House of Commons Hansard #72 of the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was seniors.

Topics

JusticeOral Questions

2:45 p.m.

NDP

Françoise Boivin NDP Gatineau, QC

Mr. Speaker, we voted against that because the government never gets the job done.

The Conservatives' approach makes no sense. We say it and the ombudsman for victims said it.

We need to ensure that victims have more rights at hearings, that they are financially supported and that they can obtain information on their offender. When will the government finally commit to doing something?

JusticeOral Questions

2:45 p.m.

Niagara Falls Ontario

Conservative

Rob Nicholson ConservativeMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the hon. member is new to this area when it comes to standing up for victims, but this is the government that created the federal Ombudsman for Victims of Crime. She supports what we have been doing. We are only too pleased to keep moving in that direction, even though we will never get the support of the NDP.

Foreign AffairsOral Questions

2:45 p.m.

Conservative

Ted Opitz Conservative Etobicoke Centre, ON

Mr. Speaker, Canada remains tremendously concerned with the ongoing reports from Ukraine regarding the deteriorating health of the former prime minister, Yulia Tymoshenko . Ms. Tymoshenko is currently serving a seven year sentence following court proceedings that appear to have fallen far short of internationally recognized norms of fairness, transparency and due process.

In November, the Minister of Foreign Affairs informed this House that Canada would be willing to provide medical assistance to Ms. Tymoshenko. Would the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs update the House on the status of this offer?

Foreign AffairsOral Questions

2:45 p.m.

Calgary East Alberta

Conservative

Deepak Obhrai ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs

Mr. Speaker, our government is tremendously concerned about Mrs. Tymoshenko's well-being. We have spoken out strongly against the manner in which her prosecution, conviction and appeal were carried out by the Ukrainian authorities.

As the member mentioned, Canada was the first country to offer medical assistance to Mrs. Tymoshenko. While we are pleased that the Ukrainian government is receptive to our offer, it will be important to ensure that the conditions are acceptable both to Mrs. Tymoshenko and to the Canadian and other international doctors who will participate in this initiative.

Canada remains committed to--

Foreign AffairsOral Questions

2:45 p.m.

Conservative

The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer

The hon. member for Chicoutimi—Le Fjord.

Airline SecurityOral Questions

2:45 p.m.

NDP

Dany Morin NDP Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, when the NDP criticized Transport Canada's new rules, which will prevent transgendered and transsexual Canadians from travelling by plane, the Conservative members did not take the situation seriously. There is nothing funny about denying the rights of Canadians. This government policy is a clear violation of transgendered rights. The reaction of the Conservative members and the minister's responses are an insult to transgendered people across Canada.

Will the minister apologize?

Airline SecurityOral Questions

2:50 p.m.

Roberval—Lac-Saint-Jean Québec

Conservative

Denis Lebel ConservativeMinister of Transport

Mr. Speaker, the safety of the country's airports is important to our government and to our party. Our airline security system is one of the best in the world and we will continue to make it a priority. We have learned a lot since the events of September 11, 2001.

Every safety rule applies to every passenger. Is the NDP asking to make the system weaker? That is not what we want.

Airline SecurityOral Questions

2:50 p.m.

NDP

Randall Garrison NDP Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC

Mr. Speaker, once again I call on the minister to apologize for the disrespect shown in the House yesterday to transgender, transsexual and gender variant Canadians, both by his snickering caucus colleagues and his own failure to recognize the importance of this question and the right to freedom to travel for all Canadians.

This has nothing to do with national security. This has to do with the right of people to travel, no matter what their gender presentation might be nor how they are judged by others.

Will the minister immediately rescind this regulation?

Airline SecurityOral Questions

2:50 p.m.

Roberval—Lac-Saint-Jean Québec

Conservative

Denis Lebel ConservativeMinister of Transport

Mr. Speaker, is it the NDP's position that we should be weakening aviation security?

The security of passengers in our aviation system is very important to our government. We have learned many lessons from the events of September 11, 2001, and we will continue to have secure rules to ensure the safety of all passengers, and we will treat all passengers fairly.

AsbestosOral Questions

February 2nd, 2012 / 2:50 p.m.

NDP

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

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Industry has been handing us the same line for months now. Maybe he should go tell the workers at Thetford Mines, where LAB Chrysotile is in bankruptcy proceedings, and the people of Asbestos who have been out of a job for months that asbestos is an industry of the future. The minister's line shows that he is out of touch with reality and that he does not care about the problems his constituents are facing.

The minister has an opportunity: there will be a budget soon. He should commit to including a transition plan so that industries of the future can take root in his riding.

AsbestosOral Questions

2:50 p.m.

Mégantic—L'Érable Québec

Conservative

Christian Paradis ConservativeMinister of Industry and Minister of State (Agriculture)

Mr. Speaker, for over 30 years, the Government of Canada has encouraged and promoted the safe use of chrysotile. Recent scientific studies have shown that chrysotile can be used safely in a controlled environment. That is the situation; nothing has changed.

AsbestosOral Questions

2:50 p.m.

NDP

Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB

Mr. Speaker, this country's position on asbestos is morally and ethically reprehensible.

This spring--

AsbestosOral Questions

2:50 p.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh!

AsbestosOral Questions

2:50 p.m.

Conservative

The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer

Order, please. The hon. member for Winnipeg Centre.

AsbestosOral Questions

2:50 p.m.

NDP

Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB

Mr. Speaker, this government's position on asbestos is morally and ethically reprehensible.

This spring, the parties to the Rotterdam Convention will meet once again, and my question is simple. If the government does not have the courage to ban asbestos in all of its forms like other developed nations have, will it at least stop sabotaging the Rotterdam Convention?

All that convention does is to require that asbestos be listed as a product requiring informed prior consent, so that the people we sell it to at least have a fighting chance to protect themselves from this made-in-Canada epidemic.

AsbestosOral Questions

2:50 p.m.

Niagara Falls Ontario

Conservative

Rob Nicholson ConservativeMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

Mr. Speaker, I will tell you what is shameful: when an individual launches a vicious personal attack against an individual who has twice been victimized, who has lost two of his children to crime and accidents. When this individual gets up and launches a vicious personal attack, I want him to do the right thing, to get on his feet and apologize to Senator Boisvenu. Do it now.

Citizenship and ImmigrationOral Questions

2:50 p.m.

Liberal

Denis Coderre Liberal Bourassa, QC

Mr. Speaker, yes, let us talk about apologies. The Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism and his office seriously tainted the sacred and solemn nature of the citizenship oath in Canada by organizing a bogus ceremony at the Sun News studio. As a former immigration minister, I am embarrassed and appalled by this situation.

The minister is now using his department like a branch of central casting and forcing his officials to be stunt doubles. This is totally shameful and unacceptable.

I would like the minister to stand up and apologize to Canadians. He has to come clean on that.

Citizenship and ImmigrationOral Questions

2:55 p.m.

Calgary Southeast Alberta

Conservative

Jason Kenney ConservativeMinister of Citizenship

Mr. Speaker, once again, several dozen special citizenship and reaffirmation ceremonies are organized every year by CIC officials. They do a great job. Some are in Citizenship Week, some on Canada Day, and sometimes with lieutenant governors and premiers. We commend them for their good work.

In this particular instance, some of the people invited did not come. The officials managing the ceremony, without any knowledge or involvement of my office in any part, handled the situation inappropriately.

I regret that. It ought not to have happened, but let us not allow it to colour the excellent work that CIC officials do in celebrating Canadian citizenship.

Search and RescueOral Questions

2:55 p.m.

Liberal

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

Mr. Speaker, clearly the government is speaking out of both sides of its mouth when it says that it supports the sealing industry. It is moving full steam ahead to close the Maritime Rescue Sub-Centre in St. John's. It is that centre and those employees who ensure the safety of those who make a living at sea, including sealers, who work under very treacherous conditions.

Will the government do the responsible thing, reverse its dangerous decision and show that its support is not just about talk and photo-ops?

Search and RescueOral Questions

2:55 p.m.

Fredericton New Brunswick

Conservative

Keith Ashfield ConservativeMinister of Fisheries and Oceans and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway

Mr. Speaker, on this side of the House this government is in full support of the sealing industry and the people who earn their livelihood from that industry. That cannot be said by other members in this House.

We are looking forward to an event today. We had an event earlier on with members from the Atlantic provinces, our provincial counterparts, and the sealing industry. We look forward to working with them in the future.

Search and RescueOral Questions

2:55 p.m.

NDP

Jack Harris NDP St. John's East, NL

Mr. Speaker, one would never know it with the Conservatives' work on trade deals.

The Conservatives are continuing their shameful plan to close down the marine search and rescue coordination centre in St. John's. The government is putting lives at risk by closing a vital search and rescue facility along one of the world's most dangerous coastlines. The expertise of the St. John's search and rescue centre is vital to ensuring the safety of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians and all Canadians.

Why do the Conservatives have billions in tax breaks for profitable corporations, but no money left to keep open this vital search and rescue centre?

Search and RescueOral Questions

2:55 p.m.

Fredericton New Brunswick

Conservative

Keith Ashfield ConservativeMinister of Fisheries and Oceans and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway

Mr. Speaker, I have answered this question many times. We will not put in jeopardy the lives of our mariners. We will not do that. This has nothing to do with that. We have an opportunity to make consolidations to save money for the taxpayers of this country without putting anyone in jeopardy or at risk.

Search and RescueOral Questions

2:55 p.m.

NDP

Jack Harris NDP St. John's East, NL

Mr. Speaker, the body of a 14-year-old boy, missing since Sunday on the coast of Labrador, was found yesterday but search and rescue helicopters did not arrive until Tuesday night.

Why is it that the Conservative government gives such a low priority to search and rescue? With our response times well behind international standards, the government is closing down rescue coordinating centres and helicopters take two days to start searching for a lost boy.

How can a search and rescue helicopter be available to transport the Minister of National Defence but not be ready to search for a lost teenaged boy on the coast of Labrador?

Search and RescueOral Questions

2:55 p.m.

Vaughan Ontario

Conservative

Julian Fantino ConservativeAssociate Minister of National Defence

Mr. Speaker, certainly the death of this young man is a tragedy and our condolences are extended to his family and friends. I have asked the officials to look into the incident. I can inform the House that the Chief of Defence Staff has commenced an investigation.

Search and rescue teams work with federal, provincial and municipal partners to respond as quickly as they possibly can to save the lives of those at risk. Search and rescue crews react as quickly as possible every time.

We will get the answer and it is forthcoming.

PensionsOral Questions

2:55 p.m.

Conservative

Phil McColeman Conservative Brant, ON

Mr. Speaker, today the NDP has put forward a flawed and deliberately misleading motion on old age security.

The fear-mongering coming by the NDP and their Liberal friends will not work. The NDP and the Liberals continue to mislead the public about the intentions of our government when it comes to protecting the financial security of seniors now and for future generations.

Will the minister please explain why our government will make the changes necessary to ensure the sustainability of OAS for the next generation while not affecting current recipients?