Debates of Nov. 29th, 2013

International Trade

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

Mr. Speaker, Canada is at the table to show that we are a trading nation. We did that in opening up a 500 million person market with the Canada-Europe trade deal. We are at the table with the trans-Pacific partnership talks where a potential market of 800 million consumers will be to create jobs and economic opportunity in Canada. All important sectors, including intellectual property principles, are part of our strategic negotiations. As the Prime Minister and minister have said, Canada will only make a deal if it is in our national interest.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Mr. Speaker, in the United States, lawmakers of both parties are being allowed to read the actual TPP negotiating text. However, in Canada, parliamentarians have to rely on WikiLeaks for information. Accountability and transparency are not just words; they are essential, and Canadians have a right to know what Conservatives are putting on the table on their behalf.

The U.S. government is allowing the legislators from Congress to see the TPP text. Why will Conservatives not do the same in Canada?

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

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague from the trade committee for his participation in our discussions in Halifax this week, talking about job creation and the billions of dollars that the Canada-Europe deal will bring for Canadians.

It is inappropriate to comment on leaked documents, much like the collective bargaining process that my friends from the other side will understand. A lot of these discussions are taken in secret, but I have to reiterate, we are there to build opportunity for Canadian job creators. We are there to sell our goods and services to a growing market in Canada and we will make a deal that is a winner for Canada.

Foreign Affairs

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

Mr. Speaker, earlier this year, our government and our High Commissioner in London, Gordon Campbell, announced an exciting plan to consolidate Canada's diplomatic presence in London by revitalizing and renovating historic Canada House in the heart of London, Trafalgar Square.

At the same time, in order to finance this revitalization, we announced a plan to sell the Macdonald House at Grosvenor Square and move all of Canada's team in London to Canada House.

Could the Minister of Foreign Affairs please update the House on this development?

[John Baird, Conservative, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, we are very excited. We have been in Macdonald House for only 50 years. Canada House has been sitting vacant, by and large, since we left more than 50 years ago. We have an exciting plan to revitalize Canada House in Trafalgar Square to make it the face of Canada in one of the most exciting places in the world.

Through the leadership of Gordon Campbell, our High Commissioner, we have obtained more than half a billion dollars for this property. We have bought another building right beside Canada House and we will be able to integrate the two, get the entire Canadian team working together. It is a good deal for taxpayers and a great face in Trafalgar Square for Canada.

Intergovernmental Relations

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

Mr. Speaker, this week we learned about the lavish lifestyle led by the president of Tourism Montreal and a former Liberal minister, Charles Lapointe. Limousines, an outrageous severance package and inflated salaries: nothing was too good for Mr. Lapointe.

Ottawa provides funding to Tourism Montreal every year.

Will the federal government hold Tourism Montreal accountable for this mismanagement by a notable Liberal?

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

Mr. Speaker, we support this organization's marketing efforts abroad in order to attract international tourists to Canada, as we do for many other organizations.

However, we do not finance the organization's operating costs or salaries.

Economic development is a top priority here on this side of the House. We take the management of public funds very seriously, and we will be watching this issue closely.

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

Mr. Speaker, $2 million in federal subsidies go to Tourism Montreal.

This matter must be taken seriously. Mismanagement problems are increasing in organizations under federal responsibility. Today it is Tourism Montreal, but a few months ago, it was the Old Port.

Instead of simply reacting after each problem occurs, what measures will the Conservatives bring in to prevent such problems?

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

Mr. Speaker, we support this organization's marketing efforts abroad to attract tourists to Canada.

However, we do not finance the organization's operating costs or salaries, and we will be watching this issue closely.

Quebec Bridge

[Anne-Marie Day, NDP, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, like the people of the greater Montreal area, the people of Quebec City have concerns about their bridge.

The last report was published in 2008. It indicated that this national historic infrastructure was deteriorating at an accelerated pace. Nevertheless, Transport Canada refuses to answer any questions about this.

What is the government doing to ensure that CN does its part and that the bridge is properly maintained to keep the people who use it safe?

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

Mr. Speaker, I would like to remind my colleague that the Quebec Bridge does not belong to the Government of Canada.

[Anne-Marie Day, NDP, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I can hardly believe it.

Are the Conservatives going to wait until they are in same situation that Montreal is in with the Champlain Bridge before they start taking this seriously? Using the dispute over paint with CN as an excuse to refuse to answer questions is not a good attitude. The Minister of Transport has to reassure the people of Quebec City.

Does the minister have any documents on the state of the Quebec Bridge that are more recent than the 2008 Delcan report? If so, when will she share those with the rest of us?

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

Mr. Speaker, I would like to remind my colleague that the Quebec Bridge does not belong to the Government of Canada.

Aboriginal Affairs

[Yvonne Jones, Liberal, Labrador, NL]

Mr. Speaker, the AFN national chief has rejected the government's education proposal and highlighted the absolute need for a funding guarantee for first nations children.

However, the government has refused to talk about it. Shockingly, the PMO memo in the RCMP Duffy-Wright scandal complained about investing heavily in aboriginal education, saying it contradicted the government's messaging.

I ask the minister to do the right thing today and commit to equitable funding for children of first nations.

[Bernard Valcourt, Conservative, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development]

Mr. Speaker, she is obviously dreaming in colour and believing her own dreams.

The fact of the matter is that the Government of Canada funds elementary and secondary education on reserve and has been doing so for years under a policy framework. Now we are proposing that this be statutory based, that there be a statute casting an obligation on the part of the Government of Canada, on the minister, to pay those costs to first nations, which will have control over their education systems.

I hope that we can continue our dialogue with first nations and move forward on this file positively.

Agriculture and Agri-Food

[Mark Eyking, Liberal, Sydney—Victoria, NS]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservative government is failing farmers.

The Auditor General's report says over one-third of farmers are forced to wait for months to receive their disaster assistance. This money helps farmers get back on their feet and back to business quickly after they are hit by drought, disease or other unforseeable events.

The Auditor General directly contradicts the government's boasting about supporting farmers. Is it the government's position that the Auditor General is lying?

[Pierre Lemieux, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture]

Mr. Speaker, since the implementation of the agrirecovery program by the government, producers know that when a disaster strikes, we will be there for them.

Agrirecovery is jointly administered by both the federal government and the provinces, and requires agreement by all levels of government to respond to disasters in a timely fashion.

The member should recognize that two-thirds of producers surveyed by the Auditor General said that agrirecovery was delivered in a timely fashion. Under growing forward 2, the agrirecovery program continues to be an effective tool to help farmers during times of unforeseen market volatility or natural disaster.

Veterans

[Sylvain Chicoine, NDP, Châteauguay—Saint-Constant, QC]

Mr. Speaker, too many of our valiant veterans have to fight for the benefits and the services they are entitled to.

The Conservatives have closed nine regional offices and slashed hundreds of thousands of dollars from Veterans Affairs' budget, thus forcing veterans to use online services instead of being given the personal help they deserve.

How can the Conservatives be so indifferent towards our veterans?

[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 towards improved financial benefits, world-class rehabilitation and tuition costs to help veterans transition to civilian life. While our government is making improvements to veterans' benefits, the Liberals and the NDP voted against this new funding for mental health treatment, financial support and home care services.

[Peter Stoffer, NDP, Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS]

Mr. Speaker, I was wondering if the parliamentary secretary would like to tell Kim and Blair Davis of Lawrencetown, Nova Scotia that, because they have sent us all a very disturbing email about what is going on in the Veterans Affairs office in Halifax.

For weeks and weeks, they have tried to get assistance but to no avail. Mr. Davis is in a very precarious situation. His wife Kim is very worried about her husband. In fact, she even fears going back to work when she does not know the state of mind he may be in.

The parliamentary secretary is fully aware of this file. Can he please advise the House exactly what the government is going to do to assist this family and this hero of our country to immediately get the help he needs?

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

Mr. Speaker, first of all, let me thank my colleague from the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs for bringing this issue to my attention. Veterans Affairs officials were immediately directed to undertake a review of the circumstances. I can assure the House that, today, directions have been given to the Veterans Affairs officials to reach out to the veteran and his family.

We will continue to ensure that veterans have the programs and services that they need, even if the member opposite and his party continue to vote against every measure.

Sealing Industry

[John Williamson, Conservative, New Brunswick Southwest, NB]

Mr. Speaker, there appears to be some confusion in the Liberal ranks. This week, the member for Humber—St. Barbe—Baie Verte wrote in a Newfoundland newspaper that he does not believe Ottawa should appeal the World Trade Organization's decision to uphold the seal ban. Apparently, he did not consult with the member for Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, who earlier this week said the Liberals would in fact support the government initiative.

It is disappointing that a member from a province where the sealing industry is so vital would suggest that our government not take action. Could the minister please update the House on the government's intention to appeal the WTO decision?

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, the WTO decision was not based on scientific evidence, rather on what the WTO calls “moral grounds”. This sets a dangerous precedent and essentially sets up one culture to be morally superior to another. This in unacceptable.

The Liberal member's attitude of “just because we are not guaranteed success, we will not try” is appalling. On this side of the House, we will continue to stand with aboriginals and Canadian coastal communities to defend their traditional practices and livelihoods.

The Liberals will not hold the WTO to account, but northerners and Canadian sealers can be assured that—

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

Order, please. The hon. member for Lac-Saint-Louis.

International Development

[Francis Scarpaleggia, Liberal, Lac-Saint-Louis, QC]

Mr. Speaker, World AIDS Day is at hand and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria is holding its replenishment conference on Tuesday to continue the fight against these dangerous infectious diseases.

The United States has promised to contribute $1.6 billion to the Global Fund, and Great Britain has doubled its contribution. Our government, however, has remained silent.

The lives of the most vulnerable around the world are at stake. Will the government commit today to increasing its contribution to the Global Fund?