Debates of Feb. 1st, 2013

Labour

[Kellie Leitch, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and to the Minister of Labour]

Mr. Speaker, the minister has been a personal example of why we need to have this type of workplace safety and psychological health and safety measures, not only in the public service, but also for the public.

I encourage the member opposite to look at what the minister has done to ensure that Canadians understand how important it is to be focused on the workplace on psychological and workplace safety.

The minister is doing an outstanding job. I encourage the member opposite to support her in her venture.

The Environment

[Kirsty Duncan, Liberal, Etobicoke North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Arctic is one of the most fragile and sensitive regions in the world. Moreover, 2012 was a devastating year for the loss of sea ice, spring snow cover and the melting of Greenland's ice sheet.

As the Minister of Health takes the helm of the Arctic Council, will she allow the continued gutting of environmental protection, or finally stand up for responsible environmental stewardship?

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, it is a new year and I get one more chance to talk to my colleague opposite about her government's record on climate change, including the fact that under the Liberal government our greenhouse gas emissions rose by 30%.

By contrast, our government has put in place a sector-by-sector regulatory approach, including being one of the first countries in the world to regulate the coal-fire electricity sector where we have seen our greenhouse gas emissions actually decrease while our economy grows. We have taken numerous actions in the Arctic on climate change and in adaptation and mitigation. We are the ones getting the job done.

Science and Technology

[Kennedy Stewart, NDP, Burnaby—Douglas, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservative war on science has a new target. This time it is the National Research Council. NRC research and spinoffs drive Canadian innovation, but now we hear it is on the chopping block, folded into something called “Advantage Canada”.

Could the minister tell us what will happen to the 1,005 scientists working at the NRC and how many of these scientists are going to be fired?

[Christian Paradis, Conservative, Minister of Industry and Minister of State (Agriculture)]

Mr. Speaker, we are taking the steps to transform the NRC into a customer-focused world-class organization in science and innovation. When it comes to science, we do not have any lessons to take from the NDP. Indeed, we put eight billion new dollars in science and technology since 2007. Guess what? The NDP voted against this new funding.

[Laurin Liu, NDP, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives say one thing and do another. They say that they want research and development to flourish, yet they refuse to come clean about their plans for the National Research Council. They are hiding behind closed doors and planning to dismantle one of the country's premier research organizations.

What are they trying to hide? How many scientists are in danger of losing their job?

[Christian Paradis, Conservative, Minister of Industry and Minister of State (Agriculture)]

Mr. Speaker, we cannot be any more transparent. In our last budget, we said that we are making changes to the National Research Council to transform it into an industry- and market-focused organization that stimulates economic activity. It is as simple as that.

Speaking of transparency, how can the NDP explain voting against all of the new funding measures? We have invested $8 billion in new money in science and technology since 2007, and the NDP always voted against that funding. They should be transparent and explain their about-face to Canadian voters.

Natural Resources

[Dick Harris, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the Keystone XL project would create massive jobs and economic growth across Canada and the United States. Canada benefits from increased development and getting a world price for our oil, while the U.S. will benefit from energy security from an important ally. The NDP members are, of course, opposed to the Keystone XL. They are opposed also to Canadian jobs and opposed to Canadian growth.

Could the parliamentary secretary inform the House on the latest endorsement of this important economic project?

[David Anderson, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources and for the Canadian Wheat Board]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for Cariboo—Prince George for his great work on this file. Canadians need to know that Nature magazine, the voice of the environmental scientific community and the most cited scientific journal in the world, has endorsed Keystone XL pipeline. It argues that the president should face down critics of the project and approve this important project. While this well recognized voice on environmental issues joins Canada's side, the NDP continues to oppose a project that will create 140,000 jobs for Canada.

Canadians know that we need to diversify our export markets. When will the NDP finally stop supporting foreign interests that want to destroy Canadian jobs?

Foreign Affairs

[Irwin Cotler, Liberal, Mount Royal, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the unrelenting horror in Syria continues with yet more mass atrocities, as hundreds of bodies are pulled from rivers around Aleppo and beyond. Yet, when over 50 countries called on the UN Security Council to refer the criminality in Syria to the International Criminal Court, Canada was absent. The Minister of Foreign Affairs announces the matter should be left up to the Syrian people, contradicting the government's former and correct position that Assad must be held accountable for his actions.

When will the government reconsider its position and join this urgent international call for justice on behalf of the Syrian people under assault and pursuant to our international legal responsibilities?

[John Baird, Conservative, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, last month, 50 countries did call for Assad to face justice at the International Criminal Court.

I am pleased that they join me, because I did it six months ago when I said, “What Assad needs to be facing is the International Criminal Court to face charges for committing crimes against humanity”. I did that on July 6, 2012.

Health

[Djaouida Sellah, NDP, Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC]

Mr. Speaker, there is a drug shortage in this country that is only getting worse. The shortage is now forcing physicians to change their patients' prescriptions. Worse still, pharmacists are being forced to spend more and more time dealing with the effects of the shortage, which is putting them under pressure and reducing services to Canadians. It is completely unacceptable and extremely dangerous.

Despite repeated calls from the NDP, the minister refuses to act. When will she take action to solve this urgent problem?

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, drug shortages is a very complex global problem. Our role is to enforce the safety of drugs before they enter the market.

In the past, shortages have resulted from decisions made by the provinces and the territories to sole-source drug contracts. To solve this problem, all levels of government will have to work together. That is why at last year's health ministers meeting, it was encouraging to hear that all ministers agreed to work collaboratively on the file.

Public Safety

[Scott Armstrong, Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester—Musquodoboit Valley, NS]

Mr. Speaker, our government has taken strong action to ensure that prisoners are held accountable for their actions.

Shockingly, a group of convicted criminals in Canada has attempted to form a prisoners union. Apparently the purpose of this prisoners union is to protect convicted criminals from unfair labour practices while they are incarcerated.

Could the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety please update Canadians on our government's position on this matter?

[Candice Bergen, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, the suggestion that prisoners should have the right to unionize is just plain wrong. Most Canadians would see it as plain wrong.

We welcome the common sense decision of the Public Service Labour Relations Board that unions are indeed not necessary for convicted criminals.

Agriculture and Agri-Food

[Ruth Ellen Brosseau, NDP, Berthier—Maskinongé, QC]

Mr. Speaker, since 2006, over 22,000 family farms have disappeared. This is a very sad part of the Conservatives' record. While small and medium-sized farms are struggling, the Conservatives continue to attack risk management programs.

The NDP believes that it is time to create a national food strategy in order to secure the economic future of family farms and rural communities.

Will the Conservatives finally play a real leadership role in the protection of family farms and seasonal industries, which are the heart of Canada's economy?

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

Mr. Speaker, we are proud that our agenda includes a national food and agriculture strategy.

Our trade approach, which focuses on scientific principles, is enabling us to have a greater presence than ever before on the markets. We are providing high-quality, safe Canadian products to those who need them, both within Canada and outside our borders. In order to feed the world, we must learn to obtain better yields with less. With biotechnology, we will be able to do so.

Intergovernmental Affairs

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

Mr. Speaker, the economy, the Conservatives' supposed priority, will be discussed today in Quebec City by the Prime Minister and the premier of Quebec. Premier Marois will specifically address employment insurance reforms, which are hitting families in all regions very hard. Quebec accounts for 40% of all seasonal workers because of its economy and geography.

Will the government show the openness it claims to have and agree to review its ideological reform of employment insurance?

[Diane Finley, Conservative, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member should know that employment insurance has been a federal jurisdiction since 1940.

Employment insurance is available for seasonal workers, as it always has been, if they can prove that they are looking for reasonable employment in their field and in their region. If they cannot find a job, even with the help we provide, employment insurance will be there for them as it always has been.

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

Mr. Speaker, it is sad to see that the minister is so unmoved by the disaster she herself has created.

The Premier of Quebec has been clear that she plans on initiating discussions on respecting Quebec's areas of jurisdiction, manpower training and the Criminal Code and on the firearms registry, Ottawa's funding for Churchill, protecting culture, and immigration authority.

Will the government use today's meeting to resolve these issues, or even some of them, and to clearly show that its so-called openness is not just a sham?

[Christian Paradis, Conservative, Minister of Industry and Minister of State (Agriculture)]

Mr. Speaker, the Bloc Québécois has achieved nothing in the House in over 20 years. The Bloc has not been able to resolve anything. We have resolved some major issues: the fiscal imbalance, a seat for Quebec at UNESCO, sales tax harmonization and the Old Harry offshore oil reserve. That is action, and we will continue in that same direction.

I want to reassure Quebeckers and Canadians. The one thing we will not do is engage in the same old constitutional bickering, because no one wants that. We are open to advancing the federation, but not if that means engaging in the same old constitutional bickering.

Oral Questions

[Libby Davies, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to raise a point of order arising out of question period.

During my question, the Minister of Health made a very personal and, I think, a very inappropriate comment for a minister, or any member for that matter. I would like to give the Minister of Health an opportunity to withdraw the personal comment she made that was offensive.

[The Deputy Speaker]

Is the Minister of Health going to respond?

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Nunavut, NU]

Mr. Speaker, can the member clarify what I said?

[Libby Davies, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I would suggest that the Minister of Health look at the record and maybe she can come back to the House and respond. A number of my colleagues very clearly heard a personal comment that was inappropriate, and I think she should remember that. If she does not, she should look at the record.