Debates of Nov. 18th, 2011

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation

[Pierre-Luc Dusseault, NDP, Sherbrooke, QC]

Madam Speaker, we, too, are in favour of as much transparency as possible at the CBC, but being accountable does not mean ignoring political and legal processes. The actions of the member for Peterborough were illegitimate and illegal.

This precedent is contrary to our institutions and to the separation of powers. The government is setting itself above the constitutional role of the House. The Canadian Constitution also applies to the Conservative caucus. Will it respect the separation of legislative and judicial powers?

[Dean Del Mastro, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and to the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs]

Madam Speaker, I was here in the previous parliament when the previous Speaker ruled that Parliament was indeed supreme. It is a ruling that has in fact been reviewed in parliaments around the world that have similar systems to us.

I would simply say for the member that the average family of four in my riding and in his riding contributes the equivalent of a week's worth of groceries to the CBC. Do those members not believe that those hard-working families deserve transparency and accountability from the CBC? They deserve to see how their money is being spent. They deserve nothing less from their public broadcaster.

Democratic Reform

[Robert Sopuck, Conservative, Dauphin—Swan River—Marquette, MB]

Madam Speaker, the Liberals said only a few weeks ago that our government's fair representation act seemed like a fair bill. The bill moves every province closer to representation by population. It provides fair representation for faster-growing provinces, while at the same time protecting the representation of smaller provinces like mine.

As a member from a smaller province in our federation, I have serious concerns with the Liberal scheme to designate my province a loser of House of Commons representation.

Could the government House leader update this place on the government's fair—

[The Deputy Speaker, NDP, Denise Savoie]

Order, please. The hon. government House leader.

[Peter Van Loan, Conservative, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Madam Speaker, when we introduced our fair representation bill, the Liberals actually said that it was fair, but that did not stop them from coming up with the worse idea, and they announced that today. Their worse idea would actually leave Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia severely under-represented, yet at the same time it would take away seats from Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Quebec, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

Under our bill, every province would move closer to fair representation, to representation by population. Under the Liberal plan, almost every province comes out a loser.

Infrastructure

[Mark Eyking, Liberal, Sydney—Victoria, NS]

Madam Speaker, recently I visited a grade 9 class of Cabot High in northern Cape Breton. Its number one ask of the federal government is to pay its share to finish its rink. Members of the community have put up mortgages, the junior hockey league has held a fundraiser and a community over 500 kilometres away has donated equipment. Two other levels of government have stepped up to the plate.

Muskoka got its rink. Does northern Cape Breton have to host a G8 summit to get the rink finished?

[Gerald Keddy, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade]

Madam Speaker, a few things need to be corrected. Since 2006, over $160 million in funding has been dedicated toward 1,350 projects within Cape Breton and the Mulgrave area of Nova Scotia. This is the first thing that needs to go on the record.

Our economic action plan alone has represented $9.6 million invested in 54 projects throughout Cape Breton. The federal government has been standing up for Cape Breton.

Veterans

[Réjean Genest, NDP, Shefford, QC]

Madam Speaker, the government is abandoning the veterans who have served Canada. By negotiating to transfer to the Quebec government the last federal hospital that treats veterans exclusively, Veterans Affairs will lose 1,300 jobs.

How will veterans receive the services they are entitled to? How can the minister tell our veterans, who so proudly wore the uniform, that their government is abandoning them?

[Eve Adams, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs]

Madam Speaker, our government is taking action for veterans and our men and women in uniform. Our government has increased benefits to veterans.

The Government of Canada and the Government of Quebec have entered into preliminary discussions for the possible transfer of Ste. Anne's Hospital. Under no circumstances will the level of care that we provide to our veterans ever be compromised. We believe, unlike the NDP, that the province of Quebec can run a hospital.

Aboriginal Affairs

[Scott Armstrong, Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester—Musquodoboit Valley, NS]

Madam Speaker, we know that when first nations communities take control of their own future it benefits not only those communities but all of Canada.

Could the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development please explain to the House how we are working with willing partners to support the Labrador Innu and building Atlantic Canada and also the broader Canadian economy?

[John Duncan, Conservative, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development]

Madam Speaker, today Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador and the Innu of Labrador are signing historic agreements to positively impact the future of the Innu nation and the Lower Churchill hydro development project. The new dawn agreements include the Innu land claim and self-government agreement in principle and the Lower Churchill Innu impact and benefits agreement.

I congratulate all of the leaders who have made this happen, including the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, and the former Labrador Innu leader who represents Canada today.

Rail Transportation

[Randall Garrison, NDP, Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC]

Madam Speaker, let us talk about who is actually shutting down economic activity in my riding.

Let us talk about the rail service on Vancouver Island, which was guaranteed to British Columbia as part of Confederation. That rail service was shut down in April due to a lack of funding to repair the railbed. Now the bud cars that provided that service have actually been removed from Vancouver Island. That is not a good sign.

The owner of the track, the Island Corridor Foundation, is ready to go. The province, on June 28, provided a commitment to its share of the funding and is ready to go. All we are missing is action by the Conservative government.

Will the Conservative government now commit to providing its share, the $7.5 million that is needed to get this line running again or—

[The Deputy Speaker, NDP, Denise Savoie]

Order, please. The hon. Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities.

[Denis Lebel, Conservative, Minister of Transport]

Madam Speaker, as with all other important files, the owners of these businesses and organizations have a responsibility. And the owners usually assume that responsibility. Of course, we are aware of this file and we will continue to undertake the necessary analyses.

Justice

[André Bellavance, Bloc, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Madam Speaker, in his response to the Quebec justice minister on Bill C-10, the Minister of Justice expressed all his contempt for Quebec's 40 years of rehabilitation expertise, particularly its expertise in the rehabilitation of young offenders. The minister wrote that it is important to work with its provincial partners but this appears to be a one-way partnership—my way or no way.

Will the Minister of Justice put aside his ideological obsession and respect the will of Quebec by incorporating Quebec's required amendments into the bill, namely those pertaining to the long-term protection of the public and the rehabilitation and social reintegration of young offenders?

[Kerry-Lynne Findlay, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice]

Madam Speaker, we are always happy to work with our provincial counterparts. The principles of rehabilitation and reintegration, which have been so successful in Quebec, will continue to serve as the basis for Canada's youth justice system.

We have responded to Quebec's concerns with a series of past amendments, as well as a new amendment that is tabled at the justice committee now.

We are taking a balanced approach. We are listening. It is time for the opposition to end its grandstanding, support victims and support our measures on Bill C-10.

Oral Questions

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Madam Speaker, this might be an interesting one. Ministers or parliamentary secretaries who quote from a text have to table the text in the House. The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade was quoting the text from his iPad.

Would he table the iPad in the House so we can get a look at it.

[Gerald Keddy, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade]

Madam Speaker, it would be a bit incongruous to table the iPad, but I would certainly be happy to supply the page of text from which I was reading.

[The Deputy Speaker, NDP, Denise Savoie]

Before we begin routine proceedings, there was a point of order raised earlier this morning, and I would like to correct a statement I made about members in the House referring to the presence or absence of members at committee.

Having verified this practice, there is indeed a different standard used when referring to members attendance in committee, since in committee, as we know, attendance is recorded. There is a public record for those proceedings, whereas in the House there is not.

I apologize for any inconvenience or confusion that my comments may have caused.

Government Response to Petitions

[Tom Lukiwski, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8)(b) I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to six petitions.

Republic of the Fiji Islands

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Madam Speaker, I am very pleased to rise to present a petition signed by hundreds of people all across British Columbia, calling for the establishment of a high commission in the Republic of the Fiji Islands.

Many people from the Fijian community in Canada, which I would point out number over 100,000 strong, have pointed out that the lack of consular services in Fiji presents a lot of difficulties for them.

The petitioners note that Fiji is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. They state that that the lack of consular services in that country means the situation causes inordinate delay and efficient service for tourist, visa, business and immigration issues, both for Canadian and Fijian citizens. They also note that the United States, Australia, New Zealand, China and India all have embassies or high commissions in Fiji.

I want to point out the hard work of one of my constituents, Mr. Vince Sharma, who has collected thousands and thousands of signatures, calling on the government to establish this very important services for Fijians and for Canadians of Fijian descent who travel to Fiji on business and personal business very frequently. This would be of great assistance to them.

Assisted Suicide

[Rick Norlock, Conservative, Northumberland—Quinte West, ON]

Madam Speaker, my constituents, primarily in the Quinte West area, make note that the Canadian Medical Association opposes assisted suicide and euthanasia and calls for suicide provincial programs to strengthen where necessary and urges its members to educate themselves and uphold the principles of palliative care.

The petitioners also wish that Parliament would retain section 241 of the Criminal Code, without changes, in order that Parliament not sanction or allow the counselling, aiding or abetting of suicide, whether by personal action or the Internet.

Service Canada

[Scott Simms, Liberal, Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, NL]

Madam Speaker, once again, this is on behalf of many residents in the area of my riding known as Bonavista North, who had a unique relationship with Service Canada over the past five years at least.

The relationship was such that a community partnership developed between the Service Canada office in Gander. If one travelled about two hours away to Bonavista North, the local community had an office set up for people who wanted to get help with their Canada pension plan, their employment insurance and any other government service.

The problem is the government has now ended that partnership. Twice per month someone from Service Canada goes to that area. If people do not have computers or they are seniors who are not phone savvy, this becomes very problematic because many individuals appreciate the face-to-face contact they had at that office.

This petition is from many people in the Bonavista North area who want to restore that partnership.

Questions on the Order Paper

[Tom Lukiwski, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Madam Speaker, Question No. 173 will be answered today.

Question No. 173

[Jean-François Fortin, Bloc, Haute-Gaspésie—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia, QC]

With regard to the mitigation measures announced by the Prime Minister on June 6 for disaster victims in riparian areas in the Gaspé and Montérégie: (a) what is the exact description of these measures; (b) which government department or agency will be responsible for these measures; (c) who will these measures be directed at; (d) what criteria will be used in implementing these measures; (e) what amount does the government expect to spend on these measures; (f) on what date will these measures be accessible; (g) has the government discussed these measures with the Government of Quebec; and (h) how does the government intend to coordinate its efforts with those of the Government of Quebec?