Debates of March 30th, 2007

Aerospace Industry

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

Mr. Speaker, an American expert who appeared before the Standing Committee on National Defence argued that governments are entitled to impose conditions on suppliers as far as regional spinoffs are concerned. Canada is getting ready to sign aerospace military contracts to the tune of $9.6 billion in the next few years.

Will the government meet the expectations of the Quebec Aerospace Association, which wants more than 55% of the spinoffs from the aerospace military contracts to go to Quebec?

[Colin Carrie, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, faulty submarines, ancient helicopters and Hercs, and rented transport planes are not good long term options. For too long we have lived off the good graces and the hand-me-downs of our allies. There comes a time when one has to step up to one's commitments and responsibilities. Only in times of crisis, with the world watching, did that occur in the last government.

This government is standing up for our forces and giving them the tools they need to do their jobs, the jobs we ask of them, and I am proud that I am part of a government that recognizes this.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

[Joe Comartin, NDP, Windsor—Tecumseh, ON]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Public Safety and national security. The rank and file officers of the RCMP deserve a full airing of problems at the top of the force and into the misuse of their hard-earned pension funds.

The least the government should do is call a full commission of inquiry under the Inquiries Act. Why has the minister chosen a closed door process with no parliamentary accountability? Why?

[Stockwell Day, Conservative, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, first of all, I have indicated clearly that the full report will be fully public. It will be delivered to me and to the Treasury Board president publicly so that everybody will see what goes on.

We want to find out immediately what took place. A full public inquiry, which we have not said an absolute no to, would take possibly a number of years to get the answers that members need to get so quickly and so desperately. I have also indicated that if the person who heads up this particular investigation runs into any problems--

[The Deputy Speaker, NDP, Bill Blaikie]

The hon. member for Windsor—Tecumseh.

[Joe Comartin, NDP, Windsor—Tecumseh, ON]

I do not think the minister gets it, Mr. Speaker. The reputation of the RCMP has to be rehabilitated. It is not going to be when one institutes a process that will not allow one to subpoena witnesses. The process will not offer protection to the witnesses from civil suits or the Privacy Act. It is not going to be held in public and it will not report directly to Parliament. It will go through the hands of the minister.

The former Liberal government messed this one up really badly. Why is this government going down the same road?

[Stockwell Day, Conservative, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, my friend is on the exact point I have made: the former Liberal government did mess up these situations very badly.

We want to get to the truth.

Officers came forward, with great courage, to allege some very serious things. We can get answers to that from the RCMP because the commissioner has also agreed with me that all officers will be required to come forward and testify. If the investigator runs into anybody who is trying to put up roadblocks, we will make sure that all the necessary powers, even though it will take longer, will be provided.

The Budget

[Michael Savage, Liberal, Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS]

Mr. Speaker, the premiers of Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan are all calling this budget a betrayal. Nova Scotia is threatening legal action. The Conservative premier of Newfoundland and Labrador is urging Canadians to support any party except the federal Conservatives.

The federal-provincial harmony predicted by the finance minister has gone up in flames. Why has the government presented a divisive budget of betrayal that rewards so few and severely punishes so many more?

[Peter MacKay, Conservative, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency]

Mr. Speaker, as is so often the case with member for Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, nothing could be further from the truth. This budget was extremely good news for Atlantic Canada. It creates an ability now for the governments of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador to do so much more with the additional money that has been given to them.

As well, there is the option that they have with respect to embracing the Atlantic accord now or in fact taking more money. As I have said many times in this place, they can take more money, which is good for the province, or even more, which is provided by this budget.

That is all good news. I do not understand why the member from Nova Scotia, as he did in the previous case, is advocating for less money for his province.

[Michael Savage, Liberal, Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS]

Mr. Speaker, there is a lot the minister does not understand.

In the last federal election, Conservatives misled Canadians when they said they would “stand up for Canada”. Today Canadians are urging their Conservative MPs to stand up indeed, to stand up for those who send them here on Monday morning with a message, not those who send them home on Friday night with talking points.

They are saying to stand up for the Atlantic accord, stand up for honesty and stand up for keeping promises and a brighter future. They are saying to stand up now or sit down when the next federal election is called. When will the government start listening and honouring its commitments?

[Peter MacKay, Conservative, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency]

Mr. Speaker, the members of the Conservative caucus and Conservative cabinet stand up every day for Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador, in fact so much so that we have been able to deliver so much more.

The misrepresentations and mistruths that constantly come from the lips of the member opposite will do nothing for the people of his province. He should be trying to embrace these new programs, work with his constituency and work with this government to try to deliver more of these programs effectively, rather than the ineffective Scrooge-like approach that was taken by his government.

Industry

[Scott Brison, Liberal, Kings—Hants, NS]

Mr. Speaker, on February 23 in a speech in New York, the industry minister indicated that he supports loosening foreign ownership restrictions on Canadian telcos.

Will the minister complete his promised thorough review of foreign ownership restrictions before he sells out Canadian telcos to barbarians at the gate?

Will the minister assure Canadians that our foreign ownership policy will be made in Canada by Canadian legislators and not on Wall Street by U.S. investors?

[Colin Carrie, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, we are considering a range of possibilities with regard to Canada's foreign investment policy. Canada needs to be a modern and efficient trading nation for our future prosperity. The aim is to maximize the benefits of foreign investment for Canadians while protecting national interests.

Advantage Canada highlights our priority to foster a competitive environment that helps businesses strive for excellence. A modern approach to foreign investment will help position Canada as the destination of choice for investment and business in the future.

The Budget

[Scott Brison, Liberal, Kings—Hants, NS]

Mr. Speaker, Nancy Hughes Anthony, president of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, said this about the budget:

We don't see any broad-based tax relief...The government promised that they were going to make Canada more competitive and control spending and...they broke that promise....

When will the government introduce major tax reform to build competitiveness for the next generation instead of tiny tax tinkering designed to buy votes in the next election?

[Diane Ablonczy, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, only a Liberal under orders from his leader to trash the budget could call $37.8 billion in tax relief for Canadians over this and the next two years “tiny tinkering”. In fact, Canadians know that under this government they are finally going to get the tax relief that they deserve and need and that will help them and their families save and invest for the future: $37 billion-plus in tax relief.

Agriculture and Agri-food

[Pauline Picard, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Ontario-Quebec Grain Farmers' Coalition has developed some solutions to address the farm income crisis, such as funding provincial companion programs, thereby allowing some regional flexibility in order to meet the specific and unique needs of producers from various regions. For the past four years, the government has spent $1 billion a year on special programs for specific needs.

Why does the government not put part of that money into companion programs, as called for by the Ontario-Quebec Grain Farmers' Coalition?

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

Mr. Speaker, I would like to remind my colleague that the government announced no less than $400 million, which will be paid to Canadian farmers to help them face the increasing costs of production. That is something tangible. We are pleased that the Bloc supports us on this, so that our farmers can receive their cheque as soon as possible.

[Pauline Picard, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Laurent Pellerin, the president of the UPA, said, "In order to offset the effects of the American Farm Bill, there is no question that the federal government must provide the funding needed for companion programs, which would apply based on the needs of various regions".

Why does the minister insist on taking a one size fits all approach, when the current risk management programs are inadequate?

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

Mr. Speaker, let us be clear. We have to start at the root of the problem. The Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, in concert with the Minister of International Trade, called for WTO negotiations specifically to put an end to Farm Bill subsidies, which are creating market distortions. In addition to that, we are replacing the CAIS with programs that are much better suited and much more acceptable to farmers. Furthermore, $2 billion was announced in budget 2007, specifically to give grain farmers new opportunities in the area of ethanol. This was very welcome news.

Transport Canada

[Louise Thibault, Bloc, Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservative government claims it has nothing to hide. The Minister of Transport makes nice speeches about transparency, but his department is obstructing the Auditor General's work by demanding that all of the information she receives be filtered beforehand. This directive was implemented by a Transport Canada director who, a few weeks ago, tried to intimidate potential witnesses who were about to criticize the airline safety bill.

Why is the Minister of Transport tolerating actions like these that violate the spirit of the Accountability Act?

[Lawrence Cannon, Conservative, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank our hon. colleague for her question. I can tell the member that I am aware of this information and I can assure her that Transport Canada is complying with all requirements of the Office of the Auditor General.

[Louise Thibault, Bloc, Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I believe a supplementary question is necessary because the minister did not answer the first one. According to Transport Canada's directive, public servants must confirm with the quality director that the Auditor General's request is valid.

Can the minister explain the circumstances under which a request by the Auditor General would not be valid and legitimate? Why is the minister trying to gag the Auditor General?

[Lawrence Cannon, Conservative, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, I will say it again to be very clear. We will comply with all of the requirements of the Office of the Auditor General, and I have given instructions for that to happen.

The Environment

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of the Environment has now seen the amended version of Bill C-30, which passed in legislative committee just yesterday.

Bill C-30 will be reported to the House later today. My question is simple and straightforward. Will the minister abide by the will of the committee, the will of this House, and move to adopt the clean air and climate change act as soon as possible?

[John Baird, Conservative, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, the bill that will be reported back later today is certainly one that we are prepared to read, to have our lawyers look at and to have discussions on with my colleagues.

I am concerned with respect to certain language that has been written into the bill. One of the member's own caucus colleagues said, “We're so far behind now” in meeting our Kyoto commitments “that catch-up is impossible, without shutting the country down”. This is not a quote from 10 years ago. This is a quote from about eight weeks ago from the Liberal member for Halton. Maybe the member can tell us whether he agrees with it.