House of Commons Hansard #110 of the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was offence.
John Baird ConservativeLeader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister of the Environment
Mr. Speaker, the Liberal Party has made great noises about wanting to raise the decorum in the House and talk about issues that are relevant to Canadians.
For the member for Wascana, talking about what kind of automobile a parliamentarian drives is not really—
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
Mr. Speaker, on one hand, the Conservatives are telling us that times are tough and that we need to tighten our belts. On the other hand, they are getting carried away and spending without restraint. Imagine, $1.3 million for taxis, and that does not include limousines. It is not their pocket money, it is Canadians' money.
I think I understand what the Conservatives are saying to Canadians. It is quite simple: Do as I say, not as I do. Is that it?
Andrew Saxton ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board
Mr. Speaker, our Federal Accountability Act is the blueprint for more accountable, open and ethical government. It represents this government's contract with Canadians to clean up government and ensure that the disastrous financial scandals of the Liberal years are never repeated.
As a government, our focus is always on accountability and ensuring value for money. Taxi vouchers are only used for official government business.
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
Mr. Speaker, what the Conservatives are doing is disgusting. They are shamelessly wasting our money. Meanwhile, the poverty rate among seniors has increased by 25%. Has that become a priority for them? No, not at all. Worse still, they are changing the rules to make it even harder to access the guaranteed income supplement. This will force even more seniors into poverty.
I know they are very busy gallivanting around in taxis, eating canapés, building prisons and buying airplanes, but when they have finished all of that, will they finally find some time to look after our seniors?
Ed Komarnicki ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and to the Minister of Labour
Mr. Speaker, we are certainly concerned with seniors and we have therefore taken a number of actions to be sure they have extra income in their pockets.
We have taken action specifically with respect to the guaranteed income supplement to be sure that they are entitled to receive that. We have increased the guaranteed income supplement twice.
We would ask the member and the Liberal Party to get behind us when we are taking initiatives that are helping our seniors in this difficult time.
Pierre Paquette Bloc Joliette, QC
Mr. Speaker, according to a study released in conjunction with the Cancun conference, the past decade was the warmest since 1850. One of the greatest temperature increases was recorded right here in Canada, where 2010 is expected to be the warmest year in history. Global warming is having a devastating effect not only on the environment, of course, but also on public health, food security and economic development.
Given this disturbing reality—to say the least—how can the Conservative government still refuse to implement a binding plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions?
Lawrence Cannon ConservativeMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, I thought my hon. colleague, being so concerned about the economy, was going to talk to us about the 441,000 new jobs created in Canada since our economic action plan was introduced.
I would simply remind the member that Canada is a signatory to the Copenhagen accord. We are working very hard with the 148 countries that have committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Pierre Paquette Bloc Joliette, QC
Mr. Speaker, many more jobs would be created in Quebec by reducing our dependency on oil than with the measures that have been put in place. The Conservative government, as clearly demonstrated by the minister, looks for every excuse to justify its lack of action on climate change. Sometimes it is the Americans who are the problem, sometimes the Chinese. There is always something.
Instead of playing hide and seek, what is the government waiting for to listen to Quebec, environmental groups and business people who all want a coherent greenhouse gas reduction plan in order to look to the future?
Lawrence Cannon ConservativeMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, our government has committed to reducing our greenhouse gas emissions by 17% compared to 2005 levels by 2020. These are firm commitments and not empty promises. These are very firm commitments that the government has promised to honour. And we are convinced that we can reach this target.
Mario Laframboise Bloc Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC
Mr. Speaker, recently, the Canadian Council of Chief Executives was urging the Conservative government to stop following in the wake of the United States and to develop a consistent policy to address climate change. These 150 business leaders want to move forward on environmental and energy innovation.
Now that the Cancun conference is under way, why does the government not make amends and table a coherent plan to fight global warming? What is the government waiting for?
John Baird ConservativeLeader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister of the Environment
Mr. Speaker, we have a plan to reduce greenhouse gases. In Cancun, we will work with the other countries to encourage the world's major economies to participate in reducing greenhouse gases. We have already established regulations on automobile emissions and we want to do the same for emissions from trains, planes and ships. We will continue to work with the other countries to this end. We agreed to reduce our greenhouse gases by 17%, which is exactly the same objective as that set by President Barack Obama.
Mario Laframboise Bloc Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC
Mr. Speaker, here is a concrete example of how the economy and the environment go hand in hand: Enerkem is producing a new type of ethanol using old utility poles. The company claims that its growth is constrained by the lack of federal regulations promoting clean energy and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. According to the company's vice-president, the government's inaction will detract from Canada's ability to compete, particularly with the United States.
Do the Conservatives understand that entire sectors of Quebec's economy are suffering because they sided with the oil companies?
John Baird ConservativeLeader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister of the Environment
Mr. Speaker, it is our government that created the regulations to add biofuels to gasoline, which was something very important.
We are world leaders. We have put biofuel regulations in place and that is leading to a huge amount of economic development and growth. We know that the environment can be a huge enabler of a growing economy.
We are very pleased today that there were 15,000 net new jobs created in this country. That is more than one more step forward. We remain focused on jobs and the economy.
Joe Comartin NDP Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
Mr. Speaker, Ambassador Crosbie's comments about the situation in Afghanistan stand in stark contrast to the rosy views of the Conservatives. He referred to mass corruption, election fraud, narcotics trafficking and a system of patronage that should make even the Conservatives blush. On the Afghan election our ambassador said, “We can't be seen to collude with it”.
Does the Minister of Foreign Affairs still stand by his endorsement of that election which his own ambassador said was rigged?
Lawrence Cannon ConservativeMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, the primary responsibility obviously of Canada's ambassadors and high commissioners is to represent Canada. Ambassador Crosbie does not represent the Government of Afghanistan. He represents the Government of Canada. Our government has been, and will continue to be, outspoken about certain of our concerns related to governance in Afghanistan.
Joe Comartin NDP Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
Mr. Speaker, Canada's Ambassador to Afghanistan has been quoted as saying:
“The international community must stand up for the silent majority or be blamed for letting Karzai and his family establish across the country the system of patronage and control that exists in Kandahar.”
Are the Conservatives going to continue to help the Karzai family get rich on the backs of the people of Afghanistan?
Lawrence Cannon ConservativeMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, I will repeat what I said a few moments ago. The responsibility of our ambassadors and our high commissioners around the world is to represent Canada's interests abroad. They are not ambassadors of one country or another, they are ambassadors who represent our interests.
With respect to the comments that have been made, I will just say that our government continues to be outspoken about a number of our concerns and will continue to do so, especially when it comes to Afghanistan.
Paul Dewar NDP Ottawa Centre, ON
Mr. Speaker, those are empty words coming from the government. It has to back the assessment of the ambassador. It is not doing that. The ambassador described Mr. Karzai's chief of staff as a “corrupt, Iranian-backed éminence grise whose influence appears to increase daily”. This is a man who has been accepting bags of money from the Iranians at a time when Afghans desperately need help.
Why are the Conservatives cutting back on the kind of assistance that Afghanistan would be able to use to counter corruption?
Lawrence Cannon ConservativeMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, the hon. colleague who sits on the committee that reviews the quarterly reports will know full well that among the six objectives and priorities we have, one indeed is to take care of institution building. Obviously the member did not read that report and he does not know what we are doing in Afghanistan. He might start reading the report.
Carolyn Bennett Liberal St. Paul's, ON
Mr. Speaker, a year ago a briefing note was prepared for Industry Canada detailing the concerns of numerous federal departments. Replacing the mandatory long form census with a voluntary survey would significantly compromise their ability to develop and evaluate public policy relevant to issues like EI, aboriginal health, housing, education, as well as the settling of immigrants.
Despite this crystal clear advice, the Prime Minister decided unilaterally to press ahead. When will the government do the right thing and restore the mandatory long form census?
Tony Clement ConservativeMinister of Industry
Mr. Speaker, unlike the Liberals and their coalition partners, we do not believe it is fair or reasonable to threaten Canadians with jail time or massive fines, or both of these, to fill out a long form for those who want the data. We have a fair and reasonable compromise which acquires useful and usable data, and at the same time better protects the rights and interests of citizens.
I just wonder what hidden interest the coalition has on that side and why they want to trample on Canadians' rights.
Carolyn Bennett Liberal St. Paul's, ON
Mr. Speaker, the government picks the questions and picks the penalties, but cutting the long form census is just reckless spending and reckless policy. In what the government describes as tough economic times, how do Conservatives find it prudent to spend $30 million more to get less reliable information?
Why will the Minister of Finance not discipline the Minister of Industry, get this risky spending under control, do the right thing and restore the long form census?
Tony Clement ConservativeMinister of Industry
Mr. Speaker, it is very regrettable that the Liberal Party and its coalition partners are so unfair and unbalanced on this particular issue.
We have a fair and reasonable balanced objective here. We want to protect the rights of Canadians. We do not want to threaten them with jail time or massive fines, or both.
We think we have a reasonable solution. It is just unfortunate that those members are concentrating on this issue when we got 15,000 net new jobs in November. That is what Canadians care about.
Wayne Easter Liberal Malpeque, PE
Mr. Speaker, last Friday, 900 beef and hog farmers attended an urgent meeting in Stratford entitled “Farmers Matter”. Farmer after farmer stated that the government's farm safety nets are not working. Farmers made it clear that they cannot pay back the targeted advance loans under the terms the minister announced.
Why does the government impose loans on farmers while wasting billions of dollars elsewhere: waste on fancy photo ops, waste on cabinet ministers' expenses, waste on planes and prisons? Do farmers just not matter to this government?
