Debates of Dec. 7th, 2007

Health

[Peter Van Loan, Conservative, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform]

Mr. Speaker, as I indicated, we are very concerned about this situation. The government has spoken to the agencies involved to have it resolved.

In the interim, Health Canada has been working on an alternative means to obtain a necessary supply of isotopes for emergency procedures.

I will point out that this is a situation that dates back to 2005. The previous Liberal government never had any kind of alternative process in place. We did have a contingency plan in place. The difficulty is that the closure is now extending beyond the period contemplated.

[Michael Ignatieff, Liberal, Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON]

Mr. Speaker, this government has been in power for two years. It must start taking responsibility. Canada's nuclear safety officials are now saying that the problems in Chalk River are more serious than was thought.

Does the minister know when the problems will be resolved and when we can get isotopes from Chalk River?

This situation is endangering the lives of millions of Canadians. What is his department doing to put an end to this medical crisis?

[Peter Van Loan, Conservative, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform]

Mr. Speaker, as the member knows full well, and I am sure he has seen in media reports, neither of these organizations are run by the government. They run at arm's length.

Atomic Energy of Canada Limited has indicated publicly that it feels it is able to start the reactor now. CNSC is insisting that certain long term improvements be made in the short term during the current closure.

We hope that the two will resolve that issue, bearing in mind the very strong public interest that comes to bear in this matter.

[Hedy Fry, Liberal, Vancouver Centre, BC]

Mr. Speaker, not only has the government failed to bring down wait times, instead the health minister has created a new wait category for cancer and cardiovascular patients who need critical diagnostic testing and treatment.

Because he had no contingency plan in place for an emergency supply of radioisotopes, we now have a national medical emergency. The Canadian Society of Nuclear Medicine says this crisis could affect almost 50,000 patients a month.

When will the minister admit that his incompetence has put the lives of patients at risk?

[Steven Fletcher, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary for Health]

Mr. Speaker, the government is concerned about this issue. I am pleased to tell Canadians that the health minister is taking action. We are looking into alternative supplies from other countries. We are ready to fast track those sources.

We are also coordinating efforts among the provinces to help with emergency procedures. We are taking action. We will keep Canadians informed on this very important issue.

[Hedy Fry, Liberal, Vancouver Centre, BC]

Mr. Speaker, we are looking into emergency supplies. I do not think the minister seems to grasp the urgency of the situation.

This is a national medical crisis. Lives have been put at risk. Now, will the government immediately commit the necessary funds to allow repairs to continue around the clock, 24-7, until the reactor is fixed?

[Peter Van Loan, Conservative, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform]

Mr. Speaker, I do not think there is an issue of funding. I think that the improvements that AECL indicated that it has to make, that CNSC is asking it to make, are planned improvements. It is not an issue of funding. It is an issue of timing and approvals.

Manufacturing and Forestry Industries

[Monique Guay, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

Mr. Speaker, pressured in this House by the Bloc member for Saint-Maurice—Champlain, the Minister of Labour finally gave $1 million to Shawinigan, which has been hard hit by the recent closure of the Belgo plant. This last-minute response clearly shows that the government has no overall plan.

Does the Minister of Labour understand that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure and that to deal effectively with the crisis that is hitting both manufacturing and forestry, he needs to introduce a real emergency plan now? With the surplus he has, he can afford it.

[Sylvie Boucher, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and for Status of Women]

Mr. Speaker, we, too, are concerned about what is happening in Shawinigan. I would like to describe some of what the minister announced yesterday in Shawinigan.

First of all, to support Shawinigan, the government will assign an advisor in a business office in Mauricie to this sector full time. We will also fund the hiring of a development officer for three years. We are making a $1 million fund available to Shawinigan to help start up and expand small and medium-sized businesses.

These are real steps that the Bloc—

[The Deputy Speaker, NDP, Bill Blaikie]

The hon. member for Rivière-du-Nord.

[Monique Guay, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

Mr. Speaker, every region of Quebec is being affected. There are dozens of companies like Belgo, and unfortunately the list is growing longer. Some union members are getting impatient, with good reason, and are calling on the government to stop standing idly by. In the case of Bowater, the workers agreed to pitch in to find solutions.

Does the government not think it should do the same by introducing emergency measures for all the regions in Quebec?

[Peter Van Loan, Conservative, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform]

Mr. Speaker, we have taken steps to help manufacturing workers and the manufacturing sector.

We have decreased corporate income tax. We have twice reduced employment insurance contributions—a tax paid by every employer, even manufacturers with little income. We have brought in accelerated depreciation for the manufacturing sector, encouraging investments that make companies more competitive.

We are helping the manufacturing sector in Quebec and across Canada flourish. We have confidence in that sector.

Older Workers

[Robert Bouchard, Bloc, Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Labour's announcement offers nothing to inject some life back into the Belgo plant, which will be letting 550 workers go. Moreover, we know that 270 of those workers are over 50. The minister's announcement will do nothing at all to help them.

Will the minister acknowledge that he could have used this opportunity to show some compassion for older workers by announcing a new income support program for them?

[Sylvie Boucher, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and for Status of Women]

Mr. Speaker, the minister has always worked for the regions, unlike the Bloc, which has never been able to do anything. The minister announced six measures that demonstrate his vision and concrete commitment to economic development in the regions. These measures will support community vitality and enhance business competitiveness.

The Bloc members do not have the responsibility that comes with wielding power, so they can say whatever they want.

[Robert Bouchard, Bloc, Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC]

Mr. Speaker, rather than suggest they move to Alberta, the best thing we could do for these workers would be to give them access to a real income.

The government knows that a program like this would cost just $60 million in its first year. It has a projected surplus of $11.6 billion. What is holding it back?

[Lynne Yelich, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development]

Mr. Speaker, our government is very concerned about the challenges facing the older workers who are left vulnerable in these communities.

We therefore have set up an expert panel for older workers. It currently is undertaking evaluation of measures to assist these older workers. We also have invested $70 million into targeted initiatives for older workers. We have many other programs, including the $500 million for the labour market agreements.

The government has taken action. We support Canadian workers and we will continue to do so.

Aboriginal Affairs

[Jean Crowder, NDP, Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC]

Mr. Speaker, Lorna Standingready, a residential school survivor, received $12,000 less than what she expected for her common experience payment.

The summary of payment explanation was terse and unhelpful,“residence could not be confirmed”. Yet Lorna was a ward of the state from the age of six until eighteen. There was not a single year of her childhood not spent in an Indian residential school.

The government directed kids where to go. Now it needs to direct the money. When will survivors like Lorna receive their full common experience payment?

[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, to date, the Government of Canada has received over 80,000 applications in relation to the Indian residential schools settlement. At this time, it has processed 34,000 of those 80,000 initial applications, totalling some $600 million.

This is an important finality to a very troubling era in Canadian history, and we are getting the job done.

[Jean Crowder, NDP, Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC]

Mr. Speaker, that answer is simply not good enough for Lorna Standingready and other survivors like her. The government must stop making it so difficult for survivors to get their rightly deserved benefits.

Day students face an even more bitter blow. They at the same food, had the same teachers, but are not considered eligible for payments because they did not sleep in the dormitories.

It is unacceptable that some survivors are left behind. When will day students receive the compensation they deserve?

[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, this process has been approved by the courts. The courts themselves, in conjunction with the Assembly of First Nations and the Government of Canada, have indicated a process for which claimants can make their claim on their own behalf. There is a process which validates those claims. Should there be a difference of opinion on those claims, there is a process for appeal.

The Environment

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, here is what someone once said on how best to address the climate change crisis:

—our approach must be based on global participation, including that of developing countries whose net greenhouse gas emissions now exceed those in the developed countries.

Does this sound familiar? It ought to. That was the excuse President Bush used when he announced to the world that he was taking the United States out of the Kyoto deal after promising he would ratify it during his presidential campaign.

Why is the Prime Minister insisting on isolating Canada while providing cover for a wounded Republican administration with one foot out the door?

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, I find it ironic and hypocritical for a question on the environment to be coming from that member. It was the deputy leader of the Liberal Party who asked his leader, “Why didn't we get it done?” He was being advised by the member for Ottawa South. No wonder emissions went up 33%.

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister's position is a Republican position. He talks a big game about accountability, but he refuses to be held accountable for the fact that 75% of greenhouse gases currently in our atmosphere were put there by developed nations like Canada.

Here is what the Prime Minister is really saying, “We won't stop dumping our pollution into the atmosphere until you stop dumping yours”.

Exactly how is this juvenile tit-for-tat sandbox game going to help us achieve a binding agreement at Bali to deal with the climate change crisis?

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, after 13 long years of a Liberal government doing absolutely nothing, we now have a government that has realistic, ambitious targets.

The member asked for a quote and I would like to give him one. This man says—

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Wascana, SK]

Canadians know. They don't believe a word you're saying.