Debates of June 10th, 2010

Citizenship and Immigration

[Terence Young, Conservative, Oakville, ON]

Mr. Speaker, citizenship fraud is becoming a serious issue here in Canada. There are a number of ongoing police investigations across the country into the practice of crooked citizenship consultants. These consultants actually sell packages on how to create bogus proof of residency here in Canada to obtain citizenship. They even encourage people to use post office boxes to prove residency.

Our government believes that citizenship is far more than the right to carry a passport or the right to vote. It defines who we are as Canadians, including our mutual responsibilities and shared common values rooted in our history.

I am pleased to say that our government introduced legislation today to crack down on crooked consultants and strengthen the value of Canadian citizenship. Our citizenship is highly valued around the world. More than 156,000 people became proud citizens of Canada last year. We are taking action to ensure that our valued citizenship is not taken for granted ever again.

Georges Gagné

[Carole Freeman, Bloc, Châteauguay—Saint-Constant, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I want to pay tribute to Georges Gagné, who has spent 60 years of his life serving the people of Delson, in Montérégie.

A municipal councillor from 1949 to 1973, he served nine consecutive terms as mayor of Delson, from 1973 to 2009.

His longstanding commitment to political life and the excellence with which he served make him a real model of perseverance for all elected representatives in his area and all across Quebec.

Among his achievements was the creation of the Delson industrial park, which today is home to more than 250 businesses.

On behalf of all my constituents, I want to thank Mr. Gagné for everything he has done for our community and wish him a happy retirement.

Student Gala of Excellence

[Marcel Proulx, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Mr. Speaker, on May 18, the Outaouais celebrated the success and talent of its young people during the eighth annual student gala of excellence.

This annual event is organized by Les amis de l'Étudiant Outaouais. This year's host was Patrice Bélanger. The gala is an opportunity to present local and regional awards to our young people who have distinguished themselves in the field of journalism.

This year, there were three award recipients. Elena Chudzia-Conde, from Collège Saint-Joseph, won gold for her text, Le chaos nauséeux du français. Vanessa Marroquin, from the Nicolas-Gatineau school, won silver for La grande demande, and bronze went to Florence Bolduc, from Collège Saint-Alexandre for her text, Perle de vie.

I want to congratulate these three award winners and all the finalists. I also want to congratulate all the organizers for their outstanding dedication and the entire team at Transcontinental's La Revue for a job well done.

Opposition Coalition

[Ben Lobb, Conservative, Huron—Bruce, ON]

Mr. Speaker, how far have the political fortunes of the Liberal Party sunk under the Liberals' current leader? The party of Laurier and Trudeau has sunk so low that everywhere we turn, Liberals are now talking about forming a coalition with the Bloc and NDP.

The members for Ottawa South and Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine sure like the idea. Jean Chrétien and the Liberal Party president see the writing on the wall and now support a coalition too.

Yesterday, the Liberal leader tried to deny that there were secret talks, but his denial was short-lived. Now there are sworn affidavits from senior Liberals, such as Warren Kinsella, that secret talks are indeed under way.

Let me remind the Liberals that this coalition is as unacceptable to Canadians today as it was in 2008, and to give the NDP co-management of the Canadian economy would be disastrous. This coalition would provide a veto to the Bloc, a party whose sole purpose is to break up our country.

Will the Liberal leader deny the coalition talks again, or is he afraid that another affidavit--

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

Order. Oral questions, the hon. Leader of the Opposition.

G8 and G20 Summits

[Michael Ignatieff, Liberal, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, six Nobel laureates are calling on this government to put the environment on the G20 agenda. The Mexican president and the UN Secretary-General called for the same thing here in Ottawa a few weeks ago.

Why is the Prime Minister the only person in the world who thinks that we can talk about the economic recovery at the G20 without talking about the environment?

[Stephen Harper, Conservative, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, on the contrary, that is not our position. Our position is clear. Obviously, the G20 is the primary forum for international economic talks, but at the same time, we will discuss other things related to the economy, like climate change. I expect there will be discussions to help Mexico prepare for its summit on that subject in November.

[Michael Ignatieff, Liberal, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, now I am hearing a change in position after the pressure they have been under in recent weeks. That is a good thing.

Even France is saying that the costs of this summit are getting out of control, and France knows something about extravagance. Its foreign minister is making jokes about the lake.

How can the Prime Minister preach austerity and restraint to Canadians and his G20 colleagues when he has lost control of the cost of his own summit?

[Stephen Harper, Conservative, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, of course, as has been observed by many people, the cost of these summits in this age is very expensive because of the security demands placed on the summits. Well over 80% of the cost for our summit are, of course, for security, and this is similar to all similar types of summits.

As for extravagance in France, I would not know about that, but perhaps the Leader of the Opposition, at his home in Provence, could tell us all about it.

[Michael Ignatieff, Liberal, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker—

[Some hon. members]

More, more.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

Order, order. Yes, we are getting more.

The Leader of the Opposition has the floor. We will have some order, though. The hon. Leader of the Opposition.

[Michael Ignatieff, Liberal, Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON]

Mr. Speaker, this summit could have been practical, could have been focused, could have been modest, could have been oh so Canadian, and instead, it has morphed into a kind of monster.

Perhaps the Prime Minister could explain how he managed to lose control of Canada's moment in the sun, because everybody knows that the only thing anybody is going to remember from this summit is “Lake Wastamataxes”.

[Stephen Harper, Conservative, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, as for extravagance in France, I think the Leader of the Opposition has set himself up.

Mr. Speaker, as you know, in terms of security costs, we consulted the same people who did such a good job on the Olympics. I know that the Liberals criticized them on the Olympics. The Olympics were a great success.

Canada is demonstrating, as I said, and everyone in the world recognizes it, economic leadership, not simply through the holding of summits but through an example of a country with the lowest deficits of any major developed economy, the lowest debt, the lowest taxes on business investment, the strongest job growth, the strongest economic growth, and the strongest banking system, and we will continue to lead.

[Mark Holland, Liberal, Ajax—Pickering, ON]

Mr. Speaker, after reading about obscene Conservative summit waste on the front pages of German papers, CNN, or other international press, some tourists might be tempted to take a fake lake tour or a boat cruise on a $400,000 ship stuck on land. There is only one hitch. We now learn that the government is banning all sightseeing for 15 kilometres around the summit. One cannot even fly a kite.

At the height of the tourism season, it is shutting down Toronto and banning sightseeing in Muskoka. This is not a marketing opportunity; it is a $1 billion private circus. Who approved this mess?

[Lawrence Cannon, Conservative, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, as we have said on numerous occasions, a large portion of the costs that are associated with both summits are directly imputable to the security. As we have mentioned throughout the last number of question periods, these costs have been vetted. We have consulted with experts. These costs are in line with comparable summits that have been held elsewhere.

[Mark Holland, Liberal, Ajax—Pickering, ON]

Mr. Speaker, no one is allowed near the $20 million fiddlers, singers, flowers or the great wall of plants, except maybe the President of the Treasury Board, who can see dew on the fake lake.

The fake lake was apparently not enough for the Conservatives' photo ops. We have now learned the government is blowing $1.1 million on fake backdrops. I guess if the fake lake is too far away or the $23 million empty media centre is not available, they need $1 million for wallpaper.

After Conservatives have run up the biggest deficit in Canadian history, have they completely forgotten that this is the public's money?

[Lawrence Cannon, Conservative, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, I welcome the opportunity to set the record straight.

The costs quoted covered signage and backdrops for four international events, the G8, the G20, the B20 and the youth summit. In total, the backdrops will be used at seven summit venues, three hotels and over thirty rooms. Costs include production, installation and take-down of 130 signage items ranging in size from one piece over 100 feet long to pop-up banners that are 2x6 and include stands, plus 150 nameplates. I have not finished.

International summits—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

Unfortunately the time has expired.

The hon. member for Laurier—Sainte-Marie.

[Gilles Duceppe, Bloc, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is telling us today that, at the G8 and G20 summits, which are clearly about the economy, other matters related to the economy will be discussed, such as the environment.

If that is the case, why does this not appear on the agenda? Why is there no formal proposal on the subject? Why was there no preliminary meeting of the G8 and G20 environment ministers?

[Stephen Harper, Conservative, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, in preparing the agenda, we consult very actively with our guests. Clearly, a number of topics will be discussed, including some matters dealing with climate change. By the same token, the intent of the G20 is not to replace the UN process.

[Gilles Duceppe, Bloc, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, on a number of occasions, the government has told us that this was not the place to discuss the environment, but rather the economy, as if one could be separated from the other. Today, they are changing their tune, probably after reading some of the polls. In a letter to the Prime Minister, a number of Nobel laureates quite rightly reminded him that “failure to address climate change will put the global economy at further risk”.

Having made the economy the priority at the G8 and G20, does the Prime Minister realize that he cannot discuss the economy without discussing the environment, since the two are so closely linked?

[Stephen Harper, Conservative, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we always try to discuss agenda items with the other participants in order to come to a consensus. Of course, environmental issues are linked to the economy, but I would say the same thing to the leader of the Bloc. Environmental issues are linked to the economy, which is why we always keep in mind the balance between the environment and the needs of the economy.

[Johanne Deschamps, Bloc, Laurentides—Labelle, QC]

Mr. Speaker, in addition to the environment, the government is excluding abortion from the G8 discussions for purely ideological reasons. In the view of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the G8 should not assume the right to decide which aspects of maternal and child health will be funded. That is the very opposite of what the Conservatives intend to do.

When will this government realize that its backwards ideology is jeopardizing women’s health?

[Bev Oda, Conservative, Minister of International Cooperation]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to report that I just attended the Women Deliver Conference in Washington. At the conference, Melinda Gates said “we finally have the world’s attention” on maternal health issues. She said that it was not that the world did not know how to save the lives of mothers and newborns, it was we had not tried hard enough until now. She says that the world is changing because there is a government that is listening and acting, even when others were previously deaf and dormant. Canada is proposing a bold, achievable platform—