Debates of Nov. 7th, 2012

Service Canada

[Chris Charlton, NDP, Hamilton Mountain, ON]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Parliamentary Budget Officer confirmed that the Conservatives are quietly slashing services to Canadians. The PBO reports that 85% of Conservative cuts are to front-line staff and to the services that Canadians rely on. Service Canada is already near crisis. One in four EI applications are not being processed on time, and the majority of calls are not getting answered.

How bad do things have to get before the minister will act to protect Canadians?

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

Mr. Speaker, the facts remain the same. They were found in budget 2012. We have since published quarterly financial reports, public accounts and other means of reporting to Parliament, which clearly indicate that 70% of reductions to this budget are to back-office operations and other non-core essential services that affect Canadians.

That is the promise we made to Canadians. We stand by that promise because we are acting in their interest, unlike the $21 billion carbon tax that the opposition seems fetish like in agreeing with and wanting to impose upon the people of Canada.

[Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet, NDP, Hochelaga, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives are cutting old age security, limiting access to employment insurance and making budget cuts at Service Canada. Obviously, we voted against all that. Statistics show that the quality of service has declined. Why? Because of the Conservatives' budget cuts. Service Canada employees are swamped. The Conservatives did not learn their lesson and they are continuing to make cuts.

Will the minister wake up and address the problem with regard to the lack of resources?

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

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is wrong. We are trying to help people find new jobs and give them access to job readiness training. We are improving things. We have already improved service delivery to Canadians and we will continue to do so by helping people find good jobs and acquire the necessary skills.

[Paulina Ayala, NDP, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians are paying the price for the cuts the Conservatives are making at Service Canada. Canadians should not have to wait on the phone for hours to get help. What is more, we know that there will be still more cuts, but the Conservatives are not saying how many people will be laid off. Canadians can be sure that the NDP will never support this.

Why do the Conservatives continue to make cuts to the public service knowing that this has a direct impact on services to Canadians?

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

Mr. Speaker, as I already said, the departments provided information to Parliament about their finances in a recent report that is available to the public. Mr. Page's statements have been contradicted by information that clearly shows that operational efficiency is the reason for approximately 70% of the current savings.

[Marie-Claude Morin, NDP, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC]

Mr. Speaker, believing that irresponsible cuts can be made without affecting services is wishful thinking.

The Conservatives clearly said that services to the public would not be affected, but in reality, it is impossible to cut departmental budgets without cutting public services. Either the Conservatives do not realize just how far-reaching the effects of their budget cuts are or they just do not care.

Did the minister read the Parliamentary Budget Officer's report? Does she realize that there has been a serious impact on services across the country?

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

Mr. Speaker, the facts are clear: it is possible to reduce funding while protecting services to Canadians.

The opposition has never met a program it does not love. It wants to increase, to over-tax, to over-regulate and to over-spend. That is the opposition's modus operandi.

That is not the way we work. We protect services to Canadians. We will continue to do so, but we will do so in a way that reduces the cost to Canadians because we respect the taxpayer.

Search and Rescue

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

Mr. Speaker, after listening to the Conservatives, the word of the day seems to be "hogwash". Not only are they cutting services, but they also want to close 10 marine communications and traffic services centres across Canada, including the ones in Rivière-au-Renard and Montreal. Everyone agrees that not only do those centres save lives, but they are essential to risk assessments on environmental issues as well as the protection of recreational boaters, sailors and fishers.

Perhaps the minister did not see this. Why did he go ahead with those cuts, especially without any studies or consultation? What does he have to say to that?

[Gail Shea, Conservative, Minister of National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, the complete consolidation of the marine rescue sub-centre in Quebec City is planned for next year. As we have said all along, consolidation will be based on operational needs, on the maintenance of public safety and taking the time needed to complete this work properly.

The coast guard intends to maintain its excellent record of safety to mariners.

[Kirsty Duncan, Liberal, Etobicoke North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the government continues to put Canadians at risk with cuts to food safety, environmental monitoring and now marine safety.

Fisheries and Oceans is closing almost half of the marine communications and traffic centres across the country, including those in Montreal and Vancouver. These centres monitor marine traffic, and cutting them increases the risk of accidents involving passenger ships or tankers carrying crude oil.

When will the government stop gutting services that protect Canadians' safety and the environment?

[Gail Shea, Conservative, Minister of National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, the Canadian Coast Guard is committed to ensuring the safety of mariners and maintaining its current levels of service.

We are investing in the coast guard's infrastructure to take advantage of today's technology to deliver the same services at strategic locations across the country. Better connected centres equipped with modern technology will ensure improved reliability of services.

Canada Post

[Robert Aubin, NDP, Trois-Rivières, QC]

Mr. Speaker, let me assure the Minister of State for Transport that we know that Canada Post is a crown corporation, we know that the employees are unionized and we know that the government gets revenue from it. The thing that gets us is this government's insidious decisions, such as taxing families buying a new home to the tune of $200 for postal service, which is free for everyone else.

When will the Conservatives stop attacking Canada's middle class?

[Steven Fletcher, Conservative, Minister of State (Transport)]

Mr. Speaker, this member has it all wrong. Our government is committed to universal and economically viable postal services for all Canadians.

As the member has noted, Canada Post operates at arm's length from government. The answer to his question is clear: We expect Canada Post to offer quality services to Canadians while respecting the taxpayer. It is that simple.

[Francine Raynault, NDP, Joliette, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the facts are clear: the Conservatives have decided to further tax the middle class with hidden fees. People in rural areas are already having to cope with reduced hours of service and post office closures. The economy of many of Quebec's communities is suffering for it.

Can the Conservatives tell us whether their new postal tax is part of their plan to help keep regional post offices open?

[Steven Fletcher, Conservative, Minister of State (Transport)]

Mr. Speaker, these members do not seem to understand that Canada Post is a crown corporation at arm's length from government. Canada Post is in charge of making operational decisions, day-to-decisions and so forth. That is why we have crown corporations. That is why it is at arm's length.

If there is an additional cost to provide the service, we expect the people who use the service or develop it, like in this case the developers, to absorb that cost. We do not expect taxpayers to subsidize developers.

Veterans Affairs

[Colin Mayes, Conservative, Okanagan—Shuswap, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the Battle of Vimy Ridge is an integral part of Canada's history. In April 1917 the Canadian Corps was ordered to Vimy. After four days of fierce battle, the Canadians claimed victory, though it came at a very high price. Of the more than 15,000 Canadians who participated, over 10,000 were either killed or wounded. The victory at Vimy defined Canada as a nation in its own right.

Could the Minister of Veterans Affairs inform the House what our government is doing to keep the memory of Vimy alive?

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Minister of Veterans Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the hon. member for Okanagan—Shuswap for reminding us of the Battle of Vimy Ridge.

In April 1917 Canadians from all over the country came together and accomplished what had been thought impossible, the capture of Vimy Ridge. It was the birth of our nation.

This afternoon I was pleased to join the Minister of Finance at the official issuing of the new $20 polymer banknote. This note depicts the magnificent Vimy Memorial in France and honours the ultimate sacrifice of Canada's fallen.

Our government will continue to ensure that the service of our veterans is well remembered.

Fisheries and Oceans

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the Cohen commission revealed serious Conservative mismanagement of west coast fisheries right at a time when many salmon stocks are in peril. The Conservatives have weakened fisheries habitat laws, gutted DFO's research capacity and now after spending $26 million on this commission, they are ignoring the commissioner and his advice.

When will the government reverse its devastating changes and commit to implementing the Cohen commission's recommendations? Is the government waiting for the same devastation of salmon stocks it presided over with the cod?

[Gail Shea, Conservative, Minister of National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, I will remind the hon. member and the House that it was this government that commissioned the Cohen report. This is a very expansive report with serious implications for a very important resource to British Columbia and all of Canada. We are going to carefully review the report and the recommendations and work with our stakeholders and partners to take steps to ensure that the salmon fishery in British Columbia is sustainable and prosperous for years to come.

The Environment

[David Christopherson, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Minister of the Environment and I discussed the fact that the cost of cleaning up one of North America's most toxic sites, Randle Reef in Hamilton Harbour, has been adjusted. He knows that Hamilton city council and local stakeholders have now committed their full one-third of the new adjusted costs.

Will the minister please advise the House if his government is now prepared to commit its full one-third of the adjusted cost so that we can clean up this critically important environmental site?

[Peter Kent, Conservative, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, under the recently updated Great Lakes water quality agreement with the United States, Canada renewed its commitment to remediate Randle Reef and other contaminated sites. Our government committed funding in budget 2007, and I am delighted that the city of Hamilton, the Hamilton Port Authority, U.S. Steel Canada and others have now firmed up their share of cleanup funds.

Once the government of Ontario steps up with its one-third share, I will seek the release of committed funds and the authorities to proceed with this long overdue toxic site cleanup.

International Trade

[Bev Shipley, Conservative, Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON]

Mr. Speaker, our government's ambitious pro-trade plan is opening up new markets like the fast growing economy of Panama. Unbelievably, the members opposite do not seem to mind that Canadian exporters face tariffs of up to 70%. In fact, the member for Malpeque yesterday called our efforts to bring this legislation to a quick vote “absurd” and then stood with his NDP friends to vote against bringing this forward.

Will the parliamentary secretary explain how and why our government is defending Canadian interests with this great agreement?

[Gerald Keddy, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade]

Mr. Speaker, the member for Lambton—Kent—Middlesex understands that Canadian exporters need to be on a level playing field with their competitors around the world. Sadly, the anti-trade NDP fails to grasp this concept. Canada's exporters can compete and win against the best in the world and agreements like this allow them to do it.

I call on all of the members opposite, including the anti-trade NDP, to join our Conservative Party tonight in voting in favour of the Canada-Panama free trade agreement to help bring real benefits to Canada's exporters.

Canadian Heritage

[Tyrone Benskin, NDP, Jeanne-Le Ber, QC]

Mr. Speaker, in 2007, the Conference Board of Canada calculated that the cultural sector represented 7.4% of GDP. Artists who contribute to the economy are penalized by the current tax system in years when they earn a decent income.

Will the Conservatives support tax flexibility for Canadian artists by voting for Bill C-427?