Debates of March 31st, 2008

Seal Hunters

[Loyola Hearn, Conservative, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans]

Mr. Speaker, let me also add my condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and to the people of the Magdalen Islands generally.

Let me say to the hon. member that when a decision is made by the central coordinating agency to end a search, it is probably the most difficult decision anyone could make, but there comes a point in time, especially when we look at the conditions involved, when decisions must be made.

As the member knows, searches will continue, but the thing is, it is not an easy decision for anybody to make.

[Raynald Blais, Bloc, Gaspésie—Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC]

Mr. Speaker, according to Radio-Canada, the grieving families will have to pay to have the bodies of the dead sailors returned to them.

Can the minister promise that the federal government will cover the cost of transporting the bodies from Halifax to the Magdalen Islands?

[Loyola Hearn, Conservative, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans]

Mr. Speaker, let me assure the member and the families involved that they will not need to pay the costs of having the bodies returned.

Afghanistan

[Jack Layton, NDP, Toronto—Danforth, ON]

Mr. Speaker, one of the items the NATO meeting in Bucharest will be looking at is extending the war in Afghanistan.

The Manley report stated two essential conditions: more troops in Kandahar and an increase in our airlift capabilities.

My question is simple: if, at the end of this meeting, NATO has not met these conditions, will the Prime Minister state that we must withdraw our troops from Afghanistan?

[Stephen Harper, Conservative, Prime Minister]

Yes, Mr. Speaker, but I have the utmost confidence our conditions will be met in the coming weeks. Discussions are being held and equipment is being provided. I am very optimistic Canada will fulfill its obligations in Afghanistan.

[Jack Layton, NDP, Toronto—Danforth, ON]

Mr. Speaker, if I understood the answer correctly, the Prime Minister said that he would indicate that we will withdraw our troops if the conditions are not met at the meetings themselves. I would like him to explain whether that is indeed the case.

Our concern is that he will tell the world at these meetings that the average Canadian supports the ongoing extension of the war, but the fact is that they do not.

Now that the Prime Minister has rescinded the invitation to members of the opposition and has refused my invitation to take the leaders of the opposition with him on this trip, will he at least give the undertaking that when he says to the world that we are extending the mission in Afghanistan it is not because of the support of the--

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

The right hon. Prime Minister.

[Stephen Harper, Conservative, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I have always been clear that if our conditions are not met, we will withdraw. That said, the discussions with our allies and our equipment procurement continue to go very well. I have every reason to believe that these conditions will be fulfilled in the not too distant future.

Speaking of the mission in Afghanistan, we had a fulsome debate in this House and we had a resolution that was arrived at with some discussion among the parties. I think it reflects overwhelmingly the fact that Canadians believe in this United Nations mission, believe it is essential for the Afghan people and for our security, and are very proud of the work our men and women in uniform are doing.

Federal-Provincial Relations

[John McCallum, Liberal, Markham—Unionville, ON]

Mr. Speaker, never before has a federal finance minister trashed the business climate of Ontario in such a vitriolic and unacceptable way. Never before has a federal finance minister told the world that Ontario is the last place to invest. Especially with manufacturing jobs hemorrhaging by the day, the people of Ontario want their governments to work together to solve real problems.

Why can the minister not understand this simple point and stop bashing Ontario and stop bashing the people who call that province their home?

[Jim Flaherty, Conservative, Minister of Finance]

The concern, Mr. Speaker, is, of course, with the people of Ontario, the workers of Ontario and the businesses of Ontario because the Government of Ontario's business tax policies are hurting business growth in the province of Ontario.

On October 30, in the economic statement, we challenged the provinces and territories to join us in reducing the business tax burden by 2012. British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and New Brunswick are all moving in that direction. This is for the sake of businesses, business growth and the people, the workers of the province of Ontario.

[John McCallum, Liberal, Markham—Unionville, ON]

Mr. Speaker, he keeps on bashing.

Last Thursday, the Prime Minister and Dalton McGuinty issued a press release calling for greater collaboration. Here is an opportunity for the minister. Just today, the Ontario government announced $17 million for the Ford plant to reopen in Windsor. Just today, Ford asked the federal government to match that contribution.

Will the minister put his money where his mouth is and match that $17 million contribution?

[Jim Flaherty, Conservative, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, my criticism of the Government of Ontario and the Premier of Ontario cannot hold a candle to the criticism of the NDP government of Ontario by the Liberal government here when Bob Rae--

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

The hon. Minister of Finance may have forgotten but there is a new member of the House whose name I think he just bandied about and it is out of order to refer to members by their names. I think he meant the hon. member for Toronto Centre and, if so, he would want to use that name in his answer.

[Jim Flaherty, Conservative, Whitby—Oshawa, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I do wish the member for Toronto Centre the same success in opposition here in this House as he had serving in Ontario also in opposition.

The Liberals do not listen to their own advice. Here is what the member for Markham—Unionville said. He said, “The new Canadian advantage and the Liberal vision”--

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

Order, please. The hon. member for Willowdale.

[Martha Hall Findlay, Liberal, Willowdale, ON]

Mr. Speaker, in Ontario, hard-working families are losing their jobs but instead of working with the province, the finance minister continues to criticize Ontario even today. This is the same minister who gave Ontario Walkerton, wanted to jail the homeless and left a $5.5 billion deficit.

When will the finance minister stop damaging Ontario's economy with his petty grudges?

[Jim Flaherty, Conservative, Minister of Finance]

Let me begin, Mr. Speaker, by thanking the member for Willowdale for her friendly opening question in the House. I welcome her to the House and I hope the questions will become more congenial over time.

The Liberals do not believe themselves. Here is what the Leader of the Opposition said about lowering taxes, which is what this is about in Ontario. He said:

A lower corporate tax rate is a powerful weapon...to generate more investment, higher living standards and better jobs.

The Liberals need to start listening to themselves.

[Martha Hall Findlay, Liberal, Willowdale, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Finance has no credibility. Six Ontario budgets were deficit budgets. The Minister of Finance is the last person we would look to for advice on the provincial economy.

When will the Prime Minister rein in his Minister of Finance?

[Jim Flaherty, Conservative, Minister of Finance]

I trust, Mr. Speaker, that the member for Willowdale will join the other Liberals who have supported our budget and our business tax reductions of historic proportions in the Government of Canada. I also hope the Liberals will listen to one of the newest Liberals, the member for Toronto Centre, who said:

The... government needs to keep a vigilant eye on corporate taxes to ensure they are globally competitive with key jurisdictions so that investment in Canada is encouraged.

As I say, Liberals need to listen to themselves.

The Environment

[Bernard Bigras, Bloc, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister always denies the consequences of climate change and rejects the advice of his own experts, who say that the effects of greenhouse gases are twice as serious here as they are elsewhere. They recommend that Canada follow Europe's lead and support the goal of limiting temperature change to 2^oC in order to prevent irreparable harm.

Does the Prime Minister agree with the findings of his own experts?

[John Baird, Conservative, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, we know that we need to work hard to reduce greenhouse gases. It is unacceptable that in the last 10 years, overall greenhouse gas emissions have increased in Canada and throughout the world. We were prepared to take action, and we have regulated large corporations.

We are not prepared to wait for a day when temperatures will have increased by 2^oC. We are taking action now.

[Bernard Bigras, Bloc, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, how could the Conservatives disagree during the negotiations held in Germany in June 2007, when they had already been told by their experts that the situation was serious?

Will the Minister of the Environment finally take the advice of the experts and adopt a plan based on the scientific consensus, instead of continuing to isolate himself internationally with a plan that helps no one but the oil companies?

[John Baird, Conservative, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, this government is taking action. We are working very hard to reduce greenhouse gases.

What the member for Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie is saying is interesting. I read the newspaper today and that member said, “there are activists who think that our approach can contribute to a renewed federalism.” But of course, that party's approach is to challenge the actions of this government.

We are taking action. We are finding real solutions to reduce greenhouse gases. This is something that has not happened since the Bloc was created 18 years ago.

Foreign Affairs

[Francine Lalonde, Bloc, La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservative government has yet to respond to our repeated requests to bring the young Canadian Omar Khadr back to Canada. The International Convention on the Rights of the Child, signed by Canada, considers child soldiers to be victims that need our protection.

What is stopping this government, which invested in rehabilitating Afghan child soldiers, from taking immediate action in favour of a child soldier who is, I would remind the House, a Canadian citizen?