Debates of May 1st, 2006

Softwood Lumber

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

Order, order. Obviously many are trying to assist the minister with his answer but we have to be able to hear what the minister himself has to say. He has the floor and we will have a little order, please, for a short response.

[David Emerson, Conservative, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I know they would like to give me credit for what happened over there eight years ago, but it is not going to wash.

The reality is that under current market conditions, there are no quotas and the remanners, along with other members of the industry in different provinces, will be able to choose in weak markets whether they want to opt for a quota-type arrangement or an export tax arrangement.

The Environment

[Scott Brison, Liberal, Kings—Hants, NS]

Mr. Speaker, the Quebec environment minister says that the Kyoto protocol sets out the strict minimum. Ontario says it agrees. Nevertheless, the Conservative government wants to drop it and replace it with the AP6, a program that does not provide for penalties or emission credits.

Why drop the Kyoto protocol in favour of a lesser plan if the provinces support Kyoto?

[Rona Ambrose, Conservative, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, our government is committed to reducing pollution and greenhouse gases.

The difference between the Liberal Kyoto plan and our made in Canada solution is the Liberals were willing to send billions of dollars in taxpayers' money overseas. Our made in Canada solutions refuse to do that. We will invest in Canadian solutions and Canadian communities and Canadian technology. In our plan Canadians come first, including Quebec.

Natural Resources

[Scott Brison, Liberal, Kings—Hants, NS]

Mr. Speaker, last month the Conservatives killed the energy retrofit program that was helping seniors and low income Canadians conserve energy and save money. Did the Conservatives kill the energy retrofit program because of their indifference to the environment, or did they kill the program because of their indifference to low income Canadians?

[Gary Lunn, Conservative, Minister of Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, I am surprised that the hon. member's memory is so short. In fact, the program he is referring to specifically under Bill C-66 was a program for a one time payment for seniors and low income Canadians.

I can tell the member that for all those people who are eligible for it, the cheques have been sent and are in the mail. That program has been completed.

Softwood Lumber

[Bill Casey, Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester—Musquodoboit Valley, NS]

Mr. Speaker, as you know, for years and years the Liberals failed to make one ounce of progress on the softwood lumber file. It was so frustrating that the provinces ended up sending representatives to Washington themselves. It was embarrassing. The provinces had negotiators in Washington but the federal Liberals were hiding out in Ottawa.

Now that there is a deal, will the government confirm that the Atlantic exemption that recognizes the unique forestry practices of Atlantic Canada has been totally preserved in this new agreement?

[David Emerson, Conservative, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Pacific Gateway and the Vancouver-Whistler Olympics]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for the very best question of this question period. I want to thank him for a couple of years of good hard work, in fact a number of years of hard work on this very file. Yes, I can confirm that exemption has been fully preserved on paper and confirmed.

NORAD

[Dawn Black, NDP, New Westminster—Coquitlam, BC]

Mr. Speaker, last week the Conservative government indicated that the House would have the opportunity to debate and vote on Canada's future in Norad. Now we know that the Minister of National Defence already signed the agreement in secret on Friday.

How can we have a debate on Canada's future in Norad if the government has already crossed the t's and dotted the i's? Why would the minister sign this deal negotiated by the Liberals before Parliament even had a chance to look at it?

[Peter MacKay, Conservative, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency]

Mr. Speaker, the reality is that this agreement makes provision for a signature prior to its ratification and entry into force. It allows for the type of debate that will take place. We look forward to the participation of the hon. member and all members in this very important debate that furthers Canada's commitment to North American security.

[Dawn Black, NDP, New Westminster—Coquitlam, BC]

Mr. Speaker, no matter what weasel words the minister wants to use, it is a deal. It is a done deal.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

This is the second time that phrase has come up in the last few days. I would urge hon. members to be judicious and proper in their choice of language.

The hon. member for New Westminster—Coquitlam.

[Dawn Black, NDP, New Westminster—Coquitlam, BC]

Mr. Speaker, it is shocking that Canadians learned about this from the U.S. state department, not from their own government.

The minister expects us to waste our time debating an issue that he has already decided. Without the ability to amend the Norad motion, the minister will have neutered the House.

Will the minister allow a real debate? Will he allow the House to do its job?

[Peter MacKay, Conservative, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency]

Mr. Speaker, there will be a very important debate, as I have mentioned. We invite the hon. member to take part. International treaties, as we promised during the campaign and as we said in the throne speech, will come to Parliament for debate, and for a vote, I might add. This will take place this week in the House of Commons. The hon. member will have ample opportunity to ferret out all the questions she wants.

Post-Secondary Education

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Mr. Speaker, the rising cost of post-secondary education puts a heavy load on students, yet the government plans to spend 85% less than the Liberal government committed to help students in need.

What is worse, the government believes everything can be cured by a tax credit, but not one penny will get to students by the time tuition is due. Why is the government abandoning lower and middle income students in this country?

[Jim Flaherty, Conservative, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, I can assure the member opposite that there will be more about post-secondary education in the conversation that will follow tomorrow. I encourage him to be patient. Tomorrow I hope to be able to satisfy some of his concerns, if he will wait--

[Monte Solberg, Conservative, Medicine Hat, AB]

Just one more sleep.

[Jim Flaherty, Conservative, Whitby—Oshawa, ON]

Yes, one more sleep for the hon. member.

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Mr. Speaker, I think my hon. colleague is still asleep. The Conservatives have stitched together a pathetic package of credits and exemptions and are calling it a plan for education. Credits and exemptions are for tax time. They are too late for tuition time. They are not a plan for student assistance.

The government's scheme will mean that the only students who get higher education are those from higher income families who can cut the cheques in September. When will the government provide real support for Canadian students?

[Jim Flaherty, Conservative, Minister of Finance]

Tomorrow, Mr. Speaker.

Research and Development

[Joe Fontana, Liberal, London North Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians wake up each and every morning and juggle dozens of priorities, yet we know that this government has trouble counting past five.

Let us take research, for instance, the key to our economic future. The Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada is calling on the government to immediately address the indirect costs of research, as the previous Liberal governments have done.

Why does the government fail to understand that research is a priority? Will the government match previous funding commitments made by the former government?

[Maxime Bernier, Conservative, Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, my colleague, an hon. member of this House, knows very well that research and development is a priority. It is what drives this country's economic growth. He will see, very soon, that research is something we support on this side of the House.

[Joe Fontana, Liberal, London North Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the minister's answer, but the facts are entirely different. In fact, I think that party is starting to like the smell of its own manure, because what they say during the campaign and what they commit to Canadians is not beyond the truth. Will the minister now stop fluffing this stuff off and make a commitment for research, universities and students in this country?

[Maxime Bernier, Conservative, Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, it is too bad that my hon. colleague was not in Quebec City on Friday, where it was my pleasure to announce an investment of $85.7 million in basic research in Canada.