Debates of Oct. 5th, 2012

Citizenship and Immigration

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians thought Bev Oda wasted money on limos, but the Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism makes Bev Oda look like a frugal campaigner against government waste. The Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism racked up $32,000 in limo fees, while refugees cannot get life-saving medications and basic health care. Who is abusing the Canadian taxpayer dollar now?

How can the minister justify the cuts to refugee health care when he himself is spending thousands on luxury transportation?

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

Mr. Speaker, our government treats taxpayers' money with the utmost respect. We require that government business be done at a reasonable cost to taxpayers.

Ministers' office budgets are in fact down over 16% compared to those in the last year the Liberals were in power. The PMO budget is down a further 13.7% since 2010. We have reduced hospitality spending by over a third. Travel costs are down by over 15% compared to those of the former Liberal government.

We are taking action to reduce the cost of government.

Veterans

[Sylvain Chicoine, NDP, Châteauguay—Saint-Constant, QC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Privacy Commissioner confirmed that the Conservatives have made many, many mistakes when it comes to protecting veterans' personal information.

According to the report, the Department of Veterans Affairs is outsourcing the disposal of veterans' files.

The report also reveals a lack of monitoring to ensure the secure destruction of files containing personal information on veterans.

When will the Conservative government take privacy protection seriously?

[Eve Adams, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, we welcome the recommendations brought forward by the independent Privacy Commissioner.

We are taking steps to ensure our processes meet the highest possible standards.

Our department is implementing all 13 of her recommendations.

Our Conservative government treats the privacy of our nation's heroes as paramount. We will always act to ensure that their privacy is respected.

[Djaouida Sellah, NDP, Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives are once again on the defensive regarding their treatment of veterans. They are the ones who ignored the advice of the Surgeon General by making irresponsible cuts affecting the treatment of soldiers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Yet, the ombudsman is clear: only 0.2% of the total defence budget is spent on mental health.

Why did the Conservatives not listen to the NDP and spare veterans from their irresponsible cuts?

[Peter MacKay, Conservative, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, the reality is that over our time in office we have seen the budget for health, including the mental health needs of the Canadian Forces, go up significantly. Some $100 million of additional money has been made available for the Canadian Forces' health concerns.

We will continue to make investments for those ill and injured, those in need, in particular, of mental health counselling. We have recently announced an increase of $11.4 million to that overall budget, specifically to hire more mental health professionals to allow that support to flow to them, to their families and to our veterans.

The Economy

[Bryan Hayes, Conservative, Sault Ste. Marie, ON]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the NDP member for Beaches—East York used a member's statement to attack Conservative members for speaking the truth about the NDP's economic policies.

It is understandable why that member and the NDP want to stop us from talking about their policies. The NDP's plan for the economy is to impose a new $21 billion job-killing carbon tax that would raise the price of everything.

Could the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources tell this House what our Conservative government is doing to help grow the economy and create jobs?

[David Anderson, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources and for the Canadian Wheat Board]

Mr. Speaker, the member for Sault Ste. Marie knows, and Canadians are discovering, that the 2011 NDP campaign promise in which the NDP made a commitment to a carbon tax imposed through a cap and trade process would force Canadians to turn over $21 billion of their money.

Our policies have helped create 800,000 jobs across this country. Just last month alone there were another 50,000 new jobs. The NDP members would cancel those 50,000 jobs and hundreds of thousands of others if they got their way. That is why they cannot be allowed to implement their dangerous policies.

Employment Insurance

[Rodger Cuzner, Liberal, Cape Breton—Canso, NS]

Mr. Speaker, the acclaimed American actor, Samuel L. Jackson, has posted a powerful YouTube video encouraging people to wake up and realize that some of their fellow citizens are experiencing hardship and pain. I would encourage all members to check out the video.

Low-income earners who are receiving EI benefits are experiencing such pain, but it seems that the minister is sleepwalking past their hardship.

My plea is to the Prime Minister. Will he take charge of this file and wake up the members on the front bench?

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

Mr. Speaker, with the working while on claim pilot project, our government's aim is to encourage EI claimants to accept all available work while they are on claim. In doing that, we want to make sure the work does pay so that they are better off working than not.

We will always work to ensure that our goals are met.

Homosexuality

[Réjean Genest, NDP, Shefford, QC]

Mr. Speaker, after trying to reopen the abortion debate, a Conservative member is doing it again. He will be in my riding this weekend to take part in an event held by Quebec's Campaign Life Coalition with the Ta vie ton choix group, which promotes therapy for those struggling with unwanted attractions to persons of the same sex.

In addition to opposing women's right to choose, does the member also believe that homosexuality is a disease that should be treated?

[Kerry-Lynne Findlay, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice]

Mr. Speaker, I believe the member opposite is referring to some recent comments on private member's Bill C-279.

Our government is proud of the fact that Canada is recognized internationally as a country that is deeply committed to the principles of respect for diversity and equality.

That private member's bill is currently before the justice committee. We should allow that committee to do its work. We look forward to the report from that committee.

Employment

[Rick Norlock, Conservative, Northumberland—Quinte West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, we are all used to the NDP's recklessness and its rabid determination to impose a radical, Canada-wide, anti-trade, anti-development program.

While the opposition insists on playing petty partisan politics, our government is remaining focused and working hard on creating jobs for Canadians.

Can the minister give the House an update on the progress that has been made with regard to employment?

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

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the hon. member for his excellent question.

We know that the NDP is proposing a radical approach involving a $21 billion carbon tax that would kill the economy and jobs, while, on our side, we have a good, responsible government.

I am pleased to report that Statistics Canada has announced that over 52,100 net jobs were created in September, for a total of 820,000 net new jobs since the recession. We have the best record of the G7: 90% full-time employment, 80% in the private sector.

Instead of lowering our standards, we are supporting the economy and families and we are rejecting the carbon tax.

The Environment

[Mathieu Ravignat, NDP, Pontiac, QC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Minister of the Environment announced the new phase of the project to clean up the country's contaminated sites. In 2011, Quebec had 100 sites that were deemed to be a priority because they posed risks to public health and the environment. And yet, this government chose only 67 sites in Quebec. The government is neglecting the Valcartier military base, the Lachine Canal and the PCB-contaminated sites on the Kahnawake reserve.

Is the federal government going to come up with a more comprehensive clean-up plan, or is it going to stick Quebec with the bill?

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, as we said earlier this week in the House on this particular issue and with our announcement this week to ensure the continuation of the federal contaminated sites action plan, our government is making excellent progress in this regard. We have invested over $1 billion over three years to 2014 to manage this program, and we earmarked additional funding this week for sites across the country. We also have a review process, which through a scientific process, makes sure we are cleaning up those that are most affected first. We are halfway through that plan and we are making good progress.

[André Bellavance, Bloc, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the announcement made yesterday by the Minister of the Environment is nothing to be proud of. He announced that only 67 of the 2,300 contaminated sites in Quebec will be cleaned up. This does not even cover all of the high-priority sites, such as the site in Shannon, which has been much discussed here in the House, or the sites contaminated with PCBs or heavy metals that pose a risk to Quebeckers. This also clearly means that Quebec is getting less funding for clean-up than other jurisdictions.

How could the minister announce such a weak plan for Quebec when this problem has been going on for too long, when there are too many contaminated sites and when it is taking too long to remedy this problem?

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, as I just stated, our government is in fact making excellent progress in cleaning up contaminated sites across the country. The announcement we made this week shows our government's commitment to this plan by earmarking additional funds for sites across the country. We have a very strong plan, a very strong review process, to assess these sites and then to clean them up afterwards. We are making good progress.

Natural Resources

[Bruce Hyer, Independent, Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the government wants to bulldoze a reckless route through B.C. to ship raw bitumen to communist China as fast as possible, while eastern Canadians are captive to expensive, insecure imported oil. Easterners pay a lot for gasoline and home heating oil. We must build a new pipeline to bring western petroleum to eastern Canada. Will the Minister of Natural Resources support a new pipeline to the east that ensures our energy security and shares energy and value-added jobs with eastern Canadians?

[David Anderson, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources and for the Canadian Wheat Board]

Mr. Speaker, across this country we have a strong review process. We have a strong National Energy Board that looks at those applications. I am sure if the application is made, the board will be taking a look at it.

However, the pipelines are being reviewed. The member mentioned the Northern Gateway pipeline and that is being reviewed by an independent panel, and we are trying to ensure that is not a political process but one that is based on science, as with any other decision.

Oral Questions

[Wayne Easter, Liberal, Malpeque, PE]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I quoted from a document, “XL Foods - List of Recalled Products”, during question period, which includes all the beef products that have been recalled in every province and every retailer. It is a very serious issue.

I am wondering if I might have unanimous consent to table the document in the House.

[The Deputy Speaker]

Does the hon. member have unanimous consent to table this document?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

No.

[Niki Ashton, NDP, Churchill, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. The member across asked a question of the Minister of Foreign Affairs that certainly did not belong in the category of government orders.

I would also like to clarify that the question from our side referred to an event that the MP from Kitchener Centre will be attending tomorrow morning in Granby, in Quebec, along with a second speaker who will be offering therapies for homosexuality. That is what the MP will be involved in.

[The Deputy Speaker, NDP, Joe Comartin]

Order. I will have to review the blues and come back to the House, if necessary.