Debates of March 26th, 2012

International Trade

[Bev Shipley, Conservative, Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON]

Mr. Speaker, opening new markets and creating new opportunities are at the centre of our government's job-creating ambitious pro-trade plan. We know increasing Canada's trading relationships with Asia–Pacific regions will bring jobs and greater prosperity to Canadians in every region of this country. This includes deepening our trade and investment ties with large economies like Japan.

Will the parliamentary secretary share with us the progress Canada is making in our trade relationships with Japan?

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

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. member for his hard work on the trade committee.

Increased engagement with Asia is important to Canada's future prosperity and growth. Japan is a global economic power, the third-largest economy in the world and one of Canada's most important trade and investment partners. Yesterday, the Prime Minister announced the launch of negotiations toward a Canada–Japan economic partnership agreement. Under the leadership of our Prime Minister, Canada continues to take historic steps forward in advancing our Asia–Pacific ties to benefit workers, families and businesses across this country.

Search and Rescue

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

Mr. Speaker, the real reason a search and rescue helicopter was not sent to Labrador to find missing 14-year-old Burton Winters is now clear. The rear admiral said he could not spare a helicopter in case it was needed elsewhere. This tragedy should never have happened.

In spite of this and the lack of search and rescue resources when needed, the government is closing the maritime rescue sub-centre in St. John's with its local knowledge and expertise. Because the member for Labrador will not, will someone in the government tell the Prime Minister he has to reverse his decision or more lives will be lost?

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

Mr. Speaker, as I have said many times in this House, we would never close the sub-centre in St. John's if we thought we would be putting mariners or anybody else at risk. We will continue with the process of closing the sub-centre.

Health

[Anne Minh-Thu Quach, NDP, Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC]

Mr. Speaker, for weeks, we have been asking the government to deal with the drug shortage. The NDP asked for an emergency debate. Medical experts and the provinces are asking the federal government to intervene, but the minister is still refusing to carry out her responsibilities. The drug shortage caused by the poor regulation of the industry is putting the lives of thousands of Canadians at risk.

When will the minister finally bolster regulations in order to prevent other shortages?

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Minister of Health and Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency]

Mr. Speaker, almost two weeks ago we offered the provinces and territories access to the national emergency stockpile system to help them alleviate the drug shortage. So far no one has asked for any drugs, which shows the provinces seem to be doing well in managing the drug shortage.

My department has also approved 32 requests for individual emergency access to needed drugs.

Citizenship and Immigration

[Wai Young, Conservative, Vancouver South, BC]

Mr. Speaker, Canada welcomes those who work hard and play by the rules. However, this does not include those who seek to take advantage of our generosity. Human smuggling is dangerous and preys upon the most vulnerable groups so terrorist organizations such as the Tamil Tigers can make a profit.

Recently, the Prime Minister made an important announcement to protect our country, our communities and our citizens from human smuggling. Could the Minister of Public Safety please update the House on these important safety measures?

[Vic Toews, Conservative, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, I am happy to inform the member that our government has provided significant support to Thailand to help combat the scourge of human smuggling. Through the anti-crime capacity building program, we will help Thailand to stop being used as a conduit for human smuggling by criminals and terrorists. This builds upon the important measures in the protecting Canada's immigration system act.

Our message is clear to criminals and terrorists considering human smuggling operations: do not do it.

French at Work

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

Mr. Speaker, four months have passed already since an announcement was made that a committee would be struck to examine the use of French in federally regulated businesses in Quebec. Four months of empty promises.

While the Conservatives have been wondering whether there is a problem, we have learned that the problem does exist even within federal institutions. The decision of an IRB member—a unilingual anglophone—had to be reversed because he accepted as evidence a French document that he could not read, let alone understand.

When will the Conservatives take action to recognize the rights of Canada's francophones instead of spouting the usual rhetoric?

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

Mr. Speaker, once again, the NDP has nothing to teach us about the language of work. Its proposal will only increase paperwork and useless haphazard regulations. Our government is determined to promote and protect the French language in Canada.

That is why I had the honour of announcing in this House that we are establishing an advisory committee tasked with determining whether there is a problem with the use of French in federally regulated private businesses. That is a responsible approach. We must take the time to do things properly and not haphazardly, as suggested by the opposition.

Air Canada

[Maria Mourani, Bloc, Ahuntsic, QC]

Mr. Speaker, this is what the then-minister of transport said on March 2, 2011, about the arrangement to transfer aircraft maintenance employees from Air Canada to Aveos:

...we have been dealing with Air Canada on this for months. We wanted assurances. Are the jobs going to be secure? Will the maintenance facilities in Mississauga, Winnipeg and Montreal be maintained? Will the employees be saved? Will they have the same pension benefits, entitlements and so on? The answer is yes on all fronts.

Will the Minister of Finance, who is responsible for enforcing the law, acknowledge that his government was played, and will he enforce the law?

[Denis Lebel, Conservative, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, as I said earlier, I know that this is a disastrous and difficult situation for workers and their families. Just before question period, I asked the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities to call on Air Canada, Aveos, the union and other experts wishing to weigh in as soon as possible. I repeat: our government believes that the law is the law. Under the Air Canada Public Participation Act, Air Canada is required to maintain operational centres in Montreal, Mississauga and Winnipeg. We are keeping tabs on the situation and will listen to everyone who wants to express an opinion.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to raise a point of order concerning the Standing Order 31 stated by the member for Calgary Northeast.

On March 18, I participated in a community march in Vancouver to mark March 21, which was the international day for the elimination of racism. Dozens of groups participated along with a thousand citizens from all walks of life with one purpose, which was to demonstrate support for equality and tolerance.

The member's implication that this constitutes support for terrorism or criminals is profoundly false and uncalled for. Previous Speaker rulings have established that S.O. 31s are not to be used for personal attacks, no less false ones.

I would ask that the member withdraw his unfair remarks and apologize to the House as I know he is an honourable member and he would not want misleading comments to stay.

[Jason Kenney, Conservative, Minister of Citizenship]

Mr. Speaker, that is a point of debate and not a point of order. The fact is the member attended an event and distributed copies of a poster on the Internet published by No One Is Illegal, an anarchist organization that supports Black Bloc violent anarchist tactics and opposes any limits on immigration, including the deportation of criminals. Therefore, the member raised a legitimate political objection to that member's endorsement of that organization.

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

It does seem to be a question of debate. In terms of the content of the S.O. 31, I will go back and look at the blues to see if there is appropriate cause for me to come back to the chamber.

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 response to 99 petitions.

Justice and Human Rights

[Dave MacKenzie, Conservative, Oxford, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the sixth report of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights in relation to Bill C-310, an act to amend the Criminal Code (trafficking in persons). The committee has studied the bill and has decided to report the bill back to the House with amendments.

Health

[Joy Smith, Conservative, Kildonan—St. Paul, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the seventh report of the Standing Committee on Health in relation to Bill C-300, an act respecting a federal framework for suicide prevention. The committee has studied the bill and has decided to report the bill back to the House without amendment.

Veterans Affairs

[Greg Kerr, Conservative, West Nova, NS]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the fourth report of the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs in relation to the main estimates, 2012-13.

Pan-Canadian Strategy for Chronic Cerebrospinal Venous Insufficiency (CCSVI) Act

[Kirsty Duncan, Liberal, Etobicoke North, ON]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-410, An Act to establish a Pan-Canadian Strategy for Chronic Cerebrospinal Venous Insufficiency (CCSVI).

Mr. Speaker, my bill aims to establish a pan-Canadian strategy for chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency, or CCSVI. The bill calls for the minister to convene a conference with the provincial and territorial ministers of health to establish a pan-Canadian strategy including: ensuring that proper health care is not refused to a person who is seeking or is obtaining treatment for CCSVI outside Canada; identifying the most appropriate level of clinical trials for treatment of CCSVI to place Canada at the forefront of international research; estimating the funding necessary for clinical trials and tracking individuals who have received the treatment; establishing an advisory panel composed of experts who have been actively engaged in diagnosis and treatment of CCSVI; and ensuring that clinical trials begin by July 1, 2012.

I hope all hon. members will support this bill.

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

Telecommunications

[Denise Savoie, NDP, Victoria, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present two petitions on behalf of my constituents.

The first petition is with respect to a permanent video relay service in Canada. The petitioners call on the CRTC and Industry Canada to introduce a universal video relay service for the American sign language and la langue des signes québécoise in Canada and to restore the VR services cancelled in January.

The petitioners believe it is unacceptable that these communities do not have equal access to telecommunication services in their first language, a right as declared by the UN convention on the rights of persons with disabilities.

Old Age Security

[Denise Savoie, NDP, Victoria, BC]

Mr. Speaker, in my second petition, the petitioners call on the government to maintain funding for the OAS and make investments in the guaranteed income supplement to lift every senior out of poverty in accordance with the New Democrats opposition day motion of February 2.

The petitioners note that the government has threatened to make changes to OAS, including increasing the age of eligibility. They say that this is an attack on the poorest seniors who rely on that money for daily living expenses.

Poverty

[Joy Smith, Conservative, Kildonan—St. Paul, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I have three petitions.

The first petition is from a number of constituents and others across Manitoba. The petitioners call on the federal government to develop and implement Bill C-233, a strategy for poverty elimination, in consultation with the provincial, territorial, municipal and aboriginal governments.

Criminal Code

[Joy Smith, Conservative, Kildonan—St. Paul, MB]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition is signed by many petitioners from across the country. It is addresses the Criminal Code to decriminalizing the selling of sexual services and criminalizing the purchasing of sexual services and providing support to those who desire to leave prostitution.

Human Trafficking

[Joy Smith, Conservative, Kildonan—St. Paul, MB]

Mr. Speaker, the final petition requests that the government implement a comprehensive national action plan to combat human trafficking. As we know, the government had announced in the last election that it would do that.