House of Commons Hansard #27 of the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was tax.
John Baird ConservativeMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, the government is committed to working for jobs.
It is committed to working with our American partners, with the Obama administration, to make it easier for jobs and employment growth. Reports that are in the media about a deal being accomplished are inaccurate.
Work on this important action plan is ongoing. When a final deal is reached, we will be sure to let the member for Toronto Centre know.
Sylvain Chicoine NDP Châteauguay—Saint-Constant, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister works harder for the interests of his American friends than for those of Canadian families. We learned today that the perimeter security deal between Canada and the U.S. will cost $1 billion. Once again, this deal is not in the interest of Canadians. The government plans to use money cut from other programs to finance this deal.
Why does the Prime Minister want to pay for a deal that will benefit only the U.S. while cutting services offered here in Canada?
John Baird ConservativeMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, no such deal has been signed with the Obama administration. The negotiations for the agreement are still ongoing. The NDP member has not seen the agreement, yet he is already against it.
We are pleased that the New Democratic Party has a renewed sense of keen interest in trade with the United States. We think that is great progress. We want to encourage the NDP to support even more free trade, not just with the United States but with countries right around the world.
Kirsty Duncan Liberal Etobicoke North, ON
Mr. Speaker, based on the report of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, it is clear that the government is failing on climate change.
The government has lowered expected climate change reductions by 90% since 2007. If the minister believes that we are seeing the impacts of climate change, then why is the government failing so miserably on combating climate change?
Peter Kent ConservativeMinister of the Environment
Mr. Speaker, the commissioner knows, as my colleague should, that the Kyoto protocol, which was one of the greatest blunders of the previous Liberal government, was in Canada's rear view mirror.
The commissioner recognized yesterday that Canada has new international commitments to the Cancun agreements and the Copenhagen accord. We do have a climate change plan. I am delighted that the commissioner recognizes it.
Kirsty Duncan Liberal Etobicoke North, ON
Mr. Speaker, what is in the rear view mirror is Canada's credibility.
The government is making cuts to areas such as climate impacts and adaptation, environmental assessment, and ozone monitoring. We do not expect these to be the last. The government is also cutting air quality measurements necessary for monitoring the oil sands.
How can the government deliver a comprehensive oil sands monitoring system when there will be fewer scientists to monitor it?
Peter Kent ConservativeMinister of the Environment
Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to compare, any day, our government's record on the environment with that of the previous Liberal government, which did nothing but pay lip service to its professed commitment to the environment.
I would remind the member again, and I am disappointed that my colleague fails to recognize, the commissioner's positive words when he says, with regard to oil sands monitoring:
--the federal government has taken an important step forward by both acknowledging the deficiencies of the current system and setting out a detailed plan to fix them.
Judy Foote Liberal Random—Burin—St. George's, NL
Mr. Speaker, today we learned that the mayor of Huntsville is embarrassed about the emails that he sent on the G8 legacy fund. Unfortunately, he is mostly embarrassed they left a paper trail leading right to the current President of the Treasury Board, documenting his abuse of power.
The President of the Treasury Board is too embarrassed to answer questions in the House, so will the Minister of Foreign Affairs confirm if he or any of his former staff have spoken with the RCMP about the legality of authorizing the use of border infrastructure funds for these projects?
John Baird ConservativeMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, I believe a defeated Liberal member of Parliament had a public election exercise in that regard.
I cannot speak for the mayor of Huntsville, but what I can say is that 32 pieces of public infrastructure were supported. All 32 came in on time and all 32 came in on budget.
We appreciate the work of the Auditor General and the good advice that she provided on how we can be even more open and more transparent to Parliament.
Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
Mr. Speaker, I am concerned that the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food is deluded. He seems to think that he can dismantle a $6 billion a year corporation like the Canadian Wheat Board without significant closing costs, even though KPMG predicts $500 million in shutdown fees. He also thinks he can turn the complete grain marketing regime of the whole prairie economy on its head by August 1 and not disrupt the Prairies and the agrifood industry in the prairie region.
How could he be so deluded? I am seriously concerned that he might be taking a lead from the ostriches that he raises and he has his head in the sand about the reality--
Gerry Ritz ConservativeMinister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board
Mr. Speaker, there is a growing body of evidence that what is lacking on the Prairies is value-added industries.
The member should probably join with the rest of the producers and processors in western Canada looking for ways to promote the farm gate and actually add value to it, instead of the political stunts that he prefers. They are just not performing well at all.
Niki Ashton NDP Churchill, MB
Mr. Speaker, the port of Churchill and northern Manitobans will also feel the hit from the attack on the Wheat Board.
Farmers, workers and Canada's only deep water Arctic seaport are being sacrificed for the government's ideological agenda against the Wheat Board.
When will the government admit its move will hurt Canadians? Will it listen to Manitobans who yesterday overwhelmingly voted for a fourth-term majority NDP government which ran on saving the Canadian Wheat Board?
Gerry Ritz ConservativeMinister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board
Mr. Speaker, we recognize there are a number of issues that need to be worked out.
The Wheat Board is claiming credit for certain things it has never really had its finger on the pulse of.
Having said that, we are buoyed by the fact that the major farm group in Manitoba, Keystone Agricultural Producers, is working with us on building a strong future.
I prefer to work with the farmers of Manitoba than an NDP government that has gone past its best before date.
Linda Duncan NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
Mr. Speaker, the environment commissioner has again reported on the abject--
The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer
Order. The hon. member for Edmonton—Strathcona has the floor. Order.
Linda Duncan NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
Mr. Speaker, the environment commissioner has again reported on the abject failure of the government to require industry to assess the cumulative impacts of the oil sands on air, water, fish and wildlife.
Contrary to the recent outrageous comment by the Minister of Natural Resources that northern Alberta is uninhabitable, this area has long sustained first nations and Métis peoples.
Is anyone in the government willing to step up to the plate, restore the honour of the Crown and ensure aboriginal and treaty rights are not further abrogated?
John Duncan ConservativeMinister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development
Mr. Speaker, my department officials have been working closely with the communities that are near the Athabasca oil sands to make sure the aboriginal interests are accommodated. Along with industry we have entered into many co-operative and collaborative arrangements. We continue to do that and we think that this is a good working arrangement.
Linda Duncan NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
Mr. Speaker, the commissioner also criticized the government for basing decisions about the oil sands on incomplete, poor, or non-existent environmental information.
The Alberta government has finally agreed to help finance a long overdue health study for at least two of the impacted aboriginal communities. Last I checked, this is a clear federal responsibility.
How does the government justify more tax breaks for the polluters while turning its back on aboriginal communities?
John Duncan ConservativeMinister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development
Mr. Speaker, we are well aware of the work that the Alberta government has entered into. We think this is a good thing. This is a shared responsibility in many respects. We continue to work on a trilateral basis with the province and aboriginal groups. We think this is a good move forward.
John Carmichael Conservative Don Valley West, ON
Mr. Speaker, on July 22 our government pledged $50 million in additional support to those suffering from famine in the Horn of Africa, bringing Canada's total commitment to $72 million. At that time, the minister also announced that our government would match eligible donations from Canadians until September 16.
Would the minister give the House an update on what our government is doing to help those affected by the humanitarian crisis in East Africa?
Bev Oda ConservativeMinister of International Cooperation
Mr. Speaker, the member is quite right. Canada is doing its part to help the 13 million affected in East Africa.
Canadians again have shown their compassion and generosity. Individual Canadians have donated over $70 million to Canadian organizations. As promised, the government will match their generosity through the African drought relief fund. This brings our government support to $142 million to provide needed food, medicine, nutrition and clean water.
Megan Leslie NDP Halifax, NS
Mr. Speaker, as of last month, the Arctic Ocean's layer of ice had never been so thin. In his report, the environment commissioner said that the government's so-called action plan is not working. Programs are being cut and critical information is lacking. Climate change is a reality, but the government is in denial.
In three years there have been three reports and three ministers, but no action. Why?
Peter Kent ConservativeMinister of the Environment
Mr. Speaker, our government complies fully with the reporting requirements of the Kyoto Protocol Implementation Act, but there is no obligation in this act for financial reporting.
The Government of Canada reports to Parliament on all expenditures related to climate change, for example, through individual departmental performance reports.
We will not file redundant reports. We will protect the environment and Canadians' hard-earned tax dollars. That is what we were elected to do.