Debates of May 13th, 2009

Lobster Industry

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

Mr. Speaker, the drop in prices in the lobster fisheries dates back to long before the announcement of some assistance plan on which we have no details.

It appears that certain provincial Conservative members do know the details, but the fishers are still waiting to be informed.

One gets the impression that this government intends to abandon them as they have the forest industry.

Will this Conservative government commit to financial compensation for the lobster fishers in order to ensure that the floor price per pound is high enough that they will have an income rather than losses?

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

Mr. Speaker, as I just said, the lower market demand, of course, is something that is affecting the price. That is not something within the government's control. However, what we can do is support the industry and marketing initiatives so that the price can come up.

As I said to the hon. member, we are there for the lobster industry. We have provided a lot of support to the entire fishing sector in the last budget, but the member, who has a harbour in his very own riding that is going to see the biggest retrofit ever, voted against the budget.

National Defence

[Robert Bouchard, Bloc, Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the two ministers from Saguenay—Lac-Saint-Jean can boast all they like about the influence they have within the Conservative cabinet, but we can see that is simply not true. They made all kinds of promises during the election campaign, but we now know that was nothing but hot air. The reality is that Bagotville could lose 439 Squadron and they are doing nothing to stop it.

Which of the two infamous ministers will have the courage to stand up in this House and admit they are breaking their election promise and their commitment to the people of Saguenay—Lac-Saint-Jean? Which one?

[Peter MacKay, Conservative, Minister of National Defence and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway]

Mr. Speaker, as always, the Bloc Québécois member's accusation is completely false. The Conservative members from Quebec are always extremely supportive of the Canadian Forces. I cannot say the same of the member opposite.

Our government supports our Canadian Forces. We have the best armed forces in the world because this government provides them with the equipment, support and funding they need to maintain our Canadian Forces.

[Robert Bouchard, Bloc, Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC]

Mr. Speaker, as we can see, they do not have the courage.

The Minister of National Defence said yesterday that no decisions had been made concerning Bagotville. Yet we know there is a real possibility that 439 Squadron could disappear. The minister tells us this is just a hypothesis.

My question is simple. Can the minister tell us right now if that hypothesis is wrong, yes or no?

[Stephen Harper, Conservative, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of National Defence has been clear, as have the ministers from that region. We have no intention of making such a decision.

Our ministers from that region are not Bloc members: when they say something, they can keep their word.

Fisheries and Oceans

[Gerry Byrne, Liberal, Humber—St. Barbe—Baie Verte, NL]

Mr. Speaker, on April 22 the unemployment minister informed the House and 3,000 anxious families that Service Canada and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans would soon announce an income support program for fishers affected by severe ice conditions. Almost immediately however, the minister's own officials refuted her.

Since then I have asked nine questions in the House and have been told yes, Service Canada and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans will soon make an announcement.

Yesterday in committee, the deputy minister of fisheries had something else to say: Discussions have never taken place between these two departments.

What does the minister have to say to this House now?

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

Mr. Speaker, this is a great opportunity to clarify this matter.

I did inform the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development that my office had a call regarding ice compensation and that I would check it out. I checked out the ice conditions with my department and the ice conditions are not unusual for this time of year. Many fishers are delayed by ice conditions in the spring.

However, what the hon. member is not telling the House is that he went out prior to asking me or the minister of HRSDC anything about ice conditions or ice compensation and promised compensation to his constituents. So, he has some explaining to do.

[Gerry Byrne, Liberal, Humber—St. Barbe—Baie Verte, NL]

Mr. Speaker, perhaps I should not have taken the minister at her word when she said that there was going to be an ice compensation program and the program was going to be announced. She only said it in the House. Why would anyone take that seriously?

She is the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans who said she would meet with fisheries organizations. She has not met with them.

We are going to bring every fisheries organization to Ottawa. We are asking the minister, will she meet with every fisheries organization from Quebec and Atlantic Canada to talk about the lobster crisis, or if she will not, will she give the keys to her department to someone who will?

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

Mr. Speaker, I just want to clarify for the House again that the member did go out and make public statements that there would be ice compensation. Prior to that question in the House, he announced a fictitious program to his constituents. Now he cannot deliver and he is panicking.

Search and Rescue

[Jack Harris, NDP, St. John's East, NL]

Mr. Speaker, it is 25 years since the Ocean Ranger commission recommended a fully equipped search and rescue helicopter be stationed at the St. John's airport and we are still waiting. Now Labradorians have learned that their search and rescue base will be empty for six weeks while the crew gets trained in Alberta.

The Minister of National Defence says it is not his problem. That is not acceptable to Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, especially those who are now being asked to resume flying to work offshore after the tragedy two months ago.

When will the minister take responsibility and finally give the people of my province the search and rescue coverage that they need?

[Peter MacKay, Conservative, Minister of National Defence and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member should know that they do have the coverage that they need when it comes to the placement of air assets. He should also know that when it comes to search and rescue, it is more than just helicopters. It also involves of course our ships, including our Coast Guard. These are constantly being assessed as operational by the Canadian Forces.

We are constantly faced with the challenges of a large, diverse region when it comes to Atlantic Canada, the Arctic and the west.

What I would take the opportunity to do is praise the work of the Canadian Forces, our SAR techs in particular. That search and rescue is among the best in the world.

Agriculture and Agri-Food

[Alex Atamanenko, NDP, British Columbia Southern Interior, BC]

Mr. Speaker, Farmers' Markets Canada will cease to exist if funding is not renewed this year. Thanks to federal help last year, this newly created organization was able to assist farmers markets right across the country. These markets help generate farm income and supply us with good quality food.

In my cross-Canada “Food for Thought” tour, the constant message I hear is that government needs to support local food initiatives as an important link in our food sovereignty.

I outlined my concern to the minister in my letter of December 19. No commitment was received.

I ask the minister today, will he commit to fund Farmers' Markets Canada in 2009 and when exactly will the money be available?

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

Mr. Speaker, of course everyone wants a refund on the tour the member did.

We funded a study on farmers markets last year. We received that report from the farmers market association about 10 days ago. We are assessing it. We are looking at it. We are also asking for a plan as to how it would spend the money effectively. We want to support farmers. If the farmers market association can help, we will certainly be there for it.

I hope the NDP members support whatever budget brings that forward because they usually vote against those initiatives.

The Economy

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Lévis—Bellechasse, QC]

Mr. Speaker, with respect to the environment and the economy, the Bloc is a slacker. It could have supported forestry workers affected by the crisis by voting for five additional weeks of employment insurance. It voted against this measure. It could have stimulated construction by supporting residential renovations under our economic action plan. It voted against it. It could support investments of billions of dollars in our municipal infrastructure, as the Union des municipalités du Québec has been doing in the Outaouais, but it voted against it.

Could my colleague, the Minister of Public Works, explain the economic action plan's benefits for Quebec?

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

Mr. Speaker, in these times of crisis, we have made a commitment to stimulate the economy and protect our world. Those are the objectives of our economic action plan. We know that the Bloc voted against it. On this side of the House, the Conservative members and ministers are working with the Government of Quebec and the mayors of Quebec to make it work.

By voting against it, the Bloc has voted against the municipalities, against green infrastructure, against social housing, and against assistance for home renovations that could stimulate the economy. People have a government that takes action. Fortunately we are meeting the needs of our citizens.

Employment Insurance

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

Mr. Speaker, adding five weeks to the end of an EI claim is not enough.

An increasing number of my constituents come to see me pleading for help with their EI benefits. Many of these people have no food and risk having their heat, hydro and water turned off because they do not have enough hours to qualify for EI benefits.

When will the government create a national 360 hour standard of eligibility?

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

Mr. Speaker, what we are lucky enough as Canadians to have is an EI system that is both fair and generous. It responds to changing local market conditions.

Let us be clear about what the Liberals are asking for. They are asking for an increase in payroll taxes so that Canadians can work for 45 days and collect benefits for a year after that.

We want Canadians to work. We are helping them to do that with our economic action plan. Thanks to that plan they can receive more benefits than ever and training for the jobs of the future.

Competition for Disabled Athletes

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

Mr. Speaker, Défi sportif recently brought together 3,000 disabled athletes in Montreal. Despite the enormous success of this event, the government is refusing to provide the organization with the funding it needs. I asked the Minister of State for Sport a question about this last week, and he said that he had already supported Défi sportif. Yet the organization's funding committee is not satisfied with the attitude of the government, which is refusing to give it an additional $25,000.

Will the minister change his mind and give Défi sportif the $25,000 it has requested?

[Gary Lunn, Conservative, Minister of State (Sport)]

Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate le Défi sportif again. It brings together 3,000 disabled athletes from 15 countries and 900 volunteers. It does a great job.

We have given it $75,000. I understand there are still funding pressures.

I am anxious to meet with the Défi sportif organizers and the Canadian Paralympic Committee to discuss this further.

Oral Questions

[Dan McTeague, Liberal, Pickering—Scarborough East, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. During question period, I distinctly heard, not only today but also yesterday, the Minister of Finance suggest that other people were driving certain other vehicles. I think he was making reference to the member for Markham—Unionville.

I am concerned about that because I do not think that the Minister of Finance himself has quite clarified the fact that he drove a Subaru convertible for a number of years.

I would like to ask if he could clarify whether the minister continues to drive that vehicle.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

I am not sure this is a point of order. The minister wishes to rise to discuss his motor vehicle.

[Jim Flaherty, Conservative, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, I have nothing against Subarus or who owns Subarus, but I have never owned a Subaru.

[Dan McTeague, Liberal, Pickering—Scarborough East, ON]

Mr. Speaker, because this did come out of question period, I want to make it absolutely clear whether in fact it was a Saab that he drove over a number of years. Does he still drive a Saab?

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

It sounds like a Saab story to me, but I do not think it is a point of order.