Debates of Nov. 2nd, 2012

Canada-Panama Economic Growth and Prosperity Act

[Paul Dewar, NDP, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question because it goes to the essence of the issue. Just going around and signing anywhere is like someone putting a piece of paper down and saying “Sign here” and then they make a grand announcement. That is not where we need to go.

As I asked at the beginning of my speech, where are we going to be in 2050? The countries that I listed are going to be the top countries. I reiterate that the United States will be the only top western country. We will have China, India, Brazil, Mexico, Russia, Indonesia, Japan, U.K., Germany, Nigeria, France, South Korea, Turkey and Vietnam. They will all have larger GDPs than Canada.

The government is in the past. It needs to wake up, and it needs to have a comprehensive free trade strategy.

Diwali

[Kyle Seeback, Conservative, Brampton West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, with Diwali fast approaching, I want to say a few words about the significance of this great festival.

The celebration of Diwali has become known as the victory of good over evil. It refers to the light of higher knowledge dispelling ignorance. With this awakening comes the compassion and awareness of the oneness of all things. This brings ananda, joy or peace. Just as we celebrate the birth of our physical being, Diwali is the celebration of this inner light.

Last night in Ottawa, we celebrated Diwali with our great Prime Minister. In my own riding of Brampton West, there will be many Diwali celebrations in Mundhirs, Gurdwaras and peoples' homes.

May this Diwali illuminate our lives and bring the shower of glory, prosperity, peace and health. Best wishes to all those who celebrate Diwali and their families.

Atikamekw Community

[Francine Raynault, NDP, Joliette, QC]

Mr. Speaker, on October 25, I had the privilege of attending a public meeting on education in Manawan. In the Atikamekw community, the high school dropout rate is 48% and very few students earn a diploma. The situation is not much better at the elementary level: the school is falling apart and poses a risk to public health. It even falls short of the standards for schools we build in Afghanistan.

What is the government doing to fix the problem? It is cutting $430,000 from education in Manawan. The meeting was an opportunity to take stock of the situation and to hear what the Atikamekw are hoping for. Our conclusion: enough is enough.

Burma

[Stephen Woodworth, Conservative, Kitchener Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have constituents worried over the fate of loved ones facing persecution in Burma.

Rohingya are a minority group in Burma who are without citizenship rights. They are prohibited from building of worship and from working in the public service. They require a permit to travel and they must declare their religion on I.D. cards.

This summer, violence again broke out in Burma and many Rohingya were targeted. There are real concerns that Burmese security did not do an adequate job of protecting all residents and may even have contributed to the violence.

The Canadian government advocates for the protection of human rights in Burma and around the world. We condemn the violence in Burma's Rakhine State, which has led to the displacement of up to 90,000 residents.

We call on all sides to work toward a peaceful resolution. We urge the Burmese government to ensure the safety of all civilians.

The House must stand with the Rohingya in their quest for protection and justice.

The Environment

[Kirsty Duncan, Liberal, Etobicoke North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, through economic action plan 2012 and Bill C-38, the government severely cut the budget to Environment Canada, gutted environmental legislation, cancelled the National Round Table on the Environment and Economy. The Conservatives have also silenced dissent from environmental non-governmental organizations and continue to muzzle government scientists, threatening our economy and environment.

Our world-renowned natural heritage is now being further imperilled by a government that fails to understand that water is the foundation of life, is at the centre of economic and social development and is fundamental across economic sectors, including agriculture and energy.

Through its latest anti-democratic omnibus legislation, Bill C-45, the government is stripping federal oversight from thousands of Canadian waterways. Of the roughly 32,000 lakes in Canada, just 97 lakes and 62 rivers will now be protected.

Instead of killing the Navigable Waters Protection Act, will the government prioritize clean water and restore our freshwater ecosystems?

New Democratic Party of Canada

[Rick Dykstra, Conservative, St. Catharines, ON]

Mr. Speaker, a $21 billion carbon tax can be found on page 4 of the NDP platform costing tables. While NDP members complain about mention of this fact, the NDP has been sending a completely false message to Canadian seniors.

David Boese, a local senior on an NDP mailing list in my community, wrote me about a disturbing email signed by the NDP House leader, which led him to believe he would lose $12,000 in OAS payments. Understandably, he expressed anxiety about his personal finances and was relieved to find the truth. Like all Canadians 55 and over, David Boese could live to be a thousand years old and not lose a single penny of OAS money.

It is irresponsible for NDP members to spread falsehoods about government programs to the Canadian seniors who rely on them. Seniors trust messages from elected members of Parliament and by trying to add a zero and then another zero to get to $12,000, the NDP is simply abusing that trust.

Parliamentary Budget Officer

[Pat Martin, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

Mr. Speaker, the Parliamentary Budget Officer is a modern-day hero and perhaps the best friend the Canadian taxpayer has. Those in government who undermine and insult him at every turn are not fit to breathe the same air as this great Canadian.

Villainy wears many masks, but none so treacherous as the mask of virtue. It was the culture of secrecy that allowed corruption to flourish in the bad years of the Liberal government. However, the Conservatives deceived Canadians by promising a brand new Camelot of transparency and accountability and then proceeded to make a mockery of any semblance of scrutiny, oversight or due diligence of government spending by ensuring that the efforts of the Parliamentary Budget Officer were thwarted and stymied at every turn.

Canadians have an absolute and constitutionally protected right to know what their government is doing with their money. History will remember Kevin Page as a great Canadian and an honourable public servant. The same cannot be said for those who would undermine, thwart and try to deter him from doing his job of protecting the Canadian taxpayer.

Member for Cariboo—Prince George

[Bob Zimmer, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to recognize the service of the member for Cariboo—Prince George. This past week he began his 20th year as the federal representative for central interior B.C.

First elected to the House of Commons in 1993, the member has held numerous positions throughout the years, most recently serving as the chair of the B.C. Yukon caucus and chair of the National Forestry caucus. He is also one of the few remaining members of Parliament of the original 1993 Reform caucus.

Over the past two years, I have been able to get to know the member very well. He has been a great help as I began my own career as the member of Parliament for Prince George—Peace River. I am proud to share the city of Prince George with the member for Cariboo—Prince George and I look forward to continuing to do so in the years ahead.

I once again congratulate my friend and colleague from Cariboo—Prince George on his remarkable achievement.

Small Business

[Greg Rickford, Conservative, Kenora, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have some good news for the House. As of January 2011, more than 100 new small businesses have started up in the great Kenora riding. New businesses include those involved in the resource sector. There is a new hustle and bustle to our downtowns and our business and industrial parks. I visit these new businesses, attend chamber events and award galas and host small business round tables throughout the riding frequently.

Here is the bad news. A growing number of small businesses are a direct result of responsible resource development in the region or are anticipating growth as a result of it, the same sectors the leader of the NDP referred to in our region as a disease.

It gets worse. The NDP would implement a carbon tax which would dramatically increase living costs for northern Ontarians, stifle the prospects of small business and cripple resource development in northern Ontario.

Back to the good news. Our government stands with small businesses. We support responsible resource development and oppose a carbon tax.

Small businesses are just another example of what is so great—

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

Order. The hon. member for Toronto—Danforth.

Human Rights

[Craig Scott, NDP, Toronto—Danforth, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to make a statement on behalf of the leader of the NDP and the NDP.

It is with great sorrow that I extend my sympathies on the 28th anniversary of the tragic pogroms of 1984 that targeted the Sikh community across India.

Like our former leader, the NDP stands in solidarity with the Sikh community and human rights organizations. We continue our call for justice for the survivors and an explanation for why and how Sikhs were targeted by organized mobs. We also salute those who risked their lives by providing refuge and assistance to Sikhs during these pogroms.

Victims and survivors have waited too long for recognition of their plight. Rehabilitation must be prioritized. The actions of the police and allegations regarding the role of congress members and the use of state resources must be examined. The truth must be brought to light and the guilty brought to justice. These are the obligations of a democratic state.

International Trade

[Blake Richards, Conservative, Wild Rose, AB]

Mr. Speaker, while our government has an ambitious pro-trade plan to open up new markets, the opposition continues to stand in the way of new opportunities for Canada's exporters. Canadians have long known the NDP to be beholden to radical anti-trade activists.

In today's National Post, columnist John Ivison writes that the leader of the NDP “seems to have outsourced his trade policy to Maude Barlow and the Council of Canadians”.

The NDP also opposes our government's free trade agreement with Panama, an important Canadian trade investment destination in the Americas. At the same time, the Liberal member for Malpeque has shamefully made negative comments about the agreement.

The Liberals and the NDP should explain to Canadians why they oppose new opportunities for one in five Canadian workers whose jobs depend on exports.

The New Democrats cannot hide from their anti-trade record. In challenging global economic times, Canadians know that it is only our government that has a pro-trade plan to create jobs, growth and long-term prosperity.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

[Paul Dewar, NDP, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, every hour 48 women are raped in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Rape is used as a strategy of war to terrorize and control women and communities. It is calculated and it is brutal. In that context, Dr. Denis Mukwege, directs Panzi Hospital where staff have treated over 30,000 survivors of systematic sexual violence. He is a determined healer, despite the ruthless reality he faces on a daily basis.

I was deeply saddened to hear of an assassination attempt against the doctor. Just days before the attack, the doctor made a speech at the United Nations where he said, “we need action, urgent action to arrest those responsible for these crimes against humanity and to bring them to justice”. These are the words that angered the perpetrators of the worst human rights violation of our time. These are the words that must be echoed by our citizens and our government until justice prevails.

The government must condemn the attack on Dr. Mukwege. It must also support peace building in the Congo, end the trade of conflict minerals that finances this awful war and speak up against the culture of impunity.

War Memorials

[John Williamson, Conservative, New Brunswick Southwest, NB]

Mr. Speaker, in the week leading up to Remembrance Day, Canadians across the country will take time to remember the sacrifices made by those who selflessly served our nation in defence of our core values and freedoms. Canadians from coast to coast will visit war memorials on November 11 and pay their respects. We believe these war memorials are sacred ground that should be treated with the utmost respect. That is why our government passed a law to protect war memorials in Canada.

Unfortunately, and I must say surprisingly, the opposition NDP stood and voted against this legislation. The NDP members voted against protecting war memorials and judicial punishment for individuals who desecrated Canada's monuments commemorating our veterans.

It is wrong that the NDP voted against this meaningful and important legislation.

Human Rights

[Irwin Cotler, Liberal, Mount Royal, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I recently participated in the U.S.-based Freedom Forum, which brought together former political prisoners, dissidents, human rights advocates, thinkers and innovators at the cutting edge of the global struggle for freedom, which conferred the Vaclav Havel Prize for Creative Dissent on Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Syi, an honorary citizen of Canada, who spoke movingly of the struggle for freedom always retaining its moral compass. In her words, “we need to free our people not just from oppression but from their own fears and their own hatred”.

The forum included riveting speeches by Iranian-Canadian author and former political prisoner Marina Nemat, reminding us of the plight of political prisoners in Iran, including Iranian-Canadians Saeed Malekpour and Hamid Ghassemi-Shall, and in respect of which we have established a global Iranian political prisoner advocacy program, and by Manal al-Sharif, the Saudi Arabian women's activist, who spoke of the ongoing repression of women, even in the aftermath of the Arab Spring.

The forum serves as a beacon of hope for those suffering in the shadows of human rights violations, reminding us all that we must enlarge and enhance the international struggle for freedom. We look forward to the launch of a Canadian-based Freedom Forum in the new year to advance the cause of freedom, justice and human rights for all.

New Democratic Party of Canada

[Ryan Leef, Conservative, Yukon, YT]

Mr. Speaker, last week, the member for Thunder Bay—Rainy River correctly stated that I have only stood twice in this place to warn my constituents of the NDP's sneaky $21 billion job-killing carbon tax.

I would like to thank the member for reminding me that twice is hardly enough effort in letting the great people of Yukon know that the NDP has a clear plan in black and orange to tax Canadians and raise the price of gas, home heating fuel, groceries, construction supplies and everything else ordinary Canadians need on a daily basis.

I am thankful the member for Thunder Bay—Rainy River used his speaking spot to ignore his riding to encourage me to better communicate the NDP's job-killing carbon tax with Yukon residents who believe in our low tax plan for jobs, growth and long-term prosperity.

The Member for Nepean-Carleton

[Jamie Nicholls, NDP, Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC]

Mr. Speaker, of all the PMO's servile puppets, one Conservative member stands out.

The hon. member for Nepean—Carleton is pushing deceitful fabrications to new heights. Since the beginning of the fall, he has been tarnishing the reputation of our parliamentary institutions, particularly that of the chamber over which you preside, Mr. Speaker. He would rather attack our party for made-up reasons than answer questions or recognize the accomplishments of his constituents. He has turned question period into a sad circus where he is both the clown and the only happy spectator. This type of behaviour has to stop so that we can give Canadians the Parliament that they deserve.

The next speaker has a choice: he can imitate his puppet colleague from Nepean—Carleton or he can be a member of Parliament who serves his constituents.

New Democratic Party of Canada

[Daryl Kramp, Conservative, Prince Edward—Hastings, ON]

Mr. Speaker, today, in debate, we heard, once again, the NDP letting its anti-trade views show through again. This should come as no surprise from a party that has opposed every trade agreement that we have brought forward. That is a party that is anti-Canadian jobs, anti-trade mission to Washington and has even opposed NAFTA.

The NDP leader's anti-trade views are in line with his other policy plank, as we have heard, to impose a $20 billion carbon tax on Canadians. His anti-trade views and his long held desire to impose this new multi-billion dollar carbon tax would kill Canadian jobs and stall economic growth. The NDP leader's carbon tax would raise the price of gas, groceries, electricity and literally everything. His anti-trade policies will kill Canadian exporters and kill Canadian jobs.

On this side of the House, we will oppose the NDP leader's job-killing carbon tax and we will continue to stand up for Canadian interests as we sign trade deals that will increase Canadian exports and grow Canadian jobs.

Ethics

[Nathan Cullen, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs.

There are now even more allegations of campaign violations against the minister. His campaign cashed a cheque for $5,500 from a construction company.

Where do I start? First, one cannot accept a donation for more than $1,200 from anybody, and $5,500 is more than $1,200. Second, one cannot accept a donation from a private firm. Is there something that I am missing?

Is the minister willing today to rise in his place and explain himself to Canadians?

[John Baird, Conservative, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, there is a new official agent in place who is working with Elections Canada to correct any mistakes in the return.

The minister has always been very clear in directing his campaign not to accept corporate or union donations. Why did he do that? It was because this party and this government banned big money from Canadian politics.

For a member of the New Democratic Party, which pocketed $340,000 illegally into its bank account, to make these charges is just simply too rich.

[Nathan Cullen, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I want to clear something up for my confused Conservative colleagues across the way.

Elections Canada actually thanked the New Democrats “for the full co-operation it has given to Elections Canada in order to resolve the issue promptly and effectively”.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

Order, please. The hon. member for Skeena—Bulkley Valley has the floor.

[Nathan Cullen, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

The truth also hurts.

Where is the letter of thanks from Elections Canada to the Conservatives? Oh, wait, they do not have one. They pled guilty and they are now in front of Elections Canada again.

I will quote from the Prime Minister's accountability guide. It reads that all ministers are held “to the highest standards of conduct for all their actions, including those that are not directly related to their official functions”.

Will the minister finally stand in his place and account himself to Canadians?

[John Baird, Conservative, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, as I said, the new official agent is working with Elections Canada on this issue.

It does not absolve the fact that Elections Canada discovered, under our new finance rules, the biggest campaign fundraising scandal under the new laws brought forward by the New Democratic Party. It is not like there was a misplaced cheque. It was hundreds of thousands of dollars which blatantly violated the Federal Accountability Act, something that the member for Winnipeg Centre and I worked so hard to stop. Little did I believe that it would not be the Liberals caught cheating, that it would be the NDP convicted of cheating under these new rules.