House of Commons Hansard #7 of the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was riding.
Kellie Leitch ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and to the Minister of Labour
Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Minister of Labour, I would like to express my disappointment that the parties have so far been unable to reach an agreement and that the union has felt it necessary to continue the strikes.
Our government has been given a strong mandate on the economy. I am concerned about the effects this will have on Canadians and Canadian businesses across the country.
I urge both parties to reach a negotiated agreement as soon as possible.
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Mr. Speaker, if we start by accepting the contract, there will be no strike.
While Canada Post management wants to save on operating costs on the backs of the workers, we find that the cuts to service to Canadians are unacceptable.
As a result of this strategy, Canadians across the country will get only three days of service a week.
Will the Minister of Labour take the necessary measures to ensure that both parties negotiate in good faith and that service will be maintained with due regard for labour rights?
Kellie Leitch ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and to the Minister of Labour
Mr. Speaker, I urge both parties, as I mentioned before, to reach a negotiated agreement as soon as possible. The best solution is one that the parties come up with together, by themselves.
The minister is monitoring the situation closely and will continue to provide the parties with the support and assistance required through the mediator from Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services.
Françoise Boivin NDP Gatineau, QC
Mr. Speaker, two years after the government passed an attack on pay equity for women in the public service, with the help of the Liberals, it has emerged that the law is too complicated and the rules too severe to be implemented.
When will the government stop playing games with women's income and commit to treating pay equity as a right, not as a bargaining chip?
Tony Clement ConservativePresident of the Treasury Board and Minister for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario
Mr. Speaker—
Tony Clement Conservative Parry Sound—Muskoka, ON
It is always nice to have friends on the other side of the House, Mr. Speaker.
In all seriousness, the hon. member should understand that in order to pass these kinds of regulations, we wish to have discussions. We want to ensure that it is a fair and objective situation, particularly with respect to recourse in terms of the system we are replacing from the original one. That means ensuring we have regulations that make sense for all the parties involved. We anticipate that we will be able to put forward those regulations by the end of this year.
Françoise Boivin NDP Gatineau, QC
Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate the minister on his first speech in the House.
That being said, this government's position on the issue of pay equity completely abandons women in our country.
In 2011, Canadian women are still earning 71¢ for every dollar earned by a man. Even worse is that we know what to do to remedy the situation.
When will this government implement the recommendations of the 2004 pay equity task force?
Tony Clement ConservativePresident of the Treasury Board and Minister for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario
Mr. Speaker, as I have already said, there needs to be co-operation in order to pass these kinds of regulations. I can say that by the end of 2011, it will be possible to have regulations. Under this new legislation, the employer and the bargaining agent are jointly responsible for ensuring equitable compensation when they are setting wages and not through a separate pay equity process or judicial enforcement.
Tilly O'Neill-Gordon Conservative Miramichi, NB
Mr. Speaker, later today, Parliament will vote on approving budget 2011, the next phase of Canada's economic action plan. This is a positive, forward-looking plan to keep Canada's economy growing while helping Canadian families, seniors and communities.
Indeed, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce said that the plan would support the economic recovery by helping Canadian businesses prosper, compete and create jobs.
Could the Minister of State please inform the House of the latest news on Canada's job marketing?
Ted Menzies ConservativeMinister of State (Finance)
Mr. Speaker, once again we heard good numbers from Stats Canada: 22,000 more jobs in May. That brings us to a total of 560,000 jobs, as I have said, since July 2009.
However, if there is one Canadian still looking for a job, that is too many. We need to move forward with this budget because there are provisions in it that will help Canadians get back to work. It is important. It is urgent.
Hoang Mai NDP Brossard—La Prairie, QC
Mr. Speaker, last fall, the Canada Revenue Agency gave itself top marks for its handling of requests for tax rulings. However, an audit revealed that CRA had cooked the books, left out some requests and did not start the clock when it got the others. It is easy to score top marks when an agency makes up the rules as it goes along.
What is the minister doing to clean up and bring more transparency to her department?
Gail Shea ConservativeMinister of National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, internal auditing is in place in order to keep the agency accountable and to ensure service to Canadians is constantly improving.
As a result of this internal audit, CRA has in place an action plan designed to continue to improve the ways Canadians can interact with CRA regarding their taxes and their benefits. Our government is committed to the fair and equitable tax treatment of all Canadians.
Hoang Mai NDP Brossard—La Prairie, QC
Mr. Speaker, the government in fact gets an “F” for failure.
Look at the issue of tax evasion. Business people allegedly even bribed employees of the Canada Revenue Agency in order to better defraud the tax system. What action was taken? Nine employees were dismissed, but still no action has been taken against the fraudsters. When will the public finally see action taken on the cases of tax fraud?
Gail Shea ConservativeMinister of National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, this government appreciates that this is a very serious issue and we will not tolerate the types of alleged activities that are being reported. The RCMP, of course, is investigating this case and our officials are working with the RCMP. To be clear, many of these allegations date back more than a decade.
Jean Rousseau NDP Compton—Stanstead, QC
Mr. Speaker, the E. coli outbreak in Germany gives Canadians even more reasons to worry about the safety of Canada's food. In fact, the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food patted himself on the back for the hiring of 170 people by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, but refused to say how many were hired as inspectors.
How many of these new employees will act as inspectors and protect Canadians?
Canadian Food Inspection AgencyOral Questions
Glengarry—Prescott—Russell Ontario
Conservative
Pierre Lemieux ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture
Mr. Speaker, I know the member has been paying close attention to the debate in the House on our budget. A colleague of mine mentioned that we will be voting on the budget this afternoon.
I would remind the member that in the budget there is an extra $100 million over five years to enhance food safety. In addition, we are providing CFIA with a net increase of 733 inspection staff.
I would ask that member to stand in his place this afternoon and vote in favour of our government's budget.
Malcolm Allen NDP Welland, ON
Mr. Speaker, actually, on page 110 we see $9 million and $8 million, which do not quite add up to $100 million.
The government does not get it. This is about the safety of the food that Canadians put on their families plates.
The results are in: CFIA is underfunded and we need more inspectors.
The Conservatives are failing. They brag about putting new money in the budget but they are actually taking it out.
When will the government stop playing shell games and making semantic arguments and get to the truly important work of ensuring food is safe for all Canadians?
Canadian Food Inspection AgencyOral Questions
Glengarry—Prescott—Russell Ontario
Conservative
Pierre Lemieux ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture
Mr. Speaker, I mentioned to that member last week that CFIA's first priority is the safety of Canadians. We are strengthening Canada's food safety system by ensuring the largest ever budgets for CFIA, which that member and his party consistently vote against.
We are continually reviewing costs to ensure efficiency.
I will finish up with a quote from a report on OECD countries that states:
Canada is one of the best-performing countries in the 2010 Food Safety Performance World Ranking study. Its overall grade was superior, earning it a place among the top-tier countries.
That is our track record.
Hedy Fry Liberal Vancouver Centre, BC
Mr. Speaker, the Auditor General's G8 report shows that $50 million was quietly scooped from the border infrastructure fund to pay for gazebos hundreds of kilometres from the border.
Border infrastructure funds must reduce congestion and enhance security to qualify. In 2003, the fund upgraded Knight Street in Vancouver, though it is not close to the border, because it reduced congestion on a major border route.
Could the government explain how a gazebo reduces border congestion or enhances security?
John Baird ConservativeMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, I have spoken of this before but I will reiterate.
I signed off on the estimates of the department and ultimately I am accountable. I am right here in Parliament being held accountable for them.
The professional public service recommended that this fund be used as a vehicle to get quick action with respect to projects that were important as Canada was hosting the G8, and that is exactly what we did.
The Auditor General has come forward and said that she would like greater transparency and greater accountability. We completely agree and have accepted all of her recommendations.
Francis Scarpaleggia Liberal Lac-Saint-Louis, QC
Mr. Speaker, we cannot say that the government leads by example. The President of the Treasury Board is demanding cuts, but cabinet offices have been going in the other direction. Since 2008, there has been a 14% increase in the budgets of ministers' offices.
What does one say to aboriginal chiefs who come to Ottawa to report that there are still houses that are not hooked up to water systems on their reserves? What does one say to low-income seniors who must settle for a $1.60 a day increase in the guaranteed income supplement?
Tony Clement ConservativePresident of the Treasury Board and Minister for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario
Mr. Speaker, we ran on the principle that it is time to balance the budget. We put forward a clear plan to the people of Canada to balance the budget one year earlier than in our previous budgetary plan in 2014-15. We have a clear goal and we have a clear means to get there.
That is what the people of Canada have spoken to, that is why they elected this government and that is why we are moving with those plans.
Brian Masse NDP Windsor West, ON
Mr. Speaker, when it comes to doling out cash or smearing its opponents, the government does it better than anyone else. However, when it comes to consultations on important issues, it mysteriously loses its marketing edge.
For the government's secretive border deal with the U.S., a so-called publication process is a four point questionnaire put on a government website.
Why is the government hiding the process and not ensuring that Canadians are consulted on one of the most important issues for our country?
