Debates of Dec. 7th, 2009

Afghanistan

[Laurie Hawn, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, we have never said this is the military's fault. The military has been acting in good faith with the agreements that have been in place, just as the government has been acting in good faith, and frankly, just as the previous government acted in good faith on the arrangements that were in place at the time.

This is not a new story. Members opposite are hashing this out like it is some kind of revelation. This is an old story that was talked about in this House almost three years ago. This is absolute nonsense. They are trying to pick fly droppings out of pepper to build a story around, and it will just not work.

International Cooperation

[Johanne Deschamps, Bloc, Laurentides—Labelle, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we were dismayed to learn that the Minister of International Cooperation is getting ready to cut funding for two NGOs: KAIROS and Alternatives. KAIROS has been working with CIDA for 35 years, and Alternatives is a major NGO in Quebec that has been active in international cooperation since 1994.

Can the minister tell us why she wants to cut funding for these NGOs, which work in the areas of human rights, social justice, democracy and poverty reduction? Could it be because of their progressive ideas?

[Bev Oda, Conservative, Minister of International Cooperation]

Mr. Speaker, the member's question gives me an opportunity to re-articulate our government's commitment to effective international development and aid.

We want to make sure we are making a difference. That is why we are supporting strengthening justice systems, human rights commissions and ombudsmen. We are also ensuring that people on the ground are getting access to education and better health care.

These efforts are really making a difference in the lives of those living in poverty.

[Johanne Deschamps, Bloc, Laurentides—Labelle, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the federal government has funded these NGOs for many years, because of the important services they provide and the values they promote.

Why does the Minister of International Cooperation want to prevent them from continuing their work, if not to punish them for the positions they are taking in Canada?

[Bev Oda, Conservative, Minister of International Cooperation]

Mr. Speaker, as we have articulated, we want to ensure that our international efforts are effective. This means that tough decisions will have to be made.

However, it also means we will continue to support the Primate's World Relief, which is working in Bangladesh, Mozambique and Tanzania improving the health care for women and working on HIV-AIDS; the Catholic Agency for International Aid and Development, because it is supporting national literacy; the Mennonite Central Committee, because it is providing food security and income generation; the United Church of Canada, because it is also providing support for increased--

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

Order. The hon. member for Scarborough—Guildwood.

[John McKay, Liberal, Scarborough—Guildwood, ON]

Mr. Speaker, last week we learned that KAIROS, a respected Christian NGO, was being cut. It represents one of the largest churches in Canada. Its only sin, apparently, was speaking out against the government's dismal human rights record and environmental record. It appears that anyone criticizing this government will be cut.

After 36 years, what other explanation can this minister give for cutting KAIROS funding with no advance warning?

[Bev Oda, Conservative, Minister of International Cooperation]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for Scarborough—Guildwood for the question because it was his bill that our government supported which firmly entrenches poverty reduction that underlines CIDA's work.

As I reported to the House, there are now over a billion people living in extreme poverty. That is why we will continue to support work that provides better health care, improved literacy, food security, water and sanitation facilities. That is why we continue to support the Primate's World Relief, the Catholic Agency for International Aid and Development, the Mennonite Central Committee and the United Church of Canada.

As the member for Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca has said, tough choices will have to be made--

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

Order. The hon. member for Scarborough—Guildwood.

[John McKay, Liberal, Scarborough—Guildwood, ON]

Mr. Speaker, this is ridiculous. The Anglican Church of Canada, the Mennonite Central Committee, the Presbyterian Church, the Catholic Church, the Lutherans, Development and Peace, and Quakers, are all being branded as subversive because they have the temerity to criticize this Conservative government.

Will the minister immediately restore funding to KAIROS to ensure that Canada's aid dollars are being spent in accordance with Bill C-293 just as these organizations want it done?

[Bev Oda, Conservative, Minister of International Cooperation]

Mr. Speaker, as I just indicated, we support the Primate's World Relief from the Catholic Church, the Presbyterian Church, the United Church, and World Vision, all of those church-based faiths.

The projects they are working on are actually making a difference, as I just said, with regard to health care, literacy, food security, water and sanitation.

In fact, it was a member of his party who said, “Tough choices will have to be made. You can't be all things to all people”. Right now Canada wants to make a real difference.

Postal Service

[Jean-Claude D'Amours, Liberal, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

Mr. Speaker, since 2006, more than 55,000 Canadians living in rural areas have lost the right to home mail delivery. More than 40 post offices have been closed.

Many Canadian seniors, like 86-year-old Elsie Bédard, now have to travel long distances to pick up their mail.

All Canadians should have the right to the same service, no matter where they live. The Liberal Party does not want a Canada where rural regions are penalized for the benefit of urban centres.

Why has the government done nothing to stop 55,000 Canadians from being deprived of home mail delivery?

[Rob Merrifield, Conservative, Minister of State (Transport)]

Mr. Speaker, that is absolutely false. When it comes to rural delivery, this government has put in a charter that actually guarantees a universal, effective and economically viable postal system right across the country.

That is a charter, which is an agreement between Canada Post and the people of Canada. On top of that charter there is a moratorium on any closures of post offices. We are acting and Canada Post is delivering.

[Jean-Claude D'Amours, Liberal, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

Mr. Speaker, if there were an agreement between the people of Canada and Canada Post, people would not be after federal MPs to change things.

Arlene Parks and other seniors of Lunenberg, Nova Scotia, are losing their rural mail service and will now have to walk long distances or drive to get their mail. There are examples of this all across this country.

Regardless of where Canadians live, they have a right to an equal quality of service. The Liberal Party does not support a Canada in which rural Canada has a lower level of service than urban Canada.

Why has the government done nothing to ensure that rural Canadians have the same rights to have the same service? Tell us why.

[Rob Merrifield, Conservative, Minister of State (Transport)]

Mr. Speaker, that is absolutely false. In fact, we put it in a charter to make sure there is a universal, effective and economically viable postal system right across the country.

Rural delivery will take place. The charter says: two days for local delivery, three days for national delivery and four days for international delivery.

That is what the charter says. Canada Post is guaranteeing that the mail is getting through. That is what is happening and we are making sure that it can do it.

Consumer Product Safety

[Rodney Weston, Conservative, Saint John, NB]

Mr. Speaker, Liberal senators, led by the Liberal leader, amended our consumer protection bill last week. These changes significantly weaken the bill and actually make it easier to protect animals than our own children.

Clearly, the Liberal leader has a complete disregard for the health and welfare of Canadians.

Could the hon. Minister of Health please tell us why it is so important to pass the bill as it was passed by the House without these damaging amendments?

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, last week under the direction of the Liberal leader, Liberal senators voted together to gut our consumer protection bill. These amendments are weak and contrary to the intent of the bill that was passed unanimously by members of the House.

They will cause confusion and uncertainty for industry, but more importantly will weaken the protection afforded by the original bill to those who will be purchasing gifts over the holiday season.

One death is one death too many. The Liberal leader, who has now admitted that he does not like the amendments, should share his reasons why with the senators and order them to vote down the amendments.

Afghanistan

[Jack Harris, NDP, St. John's East, NL]

Mr. Speaker, the Globe and Mail has just published sworn testimony by senior Canadian military officers and uncensored evidence that contradicts the repeated claims of the Minister of National Defence.

In this House, on nine separate occasions, the defence minister has said that no proof exists of even a single case of a Canadian-transferred detainee abused by Afghan security forces. We now know that this is not true.

Will the minister apologize for misleading the House and Canadian people, and will he finally commit to a full and independent public inquiry?

[Laurie Hawn, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, once again this is absolutely false. It is apples and oranges. We are talking about an issue that arose in the House two and a half or three years ago. It was discussed at that time.

It is not an issue of a Canadian transfer into the prison system. It is an issue or a situation of an operation in the field that was conducted, and when Canadian soldiers saw that something was going inappropriately, they took action.

There has never been a single proven allegation of abuse of a Canadian-transferred detainee into the prison system in Afghanistan. They are definitely clutching at straws, and it is just not going to work, because Canadians can see through this.

[Jack Harris, NDP, St. John's East, NL]

Mr. Speaker, that is not what the eye witnesses say, the Canadian military officers and soldiers who testified and wrote notes at the time.

With every passing day there comes a new revelation of this massive government cover-up of transfer to torture. With every passing day we get a new excuse from the Minister of National Defence.

Now that we know he misled the House, he has decided to blame generals by saying he relied on the advice they gave him. It is totally unacceptable to be passing the buck and trying to blame our dedicated military leaders or public servants.

When will the minister finally admit that the responsibility is his as Minister of National Defence?

[Laurie Hawn, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, this is simply outrageous. We have never blamed the military. We have supported the decisions made in the field by the military under very difficult circumstances in very good faith, just as the government has acted in very good faith.

We supported the military decisions then. We support the military decisions today, and we will support the military decisions tomorrow.

The member is incorrect.

Employment Insurance

[Michel Guimond, Bloc, Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the government seems incapable of implementing employment insurance measures that meet the real needs of workers in Quebec.

While the government's temporary program to encourage the training of older workers is supposed to apply to 50,000 workers, we learn that barely 6,000 workers—again, barely 6,000—have used it because the eligibility conditions are too restrictive.

What is the minister waiting for to acknowledge her mistake and ease the eligibility criteria in order to meet the needs of the unemployed?

[Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Conservative, Minister of National Revenue and Minister of State (Agriculture)]

Mr. Speaker, our transition assistance program allows those who have lost their employment to get employment insurance while receiving training for two years.

We are working together with the provinces since this is a provincial jurisdiction. We invite the Government of Quebec and the other provinces to promote this program in order for more workers or people who have lost their jobs to benefit from it.

[Michel Guimond, Bloc, Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the employment insurance benefits extension is based on the same thinking as the temporary labour training program. Since both programs are based on the same thinking and since the forestry workers have gone through too many periods of unemployment to be eligible for either program, only a fraction of the 190,000 claimants targeted by the government will benefit from an extension of employment insurance benefits.

What is the minister waiting for to ease the eligibility criteria in order to help the unemployed?

[Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Conservative, Minister of National Revenue and Minister of State (Agriculture)]

Mr. Speaker, again, the transition assistance envelope is $500 million. We are offering this program to the provinces so that long-tenured workers who have lost their jobs and want to get new training, or make a transition, can benefit from employment insurance during that period.

I repeat: this is a provincial jurisdiction, but we are making money available to the provinces to help workers who lose their jobs. We invite the Government of Quebec and the other provinces to promote this program among workers who have lost their employment.