Debates of Sept. 28th, 2012

Gasoline Prices

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

Mr. Speaker, my colleague was not here during the last Parliament. That might be why he did not realize we lowered the GST by two points, implemented measures to oversee fairness at the pumps and gave the Competition Bureau more power.

His party's election platform advocated a $21 billion carbon tax. Twenty-one billion dollars! Did they consider the price of gas and of everything else, including food, energy and so on?

Once again, my colleagues need a reality check.

Foreign Investment

[Scott Brison, Liberal, Kings—Hants, NS]

Mr. Speaker, regarding the proposed Nexen sale to CNOOC, to ensure long-term net benefit to Canada, is the government requiring that Canadians make up the majority of the Nexen board and that there would be Canadian representation on the CNOOC board?

Further, Canadian banks continue to face significant barriers to growth when doing business in China. Is the government leveraging on the Nexen discussion to attain greater access to Chinese markets for the Canadian financial services sector?

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

Mr. Speaker, maybe this approach was the one adopted by the previous government, but on our side, each single deal that is proposed here will have to provide a net benefit for Canada. We will consider the highest interest for Canadians.

Speaking about this transaction, I repeat, this will be scrutinized very closely and whatever happens will be in the best interests of Canada.

Aboriginal Affairs

[John McCallum, Liberal, Markham—Unionville, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Jim Prentice, the government's former aboriginal affairs minister, has slammed the government for failing to perform its constitutional duty to consult with aboriginal people on the northern gateway pipeline.

Does the government understand that the Prime Minister does not make all the rules?

Will the government commit to consult and accommodate aboriginal peoples on issues like resource development, which impacts on their rights, or is the government simply saying that Jim Prentice is a liar?

[David Anderson, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources and for the Canadian Wheat Board]

Mr. Speaker, as I said before, we are conducting an independent comprehensive science-based evaluation of the proposed northern gateway pipeline.

First nations are being consulted extensively during that. I have a list here of 41 first nations that we are helping with funding so that they can present before the northern gateway pipeline panel.

As I said earlier, when we hear from the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business that aboriginal companies do 1.3 billion dollars' worth of business with oil sands companies, we think the consultation on energy development is working for aboriginal communities.

Parks Canada

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

Mr. Speaker, now when Canadians go into a federal park, they are greeted by signs instead of interpretive guides.

Why? Once again, because of the Conservatives' cuts. A $30 million cut means reduced services for visitors.

Some 600 jobs for guides, archeologists and scientists have been cut. In addition to the loss of employment, the reduced number of visitors and tourists will have a serious impact on regional economic spinoffs.

In my riding, the hours of operation at the Battle of the Châteauguay National Historic Site have been reduced, even though this year we are celebrating the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812.

Why are the Conservatives attacking our heritage?

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, it is worth noting that under our government's tenure we have increased protected park space by over 50%. It is our government that has been committed to protecting our country's natural heritage through our parks program and we will absolutely continue to do so.

Our parks service is well funded and will continue to deliver the service that all Canadians and visitors to Canada to see our natural heritage expect from it.

Postal Service

[Charmaine Borg, NDP, Terrebonne—Blainville, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my constituents are extremely concerned about the impending closure of the Terrebonne post office on October 26, 2012. This closure is part of a whole round of privatization of Canada Post services. Many local citizens and businesses will be affected by this senseless closure. Once again, for the Conservatives, profits come before people.

Why are the Conservatives so determined to undermine the economy of my riding by privatizing essential services like Canada Post services?

[Steven Fletcher, Conservative, Minister of State (Transport)]

Mr. Speaker, Canada Post is an arm's length crown corporation that makes day-to-day operating decisions based on market demand.

I know that is difficult for members of the NDP to understand, but if we want to make Canada Post viable in the long term, it will have to make adjustments from time to time. That is what Canada Post has done.

Natural Resources

[Dick Harris, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

Mr. Speaker, our natural resource sector is a powerhouse in the Canadian economy and it employs hundreds of thousands of Canadians. That is because this Conservative government has taken action to strengthen this important sector by streamlining reviews while ensuring that Canada's environment remains safe.

Could the parliamentary secretary explain what the NDP's plan to add an even greater red tape burden and a carbon tax would do to Canada's resource sector?

[David Anderson, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources and for the Canadian Wheat Board]

Mr. Speaker, I have to thank the member for Cariboo—Prince George for his insightful question and his excellent work on this file. As the Minister of Industry pointed out so clearly, the NDP's dangerous carbon tax would increase prices for all Canadians. It would kill Canadian jobs in the resource sector. It would not just damage the west, as the leader of the NDP would claim, but all of Canada.

Ontario finance minister, Dwight Duncan, has this to say:

Alberta's oilsands are a valuable resource both here in Alberta and the entire country, a resource that helps fuel the Canadian economy.

When will the NDP abandon its reckless ideology, change its policies and join us as we create jobs for Canadians?

Foreign Affairs

[John McKay, Liberal, Scarborough—Guildwood, ON]

Mr. Speaker, when the Prime Minister was hanging out with his buddies in New York, the leaders of the free world were actually battling it out on the floor of the United Nations. Ironically, one of the Prime Minister's guests in this love-in was none other than the king of NHL lockouts, Gary Bettman.

Could the minister tell the House whether they exchanged views on the benefits of lockouts and prorogation? Or did the commissioner merely advise the Prime Minister to stay off the ice while the big boys battle it out?

[Bob Dechert, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, perhaps the member was not paying attention when I mentioned earlier that the Prime Minister is meeting with two world leaders in New York today.

The member should probably also know that the Prime Minister received the statesman of the year award last night, which is a great mark of distinction for Canada and one that the member will also know—

[The Acting Speaker, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

Order, please.

The hon. member for Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine.

Employment

[Isabelle Morin, NDP, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservative government has also abdicated its responsibilities toward youth. Statistics Canada recently revealed that young people are living with their parents for longer because of their unstable economic situation. They are coping with rising debt levels and a 14% unemployment rate. Instead of helping them, the Conservatives are cutting the programs that they count on, such as Service Canada's services for youth.

Will the government do something for our young people, for the next generation? When will it come up with a plan to create jobs for youth?

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

Mr. Speaker, we actually did put forward a plan in the budget in March, some $50 million for the youth employment strategy. It is an augmentation of an existing $300 million program that the NDP voted against.

We read the budget. We know what is in it. We know that we are supporting students, whether it be through the youth employment strategy or changing Canada's student loans programs to allow youth to get the education they want to enter the workforce.

Why does the NDP vote against all these initiatives?

Sealing Industry

[Tilly O'Neill-Gordon, Conservative, Miramichi, NB]

Mr. Speaker, while the opposition members pander to extremist NGOs and pretentious Hollywood stars, they are outright disappointing for Canada's fishermen and sealers. Our government will continue to defend the right of our sealers to provide a livelihood for their families through our humane, responsible and sustainable harvest.

Canada has a long history of hunting and gathering. It is part of who we are. Could the parliamentary secretary give us an update on our government's continued fight against the European Union seal ban?

[Randy Kamp, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and for the Asia-Pacific Gateway]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my hard-working colleague from Miramichi for her very good question. I want to assure her that our government is committed to protecting hard-working Canadian sealers.

While members of both the NDP and Liberal Party have spoken out against the seal hunt, our government continues to fight for it. We are addressing the European Union ban by initiating a dispute settlement proceeding at the World Trade Organization. The ban on seal products adopted in the European Union was a decision that has no scientific basis and is inconsistent with free trade practices.

We will continue to support the jobs, growth and economic prosperity of Atlantic Canadians and aboriginal peoples.

Employment Insurance

[Marc-André Morin, NDP, Laurentides—Labelle, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives are making cuts to employment insurance and although the minister keeps telling us that no one is affected, there are 300,000 more unemployed workers than before the recession.

The only plan the Conservatives have is to make people work 300 km from where they live. Considering the price of gas, the minister better not try to tell us this has no impact.

Why should unemployed Canadians have to pay for the tax breaks being given to oil companies?

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

Mr. Speaker, let us get the facts straight. There have been 770,000 net new jobs created since July 2009. Ninety per cent of those are full-time jobs.

There are a number of initiatives that have been put forward in the last number of budgets, such as the youth employment strategy, the targeted initiative for older workers, apprenticeship programs, the working income tax benefit, the apprenticeship incentive grant, the EI hiring tax credit. All of these are opportunities to help Canadians to find jobs.

I ask the NDP members opposite, why do they just want to raise taxes and kill jobs?

Status of Women

[André Bellavance, Bloc, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the support of the Minister for Status of Women for a motion to reopen the abortion debate has met with huge disapproval from women's groups in Quebec.

The Fédération des femmes du Québec and the Fédération du Québec pour le planning des naissances called for her resignation, and now many others are objecting to her position: the Quebec minister for the status of women, the Conseil du statut de la femme, the Intersyndicale des femmes, and more than 10,000 people who have signed petitions that have been circulating for just 24 hours.

The minister may have voted according to her conscience, but will she admit that she is now unfit to occupy a position that protects the interests and the rights of women?

[Susan Truppe, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary for Status of Women]

Mr. Speaker, MPs have voted. The House of Commons voted. We now have to get on with other issues.

I am very proud of what our government has done for women and girls. Our government has supported over 550 projects for women and girls from coast to coast to coast. We have increased funding for women and girls to its highest level ever, over any other government.

[André Bellavance, Bloc, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Mr. Speaker, some members of the Conservative caucus want to close the debate. For example the member for Mississauga—Brampton South said that this debate takes us back to the age of the dinosaurs. Unfortunately, others want to push back.

Will the Prime Minister, whose leadership was undermined by the majority vote of his caucus, which contradicted his election promise, put an end to the ambiguity around this issue, as called for by the Quebec National Assembly in a unanimous motion?

[Susan Truppe, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary for Status of Women]

Mr. Speaker, as I said, MPs were representing their constituents. The House of Commons voted and it is time to move on.

We are very proud of what our government has done for women and girls and we have made that very clear. As I said, over 550 projects were supported for women and girls from coast to coast to coast, and we have approved the most money for women and girls, over any other government.

House of Commons Calendar

[Gordon O'Connor, Conservative, Minister of State and Chief Government Whip]

Mr. Speaker, there have been consultations between all parties and I think you will find consent for the following motion:

That, notwithstanding Standing Order 28 or any other usual practice of the House, the following proposed calendar for the year 2013 be tabled and that the House adopt this calendar accordingly.