Debates of Nov. 6th, 2006

Fisheries and Oceans

[Peter Stoffer, NDP, Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS]

Mr. Speaker, the other day yet another report came out telling us how dangerous it is for all the species that inhabit our oceans, and what does the Conservative government do? It is cutting habitat enforcement officers on the west coast over the next two years. It cut enforcement officers in the central and Arctic region. It will not even support a UN call to stop dragging on the international high seas.

It is incomprehensible that the government can react in such a callous way to report after report after report that tell us very clearly there is something going on in our oceans and the species that inhabit those oceans are under serious risk.

Every year for the nine years that I have been here I have asked for a judicial inquiry into the practices and policies of DFO. On the domestic level it allows trust agreements to happen to allow the massive corporatization of a public resource. It lays off good scientists from the Bedford Institute of Oceanography and other departments across this country. It does not matter if it was a Liberal government or the Conservative--

[The Deputy Speaker, NDP, Bill Blaikie]

Order. The hon. member for Elgin—Middlesex—London.

Legion Lord Elgin Branch 41

[Joe Preston, Conservative, Elgin—Middlesex—London, ON]

Mr. Speaker, this week of remembrance is a special time and there is no more special place to gather than at our legions.

The Royal Canadian Legion Lord Elgin Branch 41 in St. Thomas has even more reason for pride this year. It is its 80th anniversary, a milestone that should be celebrated.

Like most legions, Lord Elgin Branch 41 is more than a building. It is more than a location for dinners and luncheons. Although many meetings have been held there, it is not just a meeting hall. Lord Elgin Branch 41 is a community. It is a group of people who contribute greatly to St. Thomas not just as legion members, but as some of its most vibrant citizens. The work that the legion members have done over the years and continue to do is what has made this branch successful.

As was said at the anniversary dinner, it will be recognized for its 80 years as an organization, but it will be remembered for its contributions to St. Thomas. We salute Branch 41.

Violence against Women

[Ruby Dhalla, Liberal, Brampton—Springdale, ON]

Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, over the past few weeks the issue of domestic violence against women especially in the Indo-Canadian community has come to light with the tragic deaths of innocent young women in B.C. and in Toronto.

Violence against women is an important issue that impacts all women in Canada. Many gathered at a recent forum in British Columbia to discuss the issue within the South Asian community. Women shared their personal stories of how they were violently beaten in their own homes and treated as property, how they were scared and secluded and felt that they had nowhere to turn.

However, these stories which were told by South Asian women can actually be told by women from all cultures and all socio-economic backgrounds as the story of violence against women really knows no barriers.

It is important that all communities come together to provide local programs and solutions to be able to reach out and to help these women. We as parliamentarians have a responsibility to support programs.

Unfortunately, the recent cuts by the Conservatives to the Status of Women and to other programs is going to close the door to many of the women that need--

[The Deputy Speaker, NDP, Bill Blaikie]

Order. The hon. member for Kootenay—Columbia.

Gemini Awards

[Jim Abbott, Conservative, Kootenay—Columbia, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the Gemini Awards were held on Friday, November 4. These high profile awards celebrate excellence in English language television in 87 award categories.

In 1979 the Canadian film and television industry created the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television. The association's mandate is to honour outstanding achievements, heighten public awareness, increase audience attendance and appreciation of Canadian film and television, and provide critically needed high quality professional development programs, conferences and publications.

Many of the Gemini nominees have received federal support through the Canadian Television Fund and/or the Canadian film or video production tax credit. Telefilm Canada and the Canadian Television Fund are major corporate sponsors of the Gemini Awards.

This was the first time the award program was staged outside of Toronto and what a success it was. Congratulations to the western organizers. They did all us westerners proud.

The Environment

[Michel Guimond, Bloc, Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord, QC]

Mr. Speaker, in 2001, the Commissioner of the Environment tabled a troubling report informing us of the state of national wildlife areas and migratory bird sanctuaries. More than five years later, the federal government has not implemented even one of the commissioner's recommendations.

I would like to remind the Minister of the Environment that these areas are seriously underfunded and that the situation must be remedied quickly.

There is no need to mention that to preserve abundant populations and diverse wildlife species in Quebec and in Canada, we must ensure that there are appropriate habitats. To this end, the minister must announce adequate funding for wildlife areas such as the Cap Tourmente wildlife preserve in Saint-Joachim in my riding.

University of Alberta

[Rahim Jaffer, Conservative, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Mr. Speaker, Maclean's recently released its annual university rankings and for the first time put the University of Alberta on top as the best overall university in Canada. The annual survey also ranked the U. of A. as the top leader for tomorrow.

The results are recognition of the outstanding research and education happening on campus in my riding of Edmonton—Strathcona.

Canadians everywhere understand what Edmontonians have been saying for years: we are home to the best university in Canada and are leading the way with ideas and research that will shape the future.

University President Indira Samarasekera has worked tirelessly to build and expand the vision established by Past President Roderick Fraser to create one of the world's great universities.

The University of Alberta has fostered leading edge synergies between medicine, engineering and the life sciences and is well positioned to make Edmonton home to one of North America's prime knowledge based centres for generations to come.

On behalf of our government, I offer my congratulations to the University of Alberta on this tremendous achievement.

Sikh Community

[Sukh Dhaliwal, Liberal, Newton—North Delta, BC]

Mr. Speaker, this past week marked two important dates in the history of Canadian Sikhs.

November 5 marked the 537th birthday of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, who preached a gospel of peace, humanity and tolerance. This was celebrated throughout Canada with special prayers.

The tragic events of November 1984 must not be forgotten. We must remember and mourn the thousands of Sikhs who were massacred in the three day pogrom in New Delhi and several parts of India. Numerous judicial commissions have failed to provide justice to the victims.

In 1999 the Sikh nation, led by Canadian Sikhs, began a massive blood donor campaign to commemorate the tragedy. Since this time thousands have been saved due to this effort.

Guru Nanak guides the Sikh nation in stating, “Truth is the highest virtue, but higher still is truthful living”.

Highway Infrastructure

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Lévis—Bellechasse, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we have once again witnessed another example of the fruitful partnership between the new Government of Canada and the Government of Quebec.

Yesterday, the Prime Minister of Canada and the Premier of Quebec joined together to announce plans for the completion of Highway 30. This new south bypass will provide greater access to markets and reduce congestion in the greater Montreal area. It will improve air quality by reducing CO₂ emissions from cars stuck in traffic jams.

The Bloc Québécois has called for the completion of Highway 30 many times over the past 16 years, but never took any concrete action to advance this file. Unlike the Bloc, who do little more than wave their arms in the air, our government and the Conservative members from Quebec are not only defending the interests of Quebeckers, but are also achieving real results.

The Bloc Québécois is stuck like glue to the opposition benches in this House, and its powerlessness is obvious. After 16 years in Ottawa, what highway completions have the Bloc announced?

Aboriginal Affairs

[Chris Charlton, NDP, Hamilton Mountain, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak to the ongoing land claim dispute in Caledonia.

Members may ask why I wish to speak to that issue when the affected community is not within my riding of Hamilton Mountain. I do so by default because the local MP refuses to stand up for her constituents. I do so because it is a dispute that has pitted neighbour against neighbour, customer against small business owner and citizen against the police. The impact of these deteriorating relationships is being felt not just in Caledonia but throughout our entire region.

Last May, I wrote to the Minister of Indian Affairs urging him not to continue the tradition of his Liberal predecessors who believed that prolonged fruitless discussions were cheaper than meaningful negotiations.

Yes, the minister is right that the disputed land was originally sold by the provincial government and, yes, it is also true that the McGuinty Liberals must accept responsibility for the actions of the OPP, but the federal government has the sole constitutional responsibility for dealing with land claims.

In our community, we no longer have patience for political finger pointing. We need the government to step up to the plate and resolve all the issues raised by the Six Nations land claim so that Caledonia and our region can heal.

Norman Crawford

[Michael Savage, Liberal, Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS]

Mr. Speaker, last Friday was a special day in Dartmouth, a day to remember and honour our past.

In the morning, at HMCS Sackville, now docked in Dartmouth to coincide with the play Corvette Crossing, I attended a multi-denominational prayer service held to honour the many Canadians who served on our corvettes in the icy North Atlantic during World War II.

This event, the inspiration of Neil Black, brought together veterans and community and religious leaders from many faiths and will become an annual event.

That afternoon I attended, with many others, the funeral of Norman Crawford. Norman was a larger than life figure in Dartmouth, a 22 year veteran of the RCMP, an entrepreneur and a well-known and well-loved city councillor.

Norman was one of the best dressed and most big hearted citizens. Everybody loved to be in his presence. I will miss him as will our community. His wife, Barbara, my friend, Colin and Ashleigh will miss him the most.

The history of Dartmouth--Cole Harbour is rich with individuals who have served others. I am proud of all those who have served and continue to serve our community. They, like Neil and Norman, make a big difference.

The Environment

[Diane Bourgeois, Bloc, Terrebonne—Blainville, QC]

Mr. Speaker, what grandstanding. One would think we were on the eve of an election campaign.

The Minister of the Environment now tells us that a carbon credit trading market will open in Montreal. She also announces that Ottawa will be a part of Kyoto. Yet, on October 5, 2006, she said that Canada will not be a catalyst in implementing a system for the exchange of greenhouse gas credits, stating that such a market may exist under current legislation, but that she would not create one.

What a flip-flop. Did the government only make this announcement in order to put off and diminish the grumblings of Canadians? This appears to be merely a scheme to soften the blow of the anti-Kyoto position taken so far by this government.

The minister today says that she would agree with a second Kyoto protocol. It is difficult to understand why she would be in favour of a second Kyoto protocol after denouncing the first one.

The minister should explain herself to the House of Commons before she leaves for Nairobi.

Breast Cancer

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Wascana, SK]

Mr. Speaker, it was an honour to participate in this year's Run for the Cure in Regina, sponsored by the CIBC and the Breast Cancer Foundation.

Another participant, Verna Karalynn Tushkewich, asked me to read into the record an excerpt from the Canadian Breast Cancer Patient Charter. I am pleased to do so. It states:

The Canadian Breast Cancer Patient Charter was created to serve as a personal roadmap for the more than 22,000 Canadians who will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year.

This Canadian Breast Cancer Charter is intended to give patients the knowledge and courage needed to get the best possible care and support, and a better understanding of what to expect and what to ask for throughout the breast cancer experience. It echoes the spirit of the Canada Health Act: the best possible care must be universal across Canada, and not be denied for financial, economic, social or geographic reasons.

We salute those who work to find a cure for this cruel disease and to care for its victims. We praise the courage of all cancer patients and we fondly remember those who have not survived.

The Environment

[Jeff Watson, Conservative, Essex, ON]

Mr. Speaker, only a month ago, the Liberal member for Honoré-Mercier partly fell in line behind his Liberal leadership wannabe by finally admitting that the Liberals did not do enough on Kyoto.

Now the member wants his Liberals to do even less with his private member's bill recklessly committing the new government to the failed Liberal approach on climate change.

His colleague from Kings—Hants said that the Liberals' Kyoto position was “written on the back of an airplane vomit bag on the way to Kyoto”. That being the case, the Liberal member for Honoré-Mercier should have been able to figure out what his Kyoto bill is.

It gets worse, though. At committee last week, that Liberal admitted that he did not care about having an action plan or the cost for his bill. It sounds like when the Liberals were in government: three so-called action plans that lacked climate change action for 13 years, no plan to reduce pollution and billions proposed to clean up Kazakhstan rather than downtown Toronto.

Canadians deserve and expect better. Rather than the Liberals' bill on a failed Kyoto approach, the Liberals need to clear up their act, work with us and pass the clean air act now.

Canada-EU Summit

[Bill Graham, Liberal, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the European Union is made up of 25 countries with a population of half a billion people. Today it is the largest global, economic entity and represents 20% of world trade.

Canada has very important trade and investment links at stake in Europe. Our close ties are historical and millions of Canadians have origins and family there, which is why Canada worked so hard to establish a privileged relationship with the European Union involving twice yearly summits, once in Europe and once in Canada.

How can the Prime Minister pull out of the Canada-EU summit? How can he justify this decision when he will already be in Europe for a meeting of NATO anyway?

[Jason Kenney, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister]

First, Mr. Speaker, I would note that the last Liberal prime minister cancelled two EU-Canada summits.

This Prime Minister has asserted Canada's leadership role in the world, of which we are all tremendously proud. This month, among other things, he will be attending both the NATO heads of government summit and the APEC heads of government summit, a very busy travel schedule during a very busy parliamentary period.

The Prime Minister simply could not maintain the trip to Finland in his schedule but we continue to work closely with the European Union on our shared objectives.

[Bill Graham, Liberal, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, we all know why the Prime Minister has cut and run from this meeting. He is afraid to defend his policy on climate change before European leaders. We all know the Prime Minister does not like criticism and will not tolerate dissent very well.

However, our relationship with Europe is far too important to risk just because of the Prime Minister's thin skin. He should go to Finland. The official opposition is prepared to enter into a House order ensuring that the government will be in no danger of defeat while the Prime Minister is away.

Will the Prime Minister accept this guarantee and put the interests of Canada ahead of his unwillingness to deal with criticisms over his indefensible environmental policies?

[Jason Kenney, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, perhaps the Leader of the Opposition is not aware that the Prime Minister did meet with the presidency of the European Union this summer at the margins of the G-8 summit in St. Petersburg. He is looking forward to, hopefully, a very productive result-oriented summit with the European Union next spring. He will, of course, be meeting many European heads of government later this month at the NATO heads of government summit in Europe as well. We continue to work closely with our European partners to achieve our shared objectives.

[Bill Graham, Liberal, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, with this decision, the Prime Minister is turning up his nose at France, England, Italy, Greece, Spain and 20 other European countries. These special meetings give Canada a unique relationship with Europe and an outstanding economic advantage. The Prime Minister is scared to death of meeting his counterparts, only because they have a different vision of our planet and our environmental responsibility.

But since the official opposition is willing to assure the Prime Minister that his government will be in no danger of falling, what legitimate reasons does the Prime Minister have for his absence—not pretexts, as we have heard in this House, but legitimate reasons?

[Jason Kenney, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I would remind the Leader of the Opposition that his former leader, the member for LaSalle—Émard, missed and cancelled two Canada-EU summits.

However, the current Prime Minister met with his European counterparts at the G-8 summit this summer in St. Petersburg. He had bilateral talks with the President of France and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and he will soon be meeting with several European heads of state at the NATO summit.

[Lucienne Robillard, Liberal, Westmount—Ville-Marie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, since the election of the Conservative minority government, Canada's international reputation on climate change has gone out the window. Today is no exception. The Minister of the Environment was not at the opening of the conference in Nairobi to submit Canada's plan.

Canada's international leadership was previously recognized by everyone. Does the Prime Minister realize that he is currently bringing shame on Canadians and that he is an embarrassment on the world stage?

[Jason Kenney, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, it seems that the hon. member has forgotten that the former Liberal prime minister cancelled two summits with leaders of the European Union. He also cancelled his trip to a Commonwealth summit last year.

The current Prime Minister has already met with his European counterparts. He will soon meet with a number of leaders of European states at the NATO summit. And he has already held bilateral meetings with France, the United Kingdom and many other European countries.

[Lucienne Robillard, Liberal, Westmount—Ville-Marie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Europe is not Africa. Some provinces do not agree with the Conservative government's approach to the environment, which, as we know, is a shared jurisdiction. We have learned that Minister Béchard will go to Kenya and we know that, as Quebec's enivironment minister, he is concerned about Quebec's plan.

Will the minister allow those who believe in the Kyoto protocol to speak in Nairobi or will she try to muzzle the minister from Quebec? Does the Conservatives' new federalism of openness mean just being present—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

The hon. Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister.