Debates of Oct. 18th, 2012

The Environment

[Megan Leslie, NDP, Halifax, NS]

Mr. Speaker, today we have another example of the Conservatives' callous approach. In its final report before being dismantled by the Conservatives, the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy said, “Canada is not yet well positioned to compete in a carbon-constrained world”.

Why are the Conservatives choosing to jeopardize our economy and our jobs by ignoring climate change?

[Joe Oliver, Conservative, Minister of Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, our government has pursued green economic opportunities, including the clean energy fund, the ecoenergy for alternative fuels and the ecoenergy innovation initiative.

Unlike the NDP, we will not impose a job-killing carbon tax that would increase the cost of groceries and electricity. The NDP leader plans to raise $21 billion through his new tax which would cost Canadian families $1,500 over the next four years.

[Megan Leslie, NDP, Halifax, NS]

Mr. Speaker, it does not matter how many times the Conservatives repeat the same fib, it will not magically come true. They are embarrassing themselves.

What we do know is that the Conservatives' reckless sector-by-sector approach will cost us billions. Waiting to reduce emissions will cost all of us. The national round table estimates that by rejecting a practical economy-wide approach to tackling climate change, it could cost Canada $87 billion by 2050.

Why are the Conservatives locking Canada into an approach that kills jobs and hurts our economy?

[Peter Kent, Conservative, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, as my colleague knows, there are different approaches to climate change. The Liberals tried to talk it away and then campaigned--

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

Order, please. The hon. Minister of the Environment has the floor.

[Peter Kent, Conservative, Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, as I was saying, the Liberals tried to talk climate change away and then campaigned on a $15 billion carbon tax.

Now the NDP would pick the pockets of Canadian taxpayers with a $21 billion carbon tax which would increase the price of everything.

Then there is our government's plan to responsibly regulate and actually reduce greenhouse gas emissions without disruption to our economy or imposing a heavy financial burden on Canadians.

Canadian Food Inspection Agency

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, St. Paul's, ON]

Mr. Speaker, since the Minister of Health refuses to answer public health questions, today I have a question for the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food.

The inability of the Conservative government to properly regulate XL Foods has put Canadians and the Canadian beef industry at risk. Today we learned that the plant may be headed for a new foreign ownership. This will not fix the problem.

Only an independent audit of the CFIA by the Auditor General will ensure improved health and safety protocols to better protect Canadian food. Will the government commit to this audit here and now?

[Gerry Ritz, Conservative, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board]

Mr. Speaker, regardless of who is managing the day-to-day operations--

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

Order, please. The hon. Minister of Agriculture has the floor. If we keep on having these interruptions we will need to make up the time somewhere else.

The hon. Minister of Agriculture.

[Gerry Ritz, Conservative, Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK]

Mr. Speaker, regardless of who is managing the day-to-day operations of XL Foods, there will be a robust food safety system adjudicated by the CFIA on a day to day basis.

To talk about the review the member is screaming about, an expert panel was constructed during the Weatherill report and that expert panel will be doing a concise review and we will table that publicly.

The Environment

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Mr. Speaker, an American businessman dumped 100 tonnes of iron sulphate into the ocean of off B.C.'s west coast this summer. Scientists are puzzled because this experiment may have breached an international moratorium. The proponent claims that he had the government's blessing but the minister denies it. That is worrisome. Who dropped the ball?

When did the minister's department know about this experiment? Why was there no scientific oversight? Why is the minister ducking responsibility?

[Peter Kent, Conservative, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, Environment Canada was not asked to approve this apparent violation of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. Environment Canada did not approve this non-scientific event. Enforcement officers are now investigating.

This government takes very seriously our commitment to protect the environment and anyone who contravenes environmental law should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

Health

[François Lapointe, NDP, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

Mr. Speaker, some important questions that go beyond partisanship have been raised in the House.

Two weeks ago, I asked the Minister of Health to help get foreign cancer drugs shipped quickly to Michèle Lajoie, as ordered by her doctor. Her life depended on it, but the only thing the minister did was read talking points in the House.

We will never know whether those drugs could have helped Ms. Lajoie beat her cancer. She passed away on Tuesday after waiting two months for drugs she never received. It was an urgent case.

Why did the Minister of Health not help in time?

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Minister of Health and Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency]

Mr. Speaker, our condolences go out to the family and friends of the person we have lost.

As I stated earlier this week, the special access program is available to physicians who would like to access special drugs to treat patients who require them through the application process. I would be happy to provide the members of the House a briefing on the special access program and how the process works if the members require more information on it.

[Libby Davies, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the minister is missing the point. This is about a system that does not work and the need for the minister to sometimes choose compassion over bureaucratic red tape. Unfortunately, Madam Lajoie passed away last Tuesday. Her drugs were finally approved last week, but not without a two-month battle to get them, and no help at all from the minister even after we raised the issue repeatedly with her.

It is now too late for Madam Lajoie but would the minister at least promise that this sad situation will never repeat itself?

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Minister of Health and Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency]

Mr. Speaker, as I said last week, the process starts when a physician applies under the special access program. Within 24 hours, Health Canada responds to the applications. The special access program is available to individuals who require drugs. Under the normal system, it would probably take about 12 months. The special program is there to access drugs and within a month that application was approved.

Again, I would be happy to provide a briefing to all members of the House on the special access program if the members require more information.

Aboriginal Affairs

[Rob Clarke, Conservative, Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK]

Mr. Speaker, today, my private member's bill on the Indian Act will be debated for the very first time. It has evolved through four drafts based on my discussions with first nations people from across Canada. My bill reflects their desire for real change. It would ensure that bylaws are made accessible to band members by first nations governments. It would remove all references to residential schools. Finally, it would create a process to review and consult with first nations on the way forward toward repeal and replacement of the Indian Act.

Will the government support my bill and contribute to unlocking the potential of Canada's first nations people?

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

Mr. Speaker, the Indian Act is a barrier to the success of many first nations, which is why we support in principle the private member's bill that proposes concrete, incremental steps to create the conditions for healthier, more self-sufficient first nations communities. This approach is consistent with the government's own approach to Indian Act reform. We look forward to studying the bill, exploring opportunities to improve it and passing it into law.

Housing

[John McCallum, Liberal, Markham—Unionville, ON]

Mr. Speaker, more than 200,000 families across Canada live in co-operative or non-profit housing and could lose their subsidies.The government has said that it does not consider housing to be its problem. But that is of no comfort to hundreds of thousands of Canadians who could lose their homes.

Will this government commit to reinvesting the billions of dollars that it has gradually cut from affordable housing programs?

[Diane Finley, Conservative, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development]

Mr. Speaker, quite the opposite is true. Under the 2009 economic action plan, we invested $2 billion in affordable housing. We believe that people should have access to safe and affordable housing. That is why we are helping them. Unfortunately the Liberals did not support our efforts in that regard.

Aviation Safety

[Olivia Chow, NDP, Trinity—Spadina, ON]

Mr. Speaker, with $112 million in cuts to airport security, the Conservatives are putting air travellers at risk and Canadian jobs on the line. Sixty security jobs are gone and over 400 workers have had their hours cut even though the government fleeces Canadians $624 million a year in security fees. It is no wonder more Canadians are flying out of the United States.

Why are the Conservatives putting people at risk and subjecting travellers to long, unbearable lineups?

[Steven Fletcher, Conservative, Minister of State (Transport)]

Mr. Speaker, I have a lot of respect for the member but in this case the member is way out of line. Canada has the safest airline standards in the world. The government has invested $1.5 billion in airline security. The number of people working on the lines at the various airports adjust depending on the usage of the airlines and airports. By the way, a carbon tax would make it a lot more expensive.

The Economy

[Bernard Trottier, Conservative, Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON]

Mr. Speaker, entrepreneurs are the engine of Canada's economy. The main elements of Canada's economic action plan 2012 are job creation, growth and long-term prosperity.

Could the Minister of State for Small Business and Tourism tell the House about a measure introduced today to support the prosperity of Canadian entrepreneurs?