Debates of Feb. 11th, 2009

The Economy

[Tony Clement, Conservative, Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, I can assure the hon. member that we are as disappointed by these layoffs as he professes to be.

We know that these are challenging times for mining companies around the world due to the global economic crisis. That is why we acted. That is why we were engaged in discussions with Xstrata over the last few days. That is why we were able to see Xstrata commit at least $290 million more to the region of Sudbury. Legal conditions were put in. We expect Xstrata to live up to these conditions.

[Anthony Rota, Liberal, Nipissing—Timiskaming, ON]

Mr. Speaker, either the minister is not listening to northern Ontarians or he just cannot be bothered. The mayor of Sudbury says that they are not getting the help they need now and there is no hope of any help in the future from the government.

Last December the Prime Minister went to unprecedented lengths to save his own job. Will he explain to northern Ontarians why he has not done the same for them?

[Tony Clement, Conservative, Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, I actually took the time to speak to the mayor of Sudbury. I can tell this House that the mayor of Sudbury understood that we were working around the clock, over the weekend, to fight for Sudburians and their rights, and to fight for their jobs.

He understood that we got further legal commitments from Xstrata to the tune of $290 million to $390 million. He also understood that we are working with Sudbury on a host of issues, including the building Canada plan and the economic plan for Canada. He understands.

Why does the hon. member not understand? It is because he does not have an idea of his own. He does not have any ideas of his own for this House, similar to the rest of his caucus.

Culture

[Gilles Duceppe, Bloc, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the former heritage minister slashed cultural programs without consulting anyone. In contrast, the current Minister of Canadian Heritage travelled across Canada to sound out the cultural community. But this morning, we learned that the artists who supposedly gave their support for the Canada Prizes for the Arts never actually did, and most were never even consulted.

Does the Prime Minister realize that his Minister of Canadian Heritage told us the exact opposite of the truth?

[Stephen Harper, Conservative, Prime Minister]

On the contrary, Mr. Speaker. This government established science and medicine prizes to create world-class awards for this country. Now, we want to do the same thing for culture, with the artistic community. The Minister of Canadian Heritage and his department are holding consultations to develop specific proposals. I hope the Bloc leader will support this important prize for the cultural community.

[Gilles Duceppe, Bloc, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, all the groups that he claims to have consulted and that supposedly supported the prizes have said they did not. The government is not consulting, it is just manipulating public opinion.

Does he realize that this is just smoke and mirrors and that he has no intention of reinstating the cultural programs he slashed essentially for ideological reasons?

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

Mr. Speaker, that is absolutely false. The proposal the Bloc is talking about is a proposal by two people that is not our policy. It is not our policy, but an existing proposal. We are holding consultations about creating a Canadian prize. We will submit a proposal to the House. The Bloc and the other members of the House will be able to look at the details, and we will have a more constructive debate on that proposal. What he is talking about is a proposal that is not ours. We are making unprecedented investments in the arts and culture. Once again, the Bloc is voting against this.

[Carole Lavallée, Bloc, Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we are told that the partners who supposedly support the Canada Prize for the Arts were never consulted. Alain Dancyger, director of les Grands Ballets Canadiens, has been quoted as saying that he was very anxious to add the voice of les Grands Ballets to those of his colleagues, and to point out that, not only were les Grands Ballets never consulted, but also that the very fact of creating this fund and tieing up $25 million at a time when our companies and artists are likely to starve to death as a result of the cancellation of two key programs is disgraceful —not the Bloc's word, but his.

What is the minister's answer to all these critics of his program?

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

Mr. Speaker, she is speaking of people's criticisms of a proposal that is not ours. It is a proposal, not our policy. We wish to create prizes for the artists and the culture of our country, as we did last year with the Gairdner Canada award in world health for scientists and physicians.

It is important for the country to draw attention to its creative people. We take pride in the creativity in the arts and culture of our country, and so that is what we are doing. The Bloc is opposing something that is not our policy. When the hon. member has the details, she will be able to discuss it further.

[Carole Lavallée, Bloc, Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC]

Mr. Speaker, his Canada prizes for arts and creativity are in his budget, and represent $25 million. The minister ought to have the sense of honour and responsibility to do the one thing that must be done: set up real programs that can help artists promote culture abroad. That is what all cultural stakeholders are calling for.

The question is simple. Will he listen to reason and will he fund real programs for the dissemination of culture abroad, or better still, transfer those funds to Quebec?

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

Mr. Speaker, all of the demands by the Bloc Québécois are already in the budget it is voting against. We are investing $22 million this year to help our artists on the international scene. The Bloc is voting against the needs of artists on the international scene. We are the ones making the investments.

The Economy

[Jack Layton, NDP, Toronto—Danforth, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Canada has posted its first trade deficit in 33 years. The Prime Minister does not care. His economic policies cost Canada's trade balance $1.6 billion in December. Canada is an exporting nation, and it is the Prime Minister's responsibility to make sure our export industries, especially manufacturing and forestry, are healthy.

What will the Prime Minister do to boost these key sectors of our economy?

[Stephen Harper, Conservative, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, many measures in the budget will help these sectors. Unfortunately, the NDP decided to vote against these measures before even reading them. That is a completely irresponsible position, considering the families that depend on these sectors.

[Jack Layton, NDP, Toronto—Danforth, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the policies we are seeing are the result of the government's policies throughout the preceding months and each day we see more evidence of the failure of the policies. In the last few days we have learned that a quarter of a million jobs were lost just in the last 90 days. We have learned that bankruptcies are up 50%. Now we learn that for the first time in 33 years we are running a trade deficit.

How can the Prime Minister still believe that his policies and his so-called stimulus package are up to the job?

[Stephen Harper, Conservative, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, Parliament has not even passed these measures let alone implemented them.

That opposition leader talks about trade. That is the same leader who last week was urging the government to use its stimulus package as part of a trade war with the United States. That is why the opposition is not trusted to govern this economy.

Ethics

[Jack Layton, NDP, Toronto—Danforth, ON]

Mr. Speaker, with the economic indicators we are seeing here it is hard to believe how Canadians can have any trust in the Conservative government.

Since Friday the government has steadfastly refused to make any comment on why it has dropped its case against the Liberal Party on the Cadman affair. In March, in this House, the Prime Minister said the issue would “--prove to be in court the biggest mistake the leader of the Liberal Party has ever made”.

Does the Prime Minister now agree with the Liberal Party allegations on the Cadman affair, or is there something else that Canadians should know about why this case was dropped?

[Stephen Harper, Conservative, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I have already said all I have to say about this case. I would note that the leader of the Liberal Party is no longer in his position. Maybe the leader of the NDP had something to do with that too.

Employment Insurance

[Judy Sgro, Liberal, York West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Sidney Ebanks is 61 years old. He is a proud man who never missed a day of work in the last 18 years. His wife is unemployed due to a long-term illness and they are supporting an orphaned granddaughter through university. Unfortunately, Sidney was recently laid off with the closing of an auto parts plant in my riding.

So, with no pension, a minimum severance, and EI clearly insufficient to pay the bills, what hope does the minister have to offer Sidney and the increasing number of families who are caught in similar situations?

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

Mr. Speaker, it is unfortunate that so many families are facing situations like this during this global economic downturn. My heart really goes out to them.

That is why we are trying to implement programs that will help them adjust to new jobs in different sectors, where those jobs will last so that families like this can get back to work and continue to provide for their families.

Foreign Credentials

[Rob Oliphant, Liberal, Don Valley West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, new Canadians in Toronto are particularly hard hit by this recession. On Friday, I am meeting with Mr. Alamgir Hossain, a Canadian citizen who emigrated from Bangladesh. He is a professional engineer who lost his job when his company downsized in December.

What specific plans does the government have to help new Canadians like Mr. Hossain find a job, pay his rent, and keep his two young children fed while waiting for a Conservative stimulus?

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

Mr. Speaker, that question coming from that side of the House is a bit surprising, since it was the Liberals, when they were the government, who froze settlement funding for 10 years, that is, assistance to help newcomers adapt to Canada.

That is why our government, when we came to power, invested significantly in helping newcomers adapt to life in Canada. We have launched offices to help them get their credentials recognized, so that they can put their skills to work, continue to contribute to the economy, look after their families and succeed here.

Automotive Industry

[Frank Valeriote, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

Mr. Speaker, General Motors is cutting 10,000 jobs. Canadian production has fallen 50% in one year. In Guelph, auto parts manufacturer Linamar has also cut salaries. The crisis in the auto sector translates into job losses in every corner of Canada, leaving communities devastated. The auto industry is still waiting for the terms of the commercial secured credit facilities to stimulate leasing and purchases.

Why is the government dragging its feet on the auto file? What can it possibly say to the people of Guelph who are losing their jobs?

[Tony Clement, Conservative, Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, quite the opposite is true. In fact, on December 20, our Prime Minister and the Premier of Ontario, Mr. McGuinty, announced that we are willing to come to the table with the auto sector and the assemblers to make sure that they can continue to produce 20% of their capacity here in Canada.

We have engaged in discussions with them. We were the first movers. We were in concert with the United States and of course this government was in concert with the Ontario government. So, we have acted. We have acted in the best interests of Canadians and we will continue to do so.

Employment Insurance

[Ruby Dhalla, Liberal, Brampton—Springdale, ON]

Mr. Speaker, last week, in my riding of Brampton—Springdale, I visited the Chrysler action centre. I met Priscilla, a single mother, who is worried about how she will put food on the table. I met with Randy, a father, who is worried about next month's mortgage payment. Both have lost their jobs in the auto sector. They tried to apply for EI, but they could not get through. When someone does answer the phone, they have to wait weeks to even get their cheques.

When will the Conservatives show some compassion and start caring enough about the women, the men, the families, and the seniors who are so desperately struggling in our country?

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

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member does not have a monopoly on caring for these people. We do care. That is why we have been stepping up the resources so that people can get their EI in a timely manner. We are currently bringing back recent retirees. We are bringing back people who have been loaned to other departments. We have extended the hours for our call centre. We are accelerating our investment in computer systems.

We are working on a proactive basis with employers to ensure that the Randys and the Priscillas of the world do get the benefits that they need and deserve in a very quick manner.