House of Commons Hansard #67 of the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was code.
Justin Trudeau Liberal Papineau, QC
Madam Speaker, I have not yet had the opportunity to attend a committee meeting, but I can say with absolute certainty that the Liberal Party will continue to respect Quebec's jurisdiction over immigration and other matters.
The Acting Speaker NDP Denise Savoie
The hon. member for Trinity—Spadina for a very quick question because of the statements by members coming up.
The Acting Speaker NDP Denise Savoie
The hon. member can ask a question when the debate resumes after question period. The hon. member for Papineau will have five minutes left in questions and comments.
Ray Boughen Conservative Palliser, SK
Madam Speaker, as MP for the Palliser riding, I am proud to stand today in the House of Commons to recognize the village of Avonlea, also known as Riderville, Saskatchewan.
2010 marks the 100th anniversary of Saskatchewan Roughrider football. To celebrate this milestone, the team challenged towns and villages across the province to show their Rider pride and to make their case as the proudest Rider community.
Citizens of Avonlea rose to the challenge. They covered their homes, businesses and even their street-sweeping machine in the team's famous green and white and they turned their Main Street into a replica of Mosaic Stadium.
I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the village of Avonlea on winning the contest and its $25,000 prize. I thank the village football fans for making me the proud member of Parliament for Riderville, Saskatchewan.
Mark Eyking Liberal Sydney—Victoria, NS
Madam Speaker, this weekend, Cape Bretoners mourned the loss of a great citizen, Irving Schwartz.
A native of New Waterford, he founded 30 companies that contributed greatly to our economy. He volunteered in many organizations, such as the Children's Aid Society, Junior Achievement, the Lions Club, and was a volunteer firefighter.
His support for the Cape Breton Regional Hospital and many other charitable causes has touched many of our lives. His role in eliminating the destructive land mines around the world was recognized internationally.
Mr. Schwartz was a recipient of the Order of Canada. He was deservedly proud of it, and we Cape Bretoners were proud of him.
Despite a battle with cancer and his diagnosis of Parkinson's disease, Irving kept working and he guaranteed it. He loved to work hard no matter what the task at hand.
I will personally miss him. He supported me and gave me a lot of advice over the years. I encourage all members of the House of Commons to offer their condolences to his wife, Diana, and their family and friends.
Irving Schwartz will be sadly missed but his legacy will continue on.
Paule Brunelle Bloc Trois-Rivières, QC
Madam Speaker, since this is National Forest Week, as the natural resources critic for the Bloc Québécois, I would like to make my colleagues aware of how vital these resources are to the planet.
As we know, trees purify the air. The forests in Quebec and Canada capture close to 40 megatonnes of CO2 every year, and this is absolutely free. Forests, which cover more than 760,000 square km in Quebec, are a renewable resource that we must develop responsibly. Forests ask for nothing in return for everything that they do, other than to be treated with respect.
Furthermore, forests account for many jobs in Quebec. The forestry industry plays an important role in Quebec and it deserves financial support.
I am calling on the government to do everything it can to protect this resource for the future and to help the forestry industry make it through this unprecedented crisis.
Carol Hughes NDP Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, ON
Madam Speaker, New Democrats are calling for the Canada pension plan to be doubled, to raise the guaranteed income supplement for low income seniors and to protect workplace pensions.
With 1.5 million Canadians still out of work and six in ten living paycheque to paycheque, we are seeing that there is still a lot of economic recovery to be made.
No one is in a better position to know this than Canada's seniors, who struggle to survive with increasingly tight budgets while the cost of basic necessities such as heating oil, fruit and vegetables keeps climbing.
Canada's seniors have been thrown a bone by the government in the form of $1.55 a month increase in their OAS, an incredible amount that will help everyone forget about the fake lake at the G8, as well as the latest Conservative-Liberal tax grab, the HST. The $1.55 is almost enough for a can of beans or a cup of coffee.
Mr. Robert Taylor of Elliot Lake is so excited about this development that he is saving up his increase. He would like the Prime Minister to tell him how best to invest this windfall so that he can really maximize his extra $18.65 a year.
Mike Allen Conservative Tobique—Mactaquac, NB
Madam Speaker, I note that all of us as MPs enjoy our time in our riding and, while many events come to mind from this past summer, I want to pay special recognition to a 4-H group in New Brunswick and a tremendous leader.
Having had a chance to visit many local 4-H achievement days and act as a judge during the provincial competition, there is no doubt that we have a group of young citizens focused on creating a positive environment in their schools and in their communities.
What made this year's provincial show bittersweet was the passing of Arthur Versloot, a well-known dairy farmer from Keswick Ridge who was taken from us by accident at far too young an age just before the provincial show. Arthur will be remembered for his contribution to family, community and to 4-Hers as a kind mentoring leader. He will certainly be missed by those of us who got to know him for his various endeavours and we know the gap that has been created with his passing.
In spite of all this, the young people forged ahead, readied themselves for the show and, in true 4-H spirit, competed in the most statesmanlike fashion.
We will certainly miss Arthur. His efforts on behalf of young 4-Hers will live on for many years to come. Our thoughts go out to his wife, Karen, and the entire Versloot family.
Michael Savage Liberal Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS
Mr. Speaker, last Monday, the remarkable life of D. Scott McNutt ended.
It started in Digby, included stints in the British Merchant Navy and at St. F.X., a social welfare crusader, a young MLA, a busy cabinet minister, a businessman and an artist.
In Premier Gerald Regan's reforming cabinet of the 1970s, Scott led many positive changes, including the construction of the Dartmouth General Hospital where he spent his final days 35 years later.
He was a renaissance man, a visionary, a dapper, eloquent man who studied and had an innate sense of history, politics and people.
An accomplished artist, his paintings reflect those things he held dear--people, the earth and the sea.
To spend time with Scott, one learned to bring one's wit and words but to check one's ego at the door. He had no time for pretense.
He lived his life for good company and for his family, especially Jamie, Laura and Clive, who mourn him now. But they know, as do his friends, that Scott McNutt lived his life without malice or regret and he left on his own terms. He and we are proud of that.
Joy Smith Conservative Kildonan—St. Paul, MB
Mr. Speaker, tomorrow is CML Awareness Day and I am honoured to host a lunch briefing here in Ottawa to celebrate the great progress being made to control CML.
CML is a slowly progressing cancer of the blood and bone marrow. It is the first cancer for which scientists were able to identify the genetic anomaly involved, and that is the Philadelphia chromosome. This discovery has led to the development of the first targeted cancer therapy. While these therapies are highly effective, they are not a cure and are very expensive. Additionally, some patients still require regular blood transfusions and bone marrow transplants. Further stem cell research is vital to fighting this disease.
I would like to recognize the work of the CML Society of Canada, a not for profit organization that provides invaluable support, education and information to patients and families.
We need to remember that more work is needed to ensure all cancer patients have access to the best treatments and services available.
Josée Beaudin Bloc Saint-Lambert, QC
Mr. Speaker, the summit on the millennium development goals is currently under way at the UN, and I would like to add my voice to those of NGOs that recently slammed this Conservative government for its weak commitments.
Not happy with sabotaging the talks on adopting a global tax on financial transactions, which would represent a significant source of income, the Conservatives are still falling far short of the shared target of 0.7% of GNP for development aid that Canada set for itself by signing on to the millennium goals.
No, the Prime Minister will not fool anyone with the speech he is giving tonight in New York. After choosing to give a speech at Tim Horton's last year instead of the UN—which shows how interested the Conservatives are in the UN and international co-operation—this government needs to stop with the rhetoric and opportunistic speeches and start truly acting on behalf of the poorest people on the planet.
Deepak Obhrai Conservative Calgary East, AB
Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Liberal leader questioned whether Canada deserves a seat on the UN Security Council. He should be ashamed of himself for attempting to run down Canada on the international stage. He should put the country's interests ahead of his own personal political interests.
Thanks to this government, Canada's international leadership is well established. We have provided considerable support to the UN mandates in Afghanistan, Haiti and Sudan. Our generosity to international assistance and our rapid response to international disasters, such as the recent flooding in Pakistan, should make all Canadians proud.
Sadly, the Liberal leader ignores all of this and chooses to try to score cheap political points on the opening day of Parliament when he claims that he wants to be productive.
This shows yet again that the Liberal leader is not in it for Canadians. He is only in for himself.
Ujjal Dosanjh Liberal Vancouver South, BC
Mr. Speaker, today is Alzheimer's Day. The theme for the 2010 campaign is “Dementia. It's time for action!”.
Dementia affects 20% of seniors by the age 80. Dementia affects over 40% of seniors by the age of 90. Today, 500,000 Canadians are living with dementia. Every five minutes, another Canadian develops dementia. In 20 years, the total number of people living with dementia in Canada will be 1.1 million.
Dementia costs Canada $50 million a day. In a few years, it will triple. Imagine not just the financial cost but the human cost of doing nothing or not much. We need a plan to support the millions of Canadians living with this disease and their families who care for them. We need more investment in dementia care and better treatment.
A national strategy for dealing with dementia must be a priority for our country. Alzheimer's Day reminds us that we need to act, and act quickly.
Tilly O'Neill-Gordon Conservative Miramichi, NB
Mr. Speaker, the economy remains the number one priority of Canadians and of our Conservative government. Our government knows that Canadians' long-term prosperity is driven by the creativity, the ingenuity and common sense of entrepreneurs. We stand up for small-business owners and hard-working families across this country.
At a time when our economic recovery is still uncertain, Canadians can count on this government and the Prime Minister to continue to focus on maintaining job security and prosperity for Canadian families and communities.
In the coming months, our actions will be guided by three bold principles: supporting job creation and economic growth; keeping our communities, streets, and families safe from terrorism and crime; and mapping a path to economic recovery to ensure jobs and prosperity for all Canadians for years to come.
We urge all members to work with us during the parliamentary session to show that we can work together to deliver for Canadians.
Chris Charlton NDP Hamilton Mountain, ON
Mr. Speaker, Robin Hood took from the rich to give to the poor. However, our Prime Minister and his merry men have turned that legend on its head. They take from the poor and give to the rich.
Bank profits for the first three quarters of 2010 were in excess of $15 billion. The Conservatives' tax cuts have fattened that number by $645 million. That is $645 million that went to the wealthiest corporations, while the poorest seniors are being robbed.
Incredibly, the measly cost of living increase on CPP benefits for Canada's must vulnerable seniors, those who are collecting the GIS, is being clawed back. When their CPP goes up, that modest increase is treated as additional income. For many, that means their GIS entitlement goes down in the following year, leaving this country's poorest seniors with less money in July than they received from January to June.
This House unanimously passed the NDP plan for comprehensive pension reform. We are still waiting for its implementation. However, let us at least live up to the spirit of that plan by ensuring that retirees get more money. Clawing back pension increases makes a mockery of the very purpose of keeping pace with inflation.
At a minimum, let us ensure that Canada's most vulnerable seniors are not being robbed to pay for tax cuts for the rich.
Steven Blaney Conservative Lévis—Bellechasse, QC
Mr. Speaker, the economy is our top priority, and Canada's economic action plan, which the Bloc Québécois shamefully rejected, is working for all Canadians.
We are lowering taxes for families and businesses, while infrastructure projects are creating jobs to stimulate economic growth in big cities and small towns throughout Quebec and Canada.
Thanks to our Conservative government, Canada's leadership is the envy of the world. For the third year in a row, the World Economic Forum has recognized Canada's banking system as the strongest in the world.
Furthermore, the IMF and the OECD have said that Canada will lead the G7 in economic growth this year and next.
In addition, since July 2009, Canada's economic action plan has helped create 430,000 jobs. The recovery does remain fragile, however. As we begin a new session, jobs and economic growth are our top priorities.
Quebeckers and Canadians can count on their Conservative members and our government to live up to their expectations.
Marc Lemay Bloc Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC
Mr. Speaker, last March, I presented a petition to increase the budget allocated to education for first nations. What has the government done since then? Nothing. It has promised to repeal sections of legislation that allow Indian residential schools to be created and aboriginal children to be taken from their community, but that is not going to have any impact on funding for those communities.
The Conservative government is continuing to freeze the education funding indexation rate for aboriginal communities at 2% a year, even though demographic growth is between 6% and 7%.
That is why this week, the first nations are on Parliament Hill to remind the government once again that first nations education is in crisis. It is time for the government to take action.
Lise Zarac Liberal LaSalle—Émard, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Liberal Party of Canada firmly believes that one of the best ways to improve the quality of life of the first nations is to educate aboriginal young people. Therefore, we must work with the governments of the first nations, the Métis, the Inuit and the provinces and territories to achieve this objective.
Unfortunately, the Conservative government has not shown any leadership on this important issue. It cut funding for the First Nations University, got rid of the historic Kelowna accord, and refused to endorse the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. All Canadians, not just aboriginal peoples, will be affected.
We intend to invest in people in order to build the best educated and most skilled workforce in the world. Thus, every Canadian, including aboriginal peoples, must have every opportunity to succeed through education and training.
Jim Abbott Conservative Kootenay—Columbia, BC
Mr. Speaker, tomorrow MPs in this House will vote on whether to keep the wasteful and inefficient long gun registry.
On this side of the House we have listened to our constituents, and they know that we stand with them. But this is not the same for those Canadians who are being represented by the Liberals and their coalition partners.
Listen to the political flip-flop.
The NDP public safety critic admitted that the long gun registry is flawed. On April 21, 2009, he told this House, “There are some disadvantages to registration, and in fairness, those should be pointed out as well. It imposes a regulatory burden on legitimate, responsible and law-abiding gun owners”.
The member for Vancouver Kingsway goes on to say, “Registration systems have put a particularly onerous duty on first nations, hunters and trappers, and those who make their living off the land”.
We could not agree more and urge all NDP MPs to listen to their public safety critic, not the Liberal coalition, and to vote to scrap the wasteful and ineffective long gun registry.
Michael Ignatieff LiberalLeader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, this government has signed untendered contracts to buy planes and is spending billions on prisons. It wasted $1 billion on the G8 and G20 summits, and as we heard today, it has tripled its advertising spending to an unheard-of $130 million.
Can the government explain its wasteful spending record to Canadian taxpayers who are struggling to make ends meet?
John Baird ConservativeLeader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, I say to my friend, the leader of the official opposition, that this government, as part of our economic action plan, has had an important responsibility to be open and to be transparent about the various programs that are part of the economic action plan. We have done that in every part of the country, and I can say directly to the leader of the Liberal Party that one of the reasons why advertising expenses rose was that we had to spend some $24 million on the H1N1 vaccine campaign, something that was not just important, but was a huge success, thanks to the hard work of the Minister of Health.
Michael Ignatieff LiberalLeader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, that does not get us to $130 million, number one, and number two, 94% of Canadians thought that was a total waste of money. It is not just a waste of money, it is a question of priorities. The government's priorities are prisons, planes, and publicity. The priorities of Canadians are education, health care, and retirement security.
How is it that the priorities of this government have gotten so out of touch with the majority of Canadians?
