House of Commons Hansard #83 of the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was agreements.
Keith Ashfield ConservativeMinister of National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned earlier, our government is taking aggressive action and over $1 billion was recovered in unpaid taxes. Those unpaid taxes are subject to penalties.
Raymonde Folco Liberal Laval—Les Îles, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives want to spend $30 million more for a lower-quality census.
The data will be based on a response rate of about 50%, which is a far cry from the previous rate of 94%. We can imagine the consequences.
The Prime Minister's anti-scientific action is even being condemned by the union representing government scientists.
Why abolish the long form census? Is it to bury the government's lousy socio-economic record over the past five years?
Tony Clement ConservativeMinister of Industry
Not at all, Mr. Speaker. We support a voluntary questionnaire to protect Canadians' rights.
We understand that we can get useful data from a national household survey, which will be going to 4.5 million households. We can do this in a way that balances the privacy rights of individuals, allowing them to choose not to answer intrusive questions, with the need to collect data for Canadians.
Carolyn Bennett Liberal St. Paul's, ON
Mr. Speaker, today is the United Nations' first World Statistics Day. Sadly, unlike the rest of the world, Canada's Conservatives are attacking statistics instead of celebrating international progress.
Elimination of the long form census would reduce the response rate from 94% to a paltry 50%. This wasteful decision would add $30 million to the deficit, and it will cost provinces and municipalities millions more, because they will lose the ability to target programs to their citizens' needs.
When will Canada lead again and restore the long from census?
Tony Clement ConservativeMinister of Industry
Mr. Speaker, it is a sad day, in a world statistics way, when the party of the official opposition is wedded to the idea that it is best to coerce Canadians, to threaten them with jail time or massive fines, if they do not fill out a government form. That may be the official opposition's policy.
We have a fair and reasonable policy, designed to get useful and usable data by covering 4.5 million households. At the same time, our policy protects Canadians from coercion on the part of their government, which has an obligation to represent Canadians' interests. Maybe the opposition is not aware of that, but we sure are on this side of the House.
Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
Mr. Speaker, a report out today confirms what New Democrats have been telling the current government for years: the Conservatives are ignoring their responsibility to control pollution in the tar sands.
Under both the Liberal and Conservative governments, industry has been given billions of dollars to open up the tar sands, while legal responsibilities to regulate pollution and protect the environment and Canadians' health have been ignored.
Will the Conservatives finally admit that their “hear no evil, see no evil” attitude is bad for the economy and bad for our environment?
Mark Warawa ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of the Environment
Mr. Speaker, the report, like this government, supports developing the oil sands in an environmentally responsible manner. That is why the minister under this government struck a federal panel of Canada's leading scientists and tasked them with ensuring the proper and accurate monitoring of water.
We have also invested in state-of-the-art analytical equipment for chemical fingerprinting, so that we can determine where the toxins are coming from.
When it comes to the environment, the member knows we are getting it done.
Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member would like to know where the toxins are coming from. They are coming from the tar sands.
What we realize today is that the negligence with respect to this project is only going to get worse. Today's report shows that greenhouse gas emissions from the tar sands are ballooning out of control. By the year 2050, emissions will be 40 times above the government's own pathetically weak targets. Under this nightmare scenario, using carbon capture and storage to make up the difference is going to cost between $60 billion and $70 billion.
When will the Conservatives realize that runaway growth in the tar sands will hurt Canada's economy and the environment? When are they going to start doing their jobs?
Mark Warawa ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of the Environment
Mr. Speaker, it is a shame the member could not attend a tour of the oil sands. It is the oil sands, and it is improving. Because of the Liberals? No, they made a mess of it. Because of the NDP? No, and not even the Bloc. It is this government that is taking leadership on the environment. The oil sands will be developed in an environmentally responsible way.
Cathy McLeod Conservative Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC
Mr. Speaker, yesterday at the status of women committee, the Leader of the Opposition once again chose show over substance. Members of the committee work long and hard to ensure that women's rights are addressed seriously, respectfully and honestly. Yesterday members of the committee were insulted that the Liberal leader used his private member's bill as an excuse to play politics with women's rights or, as the National Post said, “just window-dressing”.
Can the President of the Treasury Board tell the House why we think women deserve better?
Stockwell Day ConservativePresident of the Treasury Board and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway
Mr. Speaker, we firmly agree with and support the principle of equal pay for equal work.
The past Liberal government used to force women into court and, in fact, for years forced them to wait for fair compensation. We do not think that is the right way to treat women in these situations, so our Public Sector Equitable Compensation Act allows for these issues to be dealt with right up front, right in the bargaining process.
We do not think women should be forced to wait. We do not know why the Leader of the Opposition and the Liberals want to force them for years to wait for fair compensation.
Borys Wrzesnewskyj Liberal Etobicoke Centre, ON
Mr. Speaker, on September 23 the Prime Minister met Ukrainian President Yanukovych under whom democratic and human rights transgressions are regularly occurring: intimidation of media, restrictions to freedom of assembly, tampering with election rules, secret police even pressuring university rectors to spy on students.
Sadly, the Prime Minister did not make clear that Canada stands united with Ukrainians who demonstrated their will to be a free democratic state during the Orange Revolution. Will he do so on October 25 while meeting with the president in Kyiv?
Peter Kent ConservativeMinister of State of Foreign Affairs (Americas)
Mr. Speaker, the short answer is yes. We do have concerns about the encroachment of fundamental democratic freedoms in Ukraine, and yes, the Prime Minister will raise those concerns during his visit.
Robert Bouchard Bloc Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC
Mr. Speaker, the National Assembly unanimously adopted a motion calling on the federal government to respect its commitment to pay for 50% of the cost of Highway 175 between Quebec City and Saguenay.
Given the importance of Highway 175 for the economic development of Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, will the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities undertake to split 50-50, with the Government of Quebec, the total cost of Highway 175?
Chuck Strahl ConservativeMinister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, it is in black and white. I have a copy of the agreement between the Governments of Canada and Quebec. It states that the respective contribution to the project of Canada and Quebec will be 50% of eligible expenses, up to $262 million each, for the first phase of the project.
In fact, we not only committed to this and paid this; we have also funded 50% of phase two of the project. We have not only met the terms of the agreement; we have exceeded them.
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
Mr. Speaker, CSIS director Richard Fadden made allegations of foreign influence that tarred thousands of Canadians with unwarranted suspicion and are hurtful to the Chinese Canadian community.
We know that Mr. Fadden was in direct contact with the public safety minister before and after his remarks. Yet the minister is now ducking the public safety committee's request for him to appear and be accountable for his own official statements.
Here is what the government House leader said about appearing at committees: “Ministers are responsible, and I'm here to accept that responsibility”. Why will this minister not accept his responsibility, be accountable and explain this unjustified smear?
Vic Toews ConservativeMinister of Public Safety
Mr. Speaker, I will be at the committee on Monday.
However, I want to indicate that the NDP public safety critic compared the selfless acts of those who helped slaves escape persecution to the criminal human smugglers who prey on individuals, vulnerable individuals, and who only care about profit. That member should be ashamed. That member should apologize.
Human smugglers are clearly targeting Canada and are treating our country like a doormat. The problem is growing and it must be stopped. That member should apologize and assist us.
Earl Dreeshen Conservative Red Deer, AB
Mr. Speaker, later today the House will vote on Bill C-290.
The Bloc-NDP-Liberal coalition supported proposal would let businesses that underfund their own employees' pension plans off the hook, and would cost $10 billion annually for a new scheme to be paid for with higher and higher taxes on Canadians.
These reckless and costly schemes underline why the coalition is bad for our economy. Can the parliamentary secretary please explain the danger of the coalition's tax-and-spend policies?
Ted Menzies ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, the Bloc-NDP-Liberal coalition's tax-and-spend policies are economically destructive.
The Liberal-led coalition is targeting job creators and would kill jobs with its tax hike plan. Experts have confirmed that this would kill 253,000 jobs. Manufacturers are worried. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce is so worried that it even called the Liberal plan the most “economically destructive” plan possible.
Borys Wrzesnewskyj Liberal Etobicoke Centre, ON
Mr. Speaker, next year marks 120 years since the first wave of Ukrainian pioneers to Canada. They transformed the bush of the Northwest Territories into the golden wheat fields of Saskatchewan and Alberta.
Ten years ago, a state-of-the-art Ukrainian Canadian archives and museum was announced in Edmonton. Individual Canadians, Ukrainian Canadian organizations, the City of Edmonton and Premier Stelmach have all committed generous funding.
There is just one missing partner in the final push to get this done, the federal Conservative government. Why the stonewalling and delays?
Rob Merrifield ConservativeMinister of State (Transport)
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the hon. colleague for his interest and his question.
This is an infrastructure project. The project is being analyzed at the present time. We will make the appropriate announcement in due course.
Maria Mourani Bloc Ahuntsic, QC
Mr. Speaker, Richard Fadden, the director of CSIS, has alleged that a number of politicians are under the influence of a foreign government. This unusual statement from a CSIS director has added to the climate of doubt surrounding elected officials. The Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security has invited the minister to come and answer questions about this affair but, even though the minister is joining us on Monday, he refuses to answer this question for no apparent reason.
Is the minister hiding in order to avoid revealing that his government is, in fact, associated with the CSIS director's irresponsible operation to cast doubt on the integrity of elected officials?
Vic Toews ConservativeMinister of Public Safety
Mr. Speaker, I will be there on Monday. The member can ask me any question that she likes.
However, we do not comment on operational matters related to CSIS. Mr. Fadden came to committee and answered questions for two hours in respect of that particular issue.
The member is obviously trying to make a political issue out of Mr. Fadden's comments.
Leona Aglukkaq ConservativeMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table today the 2009-10 annual report of the Mental Health Commission of Canada. I would also like to extend my appreciation to the commission for its work.
Lisa Raitt ConservativeMinister of Labour
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to the Employment Equity Act, chapter 44, section 20, I have the honour to table the annual report of the Employment Equity Act for 2009, in both official languages.