Debates of Nov. 29th, 2011

The Economy

[Peter Julian, NDP, Burnaby—New Westminster, BC]

Mr. Speaker, bogus figures do not help.

Slumping growth is not the only wake-up call today. Canada has a whopping record deficit in its balance of payment. It is among the worst of all industrialized countries. This is evidence of a failed export strategy. Canadians have already borrowed more than $39 billion from offshore this year to finance that deficit.

The government does little to boost our value-added exports that create good jobs right here in Canada. No wonder we are in trouble. Canadians work longer for less under the Conservative government.

Where is the plan to turn things around? When are the Conservatives going to learn from their mistakes instead of covering them up? Where is the jobs plan? Where is the value-added--

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

The hon. minister of state.

[Ted Menzies, Conservative, Minister of State (Finance)]

Mr. Speaker, in fact there was a plan. I would remind the hon. member that he voted against it. In fact, every time we bring a plan forward to help create jobs, to help reduce taxes for businesses that actually do create jobs in this country, the NDP members stand up and vote against it. Then they stand up and ask us to extend the programs that they voted against. I am a little unsure of what they are going to ask next.

[Peter Julian, NDP, Burnaby—New Westminster, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the NDP voted against the government's failures, and there have been many.

Unfortunately, under the Conservatives, Canada's trade deficit has increased from $16 billion to $81 billion: fail. Household debt has reached a record high: fail. Last month, 72,000 jobs were lost: fail. Two million Canadians are out of work: fail. Wages are decreasing: fail.

Will the Prime Minister hear the alarm bell? Will he finally wake up and take care of Canadian families by creating an employment plan and thus turn this government's failures into successes?

[Ted Menzies, Conservative, Minister of State (Finance)]

Mr. Speaker, the only alarm Canadians are hearing is when members of the opposition vote against things. Two Mondays ago, they voted against job creation tax credits for small businesses. That is a failure. They voted against the family caregiver tax credit, another failure of the NDP. They voted against the children's arts tax credit. I could go on and on of all the things the NDP has voted against.

There are almost 600,000 more Canadians working than there were at the end of the recession. That is success for those people.

Aboriginal Affairs

[Joe Comartin, NDP, Windsor—Tecumseh, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it has taken a month-long state of emergency for the government to finally wake up to the crisis at Attawapiskat. Children and entire families are living in tents and dilapidated sheds with no heat and are now exposed to dropping temperatures. Attawapiskat families have lived like this for years. They need more than band-aid solutions.

Why will the government not work with the community on a long-term infrastructure solution before winter sets in, right now? Why is it letting the Red Cross do the job?

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

Mr. Speaker, reasonable Canadians agree that the people of Attawapiskat deserve warm, dry and safe shelter. Since coming to office, our government has invested over $92 million in Attawapiskat. That is $52,000 for every man, woman and child. We are not getting the results that we thought we should get.

I have officials in the community and they are making progress to ensure people are appropriately housed.

[Joe Comartin, NDP, Windsor—Tecumseh, ON]

Mr. Speaker, last week that minister was blaming the Attawapiskat community for the problems.

The crisis in Attawapiskat is just one example of what happens when the government turns its back on the first nations.

Half a million people live on reserves and many of them do not have heat or running water. The AFN estimates needs at $160 million a year.

Why does this deficit exist? Where is the plan to help Attawapiskat and other first nations communities?

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

Mr. Speaker, we have invested in water infrastructure across the country in an unprecedented fashion. We have spent $2.5 billion since we formed government on water and waste water systems.

We will be tabling legislation in this House to make sure we have enforceable standards and regulations for water and waste water. We are developing a plan that will take care of people in Attawapiskat in the short term, and that is what is needed.

[Bob Rae, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, there are 19 families living in tents and sheds with no running water. There are 122 families living in condemned housing. There are 96 people living in a large trailer.

The Red Cross has gone up there and is due to arrive in the community. It will be providing generators, heaters, winter clothing and insulated sleeping equipment. The Government of Ontario has sent teams from the emergency management scheme in the province.

I would like to ask the Prime Minister, how does he feel about this complete failure of federal responsibility with respect to the people who are living in Attawapiskat at present?

[Stephen Harper, Conservative, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, as the minister already pointed out, since coming to office, this government has spent some $90 million just on Attawapiskat. That is over $50,000 for every man, woman and child in the community. Obviously, we are not very happy that the results do not seem to have been achieved for that. We are concerned about that. We have officials looking into it and taking action.

[Bob Rae, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, in fact, the number the Prime Minister is using also includes the cost of all education in Attawapiskat.

It would seem that the implication of what the Prime Minister is saying is that it is the people of Attawapiskat who are responsible for the problems they are facing. That is a disgraceful response from the Government of Canada.

When will the government start taking responsibility for this deplorable situation, which is an embarrassment to the reputation of the entire country?

[Stephen Harper, Conservative, Prime Minister]

What I am saying, Mr. Speaker, is that the Liberal Party's suggestion of simply throwing money is not the solution.

This government has made significant investments and has taken its responsibility seriously. This government will continue to do so. We will make sure we get the results we need.

[Bob Rae, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is disgraceful for a government to waste money like the Conservatives did to host a party for representatives of visiting countries when there are people with nowhere to live, no heat and no work. They do not have the absolute basic living conditions that everyone in Canada should have.

When will the government accept the responsibilities it has under the Constitution and its moral obligations with regard to the conditions that exist in our country's major cities?

[Stephen Harper, Conservative, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, when this government spends $50,000 for each person in the community for a total of over $90 million, it is not wasting money. We expect to achieve results and we will work with communities to ensure that we do.

The Environment

[Megan Leslie, NDP, Halifax, NS]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the South African high commissioner spoke about the reports that Canada may be withdrawing from Kyoto. She called the move disturbing and disappointing. She said it will undermine the negotiating process at Durban because Canada has not only planned a withdrawal, but has actively lobbied other countries to do the same.

The minister has admitted he has no intention to negotiate a new climate deal, and he has not denied his intention to withdraw from Kyoto. At the same time, the minister has said that his intentions in Durban are not to derail the negotiations on climate. Will the minister tell us what his intentions really are?

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, instead of talking about intentions, let us talk about real action with regard to climate change: $250 million to support regulatory activities to address climate change and $86 million to support clean energy regulatory reforms. New Democrats voted against this.

[Megan Leslie, NDP, Halifax, NS]

Mr. Speaker, why do I not take a crack at deciphering what the intentions are?

We know that the Conservatives are waiting until December 23 to announce their withdrawal from Kyoto. If a country withdraws from the agreement, it does not take effect for one year. That means that Canada can try to sabotage the negotiations this year in Durban and next year in Qatar.

It is this kind of behaviour that denigrates and undermines Canada's reputation internationally. Will the minister admit that this is his plan?

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, agreements that do not include major emitters like China and the United States will not work. That is why we remain committed to reducing Canada's greenhouse gas emissions by 17% below 2005 levels by 2020. We are making good progress through tangible action that we have taken here at home. We are proud of this record.

[Laurin Liu, NDP, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, by neglecting the environment, this government is jeopardizing the health of our families and of the economy. The Conservatives are turning their backs on the international community so that they do not have to be accountable for their greenhouse gas emissions. Reneging on their commitments to Canadians and other countries is a strategy that hurts everyone.

Why is the government refusing to table a credible plan that takes the environment and the economy into account?

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, I am glad my colleague opposite has acknowledged a fundamental point. We need to balance our environment and the economy and this is what we are doing. This is a principle that the opposition would gladly throw to the wind when it denigrates our oil sands sector.

Our government's sector-by-sector approach, which is being developed by a robust consultation process, is designed to meet a tangible target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 17% below 2005 levels by 2020, while being cognizant of Canada's economic growth. This approach is prudent and action focused and we are proud of it.

[Laurin Liu, NDP, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, after seeing the Conservatives drag their feet for six years, major trade partners are slamming doors in our face. They disapprove of the government's environmental choices. Not only are the Conservatives isolating us from the rest of the world, but their inaction is costing us jobs here in Canada.

Why does this government refuse to understand that it is possible to create good-quality jobs while investing in clean energies, as our partners are doing?

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, $40 million for Sustainable Development Technology Canada was included in this year's budget. Again, our government is committed to clean energy and the New Democrats keep voting against measures to support it.

Canada-U.S. Relations

[Brian Masse, NDP, Windsor West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Conservatives are not only dropping the ball internationally but also here at home.

Under the secret deal the government is negotiating, Americans will have new powers to track Canadians. The government is keeping us in the dark about what this means for Canadians' privacy. The Privacy Commissioner is calling for more transparency, saying we should enter into the border deal with both eyes wide open, but the government is pulling the wool over the eyes of Canadians.

When will it tell us what is on the table?

[John Baird, Conservative, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, work is in progress with the Obama administration to try to establish an agreement that protects and promotes jobs in this country. We want more economic growth, and we do not want the border to become a wall. We want more trade and more jobs here in Canada. That is important for every part of this country, but nowhere is it more important than in Windsor, Ontario, where the auto sector desperately needs less congestion at the border.

We are committed to continuing to fight for jobs in Canada and we are committed to working with the Obama administration.