Debates of Nov. 27th, 2008

Afghanistan

[Lawrence Cannon, Conservative, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, as my colleague has said, we are in Afghanistan at the invitation of the United Nations. We are part of a group that is working to rebuild that country. We are working to rebuild its governance strategies. We are working to rebuild its infrastructures. In short, the Canadian men and women over there can take pride in what they are doing. As for us, we shall pursue the same six objectives we set for ourselves a long time ago.

The Economy

[John McKay, Liberal, Scarborough—Guildwood, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives have provided multiple billions of dollars to fund bank liquidity. Yet what do these banks do as soon as they receive the money? They immediately turn around and dramatically increase the cost of credit to small business owners, the very people we need to pull us out of this crisis.

Will the Conservative finance minister use his bully pulpit to demand that the banks reduce the cost of credit to small businesses and their customers?

[Ted Menzies, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, we have provided funding to the banks exactly in the manner that it should be provided, to pass on to consumers. Through our insured mortgage purchase program, we have put that money through CMHC, but we have also put in a system that allows individuals to gain credit from the banks. Canadians asked for access to credit to grow their business.

The Liberals do not want to admit it, but some businesses in the country are doing well and are looking for financing to grow their businesses.

[John McKay, Liberal, Scarborough—Guildwood, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada sends them $75 billion and the government cannot even pick up the telephone and tell them to lay off.

Small businesses are a key component to our economy and tens of thousands of job depend on their capacity to access affordable credit.

Like all Canadians, small businesses and their customers are about to pay a very heavy price for this new Conservative deficit. It will be a double whammy. A Conservative deficit and increased credit costs is the last thing they need.

Will the Conservative government start helping small business in their—

[The Speaker, Peter Milliken]

The hon. Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance.

[Ted Menzies, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance]

What a novel idea, Mr. Speaker, helping small business. That is exactly what we did in the fall economic statement last year. We cut taxes to small business. We cut taxes to individuals so they could start new businesses.

If I recall, most of the opposition parties in the House voted against that.

Employment Insurance

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

Mr. Speaker, our indications point to huge job losses resulting from the emerging Conservative recession. The Conservatives are ignoring this reality, just like they have ignored everything else. While the world acts, they sit.

Employment insurance is an absolutely essential program for Canadians, and the Conservatives have done nothing to ensure it will be there for workers as job losses mount.

Given the Conservative government's inability to anticipate or deal with the crisis, what assurance can the minister give that EI will be available to those who need it, when they need it? When will somebody over there start standing up for Canadian workers?

[Ed Komarnicki, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and to the Minister of Labour]

Mr. Speaker, I want the House to know that we will always stand up for workers and we will be there for them when they need it.

We have taken steps to improve the EI program. The Speech from the Throne further explains how we will improve it. We will target help to those who need help the most. We will be there for them when they need us.

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

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives created an EI Crown corporation this year, saying that the economy was just fine and it only needed $2 billion in the fund. We told them that was not enough. A whole host of experts told them the same thing at the committee when the Liberal-led opposition forced hearings on EI.

Given that the Conservatives are doing absolutely nothing to protect Canadian jobs, why would anybody believe they will do anything to protect Canadian workers when they lose their jobs?

[Ed Komarnicki, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and to the Minister of Labour]

Mr. Speaker, we have ensured that premiums are collected equal to the benefits that are paid out and we want to be sure they are used exclusively for workers and not for other expenses.

It is an independent board that sets the amount for the premiums and that independent board is backed by money and backed by the government. If more is required for this year, it will be there and it will be reassessed again in the next year.

Canadian Forces

[Brent Rathgeber, Conservative, Edmonton—St. Albert, AB]

Mr. Speaker, as I rise in the House for the first time, I would like to thank the good citizens of Edmonton—St. Albert for electing me their member of Parliament and giving me the great honour of representing them in the House.

Every day our Canadian Forces are making the world a safer place to live. Our largest overseas contingent is currently serving in Afghanistan, with the current rotation being filled by the brave servicemen and women from CFB Petawawa.

This Christmas they will be celebrating the holidays apart from their families and loved ones. Would the minister responsible for Canada Post please tell the House what programs are in place to help families stay connected with the troops serving overseas during this Christmas season?

[Rob Merrifield, Conservative, Minister of State (Transport)]

Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate the hon. member for Edmonton—St. Albert on his recent election. He has Canadian Forces barracks in his riding and I know this is a very important issue for him.

I am very proud to make the announcement that Canada Post is again extending free parcel delivery to our troops overseas this Christmas season. They do a tremendous amount of work for us and we support them in their military efforts. Now, not only can we support them but we can encourage them with parcel delivery for Christmas. We encourage their families and friends to exercise that. I am proud of Canada Post for what it has done.

Canadian Wheat Board

[Bill Siksay, NDP, Burnaby—Douglas, BC]

Mr. Speaker, in another attack on democracy, a Conservative member of this House has apparently interfered with the directors election at the Canadian Wheat Board. The ethics code, which covers every MP, says that MPs may not assist a “person becoming a director or officer in a corporation, association or trade union”.

The member for Cypress Hills—Grasslands must face the consequences of violating section 3 and section 9 of the ethics code. How does the government House leader explain this? Is it a lapse in judgment, or intentional interference in a democratic election? What consequences will the member face?

[David Anderson, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources and for the Canadian Wheat Board]

Mr. Speaker, when NDP members get up, they never ask about the real issues concerning the Canadian Wheat Board.

For example, last year when the organic farmers were trying to sell their grain, the Canadian Wheat Board said that it wanted to take 9¢ from them for doing nothing. This year the Canadian Wheat Board said it is going to take 30¢, but there are no questions from the member opposite.

Last year the contingency fund that the Canadian Wheat Board had to protect the rest of Canadian farmers lost $35 million. There were absolutely no questions. This year they have apparently lost more money, and again, there are no questions from the opposition.

We are there for western Canadian farmers. We are going to protect them. We are going to bring marketing choice for them.

[Bill Siksay, NDP, Burnaby—Douglas, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the member has intentionally attempted to influence the outcome of an election at the Canadian Wheat Board using his parliamentary letterhead. This is a clear violation of at least two sections of the code.

Pending the formal report of the Ethics Commissioner, will the member be suspended from his position as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources, and especially as the Parliamentary Secretary to the minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board?

[David Anderson, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources and for the Canadian Wheat Board]

Mr. Speaker, I have to admit that I am sorry that the NDP members are so out of touch with western Canadian farmers. I am sorry that they only get their advice from extremists in the agriculture community. I am sorry that they are here today defending the big Wheat Board against the individual farmers. However, I am here to say that I am happy that this caucus will stand up for western Canadian wheat farmers. We will do what is right for them. We are going to bring marketing choice for western Canadian grain farmers.

Afghanistan

[Claude Bachand, Bloc, Saint-Jean, QC]

Mr. Speaker, on Monday, the president of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai, called on the coalition forces to set a deadline for withdrawing from his country. With complete disregard for his request, the Canadian government decided to escalate its military involvement in the region. Incidentally, the government's first quarterly report shows that security in Afghanistan is deteriorating.

Does the minister realize that his government is on the wrong track in Afghanistan, and what is he waiting for to correct the situation while there is still time?

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

Mr. Speaker, I do not know if the hon. member was here, but there was a vote taken in this place that did involve an end date, and that is 2011.

As far as the security situation in Afghanistan is concerned, clearly there are still challenges, but it is incumbent upon this government and the Department of National Defence to provide the brave men and women of the Canadian Forces with the necessary protection that they need. That includes such things as helicopters. That includes the protective equipment that is part of the force protection package that will be voted upon in the supplementary estimates, and I know that I can count on the member to support that estimate.

[Claude Bachand, Bloc, Saint-Jean, QC]

Mr. Speaker, this government is spending huge amounts of money on all kinds of military equipment. And it does not even have a specific plan. Yet, with an economic crisis looming, it sits and does nothing.

How can the Minister of National Defence justify this new increase in military spending when the government refuses to pay a cent to the victims of this economic crisis? That is absolutely outrageous.

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

What is scandalous, Mr. Speaker, is that the Bloc and that member seem to be completely out of touch with reality when it comes to the necessity of providing the men and women in the forces with the necessary equipment that they have to have to do the job in this dangerous and ever-evolving environment.

There were estimates tabled in the House. We have appeared before committees. We have followed the recommendations of an independent committee. We are doing what is right for the Canadian Forces. I would expect the member to show a little more solidarity in our efforts to give the forces the important equipment to do that job.

Canadian Wheat Board

[Wayne Easter, Liberal, Malpeque, PE]

My question is for the Prime Minister, Mr. Speaker.

Government members, in violation of all democratic principles, have been attempting to interfere and influence the outcome of the Canadian Wheat Board director elections.

Does the Prime Minister deny that those MPs, including the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources and for the Canadian Wheat Board, have access to the confidential voters list of names and addresses and are using those to send out letters? Does he deny that the MPs who are sending out letters are not registered as third party intervenors? Will he confirm that the election co-ordinator is looking into these illegal practices?

[David Anderson, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources and for the Canadian Wheat Board]

Mr. Speaker, after the last election the member for Malpeque acknowledged that the Liberals' agriculture policy just was not working. Why? Because it does not represent farmers. I do not think there is any clearer place where they have failed to represent farmers than on this issue.

We all know that he has failed in his job. We all know that the Liberals' agriculture policy has failed. We are going to step forward. We are going to protect western Canadian farmers. We are going to bring them marketing choice. We are going to do that soon.

[Wayne Easter, Liberal, Malpeque, PE]

Is there no law that that party will not break, Mr. Speaker?

Obviously the words about democracy in the throne speech are not worth the paper they are written on. Fundamental to democracy are elections based on election rules and the law. The parliamentary secretary has violated election regulations. We believe other members have violated mailing privileges of this House. Further, the parliamentary secretary has violated his oath of office and has used lists privy only to him. Is there absolutely no respect for the law?

Will the Prime Minister finally put a stop to the lawbreakers in his party?

[David Anderson, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources and for the Canadian Wheat Board]

Sound and fury, Mr. Speaker, signifying nothing.

I wonder where the member actually was when one of the pro-Canadian Wheat Board directors was out using the Canadian Wheat Board logo on his election material. I did not hear anything from him at that point. I have not heard anything from him when the Canadian Wheat Board has been banning reporters it does not like from its news conferences.

Once again I am going to reiterate that we will be there. We will be standing up for western Canadian farmers. We are going to bring them marketing choice as soon as possible.

Credit Card Interchange Fees

[Bruce Hyer, NDP, Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, small businesses create a huge percentage of all the job growth in Canada. We should be helping them, not hurting them.

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business is demanding that this government act before the big banks' next big cash grab. Our small businesses are facing a 10,000% increase in their Visa and MasterCard merchant fees. Is this fair?

Does the government believe that it is not its problem, or that it can just not do anything about it? Which is it?