Debates of Jan. 30th, 2013

Employment Insurance

[Wayne Easter, Liberal, Malpeque, PE]

Mr. Speaker, the regional minister from Prince Edward Island will be aware of the huge gathering last night in Surrey where the Conservative government was accused of bleeding out coastal and rural communities with its harsh new EI regulations against seasonal workers. Tomorrow night, a meeting takes place in the regional minister's own riding.

Would she commit to take the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development to that meeting so that the minister can face reality and see the absolute devastation EI changes are having on individuals, on business and on the economy? Will we see both ministers there?

[Diane Finley, Conservative, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development]

Mr. Speaker, the changes that were brought into EI are mere clarifications of the rules and responsibilities that people who collect EI have had since EI was brought in many decades ago. What it means is that when they lose their jobs through no fault of their own, they are allowed to collect income support while they are looking for another job.

We are clarifying what the definition of “looking for a job” is, but we are also providing a lot more support in helping them identify jobs that are available in their areas, in their skill sets, so that they can be better off working than not.

Search and Rescue

[Annick Papillon, NDP, Québec, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservative association in Lévis—Bellechasse, the riding of the Minister of Veterans Affairs, passed a resolution calling on the government to cancel the closure of the Quebec City marine rescue sub-centre. Even Conservative supporters in Quebec City support the NDP on this issue.

The resolution, which was passed locally and regionally, was rejected at the last Conservative convention without any consideration by Conservative members from Quebec. Once again, there is division in the Conservative ranks.

Why does the member for Lévis—Bellechasse refuse to defend the interests of the Quebec City region?

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

Mr. Speaker, as I indicated earlier, we are confident that changes in the Quebec City operation will have no negative impact on our ability to respond to distress incidents on the water quickly, effectively and in both official languages. Quebec is served by 19 Coast Guard vessels including seven search and rescue lifeboats, two hovercraft and six helicopters. We are ensuring that the Coast Guard has the resources to do its job and to save lives.

Citizenship and Immigration

[Roxanne James, Conservative, Scarborough Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, our Conservative government introduced the faster removal of foreign criminals act to ensure dangerous foreign criminals no longer have access to endless avenues to appeal their deportation. Shamefully, the NDP is using amendments to try to gut this important bill. During report stage yesterday, the NDP and Liberals stated repeatedly they do not think criminals who are convicted of six months or more should be considered serious or dangerous.

[An hon. member]

That is unbelievable.

[Roxanne James, Conservative, Scarborough Centre, ON]

I know, I cannot believe it either.

Could the parliamentary secretary update the House on our government's commitment to getting Bill C-43 passed quickly?

[Rick Dykstra, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, let me explain to the House what the NDP and the Liberal Party are actually defending. Crimes that lead to convictions of six months to two years include: assault with a weapon, robbery, breaking and entering, sexual assault, and in one instance, sexual assault of a senior citizen. By opposing the faster removal of foreign criminals act, the NDP and the Liberals are ignoring the police associations, victims' organizations, immigration lawyers and dozens of experts from across this country who all strongly support the bill.

While the NDP and the Liberals stand up for the interests of convicted criminals, this side of the House will vote in favour.

Employment Insurance

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

Mr. Speaker, agricultural producers are paying the price for the Conservatives' ill-considered employment insurance reform because they depend on seasonal employment. Life is hard enough for farmers as it is. Since 2007, 22,000 family farms have had to pack it in.

The employment insurance reform, which will force their seasonal workers to accept other jobs that pay less, is one more barrier to growth in that industry.

How many more farms will have to pull the plug before the Conservatives realize that their bad decisions are hurting farmers?

[Diane Finley, Conservative, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development]

Mr. Speaker, that is not at all the case. We are asking employment insurance recipients to show that they are looking for work while receiving benefits. That has been the law for decades.

But we are also helping them find work in their field and their region so that they and their families will be better off while they are working. It is better for them, for their communities and their families.

Criminal Code

[Maria Mourani, Bloc, Ahuntsic, QC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday in Plessisville, a drunk driver hit a traffic officer. The Government of Quebec wants to get tougher on impaired drivers, but the Criminal Code is in the way. The Criminal Code also prevents Quebec from taking its own approach to dealing with young offenders and from making certain social policy choices, such as codifying all aspects of the right of the terminally ill to decide their own fate.

Considering all of these pointless impediments to Quebec policies, is the Minister of Justice ready to give Quebec greater latitude in applying the Criminal Code?

[Rob Nicholson, Conservative, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, we have certainly been co-operative with all provincial and territorial legislatures in this regard, but we have been clear that we do not intrude on provincial jurisdiction. However, we have cracked down in the area of impaired driving. We have gone after human trafficking, with the support of the hon. member for Kildonan—St. Paul.

We have a great record and I can assure the hon. member that if she is now interested in this area, we have lots more to do and I hope it gets her support for a change.

Presence in Gallery

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

I would like to draw to the attention of hon. members the presence in the gallery of a delegation from the Northwest Territories led by: the Hon. Bob McLeod, Premier; the Hon. Jackie Jacobson, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly; the Hon. Michael Miltenberger; the Hon. David Ramsay; the Hon. Glen Abernethy; the Hon. Tom Beaulieu; the Hon. Jackson Lafferty; and the Hon. Robert C. McLeod.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear!

Veterans Ombudsman

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Minister of Veterans Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table, in both official languages, the 2011-12 annual report of the Office of the Veterans Ombudsman.

At the same time, seconded by the Chief Government Whip, I move:

That the House do now proceed to the orders of the day.

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

The question is on the motion. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

No.

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

All those in favour will please say yea.

[Some hon. members]

Yea.

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

All those opposed will please say nay.

[Some hon. members]

Nay.

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

In my opinion the nays have it.

And five or more members having risen:

Call in the members.

(The House divided on the motion, which was agreed to on the following division:)

Vote #601

[The Acting Speaker, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

I declare the motion carried.

Bill C-43--Time Allocation Motion

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

moved:

That, in relation to Bill C-43, An Act to amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, not more than one further sitting day shall be allotted to the consideration of the report stage and one sitting shall be allotted to the third reading stage of the said bill and, fifteen minutes before the expiry of the time provided for government business on the day allotted to the consideration of the report stage and on the day allotted to the third reading stage of the said bill, any proceedings before the House shall be interrupted, if required for the purpose of this order, and in turn every question necessary for the disposal of the stage of the bill then under consideration shall be put forthwith and successively without further debate or amendment.