Debates of Nov. 14th, 2011

NDP

Peggy Nash NDP Parkdale—High Park, ON

Mr. Speaker, this morning, I joined hundreds of cyclists and other community members at the corner of Sterling and Dundas Streets in the west end of Toronto. It was there, on November 7, that Jenna Morrison, who was cycling to pick up her five-year-old son, died under the back wheels of a truck.

We came together this morning to express our condolences to Jenna's family and to grieve. The shock of Jenna's loss is very difficult to accept. A ghost bike was installed on that corner today, another one of the all too many reminders of cyclists killed on our city streets.

Making our streets safe requires governments at all levels to act. This afternoon I will join my colleague from Trinity—Spadina to second her bill that would require side guards on trucks to prevent deaths like Jenna Morrison's death.

I urge my colleagues here in Ottawa to do their part by quickly adopting this bill. Lives depend on it.

Fifty Years of PriesthoodStatements by Members

Conservative

James Rajotte Conservative Edmonton—Leduc, AB

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Father Mike McCaffery who recently celebrated 50 years of priesthood. Father Mike entered the seminary after attending a meeting with Father Bill Irwin who was himself then recently ordained and became the founder of Catholic Social Services.

His life's work is vast and varied and includes serving in a number of parishes, as well as a year with the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops in Ottawa and another year for the British Columbia Alcohol and Drug Commission.

Father Mike's academic life includes a master's degree in sociology from New York, studying pastoral theology and counselling at Notre Dame University and being president of Newman Theological College for six years.

He was the rector of St. Joseph's Basilica and, during his time there, presided over the wedding of Wayne and Janet Gretzky, an event that he says made him famous for five seconds.

Father Mike is known and loved around Edmonton for his sense of humour, his love of golf, his strong attachment to family and friends, his fondness for all things Irish and his efforts to be respectful toward others and inclusive of all.

We thank Father Mike for his 50 years of service to God and to our community. God Bless him.

Remembrance DayStatements by Members

Conservative

Parm Gill Conservative Brampton—Springdale, ON

Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to share with the House my incredible experience during Remembrance Day. At times, I think we are all prone to taking our country for granted, however, this was not the case on Friday.

I had the honour of attending the Remembrance Day parade organized by the city of Brampton and Branches 609 and 15 of the Royal Canadian Legion. Thousands of citizens lined the streets to pay tribute to our brave men and women in uniform.

In Brampton, there was a renewed sense of pride fuelled by a growing understanding and appreciation for the sacrifices made by our veterans.

We are very fortunate to live in one of the most prosperous, safest and accommodating countries in the world. Being part of this Remembrance Day ceremony was another reminder that Canadians will never forget those who gave their lives and those who continue to give their lives for our freedom.

DemocracyStatements by Members

NDP

Jean Rousseau NDP Compton—Stanstead, QC

Mr. Speaker, I crisscrossed my riding over the past two weeks to attend the Remembrance Day ceremonies being held across my riding.

In Stanstead, Sawyerville, Weedon, Coaticook and North Hatley, to name just a few locations, I met men and women from the Royal Canadian Legion who, for decades, have carried on the memory of all fallen soldiers. Let us never forget that our troops came home with powerful memories and left behind the brothers and sisters who gave their lives to defend our rights and freedoms.

However, the democracy so dearly defended by our country in conflicts since the first world war no longer seems to concern the men and women of today. In fact, although 61% of Canadians did not vote for the current government, and despite its regressive social and economic policies, people seem to be quite stoic and passive about it all. The government refuses to debate the important issues that will have a profound effect on the future of our country.

Nevertheless, I will hold high the torch of freedom and democracy in tribute to all those—

DemocracyStatements by Members

Conservative

The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer

Order. The hon. member for Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke.

CFB PetawawaStatements by Members

November 14th, 2011 / 2:10 p.m.

Conservative

Cheryl Gallant Conservative Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON

Mr. Speaker, in the most recent national Communities in Bloom competition between Canadian military bases, this year the best base in Canada goes to CFB Petawawa.

This reconfirms what we in the upper Ottawa valley already know. The Canadian Forces Base Petawawa is tops as a beautiful place to call home, as well as a great place to serve our country in Canada's armed forces.

Canadians know CFB Petawawa as one of the busiest operational army bases in Canada, more than pulling its weight during the recent mission in Afghanistan. Soldiers know that when it comes to keeping the home fires burning, our local community is there.

We mourn the loss of those who did not return from the great wars of the last century. We remember a different generation in conflicts like Korea, Cyprus, Bosnia, Kosovo and Afghanistan.

In Petawawa, every day is red Friday. We welcome our troops home to the prettiest base in Canada.

CanadarmStatements by Members

2:10 p.m.

NDP

Hélène LeBlanc NDP LaSalle—Émard, QC

Mr. Speaker, today, I invite my colleagues to celebrate with me the 30th anniversary of the Canadarm, which is an enduring example of Canadian innovation and know-how in space. The strength and versatility of the Canadarm illustrate the infinite potential for innovation in Canada. Overseen by the National Research Council of Canada, hundreds of our best minds spent an entire decade working on this monumental task. Together, they created this robotic technology capable of withstanding the most extreme weather and even moving a bus full of passengers. Since its debut, the Canadarm has logged more than 100 missions with space shuttles.

The NDP is 100% behind our Canadian scientists and engineers, who have shown that Canada's reach extends not only throughout the world but also into space and that the only limits on our innovation are the ones we create.

National Addictions Awareness WeekStatements by Members

2:10 p.m.

Conservative

Jacques Gourde Conservative Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to draw attention to National Addictions Awareness Week, which is currently being observed throughout Canada. An increasing number of Canadians are suffering from addictions, which have devastating consequences for the individuals and their friends and families.

I would like to talk about the Portage organization, which has 10 centres across Canada. Since its establishment in 1970, Portage has helped tens of thousands of people to take back control of their lives through different programs. Recently, Portage acknowledged the success of almost 350 people in Quebec who completed its program or maintained a positive, drug-free lifestyle for one year.

I want to congratulate them. Their determination is proof that, with the necessary help, it is possible to overcome the demons of drug addiction. Kudos also to the entire Portage team for its contribution to Canadian society.

CanadarmStatements by Members

Liberal

Marc Garneau Liberal Westmount—Ville-Marie, QC

Mr. Speaker, the International Space Station would not exist today without a significant contribution made by Canada. Of course, I am referring to the robotics used to assemble the station. Canada is famous for its expertise in space robotics, in particular the Canadarm, which is turning 30 this week.

I had the privilege and the pleasure of operating the Canadarm on two shuttle missions, once to capture a satellite and once to add a very large piece to the space station. I cannot tell members the pride I felt but I know that all Canadians felt the same pride watching this exquisitely precise performance of this incredible technology.

Everyone was nervous when it first flew 30 years ago. Designed and tested in gravity, would it work in weightlessness? They need not have worried. It behaved flawlessly from the very beginning of its long and distinguished life.

Let us all honour those very clever Canadians who designed and built the Canadarm.

Canadian Wheat BoardStatements by Members

2:10 p.m.

Conservative

James Bezan Conservative Selkirk—Interlake, MB

Mr. Speaker, the Canadian Wheat Board chairman, Allen Oberg, and his seven directors continue to push their irresponsible, scorched earth policy.

Early reports suggest that their most recent ad campaign is already costing western Canadian grain farmers a whopping $1.4 million. This is in addition to the $100,000 they are spending on a reckless and baseless lawsuit in an attempt to keep their draconian monopoly.

Mr. Oberg is doing a great disservice to the farmers and staff he claims to represent by refusing to work with us to give the Canadian Wheat Board the best chance to succeed in an open market.

Not only does Parliament have the right to change legislation, our government has a responsibility to deliver on the promises we made to Canadians. By playing fast and loose with farmers' hard-earned dollars, Mr. Oberg is highlighting the need for Bill C-18 to be passed by this House as soon as possible.

While Mr. Oberg and other directors choose to punish farmers based upon their province of residence, our government will ensure western Canadian grain farmers receive the marketing freedom they want and justly deserve.

Canada Elections ActStatements by Members

NDP

Pierre-Luc Dusseault NDP Sherbrooke, QC

Mr. Speaker, the Conservative Party is guilty of breaking the law. It is guilty of election fraud to the tune of $1.3 million. But under the agreement that was negotiated, two Conservative senators and two high-ranking Conservatives will avoid trial and potential prison time. Since the charges were laid against high-ranking Conservatives, the provinces will not have to foot the bill for costly trials and prison stays. Yes, the Conservative Party is guilty.

It is reminiscent of when the Minister of Public Safety pleaded guilty to breaking election laws but managed to avoid trial and potential prison time.

For any other Canadian, the rules are clear: if one does the crime, one does the time. However, if the person is a Conservative insider and he or she does the crime, the Conservatives will pay the fine. It is shameful and just more proof that, under the Conservatives, friends and insiders get all the breaks while Canadian families get left behind.

New Democratic Party of CanadaStatements by Members

Conservative

Jay Aspin Conservative Nipissing—Timiskaming, ON

Mr. Speaker, the NDP is disunited on fairness of the shipbuilding process, merit-based selection of Supreme Court judges and marketing freedom for western Canadian farmers. A leadership candidate proposes mergers with the Liberals. Another leadership candidate disagrees with the NDP's constitutional position and the placeholder leader changed the NDP's long-standing position on democratic representation.

When two Thunder Bay NDP MPs voted to end the ineffective and wasteful long gun registry, their placeholder leader took harsh disciplinary measures to silence them.

The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters called these disgraceful actions “an affront to the parliamentary system”.

The NDP punishes MPs who speak for their constituents while it rewards MPs who break their word.

This is yet another worrying example that the ineffective, disunited NDP is not fit to govern.

International TradeOral Questions

Hull—Aylmer Québec

NDP

Nycole Turmel NDPLeader of the Opposition

Mr. Speaker, until now Canada has been excluded from the trans-Pacific partnership trade talks largely because of our insistence on protecting our dairy and poultry industries.

The Prime Minister has a poor record as a negotiator, but now he says that the United States wants us in the talks.

I would like to know, what has changed? What will Canada give up in order to be allowed into the trans-Pacific partnership trade talks?

International TradeOral Questions

Central Nova Nova Scotia

Conservative

Peter MacKay ConservativeMinister of National Defence

Mr. Speaker, we have formally expressed an interest in our willingness to work with the trans-Pacific partnership.

Having said that, all countries approach these negotiations with a view to protecting their interests, as Canada certainly will. Therefore, Canada's approach to the TPP will not be different with respect to the European Union free trade negotiations. Of course, this includes our interest in defending and promoting our specific interests in the economy, including supply management.

International TradeOral Questions

Hull—Aylmer Québec

NDP

Nycole Turmel NDPLeader of the Opposition

Mr. Speaker, any trade agreement must first and foremost help to develop our communities, particularly communities that depend on agriculture. In June, the government was very clear: it was going to defend the supply management program.

The question now is: will the Conservatives take the same approach that they used with the Canadian Wheat Board and try to do away with the supply management program for poultry, eggs and dairy products?

International TradeOral Questions

Central Nova Nova Scotia

Conservative

Peter MacKay ConservativeMinister of National Defence

Mr. Speaker, once again, we have been clear: Canada's approach will not be different in these negotiations from its approach in the European Union negotiations. I repeat: we have officially expressed our willingness to work with the trans-Pacific partnership, but all countries approach these negotiations with a view to protecting their interests.

International TradeOral Questions

Hull—Aylmer Québec

NDP

Nycole Turmel NDPLeader of the Opposition

Mr. Speaker, in this time of economic crisis, improving trade with the APEC countries must be a priority, but the Conservatives must not repeat the mistakes of the past. Canada must insist that strict environmental standards, respect for human rights—which is a priority—and respect for workers' rights be central to any new trade agreement.

Given the Conservatives' track record in this regard, what assurance can the government give that the trans-Pacific partnership will make these rights a top priority?

International TradeOral Questions

Central Nova Nova Scotia

Conservative

Peter MacKay ConservativeMinister of National Defence

Mr. Speaker, it is clear. Each time, our country has protected the interests of Canadians. Our Conservative government is concentrating on job creation for Canadians and on economic growth. That is our government's priority.

The EconomyOral Questions

NDP

Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC

Mr. Speaker, 72,000 Canadians lost a full-time job last month. The Minister of Finance reacted by increasing employment insurance premiums.

Families are unable to pay their bills now. It is not reasonable or smart to eat into the paycheques of workers in the middle of an economic crisis while lowering the taxes of large corporations.

Why is this government insisting on dipping into the pockets of Canadians rather than helping them to find work? Canadians want jobs, and the government should be working to find jobs for Canadians.

The EconomyOral Questions

Macleod Alberta

Conservative

Ted Menzies ConservativeMinister of State (Finance)

Mr. Speaker, I guess that outlines the difference between this government and the NDP. We recognized a long time ago that Canadians want jobs. That is why we put in place an economic action plan that actually placed jobs in front of Canadians. We put stimulus money into the economy that helped provide jobs and infrastructure.

However, every time we bring something forward that helps the unemployed; for example, extending EI, the NDP votes against it. The EI hiring credit in the last budget, the NDP voted against that as well.

The EconomyOral Questions

NDP

Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC

Mr. Speaker, it looks like the Conservatives have not even seen the most recent job figures: 72,000 full-time jobs evaporated last month because of Conservative inaction. Also, they have blown their own deficit forecast yet again. The government has no plans to create jobs. It sounds an awful lot like a repeat of 2008 to me. That means Canadian families are going to pay the price.

The question is very simple. When will the out of touch government get to work, so that Canadians can get back to work? We lost 72,000 jobs last month. Get to work.

The EconomyOral Questions