Debates of March 26th, 2010

Afghanistan

[Laurie Hawn, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, I will repeat, because those members are hard of hearing, that every time an allegation has surfaced, the Canadian Forces, the chain of command, and this government have taken those allegations very seriously. They have been fully investigated.

We take very seriously our obligations under international law. We take very seriously our obligations to the Afghan people to make sure that we bring their capacity up to a level that we can help them be proud of. They will never be like Canada. We have raised them to a level they have never been to before.

[Paul Dewar, NDP, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives are using gamesmanship to delay facing the charges of contempt to Parliament.

Why do they not stop their political gamesmanship and immediately, right now, give members secure access to the unredacted documents on the transfer of Afghan detainees?

[Lawrence Cannon, Conservative, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, first, we have complied with the initial agreement to transfer all documents that we were allowed by law to release. We have done that.

Second, a few weeks ago, we announced that Justice Frank Iacobucci will also be undertaking an independent, comprehensive review of the documents related to Taliban detainees.

With what we have done, I think that light can be shed on the matter, and this light will—

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

The hon. member for Ottawa Centre.

[Paul Dewar, NDP, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, in the documents, one soldier reports seeing an Afghan detainee hit on the head with the barrel of a grenade launcher. Another soldier believes detainees were summarily executed. An officer reports that detainees “bore signs of injury” and that Afghan forces “don't necessarily follow our policies on detainee handling, if you know what I mean”. Mr. Speaker, everyone knows what he means.

The time for talking points is now over. The government owes it to this country to come clean. When will it call a public inquiry?

[Lawrence Cannon, Conservative, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, in the case of allegations, senior Canadian Forces leadership immediately ordered investigations into all of these. The Canadian Forces make sure that any allegation put forward is looked into, and all of these investigations determine whether or not the allegations are founded or unfounded, but up to now, all allegations have been unfounded.

[Paul Dewar, NDP, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, that is pretty dodgy.

By the way, the document dump yesterday was an insult to the House of Commons and to Canadians. These documents were already ordered by the MPCC and were set to be released. I do not want to say the minister was misleading the House, but this was a tactic to delay the government's response to Parliament while pre-empting the MPCC.

If the government were serious at all about getting to the truth, it would comply with the House order to have access. When will the government give up the delay tactics and own up to the truth?

The minister should not point to the Iacobucci process. He is a nice guy but that process will not satisfy--

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

The hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs.

[Lawrence Cannon, Conservative, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, former Justice Iacobucci is a well-respected individual whom everybody in this House has no doubt about in terms of his competence. We have called upon him to undertake an independent, comprehensive and proper review. Let Justice Iacobucci do his job.

National Defence

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

Mr. Speaker, after four years of confusion, the Minister of National Defence desperately needs to clear the air about purchasing fixed wing search and rescue for our soldiers. Sources say that Industry Canada and the National Research Council are raising flags about the process.

Is it really fair and open, or are the Conservatives favouring one builder before the bidding even begins? Already, two Canadian companies are complaining they feel left out, while one foreign builder is still in the running.

Why is this job being so bungled by the Minister of National Defence?

[Laurie Hawn, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, we are working hard to get the best equipment, the best fixed wing SAR equipment, for our airmen. I thank the hon. member for bringing up the question because it gives us an opportunity to talk about the consultations that we have undertaken.

It has taken some time, there is no doubt about it. It is a complicated project. We are looking at all options. We value the input from the National Research Council. It has some expert people whose input has been very helpful, and the project is going to move ahead with all the haste we can muster.

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

Mr. Speaker, what they are mustering is absolute confusion, because it has been four years, and now, each and every time the builders want to do something, Viking Air and Bombardier are both confused. They do not know what is going on because the government is favouring one builder over the other.

Last year the government staged an industry day to allow builders a chance to see what the department had in mind and even to discuss what they could provide to search and rescue. Many observers said it was unorganized and confusing and, eventually, it was closed off to the media, with no answers.

Now the minister says he is going to refurbish the current aircraft to 2014. They will be 40 years old then. Does the government really care about search and rescue?

[Laurie Hawn, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, dare I bring up the Sea King replacement when we are talking about dithering at the expense of our airmen, our forces and the people who depend on this? Anybody can apply to the fixed wing SAR program, whether they are international or national.

If Bombardier and Viking Air have an aircraft that meets the specs, they will be considered. They are free to apply. It is a process that has taken some time. We are moving ahead on that and I expect some progress in the not too distant future.

Government Contracts

[Yasmin Ratansi, Liberal, Don Valley East, ON]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Minister of Natural Resources was unable to explain a $185,000 grant his department gave to a company whose chairman is the Conservative member for Calgary Centre, so let us try again.

We know that the grant was authorized on March 31, the last possible day for this kind of March madness, but does the minister really expect us to believe that his ministry did not even check the website to see who the chairman was before they handed over the money?

[David Anderson, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources and for the Canadian Wheat Board]

Mr. Speaker, it is time for the member opposite to grow up. Canadians are sick of this kind of mudslinging. If she were paying any attention to her own question, she would know that the member for Calgary Centre has made a statement with regard to his activities in the day-to-day operations of this company. He has contacted the ethics commissioner to ensure that he is in good standing.

[Yasmin Ratansi, Liberal, Don Valley East, ON]

Mr. Speaker, let me remind him that the kettle is calling the pot black. The member for Calgary Centre said he was unaware of the grant, but this cannot be true. In 2007, the member was advised by the ethics commissioner that he should contact her in the event of future government contracts. Small and medium size enterprises are crying foul, and rightly so.

Can the government, in this blatant conflict of interest, explain why there is funding for one well placed Conservative insider, but nothing for thousands of Canadians who have lost their jobs?

[David Anderson, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources and for the Canadian Wheat Board]

Mr. Speaker, that is ridiculous. Natural Resources Canada has worked with Canadian companies seeking to bring innovative and energy efficient products to the marketplace. It approved $185,000 in funding for Streetlight Intelligence to demonstrate technology to reduce energy consumption of street lighting. Natural Resources has been monitoring the progress of this contract and will continue to do so.

Democratic reform

[Jean Dorion, Bloc, Longueuil—Pierre-Boucher, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Tom Flanagan, the Conservative guru, said out loud what many people are thinking. Adding seats in west Quebec would not only allow a majority government to be elected, but it would also isolate Quebec and marginalize the Quebec nation.

Is that not the real motive for adding 30 seats west of Quebec?

[Lawrence Cannon, Conservative, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, we remain committed to ensuring fair representation in the House of Commons for provinces that are growing more quickly and to guaranteeing the number of seats for the other provinces.

[Jean Dorion, Bloc, Longueuil—Pierre-Boucher, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the government must understand that changes to the federal electoral map will not be acceptable unless Quebec maintains the same influence in the House.

If the government refuses to ensure that the Quebec nation will maintain its current influence in the House, does that not show that this reform is nothing more than a completely partisan move by the Conservatives, and one that will also isolate Quebec?

[Lawrence Cannon, Conservative, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, if it were only the Bloc, Quebec would have no seats in the House of Commons in Ottawa. That is clear.

But to all Quebeckers who are proud to be Canadian, I can say that we are protecting the number of seats. The Bloc Québécois will definitely not be the ones giving lessons on representing Quebec here in the House.

Canadian Television Fund

[Carole Lavallée, Bloc, Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC]

Mr. Speaker, over a year ago, the government announced changes to the Canadian television fund to stimulate the television industry. Recently, in Toronto, the government announced that the fund would shift its focus to digital content. The fact that television producers will be required to develop content for two platforms without sufficient additional funding is reprehensible.

Why is the minister forcing the industry to pay the price for his failure to take action on digital media? Does he not realize that there is not enough money in the fund to stimulate both television and digital content production? Why is he undermining the television industry?

[Dean Del Mastro, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, it is this government, led by this Prime Minister, that has done more to support the Canadian television industry than any government in history. This includes unprecedented support for francophone programs inside and outside of Quebec. Our Canada media fund delivers over $300 million, more support for high quality Canadian TV than ever before. Right on for Canadian TV.

[Carole Lavallée, Bloc, Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the parliamentary secretary said that he listened to my question, but I get the distinct impression that he did not.

The Minister of Canadian Heritage is telling broadcasters that, from now on, they have to broadcast their content on at least two platforms, one of which must be digital. The minister is trying to force others to do what he has failed to do himself: develop a comprehensive strategy to stimulate the digital industry and prove that he has a vision.

When will he come up with something other than a piecemeal approach?

[Dean Del Mastro, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, the Bloc members question vision on the television industry. Maybe they would take issue with Pierre Karl Péladeau, the president and CEO of Quebecor Inc., who said, “The commitment from this government towards this fund is loud and clear and it is good news for Canada”. That is what he said. I do not know what Bloc members are listening to, but they are not listening to Mr. Péladeau.