House of Commons Hansard #73 of the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was agreements.
Christian Paradis ConservativeMinister of Natural Resources
Mr. Speaker, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission decided to hold a public consultation yesterday and today. No decision has been made. The process will follow its course and then a decision will be made accordingly.
The members should stop attacking the credibility of this commission, which has a spotless record. The opposition should be ashamed of itself.
Bernard Bigras Bloc Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Bloc Québécois is against the plan by the Bruce Power nuclear power plant in Ontario to use the St. Lawrence Seaway to ship nuclear waste, on the principle that every region should manage its own waste. Ontario chose to speed up the development of its nuclear energy; let it live with the consequences of that choice.
Does the Minister of Natural Resources, who is the Prime Minister's Quebec lieutenant, agree that Quebec should not have to suffer the risks associated with Ontario's nuclear industry? Which province is the minister defending, Ontario or Quebec?
Christian Paradis ConservativeMinister of Natural Resources
Mr. Speaker, that question is totally out of context. We have a Canadian regulator—the hon. member does not like that because he prefers to be divisive—that is conducting scientific studies, organizing public hearings and listening to the public and its employees and that will make a decision accordingly. They are experts. They are not politicians in Ottawa who are trying to divide opinion. It is shameful to undermine the credibility of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission.
Denis Coderre Liberal Bourassa, QC
Mr. Speaker, just because he is the Minister of Natural Resources, that does not mean we will believe everything he says.
It is not a question of Quebec against Ontario; it is a question of what the public wants. The public does not want this, yet a commission has already ruled on this and said it does not have any concerns related to safety.
Why does this government not put an end to its phoney commissions? Why does the minister not assume his responsibilities and say “no” to the shipment of this kind of waste on the St. Lawrence Seaway? Is that clear enough?
Christian Paradis ConservativeMinister of Natural Resources
Mr. Speaker, what does the member opposite have against the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, which is made up of competent scientists, has a flawless record and will examine this matter carefully to make a logical decision based on science, after consulting the public?
What more does he want?
Denis Coderre Liberal Bourassa, QC
Mr. Speaker, this is the same minister and the same department that just muzzled scientists and decide what they will say on television. Next he will say that he respects scientists.
Speaking of the St. Lawrence, there is another important matter. Last night, there was a three-kilometre diesel spill at the Suncor facilities. While little deals are being made on the nuclear side, I would like to know what the federal government is doing to protect the interests of the people living in Montreal East.
Jim Prentice ConservativeMinister of the Environment
Mr. Speaker, there was a spill of oil products at the Suncor facility in Montreal. That is true. Environment Canada promptly arrived at the scene and worked with the emergency response team from the Quebec environment department. I have been assured that the leak has been stopped. We thank them for their co-operation. The exact cause of the spill of 35 barrels of light diesel is not known, but an investigation is under way.
Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
Mr. Speaker, modern-day robber barons are gouging prairie farmers and the government is asleep at the switch. The rail magnates are making out like bandits, charging two and three times what the fair rate would be under the grain transportation act.
Why will the minister not stand up against the railway monopoly that is sucking the lifeblood out of the prairie economy? Could it be because Conservative Party poster boy Tim Powers is the chief lobbyist for the railways? Just what does the minister hear from Tim Powers when he is up there in the PMO darkening the towels?
Chuck Strahl ConservativeMinister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, I am afraid to even venture into the dark halls that the member comes from.
We are not only in the middle of a rail service review, which allows farmers and other users of the railways to put forward their case, we are seeing changes in the railroad right now in the commercial contracts with everybody from the ports to lumber producers and grain producers.
The objective of the review is to increase services not only to farmers, but to all users of the rail services across the country.
Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
Mr. Speaker, producers all over the prairies are calling for a genuine review, but the minister has done nothing to legitimately protect grain producers from being fleeced by the rail monopoly. Now we know why.
In fact, he has more in common with rich Uncle Pennybags than prairie farmers. If he had a monocle and a top hat, he would fit right in with the robber barons who are conspiring to gouge prairie farmers.
There was $275 million in excess profits, $30,000 per farm. Why will he not listen to grain producers instead of uber-lobbyist Tim Powers and call for an immediate meaningful review--
Chuck Strahl ConservativeMinister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, I am very sorry to hear that Tim is wearing a monocle. I had no idea he had problems with that one eye.
I do not know what the hon. member is talking about. I have never met with Tim Powers on an issue like this. He has never been in my office.
But what is important is that a system has been in place not only for farmers, but for other users of the rail system, to go through an appropriate rail review. That rail service review is already starting to have an impact on services for farmers and for other users of the railway system. It is a positive system.
If the hon. member wanted to do one more positive thing, the member would help us reform the Canadian Wheat Board and we would get back down to business.
David Sweet Conservative Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale, ON
Mr. Speaker, yesterday CEOs from some of Canada's leading aerospace companies held a news conference to tell Canadians of the economic benefits that will be generated from our government's investment in the F-35 aircraft program.
We heard that Canada's world-class aerospace industry is ready and willing to bid and win contracts for the global supply chain estimated at 5,000 planes. They also said thousands of jobs will be created and billions of dollars will be generated in benefits.
Can the Minister of Industry explain why the Liberal leader wants to put Canadian jobs and benefits to Canadian industry at risk by simply playing politics?
Tony Clement ConservativeMinister of Industry
Mr. Speaker, we are proud of our commitment to the Canadian aerospace industry and indeed to our men and women in uniform. The F-35 investment means billions of dollars for the aerospace industry, which translates into stable, long-term high tech jobs for Canadians.
We agree with all the CEOs who met yesterday, including Maurice Guitton from Composites Atlantic, who said:
We have a short window of approximately 24 months to maximize our participation in the full rate production for this aircraft, and any uncertainty or delay creates risks for our industry.
We will not create that uncertainty or delay.
Mark Eyking Liberal Sydney—Victoria, NS
Mr. Speaker, for two years the hon. member for Cape Breton—Canso and I have been urging the government to fund the dredging of Sydney harbour. It has the gall to claim that it is not budgeted.
The government has spent $20 million on fancy hotel suites for the G20, but it cannot send $19 million to Cape Breton to dredge our harbour and create real jobs. The province is on side. The municipality is on side.
Will the Prime Minister stop the political games and step up to the plate with the government's share of the money so we can get this project done by March 31?
Keith Ashfield ConservativeMinister of National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, we are very proud of the investments our government is making in Atlantic Canada. We know there is a great deal of interest around the dredging of Sydney harbour. However, it is a complex and costly undertaking of some $38 million that will require the involvement of the province and all levels of government, the private sector included.
That being said, we have had meetings with the province and other interested parties. We will continue to work with them to move the project along.
Jean Dorion Bloc Longueuil—Pierre-Boucher, QC
Mr. Speaker, Iran has just sentenced an Iranian-Canadian blogger to 19 years in prison. He was accused of propaganda against the Islamic Republic for critical comments he made on the Internet. In addition, the Iranian government is refusing to allow officials from Ottawa to visit him in the same prison where Montreal resident Zahra Kazemi was killed in 2003.
What does the government plan on doing to get Iran to release this Canadian blogger?
Deepak Obhrai ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, this government has been very active on this file for a while. We are deeply concerned about the news of this potentially severe sentence. Our embassy in Tehran is following up to seek confirmation of these reports.
If this is true, it is completely unacceptable and unjustifiable. Canada believes that no one should be punished anywhere for simply exercising one's inherent right to freedom of expression.
Our government's position has been very clear. Iran must release Mr. Derakhshan and other journalists who have been unjustifiably detained and sentenced.
Olivia Chow NDP Trinity—Spadina, ON
Mr. Speaker, friends of the Conservative government have created a new divisive group on immigration and it is sowing fear about visible minorities and immigrants.
One member of this group claimed “the need for police patrols in school hallways is a clear indication of failed immigration policies”. Another said that immigration is ”making Canada a kind of Islamic extremist aircraft carrier for the launching of major assaults against the U.S. mainland”.
Instead of handing out moon cakes in Chinatown, will the minister distance himself from this blame the immigrant group?
Jason Kenney ConservativeMinister of Citizenship
Mr. Speaker, I do not know what the hon. member has against moon cakes. Perhaps she does not like the fact that I was visiting her constituency.
I was there to celebrate the fact that our government has maintained the highest level of immigration in the developed world. We have done so because we understand that newcomers are essential to our future prosperity.
We have tripled the investment in settlement services for newcomers. We cut the right of landing fee in half. Our action plan for faster immigration has reduced Liberal waiting times from six years to several months for immigrants to come to Canada.
We are proud of Canada's record of being a country of openness and opportunities.
Jeff Watson Conservative Essex, ON
Mr. Speaker, a member told the Globe and Mail that he would vote for the Bloc bill on EI, even though he agreed that it was fiscally irresponsible.
What can the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development tell us about this Bloc bill?
Diane Finley ConservativeMinister of Human Resources and Skills Development
Mr. Speaker, I do think it is notable that the Liberal leader's critic is contradicting his own leader now in terms of voting on this issue.
Bill C-308 would cost Canadians $7 billion each and every year and would result in a permanent increase in the EI premiums of a whopping 35%.
This is irresponsible. Canadians cannot afford it. We will not support it.
Jim Flaherty ConservativeMinister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, there have been consultations among all parties and I believe that if you were to seek it, you would find unanimous consent for the following motion. I move:
That, notwithstanding any Standing Order or usual practice of the House, all questions necessary to dispose of Ways and Means Motion No. 9 be put immediately.
