Debates of Nov. 18th, 2010

Quebec City Arena

[Michel Guimond, Bloc, Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord, QC]

Mr. Speaker, after the Blue March demonstration in which over 60,000 people participated, a number of companies contacted the mayor of Quebec City to express their desire to provide funding for a multi-purpose arena. Private businesses, Quebec City, the Government of Quebec and the public support this project. Only the support of the federal government is missing.

Will the government announce its financial support for the construction of a multi-purpose arena in Quebec City by December 31, as per the request of Mayor Régis Labeaume?

[Josée Verner, Conservative, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, we are very pleased with the mayor's decision to seek assistance from the private sector. As we have said from the beginning, we believe that professional sports are primarily a matter for the private sector. That being said, when an application for funding is submitted to us, we will review it very carefully and render a decision in a manner that is fair and affordable for the entire country.

City of Lévis

[Michel Guimond, Bloc, Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord, QC]

Mr. Speaker, not only is he unable to convince his own government to invest in the Quebec City arena, but the chair of the Quebec Conservative caucus and the member for Lévis—Bellechasse is also unable to get justice for the city of Lévis, which was just designated as a cultural capital of Canada. While Vancouver got $1.75 million, Lévis will be entitled to only $1 million.

How does the Conservative government explain that Lévis will be entitled to less money than Vancouver to organize its celebrations in 2011?

Instead of engaging in dirty partisan tricks, the member for Lévis—Bellechasse should look after—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

The hon. Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages.

[James Moore, Conservative, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages]

Mr. Speaker, what the Bloc Québécois member said is completely untrue. The city of Lévis will receive $1,750,000 for its celebrations next year. It is a cultural capital of Canada. We are proud of our program. We have allocated $3.5 million to three Canadian cities to celebrate cultural capitals across Canada. Thanks to the hard work of the member for Lévis—Bellechasse, the city of Lévis has received an unprecedented amount of money for culture and for its anniversary celebrations.

Nortel Pensioners

[Lise Zarac, Liberal, LaSalle—Émard, QC]

Mr. Speaker, on January 1, 400 Nortel pensioners with disabilities will begin their new life of misery because of the Conservatives. The government could help them by supporting Bill S-216, but the Prime Minister would rather do nothing. Instead of enjoying the holiday season, these disabled pensioners will have to apply for welfare or look for a job.

Why is the government ignoring these vulnerable people who worked their whole lives for these pensions?

[Tony Clement, Conservative, Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, we are concerned about the people who are affected by this situation. We heard very different opinions during the committee hearings on this issue. We need to continue studying the issue. We must not pass legislation without examining the repercussions more thoroughly.

We are obviously studying this issue and seeking ways to be helpful where we can.

[Lise Zarac, Liberal, LaSalle—Émard, QC]

Mr. Speaker, in just six weeks Nortel's long-term disability workers will lose access to their health benefits as well as 80% of their benefit payments. There is a solution. Conservative senators should pass Bill S-216 immediately.

Nortel workers are scrambling to find other sources of revenue, while just this morning Conservative senators scrambled out of committee in the middle of tragic and compelling testimony from these retirees.

With only 37 days until Christmas, how heartless can the Prime Minister possibly be?

[Tony Clement, Conservative, Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, as I have said, we are profoundly affected by those who are touched by this particular situation. It is unfortunate that the members of the opposition are selling a dream that does not exactly exist.

Bill S-216 would have led to endless litigation by the parties as the government would be seeking to retroactively overturn a court decision to which the lawyers for the parties agreed. If the hon. member is advising us to break the law, why does she not stand in her place to do that?

On this side, we are trying to find real solutions for real people.

Poverty

[Tony Martin, NDP, Sault Ste. Marie, ON]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday we received a committee report for a comprehensive national strategy to eliminate poverty. Dignity For All, which represents 430 groups, is applauding all of us for this landmark study.

The report calls for federal leadership on a plan for housing, child benefits, aboriginals, seniors and more. It seems even Conservative MPs are endorsing this crucial initiative.

Will the minister finally agree with the provinces, NGOs and all Canadians who want action and announce a master plan?

[Ed Komarnicki, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and to the Minister of Labour]

Mr. Speaker, we do have a national strategy and that is to create jobs. In fact, the best way to get Canadians out of poverty is to get them working and the economic action plan is doing just that. More than 430,000 jobs have been created since July of last year and 260,000 jobs were preserved through the work-sharing program.

We ask the member to get behind us and not to increase taxes that would have the potential to kill 400,000 jobs.

Mining Industry

[Niki Ashton, NDP, Churchill, MB]

Mr. Speaker, how about saving jobs?

Yesterday the industry minister called Vale's announcement to cut 600 jobs “good news”. Today in the House he talked about it being an iron ore mine coming to the end of its life. It is a nickel mine and we are talking about the closure of the surface operations.

Will the minister apologize to the residents of Thompson? Will he follow the example of the Premier of Manitoba and work with us to save jobs and our community?

[Tony Clement, Conservative, Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member is aware, I believe she is participating in a meeting this afternoon with my officials to at least get the facts on the table.

I have informed her already in this House that I am having a discussion with the Government of Manitoba this afternoon to get its take on the situation. I have offered to have a meeting with the MP herself at the appropriate time so that we can confer on this situation as well.

The context of this is that the announcement that is so affecting her community in a negative way is also part of a larger announcement where thousands of jobs will be created throughout the rest of the country. I know she has to defend her people; I understand that, but this is good for Canada in the overall--

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

The hon. member for Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale.

Foreign Affairs

[David Sweet, Conservative, Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale, ON]

Mr. Speaker, before his constituents kicked him out of office in the U.K., George Galloway was videotaped giving fistfuls of cash to the terrorist group Hamas, yet York University rolled out the red carpet for him.

What is worse, the National Post is reporting that York's president is threatening to sue a Jewish rabbi who organized a successful protest against Galloway's speech.

Would the minister remind York's administration that Jewish rabbis still have freedom of speech in Canada? Will he remind him that articles 7, 22 and 32 of the Hamas charter are not and never will be the law of this land?

[Peter Kent, Conservative, Minister of State of Foreign Affairs (Americas)]

Mr. Speaker, yes, Mr. Galloway has bragged openly about giving money to Hamas. Hamas is an anti-Semitic death cult responsible for the deaths of countless Palestinians and Israelis, and is quite appropriately classified as a terrorist organization in Canada.

We believe that all Canadians have the right to free speech, but we expect that universities in Canada will support free speech, not shelter from criticism those like Mr. Galloway, who says he is not in favour of free speech.

Citizenship and Immigration

[Gurbax Malhi, Liberal, Bramalea—Gore—Malton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the high rates of temporary visitor visa refusals is preventing many of my constituents and other Canadians from inviting family and friends for occasions such as weddings, funerals and other special events, even when many of them had visited Canada under the previous government.

When will the minister stop this unfairness and reform the visitor visa system to assist Canadian families in times of compassion?

[Rick Dykstra, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, we do have a visa system in place in this country that works across the world. We do in fact, on occasion, make sure that it is working, make sure that improvements that are made to it are done effectively and efficiently, and ensure that the work that is done regarding those who come to this country is done in a good and positive manner.

We have always made sure the system works and we continue to improve it wherever possible and wherever necessary.

Victims of Crime

[France Bonsant, Bloc, Compton—Stanstead, QC]

Mr. Speaker, in committee, the Conservative members came up with poor excuses for opposing Bill C-343, which would offer financial support to the loved ones of victims of crime. However, our bill is based on legislation from the Quebec National Assembly. In addition, it was supported by the man who founded Quebec's Association of Families of Persons Assassinated or Disappeared before he was selected by the Conservatives to become senator.

Why is the government still refusing to help the families of victims of crime?

[Ed Komarnicki, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and to the Minister of Labour]

Mr. Speaker, the bill that the Bloc-Liberal-NDP coalition supported is fundamentally flawed. It would allow thousands of EI dollars to be spent to care for a young criminal who might have been injured in the process of committing a crime.

This would simply have the effect of increasing EI premiums when we are trying to freeze them and hold the line. It would end up costing jobs. If we took all of the plans of the opposition on the expansion of EI, it would result in permanent EI premium increases that employers and employees alike would not want to have.

Amateur Sports

[Glenn Thibeault, NDP, Sudbury, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the safety of our young athletes is paramount. Weeks ago, the government told the House that it was looking into the concussion epidemic in amateur sports, yet federal funding for sports injury prevention research was cut by 40% last year.

Why is there a contradiction between what the government says and what it actually does? Is it content to let things go on as they are, putting amateur athletes at risk, or will it work with the NDP and take action against sport concussions?

[Gary Lunn, Conservative, Minister of State (Sport)]

Mr. Speaker, this being the first question I have been asked since the Olympics, I am very proud to remind the House that we won 14 gold medals, which makes us all very proud.

On a serious note about the concussions, we take all of this very seriously. Hockey Canada runs a number of programs. We provide funding. However, we should let Hockey Canada regulate this. It is doing a great job. Children wear helmets in Canada. They will continue to do that. We support Hockey Canada in its efforts. However, I do not think this is a place for the government to step in and regulate.

Justice

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Abbotsford, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the best way to fight gangs and organized crime is to remove their profits. Auto theft threatens the safety of our communities and costs Canadians over $1 billion each year. It is one of the largest sources of illegal profits for organized crime.

Last week our government's Bill S-9 passed the House of Commons. This bill will deliver tough action on auto theft and on crimes involving the trafficking of stolen property. The bill also will remove dangerous drivers from our roads.

Would the parliamentary secretary give the House an update on the recent news concerning this important bill?

[Bob Dechert, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my hon. colleague for the very fine work he does as chair of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights.

I am pleased to report that just a few minutes ago, Bill S-9 received royal assent. Once this new law comes into force, law enforcement and the courts will have better tools to tackle auto theft and the entire range of activities involved in the trafficking of all types of stolen and fraudulently obtained property. This is just one example of how our Conservative government continues to deliver for victims and law-abiding citizens in this country.

Citizenship and Immigration

[Gurbax Malhi, Liberal, Bramalea—Gore—Malton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the current government must finally stand up for Canadians and against those who increasingly use fraudulent marriages as a safe immigration passport to Canada.

The government should close loopholes in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, ensuring the marriage-based system is strengthened and fraudulent marriages are eliminated altogether.

When will the government assume its responsibility and ensure that Canada is not soft on immigration system abuse?