Debates of Nov. 25th, 2009

Climate Change

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, in less than a year, the United States government has produced a comprehensive 1,428 page plan for climate change.

The White House announced today that in Copenhagen the U.S. will showcase its technologies, its investments and its know-how in order to “provide domestic and global leadership in the transition to a clean energy economy”.

Why have the Conservatives given up on energy efficiency renewables and clean energy jobs? Why after four years and three ministers will we not only be missing in action in Copenhagen but negotiating off a blank page?

[Jim Prentice, Conservative, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, let us discuss what the White House announced today.

Today the President of the United States indicated that conditional targets put forward in Copenhagen would be virtually identical to the targets that this government has put forward.

I have a question for the Liberal member. Yesterday he stood in the House, along with his party, and voted for European targets that would isolate this country, damage our economy and would not achieve environment outcomes. He said previously that they would never do this. How does he explain that?

Status of Women

[Patricia Davidson, Conservative, Sarnia—Lambton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, today is the 10th anniversary of the International Day of Elimination of Violence Against Women.

This day also marks the beginning of the 16 days of activism against gender violence. Canada signed on to the UNIFEM “Say No - Unite to End Violence Against Women” campaign on behalf of the Government of Canada and we have also endorsed the Iqaluit declaration which recognizes the need for sustained and coordinated action to reduce sexualized violence against aboriginal women.

Could the minister of state please update this House on what Canadians can do to end violence against women?

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

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for Sarnia—Lambton for the work that she has done to end violence against women.

For Status of Women Canada, one of our key pillars is ending violence against women. We are in fact supporting hundreds of projects across the country that address the number of faces of violence against women and children.

We have also taken a number of initiatives. We have introduced and passed the Tackling Violent Crime Act. We have made significant investments in policing. We are supporting Sisters in Spirit. We also introduced most recently Bill C-42 to end house arrest and conditional sentences for violent sexual crimes. We hope the opposition will support us.

Consumer Product Safety

[Judy Wasylycia-Leis, NDP, Winnipeg North, MB]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Health said she would not use a drop-side crib for her own family. She decided not to let Canadians know about the dangers of this product until yesterday.

These are the facts. There have been 43 incidents in Canada with 3 entrapments, going back several years. The government did not even look into it until August 20 when the United States came to it with information. The government decided not to even investigate for a voluntary recall until October 8. It did not put a notice out to Canadians and issue a voluntary recall until yesterday.

What if the Americans had not called? Why did the minister keep Canadian families and children in the dark?

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, the government does not currently have the authority to order a mandatory recall.

We introduced the Canada consumer product safety act, Bill C-6. When passed, it will give us the tools needed to protect Canadian children.

I am hearing that the Liberal senators want to further delay this bill review by postponing a clause-by-clause review scheduled for tomorrow morning. I would continue to urge the Liberal senators to stop delaying the passage of these important safety measures that will protect Canadians and their children.

[Judy Wasylycia-Leis, NDP, Winnipeg North, MB]

Mr. Speaker, we on this side of the House also want to see Bill C-6 passed and we want mandatory recalls. However, that does not explain the fact that the government could have issued voluntary recalls, at least going back to August, when the Americans informed it.

So, my question is, why is the government not exercising the authority it has right now? Where was the follow-up to the complaints? What products were tested? Why were public warnings not issued? Why was there no hint of concern given to parents? Why should Canadians trust the government to proactively protect them under a new law when it has failed so miserably to protect them under the old one?

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, we introduced Bill C-6 to protect the health and safety of Canadians. We recognize that the current legislation is over 40 years old. It is outdated. That is why we are encouraging the Liberal senators to stop delaying the passage of that legislation, so that we can protect the health and safety of Canadians.

I found out about this yesterday, and yesterday we issued the release to protect the health and safety of Canadians. Current legislation does not give us a mandatory recall. It only gives us a voluntary recall. We have to work with the industry on any recalls. Also, we will continue to push the senators of the Liberal Party to pass--

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

Order, the hon. member for Gatineau.

Vancouver Olympic Winter Games

[Richard Nadeau, Bloc, Gatineau, QC]

Mr. Speaker, it is 80 days until the opening of the Olympic Games in Vancouver, and French still seems to be nothing more than a foreign language among so many others to the federal government and the Olympic organizing committee. The indifference and bad faith of the officials have touched every aspect of the games, from the ceremony announcing the start of the Olympic countdown to the tourist information bureau where you can get bilingual flyers in English and Mandarin. French is absent.

How can the minister responsible for official languages accept such disdain for French?

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

Mr. Speaker, that is absolutely false. We have to look at the facts.

Our government has allocated the necessary funding to ensure that the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be completely respectful of both of Canada's official languages. We will have permanent signage at all the sites. We will have francophone artists there. The official languages have been well respected.

The 1988 Olympic Games were a vast improvement over the 1976 games. The 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be a vast improvement over the 1988 games. We are delivering the goods when it comes to official languages.

[Monique Guay, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the federal government, which is perpetuating the myth of institutional bilingualism, is in no position to teach a lesson to the local authorities. At the Vancouver International Airport, for example, flight announcements and passenger check-in for flights to Montreal are in English. This situation is being criticized today by the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne.

Could the Minister responsible for official languages at least ensure that the federal government respects French?

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

Mr. Speaker, we have kept the promise we made to Canadians in the last election campaign. We said we would make investments and protect both of Canada's official languages. Air Canada has responsibilities and it is the responsibility of Air Canada to deliver the goods.

We have allocated $1.1 billion over five years to protect and celebrate Canada's official languages. Graham Fraser himself said, “The progress that has been made is impressive on many levels”. Again, we are delivering the goods.

Status of Women

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

Mr. Speaker, the member for Saskatoon—Wanuskewin recently made comments about abortion that insulted and denigrated women. The member made statements that are medically incorrect to support his moral ideology.

Will the Minister of Health repudiate her colleague's beliefs with respect to a woman's right to choose?

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

Mr. Speaker, I note for the member that all members of Parliament in the House are required to have their own opinion. It does not mean it is the opinion of the government.

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

Mr. Speaker, it looks like the muzzles are off. The Conservatives are sounding like Reform Party extremists.

The member for Saskatoon—Wanuskewin's comments are completely degrading to women. He claims that abortion causes “a greater risk of breast cancer” and he asserts that abortion is “part of a male agenda to have women more sexually available”. His comments show an odious attitude toward women.

Will the Minister of Justice stand up for women and denounce these vile comments?

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

Mr. Speaker, I again will note for the member that each member of the House is able to have his or her own opinion. It does not mean it represents that of the government.

What I will highlight is that this government, under the leadership of the Prime Minister, has made significant investments in Status of Women Canada. We have three pillars of focus: economic security, violence against women, and women in leadership roles.

We also have the highest percentage of women in cabinet in Canada's history, and the highest level of funding at Status of Women Canada in Canada's history, with an increase in the number of grassroots organizations that are now able to receive funding to support the most vulnerable women in Canadian society.

Tax Harmonization

[Fin Donnelly, NDP, New Westminster—Coquitlam, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I just spent several months talking to seniors, students, families and small businesses. Their message was clear: tell the Conservative government that we do not want its HST. British Columbians, like all Canadians, are still trying to make their way through these tough economic times, but this unfair tax shift will make life more expensive for them.

The people of British Columbia are tired of hearing the government trying to pass the buck. Will the government start listening to them and cancel this tax increase?

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

First, Mr. Speaker, let me be the first to congratulate the member on his election in New Westminster—Coquitlam.

However, with respect, if he wanted to join a political party that believes in lower taxes for Canadians, he should have joined the Conservatives. It is the Conservative Party that campaigned on a promise to lower the GST and we delivered. We promised to lower income taxes and we delivered. We promised to lower taxes on students and we have delivered on that. We promised to help seniors with pension income splitting and we have delivered on that.

While I congratulate my friend on his election in the byelection, I suggest to him that if he wants to be consistent, he should vote with the Conservative Party in this Parliament.

Salmon Fishery

[Fin Donnelly, NDP, New Westminster—Coquitlam, BC]

Mr. Speaker, let us hope the government's promises on west coast salmon do not ring as hollow.

Answering the call by New Democrats for an inquiry was a first good step, but we cannot just sit back and do nothing for the next 20 months. Problems with fish farms, sea lice and overfishing must be addressed. The government can and must take action to mitigate damage being done to the salmon fishery.

Will the minister tell the House what immediate actions, besides calling an inquiry, it plans to take to stop the decline of B.C. salmon?

[Gail Shea, Conservative, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans]

Mr. Speaker, we on this side of the House certainly welcome the judicial inquiry on the Fraser River sockeye and we are committed to cooperating fully with the proceedings.

We realize how important salmon is to British Columbia and British Columbians. It is a very important part of their economy. That is why the Prime Minister has made the commitment to this judicial inquiry.

Official Languages

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to represent the people of the riding of Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, one of the most francophone ridings in Canada.

As elsewhere in Quebec, my fellow citizens expect their member of Parliament to defend and protect our French language.

Yesterday, Bloc members sitting on the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates denied a Conservative member the right to obtain documents in French.

I just wrapped up an election campaign and I can tell you that the people of my riding would never accept that.

The actions of the Bloc are totally unacceptable.

Can the Minister of Public Works —

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

I am sorry but the time for the question is up.

The hon. Minister of Public Works.

[Christian Paradis, Conservative, Minister of Public Works and Government Services]

Mr. Speaker, I wish to congratulate my colleague on his election and for his fine win against the Bloc.

As a francophone and Quebec nationalist, I am worried about the fact that the Bloc did not allow a unilingual francophone member to obtain documents in his own language in the parliamentary committee. That is unacceptable.

Is that how the Bloc intends to protect the French language?

For our part, we will always fight for the provision of services in French by all federal institutions for francophones. That is a fundamental right. Quebeckers and francophones can count on us, and not the Bloc Québécois, to deliver what they want.

Poverty

[Michael Savage, Liberal, Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS]

Mr. Speaker, the government either does not try to understand the struggles of Canadians in poverty or it makes it up as it goes.

Yesterday in QP the Minister of Human Resources misled the House when she suggested that child poverty had been cut in half under her watch. That is completely untrue. Comments like this add to the insult made yesterday by the member for South Shore—St. Margaret's when he attacked the unemployed in Halifax.

Poverty is not a Halifax problem; it is a Canadian problem. It requires political will to make a difference. When will the government stop insulting those in need and start working with them to reduce poverty in Canada?