Debates of Feb. 5th, 2009

Child Care

[Michael Savage, Liberal, Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS]

Mr. Speaker, according to the Childcare Resource and Research Unit, since the Conservative government came to power in 2006, child care space expansion has evaporated. The government's plan to create spaces was a dismal failure. Families know it; the government knows it.

The minister has now offended people on EI, speaks of affordable housing as a temporary need, and now speaks of a fictional 60,000 child care spaces. The minister's indifference is appalling. When will she wake up to the reality of working families? When will she take early learning and child care seriously?

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

Mr. Speaker, for three elections the Liberals promised a national child care program and did not deliver a bit of it, not a space.

It is the provinces that are reporting that thanks to our funding, they have created 60,000 spaces. In fact our government is spending three times as much money on early child care and early learning as the Liberals ever did. Canadians deserve it, families need it, and we are delivering it.

Chalk River Nuclear Facilities

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, after 10 days of questioning, the minister is finally tabling a report confirming the radioactive leaks, both liquid and gaseous, at Chalk River. The Conservatives have known for exactly two months now. Apparently everyone knew, except 33 million Canadians.

Will the minister admit that if the information had not been leaked to the media, Atomic Energy Canada would never have acknowledged the facts and Canadians would never have known?

[Lisa Raitt, Conservative, Minister of Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, we asked for reports from AECL, from the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, and from our Natural Resources Canada officials. They produced reports. The reports were received yesterday and tabled this morning in Parliament to give full disclosure to Canadians that there was no radioactive leak into the Ottawa River and that there is no risk to the health and safety of Canadians.

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Mr. Speaker, given the events of 2007 at Chalk River, any event of concern should have been a top concern and a top priority for the minister. It is clear from the report tabled today that there was a radioactive leak in early December. It is also clear that the minister did absolutely nothing to get the details until a week ago.

If she takes nuclear safety and the supply of medical isotopes seriously, why did it take her seven weeks and a media story to ask for a report?

[Lisa Raitt, Conservative, Minister of Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, as I have indicated before, I was made aware at the time of the incident and unplanned closure at Chalk River on December 6. I was given an assurance by the CNSC and by the AECL, which has been proven to be true, that there was no health and safety risk to Canadians because of the incident at Chalk River.

It is very important to remember that the facts are important for the Canadian public. We have tabled the facts here today. The truth is there. I invite Canadians to read it and not listen to the constant fearmongering from the other side of the House.

Small Craft Harbours

[James Lunney, Conservative, Nanaimo—Alberni, BC]

Mr. Speaker, in ridings such as Nanaimo--Alberni, the interface between man and marine-based commerce is concentrated around small craft harbours.

Could the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans explain how measures in our economic action plan will impact coastal communities?

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

Mr. Speaker, I understand that the member for Nanaimo—Alberni has always been a good advocate for harbours, especially in his riding.

Members from the fishing communities should stand proud as this government will deliver millions more for core harbours in Canada and for a new harbour in Nunavut. This funding will also create jobs in coastal communities right across the country.

In our economic action plan, we did profile harbours in coastal communities such as Nanaimo--Cowichan, in Acadie—Bathurst in New Brunswick and in Gaspésie--Îles-de-la-Madeleine in Quebec, but I must point out that members who represent those ridings--

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

I am afraid the hon. member's time has expired. I am sorry.

The hon. member for Welland.

Food Safety

[Malcolm Allen, NDP, Welland, ON]

Mr. Speaker, despite listeriosis, despite salmonella, the government, just as was the case with the previous Liberal government, still does not get it.

The Auditor General today told us that we spend more time, more money and more resources inspecting food that leaves our country than food that enters our country. This is extremely disturbing.

Why does the government have higher food safety standards for exports than the food that is being fed to our grandparents, our parents, and our children?

[Gerry Ritz, Conservative, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board]

Mr. Speaker, I welcome the question from my hon. colleague opposite, but I have read those reports. We take them very seriously. The Auditor General does tremendous work in giving us a report card to renew our vigour in making sure the food supply for Canadians is safe. I am not sure what the member opposite read, but he is not very factual.

The Environment

[Linda Duncan, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the government has failed again on addressing climate change and toxins.

The Commissioner for the Environment said it himself: negligible results, failed analysis, inability to report real measures taken, reliance on voluntary, failed enforcement. Now the government is ploughing multi-billions into unproven carbon capture technologies.

Could the government tell Canadians what would be different this time? What new measures will the minister announce to ensure accountability and real results?

[Jim Prentice, Conservative, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, we welcome the commissioner's report. It contains valuable recommendations that the government is taking action on with respect to a number of areas in terms of some of the accounting issues that are raised. We have already taken action with respect to recommendations from the round table on the environment, a group I met with immediately after becoming the minister to discuss these very issues.

In terms of investments in technologies that will reduce greenhouse gases, surely it is clear even to the NDP that such investments are essential. Renewable energies and investments in technologies are what will deal with our greenhouse gas emissions.

Transportation

[Pascal-Pierre Paillé, Bloc, Louis-Hébert, QC]

Mr. Speaker, a federal report indicates that Canadian National knowingly neglected work that its own engineers suggested be carried out on the Quebec bridge. In the meantime, the structure is deteriorating and the federal government is hiding behind its latest legal manoeuvre to justify its silence and inaction.

What is this government waiting for to repossess the Quebec bridge and carry out the work required for the safety of all users?

[John Baird, Conservative, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, we are working very hard on public safety in Quebec and throughout Canada. That is one of my department's priorities. We are spending a great deal of money this year to improve the quality of our bridges. We will continue to do so without the support of the Bloc members because they vote against our action plans.

Infrastructure

[Christiane Gagnon, Bloc, Québec, QC]

Mr. Speaker, here is another example of the Conservatives' lack of political responsibility when it comes to issues in the Quebec City area.

In an interview, the member for Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière implied that all three levels of government would make up the $13 million shortfall to complete work on the water system in Shannon.

Does the Minister of National Defence confirm what his colleague said and, if so, does he realize that he is relieving his government of its responsibility and shifting two thirds of that responsibility onto the Government of Quebec and the City of Shannon, when it is the federal government that is responsible for this work?

[Josée Verner, Conservative, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, we have had a number of discussions with the mayor of Shannon. We are concerned by the needs the community has expressed. However, what is very irresponsible is that the action plan we tabled last week contained $12 billion for infrastructure, yet the member for Québec and her colleagues from the Quebec City area voted against it.

[Sukh Dhaliwal, Liberal, Newton—North Delta, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Finance said that the funds will flow for Vancouver's new Evergreen rapid transit line, but he failed to include it in the budget.

My question is simple. Can the minister tell us right here and right now how much money his government is going to commit to the Evergreen line and when B.C. will get it?

[John Baird, Conservative, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, because of the efforts of many hard-working British Columbians, including the Minister of Canadian Heritage, the Minister of International Trade and the British Columbia caucus, we are working hard.

I can commit to the hon. member that we are going to fund enough in that project to get the job done.

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the crumbling infrastructure of our cities ought to be a priority for the Conservative government, especially in a time of economic crisis. However, the money has not been flowing. In British Columbia, only seven building Canada fund projects have been announced, and all seven are in Conservative ridings.

That is disgraceful. All British Columbians deserve to have their infrastructure needs met. When will the Prime Minister stop exploiting the financial crisis to build a giant Conservative pork barrel and start taking his job seriously for all Canadians?

[John Baird, Conservative, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, last week those members said that no projects had been funded. This week they say there is an orgy of spending going on, but only in Conservative ridings. I can tell the member opposite that we are committed to public transit in the greater Vancouver area.

I can say very directly that when one looks at British Columbia and the results of what the people of British Columbia delivered on election day, it is no wonder so much is going to Conservative ridings, because there are an awful lot of them in B.C.

Credit Card Interest Rates

[Glenn Thibeault, NDP, Sudbury, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Visa saw a 35% increase in its profits, achieved mostly off the backs of Canadian families. Now Canadian Tire is the latest company jumping on the rip-off-consumers bandwagon. Why is it that credit card companies continue to raise interest rates when the Bank of Canada's rate continues to decrease? It is because they know no one is going to stop them.

Does the Conservative government seriously think a consumer awareness program will help solve the skyrocketing debt that Canadian families are facing?

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for once again raising the same issue that has been answered many times in this House. We are also very concerned about it. Our Minister of Finance has spoken to many of the lending institutions to raise that issue.

However, if the hon. member would wish to pass this on to his constituents, there is actually a group set up to listen to these complaints. It is the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada. It is available to all members and all Canadians online. He could help his constituents instead of asking questions to give them an answer.

[Glenn Thibeault, NDP, Sudbury, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservative government's plan will not do anything more than inform Canadian consumers just how much they are being ripped off. Credit card balances have risen 40% since 2004 and continue to increase as families cope with this financial crisis. Canadian families should not bear the brunt of these tough economic times.

Why will the government not end these cash grabs and protect families who are trying to make ends meet? Why will the government not stand up to the banks and credit card companies and do something now to help Canadians burdened by debt?

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

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member had the opportunity to do something. He could have voted for the budget. In fact, he did not even read the budget because we talked about financial literacy, explaining to Canadians so they could actually understand. We are undertaking a project to prepare Canadians to deal with their financial institutions and ask the right questions.

Instead of voting against everything that this government wants to provide to Canadians, such as new jobs and support for the unemployed, he should have supported the budget.