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.
Stephen Harper Conservative Calgary Southwest, AB
Mr. Speaker, it was only yesterday that the Chief Electoral Officer tabled his report with various recommendations on these matters. These recommendations will be strongly taken into account as the government moves forward in the not too distant future with comprehensive reforms on these matters.
Massimo Pacetti Liberal Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC
Mr. Speaker, Elections Canada just published a report on the electoral fraud committed by the Conservatives during the last election.
In order to combat this Conservative fraud, Elections Canada is calling for a new law that would dramatically increase the sanctions imposed on fraudsters in order to maintain the integrity of our electoral system.
Will the Conservatives finally co-operate with Elections Canada, admit that they committed electoral fraud and commit to implementing the recommendations made in the report?
Stephen Harper ConservativePrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, the reality is that we just received the report from Elections Canada yesterday.
The recommendations will be considered when we carry out our comprehensive reform of the system.
When it comes to electoral fraud, it is important to remember that the $40 million that the Liberal Party stole from Canadian taxpayers has still not been recovered.
Alexandrine Latendresse NDP Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC
Mr. Speaker, regardless of the scandal in which they are embroiled, the Conservatives always use the same strategy: they say that they are going to do something and then they drag their feet and hide behind their own red tape to justify their inaction.
They say that they are waiting for the subcommittee's report to review the potential membership of the commission, which will submit its recommendations on the same colour paper as the report.
It has been over a year since the Conservatives voted in favour of our motion to give the Chief Electoral Officer more authority.
What new, flimsy excuse do they have now for not doing anything about the fraudulent calls?
Tim Uppal ConservativeMinister of State (Democratic Reform)
Mr. Speaker, in light of recent events, such as the NDP accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in illegal donations from its big union bosses, we have agreed to look at reforms of election laws. The Chief Electoral Officer presented a report just yesterday, which was tabled. We are reviewing those recommendations and a comprehensive proposal will be put forward in due course.
Alexandrine Latendresse NDP Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC
Mr. Speaker, it has been over a year since the Conservatives voted in favour of our motion. It is strange that they were prepared to rush the purchase of the F-35s, but it is taking them eons to tighten up the election rules.
I will tell you why they are dragging their feet. The reason is that they are experts in election scheming. Whether we are talking about the in and out scandal, patterns in the donations given by large engineering firms, fraudulent calls or illegal donations, every time there is a scandal, the Conservatives are involved. Canadians are fed up.
When will the Conservatives stop covering their own backsides and really do something about election fraud?
Tim Uppal ConservativeMinister of State (Democratic Reform)
Mr. Speaker, a report was tabled just yesterday by the Chief Electoral Officer and we are considering those recommendations to prepare our proposal on election laws. That proposal will be put forward in due course.
Ryan Cleary NDP St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NL
Mr. Speaker, Conservatives continue to make up stories. They fail to take responsibility. We now learn that senior ACOA officials fixed a hiring process so a political aide to the Minister of National Defence could get a job for which he was not qualified. He was hired because he was “a minister's staff member”. It is blatant patronage, yet the minister fails to take responsibility.
Why did Conservatives break their promise to fight patronage? Why are they putting their government's partisan interests ahead of the interests of Atlantic Canadians?
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 wrongdoing or influence on the part of the minister or his political staff in the matter. ACOA has taken action on the recommendations of the Public Service Commission on this issue.
Jack Harris NDP St. John's East, NL
Mr. Speaker, the minister's former aide was hired at a lucrative salary and given two years of paid French training in his home, yet the Conservatives say that they have done nothing wrong. This was patronage, clear and simple, just like Peter Penashue's former campaign manager, Reg Bowers, receiving a golden parachute on to the Newfoundland and Labrador offshore petroleum board.
How can Labradorians trust Peter Penashue when Conservatives treat Atlantic Canadian agencies like their own private patronage pasture? How can they trust a government that has failed to keep its promises of accountability?
Pierre Poilievre ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, they can trust Peter Penashue because he is, has been and will be in the future, delivering for Labrador. He moved to help scrap the long gun registry, to protect the seal hunt, the polar bear hunt and to create thousands of jobs through the Lower Churchill project.
The reason the people of Labrador trusted him in the last election, and we believe will trust him in the coming byelection, is that he delivers for them.
Hélène Laverdière NDP Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC
Mr. Speaker, once again, the Conservatives have completely isolated Canada from the rest of the world. Canada is withdrawing from the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, particularly in Africa. It is unbelievable. Canada has become the only country that is not participating in this collective effort.
In October, in Dakar, the Prime Minister said that we would not abandon Africa. Why has he gone back on his promise? Why is he abandoning the most vulnerable people on this planet?
Lois Brown ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Cooperation
Mr. Speaker, Canada does play a leadership role in advancing global food security and nutrition. Membership in this convention was costly for Canadians and showed few results. As the Prime Minister said, less than 20% of this agency's dollars actually funds projects.
We are focusing Canadian tax dollars where they can provide real results. For example, Canada has helped almost four million farming households in eleven African countries to access better seed varieties for these climates.
Paul Dewar NDP Ottawa Centre, ON
Mr. Speaker, instead of bailing, why do the Conservatives not try to fix it?
The facts are clear. The Conservatives are doing tremendous damage to our international reputation. We are talking about a $350,000 contribution to mitigate drought, climate change and help fight famine. Instead, we have sent a message to the world that Canada is not serious about these issues.
Will the minister do the right thing and reinstate Canada's involvement in this important UN convention?
Lois Brown ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Cooperation
Mr. Speaker, we are making Canada's aid dollars more effective, focused and accountable. We are focused on results to deal with drought, rather than paying for conferences and salaries for UN bureaucrats. Recognizing the urgency of the situation in Africa in the last two years, Canada responded quickly and generously to both the drought in East Africa and in the Sahel region. We will continue to focus our assistance dollars on those who need it most.
Guy Caron NDP Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC
Mr. Speaker, I hope that in the future the Conservatives will demonstrate a bit of humility before giving lessons on how to behave on the world stage. This is a disgrace.
Yesterday, the Minister of State for Finance also put on a sorry spectacle in the House. He was unable to admit the truth, that the Conservatives' budget raises taxes on almost everything. From labour-sponsored funds to caisses populaires, hospital parking lots to bicycles, life insurance to small business, no one is spared.
Why is the Minister of State for Finance denying what is written in black and white on pages 331 and 332 of the budget?
Ted Menzies ConservativeMinister of State (Finance)
Mr. Speaker, our economic action plan 2013 continues on our plan of jobs, growth and long-term prosperity. It also continues on our plan of low taxes for Canadians. Through our low tax plan in consecutive budgets, we have reduced the tax burden on an ordinary family of four by over $3,000. We have reduced 150 different taxes that help individuals and help businesses, which employ individuals.
I would encourage the hon. members to think about that when they are considering—
Murray Rankin NDP Victoria, BC
Mr. Speaker, if Conservatives cannot even read their own budget, it is no surprise they cannot listen to their own caucus.
The Minister of Finance said clearly last week that no one could find any tax increases in the budget. However, any Canadian could look at pages 331 and 332 of the budget and see with their own eyes billions of dollars in tax increases in black and white. Let me ask a very simple question. Could the Conservatives admit that they are raising taxes on, say, safety deposit boxes?
Ted Menzies ConservativeMinister of State (Finance)
Mr. Speaker, a low-tax plan involves tax fairness, ensuring that everyone pays their fair share. A number of tax loopholes and aggressive tax planning are addressed in this budget.
I know the only plan of the NDP is to increase taxes and increase costs on Canadians. We will continue on a low tax plan, continue to help Canadians, help them get back to work and help them to enjoy a good life in this strong country that the NDP keeps trashing.
Peggy Nash NDP Parkdale—High Park, ON
Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives are making up budget facts and watching their own caucus disintegrate at the same time; very good. It is like the minister over there has not even read the budget. He is free, however, to borrow my copy and have a look for himself at pages 331 and 332. There he will find billions of dollars in Conservative tax increases very clearly laid out.
Will the minister now admit that he is raising taxes on thousands of everyday items and even making family, friends and patients pay for hospital parking?
Ted Menzies ConservativeMinister of State (Finance)
Mr. Speaker, speaking of numbers, I remember when the NDP members came forward with their suggestions for the budget that had no numbers in it. Our budget has numbers and those numbers are what Canadians wanted to see.
We have business associations across the country that are supportive of the measures we have put in this budget. We have individual groups across the country that have had their tax burden reduced. They are onside with what we are implementing in this budget. It is about time the NDP stops trashing Canada and support it.
Scott Andrews Liberal Avalon, NL
Mr. Speaker, yesterday, Elections Canada asked for more investigators to root out Conservative crime. Surely the member for Peterborough, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister, would agree to fast-track this request as he remains under a cloud of deep suspicion for electoral fraud. The member has not showed up for an ethics committee meeting in almost 10 months.
Will the Prime Minister fast-track Elections Canada's request so there is a chance that his parliamentary secretary might show up to work again?
Pierre Poilievre ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister shows up to work every day and works hard on behalf of the people of Peterborough. We are proud to have him on our team. He is helping to deliver our low-tax plan for jobs and growth. He has delivered for his constituents back home in Peterborough. He has nothing to learn from the Liberals on working hard to deliver for his people.
Scott Andrews Liberal Avalon, NL
Mr. Speaker, while ACOA employees were having their jobs cut, the Conservatives were breaking the rules to give one of their cushy cronies an appointment with ACOA. Like the disgraced Peter the cheater, ACOA has now been found guilty of improper conduct and Conservative cabinet ministers have their dirty little fingerprints all over it.
The Public Service Commission has confirmed that Kevin MacAdam got his job with ACOA illegally. Will the Prime Minister remove Mr. MacAdam and have ACOA officials drop its appeal and refer the matter to the director of public prosecutions?
