House of Commons Hansard #127 of the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was seniors.

Topics

International Co-operationOral Questions

11:55 a.m.

Conservative

The Acting Speaker Conservative Bruce Stanton

Foreign AffairsOral Questions

May 18th, 2012 / 11:55 a.m.

Conservative

David Sweet Conservative Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale, ON

Mr. Speaker, despite a litany of calls from the international community for al-Assad to halt the violence and abide by special envoy Kofi Annan's six point ceasefire plan, the senseless killings continue. Just last week, Syrian forces fired upon onlookers at a funeral. These abhorrent acts drew strong international condemnation.

Would the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs please update this House on the latest actions Canada has taken?

Foreign AffairsOral Questions

11:55 a.m.

Calgary East Alberta

Conservative

Deepak Obhrai ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs

Mr. Speaker, al-Assad continues to blatantly disregard the international community while innocent people suffer.

Today Canada is implementing additional measures, which include sanctions prohibiting the export of certain goods to Syria, against Syria's state-run radio and television, the government-owned General Organization of Tobacco and the petroleum exporter, and against three individuals closely associated with the regime.

Our government will stand with the Syrian people and support their demand for freedom, dignity and a brighter future.

Foreign AffairsOral Questions

Noon

Liberal

Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB

Mr. Speaker, Canadians truly care about what is happening in Ukraine. Over 1.3 million Canadians are of Ukrainian heritage. They are concerned about a fair democratic system, human rights and the rule of law in Ukraine.

Canada will play a role in sending observers, we know that. Last time we sent 1,500. We anticipate in the future we are going to continue to support observers.

What more is the government prepared to do? Think in terms of the potential of a free trade agreement between Ukraine and Canada. Think in terms of the international meetings like—

Foreign AffairsOral Questions

Noon

Conservative

Foreign AffairsOral Questions

Noon

Calgary East Alberta

Conservative

Deepak Obhrai ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs

Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada always supports free and fair elections in Ukraine. Because of our strong commitment to Ukraine, Canada will accommodate a request for election observers.

Yes, we are concerned about the recent events that have taken place in Ukraine, most specifically the imprisonment of the former prime minister.

Let me say this: Canada will continue to stand with the Ukrainian people to help them achieve their democracy.

EmploymentOral Questions

Noon

NDP

Jean-François Larose NDP Repentigny, QC

Mr. Speaker, the government does not understand the reality of workers. The manufacturing industry is in crisis. We need only think of the closures of Electrolux, Mabe and Aveos, which have left thousands of people out of work in the Montreal area. Yet, the Conservatives are doing nothing and have not presented a credible job creation plan.

Many unemployed workers will have to get help from community organizations either to go back to school or to find a job.

Will the Conservatives commit to maintaining funding for these community organizations that support unemployed workers?

EmploymentOral Questions

Noon

Beauce Québec

Conservative

Maxime Bernier ConservativeMinister of State (Small Business and Tourism)

Mr. Speaker, all Canadians know that we have a plan to ensure that Canada becomes more prosperous and even more free: the economic action plan that we tabled recently.

Unlike the NDP members opposite, we are not trying to pit one region of Canada against another. We are working with all Canadians to ensure that there are jobs available for everyone.

We are doing this while—it is important to point out—managing the deficit and ensuring that we return to a balanced budget as soon as possible so that we can continue to decrease taxes for Canadian workers.

Foreign AffairsOral Questions

Noon

Conservative

Parm Gill Conservative Brampton—Springdale, ON

Mr. Speaker, Algeria has undertaken political reforms in recent months. On May 10, Algeria held its legislative election, where 42% of Algerians exercised their democratic rights. Canada is very encouraged by this high level of participation of the people of Algeria.

Can the Minister of State of Foreign Affairs for the Americas and Consular Affairs please share with this House an update on this election?

Foreign AffairsOral Questions

Noon

Calgary Nose Hill Alberta

Conservative

Diane Ablonczy ConservativeMinister of State of Foreign Affairs (Americas and Consular Affairs)

Mr. Speaker, we are pleased with independent reports indicating that the elections appear to have been free and fair, and with no reports of violence. I especially note that 30% of the newly elected Algerian parliament are women.

Canada is also very encouraged by the recent political reforms that have taken place in Algeria. We support the new government as it continues on this positive path. Canada's foreign policy is based on supporting and promoting across the globe the principles of freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

HousingOral Questions

Noon

NDP

Mike Sullivan NDP York South—Weston, ON

Mr. Speaker, the greater Toronto area has some of the highest wait times for social housing in Canada. Families in need are waiting up to 15 years to get the housing they can afford.

This House just passed an NDP motion calling for greater federal support for affordable housing. When will the government take action?

HousingOral Questions

Noon

Simcoe—Grey Ontario

Conservative

Kellie Leitch ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and to the Minister of Labour

Mr. Speaker, this government has taken action. We have been committed to helping vulnerable Canadians to become self-sufficient and have a roof over their heads. We made historic investments, including for 615,000 individuals to have housing opportunities. We have made sure that there has been up to $1.7 billion in subsidies whether it be for the renovation of existing social housing or the building of new homes. This government has taken action. I ask the NDP why it never supports it.

EmploymentOral Questions

12:05 p.m.

Bloc

Jean-François Fortin Bloc Haute-Gaspésie—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia, QC

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives obviously see criminals everywhere. Now seasonal workers are considered to be repeat offenders. The Conservatives even intend to punish them financially by forcing them to accept increasingly lower-paid jobs or else lose their employment insurance benefits. This is a frontal attack on regions like mine that depend tourism, fisheries, agriculture and forestry—sectors in which activity is cyclical. The Conservatives want to shut down the regions that will not go along with their plan.

Why is the government doing all it can to impoverish workers and attack the vitality of the regions?

EmploymentOral Questions

12:05 p.m.

Beauce Québec

Conservative

Maxime Bernier ConservativeMinister of State (Small Business and Tourism)

Mr. Speaker, what has the Bloc Québécois done for the regions of Quebec over the past few years? Absolutely nothing. We, on the contrary, are working with all the regions—the regions of Ontario, Quebec and particularly western Canada—to make our country more prosperous.

We have confidence in our entrepreneurs. They are the ones who create wealth and employment in Canada. We must support them. That is what we are doing with our budgetary measures, which have been very well received by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business and small businesses across Canada.

Fisheries and OceansOral Questions

12:05 p.m.

Independent

Bruce Hyer Independent Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON

Mr. Speaker, two years ago the Conservative member for Kenora crowed about the importance of new dollars for the Experimental Lakes Area. He said, “The Experimental Lakes Area is known world-wide as Canada’s most innovative freshwater research centre. ...we are investing in projects like this one--helping to establish Canada as a leader in knowledge creation...”

Will the member for Kenora fight for the research centre that he bragged about recently or just allow his party to toss those investments and his credibility into the Experimental Lakes?

Fisheries and OceansOral Questions

12:05 p.m.

Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge—Mission B.C.

Conservative

Randy Kamp ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and for the Asia-Pacific Gateway

Mr. Speaker, I want to assure the member that the Department of Fisheries and Oceans will continue to support freshwater research across Canada. That is why, for example, we invested in the Lake Simcoe cleanup fund of $30 million in 2008. We are making very good progress using that money.

While we think that this facility would be better run by an academic private facility, we are going to continue to invest in clean water in our lakes. We are looking forward to facilitating a transfer from this particular facility to a private organization.

Government Response to PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:05 p.m.

Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre Saskatchewan

Conservative

Tom Lukiwski ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

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

Interparliamentary DelegationsRoutine Proceedings

12:05 p.m.

Conservative

Corneliu Chisu Conservative Pickering—Scarborough East, ON

Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1) I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the report of the Canadian delegation of the Interparliamentary Group respecting its participation in the 123rd IPU assembly and related meetings in Geneva, Switzerland from October 4 to October 6, 2010.

I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the report of the Canadian delegation of the Interparliamentary Group respecting its participation in the 124th IPU assembly and related meetings in Panama City, Panama from April 16 to April 20, 2011.

I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the report of the Canadian delegation of the Interparliamentary Group respecting its participation in the meeting of co-rapporteurs of the third IPU Standing Committee on Democracy and Human Rights in Geneva, Switzerland from May 18 to May 20, 2011.

I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the report of the Canadian delegation of the Interparliamentary Group respecting its participation in the Parliamentary Panel regarding the framework of the WTO, public forum, 2011 and the 24th session of the steering committee of the parliamentary conference of the World Trade Organization, WTO, in Geneva, Switzerland, September 20 and 21, 2011.

I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the report of the Canadian Delegation of Interparliamentary Group respecting its participation in the 125th IPU assembly and related meetings in Bern, Switzerland from October 16 to October 19, 2011.

HealthCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

12:10 p.m.

Conservative

Joy Smith Conservative Kildonan—St. Paul, MB

Madam Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the eighth report of the Standing Committee on Health entitled “Chronic Diseases Related to Aging and Health Promotion and Disease Prevention”.

Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to the report.

Canadian Coast GuardPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:10 p.m.

NDP

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

Madam Speaker, I have the honour to present a petition signed by hundreds of Canadians from across the country who are opposed to the government's decision to make cuts to the Coast Guard's budget and close Canadian Coast Guard centres. I would also like to thank the hundreds of Canadians who signed the electronic petition.

The petitioners urge the Government of Canada to acknowledge that cuts to Coast Guard staff and the closing of Coast Guard centres puts the lives of fishers and other mariners at risk and endangers the marine ecosystem.

Rights of the UnbornPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:10 p.m.

Conservative

Gary Schellenberger Conservative Perth—Wellington, ON

Madam Speaker, I have four petitions from my constituents.

Canada's 400 year old definition of human beings says a child does not become a human being until the moment of complete birth, contrary to 21st century medical evidence. Therefore, the petitioners call upon the House of Commons and Parliament assembled to confirm that every human being is recognized by Canadian law as human, by amending section 223 of the Criminal Code in such a way as to reflect 21st century medical evidence.

PovertyPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:10 p.m.

Conservative

Gary Schellenberger Conservative Perth—Wellington, ON

Madam Speaker, I have two petitions on Bill C-233, an act to eliminate poverty in Canada. The petitioners call on Parliament to ensure swift passage of Bill C-233, an act to eliminate poverty in Canada.

AbortionPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:10 p.m.

Conservative

Gary Schellenberger Conservative Perth—Wellington, ON

Madam Speaker, I have two petitions.

Canada is the only nation in the western world and in the company of China and North Korea without any laws restricting abortion. Therefore, the petitioners call upon the House of Commons and Parliament assembled to speedily enact legislation that restricts abortion to the greatest extent possible.

PensionsPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:10 p.m.

Liberal

Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to table a petition from well over 100 residents of Winnipeg North who have taken the time to put the petition together, sign it and send it to the House of Commons.

The petitioners believe that people should continue to have the option to retire at the age of 65. They ask that the government not in any way diminish the importance and value of Canada's three major seniors programs: OAS, GIS and CPP.

The EnvironmentPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:10 p.m.

NDP

Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC

Madam Speaker, it is my honour to present a petition that is the result of the tireless efforts of youth in Vancouver. Ethan Trinh, Kaitlyn Fung, Nick Nguygen, Angela Ho, Lucas Chan, Chris Ly and Amy Bui formed a group called Youth For Climate Justice Now. Together they gathered over 10,000 signatures for the environment.

The petition draws our attention to the serious threat of climate change and calls on the government to support the Save the Fraser Declaration, halt development of the proposed Enbridge pipeline, and support a ban on crude oil tankers off the coast of British Columbia.

These students have also expressed to me a deep concern over the government's recent comments equating environmental activists with eco-terrorists. They want Canadians to know that the biggest threat to their future is not environmental activists, but rather the Conservative government, which puts the interests of large corporations ahead of the interests of environmental sustainability.

We should listen to our youth.