House of Commons Hansard #41 of the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was pfos.

Topics

The EnvironmentOral Questions

2:25 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Peter Milliken

The hon. member for Laurier—Sainte-Marie.

Manufacturing IndustryOral Questions

2:25 p.m.

Bloc

Gilles Duceppe Bloc Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC

Mr. Speaker, this morning I met with manufacturing sector and union representatives. We all agree that manufacturers are experiencing an unprecedented crisis. In Canada, over 149,000 jobs disappeared from this sector in 2005. Yet, the government persists with its laissez-faire philosophy.

The prevailing situation in the manufacturing sector requires concrete action by the government. How can the Prime Minister's only strategy be to lower taxes, a measure that benefits profitable industries but that does little for the manufacturing sector?

Manufacturing IndustryOral Questions

2:25 p.m.

Calgary Southwest Alberta

Conservative

Stephen Harper ConservativePrime Minister

Mr. Speaker, lowering taxes is not our only approach to this problem. In our budget there are programs to improve training and flexibility of the labour force. We also have programs to encourage corporate research and development and several initiatives of this type. In addition, we are developing a program for older workers.

I again ask for the support of the Bloc Québécois for these budgetary measures.

Manufacturing IndustryOral Questions

2:25 p.m.

Bloc

Gilles Duceppe Bloc Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC

Mr. Speaker, the government knows full well that the difficulties experienced by the manufacturing industry at present are due in large part to higher oil prices and the rising dollar.

What concrete action does the Prime Minister plan on taking to help Quebec and Canadian manufacturers that are running out of time? Why not implement transitional measures such as those of the WTO? Other countries, such as the United States, are implementing them.

Manufacturing IndustryOral Questions

2:25 p.m.

Calgary Southwest Alberta

Conservative

Stephen Harper ConservativePrime Minister

Mr. Speaker, I have just mentioned a number of measures implemented by this government. We are examining others. Problems in the manufacturing industry are not Canada's alone. They are found throughout the developed world.

Despite these problems we have had the lowest unemployment rate for three decades, and that is due to the policies of the Minister of Finance.

Manufacturing IndustryOral Questions

2:25 p.m.

Bloc

Paul Crête Bloc Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC

Mr. Speaker, 149,000 jobs were lost in 2005. We cannot hide behind the general unemployment rate. The manufacturing industry is having problems.

The petroleum industry was given accelerated capital cost allowances to enable it to develop the tar sands, but when the manufacturing sector needs help, the government refuses to budge. The textile, clothing, furniture, bicycle and aeronautics sectors need accelerated capital cost allowance, but is it not available to them.

The government gave it to the oil companies, yet refuses to give it to the manufacturing industry, which needs it badly. Why?

Manufacturing IndustryOral Questions

2:25 p.m.

Oshawa Ontario

Conservative

Colin Carrie ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry

Mr. Speaker, so far this year, over 220,000 new jobs have been created in Canada. Unemployment rates are at historic lows. The unemployment rate is actually at a 30 year low. The job losses in manufacturing have been offset with job gains in other sectors.

Manufacturing IndustryOral Questions

2:25 p.m.

Bloc

Paul Crête Bloc Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC

Mr. Speaker, denying that the manufacturing sector has an unemployment problem will not make the problem go away.

Yesterday, officials of the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada informed us that the Technology Partnerships Canada program will be out of funds by December 31, 2006. This while the industry is in growth mode. It is essential that the government send a clear message to all stakeholders in this industrial sector.

Can the Minister of Industry guarantee that the Technology Partnerships Canada (TPC) program will be renewed for the long term to reassure Canada's aeronautics industry?

Manufacturing IndustryOral Questions

2:25 p.m.

Oshawa Ontario

Conservative

Colin Carrie ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry

Mr. Speaker, on this side of the House we recognize the importance of the aerospace industry and the defence sector within the Canadian economy. We realize that the industry faces significant future challenges to compete in the global marketplace, and as such we are reviewing the existing strategic framework and all options before deciding on which way to move forward.

Softwood LumberOral Questions

2:30 p.m.

NDP

Jack Layton NDP Toronto—Danforth, ON

Mr. Speaker, with the talks apparently breaking off, it looks as though the Prime Minister's softwood surrender is starting to collapse, and that is a good thing because quite frankly, the deal that he was trying to ram through was a compromise and a sellout of our sovereignty.

Despite the bullying tactics of this government with regard to the industry, it is the industry that is standing up for Canada.

Is the government going to provide the loan guarantees that the industry needs and should rightly have, so that it can stand up for Canada, protect Canadian jobs and communities, and protect Canadian sovereignty?

Softwood LumberOral Questions

2:30 p.m.

Calgary Southwest Alberta

Conservative

Stephen Harper ConservativePrime Minister

Mr. Speaker, as I have said before, the government is working hard to ensure that the final legal text reflects the agreement in principle that was arrived at between the two governments, supported by the provinces, and by most players in the industry.

I find it exceedingly strange that a party that consistently talks about supporting the interests of workers in this country would find itself aligned with only lawyers on both sides of the border who are really the only people who want to continue with this dispute.

Softwood LumberOral Questions

2:30 p.m.

NDP

Jack Layton NDP Toronto—Danforth, ON

Mr. Speaker, I would invite the Prime Minister to come and attend with me some of the smaller mills in this country, and we will talk to the workers right on the front line together. That is an open invitation to the Prime Minister because he would rather, quite frankly, sign a disastrous deal than fight for a good deal for this country. After all the rhetoric in the election about standing up for Canada, we have not seen it.

I am asking him if he is sending negotiators to Washington in order to give away more of our Canadian sovereignty or in order to fight for Canadian jobs and Canadian workers?

Softwood LumberOral Questions

2:30 p.m.

Calgary Southwest Alberta

Conservative

Stephen Harper ConservativePrime Minister

Mr. Speaker, I listen to the three opposition parties and one day we are going too fast on the deal, and the next day we are going too slow on the deal.

What the industry realizes and what workers in this industry realize is that these three parties do not have a clue how to deal with this issue. That is why this party represents that industry and that is why we will get the best deal we can for this country.

Canadian HeritageOral Questions

2:30 p.m.

Liberal

Dan McTeague Liberal Pickering—Scarborough East, ON

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the government House leader, behind whom a growing number of ministers are hiding, seemed to suggest that because the heritage minister disclosed her conflict of interest to the Ethics Commissioner, her conflict must somehow be acceptable as a result of this.

Canadians demand better. The minister, by disclosing her assets to the Ethics Commissioner, allows the Canadian public to see that she certainly is in a conflict of interest. It does not, however, resolve that conflict.

Therefore, how does the government intend to prevent the heritage minister from making personal financial gains from the allocation of government funds to a company in which she holds an important stake?

Canadian HeritageOral Questions

2:30 p.m.

Niagara Falls Ontario

Conservative

Rob Nicholson ConservativeLeader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform

Mr. Speaker, the member has this completely wrong. There is a process in place whereby ministers and parliamentary secretaries make complete disclosure to the Ethics Commissioner. That has been done in every case on this side of the House.

Of course there are directives and suggestions from the Ethics Commissioner. I can inform the House that all directives have been complied with and particularly in this case that the member has mentioned.

Canadian HeritageOral Questions

2:30 p.m.

Liberal

Dan McTeague Liberal Pickering—Scarborough East, ON

Mr. Speaker, when the Minister of Canadian Heritage finally emerged yesterday from behind her deflector shield, she said she was not in any conflict of interest because the granting body is independent. We know that the company in question receives government funding. Even with the minister's financial stake in the company, it strains credulity to think that the granting body is suddenly going to deny any future funding to a company that is a major player in our Canadian film industry.

How will the government prevent the heritage minister from making personal financial gains with the help of funds entrusted to her and when will she divest herself of these shares?

Canadian HeritageOral Questions

2:30 p.m.

Niagara Falls Ontario

Conservative

Rob Nicholson ConservativeLeader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform

Mr. Speaker, that hon. member is a member of a party that allowed a blind management trust to allow the former prime minister to have his own company in it.

This is a more open process that we have. The member has made full disclosure. The Ethics Commissioner is completely satisfied and so should the hon. member be.

HealthOral Questions

2:30 p.m.

Liberal

Ruby Dhalla Liberal Brampton—Springdale, ON

Mr. Speaker, when the Prime Minister asked this minister to take over the health portfolio, there seems to have been some confusion. Instead of focusing on reducing wait times in this country, establishing a mental health commission, implementing catastrophic drug coverage or ensuring that aboriginals and seniors in our country receive the very best in health care, this minister has been looking after his personal investment portfolio.

Canadians do not want stock tips. They want a minister who is going to take action on health care. My question is simple. When will this minister just sell his shares?

HealthOral Questions

2:35 p.m.

Niagara Falls Ontario

Conservative

Rob Nicholson ConservativeLeader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform

Mr. Speaker, again, the hon. member has it completely wrong. All the members on this side of the House have made disclosure to the Ethics Commissioner. The Ethics Commissioner has had a look at that process. It is a fair process, it is an open process, and there has been complete compliance on this side of the House.

The hon. member should appreciate that and applaud that.

HealthOral Questions

2:35 p.m.

Liberal

Ruby Dhalla Liberal Brampton—Springdale, ON

Mr. Speaker, how can we appreciate or applaud a minister who has not done any work on the health care file when it is the number one priority for Canadians across this country?

The role of the Ethics Commissioner is to ensure that there is disclosure. That is how we have learned that there is a conflict of interest. It is very apparent that this conflict of interest is being promoted by Industry Canada. This minister is getting help from Industry Canada to have his drug company on its website.

Canadians want a health minister who is going to be promoting health for Canadians, not this minister's personal drug company, called Prudential. When will he sell his shares?

HealthOral Questions

2:35 p.m.

Niagara Falls Ontario

Conservative

Rob Nicholson ConservativeLeader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform

Mr. Speaker, I can tell you what has become obvious. That hon. member is only interested in doing a bit of muckraking. She obviously does not have any concern for the health portfolio of this country because otherwise she would pay attention.

I will just give an example. Sun Media, having a look at the disclosure by the members on this side of the House, said that we are a group of ordinary Canadians.

I will tell the House what is not ordinary. It is the extraordinary Minister of Health that we have in this country.

Kyoto ProtocolOral Questions

2:35 p.m.

Bloc

Bernard Bigras Bloc Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC

Mr. Speaker, with the means available to it, Quebec decided to go ahead and try to reach 75% of the Kyoto target for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. If the federal government stopped dragging its feet and did its part by signing a bilateral agreement with Quebec, and by contributing the $328 million needed, 100% of the target would be reached.

Is the environment minister aware that, by refusing to support Quebec in its efforts, she is slowing everyone down?

Kyoto ProtocolOral Questions

2:35 p.m.

Edmonton—Spruce Grove Alberta

Conservative

Rona Ambrose ConservativeMinister of the Environment

Mr. Speaker, let us just examine where the Bloc has been on this issue. The Bloc members first said they were against any hike in gas prices. This week they are saying they are in favour of increasing the prices at the pumps because they want to see taxation on the oil and gas industry.

They do not know what they believe, but I can tell the House what we believe. I can assure the House that the federal government will not increase taxes on gasoline that will result in Canadians paying more at the pumps. We have no problem targeting those who pollute. We will not make commuters pay. We will make polluters pay.

Kyoto ProtocolOral Questions

2:35 p.m.

Bloc

Bernard Bigras Bloc Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC

Mr. Speaker, I invite the minister to respond to the repeated requests from the Quebec government and all of Quebec.

The minister keeps repeating that she wants concrete results and significant reductions. Well, the plan proposed by Quebec will give concrete results. The minister simply has to sign the bilateral agreement with Quebec. Such an agreement would help not only Quebec, but it would also help Canada reach its targets.

If the minister stubbornly refuses to sign a bilateral agreement, she must recognize that her refusal is based on nothing but pure dogmatism. Will she admit this, once and for all?

Kyoto ProtocolOral Questions

2:35 p.m.

Edmonton—Spruce Grove Alberta

Conservative

Rona Ambrose ConservativeMinister of the Environment

Mr. Speaker, as I have said repeatedly and have said to the minister of the environment in Quebec, who agreed with me when we met, the largest cause of pollution and greenhouse gases in Quebec is transportation.

I am excited to see that the province of Quebec is moving to curb its pollution and greenhouse gases in that area. We have done it at the federal level by making the largest investment in clean public transportation in Canadian history, and a great deal of that money goes to Quebec. We also offered incentives to make sure Quebeckers get out of their cars and take public transportation.