Debates of Feb. 8th, 2013

International Co-operation

[Lois Brown, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Cooperation]

Mr. Speaker, Canada has a very long history of support for the people of Mali. In fact, the ambassador of Mali called Canada's assistance exemplary.

We remain concerned with the situation in Mali. That is why the minister announced additional support for Mali, in the form of humanitarian assistance, emergency health care, access to water and food for displaced people and refugees.

Child Care

[Lise St-Denis, Liberal, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

Mr. Speaker, several members have spoken this week about the government's abandonment of the universal child care program. In 2006, the Conservatives promised to replace this program with tax credits to employers who would create new child care spaces. They promised 125,000 new spaces in five years.

How many spaces have they created so far? Have they enabled women, some of them heads of single-parent families, to have access to a system of affordable child care?

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

Mr. Speaker, our party believes that parents are best at deciding how to raise their children. That is very important to us. That is why we proposed this program. Part of the program was to create child care spaces. Between 2006 and 2010, more than 110,000 child care spaces were created, and we do not have figures on how many have been added since then. In this way, we are supporting parents.

Correctional Service Canada

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

Mr. Speaker, one has to wonder whether the Conservatives learned anything from the Ashley Smith tragedy.

The correctional investigator sounded the alarm about a dramatic increase of serious self-injury in federal prisons. However, instead of taking action, the Conservatives are closing Canada's only program dedicated to treating self-harm.

What is the minister's thinking? How can Corrections Canada prevent the next tragedy without any support?

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

Mr. Speaker, the member is absolutely incorrect. The project she is referring to was a pilot project. It has concluded.

These services will be offered at all institutions and will be part of the regular case management process.

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

Mr. Speaker, the statistics from the correctional investigator are rather alarming. In five years, the number of self-injury incidents has nearly tripled. That is a serious situation, and we must take action immediately in order to avoid further tragedies like that of Ashley Smith. Self-injury is a serious problem in our prisons. Dropping the programs that were aimed specifically at this problem is a monumental error.

What is the goal of the Minister of Public Safety? Is it rehabilitation or self-injury?

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

Mr. Speaker, again, the member opposite is absolutely wrong. It was a pilot project. We have taken those lessons learned from that pilot project, and we are integrating them across the country in order to help inmates who are dealing with mental health issues. Our government and Correctional Service of Canada are leading the way. We have initiated a number of things, including a 90-day assessment. When inmates enter a facility, they are assessed and treated accordingly.

There is more work to do. However, we are leading the way.

No projects have been cut. This was a pilot project. We are using the lessons learned across the country.

Food Safety

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

Mr. Speaker, this morning we learned that the XL Foods contaminated meat recall cost taxpayers $2 million. This situation could have been avoided had the Conservatives not cut inspector jobs at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. They thought they would save money by cutting services, but the recall cost more than the inspector jobs.

Will the Conservatives stop improvising and putting Canadians' lives in danger with their irresponsible cuts?

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

Mr. Speaker, food safety is our top priority.

Since 2006, the government has increased the number of inspectors and CFIA's budget by roughly 20%. The government will continue to provide CFIA with the resources it needs to keep our food supply safe.

[Carol Hughes, NDP, Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, ON]

Mr. Speaker, we are just now learning the full cost of the XL Foods meat recall of last fall. The cost of almost 40 staff, plus overtime, plus travel, plus accommodation, leaves taxpayers on the hook for over $2 million.

My question is simple. After the largest meat recall in Canadian history, after all these costs, after 18 Canadians fell ill, have Conservatives learned their lesson? Will they be reversing their reckless planned cuts to CFIA?

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

Mr. Speaker, as I just said, safe food for Canadian consumers is our top priority. Since 2006, our government has increased the number of inspectors and the budget of the CFIA by roughly 20%.

However, I must point out that every time we impose or implement a measure through our budget to increase finances or funding for food safety, the opposition, and the NDP in particular, vote against each and every measure. It is shameful.

Foreign Affairs

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

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, speaking in Montreal, the Leader of the Opposition tried to articulate what the NDP's foreign policy would be. Unbelievably, his speech demonstrated to Canadians that the NDP leader wants to take Canada back to a foreign policy approach where Canadian values are secondary and every dictator with a vote at the UN would be pandered to.

Could the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs please tell the House our government's approach to foreign policy?

[Bob Dechert, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, as my hon. colleague said, the Leader of the Opposition showed yesterday that he wants to take Canada back to failed foreign policy approaches.

Canada will no longer go along just to get along. We have consistently protected and promoted freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law around the world. Our government has a principled foreign policy approach. Under our government, Canada no longer panders to every dictator with a vote at the United Nations.

The NDP leader would kill trade agreements and hurt Canadian exports. He would also send Canadian taxpayers' dollars to developing countries without any plan to achieve results.

Employment Insurance

[Jean Rousseau, NDP, Compton—Stanstead, QC]

Mr. Speaker, if we can come back to serious matters. The Conservatives have returned to their attack on Quebec with renewed vigour.

In their vicious quota system for cuts to employment insurance, the target for Quebec is the highest of them all: 40% of the cuts are to be made in my province.

That is unacceptable. It is nothing more than an outright attack on Quebec and its regions.

Quebeckers have paid for employment insurance, and it belongs to them. The Conservatives want to take their money, attack their way of life and destroy their economy, which is so important in the regions.

Does the minister intend to listen to reason and abandon these destructive and irresponsible quotas?

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

Mr. Speaker, we have an employment insurance system that is the same everywhere in the country. Everywhere.

It is very important to protect the integrity of the system. That is why we have a variety of methods for identifying ineligible benefits, to protect the integrity of the system.

It is very important to make sure that Canadian taxpayers’ money is spent responsibly and respectfully.

[Wayne Marston, NDP, Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, ON]

Mr. Speaker, almost half of all Canadian jobs are created by small businesses. Most of them are family businesses. They are now finding out that employment insurance is not there for them.

Tariq Anwar worked for 14 years in his family restaurant. The family sold the restaurant and he found himself out of work. He has been told that he is ineligible for EI, after paying into it all those years. He is ineligible because he is related to the owner.

Is that fair? Rather than cutting EI why not try administering it fairly, or at the very least competently?

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

Mr. Speaker, employment insurance is there for those who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own. It is important to understand that it is there for them while they are looking for another job.

What we are doing is helping people to connect with jobs, whether it is through the employment insurance system or programs such as labour market agreements that help Canadians who have lost their jobs or who are out of work get back into the labour market.

We have expanded the system, not cut it. Our priority is job creation and growth and we are doing everything we can to help Canadians get back to work.

[Alex Atamanenko, NDP, British Columbia Southern Interior, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I think it is probably time for the minister to get out of her glass bubble and actually talk to people affected by these cuts.

The fruit industry in British Columbia depends on seasonal workers, but under the new EI rules seasonal workers will be forced to accept any work that comes along. With these demands, there will be a dramatic decrease in the number of workers available to help with the harvest. Fruit growers will be left scrambling with harvest and delivery.

When is the government going to reverse these changes, which negatively affect seasonal workers?

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

Mr. Speaker, our goal is to make sure that when Canadians work they are better off than when they do not.

We have a shortage of skills and labour right across this country. Employers are so desperate for help that they have to pay extra costs just to bring in outside workers, when we do have qualified Canadians for those jobs. We want to help connect Canadians with those jobs so that they, their families and their employers are all better off.

[Manon Perreault, NDP, Montcalm, QC]

Mr. Speaker, by attacking unemployed people with their employment insurance reform, the Conservatives have neglected to consider people living with disabilities.

Their reform requires unemployed people to accept any job within an hour of their home. But working people with disabilities do not have the same ability to travel as other people have. They are being asked to do the impossible and they are being threatened with punishment if they do not obey.

Will the minister finally admit that her reform is punishing working people, and especially those who are living with disabilities?

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

Mr. Speaker, no government in Canada has done as much as ours to support people with disabilities.

The employment insurance system adheres to that goal. That is why any decision about an unemployed person accepting a job is based on individual circumstances. It is very important to acknowledge that, because it is a principle of the system.

The Environment

[Ted Hsu, Liberal, Kingston and the Islands, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the environment commissioner just told the government to increase the money that operators set aside to cover the cost of a nuclear or offshore drilling accident. The liability cap is out of date now, far below what other countries require. Previous bills to take taxpayers off the hook for nuclear accidents had overwhelming support but died in 2008 because of an early election call, in 2009 because of prorogation, and in 2010 simply from neglect.

Will the Conservatives now raise liability caps? When will we see properly reviewed stand-alone legislation to do it?

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

Mr. Speaker, in Canada the foundation for our liability regime is the polluter pay principle.

I should point out as I did the other day that the Commissioner of the Environment said in terms of nuclear liability limits that:

—Canada has actually acknowledged that is too low.... My understanding...is they are looking at this now and they may be taking some action in that regard.

That action would have been taken years ago if the NDP had not been so determined to filibuster. Those members insisted on putting their own ideology ahead of public safety, as they usually do.

Transportation

[Mark Eyking, Liberal, Sydney—Victoria, NS]

Mr. Speaker, the latest towboat incident and the numerous abandoned ships on our shores that threaten our environment and our navigation lines demonstrate the need for strict regulations so companies are held accountable for towing vessels and removing them when they are cut loose.

Presently there is money secured for oil tanker navigation in our waters, but we need similar legislation for other types of vessels as well. Will the government act now to ensure the safety of our shores and our navigable waters?

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, we do take very seriously the continued safety of our navigable waters and our role as the regulator for offshore shipping.

That being said, it is necessary for us to work with our provincial counterparts as there is often overlap in jurisdictions in this regard. I would encourage the hon. member to work with us as we do that.