Debates of Feb. 7th, 2013

Electoral Boundaries

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

Order, please. The hon. member for Wascana still has the floor.

The hon. member for Wascana.

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Wascana, SK]

Mr. Speaker, about the legislation back in the 1990s, the now Prime Minister said he accepted the previous government's intent at the time, and the Conservatives voted for it.

However, this time, there are Conservative robocalls to hide the identity of the party and pre-canned Conservative postcards are reportedly showering the commission, all designed to subvert the process.

Why is the Prime Minister attacking Judge Mills and Professor Courtney?

[Stephen Harper, Conservative, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, of course, hundreds of people in Saskatchewan oppose the proposals. They also have a right to their opinion, including those in rural Saskatchewan in particular, which I know the hon. member is notorious for not caring about.

However—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

Order, please. The Right Hon. Prime Minister still has the floor. Members need to come to order.

[Stephen Harper, Conservative, Calgary Southwest, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the record will show very clearly that the Liberal government suspended this process in the 1990s when it did not like the map, something that we on this side of the House were completely against and ultimately successfully fought, allowing the process to continue to go ahead.

Taxation

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, Beauséjour, NB]

Mr. Speaker, under the Conservatives, mortgage debt has increased by 77% and other debt has exploded by 56%. At the same time, the Conservatives have added $750 million to workers' tax burden with three consecutive increases in employment insurance contributions.

Can the minister explain how these tax increases will help Canadian families pay off their debts?

[Shelly Glover, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, it is this government, this side of the House, that has reduced Canadians' taxes 140 times since it came into office.

Unlike the previous Liberal government, our government has put $3,100 in the pockets of the average Canadian family. We will continue to implement our plan in order to reduce the taxes of all Canadian families.

The Environment

[Peter Julian, NDP, Burnaby—New Westminster, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the environment commissioner was clear that the failure of the government to act puts not just our environment and our health but also our economy at risk.

The government's record? After years of promises, it failed to put into place liability protection, risking billions of dollars in cleanup costs that would devastate the economy. And, of course, federal regulations limiting greenhouse gases for the oil and gas sector are completely missing. They are AWOL, like a Tory senator in Prince Edward Island.

Why is the minister refusing to act? Why is he putting our environment and our economy at risk?

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

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for the question, because it gives me an opportunity to remind him that it is under our government that we have seen a stabilization of greenhouse gas emission growth in this country, while our economy grew, which is something the NDP does not want to see.

I would also like to remind my colleague opposite of what the environment commissioner said on his body of work on a television program two days ago: “I have more confidence in this system than I did going in”.

Our government is getting the job done.

[Anne Minh-Thu Quach, NDP, Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of the Environment is not going to shirk his responsibility with respect to hydraulic fracturing as easily as that.

His Parliamentary Secretary should read the law. Section 2 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act states that the government must assess all substances to determine whether they are toxic and understand the risk they pose. Section 48 provides for the establishment of an inventory of releases of pollutants. Section 50 states that the minister must publish the inventory. And there is more.

Will the minister finally require companies to identify the toxic substances being injected into the ground?

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

Mr. Speaker, as I have said numerous times in the House, I would like to remind my colleague opposite that this is a matter of primary provincial jurisdiction. Our government has a world-renowned chemical management plan by which we assess thousands of toxic chemicals. Again, I would remind my colleague of what the environment commissioner said of his report: “...this is how the system is supposed to work. We've identified...gaps, and the government is committed to closing them”.

Again, our government is getting the job done for Canada's environment.

[Robert Chisholm, NDP, Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS]

Mr. Speaker, the commissioner also had strong words about the Conservatives' failure to protect our coastline. Less than 1% of Canadian marine areas are protected, which is a long way away from our UN commitment to protect 10% by 2020. The commissioner warned that at the current pace, it would be decades before we would be able to achieve our 2020 goal. Our oceans and fisheries do not have decades.

Is the minister still committed to the 2020 goal, and what is his plan to achieve it?

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

Mr. Speaker, to my colleague opposite, this is what the environment commissioner said of our marine protected areas: “I think when you look at the 10 marine protected areas that have been created, this is an important achievement....I think it is a good foundation”.

Our government has plans to achieve several more marine protected areas. We are undertaking robust consultations, because we understand that the process to get this right is important. It is under our government that we have seen an increase of over 50% of Canada's natural areas being protected under our park system. This is the true record of our government.

Public Safety

[Alexandre Boulerice, NDP, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, when I spoke about Arthur Porter this week, instead of spouting the usual platitudes, the Conservatives took out a nice little blue sheet on which was written simply, “Well, he is no longer there.”

That is not enough to erase the connection between this individual and the Conservatives. It does not excuse them for the mistake they made by appointing him to the Security Intelligence Review Committee. Since that time, the Prime Minister's Office secretly changed the rules for this type of appointment. If that is not admitting to making a mistake, I do not know what is.

So, while they are at it, why do the Conservatives not just admit that they should never have put a notorious fraudster in this key position?

[Vic Toews, Conservative, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, Arthur Porter submitted his resignation. It was accepted almost two years ago.

The leaders of the NDP and the Liberal Party were consulted ahead of his appointment and had no objections to that appointment. The allegations that Mr. Porter is facing do not have anything to do with his former responsibilities.

Ethics

[Alexandre Boulerice, NDP, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the process for making CSIS appointments appears to be about as good as the one for appointing senators.

We have seen a never-ending string of scandals and abuses of public funds by senators appointed by the Conservative politburo. Senator Brazeau, who has broken the law for years, has now been arrested following a very disturbing incident. And Senator Duffy continues to claim, against all evidence to the contrary, that he lives in Prince Edward Island. Do not look for him today because he is probably hiding in a kitchen somewhere. These people continue to be paid handsomely, even though they are cheaters and fraudsters.

The Prime Minister appointed them and therefore he is responsible for them. Will he get tough and put an end to this abuse?

[Peter Van Loan, Conservative, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, as members well know, we have asked the Standing Senate Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration to ensure that the Senate's policies are indeed followed, that they are adhered to, and indeed that they are appropriate. That is exactly the process that is taking place right now.

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister promised to clean up Ottawa, and he gave us Mike Duffy.

Did members see the footage of him running out of that kitchen last night in Halifax? It is like Senator Come-From-Away is on the lam. It is because the good people of Cavendish are saying: “What do Anne of Green Gables and Mike Duffy have in common? They are both fictional residents of Prince Edward Island”.

Does anybody believe that the Senate is going to hold him to account? Not if the Prime Minister appointed him.

What is he going to do to get all the taxpayers' money back? It is a simple question.

[Peter Van Loan, Conservative, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, it is well understood that parliamentarians, members of the House of Commons and the Senate are expected to maintain residences in the region they represent as well as here in the national capital region so they can do their work here. The Senate has rules that cover that. Those are currently being reviewed, and they are also reviewing to make sure that all senators in fact adhere to those rules, as we expect they will.

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the question is this: When did ripping off the taxpayer became part of the job description of the Conservative Senate?

Let us look at this question of the very unsavoury story of Mr. Patrick Brazeau. We have had allegations of tax fraud on top of earlier reports of him ripping us off for a housing allowance.

Kicking him out of the caucus is not good enough. The Prime Minister appointed him to the Senate for the next 35 years, which means taxpayers are on the hook for over $7 million. When is the Conservative government going to take responsibility for Mr. Brazeau, kick him out of the Senate and get every taxpayer dime back? Period. Simple question.

[Peter Van Loan, Conservative, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, with regard to Senator Brazeau, the reports today are, of course, a serious matter related to a domestic incident, and this will be dealt with by authorities through the appropriate process. As for his role here, in light of the serious nature of the events, action has been taken, and he has been removed from the caucus.

Electoral Boundaries

[Craig Scott, NDP, Toronto—Danforth, ON]

Mr. Speaker, let us go back to the fraudulent calls in Saskatchewan.

There is a process to voice objections and that process must be respected. It is unacceptable to attack an independent commission by making robocalls.

In response to my question yesterday, the Prime Minister defended the fraudulent calls. In the House, he is the leader of the government, not the leader of his party.

Will the government ensure that the Conservatives respect the process?

[Gerry Ritz, Conservative, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board]

Mr. Speaker, of course, we respect and celebrate the independence of the electoral boundaries commission. We all made presentations before it, as did the NDP, and they are asking for some changes as well. It is our right and responsibility, as members of Parliament, to represent the wishes of our constituents. Three-quarters of the people in Saskatchewan are upset with the maps the way they are drawn, and it is our job to continue those arguments.