Debates of Nov. 26th, 2008

Automotive Industry

[Tony Clement, Conservative, Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, we on this side of the House are serious about our auto sector and indeed the entire economy. We are not part of the ready-fire-aim gang over there. We are methodically working on the best economic strategy for this country. We are working with our stakeholders. We are working with the auto sector. Members on that side of the House have no plans, no promises, except a car tax and a carbon tax which people in Canada could not afford to pay. That is not good enough anymore.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

Mr. Speaker, this economic mess, which was brought on by the Conservatives' mismanagement, is now affecting automobile dealers. It has become increasingly difficult for them to obtain credit, which affects both the dealers and consumers.

Why is the Conservative industry minister refusing to help automobile dealers who are also facing this crisis? Where is the plan?

[Jim Flaherty, Conservative, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, the question posed relates to the availability of credit. As the member will know, in Bill C-50, which the opposition for the most part voted against, we provided the Bank of Canada with additional powers in order to provide liquidity in the system. We have also taken some extraordinary steps as a government in the past number of weeks to ensure adequate liquidity in the system so that not only can credit be available, but that it can be available on reasonable terms.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

We are looking for guarantees, Mr. Speaker.

Car dealers account for more than 140,000 jobs in this country. The economic situation is worsening day by day. Dealers in Montreal, in regions across Quebec and throughout the rest of Canada will have to shut down because the Conservatives refuse to take action.

Are we to understand that the only help the Prime Minister was willing to give automobile dealers was to increase the number of limousines for his cabinet? Where is the plan?

[Jim Flaherty, Conservative, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, I do not know which statistics the hon. member has been looking at, but they must be American statistics on car sales, which are down dramatically this year as we know. In our country, in our successful economy called Canada, in fact our car sales are on track for record sales this year. That is in our country, not in the United States.

Government Programs

[Paule Brunelle, Bloc, Trois-Rivières, QC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the government was unable to respond to the Bloc Québécois' suggestion about creating a fund to support individuals who renovate their houses to make them more energy efficient.

Will the government act on this suggestion in order to give a boost to the renovation industry in these hard times and to promote energy efficiency, and will it announce the creation of such a fund in its economic statement?

[Lisa Raitt, Conservative, Minister of Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, our government is helping homeowners, small businesses and industry to make wise choices to save energy, money and help clean up our environment. We will continue to work with all parties to bring that about and put in sensible policies that consumers can use, and that will improve our environmental well-being. We will help Canadians become more energy efficient as well with amendments to the Energy Efficiency Act which will cover more products more effectively.

[Paule Brunelle, Bloc, Trois-Rivières, QC]

Mr. Speaker, let me try another suggestion. David Dodge, the former governor of the Bank of Canada, said that to get the country out of the current crisis, the government must invest in public works.

Does the government realize that, by acting on this suggestion and introducing a regulation requiring all federal organizations to use forest products in federal construction, it would be giving the forestry industry a much-needed boost?

[Christian Paradis, Conservative, Minister of Public Works and Government Services]

Mr. Speaker, we talked about the economy in our throne speech, and we made commitments. We want to resolve the economic situation, and tomorrow, the Minister of Finance will be delivering his economic statement.

We hope that the opposition will cooperate. When it comes to public works, one thing is certain: the government must always ensure that it is getting good value for taxpayers' money. That is our government's primary responsibility.

Forestry Industry

[Jean-Yves Roy, Bloc, Haute-Gaspésie—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia, QC]

Mr. Speaker, not only must the government help this industry by promoting the use of forest products, but it must also help the communities affected by the forestry crisis, which has been exacerbated by the current economic slowdown.

To support his community, does the Minister of Finance intend to bring back a program to support diversification in the regions hit hard by the forestry crisis?

[Lisa Raitt, Conservative, Minister of Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, we know how awful it is when a mill closes. Every family, every store, and every corner of the community is affected by it. That is why we have a comprehensive plan to address this. We are thinking about the future. We are investing in innovation. We are introducing new market opportunities. We are cutting corporate taxes to keep these mills open. We are dealing with this in the short-term and we are going to fix this in the long-term.

The Economy

[Diane Bourgeois, Bloc, Terrebonne—Blainville, QC]

Mr. Speaker, to help struggling industries like the clothing and textile industries, the federal government should follow the example of many governments and pass legislation on preferential procurement practices, so that the $50 billion it spends on goods and services will benefit businesses in Quebec and Canada first.

Will the Minister of Finance include such a measure in his economic statement?

[Jim Flaherty, Conservative, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, as I said yesterday, I have had the opportunity to review the proposals that have been put forward by the Bloc and to have some discussion on those proposals. Those are certainly matters that we can look into as budgeting items as we prepare the budget for 2009. Tomorrow's statement, as I said to the House before, is not a mini-budget. It is an economic update that will be presented to the House tomorrow at 4 p.m.

Forestry Industry

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the British Columbia forestry industry is experiencing record lows in sales. Tens of thousands of forestry workers in B.C. are out of work, their families are suffering, and whole communities are being flattened; and I might add, while the cabinet across the aisle and its expense budgets were being fattened. The Conservative minister is in denial if she thinks that her current strategy is working. I have news; it is not.

The forest industry deserves to know just what is the Conservative plan to help people in this ailing sector?

[Lisa Raitt, Conservative, Minister of Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, we have provided support in British Columbia with respect to the mountain pine beetle infestation to restore the long-term well-being of effective communities through the forest industry long-term competitive program. We are dealing with innovation. We are investing in innovation and we are expanding new market opportunities.

There is no question these are difficult times for the industries. I am speaking to my caucus colleagues about it and I am hearing it loud and clear from the members opposite, but what I want Canadians to understand is that the government understands it, knows it, and will fix this problem.

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to invite the minister to Mackenzie where 1,400 people have lost their jobs in the forestry sector and she can explain to them how effective her plan has been

Yes, the pine bark beetle has hammered the B.C. forestry sector, but the Conservatives have failed on their promise to help fight this infestation. Now the industry is devastated by market conditions and the Conservatives have again failed to support the workers sidelined by massive job losses.

Instead of denying responsibility for their new Conservative deficit, when will the Conservatives actually take action to help suffering forestry workers?

[Lisa Raitt, Conservative, Minister of Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, I am informed that I have been invited to the area by the government House leader, since it is his constituency. So I thank the member very much for the invitation as well.

We are very concerned about the damage caused to our forestry industry by the mountain pine beetle. We know that this devastation is felt by families and communities. That is why we invested in it. We are responding and we are getting the job done.

[Jean-Claude D'Amours, Liberal, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

Mr. Speaker, the forestry industry in New Brunswick has had its share of difficulties over the past year. Sawmills and paper plants have closed down across the province. Whether in Miramichi or Dalhousie, workers have felt abandoned. Instead of acting, the Conservatives created a new Conservative deficit.

When will the forestry workers in my riding and the rest of New Brunswick get any real help from the Conservatives?

[Lisa Raitt, Conservative, Minister of Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, as I have said many times already in the House in the past week, our government understands that these are difficult times for forestry workers. We have invested in the past. We have invested in the short-term. We have addressed the matters that are going on with the mill closings. We understand that it is a very difficult time for people in this transition.

In the future, we look to how great this industry is and how resilient it is. We will invest in innovation. We will help to expand new market opportunities. We will continue to deliver those corporate tax cuts which will keep the mills competitive in this country.

[Jean-Claude D'Amours, Liberal, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservative government does not understand anything about the forestry crisis. Over the past year, it has left workers to suffer, and now it wants people to believe that the government will save them.

Why has the Conservative government done nothing over the past year? The reality is that workers, families and the industry want a plan. When and how will the government put forward a plan to ensure the survival of the forestry industry and to ensure that workers can get back to work for the well-being of their families?

[Lisa Raitt, Conservative, Minister of Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, I have to admit this is the most I have been up and down in a long time and I am enjoying the exercise in the House today.

In terms of how the programs that the government introduced have been responded to and have been received, I can say that the mayor of Port Alberni in British Columbia had the following to say this October about funding available through the community development trust:

We are really pleased to be receiving these funds. This will put some of the laid-off forest industry workers in our community to work at a good wage--

This applies to all regions of Canada. This applies to all workers. These programs are there to help the people of Canada and we are delivering them.

National Defence

[Peter Goldring, Conservative, Edmonton East, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the motion passed last March by the House specifically called for the government to secure medium-lift helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles to better protect our brave men and women in Afghanistan.

Can the Minister of National Defence tell the House when we will have these helicopters and UAVs in Afghanistan?

[Peter MacKay, Conservative, Minister of National Defence and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway]

Mr. Speaker, our government is committed to providing our brave soldiers with the best possible equipment. In fact, we have recently purchased six Chinook helicopters and UAVs in addition to those that were leased, all of which will be operational next year.

I am pleased to tell the House that we will also deploy eight specially-equipped utility Griffin helicopters to act as escorts for these Chinooks. Most importantly, this will help reduce the risk to soldiers and civilians from ambushes, landmines and IEDs, all of this saving lives and continuing the important work of Canadian soldiers in theatre.

Automotive Industry

[Brian Masse, NDP, Windsor West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, earlier today, Magna auto parts announced it is closing two more plants, so 850 more people will be fired in the auto industry. Yesterday, the Conference Board forecast 15,000 more auto jobs will be lost in the next year. That is 100,000 more jobs that will disappear across Canada. Already EI claims have risen by 30% in Windsor and 96% in Oshawa. Workers all across southern Ontario are worried about providing for their families, keeping their homes and securing their retirement.

How many more jobs will have to be lost before the minister gets the message? He has to show leadership and he has to show it right now.

[Tony Clement, Conservative, Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, I was made aware of this decision just before question period. Of course, I am saddened by the decision, which affects many lives and families in the Newmarket-Aurora area and indeed throughout the GTA. Obviously, we will be there with all the support programs that one would expect from the Government of Canada.

However, we are here to look after the long-term sustainability of an industry as well, which includes the parts industry, about which we are engaged with the auto sector and about which we are engaged with the Government of Ontario. We are also having regard to the situation in Washington.