House of Commons Hansard #94 of the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was colombia.
Rob Merrifield ConservativeMinister of State (Transport)
Mr. Speaker, the witch hunt that is being attempted by my hon. colleague and her party, and one over here, is absolutely unfounded. I do not know why she believes that she is more valid to be able to speak to this than the Ethics Commissioner. We strengthened those powers and the member in question has been completely cleared.
Dick Harris Conservative Cariboo—Prince George, BC
Mr. Speaker, our Conservative government is committed to helping those hardest hit by the global recession. This is why we introduced legislation that provided from five to twenty extra weeks of EI for unemployed long-term tenured workers. These Canadians have worked hard, paid premiums for several years and now they need help while they search for new employment.
Could the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development tell the House what he is hearing from witnesses who are before the committee that is discussing this right now?
Ed Komarnicki ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and to the Minister of Labour
Mr. Speaker, I will share what we are hearing. Yesterday in committee we heard from the Canadian Labour Congress and the United Steelworkers, both which support speedy passage of Bill C-50.
However, the witness that had the greatest impact was Rosalie Washington, who lost her job after 20 years. She literally pleaded with all parties to support the bill. It will provide her with much needed help so she can put food on the table for her three children.
The Liberal leader should stop caring only about himself, start caring about hard-hit Canadians like Rosalie Washington and support our bill.
Francis Scarpaleggia Liberal Lac-Saint-Louis, QC
Mr. Speaker, in 2007, the House adopted a motion calling on the government to recognize Exporail in Quebec as Canada's national rail museum.
The Canada Science and Technology Museum's board of directors has since approved a plan that would see it become the owner of Exporail's assets, valued at around $100 million, for only $1. However, the government has nixed the deal.
Why can the government not recognize a good deal when it sees one? Is it because it would involve an investment in culture? Is it because it would involve an investment in Quebec? Or does the government have something against celebrating Canada's rail history?
Dean Del Mastro ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage
Mr. Speaker, once again, it is surprising to get these questions from the party that has most recently voted against culture and against initiatives to increase funding to national museums.
Not only is funding at its highest levels under the Prime Minister, but our government has created two new national museums in Winnipeg and Halifax. It has delivered more support for arts and culture than any government in history. It may pain the member opposite to hear that, but the facts speak for themselves.
Thierry St-Cyr Bloc Jeanne-Le Ber, QC
Mr. Speaker, Quebec's minister of Education is calling for the federal government to respect Quebec's jurisdiction over education and pay Quebec directly its “fair share” of the $507 million earmarked for the Canada student loan program, and to do so, “as soon as possible”. This way, the Government of Quebec could limit the student debt load and increase its financial support.
Why does this government insist on imposing its program on the people of Quebec, who are asking for the unconditional right to opt out with full financial compensation instead?
Ed Komarnicki ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and to the Minister of Labour
Mr. Speaker, the government is negotiating with the Government of Quebec with respect to student assistance. However, we have put a number of programs together for students to put more grants in their hands, $250 a month to low-income Canadians and $100 a month to middle-income Canadians. There are 100,000 more students benefiting than under the previous Liberal government and the Bloc has voted against those proposals and against students across the country.
Chris Charlton NDP Hamilton Mountain, ON
Mr. Speaker, 420 workers have been on strike for almost three weeks at the Canadian Museum of Civilization and the Canadian War Museum. The impact of the strike is of national significance.
The museum has just announced the cancellation of its most important fundraising event and programs have been seriously curtailed, all because the museum's CEO will not negotiate the same job security protections that are already in place at other federal museums and institutions.
Will the Minister of Canadian Heritage go beyond the lip service offered earlier by the parliamentary secretary and take real action to pressure the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation to get back to the bargaining table?
Ed Komarnicki ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and to the Minister of Labour
Mr. Speaker, as I indicated in my first answer, if the member was listening, we are monitoring the situation. We are urging the parties to get back to the bargaining table.
We have appointed a federal mediator. He has been working with the parties. It is important that the parties work in the best interests of all Canadians.
Bruce Stanton Conservative Simcoe North, ON
Mr. Speaker, Canadians are fed up with a justice system that puts the rights of criminals ahead of law-abiding citizens.
Too often, the sentences of offenders simply do not correspond to the serious nature of their crimes. That is exactly why our government introduced a bill to end the practice of reducing criminal sentences at a ratio of 2:1 for time served in pretrial custody. The bill has the broad support of victims groups and the law enforcement community.
My question is for the Minister of Justice. Why would Liberal senators gut the bill, despite it being passed unanimously by the House?
Rob Moore ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice
Mr. Speaker, today there has not been one question from that side of the House about victims of crime. I thank the hon. member for Simcoe North for his interest.
Canadians have told us loud and clear that they want criminal sentences to reflect the seriousness of a crime. We on this side of the House have always known that the Liberals have been soft on crime. Canadians know that and they have proved it yet again.
The Liberals are gutting our truth in sentencing legislation by passing an amendment that continues the practice of two for one or three for one sentencing. Now they are threatening to do the same—
Lise Zarac Liberal LaSalle—Émard, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Quebec Community Groups Network has informed us that organizations that receive official language funding from the Department of Canadian Heritage are informed upon submitting their applications that they will not receive funding for their projects before August. These applications are for the period starting in March. Ten-month projects must be compressed into five months.
What does the government plan on doing to ensure that organizations will have the funding they need to complete projects that are very important to promoting our official languages?
Pierre Lemieux ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture
Mr. Speaker, this Conservative government is a strong supporter of our country's linguistic duality. It has delivered the goods. We allocated a record $1.1 billion in funding for the Roadmap for Canada's Linguistic Duality. This money will strengthen francophone and anglophone communities throughout the country, and will bring language and culture to new communities across Canada.
Richard Nadeau Bloc Gatineau, QC
Mr. Speaker, employees of the Canadian Museum of Civilization and the Canadian War Museum have been on strike for several weeks now. They held a demonstration today to denounce the government negotiators' attitude and to demand employment security as protection against subcontracting.
Why are museum employees being denied the protection enjoyed by other public employees? Why is there a double standard?
Ed Komarnicki ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and to the Minister of Labour
Mr. Speaker, so the member can understand, and as I said previously, we have urged the parties to come together and work to reach an agreement in the interest of all Canadians.
We have appointed a federal mediator. He had been working with the parties even before the strike began. He continues to work with them to bring them to the point of solution.
Niki Ashton NDP Churchill, MB
Mr. Speaker, H1N1 should not be about politics. It should be about the health of all Canadians.
According to the latest information, vaccines will be coming out sooner rather than later. While it is good news for some Canadians, first nations are not heard in this report. We have been asking for months to put aboriginal people as a priority on the list of recipients of the H1N1 vaccine.
Will the government confirm that all first nations, not just remote ones, will be seen as a priority for the vaccine?
Leona Aglukkaq ConservativeMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, the Chief Public Health Officer, in collaboration with the provinces and territories, has established the guidelines that will be applied for the H1N1 vaccine. We rely on the expert advice of the medical community in developing the guidelines that will be used to roll out the vaccine when it is produced.
Peter Van Loan ConservativeMinister of Public Safety
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to subsection 13.1(2) of the DNA Identification Act, I have the pleasure to submit, in both official languages, the 2008-09 annual report of the National DNA Data Bank of Canada.
Peter Van Loan ConservativeMinister of Public Safety
Mr. Speaker, I also have the honour to table, in both official languages, the 2008 annual report on the RCMP's Use of the Law Enforcement Justification Provisions. This report addresses the RCMP's use of specified provisions within the law enforcement justification regime, which is set out in sections 25.1 to 25.4 of the Criminal Code. It also documents the nature of the investigations in which these provisions were used.
Peter Van Loan ConservativeMinister of Public Safety
Lastly, I am pleased to table, in both official languages, the 2008 annual report on the use of electronic surveillance, pursuant to section 195 of the Criminal Code.
Dean Del Mastro ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 109 I am pleased to table on behalf of the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, in both official languages, the government's response to the second report of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage entitled “Issues and Challenges Related to Local Television”, tabled in the House on June 19.
The response reaffirms the government's vision of Canada as a hub for creativity and innovation, building a strong and prosperous country that is on the leading edge of the digital revolution. It outlines actions that the government has already taken to implement that vision by putting Canadians first as consumers, citizens and creators.
Moving forward, the response indicates the government will continue to seek ways to ensure an environment that is conducive to strong, creative and innovative Canadian business.
Access to Information, Privacy and EthicsCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings
Fundy Royal New Brunswick
Conservative
Rob Moore ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 109 of the House of Commons I am pleased to table, in both official languages, the response of the Government of Canada to the 11th report of the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics entitled “The Access to Information Act: First Steps Towards Renewal”, tabled in the House on June 18.
Also, pursuant to Standing Order 109 of the House of Commons I am pleased to table, in both official languages, the response of the Government of Canada to the 10th report of the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics entitled “The Privacy Act: First Steps Towards Renewal”.
Canadian Mission in AfghanistanCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings
Durham Ontario
Conservative
Bev Oda ConservativeMinister of International Cooperation
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 109 I am pleased to table, in both official languages, the response of the Government of Canada to the second report of the Special Committee on the Canadian Mission in Afghanistan entitled “Report on Canada’s Priority Number One in Afghanistan: Helping to Enhance the Afghan National Security Forces”.
Industry, Science and TechnologyCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings
Edmonton—Mill Woods—Beaumont Alberta
Conservative
Mike Lake ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 109 I am pleased to table, in both official languages, the government's response to the fifth report of the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology entitled “A Study of the Crisis Faced by Certain Industrial Sectors in Canada”, tabled in the House of Commons on June.
