House of Commons Hansard #70 of the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was crime.
Johanne Deschamps Bloc Laurentides—Labelle, QC
Mr. Speaker, the minister went as far as to state that CIDA and its personnel were much more focused on measuring the amount of money going into a project than on the results.
Does the minister think that such rude remarks are helping to improve morale among her staff as she prepares to undertake reforms within CIDA?
Bev Oda ConservativeMinister of International Cooperation
Mr. Speaker, I know everyone at CIDA and everyone in this government as well as in the House wants to respond to the many studies that have been done about CIDA.
There is a Senate report to which we are responding. All parties in the House had members on that committee, which made recommendations, and we are responding to those recommendation. We are eager to find a renewed CIDA that will be effective in this century and in these decades going forward.
Marc Garneau Liberal Westmount—Ville-Marie, QC
Mr. Speaker, our towns and municipalities feel that they have been abandoned by the Conservatives. It seems as though the infrastructure money will never come, and it is already June 8. Furthermore, the protectionist measures passed by Congress are threatening the Canadian companies that rely on the American market. No one in the United States seems to be listening to the Conservatives.
What is their plan to combat American protectionism and to avoid a trade war?
Stockwell Day ConservativeMinister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway
We are concerned about the Buy American situation in the United States. That is why we developed a strategy to present our concerns to the Americans a few weeks ago. I will give another example. I was at the municipal conference three days ago to get the support of municipalities from across the country, to present our message, and tomorrow, there will be another campaign, in Washington, with all of our trade advisors.
Marc Garneau Liberal Westmount—Ville-Marie, QC
Mr. Speaker, since the minister was there, he will have heard Canadian municipalities express their frustration with growing U.S. protectionism by threatening to retaliate in kind.
While we all know that protectionism is the worst possible reaction to a global recession, the government's absence from the bargaining table in Washington has forced the hand of Canadian cities and communities. Canadian manufacturers and steel producers are being locked out of U.S. contracts because of buy America provisions.
Since the American Congress has yet to listen to the Conservatives, what is their plan now?
Stockwell Day ConservativeMinister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway
Mr. Speaker, it sounds like my hon. friend was not in attendance at the convention of municipalities and mayors. I was there over this weekend. I was pleased to not only be there, but also to read the reports when it ended. Clearly the municipalities are backing the strategy we have been taking at every level.
On Friday, I spoke again with the chairman of the ways and means committee in the United States and also the secretary of commerce. Tomorrow, there will be trade commissioners and people from our embassy having a full day of campaign on this on the Hill. It will continue.
Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
Mr. Speaker, for years now the Conservative government has justified its own failure to fight climate change by blaming other countries like China and India. However, a new UN report shows that both countries are leaving Canada far behind when it comes to renewable energy. China alone is spending $15 billion, and still the government keeps its head buried in the tar sands.
China gets it. India gets it, as does the rest of the world. Surely the government will finally drop its dead ideology and understand that fighting climate change will create the green economy that Canadians so desperately need.
Jim Prentice ConservativeMinister of the Environment
Mr. Speaker, the question is really preposterous. Canada has among the cleanest electricity systems in the world and 73% of Canada's electricity system is non-emitting. The government has set an objective to achieve 90% by 2020. That is an indication of the natural endowments that we are blessed with in terms of hydro potential. It is also an indication of the capacity and potential of our nuclear industry.
This government will continue to work on renewable energies and get the job done.
Linda Duncan NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
Mr. Speaker, the government just does not get it.
The budget killed the eco-energy renewable power program at a loss of thousands of jobs in Alberta alone. By this September, zero federal funds will be available to a sector that was attracting billion dollar investments.
Why has the government abandoned Canada's renewable energy sector, when even the International Energy Agency says investing in green power is the path to economic recovery?
Lisa Raitt ConservativeMinister of Natural Resources
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member's question gives me a great opportunity to tell the House about the great things this government has done with respect to renewable energy and facilitating bringing renewable power on the grid.
As we have heard already in the House, it is the objective of this government to reach 90% non-emitting electricity by 2020. We are fully committed to that and working toward it.
More important, we have committed $3.7 billion already to renewable energy and the $1 billion clean energy fund will also be put forth in that manner.
Phil McColeman Conservative Brant, ON
Mr. Speaker, since tabling our economic action plan in January, our Conservative government has been at work to implement its measures.
Among the most important in our plan were those to help free up financing for Canadian businesses, entrepreneurs, small businesses and families. This financing will help fuel the innovations and growth that will help drive Canada's recovery and create the jobs for tomorrow.
Could the parliamentary secretary update the House on the progress our government has made on implementing our plan to help Canadians access financing?
Ted Menzies ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, today the finance minister announced that all measures laid out in our economic action plan to improve access to financing are in place and fully operational. That is $115 billion to improve credit availability for families and businesses on a commercial basis to protect taxpayer money. We are providing access to credit for small lenders for financing vehicles and equipment.
Canadians asked for that. That is what this finance minister delivered.
Alexandra Mendes Liberal Brossard—La Prairie, QC
Mr. Speaker, clearly, the Conservatives are still in hibernation, because they have yet to notice the beautiful season that has arrived. Our municipalities are begging us to send them infrastructure money so that they can get projects up and running. To date, all they have received are excuses and press releases.
When will the government understand that we cannot build roads or buildings with press releases?
Rob Merrifield ConservativeMinister of State (Transport)
Mr. Speaker, my hon. colleague's question gives me an opportunity to highlight just what has happened in the last seven days. There were $3.4 billion in funds announced and 1,400 projects with the municipalities and the provinces, the largest combined infrastructure investment in the history of the country, and there is more to come.
Francine Lalonde Bloc La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC
Mr. Speaker, for two years, Jatinder Sandhu, a woman from Saint-Hubert, has been trying to have her husband, Gulvinder Singh Sandhu, transferred to a Canadian prison from the United States. The correctional services in the United States have agreed, but Canada is refusing. This situation has made Mrs. Sandhu serious ill, and she can no longer care for her three children.
Why does the government refuse to let this Canadian citizen, who is incarcerated in another country, be transferred to Canada so that he can be closer to his young family?
Peter Van Loan ConservativeMinister of Public Safety
Mr. Speaker, decisions on prisoner transfers are made in accordance with the statutory provisions. We do that carefully, exercising good judgment and with the best interests of Canada in mind.
Tony Martin NDP Sault Ste. Marie, ON
Mr. Speaker, under the current government, Canada is becoming an international disgrace. Our human rights record is nothing to be proud of, our environment record is a shame and now we are turning our back on a UN request for the implementation of a national anti-poverty strategy, despite the fact that in Canada four million people live in poverty.
The House passed a unanimous recommendation to make fighting poverty a priority. Four provinces are asking for a federal plan. Why will the government not comply and develop a national strategy to eliminate poverty?
Diane Finley ConservativeMinister of Human Resources and Skills Development
Mr. Speaker, in fact, we have taken several measures since we formed government to do just that. We worked by establishing the working income tax benefit to encourage people and help them get over the welfare wall. We provided the universal child care benefit, which has taken some 55,000 families off the tax rolls. We have also enhanced EI benefits to help people that way. We continue to work to help those who are less fortunate achieve a healthy lifestyle.
Gord Brown Conservative Leeds—Grenville, ON
Mr. Speaker, last Friday, our government announced the largest ever combined infrastructure announcement in Canadian history, including many announcements in my riding of Leeds—Grenville. Combined with additional infrastructure allocations announced in the 2009 federal and provincial budgets, the total joint commitment for public infrastructure in Ontario, under the building Canada plan, now represents more than $7.7 billion.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister please tell us if the Strandherd-Armstrong bridge was included in this stimulus and will it finally be built?
Pierre Poilievre ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and to the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs
Mr. Speaker, the Conservative economic action plan rolled out a massive job creating construction list Friday, including the Strandherd-Armstrong bridge. It will connect Riverside south and Barrhaven and take traffic out of historic Manotick.
I worked with the province, the city, the federal transport minister and my MPP, Lisa MacLeod, to get the job done. Together, we are creating jobs and building a bridge to economic recovery.
Anita Neville Liberal Winnipeg South Centre, MB
Mr. Speaker, last week, North Dakota's water commission endorsed a proposal to more than double the water output from Devils Lake into the Manitoba watershed. This would further threaten the province's freshwater supply and ecosystems.
In 2005 the Liberal government concluded an agreement with the Americans to construct a high level filter out of Devils Lake. This agreement has not been honoured.
Will the federal government raise this matter with the new U.S. administration? Will it pressure the Americans to live up to this agreement?
Jim Prentice ConservativeMinister of the Environment
Mr. Speaker, the government is well aware of the situation with respect to Devils Lake. It has been the subject of numerous discussions between our country and the United States.
I can assure the member that in terms of my upcoming dialogue with Lisa Jackson, who is the head of the Environmental Protection Agency of the United States, that issue will be addressed, in addition to other issues.
Diane Bourgeois Bloc Terrebonne—Blainville, QC
Mr. Speaker, it is obvious that the Minister of Natural Resources has no solution to the shortage of medical isotopes. The only solution she has come up with is to set up an expert panel.
Unfortunately, we still have no details about this panel, and we do not even know whether the members have been named, which is terrible.
Is this government so lacking in leadership? Is it unable to deal with the current situation?
Lisa Raitt ConservativeMinister of Natural Resources
Mr. Speaker, in December last year, we set out a five-point plan in terms of dealing with the potential of having an isotope shortage. Indeed, one of them was seeking out a longer-term medical isotope supply.
Since announcing that in December, we have received a number of specific proposals from various institutions as well as from universities. We are striking an expert review panel to assess these proposals against a set list of criteria to ensure we are making the right decision. At least we are making a decision and taking action, as opposed to five Liberal cabinet ministers in a span of 12 years who did nothing.
The Speaker Liberal Peter Milliken
Canadian Forces Day is an opportunity for Canadians across the country to recognize the sacrifices that our men and women in uniform make on our behalf.
It is with great pleasure that I draw to the attention of hon. members the presence in the gallery of 12 members of the Canadian Forces who are taking part in Canadian Forces Day today.