House of Commons Hansard #9 of the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was c-4.
Romeo Saganash NDP Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives sent a message at the end of last week by refusing to renew the government's rental agreement with the First Nations University of Canada in Regina. The university is facing a financial hit of $1.4 million.
When the problem of inadequate funding for first nations education is on the agenda, how can the minister justify this new disengagement from the country's first nations?
Bernard Valcourt ConservativeMinister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development
Mr. Speaker, as most members of the House know, there is a transparent process and there are rules to ensure the fair renewal of federal leasing arrangements.
In this case, when the lease expired, the Department of Public Works and Government Services issued a call for proposals.The university was eligible to submit a proposal but chose not to do so. As a result, the rules apply.
That is what happened.
Jean Crowder NDP Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC
Mr. Speaker, adequately investing in first nations education is in the interest of all Canadians. Closing the funding gap for first nations kids attending on-reserve schools should be at the centre of any education proposal. Instead, the minister is treating this critical issue as an afterthought in his proposal for the first nations education act.
Why is the minister delaying any attempt to close the funding gap?
Bernard Valcourt ConservativeMinister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development
Mr. Speaker, the premise of the hon. member's question is totally false. If she cares to read the proposal, she will find out that for the first time in a hundred and some years in Canada, this proposal casts an obligation on the minister to pay the cost of education at the secondary and elementary levels for first nations.
The members opposite should be welcoming this statutory obligation on the minister, which is now at his whim because it is only a policy. We want to make it statute-based, and first nations will benefit.
Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet NDP Hochelaga, QC
Mr. Speaker, let us continue with the topic of underfunded programs. Today, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities asked the Conservatives to do something about the lack of rental housing in Canada. More than 1.5 million families are in dire need of housing, but the government is refusing to renew the agreements between social housing agencies and CMHC.
Will the Conservatives start listening to the NDP and the FCM, implement a housing strategy and renew the agreements?
Candice Bergen ConservativeMinister of State (Social Development)
Mr. Speaker, budget 2013 renewed our investment and our commitment to affordable housing.
Together with our partners, our government has provided housing and support for over 880,000 individuals and families.
We are actually producing results. CMHC provides mortgage subsidies for long-term 25- to 50-year agreements. Those agreements are coming to an end. There are no cuts.
Matthew Kellway NDP Beaches—East York, ON
Mr. Speaker, from small towns to big cities, too many Canadians do not have or cannot afford a proper roof over their heads. In Toronto, a quarter million people are on the waiting list for affordable housing and the average cost of a home continues to grow further out of reach.
There is a housing crisis in this country. Why are the Conservatives not doing anything about it?
Candice Bergen ConservativeMinister of State (Social Development)
Mr. Speaker, our investment and our commitment to affordable housing is a multi-pronged approach.
We are working steadily with our partners on things like agreements for investment in affordable housing as well as our homelessness partnering strategy, with the focus on housing first.
We are producing results. We are not just talking, as the NDP always wants to do: more bureaucracy, more talk. We are actually producing results for those who are vulnerable.
Wladyslaw Lizon Conservative Mississauga East—Cooksville, ON
Mr. Speaker, Liberal poster boy Joe Fontana is up in criminal court today. He is what bad dreams are made of.
Allow me to remind this House that London mayor and former senior Liberal cabinet minister Joe Fontana has been charged with fraud, breach of trust and uttering forged documents.
Could the government please update this House on what it is doing to combat crime and protect Canadian families?
The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer
I am sure there was much in that preamble that had to do with government business.
The hon. member for Burnaby—New Westminster.
Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC
Mr. Speaker, Canadians are very worried about the lack of rail safety in Canada under the Conservative regime. Now they have the same concerns about the pipeline network. The Conservatives' mismanagement is wreaking havoc. Since 2006, the number of oil leaks in these networks has tripled.
What measures will the government take to restore the public's trust in the safety of Canadian pipelines?
Joe Oliver ConservativeMinister of Natural Resources
Mr. Speaker, between 2000 and 2011, pipelines under federal responsibility had a safety rating of 99.9996% with respect to the transport of crude oil. Our government increased the number of pipeline inspections and audits to give Canada a world-class safety system. As a result, the National Energy Board is being informed of more incidents.
Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC
Mr. Speaker, the minister should read the Transportation Safety Board statistics, because Conservative spin does not make Canadians safer, only action does.
Pipeline leaks and spills have tripled under this Conservative government, and this is even more troubling because the Conservatives have weakened the assessment rules so that projects can go ahead now with even less due diligence.
Canadians deserve better. Why are the Conservatives acting so irresponsibly? Why are they acting so recklessly? Why will this Conservative government not put the safety of Canadians first?
Joe Oliver ConservativeMinister of Natural Resources
Mr. Speaker, that question is a bit rich coming from a party that voted against increased pipeline inspections and fines for polluters.
The National Energy Board is a strong independent regulator that ensures pipeline safety. We have increased the number of inspections by 50%. We have doubled the number of audits. We have put forward fines for companies that break Canada's rigorous environmental protections. We require pipeline operators to have $1 billion in financial capacity to ensure taxpayers are not on the hook.
Linda Duncan NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
Mr. Speaker, if a bill is tabled that increases funding for inspection and enforcement, I guarantee we will vote for it.
The government speaks publicly of balanced development and a new respectful working relationship with first nations. The reality is far the opposite. Incredibly, last week it downgraded environmental assessment rules to exempt in situ oil sands projects from any review or hearing. This exemption not only contradicts the information of its own scientists but abrogates constitutional duties to consult. Is forcing first nations and Metis to seek redress in the courts the Conservative vision of a new working relationship?
Colin Carrie ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of the Environment
Mr. Speaker, environmental assessments are a shared responsibility between the federal and provincial governments. We have made environmental protection laws stricter while making environmental assessments more efficient and more effective.
Our government also increased funding and opportunities for public and aboriginal consultations throughout the environmental assessment process. We will continue to support economic growth while protecting our environment in a balanced way.
François Choquette NDP Drummond, QC
Mr. Speaker, let us put this back in context.
Just a year ago the Conservatives dismantled the laws governing Canada's environmental assessment process. However, that was not enough to please their buddies in the industry. Now they are going to exempt in situ oil sands projects from any federal review, even though these kinds of oil sands projects are becoming more and more common.
How do the Conservatives justify this decision?
Colin Carrie ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of the Environment
Mr. Speaker, as I said, our government is making environmental protection laws stricter while making environmental assessments much more efficient and effective. For example, in the past something like a blueberry washing facility had to go through the same processes as a pipeline. Unlike the opposition, which wants to waste taxpayers' money on assessing blueberries, our government is ensuring that resources are focused on projects with potential environmental effects.
Stéphane Dion Liberal Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC
Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the Minister of Canadian Heritage on her appointment. We both had the pleasure of attending the ADISQ gala last night.
The Minister had the opportunity to see that Quebec song is alive and well, but at the same time, she heard the deep concerns arising from the government's elimination of the creators' assistance component of the Canada music fund.
Canadian composers entertain and thrill us with their music, which is admired throughout the world. Why is the government turning its back on them?
Shelly Glover ConservativeMinister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, the Canadian heritage critic. I am looking forward to working with him on this file.
Since I have the floor, I would like to acknowledge the winners of the Felix awards handed out last night and congratulate the winner of the honorary Félix award, Guy Latraverse. He has made an enormous contribution to his province.
Let us discuss the Canada music fund. Our government did not make cuts to the program. Our government has continued to invest in the arts and culture. We will keep doing so through unprecedented funding here in Canada, including in Quebec.
Joyce Murray Liberal Vancouver Quadra, BC
Mr. Speaker, today the Minister of Finance met with private sector economists. Did they remind him that the current Prime Minister has the worst economic record of any Prime Minister since the Great Depression, or that the incomes of middle-class families have stagnated while the costs of everything from day care to bus passes have skyrocketed, or that households have taken on record debt just to make ends meet? Did he hear their wake-up call, or is the government's economic plan still just to tell Canadians don't worry, be happy?
Jim Flaherty ConservativeMinister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, I understand the hon. member might not believe me, but she ought to believe the economists, several of whom spoke publicly after our meeting this morning and all of whom agreed with the economic projections of the government. They have agreed we have moderate, steady growth. They have agreed we have produced more jobs in Canada since the end of the great recession than any other G7 country.
I do not know where the member has been, but she has not been in Canada, obviously.
Jack Harris NDP St. John's East, NL
Mr. Speaker, the new fleet of Sikorsky helicopters were supposed to replace our 50-year-old Sea Kings back in November 2008. That is almost exactly five years ago. This is only one of a series of procurement files the Conservatives have grossly mismanaged.
I have a straightforward and very simple question for the Minister of National Defence. When will the new helicopters be delivered?
Diane Finley ConservativeMinister of Public Works and Government Services
Mr. Speaker, our government is committed to ensuring that the Canadian Armed Forces get the maritime helicopters they need and at the best possible value to Canadians.
The previous Liberal government contracted with Sikorsky, and the company has yet to deliver a contractually compliant helicopter to Canada.
We have not decided yet on next steps.
Élaine Michaud NDP Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC
Mr. Speaker, it cannot be that hard to answer such a simple question. After spending $5 billion, making our troops and Canadians wait for five years, and blaming others for their own problems, it is time for the Conservatives to start being accountable.
I will give them another chance. When, exactly, will Sikorsky start delivering the new fleet of helicopters to replace the Sea Kings?