House of Commons Hansard #86 of the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was product.
Yves Lessard Bloc Chambly—Borduas, QC
Mr. Speaker, once again, the Conservatives will not honour their commitment. In his presentation to the committee, the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development revealed that all the funds managed by that office would be “held and invested until they are used to reduce premium rates in subsequent years”.
Are we to understand from the minister's statement that, despite the obvious flaws in the system, he has given up on any future improvements to the EI program?
Monte Solberg ConservativeMinister of Human Resources and Social Development
Mr. Speaker, the government has improved benefits for workers when it has been necessary. We have done that a number of different times.
We pointed out that we had a different philosophy from the Bloc. The Bloc members believed in the past that they should vote for every proposal the Liberals proposed to use that $50 billion and to spend it in other ways. We see it very differently.
We cannot address today's problems.
We do not believe we could approach problems in the past in the same way as we can today. This is a new economy. We are providing training and helping workers. The Bloc is not supporting us, but we are getting things done.
Omar Alghabra Liberal Mississauga—Erindale, ON
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Finance, not the Minister of Industry.
This week the GM plant in Oshawa laid off another 900 workers, bringing the total up to 2,000 workers in just four months. The job losses are just down the street from the minister's office, but he does not bother to lift a finger to help. He is too busy giving his cronies untendered contracts.
Canadians deserve a minister who is responsive to their needs, not a minister who is missing in action. When will the minister at least act like he cares?
Jim Prentice ConservativeMinister of Industry
Mr. Speaker, since the government has come to office, we have created the strongest public finances in the G-7.
With respect to the auto industry, we are dealing with the issues that the former Liberal government never addressed in terms of making this industry competitive.
We have faith in the manufacturing industry. We have faith in the auto sector, unlike the Liberals, who continue to criticize the industry and who continue to advocate higher taxes and higher gas prices. That is not the way for the Canadian industry to succeed. We will get the job done.
Omar Alghabra Liberal Mississauga—Erindale, ON
Mr. Speaker, Canadians are walking with their pink slips past the office of the Minister of Finance, so it is disappointing but not surprising that he is letting the minister from Calgary answer that question.
The Minister of Finance ran a $5.6 billion deficit in Ontario. It was that minister who said Ontario was the last place in which to invest. It was that minister who is bringing Canada to the brink of deficit. He obviously cares more about the job of Hugh MacPhie than his constituents.
How many more pink slips will it take before the Minister of Finance takes real action?
Jim Flaherty ConservativeMinister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, it is pretty obvious that the Liberal member from the city of Toronto does not understand much about the car business. It will not help the car business when the Leader of the Opposition's proposal goes forward to have a massive increase in the cost of gasoline in Canada. That will not help the manufacturer of pickup trucks at General Motors in Oshawa, but then again, I do not expect the member from Toronto to understand that.
John McCallum Liberal Markham—Unionville, ON
Mr. Speaker, actually he is from Mississauga.
The finance minister offers a veritable smorgasbord of ethical clouds: an illegal contract now under investigation by the Ethics Commissioner; an uneconomic train chugging through his riding; millions of taxpayer dollars wending their way to an organization extremely close to his wife.
Could he at least guarantee to the House that today is the end of his ethical breaches, or can Canadians expect an expanded—
EthicsOral Questions
Jim Flaherty ConservativeMinister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, that question is defamatory. The member should apologize.
John McCallum Liberal Markham—Unionville, ON
The fact that he did not answer my question about future ethical clouds is an incriminating non-answer, Mr. Speaker.
When a Liberal cabinet minister was waiting to be cleared by the Ethics Commissioner, and was cleared, a Conservative MP said the following, “why should we wait for her report from the Ethics Commissioner? Should she not be gone?” That was the Prime Minister in 2004.
Will the Prime Minister show the same integrity he professed as opposition and ask his finance minister to step aside, pending the investigation into his ethics?
Jim Flaherty ConservativeMinister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, as the member opposite probably knows, although he may not know, any time a complaint is made by a member about another member to the Ethics Commissioner, there is a statutory obligation on the Ethics Commissioner to conduct an investigation. Surely the member knows that. It has nothing to do with whether there is any merit—
Jim Flaherty Conservative Whitby—Oshawa, ON
The member for Wascana day after day barks on the other side. Relax for a minute and let me answer the question. He will make a great mayor in Regina some day.
Joy Smith Conservative Kildonan—St. Paul, MB
Mr. Speaker, today is a banner day in the fight against crime in our country. After two long years of delay and obstruction by the Liberals, in both this House and the Senate, three provisions of our tackling violent crime act are finally coming into force.
Could the Minister of Justice tell the House what today means for Canadians and their families?
Rob Nicholson ConservativeMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, I would be delighted to tell the House. First, finally 14 and 15 year olds will be adequately protected from adult sexual predators. Those accused of serious gun crimes will have to show now why they should be let out on the street. Finally, those convicted of serious gun crimes will get what they have asked for, time in a federal penitentiary.
This is a bad day for criminals, but it is a great day for law-abiding Canadians.
Thomas Mulcair NDP Outremont, QC
Mr. Speaker, the damning report by the forensic auditor in the Kanesatake affair says that not only was there never any valid authorization to finance the botched raid, but the government is still concealing documents.
The RCMP had said no, the SQ had said no. Yet an official in Ottawa decided that James had to remain as chief.
But who at the top gave the green light? What is the Minister of Public Safety waiting for to order a full public inquiry into the scandal of the raid in Kanesatake?
Stockwell Day ConservativeMinister of Public Safety
Mr. Speaker, this happened under the former Liberal government. When I received the news of some very disturbing events, I immediately called for an inquiry. I received the results of the inquiry two days ago, and we are going to look at them. Some of the things that happened were not good, and we want to have a system where we can correct problems such as the ones that occurred under the Liberals.
Thomas Mulcair NDP Outremont, QC
Mr. Speaker, to help the minister decide on the advisability of holding a full public inquiry, I would like to draw his attention to section 6.2.2, which clearly indicates that Indian Affairs was aware of the scope of the police operation that was to take place on January 12, 2004, but did not inform the public safety department.
Will we ever know everything that happened? Who pulled the strings at Indian Affairs to keep James in place? What Liberal interests were protected? Only a public inquiry can answer these questions.
Stockwell Day ConservativeMinister of Public Safety
Mr. Speaker, we share my colleague's concerns. I agree with him that there were things involved. The Liberals were in control at the time. We want answers to some very disturbing questions, and we want to know whether people exerted political pressure. As I said, this happened under the Liberals, but now it is our responsibility, and we will find the answers.
Bob Rae Liberal Toronto Centre, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the Minister of Foreign Affairs. As he will know, the UN representative for Afghanistan was before the committee today. He will also have seen today's report in the Globe and Mail on alleged discussions between members of the Canadian military and others with respect to the Taliban.
My question is a foreign affairs question. It speaks directly to the political strategy of the government. Would the minister be good enough to tell us what the strategy of the Government of Canada is with respect to discussions of this kind?
Maxime Bernier ConservativeMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, our position is very clear and the Canadian public knows it, but I will repeat it for my colleague. It is very simple. With respect to national reconciliation in Afghanistan and what will come after the Taliban, the Afghan government will be in power, as everyone knows.
This is important. President Karzai said that there would be negotiations if people respect the Afghan constitution and renounce violence. That is the position of the Afghan government, and we support that position.
Bob Rae Liberal Toronto Centre, ON
Mr. Speaker, the UN representative also confirmed that there would be elections in Afghanistan in 2009 and 2010. As we know, Elections Canada played an important role in the 2004 Afghan elections.
Could the minister tell me whether Elections Canada still has the confidence of the government and the minister to do the necessary work in Afghanistan?
Maxime Bernier ConservativeMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, it is very simple. We are abiding by the resolution adopted in this House to undertake a mission in Afghanistan that respects democracy and the rule of law. We want Afghanistan to have a stable government. We are fighting against corruption in favour of good governance, and if it asks, we will assist the Afghan government during the election process.
Bonnie Brown Liberal Oakville, ON
Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, the foreign affairs minister failed to explain why he will be missing in action next week when the international community meets in Dublin on the banning of cluster bombs.
Why will he give this issue no priority? Is it because he is afraid of offending Washington, which does oppose the ban?
Maxime Bernier ConservativeMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, I answered that question yesterday in the House, but I will answer my colleague again today.
I made it clear that our country signed the Wellington declaration, and I am proud of that. We will work with the international community to implement it. As I said yesterday, senior officials from my department will be attending the conference.
