House of Commons Hansard #153 of the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was support.
Andrew Cash NDP Davenport, ON
Mr. Speaker, it is clear, the minister either does not get it or just does not care.
Let us take the $5 billion TV and film industry which employs about 130,000 people on a project-by-project basis. In between projects, workers are out there hustling for their next gig. That is how this works. To force them from their field is to rip the muscle right out of the sector.
Why is the government weakening the Canadian arts and culture industries just at the time when they are becoming world leaders?
Diane Finley ConservativeMinister of Human Resources and Skills Development
Mr. Speaker, no government has done more to support our arts and film community, thanks to the very fine work of our Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages.
We need to support those individuals in their search. We are going to help them look for those jobs in their field. We are going to help them look for them--
The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer
Order. There is far too much cross-conversation.
The hon. Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development.
Diane Finley Conservative Haldimand—Norfolk, ON
Mr. Speaker, I was having problems hearing myself over that noise.
We have to support these workers in their efforts to find a new job within their skill range and region. That is important. We are not asking people to move across the country, but we are supporting them in their search, in their job, in their specifications, and in their region. It is too bad the NDP did not support us in that.
Kennedy Stewart NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC
Mr. Speaker, frankly, British Columbians are also concerned about these cuts to EI, especially how they will affect young people. Youth unemployment is about 15% and thousands of young folks have simply given up hope and stopped looking for work.
Today there are 300,000 more Canadians unemployed than before the recession. How can further cuts to EI help young people find jobs?
Diane Finley ConservativeMinister of Human Resources and Skills Development
Mr. Speaker, in fact, there were over 770,000 net new jobs created in this country since the recession. We are very proud of that. Part of that success comes from our investments in our Canada youth employment strategy, things like Canada summer jobs and the extra $50 million that was in this year's budget to help young people who are facing barriers to employment get the experience they need to get the skills and jobs today and tomorrow.
We are helping those young people. Unfortunately, once again, big surprise, the NDP voted against those efforts to help our young people.
Alex Atamanenko NDP British Columbia Southern Interior, BC
Mr. Speaker, I do not know how many of these 700,000 jobs are good, well-paying jobs that people can support themselves with.
Year after year B.C. fruit growers in my region depend on seasonal workers to help them bring in the harvest. With the new EI changes, these seasonal workers may not be there come harvest time. Fruit growers are already facing competition from low-cost fruit imports being dumped on our market. Now they are facing a destabilized work pool. Why did the minister not consult with fruit growers in my region before she made these changes?
Diane Finley ConservativeMinister of Human Resources and Skills Development
Mr. Speaker, coming from the part of Canada that I do, Haldimand—Norfolk, it is the home of the farms program. We recognize how important agricultural workers are to our economy. That is why the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and I have met with leaders in the agricultural sector who depend on foreign workers. We have assured them that there will be no changes to this program. We recognize their need.
We also recognize the need to give Canadians first chance at these jobs. When Canadians cannot fill those jobs, then obviously our farmers are going to be able to rely on us to keep these programs in place and help them get the labour they need for their farm.
Chris Charlton NDP Hamilton Mountain, ON
Mr. Speaker, the minister simply is not listening. What all of these examples show is that the Conservatives are not being honest with Canadians. Their own numbers contradict them.
The government originally budgeted $130 million for one year under the old working while on claim pilot project. Now it is budgeting $74 million over two years for the next version. Less money over a longer time means that fewer people will benefit.
Will the minister now stand up and explain why the government is punishing unemployed, part-time and low-wage Canadians?
Diane Finley ConservativeMinister of Human Resources and Skills Development
Mr. Speaker, I mentioned the 770,000 net new jobs that have been created. Over 90% of those are very high quality, high paying jobs. We are proud of our contributions to that.
Our priority for this country is job creation and the growth of our economy. To do that, we need to have all the talents and skills of Canadians at work.
When there are jobs available within the skill range in a given area and there are people on EI with those skills, we will help connect those workers with those jobs. That is better for the employers, but it is also certainly better for the workers and their families.
Ralph Goodale Liberal Wascana, SK
Mr. Speaker, Canadians are struggling with the proposed foreign buyout of Nexen because the rules are not clear and the process is a secret black box.
After the potash controversy two years ago, the Conservatives promised better definitions and a more open procedure. They have wasted all that time and now a flood of takeovers is on the horizon.
With respect to the Nexen deal, does net benefit include some Canadian directors added to the board of CNOOC, and the board of Nexen retaining a majority of Canadian directors? Is that assured?
Christian Paradis ConservativeMinister of Industry and Minister of State (Agriculture)
Mr. Speaker, it is not true at all.
First, I must remind my colleague that the Investment Canada Act process has a provision to protect national security. That is an improvement we put in place. We have improved transparency. We set up a dispute resolution clause.
I must remind my colleague that the Liberal Party never turned down a single deal in the past.
Gerry Byrne Liberal Humber—St. Barbe—Baie Verte, NL
Mr. Speaker, the minister has said that Canadians concerned about the--
The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer
Order, please. Order, please. The hon. member for Humber—St. Barbe—Baie Verte.
Gerry Byrne Liberal Humber—St. Barbe—Baie Verte, NL
Mr. Speaker, the minister insists that Canadians concerned about the government's EI reforms just need to get an “education” in them before they speak out.
Irene from my riding got her education. She lost her job as a full-time nurses' assistant and was picking up part-time shifts and receiving EI while looking for full-time work. Irene got her education in EI reform and her textbook was her pay stub, now $65 a week less for working on claim than under the previous program. Is this encouraging anything?
Does the minister understand that she is the one who needs to go back to school and work some--
Diane Finley ConservativeMinister of Human Resources and Skills Development
Mr. Speaker, we are working to help people who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own with new jobs, with our increase in job alerts and making sure that employers who want to bring in temporary foreign workers are connected with the unemployment system so they can access Canadians and give them first shot at the jobs.
Let us look at Bill. Under the new system, he could be making $330 a week on EI and three shifts of work at $15 an hour. Under the old system he would have kept $132. Under the new system, he will be able to keep $225.
That is better. He is working and his family is better.
Denis Coderre Liberal Bourassa, QC
Mr. Speaker, ridiculous answers like the minister's will only get her so far. Sooner or later, the truth will come out.
Under the previous system, people could keep 40% or $75. From now on, the government will take away 50% the minute a claimant earns money. That means people will be losing more. The minister is encouraging people to work under the table.
Is this incompetence or ignorance? She does not know her portfolio. Can someone help her?
Diane Finley ConservativeMinister of Human Resources and Skills Development
Mr. Speaker, yesterday, I said exactly the same thing. I provided the same numbers, and they called me a liar. Under the previous system, people could work about a day to earn $75, and every dollar they earned after that was clawed back by employment insurance. Now, a claimant who works more than one day gets to keep 50% of his earnings. That is much better.
Malcolm Allen NDP Welland, ON
Mr. Speaker, we have seen this all before. When the minister fails to put the concerns of consumers first, Canadians suffer. Concerns are growing over the ever-expanding beef recall. The XL Foods Lakeside plant has been decertified from exporting meat to the U.S. and is cutting shifts. Yet all we get from the minister are contradictory and unclear statements. The government's regulatory changes and funding cuts are undermining faith in the CFIA and may have caused a delay in the recall.
When will the government start providing answers to Canadian families?
Gerry Ritz ConservativeMinister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board
Mr. Speaker, Canadian consumers are always the first priority when it comes to food safety. We have hired an additional 700 new food inspectors since 2006, including 170 dedicated to the meat lines. There have been no cuts at all. The opposition voted against every one of these additions.
Of course, I will continue to hold the food safety officials' feet to the fire to ensure that the agency responds as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Ruth Ellen Brosseau NDP Berthier—Maskinongé, QC
Mr. Speaker, that is nonsense.
Yesterday, when speaking about the E. coli outbreak at the Alberta plant, the Minister of Agriculture said that there had been no illnesses in this case. So there is no problem. However, investigations are under way in five to eight cases. When this kind of problem comes up, consumers become distrustful and the entire industry pays the price. The United States raised the problem three days before Canada.
Why does the minister say he is satisfied with the situation?
Gerry Ritz ConservativeMinister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board
Mr. Speaker, as I said in my first response, food safety for consumers is a priority for this government. Canadian food safety officials began containing the contaminated products on September 4, the day the outbreak was identified.
We have introduced important new legislation to help CFIA respond to food safety situations like this as swiftly as possible. The NDP members have already said they will be voting against the safe food for Canadians act. That is shameful.