Debates of Oct. 2nd, 2009

Economic Recovery Act (stimulus)

[John McCallum, Liberal, Markham—Unionville, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I wonder if the member implicitly acknowledged that his side of the House is raising payroll taxes. I did not hear him say that but neither did I hear him deny it.

His question also indicates my theme of dishonesty. He said that our proposal would cost billions of dollars, $4 billion is what he said. Four billion dollars is utter rubbish and totally dishonest. The Parliamentary Budget Officer confirmed that the Liberal measure would not cost more than $1.1 billion, not $4 billion.

Once again, we have total dishonesty emanating—

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

Order, please. We can continue with questions and comments on the speech from the member for Markham—Unionville after question period.

Human Trafficking

[David Anderson, Conservative, Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK]

Mr. Speaker, the House of Commons has seen some strange sights but it has been a long time since it has seen anything as strange as our vote Wednesday evening.

The member for Kildonan—St. Paul has committed herself to dealing with the issue of human trafficking, especially the repulsive practice of enslaving and trafficking children. She brought forward Bill C-268, a bill that deals directly with trafficking by strengthening the penalties for involvement in this parasitic activity. It touches upon issues of recruiting, kidnapping, controlling, assault, transporting and harbouring involved in the exploitation of children.

Amazingly, the Bloc and some NDPers voted against this bill. For some people, ideology always overrides common sense.

Thankfully, Bill C-268 has passed third reading in the House of Commons. I call upon the Senate to deal with it expeditiously. The children of our country need it to become law as soon as possible. The Senate should do the right thing and do it now.

Community Crime Awareness Day

[Navdeep Bains, Liberal, Mississauga—Brampton South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, on September 19, I was pleased to attend and speak at the annual Community Crime Awareness Day at the Living Arts Centre in Mississauga. This event was organized by the Mississauga Chinese Business Association in partnership with Peel Regional Police, Rogers TV and Safe City Mississauga.

Every year for the past seven years, Mississauga has been recognized as the safest city in Canada. As a father, I draw comfort from the fact that my daughter, Nanki, is growing up in such a safe community. As a member of Parliament, I am proud of the hard work and co-operation between the community leaders and the policemen and policewomen who make this environment possible.

Community Crime Awareness Day provides an opportunity for the citizens of Mississauga to get to know the people who keep them safe and build an understanding of what we can do to prevent crime. I would like to thank the Mississauga Chinese Business Association and its partners for organizing this event. Through their efforts, we are building a safer and stronger Mississauga.

Madeleine Drolet

[France Bonsant, Bloc, Compton—Stanstead, QC]

Mr. Speaker, today I would like to pay a well-deserved tribute to a wonderful constituent of mine, Madeleine Drolet, who is leaving municipal politics after five terms with the Coaticook city council.

A teacher by training, Madeleine Drolet was one of the first women to become a city councillor. She played a pivotal role in developing and promoting culture within the RCM of Coaticook.

She also played a key part in creating the arts and culture pavilion, and helped develop and promote the Françoise-Maurice library. In 1999, she was received the Mérite estrien award, in the culture category.

Madeleine Drolet will not run for another term on the Coaticook city council on November 1, but we can rest assured that the effects of her tireless work will be felt for many years to come in the Coaticook community.

Tom Eagle

[Dennis Bevington, NDP, Western Arctic, NT]

Mr. Speaker, northerners are mourning the passing of respected elder Tom Eagle of Yellowknife.

I would like to focus on Tom's hard work on behalf of aboriginal veterans.

For 25 years, Tom served Canada as a proud member of the Canadian Forces in Germany and in Cyprus. In Tom's words, he joined “to serve my country and everything that our democratic principles stand for”.

In the two world wars, more than 7,000 aboriginal people served Canada and 500 gave their lives. These veterans were marginalized, never receiving the services and benefits provided to non-aboriginal veterans. They even lost their treaty status.

Tom worked to right these wrongs as chair of the First Nations Veterans Association, as a member of the National Round Table on First Nations Veterans Issues, as the chair of the NWT/Nunavut Aboriginal Veterans Association, and as an active member of the Royal Canadian Legion. In 2007, he was honoured with the Minister's Commendation.

Tom will be missed by his community, his wife and family, and all his friends across Canada.

HIV-AIDS

[Laurie Hawn, Conservative, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Mr. Speaker, recently HIV Edmonton staged its 18th annual AIDS Walk for Life. I was very proud to support this event, as I have done for the past four years.

Over 400 walkers came to show their support and over 100 volunteers helped organize this tremendous event. The walk raised over $120,000. Monies raised will fund local HIV-AIDS charities that provide support, outreach, education and prevention services across the Edmonton region.

We must continue to fund HIV-AIDS research and find a cure for those affected by this disease. Recently, we saw some good news on this front with vaccine trials in Thailand showing promising results. However, there is still much work to be done.

I am proud to be part of a government that has made the largest investment in HIV-AIDS research in Canada's history. I plan on walking every year that I can until this disease is cured.

I congratulate HIV Edmonton and organizers in the many other cities who have taken up this challenge.

World Habitat Day

[John McKay, Liberal, Scarborough—Guildwood, ON]

Mr. Speaker, in 1986, the United Nations designated the first Monday of every October as World Habitat Day to reflect on the state of our towns and cities and the basic right of all citizens to adequate shelter.

On Monday, World Habitat Day will focus our attention on the need to improve urban planning to deal with the major challenges of the 21st century. In developed and developing countries, cities and towns are increasingly feeling the effects of climate change, resource depletion, food insecurity, population growth and economic instability.

Sadly, Canada has a Conservative government that continues to ignore all these issues. World Habitat Day should also be a day for all Canadians to rally together to demand that the government stop playing games with infrastructure funding that will help cities and communities meet some of the century's newest challenges.

We all know the problems that exist in helping to keep our communities vibrant and sustainable, and we all must share in the solution. That is why on World Habitat Day, and indeed every day, we must demand more of our federal government.

Patriotism

[Guy Lauzon, Conservative, Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry, ON]

Mr. Speaker, in April of this year I challenged my colleagues and their constituents to a contest to determine the most patriotic riding in the country by displaying a Canadian flag at their residences on July 1. Thirty-three of my colleagues accepted the challenge.

I am pleased to report to the House that over 1.4 million Canadian flags were displayed from coast to coast to coast as a result of this contest last July 1. I want to congratulate the members and constituents of the ridings of Huron—Bruce and Brant for placing second and third in our contest.

However, I want to very proudly congratulate the constituents of my riding for again claiming the title of most patriotic riding in this great country of ours. After five years of proudly representing the riding of Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry, I can truly confirm that my constituents are definitely the most patriotic of all Canadians. God bless Canada.

Dalai Lama

[Diane Bourgeois, Bloc, Terrebonne—Blainville, QC]

Mr. Speaker, despite the repression and constant violations experienced by the people of Tibet, the Dalai Lama has never strayed from his approach that favours tolerance, peace and non-violence, an approach that earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989.

Today, the People's Republic of China celebrates its 60th anniversary, and the Tibetan culture is in danger. It is time for the Chinese government to respond to the Dalai Lama's repeated calls for independence for the people of Tibet, which would be in accordance with the provisions of the Chinese constitution.

In February 2007, the House passed a unanimous motion calling on the Government of Canada to encourage the two parties to continue talks.

The Bloc Québécois, which empathizes strongly with the struggle of the Tibetan people, would like to take the occasion of the Dalai Lama's visit to Montreal tomorrow to welcome him and to tell him that we support his call for dialogue.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet

[David Sweet, Conservative, Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am confident that I am joined by all of my colleagues in Parliament in welcoming His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Canada this week. In 2006, it was my privilege to present a motion in the House to bestow honorary Canadian citizenship upon the Dalai Lama, which was agreed to unanimously.

The Dalai Lama's selfless and tireless work to promote the values of compassion, altruism and universal responsibility is deeply appreciated by millions of Canadians. That is why His Holiness the Dalai Lama will always be welcome in his home of Canada.

The Dalai Lama inspires us to struggle without violence for what is right, to be mindful of the power of love and compassion, to focus on what truly matters to us as human beings and to put others ahead of ourselves. I welcome His Holiness to Canada.

The Conservatives

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Westmount—Ville-Marie, QC]

No, Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives do not deserve the confidence of Canadians.

They have turned their economic stimulus program into a vehicle for cronyism that is as bad as it was in the darkest, bluest days of the old régime before the Quiet Revolution.

On their watch, the condition of the road in front of one's is once again directly related to whether one voted for the right party during the last election.

In Quebec, Conservative ridings are getting almost three times more infrastructure funding than other ridings.

This kind of cheap cronyism no longer belongs in Quebec. We thought that we had seen the last of it 50 years ago, but half a century later, the Conservatives are reviving all the old skulduggery.

We knew that the Conservatives' social values were outdated by a century or two, but now it is clear that their political values are just as archaic.

Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, on this Sunday evening's broadcast of Tout le monde en parle, the member for Bourassa will reveal something that those of us in the Conservative Party already know.

Suggested titles include “Sudden Downfall”, “Comedy of Errors”, “Battle of the Egos” and “The Man from Toronto”.

For a long time now, we have known that nobody can trust a Liberal leader. How can anyone trust a man who changes his mind as often as he changes his shirt? How can anyone trust a man who takes his own country hostage by threatening to trigger pointless, opportunistic elections, as we saw last night? How can anyone trust a man who jeopardizes measures to help unemployed workers, their families and our economic recovery? How can anyone trust a man who puts his own interests ahead of the nation's?

Quite simply, people cannot trust a Liberal leader who has abandoned Quebec.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet

[Libby Davies, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Mr. Speaker, today Canada's honorary citizen, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, will be travelling from Calgary to Montreal where thousands of Canadians will hear his message of compassion and peace.

He began his visit to Canada at the Vancouver Peace symposium where he was welcomed by many supporters and friends.

His talks and teachings remind us that there are so many in the world who remain committed to achieving peace through dialogue rather than conflict. We are also reminded of the grim situation in Tibet where millions of Tibetans are denied even the most basic human rights.

I am honoured to welcome His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Canada. I wish to urge the government to do all it can to welcome and support the efforts of our honorary citizen so that one day he may return freely to his place of birth, an occupied homeland he has not seen in more than 50 years.

Liberal Party of Canada

[Andrew Saxton, Conservative, North Vancouver, BC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Leader of the Opposition and the Liberals voted to force an unnecessary election that Canadians do not want, an election that would harm our economic recovery and hurt unemployed Canadians.

The Conservative government remains committed to implementing Canada's economic action plan by focusing on the economy, which is our number one priority. Is the economy the Liberal leader's priority? It definitely is not, as his party has opposed every key measure in our government's plan. The Liberals even voted against the recession-fighting home renovation tax credit. They voted against enhancing the working income tax benefit. This week they voted against EI benefits for long-tenured workers, showing they do not care about those hardest hit by the global recession.

Shame on them. While our Conservative government is fighting the recession, the Liberals want to fight an election.

Yesterday the Liberal leader made it official, that he is not in it for Canadians, he is just in it for himself.

Richard Wackid

[Claude DeBellefeuille, Bloc, Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC]

Mr. Speaker, it was with great sadness that we learned of the passing of Richard Wackid on Monday, following a courageous struggle with ALS.

After 25 years on the Hill serving nine Liberal whips, there is no doubt that Richard Wackid was a fixture in this Parliament. His intimate knowledge of the procedural rules of the House of Commons and his obvious passion for politics made him a master parliamentary strategist.

He will be remembered as more than just a strategist; we will remember the man himself, a man of great integrity for whom keeping one's word was essential, a man who was a master of the art of diplomacy and who was known for his positive disposition.

My colleagues and I want to express our sincere condolences to his wife Danielle, his daughter Stephanie, his family and colleagues.

Conservative Party of Canada

[John McCallum, Liberal, Markham—Unionville, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Gordon Landon continues to stand up for what is right even after he was dumped as the Conservative candidate in Markham—Unionville.

Mr. Landon revealed in an interview with the Markham Economist & Sun, published on Wednesday, that members of the Prime Minister's Office hastily travelled to Markham to flex their iron-fisted control over Conservative candidates. This is a quote from him:

I met with the PMO...at the Hilton and I just decided that I couldn't work under their policies because I just decided I couldn't work with the media the way they wanted to work with the media. I'm the type of person (who) likes to respond to issues honestly...

The real question is who in the Prime Minister's Office, paid by Canadian taxpayers, travelled to Markham in order to muzzle Mr. Landon and his truth-exposing ways.

HMCS Kootenay

[Greg Kerr, Conservative, West Nova, NS]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the former members of Her Majesty's Canadian Ship Kootenay.

On October 23, 1969, during a routine NATO naval exercise about 200 miles west of Plymouth, England, a disastrous explosion ripped through the interior of the HMCS Kootenay. Ultimately, nine crew members were killed and over 40 were wounded.

Along with family, friends and several members of the Canadian navy, 36 former Kootenay crewmen are currently making a pilgrimage to Plymouth, England to pay homage to their fallen comrades on the 40th anniversary of the worst peacetime accident in the history of the Canadian navy.

Kootenay's motto is “We are as one”, and I believe that Canadian people stand as one to remember the sacrifice and heroism that took place aboard that ship in 1969.

Foreign Affairs

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Wascana, SK]

Mr. Speaker, according to internal government documents obtained by the media, it would appear that in the case of Suaad Mohamud, the government made a gross error in labelling her an impostor and then proceeded in a massive cover-up to hide its mistake and have her incarcerated in a Kenyan jail.

Would the Minister of Foreign Affairs tell Canadians today the exact date when he first learned about this case?

[Dave MacKenzie, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, this matter has been before the courts. CBSA has filed documents with the court. The documents are available for the public to view and they do speak for themselves. The information is all public at this time.

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Wascana, SK]

Mr. Speaker, on June 2, the hon. member for Eglinton—Lawrence discussed Suaad Mohamud's situation with the Minister of Foreign Affairs. A letter followed on June 18. Detained at the request of the Conservatives, Suaad Mohamud had to submit to DNA testing before the government would agree to bring her back to Canada.

Why did the minister not personally intervene in this case in June? When will his department's investigation be made public?

[Dave MacKenzie, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, documents were recently filed by the CBSA in Federal Court. The documents are available for the public to read and do speak for themselves. The facts are all public knowledge at this time.

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Wascana, SK]

Mr. Speaker, a troubling pattern has developed through several cases where the Conservative government has failed to come to the assistance of Canadian citizens overseas. Canadians need to know how far this attitude extends.

Who else on the government side was complicit in the case of Suaad Mohamud? Specifically, what was the Prime Minister's role? When did he first become aware of the plight of Suaad Mohamud? What date, exactly, did the Prime Minister know?

[Dave MacKenzie, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, as I have already said, documents were filed by the CBSA in Federal Court. The documents are available for the public to read and do speak for themselves. These facts are all public knowledge at this time.

Afghanistan

[Marlene Jennings, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC]

Mr. Speaker, clearly, the government wants to hide when the Prime Minister learned about the case.

The dignity and honour of the men and women who serve under our flag deserve to have any doubts about them treated seriously. If we want the Afghan mission to have any chance of success, it is absolutely crucial that the Canadian Forces accurately reflect the Canadian values of justice and transparency.

Will the government allow Richard Colvin to testify before the Military Police Complaints Commission?