Debates of Nov. 30th, 2007

Forestry Industry

[Gary Lunn, Conservative, Minister of Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, we understand these are very difficult circumstances for the forestry sector in every part of Canada. We have acted. We invested $400 million in a number of programs in the first few years of our mandate, and we are looking at other options.

We have rattled off a list before, $127 million for a competitive strategy and $72 million to help older workers. It is making a difference.

We recognize some of the challenges. We are working on them. We are working with associations like the Forest Products Association of Canada, which has said that we have invested money intelligently. They are working with us.

[Marcel Proulx, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the president of another paper company, Cascades, wrote this morning that his business will be forced to direct its investments outside Canada in order to remain profitable if the stakeholders, at all levels, do not come together to help the industry. The manufacturing sector is not asking for handouts, but rather targeted, concerted assistance.

The Government of Quebec has already done its part. Why does the Conservative government refuse to help this industry?

[Gary Lunn, Conservative, Minister of Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, I and the Minister of Industry met with CEOs of the forest industry earlier this week. We had a very productive discussion. They have been very supportive of our approach. They are very supportive of the money we have spent to expand market opportunities and to develop strategies and innovation.

We recognize we do need to do more. This sector is in a difficult situation. That is why we are working directly with it to look at options. The sector has been very supportive and pleased with the approach our government has taken to date.

Firearms

[Serge Ménard, Bloc, Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Canada is a signatory of the Organization of American States Firearms Convention, which requires that imported firearms have appropriate markings. Yet it would seem that the Conservative government is set to push back the effective date of the firearms marking regulation, a measure that even George Bush's United States enforces, and one which makes it easier to trace firearms found at crime scenes.

Can the minister confirm that he plans on deferring the firearms marking regulations by two years?

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

Mr. Speaker, on consultation with stakeholders and requests from Liberal MPs, the government decided to defer the firearms marking regulations until December 1, 2009.

[Serge Ménard, Bloc, Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC]

Mr. Speaker, this government prides itself on being tough on crime, but really, it is being inconsistent since it wants to abolish the firearms registry and once again plans on deferring the firearms marking regulations.

Could the parliamentary secretary tell us whether the minister plans on listening to the wishes of Quebeckers and the National Assembly, which, this morning, unanimously called on the federal government to maintain the date the regulations come into effect, or does he plan on listening to the gun lobby?

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

Mr. Speaker, as I indicated, we have decided to defer the firearms marking regulation until December 1, 2009. Our decision to defer it will allow us to consult with law enforcement agencies and industry in order to look at all the options for marking and to examine similar initiatives in other countries.

Justice

[Mario Silva, Liberal, Davenport, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Canada is known the world over as a nation with profound respect for human rights. We stand on principles worthy of the millions of Canadians who have fought to defend them. Sadly, the government has broken with this noble vision of Canada and refuses to object to the execution of a Canadian citizen in the United States, or by turning a blind eye to torture in Afghanistan.

When will the government honour Canada's noble history and stand up not just when it suits it, but all the time?

[Rob Moore, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, our government has been clear on this issue. I should add that no government, especially the previous government, has stood for international human rights, as well as human rights here in Canada, more than our government.

The minister has said recently that on this specific issue, there has been an appeal filed. Due to that, we cannot have any further comment.

Nuclear Energy

[Daryl Kramp, Conservative, Prince Edward—Hastings, ON]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Minister of Natural Resources announced that Canada has accepted an invitation to join the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership. This partnership focuses on enhanced safeguards, cooperative research and developing advanced technologies.

There were some allegations heard in the House here today that joining this partnership would require Canada to import nuclear fuel from other countries. Could the minister once again clarify this issue and further explain what this announcement will mean for Canada?

[Gary Lunn, Conservative, Minister of Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, first, the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership is an international partnership that promotes a safer, more secure, cleaner world.

With respect to the spent nuclear fuel, there is absolutely nothing in the stated principles that requires Canada or any other country to take back spent nuclear fuel. We went even further. We have absolutely, explicitly stated that under no uncertain circumstances will Canada ever take back spent nuclear fuel at any time from any country.

Veterans Affairs

[Peter Stoffer, NDP, Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS]

Mr. Speaker, since we are talking about human rights, let us talk about the rights of veterans.

Yet another group of veterans is proposing to take the government to court to fight over fair compensation and reasonableness in its battle with the government. In 1957 a group of Canadians were sent down to Nevada for atomic testing. These Canadians have been waiting and waiting for fair and proper compensation.

I would like the government to stand up in this place, look into the camera and tell Jim Huntley of Alberta this. When they will receive fair and adequate compensation for what happened to them 50 years ago?

[Greg Thompson, Conservative, Minister of Veterans Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, as members well knows, I have met with the atomic veterans. We will deal with that, as we did with the agent orange issue, in a fair and compassionate way.

However, I want to bring to the attention of the House that the question is coming from a party that never stands in the House to provide anything to our veterans, or our men and women in uniform. Here is the list. It voted against a bill of rights. It voted against an ombudsman for veterans. It consistently stands in the House and denies our men and women in uniform the equipment to do their jobs. Its record on veterans and our men and women in uniform is not good. It never has been.

[Peter Stoffer, NDP, Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS]

Mr. Speaker, we cannot even get him to blush anymore.

Let us see what the Conservatives track record is. The government promised that it would do a full public inquiry and compensate all the victims of agent orange, the defoliant spray, from 1956 to 1984, not 1966-67. It also promised Joyce Carter the extension of VIP services immediately to all veterans and all widows. It also promised to fix SISIP for injured soldiers who suffer from their mental and physical disabilities, yet nothing.

If this is the track record that the atomic veterans have to face, I feel very sorry for them. Will the government—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

The hon. Minister of Veterans Affairs.

[Greg Thompson, Conservative, Minister of Veterans Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, I have done this before. I invite every member of the House to examine the record of the NDP in terms of support for our veterans and our men and women in uniform.

On the other side, at least the Liberal Party knows this. When it was in government, it commissioned Dr. Furlong to do a study on agent orange, and that was done. We honoured the study that the Liberals commissioned. We responded to it fairly and compassionately.

In terms of Mrs. Carter, I suggest the member call Mrs. Carter. Because of the meeting I had with her, she understands what we will do. It is time the member understood what we will do, which is we will honour that commitment as well—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

The hon. member for Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca.

National Defence

[Keith Martin, Liberal, Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the government has so bungled the awarding of the Victoria Class submarine repair contract, that it could take years for our subs to be fully functional and it will cost taxpayers millions of dollars in penalties.

This foot dragging negated the winning bid by CSMG and Victoria shipyards in favour of another bidder located where? In the defence minister's riding.

When will the government stop this bungling and award the repair contract based on the original request for proposals.

[James Moore, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Works and Government Services and for the Pacific Gateway and the Vancouver-Whistler Olympics]

Mr. Speaker, my colleague from Esquimalt--Juan de Fuca is close to setting the indoor record for missing the point on this file.

Our government is committed to these subs. These four subs are going to continue servicing our country well, two in the west coast and two in the east coast. They are going to continue serving Canada's interest domestically and abroad in terms of our international obligations. We are in the process of negotiating a contract. When it is finalized, my colleague will read it.

Everything in his question is purely speculative. When he gets the facts, he will be able to stand in the House and ask a factual question for the first time in this Parliament.

Justice

[Bruce Stanton, Conservative, Simcoe North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, in the last session the government passed Bill C-59, which makes the unauthorized recording of a motion picture in a movie theatre a criminal offence.

The bill was passed at record speed, just before last summer's blockbusters came out. This was in an effort to protect the Canadian and U.S. motion picture industry from suffering any significant financial losses.

Could the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada update us on how these new Criminal Code provisions have been used so far?

[Rob Moore, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, as we all know in the House, after years of Liberal inaction on tackling crime, on justice and on protecting Canadians, both personally and in property rights, our government has been moving very quickly and very aggressively to fix that.

I am pleased to report that last week in Montreal a charge was laid. As reported in the Globe and Mail, Douglas Frith, president of the Canadian Motion Picture Distributors Association, said that the fact that the charges had been laid in this case showed the legislation was working.

Federal Government Research Centres

[Richard Nadeau, Bloc, Gatineau, QC]

Mr. Speaker, while Ottawa has 27 federally funded research centres, Gatineau has none. In 1983, we were promised 25% of federal jobs. Today, Ottawa's 27 research centres provide 6,033 jobs and receive $910 million. The federal government is not even trying to catch up by opening one single research centre.

Does the government realize that if Gatineau had one-quarter of federal jobs, as promised 23 years ago, there would now be seven research centres—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

The hon. Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities.

[Lawrence Cannon, Conservative, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by joining my colleagues from Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel and Hull—Aylmer in congratulating the City of Gatineau on its winning submission to host the Quebec Summer Games.

In response to the member's question, I believe he is mistaken because unlike him, federalists include the entire national capital region in the equation, and that allows for job creation. There has always been a close economic relationship between the two cities that make up the national capital region, and people are being well served.

Oral Questions

[Hedy Fry, Liberal, Vancouver Centre, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order because it was in one of the questions asked by the member for Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale. He said that child poverty rates increased while our leader was at the cabinet table. I want to make this correction.

In 1996 the poverty rate was 18.6%. In 2005--