Debates of April 28th, 2006

Citizenship and Immigration

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

Mr. Speaker, it really is unfortunate that the member opposite is quoting out of context remarks made years ago by Mr. Morgan, which he clarified shortly thereafter in a letter. Mr. Morgan has been voted by the entire Canadian business industry as the most respected Canadian business leader.

Of course, this government will continue to make Canada a safe haven for people who flee persecution abroad. We intend to do exactly that in the capable hands of our Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.

Asbestos

[Daniel Petit, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the mining and production of serpentine asbestos, known as chrysotile, play an important part in Quebec's economy.

Could the Minister of Natural Resources tell this House about the safe use and production of this resource?

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

Mr. Speaker, the government cares about worker and public health, and it realizes that certain asbestos fibres, such as those of the amphibole variety, present health hazards. However, the only asbestos fibre produced in Canada is chrysotile, which is safe under controlled conditions.

The Government of Canada recognizes the importance of the chrysotile industry to Quebec, and supports the safe use of chrysotile.

Public Service of Canada

[Paul Dewar, NDP, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the government has pledged to find $22 billion in savings in its upcoming budget. This has led many to speculate on where the cuts will occur.

Public servants in Ottawa have been left in the dark about whether they will be asked to shoulder the burden of these cuts like they were with the previous government.

Will the President of the Treasury Board give his assurances to our public servants that they will not lose their jobs to pay for Conservative promises?

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

Mr. Speaker, I can indicate to the member opposite that the government will ensure that a respectful, productive relationship for public servants on both sides of the river is maintained. Morale has been quite low. We look forward to a productive relationship. I would encourage the member opposite to not believe any mischievous statements that might lead to some fearmongering.

The government wants a strong, vibrant public service to help deliver good programs to the people of Canada.

[Paul Dewar, NDP, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the public service creates jobs in Ottawa the same way that the car industry creates jobs in Oshawa and the steel industry creates jobs in Hamilton. With all due respect, no MP from those centres would stand idly by while their communities were at risk of political job losses.

The people of Ottawa demand to know the government's plans with respect to the public service. Will the President of the Treasury Board give us those clear assurances?

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

Mr. Speaker, I can indicate to my friend from Ottawa that this government values the role of the public service.

Rumours and mischief and fearmongering have gone on with respect to the public service. Our budget will be tabled in this place on May 2 and I think public servants will welcome it, as will all Canadians. It will be a real change for Canada. It will allow Canadians to keep more of their hard-earned tax dollars, and that will be welcomed by all Canadians, especially our public servants.

Status of Women

[Maria Minna, Liberal, Beaches—East York, ON]

Mr. Speaker, conservative-minded groups are actively campaigning to have the Status of Women Canada program disbanded. Can the minister reassure the House that the government will take no such action and that no cuts will be made to the budget of this very important department?

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

Mr. Speaker, the member's question gives me the opportunity to indicate that this government recognizes the importance of women. They represent 50% of all Canadians. We will support them in their endeavours. The resources they require so they can fully participate in Canadian life will be assured.

Livestock Industry

[Rick Casson, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservative Party of Canada has consistently defended the interests of the Canadian beef industry. We have now heard the U.S. protectionist group R-CALF has decided not to appeal a U.S. court decision that rejected an R-CALF motion to reclose the U.S. border to Canadian cattle.

Can the agriculture minister update this House on the ramifications of this recent R-CALF decision on the Canadian cattle industry?

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

As you know, Mr. Speaker, the Conservative Party went to bat for Canadian beef producers when the dispute with R-CALF first started. We are very pleased that R-CALF decided not to follow through with the appeal procedure. Finally, the Conservative government will continue to proudly defend the international interests of the Canadian beef industry.

Grain Transportation

[Tony Martin, NDP, Sault Ste. Marie, ON]

Mr. Speaker, there is a crisis in agriculture in this country. One issue needing addressed is the proposed disposal of the federal hopper car fleet. The Farmer Rail Car Coalition states that farmers have been hosed for $47 million since 1992 for the maintenance of these cars.

Will the government release the report of February 2005 by the Commons Standing Committee on Transport before any decision is made on the disposal of these cars?

[Lawrence Cannon, Conservative, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada is reviewing the hopper car file and has not yet decided whether to proceed with the transfer to the FRCC or pursue other options. A decision on releasing the agency's study on the maintenance costs is on hold pending the government's decision on the overall policy direction. One of the key considerations is the decision on the overall policy direction, the direction's impact on producers.

Transport

[Robert Bouchard, Bloc, Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the citizens of Saguenay—Lac Saint-Jean are reeling in uncertainty. To date, the federal government has announced only $262.5 million to expand Highway 175. However, during the election campaign, the Conservative candidates in the area reiterated the government's commitment to assume 50% of the total cost of the project, including cost overruns.

Can the Minister of Transport confirm that this promise will be kept in its entirety?

[Lawrence Cannon, Conservative, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, I will simply say that this government is currently reviewing this file, as well as many others. Not only are we reviewing them, but we are also resolving them. I saw the Quebec transport minister this morning and assured him that we will deal with a number of files that the previous government could not resolve. The Highway 175 file will certainly be a topic of future discussions with the Quebec government.

Information Commissioner

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

I have the honour, pursuant to section 39 of the Access to Information Act, to lay upon the Table a special report of the Information Commissioner entitled “Response to the Government's Action Plan for Reform of the Access to Information Act”.

Pursuant to Standing Order 108(3)(h), this report is deemed to have been permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics.

Citizenship and Immigration

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I wish to correct something I said in the course of question period in a question posed by the hon. member for Mississauga East—Cooksville. I said that a letter written by Mr. Gwyn Morgan was several years ago. In fact, I was mistaken; it was several months ago.

Further, I made reference to a document which I would like to seek unanimous consent to table, which is a letter dated December 17, 2005, written by Mr. Morgan to the Calgary Herald, where he says:

My speech clearly stated our country needs a strong immigration program, and that colour, race or religion have no place in the selection process.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

Does the hon. parliamentary secretary have the unanimous consent of the House to table the document?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

David Dingwall and Attorney General Arbitration Report

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

Mr. Speaker, I have the privilege to table, in both official languages, the report in the matter of arbitration between David C. Dingwall and the Attorney General of Canada.

Procedure and House Affairs

[Gary Goodyear, Conservative, Cambridge, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present two reports. The first report is the third report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, in both official languages, regarding the membership of committees of the House.

If the House gives its consent, I intend to move concurrence in the third report later today.

Mr. Speaker, as well I have the honour to present the fourth report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, in both official languages, regarding the membership of the legislative committee on Bill C-2, an act providing for conflict of interest rules, restrictions on election financing and measures respecting administrative transparency, oversight and accountability.

Criminal Code

[Jay Hill, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River, BC]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-235, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (conditional sentencing).

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased today to reintroduce a private member's bill that I have introduced in the three previous parliaments, the first time on May 26, 1999.

This legislation is designed to address the frequent misuse of the conditional sentencing provision in the Criminal Code of Canada.

The former Liberal government passed section 742.1 of the Criminal Code into law in 1995, despite warnings that without clear instructions to judges, killers and other violent offenders could literally get away with murder. Time and again that is precisely what has happened.

If passed, this bill would ensure that certain serious and violent offences, such as murder, assault, sexual assault, kidnapping, drug trafficking, manslaughter, et cetera, would be excluded from consideration for conditional sentencing, meaning the convict would have to serve jail time.

For the first time since I introduced this legislation seven years ago, we have a Prime Minister and justice minister that understand the need to close this conditional loophole to violent offenders. I look forward to working with the Prime Minister and justice minister to rectify that problem in this Parliament for the sake of victims and all law-abiding Canadians.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

Procedure and House Affairs

[Gary Goodyear, Conservative, Cambridge, ON]

Mr. Speaker, if the House gives its consent, I move that the third report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, presented to the House earlier this day, be concurred in.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

Does the hon. parliamentary secretary have the unanimous consent of the House to propose this motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.