House of Commons Hansard #23 of the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was budget.
Bonnie Crombie Liberal Mississauga—Streetsville, ON
Mr. Speaker, reviewing is not enough. U.S. Steel in Hamilton, formerly known as Stelco, will be closing its doors affecting 1,500 jobs. This is in addition to the 700 lost last November. Auto, forestry, manufacturing, mining, and now the steel industry are suffering badly. One by one we are witnessing the pride of Canadian industry slipping away.
The backbone of our economy is snapping. When is the government going to step in and prevent permanent damage?
Tony Clement ConservativeMinister of Industry
Mr. Speaker, I would remind the hon. member that Canada is not an island. We have a world economic recession, economic turmoil I would indeed say, and every indicator indicates that our government's actions before the budget, during the budget and after the budget are helping Canada to the extent that we are doing better than many other countries.
Yes, we are still in this situation and we are doing everything we can. Every minister in the House is doing everything that they can, focused like a laser beam on the issues, without, quite frankly, her party leader having any positive input and any positive idea to help this country.
Bob Rae Liberal Toronto Centre, ON
Mr. Speaker, the government of France announced today that it is appointing a special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan. The government of the United States has done it, the government of Great Britain has done it, and the government of Germany has done it.
I wonder if the minister can tell us, why does the government still continue to reject an approach that was put forward by John Manley that will make sure that our political efforts are equal to the sacrifice of our troops?
Peter Kent ConservativeMinister of State of Foreign Affairs (Americas)
Mr. Speaker, we do have an envoy to Afghanistan. His name is Mr. Ron Hoffmann. He is our ambassador. We have an envoy in the form of a high commissioner in Islamabad. We have confidence on this side of the House in our foreign affairs professionals, even if the opposition does not.
Bob Rae Liberal Toronto Centre, ON
Mr. Speaker, as others here have already pointed out, according to the U.S. Department of State, it is clear that the facts surrounding the treatment of Afghan detainees are disturbing. The U.S. Department of State has made its reports available on line.
Why is the department refusing to disclose existing complaints or tell us exactly what is going on with this very important issue?
Peter Kent ConservativeMinister of State of Foreign Affairs (Americas)
Mr. Speaker, Canada, as the hon. member knows, transfers prisoners to the government of Afghanistan, which, as a sovereign state, has the primary responsibility for ensuring the rights of detainees are respected.
We continue to work closely with the government of Afghanistan to strengthen its capacity for the treatment of prisoners. Since modifications were made in 2007, there have been no complaints to the Department of Foreign Affairs about the treatment of prisoners.
Robert Bouchard Bloc Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC
Mr. Speaker, Bernard Généreux, the chairman of the Fédération québécoise des municipalités has spoken out against the political bad faith, or lack of imagination, of the Minister of State (Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec), who maintains that the Conservative government cannot help the forestry industry under the softwood lumber agreement.
Can the minister tell us clearly and simply just what section of that agreement prevents loan guarantees?
Denis Lebel ConservativeMinister of State (Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec)
Mr. Speaker, since my colleague must be familiar with the forestry file, he must also be well aware that this problem has been around for a number of years and that the main problem is the issue of market outlets. In order to sell our products, we need to be able to export them.
Since the loan guarantees given by Quebec and Ontario are now subject to arbitration, it would be inappropriate for me to comment and might be prejudicial to the case .
My hon. friend ought to know that we have put $170 million on the table for the development of new products and outlets, and for further expansion of our businesses.
Robert Bouchard Bloc Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Prime Minister told us that, in the name of Canadian unity, Quebec ought to agree to pay 60% of the penalties the London Court of International Arbitration has imposed, when it is Ontario that is responsible for 60% of excess imports. That's Canadian unity for you. Quebec does not have to pay for Ontario.
Will the minister have the courage to tell the people in his riding, the people of Saint-Félicien who are losing their jobs, that Ontario needs to be protected, and it is just too bad for them? Will the minister admit that he is nothing more than a token Quebecker within this Conservative government?
Stockwell Day ConservativeMinister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway
Mr. Speaker, my colleague has made it very clear. He is concerned about the people in this industry. It is clear, however, that the loan guarantee situation is before the courts at this time. We have also said that we were going to work with the provinces to distribute the amounts fairly according to the court's findings.
Yves Lessard Bloc Chambly—Borduas, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development is saying that adding five weeks of benefits will help those who need it most. If she really wants to help claimants, she should eliminate the unfair penalty of a two week waiting period for employment insurance.
Does the minister not think that eliminating the two week waiting period would be the best way to help all claimants, while also injecting money directly into the economy?
Diane Finley ConservativeMinister of Human Resources and Skills Development
Mr. Speaker, as I said yesterday and numerous times before then, we consulted Canadians before we prepared our budget. They told us that they wanted more weeks at the end of their regular benefits. So we provided five extra weeks as part of our economic action plan. That is what Canadians asked for and that is what we will give them. The Bloc Québécois should support Canadians, including Quebeckers.
Yves Lessard Bloc Chambly—Borduas, QC
Mr. Speaker, if the minister really wants to help the largest number of people, she should make it easier to access employment insurance. The numbers coming out of her own department show that only 46% of unemployed people actually receive benefits.
Does the minister really think that she is helping the largest number of people when she insists on denying benefits to 54% of unemployed people?
Diane Finley ConservativeMinister of Human Resources and Skills Development
Mr. Speaker, he is wrong. Here are the facts: 82% of people who have paid into EI receive EI benefits and are eligible. In these difficult times when the economy is deteriorating, we are making it easier for people to access employment insurance.
They can get access to EI benefits earlier with less work qualifications and for a longer period of time. That is helping Canadians.
Ken Dryden Liberal York Centre, ON
Mr. Speaker, the assumption of the House is that members speak the truth. So even though the minister of HRSD continually gives the House wrong information, I assume she is just not aware that for example the so-called child care money her government sends to the provinces under the Canada social transfer does not actually have to be spent on child care. The number of spaces it creates is not known because the provinces do not have to keep track, because they do not have to spend it on child care. If it were known, it would be tens of thousands less than the 60,000 she claims.
Is the minister aware just how wrong her information is?
Diane Finley ConservativeMinister of Human Resources and Skills Development
Mr. Speaker, I am aware that the provinces claim to have created over 60,000 spaces, thanks to the money that we provided them, which his government never did.
When that gentleman was minister in charge of child care spaces, how many spaces did he create? Zero.
Ken Dryden Liberal York Centre, ON
Mr. Speaker, is the minister aware that the average child care tuition in Canada is $8,000 a year and the average university tuition is less than $5,000? Is she aware that parents can better afford the cost of university for their kids because, being older, both are more likely to be in the workplace?
Is she aware that there are scholarships, bursaries and loans for university but almost nothing for child care? Is she aware that 20-year-old university kids can work part-time jobs but not many 3-year-old kids can?
Is she aware that her taxable $100 a month has almost no impact on child care?
Diane Finley ConservativeMinister of Human Resources and Skills Development
Mr. Speaker, what I am aware of is the number of parents who have written to me or have stopped me in the streets to thank me for the universal child care benefit.
We are providing that money to parents so they can choose the form of child care they want for their families, whether it is nine-to-five day care or whether it is having a parent or another family member look after those children at home. I am aware of how much those parents appreciate the money that we provided, money that his government never provided.
Brian Murphy Liberal Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe, NB
Mr. Speaker, Ashley Smith of Moncton was jailed at age 13 and died cold, alone and uncared for in a Kitchener jail cell at the age of 17.
Today I sat with her family as they expressed support for the recommendations of corrections investigator, Howard Sapers, in what he called a preventable death.
Will the minister immediately endorse and implement those recommendations? Will the government keep Mr. Sapers around long enough for him to finish his investigation so there will not be another preventable death like Ashley's?
Peter Van Loan ConservativeMinister of Public Safety
Mr. Speaker, the story of the life and death of Ashley Smith makes for a sad account for anybody who reviews it. It highlights some of the very serious problems that we have had for some time in our correctional system, going right back down to the provincial level and the first instance of our health care treatment that we make available to those who are mentally ill.
We as a society need to do a lot better on mental health, and that includes in our corrections system. I thank Mr. Sapers for his work in that regard and look forward to building on it.
Brian Murphy Liberal Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe, NB
Mr. Speaker, I have another question on a separate topic for the Minister of Justice. Has he ordered the Government of Canada to seek clemency for a Canadian citizen held on death row in Montana?
The courts are doing the government's job. Will the Minister of Justice report to this House today or tomorrow on how he plans to respond to this ruling by the Federal Court in defence of human rights?
Rob Nicholson ConservativeMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, first, the government has been very clear. There is no death penalty in Canada and there are no plans to change those laws.
Every individual abroad will continue to receive consular assistance. With respect to any judgments that have come down from the courts in the last few minutes, we will have a look at them and respond accordingly.
Bradley Trost Conservative Saskatoon—Humboldt, SK
Mr. Speaker, for Canadians to secure tickets to their favourite sporting events and concerts, it can often be a very costly process. Often, as tickets go on sale, consumers complain of immediately being redirected to websites where prices are exponentially higher than face value.
I note that this week, the Ontario attorney general announced that he was launching a probe into Ticketmaster's practices and the Government of Saskatchewan is also investigating this matter.
Could the minister please inform this House of the actions our government is taking?
Tony Clement ConservativeMinister of Industry
Mr. Speaker, the question from the member for Saskatoon—Humboldt is very timely. As a regular concertgoer myself, I have noticed this trend.
I can assure the House that the government will not stand idly by when there is potential that companies are engaged in uncompetitive practices that are hurting consumers, which is why I am referring this matter directly to the Competition Bureau for its review. If there are any uncompetitive practices that are being used, Canadians can rest assured that this government will take action.
Jack Harris NDP St. John's East, NL
Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the office of the correctional Investigator made public his report on the events leading to the sad and terrible death of Ashley Smith, a mentally disturbed teenager who choked herself to death while correctional officers stood by watching.
Howard Sapers concluded that her death was preventable and he warned that such deaths could happen again.
Why has the government failed to implement recommendations made time and time again that could have saved Ashley Smith's life?