Debates of Nov. 30th, 2010

Ukraine

[Peter Goldring, Conservative, Edmonton East, AB]

Mr. Speaker, today we remember the eight million who perished in Ukraine's Holodomor brought on by Stalin in the 1930s. The bitter irony for Ukrainians was that they were murdered by starvation in a land so bountiful that it is called the “Breadbasket of Europe”. Shamefully, as millions perished in Ukraine, western nations were silent and some unconscionably even purchased from the Soviet crops that were stolen from Ukraine's starving farmers.

The importance of speaking about and remembering the truth of the Holodomor, of the genocide continues here today. If we do not speak up to support historical truths of mankind's failings, of the dark side of humanity in Canada and around the world, we risk to repeat, and the former Soviet Union revisionist historians will educate the world with their version of the truth.

We remember today and for all time the Holodomor, the genocide in Ukraine.

Byelection in Kamouraska—Témiscouata

[Claude Guimond, Bloc, Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to draw the attention of the House to the victory of the Parti Québécois candidate, André Simard, in the riding of Kamouraska-Témiscouata, which had been held by the Liberals for 25 years.

As the leader of the Parti Québécois said, the voters rejected cynicism and voted for change at a time when the Liberal government in Quebec City has been rocked by a crisis of confidence. Last week, five out of six people said they did not trust the Charest government, and nearly two-thirds of the voters turned their backs on him yesterday. We only hope that Jean Charest has gotten the message and that he will finally call a public inquiry into the construction sector.

Once again, the Bloc Québécois would like to sincerely congratulate André Simard and his volunteers, as well as Pauline Marois and the entire Parti Québécois team, on this hard-fought battle in Kamouraska-Témiscouata that ended in a victory for integrity.

Perimeter Institute of Theoretical Physics

[Peter Braid, Conservative, Kitchener—Waterloo, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Perimeter Institute of Theoretical Physics in my riding of Kitchener—Waterloo is a world renowned centre of scientific research, discovery and innovation. In partnership with the Government of Ontario and the Government of Canada, PI is a successful example of public-private collaboration.

Last evening, Perimeter Institute announced an initiative to establish five highly prestigious research chairs named for the founders of modern physics: Newton, Maxwell, Bohr, Einstein and Dirac.

BMO Financial Group will contribute $4 million to establish the first of these chairs, the Isaac Newton Chair in Theoretical Physics. This investment will be matched by private funds from PI's existing endowment.

I congratulate BMO and Perimeter Institute for this unique partnership that will attract the world's best scientific minds to Canada and ensure that we remain a global leader in research excellence.

Policy Salon

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Westmount—Ville-Marie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to stand in the House of Commons today to congratulate David and Diana Nicholson on the 1,500th anniversary of their Wednesday night policy salon that will take place tomorrow night, December 1, in my riding of Westmount—Ville-Marie.

For the past 29 years, Diana and David Nicholson have been hosting a group of political junkies in their home every single Wednesday evening, that is, 52 Wednesdays a year. The animated discussions cover everything: the economy, the environment, financial markets, international affairs, culture, federal politics and of course, Quebec politics. These evenings are characterized by openness and respect.

As noted by Westmount mayor Peter Trent, the event is a family of friends and colleagues who all have an interest in sharing expertise among neighbours and newcomers from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. every Wednesday night.

Having myself been in the hot seat on a few occasions, I would like to take this opportunity to thank David and Diana for their commitment to discourse and the pursuit of knowledge.

Félicitations.

Violence Against Women

[Earl Dreeshen, Conservative, Red Deer, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the involvement of men in ending violence against women is indisputably essential. Men will take a stand against domestic violence if mentored and motivated by other men they identify with and respect.

Six years ago the Alberta Council of Women's Shelters in Edmonton started the popular initiative entitled “Breakfast with the Boys”. The program involves male leaders from business, government, industry, sport and culture, collaborating to draw attention to violence against women through constructive conversation among peers over breakfast.

Breakfast with the boys is now duplicated in Calgary and in other corners of the world. What is more, other men-engaging projects and initiatives have grown out of it. This is just one example of the need to involve men in the important effort to end violence against women and reiterates that men are a crucial part of this effort.

Prostate Cancer

[Jack Layton, NDP, Toronto—Danforth, ON]

Mr. Speaker, today is the last day of Movember, and I see many magnificent moustaches here in the House. I want to thank all the hon. members who grew a moustache for this cause.

It is the last day of Movember and I am noticing beautiful moustaches sprouting out among members of Parliament.

Tens of thousands of Canadians like me, men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer, want to say a very sincere thanks to all those people across Canada and to members of the House who are participating either by growing beautiful looking moustaches, or maybe taking them off tomorrow or by making financial contributions.

The world-class research that is being done with the money being raised here is helping people like me. My own treatments were developed in Canada and were only really approved for use five years ago. This is the kind of work that is being done.

Members are raising awareness—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

The hon. member for Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles.

Radon

[Daniel Petit, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, today our government published the preliminary results of a federal, Canada-wide study on radon. Our government wants to protect families and is urging Canadians to have their homes tested for radon.

Radon is a health threat to Canadian families. It is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the country. It is a radioactive gas found naturally in the ground and in rock. It can be found anywhere and can seep into a home through cracks in the foundation. It is colourless, odourless and tasteless. The only way to detect it is through a home test. If a high level of radon is detected, the problem can be fixed.

As the holidays approach, our government is inviting all families to get a radon detector and test their home.

Copyright

[Serge Cardin, Bloc, Sherbrooke, QC]

Mr. Speaker, approximately 100 artists from Quebec are on the Hill today to tell the Conservatives that they do not want Bill C-32 as it is presently constituted. If significant amendments are not made to it, Bill C-32 will serve only to impoverish our artists while making big businesses richer.

When 400 industries, 38 multinational companies, 300 board of trade associations and 150 chief executives are all supporting the minister and applauding Bill C-32 as it now stands, it is because they stand to benefit greatly from the bill at the expense of our artists. Close to $75 million in royalties and copyright will no longer be paid to artists and artisans if Bill C-32 is passed.

These members of Quebec's creative community are here to remind the Conservatives that the fruit of their labour is not free and that the government should not abandon our artists and our culture, since our culture is the self-expression of our people and of the Quebec nation.

Federal Byelections

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

Mr. Speaker, after a thrilling victory in Winnipeg North and a down to the wire battle in Vaughan, it is clear today that there is only one alternative that can defeat the Conservatives: the Liberal Party of Canada.

In Winnipeg North, voters knew that only Kevin Lamoureux and the Liberal Party can deliver progressive change. Kevin's years of experience and close connection to the community were recognized with the quintupling of the Liberal Party's share of the vote in a former NDP stronghold.

In Vaughan, Tony Genco turned a potential coronation for a well-known Conservative candidate into a dog fight that was not called until late in the night. Tony Genco can be proud of his open campaign. While his opponent hid from the tough questions, Tony respected local democracy and put Vaughan's voters first.

On behalf of the Liberal Party, I want to offer my congratulations to Kevin Lamoureux, Tony Genco, C. Scott Sarna, and their families, as well as all of the Liberal volunteers for a tenacious display of strength.

Member for Ajax--Pickering

[Phil McColeman, Conservative, Brant, ON]

Mr. Speaker, on September 23, the Liberal public safety critic conducted an interview with The Globe and Mail calling for an inquiry into an internal RCMP staffing matter. Yet yesterday, when the RCMP commissioner appeared at the public safety committee, the member for Ajax—Pickering was nowhere to be found, nowhere, that is, until one turned on a television and saw him campaigning in Vaughan for the failed Liberal candidate.

It is becoming increasingly clear that the member for Ajax—Pickering is all too willing to call meetings and witnesses when the cameras are rolling, but would rather play politics than actually do work.

Our Conservative government has been trying to give Canadians a Parliament that works and ensure committee time is given to important legislation to help victims. When will the member for Ajax—Pickering get to work for his constituents in Ottawa instead of trying to win political games elsewhere?

Seniors

[Michael Ignatieff, Liberal, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, Canada's seniors do not understand this government's priorities. This government is trying to cut the guaranteed income supplement for seniors, yet at the same time it has found billions of dollars for prisons and fighter jets. Explain that to our seniors.

When will this government stop making vulnerable seniors pay for its fiscal incompetence?

[Stephen Harper, Conservative, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, it is the complete reverse. This government has increased benefits for seniors because they are a very important part of our society. When we introduced income splitting for seniors, the Liberals were opposed to the idea.

[Michael Ignatieff, Liberal, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives have still not put to bed the truth that they are trying to cut seniors' eligibility for the guaranteed income supplement at a moment when seniors poverty is skyrocketing, at a moment when the Conservatives seem to be able to find billions for prisons and fighter planes.

When will the government stop trying to cover up its own fiscal incompetence by putting it all on the backs of vulnerable seniors?

[Stephen Harper, Conservative, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, this is completely false. Of course, when we had a deficit before, the previous government did cut pensions. This government has not done that. This government has increased the pension credits, increased the age credit. It has made eligibility to earn income greater when collecting the GIS. Of course, it has brought in income splitting for our senior citizens.

The big difference is that every one of those measures was opposed by that side the House and supported by Conservative members.

[Michael Ignatieff, Liberal, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, if the Prime Minister is such a strong supporter of vulnerable seniors, he has a chance to show it, because in 32 days, the Nortel pensioners are going to lose their disability benefits and some of them are going to lose their houses.

It is not as if there is not a solution. There are plenty of solutions out there, including Bill S-216, held up in the Senate by Conservative senators.

Why is the government refusing to act, and is it possible that the government is going to let Christmas go by and have those disabled pensioners go to the wall?

[Stephen Harper, Conservative, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, as the House knows very well, the situation he refers to was something done under something established under a court order, under legislation in effect at the time of the bankruptcy.

I think it is a terrible shame for the opposition to hold out false hope by suggesting that a bill in the Senate that would do absolutely nothing for this situation would somehow help it. The truth is that we want to make sure we take care of these seniors. We will make sure they have access to all the same protections that other Canadians have.

Taseko Mines Limited

[Mark Holland, Liberal, Ajax—Pickering, ON]

Mr. Speaker, stocks do not drop nearly 40% in a day for no reason. They do not do 1,000% of normal volume unless something is up.

On October 14 someone somewhere leaked and Taseko shares plunged. Conservative ministers met and two weeks before the public knew anything, insiders made millions. Of 5,000 environmental assessments, exactly zero, that is none, resulted in this kind of trading. Something stinks and everyone knows it.

Why, instead of looking for answers, is the government attacking anyone who asks questions?

Suspension of Sitting

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

Unfortunately, there appears to be a fire alarm. We are going to have to suspend the sitting until the matter has been resolved. Accordingly, I will suspend the questions at this time.

(The sitting of the House was suspended at 2:22 p.m.)

(The House resumed at 2:48 p.m.)

Sitting Resumed

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

Order. Is it agreed that we resume where we left off?

[John Baird, Conservative, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I think if you seek it you would find consent to finish question period, using the full time that is normally allotted, and then to proceed to orders of the day, and conduct the vote at the same time as it would ordinarily be held had the fire alarm not gone off.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

Is it agreed that we do orders of the day after question period, and the vote will take place as scheduled, not 40 minutes later?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[Mark Holland, Liberal, Ajax—Pickering, ON]

Mr. Speaker, a fire alarm can be pulled, but it will take a lot more than that to get me to stop asking questions.

Stocks do not drop nearly 40% in a day for no reason, and they do not do 1,000% their normal volume unless something is up.

On October 14 someone somewhere leaked and Taseko's shares plunged. Conservative ministers met, and two weeks before the public knew anything, insiders made millions. Of 5,000 environmental assessments, exactly zero, that is none, resulted in this kind of trading. Something stinks and everyone knows it.

Why, instead of looking for answers, is the government attacking anyone who asks questions?