House of Commons Hansard #7 of the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was pfos.
Stéphane Dion LiberalLeader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, not only did those members overspend the legal limit and try to hide it, but Elections Canada showed that they tried to extract more money from taxpayers than what the law allows. The Prime Minister should be ashamed.
Did he personally authorize this scheme, yes or no?
Peter Van Loan ConservativeLeader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform
Mr. Speaker, these questions from the leader of the Liberal Party are getting a little bit old. I think perhaps the Liberal member for Laval—Les Îles was correct when she said that perhaps he is too old to change.
Michael Ignatieff Liberal Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON
Mr. Speaker, the government cannot claim its election expenses scam is legal because Elections Canada says it is not.
The government cannot claim it is accountable to the House because it never answers a question we ask.
Will the Prime Minister get up in his place and commit that at the next election he will put a stop to in-and-out financing or is he in fact trying to do it again in the next election?
Peter Van Loan ConservativeLeader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform
Mr. Speaker, our answers have been clear on this. We follow the law. Our practices in election financing follow the law.
What they are dramatically different from is the election financing practices of that party, which are to dip into taxpayers' dollars to the tune of over $40 million, to use that, steal it, and use it for its campaigns.
Michael Ignatieff Liberal Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON
Mr. Speaker, every time the government explains its election spending scheme, it says that it was acting within the law. But this is not true. Elections Canada has clearly stated that it is against the law.
Obviously, the Conservatives are trying to hide their embarrassment, but you can see it on their faces. Is that why they are trying to trigger an election? To hide everything?
Peter Van Loan ConservativeLeader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform
Mr. Speaker, all our activities follow the election financing laws.
The Liberal Party of Canada may be in a position to have some moral authority to ask questions on election financing once it finally returns the 40 million taxpayer dollars the Gomery commission found missing that went into Liberal coffers.
Gilles Duceppe Bloc Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC
Mr. Speaker, the federal government has awarded contracts to Blackwater, a private security company, to train soldiers who are currently in Afghanistan. This company, which employs former soldiers and police officers who have been compared to mercenaries, has been embroiled in controversy since its officers killed 17 Iraqis, including several civilians, under circumstances that remain unclear.
How does the Prime Minister explain that his government has contracted with a private company with highly questionable methods to train soldiers serving in Afghanistan?
Stephen Harper ConservativePrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, these are contracts for security guard services. We frequently use such services in many federal buildings in Canada and abroad.
The contracts are for security guard services. These people are not engaging in military activities.
Gilles Duceppe Bloc Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is constantly going on about transparency. Yet the hiring of these private security firms is shrouded in secrecy.
What is the international status of these mercenaries? Whom do they report to, because they have neither civilian nor military status? Do they have the right to take prisoners? Can the Prime Minister clarify the status of these mercenaries his government has hired?
Maxime Bernier ConservativeMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, the facts are simple. We have hired security guards for the Canadian embassy in Kabul. That is very clear. These people are ensuring the security of the ambassador's invited guests and they are conducting security operations. They are traditional security guards, not military guards.
Claude Bachand Bloc Saint-Jean, QC
Mr. Speaker, there is a lot of mystery and secrecy surrounding companies like Saladin and Blackwater. Many of them are suspected of being involved in civil wars and even supporting dictatorships.
Did the government do a background check on Saladin to find out whether it was involved in civil wars in the past or whether it supported dictatorial regimes anywhere in the world? We want an answer.
Maxime Bernier ConservativeMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, as I was saying yesterday in the House, these contracts were awarded through a very clear public tendering process, a comprehensive process that respects the rules and legislation.
It is important to point out that these people perform non military duties as security guards. They greet visitors to our embassy in Kabul.
Claude Bachand Bloc Saint-Jean, QC
Mr. Speaker, I would like the minister to try again because he did not answer my question. My question is on the mercenaries hired by these companies.
Did he do a background check on these mercenaries? Can he tell us whether any of them were involved in civil wars or supported dictatorial regimes? We have the right to know the answers to these questions. The government has to be transparent and put an end to this secrecy.
Maxime Bernier ConservativeMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member has forgotten about the last election campaign. We are a government that is in favour of transparency and transparency rules. We have acted accordingly. The first bill we tabled in this House was on accountability.
We believe in transparency and democracy and we respect the rule of law. These contracts were awarded properly through a call for tenders.
Jack Layton NDP Toronto—Danforth, ON
Mr. Speaker, this caucus is proud of its principles and that is why tonight we will stand in opposition to the direction being taken by the government. This is the wrong direction for Canada.
Instead of moving forward on climate change, the Conservatives want to gut the clean air act. Instead of protecting farm families, what will they do? They will gut the Wheat Board. Instead of tackling the prosperity gap that is leaving people behind, they pretend it does not even exist. They have made no mention of seniors or women. The only mention of youth was under “crime”.
Why, with this incredible opportunity, is the Prime Minister leaving so many Canadians behind?
Stephen Harper ConservativePrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, all I can say is that I do not agree with a single word the leader of the NDP said but I do know where he stands.
Jack Layton NDP Toronto—Danforth, ON
Mr. Speaker, it is the role of the opposition and of an effective opposition party to stand against the government's policies. We are proud of the fact that we are going to do that. Why? Because this plan provides nothing for students, nothing for the manufacturing sector, nothing for small and medium size businesses, nothing for public transit, nothing for the cost of drugs or the lack of medical practitioners, and nothing for child care.
Why has this Prime Minister abandoned today's families? Why?
Stephen Harper ConservativePrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, on the contrary, I think that the Speech from the Throne sets out good priorities for Canada. Under our government, the country is united and the economy is strong. Our government is clean, and we are determined to improve safety on our streets and in our communities. These are good priorities for Canadians.
John McCallum Liberal Markham—Unionville, ON
Mr. Speaker, three days ago, the finance minister launched a doomed attempt to take on the retailers and force them to lower their prices to U.S. levels. He even complained about the price of his Harry Potter book. Yesterday, he said, “I am not going to force retailers to cut their prices”.
Why all this political posturing? Was it his idea or did the dark Lord Voldemort, sitting on his throne in the PMO, order his finance underling to do it?
Jim Flaherty ConservativeMinister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, as the member opposite knows, I am, at best, a mere elf, which brings me to the Christmas season.
Having met with retailers yesterday, they are very concerned that they have good, strong sales in Canadian retailing. I am very pleased that some of Canada's largest retailers have announced that they are reducing their prices across the board. This is good for Canadian consumers, good for Canadian retailers, good for the holiday season and good for the revenues of the Government of Canada and the provinces.
John McCallum Liberal Markham—Unionville, ON
Mr. Speaker, that has nothing to do with anything the underling did.
Here are some of his accomplishments. He puts the income tax rate up while saying that he is putting it down. His interest deductibility fiasco was the worst tax policy in 35 years. There were $25 billion of broken promises on income trusts. He breaks his promise to three provinces and had a fee bate program that was so bad it was never implemented. He must have received a grade of F at finance wizard school.
Just how long does he think the Canadian economy can endure this hocus-pocus?
Jim Flaherty ConservativeMinister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, the member opposite is a wizard at one thing and so is his leader. They do not care about prices for Canadian consumers. What they want to do is raise the GST. They voted against reducing the GST by one point.
The leader of the opposition has said that it is squandering taxpayer money. He said that it is wasteful. Last week in this place he said that we would lower prices for Canadian consumers. We said that we would and we will.
Scott Brison Liberal Kings—Hants, NS
Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government invested with the auto sector to create thousands of good jobs. Now the manufacturers and the auto sector are getting hammered. The Conservative government still has no plan of action for the auto sector.
When will the minister present a real plan for Canada's auto sector that will offer real hope to Canadian auto workers?
Jim Prentice ConservativeMinister of Industry
Mr. Speaker, the Canadian economy continues to show considerable resiliency and strength even in the face of falling demand in the auto sector in the United States. Overall, in the Canadian economy, 282,000 jobs were created last year. Manufacturing investment is up. We have the lowest unemployment rate since November 1974.
We are aware that the auto industry is a tough global industry. We spent extensive time working together with Mr. Hargrove and with other people from the industry and all the presidents of the companies. We will continue to be responsible and to work in the areas that government can make a difference: border infrastructure, reducing capital costs and reducing taxes so Canadians can compete.
Scott Brison Liberal Kings—Hants, NS
Mr. Speaker, Canadian manufacturers are facing real challenges. The industry committee recommended an accelerated capital cost allowance of 50% for five years but the government responded with only a two year program, a half measure.
According to the manufacturers, this was “too short to provide an effective incentive for investment”.
When will the government give Canadian manufacturers the full five year tax relief they need to compete and to survive?