Debates of June 12th, 2009

Rogers TV

[Larry Miller, Conservative, Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate Rogers TV Simcoe and Grey Counties, which took top honours at the 2009 Impression Awards.

The station was named TV Station of the Year and was honoured for its programming and community commitment to Simcoe and Grey Counties. The local channel produces substantial, quality and daily local programming that is so important to our communities.

The local Rogers channel also picked up the Impact Award for its documentary series, In Focus: Beating the Bully, one of two awards earned by Rogers TV producer Steve McEown.

The community channel earned three awards and two finalist nominations for its local news show and its coverage of the federal election in 2008.

I am very proud to have a group of television producers and journalists so dedicated to local television production in my community. The people of Bruce--Grey--Owen Sound are well served by this station and the committed people who make this station work day after day.

Congratulations to Rogers TV.

Conservative Stimulus Plan

[Meili Faille, Bloc, Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we believe that the progress report on the Conservatives' stimulus plan, which the Prime Minister presented yesterday with great fanfare, is a con. Most of the infrastructure projects announced in the Liberal-supported plan are not even underway yet, even though the crisis has been going on for months.

The presidents of the Fédération Québécoise des Municipalités and the Union des municipalités du Québec are unanimous. They have not seen any money yet, and they are beginning to wonder if the crisis will be over by the time the work finally begins.

The fact is that barely 6% of the funds have been distributed. This government's stimulus plan is a failure, and more and more people are losing their jobs.

And what has the government decided to do? It has decided to delay employment insurance reform until the fall, thereby depriving thousands of unemployed workers of income. This government should have acted on the solutions proposed by the Bloc Québécois, solutions that communities support.

The Economy

[Andrew Saxton, Conservative, North Vancouver, BC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Prime Minister reported to Canadians that 80% of our economic action plan initiatives are already being implemented.

Conservatives are delivering results and creating jobs. The Conservative government's unprecedented effort to accelerate job-creating investments is working for Canadians from coast to coast to coast. We are creating jobs, stimulating the economy, and helping those hardest hit by the global recession.

In Cambridge yesterday, the Prime Minister said:

In just 72 days, our government has eighty per cent of the largest economic recovery program in Canadian history under way.

We are providing tax relief and improved access to financing for Canadian households and businesses; assisting unemployed workers through extended EI benefits and improved skills training; creating jobs through a massive injection of infrastructure spending; and investing in the jobs of tomorrow through new supports for research and technology.

At actionplan.gc.ca, Canadians can view all the new job creation projects that the economic action plan and this Conservative government are delivering for Canadians.

Dominic Giroux

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Mr. Speaker, last week, on June 2, I had the pleasure of attending a ceremony to install my friend Dominic Giroux as the ninth president of Laurentian University.

I would like to begin by congratulating him, as well as his wife Barbara, herself a graduate of Laurentian University. I also want to wish him every success. His impressive record suggests nothing less.

At 18 years of age, he was elected as a school trustee here in eastern Ontario. Two years later, he became the youngest school board president in the country. He is a graduate of the University of Ottawa and the École des hautes études commerciales de Montréal. He began a career in education administration and climbed the ranks so quickly that, in his early 30s, he became the Deputy Minister of Education for the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, where he championed French-language education and an education strategy for aboriginal peoples.

The university's Board of Governors has made a judicious choice in Dominic. With his energy, enthusiasm, creativity and sincerity, the next 10 years should prove very successful for Laurentian University and the Sudbury area.

I wish Dominic continued success.

The Economy

[Dean Del Mastro, Conservative, Peterborough, ON]

Mr. Speaker, our Conservative government has taken unprecedented and extraordinary action to accelerate the job-creating investments in Canada's economic action plan. Because of our unprecedented action, families and businesses in every region of Canada are now paying less tax, we are helping the unemployed, and major job-creating projects are already breaking ground.

This is in very sharp contrast to the Liberal plan of raising taxes. The leader of the Liberal Party announced a few months ago, “We will have to raise taxes”. This harmful policy is in addition to his promise to impose a job-killing carbon tax and increase the GST. Canadians do not want that, and that is why they trust our Conservative government to manage the economy.

Because of our government's prudent management of the country's finances and economy, we have managed to retain the smallest deficit compared to GDP of any G7 country.

Canada's economic action plan is internationally recognized as the right response to this economic challenge.

Food Banks

[Chris Charlton, NDP, Hamilton Mountain, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is the season of renewal, but during these turbulent economic times, not all families are able to share in this summer's bounty. That is why I am so proud to live in Hamilton, a community where we help each other thrive.

In that spirit, I want to encourage all those who can to make a donation of time, talent or treasure to two organizations that are making a profoundly positive difference in our community.

Neighbour to Neighbour is the Mountain's only food bank, and while many of us give generously on special occasions, hunger exists 365 days a year. Please help replenish the food bank's cupboards by making a donation to help our neighbours in need.

Or if people would rather get their hands dirty, why not volunteer at the Hamilton Community Gardens, a ministry of West Highland Baptist Church? One and a half acres of vegetable gardens have already been planted, but they need weeding, cultivating and harvesting. It is gentle exercise and a great way to assist the Hamilton food bank and soup kitchen community with supplies of fresh local produce.

Thanks for digging deep. It is what we do for each that makes me proud to call Hamilton my home.

Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada

[Sylvie Boucher, Conservative, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

Mr. Speaker, last spring, our government tabled an effective and unprecedented economic action plan and 80% of the measures are already on their way to being implemented. The Bloc Québécois has chosen sides. Its objective is clear: to destabilize Quebec. The end result is also clear. It wants to let Quebec hang out to dry. It prefers to vote against any positive action and do nothing at all for Quebec workers.

As for the Liberal leader, he voted for this action plan. Holding an election now will inevitably slow down its implementation and the Liberal leader knows it. He wants to increase taxes. We do not. Canada needs a strong Parliament that works for and not against the economic and social future of Canada and Quebec.

Today, the Liberal leader must decide if he will be remembered for choosing the greater good of Canada or his own partisan interests. Will he rise to the occasion or turn his back on Canada? He should—

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

The hon. member for Beauharnois—Salaberry.

Aerospace Industry

[Claude DeBellefeuille, Bloc, Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives are using the aerospace industry to play petty politics, wrongly accusing the Bloc Québécois of being to blame for the fact that three ministers will be away next week at one of the world's largest aerospace shows, the Paris Air Show at Le Bourget. Ordinarily, ministers are accompanied by only one opposition member when they travel. Against the backdrop of a minority government, the Conservative whip's unrealistic demand that every minister be accompanied by two opposition MPs threatened this mission from the start.

Yesterday morning, the Bloc Québécois confirmed to the Minister of Public Works and Government Services that the member for Chicoutimi—Le Fjord would accompany him to Paris, even though a number of important votes, including a confidence vote, are due to be held next week. However, the minister declined the offer, claiming that his schedule had been changed and that it was too late. The minister's flat-out refusal is a clear sign that he has little interest in attending this show and consequently little interest in the aerospace industry, which is based mainly in Quebec.

Peggy's Cove Lighthouse

[Rodger Cuzner, Liberal, Cape Breton—Canso, NS]

Mr. Speaker, I have a quiz for the House today. Where is the most famous and iconic lighthouse in all of Canada?

[Some hon. members]

Peggy's Cove.

[Rodger Cuzner, Liberal, Cape Breton—Canso, NS]

It is at Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia.

I did not hear anything from that side of the House, not because Conservatives do not know but because they are embarrassed that they cannot find $25,000 to paint that international landmark.

Being a good Nova Scotian, I will offer them a few ideas. I will offer them a few suggestions. How about this? They can fire the Republican spin doctors they hired for one month's work. That is $25,000 right there.

They can fire the psychic “style” consultant the Prime Minister has. The way they missed on the budget projections, they are not listening to her anyway.

They can shrink the size of cabinet. If they shrink the size of cabinet, they could paint the Peggy's Cove lighthouse 156 times.

They can slash the $1 billion that they have been using for consultants. They could paint 40,000 tourist landmarks with that one move alone.

The lighthouse is on over there, but nobody is home.

It is time to come out of the fog and paint the lighthouse at Peggy's Cove.

The Economy

[James Bezan, Conservative, Selkirk—Interlake, MB]

Mr. Speaker, our Conservative government is getting things done for Canadians and their families. Because of the unprecedented steps we took in our economic action plan, families and businesses in every region of Canada are now paying less taxes. Unemployed workers are now receiving more help and major job-creating projects are already breaking ground.

Our Conservative government has permanently reduced the tax burden on Canadians. We are assisting the unemployed through extended EI benefits and improving skills training. We are supporting home ownership and creating jobs through housing construction. We are investing in the jobs of tomorrow through new supports for research and technology. The actions we have taken are what Canadians have asked for.

In response to our strong leadership, the leader of the Liberal Party said, “We will have to raise taxes”. This Liberal tax hike policy and the job-killing carbon tax are not what Canadians need.

That is why Canadians continue to trust our Conservative government with managing the economy.

Medical Isotopes

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, so far, we have heard nothing but disinformation, misleading numbers and propaganda in the isotope crisis.

The minister said that the MAPLE reactors have never produced isotopes. That is not true, according to the experts. She dug up studies from 2003, but forgot to tell us that the MAPLE reactors' licences were renewed in 2007.

Why is the government putting its ideological privatization agenda ahead of the facts and Canadians' health care needs?

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

Mr. Speaker, I quote Hugh MacDiarmid, the CEO of AECL:

--even if we were to take the decision tomorrow morning for whatever set of reasons to try to return the MAPLEs to service, it would be many years and many hundreds of millions of dollars before those reactors would be licenseable and able to be put into service. It's just not a realistic option at this time.

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, we also get misinformation about isotope supply.

Dr. Robert Atcher, president of the American Society of Nuclear Medicine, has stated that the excess capacity that the world's remaining four reactors have “is not capable of making up for the shortage that having the Chalk River reactor off-line has created”. Is Dr. Atcher wrong?

Would the minister tell us exactly how many of the 5,000 Canadian patients scheduled daily to receive cancer, heart and bone tests over the next week will get them?

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for his question. There are two parts to it. One is the short-term reaction to the problem before us.

Right now, Canada is leading in the world to find an international response to this global problem. In fact, the Petten reactor in The Netherlands has ramped up production by 50% and South Africa by 30%. Australia is moving fast to bring the OPAL reactor on line and some believe that this will happen within the next few weeks. That is the short-term solution.

In the long-term, we have a panel of experts who are working to address the problem of medical isotope production.

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the government is misleading Canadians about the effectiveness of alternatives and their supply. There are no alternatives when it comes to getting bone scans for our kids. Deny it.

Thallium supplies are not meeting demand. Deny it.

It has been confirmed we are in an international bidding war for scarce medical isotopes.

How does the minister respond to the U.S. national research council's description of the government's handling of this crisis as a “train wreck”, wreaking havoc all over the world?

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, the contingency measures that were established by the medical isotope experts are being implemented to manage the shortage that we are dealing with in Canada. Contingency measures are ensuring that the supplies of isotopes are targeted at patients most at risk, such as children.

Many tests can be completed using other options, such as thallium and sodium fluoride. While they are not long-term solutions, they provide doctors with more options to ensure patients who require testing receive it and to ensure those who are unable to use the alternatives, such as children, can receive TC99 isotopes.

Health

[Todd Russell, Liberal, Labrador, NL]

Mr. Speaker, “A global pandemic, a local failure” reads today's headline in The Globe and Mail.

The H1N1 virus continues to spread in first nations communities in northern Manitoba. The federal government says it has a plan. It says it is working with the province. Yet, people are still getting sick; they are still waiting for help.

Why has the federal government not sent supplies and expertise to the Garden Hill First Nation and others to help them fight the spread of this virus?

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, Canada is well-positioned to respond through pandemic preparedness. We prepared the plan back in 2006 and invested $1 billion. This plan includes delivery of services to first nations communities. We continue to work with the first nations communities, including the provincial health ministries. Supply is not a problem in any of the nursing stations in Manitoba's first nations communities.

[Todd Russell, Liberal, Labrador, NL]

Mr. Speaker, “We are in a war with no artillery”, said Chief Harper of the Garden Hill First Nation.

Yesterday, another mother lost her child to miscarriage. Residents continue to be airlifted out, with severe symptoms, but planes return empty. Pandemics hit first nations communities the hardest and the federal government has failed to respond. The worst may still be upon us, according to experts.

How many more have to get sick before the feds send in help to the Garden Hill First Nation and other first nations communities?

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, again, we continue to work with the provinces and public health agencies, Indian and northern affairs and aboriginal communities to ensure a coordinated response to this.

Health Canada has provided additional nurses to the community and physicians are on-site. PHAC epidemiologists arrived in the community last week. Supply is not an issue in the communities. I come from a small community of aboriginal people. I know what the limitations are. At the same time we are continuing to work with the communities as we respond to this issue.

Employment Insurance

[Christiane Gagnon, Bloc, Québec, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister said, “The EI system is not perfect. We are looking at more improvements for the fall”. In the same breath, he said, “But don’t let anyone tell you that the EI system is not responding to the realities of the recession”. This progress report is yet another sham. His plan is clearly not responding to the crisis.

The Liberals are looking for excuses to support a smoke-and-mirrors progress report, but how can the Prime Minister dare ask unemployed workers to wait any longer? He needs to act now. What does he plan to do?

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

Mr. Speaker, we have done a lot for those unfortunate enough to lose their jobs. We have provided five extra weeks of benefits. We have broadened the work sharing program to protect jobs. We have done plenty of other very important things. Meanwhile, the Bloc has voted against our efforts to help the unemployed.