Debates of Nov. 8th, 2013

Ethics

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

Again, Mr. Speaker, we are assisting authorities and providing any information that is required. At the same time, it is nice to be in a Parliament where these things can be discussed day in and day out, unlike the administrations that the hon. leader of the third party seems to support, dictatorships, so that Liberals can ram down a carbon tax on people. I wonder, in those dictatorships that the hon. leader of the third party supports, if they would be getting this type of accountability in their legislation. I somehow doubt it.

While we will let the leader of the Liberal Party stand up for the status quo and we will let him stand up for dictatorships, we will stand up for democracy and taxpayers.

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, despite access to information requests and questions asked in the House, the government said for months that it had no information.

Now we know about the hundreds of emails, but Canadians might have to wait for a criminal trial before they can see those emails for themselves. It is unbelievable that Mr. Woodcock is now the chief of staff to the Minister of Natural Resources.

Can the government confirm whether Mr. Woodcock has had any contact whatsoever with the RCMP?

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

Mr. Speaker, this member should know that it was actually the Liberals who exempted the Prime Minister's Office from access to information. I believe it was Prime Minister Trudeau who did that.

Unlike the Liberals, when it comes to openness and accountability, we are the party that Canadians can count on. That is why we opened up 70 new institutions to access to information. That is why the President of the Treasury Board has undertaken an open government policy.

We are very proud of what we are doing to make our government open and accountable to the Canadian taxpayers. That is why the first act that we brought forward was the Accountability Act, so that Canadians could understand what was happening to take out the influence of big money and unions in government.

Veterans Affairs

[Randall Garrison, NDP, Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC]

Mr. Speaker, on Remembrance Day, Canadians will be taking time to reflect and to honour the service veterans have provided to all Canadians.

Unfortunately, Conservative policies mean that some who serve are being cut off from the benefits they have earned. Wounded soldiers are being forced out before they are eligible for their pensions.

This is unacceptable. Instead, when will the minister do the right thing and provide these women and men the respect and support they deserve?

[James Bezan, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank all our military who have served us so proudly over the years.

As we have said before, we have been working with the Chief of the Defence Staff and the chief of military personnel to ensure that members of the Canadian Armed Forces are not released until they are prepared.

I will again remind the member opposite that every possible accommodation is made to ensure that soldiers are kept in the forces and provided with the best possible support before being considered for release.

I want to thank the Minister of Veterans Affairs for tabling Bill C-11, priority hiring for injured veterans act, which will help medically released personnel transition into meaningful public service careers.

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

Mr. Speaker, despite what the Minister of National Defence claimed all week and what the parliamentary secretary just said, there are unfortunately some members of the Canadian Forces who returned to civilian life before getting their pensions.

These men and women fought for Canada. To treat them this way is absolutely shameful.

Why will the government not simply admit that it made a mistake, say that it will correct the situation and help those who have been the victims of this injustice?

[James Bezan, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, we have been working with the chief of military personnel to ensure that members of the Canadian Armed Forces are not released until they are prepared.

Every possible accommodation is made to ensure that soldiers are kept in the forces. Before being released, members of the Canadian Armed Forces work with the military on a transition plan. Ill and injured Canadian Forces members are provided with physical, mental and occupational therapy services for their eventual transition to civilian life.

[Rosane Doré Lefebvre, NDP, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

Mr. Speaker, not only are the Conservatives refusing to ensure that no more military personnel are forced out before qualifying for their pension, but they are also creating obstacles for veterans who are trying to access services.

How ironic, given how these brave men and women have served our country. Closing offices to save a few extra dollars shows a complete lack of respect for our veterans.

Will the minister reverse his decision to close the offices?

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

Mr. Speaker, our government has made substantial investment to support Canada's veterans, including almost $5 billion in new additional funding since taking office.

The funding has been put toward 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, it is the Liberals and the NDP who have voted against new funding for mental health treatment, financial support and home care services.

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

Mr. Speaker, veterans across the country are speaking out against the Conservative government's closure of veterans' offices, like the one in Thunder Bay.

Cuts and closures to these offices will mean the end of one-to-one contact for many aging veterans. They will be forced to travel outside of their communities, forced to endure unnecessary stress, and will lose yet another good friend.

These men and women fought for our country. Why will the minister not respect that? Stop the cuts. Keep these offices open.

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

Mr. Speaker, there are now 600 new additional points of service across the country available to Canada's veterans. A critically injured veteran no longer has to drive to a district office. Our government now sends a registered nurse or case manager to visit them in the comfort of their home.

I would also like to remind the hon. member and all opposition members that it is them and their party who have voted against every single initiative we have introduced as a government to support our veterans.

Intergovernmental Affairs

[David Sweet, Conservative, Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale, ON]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the separatist Parti Québécois government introduced legislation that would violate the inherent rights of Canadians. It is one that would force people to choose between their faith and jobs.

I am proud to be part of a government that has not remained quiet on this issue. Freedom of religion does not mean freedom from religion.

While the bill is currently opposed by the majority in the national assembly, what is the federal government's position if the bill becomes law?

[Tim Uppal, Conservative, Minister of State (Multiculturalism)]

Mr. Speaker, my parents were welcomed when they immigrated to Canada, and now I have three beautiful Canada-born children. We are a proud Canadian family.

A Canadian is no less a Canadian because they wear a cross, a kippa, Star of David or a turban.

The Prime Minister has been clear that nobody should be denied a job on the basis of criteria that is unrelated to the performance of that job. The Government of Canada will not hesitate to protect the constitutional rights that are given to all Canadians if the bill were to pass in its current form.

Pensions

[Murray Rankin, NDP, Victoria, BC]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians approaching retirement age are increasingly concerned about their financial security. Enhancing the Canada pension plan and the QPP is the best way to improve retirement security for all Canadians. The provinces are ready to take action. The only one stalling is the Conservative minister.

Why is the minister waiting for a full-blown crisis before improving the system?

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

Mr. Speaker, we will continue to work with the provinces and territories to improve the Canada pension plan. However, we do not believe that this is the time to add further burden onto Canadian employers and employees with higher premiums during this fragile economic recovery.

[Murray Rankin, NDP, Victoria, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I do not think the member opposite got the latest talking points from the minister.

Yesterday, the Minister of Finance said that boosting the Canada pension plan is “good in the long run for Canadians”, but still he is refusing to act.

Increasing the CPP is the right thing to do to ensure that all Canadians can afford to retire with dignity. Why is the minister choosing to antagonize the provinces instead of working with them to fix Canadians' retirement security?

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

Mr. Speaker, as I have said, we do continue to look at Canada pension plan reform.

We can assure the House that the NDP's plan to double the Canada pension plan premiums while the economy is still fragile is not a moderate proposal. Despite the NDP's risky schemes, we continue to stand up for seniors and for retirement during this global recovery.

Intergovernmental Affairs

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

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Finance does not seem to understand that working with the provinces is a key part of his job.

Internal government studies praised the effectiveness of provincial training programs, yet Conservatives ignored the evidence, failed to work with the provinces and mismanaged skills training.

Will they now agree to work with the provinces so we can help get Canadians the skills training programs they deserve?

[Candice Bergen, Conservative, Minister of State (Social Development)]

Mr. Speaker, we believe that the best people who know what kinds of skills are required are employers. That is why we introduced the Canada job grant. It brings employers into the whole equation as to what skills are required.

We are focused on jobs, the economy and growth. One of the ways we can continue to do that is to fix the mismatch of people without jobs and jobs without people. That is what the Canada job grant will do. Bureaucrats are not the experts on this, the employers are.

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

Mr. Speaker, they created this program without consulting the provinces. The Conservatives still have not learned their lesson. They continue to turn a deaf ear and refuse to listen to the provinces.

Training programs are a crucial part of ensuring that everyone can find work. We need a government that offers solutions, not a government that is looking to pick fights with the provinces.

Is the minister ready to turn the page and engage in a meaningful discussion with the provinces about training for workers so that we can avoid the kinds of mistakes that were made with employment insurance reform?

[Candice Bergen, Conservative, Minister of State (Social Development)]

Mr. Speaker, I do not understand why the opposition is opposed to a program that would train Canadians for jobs that are available. That is what the Canada job grant program will do. Let us talk about who is supporting this. We have been consulting over the summer and indeed currently the minister is meeting with the provinces in good faith. We have been listening to the provinces and to organizations so that we have flexibility within the Canada job grant.

Employers include the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, the federation of progressive contractors, Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters, the National Association of Career Colleges, the Canadian Institute of Plumbing & Heating, and I could go on. They are employers who want to see this program implemented because it trains Canadians for jobs that are—

[The Deputy Speaker, NDP, Joe Comartin]

Order, please.

The hon. member for Winnipeg North.

Natural Resources

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

Mr. Speaker, the NDP leader goes to Calgary and claims that he supports the development of the oil sands. However, in Toronto Centre the New Democrats are actively campaigning against the oil sands. The NDP candidate wants a moratorium.

Meanwhile, the Conservatives' total failure to advance stronger environmental policy has prevented Canada from getting oil to market responsibly.

When will the Conservative government get its act together on the environment to ensure that Canada can move its resources to market sustainably?

[Kelly Block, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, the government is concentrating on what matters to Canadians: jobs and economic growth.

The fact is that the oil sands is responsible for over 275,000 jobs across this country. That number is expected to grow to 630,000 jobs. Government revenues from upstream oil and gas average $22 billion over the past five years. That is how many jobs the opposition members say no to when they oppose this important industry.

That is revenue for important social programs, which the opposition members say no to when they bash Canada abroad.

Tourism

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the government will step down from the Bureau International des Expositions, and in doing so, will kill any success of Toronto's potential bid to host World Expo 2025, an event that could attract up to 40 million visitors. This defection was made without consideration of Toronto City Council's upcoming feasibility report.

Why is the government wasting this exceptional opportunity to boost Toronto's economy, job market and tourism, and to promote Canada's accomplishments to the world?