House of Commons Hansard #70 of the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was children.
Jean Crowder NDP Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC
Mr. Speaker, the government's spending priorities are totally out of whack. Not only do the Conservatives put hotel snacks ahead of helping out Canadians, now we learn that the RCMP is being forced to absorb tens of millions of dollars in G20 security costs. This could result in significant cuts to the number of new recruits being trained.
Could the minister confirm that the RCMP depot is being forced to pay out millions for the government's misplaced priorities?
John Baird ConservativeLeader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, Canada had an important responsibility in hosting the G8 and the G20. Obviously there were significant security measures put in place, some 20,000 police officers and security personnel, designed not only to keep the people attending the summit safe, but also to ensure that people and property in the city of Toronto and in Muskoka were safe.
We accept our response in this regard. We are very proud of the success of the two summits for the global economy and for combatting poverty in the third world.
Jean Crowder NDP Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC
Mr. Speaker, we have heard the talking points before but where are the answers? The member's government chose to hold the summit in the heart of Canada's biggest city. His government allowed security costs to spiral out of control. The government should ask Canadians what they want their hard-earned money spent on: glow sticks and sunscreen or more cops on our streets.
John Baird ConservativeLeader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, the reality is that the summit was held in the middle of the summer. We had some 20,000 security personnel and we do not apologize for providing the supplies to ensure their safety. We, on this side of the House, take the health and safety of our police officers very seriously.
Jean Crowder NDP Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC
Mr. Speaker, the government happily burned through cash in Toronto and now the stimulus taps are being turned off for the rest of the country.
Instead of some arbitrary deadline, will the government have some common sense and agree to the proposal by the provinces to put aside money in trust funds so this much needed infrastructure money can be completed?
When will the government get out from its million dollar mess tent and agree to the very reasonable solution put forward by the provinces?
John Baird ConservativeLeader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, we have had success working with the provinces and territories on infrastructure. We have put aside politics, worked with political parties of all stripes across the country. Some 12,000 projects have been approved. More than 93% to 95% of those are either complete or under way. In fact, it has been an outstanding success.
We have always been fair and reasonable in working with the provinces and with municipalities. I want to assure the member opposite that we will continue to be fair and reasonable when we get our reports in from them in the remaining six months.
Dominic LeBlanc Liberal Beauséjour, NB
Mr. Speaker, while the government is wasting millions of dollars on fake lakes and lighthouses, it is ignoring the thousands of people who work in our seasonal industries and who are under significant stress.
Along with the other two employment insurance pilot projects, the calculation based on the best 14 weeks of the year has helped employers and their employees become more productive. As well, these measures have eliminated grave injustices in the employment insurance system.
Why will the government not announce, today, immediately, that they are extending these important measures?
Ed Komarnicki ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and to the Minister of Labour
Mr. Speaker, those were temporary targeted measures to help Canadians hardest hit. We were clear and transparent about that. There are some pilot projects that are ongoing. We are looking at the pilot projects and ensuring they are effective, they provide value for money and what their impact would be on our labour market. Decisions will be made and announced in the near future. I ask the member to stay tuned.
Dominic LeBlanc Liberal Beauséjour, NB
Mr. Speaker, this morning, in fish plants, tourism businesses, lumber camps and agricultural operations, workers live in uncertainty and stress because the government refuses to do the right thing and announce the extension of these important measures which will expire in a few weeks. The best 14 weeks and working while on claim pilot projects have helped workers and employers retain and recruit workers.
They are applauding Liberal measures announced in 2005, so why will they not announce the immediate renewal of these pilot projects? Why force everybody to live in such stress?
Ed Komarnicki ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and to the Minister of Labour
Mr. Speaker, we took a number of initiatives to help people in difficult times. We extended EI benefits to a number of people by five extra weeks. We invested a number of dollars for training. We did all of those things and members of the Liberal Party opposed those measures. They did not support those measures and now they are asking for extensions to be made.
We said that we would look at those pilot projects to ensure they have value for money and we will make an announcement soon. We would ask the members to be patient and to support us when we put them forward.
Maria Minna Liberal Beaches—East York, ON
Mr. Speaker, Canadians cannot understand the poor economic choices the Conservatives continue to make with their tax dollars.
At a time of record deficit, the Conservatives are borrowing $20 billion to cut taxes for large corporations, and then they will make hard-working families pay the loan back with interest. Meanwhile, many young families are struggling because they cannot find affordable, quality child care spaces.
When will the Conservatives start making economic choices that actually make sense to Canadians?
Ed Komarnicki ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and to the Minister of Labour
Mr. Speaker, we have done a number of things through the economic action plan. Through tax reductions, we have put more money into the pockets of every Canadian family; an extra $3,000 that were not there when opposition members were in government. We have done a number of things to ensure that families have more dollars to work with and can look after their child care needs. We have also invested with the provinces to ensure that spaces are created.
Maria Minna Liberal Beaches—East York, ON
Zero spaces, Mr. Speaker.
Canadians are struggling with the cost of living and yet every day they see more of how the Conservatives choose to spend their hard-earned dollars and they are astonished. Today they learned that the Conservatives wasted $200 million at the G20 on things like giant televisions, fake lakes and glow sticks. They wonder where the remaining missing billion dollars went.
When will the Conservatives stop making poor decisions with taxpayer money and start investing in things Canadians desperately need, such as affordable child care spaces?
Ed Komarnicki ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and to the Minister of Labour
Mr. Speaker, we have committed $250 million to the provinces each year and they have announced over 62,000 spaces since March 2007, something they did not do under the previous Liberal government.
Taxpayers across the country are better today than they were during the Liberal government. This is what the opposition leader said, “We will have to raise taxes”. He went on to say, “...I'm not going to take a GST hike off the table...”. He described himself as a “tax-and-spend, Pearsonian, Trudeau Liberal”.
The public should be concerned about what will happen if a Liberal government is in place. We have reduced taxes and put more money in Canadian pockets than the Liberals ever have.
Jean Dorion Bloc Longueuil—Pierre-Boucher, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister went to the United Nations to lobby for a seat for Canada on the Security Council. Given this government's positions on child soldiers and the declaration on indigenous peoples and its sabotage of the Kyoto protocol, we wonder how he can have any hope of being successful.
Does the Prime Minister realize that with this track record, Canada does not deserve a seat on the UN Security Council?
Deepak Obhrai ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Prime Minister highlighted Canada's commitment on the international stage. We have a record to be proud of. We have been in Haiti and in Afghanistan. We have doubled our aid to Africa. We continue helping around the world.
Canadians are very proud of our international record, and that is what we stand for.
Jean Dorion Bloc Longueuil—Pierre-Boucher, QC
Mr. Speaker, Canada is in the midst of negotiating a free-trade agreement with the European Union but is refusing to vote in favour of a motion allowing a representative from the Council of Europe to speak at the UN General Assembly.
Does the government realize that its attitude seriously damages Canada's chance at a seat on the Security Council?
Deepak Obhrai ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, Canada will stand on its principles when it is doing its international campaign. As the Prime Minister has said, as the Minister of Foreign Affairs has said and as everybody else has said, we will continue to stand for what is important for Canada.
On the same tone, we have a very strong relationship with our partners in the European Union and we will continue to maintain that strong relationship.
Serge Cardin Bloc Sherbrooke, QC
Mr. Speaker, Quebec and the provinces are calling on the Conservative government to set up a trust fund so that any infrastructure money not spent by March 31 will not be lost. While the financial crisis continues, we cannot afford to lose those projects and those jobs.
Could the government show some flexibility for once and do whatever it takes to extend the March 31 deadline?
Brian Jean ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his question.
Our government has had a great partnership with the provinces, territories, municipalities, and with groups like the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. In fact, 99% of these projects are well under way and the overwhelming majority of these projects, more than 12,000 of them, will be completed on time. Our government will continue to take a fair and reasonable approach.
I would remind the member that we have six months left before the deadline, and that the provinces will be reporting in short order. Once we have talked to the provinces and heard from them, we will be fair and reasonable.
Serge Cardin Bloc Sherbrooke, QC
Mr. Speaker, one third of the projects in Quebec risk being lost because of the Conservatives' inflexibility. The municipalities are being asked to complete all work by March 31 with no consideration for the constraints facing several municipalities, such as Lachute, for example, where there is a shortage of pipes. The 2-22 Ste-Catherine Street project, the exhibition facility in Rouyn-Noranda and the bridge reconstruction in Saint-Eustache have all been stalled by administrative red tape.
Will the government finally come to its senses and extend the March 31 deadline?
Brian Jean ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, I am proud to say that our government continues to work with our partners and we will continue to be fair and reasonable.
Let us understand where we are today. This Conservative government passed some great legislation to get infrastructure money out, to get stimulus money out, and the Bloc voted against every single one of these efforts. The member should be ashamed of himself for standing in this place and asking that question.
Marcel Proulx Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC
Mr. Speaker, francophone communities outside Quebec rely on the census to ensure that their rights are respected.
The census makes it possible to determine where French services are to be provided.
Does the Minister of Industry realize that his impromptu decision jeopardizes the survival of French in dozens of communities?
Tony Clement ConservativeMinister of Industry
Mr. Speaker, as I already stated three days ago, we added two other questions on official languages to the short form census. We do not feel it is appropriate to require Canadians to provide private and personal information under threat of sanctions.
Marcel Proulx Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC
Mr. Speaker, they have put an improvised band-aid on their decision, which is just as improvised and unjustified.
If francophones are entitled to fair representation in the census to be properly served by this government, why are other groups not entitled to the same thing?
Why does it tolerate the under-representation of cultural communities?
Why does it tolerate the under-representation of Canadians in difficulty?
Are not all Canadians deserving of fair and equitable representation?