Debates of Nov. 25th, 2009

Fuel Prices

[Dan McTeague, Liberal, Pickering—Scarborough East, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I wish to present to the House, pursuant to Standing Order 36, a petition signed by over 300 constituents, many of them from my riding of Pickering—Scarborough East and some from as far away as the other side of Toronto, in Mississauga.

The petitioners are concerned about the costs and the effect of high fuel prices on Canadians and the economy in general. They note a serious lack of competition and transparency in the energy industry and that it has had a detrimental impact on the Canadian economy. They are concerned about the cost of fuel and, during a period of economic uncertainty, the effect this has on the entire economy. They wish to draw to the attention of Parliament that many countries around the world have an energy market monitoring agency and that energy superpowers like Canada should and ought to have one.

The petitioners therefore call upon the government to finally acknowledge that the high price of fuel is damaging the Canadian economy. They ask that the government immediately act to reinstate the office of petroleum price information, which was abolished by the government in 2006, as an energy market information service which, like the U.S. energy information agency, would provide weekly reports, including all Canadian energy supply and demand inventory and storage information.

They ask also that hearings be held in the energy sector to determine how the government can foster competition and provide transparency in the energy market and to eliminate the monopolistic efficiencies defence section 96 of the Competition Act.

Fraser River Sockeye

[Jean Crowder, NDP, Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions to present.

The first petition urgently calls on the government to establish an independent judicial inquiry under the federal Inquiries Act that would fully explore all the facts, consult with scientists and stakeholders, determine what went wrong with this year's sockeye run and present a public report with binding solutions within six months.

We know of course a judicial inquiry has been called for, but as the member for New Westminster—Coquitlam pointed out today, we need action within the next 20 months. Thousands of people across the province of B.C. signed this petition, and New Democrats, of course, have called for an inquiry for a long time.

Aviation Safety

[Jean Crowder, NDP, Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition calls on the Government of Canada to initiate a commission of inquiry headed by a superior court judge to conduct a judicial review into Canada's state of national aviation safety and government oversight of the aviation industry, to be followed by further reviews at defined intervals. We recently read stories in the newspapers about pilot fatigue, so we are hopeful that the government will take these petitioners' concerns very seriously.

[Marc Lemay, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

With respect, Mr. Speaker, I will let the hon. member for Trois-Rivières go first. She has people waiting for her and a committee meeting to attend at 3:30 p.m. I will take my turn after.

Guaranteed Income Supplement

[Paule Brunelle, Bloc, Trois-Rivières, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition signed by close to 5,000 citizens. The Table de concertation Abus auprès des aînés de la Mauricie, an issue table dealing with elder abuse, took upon itself to circulate the petition.

This petition calls for the terms of the GIS program to be improved, to include full retroactivity, a $110 monthly increase in benefits and continued payments for a period of six months for a bereaved spouse. I applaud their initiative.

Immigration

[Olivia Chow, NDP, Trinity—Spadina, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions to present.

The first petition calls on the Government of Canada to expand the annual number of permanent landed immigrants and to decrease the number of temporary workers coming into Canada. It also calls on the government to provide a path for temporary workers to become permanent residents and for it to crack down on those who make huge profits by illegally exploiting workers with precarious status.

The petitioners worry that over 200,000 temporary foreign workers came to Canada last year and that an approximately equal number of residents are here without status. The latter are employed mostly in jobs that are not temporary in nature, such as live-in caregivers and in hospitality work and skilled trades.

The petitioners also note that Parliament has voted in favour of an NDP motion to place a moratorium on the deportation of undocumented workers pending a full review of the immigration system.

Fraser River Sockeye

[Olivia Chow, NDP, Trinity—Spadina, ON]

Mr. Speaker, in the second petition the petitioners are asking for a judicial inquiry. They are concerned about the nine million sockeye salmon that have disappeared during this summer's migration to the Fraser River, the lowest return in 50 years.

They point out that this crisis is similar in magnitude to the collapse of the Atlantic cod stocks, which devastated the east coast. They also note that a factor in the Atlantic cod collapse was government suppression of the scientific facts.

Therefore, they are demanding immediate action. Yes, there has been an inquiry announced, but there needs to be a public report with binding solutions within six months. The time to act is now.

Young Offenders Act

[Gurbax Malhi, Liberal, Bramalea—Gore—Malton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present a petition on behalf of my constituents who have been victims of violent crimes committed by young offenders. They are petitioning in support of the family of 15-year-old Baden Willcocks, who was murdered on June 19, 2009.

The petitioners call upon Parliament to implement the necessary changes to the Young Offenders Act for the benefit of victims' families, whose lives have been destroyed by violent crimes committed by young offenders.

Fraser River Sockeye

[Peter Julian, NDP, Burnaby—New Westminster, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to present a petition signed by several hundred residents of the B.C. coast, the Lower Mainland, Victoria, Qualicum Beach and Port Alberni right up to Quadra Island and the Sunshine Coast. They join their voices to the thousands upon thousands of British Columbians who have joined the NDP's push for a judicial inquiry on the Fraser River sockeye.

Mr. Speaker, as you well know, we now have a judicial inquiry, but these petitioners are saying that we need immediate action on the salmon fishery as well.

On behalf of these many residents of British Columbia, I am happy to join my voice to those of many of my colleagues in presenting these hundreds of names on behalf of thousands of residents of British Columbia.

Canada Post

[Marc Lemay, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition on behalf of several dozens of citizens of the small community of Villebois, located in the northern part of my riding. This petition calls for the post office to remain open, which is extremely important to the local people. Should their post office close, they will have to go pick up their mail more than 70 kilometres away from Villebois. That means driving more than 140 kilometres every day.

Air Passengers' Bill of Rights

[Jim Maloway, NDP, Elmwood—Transcona, MB]

Mr. Speaker, my petition is a call to adopt Canada's first air passengers' bill of rights. The petitioners support Bill C-310, which includes compensation for overbooked flights, cancelled flights and unreasonable tarmac delays. The legislation is inspired by European Union law and, in fact, Air Canada is already operating under the European laws on its flights to Europe. Why should an Air Canada customer see better treatment in Europe than in Canada?

The bill would ensure that passengers are kept informed of flight changes, weather delays or cancellations. The new rules will be posted in the airports and the airlines must inform passengers of their rights and the process to file for compensation. The bill also deals with late and misplaced baggage, and it requires all-inclusive pricing by airline companies in their advertising.

Bill C-310 is not meant to punish the airlines. If the airlines follow the rules, they will not have to pay a dime in compensation to passengers.

The petitioners call on the Government of Canada to support Bill C-310, which would introduce Canada's first air passengers' bill of rights.

Questions on the Order Paper

[Tom Lukiwski, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, the following questions will be answered today: Nos. 294, 462, 483, 529 and 558.

Question No. 294

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

With regards to the employment insurance program two-week waiting period: (a) how many individuals who apply for employment insurance report finding a new job within the two week waiting period; (b) how much would it cost the government to eliminate the two-week waiting period for all claimants?

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

Mr. Speaker, the waiting period, which is similar to the deductible portion in private insurance, was first introduced in 1940 when the unemployment insurance legislation was first founded. Since 1971, the waiting period has been fixed at two weeks.

The two-week waiting period serves a number of purposes. Namely, it allows for the time needed to verify and establish a claim, and eliminates the administrative burden created by very short claims made by people who find a job quickly. Consequently, it ensures that EI resources are focused on persons dealing with significant gaps in employment.

In response to (a), based on the 2008 employment insurance coverage survey, approximately 140,000 individuals were entitled to EI benefits, but did not collect them for a number of reasons. They indicated that, during the reference week of the survey, they had exhausted their benefits; their benefits were temporarily interrupted; they were waiting for benefits, they had made a claim but did not receive benefits; or they were eligible but did not claim.

In response to (b), eliminating the two-week waiting period for all claimants would cost over $1 billion annually.

Question No. 462

[Megan Leslie, NDP, Halifax, NS]

With regard to the Arts Presentation Canada program: (a) how much of the program funding is budgeted for applications from Nova Scotia; (b) when was the last time the funding was increased for Nova Scotian applicants and, if funding was increased, by how much; and (c) have there been funding increases to other regions in Canada and, if so, which regions benefited and when were these increases made?

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

Mr. Speaker, on June 26, 2009, the government announced the renewal of funding for the arts.

It was also noted that the arts presentation Canada program will now be called the Canada arts presentation fund and that its funding will be kept at the current level for fiscal years 2010-11 to 2014-15.

More information can be found at http://www.pch.gc.ca/pgm/pac-apc/2007-2008-eng.cfm and http://www.pch.gc.ca/pgm/pac-apc/2008-2009-eng.cfm.

Question No. 483

[Yasmin Ratansi, Liberal, Don Valley East, ON]

With respect to Employment Insurance claims made by residents of the constituency of Don Valley East: (a) what is the number of claims that have been made since January 2008, (i) broken down by month, (ii) in total; (b) what is the percentage of claims that have been approved since January 2008, (i) broken down by month, (ii) in total; (c) which claims have been denied since January 2008, (i) broken down by month, (ii) in total and what were the reasons for their denial; and (d) what has been the average period of time it has taken to process the claims that have been made since January 2008, (i) broken down by month, (ii) in total?

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

Mr. Speaker, in response to (a) through (d), he department does not have the requested data at the Don Valley East level.

Question No. 529

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

With regard to securities purchased from banks as part of the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation securities purchase program announced in the fall of 2008 and spring of 2009: (a) how much and what type of securities were purchased; (b) out of those mortgage securities, (i) how many defaulted, (ii) in what regions were the defaults most and least prevalent, (iii) what is the dollar value of the defaults; (c) how long does the government plan on holding these securities; (d) how much securities were purchased from each bank or entity, and for how much; (e) were any securities purchased from foreign banks or entities and, if so, (i) what is the percentage, based on the total of securities purchased, (ii) from which foreign banks or entities, indicating the total amount of securities purchased for each; (f) did any of the money to purchase the securities come from the Bank of Canada and, if so, how much; and (g) what are the names of those who sold their Bank of Canada stock to the government?

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

Mr. Speaker, in response to (a), through the insured mortgage purchase program, $65.46 billion of National Housing Act mortgage backed securities have been purchased to date. National Housing Act mortgage backed securities are marketable securities comprised of pools of insured Canadian residential mortgages; the National Housing Act mortgage backed securities are guaranteed by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation under the National Housing Act and hence carry the guarantee of the Government of Canada.

In response to (b), there have been no defaults of the National Housing Act mortgage backed securities purchased under the insured mortgage purchase program. Since the securities purchased by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation already carry the guarantee of the Government of Canada through the insurance, there is no additional risk to the taxpayer. This activity also carries no fiscal cost to the taxpayer. In fact, since the National Housing Act mortgage backed securities purchased by the government pay a return generally in excess of the rate the government pays to raise the funds used to purchase the National Housing Act mortgage backed securities, the government expects to earn net revenue on the program.

In response to (c), it is expected that the National Housing Act mortgage backed securities purchased under the insured mortgage purchase program will be held until their maturity.

In response to (d), a summary of the results of each National Housing Act mortgage backed securities auction operation is available on Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s website, www.cmhc.ca, following each auction, and includes the highest accepted yield, the lowest accepted yield, and the average accepted yield. Due to the confidential nature of the information, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation does not release the identities of participating institutions or the level of their participation.

In response to (e), due to the confidential nature of the information, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation does not release the identities of participating institutions or the level of their participation. However, it is important to note that, as mentioned above, despite which organization they were purchased from, the National Housing Act mortgage backed securities are comprised entirely of insured Canadian residential mortgages.

In response to (f), Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation borrows the funds to purchase the National Housing Act mortgage backed securities from the government which funds itself through Government of Canada bond and treasury bill auctions. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation borrows the funds at the same interest rate as the average auction rate which the National Housing Act mortgage backed securities are purchased from the financial institutions.

In response to (g), the Bank of Canada acts as a fiscal agent for the government in its debt management activities. The Bank of Canada does not issue on its own behalf market debt or stock to raise funds.

Question No. 558

[Scott Reid, Conservative, Lanark—Frontenac—Lennox and Addington, ON]

With regard to the application for benefits under the Veteran’s Independence Program (VIP) made by Mr. Edmund Rockburne of Perth, Ontario, on what basis was Mr. Rockburne found not to be eligible for benefits under the VIP program?

[Greg Thompson, Conservative, Minister of Veterans Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, the Privacy Act prevents the government from disclosing personal information regarding specific individuals. Regarding the eligibility criteria for the veterans independence program, VIP, most clients who receive VIP are members or former members of the Canadian Forces or were civilians supporting the war effort during World War I or World War II.

These individuals may qualify for VIP if they have a health-related need for the services, and are: a client who needs VIP as a result of a disability pension(s) or award(s) attributed to an injury incurred during service in the Canadian Forces; veterans or civilians who served in the war effort during World War I, World War II and Korea, who qualify due to low income and health care needs; overseas service veterans, theatre of war service, who require personal care assistance at home and are on a wait-list for a departmental facility or contract bed; totally disabled former prisoners of war; or an overseas service veteran who is at home on a wait-list for a priority access bed.

In 2002, the Department of Veterans Affairs agreed to assume full responsibility for the provision of health care benefits and services to retired regular pensioners, retired civilian pensioners, and still-serving members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, RCMP.

According to the agreement between Veterans Affairs Canada and the RCMP, only benefits and services required for the treatment of pensioned conditions can be provided. These benefits consist of any medical, surgical or dental treatment provided by a health professional; surgical or prosthetic devices or aids and any home adaptation that is required to accommodate the use of these devices or aids; and drugs.

This agreement does not encompass veterans independence program home care services.

Questions Passed as Orders for Returns

[Tom Lukiwski, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, if Question No. 323 could be made an order for return, this return would be tabled immediately.

[The Speaker, Peter Milliken]

The questions enumerated by the parliamentary secretary have been answered.

Is it agreed that Question No. 323 be made an order for return?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.