Debates of April 3rd, 2009

The Economy

[Siobhan Coady, Liberal, St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NL]

Mr. Speaker, the government still cannot report any progress in striking deals with provinces or cities for matching funds required to deliver the full economic stimulus package that was announced more than two months ago.

Today we are hearing again about steep job losses in the United States and Canada is not far behind. The Conservatives are sitting on their hands while thousands of Canadian jobs are at risk.

Why is the money still not flowing? Why are the Conservatives stalling on jobs for Canadians?

[Andrew Saxton, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board]

Mr. Speaker, our government is taking unprecedented action to stimulate our economy and to protect Canadians during these difficult economic times. There will be ample information about how this money is spent through our quarterly reports to Parliament, a full accounting of spending in supplementary estimates, reports from the Auditor General and on our action plan website, actionplan.gc.ca. If the hon. member has not already been there, she should visit the website.

We are cutting red tape. The opposition should do the same.

[Siobhan Coady, Liberal, St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NL]

Action would be better than words, Mr. Speaker.

Last week, Parliament passed a motion calling on the government to provide a list by April 3 of the departments and programs likely to access the $3 billion in extraordinary spending. Today is April 3 and the government has had time to provide a plan showing how this spending will help our recovery and save jobs.

Is the real reason the government cannot account for this spending that it is making it up as it goes along?

[Andrew Saxton, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals are not the ones to lecture us on accountability.

I am proud to say that much work has been done by our government over the past few weeks. A substantial amount of money has already been identified from this fund for economic stimulus initiatives outlined in our economic action plan.

I expect the member will see announcements by my colleagues over the coming weeks and I would encourage her again to monitor our website.

We do not need more roadblocks. We need more roads built.

Goods and Services Tax

[Michel Guimond, Bloc, Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Finance wrote to his Quebec counterpart to say that he was pleased Quebec is considering the possibility of joining the harmonized sales tax club. Reading between the lines, the government wants to impose the Ontario model and put an end to Quebec administering the federal GST, which the province has been doing quite well since 1991.

Why does the Minister of Finance want to fix something that is not broken and impose the Ontario model on Quebec? Is that what open federalism means for the Conservatives—taking advantage of the crisis to force Quebec into the mould?

[Christian Paradis, Conservative, Minister of Public Works and Government Services]

Mr. Speaker, this week, we heard that Quebec's finance minister was open to the idea of making some changes to bring Quebec's situation into line with Ontario's. As we have been saying all week, we are ready to open good-faith negotiations.

[Michel Guimond, Bloc, Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord, QC]

Mr. Speaker, that is the problem. The government is coming up with all kinds of excuses for not compensating Quebec, and it is using the crisis as an excuse to force its model on the province. This government is in such a bad position and so vindictive that it has resorted to using tax policy for partisan purposes. Unbelievable.

Does the Minister of Finance deny that he is using fiscal weapons to impose his Ontario-style vision on Quebec?

[Christian Paradis, Conservative, Minister of Public Works and Government Services]

Mr. Speaker, such negotiations do not take place in the House of Commons. The Government of Canada negotiates with the Government of Quebec, not the Bloc Québécois. We will keep a close eye on this issue, and as we have been saying all week, we are ready to begin good-faith negotiations.

[Robert Carrier, Bloc, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

Mr. Speaker, when the government harmonized its tax with the maritime provinces, it refused to compensate Quebec, invoking the 5% rule. Then, when it harmonized its tax with Ontario, it claimed there were exemptions that explained why Quebec was not compensated. Basically, the reasons change from one day to the next.

Will the Minister of Finance admit that by changing the reasons from one day to the next, not only is he being unfair to Quebec, but he is also making his own economic situation even worse?

[Christian Paradis, Conservative, Minister of Public Works and Government Services]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member can give all kinds of details from the past with his own interpretations, but personally, I will rely on what was said this week. Quebec's finance minister, Ms. Jérôme-Forget, said that indeed, the tax was not completely harmonized. So, if Quebec would be open to certain changes in order to have a model similar to that of Ontario and complete harmonization, we could then begin good-faith negotiations.

[Robert Carrier, Bloc, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

Mr. Speaker, it would seem that this government takes pleasure in creating obstacles and cultivating an anti-Quebec attitude. With the financial crisis we are currently facing, this behaviour does a lot more harm than good.

Is the Minister of Finance trying to tell us that he is creating a new federalism? After the so-called open federalism, are we now seeing spiteful federalism?

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

Mr. Speaker, this Conservative government treats all provinces the same. We are also very pleased that Quebec has finally acknowledged that its sales tax was in fact not harmonized.

We understand Quebec is ready now to discuss joining the federal harmonized sales tax framework. This framework means a federally legislated and administered tax, a base that is essentially the same as the GST with the revenues shared with the participating provinces under an allocation formula.

Afghanistan

[Libby Davies, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Mr. Speaker, at the NATO summit, beginning today, the main focus will be the war in Afghanistan.

This week, Canadians from all political stripes expressed outrage after the member for New Westminster—Coquitlam raised the issue of the law put forward by the Afghan government that is an assault on women's rights.

As a member of the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission has pointed out, if western countries had been paying attention we would not be at this terrible point now.

We want a very clear answer. Will Canada make women's rights in Afghanistan a top priority at the NATO summit and, if so, what other consequences against the Afghan government is Canada willing to discuss with its NATO allies?

[Peter Kent, Conservative, Minister of State of Foreign Affairs (Americas)]

Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada has informed the Afghan government of the damaging effect this law could have. We have pointed out that we expect it not to be enacted. At the same time, we understand that the Afghan government intends to continue to review the law and to discuss it with civil society. We are monitoring developments closely. We are communicating directly and firmly, and we will continue to make our position known.

The Economy

[Libby Davies, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Mr. Speaker, on the issue of the government's handling of the stimulus money, we learned yesterday that the government cannot report on any progress in reaching agreements with the provinces and cities for matching funds required to deliver the stimulus money.

This money was announced two months ago. The Prime Minister tells other countries to take urgent action, yet he cannot deliver it here at home. Why not?

Is it because no progress is being made, or is it because the Conservatives do not know what they are doing over there?

[Andrew Saxton, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board]

Mr. Speaker, as I said earlier, I am proud to say that much work has been done in the past few weeks by the government in getting these funds out. We are negotiating with the provinces and municipalities to make sure that these funds go to the places where they are needed most to create jobs and stimulate our economy during these difficult economic times.

Finance

[Glenn Thibeault, NDP, Sudbury, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Canadian Bankers Association refuses to reveal how much it fleeces consumers with high interest rates and fees on credit cards. At a time when the lending rate is low, credit card interest rates are at an all time high and show no sign of coming down. It is time for the government to empower the Financial Consumer Agency to audit the credit operations of Canada's banks and get answers for consumers.

When will the government learn from its mistakes and take action now to help stop the gouging of middle-class Canadians by credit card companies?

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

Mr. Speaker, in budget 2009 we put in place some processes that will actually tighten up credit cards. We have been hearing from our constituents about their concerns and, in fact, the Senate banking committee is studying it. One other committee, and we are not sure if it is going to be industry or finance, will be listening to those concerns.

We have already put in place a requirement for a minimum grace period on new purchases. We are putting in improved debt collection practices, and are requiring clear and timely advance notice for changes in rates and fees. That was in budget 2009.

Arts and Culture

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages does not know him, but Robert Lepage is internationally recognized and acclaimed. Mr. Lepage is a director, author, actor and filmmaker and, since yesterday, a recipient of the Governor General's Award. Mr. Lepage attributed this award to the international influence his work has. He also took the opportunity to criticize the cuts made to assistance for artists who want to tour internationally. Robert Lepage is right, and the government is wrong.

Will the minister do the honourable thing, apologize and correct this situation?

[Shelly Glover, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary for Official Languages]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my opposition colleague. Our government is already spending $2.3 billion on the arts and culture this year, far more than any other government in Canadian history. Since our government came to power, it has increased spending—yes, increased spending—by 8% across the board. In the next two years, we will invest $540 million in the arts, culture and heritage. That includes $276 million in new funding. Our government is showing a firm commitment to the arts and culture.

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the problem is that no one believes them. Thousands of Canadians tell us every day that they do not want cuts to the arts. They also tell us that the government must support the CBC. This morning, we received a petition signed by 110,000 Canadians who support the CBC, but the government is turning a deaf ear.

Can we restore democracy in our Parliament? The Prime Minister wants to act like the new king of Canada, but that will not wash here. Parliament supports the CBC. Canadians support the CBC. Will he listen for once?

[Shelly Glover, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary for Official Languages]

Mr. Speaker, I am surprised. The member can shout all he wants, but that will not change the facts. The facts are that our government has given more money to the CBC than the Liberals did.

In the March 27, 2009 issue of La Presse, journalist Nathalie Petrowski contrasted the funding we are providing with the savage Liberal cuts in the 1990s. She added that at that time, the office of the former prime minister had directed that nearly half a billion dollars in non-negotiated, draconian cuts be made, which amounted to a chainsaw massacre.

Parliamentary Budget Officer

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

Mr. Speaker, the Parliamentary Budget Office has a mandate to “support Parliament and parliamentarians in holding the government to account for the good stewardship of public resources”. Yet, the Conservative government refuses to provide the full budget it promised. As a result, the PBO has begun to lose staff and expects to lose more.

When will the government stop paying lip service to accountability, and when will it live up to its commitments to the Parliamentary Budget Office it created?

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

That is a question for you, Mr. Speaker, you control his budget.

Let us talk about the five flip-flops of the week. The Liberal leader said he was against the asbestos sector, then he said he was for it. He opposed help for the auto sector in British Columbia, then he came back to Ontario and said he wanted even more spending on bailouts.

He signed the coalition deal, now he pretends he was never in favour of it. He was the first to propose a job killing carbon tax, forced it on his former leader, now he says, because it is not popular, he will not talk about it any more.

Then he said he supports the oil sands, but voted for a bill yesterday that was tiddlywinks, in his own words--

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

The hon. member for Scarborough--Guildwood