Debates of Dec. 4th, 2009

Canada-China Relations

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

Mr. Speaker, the fact that the Conservatives have let Canada's relationship with China fall apart these last four years has rightly received a lot of attention this week.

They claim they were dragging their heels on China because they wanted to see more progress on human rights. The reality is the Conservatives have made very little progress on human rights or anything else.

With this week's trade mission, do they now admit that the best way to improve both Canada's trade mission with China and enhance their commitment to human rights is to engage with China directly and consistently at the political level?

[John Baird, Conservative, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, I would say to the member opposite, yes, our refusal to ignore human rights differs from the previous Liberal government's stance.

Today I was very pleased to hear the Prime Minister once again speak out on behalf of Canadian values, on behalf of the values of freedom and democracy. We believe and our Prime Minister believes that we can advance human rights and strengthen economic ties. That is why we have been pleased in each one of the last four years to see our trade with China go up in a big way.

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

Mr. Speaker, is it any wonder there was so much international media attention paid to how frosty relations with China have become under the Conservative government.

The Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism and the Minister of National Defence had previously accused the Chinese government of a massive spy ring targeting Canadian industry and individuals.

Do the ministers really have any evidence of this massive spy ring, or do they now understand that this wild Conservative rhetoric has undermined our relationship with China?

[John Baird, Conservative, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, today's Liberal attack is very consistent with the overall value-free foreign policy of the Liberal Party, go along to get along.

Let us look at what the Prime Minister accomplished. He has received approved destination status which will be a huge boost for the Canadian tourism sector, something the Liberal government failed to do. We have lifted the ban on pork exports, a big win for Canadian farmers.

Under the leadership of the Prime Minister we have seen greater co-operation on culture and on the environment.

The member opposite should be standing in this place to celebrate the success of the Prime Minister of Canada.

Ukraine

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Wascana, SK]

Mr. Speaker, more Canadian observers are needed to help monitor the presidential election in Ukraine in January. The leading expert on this issue, Mr. Davidovich, says Canada should match what we did so well in 2004.

In that election, beyond the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Canada sent 500 additional observers. Now they are needed again. Ukrainian democracy is being tested. Legitimacy is crucial.

Why has the government slashed Canada's support by nearly 90%?

[Deepak Obhrai, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada is supporting free and fair elections in Ukraine by deploying Canadian election observers through the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. Because of our strong commitment to Ukraine, Canada will be sending the maximum number of observers requested by the OSCE.

The OSCE has a respected track record and has observed elections in Ukraine since 1998. Supporting the OSCE mission improves voter coordination and ensures effectiveness.

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Wascana, SK]

Mr. Speaker, the time is short here. The election is next month. The stakes are high. Ukraine is the only country in that region making substantial progress toward a durable democracy.

Canada has the ability to help. Our 500 observers are needed. The cost is modest. A distinguished Ukrainian Canadian, for example, the respected deputy premier of Saskatchewan, the Hon. Ken Krawetz, could lead that team. Canada would again be heralded on the streets of Kiev. For heaven's sake, why not?

[Deepak Obhrai, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, Canada supports the free and fair elections in Ukraine, but we must understand that we must coordinate this with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. Whatever it has requested is what Canada is supplying.

People should understand that we must coordinate this with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and that is what we are doing.

Employment

[Earl Dreeshen, Conservative, Red Deer, AB]

Mr. Speaker, during the most challenging global economic period in recent history, our Conservative government was up for the fight. Canada's economic action plan is working, stimulating the economy, creating and saving jobs and protecting those hit hardest. We have already committed 97% of the plan, 12,000 projects across the country. The opposition may not like to admit it, but we are getting the job done.

Could the parliamentary secretary inform the House what Statistics Canada reported today about job creation in Canada?

[Ted Menzies, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. member for Red Deer for his help on implementing Canada's economic action plan, a plan that is providing positive news.

For the month of November, almost 80,000 Canadians have new jobs. That is incredible. That brings the average after the last four months to a 20,000 increase every month. Our economic action plan is working. There is a recession that is challenging all countries, but we are gradually coming out of it.

Violence Against Women

[Niki Ashton, NDP, Churchill, MB]

Mr. Speaker, every year more than 100,000 women and children in Canada spend time in shelters after fleeing violence in their homes. When these women and children leave the shelters, more often than not they are condemned to a life of poverty, because there is a causal relationship between domestic violence and poverty.

Will the government commit to making a coordinated effort to end violence against women, along with the provinces, municipalities and first nations communities?

[Sylvie Boucher, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary for Status of Women]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my NDP colleague for this question.

As we know, the Minister of State has continued her support for women and yesterday announced a partnership with provincial shelter organizations throughout the country to strengthen their capacity to provide adequate services to victims of domestic violence, especially immigrants, aboriginal women and the handicapped. That is action; this government is taking action for women.

Employment

[Niki Ashton, NDP, Churchill, MB]

Mr. Speaker, the government should not be bragging about a small 0.1% drop in unemployment. Statistics Canada is worried because too many former full-time workers are being forced into part-time jobs, and Canada's youth are being left behind.

Youth unemployment has increased almost 3%. With students facing record-high tuition fees and some of the highest student debt in Canadian history, being unemployed means not making enough money to make it back to university or college the next semester.

When will the government stop patting itself on the back and actually do something to get Canadian—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

Order, please.

The hon. Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development .

[Ed Komarnicki, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and to the Minister of Labour]

Mr. Speaker, our economic action plan is working. It is creating jobs. We are moving forward. That particular party, the NDP, should get behind that program and vote for it, not against it.

However, with respect to students, particularly this summer, we created tens of thousands of jobs through our programs, spending over $20 million over two years in the Canada summer jobs program, creating over 40,000 jobs this summer alone; and provided $15 million for 1,000 YMCA youth internships.

We are taking practical, everyday steps to make sure more youth are employed in this country.

Social Housing

[Josée Beaudin, Bloc, Saint-Lambert, QC]

Mr. Speaker, according to FRAPRU, 203,000 Quebec households spend over 50% of their income on housing. The Conservatives committed to spending $269 million on housing in Quebec. Despite the fact that the government's economic action plan states that this money is “committed”, we still have not seen one red cent of it on the ground.

What is the minister waiting for before it pays that money to Quebec?

[Ed Komarnicki, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and to the Minister of Labour]

Mr. Speaker, there is no doubt that we have been working with the provinces and the territories, ensuring that agreements are executed and that money starts to flow as soon as that happens, and we are invoiced for that. Funding is being provided. In fact, over 50% of the funding allocated for this year has been delivered or is in the process of being delivered to provinces and territories. Money is flowing. Over 1,700 projects are under way across the country.

[Josée Beaudin, Bloc, Saint-Lambert, QC]

Mr. Speaker, for the first time, the federal minister is taking part in the housing ministers meeting. Now she needs to free up some new funds for social housing.

Will the minister commit to paying the $269 million already promised to Quebec, and will she make a long-term commitment regarding funding for social housing?

[Ed Komarnicki, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and to the Minister of Labour]

Mr. Speaker, we are taking a multi-pronged approach to provide housing for Canadians. We are talking to provinces and territories and communities and those who have something to do with housing, something that was not done for 13 long years by the previous government.

We committed $2 billion to repair and build new social housing; $1 billion for repairs and upgrades for seniors, and specifically designated $400 million for seniors; $75 million for persons with disabilities; $400 million for first nation reserves; $200 million in the north.

We have allocated funding right across the country to ensure that social housing is—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

Order, please.

The hon. member for Sydney—Victoria.

Fisheries and Oceans

[Mark Eyking, Liberal, Sydney—Victoria, NS]

Mr. Speaker, lobster fishers in Atlantic Canada are facing a disaster. After a season of low catches, collapsing prices and a high dollar, many are faced with foreclosures and bankruptcy.

The program announced by the minister is inadequate. Only one in five fishers are eligible for the amount they are getting, and that is much less than the maximum of $5,000.

What is the minister going to do to provide real assistance to lobster fishers faced with losing their livelihoods?

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

Mr. Speaker, when we met with the industry last spring, it was very concerned about the price collapse in the lobster markets and that fishers would not even qualify for EI. Therefore, we listened and we responded with a modest program to assist those with low income and who would suffer the largest revenue decline in 2008. Fair criteria were established and in a very short time, over $7 million has gone out to more than 1,000 fishers in Atlantic Canada and Quebec.

[Mark Eyking, Liberal, Sydney—Victoria, NS]

Mr. Speaker, I have young lobster fishers calling my office who owe hundreds of thousands of dollars and are ineligible for this program. Others have missed out on assistance because their catches are just a few hundred dollars short of the cut-off mark. One young couple has called my office. They have two young children and are faced with a Christmas and a winter where they are going to lose everything.

Why does the minister not go down to a wharf to see the real disaster that is being faced by the people and communities not only in my riding, but also in ridings all across Atlantic Canada?

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

Mr. Speaker, we are investing in the lobster industry by assisting it to take measures that will benefit all lobster fishers in the long run.

We are assisting with diversifying the market, with product development and eco-certification and traceability. We are assisting with reorganization so the industry can speak with one voice. We are supporting its long-term sustainability so the industry can protect its future.

This is more money than that party ever put on the table for the lobster industry.

Pensions

[John Rafferty, NDP, Thunder Bay—Rainy River, ON]

Mr. Speaker, on November 20, I rose in this House and asked the Minister of Finance if he was willing to meet with representatives of AbitibiBowater and CEP to hear their requests for changes in federal regulations to secure the pensions of more than 25,000 Canadian forestry workers.

The minister agreed to such a meeting, but only after they met with his provincial counterparts first. Those provincial meetings have now happened, so I ask today, has the minister finally met with these representatives as he said he would, and if not, is such a meeting scheduled? Will the minister be part of the solution?