Debates of Dec. 3rd, 2009

Question No. 567

[John Baird, Conservative, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, in resonse to (a), the needs assessment study, commissioned by Transport Canada and involving a consortium of consultants being led by the Greater Toronto Airports Authority and the department’s due diligence review are still under way. A final date for the completion of the needs assessment study and due diligence review has not been determined.

In response to (b), once the due diligence and needs assessment study are completed, any next steps will be determined.

In response to (c), maintenance of buildings, Transport Canada is meeting its repair and maintenance obligations on Pickering lands site properties to ensure the safety and security of its tenants while keeping in mind its responsibilities with respect to public moneys. With respect to older structures, Transport Canada is cognizant of the local heritage value of some of the properties on its site and is working with local municipalities to preserve these to the extent possible. Re-rental policies of homes and business structures once tenants move out, are as follows: for vacant residential use properties, at this time, vacant residential properties that have been vacated are not re-marketed. Vacant structures are decommissioned and secured to prevent access by trespassers. However, some vacant properties may be used to relocate other Pickering lands site property tenants whose properties would be too costly to repair or to maintain. For vacant commercial use properties, Transport Canada may consider marketing these properties considering one or more of the following factors: (i) required capital improvements, (ii) marketability of the property; and (iii) adaptability and/or benefit to the surrounding community.

In response to (d), the Greater Toronto Airports Authority has requested early termination of their tenancy at the Bentley House. Transport Canada and the Greater Toronto Airports Authority are working to finalize this request.

In response to (e), Transport Canada intends to publicly market the asset in order to provide the opportunity for all interested parties to lease the Bentley House. The Durham West Arts Centre will be free to submit a bid proposal at that time.

In response to (f), when the Bentley House is publicly marketed and net lease terms subsequently negotiated, Transport Canada will consider four primary factors: (i) the tenant acknowledges, respects and preserves the heritage character of the building in their undertaking of normal business operations and in their maintenance of the building and surroundings; (ii) building alterations are strictly based on approval of the Crown; (iii) the tenant occupies the building for use as a commercial operation which is adaptable and/or of benefit to the surrounding environment/community; and, (iv) the rental rate is at market level, which recognizes the value of the asset and maximizes benefit to the Crown, and therefore taxpayers.

In response to (g), the department needs to complete the needs assessment study and the due diligence review before determining any next steps for the Pickering lands.

Questions Passed as Orders for Returns

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

Madam Speaker, if Questions Nos. 75, 466, 488, 489, 506, 533, 534, 536, 539, 540, 541, 542, 548, 549, 570, 575, 584 and starred Question No. 535 could be made orders for returns, these returns would be tabled immediately.

[The Acting Speaker, NDP, Denise Savoie]

Is that agreed?

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

I rise on a point of order, Madam Speaker. I was not able to hear it all. I am not sure if Question No. 537 was on that list. It is an important issue, so could we go through the list again? I did not hear Question No. 537, but I was sure that it would have been one of the questions answered.

[The Acting Speaker, NDP, Denise Savoie]

I can answer that. It was not on the list.

Is it the pleasure of the House that these be made orders for return?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

Question No. 75

[Judy Sgro, Liberal, York West, ON]

With respect to investing in research and innovation, specifically regarding York University in Toronto, Ontario: (a) what is the government's plan to ensure that Canadian research and development remain an example to the rest of the world; (b) what is the government prepared to do to ensure that the best and brightest remain in Canada; (c) what research grants will the government be making available this year, both at York University and across Canada; (d) what new programs will the government undertake to assist students; (e) what will the government's response be to the issue of rising tuition; (f) what specific steps will the government take to invest in research and development, to improve the lives of Canadians, and to partner to help Canadian industries grow in these difficult economic times; and (g) what future investments is the government planning in colleges and universities?

(Return tabled)

Question No. 466

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

With regard to the Flathead River region: (a) why does the government consider British Columbia resource extraction pollution threats to the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park are an acceptable development risk; (b) why, since 2005, does the Canadian government refuse the United States administration requests for a reference to the International Joint Commission (IJC) on Flathead River concerns; (c) for which transboundary rivers have IJC reference requests been accepted or refused; and (d) by department, what transboundary impacts have been identified in the environmental assessments of proposed resource development in the Flathead River region, including but not limited to, (i) as cumulative effects, (ii) toward water quality and quantity as the IJC described and recommended in its 1988 Report on the Flathead, (iii) on fisheries and habitats, (iv) on migratory and endangered species?

(Return tabled)

Question No. 488

[Larry Bagnell, Liberal, Yukon, YT]

With regards to government advertising in Yukon, Nunavut and Northwest Territories on “Canada’s Economic Action Plan”: (a) how much has the government spent on radio, in each territory indicating the station, date and time the commercial aired, amount spent, and ownership of the station; (b) how much has the government spent on television in each territory, indicating the station, date and time the commercial aired, amount spent, and ownership of the station; (c) how much has the government spent on newspapers in each territory, indicating the date and page of the newspaper ad, name of the newspaper, ownership, amount of advertising space purchased, and if a higher rate was paid for preferential placement of the ads; (d) how much has the government spent on magazines in each territory, indicating the date and page of the magazine ad, name of the magazine, ownership, amount of advertising purchased, and if a higher rate was paid for preferential placement; (e) how much has the government spent on media websites in each territory, indicating what website advertising was purchased by the government, amount, length and terms of the website advertising, and owner of the website; (f) how much has the government spent on billboards, in each territory, indicating the amount of money spent on billboard advertising, locations of the billboards, duration of the billboard ad, and ownership of the billboard company; (g) what are the names of the companies responsible for purchasing the Government of Canada advertising in the territories, the ownership of the companies, commission to be paid for the work done, and length and terms of the contract; and (h) was this contract sole sourced or open bid, and what were the dates of the contract posting on the government website?

(Return tabled)

Question No. 489

[Larry Bagnell, Liberal, Yukon, YT]

Since January 2006 to present, what are the dates, times, locations of Cabinet and committees of Cabinet meetings?

(Return tabled)

Question No. 506

[Maria Minna, Liberal, Beaches—East York, ON]

With regard to the Fair Wages and Hours of Labour Act (FWHLA): (a) how many complaints were received from January 1, 2004 to October 20, 2009; (b) what is the number of complaints in (a) that required investigation; (c) what is the annual budget to carry out investigations of complaints received under the Act; (d) how many inspectors are employed to carry out these investigations; (e) are third party complaints allowed under the Act and, if so, how many complaints in (a) were made by third party individuals; (f) how many complaints in (a) were made by employees of the company they are making the complaint against; (g) how many complaints in (e) were investigated; (h) how many investigations of (b) resulted in a monetary payment from employer to employee; (i) what was the timeline of each of the investigations of (h); (j) how many investigations are currently ongoing; (k) after the 60-day holdback mentioned in the Act is over, is there any way to recuperate unpaid wages for the employees or to have the company found in violation pay penalties; and (l) who, or what department is responsible for ensuring these payments are made?

(Return tabled)

Question No. 533

[Keith Martin, Liberal, Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC]

With regard to government magazine advertising: (a) how much has the government spent on promoting Canada’s Economic Action Plan through advertising in British Columbia; and (b) when was each advertisement published, and in which magazine?

(Return tabled)

Question No. 534

[Keith Martin, Liberal, Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC]

With regard to government radio advertising: (a) how much has the government spent on promoting Canada’s Economic Action Plan through advertising in British Columbia; and (b) when was each advertisement aired, and on which radio station?

(Return tabled)

Question No. 536

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, Beauséjour, NB]

With regard to government television advertising: (a) how much has the government spent on promoting Canada’s Economic Action Plan through advertising in New Brunswick; and (b) when was each advertisement aired, and on which television station?

(Return tabled)

Question No. 539

[Bonnie Crombie, Liberal, Mississauga—Streetsville, ON]

With regard to government magazine advertising: (a) how much has the government spent on promoting Canada’s Economic Action Plan through advertising in Alberta; and (b) when was each advertisement published, and in which magazine?

(Return tabled)

Question No. 540

[Bonnie Crombie, Liberal, Mississauga—Streetsville, ON]

— With regard to government television advertising: (a) how much has the government spent on promoting Canada’s Economic Action Plan through advertising in Quebec; and (b) when was each advertisement aired, and on which station?