House of Commons Hansard #70 of the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was ndp.
Jim Prentice ConservativeMinister of Industry
Mr. Speaker, I think virtually all members of the House could agree that if anyone inhabits the Gestetner age, it is the New Democratic Party. Members of that party would carry our country into the economic backwater that they propose.
We have a well advanced Internet system in this country. It is not publicly regulated. At this point in time we will continue to leave the matter between consumers on the one hand and Internet service providers on the other.
Dan McTeague Liberal Pickering—Scarborough East, ON
Mr. Speaker, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs has bungled the Brenda Martin case from day one. Now we have to take her word that she is in fact back on the file.
How can she, however, find out who leaked personal information on Ms. Martin when she could not even escape the media chasing her through a store?
This is the same minister who refused to visit Brenda Martin because she was too busy at a cocktail party only minutes from the prison.
Rather than thinking she is back to cause more damage in this case, will the minister save herself the humiliation of being fired and resign from cabinet immediately?
Jason Kenney ConservativeSecretary of State (Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity)
Mr. Speaker, my colleague, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, has done a fantastic job on this and other files defending the rights of Canadians in prison abroad. We are proud of her hard work.
The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs went to Mexico and met with senior officials from multiple ministries, local, state and federal, whereas that member opposite shows up for photo ops to try to exploit the misery of Canadians in prisons abroad.
Dan McTeague Liberal Pickering—Scarborough East, ON
Mr. Speaker, it is because of that member that Huseyin Celil cannot be found and is rotting away in a prison in China. We do not need a lesson from that member and his party on looking after Canadians. We have done that job. He has not.
The minister destroyed her own credibility in this matter. This may have even led to the disclosure of information to tarnish Ms. Martin's reputation in order to divert attention from the minister's incompetence.
If the privacy commission's investigation finds that she or her assistants were at the root of this indiscretion, will she step down?
Jason Kenney ConservativeSecretary of State (Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity)
Mr. Speaker, William Sampson and Zahra Kazemi, that is the Liberal record on consular affairs.
From the day that Huseyin Celil was detained in Uzbekistan in March 2006 we were completely preoccupied with the case. The actions of this government on that matter have been endorsed by the World Uyghur Congress, the Uyghur Canadian Association, the lawyers for Mr. Celil, Amnesty International, and Mr. Celil's family.
If the Liberals were in power, we know what they would be doing about a Canadian in prison behind bars in China.
Dominic LeBlanc Liberal Beauséjour, NB
Mr. Speaker, justice issues used to be a priority for the government before it decided that it desperately needed to prevent Conservative officials from testifying before a committee with respect to offers made to Chuck Cadman.
They will not even hold a 30-second vote at the justice committee to hold supplemental hearings on the Criminal Code and attempts to bribe members of Parliament. They make the chair run away and shut down entirely the justice committee.
What is the government so afraid of? Why is it so afraid to have Conservative officials tell the truth before a committee?
Standing Committee on Justice and Human RightsOral Questions
Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam B.C.
Conservative
James Moore ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Works and Government Services and for the Pacific Gateway and the Vancouver-Whistler Olympics
Again, Mr. Speaker, tough words from my colleague from Beauséjour, but the reality is that actions speak louder than words and I am thankful to the member for Beauséjour for his continued support of this government.
When the budget bill came before this House of Commons, there was in fact a non-confidence effort by the Liberals on our budget. I voted against the non-confidence motion because I wanted this Conservative government to go forward and continue serving Canadians. My colleague took the same position, except he did not vote for it because he could not be bothered to show up.
Dominic LeBlanc Liberal Beauséjour, NB
Mr. Speaker, perhaps he can answer in French. Important issues such as identity theft and young offenders are being put on the back burner because this government is not allowing the chair of the committee to hold a 30-second vote. Witnesses who came from British Columbia were snubbed by the chair of the committee, who shamefully shirked his responsibilities and left the room for the third time.
Will the government stop these shenanigans in the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights? Will the Prime Minister come and tell the truth if we invite him?
Standing Committee on Justice and Human RightsOral Questions
Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam B.C.
Conservative
James Moore ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Works and Government Services and for the Pacific Gateway and the Vancouver-Whistler Olympics
Mr. Speaker, the member for Calgary Northeast is one of the finest people who has ever set foot in this Parliament. He is the former chief of the Calgary police force. He has been an outstanding member of Parliament. He needs no lessons from the member for Beauséjour.
When it comes to committee hearings, voting at committees, and committees doing our business, since when did the Liberals actually care about turning up and voting in this Parliament?
Paule Brunelle Bloc Trois-Rivières, QC
Mr. Speaker, on March 10, the Minister of Canadian Heritage, Status of Women and Official Languages told me that funding for the 375th anniversary of Trois-Rivières, a 2009 Cultural Capital of Canada, would cover the costs of the festivities. But now we have learned that the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women refused a request for funding from the International de l'art vocal de Trois-Rivières under the arts presentation Canada program.
Can the minister tell us why Trois-Rivières, chosen as a cultural city of the year, is not entitled to funding, even for recurring activities, such as the International de l'art vocal?
Josée Verner ConservativeMinister of Canadian Heritage
Mr. Speaker, the member should know that grants and contributions from the Department of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women are awarded according to strict, established criteria. It is not a matter of one program penalizing another program. Generally, programs are there to help different organizations and activities.
However, I will examine the issue for the member in order to give her some answers.
Carole Lavallée Bloc Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC
Mr. Speaker, I am happy to hear that we have programs to support projects in the regions, because the development of the Saint-Hubert airport is an important project for the South Shore, one that will create many jobs.
The Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec must adapt his programs and budgets based on the projects submitted to him—in this case, the development of the Saint-Hubert airport—and not the other way around, that is, expect the projects to fit into his budgets.
Does the minister intend to publicly announce his plans as soon as possible and stop his scheming meant to minimize the scope of the project, which was initially quite extensive?
Jean-Pierre Blackburn ConservativeMinister of Labour and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec
Mr. Speaker, the purpose of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec is to help diversify economic activity in the regions. We have an annual budget of some $200 million. When someone asks us to fund an $86 million project, we do consider that a large amount of money and, understandably, the agency is not in a position to allocate such an amount.
However, under reasonable circumstances, when the request is feasible and can be granted, we are always there to help these people. I hope they will continue their discussions with our officials on the matter.
Judy Sgro Liberal York West, ON
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the environment minister claimed that he met with his cabinet colleagues in Ottawa in October of 2006 concerning the contribution agreement for Ottawa's LRT project. But, according to public records, the ministers that he claimed to have met were out of town.
Either these government records are false or the minister is not telling the truth. Which is it?
John Baird ConservativeMinister of the Environment
Mr. Speaker, this is nothing more than an attempt by Liberal Party members to change the channel on their weak leadership and the fact that they are not standing up and voting for their constituents. The reality is that the Liberal Party is only interested in returning to power.
This party is interested in principle. This party is interested in creating jobs, opening opportunity for Canadians, and we are getting the job done.
Scott Reid Conservative Lanark—Frontenac—Lennox and Addington, ON
Mr. Speaker, David Ahenakew was stripped of his Order of Canada for repeatedly making racist anti-immigrant statements and in particular, for stating that Jews are a disease, they currently control the media, and the Holocaust was justified because it was Hitler's way of preventing the Jewish control of Europe.
Notwithstanding these facts, the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations recently decided to reinstate Mr. Ahenakew as a senator within its organization, a position which is considered to be one of honour and leadership.
This is a disturbing decision. I would like to know what actions is the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development planning to take in this matter?
Chuck Strahl ConservativeMinister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians
Mr. Speaker, I am extremely disappointed and disturbed by the decision of the federation to reinstate David Ahenakew as a senator.
The past comments by this person have been very hurtful, inappropriate, and go against everything that this country stands for. There is a trial scheduled for this fall and it must run its course.
Our government has valued the positive working relationship that we have had with the federation. However, based on its latest decision, we will be reviewing that relationship including the funding that goes with it.
In the meantime, I have given clear instructions to my staff and to my department that they are not to participate in any meetings with the federation if Mr. Ahenakew is involved.
Again, I urge the FSIN to reconsider its regrettable decision.
Peggy Nash NDP Parkdale—High Park, ON
Mr. Speaker, the impending sale of the jewel of Canada's space industry is not in the interest of Canadian sovereignty.
RADARSAT-2 is now a target to be bought by an American weapons maker due to a weak law and underfunding of the space agency by the previous Liberal government and continued by the current government.
The government promised openness and transparency, but on this file it has been anything but.
Despite exercising its right to put off the decision for 30 days, has the Minister of Industry made a decision to allow the sale of RADARSAT-2?
Jim Prentice ConservativeMinister of Industry
Mr. Speaker, as the member knows full well, I did on or about March 20 grant a 30 day extension for the period of review of this transaction.
As I have said previously, I will discharge the responsibilities that I have under the Investment Canada Act to the letter of the law. I will also fulfill the responsibilities that I have to the taxpayers of Canada under the various agreements between the Canadian Space Agency and this particular company. So, my friend will have to be patient.
Peggy Nash NDP Parkdale—High Park, ON
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Foreign Affairs also claimed that the sale of RADARSAT-2 was the responsibility of the Minister of Industry, but MDA lawyers have confirmed that the Department of Foreign Affairs requested an application for a licence amendment to move ownership of RADARSAT-2 to the U.S.
Can the industry minister tell us who is in charge here? If he needed a 30 day extension to make his decision on MDA, why is the foreign affairs minister paving the way to sell Canada's world class space technology to a U.S. weapons manufacturer?
Jim Prentice ConservativeMinister of Industry
Mr. Speaker, my friend mischaracterizes both the facts and the situation.
On or about March 20 MDA Geospatial submitted to foreign affairs, as it is required to do, a proposed amendment to the licence of RADARSAT-2.
The point, however, is that that is premature. Both that proposed amendment and in fact my friend's question depend first on the exercise of the authority by the Minister of Industry, myself, under the Investment Canada Act. Stated in other words, if the issue is RADARSAT-2 and the amendment of a licence, it depends on whether or not there is a sale of the company and I will decide that in due course.
The Speaker Liberal Peter Milliken
I would like to draw the attention of hon. members to the presence in the gallery of the Honourable Mary Schryer, Minister of Social Development and Minister Responsible for the Advisory Council on the Status of Women for New Brunswick.