Debates of Nov. 5th, 2010

Employment Insurance

[Luc Malo, Bloc, Verchères—Les Patriotes, QC]

Mr. Speaker, today I am presenting a petition signed by 145 people from the riding of Verchères—Les Patriotes on amending the provisions in paragraph 12(3)(c) of the Employment Insurance Act. These provisions concern benefits payable in case of illness.

Like tens of thousands of others who have signed petitions, they are asking the House of Commons to significantly extend these provisions to more realistically reflect the varying lengths of time claimants need to recover, depending on their disability.

The current provisions, which allow a maximum of 15 weeks of sickness benefits, have not been changed since 1971. This petition serves as concrete encouragement for Marie-Hélène Dubé, a cancer survivor who decided, because she was suffering the consequences, that the legislation should be changed so that people with a serious illness do not rush back to work at the end of 15 weeks of benefits.

I also invite the members to support Bill C-525, which responds to the concerns of the people who signed this petition and Marie-Hélène Dubé.

Right to Life

[Stephen Woodworth, Conservative, Kitchener Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to present a petition from many of my constituents and others who point out that Canada is a country that respects human rights and in fact has included in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms that everyone has the right to life, however that Canada has had no law to protect the human rights of children before birth since 1988.

Therefore these petitioners call upon Parliament to pass legislation for the protection of human life from the time of conception until natural death. At the very least, Parliament owes it to Canadians to have a respectful dialogue on these serious issues.

Employment Insurance

[Scott Simms, Liberal, Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, NL]

Mr. Speaker, once again I rise to bring petitions to this House regarding EI pilot projects.

Back in 2005, under the Liberal government, Minister Lucienne Robillard brought in pilot projects that allowed people primarily engaged in seasonal work to get EI and greater benefits. The system had been created such that there was a disincentive for seasonal workers. What I mean by that is that the system was set up so that they would count the last 14 weeks. In other words, if they only worked two or three days per week, the average amount of benefit would be reduced because the average would come down. Therefore, the measures we introduced in 2005 allowed them to receive greater benefits because they used the best 14 weeks and the average would come up.

The other pilot projects, of course, included being able to make 40% income before being clawed back and other measures to be included.

These two petitions come from New World Island in my riding, including towns of Summerford, Pikes Arm, Cobbs Arm, Toogood Arm also, which a great little community, Parkview and Twillingate. Mr. Speaker, you have been in my riding; maybe you could include a couple of those towns that even I missed.

However, I want to congratulate these people for bringing these petitions to the House. Hopefully soon we will get these measures and not just an eight-month extension but a permanent extension to these EI pilot projects.

Passport Fees

[Jim Maloway, NDP, Elmwood—Transcona, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the woman who called my office yesterday, wanting to know why I was not presenting a petition on the reduction of passport fees, and I want to thank the Speaker for having similar thoughts yesterday.

This petition, signed by dozens of Canadians, is a call on the Canadian government to negotiate with the United States government to reduce the United States and Canadian passport fees.

U.S. tourism to Canada is at its lowest since 1972. It has fallen by five million visits in the last seven years alone, from 16 million in 2002 to 11 million in 2009.

Passport fees for a U.S. family of four can be over $500. In fact, 25% of Americans have passports, while 50% of Canadians have passports.

In terms of legislative action, the recent Midwest Legislative Conference, representing 11 border states, from Illinois to North Dakota, and 3 provinces, passed a unanimous resolution at the conference this summer, which I wish to read:

RESOLVED that the Midwestern Legislative Conference calls on President Barack Obama and...[the Canadian Prime Minister] to immediately examine a reduced fee for passports to facilitate cross-border tourism; and be it further

RESOLVED, that...[the Conference] encourage the governments to examine the idea of a limited-time two-for-one passport renewal or new application.

To be a fair process, these passport fees have to be reduced on both sides of the border. Therefore, the petitioners call on the government to work with the American government to examine a mutual reduction in passport fees to facilitate tourism and, finally, promote a limited-time two-for-one passport renewal or new application fee on a mutual basis with the United States.

Multiple Sclerosis

[Megan Leslie, NDP, Halifax, NS]

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition to present wherein the petitioners are calling urgently for the Government of Canada to take immediate action to accelerate greater and broader participation of multiple sclerosis, or MS, sufferers in pilot testing and treatment by providing fast-track funding for surveillance, research and dissemination of findings, including providing urgent pre-screening imaging services for MS sufferers.

The petitioners are also asking that the government work immediately with the provinces and territories, through the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health to obtain advice and evidence-based information about the effectiveness of chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency treatment, CCSVI as we know it, without delay.

Finally, the petitioners are asking the government to take a leading role on the basis of this evidence and encourage a swift adoption of the procedure in territories and provinces.

Questions on the Order Paper

[Tom Lukiwski, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, the following question will be answered today: No. 82.

Question No. 82

[Jean Crowder, NDP, Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC]

With regard to the Post-Secondary Student Support Program (PSSSP) through Indian and Northern Affairs Canada: (a) when was the contract awarded for the report “The Post-Secondary Student Support Program: An Examination of Alternative Delivery Mechanisms”; (b) how much was the contract; (c) how many other contracts have been awarded to this company in the last five years and what was their value; (d) how many other contracts have been awarded to study PSSSP or the Indian Studies Support Program in the last five years; and (e) what is the value of those contracts and who were they awarded to?

[John Duncan, Conservative, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development]

Mr. Speaker, in response to (a), the report was commissioned in March 2009 as part of the department’s review of its post-secondary education programs.

In response to (b), the contract was valued up to $24,675 only $11,750 was paid out under the contract.

In response to (c), in 2008, the Educational Policy Institute was contracted by Indian and Northern Affairs Canada’s Ontario region. The contract was valued at $103,110; however, the supplier was not able to complete the work, so the contract was cancelled.

In response to (d), in the last five years, two contracts have been awarded to study the post-secondary student support program.

In response to (e), (i) Derek A. Sagima was awarded a contract to conduct a preliminary survey and audit of post-secondary education. The duration of this contract was from April 21, 2008 until November 28, 2008 and involved three phases. The total value of this contract was $330,619, including travel but not GST; $298,181 was paid out.

In response to (e), (ii) In September 2008, Applied Research Centre was awarded a contract to prepare a gap analysis of aboriginal post-secondary education programming. The value of the contract was $14,973.

Questions Passed as Orders for Returns

[Tom Lukiwski, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, a revised response to Questions Nos. 349 and 350 originally tabled on September 20 will be tabled today.

Furthermore, if Questions Nos. 375, 384 and 385 could be made orders for returns, these returns would also be tabled immediately.

[The Acting Speaker, Conservative, Barry Devolin]

Is that agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

Question No. 349

[Dan McTeague, Liberal, Pickering—Scarborough East, ON]

With regard to the G8 Summit in Muskoka, what are the details of all contracts for goods or services relating to the G8 meetings, providing for each contract (i) the name of the contractor, (ii) a description of the goods or services provided, (iii) the value of the contract, (iv) whether or not there was an open bidding process for the contract?

(Return tabled)

Question No. 350

[Dan McTeague, Liberal, Pickering—Scarborough East, ON]

With regard to the G20 Summit in Toronto, what are the details of all contracts for goods or services relating to the G20 meetings, providing for each contract (i) the name of the contractor, (ii) a description of the goods or services provided, (iii) the value of the contract, (iv) whether or not there was an open bidding process for the contract?

(Return tabled)

Question No. 375

[John McCallum, Liberal, Markham—Unionville, ON]

With regard to each sign for the government’s Economic Action Plan: (a) what project was the sign for; (b) what was the size of the sign; (c) on what date was the sign erected; (d) how did the government ensure the sign was erected; (e) did the sign need to be replaced for any reason (vandalism, theft, weather damage); and (f) who paid for the sign?

(Return tabled)

Question No. 384

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

With regard to security at the G8 and G20 summits: (a) when did the government solicit proposals for security services leading up to the summits; (b) what companies submitted proposals; (c) what companies were awarded contracts; (d) what security contracts were sole-sourced; and (e) what were the total security related expenditures for the G8 and G20 summits?

(Return tabled)

Question No. 385

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

With regard to the G8 and G20 security planning: (a) what was the chain of command for the Integrated Security Unit for these events; (b) what involvement or input did the Minister of Public Safety have in developing the G8 and G20 security plan; (c) what involvement or input did the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and the Privy Council Office (PCO) have in developing the G8 and G20 security plan; and (d) what interventions did the PMO, PCO or the Minister of Public Safety make during the execution of the G8 and G20 security plan?

(Return tabled)

Questions Passed as Orders for Returns

[Tom Lukiwski, Conservative, Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I ask that the remaining questions be allowed to stand.

[The Acting Speaker, Conservative, Barry Devolin]

Is that agreed?

[Tom Lukiwski, Conservative, Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK]

Some hon. members: Agreed.

The House resumed consideration of the motion that Bill S-9, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (auto theft and trafficking in property obtained by crime), be read the third time and passed.