House of Commons Hansard #28 of the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was crime.

Topics

TaxationOral Questions

2:35 p.m.

Liberal

John McCallum Liberal Markham—Unionville, ON

It is a breathtakingly dishonest budget, Mr. Speaker.

Why does the government shower special benefits on a transit riding pensioner needing $1,500 worth of tools per year but who goes to school full time and has a child under six who plays lots of sports?

Why does the social engineering government feel that the government always knows best on how Canadians should spend their money?

Why favour sports? Why not dance? Why not music?

TaxationOral Questions

2:35 p.m.

Whitby—Oshawa Ontario

Conservative

Jim Flaherty ConservativeMinister of Finance

Mr. Speaker, I have heard many members opposite being called social engineers but I think it is the first time I have been called a social engineer.

I will say this about transit, and we saw it today in Toronto where we had a transit strike this morning, it reiterates once again the importance of public transit for people in the greater Toronto area and all our large urban areas in Canada.

The transit pass will mean that people who buy monthly passes to commute will have about two months free transit per year. It is environmentally friendly and it is a good idea for commuting in Canada.

The EnvironmentOral Questions

2:40 p.m.

Liberal

Massimo Pacetti Liberal Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC

Mr. Speaker, instead of supporting the provinces financially as it promised, the Conservative government is cutting their funding. That is its way of saying it will let the provinces pay the bill.

We learned on the weekend, in fact, that the $328 million set aside for Quebec for the environment are now in doubt.

Instead of playing with the fate of the planet, why will the Prime Minister not guarantee that the Government of Quebec will receive the $328 million? How will he reconcile his lip service with reality?

The EnvironmentOral Questions

2:40 p.m.

Edmonton—Spruce Grove Alberta

Conservative

Rona Ambrose ConservativeMinister of the Environment

Mr. Speaker, when it comes to the environment, the only thing our government will cut is greenhouse gases.

The Liberals failed Canadians when it came to the environment. They failed the provinces when it came to the environment and they definitely failed Quebecers when it came to the environment.

We will work with Quebec in the area with which it needs most help in cutting greenhouse gas emissions. That is in transportation, which is why we have made a huge investment in public transportation in Quebec and that will show real results on reductions in Quebec.

The EnvironmentOral Questions

2:40 p.m.

Liberal

Massimo Pacetti Liberal Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC

Mr. Speaker, I will put the question another way.

While the Conservative government is throwing in the towel over global warming by cancelling the EnerGuide program, the Liberal government of Quebec announced last week that it will maintain the EnerGuide program with the help of its partners, such as Hydro-Québec and Gaz Métro.

Is the Prime Minister not ashamed to drop Quebec and its partners in the fight against global warming? Will he compensate Quebec instead of leaving it with the bill?

The EnvironmentOral Questions

2:40 p.m.

Saanich—Gulf Islands B.C.

Conservative

Gary Lunn ConservativeMinister of Natural Resources

Mr. Speaker, as the Minister of the Environment just said, the only thing we are cutting is greenhouse gases and pollution, unlike the previous Liberal government which sat on its hands and watched greenhouse gases skyrocket.

When we develop energy efficient programs we will ensure they get results for every Canadian in this country, including Quebeckers. We do not want them to end up in envelopes of cash in the streets of Quebec.

Sponsorship ProgramOral Questions

2:40 p.m.

Conservative

Patrick Brown Conservative Barrie, ON

Mr. Speaker, we have heard story after story of sponsorship cash finding its way into Liberal campaign coffers.

Canadian taxpayers deserve to know how much money was squandered. Millions of dollars are not accounted for and Canadians deserve to have that money returned.

Could the Parliamentary Secretary for the Minister of Public Works and Government Services tell us what the government is doing to retrieve that cash?

Sponsorship ProgramOral Questions

2:40 p.m.

Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam B.C.

Conservative

James Moore ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for the Pacific Gateway and the Vancouver-Whistler Olympics

Mr. Speaker, after the sponsorship scandal, Canadians were repeatedly asking where the money went. They should know that this government will leave no stone unturned in getting that stolen money back.

Three days ago the government amended its claim for the recovery of funds to $7 million and two new defendants, bringing our claim to $63 million against 30 firms and individuals.

Let me be clear, on behalf of the entire government, to Canadian taxpayers, that we will get the stolen money back.

Elections ActOral Questions

2:40 p.m.

NDP

Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB

Mr. Speaker, I suppose it is possible that all six children of two drug company executives would choose to donate their life savings to the Liberal leadership campaign of the member for Eglinton—Lawrence. It is possible but not likely. It is a lot more likely that this is a case of deliberate and premeditated fraud to circumvent the donation limits of the Elections Act.

The Liberal Party of Canada says that it sees nothing wrong with this practice.

What legislative solutions can the government put in place to teach the Liberal Party the difference between right and wrong when it comes to election financing?

Elections ActOral Questions

2:40 p.m.

Ottawa West—Nepean Ontario

Conservative

John Baird ConservativePresident of the Treasury Board

Mr. Speaker, I will not stand in my place and defend the corruption from the Liberal members opposite.

We will be bringing in the toughest anti-corruption law in Canadian history. We will ban union and corporate donations and, most important, we will lower donations to just $1,000 to ensure Canadians can count on an honest, transparent and democratic government that obeys the law in this great country.

Elections ActOral Questions

2:45 p.m.

NDP

Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB

Mr. Speaker, senior party officials say that this type of blatant fraud is “in full compliance with Liberal Party guidelines”. It makes one wonder how many other Liberal candidates have been funding their campaigns illegally.

Today I am filing the necessary papers with the elections commissioner asking him to investigate, not only this case but all Liberal candidates dating back to 2004.

Will the government commit today that the elections commissioner will have the resources to investigate, not only this case but all cases and that where he finds fraud they will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law?

Elections ActOral Questions

2:45 p.m.

Ottawa West—Nepean Ontario

Conservative

John Baird ConservativePresident of the Treasury Board

Mr. Speaker, this government is a law and order government. This government wants to ensure that all of the laws of this country are fully respected and fully upheld. We will do everything we can to ensure the rule of law prevails.

The one thing this Parliament can do is to clean up government and to enact the federal accountability act. I am pleased to hear that the New Democratic Party and that member are prepared to stand up for accountability, which is why we need to ensure the federal accountability act becomes law. I hope we can count on the support of members opposite.

Aboriginal AffairsOral Questions

2:45 p.m.

Liberal

Anita Neville Liberal Winnipeg South Centre, MB

Mr. Speaker, the government's response to the Auditor General's report is at odds with reality. The government offers the Kelowna accord as evidence that progress is being made on aboriginal issues. The government further speaks about the need to consult with aboriginal organizations. We all know it killed Kelowna and we certainly know it did not consult aboriginal organizations when it drafted the accountability act.

What are we to believe, the government's actions or the government's spin?

Aboriginal AffairsOral Questions

2:45 p.m.

Calgary Centre-North Alberta

Conservative

Jim Prentice ConservativeMinister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians

Mr. Speaker, I am astounded that the hon. member would have the temerity to stand in the House after the Auditor General's report, which is a sad epitaph on 13 years of Liberal mismanagement.

From the time of the 1993 red book, followed by throne speech after throne speech of empty promises and rhetoric, finally in 2004 the Liberal government said, “The conditions in too many aboriginal communities can only be described as shameful”, a shame which the Liberals created. I am surprised they would have the audacity to raise that suggestion in the House.

Aboriginal AffairsOral Questions

2:45 p.m.

Liberal

Anita Neville Liberal Winnipeg South Centre, MB

Mr. Speaker, what is really clear is that the government has difficulty aligning the truth with reality. It says that it supports the Kelowna accord and that it understands the need to consult but it is clear that the government's words in response to the Auditor General's report are not compatible with the truth.

Given this record, why should Canada's aboriginal peoples accept the government's word as anything more than empty promises?

Aboriginal AffairsOral Questions

2:45 p.m.

Calgary Centre-North Alberta

Conservative

Jim Prentice ConservativeMinister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians

Mr. Speaker, in the recent budget put forward by this government more money was provided for aboriginal Canadians than was ever provided under the previous Liberal government.

The reason aboriginal Canadians are prepared to work with this government is that we are consulting with them. We have established working groups to determine how that money will be spent. They know that what they will see from this government is actions and results and not the sort of empty rhetoric, empty promises and voidness that they saw from the Liberal government.

Human Resources and Social DevelopmentOral Questions

2:45 p.m.

Liberal

Geoff Regan Liberal Halifax West, NS

Mr. Speaker, since the Conservative government came to office, literacy groups across the country have been fearing for their future. In fact, Literacy Nova Scotia has been in limbo for two months without federal funding. It has been abandoned by the government. Now it looks like it will be forced to lay off staff or even close its doors because it is not one of the government's five narrow priorities.

Will the minister today assure literacy groups that they will not continue to be ignored by her government?

Human Resources and Social DevelopmentOral Questions

2:45 p.m.

Blackstrap Saskatchewan

Conservative

Lynne Yelich ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development

Mr. Speaker, absolutely. The government recognizes how important literacy is for our trades, skills and education. We will ensure ongoing spending.

Human Resources and Social DevelopmentOral Questions

2:45 p.m.

Liberal

Geoff Regan Liberal Halifax West, NS

Mr. Speaker, it is not a priority for the government. Literacy groups cannot even get their calls returned.

And yet, we are beginning to find ourselves short of time and money for programs teaching people to read and write in Nova Scotia, Quebec, Alberta and elsewhere in the country.

When will the minister call for new proposals so these groups may continue their work?

Human Resources and Social DevelopmentOral Questions

2:50 p.m.

Blackstrap Saskatchewan

Conservative

Lynne Yelich ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development

Mr. Speaker, the government knows that education and training are critical to productivity and economic growth. We have proposed to provide students and their families with tax relief, new tax credits on books and a reduction in parental contributions to expectant parents. We take literacy quite seriously in the development of our children.

Canadian Broadcasting CorporationOral Questions

2:50 p.m.

Bloc

Maka Kotto Bloc Saint-Lambert, QC

Mr. Speaker, recent comments by the chairman of the board of the CBC are singularly lacking in objectivity. Guy Fournier criticizes the CBC for deviating from its mandate and no longer promoting Canadian unity.

Does the government share the vision of the chairman of the board of the CBC, who sees the organization first and foremost as a defender of Canadian unity rather than an objective source of information?

Canadian Broadcasting CorporationOral Questions

2:50 p.m.

Kootenay—Columbia B.C.

Conservative

Jim Abbott ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage

Mr. Speaker, of course we are aware of some of the comments that have been made by Mr. Fournier but CBC is a crown corporation. It acts at arm's length from the government. The government does not interfere with its internal operations.

Canadian Broadcasting CorporationOral Questions

2:50 p.m.

Bloc

Maka Kotto Bloc Saint-Lambert, QC

Mr. Speaker, seeing is believing.

Guy Fournier's comments take us back to when Pierre Trudeau denounced the CBC for its lack of willingness to be the voice of Canadian unity.

Can the government make a solemn promise in this House not to use public television or radio for propaganda purposes, but to maintain their role as objective reporters of reality?

Canadian Broadcasting CorporationOral Questions

2:50 p.m.

Kootenay—Columbia B.C.

Conservative

Jim Abbott ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage

Mr. Speaker, the Broadcasting Act states that CBC Radio-Canada should only act with the highest standards and integrity and, from the Broadcasting Act, to contribute to a shared national consciousness and identity.

International AidOral Questions

2:50 p.m.

Liberal

Keith Martin Liberal Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC

Mr. Speaker, our hearts go out to the people of Indonesia who have been affected once again by a natural disaster. We all know that effective assistance on the ground is a race against time and it is a matter of life and death.

My question is for the Minister of Foreign Affairs. What specifically will the $1.8 million that the government is spending be spent on and when will the victims on the ground see this assistance?