House of Commons Hansard #109 of the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was animals.
Mike Lake ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry
Mr. Speaker, that question is simply ridiculous.
The hon. member knows that this government has done more for businesses across this country than any government in Canadian history, than any government around the world in terms of this global economic slowdown. That is why the World Economic Forum came out just a month ago and said that Canada will emerge from this slowdown as one of only two industrialized countries in a more competitive position than it went in.
Marcel Proulx Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC
Mr. Speaker, so far, more than half the job losses during this Conservative recession have affected young people. Again in October, 50% of the 43,000 jobs lost were held by this category of worker. Last year, youth employment dropped by nearly 10%, which is unprecedented. Young Canadians are disproportionately affected by the recession and disproportionately neglected by the Conservative government.
Instead of wasting $100 million on propaganda, why have the Conservatives not instead increased funding for young entrepreneurs?
Ed Komarnicki ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and to the Minister of Labour
Mr. Speaker, the fact of the matter is that thousands of jobs have been created for students and young people this summer. We have invested over $20 million over two years for Canada summer jobs and created 40,000 jobs. We have done a number of things to create jobs and to help those unemployed.
I would like to ask the member, why would he oppose aid to those who are unemployed?
Richard Nadeau Bloc Gatineau, QC
Mr. Speaker, in introducing a private members' bill to repeal the firearms registry in order to allow a free vote on the matter, the Conservatives from Quebec are complicit with those who are calling for the entire gun registry to be scrapped. Quebec's public safety minister sees this approach as nothing but a ploy. Unlike the Conservatives, Quebec wants to keep the firearms registry.
If the government has no use for the registry, then why does it not transfer it to Quebec, as Jean Charest asked it to during the last election?
Christian Paradis ConservativeMinister of Public Works and Government Services
Mr. Speaker, repealing the long gun registry is a Conservative Party position. There is nothing new in that. The Conservative members from Quebec are proud to support that position because that is what we promised our voters and we are going to keep our word. The Bloc does not represent every point of view in Quebec. If it asked the general public, the Bloc would see that popular opinion is much more divided than it lets on. I am thinking about the Fédération québécoise des chasseurs et pêcheurs, with whom the Bloc has probably never spoken. If Quebec wants to set up a registry, then it can do so through the registration of goods and property, which is a provincial jurisdiction. We have decided to decriminalize this, period.
Richard Nadeau Bloc Gatineau, QC
Mr. Speaker, what little good faith the government still had on this has just vanished. The government waited until the day after the vote to release an RCMP report underscoring the usefulness of the firearms registry.
Why is the government determined to deprive police forces of a tool that they consider useful?
Christian Paradis ConservativeMinister of Public Works and Government Services
Mr. Speaker, the report was tabled here in the House according to the rules of the House of Commons. They should stop making all these unfounded insinuations.
The problem lies with illegal weapons, knives and handguns, and that registry is still in effect. We are repealing the long gun registry. Let us stop penalizing farmers and hunters. There are going to be more restrictions on getting a permit.
Instead of saying whatever they want, the members should get out and talk to people in Quebec. They will see that opinion is much more divided than they think.
André Bellavance Bloc Richmond—Arthabaska, QC
Mr. Speaker, Quebec municipalities deplore the fact that infrastructure money is not flowing quickly enough. By insisting on entering into agreements for each individual project, the federal government is more concerned with its own visibility than with the need to create jobs.
Why is the federal government refusing to transfer a block of funds to Quebec for infrastructure so that the work can get started quickly?
Christian Paradis ConservativeMinister of Public Works and Government Services
Mr. Speaker, my colleague does not understand that within a federation the government can work with the province of Quebec. That is what we are doing.
Quebec is in charge and we are working together with Quebec. I will say it again. If we followed their logic not a single cent would have been disbursed. There would be no construction sites and no new construction jobs in Quebec. What is shameful is that they opposed us from the beginning. They oppose every measure we suggest to help Quebec. They should explain that to their voters.
André Bellavance Bloc Richmond—Arthabaska, QC
Mr. Speaker, the promise made with regard to highway 185 just three days before the by-election in Rivière-du-Loup reveals the Conservatives' cynicism. The voters in that riding will not be taken in by these partisan games.
A study by the Canadian Press indicates that the riding, which has been represented by the Bloc Québécois for 16 years, has received its share of investments. With a Bloc member, it is ranked fourth in terms of the number of projects funded by the last budget.
When will the Conservative government stop politicizing the infrastructure program?
Christian Paradis ConservativeMinister of Public Works and Government Services
Mr. Speaker, it is difficult to imagine a more ridiculous question because all Bloc Québécois members voted against Canada's economic action plan.
The reason why Bloc, Liberal and Conservative ridings throughout Quebec have benefited is because there are 10 Conservative members from Quebec in this House who support the implementation of the Government of Canada's economic action plan.
If we followed their logic, they would not see a single cent.
Navdeep Bains Liberal Mississauga—Brampton South, ON
Mr. Speaker, the city of Mississauga tried to get funding for a pathway project in Willowcreek Park. It was turned down. Yet, with the money the government forced Mississauga to spend on partisan signs, it could have done the project twice and still had money left over.
Why has the Conservative government put propaganda ahead of the people of Mississauga?
Pierre Poilievre ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and to the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member has a problem. For months, the Liberal Party has been telling Canadians that there are no projects or construction under way throughout the country. Now, there is construction everywhere throughout the country. We are creating jobs, building bridges, expanding hockey facilities for young people, and providing a home renovation tax credit.
All of these things are happening and the Liberals do not want these to be publicized. Now, they complain that there are signs all over the place. First, they say there are no projects and now they say that there are too many projects with too many signs.
Navdeep Bains Liberal Mississauga—Brampton South, ON
Mr. Speaker, the priorities of the government are a joke. It forced the city of Mississauga to spend an average of $227 per sign, yet when it comes to infrastructure spending, Mississauga only received $46 per resident.
Could the government explain why propaganda is five times more important to it than people?
Pierre Poilievre ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and to the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs
Mr. Speaker, members of the Liberal Party really have to decide. Either they believe that there are no construction projects and therefore no signs to advertise those projects, or they believe that there are too many construction projects and therefore too many signs to publicize them.
At the end of the day, the Liberal Party has to make a decision. On this side, we have made our decision. We are funding job-creating projects that are building communities across this country. They are creating jobs today, expanding hope for the long-term, and providing Canadians with an economic action plan that delivers results.
Joyce Murray Liberal Vancouver Quadra, BC
Mr. Speaker, in Ontario the Olympic torch is stopping in 29 Conservative ridings and only three held by Liberals. Clearly, there is a bias. The government is a torch relay sponsor. The Leader of the Government in the House of Commons put out a list of all of the ridings that will see the torch.
The government minister asked MPs to contact him about torch events in their ridings. Whether it is infrastructure or the Olympic Games, the Conservative government inappropriately exploits public initiatives for its own partisan gain. When will it stop?
Dean Del Mastro ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage
Mr. Speaker, of course it is “ready, fire, aim” on the other side. These desperate conspiracy theories are totally false, but do not take my word for it. Let us listen to what John Furlong, the CEO of VANOC had to say about this issue. He said:
At no time did anyone in any government, or any political party offer one iota of counsel or influence about that.... We did our jobs the way we should have done them.
That is what John Furlong said. The member must have a problem with John Furlong.
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Olympic flame is a symbol. It represents healthy competition, camaraderie and people coming together. It is anything but a partisan tool.
Unfortunately, today, some questions have been raised about the flame's journey. Among the events that have been planned across the country, only 12% are being held in Liberal ridings, 13% in NDP ridings, 10% in Bloc ridings and 62% in Conservative ridings. I repeat, 62%.
One has to wonder if these are the Conservatives' Olympic Games or Canada's Olympic Games.
Dean Del Mastro ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage
Mr. Speaker, I think it is kind of disgraceful that the Liberal Party is trying to politicize this.
As I said earlier, VANOC organized this, and of course we heard what CEO John Furlong had to say.
Let us listen to what the Liberal member for Vancouver Quadra had to say about VANOC. She said:
VANOC can be proud of their seamless organization, embodying the Olympic principles of excellence, friendship and fairness. Congratulations to John Furlong and his Organizing Committee.
What in the world are they going on about over there? One minute he is doing a great job, and the next minute he is not. I cannot figure it out.
Leon Benoit Conservative Vegreville—Wainwright, AB
Mr. Speaker, Canada is still being affected by the global recession. Our economic recovery is very fragile.
That is why our Conservative government is focused on staying the course and implementing our economic action plan. Our plan provides support for Canadians and their families to help them weather the economic storm.
Could the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and to the Minister of Labour please update the House on the measures that we have taken to help these hard-hit Canadians?
Ed Komarnicki ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and to the Minister of Labour
Mr. Speaker, our economic action plan is working.
Our Conservative government provided five extra weeks of EI, which benefited over 300,000 unemployed Canadians.
We made unprecedented investments in skills training to get Canadians back to work. We have expanded work-sharing which is currently protecting the jobs of over 165,000 Canadians.
I am proud to announce that our bill to provide extra support for long-tenured workers has received royal assent, despite the shameful opposition by the Liberal leader and members of his party. I have no idea what they have against those hardest hit by the global recession.
We are getting results for Canadians and we will always stand up for those who need--
Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON
Mr. Speaker, the Toronto Port Authority is a swamp of sleaze and corruption.
We are now learning that the board was rewriting minutes of their meetings while rubber-stamping dodgy receipts.
What a perfect training ground for our own ethically challenged Minister of Natural Resources. She used the crown agency to troll for political donations. She covered up expenses while dining out like aristocracy on the taxpayers' dime.
The Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities could have cleaned house but instead he played along.
Will the government finally rein in these rogue ministers?
Pierre Poilievre ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and to the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs
Mr. Speaker, this government brought in the toughest anti-corruption law in Canadian history. It is called the Federal Accountability Act. It limits political contributions; it protects whistleblowers; it makes the system more transparent; and, it adds roughly 20 additional organizations to access to information.
This was a positive step for accountability and transparency in Canada. On this side of the House and indeed right across Canada, people are proud of that act.
Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON
Mr. Speaker, they do not call it the pork authority for nothing.
The Tories interfered with the election of the chair of the board. They fired people who asked tough questions and replaced them with bagmen and pals.
Why would that be? Would it be so that the Minister of Natural Resources could use the private list to troll for cash, so they could use the board to dump their buddies into the positions of power?
The government is busted. It needs to fess up and apologize to the people of Toronto.
