Debates of Nov. 2nd, 2007

Agriculture

[Christian Paradis, Conservative, Secretary of State (Agriculture)]

Mr. Speaker, my colleague is well aware of everything that has been done to open up the markets for beef. Money has been transferred and agreements have been signed with the provinces. Eighty million dollars has been allocated to help the provinces move forward in this area. We have taken action, and this program will help the Atlantic provinces and all of the other provinces.

[Wayne Easter, Liberal, Malpeque, PE]

Mr. Speaker, markets are at below the cost of production. How can the minister respond with such a callous disregard for Atlantic Canadian producers, producers who put high quality food on Canadian tables?

While our American counterparts support their industry, the new government will allow our beef industry to disintegrate before its very eyes.

Why is the new government putting Canada's food security at risk? With a government swimming in cash, how can the minister do nothing for slaughter plants, for producers and for our national food security? Why is he failing our country?

[Christian Paradis, Conservative, Secretary of State (Agriculture)]

Mr. Speaker, my colleague can go ahead and get worked up if he wants to, but we have taken action, and he knows that the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food is in talks with the sector.

One thing is sure. There were several measures in our throne speech. We spoke about going forward. We spoke about choice of marketing. We spoke about supply management. We spoke about biofuel incentives.

At least I can thank the member and his party for endorsing the throne speech last week by sitting on their asses—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[Christian Paradis, Conservative, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

—by abstention, I mean. I am sorry, Mr. Speaker.

[The Deputy Speaker, NDP, Bill Blaikie]

I presume the hon. member meant hands, otherwise he would have been saying something unparliamentary.

The hon. member for Jeanne-Le Ber.

Public Safety

[Thierry St-Cyr, Bloc, Jeanne-Le Ber, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the sale of contraband cigarettes is once again in full swing. According to a number of studies, illegal products account for one-quarter of the market in Quebec and Ontario, and the federal and provincial governments are losing $1.6 billion in tax revenues per year. Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada has determined that the lower cost of illegal cigarettes threatens progress in the fight against tobacco addiction, particularly among young people.

Is the Minister of Public Safety ready to demand that the RCMP to do its job and put an end to cigarette smuggling?

[Dave MacKenzie, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, as members know, we have put additional funds into the border services. We are looking at ways and means to stop all contraband coming into the country. It is a serious issue and the minister certainly is well aware of it and is working toward an end to it.

[Thierry St-Cyr, Bloc, Jeanne-Le Ber, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the parliamentary secretary did not answer the question.

We want the RCMP to do everything in its power under the law to put an end to the sale of contraband cigarettes. For example, it could impound vehicles belonging to people who buy cigarettes from the many illegal outlets in Canada, not across the border. That way, it could act on supply as well as demand.

Can the minister ensure that the RCMP will use all measures at its disposal?

[Dave MacKenzie, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, the member has brought up something that is very illegal, seizing vehicles from people who are legitimately driving down the road. I have no way of knowing how he would know who has what in their vehicle.

We are well aware of the situation and steps are being taken.

Government Programs

[Francis Scarpaleggia, Liberal, Lac-Saint-Louis, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the in and out scheme is not the first time the Prime Minister has had an issue with campaign spending limits.

When the Prime Minister was the head of the National Citizens Coalition, he tried to break third party spending limits under the Canada Elections Act, but lost to two groups that were helped in their fight against him by the court challenges program.

Why is the Prime Minister holding official language and other minorities hostage to his emotional need for revenge?

[Rob Nicholson, Conservative, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, that is a ridiculous question from the hon. member.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Deputy Speaker, NDP, Bill Blaikie]

Order, please. The official opposition has asked a question of the government and the government is trying to respond.

The Minister of Justice.

[Rob Nicholson, Conservative, Niagara Falls, ON]

Actually, I was just corrected by my colleague, Mr. Speaker. He says that all their questions today have been ridiculous.

This government has been straightforward in its commitment to support minority language rights in the country. We stand on our record.

Human Trafficking

[Nina Grewal, Conservative, Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Future Group called on our government to take concrete steps to address the issue of human trafficking in light of the upcoming 2010 Winter Olympics.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration please inform the House what steps we have taken to address the issue of human trafficking while assisting the victims of these terrible crimes?

[Ed Komarnicki, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, our government is taking real action to address human trafficking and to prevent the exploitation of women and children.

We have taken several initiatives, including a series of changes to the immigration guidelines that would address the unique needs of victims of human trafficking.

Yesterday, we reintroduced Bill C-17, legislation to help prevent the exploitation and abuse of foreign nationals seeking to work in Canada.

I would urge all members of the House to put aside their partisan ways, to do the right thing, get behind Bill C-17 and support it.

Infrastructure

[Irene Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Mr. Speaker, there is a six metre hole in the heart of downtown London. This hole left thousands of workers unable to work, including many federal employees. The power was out for more than 10 hours. The end result for many businesses is hundreds of thousands of dollars of lost revenue. That is the reality.

Will the minister provide the infrastructure money needed for London and the thousands of cities across this country whose streets are literally crumbling?

[Lawrence Cannon, Conservative, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, my hon. colleague raises a specific issue. That enables me to indicate that in budget 2006 and in budget 2007 we increased not the transfer payments but the amounts of money for infrastructure in this country.

We increased the gas tax to make it go until 2014. We increased and made more money available for building Canada. More recently, we were in the London area where we committed over $40 million to help people get clean water.

The government is acting where the previous government did not.

[Irene Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Mr. Speaker, clearly money is needed now. There is a giant hole in the middle of downtown London. The Finance Minister's unbalanced mini-budget on Wednesday clearly stated cuts to spending, a $90 billion cut in funding capacity.

What we need is investment in our cities and in ordinary Canadians, and not big tax cuts for oil and gas. Crumbling infrastructure will hinder economic growth, not strengthen it.

Will the minister invest in our cities today, or will the government leave Canadians dodging holes?

[Lawrence Cannon, Conservative, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, of the $33 billion unprecedented investments, how much is going to municipalities and communities across this country? It is $17 billion. That is what we are committed to do for our municipalities.

Aboriginal Affairs

[Anita Neville, Liberal, Winnipeg South Centre, MB]

Mr. Speaker, in a statement to the United Nations in May 2006, this government held up the Kelowna agreement as a shining example of partnerships between government and aboriginal organizations.

At the same time, the same government was killing the Kelowna accord and wiping out $5.1 billion in funding. Boasting on the world stage about a cancelled initiative is the ultimate in hypocrisy.

Will the minister explain why Canada misled the United Nations?

[Rod Bruinooge, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians]

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the question because it gives me an opportunity to talk about what our government is interested in doing.

Unlike that press release the hon. member speaks of, which the former government put forward in its dying days, we are interested in systemic reform.

This is the most important thing that faces first nations people throughout Canada, improving the very system that unfortunately keeps first nations people from being able to take advantage of all the economic benefits in Canada.

I hope the member is actually interested in helping us in another systemic reform, which is extending the Canadian Human Rights Act to first nations people. I hope she changes her ways and decides to support us in this reform.

[Anita Neville, Liberal, Winnipeg South Centre, MB]

Mr. Speaker, the one that needs to change its ways is the government over there.

In the same statement to the UN, the Canadian delegation boasted “--an active role in the negotiations of a UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples”. Instead of working to pass this historic accord, Canada actually voted against it, embarrassingly putting us offside with the world community.

Can the minister tell the House why the government delivered a further grossly misleading statement to the United Nations?

[Rod Bruinooge, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians]

Mr. Speaker, we have actually been quite clear in relation to the UN draft declaration. It is something that we did not support because we believe that Canada actually is one of the most progressive countries in the world, in terms of acknowledging aboriginal people. They are right in our charter.

The Charter of Rights and Freedoms acknowledges first nations people, Métis people and Inuit people. This ambiguous agreement actually does not impact aboriginal people in Canada like extending the Canadian Human Rights Act would. This is something that this member is against and is not supporting.

Hopefully, we will bring forward Bill C-44 very soon and hopefully she will support it this time.