Debates of Feb. 27th, 2009

Conservative Government

[Mario Laframboise, Bloc, Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC]

Mr. Speaker, this week, the Conservatives went to great lengths to try to hide their little family secret. After the access to information commission, they are trying to shove a $3 billion secret slush fund down the Liberals' throats, without any parliamentary control or standardized program. Furthermore, in committee, they did everything they could to prevent the continuation of the investigation into their electoral wrongdoings during the 2006 election.

What is the government trying to hide?

[Vic Toews, Conservative, President of the Treasury Board]

Mr. Speaker, we have nothing to hide, which is why we have come to the House and asked for $3 billion in order to move it ahead of the June schedule so the money can get into the hands of Canadian companies in order to stimulate the economy.

It is the members of the Bloc Québécois who are stifling our ability to get the money out. Let them explain to their constituents why their jobs are in jeopardy and why this government is trying to help them.

[Mario Laframboise, Bloc, Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC]

Mr. Speaker, in Quebec we will always respect Justice Gomery's recommendations.

By opposing the reopening of the investigation into the in and out scandal, the Conservatives are saying that the Chief Electoral Officer did not have good reason to question the ethics of their party. By refusing to amend the Access to Information Act, they are refusing to listen to the last four commissioners. By creating a $3 billion discretionary fund for the Prime Minister, the Conservative government is refusing to listen to Justice Gomery.

Why does the Prime Minister stubbornly refuse to listen to those who are asking for greater transparency?

[Vic Toews, Conservative, President of the Treasury Board]

Mr. Speaker, I am more than happy to invite that member to any briefing that he wants about what this $3 billion actually means. It does not remove any of the criteria. It removes none of the criteria and the reporting that this government needs to make to the Parliament of Canada, as requested by the Leader of the Opposition, will be done and it will include the $3 billion.

I would invite that member to get on board so that we can help his constituents, even if he does not want to help them.

Airport Security

[Gurbax Malhi, Liberal, Bramalea—Gore—Malton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Transport made the decision to cut $33 million in security subsidy to Canada's airports and an additional $15 million in yesterday's main estimates.

Pearson International Airport, which is in my riding, receives $3.2 million to offset security costs that will now likely be thrust onto air travellers in the form of new charges, only adding to the cost of flying and doing business.

Why is the Minister of Transport purposely trying to limit commerce and increase the financial difficulty for businesses?

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

Mr. Speaker, it is true that we take security very seriously in this country. We are reviewing all security measures to ensure that when passengers get on planes they are secure and safe when they travel in this country. We will to continue to do that.

Security is our commitment to the Canadian public and we will ensure it is funded appropriately. We look forward to secure and safe travel in this country.

Tackling Violent Crime

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

Mr. Speaker, the RCMP and the Canadian Border Services Agency play critical roles in regard to the safety of Canadians.

Violent crime is increasing in the streets of our major cities like Vancouver, meanwhile the government cuts $29 million from the RCMP budget. These crimes are being committed with illegal arms coming across the border, meanwhile the government cuts $12 million from the CBSA budget.

Canadians feel less safe than they did three years ago. Is this the Conservative version of tough on crime?

[Dave MacKenzie, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, in actual fact, the RCMP have added almost 1,600 officers to the street in the last year. We have also added funds to the provinces and municipalities to add police officers to the street. We are starting to see the results of that in many places.

As the hon. colleague will know, we introduced legislation yesterday to put additional tools into the hands of police officers and the courts.

Municipal Affairs

[Marcel Proulx, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Mr. Speaker, April could turn out the be the cruellest month of all for the Minister of Transport. That is when Ottawa's mayor goes on trial to defend himself against criminal allegations that he negotiated an offer of a parole board appointment with the minister. The appointment was allegedly for Terry Kilrea, a former mayoral candidate. Other Conservatives operatives are also alleged to have discussed the appointment.

The minister has now been subpoenaed. Could he confirm that he will not use his parliamentary privilege to avoid testifying?

[Jay Hill, Conservative, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, it has always been apparent that there would be a number of witnesses who would be called in this case. I am pleased that my colleague, the Minister of Transport, has always been fully co-operative with the authorities about this issue. He will continue to do so in the future.

[Marcel Proulx, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Mr. Speaker, a Crown witness has said that Mr. O'Brien and the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities met at Hy's restaurant on July 26, 2006, and that they discussed an appointment for Terry Kilrea. The investigators said that the restaurant manager confirmed this information.

Can the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities clearly tell us if he had a conversation with Larry O'Brien at Hy's on July 26, 2006, yes or no?

[Jay Hill, Conservative, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, as I just said, it is important for the House to note and realize that my colleague, the Minister of Transport, is not accused of anything. He is one of many witnesses. He has been fully co-operative with this case from the very beginning. He will continue to do so in the future.

If my hon. colleague across the way has any specific allegations concerning my colleague, make them outside.

Justice

[Dona Cadman, Conservative, Surrey North, BC]

Mr. Speaker, every day we hear of a new drive-by shooting or drug bust related to criminal organizations. While we were hard at work during the last Parliament cracking down on crime, the opposition parties were busy opposing, obstructing and playing partisan political games. Now those same parties have finally opened their eyes to the problem.

As usual our, government is ahead of the opposition by introducing important legislation to crack down on gangs and organized crime. Would the parliamentary secretary tell the House exactly what we have done to protect Canadians from organized crime?

[Rob Moore, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice]

Mr. Speaker, I sincerely thank the member for her dedication to improving Canada's justice system. As my hon. colleague stated, the Minister of Justice introduced a bill yesterday, which specifically targets gangs and organized crime activity in our country.

Murder, drive-by shootings, aggravated assault against police officers and assaulting a police officer with a weapon will all carry significant penalties. We will ensure that the criminal enterprise is effectively disrupted. Every minute a gang member is behind bars is a minute that he or she is not creating more innocent victims in our communities.

Let us not be fooled. When it comes to fighting crime, Canadians know they can count on members on this side of the House.

Aboriginal Affairs

[Dennis Bevington, NDP, Western Arctic, NT]

Mr. Speaker, this week, while the Conservative government has been playing defence on the international stage over its handling of the tar sands, another report was issued, outlining how their out of control development is damaging the Athabasca-Slave-Mackenzie watersheds.

This latest report adds to the mounting evidence that toxic chemicals from tar sands development are the cause of increased cancer rates in Aboriginal communities situated downstream, but the government does nothing.

When will the government take action to protect Canadians who are dying of cancer from tar sands pollution in our waterways?

[John Duncan, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development]

Mr. Speaker, those are irrational allegations. We have put $1.6 billion into infrastructure spending for first nations. We are putting that money into necessary things like water and waste water. We are ensuring that every community has safe drinking water.

Health and safety is our first and main concern. I think the member should rest assured that the government is looking after this circumstance.

[Carol Hughes, NDP, Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the government just does not get it. Water problems are not only in the Northwest Territories but across Canada. The government promised proper and meaningful consultation and accommodation with first nations on the issue of safe drinking water. This is not happening.

The government is ignoring Supreme Court rulings and precondition recommendations by the expert panel on safe drinking water.

Why is the government proceeding with the guise of consultation with first nations when it has apparently already decided the remedy, without any real consultation?

[John Duncan, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development]

Mr. Speaker, we inherited, in the transition from the last administration, 180 high-risk water systems. That number is now less than 60, and we have an action plan to reduce that number.

Once again we are getting the job done. The NDP and the opposition parties are erecting blockades.

Education

[Nicolas Dufour, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Mr. Speaker, in the budget, the government provides $17.5 million in additional credits for humanities research. Because of its ideology, the government is establishing national priorities and focusing its scholarships in one area—business.

Does the government realize that, by choosing this approach, it will have disastrous consequences for knowledge and that by accepting applications for merit scholarships solely in one area— business—it is attacking freedom of thought for our students, our future researchers and our universities?

[Mike Lake, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, our government has increased funding for scholarships at the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada by 50%, or $75 million. More scholarships are available to more graduate students from all areas of study.

Stakeholders asked us to make more scholarships available to business students, and we have done that. Canada graduate scholarships will continue to fund social sciences and humanities studies and also support business and finance research.

[Nicolas Dufour, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Mr. Speaker, there must be a problem with interpretation. He did not understand the question. I will ask another.

By focusing only on economics in the research sector rather than on academic quality, is the Conservative government not showing that it is narrow-minded, ideologically stubborn and prone to partisan meddling?

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and to the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, the Bloc likes to talk about the use of the state's financial resources. However, it used taxpayers' money to buy advertising in a newspaper that spread racist messages, made threats of violence against Quebeckers and racist comments about U.S. President Obama. The Bloc should be explaining what it does with taxpayers' money.

Canada Revenue Agency

[Yasmin Ratansi, Liberal, Don Valley East, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the latest news from gang violence in Vancouver is very troubling. Police in British Columbia have indicated that an employee with the Canada Revenue Agency was leaking information on behalf of rivals of the notorious United Nations gang.

Canadians would like to know, when did the government become aware of the leak and what actions has it taken to protect the integrity of CRA?

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Works and Government Services and to the Minister of National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, the Canada Revenue Agency has a very strict code of ethics for all its employees. Any allegation of wrongdoing is taken very seriously and thoroughly investigated. We have a very rigorous process in place.

[Yasmin Ratansi, Liberal, Don Valley East, ON]

Mr. Speaker, that is not a very reassuring response.

The parliamentary secretary has probably not read the Auditor General's report. Canadians want to know that their personal information is being properly protected by the government and not falling into the hands of organized crime.

When was the government aware of this very serious breach of security and what steps have been taken to protect the vital information of Canadians?