House of Commons Hansard #51 of the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was senators.
Vic Toews ConservativeMinister of Public Safety
Actually, Mr. Speaker, we are changing the law in order to get rid of the long gun registry, which is comprised of data that targets law-abiding Canadian citizens, including hunters, sport shooters and others.
We have consistently opposed this wasteful and ineffective measure which does nothing to keep guns out of the hands of criminals. We do not want to keep records on law-abiding citizens the way that the NDP does. We are carrying out the promise that we made to the Canadian people.
Jack Harris NDP St. John's East, NL
Mr. Speaker, on crime it is clear that the Conservative government would rather ram through its wrong-headed prisons agenda than work together with the provinces, crime experts, or even its own Crown prosecutors.
New Democrats are proposing changes to focus on rehabilitating young offenders, not just throwing them in prison and forgetting about them. Good rehabilitation lowers costs, reduces repeat offenders, and makes our communities safer.
Why is the government opposed to these reasonable amendments?
Rob Nicholson ConservativeMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate that the hon. member is new to the file, but this legislation has been before Parliament for quite some time. We have listened to our provincial counterparts with respect to pre-trial detention, adult sentences, and deferred sentencing.
The bill targets a small group of out of control young people who are a danger to the public and a danger to themselves, as was identified in the Nunn report.
I hope the hon. member for once would get on board and support this important piece of legislation.
Françoise Boivin NDP Gatineau, QC
Mr. Speaker, Quebec's minister of justice is leaving Ottawa upset after another unsuccessful attempt to convince this government to amend its crime bill.
The Conservatives refuse to consider the amendments called for by Quebec, yet they are unable to provide any expert study. All they are providing are the minister's personal observations. Quebec is simply asking the government to listen to the experts and take the time to do things properly.
Why is this government bent on doing the opposite?
Rob Nicholson ConservativeMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, why is the NDP so bent on opposing everything we do to crack down on crime in this country? That is a good question for the hon. member.
The hon. member says it is not based on studies. We looked very closely at the Nunn report that came out of Nova Scotia that identified some deficiencies within the Youth Criminal Justice Act. I very much appreciate the response and the input that we have had right across this country.
Somebody asked me why the Liberals are always yelling. It is because nobody ever listens to them.
Françoise Boivin NDP Gatineau, QC
Mr. Speaker, I suppose that is why, this morning, during the first hearings on the clause-by-clause review, we adopted half of the first 100 clauses in the bill. And the government says we do not support some parts of the bill.
What Quebec is asking is simple and reasonable. Its approach to rehabilitating young offenders is working. Moreover, a majority of provinces refuse to have to foot the bill for senseless reforms. Quebec's minister of justice feels betrayed. He says he is dealing with a Reform Party government, not with the Government of Canada.
When will this government stop making ideological decisions and do what the majority of Canadians—
Rob Nicholson ConservativeMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, again, I will point out that a number of the recommendations and changes to that bill have come directly from provincial attorneys general. In fact, the most recent amendment we have taken comes straight from the minister of justice of Quebec, with respect to changing the words from “encourager” to “favoriser”. This recommendation was made by the minister of Justice of Quebec.
We are happy to comply, but again the bill has been before Parliament for quite some time. We have had quite a bit of input and for once it should have the support of the NDP.
Blaine Calkins Conservative Wetaskiwin, AB
Mr. Speaker, our government is committed to putting actual criminals behind bars. Canadians who have been the victim of a crime should not be re-victimized by our justice system. Canadians are rightfully concerned when law-abiding citizens are unfairly arrested or even charged for simply defending their property from criminals. This is unacceptable to our government.
While the opposition is obstructing and delaying legislation that cracks down on drug dealers, pedophiles and arsonists, our government is putting the rights of law-abiding citizens ahead of the rights of criminals.
Could the Minister of Justice please inform the House how our government is acting to further protect law-abiding Canadians?
Rob Nicholson ConservativeMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, I had the pleasure today of introducing the citizen's arrest and self-defence act.
The member is correct that Canadians are rightfully concerned when law-abiding citizens are re-victimized by the justice system simply for defending their property. While Canadians should contact the police if their property or personal safety is threatened, we recognize that it is not always feasible in the circumstances. The legislation we introduced today expands, simplifies and clarifies the laws when individuals need to respond to immediate threats.
I know the opposition is focused on farmers and duck hunters, but this should have its support for a change.
Megan Leslie NDP Halifax, NS
Mr. Speaker, climate change talks start next week in Durban and the government cannot seem to get its stories straight. First, it claims to be committed to the environment, but then it muzzles its scientists. Then it claims to target redundancies in the system, but we have a senior government official who says that there are no redundancies. Therefore, we know we will be a laughingstock at Durban because we cannot even get the job done at home.
When will the minister realize that he is the Minister of the Environment and actually take action on the government's appalling environmental record?
Peter Kent ConservativeMinister of the Environment
Mr. Speaker, I welcome my colleague back from her treacherous adventure abroad. I am sure Canadian workers and our resource industries will rest much more quietly now that she is back in this place.
Canada goes to Durban with a number of countries sharing the same objectives, and that is to put Kyoto behind us and to encourage all nations and all major emitting countries to embrace a new agreement to reduce greenhouse gas in a material way.
Megan Leslie NDP Halifax, NS
Mr. Speaker, there is a hole in the ozone above the Arctic that is twice the size of Ontario and the government's solution is to muzzle the scientists who found the hole and slash the budget of the people who monitor it. This hole is allowing harmful ultraviolet rays into our communities. Therefore, this is about protecting our children and our grandchildren.
When will the minister put down his talking points, listen to the scientific community and his own advisors and become the Minister of the Environment? It is never too late to learn.
Peter Kent ConservativeMinister of the Environment
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for those gracious words and I will reassure her again that my department, Environment Canada, will continue to monitor ozone. I would remind her, in this week when parties to the Montreal protocol were so effective in addressing contaminants in the atmosphere that depleted ozone, that Canada is once again taking a leadership role.
Laurin Liu NDP Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
Mr. Speaker, the former Conservative environment minister said yesterday that Canada must improve the oil sands' environmental record. Jim Prentice said it himself: to do so will require work and investments.
If nothing is done, we risk losing access to markets such as Europe and the United States.
When will this government come up with a plan for the sustainable development of our resources?
Peter Kent ConservativeMinister of the Environment
Mr. Speaker, the opposition, and I have said this many times in the House, should celebrate Canada as an emerging clean energy superpower.
If I could offer my colleague a quote from the former minister yesterday, he said:
I think there's been substantial progress made, but I think as events have unfolded, both in the United States on Keystone and on other issues, it highlights how important it is that Canada be not only a producer of energy, but an environmentally responsible producer of energy.
Laurin Liu NDP Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
Mr. Speaker, it is not an environmental activist who said this but a former Conservative environment minister who is calling for a sustainable plan for oil sands exports. On Monday, he even said that Alberta's oil sands industry has an extremely negative reputation on the world stage. He added that it was important that Canada be not only an energy producer but an environmentally responsible energy producer.
Will the government listen to its former environment minister?
Joe Oliver ConservativeMinister of Natural Resources
Mr. Speaker, the NDP should know that it is always risky to alienate one's political base, but especially when one is in pre-merger discussions.
I will list the labour unions which support Keystone because it will create thousands of jobs, and I may run out of time. The list includes the International Union of Operating Engineers, the Laborers' International Union of North America, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, the Building and Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO, the United Association of Journeymen, Apprentices of the—
The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer
I am afraid the hon. minister is out of time.
The hon. member for Random—Burin—St. George's.
Judy Foote Liberal Random—Burin—St. George's, NL
Mr. Speaker, just days before the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans was in St. John's, where he refused an invitation to visit the Maritime Rescue Sub-Centre, members of the Canadian Marine Advisory Council, the body Transport Canada consults on marine safety, were signing a petition in Ottawa, calling on the government to rescind its decision to close the centre.
Since the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans will not visit the centre, see the operation first hand and see the need to keep it open, I ask the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities to do so and stop this reckless move.
Keith Ashfield ConservativeMinister of Fisheries and Oceans and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway
Mr. Speaker, the member's question has been addressed thoroughly. The efficiency measures under way will maintain the present levels of marine safety and service. The member may be forgetting, however, that while Liberals were content to tie up ships to rust at the dock, we have done the exact opposite.
Just last week I had the great honour to attend the naming ceremony for the first of the Hero Class mid-shore patrol vessels being built.
Ted Hsu Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON
Mr. Speaker, a constituent on chemotherapy cannot get his decades-old drug for nausea. Another cannot afford the brand name drug to replace a missing generic. The drug shortage affects a wide range of medications.
In the U.S., President Obama just took decisive action. Yesterday, our minister was pleased that drug companies would voluntarily give notice of impending shortages.
When will the minister be pleased to get to the bottom of why Canadians are suffering from these shortages and what to do about it?
Leona Aglukkaq ConservativeMinister of Health and Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency
Mr. Speaker, our government is taking a leadership role when it comes to dealing with drug shortages. This summer, I told the drug companies that if they did not take action, our government would look to regulations to require action.
I am pleased to report to the House that these companies have responded positively to my request.
Marie-Claude Morin NDP Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC
Mr. Speaker, I would like to point out that today is National Housing Day. I am pointing this out because there is nothing to celebrate. This government does not have a long-term strategy for affordable housing. Right now, 1.5 million Canadian households are living in inadequate housing and over 150,000 people are living on the streets. For them, every day is a day without affordable housing. This day reminds us of the government's inaction.
Why is this government complacent about the fact that there are so many families who do not have decent housing?
Diane Finley ConservativeMinister of Human Resources and Skills Development
Mr. Speaker, we have invested a lot of money to help people in need of affordable housing. For example, as part of our economic action plan, we have invested $2 billion, which has helped to build or renovate 14,000 houses. That means that 14,000 families have benefited from our efforts. Unfortunately, the NDP voted against all these initiatives.