Debates of Dec. 8th, 2006

Immigration

[Ed Komarnicki, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, there is no question that Canada has one of the finest refugee programs in the word. Indeed, the United Nations High Commissioner has said so and has indicated that other countries model on this program.

We have various appeal routes that can be taken to the Federal Court by leave to appeal and actually appeal. We also have a humanitarian and compassionate ground application process that can be taken by applicants at any time. It is certainly a system that we are proud of.

[Meili Faille, Bloc, Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC]

Mr. Speaker, given that serious errors can occur, does the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration intend to follow up on the UN Committee Against Torture's request to implement an appeal mechanism to review and examine the basis for decisions to grant or refuse refugee status?

[Ed Komarnicki, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, we are always looking at ways to make the system better than it is, but we can say that the system has various aspects in it for the present situation to be looked at on its merits, not only in the Federal Court of Appeal but also through humanitarian and compassionate ground applications, pre-removal risk assessment applications. When we look at the system, we have to look at all of it in conjunction before a decision is made to implement just one aspect of it, which would add more delay to the process and extra time to get it determined.

Canadian Wheat Board

[Gary Merasty, Liberal, Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK]

Mr. Speaker, when the Prime Minister was president of the National Citizens Coalition, he said, “Gag laws are unconstitutional and unenforceable”. He has shown time and time again his hypocrisy knows no bounds. Not only does his government gag the Wheat Board from advocating on behalf of its single desk, but next week it will fire the president for doing his job.

This behaviour is scandalous. When will the Prime Minister cut the hypocrisy, obey the law, rescind the letter to Mr. Measner and stop threatening him for doing his job?

[David Anderson, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary (for the Canadian Wheat Board) to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board]

Mr. Speaker, I have to say that we are finally bringing some openness and transparency to this issue. I have to congratulate the Treasury Board president and his parliamentary secretary for the tremendous job they have done in bringing Bill C-2 through the House. Now we will finally have access to information for the Canadian Wheat Board. Farmers will be able to find out what is going on there. They will finally also be able to find out the role of the member for Wascana in putting farmers in jail in the 1990s.

Status of Women

[Joy Smith, Conservative, Kildonan—St. Paul, MB]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women recently announced some important changes to the status of women program. There has been much misrepresentation from opposition MPs who cannot understand that spending 31¢ to deliver $1 is not helping women in their communities.

Could the minister explain the changes our government has made and tell us what she is doing for Canadian women?

[Bev Oda, Conservative, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women]

Mr. Speaker, only a party that believes that women are weak would deceive and mislead the same women in Canada.

It comes down to very simple math. It was costing 31¢ to deliver $1. Now it will cost 17¢. Thirty-one minus 17 means 14¢ more for women. It is very simple. There is no program cut. It is simple math. Savings in administration mean more money for women in Canada.

Shipbuilding Industry

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

Mr. Speaker, there is an industry in this country which could provide thousands of jobs and economic opportunity right across the country, but the government continues to ignore this industry. It is the shipbuilding industry.

The government is in negotiations with the EFTA countries to reduce and eliminate the tariffs of ships built in other countries coming into Canada.

My question is for the hon.Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade. Why is the government in negotiation with other countries to put the final death knell in our shipbuilding industry?

[Helena Guergis, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his valuable contribution on this file, but the fact is that Canada can no longer afford to continue with the Liberal policy of complacency with respect to free trade agreements. Since NAFTA almost 13 years ago, we have seen only three agreements, while other countries, such as Australia and the United States are moving at a much faster pace.

With respect to the shipbuilding industry, the hon. member works very closely with it, as has our government. We will continue to work with the industry very closely, hear its concerns, ensure they are addressed and only proceed in an agreement that is to the best benefit for all Canadians.

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

Mr. Speaker, if the hon. member believes that, then why has the industry minister not met with his own committee? The Shipbuilding and Industrial Marine Advisory Committee has asked to meet with the industry minister for 11 months and still there has been no meeting.

The committee has been asking for recommendations since 2001 which would assist the shipbuilding industry, so that we would not have to have tariffs on ferries for example, which is being done in British Columbia. British Columbia could be building its own ferries according to the recommendations of the advisory committee.

Why is the government so reluctant to not only meet with this committee but to accept its recommendations to get the shipbuilding industry once and for all in the air in this country?

[John Baird, Conservative, President of the Treasury Board]

Mr. Speaker, the government is committed to a competitive shipbuilding industry. We certainly want to make Canada an attractive place. We recognize the huge global pressures in this sector and are committed to an ongoing review of our policies to ensure that they are met.

If I could ask the member from the Maritimes for his support of our defence minister's defence policy, we are starting to rebuild our navy with three joint support ships. Those ships will be built right here in Canada.

Canadian Wheat Board

[Scott Simms, Liberal, Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, NL]

Mr. Speaker, the government is doing everything in its power to demolish the Canadian Wheat Board. It is threatening to kick out its chief executive officer because he is doing his job and not adhering to their ideology. Farm producers are concerned.

Will the government promise that supply management will never be affected by the kind of measures currently being applied to the Canadian Wheat Board?

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to answer my friend's question. Supply management and the Canadian Wheat Board are two completely different issues, and we have no intention of touching supply management as such.

Natural Resources

[Bradley Trost, Conservative, Saskatoon—Humboldt, SK]

Mr. Speaker, hydrogen is becoming an emerging energy source that could one day replace fossil fuels. Yesterday the Minister of Natural Resources promoted the new Ford hydrogen combustion engine shuttle buses, some of which will be used on Parliament Hill.

Could the minister comment on the use of hydrogen and its benefits to the environment?

[Christian Paradis, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Saskatoon—Humboldt for his excellent question.

As the hon. Minister of Transport said previously, Canada's new government has pledged to provide Canadians with a sustainable environment by ensuring air and water quality. It has offered positive solutions to environmental problems. Our government believes that there is a huge potential for hydrogen technologies to improve economy and air quality. This initiative is an excellent opportunity to demonstrate the benefits.

Unlike the previous Liberal government which was all talk and no action, we take action. This pilot project reflects the commitment we have made to maintain our leadership internationally in the field of hydrogen technologies.

Trade

[Hedy Fry, Liberal, Vancouver Centre, BC]

Mr. Speaker, Canada's economic security depends on our ability to be competitive and export our goods into emerging Asian markets. Asia contains the fastest growing economies in the world. That is why the previous Liberal government invested almost $600 million in the Pacific gateway strategy. The new Conservative government pretended it would honour the strategy. Instead it delayed and diluted it; another broken promise.

Why does the government continue to put the gateway strategy and Canada's global prosperity at risk?

[James Moore, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for the Pacific Gateway and the Vancouver-Whistler Olympics]

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate my colleague from Vancouver Centre for getting it exactly wrong.

When the Liberals were in power, they promised $590 million for the Pacific gateway, but they in fact did not spend it. The Liberals allocated it, but the money was never spent.

What we have done is put forward $600 million in the Asia-Pacific gateway for real projects that will get real results for British Columbians and all Canadians.

Gordon Campbell supports our plan. Sam Sullivan supports our plan. All the western provinces and indeed this entire government are supportive of the Pacific gateway. It is going to get real results for all Canadians. We are proud to deliver what the Liberals failed to do.

Foreign Affairs

[Luc Malo, Bloc, Verchères—Les Patriotes, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we have learned that a Canadian mining company operating in Ecuador has been the subject of complaints for hiring paramilitaries. This news raises concerns about respect for human rights.

Will the Prime Minister show leadership, and put a stop to the human rights violations and environmental abuses committed by certain Canadian businesses operating abroad?

[Deepak Obhrai, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, we take human rights very seriously. The Prime Minister has said that very clearly. It is a tenet of our foreign policy.

I will take the question under advisement, look into it and report back.

Notice of Motion

[Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Conservative, Minister of Labour and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec]

Mr. Speaker, as Minister of Labour responsible for the Wage Earner Protection Program Act and pursuant to Standing Order 83(1), I have the honour to table a notice of ways and means motion to amend the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, the Wage Earner Protection Program Act and Chapter 47 of the Statutes of Canada.

I ask that an order of the day be designated to debate the motion.

Aboriginal Affairs

[Rod Bruinooge, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians]

Mr. Speaker, under the provisions of Standing Order 32, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, copies of the Aboriginal Healing Foundation final report for 2006.

Government Response to Petitions

[Tom Lukiwski, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's responses to three petitions.

Environment and Sustainable Development

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the first report of the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development.

Pursuant to the order of reference of Wednesday, October 4, 2006, the committee has considered Bill C-288, An Act to ensure Canada meets its global climate change obligations under the Kyoto Protocol, and has agreed, on Thursday, December 7 2006, to report it, with amendments. It is a great moment for those who want to deal immediately with climate change.

Volunteerism

[Keith Martin, Liberal, Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC]

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of hundreds and hundreds of Canadians from coast to coast, I would like to present this petition.

Each year thousands of young Canadians from coast to coast express the desire to serve in society as volunteers in Canada or abroad. Some 40 countries worldwide have programs that enable this to happen. The petition calls on Parliament to enact legislation or take measures that would allow all young Canadians who wish to do so to serve in communities as volunteers at a national or international level.

Human Trafficking

[Joy Smith, Conservative, Kildonan—St. Paul, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to present petitions from numerous people all across the country. The petitioners draw attention to the trafficking of women and children across international borders for the purposes of sexual exploitation. They call upon Parliament to protect the most vulnerable members of society from harm, those being the victims of human trafficking. These petitioners are from all over Canada, from Quebec, from Ontario, from B.C.

Today in Vancouver as we speak a raid is being carried out on brothels with an alleged connection to the human trafficking issue in our country.