Debates of Oct. 24th, 2012

Foreign Investment

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

Mr. Speaker, as I said, in 2007 we put in place new guidelines for state-owned enterprises. In 2009, we put forward national security provisions, which the NDP voted against. Then we introduced tools to communicate with the public. With regard to the transaction in question, I repeat that we will examine it carefully. Every decision made by this government is made in the best interests of Canadians.

[Hélène LeBlanc, NDP, LaSalle—Émard, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives are flying by the seat of their pants when it comes to the investment policies with China. Right now, they are trying to quickly pass a major investment treaty without debate and without a vote. This agreement was negotiated in secret for 18 years. It will result in billions of dollars in investments and have significant impact on the Canadian economy.

Will the minister agree to extend the ratification date in order to allow for a proper analysis of the agreement?

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway]

Mr. Speaker, Canadian investors have applauded this agreement. The agreement is similar to many other treaties that Canada has signed and the treaty is designed to provide a very clear set of rules under which investments and dispute resolutions take place.

Sadly, the NDP's idea of promoting Canadian trade and investment is to go to Washington and tell Americans not to do business with Canadians. That is shameful. On this side of the House, we will continue to focus on the priorities of Canadians and open up new opportunities for Canadian investors.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Mr. Speaker, misleading spin does not change the fact that the minister is rushing a risky deal with China. Unlike Conservatives, New Democrats believe in consultation and transparency. This agreement could cost taxpayers billions of dollars, and it will last for at least 31 years. Done right, it is a huge opportunity. Done wrong, it will have serious consequences.

This deal was negotiated behind closed doors for 18 years. Now will the minister bring it forward for debate, study and input from Canadians?

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway]

Mr. Speaker, our government has introduced an unprecedented process for tabling these kinds of international treaties in the House. That is why the Canada-China investment treaty has been tabled in the House. If opposition members wish to debate it, they have had an opportunity to do so.

Surprisingly, the NDP members have had three opportunities to debate this agreement in the House. They have chosen not to. Why? Because we know they do not take an interest in trade and they do not take an interest in investment. On this side of the House, we support opening up new opportunities for investors.

Public Safety

[Randall Garrison, NDP, Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Conservatives tried to convince Canadians that black is white by falsely suggesting the Auditor General lauded their cyber security strategy. That is simply not true. The Auditor General explicitly stated, “The Department was not able to provide us with action plans, as none had been developed”. There is no action plan. While hackers around the world are getting more organized, the Conservatives are still dragging their feet.

When will we finally get an action plan on cyber security from the minister?

[Vic Toews, Conservative, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, let us hear what the Auditor General did in fact say. He said:

—the government has made progress in securing its systems against cyber threats, in improving communications, and in building partnerships with owners and operators of critical infrastructure.

We are taking action on the Auditor General's recommendations. We will continue to enhance cyber security in Canada, despite the opposition of the NDP in terms of the legislation that we have brought forward to protect Canadians.

[Rosane Doré Lefebvre, NDP, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

Mr. Speaker, by accepting the Auditor General's recommendations, the Conservatives are acknowledging their dismal failure in the area of cyber security. The Auditor General said that the cyber response centre should be open 24 hours a day. What did the minister do? He gave a pager to an employee in order to respond to emergencies. Quite frankly, that is not a solution. The Conservatives made an announcement about cyber security three days before the Auditor General released his report.

Even with the money announced, why are the Conservatives not able to provide 24-hour service?

[Vic Toews, Conservative, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, in October 2010 this government commenced to invest large amounts of money in the coordination of government activities, provincial and federal, as well as private corporations, to ensure we had a coherent, consistent plan regarding cyber security. The NDP consistently opposed it.

National Defence

[Christine Moore, NDP, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

Mr. Speaker, in response to the Auditor General's criticisms of the untendered purchase of F-35s, Public Works and Government Services Canada threw together another non-transparent process. Meanwhile, the Department of National Defence has just set up a special committee to examine other options after the Chief of the Air Staff said that National Defence was not looking at any options other than the F-35s. Both the Department of National Defence and Public Works and Government Services Canada are looking at other options.

Now, which other fighter jets are they considering?

[Rona Ambrose, Conservative, Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for Status of Women]

Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned yesterday, and the member knows it, the National Fighter Procurement Secretariat was set up, and it includes a member from the Department of national Defence, to do the due diligence necessary to replace our CF-18s. No money has been spent in the acquisition of new fighter aircraft and no money will be spent before the secretariat does all of the work necessary to independently verify the costs and the options available to replace our aging fleet of CF-18s.

[Matthew Kellway, NDP, Beaches—East York, ON]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the minister called for patience, but allow me to provide the diagnosis.

The Conservatives turned the purchase of a plane into a crusade. They misled Canadians to the tune of billions of dollars, just before an election, and they got knocked down by the Auditor General. Therefore, no patience, just a casualty: the confidence of Canadians that Conservatives will do the right thing.

Here are some questions that need answers stat. Who is on the committee? When will the committee report? Again, which other fighter jobs will it be studying?

[Rona Ambrose, Conservative, Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for Status of Women]

Mr. Speaker, the member knows that the mandate of the secretariat is publicly available, but I can share all the information with him again, if he needs it. That also includes the composition of the membership of the National Fighter Procurement Secretariat.

As I said, and he knows well, no money has been spent on the acquisition of the replacement for the CF-18s and we will not acquire new fighter jets until the secretariat does the due diligence necessary, looks at all of the options available and independently verifies the cost to replace the CF-18s.

Intergovernmental Affairs

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives' obsession with keeping things secret is such that we had to find out through the Auditor General that the Department of Finance conducted a study on the long-term consequences of its unilateral reduction of health transfers. The government kept the part of the study on the provinces' finances carefully hidden.

Is this because the results of the Conservative cuts are disastrous for the provinces? Will the Minister of Finance make public the part of the study that pertains to the provinces' finances?

[Jim Flaherty, Conservative, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, what the Auditor General actually said is that government finances are sustainable over the long term.

With respect to his recommendations, and there were a couple, we will accept them and have acted in response.

With respect to provincial governments, their own fiscal plans are within the control and jurisdiction of the provincial governments, and we respect that jurisdiction.

Veterans Affairs

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

Mr. Speaker, the Auditor General slammed government for its failure to include in its budget forecast the fact that there is a significant increase in Canadian Forces members dealing with mental health issues as they transition into civilian life. That same forecast resulted in 800 jobs being cut at Veterans Affairs, including 75 front-line workers, and the closure of district offices.

Now we are hearing more Conservative propaganda with transition plans, action plans, Halloween plans, Christmas plans. Enough with the phoney plans. Veterans want respect. Will the minister restore the cuts now?

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Minister of Veterans Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, I hope the member has clearly read the Auditor General's report because what he said in his report is that he acknowledges that we have taken the right steps to cut red tape. That is what he said. He said, “Are you agreeing to cut red tape and cut lengthy processes?”

That is what we are doing. That is why we brought forward the plain language initiative, to communicate clearly with our veterans. It is also why we brought forward the veterans benefit browser that is on the web. A member can go there.

I ask the member to please go to the website and read the report.

Foreign Investment

[Wayne Easter, Liberal, Malpeque, PE]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister's words in question period yesterday on the Canada-China investment protection agreement do not ring true. He claimed that the agreement is reciprocal. Officials have made it clear that it is not.

Would the Prime Minister care to correct the record and, while on his feet, would he allow a full and proper hearing so that amendments can be made to the agreement, so that Parliament can implement safeguards for Canada, the nation and for Canadian interests? Would he do that?

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway]

Mr. Speaker, I would remind the member opposite that this agreement represents a significant improvement in promoting Canadian investment in China. The treaty is similar to investment treaties that Canada has signed with many other countries and will provide stronger protection for Canadian investors and create jobs and economic growth at home.

However, unlike the previous Liberal government, we are actually tabling these treaties in the House. The Liberals are in no position to talk about transparency here.

Ethics

[Alexandre Boulerice, NDP, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the report on Julie Couillard's illegal lobbying is clear: “Breaches of the Lobbyists’ Code of Conduct do not result in sanctions of a penal nature”.

The Minister of State for Small Business and Tourism was illegally lobbied by his own girlfriend. It is there in black and white.

What were the consequences? Nothing. Ms. Couillard keeps the $51,000 she received for illegally using her contacts. If there are no consequences it will happen again. Why not do it again?

When will the Conservatives come up with some real deterrents?

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, we created the Lobbying Act. If the hon. member has proof that someone violated this act, he should provide the information to the commissioner and not make accusations in the House.

What we do know for sure is that the member donated not once, not twice, but 29 times to the separatist Québec solidaire. When I asked him if he was a federalist, he talked about his love. The reality is that sometimes love is not enough. There are many people who love Canada. That does not mean that they are federalists. Is he?

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I see that the bobbleheads love Captain Canada, but we are actually here talking about illegal lobbying and the involvement of ministers.

The key principle of the Lobbying Act is to not allow lobbyists to have undue influence over cabinet ministers. I think we in the House would all agree that Julie Couillard had undue influence over the member for Beauce while she was at her apartment. She was paid $51,000 for illegal lobbying, with no penalties, no consequences, and no accountability for the minister involved in this complicity.

Will the member for Beauce stand up and tell the House about his role in this illegal lobbying scam? Where is his accountability?

[Andrew Saxton, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board and for Western Economic Diversification]

Mr. Speaker, this was an investigation into a private citizen. We have tough rules in place in this area, and we expect them to be followed.

What I find reprehensible is that the member stands in this place claiming to defend integrity after a former NDP leader's chief of staff knowingly ignored the word of the Lobbying Act. Will the current leader do the right thing and condemn this shameful act?

Official Languages

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

Mr. Speaker, if we need another example of how the government's plan for jobs is not working, simply look at how it is failing francophones across the country. Instead of helping French communities grow, the Conservatives are gutting the services that support the communities, like unemployment insurance. What is the result? Francophones move to other places where there are no French schools, hospitals or services to help them. Where is the plan to help our French communities?

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Works and Government Services]

Mr. Speaker, our government has given unprecedented support through the roadmap. We have funded the arts and culture in order to help communities prosper. There are educational programs to help students who attend school in the official language of their choice. There are second-language learning programs to help more students become bilingual. We are offering more health care services in the official language of the patient's choice. We have also increased bilingual service points for immigrants.