th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was job.
Jean Crowder NDP Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC
Mr. Speaker, earlier we heard how committed the Liberals are to health care but there is no action on solutions like bulk buying of drugs, no action on a pharmacare plan and no action on implementing public home care.
Today's court decision is a wake-up call. The minister must do more than talk about protecting medicare.
Why is there not one word in the health accord about stopping privatization?
Ujjal Dosanjh LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is talking about drugs. We have a national pharmaceutical strategy on which all of the provinces, territories and the federal government is working. We are working on the expansion of home care. We are working on the export of drugs to the United States, banning bulk exports and the like.
It is important that we remember that we are doing all of that work while providing $41 billion to the provinces so that our public health care system is strong and that our universal access to publicly funded health care is strong and remains strong forever in Canada.
Jean Crowder NDP Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC
Mr. Speaker, it is time to quit talking about doing the work and getting on to the action.
Let us talk about the government's record. David Dingwall signed a deal with Alberta that helped Ralph Klein privatize eye surgery. Allan Rock sat there and watched as Canada's first for profit hospitals opened. The minister's predecessor said that private delivery was just fine.
How will the minister bring accountability back into the public health care system?
Ujjal Dosanjh LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, there is a law that Parliament passed that in three years time we will be actually reviewing the performance of all of the provinces and ourselves on the health accord.
It is important that we remember we are enforcing the Canada Health Act. We continue to talk to the provinces where there might be contraventions.
I want to make sure that we continue to work with the provinces to enforce the Canada Health Act.
Monte Solberg Conservative Medicine Hat, AB
Mr. Speaker, the NDP are outraged with the Liberals on the one hand and prop them up on the other.
Bill C-48 is now before the finance committee. The Conservative Party has asked that the ministers responsible for foreign aid, housing, infrastructure, post-secondary education and the environment appear before the committee to explain how the money would be spent. Seven ministers in all and they all refused to come. We asked for officials to come and they also all refused.
Is this not just an admission that Bill C-48, the NDP budget deal, is so poorly designed that the government cannot even defend it?
Ralph Goodale LiberalMinister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, I cannot speak for other ministers but I know I am scheduled to appear before the committee. I think it is on Monday or Tuesday. I will be happy to be there and go through all the details of Bill C-48 with any of my cabinet colleagues who would care to attend with me.
The fact is that this is good legislation. It is delivering on important commitments. I hope the opposition party will ultimately support it.
Monte Solberg Conservative Medicine Hat, AB
Mr. Speaker, it is great that the leader of the NDP has allowed the minister to come before the committee.
We want to point to the Auditor General's report when it talked about the sponsorship program. She said, “We would have expected the government to provide Parliament with at least a description of the program and its objectives”.
None of that is in Bill C-48. This is an expenditure of $4.6 billion and yet the government refuses to bring forward the minister who would actually have to implement the bill.
Is this not just an admission that the government cannot stand scrutiny on Bill C-48?
Tony Valeri LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member's question is absolutely false. In fact, there are ministers who have already agreed to appear before the committee. The committee is the master of its own destiny. If it is going to request that ministers appear before the committee, they will.
In fact, I know that ministers would be very pleased to go in front of the finance committee and defend not only in form but to convince the Conservatives to support the legislation because it provides additional money to post-secondary education, affordable housing and foreign aid. It is good policy and they should support it.
Vic Toews Conservative Provencher, MB
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Justice has been misleading Canadians for months saying that the same sex marriage bill protects religious freedom.
However yesterday the minister finally admitted that he cannot guarantee protection of religious rights because many of the issues fall within provincial jurisdiction.
Why will the minister not put the bill on hold until he can determine a comprehensive legislative approach with the provinces in order to ensure that all the freedoms of Canadians are protected?
Irwin Cotler LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, it is the comments by the member opposite that are misleading Canadians.
Our legislation is in accordance with the two foundational principles set forth by the Supreme Court and eight jurisdictions of the country with respect to the protection of equality rights and the protection of religious freedom. We still say that the bill is sound in principle.
We are open to any amendments for further certainty but the foundational principles are there and they protect both equality and religious freedom.
Vic Toews Conservative Provencher, MB
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the minister told the press that he could not protect those religious freedoms. Now he is telling Canadians that he can. He cannot get his story straight.
In fact, what witnesses at the committee told Parliament was that significant legal protections must be added to the bill. The minister's vague assurances, like those he gave in the House today, are simply not acceptable.
With so many concerns before us, why is the minister rushing the bill through Parliament? Why does he not simply stop and think before he acts?
Irwin Cotler LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, the member opposite should think before he speaks.
With respect to the question of religious protection, I said that we would not trench on provincial jurisdiction. I said that we were open to any amendments that are compatible with the principles of the bill, that are sound and that are compatible with our federal jurisdiction.
With respect to rushing the bill through, the committee, along with its predecessor committee, has already heard from over 500 witnesses, has received 300 written submissions, and court decisions in hearings in eight provinces and territories, the Supreme Court of Canada and second reading.
The bill has been studied to death and we are still prepared--
Civil Marriage ActOral Question Period
The Speaker
The hon. member for Terrebonne--Blainville.
Diane Bourgeois Bloc Terrebonne—Blainville, QC
Mr. Speaker, Stephen Lewis, the former Canadian ambassador to the United Nations, is baffled by the government's resistance to developing a concrete plan to meet the UN target. Regardless of what the Prime Minister may say, Canada's international aid has dropped from 0.44% of GDP in 1993 to 0.30% of GDP in 2005.
Instead of showing off with his friend Bono, will the Prime Minister recognize that, rather than increasing, Canada's international aid has in fact decreased, as compared to 1993?
Aileen Carroll LiberalMinister of International Cooperation
Mr. Speaker, the government has committed to an annual 8% increase that will set us on a path that triples the volume of our aid from the year 2001 to 2015. To put this in perspective, I think we need to understand that 8% is roughly twice the rate of growth of government revenue and virtually no other part of government is growing this quickly.
Our commitment is very clear. We understand exactly what we are doing and where we are going. What I am confused about is that the hon. member is a member of a party that will not even support Bill C-48 with half a billion dollars coming to my aid projects.
Diane Bourgeois Bloc Terrebonne—Blainville, QC
Mr. Speaker, Mr. Lewis feels that Canada is not doing enough. An increase between 12% and 15% a year until 2015 would be necessary to meet the UN's 0.7% target. But the latest budget only provides for an 8% increase, which means that the UN target will not be met until 2035.
Will the minister recognize that, at best, even with the funding recently added, the UN target is not likely to be reached until 2028?
Aileen Carroll LiberalMinister of International Cooperation
Mr. Speaker, it is very important, for example, that our international aid budget increased by 30% last year. That is one example.
Brian Pallister Conservative Portage—Lisgar, MB
Mr. Speaker, a drug trafficking ring has been uncovered in the Eastern Townships. At the same time, the Liberals are seeking to decriminalize cannabis and open the door to organized crime. In addition, this government keeps reducing the budgets for the RCMP and border security.
When will this government recognize that withdrawing RCMP officers is a threat to our safety and encourages drug traffickers?
Anne McLellan LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Mr. Speaker, this is a great example of the success of the reorganization of the RCMP. The RCMP was reorganized in the province of Quebec to work more closely with the sûreté and more effectively with the sûreté on national law enforcement issues. Clearly, drug interdiction is one of those.
This speaks to the kind of partnership among the RCMP, the Sûreté du Québec and the Drug Enforcement Administration. It is a wonderful example of how law enforcement agencies should work together to keep people safe.
Brian Pallister Conservative Portage—Lisgar, MB
Mr. Speaker, it is a wonderful example of how easy it is to get grass across the border and how hard it is to get cows across the border with the government in charge of things.
As a result of this drug bust, weapons, hundreds of thousands of dollars and even a helicopter were recovered, all to be used in the export of drugs. This activity heightens the fears of law-abiding Canadians.
Organized crime continues to grow. Rather than sit on organized crime, the government continues to sit on its hands.
When will the minister recognize the importance of a stronger Canadian border and the role it plays in combating organized crime?
Anne McLellan LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Mr. Speaker, since September 11, 2001, the government has recognized the importance of that border. We do not want the border to be a barrier to low risk goods and people, but we do want to work together with our American counterparts. This is why we have put in some $9.5 billion since that tragic day on September 11, to ensure that we are able to work in partnership so the border is not a barrier and we are able to identify those who may be a risk and those goods which may be a risk.
Wajid Khan Liberal Mississauga—Streetsville, ON
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Canadian Heritage.
The third session of the intergovernmental experts meeting to negotiate the UNESCO convention on the protection and promotion of the diversity of cultural expression wrapped up in Paris on June 3.
Could the minister explain to the House what progress has been made on this important issue?
Liza Frulla LiberalMinister of Canadian Heritage and Minister responsible for Status of Women
Mr. Speaker, we achieved a real breakthrough for Canada on June 3. We gathered the support of 127 countries. The European Union as well as Russia, India and China have been supportive of the draft text.
The text says three things. First, it recognizes the dual nature—that is, economic and social—of cultural industries. Second, it allows states to implement cultural policies. Third, the convention has to be on equal footing with other international agreements.
Helena Guergis Conservative Simcoe—Grey, ON
Mr. Speaker, according to its own documents the government gave at least $33 million to the government of China last year. Sadly, this came as a surprise to the minister when she was shown the information. What is more shocking for Canadians are reports that a Chinese spy network has been operating in Canada. This news comes several months after CSIS warned of this activity, yet the federal government has done nothing about it.
Has the government discussed the issue with Chinese officials?
Anne McLellan LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Mr. Speaker, we take those who would do harm to this country, either here or abroad, very seriously. I want to reassure everyone in the House that we do everything we can to ensure that we deal with those who might do harm or involve themselves in economic or industrial espionage.