House of Commons Hansard #97 of the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was treaty.
Gary Lunn ConservativeMinister of Natural Resources
Mr. Speaker, as I previously stated, this project was plagued from its very inception, with hundreds of millions of dollars being spent and technological problems.
More important, this will allow AECL to focus on what it does very well, and that is build power reactors. It has built projects around the world, on time and under budget.
I want to reassure the House that the MAPLE project will have no impact at all on the production of isotopes. It has never produced an isotope, ever.
Paul Dewar NDP Ottawa Centre, ON
Mr. Speaker, when I first asked about the conditions of the Canadian citizen, Mr. Abdelrazik, the foreign affairs minister said “we have provided Mr. Abdelrazik with temporary shelter at the embassy in Khartoum”. We have confirmation today that Mr. Abdelrazik is spending his nights sleeping on the floor in the bathroom of the embassy.
Is this the government's version of a shelter, of a safe haven? Does anyone over there believe this is acceptable for any Canadian citizen?
Deepak Obhrai ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and to the Minister of International Cooperation
Mr. Speaker, we are aware of this case, but as the matter is currently now before the courts, it would be inappropriate for us to comment right now.
Paul Dewar NDP Ottawa Centre, ON
Mr. Speaker, on another note, when it came to advocacy groups, the government was happy to cut funding for child care groups and women's groups. It was no problem because they were doing advocacy. However, when it comes to selling the war, it lets the taxpayer dollars flow. It turns on the taps.
The government should know that it is not acceptable. We have now learned that we have a contract with the CDA that is pegged to a performance contract. This is the same kind of philosophy the Bush administration had, and it failed miserably.
Will the government stop funding these propaganda machines and stop trying to sell a war—
Peter Van Loan ConservativeLeader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform
Mr. Speaker, I think I already told the House of the comments of Alain Pellerin, the executive director of the Conference of Defence Associations. He said that his organization received money from national defence for decades and that the media quotas, of which the hon. member expresses concern, were introduced into its contract in 2002 by the Liberal government.
I know there are people in the country, and the NDP are among them, who do not like to see our military front and centre. Most of all, they do not like to see good news stories about the military.
We are very happy to see there are people doing serious work, pointing out the great successes and accomplishments of our armed forced and why we are so proud of them on the world stage.
David McGuinty Liberal Ottawa South, ON
Mr. Speaker, the government has announced that June 2 is the deadline for bids for oil and gas leases in the Beaufort Sea. It is rushing to sell five leases worth over $2 billion to the highest bidder in key polar bear, beluga and bowhead whale habitat.
DFO has no integrated management plan and, meanwhile, even U.S. Republicans have moved to recognize the scientific evidence, listing the polar bear as an endangered species.
Industry is calling for an environmental impact assessment. The Mackenzie Valley pipeline is not operational.
Whose interests are the government looking after as they rush these leases out the door?
Gary Lunn ConservativeMinister of Natural Resources
Mr. Speaker, that is all nonsense. However, let me tell the member one plan we do not have. We do not have a plan to raise the price of gasoline to $2.25 a litre. Under Bill C-288, the Liberal plan would drive the price of gasoline north.
We now have heard from the leader of the Liberal Party who wants to run across the country during the summer and sell his carbon tax plan. This is ill-fated. It is wrong. It is the wrong approach to start introducing these carbon taxes.
That is not something this government will do and that is something of which the member should maybe take note.
David McGuinty Liberal Ottawa South, ON
Mr. Speaker, it gets much worse. A recent U.S. mineral management service study says that there is a 40% chance of a massive oil spill from existing exploration activities off the coast of Alaska.
The cleanup technology has not been developed and the oil spill risk is further compounded because of long winters, extreme cold, ice, high wind and low visibility. In fact, BP could not deal with its spill in the U.S. Beaufort in 2000 because its mechanical recovering system was overwhelmed and it collapsed.
Is this just another case of the government putting ideology ahead of environmental conservation?
Mark Warawa ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of the Environment
Mr. Speaker, the member does not understand how the Species at Risk Act works. He needs to go back and read the act.
Independent Canadian scientists were consulted and they made the recommendation. This government has consulted scientists. We have consulted the Inuit first nation.
Why is that member attacking first nations? Why is he attacking Canadian scientists? Shame on him.
Marcel Proulx Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC
Mr. Speaker, since the new national portrait gallery is supposed to be a national institution, it only makes sense to build it in the national capital region. However, this government, which has never cared about promoting Canadian heritage, seems to prefer to leave the construction of the museum in the hands of the company that makes the lowest bid.
Why does this government refuse to build the national portrait gallery in the national capital region?
Lawrence Cannon ConservativeMinister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, the government believes very deeply that it is extremely important to be able to promote Canadian culture in all regions of the country.
That is why we invited all cities interested in becoming home to this new initiative to submit proposals. Today is the deadline for doing so. We believe it is important that Canadian heritage be accessible to all Canadians, from coast to coast to coast.
Marcel Proulx Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC
Mr. Speaker, all around the world national portrait galleries are displayed in national capitals, but in Canada, our government considers cultural merchandise to be like any other good that is devoid of any national meaning.
Will the government stop neglecting our culture, send a clear message and build a new portrait gallery in the national capital region?
Lawrence Cannon ConservativeMinister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, my colleague the Minister of Canadian Heritage has received numerous amounts of correspondence supporting our government's position.
Let me quote what Jeff Browaty, a Winnipeg city councillor, said:
Why should Canadian citizens contribute to so many national institutions that many have no access to? I applaud the [Prime Minister's] government for declaring the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg as the first national cultural institution located outside the capital.
He went on to say, “I truly believe it will be a magnet for people around the world to learn about human rights”.
France Bonsant Bloc Compton—Stanstead, QC
Mr. Speaker, in budget 2007, the government promised to transfer the $500 million in funds allocated for young people, people with disabilities and older workers. Yet this government is still trying to impose its priorities on Quebec, thereby encroaching on its areas of jurisdiction and showing a lack of respect for the Quebec nation.
Can the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development confirm that he will transfer the funds for labour market training to Quebec, with no strings attached?
Lynne Yelich ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development
Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada has programs for all Canadians from coast to coast to coast, throughout ten provinces and three territories. We believe in education and training. We have put more money into child care than any other government, $5.6 billion in early learning and child care. We have invested in training and skills. That investment is more than any other government has done in history.
France Bonsant Bloc Compton—Stanstead, QC
Mr. Speaker, the executive of the Canadian section of the Inter-Parliamentary Union has adopted a Bloc Québécois motion calling for the offer to hold the Inter-Parliamentary Union general assembly in Quebec City in 2010 to be maintained. In addition, the secretary general of the Inter-Parliamentary Union has offered to come to Canada “in the hope that Canada will soon welcome an IPU assembly”.
Will the Minister of Foreign Affairs show some openness so that Quebec City can host this major conference in 2010?
Lawrence Cannon ConservativeMinister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, we fully support holding this event here in Canada, in Quebec City. My colleague, the minister, has said as much on numerous occasions. Obviously, we have to work with the decision-makers to move things forward.
However, some people on the opposition side, especially on the Liberal benches, like to stir up trouble, particularly certain senators from the Quebec City area who say that this will never happen.
Michael Savage Liberal Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS
Mr. Speaker, last week I asked about the decision of the U.K. government to cancel the Commonwealth scholarships for Canadian students.
We know that the government spends a lot of time trying to shape and distort the news, but there must be somebody over there who reads it now and then, yet the parliamentary secretary to the minister responsible for higher education told the House last week she had never even heard of the scholarships. Last night the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and to the Minister of International Cooperation admitted his government was not even consulted and now it is scrambling madly to make up for this snub.
The government needs to stand up strongly for Canadian students. When is it going to start?
Deepak Obhrai ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and to the Minister of International Cooperation
Mr. Speaker, I told the hon. member yesterday in my answer during the late show that Canada was concerned about this decision and that we would be asking the government of the U.K. to revisit the decision.
Canada has approached the government of the U.K. to talk about revisiting the issue, as I said yesterday.
Leon Benoit Conservative Vegreville—Wainwright, AB
Mr. Speaker, buildings have been destroyed, cars flipped over, thousands of people killed and children buried in rubble. Canadians have watched this unfold on television on a daily basis and are left with a feeling of despair.
The Chinese authorities, to their credit, have mounted a major rescue effort with over 100,000 troops in one of the fastest reactions to a natural disaster that the world has ever seen.
However, Canadians want to know what their government is doing to help. Can the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and to the Minister of International Cooperation tell us what this government is doing for the people in China?
Deepak Obhrai ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and to the Minister of International Cooperation
Mr. Speaker, we are all saddened by the chaos in the aftermath of the earthquake in China and this government stands ready to answer the call.
I am pleased to tell the House today that Canada has responded to the Red Cross appeal for international assistance and we will be sending them $1 million.
I want to emphasize what the minister said yesterday, that our government has committed to match dollar for dollar the donations made by individual Canadians.
I want to let the people of China know that we will do everything in our power to help them in their time of need.
Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
Mr. Speaker, there is no place in amateur sports for violence, bullying, exploitation or abuse. A safe and healthy sports experience starts with competent trained coaches to create an atmosphere of fair play and respect.
In light of recent incidences of violence in amateur sport that horrified many Canadians, why is our Secretary of State for Sport not using her office to ensure that Canada's 300,000 coaches are promoting fair play and fun and preventing this culture of bullying and violence that so disturbs many Canadians?
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, I noted the press conference my colleague had this morning on this issue. I think all members of the House from all parties agree with the sentiment of what he has just said. We just happen to disagree with the solution that he has proposed.
I think local amateur sporting organizations can take care of some of these things. I think local solutions to some of these local problems are how these problems are best handled. We saw that in fact with the Quebec junior hockey league when there was that violent incident that we all remember seeing on television.
We agree with the sentiment of what the member has proposed, but I think solutions are best found locally.
Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
Mr. Speaker, successive federal governments copping out has led to the expansion and escalation of the problem.
In my home province of Manitoba we have trained all 10,000 of our amateur coaches using a program designed by former NHLer, Sheldon Kennedy. The program is accessible, affordable and effective.
Why would our Secretary of State for Sport not promote and implement a national program to elevate the standard of coaching right across the country? Instead of opting for doing nothing at all and abdicating her responsibility, she has a golden opportunity to use her office for something positive, yet she does absolutely nothing that we can determine.
