Mr. Speaker, I think—
House of Commons Hansard #159 of the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was criminals.
House of Commons Hansard #159 of the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was criminals.
The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer
Order, please. The hon. member for Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie.
Alexandre Boulerice NDP Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC
Mr. Speaker, I think that, at this point, if the hon. member does not stop acting the fool, he will not even be able to ask questions in 2015.
My colleague's line of defence is that Robert Abdallah was never appointed. Should we consider ourselves lucky that the Port of Montreal's board of directors resisted the PMO bullying? If the Conservatives had their way, a man whose name is linked to corruption allegations would be managing one of the largest ports of the country.
Why did the Conservatives think he was the right man for the job?
Pierre Poilievre ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, the question is, why does the leader of the NDP think that member is the right man for the job of labour minister when he cannot even state his support for Canada?
The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer
Order, please. I will ask hon. members to hold off on their applause until the parliamentary secretary has finished his response.
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Nepean—Carleton, ON
Mr. Speaker, the problem is not that he donated 29 times to the separatists, including six times this year while he was ostensibly a paid-up member of the NDP caucus. The problem is that he cannot stand up in the House of Commons, even now, and say that he rejects separation and supports Canada. Why?
Alexandre Boulerice NDP Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC
Mr. Speaker, with two ministers who were once involved in sovereignist movements, the hon. member should be careful in making accusations like that.
There are limits to pulling the wool over people's eyes in serious matters.
The Prime Minister's press secretary said that the Conservatives had a preference. Members of the port's board of directors confirmed that Dimitri Soudas tried to influence their decision. Former minister Michael Fortier said that people had exerted pressure on the board of directors.
Zampino, the man involved in the water-meter scandal, wanted Abdallah; Housakos wanted Abdallah; Soudas wanted Abdallah. Why did the Conservatives push for his appointment? What role did Leo Housakos play in all of this?
Pierre Poilievre ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, apparently my hon. friend is following the old rule: when in trouble, yell. That is exactly what he has done.
I simply ask, given that the member has donated 29 times to a separatist party, why can he not do what literally every member of this caucus is prepared to do, which is to stand up and say he is a federalist, that he believes in a united Canada, that he wants this country to stay together and wants it to have a bright future. Why can he not do that?
Judy Foote Liberal Random—Burin—St. George's, NL
Mr. Speaker, the minister responsible for employment insurance claims that “the vast majority of people who are working while on an EI claim will...be better off”. This is simply wrong.
The government's own report reveals that it plans to cut 57% of the funding for the first year of the working while on claim pilot project compared to last year's project.
How can the minister honestly claim that the vast majority of Canadians who work while on claim would benefit from almost 60% less funding?
Kellie Leitch ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and to the Minister of Labour
Mr. Speaker, through the working while on claim pilot project, our government's aim is to encourage EI claimants to pursue and accept more work while collecting employment insurance. We know that when people accept a part-time job they frequently end up in full-time employment.
This government has been focused. We have created 770,000 net new jobs since the downturn of the recession. That is unlike opposition members, such as the New Democrats who want to put in place a carbon tax of $21 billion to kill jobs, or the Liberals who simply vote against every initiative we put forward.
Massimo Pacetti Liberal Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC
Mr. Speaker, perhaps she will be able to answer if I ask the question again.
The minister responsible for employment insurance claims that the majority of people who are working while on an EI claim will be better off. This is simply wrong. The government plans to cut 57% of the funding for the first year of the working while on claim pilot project compared to last year's project.
How can the minister claim that the vast majority of Canadians will benefit from 60% less funding?
Kellie Leitch ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and to the Minister of Labour
Mr. Speaker, this is like the movie Groundhog Day, so I will say it again. Through the working while on claim pilot project, our government's aim is to encourage EI claimants to pursue—
The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer
Order, please. The hon. parliamentary secretary has the floor.
Kellie Leitch Conservative Simcoe—Grey, ON
Mr. Speaker, claimants are encouraged to pursue and accept more work while collecting employment insurance. As I mentioned before, we have a robust plan for helping those who are unemployed to find employment. We have created 770,000 net new jobs, unlike the opposition members, who have voted against all of our initiatives to create jobs such as Helmets to Hardhats, and the $21 billion carbon tax of the NDP.
Olivia Chow NDP Trinity—Spadina, ON
Mr. Speaker, five million Canadians go to U.S. airports to fly because the flights there are cheaper. Why? Because the Conservatives treat airports as cash cows and charge huge fees.
The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer
Order, please. The hon. member for Trinity—Spadina has the floor now.
Olivia Chow NDP Trinity—Spadina, ON
As a result, according to the Canadian Airports Council, Canada loses 11,000 jobs and $240 million in tax revenue. When will this minister reduce the job-cutting tax on airports, tell us he loves Canada and keep the jobs and flights here in Canada?
Denis Lebel ConservativeMinister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, as I understand my colleague, the opposition is asking us to use taxpayer dollars to subsidize air travel. It is rich to hear the New Democrats on this when they want to create a carbon tax of $21 billion. They want to pay for it with that.
Here in Canada, we do not use taxpayer money to subsidize this industry. It is a user-pay principle system and we will continue that way.
Robert Aubin NDP Trois-Rivières, QC
Mr. Speaker, we are used to the minister's lack of consideration when it comes time to answer the opposition's questions. I will point out that the Conference Board of Canada has the exact same view, and I repeat the question.
Five million Canadians cross the border for flights that are on average 35% cheaper. Our airlines and airports are not the only ones losing market share. All of the businesses associated with this industry are as well. Every year we lose 11,000 jobs and $240 million in revenue.
Why do the Conservatives continue to create jobs in the United States instead of in Canada?
Denis Lebel ConservativeMinister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, I am proud to be a Canadian and to be a member of this government.
If they want to compare Canada's economy to that of the United States, I think the answer is obvious. Canada has a system in which users pay to use air services. We will not use taxpayer money to finance the airline industry.
It is rich to hear them say that they want us to lower taxes, when they want to create a $21 billion carbon tax. They want to use that tax money to pay for this.
Randy Hoback Conservative Prince Albert, SK
Mr. Speaker, 25 years ago a visionary Conservative government signed the most ambitious trade agreement the world had ever known. Since the Canada-U.S. trade agreement, nearly 4.6 million jobs have been created and two-way trade with the United States has more than tripled. However, the NDP opposed this partnership and the member for Dartmouth—Cole Harbour even called free trade agreements “job-destroying”.
Would the Minister of Foreign Affairs please share with the House how our government's pro-trade plan is bringing long-term prosperity to Canadians?