Debates of Dec. 6th, 2012

Rail Transportation

[Olivia Chow, NDP, Trinity—Spadina, ON]

Mr. Speaker, 8 out of 10 rail freight customers feel that they are getting shoddy service and unacceptable prices. With radical downsizing at CP, services are expected to become less reliable and more expensive. Farmers, mining and forestry companies will hurt even more and our economy will suffer.

The minister keeps making promises while rail customers are getting fleeced. When will the minister finally take action and adopt my rail customer protection act?

[Denis Lebel, Conservative, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, we have said we will introduce the rail freight review during the fall. That is what we will do.

This is another example of the NDP wanting to manage a private company on behalf of the managers who are named to it. The NDP wants to manage everything in the country. CP is a private company. It will continue to manage its own company. We will ensure our country has the best service we can provide with the support of private companies.

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

Mr. Speaker, when we return to the House, it will be winter.

This is not very reassuring for consumers, who would like to see concrete action and a little leadership from the minister.

Canadian Pacific is going to cut 4,500 jobs. There will be a fire sale of hundreds of locomotives and cars, and many stations and marshalling yards will be abandoned.

What does the minister have to say about these draconian cuts by Canadian Pacific? He twiddles his thumbs. He said that there would be an answer in the fall, but we do not know in what year.

How many kilometres of railway have to rust out before the minister shoulders his responsibilities?

[Denis Lebel, Conservative, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, a process that began several years ago is about to come to fruition. We said that we would be tabling the railway transportation review in the fall. To the best of my knowledge, fall is over on December 21—assuming he and I are using the same calendar. We will continue to do the work we have been doing for a long time now.

This is just one more example of why the NDP thinks it can manage every company in Canada and that everything needs to depend exclusively on the government, which is not the case here. We respect the people who are appointed to run private companies. We are making sure that Canadians receive good rail service, just as they receive good services in all transportation-related sectors. That is what we are going to do.

Health

[Hedy Fry, Liberal, Vancouver Centre, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the U.S. just waded into the OxyContin debate by issuing warnings about the Conservative government's decision to allow generic OxyContin on the market. Officials are afraid it will hit the streets in the U.S. just as they are trying to deal with their own massive OxyContin problem.

The minister refuses to listen to the pleas of provincial health ministers and aboriginal communities to stop generic OxyContin. She obviously does not care about the health of Canadians, but will she at least listen to the U.S. and not precipitate an international public health crisis?

[Colin Carrie, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, our government has implemented tough new controls to help prevent these drugs from being illegally distributed. We have tightened the rules under the non-insured health benefits program and we have seen a 50% reduction in the amount of these drugs provided. However, these are just some of the actions we are taking.

While I am standing, I feel inclined to ask the Liberal Party a question that was asked yesterday and members refused to answer it. OxyContin was approved in 1996 under the Liberal government. Will the Liberals tell us now why they did absolutely nothing to stop its abuse?

National Defence

[John McKay, Liberal, Scarborough—Guildwood, ON]

Mr. Speaker, possibly the Prime Minister did not understand the Minister of Public Works yesterday when she said an “open and transparent process started right after the [AG's] report”. Apparently the process was not open and transparent prior to the AG's report and was stonewalled through prorogation, through contempt motions and an election, which were mere potholes on the bumpy road to openness and transparency.

If the minister now has seen the light on her Damascus Road experience of openness and transparency, why is she sitting on the KPMG report?

[Rona Ambrose, Conservative, Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for Status of Women]

Mr. Speaker, as I indicated, the National Fighter Procurement Secretariat is the body that is responsible for these reports. It is ensuring that transparency and due diligence is done. There are several reports. There is substantive work to be done. It will be the one to release it and speak to these reports.

As I indicated, no money has been spent in the acquisition of any aircraft and until all of the seven-point plan has been administered by the secretariat, no decision will be made to replace our CF-18s.

Asbestos

[François Lapointe, NDP, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Conservatives and Bloc Québécois refused to support international efforts to warn importing countries of the hazards related to the use of asbestos. They also refused to guarantee that the $50 million earmarked for the industrial restructuring plan will be spent in consultation with stakeholders in the community. We have no guarantee that the money invested will give priority to creating jobs for the former asbestos miners.

Can the Minister of Industry tell us exactly how the $50 million will serve the needs of the former miners and when the Canadian government will clearly support adding asbestos to the Rotterdam Convention list?

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

Mr. Speaker, I think my colleague has forgotten part of this parliamentary session. He asked the same question at the beginning of this session and we clearly stated that since the Government of Quebec no longer wished to mine chrysotile asbestos, it was clear that Canada no longer had any reason to oppose including chrysotile asbestos on the Rotterdam Convention list.

In addition, we have allocated $50 million for economic diversification. Yes, economic diversification. That is what was announced. The terms and conditions of that funding will be announced shortly.

[Jasbir Sandhu, NDP, Surrey North, BC]

Mr. Speaker, last night Conservative MPs voted to support asbestos, even though they know asbestos kills. Conservatives oppose including asbestos in the Rotterdam convention, which helps protect workers around the world, such as those handling Canadian asbestos in places like India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. They have voted against efforts to help Canadian asbestos regions transition into other industries.

When will the Conservatives finally put human lives first when it comes to this deadly substance called asbestos?

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

Mr. Speaker, let me be clear: as we have said, Canada will no longer oppose adding chrysotile asbestos to the Rotterdam Convention list. I think I have made this clear.

We also announced $50 million in funding for economic diversification, in order to help those communities. It is important to understand that the terms and conditions are clearly defined.

Unlike the NDP, which always wants to avoid responsibility and take credit for things it did not do, we are getting the job done.

Foreign Affairs

[David Sweet, Conservative, Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale, ON]

Mr. Speaker, we are over a year and a half into the crisis in Syria and the Assad regime continues to prove to the rest of the world its utter disregard for human life. Today we hear reports that the Assad regime in Syria may be preparing to use chemical weapons against the Syrian population.

Would the Minister of Foreign Affairs please comment on these most recent reports?

[John Baird, Conservative, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, I know I speak for all Canadians and all members of the House when I say these reports are deeply disturbing and are absolutely unacceptable. Our government has been very clear that the international community will not tolerate the use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime on the Syrian people. We have called on countries such as Russia and China to use whatever leverage they have to prevent this serious crisis from entering a new disastrous phase. Ultimately, Assad and his supporters will be held accountable. We stand with the Syrian people in their hour of need.

[Bob Rae, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, on the same point, the reports indicate very clearly that anonymous sources within the U.S. state department are leaking information that Syria may be loading warheads with chemical weapons and there is a report that a possible French attack, joined by others against the Assad regime, could begin very soon.

Obviously I am not asking the Minister of Foreign Affairs to disclose any secrets, but can he tell us whether or not he has been in touch with his colleagues in other capitals with respect to this issue of chemical weapons and whether Canada will be part of any international action that could take place?

[John Baird, Conservative, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the leader of the Liberal Party for the question. It is an important issue. We have for some time been actively talking with our allies. Over the past six months I have had the opportunity to speak with colleagues from the United States, the United Kingdom and from the region. We are obviously deeply concerned. I think President Obama spoke loudly and clearly for the civilized world when he said that these actions, if they did follow through on them, would be absolutely unacceptable and there would be serious consequences to be paid.

Arctic Council

[Dennis Bevington, NDP, Western Arctic, NT]

Mr. Speaker, a confidential government document on chairing the Arctic Council makes no mention of issues such as loss of sea ice, oil spill prevention or fisheries management. Instead, it places too much emphasis on resource development in our north.

When is this minister going to understand her new international duties cannot be wasted on a PR exercise for the Conservative big business agenda? Can she explain why is not living up to her duties, and this time without dismissing respected Inuit leader Mary Simon?

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

Mr. Speaker, our commitment to the north is undeniable and unprecedented. We have made investments in things such as northern health care, investments in infrastructure, investments in tourism, investments in business, and the list goes on.

Bill C-47 is at committee right now. It represents one of the best opportunities to expand economic development for the north, in the north, while balancing the interests of environmental protection.

I would ask the member for Western Arctic this. Yesterday, he was asked to explain why he voted against his constituents' wishes, for example, on the Inuvik-Tuk highway, and he responded, “I do not really have to answer any of those things”.

I think he will soon, if not by—

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

The hon. member for Don Valley East.

International Co-operation

[Joe Daniel, Conservative, Don Valley East, ON]

Mr. Speaker, from assisting in the 2010 Haiti earthquake to creating the Sahel matching fund to helping our friends in the Caribbean post-Hurricane Sandy, Canada has stood ready to help.

Can the Minister of International Cooperation please update the House on how Canada is assisting those affected by Typhoon Bopha in the Philippines?

[Julian Fantino, Conservative, Minister of International Cooperation]

Mr. Speaker, we extend our deepest sympathies and condolences to the victims of Typhoon Bopha. Canada is a compassionate neighbour that stands ready to help in times of need.

That is why we have committed through the Red Cross to addressing the emergency needs of those affected by the typhoon in the Philippines. Canadians can be proud of the help they are providing to very needy people at this time.

Employment Insurance

[Anne-Marie Day, NDP, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Quebec municipalities all agree: they oppose the government's employment insurance reform. The UMQ sees the changes as, quite simply, an attack on regional economies that harms both workers and employers. Instead of tackling the problem of unemployment and recognizing the diversity of the Canadian economy, the Conservatives would rather attack unemployed workers and small businesses.

Why is the minister not listening to Canadians and refusing to cancel her devastating employment insurance reform?

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

Mr. Speaker, what we are trying to do is help unemployed workers find new jobs. That is a good idea, is it not? To do that, we are informing them of the jobs that are available in their field and in their region, and we are helping them to get the training they need for these positions.

We are stepping up to help unemployed workers find jobs. It is good for them, their families and our country.

The Environment

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

Mr. Speaker, despite a misleading report on Environment Canada's site that uses per capita emissions, overall, the delegates at Doha heard Canada's greenhouse gas emissions have gone up again. The scientific advice is increasingly clear that the impacts of the climate crisis are coming faster than expected and are more severe than expected: arctic ice, permafrost, sea level rise.

Given that all of these things are occurring faster than anticipated, when was the last time the Prime Minister was briefed on the scientific aspects of this crisis, and who briefed him?

[Stephen Harper, Conservative, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I am very surprised at this question from the leader of the Green Party.

Just last week on behalf of the government and the minister from Newfoundland and Labrador, we announced one of the most important green energy initiatives in the history of this country, an initiative supporting the Lower Churchill and related developments that will take 4.5 megatons of greenhouse gas emissions out of our system.

Yet the Green Party of Canada stood against it. On this side, we are for helping the environment and making sure there is energy security and prosperity—