House of Commons Hansard #16 of the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was bridge.
Diane Finley ConservativeMinister of Human Resources and Skills Development
Mr. Speaker, I would like to point out to the hon. member that this is a provincial jurisdiction and it is up to the provinces to provide daycare spaces. It is our job to help them and we are doing that to the tune of $250 million a year. In addition, we are giving $100 a month to the parents of children six years of age or less to help them choose.
Jean-Yves Laforest Bloc Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC
Mr. Speaker, yesterday at the Standing Committee on International Trade, a lawyer confirmed that loan guarantees for forestry companies would not violate trade agreements if the loan parameters were in keeping with market standards. This is exactly what the Quebec Forest Industry Council is asking for: financing at a commercial rate to get companies through this crisis.
Since loan guarantees comply with international agreements, why is the government refusing to act?
Denis Lebel ConservativeMinister of State (Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec)
Mr. Speaker, as my colleague knows, provinces currently have two cases before the London tribunal. They are currently in arbitration, and we will know the outcome later this year.
Let us take another look at Export Development Canada. This apparently does not constitute financial support. What does accounts receivable insurance do? It allows a company to go to its financial institution and obtain credit to keep the company going. In two years, $30 billion has been provided for all forestry products, and $20 billion of this has gone to Quebec.
Jean-Yves Laforest Bloc Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC
Mr. Speaker, the minister and the government keep talking about $30 billion in loan guarantees, but this is not true. EDC does not offer cash. We know that the government is coming up with excuses so that it does not have to help Quebec's forestry industry, even though it gave $10 billion to help the automotive industry, which is centred in Ontario. Yet the numbers of jobs in these two troubled sectors are similar.
Loan guarantees are legal. Why does the government refuse to listen to the pleas for help from Quebec's forestry industry?
Denis Lebel ConservativeMinister of State (Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec)
Mr. Speaker, I said it once and I will say it again. Export Development Canada offers three main types of financial products: access to credit, loan guarantees and accounts receivable insurance. Quebec has received more than $20 billion over two years. I remember quite well having recently read a press release from AbitibiBowater's vice-president of finance. It spoke of EDC's extraordinary support. And we must not forget that as of February 28, 2010, $1.4 billion in support had been provided for Canada's forestry industry, and $610 million of this had gone to Quebec. We are working with our partners.
Serge Cardin Bloc Sherbrooke, QC
Mr. Speaker, the federal government is forcing the broadcasting industry to convert to digital by 2011, but it still has no plan to ease the transition. The CRTC has recommended, just as the Bloc Québécois did in its budget suggestions, creating a fund to help consumers convert to digital. This recommendation is even more important now that consumers are facing the possibility of higher bills to cover the higher fees.
Does the minister intend to act on these recommendations and set up a digital transition fund?
James Moore ConservativeMinister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages
Mr. Speaker, we are certainly looking for opportunities for the transition that will occur in 2011. If my colleague has any ideas, we are open to suggestion.
Carole Lavallée Bloc Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC
Mr. Speaker, the only firm decision in the new television regulatory policy from the CRTC is to reduce Canadian content, and thus Quebec content, from 60% to 55%, which suggests that domestic production is a burden on broadcasters, while in Quebec we produce much more than 60%. This is another good reason to create a Quebec CRTC.
Could the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, just for once, defend culture and artists and ask the CRTC to review its decision?
James Moore ConservativeMinister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages
Mr. Speaker, if my colleague is concerned about the CRTC's decision, then I would ask her simply to call Mr. von Finckenstein at the CRTC. It was his decision and they are his policies. If she has an opinion on this, she can call him.
As far as Quebec artists are concerned, it is very clear that our government is making significant, responsible and efficient investments on behalf of taxpayers in the artistic community of our country. Gilbert Rozon, founder of the Just for Laughs festival in Montreal, said that the Prime Minister recognizes the role that the arts play in the nation's economy. We keep our promises.
Shawn Murphy Liberal Charlottetown, PE
Mr. Speaker, I have a very specific question for the Minister of Finance.
On page 242 of the budget, in detailing the knowledge infrastructure program, it states that the University of Prince Edward Island will receive $30 million in new money for infrastructure upgrades, but now we find out that may not be correct.
Would the minister confirm that the statement that he made, that he published in this House, is accurate, is correct and is factual in all respects?
Tony Clement ConservativeMinister of Industry
Mr. Speaker, I would be happy to reply to the hon. member in more detail upon reviewing the situation.
I can tell the House that there has been a series of discussions with the government of P.E.I. about how to allocate the knowledge infrastructure program to maximize the positive impact for that province, and it has been done in collaboration with the province of P.E.I. This government has been four-square in making sure the province of P.E.I. has its fair share.
I can assure the House that this program is very well received in the province of Prince Edward Island.
Shawn Murphy Liberal Charlottetown, PE
Mr. Speaker, the commitment in the budget was crystal clear. The answer provided by the minister certainly was not.
There is one of three things going on here in the House today. One, the statement is correct, and I would suggest that the minister across stand up and say the statement is correct. Two, there is a horrendous screw-up going on, and I would suggest that the minister stand up and say he will resign. Three, this statement is another attempt to mislead and deceive Canadians, and I would suggest that the minister stand up and say he apologizes.
Which is it?
Tony Clement ConservativeMinister of Industry
Mr. Speaker, I assure this place that when I was in Prince Edward Island to announce the knowledge infrastructure program, the response of Islanders was very positive.
They knew this was an investment in innovation, an investment in the students of P.E.I. They knew this government was putting its money toward good projects that were going to make a difference for innovation and competitiveness in P.E.I. That is the response I got from Islanders, and the hon. member should be ashamed of himself.
Siobhan Coady Liberal St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NL
Mr. Speaker, the Atlantic coastal action program involves 16 non-profit environmental organizations. It trains and motivates volunteers to protect our environment.
Last year, 1,100 volunteers worked more than 35,000 hours in environmental action. The program does applied research, educational campaigns and communications. It is an essential and important organization, and it is about to lose its funding.
Will the minister now confirm funding for ACAP, or is he going to fail to protect the environment yet again?
Jim Prentice ConservativeMinister of the Environment
Mr. Speaker, my colleague is not correct in suggesting the funding has been terminated.
We value the working relationship we have with the Atlantic coastal action program. Last year, Environment Canada participated, as I recall, in some 59 different projects; that means approximately $1.2 million. These are grants and contributions from the Government of Canada.
When I was last in Nova Scotia and announced consideration of Sable Island as a national park, some questions were brought to my attention by members of the public about how the dollars within that program were allocated, which organizations they were allocated to and whether we were achieving results. Since that time, I have been carefully scrutinizing this program.
Jean-Claude D'Amours Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB
Mr. Speaker, five environmental groups in New Brunswick may have their budgets cut and no longer be able to implement certain programs if the Conservatives do not provide funding for the Atlantic coastal action program.
In my riding, the Société d'aménagement de la rivière Madawaska et du lac Témiscouata may have to scale back its conservation programs. Six months ago, the provincial government gave it $60,000, whereas the Conservatives gave it nothing.
Why did the Conservatives decide to end this partnership after 17 years, when so much remains to be done? Why make more cuts to environmental programs?
Jim Prentice ConservativeMinister of the Environment
Mr. Speaker, there certainly is much to be done in terms of conservation. That is why this government has in fact expanded Canada's national parks footprint by 30% over the past four years. That is why we have invested over the duration of the government close to $1 billion with conservation groups. That is why we will in fact carry on with the Atlantic coastal action program after due consideration of where those dollars will be invested, with which organizations and what kind of results Canadians are seeing.
Terence Young Conservative Oakville, ON
Mr. Speaker, can the right hon. Prime Minister please update the House on any diplomatic progress that has been achieved toward removing U.S. dual national restrictions as they relate to the international traffic in arms regulations following President Obama's speech of last week?
As we know, these restrictions prevent many Canadians of ethnic origin from working for Canadian companies involved in projects that include sensitive U.S. products.
Stephen Harper ConservativePrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, I recently had the opportunity to discuss this issue with Vice President Biden in Vancouver. Since then, President Obama has outlined his intention to work towards resolving the dual national problem. This is a hopeful sign and I am thankful to the administration for this step forward.
We will continue to work with our U.S. counterparts to ensure we resolve this issue in a way that respects both our national securities and also the rights of all Canadians to be treated equally under the law.
Malcolm Allen NDP Welland, ON
Mr. Speaker, the gap between American and Canadian food safety standards is almost as embarrassing as it is concerning. The government promised 170 new inspectors, but a senior CFIA official says there are only 35 in training and 35 to be hired over the next two years.
Last week, the minister stood in this place and said, “We will have hundreds of new inspectors by this time next year dedicated to that front line operation”. Somebody cannot count. Is it the CFIA or is it the minister?
Gerry Ritz ConservativeMinister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board
Mr. Speaker, I can assure the member I passed math in school and can count.
What I said was we will have hundreds of new inspectors since we formed government. We will. To March 2009, we had net 445 new inspectors working. We continue to add to that line.
I know the member opposite is listening to one particular union. There are two that represent CFIA. He does not have the full numbers from both of them.
Malcolm Allen NDP Welland, ON
Mr. Speaker, that was actually the management of the CFIA, not its union.
More empty promises will not keep our food safe. The fact is that since the 2008 listeriosis crisis, the number of meat inspectors on the ground has not increased. The government waited for the U.S. to force it to start fixing the gap between American and Canadian inspection standards. Even though the government promised to complete it by last January, we still have not seen the resource audit demanded by the Weatherill report, which it requested, to know how many inspectors we really need.
Canadians deserve a clear answer. When will the long-overdue inspectors be in place?
Gerry Ritz ConservativeMinister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board
Mr. Speaker, the audit has begun and is in full swing to know the efficacy of the CFIA, where we need people and how many more we need.
We have not waited for the full report. We have begun to hire them. We put in budgetary moneys, $75 million, immediately after Weatherill. We have allocated another $13 million. Together that will hire 170 new placements within CFIA. We are getting the job done.
The unfortunate part is that every time we tend to move forward, the NDP votes against those initiatives. That is shameful.
Yves Lessard Bloc Chambly—Borduas, QC
Mr. Speaker, the government is refusing to tell unemployed people in eastern Quebec whether or not it will extend the transitional measures. The Conservative member for Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup has already given up. He says that the government has decided that it will not extend the transitional measures.
Can the government tell us today if it intends to add three weeks of benefits to cover the spring gap?
Jean-Pierre Blackburn ConservativeMinister of Veterans Affairs and Minister of State (Agriculture)
Mr. Speaker, I will say again, as I said last week, that with regard to employment insurance and transitional measures—for the Lower St. Lawrence and the North Shore, among others—we are still studying this matter.
I would like to remind members that this measure has been extended five times since 2000. We are taking a hard look at this measure. I would also remind the House that we have put in place six or seven new measures to help the unemployed in recent months and that, each time, the Bloc, the resistance party, voted against them.