House of Commons Hansard #102 of the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was french.
Carolyn Bennett Liberal St. Paul's, ON
Mr. Speaker, H1N1 is not funny. One can just ask any pregnant woman who is confused and worried about her health and her future child.
In the United States, there have been 700 cases of H1N1 in pregnant women and, of those, 100 pregnant women were admitted to the ICU and 28 died.
Why is the government forcing expectant women to make a choice between the risk of getting H1N1 in these next two weeks or taking a vaccine for which clinical trials are lacking?
Leona Aglukkaq ConservativeMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, the Chief Public Health Officer and the chief medical officers of this country have stated that both adjuvanted and unadjuvanted vaccines are safe for pregnant women.
Second, Canada's obstetricians and gynecologists also say that they are safe and available to Canadian pregnant women.
We take the advice very seriously of the Chief Public Health Officer and I think the opposition should as well.
Carolyn Bennett Liberal St. Paul's, ON
Mr. Speaker, this is about putting patients first, not politics.
Canadians are furious because the current government failed to communicate with them. The long lines at the immunization clinics are there because people have so many questions that they are taking the time of front-line workers. Those are the true heroes of this crisis and those bearing the brunt of the government's abdication of leadership.
We need clarity and unambiguous messages. Why has the government only delivered confusion?
Leona Aglukkaq ConservativeMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, we have a comprehensive communication strategy and millions of H1N1 posters in public places across the country. We hold dozens of press conferences with the CPHO and myself, including the opposition critics, weekly. Thirteen million households are receiving information on the booklet. As well, on the Internet, on Twitter and on Facebook, there is information about H1N1. Millions of pandemic preparedness guidelines are available across the country, as well as extensive social marketing that has started since the spring, which includes radio ads, newspaper ads and so on. This is the largest vaccination campaign in the history of this country.
Gilles Duceppe Bloc Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is refusing to say whether he agrees with what his Quebec lieutenant said about the participation of directors of Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporated in a partisan activity. These directors, who are government appointees, broke the ethics rules. It is these same directors who awarded a contract to study the condition of the Champlain Bridge to BPR, a firm for which Senator Housakos was working at the time.
Yes or no, does the Prime Minister agree with his political lieutenant, who does not consider it very important that the directors he appointed broke the ethics rules? The question is clear.
Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges IncorporatedOral Questions
Calgary Southwest Alberta
Conservative
Stephen Harper ConservativePrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, the answer is clear. This contract was awarded in a transparent and open manner. All the rules were followed.
Gilles Duceppe Bloc Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC
Mr. Speaker, all the rules were followed, except the crown corporation's ethics rules. That is very clear.
Let us look at the facts. This government appoints the directors of a crown corporation, who in turn appoint the directors of a subsidiary. Senator Housakos, who works for BPR, organizes a cocktail fundraiser preceded by a private cocktail party to which Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporated directors; executives of BPR, the firm that will win the contract for the Champlain Bridge; and the Quebec lieutenant are invited. There is name for that: favouritism.
Is that not the reason why the Prime Minister is refusing to disavow his Quebec lieutenant?
Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges IncorporatedOral Questions
Calgary Southwest Alberta
Conservative
Stephen Harper ConservativePrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, thanks to the changes our government has brought in, donations to political parties are very strictly limited, and those limits were respected in this case.
Carole Freeman Bloc Châteauguay—Saint-Constant, QC
Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Quebec lieutenant stated that the contract awarded to Senator Housakos' firm was not a problem because the contracting process had been respected and Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporated and the government are at arm's length. You would think this was Alice in Wonderland. The problem is that the corporation is not at arm's length because it is chock full of friends of the government who fraternize with the minister and the engineering firms at Conservative fundraising cocktail parties.
When will the minister stop laughing at taxpayers?
Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges IncorporatedOral Questions
Ottawa West—Nepean Ontario
Conservative
John Baird ConservativeMinister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, if the member wishes to bring forward allegations, she must submit them to the appropriate authorities and not to this House. If her facts are right, if they are real allegations, she should make them outside this House.
It is our government and this Prime Minister who have made unprecedented changes to the rules for political fundraising in Canada. It is our government that has brought in rules to limit donations from companies and unions, and it is our government that has acted the most ethically in the history of Canada.
Carole Freeman Bloc Châteauguay—Saint-Constant, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister's political lieutenant agreed to meet with the board members of Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporated at a fundraising cocktail party for the Conservative Party organized by Léo Housakos. Quebec's political godfather committed a serious error in judgment by accepting to meet them in such a partisan setting. He should have known that it violated the code of conduct of Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporated. That is why he is now defending the indefensible.
Will the minister admit that he is only interested in saving his own hide?
Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges IncorporatedOral Questions
Ottawa West—Nepean Ontario
Conservative
John Baird ConservativeMinister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, let me tell the House the concern that the member opposite is failing to demonstrate. She is failing to demonstrate putting facts on the table. If she has any specific facts or any specific allegations, I would encourage her to have the courage of her convictions and to repeat them outside of this place. It is absolutely essential that, if she has anything to put out, she put it on the table.
It is this government and this Prime Minister who has eliminated the influence of big money in politics. No more business contributions, no more unions getting involved in political fundraising. We have even reduced from $5,000 down to $1,000 the maximum that any individual can contribute.
We have been the most ethical government when it comes to political--
Jack Layton NDP Toronto—Danforth, ON
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to see the finance minister stepping forward and recognizing the need for rainy day funding provisions for pension plans. However, as pension experts and retirees themselves have pointed out, the almost 300,000 Canadian seniors who are currently living below the poverty line need more than just tinkering with the system.
Even with the maximum OAS and GIS payments, this leaves seniors $4,000 below the urban poverty line. Increasing the GIS funding by less than $700 million would eradicate that poverty gap for seniors right now. That is something we could do.
Will the government commit to increasing the GIS and helping seniors?
Stephen Harper ConservativePrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, I note that the NDP did welcome the changes brought forward by the Minister of Finance yesterday and, as we have indicated many times, we continue to look at ways of improving the pension system in this country. We will be open to all suggestions moving forward.
Jack Layton NDP Toronto—Danforth, ON
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate that but the retirees cannot afford the endless delays and the dithering on this. There is action that could be taken right now.
With so many private pension plans in crisis and people's RRSPs taking big hits, Canadians are relying more and more on the public pillars of our pension system. We have an opportunity to fix that.
The maximum annual benefit right now that Canadians can receive from CPP-QPP is only $11,000. We can gradually and responsibly double that figure by allowing Canadians and their employers to increase their contributions to the amount they save for retirement through these instruments.
Will the government allow them to do so?
Stephen Harper ConservativePrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, we will obviously examine all suggestions.
I would point out that this government has made a large number of proposals to assist the senior citizens in this country, not just the pension reforms announced yesterday, but various improvements to tax credits, to income splitting for our senior citizens, a number of measures through budgets.
I would point out that in the past, the New Democratic Party has voted against virtually all of these measures, so I hope that will change in the future.
Jack Layton NDP Toronto—Danforth, ON
Mr. Speaker, the government's plan leaves 11 million Canadians without any protection. It does not resolve the issue of pensions in bankruptcy situations and does not cover workers who are not protected under provincial legislation, as is the case for Nortel employees.
Will the Prime Minister commit to reforming the Bankruptcy Act to ensure that workers' pensions are paid before creditors?
Stephen Harper ConservativePrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, we are in the consultation stage on this and a number of other proposals. It is inaccurate to say that millions of Canadians are not protected. All Canadians have access to the public pension system, which is very important in this country. We have improved this system with our reforms in previous budgets and I hope the New Democratic Party will support such measures in the future.
David McGuinty Liberal Ottawa South, ON
Mr. Speaker, we have already established what $100 million can buy when it is not being used for partisan advertising. Canadians are rightfully outraged in the face of such flagrant blue waste and they want to remind the Prime Minister that it is not his money.
Here is an idea. Why does the Prime Minister not call in the Parliamentary Budget Officer or, better yet, call in the Auditor General to make a full accounting of his advertising spending and then let Canadians decide whether or not this propaganda campaign is good value for taxpayer money?
What does he have to hide?
John Baird ConservativeMinister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, we certainly welcome the accountability to the Canadian people. They will have an opportunity at some point to make judgment on this government's performance.
What we are focused on now though is the economy. What we are focused on now is creating jobs. What we are focused on now is creating a sense of hope and opportunity around the country. That is what our economic action plan is all about.
This House of Commons gave an important responsibility to this government to report back to Canadians, to tell them what we are doing to deal with the worst global economic downturn in the history of this country. We accept that responsibility and we will continue to follow our obligations to report back to the Canadian people.
David McGuinty Liberal Ottawa South, ON
Mr. Speaker, what the Conservatives are focused on is a hundred million borrowed dollars for a disinformation campaign. Here is what leading editorial boards are saying:
The federal government preaches accountability, but is being only selectively transparent about its own spending activities. In addition to being bad public policy, this opacity does a disservice to democracy.
Why will the Prime Minister not stand up himself in his place and defend his record, instead of hiding behind his court jester?
John Baird ConservativeMinister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, that is an interesting question from the new leader of the rat pack, Mr. Speaker.
Our economic action plan is about cutting taxes for Canadians to allow them to keep more of their hard-earned dollars. It is about making important infrastructure investment in every corner of the country to create jobs. It is about the initiative taken by the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development to ensure people have a secure pension, to ensure people have an employment insurance benefit when they need it.
The Liberal Party has completely abandoned any opportunity of presenting alternatives to this place, and all those members do is throw mud. That is regrettable for the taxpaying public.
Gerard Kennedy Liberal Parkdale—High Park, ON
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister.
His ministers say that it is pure coincidence when their ridings are being enriched with extra funds for programs out of their control.
His Minister of Industry claims it was only a happy accident that his riding got $33 million in stimulus and $7.5 million in community adjustment, far more than any other northern Ontario riding. Just by fate, then, he was given another $39 million to spend for next spring's G8 meeting.
In fact, did the Prime Minister require his minister to remove himself from these decisions, or was he allowed to award money to his own riding?
John Baird ConservativeMinister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, when we made many investments in the province of Ontario, in the great riding of Parry Sound—Muskoka, we did so in most cases with the support of the government of Ontario.
Let us look at what people are saying. Let us look at what the ward 6 councillor in the city of Mississauga said, a woman by the name of Carolyn Parrish, “The three levels of government are co-operating extremely well in our city, and I would like to personally thank the provincial minister and the local member of Parliament for Mississauga—Erindale on behalf of all residents of ward 6 for bringing us the largest single infusion of infrastructure money ever received in the city of Mississauga”.
If we look at the facts—
