Debates of Oct. 17th, 2013

Consumer Protection

[Jim Flaherty, Conservative, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, in fact, we work with all of those groups and all of those entities, including the credit card issuers, the consumer groups and the retail groups in Canada, to develop the voluntary code of conduct. It is working, and they tell us it is working. I have told them, time and time again, if there is evidence that it is not working, it will no longer be voluntary; it will be mandatory.

[Joe Daniel, Conservative, Don Valley East, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Canadian families should not have to pay for TV shows they do not ever watch. The big cable giants may support bundling television channels because it increases their profits. My constituents want an à la carte service.

What is the Minister of Canadian Heritage doing to unbundle television services?

[Shelly Glover, Conservative, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages]

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to thank the member for Don Valley East for that important question. Canadian families work hard to make ends meet, and every dollar counts. While companies will look out for their bottom line, our government is looking out for Canadian families. Our government believes Canadian families should be able to choose the combination of television channels they want, and we will require channels to be unbundled, while protecting Canadian jobs.

We are standing up for TV channel unbundling. Will the opposition members remain silent or stand with us for consumers?

Rail Transportation

[Olivia Chow, NDP, Trinity—Spadina, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the NDP has long called for action on rail safety, including informing municipalities of dangerous goods being transported and implementing a dozen outstanding safety board recommendations. Three months have passed since the tragic Lac-Mégantic disaster, and yet the throne speech only contained vague commitments. Testing crude oil and putting it back in the same old, dangerous rail cars will not improve rail safety.

My question to the minister is simple: when will she phase out these dangerous, outdated tanker cars, DOT-111? When will she get it done?

[Lisa Raitt, Conservative, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, first, since it has been brought up in the House, we have to reiterate again that our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those 47 victims of the incidents in Lac-Mégantic. We think about them every day when we are talking about rail safety.

Since that time, I have talked to rail companies, to the municipalities and, indeed, to other stakeholders with respect to the transportation of dangerous goods. We have heard from the TSB as well. That is why I am happy to indicate that effective today I have asked the Department of Transport to issue a protective directive that will ensure that all crude oil being transported be properly tested and classified and the results sent to the Transportation Safety Board.

[Hoang Mai, NDP, Brossard—La Prairie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, testing crude oil and putting it in the same old cars will not solve the safety problem.

Three months have gone by since the tragedy in Lac-Mégantic and all the government has done is put temporary measures in place.

When will the municipalities finally receive information on the hazardous materials transiting through their areas, and exactly what targeted measures will the government bring forward to inform those municipalities?

[Lisa Raitt, Conservative, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, we have a very good and constructive working relationship with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and the railways on this issue.

We all agree that first responders need to have the information that is important to them with respect to ensuring they can respond to incidents that may happen. As such, I encourage the Federation of Canadian Municipalities to continue to work with us and with the rail companies to get to a resolution in the matter.

The Environment

[Megan Leslie, NDP, Halifax, NS]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to welcome the new Minister of the Environment and ask her a very simple question.

Can the minister tell us, with a simple yes or no answer, whether she believes the scientific information about climate change contained in the IPCC report?

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, it is very clear that the science has been very clear supporting climate change. That is why I am a very strong advocate for taking actions against climate change and I am proud to be part of a government that is getting things done.

We have a sector-by-sector regulatory approach which allows us to project forth our environment and the economy.

Under the Liberals' watch, emissions increased by almost 30%. The NDP wants a $20 billion carbon tax. Our government is reducing greenhouse gas emissions and standing up for Canadian jobs.

[Megan Leslie, NDP, Halifax, NS]

Mr. Speaker, it sounds as if the hon. minister is confused about what action on climate change really is. Canadians were understandably confused after the minister said, “there's always a debate around science and what’s changing”.

Actually, that debate is over. Climate change is real. It is impacting Canadians and it is time for the government to take action.

Will the minister agree that with all the evidence before us about climate change the time to take immediate action is now?

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, our government is a world leader when it comes to taking action on greenhouse gases. We have actually reduced our projected emissions by 130 megatonnes. Compare that to what they would have been under the Liberals. Under the Liberals, greenhouse emissions increased by almost 30%. Also, the NDP wants a $20 billion carbon tax. Our government is reducing greenhouse gases and standing up for Canadian jobs.

International Trade

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Westmount—Ville-Marie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, Canada's dairy farmers indicated that they are concerned about the free trade agreement with the European Union and its effect on supply management.

In the throne speech, the government made a commitment to continue protecting supply management, but it did not provide details.

Can the government explain how this agreement will affect our country's dairy farmers?

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Minister of State (Democratic Reform)]

Mr. Speaker, the three pillars of supply management will be protected in the agreement in question.

The Liberals and the NDP tried the same fearmongering tactics during NAFTA talks. However, 20 years later, we can see that Canadians have been very successful thanks to that Conservative feat.

This is no different. There will be a new market of 500 million consumers for our farmers. We are confident that our farmers will succeed.

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Westmount—Ville-Marie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservative government has not provided any details on what the CETA deal means to Parliament and to Canadians during the past four years. In fact, the Conservatives did not mention it in the throne speech in terms of getting us any further details. All we have heard has been through leaks in the media.

I would like to ask the government what information it has shared with the provinces because obviously the provinces have to sign on. Would the Conservatives share that with the rest of Parliament, please?

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Minister of State (Democratic Reform)]

Mr. Speaker, he wants details. Let me give him some details: 80,000 net new jobs; 500 million new consumers for Canadian businesses to reach; a cornucopia of new products to which Canadian consumers will now have access. This is a deal that will triple the number of countries with which we have free trade. It is the biggest trade agreement since NAFTA. In fact, it makes us one of the only countries in the world to have free trade with both Europe and the United States.

The NDP wants to build a giant brick wall around Canada. Where do the Liberals stand?

International Development

[Paul Dewar, NDP, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, victims of rape in war and child brides are left in tragic circumstances. They should have choices including access to abortion services. It is wrong for Conservatives to refuse to fund access for safe abortion services to these survivors.

Will the minister now do the right thing, put ideology aside for a moment, think about these survivors and for the sake of these victims reverse the Conservative government's policy?

[Christian Paradis, Conservative, Minister of International Development and Minister for La Francophonie]

Mr. Speaker, our government will continue to deliver where Canada can make a difference. It is deplorable to hear the opposition trying to divide over such a debate.

As members know, Canada, under the leadership of the Prime Minister, is recognized around the world as a leader in defending the health and safety of mothers and children, particularly girls.

Therefore, instead of dividing, the opposition parties should be proud of the tangible results that we are accomplishing around the world.

[Hélène Laverdière, NDP, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of International Development says that he condemns rape as a weapon of war. Then he turns around and tells women who become pregnant as a result of such a barbaric act that unfortunately, they have to deal with it on their own.

Does the minister sleep well at night?

[Christian Paradis, Conservative, Minister of International Development and Minister for La Francophonie]

Mr. Speaker, I sleep very well at night. To date, 1.3 million children under the age of five have survived thanks to the Canadian government's measures under the Muskoka initiative. In addition, 64,000 more mothers are alive today thanks to the Canadian government's initiatives.

It is deplorable that opposition members are trying to turn international aid into a divisive debate when we have achieved results. Canada is recognized around the world as a leader. That is where we will make a difference; that is where we will share our knowledge and expertise, in areas where it really matters.

Justice

[Mike Wallace, Conservative, Burlington, ON]

Mr. Speaker, for too long the voices of victims have been silenced while the system, and yes, that includes the Liberals and the NDP, coddled criminals. The opposition even opposed us repealing Pierre Trudeau's faint hope clause which gave murderers a shot at an early parole.

Will the minister explain our upcoming agenda to support and protect Canadian families?

[Peter MacKay, Conservative, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, like my friend, I am proud to be part of a government that puts victims and the protection of Canadians first.

Since becoming justice minister, I have had the opportunity to travel and consult broadly with victims and stakeholders about how we can work with them and the justice system to improve the safety and protection for victims across the country. In fact, this fall I am proud to say that we will bring forward the first national victims bill of rights that will do just that. It will allow us to ensure that victims have a voice, protection, inclusion and respect in our justice system. I know that all members opposite will want to support that important legislation.

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC]

Mr. Speaker, people in Quebec and across Canada cannot understand why one of our Supreme Court justices will not be allowed to sit for months or perhaps even years. Canada needs all of its judges at a time when some very important cases are before the court.

To resolve the legal mess that the Minister of Justice and the Prime Minister have created themselves, will the minister act on the Barreau du Québec's proposal and refer the matter directly to the Supreme Court in order to get a quick decision?

[Peter MacKay, Conservative, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, let me be perfectly clear: we will defend the rights of Quebeckers appointed to the Federal Court to also sit on Canada's highest court.

The eligibility and the opinion that we have received from Mr. Justice Ian Binnie, which has also been endorsed by Supreme Court Justice Louise Charron, as well as a noted constitutional expert, Peter Hogg, is very clear. In fact, we believe that Justice Nadon is eminently qualified. We are certain that he will serve the court and the country with distinction and will receive the clearance he needs to join his colleagues on the Supreme Court of Canada.

Ethics

[Nathan Cullen, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the RCMP has confirmed that Nigel Wright did not act alone but in fact others in the Prime Minister's Office were involved. Is the Prime Minister's latest parliamentary secretary actually accusing the RCMP of lying?

[Paul Calandra, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and for Intergovernmental Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, the member, of course, will sink to no depths in order to try and make a ridiculous point in the House. Nigel Wright has taken sole responsibility for this. The Prime Minister has said that on a number of occasions.

The NDP members are just an angry lot. It bothers them that a million Canadians are working today who were not before. It bothers them that 80,000 net new jobs are about to be created in the country because of the policies of our government and our Prime Minister.

When it comes to standing up for law enforcement, including the RCMP, they know and Canadians know that our government will always stand up for them, including—