Debates of June 18th, 2009

Health

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, let me be very clear, first of all, on the H1N1 situation.

Presently there is no scientific evidence to show that H1N1 is predominantly affecting aboriginal people. Based on science, we will continue to monitor the situation very carefully.

I come from an isolated aboriginal community in Nunavut, and the systems that are in place to respond to the pandemic are no different in the north and in small communities. We have provided 10 additional nurses and doctors to St. Theresa Point to respond to this situation.

[Kirsty Duncan, Liberal, Etobicoke North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the chiefs are concerned. In 1918, they fared very poorly.

Canadians repeatedly hear that most H1N1 deaths were among people who had underlying medical conditions--

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[Kirsty Duncan, Liberal, Etobicoke North, ON]

What do you think is funny over there?

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

If the member has not put her question, perhaps she could. I could not hear her at the end.

[Kirsty Duncan, Liberal, Etobicoke North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians repeatedly hear that most H1N1 deaths were among people who had underlying medical conditions or respiratory problems, like Crohn's disease and lupus. Over 7.5% of the Canadian population suffer--

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

The hon. member's time has expired. The hon. Minister of Health.

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, Canada will continue to work with the World Health Organization on H1N1 as we see the situation cross the world.

I will continue to work with the provinces and territories as we deal with H1N1. We will continue to monitor the situation very carefully and provide the necessary services in responding to the situation.

Forestry Industry

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

Mr. Speaker, the CEO of the Quebec Forest Industry Council is criticizing the Conservatives' measure to help the pulp and paper industry, saying that in the United States, companies get cash, whereas in Canada, companies have to invest in order to receive money. Since companies here have no liquidity, they are unable to invest.

Does the government understand that its measure does not give some companies in difficulty the liquidity they need and that jobs will continue to be lost because of the Liberal-Conservative coalition?

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

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, with my colleague, the Minister of Natural Resources, I was pleased to announce $1 billion over three years for Canada's pulp and paper industry, to improve our productivity and competitiveness.

I would like to quote the president of the Forest Products Association of Canada:

What we particularly appreciate about this announcement is that it demonstrates a commitment to the future of the industry through its support to capital improvements - exactly what the industry needs...

That comes from the industry itself.

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

Mr. Speaker, the minister should read what Gaétan Ménard of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada had to say. He called the Conservative measure a cruel joke and criticized the government for not understanding that communities are dying and people are losing their jobs every day.

Why is the government denying the forestry industry what it generously gave the automotive industry, which is loan guarantees?

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

Mr. Speaker, as my colleague should know if he knows this file, the problems with the forestry industry unfortunately have to do with the market. It is hard for these people. Products are not selling for what they used to.

We recently announced that Export Development Canada had given the forestry industry in Quebec alone nearly $9 billion in support in 2008, with different financial products.

We must continue supporting the forestry industry and planning for the future, because the market will pick up again.

UNESCO

[Francine Lalonde, Bloc, La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC]

Mr. Speaker, this is more proof that Quebec's so-called seat at UNESCO is nothing more than a folding chair. Although he disagreed with Canada's refusal to issue visas to help artists tour, the Quebec delegate was forced into silence and was not able to publicly express his disagreement.

Does the government deny that Quebec has no real say at UNESCO, and that when it disagrees with Canada, Quebec has no choice but to keep quiet?

[Josée Verner, Conservative, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to remind the member about the letter sent by Monique Gagnon-Tremblay, who was then minister of international relations for Jean Charest's government, to the leader of the Bloc Québécois to express how happy she and the Government of Quebec were that they had been granted a seat at UNESCO.

That puts an end to the crises that the member and her leader are always trying to create in Quebec.

[Francine Lalonde, Bloc, La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the minister should have read the agreements that came afterwards. It was very clear that Quebec had to be in agreement with what Canada said.

This is also proof that the government's recognition of the Quebec nation means nothing.

Does the Minister of Foreign Affairs deny that if Quebec does not agree with Canada at UNESCO, even in its own areas of jurisdiction, it must keep quiet?

[Josée Verner, Conservative, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, we learned a long time ago that no matter what we do for Quebec and no matter how happy the Government of Quebec is with our cooperation, the Bloc will always be against it, because the interests of the Bloc are not the same as the interests of Quebec. The Bloc has its own interests, which include creating constant crises.

Public Transit

[Bob Rae, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, as we all know, June is a month of happy couplings. In that regard, I would like to ask the Minister of Transport a question about a very important announcement that is going to be made tomorrow in Thunder Bay.

The minister would have an opportunity to change “f” words and to learn new “f” words, like fix public transit and fairness for Toronto. I would like to ask the Minister of Transport, would he take the opportunity to announce federal participation in a vital public investment in the future of public transit?

[John Baird, Conservative, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the question from my former premier.

Those of us on this side of the House are committed to ensuring that Toronto gets its fair share. The city is an important part of our economic action plan. The city has been hit very hard by the global recession. With any investment that we make in the city, our goal is to create jobs for the people of Toronto where they need them most.

We have made important investments in public transit. Just last month the Prime Minister was in Toronto with the Premier of Ontario making a large billion dollar investment on the Sheppard LRT. We are excited about that, and we look forward to more partnerships with the city.

[Bob Rae, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the investment that is being undertaken right now is an opportunity to do three things.

It is an opportunity to fix public transit, which needs to be fixed in the city of Toronto. It is an opportunity to help a region of Canada that has been very hard hit, Thunder Bay and also all of Ontario and Quebec, with respect to an industrial strategy. Those three things go together. That can be done with one single move to join the province of Ontario and the city of Toronto in making this very significant investment for the people of Canada, for the people of Toronto and for the people of Thunder Bay. It is a win-win-win, and—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

The hon. Minister of Transport.

[John Baird, Conservative, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, I always appreciate questions from the member opposite.

We are tremendously concerned about the unemployment challenges facing the city of Toronto. We do not want to create jobs on another continent. We want to create jobs right in the city of Toronto. We do not want the people of Toronto left out of our economic action plan. That is why we have made substantive investments in infrastructure from the Spadina subway to the Sheppard LRT. In the budget the Minister of Finance cited Union Station.

We are committed to working constructively with him and with the mayor to make things happen for the people of Toronto.

The Internet

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Westmount—Ville-Marie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, in a free and open democracy in the 21st century, in an innovative and progressive knowledge economy, no tool is more paramount than the Internet. The Internet is the backbone of today's flow of free ideas and sharing. My party, the Liberal Party, supports the principle of net neutrality and an open and competitive Internet environment.

Do the Conservatives support the principle of net neutrality?

[Tony Clement, Conservative, Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for his submission. I look forward to working with him and others who are active in this field.

I am convening the first digital economy conference this nation has ever done. That will be on Monday in Ottawa where we will have all of the great companies, academics and government officials work on the new digital economy strategy for this nation so that we can be number one in the world when it comes to the digital economy.

I invite my friend to participate in any way he sees fit.

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Westmount—Ville-Marie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the Conservatives for this invitation, but I am not sure about the member's answer, so I will repeat my question.

In a free and open democracy in the 21st century, in an innovative and progressive knowledge economy, no tool is more paramount than the Internet. The Internet is the backbone of today's free flow of ideas and sharing. My party, the Liberal Party, supports the principle of an open and competitive Internet environment.

Do the Conservatives support the principle of net neutrality?

[Tony Clement, Conservative, Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, as I said, it is important to have a national strategy for the digital economy. That is why I announced that I am convening a conference here in Ottawa on the future of the digital economy. I invite my friend to take part in that conference and that discussion.

It is important to have a strategy so that we can be number one in the world when it comes to the digital economy of the future.