Debates of Jan. 28th, 2009

Employment Insurance

[Diane Finley, Conservative, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development]

Mr. Speaker, our government's priority is to help workers work and participate in the labour market. That is why our economic action plan includes much more money for training to help laid-off workers acquire new skills for the long term.

[Yves Lessard, Bloc, Chambly—Borduas, QC]

Mr. Speaker, what is the minister doing about the 53% of unemployed workers? If this government had had even a modicum of vision, it would have used the budget to create a real income support program for workers aged 55 and over who cannot be retrained and who are also victims of mass layoffs.

With the tough times these workers are going through, why did the government deliberately choose to ignore them?

[Diane Finley, Conservative, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development]

Mr. Speaker, we have faith in our older workers. That is why, two years ago, we introduced the targeted initiative for older workers, which has been very successful. In yesterday's economic action plan, we expanded that program to help workers so that they can re-enter the labour market.

Culture

[Carole Lavallée, Bloc, Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservative budget does not meet the needs of those in the cultural community, yet culture accounts for over 7% of the GDP. Even though artists have been able to demonstrate their past cost-effectiveness, programs to promote culture abroad have not been re-established, to the bitter disappointment of the arts community.

As Stanley Péan, the head of the Union des écrivaines et écrivains québécois, puts it, the message sent by last fall's artists' protests did not get through.

What explanation can the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages give for this budget containing nothing for the promotion of culture abroad?

[James Moore, Conservative, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages]

Mr. Speaker, nothing in this budget? There is more than a quarter of a billion dollars for artists in this budget. Gilbert Rozon, CEO of the Just for Laughs Group, is quoted as saying, "By including the arts and culture in its policy for fighting the crisis, [He names the Prime Minister of Canada] recognizes the role and power of this sector for the national economy.”

We are doing our duty, we are defending arts and culture in our country, and in our budget we are investing more money than in any other in the history of our country. We are “delivering the goods” for arts and culture.

[Carole Lavallée, Bloc, Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the minister does not even understand that he does not understand anything. This is what I said: there is nothing in this budget to promote culture abroad. There is nothing in it either to help artists, not one red cent in this budget that will go as direct help to creators, not one cent more for the Canada Council for the Arts.

How can anyone claim to be helping arts and culture while totally forgetting the artists of Quebec and of Canada?

[James Moore, Conservative, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages]

Mr. Speaker, that is the line the Bloc Québécois is giving us, but here are the facts: the Canada Council for the Arts will receive $181 million this year. Our government has increased its budget by 17%. As for the Bloc Québécois, they voted against these increases.

We will defend the artists of this country, the cultural communities, and the creators of our country. We are making investments such as have never been seen before in the history of our country, and we are proud of this. What is more, every time we increase these investments, the Bloc Québécois votes against them. That is disgraceful.

Equalization Payments

[Siobhan Coady, Liberal, St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NL]

Mr. Speaker, Newfoundland and Labrador has worked hard to put its economy on track. This so-called stimulus budget is more than unfair to Newfoundland and Labrador. Changes to equalization mean a $1.5 billion loss, a substantial hit to the province. Will the Prime Minister end his heavy-handed and vindictive approach to federal-provincial relations and do it now?

[Ted Menzies, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, those comments are quite inaccurate. We should clarify that Newfoundland and Labrador will still be receiving a projected $1.2 billion in offset payments between 2009-10 and 2011-12. This is $1.2 billion on top of the $2 billion upfront payment that Newfoundland and Labrador receives. As I said before, this government treats all provinces the same.

Forestry Industry

[Scott Simms, Liberal, Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, NL]

Mr. Speaker, AbitibiBowater recently decided to shut its doors in Grand Falls-Windsor, affecting over 1,000 people. In December, the province passed legislation to return the timber and water rights to its rightful owners: the people. Now, the company says no. It wants to continue to profit from the power generation while providing no benefit to the local communities.

If the Prime Minister ever wanted to stand up for Canadians, now is the time. Will he stand by the people of my riding and defend them against AbitibiBowater?

[Stockwell Day, Conservative, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway]

Mr. Speaker, there are discussions going on now with this difficulty between the company and the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. I have spoken with the CEO of the company and also the premier, and both sides have agreed to enter into discussions. There are negotiations that have to take place and that process is proceeding.

Status of Women

[Anita Neville, Liberal, Winnipeg South Centre, MB]

Mr. Speaker, listen to the Prime Minister's track record: eliminating the court challenges program, making unacceptable changes to the criteria of the Status of Women guidelines, ignoring a committee's recommendations to implement pay equity legislation. The Prime Minister has no right to play games with women's rights.

Why does the Conservative government continue to undermine equality rights for women and bargain away pay equity?

[Helena Guergis, Conservative, Minister of State (Status of Women)]

Mr. Speaker, first, I think it is important to point out that right now at Status of Women and the women's program, we have the highest level of funding in the history of the country under the leadership of the Prime Minister. I am sure the hon. member recognizes that a 42% increase is substantial.

With respect to the budget, it is a long-term economic action plan that will benefit all Canadians and this includes women. I have consulted with women across the country and I can assure the member that many of their concerns are reflected in this economic action plan.

Pay Equity

[Lise Zarac, Liberal, LaSalle—Émard, QC]

Mr. Speaker, women working in businesses under federal jurisdiction represent more than 10% of the female workforce in Canada. Under the Conservatives, pay equity continues to move backwards instead of advancing. The Conservatives continue to violate the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Since pay equity is a right, why does this government insist on sabotaging women's right to pay equity?

[Vic Toews, Conservative, President of the Treasury Board]

Mr. Speaker, we do believe that pay equity is a fundamental right. That is why we are introducing proactive pay equity legislation, as recommended by the Liberal task force in 2004. In fact, this was legislation introduced by the NDP in Manitoba in 1986 and introduced by the Liberals in Ontario in 1988, supported by the member for Toronto Centre.

Infrastructure

[Rodney Weston, Conservative, Saint John, NB]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Minister of Finance delivered an economic action plan to stimulate economic growth and provide almost $12 billion in additional funding to infrastructure projects in all regions of this country.

Would Canada's Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities please tell the House what steps the government is taking to invest in our core infrastructure from coast to coast to coast?

[John Baird, Conservative, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday's budget not only honoured the commitment that the Prime Minister made to double our infrastructure spending this year, the government has gone even further to help restore some hope and opportunity for Canadians.

We will be investing more in our municipalities. We will work constructively with our provinces. We will work on projects that will make Canada's future even greener than it already is. We are working hard on recreational programs and infrastructure for our children. We are working hard to invest in colleges and universities.

Step by step this Prime Minister and this government is getting the job done.

Northern Ontario Communities

[Carol Hughes, NDP, Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, ON]

Mr. Speaker, communities in northern Ontario have been hard hit by the decline in the mining and forestry industries. However, the budget presented yesterday does not provide significant help for the unemployed, workers and their communities.

The money in the economic stimulation plan hinges on equivalent investment from municipalities who do not have these funds. Consequently, they will not receive what they deserve.

How can this government abandon the people of northern Ontario?

[John Baird, Conservative, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, I can say very directly to the member opposite that on my desk I have literally thousands of requests for funding, where municipalities are stepping up to the plate and saying they have their third to join us in helping build Canada.

We are committed to working constructively with municipal partners and with the provinces to ensure that we can provide a much needed shot in the arm to the Canadian economy.

Housing

[Megan Leslie, NDP, Halifax, NS]

Mr. Speaker, this budget showed what happens when basic needs of Canada's most vulnerable are neglected. There are 1.4 million Canadians in desperate need of social housing. That is 25,000 in Halifax alone.

The government's budget makes no guarantee that a single unit of housing will actually be built. Building a deck is a nice thing, but what about Canada's homeless who cannot front the money for the tax credit?

Why is the government ignoring Canada's most vulnerable people?

[Diane Finley, Conservative, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development]

Mr. Speaker, as members well know, our economic action plan has among its goals to stimulate the economy through the protection and creation of jobs, by creating new jobs through building roads and bridges and social housing, and by taking care of those who are hardest hit by this recession.

We are investing over $2 billion in social housing, renovations, upgrades and new builds right across this country. I would suggest to the member, if she is truly concerned about social housing, that she support our initiatives.

The Environment

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

Mr. Speaker, in his budget, the Minister of Finance has shown us that he is still siding with big oil by funding the nuclear power needed to exploit the oil sands and carbon capture technology. By tossing nothing but crumbs to green energy options, he has failed to see sustainable development in terms of future job opportunities.

Is the Minister of Finance aware that his budget is a disappointing failure when it comes to the environment?

[Jim Prentice, Conservative, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, we disagree with the member. The member should have read the budget before asking his question.

Our commitments to the environment are clearer than ever. For example, we have included funding for green infrastructure and investments in ecoenergy renovations, green projects and carbon capture and storage. We are addressing climate change, and we are also creating jobs. The Bloc should be congratulating us, not criticizing us.

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

Mr. Speaker, not only have we read the budget, but we can also say that it seems tailor-made for oil companies. That is a fact.

Why is the government refusing to adopt 1990 as the base year and set up a carbon exchange, an approach that would not only kick-start sustainable development, but would also be good for Quebec's economy? That is a fact.

[Jim Prentice, Conservative, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, I will continue to explain the budget for the member.

For example, it includes funding for clean energy, investment in renovating and improving social housing, a commitment to cleaning up contaminated sites, and investment in VIA Rail. All of these important budget measures will help reduce greenhouse gases. They will also result in a healthier environment.