Debates of May 14th, 2008

International Trade

[David Emerson, Conservative, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Pacific Gateway and the Vancouver-Whistler Olympics]

Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada has actually endorsed and encourages Canadian companies to abide by the OECD guidelines for international companies. We have embraced a number of international standards relating to corporate social responsibility. We are considering the report from the advisory round tables on corporate social responsibility in the extractive sectors. We will have a strong response to that report very soon.

[Bernard Patry, Liberal, Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC]

Mr. Speaker, “very soon” means nothing.

I need not remind the House that 60% of the mining companies in the world are Canadian, and that the report from the round tables enjoyed a consensus among experts, NGOs, the industry and civil society. One important point in this report was the recommendation that an independent ombudsman's office be created, which would have the power to receive and investigate complaints.

Does the government support the idea of having an independent ombudsman, yes or no?

[David Emerson, Conservative, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Pacific Gateway and the Vancouver-Whistler Olympics]

Mr. Speaker, the Canadian mining industry is actually a leader in corporate responsibility. Obviously there are examples out there, not too many, where conduct is not what we would like to see. Most Canadian companies have a very strong commitment to corporate social responsibility.

The member will see very soon that this government is more committed than any previous government to corporate social responsibility in the extractive sector.

Infrastructure

[Paul Zed, Liberal, Saint John, NB]

Mr. Speaker, the city of Regina has waited nine months for $20 million from the Conservative government so that IPSCO Place can be expanded. The city of Regina was told all it had to do was meet the project requirements. It did and it is still waiting. In February the Conservatives claimed that construction could start on May 1, yet today is May 14 and the city is still waiting. These delays are costing the city of Regina $1 million.

Why is the government playing games with the citizens of Regina?

[Lawrence Cannon, Conservative, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, I am happy to have this question from my colleague. It gives me once again the opportunity to say that this government is getting the job done with $33 billion for infrastructure across the country.

IPSCO Place is a very important project. We have told the people of Regina that they can count on this government. We will get the job done there.

[Paul Zed, Liberal, Saint John, NB]

Mr. Speaker, the construction season is here now and cities and towns across Canada want their tax dollars reinvested, now, to address the $123 billion Conservative infrastructure deficit.

The government has told several cities and towns in Ontario, Alberta and Saskatchewan that their projects will receive funding, but not one cheque has gone out for transit, highways or roads.

When will the minister start reinvesting in real projects instead of phantom trains to Peterborough?

[Lawrence Cannon, Conservative, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, we are cleaning up the mess the Liberals left us when we took power. That is the first order of business.

It enabled us not long ago to go to the Toronto Transit Commission and, in effect, hand over the money that was required to purchase buses, which the Toronto Transit Commission had already bought. Therefore, we got the job done on that.

We put money in FLOW in the greater area of Toronto. We have helped the Evergreen Line. I can go on for 20 or 30 projects, including in his riding. We are getting it done.

Federal Spending Power

[Pierre Paquette, Bloc, Joliette, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Labour stated this morning, with regard to a promised bill to limit the federal government's spending power in the jurisdictions of Quebec and the provinces, that no one is obliged to do the impossible.

Is the minister telling us that the bill, which was promised several times to the Quebec nation, including in the latest throne speech, will be another broken Conservative promise?

[Lawrence Cannon, Conservative, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, hon. members will recall that our throne speech, tabled in this House not so long ago, indicated that we intended to move forward and to correct a historic mistake for the country.

As everyone knows, our government keeps its promises. Our government resolved the fiscal imbalance, to the dismay of the Bloc Québécois. However, I will remind our colleagues in the House that the Bloc once again voted against the throne speech.

[Pierre Paquette, Bloc, Joliette, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I see that the Minister of Labour can no more rise and defend his statements than he can defend Quebec's interests. However, the Prime Minister referred to this bill as a historic measure that was welcomed by the Government of Quebec.

Is that not further proof that, within Canada, the interests of the Quebec nation have very little weight and that the Prime Minister's promise to limit federal spending power in Quebec's areas of jurisdiction was just an election ploy?

[Lawrence Cannon, Conservative, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, I know that the Bloc Québécois voted against the throne speech. However, the Bloc members have the unique opportunity to support the budget of my colleague, the Minister of Finance, which resolves the issue of the millennium scholarships.

They have a historic opportunity to correct a mistake and to truly defend Quebec's interests. Let them rise and defend the interests of Quebec and stop sitting on their hands and doing nothing for Quebec.

Canadian Coast Guard

[Mark Eyking, Liberal, Sydney—Victoria, NS]

Mr. Speaker, the Canadian Coast Guard College in Cape Breton has been the latest victim of the Minister of National Defence.

Already Nova Scotians have watched the minister sit silent, while Coast Guard vessel after Coast Guard vessel, and the navy subs, have been shipped out of Nova Scotia. Now we learn that the Cap Percé is being shipped out. Again, there is nothing from the so-called regional minister.

I have this question for the minister from Nova Scotia. Will there be any ships left in Nova Scotia by the time he wakes up?

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

Mr. Speaker, the boat the member is talking about is one of several associated with the college, a college that the Liberals were going to close down. Where it was used for training, it will now be used to save lives.

Where was the minister from Nova Scotia? He was around the table supporting $1.5 billion to improve the Coast Guard. He was here to support money for not only the infrastructure but to keep the boats at sea. The previous government left them tied up to the wharves.

Arctic Sovereignty

[Rob Clarke, Conservative, Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians are proud of our identity as a northern nation. Our government is taking real action defending Canada's Arctic. We understand the importance of protecting and preserving Canadian sovereignty over this vital part of our national identity. This is one of the key strategic priorities in our new 20 year Canada first defence plan.

Could the Minister of Natural Resources tell the House what further action the government has taken today to defend Canada's Arctic?

[Gary Lunn, Conservative, Minister of Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, 50 years ago today a Conservative prime minister created the polar continental shelf project to expand Canada's sovereignty in the Arctic. This has helped thousands of scientists throughout the Arctic advance science and knowledge in the north. Today the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and myself have marked this anniversary with major commitments that will bring new research and information about our Arctic.

We are investing $20 million in providing the scientific basis to demonstrate Canada's rights in the Arctic. As well, my colleague announced $5.2 million for projects to increase awareness of the Arctic research for Canadians.

We are committed to the Arctic, and we are getting the job done.

National Defence

[Peter Stoffer, NDP, Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS]

Mr. Speaker, in the previous government, the Liberals spent millions of dollars to find out that privatizing the supply chain was not only irresponsible, but extremely costly to the Canadian taxpayer.

My question for the Prime Minister is quite clear. Are there any discussions with Haliburton or any other companies regarding the privatization of the supply chain of Canada's military?

[Laurie Hawn, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, the government takes the supply of our troops extremely seriously. There have been some issues raised recently by the Auditor General, who alluded to about a penny on the dollar of the money that is spent to equip our troops.

After a decade of darkness under the Liberals and a long period of utter contempt by that member and his party for any kind of defence spending, I find it a bit ironic to get a question on an item like this by him.

The Auditor General, in fact, praised the department for taking action on the items she raised with respect to the supply system, even as her report was underway. As usual, we are getting the job done.

[Peter Stoffer, NDP, Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS]

Mr. Speaker, the supply chain of the military supplies everything from pencils to planes. There are 3,000 businesses from Victoria to Gander that currently have access to DND. The privatization of that supply chain will kick them out of the business. As well, 1,600 full time public service jobs will be gone if it is privatized.

My question for the government is very simple. I know it cannot handle easy questions, so I will say it very slowly. Is it or is it not privatizing the supply chain of Canada's military?

[Laurie Hawn, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, let me say this very slowly for that member and his party. This government supports the Canadian Forces. We will supply the Canadian Forces with the equipment they need. It will be done in the interests of the Canadian Forces. It will be done in the interests of Canadian industry.

The Prime Minister and the Minister of National Defence recently announced the Canada first defence strategy. That will give the defence department and the Canadian Forces the tools they need for the next 20 years and beyond to do the jobs that the member and his party would rather they not do in the first place.

Oral Questions

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Mr. Speaker, during question period, the hon. Minister of Fisheries and Oceans fabricated the notion that the previous government was going to close the Coast Guard college in Sydney.

This is a blatant falsehood, and I would like to invite him to correct the record and apologize.

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

Mr. Speaker, let me remind the member that there is no graduation at the college this year simply because there was no registration three years ago. The college had been downgraded so much, plans were made to shut it down, and he well knows it.

[The Speaker, Peter Milliken]

It sounds like a dispute as to facts to me rather than a point of order. I will consider the matter, one that is available for debate on another occasion.

Canadian Parliamentary Delegations

[The Speaker, Peter Milliken]

I have the honour to lay upon the table the report of a Canadian parliamentary delegation concerning its official visit to Peru from March 14 to 20, 2008.

Government Response to Petitions

[Lynne Yelich, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8) I have the honour to table, in both official language, the government's response to seven petitions.

Interparliamentary Delegations

[Russ Hiebert, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of Western Economic Diversification]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34 I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, a report from the Canadian branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association on its recent bilateral parliamentary visit to Nuku'alofa, Tonga, from January 15 to 22.