Debates of Nov. 4th, 2013

Ethics

[John Rafferty, NDP, Thunder Bay—Rainy River, ON]

Mr. Speaker, my constituents in Thunder Bay—Rainy River are asking questions about an expense scandal and attempted cover-up. They wonder why the Prime Minister has not shown any contrition. He will not even acknowledge his story has changed. He will not acknowledge it was not just one person in his office. It was not even a few. It was many.

Would Conservatives tell us how many people, in addition to those mentioned in RCMP documents, were aware of the cover-up scheme between Mike Duffy and Nigel Wright?

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

Mr. Speaker, again, this coming from a party whose leader waited 17 years. He was offered a bribe 17 years ago and then when he had the option all of those years, and it is not 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 10 or 15 years, he could have remembered. Maybe he did. I am not sure. Then he remembered 17 years later, “Oh, yes, I was offered a bribe from the mayor of Laval. No big deal, though. No big deal”.

I think the people of Quebec would disagree with his assertion that it was not a big deal. Imagine what the people of Quebec could have accomplished had only he come clean 17 years ago. They could have accomplished a lot.

We have a motion in front of the Senate right now to bring accountability—

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

The hon. member for Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing.

[Carol Hughes, NDP, Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, ON]

Mr. Speaker, here is a good one for you.

While people in northern Ontario are having difficulty accessing health care and a family doctor, the Conservatives want to ensure that Mike Duffy does not lose his Senate health benefits. That is their priority. It is unbelievable.

On June 5, the Prime Minister said that only Nigel Wright knew about the $90,000 payment to Mr. Duffy.

Is that true or false? Yes or no?

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

Mr. Speaker, part of that question was actually right. The people of the north actually care about health care. They care about the economy. They care about free trade with the European Union.

Yet, when is the last time that member asked the Minister of Health a question? When is the last time that member asked the Minister of Finance a question? When is the last time any of those members asked a question on the economy, on community safety, on jobs, on trade, on natural resources, on the environment, on defence? They do not because they know that we are on the right track and they are afraid to ask those questions.

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

Mr. Speaker, until the Prime Minister gets up in the House and says the truth to all Canadians, we will continue to raises those questions.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

Order, please. I have urged colleagues, over the past couple weeks, to avoid using phrases or words that have implications that a member or a minister might not have been telling the truth.

I will ask the hon. member for Acadie—Bathurst to keep that in mind as he finishes his question.

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

I am sorry, Mr. Speaker. I just hope the Prime Minister has only one story.

People in my riding want access to employment insurance when they need it. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister's Office is writing cheques for thousands of dollars to buy senators' silence and cover up the scheme.

Is it too much to ask that the money be used to improve Canadians' quality of life rather than to cover up the Prime Minister's pact with his senators? It is simple and easy.

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

The people in his riding want employment, but yet the NDP does not ask any questions about that, Mr. Speaker. The economy grew by 2% annually. We heard that last week, but the New Democrats are ignoring that. They do not want to talk about the fact that jobs and job creation is on the rise.

I was in Calgary this weekend and I had the opportunity to meet with delegates from Nova Scotia, who talked about Canada's national shipbuilding strategy and the incredible benefits that would give to people in that region of the country. Who is against it? The New Democrats are against it. If you want jobs for the people in your community, then vote for the things that will give them jobs.

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

I would remind the hon. parliamentary secretary to address his comments to the Chair and not directly at other members.

National Defence

[David Wilks, Conservative, Kootenay—Columbia, BC]

Mr. Speaker, our Canadian armed forces are contributing to international peace and security by breaking up major drug operations. In October, the HMCS Toronto discovered and destroyed 154 bags of heroin, weighing more than 180 kilograms. Now we are learning that are armed forces have made another significant contribution by working with our allies in Operation Caribbe.

Could the Minister of National Defence update the House on the important work being done by our men and women in uniform during this recent mission?

[Rob Nicholson, Conservative, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, our government is committed to working with our allies to combat crime at home and abroad and to enhancing international security.

The HMCS Edmonton, along with the Royal Canadian Air Force Aurora, was involved with the seizure of more than one tonne of cocaine over two days in the eastern Pacific Ocean. Just like the work done by the HMCS Toronto, this is a great example of the Canadian armed forces demonstrating leadership abroad and ensuring our security at home by keeping illicit drugs from entering our country.

I am sure all hon. members will join me in extending a Bravo Zulu to our men and women in uniform.

Veterans

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

Mr. Speaker, Remembrance Day is approaching. It is important to take the time in the next few days to honour those who have served and continue to serve our country. In order to honour these men and women, I am duty bound to ask for an explanation from the minister as to why some injured soldiers are released from the military before they are ready to leave and why assistance with funeral expenses is so limited that less than 30% of the funds have been disbursed?

[Julian Fantino, Conservative, Minister of Veterans Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the Parliamentary Budget Officer for highlighting how our government doubled the financial limits of the funeral and burial program.

We will continue to work with veterans groups to ensure the Canadian funeral and burial program remains one of the most generous of our allies, even though the party opposite has chosen to not support us in these particular enhancements for our veterans.

National Defence

[Irene Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

That is just not good enough, Mr. Speaker.

Months ago the Minister of National Defence stood in a legion in my riding and promised legion members that injured soldiers would no longer be cut loose, but the practice continues. Two injured soldiers in my riding, Corporal David Hawkins and Corporal Andrew Knisley, are being pressured to leave the military just before qualifying for their pensions. This is callous. It is disgraceful.

Will the minister put an immediate halt to this practice and stand up for those soldiers?

[Rob Nicholson, Conservative, Minister of National Defence]

That is absolutely not the practice, Mr. Speaker. We stand behind those men and women who serve us in uniform. We ensure they get the physical, mental and occupational therapy services that they need for their eventual transition to civilian life. Members are not released until they are prepared.

[Jack Harris, NDP, St. John's East, NL]

Mr. Speaker, it is more weak excuses, but still no apologies for the treatment of these soldiers.

The Canadian Forces ombudsman has revealed huge problems with the joint personnel support units, the people who are supposed to help wounded soldiers. He has found that they are understaffed, they lack experience and that they cannot properly assist soldiers.

Conservatives are asking our soldiers to come home from fighting for their country, only to have to fight with their own government to get the support they need.

What is the minister doing to immediately rectify this disgraceful situation?

[Rob Nicholson, Conservative, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, there would not be a joint personnel support unit without the support of this government. This was opposed all the way through by the NDP.

[Jack Harris, NDP, St. John's East, NL]

No it wasn't.

[Rob Nicholson, Conservative, Niagara Falls, ON]

Yes it was, Mr. Speaker. If the NDP members are so interested in supporting veterans and supporting the men and women in uniform, why do they not get on board with all the efforts made on this side of the House. That is not what they are doing now, or when they supported the Liberals who did nothing for the men and women in uniform. He should explain that.

[Élaine Michaud, NDP, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives are all talk and no action. They are basically abandoning Canadian soldiers who were injured in the line of duty.

The joint personnel support unit is the government's main program to help injured members of the Canadian Forces, but the ombudsman noted serious issues with the program, including a lack of staff and training. Our soldiers deserve better.

Will the minister immediately act on the ombudsman's recommendations to ensure that injured soldiers receive all the help they need?

[Rob Nicholson, Conservative, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, the joint personnel support unit did not even exist before this government took office. We have made it a priority.

That is something very different from when the Liberals were in office, cheered on and supported by the NDP. I am very proud of the fact that we have made this a priority and we will continue to do so.

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

Mr. Speaker, it is clear that the Conservatives could not care less about our injured veterans just before they are to be released from the armed forces and qualify for their pension.

Last week we asked the minister about Corporal David Hawkins. He could not care less. Today, Corporal Hawkins wants to know, “What are the minister's intentions in term of retaining injured soldiers to allow them to get their ten year pension?” The minister should answer the corporal.

[Rob Nicholson, Conservative, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, we thank Corporal Hawkins for his service and sacrifice to our country. Before being released, members of the Canadian Armed Forces work with the military on a transition plan.