Debates of Oct. 25th, 2013

CIBC Celebration of Hope

[Paul Calandra, Conservative, Oak Ridges—Markham, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by giving my congratulations to the CIBC Celebration of Hope luncheon committee from my riding of Oak Ridges—Markham for over 25 years of successful events.

This year's event will take place this Sunday, October 27, in support of Markham Stouffville Hospital. This luncheon brings community together to educate and create awareness for breast cancer and the people it affects.

I would like to recognize and congratulate the co-chairs, Karen Gerrard and Christine Taylor, as well as the event's host, Erin Davis and her co-host, the one and only, Allan Bell. Their selfless commitment to the community is something to be honoured and celebrated.

Efforts like the CIBC Celebration of Hope luncheons are evidence that Canadians will continue to play a leading role in creating a future without breast cancer, indeed, all cancers.

Klaus Hochheim, Daniel Dubé and Marc Thibault

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

Mr. Speaker, on Monday, September 9, 2013, three Canadians who had a passion for the far north were the victims of a helicopter accident.

Today in the House, I would like to pay tribute to Klaus Hochheim, researcher, Daniel Dubé, helicopter pilot, and Marc Thibault, commander of the Amundsen, the Coast Guard icebreaker.

Commander Thibault was from the municipality of L'Islet-sur-Mer, in the riding I am privileged to represent. Commander Thibault provided support to scientists, rescued shipwrecked individuals and created trade routes. He did a great deal to ensure our country had a physical presence in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the sometimes hostile environments of Canada's North.

The remarkable skills of Coast Guard pilots and commanders make it easy for us to forget, in the comfort of our own homes, the heroic risks they sometimes take and their key role in building our national security and our country.

On behalf of all my constituents and the elected members of the House, I would like to extend our condolences to the grieving families and say how grateful and proud we are of Marc Thibault, this son of the South Shore.

Poppy Campaign

[Royal Galipeau, Conservative, Ottawa—Orléans, ON]

Mr. Speaker, as of today, we see poppies pinned close to the hearts of our fellow Canadians.

In Orléans earlier this morning, I participated in the launch of the poppy campaign together with members of the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 632.

We owe many thanks to Susan Ierfino, Bill Gloss and Daniel Dion for undertaking this campaign and to the numerous dedicated volunteers who participate in its annual success.

The bright red poppy, a symbol of our support for our soldiers and veterans, adds a splash of colour to brighten up the dreary month of November. It is a pleasure to encourage all Canadians to proudly display the poppy on the left side of their clothing, near their hearts.

By wearing this precious symbol, we remember all those who fought for freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law in such conflicts as World War I, the Korean War and the war in Afghanistan.

We will remember them.

Eid al-Adha

[Parm Gill, Conservative, Brampton—Springdale, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to wish Muslims around the world a happy Eid-al Adha. Eid-al Adha is about sacrifices.

This week I had the pleasure of attending a marvellous celebration of Eid on the Hill. Members of the Muslim community travelled a great distance to attend the celebration on the Hill, including members from my own riding of Brampton—Springdale.

Canadian Muslims continue to make an incredible contribution toward our great nation. I often meet with Muslim businessmen, women, faith leaders and hard-working families who play a vital role. Individuals such as Kamran Ali, Aqeel Akram, Tahir Khan and Safdar Hussain constantly go out of their way to help others. One of the wonderful initiatives they have taken on is to provide aid to the less fortunate in the region of Peel by helping pay for funeral and burial services.

From the bottom of my heart, I would like to wish Muslims around the world a happy Eid Mubarak.

Project BUMP

[Tyrone Benskin, NDP, Jeanne-Le Ber, QC]

Mr. Speaker, on October 10, 2013, the Little Burgundy community and I celebrated the 10th anniversary of project BUMP. My heartfelt congratulations go to Steve, Francesco and Renée for their ongoing work with youth through this project.

Ten years ago, in response to the violence that engulfed Little Burgundy, Rosemary Segee took it upon herself to develop a means to bring her community together in settling its conflicts and project BUMP was born.

Ten years later, Little Burgundy is a new community. The joint efforts of the police, organizations and the community help our young people reach their full potential, be more determined and accomplish great things.

I stand in this place today and proudly offer my most sincere thanks to all those who work so tirelessly with and for our young people.

Small Business

[Costas Menegakis, Conservative, Richmond Hill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, today is shop small business day. What better way than today to highlight the importance that investors are making and real contribution in exchange for the security and pathway to citizenship that Canada provides.

This week the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration launched the new business incubator stream under the start-up visa program to recruit dynamic foreign entrepreneurs. This will attract early-stage and high-growth businesses. It will encourage innovation and economic growth. It will position Canada ahead of other countries in the global competition of the 21st century.

Our government is focused on creating jobs, economic growth and long-term prosperity for Canadians. It is critical for Canada that we attract the best and brightest entrepreneurs and innovators from around the world

Foreign Affairs

[Jamie Nicholls, NDP, Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC]

Mr. Speaker, early yesterday morning I made my way to the Montreal airport to welcome home a Canadian mom and her three children.

Ola Elgadi spent more than a month trapped in Gaza after Egyptian authorities closed the Rafah border. While many Canadians question why a woman and three children would travel to a country under a travel advisory, the answer is simple: the undeniable and unbreakable bonds of family.

In August, Ola and her three daughters went to Gaza to visit their grandfather, who is very ill. The three girls, aged 12, 8 and 3, had never met their grandfather before.

Canadian citizens abroad, regardless of their country of origin, their religion, profession, race, sexual orientation, age, gender are Canadian citizens and deserve the aid of their government in times of need.

We cannot ask, we should not ask Canadian citizens to sacrifice their family bonds because their ancestry is not composed of Canadian citizens. To do so would simply be un-Canadian.

I welcome home the Elgadis, residents of Vaudreuil—Soulanges and proud Canadian citizens.

Leader of the Liberal Party

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we all know that the Leader of the Liberal Party likes to travel all over the country to talk about himself on the taxpayers' dime. In February, he told the Ottawa Citizen that he had earned $277,000 as a speaker since 2008, while working as an MP. That is a lot of extra money.

Members of Parliament now have until the end of the month to submit a form to the House of Commons management, listing their salaries as speakers, which could ultimately hurt the Leader of the Liberal Party.

We have said a number of times that the Leader of the Liberal Party should not accept money from schools or charities for his speeches while earning a salary as an MP.

I know that I would not want my children's school to pay a politician for bragging about his accomplishments to the students. It is sad to see that he is happy to accept their money.

1993 Election

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

Mr. Speaker, today marks a momentous anniversary. Twenty years ago today was the 1993 election that elected many of my colleagues, but which also elected the government of my great friend, former prime minister Jean Chrétien.

I send my congratulations to Mr. Chrétien this day, but also to the person he always called his most trusted adviser, his wife Aline.

I appreciate the confidence the former prime minister showed in me and was honoured to serve in many roles, including minister of labour and solicitor general.

Together our team achieved much to be proud of: turning a $42 billion deficit into nine years of balanced budgets, team Canada trade missions, massive job creation, a UN land mines treaty, sustaining the CPP, the Clarity Act, and the list goes on.

I would also like to sincerely congratulate my colleagues in the House who are celebrating their 20th anniversary today.

We may have different views, but we are all here to make a better Canada.

International Trade

[Erin O'Toole, Conservative, Durham, ON]

Mr. Speaker, one week ago today, the Prime Minister signed the historic European trade agreement in principle, which means a 20% increase in trade with Europe and 80,000 net new jobs.

With NAFTA and the European deal, Canada will soon have preferred access to over 800 million of the world's best consumers.

In the face of this huge win for Canada, the NDP members continue their doublespeak on trade and on the European deal. This week they have placed the MP for Windsor West on the trade committee. This member is noted for his anti-trade positions, and last year he supported a big union plan to stop negotiations with Europe and all our other foreign allies in our trade negotiations.

Trade is good for Canada; a $1,000 net benefit for families with the European deal. The NDP has to stop speaking out of both sides of its mouth and get behind our European deal.

Conservative Members

[Matthew Dubé, NDP, Chambly—Borduas, QC]

Mr. Speaker, it must be fun to be a Conservative member these days, tucking yourself in each night saying that it was another good day and pretending that it was not your crew that appointed Mike Duffy, Pamela Wallin and Patrick Brazeau to the Senate.

It is also a good day for them to be reminded that the Conservative Party has broken all of its promises about the Senate, to face the fact that the Conservative leader put the country in the hands of rogues like Nigel Wright and Ray Novak, and to applaud like trained seals when the Prime Minister invents his latest version of the facts and treats Canadians like nincompoops.

I imagine that the Conservatives dreamed of a more wholesome political career before they were corrupted by power, but we will let them live with their consciences.

Meanwhile, we are going to hound them until they stop their pitiful excuses, admit to their failings and start telling the truth. In 2015, we will deal with the Senate.

Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada

[Roxanne James, Conservative, Scarborough Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, we all know that the Liberal leader likes to travel across the country to talk about himself on the taxpayer's dime.

In February he told the Ottawa Citizen he had earned $277,000 in speaking fees since 2008 while earning an MP's salary. That is a lot of extra money.

MPs now have until the end of the month to submit a form to the House of Commons administrators listing all of their paid speaking engagements, which may eventually pose a challenge for the Liberal leader.

We have mentioned several times that the leader of the Liberal Party should not be taking money from schools and charities for speaking engagements while earning a salary as a member of Parliament. I would not want my child's school to pay for any politician to tout his or her accomplishments to students. It is sad that the leader of the Liberal Party happily accepts this money.

Ethics

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

Mr. Speaker, after months of saying Nigel Wright acted alone, claiming on June 5 that Nigel Wright's cheque to pay off Mike Duffy and his bad debts was “...not communicated to me or to members of my office”, yesterday the Prime Minister contradicted himself and said the Duffy cover-up scheme was communicated to “[a] few people” in his office.

Which statement was true, and which one was a lie?

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

I do not think the hon. member is suggesting that any member in this House would have deliberately misled the House. I just encourage members to avoid using that word during the course of question period.

Is the hon. parliamentary secretary rising to answer the question? The hon. Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister.

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

Mr. Speaker, what is clear is that the Prime Minister has been actually very clear and concise on this matter. Nigel Wright, in his own filings, expressed whom he brought into his confidence on this matter. The Prime Minister spoke about this in July when he was asked this question.

However, what is also clear is that when Senator Duffy approached the Prime Minister to try to justify his inappropriate expenses, the Prime Minister told him he needed to pay back any inappropriate expenses he did not incur. What the Prime Minister said to Senator Duffy is very clear: he should back the expenses that he was not entitled to.

I wish that the opposition, especially the opposition Liberals, would get on board with us and pass the suspension of the senators and stop obstructing that motion in the Senate.

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

Mr. Speaker, let us just ask the Conservatives to focus on their own mess for a moment. The minister does not seem to have understood the question.

The Prime Minister has now given two completely contradictory versions of events. I asked which one was the truth and which one was not. Two opposite statements cannot occupy the same place at the same time.

Let us try another simple question: who are the “few people” in the Prime Minister's Office who were aware of the cash for repayment scheme to buy off Mike Duffy?

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

Mr. Speaker, we have been entirely consistent. Nigel Wright, in his own filings, identified the people he brought into his confidence with respect to this issue.

However, it is also clear that when Mike Duffy approached the Prime Minister with respect to his inappropriate expenses, he was told clearly and concisely to repay any expenses to which he was not entitled. He talked to us in caucus and he talked to senators and to the senior staff and to the MPs, making it quite clear to the rest of us not to accept payment for expenses we did not incur, and if we did to make it right. If we did not, we would not be sitting as a Conservative in this caucus.

That is the standard they should accept.

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

Mr. Speaker, I do not think my hon. friend across the way understands what the definition of being clear and consistent actually means, because this Prime Minister has been anything but.

The Prime Minister's explanations about the involvement of his office in a serious ethical scandal have now proven to be false. In documents filed by police in Federal Court, Nigel Wright said that at least four people who worked in the Prime Minister's Office knew about the cash for repayment scheme.

Why will Conservatives not simply come clean, tell Canadians the truth, and let us know who else was involved in this scandal?

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

Mr. Speaker, he is referring to the exact same documents that we are referring to. The Prime Minister was very clear on this. He responded to this as well in July.

What is very clear is that the opposition needs to come on board, especially the opposition Liberals, and pass the suspension in the Senate immediately.

What is also clear is that the Prime Minister said to Senator Duffy that if he had inappropriate expenses, he had to repay those expenses. It was very clear. There can be no ambiguity about that. If he incurred an expense to which he was not entitled, he had to pay it back.

[Sadia Groguhé, NDP, Saint-Lambert, QC]

Mr. Speaker, one of the people named by Mr. Wright in his RCMP document is Benjamin Perrin. However, the Prime Minister refuses to provide any details on that person's involvement.

The day before yesterday, the Prime Minister said: “any information that we can provide, we have provided and will continue to provide.” So the Prime Minister too has provided information to the RCMP. Is that information about Benjamin Perrin?

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

Mr. Speaker, as the Prime Minister said just the other day in this House, Mr. Perrin has actually spoken on this matter. What is also very clear is that Mr. Wright, in filings with the court, identified the people he brought into his confidence on this matter.

Again what is very clear is that when Senator Duffy approached the Prime Ministeron this matter, the Prime Minister told him that he had to repay those expenses. What the Prime Minister also said was that he expected more from the people in his office, and had he been aware of this, there was no way the Prime Minister would have accepted a deal like this.

Democratic Reform

[Sadia Groguhé, NDP, Saint-Lambert, QC]

Mr. Speaker, can the government commit to appointing no further senators before receiving the final opinion from the Supreme Court?

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

Mr. Speaker, we have been very clear since we were elected in this place that we do not want to appoint senators: we want to elect senators. We want a Senate that is accountable to the people of Canada. It is the NDP that has consistently obstructed us in that matter. When it comes to accountability in the Senate, it is the New Democrats and the Liberals who constantly obstruct us.

We will not appoint any senators if they agree to elect senators.

Ethics

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Wascana, SK]

Mr. Speaker, when the Prime Minister is in trouble, he resorts to Conservative lawyer Arthur Hamilton. Mr. Hamilton led the Prime Minister's unsuccessful defence in the illegal in-and-out election financing scam. The police raided Conservative headquarters, charges were laid, the party pled guilty, convictions were entered, and the biggest possible fine was imposed.

Mr. Hamilton is also the lead Conservative on robocalls, election fraud, throwing Michael Sona to the wolves, and so on. What was Mr. Hamilton's role in paying off Mike Duffy?

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

Mr. Speaker, again, in his filings Nigel Wright has identified the people that he brought into his confidence on this matter.

More importantly right now, why are the Liberals in the Senate obstructing the passage of this motion, which would see these three senators stripped of their pay? Why do they not get on board in bringing real accountability to the Senate, stand up for taxpayers, stop obstructing the Senate's work, and vote in favour of this motion to respect taxpayers?