Debates of Oct. 25th, 2013

Taxation

[Andrew Saxton, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, credit unions will still have access to the lower small business tax rate. That has not changed.

We are simply eliminating an outdated tax subsidy from the 1970s, put in by the member's government, I might add, when the tax system was very different. No other small business received that special tax subsidy.

Transport

[Guy Caron, NDP, Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the people and locally elected officials in the Lower St. Lawrence are anxiously awaiting the announcement of phase 3 of the project to upgrade highway 185, a four-lane highway that is part of the Trans-Canada Highway.

When completed, the highway will be a vital tool for the economic development of the region and will improve the safety of one of the most dangerous stretches of highway in Quebec.

Can the minister confirm whether she discussed this with her Quebec counterpart at the most recent meeting of transport ministers? If so, did she guarantee the federal government's support, as was the case with phases 1 and 2 of the project?

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, our government and the Quebec government collaborate on all transportation issues affecting the province of Quebec. We will be working together.

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

Give me a break, Mr. Speaker. Is it possible to have an even more vacuous reply next time and to be given even less information?

We need a commitment now. Too many families have lost loved ones on highway 185. Instead of sitting back and putting the ball in Quebec's court, the federal government has an opportunity to show leadership. The minister can be proactive and sign a federal-provincial funding agreement right now. She can confirm the federal government's participation and be prepared when the province is ready to move forward.

Accordingly, can the minister guarantee right now that the federal government will participate in this phase, just as it did in the first two phases of upgrades to this stretch of highway, which, need I remind members, is part of the Trans-Canada Highway?

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to remind my colleague that we always work with the Quebec government on transport issues in Quebec to the extent permitted by our programs. Quebec can establish its own priorities.

Foreign Affairs

[Joan Crockatt, Conservative, Calgary Centre, AB]

Mr. Speaker, though the opposition might be fooled by Rouhani's charm offensive in Iran, we on this side of the House will not.

As the UN rapporteur notes in his latest report, the human rights situation in Iran continues to be abysmal. The number of political prisoners executed is at an all-time high. Average citizens remain subject to arbitrary arrest, imprisonment, threat, harassment and torture.

Can the Minister of Foreign Affairs please tell the House the government's views on the regressive, clerical, military regime in Iran?

[John Baird, Conservative, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, I share the member's disappointment with the NDP's recent statements in this regard.

They have a president in Iran who got elected when they would not even allow women, who represent 51% of the population of Iran, to even contest the office. Iran has issues, as mentioned. It has stepped up its death penalty cases this year, which is deeply concerning to Canada. It is supporting Assad's war against his own people, including providing him with material support. It is financing and actively supporting terrorism around the world.

Its nuclear program causes us deep concern. They do not need to manufacture medical isotopes under 300 metres of rock.

Regional Economic Development

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

Mr. Speaker, it seems the Conservative government is continuing its march toward eliminating the federal presence on Prince Edward Island.

Now it seems that the Vernon River post office is the next federal service to be axed. The government continues to remove federal jobs, assets and services from Prince Edward Island.

Will the government commit to keeping the Vernon River post office open, and stop its attack on rural Prince Edward Island?

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

Mr. Speaker, Canadians are choosing to communicate in ways other than sending letters.

Due to the lack of demand, mail volumes have dropped almost 25% since 2008 and continue to fall. Since 1981, Canada Post has had a mandate to operate on a self-sustaining financial basis. We are concerned that it is posting significant losses.

Rail Transportation

[Tarik Brahmi, NDP, Saint-Jean, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we are dealing with an incompetent government. That is what the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives report on railway safety confirms.

It is simply irresponsible to cut the railway safety budget by 19% when the amount of oil shipped by rail has gone up from 500 carloads to 140,000 carloads.

Out of respect for the victims of Lac-Mégantic, will the Minister of Transport finally explain how she will correct the lax approach taken by her government?

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

Mr. Speaker, quite the contrary, the minister has been taking action.

With respect to Lac-Mégantic, obviously our thoughts and prayers are with the families and victims who were affected by this tragic accident. We do need to let the authorities continue their investigation. Transport Canada will not hesitate to act on recommendations.

Veterans Affairs

[Rick Norlock, Conservative, Northumberland—Quinte West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, since 2006, our government has invested almost $5 billion new dollars to improve financial benefits and improve services like snow cleaning and home cleaning while focusing on veterans' rehabilitation. In total, this represents one-third more than previous governments spent on a yearly basis for Canadian veterans.

Would the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs please update this House on any new improvements our government has made?

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

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague for Northumberland—Quinte West for his hard work for Canadian veterans.

In fact, according to the Veterans Ombudsman, a 24-year corporal who is medically released from the military will now receive upwards of $2 million in total financial benefits because of improvements our government has made. What is more, a veteran who is injured in the line of duty will now have up to $75,000 for university or college tuition for retraining and certification programs.

Our government is focused on helping veterans transition to civilian life, and we will continue to do that.

Ethics

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

Mr. Speaker, to get out of the crisis of confidence caused by the Prime Minister, his entourage and his senators, some are asking him to testify under oath, while others are asking him to submit all the documents or even to make them public.

However, there is a solution that addresses all those requests. Why not have an independent public inquiry, like the Gomery commission or the Charbonneau commission?

To get out of the mess he got himself into and to prevent him from being hoisted by his own petard, why does the Prime Minister not set up an independent public inquiry right away, as the Bloc Québécois has requested since the beginning of the crisis?

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

Mr. Speaker, again, we are going to continue to work with all authorities and provide any information they require.

Interprovincial Relations

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

Mr. Speaker, to please their voter base, which is grumbling about the deluge of ethical scandals in the government, the Conservatives are stepping up their vicious attacks against Quebec. The controversial appointment of Justice Nadon, the challenge to Quebec's Bill 99 and the unilateral reform of the Senate are all designed to stir up conflict and distract attention.

Now the Minister of Human Resources is putting his oar in too. He is planning to interfere once again in manpower training, and he is criticizing Quebec's requirements for apprentices in construction trades.

Why does the minister want to lower standards that fall under Quebec's exclusive jurisdiction?

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, manpower training is very important.

We would like Quebec and other provinces to work within our program, because we have jobs available in Canada. Canadians can get training. Matching skilled workers with job vacancies will be good for Canada's economic future.

Ethics

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

Mr. Speaker, no due process, no presumption of innocence, no natural justice, three senators with very different fact sets lumped together for punishment. If this kind of vigilante justice took place in any other place in Canada, these people could go to the courts for redress following because of these numerous violations. But because it is in the Senate, as it would be in the House, if this precedent goes unchallenged, they will find themselves just as Helena Guergis did being told it “is royal prerogative and you have no right to complain if your reputation is ruined”.

Will the Prime Minister do the right thing: stop this farce in the Senate, and call a full inquiry?

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

Mr. Speaker, as I said earlier, I will let the NDP, Liberals, and now the Green Party stand up for these three senators who are accused of very large infractions with taxpayers' money.

The Prime Minister has been very clear. We want this motion passed. We want the Liberals in the Senate to stop obstructing this. They can pass this immediately. On this side of the House, we are going to stand up for taxpayers, and we want the opposition to do the same and have the Liberal senators get out of the way. Pass this motion immediately.

Prohibiting Cluster Munitions Act

[John Baird, Conservative, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-6, An Act to implement the Convention on Cluster Munitions.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to the special order made previously, I would like to inform the House that this bill is in the same form as Bill S-10 was in the previous session at the time of prorogation.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

[The Acting Speaker, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

The Chair is satisfied that this bill is in the same form as that of Bill S-10 when it was before the House at the time of prorogation of the first session of the 41st Parliament.

Accordingly, pursuant to order made on Monday, October 21, 2013, the bill is deemed read the second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development.

(Bill read the second time and referred to a committee)

Canadian Museum of History Act

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Nunavut, NU]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-7, An Act to amend the Museums Act in order to establish the Canadian museum of history and to make consequential amendments to other acts.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to the special orders made previously, I would like to inform the House that this bill is in the same form as Bill C-49 was in the previous session at the time of prorogation.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

[The Acting Speaker, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

The Chair is satisfied that this bill is in the same form as Bill C-49 was at the time of prorogation of the first session of the 41st Parliament.

Accordingly, pursuant to an order made on Monday, October 21, 2013, the bill is deemed read the second time, considered by the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage, reported without amendment and concurred in at report stage.

(Bill read the second time and referred to a committee, reported without amendment, and concurred in at report stage)

Procedure and House Affairs

[Tom Lukiwski, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the second report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs. That report states:

The Committee advises that, pursuant to Standing Order 91.1(2), the Subcommittee on Private Members’ Business met to consider the items added to the Order of Precedence as a result of the replenishment of Wednesday, June 5, 2013, and recommended that the items listed herein, which it has determined should not be designated non-votable, be considered by the House...

[The Acting Speaker, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

Pursuant to Standing Order 91.1(2), the report is deemed adopted.