Debates of Feb. 3rd, 2012

Search and Rescue

[Keith Ashfield, Conservative, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway]

Madam Speaker, as usual the member opposite is entirely wrong. The efficiencies being gained at the sub-centre are strictly a working of the overtime situation, allowing better usage of overtime, with principles that have been used in both Victoria and Quebec for some 10 years now. We are simply nationalizing that as a policy to save money and still protect mariners.

Sealing Industry

[Scott Simms, Liberal, Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, NL]

Madam Speaker, yesterday there was this event about seals as part of Seal Day. The member for Labrador said yesterday that he was disappointed that no opposition MPs were there at the event. However, yesterday morning my office called to find out where this event was going to be and we received an email from the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans' office saying:

There is not events scheduled for today, as a sign of support we are encouraging all Members of Parliament to show their support by wearing a seal fur lapen pin....

Countries around the world are acting to ban seal products. When is the government going to get its act together?

[Keith Ashfield, Conservative, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway]

Madam Speaker, of course this government is in support of sealers, their families and the way of life of many eastern Canadians and people in the Arctic. Not only is it a way of life but it is also a food source for many people in the Arctic. It is a very important food source, high in protein and omega 3 oils. We are very happy on this side of the House to support our sealers.

Veterans Affairs

[Peter Stoffer, NDP, Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS]

Madam Speaker, I remind the House that it was not military and RCMP veterans and their families who put the country into deficit. Yet the government plans to cut 1,800 jobs from the Department of Veterans Affairs, thus cutting actual services for our brave heroes in this country.

So will the government put a prophylactic barrier around the Treasury Board to stop doing to DVA what it is about to do to our pensioners and our seniors in this country?

[Eve Adams, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs]

Madam Speaker, our government has been very clear: under no circumstances are we making cuts to veterans. We are maintaining all benefits to veterans. We will ensure that veterans receive services when they need them, and we are going to look for ways to improve delivery of services to our veterans by cutting red tape.

We recognize the great work done by our officials at Veterans Affairs and we know that Charlottetown is a key component of their work. It is expected that many of the changes the member is noting will be achieved mostly as a result of employees retiring over the next five years.

[Annick Papillon, NDP, Québec, QC]

Madam Speaker, the Conservatives plan to cut 500 jobs at Veterans Affairs, and with the transfer of Ste. Anne's Hospital to the Government of Quebec, 1,800 jobs will be lost. Great Britain and the United States have chosen not to reduce their deficits on the backs of their heroes, but that is what this government is planning on doing. Veterans are not the ones who have been mismanaging the budget for the past six years.

This government is going to cut 40% of the staff at this department and it is promising to improve services for veterans. That is totally illogical. Can someone explain to me how this is going to work?

[Eve Adams, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs]

Madam Speaker, our government will ensure that the veterans at Ste. Anne's Hospital continue to receive priority access to exceptional care and services. Under no circumstances whatsoever will our veterans' services be compromised. We will also protect the interests of the employees at Ste. Anne's Hospital, who have devoted their lives to providing exceptional care to our veterans. The transfer of Ste. Anne's Hospital aims to maintain their employment.

Unlike the NDP, Conservatives believe Quebec can run a hospital.

The Economy

[Bernard Trottier, Conservative, Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON]

Madam Speaker, with the economic recovery still fragile, Canadians know that our government remains focused on creating jobs and economic growth. Today, the Minister of Public Works and Government Services announced that another 36 companies, promoting 37 innovations, with help from the government are ready to take that next step and contribute to our future prosperity.

Can the minister tell us how this government is helping kick-start Canadian entrepreneurship?

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

Madam Speaker, I am very pleased to speak to the success of our government's Canadian innovation commercialization program. Our government recognizes that innovation fuels competitiveness and productivity and, ultimately, jobs for hard-working Canadians. This program was supported by the R and D panel led by Tom Jenkins, because it is about supporting Canadian inventions, innovations and products, and getting them to the marketplace so they can succeed. This is just one more example of our government's commitment to creating jobs and economic growth.

Foreign Affairs

[Mark Eyking, Liberal, Sydney—Victoria, NS]

Madam Speaker, the Conservatives are way behind in spending for peace building and democracy projects. Last year the Minister of Foreign Affairs approved 85 projects. This year the minister has approved only 23 projects and the rest are sitting on his or the Prime Minister's desk.

When the Conservatives use their partisan and ideological tactics it puts the NGOs and their staff in jeopardy. Most of all, it fails Canada's commitment to help the poor and devastated regions of the world.

The minister should stop playing with people's lives and approve these projects.

[Deepak Obhrai, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Madam Speaker, I would like to tell my hon. colleague that the core principle of this government is promotion of human rights and democracy, and one of them is building peacekeeping. In whatever we do this government will stand behind promotion of democracy, ensuring peace around the world.

Research and Development

[Guy Caron, NDP, Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC]

Madam Speaker, Montreal lost more quality jobs this week with the closing of the AstraZeneca research and development centre.

We are talking about the loss of 132 jobs in a cutting-edge industry in addition to 1,000 other jobs that have disappeared in the pharmaceutical sector in Montreal alone since 2010. This is further proof that this government is unable to stimulate Canada's research and development sector.

Will the government finally acknowledge that its policies in this area are a failure and decide to take action?

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

Madam Speaker, obviously I empathize with the Montreal employees affected by this bad news. However, as we know, AstraZeneca's cuts to research and development activities worldwide, including in Canada unfortunately, is a business decision based on the global situation.

Nevertheless, AstraZeneca will continue its research and development activities in Canada in conjunction with our universities and other stakeholders. I would remind members that we have invested more in research and development than any other government in Canada's history, and the party opposite has always voted against these additional investments. We will continue along this path.

Public Safety

[Leon Benoit, Conservative, Vegreville—Wainwright, AB]

Madam Speaker, Canadians are concerned about crime. That is why they gave our government a strong mandate to keep our streets and communities safe.

One of the most disturbing trends is the recent surge in child pornography. Yesterday the Ontario Provincial Police announced the arrest of over 60 individuals on various child pornography charges. Disturbingly, the police also identified over 9,000 Internet protocol addresses that were involved in the downloading and distribution of child pornography.

Could the Minister of Public Safety please comment on this situation?

[Vic Toews, Conservative, Minister of Public Safety]

Madam Speaker, I would like to congratulate the Ontario Provincial Police for taking these dangerous individuals off our streets. Sexually exploiting our children is absolutely despicable.

As technology evolves, many criminal activities, such as the distribution of child pornography, become much easier. That is why our government will be reintroducing lawful access legislation. Rather than making things easier for child pornographers, I call on the NDP to listen to the police, listen to the provinces, and support these balanced measures that protect law-abiding Canadians and their children.

Sealing Industry

[Philip Toone, NDP, Gaspésie—Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC]

Madam Speaker, this week Canadians learned on a website that Russia has now banned our seal products. This new embargo, in addition to that of the European Union, is a threat to the sealing industry. However, instead of negotiating an agreement for our fishers, the Conservatives are playing political games.

Will the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans stop playing games and open a dialogue in which stakeholders in the Canadian fishery can participate? Will he finally help them to address the major challenges they face?

[Gerald Keddy, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade]

Madam Speaker, the hon. member should be paying attention to what the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and the Minister of International Trade have been doing.

We have been working on behalf of Canadian sealers since we formed government and we will continue to do exactly that.

Oil and Gas Industry

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

Madam Speaker, in a recent National Post article, B.C. journalist Terry Glavin raised concerns about the extent of Chinese ownership in the oil sands. He pointed out that Sinopec, which is owned by the Communist Party of China and is the seventh largest corporation in the world, plus PetroChina and a number of others now have a $20 billion stake in direct ownership of the oil sands. He raised this question: “Just how Sinopec became co-author of” the Prime Minister's “new foreign policy and energy strategy isn't a question any of us are supposed to be asking”.

Well, I am asking. How did this happen without public debate?

[David Anderson, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources and for the Canadian Wheat Board]

Madam Speaker, the premise of the member's question is just rubbish. Our government is concentrating on what is important to Canadians, which is the environment and economic growth.

The fact is the oil sands are responsible for over 100,000 direct jobs across Canada. That number will grow to 700,000 jobs. That is how many jobs the opposition, the NDP member opposite and the Liberals say no to every time they oppose the development of the Canadian economy.

Certificates of Nomination

[Peter Van Loan, Conservative, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 111.1, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, a certificate of nomination, with biographical notes, for the proposed appointment of Anne-Marie Robinson as President of the Public Service Commission. I request that the nomination be referred to the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates.

Foreign Affairs

[Deepak Obhrai, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the regulations amending the special economic measures, Syria, regulations, as announced on January 25, 2012, as well as the regulations amending the special economic measures, Iran, regulations, as announced on January 31, 2012.

Aboriginal Affairs

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

Madam Speaker, under the provisions of Standing Order 32(2), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, copies of the West Bank First Nations Self-Government Agreement annual report on implementation for the years 2008 to 2010.

Madam Speaker, under the provisions of Standing Order 32(2), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, copies of the 2009-10 annual report on the state of Inuit culture and society in the Nunavut settlement area.

The Environment

[Mike Allen, Conservative, Tobique—Mactaquac, NB]

Madam Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to present, on behalf of 30-some people in my riding in western New Brunswick, a petition on behalf of the Canadian interfaith league calling for collaboration, leadership and action on climate change and the importance it represents to us as a world.

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

Madam Speaker, I have four petitions to present. The first petition calls on the government to create a royal commission on health and the environment. The objective would be to take stock of the studies over the years linking problems with human health to pollutants in the environment.

I have three petitions that call upon the government to take stronger action against climate change, namely to sign a binding international agreement replacing the Kyoto protocol, one that commits nations to reduce carbon emissions and set fair and clear targets to ensure that global average temperatures stay below a 2°C increase from pre-industrial levels.

The petitioners also want the government to develop a national renewable energy policy and implement climate justice by playing a constructive role in the design of the green climate fund under United Nations governance.

Assisted Suicide

[Scott Reid, Conservative, Lanark—Frontenac—Lennox and Addington, ON]

Madam Speaker, I have a number of petitions to present to the House today.

The first petition deals with the issue of assisted suicide. The petitioners urge Parliament not to lessen the criminal sanctions for that.