Debates of Oct. 18th, 2013

Ethics

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

Mr. Speaker, that answer is an absolute joke. There was no relevancy whatsoever to the question.

For more than a year the former parliamentary secretary to the Prime Minister lectured anyone who wanted to listen on ethics. When he found out that Elections Canada was investigating him for cheating on an election, he launched a baseless attack against it. The member for Peterborough faces very serious charges and potential prison time. This after the Prime Minister defended the member's expenses in the House.

Will the Prime Minister and the Conservatives stop attacking Elections Canada and give the resources necessary for Elections Canada to—

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

The hon. Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister.

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

Mr. Speaker, on every count that matters to Canadians this government is getting the job done.

When it comes to the Senate we have brought in bills with respect to term limits. Those members were against that. We have brought in bills with respect to electing Senators. Those members were against that. Last spring we brought in 12 tough new measures with respect to spending in the Senate. Their senators did not want that. Yesterday we brought in even further accountability to those senators who are alleged to have defrauded Canadians of a lot of money. The Liberals are against that as well. We have brought forward some reforms to the Senate to the Supreme Court of Canada.

We will be moving forward with Senate reform as quickly as we can, even if the Liberals want the status quo.

Justice

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, clearly this government has no plan to ensure that Quebec is fully represented in the Supreme Court of Canada.

Apparently the Government of Quebec will be challenging Justice Nadon's nomination, which is certainly a first in the 136-year history of the Supreme Court.

Will the government accept the recommendation of the Barreau du Québec and immediately turn this matter over to the Supreme Court?

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

Mr. Speaker, I could not be more clear: we will defend the right of Quebeckers on the Federal Court bench to also sit in Canada's highest court.

The opinion of former Supreme Court justice Ian Binnie, which was also endorsed by former Supreme Court justice Louise Charron and by noted constitutional law expert Peter Hogg, is very clear in this regard. Justice Nadon is eminently qualified and we are confident that he will serve the court with distinction.

Health

[Libby Davies, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Mr. Speaker, there was barely a mention of the critical issue of health care in the Speech from the Throne. The Conservatives have failed in their promise to reduce wait times, failed to deliver home care and failed on pharmacare, but they are quite happy to impose billions in health care cuts on the provinces.

When Canadians are so concerned about health care, why was it missing from the government's Speech from the Throne?

[Eve Adams, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health, CPC]

Mr. Speaker, our government is committed to a strong, publicly funded health care system guided by the Canada Health Act. That is why we are providing tools to the provinces and territories to deliver health care in their jurisdictions.

We announced a long-term, stable funding arrangement that will see transfers reach $40 billion by the end of the decade. That is historic. Our government is following through on our commitment to provide the highest recorded health transfer dollars in Canadian history.

[Dany Morin, NDP, Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the $31-billion budget cuts are certainly not going to help the provinces deliver quality services to their people.

Health care is a top priority for Canadians and their families. The fact that there was barely a mention of health in the Speech from the Throne is very worrying. There was nothing in the speech about the renewal of agreements with the provinces in 2014, nothing about drug costs or shortages, and nothing on caregiver support.

Recent reports are alarming. Those with serious illnesses will be forced into crippling debt to get through this difficult period. This debt spiral leading to poverty is worrisome.

When are the Conservatives going to wake up?

[Eve Adams, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health, CPC]

Mr. Speaker, our government is committed to innovation to ensure our health care system is sustainable.

At a recent meeting with provincial and territorial colleagues, our Minister of Health discussed the need for innovative solutions to ensure that we have a strong health care system now and well into the future.

On the topic of historic health care transfer dollars, I want to reassure our colleagues that we will hit a record $40 billion in transfers by the end of the decade. We are also funding over $1 billion for innovative health research that funds over 14,000 researchers across Canada. Through our record transfer dollars we are helping all Canadians.

Justice

[Françoise Boivin, NDP, Gatineau, QC]

Mr. Speaker, because of the Conservative's fiasco with the appointment of Justice Nadon—and by the way, this has never happened in 138 years—Quebec will be under-represented on the Supreme Court of Canada for up to five years. Only eight justices can currently hear cases. It is incredible. Furthermore, the court must rule on a number of important and complex cases, including the Senate case. What will the Minister of Justice do to ensure that Quebec has full representation on the Supreme Court of Canada as soon as possible?

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

Mr. Speaker, we will continue to appoint Supreme Court of Canada justices on the basis of merit and regional representation. Obviously, we would prefer to have a full bench at the Supreme Court of Canada. However, given the quality of the justices, I am sure they will properly carry out their obligations and responsibilities.

[Françoise Boivin, NDP, Gatineau, QC]

Mr. Speaker, an important vote is missing. Three seats were set aside for Quebec and, at present, only two are occupied.

The Supreme Court of Canada is the highest court in the land. It should be a source of unity for all Canadians, not a source of conflict and division. What is the minister going to do to resolve the issues surrounding Justice Nadon's appointment and ensure that such a situation never repeats itself?

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

Mr. Speaker, we will continue appointing judges to the Supreme Court of Canada based on merit and regional representation. In this case, obviously, it would be ideal to have the full panel of the court, but with the quality and depth of the judges that are presently on the bench, they will certainly be able to very ably meet their responsibilities and commitments.

International Trade

[Bev Shipley, Conservative, Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Canada is a trading nation and today our Prime Minister has delivered an historic deal with the European Union. There will be 500 million new customers. Our government is getting the job done for Canadians, for workers and for business. When we trade, we become more competitive; prices for goods and services fall; wages, salaries and standards of living go up; businesses can hire more workers; and Canadians have more opportunities.

Would the parliamentary secretary update the House on how our government will help Canadians and consumers make a choice for lower prices for goods and services?

[Erin O'Toole, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade, CPC]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my hon. colleague for that terrific question.

Once CETA is fully implemented, approximately 99% of EU tariff lines will be duty free. That includes 100% of non-agricultural lines and over 95% of agricultural tariff lines. It is truly a game changer for Canada: prices down for consumers and employment up, with 80,000 net new jobs. At the end of the day, there will be a $1,000 net benefit to families like those in Lambton—Kent—Middlesex.

Rail Transportation

[Linda Duncan, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Mr. Speaker, across Canada communities are voicing concerns over increasingly dangerous rail cargo. Alberta is no exception. Daily, tanker cars of hazardous substances pass through our cities and towns. Albertans suffered first-hand the bunker C derailment at Lake Wabamun. While Canadians looked to the throne speech for commitment to action, we saw just vague mention of the issue.

The question is simple. When will the government finally phase out the use of DOT-111 cars for dangerous cargo?

[Jeff Watson, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport, CPC]

It is quite the opposite, Mr. Speaker. The minister yesterday took action by announcing a directive that will ensure that all crude oil being transported be properly tested, classified and the results be sent to Transport Canada. That is an additional means to monitor industry compliance and focus our efforts for the greatest safety benefit for all Canadians.

With respect to the DOT-111 cars, Transport Canada has already accepted the TSB's recommendation on DOT-111 railway cars, and as recommended by the TSB, new railway cars are being built to new standards.

[Matthew Kellway, NDP, Beaches—East York, ON]

Mr. Speaker, across the country train tracks run right through the middle of communities. Some are small towns, some are densely-populated cities like mine. It is not like sound recommendations have not been suggested from the Transportation Safety Board, for example. Life-saving solutions are staring us in the face, but still nothing from the government. Canadians deserve to know what steps are being taken to make our communities safer.

When will Transport Canada provide real-time information to municipalities about dangerous goods?

[Jeff Watson, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport, CPC]

Mr. Speaker, our government's top priority is the safety and security of Canadians. The member will know that the minister has met with representatives, not only from the rail companies but from municipalities as well, specifically on the topic of dangerous goods. They are all reporting that it is a good dialogue.

We further agreed that first responders should have information on the type of dangerous goods being transported through their communities. We expect that all parties can arrive at a system that everyone agrees with.

[François Lapointe, NDP, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

Mr. Speaker, practical measures must be taken to improve railway safety.

Broad principles in a throne speech without any positive changes to support them do not provide any protection for people who live near railway lines. Here is a practical measure: CN must ensure that its freight trains slow down from 100 km/h to 64 km/h when passing through urban areas. Everyone in Montmagny and many other cities agrees with this measure.

Here is a very specific question about a targeted measure. Will the Conservatives require trains transporting hazardous materials to slow down when they pass through urban areas or not?

[Jeff Watson, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport, CPC]

Mr. Speaker, the minister is engaged in a very important dialogue with municipalities and railway companies, specifically on the topic of the transportation of dangerous goods. That is a productive discussion, as the municipalities themselves are saying. We are listening to municipalities. We will make sensible recommendations and take action.

Consumer Protection

[Philip Toone, NDP, Gaspésie—Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives want us to believe that they are standing up for consumers, but the regions no longer have access to CBC/Radio-Canada television as a result of the blind budget cuts the Conservatives made in 2012.

Basically, they want to force companies to offer pick-and-pay cable services. However, they are forcing thousands of people in the Gaspé, the Magdalen Islands and other regions to pay top dollar for cable just so that they can have access to CBC/Radio-Canada television programming. That is unacceptable.

Why are the Conservatives ignoring the problems of consumers in the regions?

[Rick Dykstra, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage, CPC]

Mr. Speaker, our government recognizes the role the CBC plays in our Canadian society and the funds that it receives to deliver those services. In fact, the president of the CBC has said they can continue to fulfill their mandate and implement their 2015 plan while participating in our government's deficit reduction action plan.

They are on track. Let us trust them to do their job.

Veterans Affairs

[Jim Karygiannis, Liberal, Scarborough—Agincourt, ON]

Mr. Speaker, a young veteran, Kate MacEachern, began her “long way home” walk at the Canso Causeway in Nova Scotia. She walked to raise the Canadian public's awareness of post-traumatic stress disorder and to raise funds for Military Minds. Today, 1,685 kilometres later, she arrived in Ottawa and sits here with us.

When will the government allocate the required funds and resources to help veterans such as Kate who are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder? When will the government step up to the plate?

[Parm Gill, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, our government has made substantial investments to support Canada's veterans, including almost $5 billion in new, additional dollars since taking office. This funding has been put toward improved financial benefits, world-class rehabilitation and tuition costs to help veterans transition into civilian life.

While our government is making improvements to veterans benefits, Liberals and the NDP have voted against new funding for mental health treatment, financial support and home care services.