Debates of June 11th, 2007

The Budget

[Jim Flaherty, Conservative, Minister of Finance]

What a great question, Mr. Speaker. There is substantial support for the budget in the Liberal government of Ontario and no wonder, with $1.4 billion and more in benefits for the people of Ontario.

For the environment, there is $586 million to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. In skills training, there is $574 million for labour market training. In health, which is important to all of the people of Ontario, there is more than $200 million to help reduce patient wait times. In science and technology, we are moving ahead with $50 million to Waterloo's Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics. Not only that, but almost $1 billion--

[The Speaker, Peter Milliken]

The hon. member for Ottawa Centre.

National Defence

[Paul Dewar, NDP, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives took Ed Broadbent's ethics package and tried to rebrand it as theirs. Ordinary Canadians were told they could expect a new way of doing business, with both accountability and transparency. Instead what we have is business as usual: nearly half of all military contracts to firms are awarded without any type of competition.

Will the Prime Minister tell Canadians when the government expects to begin doing business in an open and fair way? When will he bring his own accountability act into force? When will we get accountability?

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

Mr. Speaker, we are doing things in an open and transparent way. We are getting value for taxpayers' dollars.

After 13 years of Liberal cuts to our armed forces, we think it is time to have a federal government that stands by its forces. That is what Canadians voted for when they elected a Conservative government and that is what we are delivering. In fact, I have a quote here that states:

Over the past thirteen years Liberal governments have cut back resources to the Canadian Forces...because a philosophical choice was made to diminish the military's place in Canadian society....

Who said that? Former Liberal defence minister David Collenette.

[Paul Dewar, NDP, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, we wanted a government that was open and accountable. What we have is a defence minister who continues to lead by mistake. Now, without any competition, he is giving away contracts paid for by hard-working Canadians.

Who is checking his homework? The Minister of Public Works, the unelected minister who is not accountable to anyone.

The government does not get it. Rebranding government is not the same as actually changing government. Will the Prime Minister bring in the accountability act and apply the rules to all members of his party, to all members of his cabinet, so we can have--

[The Speaker, Peter Milliken]

The hon. Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Works and Government Services.

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

Mr. Speaker, re-equipping our armed forces and getting them the tools and resources they need to fulfill the good work they do for the Canadian people is being done through a competitive process.

There are of course times when contracts have to be sole-sourced because only one person or one company can provide the equipment that our troops ask the government to provide them. At every opportunity for a competitive process, a competitive process is used. When there has to be a process through sole-sourcing, it is always done in order to get the best value for taxpayers' dollars.

We are following all measures of accountability. We are re-equipping our forces. We are doing what Canadians elected us to do.

Museums Assistance Program

[Raymonde Folco, Liberal, Laval—Les Îles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women is trying to hide the museums problems under a pile of figures, but the cuts to the museums assistance program are having a serious impact. Even in the smallest communities, jobs have been lost and numerous projects and exhibitions cancelled because of the cuts this government has made.

Will the minister wake up to the disastrous impact her cuts are having on small communities? Will she promise to restore and increase funding for the museums assistance program?

[Bev Oda, Conservative, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women]

Mr. Speaker, as I reiterated, we are committed to museums. In fact, we will be spending $267 million this year for museums right across this country. That is a $31 million increase over previous spending by the previous government.

Health

[Laurie Hawn, Conservative, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Mr. Speaker, my constituents do not care about political games. My constituents do not care for excuses. My constituents care about the things that affect their daily lives, such as a better health care system.

In its 2007 budget, the government invested heavily in improving our health care system by reducing wait times, improving electronic health records and helping people with spinal cord injuries.

However, the Liberals and NDP just do not care as they delay the budget bill. Can the Minister of Health reveal to Canadians what health funding will be lost because of cheap Liberal and NDP partisanship?

[Steven Fletcher, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, in fact, the actions of the Liberals and the NDP are threatening some projects. Here are some examples: $600 million for wait times guarantees, $400 million for the Canada Health Infoway, $100 million for Genome Canada and $30 million for the Rick Hansen Foundation. The Liberals and the NDP are showing their true colours.

[The Speaker, Peter Milliken]

The time for question period has expired.

Justice and Human Rights

[Art Hanger, Conservative, Calgary Northeast, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 16th report of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights in relation to Bill S-211, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (lottery schemes).

Given the workload of the past few weeks, the committee has been unable to give the bill the consideration it requires and therefore requests an extension of 30 sitting days.

[The Speaker, Peter Milliken]

Pursuant to Standing Order 97.1(3)(a) a motion to concur in the report is deemed moved, the question deemed put and a recorded division deemed demanded and deferred until Wednesday, June 13, 2007, immediately before the time provided for private members' business.

Citizenship and Immigration

[Norman Doyle, Conservative, St. John's East, NL]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 17th, 18th and 19th reports of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration entitled, “Citizenship Revocation: A Question of Due Process and Respecting Charter Rights”, “Updating Canada's Citizenship Laws”, “Immigration applications from areas affected by war, civil strife, or natural disaster”.

Government Operations and Estimates

[Diane Marleau, Liberal, Sudbury, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the eighth report of the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates.

The committee has considered the matter of government real estate and heritage buildings, the sale thereof and lease back and has agreed to table the report.

Procedure and House Affairs

[Gary Goodyear, Conservative, Cambridge, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I too have the honour to present a report today, in both official languages. This is the 54th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs concerning the Conflict of Interest Code for Members.

The report is the result of extensive work by a subcommittee charged with reviewing the code and the disclosure forms of members. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the members of that subcommittee, led by the chair of the subcommittee, the hon. member for Lanark—Frontenac—Lennox and Addington, for their hard work.

I would also like to point out the extensive amount of work done by the research analysts of the Library of Parliament in their assistance to the members, as well as the clerk and the committee staff who patiently sat through numerous and lengthy meetings.

If the House gives its consent, I would like to ask for concurrence in the 54th report later this day.

[Paul Szabo, Liberal, Mississauga South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, on a point of order, with regard to the 54th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, the chair of the committee will be asking for concurrence immediately without the House being aware of whether there is a change being proposed to the conflict of interest guidelines or indeed to the Standing Orders.

It would be helpful to know before voting on something which may affect members of Parliament.

[The Speaker, Peter Milliken]

Copies of the report, I am sure, are available. The member can see them. They have been tabled.

Is the hon. member for Cambridge seeking consent?

[Gary Goodyear, Conservative, Cambridge, ON]

Yes, Mr. Speaker, I am seeking consent. I think if you ask you will find that all the whips in the House have spoken and agreed. This is a report that was done by an all party committee. Other members from the House participated as well. There were a number of committee meetings where other members participated in this. If the member wants to do a bit of work, he might be able to find that report.

However, I have discussed this with the leaders of all parties, not all members because there are 308 of them, as well as the independents, and I am asking for unanimous consent that the 54th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs concerning proposed changes to the Conflict of Interest Code for Members presented to the House earlier this day be concurred in.

[The Speaker, Peter Milliken]

Does the hon. parliamentary secretary have the unanimous consent of the House to propose this motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Speaker, Peter Milliken]

The House has heard the terms of the motion. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Speaker, Peter Milliken]

(Motion agreed to)