Debates of Sept. 30th, 2009

Infrastructure

[Bonnie Crombie, Liberal, Mississauga—Streetsville, ON]

Mr. Speaker, we know the real reason the Conservatives will not give the numbers is that the money is not getting out and when it does, it goes to the Conservatives' pet projects. That is what they are hiding from the Parliamentary Budget Officer.

Conservative cabinet ministers in Ontario have received two to three times more funding despite higher unemployment elsewhere in the province. This Conservative rewards program is unfair and it punishes hard-working Canadians who did not vote Conservative.

Will the minister come clean and open the books for all Canadians?

[John Baird, Conservative, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, all the member has to do is talk to her colleague from Willowdale or go to the World Wide Web and she can see an example of all of the great infrastructure projects that we are working on.

We are working constructively with the Liberal Government of Ontario to make things happen. Let us look at what the mayor of the Township of King had to say to my colleague from Oak Ridges—Markham:

We really appreciate your dedication and hard work in making this dream become a reality for our township. This project is a great example of the federal, provincial and municipal governments working together to enhance [our] community.

Do members know who said that? It was Mayor Margaret Black, who is now the Liberal candidate running in Newmarket--Aurora.

Canada-U.S. Relations

[Serge Cardin, Bloc, Sherbrooke, QC]

Mr. Speaker—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Peter Milliken]

Order, please. The hon. member for Sherbrooke.

[Serge Cardin, Bloc, Sherbrooke, QC]

Mr. Speaker, under NAFTA, the United States government does not have the right to engage in preferential purchasing. However, President Obama's plan gets around the problem by forcing states and municipalities, which do not come under NAFTA rules, to buy American exclusively.

Although an agreement appears imminent, does the Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway realize that the real problem is not the buy American act, which has been around since 1933, but rather the provisions of Mr. Obama's plan?

[Stockwell Day, Conservative, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway]

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the question, because we have been working hard on this file. The Prime Minister, the provincial premiers and I have taken action. We now have an agreement between our provinces and territories, which, in our opinion, meets the requirements of the buy American act. We have sent the plan to the Americans and we will continue to work on the matter.

[Serge Cardin, Bloc, Sherbrooke, QC]

Mr. Speaker, if the agreement had to be based on full reciprocity as indicated by the Prime Minister, that would mean breaking away from one of the benefits of NAFTA, and would prevent Quebec, the provinces and the municipalities from using preferential purchasing as a tool for economic development.

Does the minister realize that full reciprocity could have a very negative impact on small and medium-sized businesses?

[Stockwell Day, Conservative, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway]

Mr. Speaker, many people have said that the process we followed with the provinces was unprecedented, because we respected the jurisdictions of the provinces and their goals. I particularly appreciate the work of the Premier of Quebec, Jean Charest, who showed leadership amongst the provinces and encouraged them all to sign the agreement. Thanks to his hard work and that of the other provincial premiers, we can now hope for a solution.

Labour

[Nicole Demers, Bloc, Laval, QC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, in answering a question on preventive withdrawal, the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development said that it is important to her government to treat men and women equally. The minister could start by ensuring that female workers in Quebec are all treated the same way.

Does the minister plan to implement a preventive withdrawal program for female workers in Quebec who work under the Canada Labour Code?

[Rona Ambrose, Conservative, Minister of Labour]

Mr. Speaker, the member is spreading erroneous and false information about the rights of pregnant women who are in the federal jurisdiction workforce.

The reality and the truth of the matter is that if a woman at any time feels that her health and safety or the health and safety of her fetus is at risk due to any health issue, including the H1N1 virus, she has the right, under the law, to refuse to go to work and continue to be paid.

[Nicole Demers, Bloc, Laval, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the minister is missing the point. The most shocking thing about this is that, under the Canada Labour Code, Quebec companies already have to provide their employees with CSST coverage for workplace accidents.

Why refuse to do the same for pregnant women working in Quebec who are calling for preventive withdrawal?

[Rona Ambrose, Conservative, Minister of Labour]

Again, Mr. Speaker, it is important for all women who work in the federal jurisdiction, particularly pregnant women who are concerned about their own health and safety and the health and safety of their fetuses, to know that they do have rights. If they feel in any way any risk to their safety or the safety of their fetuses, they are able to discontinue work. They can refuse to work and will continue to be paid.

Automotive Industry

[Frank Valeriote, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

Mr. Speaker, we learned today that the Canadian Secured Credit Facility, which the finance minister promised in December, January, April, May and then again in June, has yet to offer Canadian car purchasers, lessees and dealers any chance to get the loans they need. It is not working. The money is not out there.

Lending money to GM and Chrysler is only half the equation. Helping car sales and leasing by loosening up credit is the other half: no sales, no industry.

We cannot rely on the minister's promises at all. Will he ever keep his word?

[Tony Clement, Conservative, Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, in fact, in this case, I would be happy to educate the hon. member.

Private investors and financial institutions have been leveraging the CSCF account in order to ensure there is a market for these kinds of ABS securities. In fact, Ford Credit was able to issue $600 million of ABS in the public markets. Ford also raised some $3 billion in private placements over the summer months, again leveraging the CSCF.

Working with my colleague, the Minister of Finance, we have improved this fund most recently and we believe it will continue to operate for the benefit of Canadians.

[Frank Valeriote, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

Mr. Speaker, that is contrary to what has been said by the Business Development Bank.

In today's Financial Post, the VP of the Business Development Bank stated, “I don't know when a deal will happen...But I think”, she thinks, “we will see something before Christmas”. That is one full year since it was announced.

The Canadian Automobile Dealers Association says, “That's one of the biggest problems facing the industry”.

Car dealers cannot borrow money for cars. Auto jobs and taxpayer loans to the industry will only be protected if sales increase.

If the finance minister does not want this money out the door, why does he not just say so?

[Tony Clement, Conservative, Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, let me then put on the record that this fund already levered $3.6 billion in the first tranche. We have improved the program for the next months. It is working for consumers and for credit facilities in the auto sector.

The hon. member is mistaken. If he would actually spend his time researching rather than trying to force an unnecessary and expensive election, maybe he would have better questions.

Health

[Anita Neville, Liberal, Winnipeg South Centre, MB]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Health knows of the poverty in first nations communities. She knows of the challenging living conditions.

Her department shipped body bags to prepare them for H1N1. We also know she refused to take responsibility. The minister said that it was regrettable. That is not good enough.

When will the minister apologize to first nations peoples for sending body bags to those Manitoba communities?

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, I know full well what it is like to live in first nations communities because I come from one.

I have said that what happened before was insensitive and offensive and I have asked my deputy minister to investigate the matter. I have had meetings with Grand Chiefs Ron Evans and David Harper in Manitoba in regard to the situation. Once I receive the information and a full report, I will travel back to Manitoba to meet with the chiefs to discuss the situation.

[Anita Neville, Liberal, Winnipeg South Centre, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I hope an apology will be coming.

The Minister of Health misleads Canadians by telling them that first nations are prepared for H1N1. She claims that 90% of communities have a pandemic plan. Yesterday, the grand chief of MKO told us that only two of his thirty communities had a plan. That does not sound like 90%.

When will the minister stop misleading Canadians, start working with first nations and develop a truly national pandemic plan?

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, we have been working with the provinces, territories and first nations communities to develop the pandemic plan.

I met with all the chiefs in British Columbia this week and addressed the National Assembly. As well, I have been to Manitoba five times to meet with the chiefs and Saskatchewan, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. I have been working very closely with all first nations communities in our country to develop their plans.

We have a plan in place and we are acting on it.

Fisheries and Oceans

[James Lunney, Conservative, Nanaimo—Alberni, BC]

Mr. Speaker, in coastal B.C. questions are being raised about the prospect of lighthouses being destaffed. In fact, six of these lighthouses are in my riding.

B.C. Conservative MPs have personally championed the importance of these light stations in the past and in recent times. In fact, our party prevented previous Liberal attempts to close light stations in B.C. and in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Could the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans update the House on the latest status on this important issue?

[Gail Shea, Conservative, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for the input regarding the gradual automation and destaffing of lighthouses in B.C. and Newfoundland and Labrador.

With rapidly developing technology, an ever-changing technology, light stations in the rest of the country and around the world have been fully automated for quite some time now, and it is clear that mariner safety has not been compromised. However, it is my understanding that many light stations in British Columbia and Newfoundland and Labrador are located in remote areas, where lightkeepers perform a range of additional services.

I have asked therefore that a further review of the extent of these services at the remaining staffed light stations be undertaken and no further lighthouses will be destaffed until that review is completed.

Afghanistan

[Jack Harris, NDP, St. John's East, NL]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservative government continues to undermine the Military Police Complaints Commission's hearings into detainee transfers in Afghanistan leading to torture.

The government has ordered subpoenaed witnesses to say nothing to the commission. Now it has been revealed that a secret military police investigation took place and the results have not been made public.

Is this the government's response to the charges of Canadian complicity in torture in Afghanistan? What is the government trying to hide from the Canadian people?

[Peter MacKay, Conservative, Minister of National Defence and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway]

Mr. Speaker, the reality is that is simply not true. The military has been co-operating with the MPCC. In fact, we have provided dozens of witnesses to provide testimony. We have provided hundreds of documents. That board will say so itself.

With respect to this evidence, there is sensitive information. There are national security considerations. There is information that has to be vetted.

We are co-operating with the commission. We will continue to do so, and the board itself has said so.