House of Commons Hansard #165 of the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was terrorism.

Topics

Experimental Lakes AreaPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:10 p.m.

Independent

Bruce Hyer Independent Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce a petition from the ridings of Kenora and Thunder Bay—Superior North, including the towns of Thunder Bay and Dryden, on the topic of the Experimental Lakes Area. The government decided to close the ELA, one of the world's leading freshwater research stations, depriving Canadians of groundbreaking scientific advancements that it provides. The petitioners are calling on Parliament to reverse the decision to close the ELA, as well as to continue to provide staff and financial support for this important Canadian institution.

Questions on the Order PaperRoutine Proceedings

12:10 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, the following questions will be answered today: Nos. 819, 823 and 825.

Question No. 819Questions on the Order PaperRoutine Proceedings

12:10 p.m.

Liberal

Joyce Murray Liberal Vancouver Quadra, BC

With regard to temporary foreign workers, for each Labour Market Opinion conducted by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada or Service Canada since January 1, 2006, what is the (i) date, (ii) file number, (iii) subject matter, (iv) result?

Question No. 819Questions on the Order PaperRoutine Proceedings

12:10 p.m.

Haldimand—Norfolk Ontario

Conservative

Diane Finley ConservativeMinister of Human Resources and Skills Development

Mr. Speaker, the nature of this request would require significant resources, resulting in a report of approximately 18,400 pages. Therefore, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada is unable to answer this question in the time allotted.

Human Resources and Skills Development Canada’s labour market opinion, LMO, statistics include annual and quarterly data on the number of temporary foreign worker positions on LMO confirmations.

Reporting is based on the number of positions rather than the number of LMOs, since several positions can be requested on a single LMO. For further details and statistics from the temporary foreign worker program, please refer to the following website: http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/workplaceskills/foreign_workers/stats/index.shtml.

Question No. 823Questions on the Order PaperRoutine Proceedings

12:10 p.m.

NDP

Olivia Chow NDP Trinity—Spadina, ON

With regard to rail freight services in Canada, what is the government and its institutions measuring on a yearly basis in terms of: (a) percentage of rail cars picking up freight on time; (b) percentage of rail cars delivering freight on time; (c) percentage of fulfilled service commitments for the agreed-upon number of rail cars; (d) dollar value of economic damages from delays and service disruptions; (e) dollar value of compensation extended to customers by rail companies; (f) number of complaints received by CN and CP; (g) number of rail freight customers served broken down by industry sectors, including but not limited to (i) agriculture, (ii) logging, (iii) mining, (iv) chemicals, (v) automotive?

Question No. 823Questions on the Order PaperRoutine Proceedings

12:10 p.m.

Roberval—Lac-Saint-Jean Québec

Conservative

Denis Lebel ConservativeMinister of Transport

Mr. Speaker, Transport Canada, TC, does not measure or keep records on matters identified in the question. The recent rail freight service review, RFSR, conducted from 2008 to 2010 includes independent studies on the performance of the railway supply chain. A summary of the RFSR is available at: http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/policy/acg-rfs-review-examen-sfm-rvw-eng-442.htm.

A summary of the independent studies is available at: http://www.qgiconsulting.ca/pdf/FulfillmentofShipperDemandandTransitTimeExecutiveSummary.pdf.

Question No. 825Questions on the Order PaperRoutine Proceedings

12:10 p.m.

NDP

Olivia Chow NDP Trinity—Spadina, ON

With regard to air safety in Canada, what is: (a) the government’s process for implementing Transportation Safety Board (TSB) recommendations; (b) the current status of outstanding implementations of TSB recommendations; (c) the rationale behind any existing delays and non-implementations detailed for each recommendation; (d) the approximate timeline for fully implementing the outstanding recommendations; and (e) the government’s yearly assessment of its effectiveness and speediness in implementing TSB recommendations for the past six years?

Question No. 825Questions on the Order PaperRoutine Proceedings

12:10 p.m.

Roberval—Lac-Saint-Jean Québec

Conservative

Denis Lebel ConservativeMinister of Transport

Mr. Speaker, with regard to (a), the Minister of Transport must respond to the Transportation Safety Board, TSB, recommendations within 90 days. When the Minister of Transport receives a recommendation from the TSB, Transport Canada conducts a preliminary analysis of each recommendation and safety deficiency identified by the TSB. Based upon the findings of the technical analysis, the minister may accept and implement the recommendation as received; not support the recommendation because of various other considerations that may not have been addressed in the TSB investigation; or acknowledge that the safety deficiency identified by the TSB is valid, but can be addressed by an alternative means that achieves the same intent.

With regard to (b), the current status of outstanding TSB recommendations can be found on the TSB website: http://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/recommandations-recommendations/aviation/index.asp.

With regard to (c), recommendations associated with watchlist items receive the highest priority. However, not all recommendations are feasible or achievable. For example, technologies may not exist or the intent may be achieved by alternative means. Recommendations that result in regulatory change may also require international harmonization, which could incur delays. Additionally, priorities must be established, resulting in some safety initiatives advancing ahead of others.

With regard to (d), each recommendation is on a separate timeline and the proposed solution varies depending on the complexity of the recommendation, the safety risk assessment, the level of industry acceptance, international considerations and the level of consultation required.

With regard to (e), Transport Canada’s responses and ongoing activities towards TSB recommendations are assessed annually by the TSB. These assessments are posted on the TSB website, usually in June for the previous year’s activities. These can be found at: http://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/recommandations-recommendations/aviation/index.asp.

Questions Passed as Orders for ReturnRoutine Proceedings

12:10 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, if Question Nos. 820, 826, 830, 831, 832, 833, 838, 841, 842, 843 and 844 could be made orders for returns, these returns would be tabled immediately.

Questions Passed as Orders for ReturnRoutine Proceedings

12:10 p.m.

The Deputy Speaker

Is that agreed?

Questions Passed as Orders for ReturnRoutine Proceedings

12:10 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

Question No. 820Questions Passed as Orders for ReturnRoutine Proceedings

12:10 p.m.

Liberal

Joyce Murray Liberal Vancouver Quadra, BC

With regard to the Canadian Coast Guard Kitsilano Search and Rescue base, for each of the years from 2005-2006 until present: (a) to how many and to what type of search and rescue emergencies has the base responded; (b) what was the outcome of each; (c) what was the overall budget for the base, broken down in all applicable categories; and (d) how many full-time, part-time, and contract employees worked at or for the base, and what were their roles and responsibilities?

(Return tabled)

Question No. 826Questions Passed as Orders for ReturnRoutine Proceedings

12:10 p.m.

NDP

Olivia Chow NDP Trinity—Spadina, ON

With regard to government resources allocated to research into sideguards on trucks: (a) listed annually for fiscal years 2006 to 2012, what are the resources allocated for researching, collecting, analyzing and evaluating data, broken down by (i) hours allocated, (ii) expenditures, including but not limited to personnel costs, fees, and research investments; (b) what are the (i) rationale, (ii) costs, (iii) planning and exact timelines for Phase II and Phase III of the National Research Council-conducted research work, with specific details about completion dates of the research work for each phase, draft completion dates, report approval and planned and actual publication dates; (c) what are the planned and budgeted time and resource allocation for truck-sideguard-related research work for the fiscal years 2011-2012, 2012-2013, 2013-2014, and 2014-2015, including information on the funding source(s) or, in the case of an absence of detailed planning, the rationale and decision-making process; (d) what are the planning and decision-making processes for truck-sideguard-related research and policy work in terms of (i) involved entities, including but not limited to Transport Canada, internal and external government institutions, departments, groups, sub-groups, and individuals, (ii) projected and actual timelines, (iii) involvement of external entities including consultants, experts, research organizations, lawyers, lobbyists, industry associations, companies and civic groups and individuals, broken down by name, dates of involvement, duration of involvement, nature and scope of involvement, involvement in outcomes and results; and (e) from 2006 to the present, who are the external entities involved in any part of the research or decision-making process, including consultants, experts, research organizations, lawyers, lobbyists, industry associations, companies and civic groups and other individuals, broken down by (i) name, (ii) dates of involvement, (iii) duration of involvement, (iv) nature and scope of involvement, (v) involvement in outcomes and results?

(Return tabled)

Question No. 830Questions Passed as Orders for ReturnRoutine Proceedings

12:10 p.m.

NDP

Sylvain Chicoine NDP Châteauguay—Saint-Constant, QC

With regard to the Department of National Defence: (a) how many Members of Parliament wrote to the Minister with respect to the Service Income Security Insurance Plan (SISIP) unfair deduction of Pension Act Payments from 2007 to 2012 inclusive; (b) how many Conservative MPs wrote the Minister with respect to SISIP from 2007 to 2012 inclusive; (c) what was the total amount of money spent by all government departments and agencies on the SISIP class action lawsuit including outside legal counsel; (d) what is the estimated cost for settling the SISIP class action lawsuit; and (e) has the government determined how far back it will apply retroactivity to veterans who were part of the SISIP class action lawsuit?

(Return tabled)

Question No. 831Questions Passed as Orders for ReturnRoutine Proceedings

12:10 p.m.

NDP

Sylvain Chicoine NDP Châteauguay—Saint-Constant, QC

With regard to support for operational stress injuries affecting Canadian Forces (CF) members, veterans and their families: (a) what percentage of CF members and CF veterans suffer from an Operational Stress Injury; (b) what percentage suffer from (i) Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, (ii) anxiety, (iii) depression, (iv) substance abuse; (c) what is the location of each Operational Stress Injury Social Support (OSISS) clinic, broken down by province; (d) what is the number of soldiers accessing each OSISS clinic each year from 2006 to 2012 inclusively; (e) what is the number of family members accessing each OSISS clinic each year from 2006 to 2012 inclusively; (f) what is the annual amount of funding provided for the OSISS clinics each year from 2006 inclusive to 2012; (g) what is the breakdown of funding for each OSISS clinic; (h) what is the annual breakdown of staff costs, and full-time and part-time staff for each OSISS clinic from 2006 inclusive to 2012; (i) how many clients have been admitted to the Residential Treatment Clinic for Operational Stress Injuries from 2010 to 2012; (j) how many days did clients have to wait for admittance to the Residential Treatment Clinic in 2010, 2011 and 2012; (k) how many days did CF members or veterans have to wait for assistance from regular OSISS clinics or OSISS support listing from 2006 to 2012, broken down by year; (l) how many days did family members have to wait for assistance from regular OSISS clinics or OSISS support listing from 2006 to 2012, broken down by year; (m) how many clients have been denied admittance to the Residential Treatment Clinic for Operational Stress Injuries; (n) what is the estimated emotional cost of deployment to the Afghanistan mission; (o) what are the statistics on the number of CF members suicides each year for the last twenty years, broken down by gender; and (p) how are suicides tracked for currently serving CF and CF veterans?

(Return tabled)

Question No. 832Questions Passed as Orders for ReturnRoutine Proceedings

12:10 p.m.

NDP

Sylvain Chicoine NDP Châteauguay—Saint-Constant, QC

With respect to services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs: (a) what is the location of all district offices, broken down by province; (b) what are the operating costs of each office; (c) what is the number of part-time and full-time positions at each district office; (d) what is the number of clients served at each district office from 2007 to 2012 inclusive; (e) what is the average number of calls received by the Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) toll-free line per day; (f) what is the cost of operating the VAC toll-free line per day; (g) what is the cost of shared-service delivery with Service Canada with respect to answering calls on the VAC toll-free line; (h) what are the annual fees for pastoral care each year from 2006 to 2012 inclusive; and (i) what are the annual costs for commemorative events each year from 2006 to 2012 inclusive?

(Return tabled)

Question No. 833Questions Passed as Orders for ReturnRoutine Proceedings

12:10 p.m.

NDP

Sylvain Chicoine NDP Châteauguay—Saint-Constant, QC

With regard to contracts and consulting services within the Department of Veterans Affairs: (a) what is the annual cost of the third-party contract with Quantum; (b) how much did the department pay Keith Coulter for consultant services in 2010, 2011 2012; (c) what are the details of the report produced by Keith Coulter; (d) what is the amount spent by the department on other private consultant fees each year from 2006 to 2012 inclusive; (e) what are the names of businesses or individuals across the country who provide consultant services for the department and what types of services do they provide; and (f) what is the cost of the contract to third party Medavaie Blue Cross from 2006 to 2012 inclusive?

(Return tabled)

Question No. 838Questions Passed as Orders for ReturnRoutine Proceedings

12:10 p.m.

NDP

Rathika Sitsabaiesan NDP Scarborough—Rouge River, ON

With regard to Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) funding in the riding of Scarborough—Rouge River for the last five fiscal years: (a) what is the total amount of spending by (i) year, (ii) program; (b) what is the amount of each spending item by (i) Aboriginal Skills and Employment Partnership (ASEP), (ii) Aboriginal Skills and Employment Training Strategy, (iii) Aboriginal Skills and Training Strategic Investment Fund, (iv) Adult Learning Literacy and Essential Skills Program, (v) Apprenticeship Completion Grant, (vi) Apprenticeship Incentive Grant, (vii) Career Development Services Research (Employment Programs), (viii) Canada-European Union Program for Cooperation in Higher Education, Training and Youth (International Academic Mobility Program), (ix) Canada Summer Jobs (Youth Employment Strategy Program), (x) Career Focus (Youth Employment Strategy Program), (xi) Children and Families (Social Development Partnerships Program), (xii) Contributions for Consultation and Partnership-Building and Canadian-Based Cooperative Activities (International Trade and Labour Program), (xiii) Disability Component (Social Development Partnerships Program), (xiv) Employment Programs-Career Development Services Research, (xv) Enabling Accessibility Fund, (xvi) Enabling Fund for Official Language Minority Communities, (xvii) Federal Public Service Youth Internship Program (Youth Employment Strategy Program), (xviii) Fire Prevention Grants, (xviv) Fire Safety Organizations, (xx) Foreign Credential Recognition Program, (xxi) Homelessness Partnering Strategy, (xxii) International Academic Mobility-Canada-European Union Program for Cooperation in Higher Education, Training and Youth, (xxiii) International Academic Mobility-North American Mobility in Higher Education, (xxiv) International Labour Institutions in which Canada Participates Grants (International Trade and Labour Program), (xxv) International Trade and Labour Program (ITLP) Contributions for Consultation and Partnership-Building and Canadian-Based Cooperative Activities, (xxvi) International Trade and Labour Program (ITLP) Grants for Technical Assistance and Foreign-Based Cooperative Activities, (xxvii) International Trade and Labour Program (ITLP) International Labour Institutions in which Canada Participates Grants, (xxviii) Labour-Management Partnership Program, (xxix) Labour Market Agreements, (xxx) Labour Market Agreements for Persons with Disabilities, (xxxi) Labour Market Development Agreements, (xxxii) Labour Mobility, (xxxiii) New Horizons for Seniors Program, (xxxiv) Occupational Health and Safety, (xxxv) Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities, (xxxvi) Organizations that Write Occupational Health and Safety Standards, (xxxvii) Sector Council Program, (xxxviii) Skills and Partnership Fund-Aboriginal, (xxxix) Skills Link (Youth Employment Strategy Program), (xl) Small Project Component (Enabling Accessibility Fund), (xli) Social Development Partnerships Program-Children and Families, (xlii) Social Development Partnerships Program-Disability Component, (xliii) Surplus Federal Real Property for Homelessness Initiative, (xliv) Targeted Initiative for Older Workers, (xlv) Technical Assistance and Foreign-Based Cooperative Activities Grants (International Trade and Labour Program), (xlvi) Work-Sharing, (xlvii) Youth Awareness, (xlviii) Youth Employment Strategy-Canada Summer Jobs, (xlix) Youth Employment Strategy-Career Focus, (l) Youth Employment Strategy-Federal Public Service Youth Internship Program, (li) Youth Employment Strategy-Skills Link?

(Return tabled)