Debates of Feb. 8th, 2013

Employment Insurance

[Massimo Pacetti, Liberal, Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Canada lost 22,000 jobs last month. According to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, the Conservatives' EI payroll hike has already cost the economy almost 300,000 person-years of employment. However, three consecutive EI tax hikes do not seem to be enough for the government. It wants to hike taxes again.

I realize that the Conservatives abandoned most of their principles when they came to power, but when exactly did they begin to believe that the best way to create jobs was by increasing taxes on employers and employees?

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

Mr. Speaker, we know that the best way to create jobs is actually to reduce taxes, which is why we have done that 140 times. That is why the average family pays $3,000 less in tax today as a result of our changes. Perhaps that is why we have seen over 900,000 net new jobs since the economic downturn, the very best track record on job creation in the entire G7. In fact, it is a record we expect to continue into the future. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Canada will see that prosperity continue, as a leader, into the decades ahead.

Electoral Boundaries

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

Mr. Speaker, what will the Minister of Democratic Reform do now? Will he join the government House leader's parliamentary secretary in condemning the Conservative Party's deceptive attempts to intimidate Saskatchewan's independent electoral commission?

Will he commit to upholding open, fair and democratic practices, or will he be blind to his government's latest devious breach of democracy and join his Prime Minister in defending the indefensible?

[Tim Uppal, Conservative, Minister of State (Democratic Reform)]

Mr. Speaker, the electoral boundary process encourages input from parliamentarians, political parties and the public. It is well known that our party agrees with the 75% majority of public submissions opposed to the commission's proposals in Saskatchewan.

While we are working and respecting the process, on the other hand, the Liberals, while in government in 1994, introduced legislation that would have suspended the independent electoral boundaries commissions. We would not do that.

Parliamentary Budget Officer

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

Mr. Speaker, today we learned that there was a net loss of 22,000 jobs in January.

That is the kind of news the Conservatives do not really want us to find out while they insist on allowing the Parliamentary Budget Officer's mandate to lapse and drag their feet finding a replacement.

Why does this government not want to extend the mandate of the Parliamentary Budget Officer? When will they stop keeping Canadians in the dark? Why are they so scared of financial accountability?

[Andrew Saxton, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board and for Western Economic Diversification]

Mr. Speaker, we want a Parliamentary Budget Officer who is impartial and provides credible opinions about budget issues.

The Parliamentary Librarian has retained the services of an executive search firm. We do not intend to change the fact that the Parliamentary Budget Officer reports to the Parliamentary Librarian.

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

Mr. Speaker, we learned today that we lost 22,000 net jobs in January, and this is much worse than the experts predicted. It flies in the face of the Conservatives' job creation claims. The reality simply does not match their talking points.

Without the PBO, it will be that much harder to learn the truth. Instead of hiding from accountability, why will the government not extend the Parliamentary Budget Officer's mandate until a replacement is found?

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

Mr. Speaker, I want to say very clearly that we sympathize with the loss of jobs for many Canadians today. However, having said that, we have an economic action plan that has in fact worked. We have seen over 900,000 net new jobs created in Canada since the end of the recession, July 2009.

Having said that, we intend to continue with our economic action plan into 2013 to create jobs, to make sure long-term prosperity is in our future and to make sure our economy continues to grow.

Human Resources and Skills Development Canada

[Mathieu Ravignat, NDP, Pontiac, QC]

Mr. Speaker, after the government lost the personal information of hundreds of thousands of Canadians, it took political pressure and several class action suits to force the government to take action. Providing complete protection to the victims of this negligence would cost $100 million a year. The Conservatives are trying to play the hero by offering much less for only six years.

When will the Conservatives take the protection of personal information seriously and truly protect these victims?

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

Mr. Speaker, the loss of this information by the department was totally unacceptable. It never should have happened.

We are doing everything we can to help Canadians and protect them, specifically by offering them Equifax services free of charge. What is more, I have directed the department to change all its systems to protect Canadians.

[Mathieu Ravignat, NDP, Pontiac, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I have a news flash for the minister: that is just not good enough. It is not even as much as her own department has recommended. For just a moment, can the minister at least try to put herself in the shoes of the more than half a million Canadian victims?

First their personal information was lost, and now some have learned the Conservative government is adding insult to injury by informing total strangers of their loss.

When will the minister take privacy seriously, and what is her plan?

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

Mr. Speaker, we take the protection of Canadians' privacy very seriously.

That is why we informed the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada immediately. It is imperative that the department ensure the security of individuals and their information. Fortunately, to date, there is no evidence that the information has been used for fraudulent purposes.

Democratic Reform

[Françoise Boivin, NDP, Gatineau, QC]

Mr. Speaker, welcome to Fantasy Island, starring the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development.

However, we know that Senator Brazeau will collect another $7 million if he serves his full term until 2049. If we add up the tab for all of the Prime Minister's appointees, they will collect over $115 million from taxpayers.

Are a $115 million bill and Senate ethics rules that are stuck in the dark ages really going to be this Prime Minister's legacy on Senate reform?

[Tim Uppal, Conservative, Minister of State (Democratic Reform)]

Mr. Speaker, we want to see a more democratic, accountable and representative Senate. That is why we took action and referred Senate reform to the Supreme Court. Our reference to the Supreme Court will accelerate the process of reforming the Senate, and may even lay the foundation for further Senate reform.

Ethics

[Françoise Boivin, NDP, Gatineau, QC]

Mr. Speaker, this government's problem is that it has zero credibility.

The Prime Minister can try to distance himself as much as he wants, but he is the one who gave Senator Brazeau the job. He is responsible.

The Conservatives appointed him knowing that there were several allegations of sexual harassment against him and that he was not paying his son's child support, and they kept him in caucus after he made sexist comments to a journalist. The Prime Minister even called him a gentleman.

Why did the government wait so long to remove him from caucus?

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

Mr. Speaker, at the time the senator was appointed, he was the National Chief of the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples, one of Canada's national aboriginal organizations. Obviously in light of recent events, action has been taken. He has been removed from caucus and appropriate steps are being taken by law enforcement authorities, and by the Senate through its own review process.

[Jamie Nicholls, NDP, Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC]

Mr. Speaker, if only it were an isolated incident.

But in the long list of cronies appointed to the Senate by the Prime Minister, cases of abuse are unfortunately too common.

Senator Duffy claims to live in Prince Edward Island, Senator Harb receives an allowance to live in his own house and Senator Wallin may live in Saskatchewan, but no one knows for sure.

That is a lot of wasted money.

How will the Conservatives ensure that taxpayers get this money that was unjustly paid?

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

Mr. Speaker, the Senate Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration is currently examining the rules regarding housing allowances, and we are counting on the committee to enforce the rules.

That said, today, the Board of Internal Economy sent some senators' files to an external auditor, Deloitte, so that it can examine them and report back.

[Dan Harris, NDP, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

Mr. Speaker, in addition to Senator Brazeau, we have Liberal Senator Mac Harb claiming a housing allowance despite living here for decades. Fictional Prince Edward Islander Mike Duffy literally runs through kitchens to avoid answering questions about his residency. Now Pamela Wallin refuses to confirm whether she lives in Saskatchewan.

The Prime Minister has made 58 Senate appointments and has now unseated Brian Mulroney as the king of Conservative patronage. When will the Conservatives get serious about permanently fixing the Senate and abolish it?

[Tim Uppal, Conservative, Minister of State (Democratic Reform)]

Mr. Speaker, the NDP members are in a bit of a contradiction here. They cannot blame the Senate for having unelected senators, because they refused to pass legislation to allow senators to be elected.

We have taken action to make the Senate more democratic, accountable and representative. That is why we referred the whole issue to the Supreme Court of Canada. Our reference to the Supreme Court will accelerate the process of Senate reform and lay the foundation for further reform.

[Dan Harris, NDP, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

Mr. Speaker, we voted against it because it is an expensive band-aid, not a solution to the $90 million a year boondoggle that is the Senate.

At the end of the day, the Prime Minister's bagman, campaign managers, failed candidates and personal friends will collect over $115 million in salaries from taxpayers. Senator Brazeau alone will collect $7 million.

We could save hard-working taxpayers $90 million a year by getting rid of the Senate. It is a black hole of accountability and a national embarrassment. When are Conservatives going to do the right thing and abolish it?

[Tim Uppal, Conservative, Minister of State (Democratic Reform)]

Mr. Speaker, I would remind the member that in fact the members opposite did not vote on it because at every opportunity they filibustered and did not even let the whole issue come to a vote. That is where the NDP stand on this. They are delaying Senate reform.

On this side of the House, we are taking action. We have referred the whole issue to the Supreme Court. We are accelerating the pace of Senate reform and laying the foundation for further reform.

Human Resources and Skills Development Canada

[Rodger Cuzner, Liberal, Cape Breton—Canso, NS]

Mr. Speaker, the incompetence continues regarding the data breach and mail-outs now going to the wrong people. We know the minister did not stuff the envelopes, just like we know she did not personally lose the hard drive. However, it is the disinterest she has shown in the issue, the disinformation she has shared, and the disrespect to the 600,000 Canadians who have been affected by refusing to go the House committee and be accountable for her inaction and her feeble response.

Will the minister do the right thing and appear at committee?

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

Mr. Speaker, the first problem mentioned has already been identified. Solutions have been taken and the problem has been fixed. This situation is totally unacceptable, particularly because it was avoidable. That is why I have instructed the department to completely overhaul its IT systems, its security processes and to have the staff trained to make sure this sort of thing never happens again to Canadians.

International Co-operation

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

After letting the government contribute nothing to AFISMA and nothing to help restore democracy in Mali, after closing our embassies and offices in Gabon, Guinea and Niger, and after removing all but three francophone African countries from CIDA's priority list, is the Minister for La Francophonie going to wake up and do his job?

Can he assure the House that francophone Africa will not be a victim once again, in the upcoming budget?