Debates of Sept. 14th, 2009

Question No. 359

[Hall Findlay]

With respect to information maintained by the office of the Receiver General and Public Works and Government Services Canada in the Central Financial Management Reporting System (CFMRS) relating to all government allocations, expenditures and lapses for fiscal year 2008-2009: (a) what were the cumulative allocations by department for fiscal year 2008-2009 as reflected in the CFMRS on June 17, 2009; (b) what were the cumulative expenditures by department for fiscal year 2008-2009 as reflected in the CFMRS on June 17, 2009; and (c) what were the cumulative lapses by department for fiscal year 2008-2009 as reflected in the CFMRS on June 17, 2009?

(Return tabled)

Question No. 361

[Peter Julian, NDP, Burnaby—New Westminster, BC]

With respect to government advertising campaigns for the last three fiscal years: (a) which departments or agencies were engaged in such campaigns; (b) what was the stated objectives and purpose of each; (c) when, at what cost, and for what length of time, did each run; (d) which private companies were involved in the conception, design, and production of the ads; (e) were any advertising contracts sole-sourced and, if so, which ones and why; (f) what was the target audience of each campaign; (g) in which mediums, publications and television markets did they appear; (h) what analysis was done on the effectiveness of each campaign, who undertook the analysis and at what cost; and (i) which campaigns failed to meet the stated objectives of the campaign, and why?

(Return tabled)

Question No. 362

[Peter Julian, NDP, Burnaby—New Westminster, BC]

With regard to loans and loan guarantees issued under the authority of the government: (a) does the government have loans or loan guarantees outstanding to (i) Royal Bank of Canada, (ii) Manulife Financial, (iii) BCE Inc, (iv) Bank of Nova Scotia, (v) Thompson Reuters, (vi) Toronto-Dominion Bank, (vii) EnCana, (viii) CIBC, (ix) Husky Energy, (x) Imperial Oil, (xi) Suncor Energy, (xii) Petro-Canada, (xiii) Canadian Natural Resources, (xiv) Sun Life Financial, (xv) Canadian National Railway, (xvi) Bank of Montreal, (xvii) Great-West Lifeco, (xviii) Talisman Energy, (xix) Power Financial, (xx) Great-West Life Assurance, (xxi) Teck Cominco, (xxii) Power Corporation of Canada, (xxiii) ACE Aviation Holdings, (xxiv) Research in Motion, (xxv) Telus Corporation and, if so; (b) when were the loans and loan guarantees issued; (c) what was the full amount each of the loan’s principle and of the loan guarantee's coverage; (d) how much of the principle has been repaid in each instance; (e) how much interest on the principle has been repaid in each instance; (f) under what program or authority was the loan or loan guarantee granted in each instance; (g) what are the repayment terms for the loan in each instance; (h) are any of these loans in default, and if so, by how much; and (i) has any or all of the loan been forgiven?

(Return tabled)

Question No. 367

[Denise Savoie, NDP, Victoria, BC]

With regard to spending related to Omar Khadr: (a) what has been the total spending related to interrogations and intelligence work; (b) what have been the costs of the legal case on the part of the government; and (c) what have been the costs of communication and media work?

(Return tabled)

Question No. 368

[Denise Savoie, NDP, Victoria, BC]

With regard to spending related to Ronald Smith: (a) what has been the total spending related to consular assistance given in Khartoum; (b) what have been the costs of the legal case on the part of the government; and (c) what have been the costs of communication and media work?

(Return tabled)

Question No. 369

[Rob Oliphant, Liberal, Don Valley West, ON]

Concerning the Akwesasne Mohawk border dispute: (a) on what dates did Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) or other government officials meet with the Akwesasne, who was present at these meetings, and what was discussed; (b) on what dates did CBSA or other government officials communicate with the Akwesasne, either by phone or via correspondence, who participated, and what was discussed; (c) has the Minister or anyone representing the Minister ever spoken or met with the Akwesasne and, if so, when, where, and what was discussed; (d) when was the government made aware that the Akwesasne would protest the arming of border guards, and that this protest could result in the shutdown of the Cornwall Island border crossing post, and how did that occur; (e) what is the rationale for the government’s decision to proceed with the arming of the border guards at the Cornwall Island border crossing on June 1, 2009, given the likelihood of protest by the Akwesasne, and given that the policy is being rolled out at border crossings until 2016; (f) did the government receive any advice to delay the implementation of the arming policy at this specific border crossing and, if so, when, by whom, and what was the basis for the advice; (g) were any actions taken by the government to try and prevent the closing of the border post on Cornwall Island and, if so, what were they and when did they occur; (h) when was the government informed that CBSA workers would be walking off the job at midnight June 1, 2009, and by whom; (i) what did the government do to prepare for the abandonment of the Cornwall Island border post by the CBSA; (j) what did the government do to safeguard highly sensitive material held at the border post, such as computer files, paperwork, etc., that could compromise national security if it were purloined; (k) has anyone been into the Cornwall Island border crossing post since the CBSA evacuated the premises at midnight on June 1, 2009 and, if so, who, when and for what purpose were they there; (l) who is in charge of ensuring that the security of the border crossing post itself is maintained while it is non-operational, and how often are they surveying the post; (m) what actions has the government taken since the shutdown of the Cornwall Island border post to divert commercial and tourist traffic to other border posts, when did those actions take place, and what were they; (n) has the government received an assessment of how much money the closure of the Cornwall Island border post is costing the government and the economy and, if so, what did the assessments say; (o) since the closure of the Cornwall Island border post, has the government taken any actions to increase resources at surrounding border crossings to help deal with the increased traffic; (p) were any stakeholders consulted about the arming of border guards on Cornwall Island and, if so, when did the consultations take place, who was present, and what was the content of these consultations; and (q) was the Customs Excise Union consulted about the closure of the Cornwall Island border post and, if so, when, and what was their position on the closure of the border post?

(Return tabled)

Question No. 372

[Bob Rae, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

With regards to Abousfian Abdelrazik: (a) what steps, if any, has the government taken to act in accordance with the Federal Court ruling that Mr. Abdelrazik’s constitutional rights were breached when he was denied an emergency passport; and (b) does the government plan to issue Mr. Abdelrazik an emergency passport in accordance with section 10.1 of the Passport Order and, if not, (i) why not in light of Mr. Justice Zinn’s ruling, (ii) will it appeal the decision by the Federal Court?

(Return tabled)

Question No. 374

[Libby Davies, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

With respect to federal monies earmarked for the Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA), on an annual basis, for the last four years: (a) what funds have been disbursed to CanWEA and for what purposes; and (b) what funds slated to support wind energy producers were diverted to research and development of non-renewable energy projects, including but not limited to the Clean Energy Fund, (i) on what dates were the funds diverted and to whom, (ii) why were they diverted?

(Return tabled)

Question No. 375

[Wayne Easter, Liberal, Malpeque, PE]

With regard to the proposed closure of the prison farms run by Correctional Services Canada (CSC): (a) how many CSC prison farms currently exist and where are they located; (b) what was the rationale for establishing the Prison Farm Program at its inception, and what was the rationale for the location of the farms; (c) how much revenue does each CSC farm generate; (d) what is the value of the each CSC farm property; (e) have any audits or evaluations on specific farm operations, or the CSC Prison Farm Program in general, been conducted, and if so, what did they conclude; (f) has CSC, any government department, or any external organization conducted studies or evaluations of the CSC Prison Farm Program and if so, what did they conclude; (g) with regards to CSC’s statement that the proposed closures are the result of few prisoners securing agriculture-related jobs after their release and that the farm program fails to reflect the realities of the employment world and the current needs of the labour market, (i) what evidence does the government have to support this statement, (ii) does the government have statistics or other information regarding prisoners’ employment after release within the agriculture sector, and if so, what are they; (iii) does the government have information regarding the overall employment rate of prisoners post-release, in all sectors, who have participated in the Prison Farm Program, and if so, what is it; (h) was a cost-benefit analysis conducted of the prison farms program before the decision to terminate the program was made, and if so, when was it conducted and what did it say; (i) has the government or any organization collected statistics on the recidivism rates of offenders that take part in the Prison Farm Program, and if so, what do they say; (j) how much food currently produced by the Prison Farm Program is sold back to CSC for prisoners’ consumption, and what does the Prison Farm Program do with any remaining output; (k) what is the cost to CSC of buying food from the prison farms as compared to outsourcing; (l) has the government been receiving quotes from vendors that will replace the food provided to CSC by the prison farms, and if so, when were those quotes received, how much were they for, and what are their details; (m) with regards to the abattoirs operated by the CSC, (i) how many are there and where are they located, (ii) what is the operational cost of each abattoir, (iii) how much income does each abattoir generate, (iv) how many outside clients use the abattoirs, (v) has the government conducted any analysis of the cost to the local communities of shutting down the abattoirs, and if so, what did they find; and (n) with regards to an independent panel appointed to review the operations of CSC, as part of the government's commitment to protecting Canadian families and communities, did they study the Prison Farm Program, and what were their findings?

(Return tabled)

Question No. 376

[Wayne Easter, Liberal, Malpeque, PE]

How much funding, to be identified by program title with the relevant amounts contributed by the federal government identified, was spent by Agriculture and Agri-food Canada between August 31, 2008 and April 1, 2009 to Prince Edward Island potato producers: (a) to individual producers or through the PEI Potato Board; and (b) as direct payment programs or cost-shared programs with the provincial government?

(Return tabled)

Question No. 377

[Wayne Easter, Liberal, Malpeque, PE]

How much financial support, to be identified by program and calendar year, including cost-shared programming with the government of Prince Edward Island or any other provincial government, has been provided by federal government departments or agencies to the Atlantic Beef Plant between December 9, 2007 and April 1, 2009?

(Return tabled)

Question No. 379

[Judy Foote, Liberal, Random—Burin—St. George's, NL]

With regard to the Small Craft Harbours programs administered by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, since fiscal year 2002-2003 inclusive: (a) what are the names of the recipients of each grant or contribution made under this program; (b) what is the location of the work or project each grant or contribution has been made in respect of; (c) what is the amount of each grant or contribution; and (d) what are the names and locations of all harbours or port facilities which have been added to or removed from the Schedule of Harbours at any time since January 1, 1996?

(Return tabled)

Question No. 380

[Todd Russell, Liberal, Labrador, NL]

With regard to infrastructure in Labrador: (a) has the federal government at any time since November 1, 2003, received any proposals, requests, or other like documentation in support of funding for all or any of the following projects or proposals, namely: (i) Nain Airport, (ii) Port Hope Simpson Airport, (iii) Goose Bay airport, (iv) any other airports or airstrips in Labrador, specifying which airports or airstrips, (v) widening, paving, or any other work on the Trans-Labrador Highway, specifying the nature and location of the work, (vi) any other work on any other highway in Labrador, specifying the nature and location of the work, (vii) a new ferry or ferries for the Labrador Straits ferry service, (viii) a harbour facility in or near the vicinity of Northwest Point, (ix) the construction of a hydro-electric plant at Gull Island, (x) the construction of a hydro-electric plant at Muskrat Falls, (xi) the construction of a transmission line from Labrador to Newfoundland, (xii) the construction of a transmission line from Labrador to Quebec, (xiii) the construction of a transmission line from Newfoundland to any other location in Canada, specifying which location, (xiv) a fixed link across the Strait of Belle Isle, (xv) a feasibility study concerning the construction of a highway from central to northern Labrador, or (xvi) broadband internet access in the region; (b) when did the federal government receive any proposal referred to above; (c) which department or departments has received the proposal or proposals; (d) what federal funding share is the provincial government seeking in respect of each or any proposal; (e) what has been the response of the appropriate federal government department to each or any proposal; (f) did the federal government receive from the provincial government, in December 2008, a proposal concerning funding for “Labrador priorities” or a similar heading, rubrique, or subject; (g) if so, what was the nature, scope, and content of the priorities identified in that proposal; (h) which department or department has dealt or is dealing with that proposal on behalf of the federal government; and (i) what has been the response of the federal government to the proposal?