Debates of March 9th, 2009

Juana Tejada

[Paul Calandra, Conservative, Oak Ridges—Markham, ON]

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of our Conservative government, I extend condolences to the family of Juana Tejada who died Sunday of cancer. Ms. Tejada was a live-in caregiver from the Philippines. After immigrating to Canada, she contracted cancer and was told by Canadian immigration officials that her illness made her ineligible to become a permanent resident.

Ms. Tejada's case galvanized the Filipino Canadian community and, in fact, all Canadians. Our government intervened at the political level so that Ms. Tejada could remain in Canada. The Minister of Immigration met Ms. Tejada several times before assuming his current portfolio, and I know he has made it one of our government's top priorities to improve the live-in caregiver program.

The minister has asked his officials to come back to him with recommendations on how to make it more responsive to the needs of caregivers. When this happens, a large part of the credit will go to Ms. Tejada, whose own tragic case drew into stark relief the need to improve the live-in caregiver program.

International Women's Day

[Shawn Murphy, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday evening, I had the pleasure of attending an International Women's Day event in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.

Events similar to the one I attended were held around the world to observe and celebrate the achievements of women but also, at the same time, to recognize their struggle for equality, a struggle that continues to this day.

The theme of last night's seminar was “Women in the Arts” and the evening's purpose was to celebrate the Island's female artistic leaders. It was also a reminder that, even today, women in this industry earn as much as 28% less than their male counterparts.

The discussion was lively, informative and thought-provoking as the panellists discussed the importance of the arts and cultural community in today's society, the challenges they face as artists and the challenges faced by everyone in the arts and culture community in Prince Edward Island and throughout Canada.

I would like to thank and congratulate the organizers of yesterday's events.

Liberal Party of Canada

[Daryl Kramp, Conservative, Prince Edward—Hastings, ON]

Mr. Speaker, like the Energizer bunny, senior Liberal Party strategist, Warren Kinsella, just keeps on talking and talking. Unfortunately, he does not know when to stop.

The latest edition of the Warren Kinsella gaffe watch came on Friday when, on Tom Clark's Power Play, he tried to justify and downplay the fact that the Liberal member for Bramalea—Gore—Malton spoke at a rally on Parliament Hill for the Tamil Tigers, a terrorist group under Canadian law.

That is just the latest Kinsella gaffe.

He opposes the seal hunt. He warned against eating Chinese food for fear that it might contain cat meat. He has threatened the Canada Israel committee with breaking its ties to the Liberal Party if it allowed a couple of bloggers to go on a trip to Israel.

Those are not the musings of a lonely extremist blogger. Warren Kinsella is a senior Liberal strategist to the Liberal leader and the head of the Liberal Party's war room.

Many groups are cutting their ties with Mr. Kinsella and distancing themselves from him. I wonder if the Liberal leader will do the same?

Mackenzie Valley Highway

[Dennis Bevington, NDP, Western Arctic, NT]

Mr. Speaker, in the Northwest Territories the single most discussed and called for infrastructure project is the completion of the Mackenzie Valley Highway.

Recently, NWT leadership of all stripes has come out strongly in favour of the highway. Building the highway would bring many jobs for northerners and its benefits would last for generations to come. Benefits to northerners would be increased economic development and a lower cost of living. It would benefit Canadians as the highway would reduce the cost of developing our natural resources.

One of the holdups for completing the highway is the confusion over which government has the authority to build it. I will be consulting northerners on a private member's amendment to the Northwest Territories Act, which will clearly place the jurisdiction for new highway construction with the Northwest Territories.

However, the NWT still needs help from Canada to make this project happen.

The Mackenzie Valley Highway offers a win for all interested and involved in northern development. It is a legacy investment of the first order, a chance to apply principles of strategic development to our region and a chance to do the right thing for the NWT and Canada.

Liberal Party of Canada

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Liberal Senator Baker has said that his sovereignist party, the Bloc Newfoundland, would win seven seats in the House of Commons and would eliminate Liberal representation in that province.

The Liberal leader says that kicking him out of caucus would be ridiculous. Liberal Senator Baker believes that he could lead an effective sovereignist party.

While Liberal Senator Baker aspires to become Newfoundland's Lucien Bouchard, the Liberal leader is standing back and refusing to sanction him, even though behind the scenes the senator is being asked to lie low, as he has done for the past three decades.

The only option for the Liberal Party, if they want to remain a national unity party, is to get rid of Senator Baker. If not, his leader should resign and give his job to someone who will defend Canada.

Camille Laurin

[Réal Ménard, Bloc, Hochelaga, QC]

Mr. Speaker, with the 10th anniversary of the death of Camille Laurin just two days away, the building that houses the Office québécois de la langue française will be renamed in his honour.

Elected as a Parti Québécois member of the National Assembly for the first time in 1970, Mr. Laurin held a number of portfolios in the Lévesque governments of the 1970s and 1980s. Appointed minister of state for social development in 1976, Mr. Laurin introduced Bill 101, Quebec's Charter of the French Language, which made French the only official language of the Government of Quebec. It also guarantees Quebeckers the right to work and study in French.

A psychiatrist by training, he was a pioneer of the sovereignty movement in Quebec and saw Quebec's independence as a necessary collective affirmation.

On the eve of the 10th anniversary of Mr. Laurin's death, the Bloc Québécois would like to acknowledge the importance of his contribution to ensuring the pre-eminence, the very survival, of the French language in Quebec.

Marc Diab

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we were saddened to learn of the death of Trooper Marc Diab, who was killed by an improvised explosive device while on patrol in the district of Shah Wali Kot in Afghanistan.

Trooper Marc Diab was from the Royal Canadian Dragoons and was serving as a member of the 3rd battalion of the Royal Canadian Regiment Battle Group. He was 22.

During this very difficult time, our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of Trooper Diab and the four injured soldiers who are recuperating at the Landstuhl medical facility.

Today, on behalf of all members in this House, I salute the bravery and dedication of Trooper Marc Diab. In these difficult times, we must also reiterate the unequivocal message for our troops that we stand united in support of their efforts to secure freedom for the Afghan people. We are proud of you. You have our wholehearted support.

Liberal party of canada

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

Mr. Speaker, a Liberal member of Parliament attended and spoke at a Tamil Tiger rally here in Ottawa. Over 100 Tamil flags flapped in front of him. Attendees shouted out “Tamil Tigers” as he spoke. He even said, “I am helping you guys”.

What was the Liberal leader's reaction to this? He asked the Liberal MP to send out a press release saying he did not know where he was.

A Liberal senator said that we are going to see the biggest separatist party, and a successful separatist party, in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

What does the Liberal leader do when he faces a member of caucus who threatens national unity? He asks the senator to keep a low profile. How is that for leadership?

It is becoming clear to us that these acts should not be tolerated by the Liberal leader, and we are calling on him today to ask the Liberal senator and the Liberal member of Parliament to step down.

Government Spending

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Wascana, SK]

Mr. Speaker, the government must help all Canadians, from Chicoutimi forestry workers and Windsor auto workers to Saskatchewan beef producers, get through this recession now.

That is why we passed the budget so quickly, even though it is not perfect. Canadians want the government to invest money quickly, and they want to be informed.

Why can the Conservatives not do both at the same time?

[Jim Flaherty, Conservative, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, as we know, we are in the midst of a global economic recession. This is a very serious time. Canadians have seen serious times before--

[Maria Minna, Liberal, Beaches—East York, ON]

Where's the $3 billion you're sitting on?

[Jim Flaherty, Conservative, Whitby—Oshawa, ON]

You'll get a chance in a minute.

Canadians have seen very serious times before, Mr. Speaker, and they need a plan. We presented a plan on January 27 in this House. The Liberal opposition, including the member for Beaches—East York bellowing over there, has no plan. She has no plan, but the Liberals are endorsing our plan, as they should, because it is what Canadians need now.

They need to support the budget bill in the Liberal Senate and vote--

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

Order, please.

The hon. member for Wascana.

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Wascana, SK]

Mr. Speaker, the government says it will introduce a new law later this month to give itself a $3 billion blank cheque for spending after April 1.

Now, let us be clear. The Conservatives are not proposing to use any of that money before April 1, only afterward. They have not even introduced the legislation yet, so no stimulus has been delayed in this Parliament by Liberals. None.

Why can the government not find a few minutes any time in the next three weeks before April 1 to tell Canadians which stimulus programs will be financed with this unprecedented blank cheque?

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

Mr. Speaker, we have been very clear in our comments in respect of that fund. We have indicated that the projects in respect of which this money will be spent have all been spelled out in the budget, and we appreciate the support that the Liberal Party gave us in that respect. We would ask that the Liberals encourage their colleagues in the Senate to get it through the Senate as quickly as possible.

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Wascana, SK]

Mr. Speaker, the details are not in the budget. The Prime Minister seems to be making the shocking confession that he cannot walk and chew gum at the same time, and that position should be ludicrous. He says he can either quickly fight the recession or he can be accountable for his spending, but somehow he cannot do both. That is utter nonsense. The two are not mutually exclusive, especially with more than three weeks to go before any of that spending would actually begin.

Why will the Prime Minister not tell us accurately what the money is for?

[Jim Flaherty, Conservative, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, it is for Canada's economic action plan. That is what it is for. It is for infrastructure spending. It is for spending for our colleges and universities.

I know the member for Wascana does not understand that, but the Canadian construction season starts in a few weeks. In April, May and June, we need this money out the door. We need it for Canadians. We need it for Canadian families. One would think the Liberal opposition would understand that. This is a serious crisis. This money needs to get out the door now, in April, May and June. I hope the Liberals will get their Liberal senators to follow that lead.

[Marlene Jennings, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Finance is still refusing to tell us how, exactly, he plans to spend the $3 billion.

For 11 months now, the government has been sitting on $4 billion allocated to infrastructure spending. Now it wants a blank cheque for another $3 billion, but it does not want to tell Canadians just how it plans to spend the money.

Why? Does the government have a plan for the $3 billion or not? If it does, can it tell Canadians what that plan is?

[Jim Flaherty, Conservative, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, not only do we have the plan, which is in Canada's economic action plan, but we have the process as well.

The President of the Treasury Board and I have met with the Auditor General. We have met with the Parliamentary Budget Officer. Treasury Board has been working very hard. Senior public servants in this government recognize the importance to Canadians of getting this done and getting it done promptly.

It is too bad the Liberal opposition doubts the veracity of our public servants in Canada to get this job done. They ought to be ashamed of themselves.

Status of Women

[Marlene Jennings, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC]

Mr. Speaker, according to the International Labour Organization, women will be relatively harder hit by the economic crisis. The Conservative government's economic stimulus plan focuses on areas that employ more men than women, such as construction and engineering.

Why has the Minister of State (Status of Women) not made a concerted effort to protect women's jobs during the economic crisis?

[Jim Flaherty, Conservative, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member probably knows, all the elements in Canada's economic action plan are gender-tested. That is part of the standard development of policy in the Government of Canada.

[Maria Minna, Liberal, Beaches—East York, ON]

No, they are not. Give me a break.

[Jim Flaherty, Conservative, Whitby—Oshawa, ON]

I am sorry the member for Beaches—East York does not understand government process, but all policy recommendations go through a gender assessment.

That having been said, this plan is a plan for all Canadians: for men, for women, for young people in Canada, for students, for professionals, for labourers. We are for all Canadians, and all Canadians support this plan.

Forestry Industry

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

Mr. Speaker, today Highway 138 is being blocked by Abitibi-Bowater workers who are demanding help from the government. Thus far, the federal government has refused to help Quebec's forestry industry, but is quite willing to help the auto industry. Yet the loan guarantees that would give a major boost to the forestry industry are allowed under the softwood lumber agreement.

Can the Prime Ministertell us which section of the softwood lumber agreement prevents him from granting those loan guarantees? If not, we will be forced to conclude that the Prime Minister is looking for excuses not to help out the forestry industry.

[Denis Lebel, Conservative, Minister of State (Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec)]

Mr. Speaker, as we have said before, our government is deeply affected by everything that is happening to forestry workers everywhere in Canada. Our government regularly analyzes the situation and we are doing our job. The recent decision brought down in London concerning lumber export quotas has sensitized us still further to the situation and we will do everything in our power to help the forestry industry, while respecting the softwood lumber agreement.