Debates of Oct. 2nd, 2012

Aboriginal Affairs

[Jean Crowder, NDP, Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC]

Mr. Speaker, as part of its budget cuts, the government wants to put first nations people even further into poverty. It wants to reduce the already small amounts paid to social assistance recipients, moneys that pay for food and rent.

First nations are fighting back and have won an injunction in New Brunswick against implementing these cuts because of the devastating effect they will have on their communities.

Will the minister admit that cutting social assistance payments will not help these communities?

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

Mr. Speaker, our government has always stated that welfare rates should be consistent for all Canadians in all provinces. As outlined in economic action plan 2012, our government is committed to aligning its on-reserve welfare program with provincial systems. In many cases, this will make more money available for health and education.

This is consistent with our commitment to fairness and transparency across the country.

[Jonathan Genest-Jourdain, NDP, Manicouagan, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservative cuts hurt first nations children. First, there were cuts to health care. Public health programs to prevent suicide among youth, HIV-AIDS and violence against women were hard hit. Now, because of cuts to band councils, there will be no technical assistance for the construction of schools on reserves.

How can the minister justify cuts to such essential services?

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

Mr. Speaker, we made some changes to the funding allocations for the aboriginal regional organizations and tribal councils. We made sure there was no impact on community-level services. This is consistent with the efficiencies we created within our own department. We reduced our workforce in our own department. We expect that the same results will accrue at the political level within those other organizations.

Food Safety

[Scott Brison, Liberal, Kings—Hants, NS]

Mr. Speaker, the recall of XL beef is now across Canada and into 41 American states. The Conservatives' delayed response and bungling of this file have damaged the reputation of Canadian beef and threatened thousands of Canadian jobs.

As a growing number of Canadians and Americans are afraid to eat Canadian beef, what is the government's plan to restore the international reputation of Canadian beef and to save Canadian jobs?

[Pierre Lemieux, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture]

Mr. Speaker, the health and safety of Canadian consumers is a top priority for this government. We have taken a number of steps to help CFIA with food safety here in Canada. One of them is to increase the number of inspectors available to CFIA. The Liberals voted against that. We also increased funding for the CFIA by $50 million in our 2012 budget and by $100 million in our 2011 budget. The Liberals voted against that.

I encourage the Liberals to step forward and support CFIA in the work it is doing.

[Wayne Easter, Liberal, Malpeque, PE]

Mr. Speaker, that the government has failed consumers, farmers and the industry with its latest food inspection failure is obvious. Canada's food safety reputation is now in tatters internationally, and beef farmers are paying the price with markets in turmoil.

Yet the same minister is in charge as when 23 people died from listeriosis, and he spouts that he has hired more inspectors. Where are they? What are their job descriptions? Do they push paper or actually inspect meat? Canadians deserve answers. Is it not time that this minister answered in detail—

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

Order, please.

The hon. Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture.

[Pierre Lemieux, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture]

Mr. Speaker, I am answering in detail. I have told the House and this member that since 2006 our government has brought an additional 700 net new inspectors to CFIA for it to carry out its responsibilities. I have also pointed out that our government has brought forward an additional $150 million for food safety and that once again the opposition members voted against all these worthwhile measures. Shame on them.

Small and Medium-Size Business

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

Mr. Speaker, the economic recovery is still fragile and, yesterday, instead of announcing tangible solutions to support SMEs, the minister hauled out of mothballs his worn-out promise to reduce red tape, which has not produced any results in six years.

Yesterday's announcement certainly cannot be called a recovery plan. It is nothing more than a normal goal for a modern country, and it does not hide the lack of a real vision to help our SMEs and stimulate the country's economy.

We are waiting for a real plan for SMEs. What is the minister waiting for to come up with one?

[Maxime Bernier, Conservative, Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism)]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate my opposition colleague on his appointment as critic since I have been waiting since April to be asked a question about entrepreneurship. I am very pleased that, today, members are rising and asking questions about entrepreneurship.

For us, entrepreneurship is a priority, not just today but everyday. That is why we are reducing the amount of paperwork that governments impose on entrepreneurs. This will leave them with more time to concentrate on what they do best: creating jobs in Canada.

[Dan Harris, NDP, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians expect governments to act, not wait for questions. The Conservative government has had six years to address red tape for small business and only now it is coming up with an action plan. Reviewing regulations and adapting to new technologies to make life easier for small and medium enterprises should be a routine part of government. When will the government stop issuing more press releases and start taking concrete action to help small business?

[Tony Clement, Conservative, President of the Treasury Board and Minister for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario]

Mr. Speaker, I know the New Democrats have never met red tape they did not love. However, in our case we worked with small business. We came up with an action plan with 90 specific recommendations that we are acting upon. What is their response on the other side? A $21 billion carbon tax. How is that going to help small business?

Aboriginal Affairs

[Ray Boughen, Conservative, Palliser, SK]

Mr. Speaker, at this year's Crown-First Nations Gathering our government renewed its commitment to working with first nation chiefs to improve educational outcomes for first nation students. Each year we invest $1.7 billion for over 117,000 first nation students on reserve. Economic action plan 2012 committed an additional $275 million toward education for first nation students.

Could the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development please update the House on how these investments will be used?

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

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for Palliser for his great question. I know he spent 18 years as a high school principal and knows what he is talking about.

One hundred and seventy-five million dollars of new money will build and renovate additional schools on reserve, including new schools in Fort Severn, Pikangikum and Shamattawa first nations. One hundred million dollars will be used for early literacy and other programming to prepare schools for the first nations education act.

These new investments are above and beyond the $1.7 billion invested annually for over 117,000 first nation students.

Employment Insurance

[Scott Andrews, Liberal, Avalon, NL]

Mr. Speaker, the EI minister will remember Irene. Irene had to chase the minister into the bathroom when she would not meet with the plant workers when she toured the fish plant in Witless Bay. The minister told Irene she needed to educate herself on the changes to EI and get the details.

Irene and many fish plant workers have educated themselves on these changes and they are worse off. Irene is at work today as we speak. The fish processing season is coming to an end and she is only going to get two days' work. She is not going to get the three or four days that the minister thinks she can get.

Will the EI minister accept that she is wrong, acknowledge that the fish plant workers are worse off and fix the program?

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

Mr. Speaker, our government's aim is to always support and encourage people to take more work when they are on EI. It is good for them and their families, and it is good for the employers.

We are always willing to ensure that our programs meet their objectives, but let us face it, we need to help connect people with the jobs that they might not be aware of in their communities. That is what we are doing with our enhanced job alert program and our enhanced job bank. We are helping Canadians and helping to connect them with the jobs available in their communities.

Aboriginal Affairs

[Isabelle Morin, NDP, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Attawapiskat is not the only community where young aboriginals are suffering the consequences of the Conservatives' policies. The First Nations Child & Family Caring Society of Canada watched the government waste $3 million taking the organization to Federal Court, all to prevent the case from ending up before the Human Rights Tribunal. The case had to do with the low level of funding to protect aboriginal children. In the end, the court rejected the government's arguments.

Instead of making lawyers richer, why does the government not help aboriginal children get out of poverty?

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

Mr. Speaker, funding for child and family services has doubled in recent years. I am pleased to report that a new prevention model is now being implemented to protect thousands of first nation children on reserve. We will continue to partner with first nations to ensure that children and families have the support they need.

International Co-operation

[Peter Braid, Conservative, Kitchener—Waterloo, ON]

Mr. Speaker, polio continues to be a significant health challenge in the poorest parts of the world. It is highly contagious, often deadly and mainly affects children under five. Thankfully, effective vaccination can save these lives.

For over 20 years, Rotary International has been a world leader in this struggle. Could the Minister of International Cooperation please update the House on what our government is doing with Rotary International in the fight against polio?

[Julian Fantino, Conservative, Minister of International Cooperation]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member for the question. We are indeed taking action in this fight and that is why we are launching the Pennies and More for Polio initiative. Until March 1, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will match each dollar raised by the Canadian Rotary Club for its global polio eradication initiative. Likewise, our government will also match the funds raised, resulting in a two-for-one match.

I encourage all Canadians to please give generously. As well, we are indeed indebted to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Rotary International and Canadians for their generosity.

Telecommunications Industry

[Mike Sullivan, NDP, York South—Weston, ON]

Mr. Speaker, cell phone theft is a serious problem in my riding and across Canada. It especially affects high school kids who are being violently mugged for their mobile devices. There is a simple solution to this crime: make stolen cell phones useless and force cell phone companies to refuse to activate phones that are reported stolen. The CRTC already has the power to do this.

Will the government get smart on crime and direct the CRTC to take action?

[Christian Paradis, Conservative, Minister of Industry and Minister of State (Agriculture)]

Mr. Speaker, Industry Canada has standards and policies in place that must be adhered to. This is done in co-operation with the municipalities and other stakeholders. For every action that is taken with respect to installing new towers, we ensure that we are protecting Canadians' health and safety.

Canada Revenue Agency

[Louis Plamondon, Bloc, Bas-Richelieu—Nicolet—Bécancour, QC]

Mr. Speaker, after attacking the unemployed and the economic vitality of the regions, the federal government is going even further and closing down regional CRA offices in Rimouski, Sherbrooke, Rouyn-Noranda, Chicoutimi and Trois-Rivières. Thousands of taxpayers will no longer have access to direct tax services in their region. This situation will particularly hurt seniors and people who do not have Internet access.

Why does the government insist on depriving people in the regions of access to the services they are entitled to?

[Cathy McLeod, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, the way that Canadians file their taxes is changing and we are changing to meet those needs.

In-person discussions with the agency and Canadians only accounted for 2.5% of the interactions. That said, there are people who will, for a variety of reasons, still need to interact with the CRA in a different manner. Canadians can be assured that the CRA will continue to offer alternatives for taxpayers.