Debates of Sept. 28th, 2012

Political Party Financing

[Mathieu Ravignat, NDP, Pontiac, QC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, some troubling information was revealed by a man linked to organized crime and to the Conservatives. Businessman Lino Zambito lifted the veil on a system of collusion, kickbacks to the mafia and secret political financing. But I do not need to explain all that.

Senator Carignan, who was a Conservative candidate at the time, benefited from Zambito's generosity. Zambito and his partners put thousands of dollars into Conservative coffers.

Since they are involved, will the Conservatives co-operate with the authorities and reveal all of their ties to organized crime?

[Robert Goguen, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice]

Mr. Speaker, we take organized crime very seriously. Clearly, Bill C-10 brought in many measures to fight all organized crime, and we will encourage the Government of Quebec to pursue its investigation and try to break up organized crime.

However, we have to wonder why another organization, one not linked to organized crime—and that is not certain—received contributions of $340,000, although it was against the law.

Is there organized crime in the opposition? I have to wonder.

[Scott Andrews, Liberal, Avalon, NL]

Mr. Speaker, Nathan Jacobson is a businessman with close ties to the Conservatives. He was convicted for his role in organized crime operations in the U.S. in 2008. Since then, he has been a big donor to the Conservatives and even appeared as a special guest of the Prime Minister during a visit of the prime minister of Israel.

Has the government made the Conservative Party return the $10,000 in donations that it received from him and will it ask the NDP to do the same? Does any member have the courage to defend this, or will this just be the parliamentary secretary, whose credibility was so discredited in the in and out affair?

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

Mr. Speaker, our government conducts itself with the highest levels of standards. That is why we introduced an Federal Accountability Act with strict rules on contributions. That is why we limited contributions to now about $1,200 a year to ensure that the undue influence of money in politics is not there so ordinary Canadians have control over their political system, not dirty money, not bad money, not like the illegal contributions that the NDP receives, not like the $40 million that the Liberals took out of taxpayer coffers to fund its own party.

Employment Insurance

[Lise St-Denis, Liberal, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I recently met with the director of the Parc de la rivière Batiscan, who shared his concerns about the new employment insurance rules, which would prevent his organization from rehiring the same seasonal employees from one season to the next.

In light of the changes made to the employment insurance program, how does the government plan on guaranteeing that employers will be able to maintain consistency of employees and skills when it comes to seasonal jobs?

[Kellie Leitch, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and to the Minister of Labour]

Mr. Speaker, our government wants to ensure those who work more keep more of their earnings. That is why we want as many Canadians as possible to have an opportunity to have a part-time job because we know many of those can be transferred to full-time jobs.

Unlike the opposition members, both the Liberals and the NDP, who do not seem to want to support the opportunities for unemployed Canadians to have employment, we have been focused on ensuring this occurs, whether that be the targeted initiative for older workers or the new EI small business hiring tax credit. These are all initiatives we have put forward to help those unemployed Canadians find an opportunity to work, creating 770,000 net new jobs, unlike the opposition members who vote against all these initiatives.

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

Mr. Speaker, actually we just voted against the government.

Here is a situation that we have once again. Let us take a look at EI for fishermen for just a moment. Sources throughout Atlantic Canada are now telling us that they are advised not to file a second claim in the new year. Therefore, naturally they are scared because they feel that in the spring of 2013 their benefits will be dramatically reduced or eliminated altogether.

Let us clear the air. Will the government preserve the sanctity of the fishermen's EI?

[Kellie Leitch, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and to the Minister of Labour]

Mr. Speaker, unlike the opposition that just seems to be against things, we are actually for Canadians, ensuring they have an opportunity to be employed. We have created 770,000 net new jobs over the last two and a half years, and we will continue to do that.

Economic action plan 2012 put forward a number of initiatives, whether that be helmets to hardhats or the opportunity for the EI small business hiring tax credit.

I want to ensure, as do all my colleagues, that Canadians have an opportunity for employment, unlike the members of the NDP and the Liberals who voted against all these initiatives.

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

Mr. Speaker, the minister said that no one would be affected by the Conservatives' changes to employment insurance. My riding of Hochelaga was hit hard by closures, with the 700 or more jobs lost at Mabe for example. Hochelaga would benefit from a real job-creation plan to help these workers.

Will the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development finally admit that she was wrong and stop her crusade against unemployed Canadians? Will the minister take a step back with her reforms?

[Kellie Leitch, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and to the Minister of Labour]

Mr. Speaker, as I said already, our government wants to ensure that those who work more keep more of their earnings. That is why economic action plan 2012 is focused on ensuring unemployed Canadians have opportunities, whether that be the $50 million over two years in the youth employment strategy or new apprenticeship grants and opportunities, items which both the Liberals and the NDP have continually voted against. What about the NDP carbon tax of $21 billion that will kill jobs across the country?

These are things we are focused on to ensure Canadians have opportunities and are employed.

[François Choquette, NDP, Drummond, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the minister spent all week saying that these changes to employment insurance would not have any negative effects on workers. But that is not the case, according to Regroupement de défense de droits sociaux de Drummond.

The stories of people who are losing out because of these inadequate reforms are pouring in. The new rules penalize Canadians and, more specifically, the least fortunate.

The Conservatives know this is true. Will they finally admit that and cancel the changes to the program?

[Kellie Leitch, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and to the Minister of Labour]

Mr. Speaker, this government has created 770,000 net new jobs since the downturn of the recession in July 2009. In fact, 90% of those were full-time jobs. That is because we have had a very effective economic action plan, which includes a number of initiatives that provide opportunities for employment of young people, older individuals, aboriginal Canadians and new immigrants.

We are working to ensure every Canadian has the opportunity to have a job and be attached to the workforce. I am not sure why the NDP and the Liberals continually vote against these opportunities.

[Sana Hassainia, NDP, Verchères—Les Patriotes, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development spent all week trying to make us believe all sorts of things. She can put her head in the sand and repeat all she wants that no one will lose money with her reforms, but that is not true.

We know very well that workers who unfortunately lose their jobs but are not the CEO of a big oil company, obviously, will not get any assistance from this government. But the Conservatives continue to deny the facts.

How long will the Conservatives keep burying their heads in the sand?

[Kellie Leitch, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and to the Minister of Labour]

Mr. Speaker, this government has provided unprecedented opportunities for Canadians to find employment. We are doing everything that we can to better connect Canadians with the jobs that are available.

It is the Liberals' and the NDP's opposition to these great initiatives that really has stifled those opportunities, whether that was voting against the youth employment strategy or against apprenticeship funding. These are things that will help Canadians find jobs and be attached to the workforce. The opposition continues to vote against them.

[Alexandrine Latendresse, NDP, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Mr. Speaker, this is nonsense. The Conservatives have been making things up all week. Their stories about employment insurance are so far-fetched that I think we are about to hear about hobbits. But the NDP has spoken to unemployed workers across the country. We have spoken to people from the Magdalen Islands who were offered a job in Bonaventure, and to seasonal workers from Manitoba whose cheques were cut because they had a little job on the side. People are worried and frustrated.

Can the Conservatives come out of their fantasy land and acknowledge the real consequences of their poorly thought-out reforms?

[Kellie Leitch, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and to the Minister of Labour]

Mr. Speaker, the workers in my riding of Simcoe—Grey are delighted with these changes because they allow those people who are unemployed to find jobs. The changes are better connecting them to an opportunity to have a job so they can improve the quality of life of their families.

Unlike the Liberals and the NDP that vote against all these initiatives that are providing Canadians with opportunities for jobs, we are there for Canadians. We are focused on finding jobs so they can improve the quality of life of their families.

The Economy

[John Carmichael, Conservative, Don Valley West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Statistics Canada announced today that Canada's economy grew again in July. July's economic growth and the nearly 770,000 net new jobs created since July 2009 are positive signs.

While we are focused on growing the economy and creating jobs, the NDP is pushing radical economic schemes, like a massive carbon tax.

Could the parliamentary secretary explain the devastating impact the NDP's carbon tax would have on our economy?

[Shelly Glover, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, our government is focused on what matters to Canadians: creating jobs and promoting economic growth. We are working to keep Canada's economy growing with measures like the job-creating hiring credit for small business. As reported, July's economic growth shows that we are right on track.

However, the NDP is pushing radical economic schemes, like a massive carbon tax, that would kill Canadian jobs and economic growth. Even worse, its carbon tax would increase the price of everything that Canadian families buy, like gas and groceries and electricity. Canadians and our economy cannot afford the NDP's radical economic schemes.

Financial Institutions

[Paulina Ayala, NDP, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the major banks are increasing their clients' service fees. On November 5, the National Bank will increase the cost of a bank transaction from $0.65 to $1, an increase of more than 50%. They are not satisfied with the record $7.8 billion profit they recorded in the last quarter. That is much higher than the rate of inflation.

Why are Conservatives not protecting families from the banks' greed? Why are they letting them pick their clients' pockets?

[Shelly Glover, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for the question because it gives me the opportunity to say that the banks pay taxes that support our social programs and health care systems. Furthermore, the NDP's carbon tax would increase not just the cost of groceries and electricity, but the cost of everything Canadian families buy. Canadians cannot afford that.

[Annick Papillon, NDP, Québec, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we know what the Conservatives do in such situations: they recommend voluntary codes of conduct. I did say voluntary. That is what they did with credit cards and we saw what happened. Credit card holders continue to pay exorbitant interest rates, and household debt continues to increase and reach historic highs.

Bank fees are already unreasonable. When will the Conservatives take action to protect consumers?

[Shelly Glover, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for the question.

The NDP does not want to support our measures such as those to create jobs, but it might listen to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, which had this to say: “Merchants have been well served by the code. It has established fair ground rules and protected the low-cost debit system in Canada.”

In other words, we are protecting Canadian consumers. It is unfortunate that the NDP always votes against our measures.

Gasoline Prices

[Annick Papillon, NDP, Québec, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we know that is not true.

Bank fees are not the only way consumers are getting ripped off while the Conservatives stand idly by watching the clouds and waiting for something to happen.

Gasoline prices have skyrocketed, up 36% since they came to power.

In Quebec, the average price of gas is often higher than $1.40 per litre. The Conservatives' failure to take action is costing Canadians too much. It is irresponsible.

How long will they wait before doing something to protect consumers? When will they take action?

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

Mr. Speaker, when it comes to taking action for the sake of taking action, I think the member for Québec could use a reality check.

The government cut the GST by 2%. It implemented a measure to ensure fairness at the pumps and gave the Competition Bureau more power.

What are the members opposite advocating? A carbon tax that would cost Canadian taxpayers $21 billion. Twenty-one billion dollars. That is not just a gas tax, it is a tax on everything.

I think my esteemed colleagues could really use a reality check.

[Alain Giguère, NDP, Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives are so busy making up stories about the NDP that they are forgetting about drivers.

A 36¢ increase adds up to $15 billion. That is quite a tax. That is pure extortion, and it is their fault.

Another long weekend is coming up, and everyone knows that the price of gas will go up again. But the Conservatives will continue to do nothing.

When will they act on behalf of Canadian consumers and drivers?