House of Commons Hansard #231 of the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was agreement.
Gail Shea ConservativeMinister of National Revenue and Minister for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Mr. Speaker, the independent investigation by the Public Service Commission did not find any evidence of any wrongdoing or influence on the part of the minister or his political staff in this matter. ACOA has taken action on the recommendations of the Public Service Commission on this issue.
Stéphane Dion Liberal Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC
Mr. Speaker, will the minister guarantee that his official languages plan is not just a smokescreen to hide all the cuts in the departments, as was the case in the past?
Can he explain why the plan includes $120 million essentially for English-language training of immigrants in English-speaking provinces?
And will he convince his colleague at Fisheries and Oceans Canada to abandon his ridiculous plan to close the Quebec City marine rescue sub-centre on April 15, given that the Halifax centre is in absolutely no position to provide proper services in French?
James Moore ConservativeMinister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages
Mr. Speaker, the member has asked several questions.
I will just say that I am very proud today to table our action plan for official languages, the Roadmap for Canada’s Official Languages 2013–2018. This shows our government's ongoing commitment to protecting, promoting and celebrating Canada's official languages. With our unprecedented commitment to the francophone and anglophone communities across the country and the record investments to protect and promote our official languages, we have done much to protect these interests, which are very important to Canada.
Jean Crowder NDP Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC
Mr. Speaker, last night another Conservative minister let his true feelings slip. This time the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs summed up the Conservatives' position on first nations relations as they should shut up and leave the Conservatives alone.
I have a better solution. The Conservatives should give meaning to their own words and follow through on the repeated promises for face-to-face, nation-to-nation negotiations. When will they take the necessary steps to fix this broken relationship?
Bernard Valcourt ConservativeMinister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development
Mr. Speaker, the NDP continues to support the position and the likes of protesters who, yesterday in Winnipeg, shut down a first nation mother who was simply asking to have the same rights and enjoy the rights that every other non-aboriginal has in Canada, that is, accountability and transparency in the spending of tax dollars by their government.
Notwithstanding the opposition of the NDP, first nation members today enjoy that same right all across—
The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer
Order, please. The hon. member for Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou.
Romeo Saganash NDP Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC
Mr. Speaker, speaking of freedom of speech, a few members behind the minister would like to have it as well.
I do not know what the minister expected yesterday when he made a fuss about legislation that does not have unanimous support. The former Minister of Aboriginal Affairs did not do much. He did not listen to aboriginal peoples, but at least he did not come right out and tell them to shut up.
When we talk about rebuilding a relationship with aboriginal peoples, we must do it with respect. The new minister showed yesterday that he was no better than the previous one.
I have a suggestion to make. Instead of changing ministers, why not change their tune—
Bernard Valcourt ConservativeMinister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development
Mr. Speaker, that is coming from a member who says he belongs to Canada's first nation and who is rising to prevent and lessen the right of a woman—
The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer
Order, please.
The hon. Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development has the floor.
Bernard Valcourt Conservative Madawaska—Restigouche, NB
Mr. Speaker, the members opposite do not like hearing the truth.
The fact is that this legislation, which received royal assent yesterday, gives all first nations members across the country the same right as all other Canadians with regard to all levels of government. It is the right to transparency and accountability on the part of their council.
For that reason, we believe that—
Randall Garrison NDP Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC
Mr. Speaker, it is not just first nations who are waiting to get more respect from the government. The LGBTQ community also has reason to worry about the protection of our rights, seeing the Conservative priorities in this budget. The Conservatives are giving a $6 million grant to Crandall University, a private institution that explicitly discriminates against gays and lesbians, prohibiting their employment.
Was the minister aware of this university's discriminatory hiring practices when he approved this grant?
Rob Nicholson ConservativeMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, we have a bill before Parliament right now on non-resident divorces that fixes some of the problems in the bill, which was originally introduced by the Liberal Party and supported by the NDP. Why does the hon. member not get up on his feet and get this bill passed so that it would benefit everyone?
Randall Garrison NDP Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC
Mr. Speaker, there seems to be some confusion about who the minister is here. It is up to him to bring his legislation forward.
I will ask the same question again. On page 165 of the budget, the government highlights a $6 million grant to Crandall University in Moncton. When public post-secondary institutions across the country have crumbling infrastructure, why are the Conservatives giving $6 million of public money to a private institution that bans the hiring of gays and lesbians?
Rob Nicholson ConservativeMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, if the hon. member really cares about some of these issues, why does he not get behind the government legislation? The government has introduced this bill in Parliament. All it needs is the support of the opposition parties to move forward on this. The hon. member cannot talk out of both sides of his mouth. Either he supports this or he does not. If he does, let us get on with it.
Dean Allison Conservative Niagara West—Glanbrook, ON
Mr. Speaker, Canadian manufacturers are major contributors to our economy, employing nearly 1.8 million Canadians in a wide range of industries. With 60,000 jobs in research and development, it is the number one sector for direct foreign investment and accounts for well over half of our merchandise exports.
Can the Minister of State (Science and Technology) please tell the House how our government continues to be an active partner in helping our manufacturers innovate and compete in the global economy?
Gary Goodyear ConservativeMinister of State (Science and Technology) (Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario)
Mr. Speaker, since 2006, our government has lowered taxes and made Canada the first tariff-free zone for manufacturing in the G20. We have reduced red tape. Economic action plan 2013 builds on these initiatives by providing more tax relief for new manufacturing equipment, supporting large-scale technology projects and helping businesses commercialize their products and find new markets. Our government will continue to help the sector grow, expand and create more jobs for Canada.
Jasbir Sandhu NDP Surrey North, BC
Mr. Speaker, budget 2013 is one letdown after another for British Columbians. The Conservatives are cutting infrastructure funding by over $4 billion. They make no mention of public transit investment. They are slashing the homelessness partnership strategy by over $15 million and they are even implementing new tariffs that make everyday goods more expensive. A tax by any other name is still a tax.
Why do the Conservatives insist on ignoring the needs of British Columbians?
Ted Menzies ConservativeMinister of State (Finance)
Mr. Speaker, economic action plan 2013 is about jobs, growth and long-term prosperity. I am not sure how many times we have to repeat this for the opposition members to actually understand that. They seem to vote against every initiative that is put forward, whether it is helping the knowledge infrastructure, which was referenced in the previous question, that helps rebuild universities, the infrastructure that is needed, the infrastructure in all of our communities. This will impact every Canadian through improved infrastructure, the strongest and largest infrastructure program in Canadian history.
Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
Mr. Speaker, last week, in their panic to ram a bitumen pipeline through to British Columbia's north coast, the Conservatives simply decreed that they would take over the Port of Kitimat. Rather than picking up the phone and talking with the local council or the Haisla Nation, the government parachuted in a minister from Toronto to make the announcement. There was no consultation, no respect, just bulldozers.
We see again the fundamental disrespect the government has for first nations here today. Now the Conservatives are scrambling, saying that they will consult after they have clearly made up their minds, the exact approach they take on the pipeline. When will the government start to respect the people of the northwest?
Denis Lebel ConservativeMinister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, last week we announced the creation of an expert panel. These people will work together to think of how to improve things.
We have a very good system for dealing with oil spills. We will continue to move forward and keep everyone safe.
Canada has not had any major oil spills in its history. There is no need to scare people. We will continue to work on measures.
I thank all members of the panel led by Mr. Houston for their ability to find solutions.
Raymond Côté NDP Beauport—Limoilou, QC
Mr. Speaker, just because something has never happened before does not mean that it will never happen.
Environment Canada has been collecting data on air pollution in Limoilou for 20 years, including at the station on des Sables street in Vieux-Limoilou.
Environment Canada is a federal department. However, when I asked questions in the House about concentrations of nickel dust and health problems, the Minister of Transport dismissed questions from me and my constituents. He said that I was scaring people and that it was not his responsibility.
Environment Canada has that information, so why have the Conservatives not made it public?
Denis Lebel ConservativeMinister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, what I was saying last week was confirmed yesterday. The Public Health Agency issued a press release saying that there was no reason for concern.
Yesterday, authorities from the Port of Québec met with two Government of Quebec ministers.
The port is an independent entity, but we are made aware of what is going on. We have been collaborating on this from the beginning. Everything he said last week was confirmed yesterday. They scared people for nothing.
Yesterday, the Public Health Agency and public safety officials confirmed that there was no danger to the public. The member should stop scaring people.
Linda Duncan NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
Mr. Speaker, a report from physicians, the Lung Association, the Asthma Society and Pembina reveals significant health and economic costs from emissions from coal-fired power plants. Alberta's annual coal-fired emissions are forecast to result in a shocking $300 million in medical costs, 100 premature deaths, 4,800 lost work and school days, and 700 emergency visits each year.
The federal Minister of Health has a mandatory duty, when this information comes to her attention, to act, so why is the Minister of Health turning a blind eye to the health impacts of coal-fired power?