House of Commons Hansard #205 of the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was pope.
Sylvain Chicoine NDP Châteauguay—Saint-Constant, QC
Mr. Speaker, too often, the Conservatives turn their backs on veterans. Their so-called action plan in response to the ombudsman's recent report is no plan at all. According to the ombudsman, “the changes to the...application process...fall short of ensuring procedural fairness.”
Instead of proposing half measures to try to hide the problem, why do the Conservatives not do what is necessary to help the veterans who are being denied disability benefits without any justification?
Steven Blaney ConservativeMinister of Veterans Affairs
Mr. Speaker, I have been very clear on this subject in the House. Not only are 70% of the applications that are submitted to the Department of Veterans Affairs approved, but veterans receive a positive response 85% of the time across government. That is why we welcome the ombudsman's report. What is more, we have adopted measures to continue to keep veterans better informed of the information being used to process their claims.
The real question is why, every time we introduce measures to improve veterans' living conditions, the NDP fails to support them or, even worse, votes against them.
Peter Stoffer NDP Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS
Mr. Speaker, when we become the government, we will show veterans how they should be treated in this House.
The reality is that these veterans had to go before a politically appointed board with information the adjudicators have but that they do not have. What fairness is that?
The ombudsman was very clear. He said that the department must make it fair so that the veterans, when they appeal for their benefits, have all their documents in advance so that there can be a level playing field when the discussions take place.
Will the minister now commit to this House, to the people of Canada and to the veterans community that when veterans appeal for benefits, they will get all the documents they so richly—
Steven Blaney ConservativeMinister of Veterans Affairs
Mr. Speaker, we are already committed to making sure that our veterans have a fair procedural process. That is why our adjudicator had access to all the information.
We want to proceed in an efficient manner. That is why we are streamlining this process as well as making sure that the response is provided in a timely manner.
The response is positive for the veterans 85% of the time. When will the NDP support our initiatives and vote with the government to fund our veterans initiatives?
John Williamson Conservative New Brunswick Southwest, NB
Mr. Speaker, hold that change in government.
The NDP and Liberals have chosen to ignore the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, the Canadian Police Association, victims organizations, immigration lawyers and experts and have voted against the faster removal of foreign criminals act. They are voting to allow foreign nationals who break the law to remain in Canada.
With the final vote on this bill taking place tonight, can the Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism please update this House on our government's commitment to protect the safety and security of Canadians?
Jason Kenney ConservativeMinister of Citizenship
Mr. Speaker, for too long, too many serious, dangerous, convicted foreign criminals have been able to delay their deportation from Canada for years and in too many cases have gone on to commit new crimes and create new victims in Canada. Canadians have had enough of this.
When people come to Canada and violate the privilege of residency here by being convicted in a court of law of having committed a serious crime, they lose the privilege of staying in Canada and should be deported quickly. This new law will do just that. We hope that the NDP and Liberal parties will listen to victims' rights groups and support the faster removal of foreign criminals act.
Philip Toone NDP Gaspésie—Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC
Mr. Speaker, since the Conservatives first began gutting the employment insurance program, they have been claiming to want to address the shortage of workers in the regions. Well, I have some news for them: there are no jobs.
To complicate matters, the economic situation is preventing the creation of a sufficient number of new jobs. It is easy to understand.
Rather than trying to create jobs, the Conservatives are trying to punish seasonal workers. It does not make any sense.
Why not help people in places where the unemployment rate is on the rise to find jobs rather than punishing these poor workers?
Diane Finley ConservativeMinister of Human Resources and Skills Development
Mr. Speaker, there is a shortage of workers across this country, even in the east. That is what I am hearing from many employers every week.
We are trying to connect unemployed workers with the jobs that are available in their area of expertise and their region. It will be better for them, their families, employers and the economy. We are trying to help people find jobs. The NDP should help us do it.
Robert Chisholm NDP Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS
Mr. Speaker, the government is making a mess of the EI system. I was talking to Frances this weekend, one of a whole flood of constituents who have been calling my office because they cannot get through to Service Canada to deal with their problems. In Frances' case, she said she had been calling every hour on the hour for a week, and all she got was an answering machine that said,“Sorry, call back please. We're busy”.
Can the government explain to Canadians why it is messing up the EI system? It cannot even manage a call centre. Please explain that.
Diane Finley ConservativeMinister of Human Resources and Skills Development
Far from it, Mr. Speaker, we are helping Canadians get back to work.
There are shortages of workers across this country, even in the east. That is where we are focused on helping people get the jobs that are available in their areas. As a last resort, too many employers have to bring in temporary foreign workers to fill the jobs, because there have been disincentives in employment insurance that keep people from working when they could, when they would be better off, and their families would be better off, if they did so.
We are helping Canadians get back to work.
Murray Rankin NDP Victoria, BC
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the NDP successfully pushed the finance committee to study tax havens. The U.K., the U.S. and Australia all have published official estimates of how much these tax havens are costing them, but the Conservatives' position is to cover their eyes and pretend it is not happening.
Could the Minister of National Revenue tell the House why she is not interested in finding out just how much of these tax revenues go missing?
Gail Shea ConservativeMinister of National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, we are very interested in how much of this money goes missing, and that is why we aggressively pursue all information we receive. We take this issue seriously. That is why our government has increased the number of CRA experts on this file by roughly 40% from the last year of the Liberal government.
Since 2006, CRA has audited thousands of cases and has identified more than $4.5 billion in unpaid taxes through our efforts on aggressive international tax planning. This is compared to just $174 million the last year the Liberals were in office.
Murray Rankin NDP Victoria, BC
Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives are quick to brag about money they have recovered, but they do not know how much money has gone missing.
It is entirely possible to calculate how much revenue the government is losing as a result of tax havens. Other countries have done it.
So why will the minister not commit right now to finding out how much revenue the government is losing and to solving this problem once and for all?
Gail Shea ConservativeMinister of National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, as I said, this is a serious issue. Under this government, we have taken a leadership role with our international partners.
At finance committee, when asked about the issue, former Secretary General of the OECD and Liberal cabinet minister Donald Johnston had this to say: “The progress that has been made...over the last five years [in Canada has been] remarkable”.
Rodger Cuzner Liberal Cape Breton—Canso, NS
Mr. Speaker, we live in a big, diverse country where all regions contribute in different ways. Some are more affluent than others, and I applaud that success, like the riding of Ajax—Pickering, where the EI rate is under 7% and household income is over $100,000. However, their Conservative member believes that people in Canso, Nova Scotia, where the EI rate is over 17% and household income is under $36,000, should be happy to take jobs at Tim Hortons. The problem is, the closest Tim Hortons is two hours away, because it is rural Canada.
Where are the rural members of the Conservative caucus on these changes?
Diane Finley ConservativeMinister of Human Resources and Skills Development
Mr. Speaker, I come from a very rural part of Canada and I am proud to do so. My constituents have been telling me that they support the changes we are making.
The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer
Order, please. The hon. Minister of Human Resources now has the floor.
Diane Finley Conservative Haldimand—Norfolk, ON
Mr. Speaker, my constituents are applauding the changes because so many of them are trying to find jobs. They are getting the help they need from Service Canada in identifying opportunities in our area in their skill range. There are also small business people who are trying to find skills and talent to work for them. The new systems are helping them do that and they are helping those people who are getting those new jobs. It is a win-win for rural Canada.
Stéphane Dion Liberal Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC
Mr. Speaker, the minister should get out of her limo and she should kill her job-killing EI plan.
Seasonal employers are calling on the government to put an end to this bad reform that is affecting their industry and depriving them of the skilled workers they need.
The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer
Order, please. The hon. member for Saint-Laurent—Cartierville.
Stéphane Dion Liberal Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC
Mr. Speaker, we are at risk of losing our best workers. It will be difficult to attract and retain the best talent. That is what the Canadian Federation of Independent Business in the Atlantic region is saying.
Will the government listen to these job creators or will it stubbornly continue to kill jobs?
Diane Finley ConservativeMinister of Human Resources and Skills Development
Mr. Speaker, there are a lot of employers' associations who are with us on this. Let me cite a few.
The government’s changes to EI reform are a positive and integral step in addressing the challenges for Canadian industry.
That was from the Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters.
One area I commend the government for looking at is the removal of disincentives for people who take, for example, part-time work. Too often we penalize people who've wanted to go to work...
That was from the president of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, the Hon. Perrin Beatty.