Debates of Dec. 10th, 2012

Aboriginal Affairs

[Greg Rickford, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development]

Mr. Speaker, since 2010, the minister has visited 50 first nations communities and held hundreds of productive meetings with chiefs, councillors and members of aboriginal communities across Canada. In fact, every year over 5,000 consultations are held with first nations. The government upholds its duty to consult with first nations and, if necessary, it responds to their demands.

[Jean Crowder, NDP, Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC]

Mr. Speaker, we have chiefs driven to desperate measures. We have Chief Theresa Spence on the Hill commencing a hunger strike today. The Idle No More campaign was launched on social media by young aboriginal women and men who want more for their future. These women and men are tired of the Conservative empty promises, unilateral decision making and court challenges. As the national chief has said, the clock is ticking and patience is running out.

Will the minister listen to the grassroots voices who are demanding a say in their future?

[Greg Rickford, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development]

Mr. Speaker, we certainly will and we certainly have. That is how we came to the action plan for water and waste water treatment, consulting from coast to coast to coast. We heard from grassroots community members from coast to coast to coast with respect to increasing financial transparency and accountability, and we are delivering on that legislation. We are taking every opportunity we can to share our priorities and consult appropriately with first nations on all of these key files.

Employment Insurance

[Judy Foote, Liberal, Random—Burin—St. George's, NL]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians are being punished to pay for Conservative financial incompetence that has seen Canada's national debt rise to more than $600 billion since 2006. This is especially evident with EI. Processing times are at an all-time high with many Canadians waiting more than five weeks to receive their first payment; 14 million applicants were hung up on last year; 100 of 120 centres that process EI claims throughout the country are being closed.

Why are vulnerable Canadians being forced to pay the price of Conservative incompetence?

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

Mr. Speaker, we recognize that services are not what we want them to be. That is why we are working to improve them. We are investing in automating and streamlining the process because we want to make sure that Canadians do get the benefits in a timely manner, but we are going beyond that. We are investing to help Canadians get back to work faster. That is the purpose of EI, to support individuals while they are looking for work. We are helping them become aware of the jobs that are available in their area, so that they can work more and faster.

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives' financial incompetence has increased our national debt to over $600 billion, and now the Conservatives are making cuts to employment insurance. Workers are being backed into a corner, and the seasonal economy is in crisis. As a result, Canadians are being forced to seek social assistance from the provinces.

Why do the people of the Atlantic provinces have to pay for the Conservatives' financial incompetence?

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

Mr. Speaker, we are helping unemployed workers to find new jobs. In Canada, close to 900,000 new jobs have been created since the recession. That is good news. We are going to continue to help people find training courses and jobs, both today and in the future.

Citizenship and Immigration

[Jinny Sims, NDP, Newton—North Delta, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the depth of Conservative mismanagement of the temporary foreign worker program is truly shocking.

Documents released on Friday show major problems with the process for approving labour market opinions. For example, the ability to speak Mandarin was one of the listed requirements for the mining jobs in B.C. No wonder the company claims it could not find enough Canadian workers.

Does the Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism believe rubber-stamping ensures a strong system? Will he suspend the visas while this program is being investigated?

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

Mr. Speaker, the requirements as described by the member opposite are totally unacceptable.

The official languages of this country are English and French, period. That is what is required to do a job here in this country as far as we are concerned.

We want to make sure that Canadians get first crack at every job available in this country and that temporary foreign workers are only brought in when efforts to find Canadians to do the job are unsuccessful.

We are concerned with what is happening with the temporary foreign worker program. That is why we are reviewing it, to make sure it does meet the objectives.

[Sadia Groguhé, NDP, Saint-Lambert, QC]

Then why say yes, Mr. Speaker?

This is only one of many examples of the Conservatives' poor management of immigration cases. Here is another: our offices continue to receive the files of people whose visa applications were abandoned when the visa office in Buffalo closed.

Some people's health exams and work permits are about to expire. The government has promised to take action in the coming months, but it may be too late for many people.

Will the minister finally fast-track these files? It is long past time.

[Rick Dykstra, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, only the NDP would complain about actions being taken that actually improve the process to make it easier for students and workers in this country, and create jobs for Canadians.

Previously, students and workers whose visas had expired actually had to travel outside of Canada to be able to renew those visas, and then come back into the country.

Now, students and workers who have valid status in the country will actually be able to apply and have their application processed in Canada before they have to leave. This is all about improvement.

Regional Development

[Ryan Leef, Conservative, Yukon, YT]

Mr. Speaker, as a proud northerner, I am happy to be part of a government that places a priority on the north.

Unfortunately, the member for Western Arctic keeps voting against everything that helps his riding, be it the Dempster Highway extension from Tuktoyaktuk to Inuvik or money for northern health care. He also opposed our government's decision to have a northern representative on the Arctic Council.

When asked to explain his actions to his constituents, he replied that he did not really have to answer any of those things.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency and for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario update this House on the great work that we are doing in the north?

[Greg Rickford, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development]

He sure can, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the hard work of the member for Yukon.

No government in history has been as committed to helping the north reach its potential. Thanks to the hard work and commitment of the Prime Minister, we continue to make significant investments, like the Tuk-Inuvik highway and northern infrastructure to support northern growth and prosperity.

Our Minister of Health, Minister of Public Safety and Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development have delivered on new investments in health care, membership on the Arctic Council, abolishing the long gun registry and making nutritious food more affordable.

What these all have in common is that the member for Western Arctic voted against them.

Co-operative Housing

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Mr. Speaker, for quite some time now, the housing co-operative community has been asking the government to renew co-operative housing subsidies that are coming to term. In London West, 20 households of the Native Inter-Tribal Housing Co-operative will soon be threatened with homelessness since its federal support will come to an end at the end of this calendar year.

When will the government act?

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

Mr. Speaker, in most cases, responsibility for these co-operatives has been devolved to the provinces and territories. What we are talking about here are long-term agreements over several decades where funding was provided at below market rates. We expect the provinces to deal with these situations and that these co-operatives will have developed financial self-sufficiency at this point in time.

Employment Insurance

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

Mr. Speaker, for months now, we have been telling the minister that her changes to employment insurance are devastating for seasonal workers in Canada.

Workers from New Brunswick and from Newfoundland and Labrador were on the Hill today to demand immediate changes to the reform package, which penalizes seasonal workers.

Even though she refuses to consult with Canadians, perhaps she will listen to her colleague from Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe, who is also asking for changes.

Will she change her mind about her reform package, as the New Democrats, as Canadian workers and as her own Conservative colleagues are asking her to do?

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

Mr. Speaker, we are helping people like the unemployed and especially seasonal workers to find other full-time jobs. This would be better for them, for their family, for the community and for their employers. However, all of our efforts to help people find new and better jobs are being hampered by the NDP.

If people cannot find a full-time job, employment insurance will be there for them, as always.

Public Service

[Randy Hoback, Conservative, Prince Albert, SK]

Mr. Speaker, with Hanukkah beginning this past weekend and Christmas just around the corner, Canadians all across the country are getting into the festive spirit.

Would the President of the Treasury Board please explain our government's support for employees celebrating the festive season?

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

Mr. Speaker, I would like to inform the House that it is in fact the festive holiday season throughout the land. Whether it is Hanukkah or the advent of Christmas, public sector employees should also be able to decorate and celebrate. Our government has made it clear that the workplace can be a festive zone and we will not be grinched by the forces of political correctness.

May I say happy Hanukkah and merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.

Public Safety

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

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives' actions with regard to public safety are troubling.

On the one hand, they are promoting their so-called law and order agenda, and on the other, they have slashed funding for the mixed prevention squads that fight street gangs in Quebec by $92 million.

They should be ashamed of using the victims for photo ops and then turning their backs on them.

The Minister of Public Safety can provide funding for the prevention squads or he can let gangs rule the streets. What does he choose?

[Vic Toews, Conservative, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, the NDP likes to talk about crime prevention measures but, when it really counts, it has consistently voted against all of these initiatives. It is our Conservative government that has created the national crime prevention strategy and the youth gang prevention fund. I hope the member opposite will finally stop the double-talk and get serious about supporting these programs.

[Maria Mourani, Bloc, Ahuntsic, QC]

Mr. Speaker, following a meeting with the director general of the City of Montreal police service, I was informed that the Eclipse squad, which specializes in fighting street gangs in Montreal, was likely to be disbanded because its funding of $35 million from the police officers recruitment fund was going to end.

Last year alone, the 46 Eclipse police officers made 540 arrests, including two for murder, and 42 weapons were seized.

This expertise will be lost. Furthermore, this is a disaster waiting to happen for public safety in Montreal, especially since the city with the highest number of street gangs is Montreal.

Will the Minister reverse his decision to eliminate this funding, as the National Assembly and the police forces have asked?

[Vic Toews, Conservative, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, our government has consistently brought forward measures in the House that protect Canadians right across this country, including in the city of Montreal.

Our government has created the national crime prevention strategy and the youth gang prevention fund but we have consistently had opposition from that member, no matter whether it is organized crime initiatives or regular crime initiatives. We would like that member's support so that the people of her consistency can be safe as well.

Presence in Gallery

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

I would like to draw to the attention of hon. members the presence in the gallery of Catherine Coutelle, member of the National Assembly and chair of the Canada-France Interparliamentary Association.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear!