Debates of March 26th, 2010

Transportation

[John Baird, Conservative, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, we follow all of the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization. It also makes supplementary recommendations. We are working hard with representatives of industry, representatives of the pilots themselves, and officials at Transport Canada, to look at what we can do to further expand the anti-fatigue measurement.

[Mario Laframboise, Bloc, Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC]

That is two years of insecurity nonetheless, Mr. Speaker.

The airports capital assistance program, or ACAP, will end on March 31, and there is no indication that it could be renewed. The executive director of the regional airport in Mont-Joli, Carole Duval, is particularly concerned because she would like to extend the landing strip and quickly modernize electrical installations at the Mont-Joli airport in order to reduce maintenance costs.

Will the government stop making a mystery of it, renew ACAP and enhance it to meet the needs of regional airports?

[John Baird, Conservative, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, I must tell my friend from the Bloc Québécois that the government will continue in Quebec and across Canada with this program to support municipal airports.

I appreciate the good work the Bloc critic is doing.

Agriculture

[Frank Valeriote, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

Mr. Speaker, our agri-retail sector is responsible for $10 billion in trade of crop inputs like fertilizer and agri-chemicals. These materials could also be used to produce explosives and methamphetamines by criminal elements.

The U.S. government has implemented a security tax credit for security upgrades at agri-retail sites in the U.S. while the Conservative government leaves our industry less competitive and Canadian sites unprotected from theft.

When will the government step up for Canadian agri-retailers and take action to keep Canadians safe?

[Pierre Lemieux, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture]

Mr. Speaker, I am aware of this concern as is the Minister of Agriculture. I met with the agri-retailers yesterday. They have stated their case to me. I know that they are also working with public safety. We are having a look at this matter.

[Frank Valeriote, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

Mr. Speaker, surely the government wants to protect Canadians by preventing these dangerous materials from falling into the wrong hands. Industry has been asking for years for the government to join it and share the cost presented by this very real security issue, yet it cannot get a meeting with the minister.

Literally tonnes of explosive chemicals, poisonous gases, and meth-producing chemicals sit unprotected without so much as a fence to prevent criminal elements from seizing them.

When will the government stop paying lip service to public safety and take action to protect Canadians?

[Pierre Lemieux, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture]

Mr. Speaker, safety is very much a concern of this government. Canadians have seen the actions that we have taken to defend their safety. The member should check his facts. In fact, certain segments have met with me, as I mentioned, and they are working with the departments in this regard.

Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement

[Peter Julian, NDP, Burnaby—New Westminster, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the Canada-Colombia free trade agreement will give preferential access to companies exploiting Colombia's natural resources. The problem is that these resources are located in areas inhabited by indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities.

Amnesty International recently revealed that there has been a significant increase in ongoing violence against these peoples.

Are the government and the Liberals going to be party to the violence against indigenous and Afro-Colombian peoples?

[Gerald Keddy, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade]

Mr. Speaker, I listened to the hon. member's question and I follow this issue very closely. He forms his question deliberately to mislead. It kind of sounds like the Liberals opposite when they are chattering. It is the same type of thing. They deliberately mislead. They deliberately obstruct the facts. The reality here--

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

Order, order. The term “deliberately mislead” has been ruled unparliamentary by the Speaker. The member is out of time but might wish to retract his statement.

I believe the member for Burnaby—New Westminster has a follow-up, so if the member would do so, quickly.

[Gerald Keddy, Conservative, South Shore—St. Margaret's, NS]

Certainly, I would not want to mislead the House, Mr. Speaker, in any way, shape or form.

The reality on the minister's statement is that Canadian companies and Colombia follow the best corporate social responsibility practices.

[Peter Julian, NDP, Burnaby—New Westminster, BC]

Mr. Speaker, he should apologize for his and his government's stand on Colombia. It is absolutely embarrassing.

Colombia is number one in the world for labour killings and number one in the world for violent theft of land. The government pretends that there is a democratic government in Colombia but the international election monitoring report detailed fraud, coercion and fear of violence as the election period begins.

Instead of rewarding the regime in Colombia with a privileged trade deal, why will the Conservatives and Liberals not push the regime to have free and fair elections there?

The U.S. Congress and the EU have stopped implementing free trade with Colombia. When will the government stop—

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

The hon. Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade.

[Gerald Keddy, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade]

Again, Mr. Speaker, the member comes back with the same question.

The reality is that we have a good trade agreement with Colombia. I think the majority of Parliament will be onside with that agreement. It will create jobs and opportunity for Canadian workers. It will help Colombians who have a democratically-elected government. It will help Colombian workers. It has side agreements on human rights and on the environment.

This is a very good free trade agreement not just for Canada but for Colombia.

Pensions

[Russ Hiebert, Conservative, South Surrey—White Rock—Cloverdale, BC]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians from across Canada and constituents from my riding of South Surrey—White Rock—Cloverdale were shocked and disturbed to discover that criminals, like Clifford Olson, are receiving taxpayer-funded seniors benefits.

Yesterday, the leader of the Bloc showed how out of touch he was by saying that he does not want to stop sending tax dollars from law-abiding Canadians from going to murderers.

Could the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development please inform the House what our Conservative government's position is on this very important issue?

[Diane Finley, Conservative, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development]

Mr. Speaker, the comments made by the leader of the Bloc show once again that the Bloc is more interested in protecting the rights of criminals than the rights of victims and their families.

We, as a Conservative government, however, are focused on the rights of victims. In fact, when I heard about the situation of Mr. Olson, I was very concerned and disturbed. Members can rest assured that we are making every effort at a very rapid pace to ensure that situation does not continue and that it is prevented from happening in the future.

Taxation

[Wayne Easter, Liberal, Malpeque, PE]

Mr. Speaker, again the Conservatives fail to tell the truth about taxes.

This fiscal year they will increase the tax burden on jobs, health products, air security, retirement savings and education. Now, through conniving deception and cover up, they will also increase the scope of the dreaded GST.

The new Conservatives' $1 billion tax hike from the GST will hurt ordinary Canadians, eliminating exceptions and extending the base for a $1 billion GST increase. Does that not turn Conservative—

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

The hon. Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance.

[Ted Menzies, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, I would welcome the hon. member back to a policy that is exactly the same as when he sat in government.

These are simply technical clarifications in response to a court case that is seeking to address uncertainty in those cases. It merely affirms a long-standing tax policy under this government and former governments.

We announced this nearly four months ago. I am glad the hon. member woke up. We are working with industry to clear up any misunderstandings.

Employment Insurance

[Gérard Asselin, Bloc, Manicouagan, QC]

Mr. Speaker, unemployed people in eastern Quebec may lose three weeks of employment insurance because transitional measures are scheduled to end on April 10. Workers were also required to work an extra two weeks to qualify for benefits.

My questions is for the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development. Can the government confirm today that it will extend the transitional measures in order to avoid prolonging the spring gap for the unemployed in eastern Quebec?

[Diane Finley, Conservative, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development]

Mr. Speaker, I am aware of the situation and we are in the midst of making a decision. However, I would like to say one thing. It is a fact that the Bloc Québécois members have always voted against our efforts. They have voted against every measure that we have put before Parliament to help Quebec's workers and the unemployed. They voted against the additional five weeks and against measures to help long-tenured and older workers. That is shameful.

Correctional Service Canada

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Public Safety has stated that double-bunking prisoners in cells designed for one person is appropriate.

However, his own Commissioner of Correctional Service Canada says that double-bunking is not correctionally sound. This practice also contravenes international standards that Canada has pledged to observe.

Overcrowding in jails poses a serious problem to both inmates and guards. It raises tensions, threatens the safety of correctional staff and makes rehabilitation more difficult, especially for those with mental illness.

Could the Minister of Public Safety please explain to Canadians how double-bunking prisoners will make Canadians safer?

[Vic Toews, Conservative, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, as has been made very clear by our government, we are concerned about the safety of Canadians in the street. We will take such necessary, humane and constitutional steps to ensure that violent and dangerous criminals stay behind bars.

Automotive Industry

[Rick Norlock, Conservative, Northumberland—Quinte West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, our government has made significant commitments to the auto sector in Canada by preserving our share of the North American production and restructuring for a promising new future.

Could the minister please update the House on what General Motors has been doing to grow this important industry and work toward these goals?