Debates of May 8th, 2009

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

[Luc Desnoyers, Bloc, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, on April 6, the Ontario Superior Court issued an important ruling declaring that section 96 of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Regulations was unconstitutional. According to the judge, section 96 substantially interferes with the freedom of members of the RCMP to engage in a process of collective bargaining.

Yesterday, the federal government once again turned its back on members of the RCMP when it said that it would appeal this decision.

This is the same government that, in the last budget, tried to take away, wholly or partly, federal public servants' right to strike and to cancel their wage increases. So it is not at all surprising that the government is once again interfering with the rights of workers.

Heroism

[Shelly Glover, Conservative, Saint Boniface, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I stand in the House today to pay tribute to a true hero.

On Sunday afternoon, Faron Hall was sitting on the banks of the fast-moving Red River when he saw what looked like a teen jumping from the nearby Provencher Bridge. Then he heard a shout for help. He saw a head bobbing up and down in the water and realized that without his help, the person who had fallen into the icy waters might perish.

Faron Hall is a homeless man who has lived and slept on the banks of the Red River for several years. Sadly, his younger sister, Kristi Hall, was stabbed to death in 2007. But, despite his own personal problems, Faron Hall values life above all, so, without any hesitation, he cast off his backpack and raced into the frigid river to make sure the life of the young boy was saved. Faron Hall grabbed the boy and struggled to pull him to the shore safely where another bystander, Wayne Spence, assisted in pulling them ashore.

Today Joseph Mousseau is alive and has his whole life ahead of him because of the remarkable unselfish and quick actions of Faron Hall, who lives an unpretentious life. I think I can speak for everyone here today and say that Faron Hall is a true hero.

Gilles Fournier

[Raymonde Folco, Liberal, Laval—Les Îles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise here today to pay tribute to Gilles Fournier, who was recently honoured with the 2009 Prix de la Justice award. The first resident of Laval to win the award, he is the president of DIRA-Laval, an organization dedicated to protecting and defending the rights of seniors who have been the victims of violence, abuse or neglect.

Since its founding in 2002, DIRA-Laval has handled over 1,250 cases of abuse, violence or neglect involving seniors. Mr. Fournier's involvement in ensuring the respect and protection of seniors' rights has earned DIRA-Laval recognition from outside its municipal borders, since many cities have turned to that organization for help.

On behalf of everyone in Laval, thank you, Mr. Fournier, for everything you do for the people in our community and for seniors everywhere.

Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada

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

Mr. Speaker, the new Liberal leader, who heads a political party that brutally trampled on Quebec by unilaterally repatriating the Constitution, seems to have a regressive attitude toward Quebec.

In his book Blood and Belonging, he says that he speaks French from France, and not with a Quebec accent, as if Quebec French were a dialect and a Quebec accent were a sin.

The member for Etobicoke—Lakeshore also says that to give Quebec a seat at UNESCO would be embarrassing for Canada and would make Quebec a laughing stock. On the contrary, our country's founding fathers dreamed that Quebec, like all the provinces, would assert its authority and sovereignty in its own areas of jurisdiction.

Fortunately, with the support of Conservative members from across the country, Quebec has a strong voice at the United Nations in science, culture and education, and it speaks with a Quebec accent.

Winnipeg General Strike

[Jim Maloway, NDP, Elmwood—Transcona, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to stand today to recognize the 90th anniversary of the Winnipeg general strike which is considered the biggest and most traumatic general strike in Canada.

Ninety years ago workers banded together and demanded fairness. Tradesmen, labourers and workers from nearly every walk of life walked off the job.

All in all, nearly 22,000 workers left work to protest the poor working conditions and low wages. The strike paralyzed the city and had a nationwide effect. It officially began on March 15, 1919 and ended on June 26, 1919.

The strike left a powerful legacy in the minds of working Canadians. In 1920, 11 Labour candidates won seats in the Manitoba legislature. Four of them were strike leaders.

In 1921, J. S. Woodsworth, a Methodist minister turned striker, became the first independent Labour MP elected to Ottawa. He would later become the first leader of the CCF, the forerunner of today's NDP.

Taxation

[Kelly Block, Conservative, Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar, SK]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal Party and their leader continue to show they have no clue how to help Canadian families during this economic downturn. The Liberal leader said recently that he “will have to raise taxes”. We thank the Liberal leader for his honesty.

Now we know the Liberals want to hike taxes on Canadian families during a global recession. We also know that they want to increase the GST. We know that they want to impose a job-killing carbon tax. We also know that they want to take away the universal child tax benefit. The Liberals and their leader seem to like taking money out of Canadians' pockets.

Would the Liberal leader stand in the House and finally come clean with Canadians? Which taxes would the Liberals raise? By how much would they raise them? Who would be forced to pay these higher taxes?

Canada-European Union Economic Partnership

[Claude Guimond, Bloc, Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC]

Mr. Speaker, this week, negotiations for a Canada-EU economic partnership began. This agreement, which goes beyond the typical characteristics of a free trade agreement, would have a greater impact on Quebec's areas of jurisdiction, including the mobility of labour and the question of procurement.

While Quebec is taking part in the negotiations, it is because Brussels, the EU capital, insisted, and not Ottawa. This regrettable fact, which can only suggest that this government does not understand Quebec's role, leads us to believe that Brussels understands what it means to respect jurisdictions better than some members of the federal government.

In the context of these negotiations, Quebec must be at the negotiating table, because, for one thing, the matters at issue come under Quebec's jurisdiction. The Bloc Québécois will ensure that Quebec plays more than a minor role and that it gets a real seat, not an ejection seat, as it had with UNESCO.

Ted Reynolds

[Hedy Fry, Liberal, Vancouver Centre, BC]

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of all colleagues in the House, I want to acknowledge with sadness the passing, on Wednesday, April 29, of one of Canada's broadcasting legends, Ted Reynolds.

A B.C. native and Vancouverite, Ted's career with CBC Sports began in 1956 and spanned five decades. He called play by play for 23 different sports on television and radio, and covered marquee events including the Olympics, the Commonwealth and Pan-Am games, the Grey Cup, and four royal tours.

Ted was the first host of the Vancouver Canucks telecasts for Hockey Night in Canada on CBC when the Canucks joined the NHL in 1970. For his outstanding contribution to Canadian broadcasting, Ted was a two-time recipient of the Doug Gilbert Media Award, a member of the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame, the 2003 recipient of Sports Media Canada's Achievement Award, and a 2007 inductee into CBC's Sports Hall of Fame.

I ask all members of the House to join me in celebrating and acknowledging the life and contributions of one of Canada's great sports broadcasters, Ted Reynolds.

Taxation

[David Anderson, Conservative, Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians know that the Conservatives are the only ones they can trust to manage the economy during this financial crisis. Our economic action plan has measures in it that are stimulating the economy and putting more money back into the pockets of Canadian families. Already with this plan we have reduced taxes by $20 billion.

This is in stark contrast to the Liberals, who last weekend reaffirmed their eternal commitment to raising taxes on Canadians. At their recent convention, the Liberals once again adopted a job-killing carbon tax policy which would devastate agriculture in my riding. We also know they want to increase the GST and end the universal child care benefit.

To make things even worse, the leader of the Liberal Party recently announced that he will have to raise taxes. He cannot keep hiding the details of this tax hike policy from Canadians. When will the Liberal leader come clean with Canadians, tell them which taxes he will raise, by how much he will raise them, and who will be forced to pay those taxes?

Employment

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Wascana, SK]

Mr. Speaker, in January, the government promised 190,000 jobs. So far, the Conservative record is a net loss of 320,000 jobs. The only progress, and that is despite the government, is in the category of self-employment. In other words, Canadians are left to fight this recession on their own.

Do the Conservatives still stand by that pledge of 190,000 jobs? That would mean a net increase of more than half a million jobs from where things stand today. Is their promise still operative?

[John Baird, Conservative, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, we are obviously very pleased with the April job numbers that were announced earlier today. It shows that our economic action plan is having a positive effect, helping to create and maintain jobs.

It also indicates that we must stay the course. What would be absolutely devastating to Canadians and our economy is the Liberal leader's plan to raise taxes. It would choke any possibility of a recovery. It would kill new jobs and it would punish hard-working Canadians, especially those who are creating their own jobs so they can avoid a Liberal payroll tax increase down the road.

Employment Insurance

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Wascana, SK]

Mr. Speaker, the minister lives on fiction and fancies. The Conservatives are grateful for small mercies, but more than 320,000 families are still without hope. For many, the problem is getting worse. The jobless rate today is up in St. John's, Quebec City, Montreal, Calgary, Edmonton and Abbotsford. In some places, like Kitchener, St. Catharines and Windsor, unemployment has reached double-digit levels.

Why will the Conservatives not take at least some of the pressure off hard-hit families by letting more of them qualify for employment insurance? What is wrong with that?

[John Baird, Conservative, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, this government has made adjustments to employment insurance to allow more Canadians to collect employment insurance while this economy reaches some tough times. We were pleased that many jobs were created last month, and we are more committed than ever to fight hard to create more jobs and a better economy.

What would be absolutely devastating is if the Liberal leader had his way and would raise taxes. That would kill the recovery and punish Canadians. It is not something this side of the House would ever allow.

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Wascana, SK]

Mr. Speaker, it is that side of the House that broke its promise on income trusts and put a 31% tax on the retirement savings of 2.5 million Canadians. The government has been told that it is wrong by the Conference Board, the C.D. Howe Institute, the TD Bank and even provincial Conservatives of Ontario.

Let me ask this: Last September, the Prime Minister promised to make self-employed Canadians eligible for employment insurance. Since self-employment is apparently the government's only strategy, when will it keep the promise to make EI benefits available to the self-employed?

[John Baird, Conservative, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, in one breath, the member for Wascana belittles those people who create their own jobs, employ themselves and reach out to others. Now he seems to do a U-turn.

What is absolutely essential is that Canadians know that the Liberals want to raise taxes. Tax freedom day comes two weeks earlier since this Prime Minister took office. The member for Wascana and the Liberals want to turn the clock back and go deeper into Canadians' pockets. That will kill jobs and hurt Canadian taxpayers. Those of us on this side of the House will not allow it.

[Alexandra Mendes, Liberal, Brossard—La Prairie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, employment numbers released today highlight the importance of self-employed workers in our economy. In many cases, self-employed workers depend on a very small number of contracts to make ends meet. In the current economic situation, there is no guarantee that these contracts will be renewed. Many self-employed workers may find themselves in unstable situations.

When will the Conservatives allow self-employed people to contribute to employment insurance?

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Works and Government Services and to the Minister of National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, governing means looking ahead. Now is not the time to create an atmosphere of uncertainty in Canada by raising all sorts of taxes, as the Liberal leader has suggested. Canada's economic action plan, which is designed to stimulate the economy and create jobs, includes measures to support those who collect employment insurance. First, we added five extra weeks of benefits. Second, we extended the work-sharing program by 14 weeks and froze contribution rates.

[Alexandra Mendes, Liberal, Brossard—La Prairie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the government still has its head in the sand when it comes to problems with employment insurance.

We are in the middle of a full-blown crisis, and more and more people are becoming self-employed because there is a shortage of regular paying jobs.

On page 13 of the Conservatives' last election platform, they promised to let self-employed workers participate in the employment insurance program.

When will they acknowledge that they have not kept their promise?

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Works and Government Services and to the Minister of National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, our economic action plan is beginning to bear fruit. That is very good news. Statistics prove that the trend is reversing. Over 39,400 jobs were created in Canada, including 22,000 full-time jobs in Quebec.

The unemployment rate is stabilizing, and we will continue to work toward the goals in our economic action plan because it has been shown to be very effective.

The Economy

[Pierre Paquette, Bloc, Joliette, QC]

Mr. Speaker, since October, 321,000 jobs have been lost in Canada, two thirds of them in manufacturing, construction and natural resources. This sad reality shows just what a poor response the Conservative budget is to the current crisis. That is why the Bloc Québécois voted against the budget.

Will the government wake up to the seriousness of the crisis? Unemployment is at its highest level in seven years. Will the government table a real action plan this time?

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Works and Government Services and to the Minister of National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, we have always remained confident, unlike the Bloc Québécois, which tells its horror stories to whoever will listen.

We have invited all the economic stakeholders to work with us for months, and thanks to the concrete measures our government has put in place, the Canadian economy has been recovering since April.

[Pierre Paquette, Bloc, Joliette, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives need to realize how urgent the situation is. The Bloc Québécois has made proposals to improve employment insurance, stimulate investment and employment and help Quebec and the provinces with their recovery plan.

Do the Conservatives not understand that if they wait until the fall, it will be too late?

The time to act is now, and what is needed now is a recovery plan that includes the Bloc's proposals.

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Works and Government Services and to the Minister of National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, governing means planning, and we are continuing to implement our economic action plan. It is a very bold plan, and it is getting results.

Yet the Bloc Québécois voted against that plan.

Employment Insurance

[Josée Beaudin, Bloc, Saint-Lambert, QC]

Mr. Speaker, 1.5 million people are currently unemployed in Canada, and there are only 600,000 employment insurance recipients. This means that about six out of ten unemployed workers are not receiving benefits. This is proof that we must improve access to employment insurance.

Why does the government refuse to set the eligibility threshold at 360 hours for everyone, which would give more people access to employment insurance, and would stimulate the economy at the same time?

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Works and Government Services and to the Minister of National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, again I remind the House that the Bloc Québécois voted against our economic action plan. The very purpose of this plan was to stimulate the economy and create jobs.

In addition, there are measures to support employment insurance recipients. First, we increased the number of eligible weeks by five, and we also added 14 weeks to the work sharing program and froze the premium rate. These are excellent measures for employment insurance recipients.