Debates of Feb. 28th, 2012

International Trade

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway]

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to report that today the federal, provincial and territorial governments issued an historic and unprecedented statement in support of a Canada-E.U. free trade agreement. We agreed that it was trade being equivalent to over 60% of our economy. There is no more important negotiating priority today than a free trade agreement with the E.U. As we said today in our joint statement, we all remain committed to an ambitious outcome to these negotiations.

Employment

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

Mr. Speaker, the Job Bank operated by HRSDC has been shut down for two weeks. That is two weeks and still no resolution. Unemployed Canadians are trying to get back on their feet, but they are not getting the help that they need to get a job. The government is not serious about getting people back to work. There is no job creation strategy and now, no Job Bank.

Why will the government not get serious and help unemployed Canadians get back to work?

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

Mr. Speaker, in fact, our government's top priority is job creation and economic growth. Part of this is ensuring that Canadians do have the help they need to get the jobs. Unfortunately, there was a security issue with the Job Bank. It was identified and all the appropriate parties were notified, including the Privacy Commissioner.

I can assure members that HRSDC officials are working around the clock so we can get the Job Bank back up and running in a secure way as quickly as possible.

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

Mr. Speaker, people are looking for jobs; it is as simple as that. From employment insurance claims processing to the Job Bank, automation has been nothing but problematic. Unemployed workers need more. They need to get their employment insurance cheques quickly. They need to find new jobs using tools like the Job Bank. They need someone to answer the phone.

Canadians pay for these services. Where are the services they have paid for and are entitled to?

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

Mr. Speaker, the Job Bank is being overhauled to enhance security and better meet the needs of unemployed Canadians. Officials in my department have assured me that they are working very hard to make the Job Bank more secure and more useful. We want to help people find work. That is why we are working so hard.

The Environment

[Dennis Bevington, NDP, Western Arctic, NT]

Mr. Speaker, we found out today that the government will be shutting down the Polar Environment Atmospheric Research Laboratory, PEARL, on Ellesmere Island. After significant investment into this world-renowned atmospheric research station in the high Arctic, the Conservatives are slashing funding. Instead, they plan to open another one five years from now and in the wrong location. This is another example of the Conservatives' approach to science.

Why does the government make decisions based on the whims of a Prime Minister, instead of listening to great Canadian scientists and their globally important research? When will the Conservatives get their heads out of the sand when it comes to the global climate crisis?

[Peter Kent, Conservative, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, Environment Canada recognizes the importance of university atmospheric research in the Arctic and has provided partial funding, along with a number of other bodies, since 2009 for the Polar Environment Atmospheric Research Laboratory.

However, the university research application to those other bodies for renewed funding, with support from Environment Canada, was not successful at the recent national centres of excellence competition. That said, Environment Canada will continue to monitor ozone and the atmosphere at Eureka.

Aerospace Industry

[Hélène LeBlanc, NDP, LaSalle—Émard, QC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the government announced that it was going to review all the programs that support the aerospace industry. Canadians are no fools. They know that “review” often means “cut” to the Conservatives. The aerospace industry supports 80,000 jobs, 40,000 of which are in Quebec, including in the Montreal area. The industry accounts for 70% of the research and development done in Canada.

Will the government commit to funding the research and development that supports thousands of jobs in the aerospace industry?

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

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, I had the opportunity to announce that there would be a review committee made up of David Emerson, Sandra Pupatello, Jacques Roy and Jim Quick, who are all qualified experts. In our 2011 budget, we committed to reviewing every policy in order to optimize the spinoffs from this industry, which generates $22 billion in revenue a year and 80,000 high-quality jobs.

If the hon. member were really concerned about the industry, she would support our F-35 program, which will produce even more benefits, including near her riding.

41st General Election

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to return to the fact that the Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister was briefed by his leader. Perhaps he can set the record straight. My question is for his boss, the Prime Minister.

We just learned that there is a direct link between RackNine and the Conservative Party of Canada, whether it be its head office in Ottawa or its office in Guelph.

Can someone please explain to us why this electoral fraud took place? Could he set the record straight and tell us why the Conservative Party did such a thing?

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, we learned two things yesterday: first of all, that the Liberal Party and the office of its leader instigated a smear campaign and had to apologize; and second, that the leader of the Liberal Party made allegations against a company called Crestview, allegations that he had to withdraw and apologize for.

That is why when the Liberal Party levels allegations against someone, we ask it to provide proof.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the problem is that the document was filed in court.

The Conservatives need a better story. I was born in Joliette. The person was supposedly Pierre Poutine of Separatist Street in Joliette. There is no Separatist Street in Joliette. There may be a restaurant in Guelph called Pierre's Poutine, but it has nothing to do with Joliette.

Why will the Conservative Party not come clean once and for all and tell us why it committed electoral fraud? The election was stolen. The Conservatives tried to steal the election. The Prime Minister needs to set the record straight, once and for all. It is not a question of apologies; it is a question of stolen democracy.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, I had a hard time hearing the question, but I will try to answer it.

Instead of shouting here in the House, the hon. member should hand over the evidence to Elections Canada.

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

Mr. Speaker, I will try again since they do not seem to have understood.

Pierre Poutine of Separatist Street in Joliette bought disposable phones for the purpose of deceiving voters during the last election campaign.

The phone number was activated on April 30, two days before the election.

The phone number has been connected to RackNine, the Conservatives' telemarketing firm.

If they want to help us, they should tell us who is hiding behind Pierre Poutine.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, it is easy for the opposition to make allegations day after day. For once, they should provide their evidence directly to Elections Canada.

Official Languages

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

Mr. Speaker, if it were not so sad, I would say that the answers were quite ludicrous. Allow me to change subjects, given the quality of the answers we are getting.

Three months after announcing that it would create a committee on the use of French as the language of work in Quebec's federally regulated businesses, this government has still not taken action, the committee has not been struck, we do not know who will sit on it, what its mandate and budget will be, or who will be the chair. The government's inaction clearly shows that it does not find the use of French in federally regulated businesses to be very important.

Instead of creating diversions, will the Conservatives support our bill tomorrow?

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

Mr. Speaker, the French language, the French fact, is far too important to just gloss over it as the member is suggesting with his bill. He just threw the bill together without thinking about the consequences.

This is what we are doing: we are putting together a committee of credible people who will make recommendations. Then we will make an announcement in due course, after careful and thorough consideration, and not hurriedly, as is being suggested by the member for Trois-Rivières. That is completely irresponsible; it is far too sensitive an issue.

Science and Technology

[Ted Opitz, Conservative, Etobicoke Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, this morning the Minister of State for Science and Technology announced our government's investment in a number of new technologies, including one developed by Trillium Therapeutics that will treat a chronic bladder disease. While improving the lives of millions of women in North America, this project is also forecasted to create more than 100 jobs for engineers, manufacturing workers, researchers and clinicians.

Could the Minister of State for Science and Technology give the House an update on how our government is leading the way on science and technology?

[Gary Goodyear, Conservative, Minister of State (Science and Technology) (Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario)]

Mr. Speaker, I know that the member is very passionate about science and technology, as are our Prime Minister and this government.

We have invested more in science and technology than any government in the history of this country. The reason we are doing that is to create high quality jobs, to improve and grow our economy and to improve the quality of life for Canadians.

We will continue to invest in important areas in science and technology so that Canada can continue to lead the world.

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[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC]

Mr. Speaker, these are not allegations. Documents have been submitted to the court. The Conservative Party has some explaining to do.

Why were there 31 calls between the Conservative campaign in Guelph and RackNine, and 40 calls involving the Conservative campaign team leaders? These are documents; these are not allegations. Do they have answers?

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, I have answered them one after the other. The Conservative Party is co-operating with Elections Canada. We will provide all of the information they require.

The Liberal Party can keep making allegations in the House of Commons with no evidence to back them up. I would advise the Liberals to start producing their evidence, if they have any.

Rights & Democracy

[Hélène Laverdière, NDP, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we now know that the government was fully aware of the serious internal crisis that Rights & Democracy was going through, and it knew long before the former president, the late Rémy Beauregard, passed away.

The government is the one who appoints members to the Rights & Democracy board of directors. Why did it not do something to clean up the poisoned atmosphere that reigned there? Why did it not try to put an end to the unfounded attacks on the president's reputation and integrity?

[John Baird, Conservative, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, the challenges of this agency have been well known for some time. When I appeared before the foreign affairs committee a few months ago, I indicated to the member opposite that we would be reviewing the mandate of this organization going forward.

Oil and Gas Industry

[Brent Rathgeber, Conservative, Edmonton—St. Albert, AB]

Mr. Speaker, Albertans are very concerned about the NDP's position regarding the oil sands. The NDP appears all too willing to abandon the interests of construction workers and oil sands workers. For example, both the former NDP environment critic, an Albertan, and the current leadership contender, Mr. Brian Topp, have called for a moratorium on oil sands development. Meanwhile, the NDP natural resources and environment critics have actually taken it up a notch and are telling our international trading partners not to trade with Canada.

Could the Minister of Natural Resources give this House an update on the latest academic research on the viability of the oil sands?

[Joe Oliver, Conservative, Minister of Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, a study published by Dr. Weaver in Nature magazine concluded that the oil sands will raise temperatures by only .03 of one degree Centigrade in 60 years. For that, the NDP is prepared to sacrifice $3.3 trillion in economic activity, over 700,000 jobs a year, and billions of dollars in social programs. The NDP's opposition to the oil sands is increasingly ideological and unbalanced.