Debates of March 12th, 2012

Foreign Investment

[Pat Martin, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

Mr. Speaker, foreign takeovers of our strategic industries should only be allowed if it can be clearly demonstrated that these are in the best interests of Canadians. I cannot imagine any upside to losing our domestic control over grain production and grain marketing.

Will the government commit to doing a full review and undertaking regarding the takeover of Viterra by Glencore Xstrata? Will it agree to intervene if it cannot be clearly demonstrated that this is in the best interests of grain producers and the general public for their food security and their domestic control over our food supply?

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

Mr. Speaker, unlike the opposition, our government understands the importance of attracting foreign investment to our economy. Foreign investment helps Canadian companies to grow and innovate, and provides new opportunities to connect our firms to the world. Our government will continue to welcome investments that benefit Canada.

Employment

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

Mr. Speaker, on foreign investment and in so many other ways we just cannot trust the government. For instance, 3,000 families lost a breadwinner last month, 15% of young Canadians are now unemployed, nearly 40,000 Canadians gave up looking for work last month, and it has been 10 days since the Minister of Finance stood up to answer a question in the House of Commons.

Last weekend we had ministers bragging about cuts in the Conservative budget that will put many more Canadians out of work. Maybe that is why the Minister of Finance is refusing to answer. Why will he not answer for his policies? Why will he not speak? Why will he not explain the job losses to Canadian families?

[Ted Menzies, Conservative, Minister of State (Finance)]

Mr. Speaker, if there is any explaining to be done in the House it would be by the NDP and that member for voting against every initiative that we have put forward to help Canadians, initiatives that have actually helped over 610,000 Canadians since July 2009. That is an important policy we put forward.

We are actually working on a budget. I am not sure they understand the issues around a budget, but we are working on a budget and it will once again focus on jobs and the economy.

International Co-operation

[Russ Hiebert, Conservative, South Surrey—White Rock—Cloverdale, BC]

Mr. Speaker, people around the world are worrying about the Assad regime's increasing use of violence against the Syrian people. Thousands of victims are being displaced from their homes and are in desperate need of emergency medical care, food and shelter. As this conflict continues to escalate, so does the need for humanitarian assistance.

Can the Minister of International Cooperation update the House as to our government's response to the humanitarian needs in Syria?

[Bev Oda, Conservative, Minister of International Cooperation]

Mr. Speaker, we remain very concerned about the thousands affected and call for immediate safe and unhindered humanitarian access. Humanitarian groups, however, are now able to provide aid sporadically and under insecure and dangerous conditions in Syria. Today I am announcing that Canada will support their brave efforts so that victims can receive the needed food, medical help and other assistance they require.

Intergovernmental Affairs

[Scott Andrews, Liberal, Avalon, NL]

Mr. Speaker, I will recap question period for the minister responsible for Newfoundland and Labrador and the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs.

Questions on intergovernmental affairs files: no answers. Questions on search and rescue in Newfoundland and Labrador: no answers. Questions on standing up for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador: no answers.

I say to the regional minister from Newfoundland and Labrador, and I see him at the end of the House acknowledging my question, here is an easy one: What exactly do you do here?

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

I would remind the member for Avalon to address his questions to the Chair and not directly to his colleagues.

The hon. Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs.

[Peter Penashue, Conservative, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada]

Mr. Speaker, I was asked what I do. My answer is that I represent the people of Newfoundland and Labrador in the best way that I know how.

I will say one more thing. I invited Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to join me to represent Newfoundland and Labrador on this side of the House during the election, but you chose not to.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

Order. Hon. members should address their answers to the Chair and not directly to their colleagues.

The hon. member for Hochelaga.

Homelessness

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

Mr. Speaker, two Hochelaga organizations that deal with drug and homelessness problems have been waiting for months for financial assistance from the federal government. The work done by CAP Saint-Barnabé and Dopamine is crucial in the fight to eliminate drug use and drug-related prostitution and to help the homeless get off the streets. They need money and it is urgent. The situation in my riding is explosive. Yet the government is twiddling its thumbs. Funding applications have been submitted and are on the minister's desk. What is the minister waiting for and why does she refuse to take action?

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

Mr. Speaker, in funding organizations that combat homelessness, we are determined to make the best possible use of taxpayers’ money. However, there are often more applications than there is money. No organization has a monopoly on funding. Organizations always have the option of making another application.

Air Canada

[Scott Armstrong, Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester—Musquodoboit Valley, NS]

Mr. Speaker, last week the Minister of Labour asked the CIRB to carefully examine whether a work stoppage at Air Canada would have a negative effect on the health and safety of Canadians.

This being the beginning of March break, over one million passengers, hard-working Canadians and their families, could be affected by a labour stoppage. Labour stability in the air transportation sector is critical for the Canadian economy, the economic recovery, and the confidence of the average Canadian traveller.

Could the Minister of Labour give this House an update on the status of labour negotiations with Air Canada?

[Lisa Raitt, Conservative, Minister of Labour]

Mr. Speaker, as I said before, the government is very concerned that a disruption at Air Canada will damage Canada's fragile economic recovery. We have been closely following the negotiations and despite the hard bargaining over the past few weeks, it has not elicited a collective agreement. That is why today our government will take that further action to protect the travelling public, the Canadian economy and the public interest by introducing legislation to sustain air services for Canadian families and businesses. We will take the swift action that is needed to ensure that Canada's economic recovery is not negatively affected.

Air Transportation

[Élaine Michaud, NDP, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Transport is flip-flopping on the Neuville airport file. A few months ago, he said that it was a matter of provincial jurisdiction and that the federal government had nothing to do with it. Last week, he changed his tune. Four ministers in the Quebec National Assembly sent him a letter to express their concerns regarding the project, and the Minister of Transport told us that it is in fact a matter of exclusively federal jurisdiction. There is a flagrant lack of consistency here.

If he really takes this project seriously, why is he ignoring Quebec's concerns and refusing to consult the municipality and the people who oppose the plans for this airport?

[Denis Lebel, Conservative, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, I think the complexity of this issue is completely beyond the member's grasp. It is a very serious issue, and Supreme Court rulings have defined the jurisdictions and the approach in this area. No one is talking about an agreement signed between the municipality of Neuville and the developer. It was signed by mutual agreement. I was not the one who signed it. We have a protocol signed by the mayor and the developers. How does she explain the fact that no one is saying that?

Budget

[Louis Plamondon, Bloc, Bas-Richelieu—Nicolet—Bécancour, QC]

Mr. Speaker, first we had Davos, where the Prime Minister thought it was a good idea to reveal his government's priorities to our international partners before informing us here in the House or telling Canadians. Now, this past weekend, certain ministers treated some Conservative supporters to excerpts from the federal budget, which is not supposed to be presented until March 29. Such privileged information could be considered an unfair advantage, similar to insider trading.

Will it take an RCMP investigation, like the one conducted in 2005 on the leaks regarding the income trust policy, for the Conservatives to respect all voters and protect this privileged information?

[Ted Menzies, Conservative, Minister of State (Finance)]

Mr. Speaker, I will assure the hon. member that no such thing has happened. We are in the process of working on the budget.

My hon. colleague from the NDP very inappropriately pointed out that the Minister of Finance is not here with us today. I would ask him to stand in his place and apologize because we actually know what the finance minister is doing.

[Dany Morin, NDP, Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on a point of order. In the past few days, I have been accused twice by Conservative members of filibustering at the Standing Committee on Health, last Thursday in particular. That is not true. It is not my fault if the chair of the Standing Committee on Health did a bad job of planning the 11 minutes provided for discussing the motion on—

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

Order, please. This is not a point of order, but rather a matter of debate. If the member has something else to add, he may do so during the next question period.

The hon. member for Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup on a point of order.

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

Mr. Speaker, on a number of occasions the Minister of Transport has taken the liberty of stating that my colleague from Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier is incapable of understanding an issue. Based on the number of evasive answers from those opposite, which might reflect an inability to understand an issue, we would—

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

Order. That is not a valid point of order.

Government Response to Petitions

[Tom Lukiwski, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's responses to 13 petitions.

Protecting Air Service Act

[Lisa Raitt, Conservative, Minister of Labour]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-33, An Act to provide for the continuation and resumption of air service operations.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)