House of Commons Hansard #229 of the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was cbc.
Intergovernmental RelationsOral Questions
Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam B.C.
Conservative
James Moore ConservativeMinister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages
Mr. Speaker, it is clear that the member opposite missed the Minister of Finance's speech, missed the Prime Minister's answers today and did not even read the 2013 budget.
The 2013 budget very clearly states that we will work with the provinces on this issue that is very important to our economy. To create jobs for all Canadians, we will work with the provinces and the private sector to continue to build a strong economy in every region in this country.
Hedy Fry Liberal Vancouver Centre, BC
Mr. Speaker, the government is either wilfully blind to scientific evidence or it does not care. Why else would it ignore health care in the budget?
Data shows highly contagious TB rates among Inuit increasing at 185 times the non-aboriginal average. TB flourishes in poor, overcrowded and undernourished populations. In 2010, Public Health Canada reported that Inuit live in these conditions, and 50% have no access to nutritious food. The Minister of Health knew this three years ago. Why did she do nothing then, and why has the budget done nothing now?
Leona Aglukkaq ConservativeMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, as a minister coming from the north, I understand too well how serious this matter is in our aboriginal communities and our communities.
This is why our government has taken a wide approach in our mission to eliminate tuberculosis across Canada. We recently announced two new research studies in Nunavut that will raise awareness of TB and will also evaluate state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment. We are also forgiving loans for doctors and nurses in remote communities. We have signed a tripartite framework agreement in B.C., with $2 billion for health care programs for services for first nations and Inuit. We have made significant investments in—
François Lapointe NDP Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
Mr. Speaker, for years the NDP has been calling for a transition fund for workers in the asbestos industry. Months ago, I moved a motion calling for consultations with the sector in order to draft a plan to restructure the industry. The Conservatives voted against it and then announced $50 million in aid over seven years, without a public consultation process. Talk about inconsistent.
Why seven years, when hundreds of workers need jobs now? The government has abandoned the regions, even the ones it represents.
Why not make this transition funding available to businesses and workers right away?
Christian Paradis ConservativeMinister of Industry and Minister of State (Agriculture)
Mr. Speaker, when the Marois government decided to put an end to all chrysotile mining, our government showed leadership. Obviously, we no longer had any reason to oppose the inclusion of chrysotile asbestos on the list of products subject to the PIC procedure of the Rotterdam Convention.
We showed leadership by announcing $50 million in funding to diversify the economies of Thetford Mines and Asbestos. This economic diversification will not happen overnight, as my colleague would have us believe. I hope that they will support the budget and that the member for Richmond—Arthabaska will stand up for his region.
Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
Mr. Speaker, the Liberal and Conservative record on asbestos has been shameful for years. They ignored the science and put workers and people in the developing world at risk. For years, they buried their heads in the sand rather than help Quebec develop the transition plans for these communities and families.
At last, thanks to those communities, labour and the opposition, there will be some assistance for transition. Now that we have this assistance in place, will the Conservatives finally agree to take the final step and ban the export of asbestos in all of its forms?
Christian Paradis ConservativeMinister of Industry and Minister of State (Agriculture)
Mr. Speaker, my colleague knows full well that natural resources fall under provincial jurisdiction. The Marois government decided to stop chrysotile mining. Our government immediately showed leadership by announcing a $50 million fund to help affected communities diversify their economies. Canada no longer has any reason to keep chrysotile asbestos off the list of products subject to the PIC procedure of the Rotterdam Convention. We hope that the NDP will stop crying wolf and support us in our efforts.
Earl Dreeshen Conservative Red Deer, AB
Mr. Speaker, our government is focused on jobs, growth and long-term prosperity. Natural resources create hundreds of thousands of jobs, billions in economic growth and billions in social services across Canada.
Keystone XL is an important project for the future health of the Canadian economy, with Canada losing $50 million a day due to a lack of market access. The importance to Canada is clear, though the NDP refuse to listen and support this project.
Could the Minister of Natural Resources update the House on the latest news on this front?
Joe Oliver ConservativeMinister of Natural Resources
Mr. Speaker, today Darryl Sutter is meeting with President Obama and will advocate for the Keystone XL project and the thousands of jobs that it will create. We applaud Coach Sutter for promoting Canadian interests on the world stage.
We hope that the NDP leader, who left a false impression with the Obama administration that Canadians are opposed to pipelines, will pay attention. He should start listening to Darryl Sutter instead of Daryl Hannah.
Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB
Mr. Speaker, Lake Winnipeg is one of the largest freshwater lakes in the world, and it is dying. The government has failed to protect one of Canada's greatest lakes.
The Global Nature Fund has declared that Lake Winnipeg is the 2013 threatened lake of the year. Could the government explain how the closing of the Experimental Lakes Area, Canada's world-renowned freshwater science facility, is going to benefit the cleanup of Lake Winnipeg?
Peter Kent ConservativeMinister of the Environment
Mr. Speaker, my colleague should know exactly what our government has done to help the cleanup of Lake Winnipeg. Since 2007, we have invested $18 million to build a scientific foundation for action and provided funding for locally driven stewardship actions.
Even with this progress, though, my colleague is quite correct. Challenges with water quality and algae blooms remain. However, our government is taking action to reduce nutrient inputs to the lake by directly supporting stewardship initiatives, scientific research and monitoring.
Niki Ashton NDP Churchill, MB
Mr. Speaker, once again Manitoba and Saskatchewan are facing major flooding, yet every season the Conservatives feign surprise when communities are devastated.
In 2009 and 2011, first nations were disproportionately impacted by flooding. Yet since those floods, the government has done virtually nothing to provide permanent flood protection to communities like Fisher River and Peguis.
When will the government step up and provide the tools to these first nations to fight this year's flood, and will it finally commit to permanent flood mitigation?
Vic Toews ConservativeMinister of Public Safety
Of course, Mr. Speaker, we will wait to see what happens, but I am very confident that the Emergency Measures Organization in Manitoba that is on the front lines is doing a good job in terms of preparedness.
In respect to flood mitigation, it was our Prime Minister who, in 2011, announced $100 million for flood mitigation. Presently there are discussions with all provinces as to how we can look at flood mitigation as an ongoing program.
Parm Gill Conservative Brampton—Springdale, ON
Mr. Speaker, our Conservative government is working hard to fix the disastrous mess left by the Liberals in our immigration system.
The Liberals left an immigration backlog of close to one million people, waiting up to eight years for their applications to be processed.
Could the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration please update this House on the progress made by our Conservative government to create a fast, flexible and effective immigration system?
Rick Dykstra ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration
Mr. Speaker, about a half hour ago our Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism announced that the backlog that was left on this government by the previous Liberal government has been reduced by 40%.
The program that—
The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer
Order, please. The hon. parliamentary secretary still has the floor.
Rick Dykstra Conservative St. Catharines, ON
Mr. Speaker, further to that, the foreign skilled application process, which brings skilled workers to this country and took years to complete, is now down to a year or less.
The parent and grandparent reunification program in this country has been reduced by over 25%, not because anyone on the other side of the House has supported this but because this government is taking action when it comes to immigration.
Jean Rousseau NDP Compton—Stanstead, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives may say that the economy is their priority and boast that the regions will also be their priority, but those are empty promises.
Budget 2013 confirms a 15% cut to funding for the Economic Development Agency for the Regions of Quebec.
The Minister of Transport himself was boasting recently about temporary initiatives put forward by his government. I have a little news flash for him. There is nothing in the budget to make up for the loss of many of these programs, which are very beneficial to communities in Quebec.
The Conservatives have already butchered employment insurance. Was it absolutely necessary to cut spending allocated to the economic development agency for the regions, which is so beneficial to them?
Denis Lebel ConservativeMinister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, once again, that is completely false.
We have not reduced the department's operating budget. Two temporary initiatives are simply ending.
I repeat, the cruise ship initiative and the initiative for the strengthening of Quebec's forest economies are coming to an end.
We have business offices in all regions of Quebec. Not too long ago, I had the honour of accompanying the Prime Minister to the beautiful region of Rivière-du-Loup, where we made an important announcement at Premier Tech. We will continue to invest in Montmagny and across Quebec.
We are doing our job everywhere, and I am very proud to serve as Minister of Economic Development Canada.
Claude Patry Bloc Jonquière—Alma, QC
Mr. Speaker, with its budget, the federal government wants to impose its vision for worker training on Quebec. In so doing, it is prepared to gut proven programs.
Last year alone, Quebec's employment assistance services allowed the federal government to save $220 million in employment insurance benefits. The Government of Quebec has been clear: it is refusing to put up with Ottawa's interference and will not participate in the new program.
Is the minister aware of Quebec's refusal or is she going to continue to be adversarial by imposing her reform on Quebec?
Intergovernmental RelationsOral Questions
Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam B.C.
Conservative
James Moore ConservativeMinister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages
Mr. Speaker, we have heard Canadians calling for the creation of new jobs throughout Canada, including Quebec.
In the future, we will certainly work with the provinces, including Quebec, to create jobs in every region of the country, including every region of Quebec.
The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer
I draw the attention of hon. members to the presence in the gallery of His Excellency Enkhbold Zandaakhuu, Chairman of the State Great Hural of Mongolia.
Maxime Bernier ConservativeMinister of State (Small Business and Tourism)
Mr. Speaker, in one of my responses earlier, I mentioned that Canam Group receives financial assistance from the Fonds de solidarité. I should have said Manac, not Canam Group. Manac receives investments from the Fonds de solidarité and will continue to do so.