House of Commons Hansard #64 of the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was women.
The EnvironmentOral Questions
The Speaker Andrew Scheer
Order, order. The Minister of Canadian Heritage wants to answer the question. I am sure he can once the member for Vancouver Quadra is finished.
The hon. member for Vancouver Quadra.
Joyce Murray Liberal Vancouver Quadra, BC
Mr. Speaker, Conservative members are laughing, but in fact they are going to be losing Canadian jobs because more and more countries are putting trade restrictions on products from countries like Canada that are climate change laggards.
Why are the Conservatives jeopardizing Canadian jobs with their backward approach to climate change? It is shameful.
Michelle Rempel ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of the Environment
Mr. Speaker, in spite of the Liberal government's inaction on climate change and its record of increased emissions, our government is taking an international leadership stand. We want to have all major emitters sitting around the table and developing an agreement that would see real change in greenhouse gas emission reduction. We have a sector-by-sector approach that will see domestic action at home. This plan is working.
With regard to the Fossil of the Year award, the member opposite should know that the real award that counts is that our country sits on top of the G7 with regard to economic growth and job creation.
Djaouida Sellah NDP Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC
Mr. Speaker, once again, the government is negotiating an agreement that would be very detrimental to Canadians.
If free trade talks with the European Union go ahead and Canada agrees to extend patent protection for prescription drugs by three years, the price of medications could go up by nearly $3 billion.
The health care system is already struggling and families are having a hard time making ends meet.
When will this government understand that it needs to lower prices and not raise them?
Gerald Keddy ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade
Mr. Speaker, we were successful in signing the comprehensive economic trading agreement with the European Union. There is something that will go up in Canada, without question. There will be a $12 billion annual boost to the Canadian economy, a $1,000 increase to every family's income, and somewhere in the neighbourhood of 80,000 new jobs created.
In the meantime, we will continue to look after Canada's best interests, and that includes pharmaceuticals.
Dick Harris Conservative Cariboo—Prince George, BC
Mr. Speaker, our government has acted responsibly to ensure that residents of Attawapiskat have access to safe and warm shelter for the coming months. We delivered urgent funding to renovate existing homes on the reserve and brought in much needed supplies quickly. What is more, we have provided the chief with a detailed action plan to address the situation.
Could the minister please update the House on what else we are doing for the community to ensure results for residents and Canadian taxpayers?
John Duncan ConservativeMinister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development
Mr. Speaker, our priority is the health and safety of the people of Attawapiskat. Real progress is being made for the residents and Canadian taxpayers.
Today I announced the purchase of 15 modular homes for delivery to the community. I have also ordered a comprehensive and independent audit to identify how money has been spent and what oversight measures have been taken in the last five years.
We want to ensure the people of Attawapiskat get the results they deserve and all Canadians expect.
Lysane Blanchette-Lamothe NDP Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Commissioner of Official Languages received 400 complaints last year about the language of work at Air Canada.
Four hundred complaints in one year clearly shows that there is a problem. What is Air Canada doing? The company is moving over a hundred jobs from Montreal to Ontario.
Does the government think it is normal that working in English is becoming the norm at Air Canada?
Pierre Poilievre ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, Air Canada has official language obligations. According to the act and the requirements that the federal government put in place a long time ago, Air Canada must meet those obligations. Our federal government supports the Official Languages Act, and we expect other organizations that have the same obligations to meet them.
André Bellavance Bloc Richmond—Arthabaska, QC
Mr. Speaker, the government is about to require $8 billion in cuts per year, twice as much as it anticipated in its economic statement presented just one month ago. At the same time, the Conservatives are going to spend $19 billion on prisons, $30 billion on fighter jets, and tens of millions of dollars on monarchist symbols and the commemoration of a forgotten war against the United States.
Will the Minister of Finance get his priorities straight by making cuts in those areas and guarantee that service to the public and transfers to Quebec will not be affected?
Andrew Saxton ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board and for Western Economic Diversification
Mr. Speaker, this review is focusing on responsible government spending to ensure ongoing value for Canadian taxpayers. This review is also an opportunity to modernize how we do business. Canadians have trusted us to make responsible, reasonable and judicious decisions.
Peter Stoffer NDP Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS
Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. We hear constantly from the Minister of State for Finance regarding the so-called $3,000 tax break for the average Canadian family.
I wonder if the Minister of State for Finance would like to table the document showing that amount.
Ted Menzies ConservativeMinister of State (Finance)
Mr. Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague for raising that. I would encourage him to go back and talk to his constituents. I think that many constituents across this country, and we are using the average family of four as an example, have actually got 3,000 more dollars. The best people to ask are the constituents who have that money in their pockets.
House of CommonsRoutine Proceedings
The Speaker Andrew Scheer
I have the honour to lay upon the table the House of Commons “Report to Canadians” for 2011.
Government Response to PetitionsRoutine Proceedings
December 9th, 2011 / 12:05 p.m.
Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre Saskatchewan
Conservative
Tom Lukiwski ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's responses to 14 petitions.
Peter Stoffer NDP Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-382, An Act respecting the appointment of a Minister of State (Education).
Mr. Speaker, the reason I am introducing this legislation is that over the 14 years I have been here, many groups, including the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations, the Canadian Federation of Students, various college associations and university groups have come to Ottawa, but they have not had a specific minister with whom to discuss their educational concerns.
We have a Minister of State for Sport, a Minister of State for Transport, a Minister of State for Agriculture, and a Minister of State for Finance, but we do not have a minister of state for education. Even though education is a provincial jurisdiction, I believe a minister of state for education could summarize the concerns of all educators, colleges and universities in this country in order to facilitate best practices working with the provinces and territories to address the educational concerns for the 21st century.
I would hope that all members of Parliament would permit the speedy passage of this very important legislation. I thank the hon. member for Davenport for seconding the bill.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Linda Duncan NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
Mr. Speaker, it is a great privilege to table a petition from the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Evron on behalf of the Canadian Religious Conference. This is a group of retired nuns who have served around the world and who are deeply concerned about the inaction of the government on climate change.
The petition supports the interfaith call for leadership and action on climate change. The signators call on the government to recognize that global warming is a reality, that climate change affects all Canadians and people around the world. We cannot wait for others. We should lead by example. Our emissions can be reduced.
The petitioners call upon Parliament to sign and implement a binding international agreement to commit to national carbon targets and a new national energy policy and to implement climate justice by contributions to UN funds for clean energy and mitigation for poor nations.
Scott Simms Liberal Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, NL
Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to present this petition to the House. All the petitioners come from the wonderful city of Calgary, Alberta.
The petitioners say that they want to protect the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation as the national public broadcaster as it plays an important role. In the current media environment, public broadcasting is an essential promoter in both French and English. Canadians benefit from a shared national consciousness and identity as seen through CBC/Radio-Canada. CBC/Radio-Canada plays a crucial role in the conversation in this country. Every dollar that Canadians invest in public broadcasting creates almost four dollars in economic value.
The petitioners call on the Government of Canada to maintain stable and predictable long-term core funding for the public broadcaster, CBC/Radio-Canada, in support of its unique and crucial role.
David Anderson Conservative Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK
Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions to present today.
One has to do with child pornography. Citizens are concerned about the creation, use and circulation of child pornography. They are calling on the government to protect our children by taking all necessary steps to stop the Internet as a medium for the distribution of child victimization and pornography.
David Anderson Conservative Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK
Mr. Speaker, the second petition is from folks who are very familiar with the issue of chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency. They are concerned about that. They call on the House of Commons to urge the Minister of Health to consult experts who have been actively engaged in the testing and treating of CCSVI, to urge the Minister of Health to proceed with phase III clinical trials and to urge the Minister of Health to require follow-up of patients with Doppler ultrasound and clinical examinations.
Questions on the Order PaperRoutine Proceedings
Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre Saskatchewan
Conservative
Tom Lukiwski ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, I ask that all questions be allowed to stand.
Questions on the Order PaperRoutine Proceedings
The House resumed consideration of Bill C-20, An Act to amend the Constitution Act, 1867, the Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act and the Canada Elections Act, as reported (without amendment) from the committee, and of the motions in Group No. 1.
Fair Representation ActGovernment Orders
The Speaker Andrew Scheer
Before statements by members started, the hon. Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs had five minutes left for questions and comments.
The hon. member for Louis-Hébert has a question for the hon. parliamentary secretary.