Debates of Feb. 14th, 2012

Aboriginal Affairs

[Linda Duncan, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Mr. Speaker, perhaps the Conservatives could find love for aboriginal children.

At today's Have a Heart for First Nations Children Valentine Rally on Parliament Hill, children called for a better world for first nations children. They recognize that the needs of first nations children are the same as all children.

The Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development has dubbed the national panel's plan of action to address the long-standing inequities in education merely “aspirational”.

Will the government listen to the children, commit the needed resources and put students first?

[John Duncan, Conservative, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development]

Mr. Speaker, our government will keep building on our progress to improve first nations education.

We are engaged with first nations. Our government has signed five education partnership agreements with provinces and first nations. I was proud to sign the first nations education framework agreement three weeks ago with B.C. first nations and the province.

We will review the national panel's recommendations and continue working for first nations students.

[Jonathan Genest-Jourdain, NDP, Manicouagan, QC]

Mr. Speaker, that is not enough. First nations children need real action, not empty promises. First nations leaders have been clear: the only acceptable action plan is one that addresses all educational needs, from early childhood to post-secondary education. What is missing is partnership with the federal government.

So will this government commit to working in partnership with first nations, beginning immediately, to address the educational needs of youth with an education system that is properly funded and respects first nations' language and culture?

[John Duncan, Conservative, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development]

Mr. Speaker, we have been working in partnership. That is why we launched the joint action plan with the national chief. That is why that joint action plan prioritized K-12 education.

Our government continues to build on our progress to improve first nations education. Since we have been in office, we have built 22 new schools. We tendered the new school in Attawapiskat last month.

We will review the national panel's recommendations and report in due course.

National Defence

[Peter Julian, NDP, Burnaby—New Westminster, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives keep making bad decisions and Canadians are paying the price. Workers are not receiving their employment insurance cheques on time and seniors are worried about cuts to the old age security program, but this government is determined to waste $30 billion on jets that do not meet our needs. Lockheed Martin has confirmed that the price of the F-35s is going to go up some more. That is what the NDP has been saying for months.

Why penalize Canadians with such bad decisions? Why not put families first, seniors first, people first?

[Julian Fantino, Conservative, Associate Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, the Royal Canadian Air Force plays an important role in protecting our sovereignty and defending our interests at home and abroad. Canada's CF-18s are nearing the end of their life cycle and we will ensure Canada's air force is properly equipped for the job we ask of the air force.

[Brian Masse, NDP, Windsor West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the minister said on TV that it would be “ludicrous” not to consider the F-35 order because it may become too expensive. What is ludicrous is the minister's repeated denial that he has a problem.

The NDP has been warning about this for months. Our allies are cutting their orders. The Americans are cutting billions. Even Lockheed Martin confirms that costs will rise.

Conservatives are in panic mode. Will they now tell Canadians what their plan B is for these failed jets and their failed problems?

[Julian Fantino, Conservative, Associate Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, that is a classic example of taking things out of context. The one thing that is in context is that unlike the NDP, Canadians want our air force to have the ability to protect our sovereignty and defend our interests at home and abroad. Canada's CF-18s have to be replaced in the coming years. We will ensure that our air force has the right equipment, unlike what the NDP would propose.

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

Mr. Speaker, what is ludicrous is the government's blind devotion to the failed fighter jets.

The government is pouring billions into planes that cannot fly and subs that will not float. Damage to the HMCS Corner Brook is much worse than the government claimed. This was no fender bender. The damage is so bad that the sub may never be safe in the water again. The Conservatives are letting down our navy. Why did the government cover up the damage to this sub?

[Peter MacKay, Conservative, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, the navy released information about this when it happened back in June, and we put out a press release about it in December. I do not know where the hon. member is coming from. The information is there. The damage itself was to a fibreglass cone that covers the front of the submarine. There has been an inquiry into what happened. The sub is now under repair.

Why does the NDP not want our men and women in the forces to have the best equipment possible? That is the question Canadians need to ask themselves.

Public Safety

[Francis Scarpaleggia, Liberal, Lac-Saint-Louis, QC]

Mr. Speaker, a national newspaper editorial came down hard on the Minister of Public Safety today. In relation to Bill C-30, the editorial states, “This type of legislation brings us one step closer to George Orwell's dystopian vision of a totalitarian state that keeps its citizens under constant surveillance”. The editorial goes on to say that there is no evidence the new law will achieve its public policy objective.

Why is the minister threatening civil liberties without solid evidence of the need to do so?

[Vic Toews, Conservative, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, 10 years ago the member's party brought forward the predecessor bill. What we have done is we have refined it to ensure there are privacy protections, that any observations of people's personal web surfing habits are in fact authorized by a judge.

[Francis Scarpaleggia, Liberal, Lac-Saint-Louis, QC]

Mr. Speaker, under section 184 of the Criminal Code, the government already has the power to intercept communications without a warrant when lives are at risk, in order to prevent a terrorist attack, for example. What is more, criminals will be able to install encryption software, which will allow them to get around the law.

Is that why some of the minister's officials denounced in writing some of his arguments to justify his bill? Again, why is the minister jeopardizing civil liberties when nothing really seems to justify it?

[Vic Toews, Conservative, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, we have put into place a mechanism by which police will have to go to a judge to get the authority for a warrant before any intrusive action is taken. Not only that, but there is an accountability system where all of the information that the police acquire, in terms of the indicators, are then compiled in a report presented to all the ministers and to the privacy commissioners.

[Hedy Fry, Liberal, Vancouver Centre, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the Supreme Court has ruled that those accused of crimes must be tried within a reasonable time or be set free.

The government's crime bill creates new offences that would add greatly to the already lengthy backlog awaiting trial. It takes a special brand of incompetence to develop a justice bill that would grind the system to a halt and allow more criminals to walk free.

Why will the government not listen to the experts and rethink its narrow ideological approach to justice in Canada?

[Rob Nicholson, Conservative, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member may have forgotten we have brought forward legislation already to assist with the backlogs in courts, getting rid of the two-for-one credit that was completely supported by provincial attorneys general.

This bill is very specific. The bill goes after those who sexually molest children, people with child pornography, people in the business of drug trafficking.

I urge her to go back to British Columbia and talk with law enforcement agencies. They will confirm that drug trafficking is a problem in this country that has to be addressed, and that is what we are doing.

Natural Resources

[Megan Leslie, NDP, Halifax, NS]

Mr. Speaker, the only sector escaping the Conservatives' budget cuts is the oil industry and its lobbyists.

The Conservatives are cutting services for Canadians, but spending thousands of dollars for the oil companies to give Canadian diplomats lobbying training. In other words, the oil companies are getting paid to do the job for them.

Will the Conservatives offer the same advantages to renewable energy producers?

[Joe Oliver, Conservative, Minister of Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, this government has spent over $10 billion investing in clean energy, alternative energy. We are proud to continue to do that.

However, we are also proud to support an industry which will create $3 trillion in economic activity, hundreds of billions of dollars for government services to Canadians. This is a government which supports employment, over 700,000 jobs a year over the next 25 years.

[Megan Leslie, NDP, Halifax, NS]

Mr. Speaker, the minister vilifies his critics, but he is willing to spend thousands of taxpayer dollars to sponsor a retreat for his oil industry friends.

The PMO has told the minister to believe in climate change, but clearly he does not believe it is actually a problem.

The Conservatives' inaction on climate change hurts Canada's reputation. That is the message from his own diplomats in Europe and from industry. These are his friends, not the so-called radicals the minister imagines are hiding under his bed at night.

Will he take the advice of his friends and clean up his act, yes or no?

[Joe Oliver, Conservative, Minister of Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, the condescension and sarcasm will not change the facts. In its ongoing battle against jobs, the economy and the national interest, the NDP takes the side of foreigners against the side of Canadians.

The fuel quality directive, which is the subject of that particular meeting, is an unscientific--

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

Order. I am sure the minister appreciates the help answering the question, but he has the floor and members should be silent while he is giving his answer.

The hon. Minister of Natural Resources.

[Joe Oliver, Conservative, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the fuel quality directive is an unscientific attempt to stigmatize the oil sands and is trying to subject Canadian interests to discriminatory treatment , which we oppose, and increasingly other European--

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

Order. The hon. member for Burnaby—Douglas.

[Kennedy Stewart, NDP, Burnaby—Douglas, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives came back from China congratulating themselves for selling off Canadian raw resources. With the Enbridge CEO in tow, they told the Chinese not to worry about Canadian opposition because they will just ignore it. The northern gateway will ship 21,000 refining jobs out of Canada for two pandas.

Would the minister confirm that according to his government's calculation, one panda is worth more than 10,000 Canadian jobs?