Debates of April 15th, 2013

Opposition Motion—Budget 2013

[Sadia Groguhé, NDP, Saint-Lambert, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my colleague is quite right. This is hypocrisy, pure and simple.

I would also like to point out that there is a huge discrepancy between what the Conservatives say and their record on paper. Budget 2013 clearly illustrates this.

Yes, Canadian businesses are in trouble. Consumers whose taxes go up will also be in trouble. This will be very harmful for both entrepreneurs and consumers.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to rise to speak so frequently on a subject that might seem technical and dry, but that directly affects a key concern of many Canadians. This directly affects Canadian taxpayers' pocketbooks.

My question is very simple. We have heard a lot about the general preferential tariff and the list of 72 countries and over 1,200 products. There is a lot of talk about the fact that this will affect the status of certain countries that are now developed. Furthermore, this will allow the government to collect about $355 million in additional taxes.

I would like to know if my colleague considers this change an increase in taxes on imports.

[Sadia Groguhé, NDP, Saint-Lambert, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague for his question. I agree with him.

Indeed, this new status regarding the general preferential tariff will have an impact. We have talked about all the repercussions this budget will have on businesses. We have also talked about all the negative and harmful repercussions these tax increases will have on consumers. The same is true of changes that will do nothing to help the general preferential tariff.

[Glenn Thibeault, NDP, Sudbury, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today and speak to our opposition day motion.

First, the Canadian public is getting all too used to not taking what the Conservative government says to them at face value. In 2008, the Prime Minister claimed that “As long as I will be Prime Minister...there will be no new taxes”. In the budget speech, the finance minister claimed that his budget would not raise taxes.

Yet, all too predictably, the budget that was presented to Parliament last month shows that the Conservatives are not living up to their promises. In fact, the budget detailed three separate types of tax increases: first, through changes to the general preferential tariff regime; second, by changing current tax rules relating to credit unions, safety deposit boxes and workers' funds; and finally, by adding the GST and HST to previously exempted types of parking, including at schools, at municipal parking lots and, most shockingly, at hospitals.

The tax hikes detailed in budget 2013 would cost Canadians $8 billion over the next five years. The Conservative MPs will no doubt say it is not a tariff and is not a tax, but this simply is not true. Let us stamp out that argument from the outset.

Even the Encyclopedia Britannica defines a tariff as “a tax levied upon goods as they cross national boundaries, usually by the government of the importing country”. The government can call these tariff changes whatever it wants, but that does not change what they are: a tax increase, and one that will hit the poorest Canadians the hardest.

Mike Moffat, an assistant professor at the University of Western Ontario, summarized the entirety of these tariff changes most succinctly when he said, “These tax increases are also likely to be regressive in nature”.

What products will be hit by these tax changes? It is a pretty long list, including bicycles, baby carriages, coffee makers, scissors, rubber sandals, vinegar, umbrellas, paint brushes and perfume, just to name a few.

Let us look at some of these in a little more detail.

Canada imports bicycles worth $125 million from countries covered by the general preferential tariff regime. The changes in the budget will see the tariff on imported bicycles increase from 8.5% to 13%, which will cost Canadians between $5 million and $6 million a year. Ironically, the government was all too happy to shout from the rafters about its cut in tariffs on sporting equipment, but while it gives with one hand, it takes away with the other. If the government is aiming to make it cheaper for Canadians to get active, why is it increasing the cost of bicycles, which not only help Canadians stay healthy but also offer an environmentally friendly method of transportation?

The increased tax on baby carriages is equally perplexing. Again, the government was happy to sell the reduction on tariffs on baby clothes, but I do not remember any Conservative MPs or government spokespeople talking about the $1 million annual tax increase on baby carriers. Roughly 90% of all baby carriages imported into Canada come from countries covered by the general preferential tariff regime. This means that a huge majority of baby carriages will see a 3% tariff rise.

However, probably the most surprising of these tax increases is the government's iPod tax. The hypocrisy of the Conservatives on this is shocking. Not only did they promise no new taxes, but they have specifically promised no tax on iPods. A joint statement issued by the Minister of Canadian Heritage and the then Minister of Industry in December 2010 stated, “During this fragile economic recovery, the last thing Canadian families and consumers need is a massive new tax on iPods”. Given this statement, why is the government now implementing a tariff increase on MP3 players that equates to a 5% iPod tax?

The Conservatives would have us believe that this tariff will not be applied to iPods due to a special exemption dated back to 1987 on devices that are plugged into a computer. The problem with this argument is that it has already been refuted by a government department.

An internal memo from March 2012 by the Canada Border Services Agency states that it is cracking down on this exemption as the application process, which has not been fulfilled on most MP3 players, requires a certificate for each product to be signed by the consumer. CBSA, explaining its crackdown, said:

As the vast majority of end-users of these products are consumers, it is expected that the required certification will not be available as the onus is on the importer to have the required certificate completed by the consumer, typically at the time of sale.

Further, the crackdown “will likely result in a significant amount of customs duty being reassessed, and will not be well-received by the importing community.”

In fact, the final nail in the coffin of the Conservatives' argument is that CBSA has already written to one importer of the iPod touch 8GB to tell it that the product is subject to end-user verification for each and every product sold in order to get the tariff exemption.

It makes no sense for the Conservatives to increase the taxes on all these consumer goods, especially when the government's other austerity measures, as pointed out by The Economist, mean that the Conservatives are essentially relying on consumer spending to get the Canadian economy into gear. In fact, both BMO chief economist Doug Porter and Martin Schwartz, CEO of the bike manufacturer, Dorel Industries, have pointed out that the most likely consumer response to these tariff changes would be an increase in cross-border shopping, therefore hurting Canadian businesses.

I will also talk briefly about some of the other tax increases in this budget. The elimination of both the tax credit for labour-sponsored venture capital corporations or workers' funds and the preferential tax rate for credit unions smack of ideological attacks.

The elimination of the workers' funds tax credit would particularly hurt middle-class Canadians who were eligible for a tax credit of 15% on investments of up to $5,000. This tax increase would seem to be a direct attack on the labour movement, which would hurt the venture capital sector in Canada more generally. Just last year, the Conservatives announced their desire to help Canada's venture capital industry which lags behind its U.S. counterpart. Then, they turn around and kick one of the legs away from under it. It is no surprise that Canada's Venture Capital and Private Equity Association has expressed its disappointment with this tax increase.

Similarly, the elimination of the preferential tax rate for credit unions would seem like nothing more than a cash grab on an industry which offers ethical and lower-risk financial services to Canadians. The elimination of the preferential rate would add $10 million to $75 million in tax costs to credit unions, costs which unfortunately would have to be passed on to the credit unions' customers or would lead to cuts in the great community work that credit unions do from coast to coast to coast. In fact, the only people who are happy with this proposed decision are the bankers, who would see their competition weakened.

It is quite clear that the tax increases announced in this budget would do nothing to help consumers, would hurt Canadian businesses, as more people look to shop in the U.S., and would weaken competition in the financial sector. However, they also would prove that Canadians cannot trust the promises made by the Conservatives.

It is time that the public can trust that the government will do what it says. That is why I urge my colleagues to support this motion.

[Paul Calandra, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, I listened very intently to this member's speech. I wonder if the New Democrats' idea of helping our manufacturers is to give our competitors an advantage that our own Canadian manufacturers do not have. We know that the New Democrats spent the entire weekend trying to convince Canadians they are what they are not. That is free traders, people who understand how the economy works; people who understand that reducing taxes for families, businesses, and individuals helps spur economic growth, the type of growth that we have seen here, with over 900,000 jobs created.

Does this now mean that the New Democrats are in favour of free trade? Do they actually now agree that free trade helps create business and boost the economy? Are they supportive of free trade with the United States? Are they supportive of North American free trade? Are they supportive of our efforts on free trade with Europe? Do they support our entrance into the trans-Pacific partnership? Is this what the New Democrats are saying? Since they want to reduce and take off all the tariffs across the board, are they now finally free traders, and do they finally understand how important it is to have an economy that can trade with the rest of the world?

[Glenn Thibeault, NDP, Sudbury, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. member for the question and also for watching our convention this weekend.

He would have learned that of course New Democrats are in favour of trade, but what we support is fair trade, trade that will actually benefit Canadians and Canadian companies, not just give away things to all of the other countries out there.

NDP members support Canadian businesses and Canadian families, and when it comes to the tax increases that the Conservatives have put in this budget, we are not the only ones who are calling them out on this. The CEO of the Bank of Montreal had this to say, “One wonders if this doesn't potentially lead to even more of a problem on the price gap. I have to wonder if this isn't taking from one hand and piling on to the other...aggravating cross-border shopping.”

If the Conservatives are talking about trade, we are not going to see much because we are going to have all of our Canadian consumers going over to the U.S. to buy products because they keep raising the tariffs, making things more expensive for those in Canada.

[The Acting Speaker, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

Order. The hon. member for Sudbury will have three minutes remaining for questions and comments when the House next returns to debate on the question.

Kelly Gruber Performance Baseball Camp

[Ben Lobb, Conservative, Huron—Bruce, ON]

Mr. Speaker, make sure to mark down July 8 and July 9 this summer for the Kelly Gruber Performance Baseball Camp in Clinton, Ontario, featuring Kelly Gruber, two-time all star and world series champion. The camp also features Bill “Spaceman” Lee, former pitcher of the Expos, and former Blue Jays' Mark Eichhorn, and Lloyd “Shaker” Moseby.

The camp is open to boys and girls from the ages of 8 to 17. The first 30 kids who register get a free Louisville Slugger baseball bat. Parents and grandparents should go out and sign up the kids today.

Clinton Minor Baseball is honoured to host such an exciting camp and is proud to announce that thanks to the many sponsors and donors, the camp will be one of the most affordable camps this summer, at a cost of only $50 per child. For more details and to register for the camp, please visit gruberbaseball.com.

Once again, we thank the sponsors, the participants, and the municipality of Central Huron for making this all possible.

Rehtaeh Parsons

[Robert Chisholm, NDP, Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS]

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise on behalf of our caucus and our party to offer our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Rehtaeh Parsons. It is a heartbreaking situation. The shock and grief that is still so palpable in our community is being felt across Canada and, indeed, around the world.

What happened to Rehtaeh should never happen to anyone. Everyone has a role to play in preventing such a tragic series of events. We must harness this outpouring of anger and sadness into meaningful action. Schools, law enforcement agencies, justice officials and, indeed, politicians at all levels of government must do better.

In honour of Rehtaeh Parsons, and for everyone who has succumbed to the burden of victimization, I ask all members of this House to think about how they can help to prevent violence against women and children.

Justice

[James Bezan, Conservative, Selkirk—Interlake, MB]

Mr. Speaker, after losing a loved one from a horrific act by a sadistic murderer, the families of victims are forced to relive the tragedy 25 years later.

Canadian society's most vile and deranged murderers are eligible for a parole hearing every two years after their 25-year sentences have been served. Most of those convicts are never released on parole. These parole hearings are unnecessary, but the victims' families are forced to revisit the trauma and confront the murderers who have brutalized their loved ones over and over again. We cannot let this go on.

Next week, this House will be debating my private member's bill, Bill C-478, the respecting families of murdered and brutalized persons act.

Bill C-478 would empower the courts to set parole ineligibility periods up to 40 years for those convicted of abducting, sexually assaulting, and murdering our innocent. The bill has received strong support from those families who have had to endure this pain.

I call upon all members of this House to support Bill C-478 and provide the justice these families rightly deserve.

The Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Westmount—Ville-Marie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to welcome our new leader and a new era for the Liberal Party of Canada. Over 100,000 Canadians participated in the largest leadership vote in the history of our country.

During the campaign, our new leader spoke abut the need to find a new way of doing things. We have to set aside politics that pit the regions against one another, as well as the politics of fear and envy. Instead, we must think about Canada's overall long-term interests.

I crossed our country over the last five months and saw for myself the hope our new leader is helping to foster. I met Canadians who are not cynical but who believe that we can, and must, build a country that creates opportunities for everyone to succeed, a country full of promise.

I have never been more optimistic about the future of the Liberal Party and our country. I have the great pleasure, together with the whole caucus and all Canadians, to welcome our new leader.

Headwaters Health Care Centre

[David Tilson, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to be recognizing an important milestone today. Headwaters Health Care Centre, located in my riding of Dufferin—Caledon, is celebrating its 100th anniversary.

During its long history in our community, the hospital has continued to provide high-quality, safe, and exceptional patient-centred care close to home. In 1999, it became the first fully digital diagnostics department in North America. The hospital has many other considerable achievements to celebrate in its centennial year, including having the lowest emergency department wait times, having high patient satisfaction scores, being a leader in numerous best practices, and being accredited with an exemplary standing in 2012.

I encourage my colleagues, and the residents of Dufferin—Caledon, to join me in sincerely congratulating the Headwaters Health Care Centre on this very special occasion and in wishing the hospital another 100 years of community service excellence.

The Conservative Government

[José Nunez-Melo, NDP, Laval, QC]

Mr. Speaker, March 28 was a dark day for the House of Commons. On that day, three important bills were arbitrarily rejected by the Conservative caucus.

The Conservative caucus overwhelmingly voted down the good intentions of providing justice and giving the Government of Canada the opportunity to do the right thing and support some just and worthy causes. Bill C-380 would have prohibited imports of shark fins. Bill C-459 would have helped consumers, in particular air passengers. Bill C-464 would have supported Canadian mothers in the event of multiple births.

On March 28, the ignorance of our honourable government colleagues was on display again. Even worse, they failed to grasp the negative consequences for which they will be held to account in the next election.

Israel

[James Lunney, Conservative, Nanaimo—Alberni, BC]

Mr. Speaker, today Israel is celebrating 65 years as a modern, independent state in a historic homeland dating back 3,000 years.

As was well stated by the late Margaret Thatcher, the political and economic construction of Israel against huge odds and bitter adversaries is one of the heroic sagas of our time.

I was part of a delegation that is just back from visiting three Baltic states. They are rebuilding after decades of occupation. We crossed paths with a large delegation from Israel accompanying Jewish young people on the annual March of the Living to commemorate the genocide associated with the Nazi and Soviet occupations.

Out of the ashes of the Holocaust, Israel emerged, a reminder that the darkest night must yield to a new dawn. Sixty-five years later, Israel is renowned for its contributions to science, medicine, technology and agriculture. Excellence in innovation has earned it the reputation as the “start-up” nation.

Today Canada stands with Israel.

I hope all members will join me in wishing Israel a happy birthday.

[Member spoke in Hebrew as follows:]

Chag Sameach. Am Yisrael Chai.

Vaisakhi

[Parm Gill, Conservative, Brampton—Springdale, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Vaisakhi is one of the most important observances of the year for Sikhs around the world. It is also a day when Sikhs celebrate the birth of Khalsa, which was founded in 1699 by our guru, Guru Gobind Singh Ji.

The contributions of Sikh Canadians toward improving our country are immense. Whether it is in our economic or cultural sectors, Sikhs in Canada have worked tirelessly to help build and define our nation.

Canada is home to well over half a million Sikhs, one of the largest Sikh populations outside of India, and now hosts some of the largest Vaisakhi celebrations in the world.

I am thrilled to announce that tonight my colleagues and I will be hosting the Vaisakhi on the Hill annual event.

On behalf of the entire Conservative caucus, I would like to wish all of those celebrating around the world a very happy and prosperous Vaisakhi.

[Jinny Sims, NDP, Newton—North Delta, BC]

Mr. Speaker, happy Vaisakhi.

For well over 100 years now the Canadian mosaic has been enriched by Sikh communities and others of Indian origin. This is a wonderful time of year to reflect upon the tremendous contributions that these sisters and brothers have made to our shared culture. Social justice for all is a tenet of Sikhism.

This year we mark the 314th anniversary of the Khalsa, and throughout the coming month Canadians will celebrate this joyous time of renewal by visiting gurdwaras, joining parades and reflecting upon the diversity that makes our beautiful country so strong.

I am proud to represent Newton—North Delta, the riding with the largest Sikh population in Canada. Therefore, I say to my colleagues in the House, my constituents, Canadians and everyone around the world, let us celebrate Vaisakhi together and grow our communal strengths.

[Member spoke in Punjabi as follows:]

Aao apa ral mil ke Vaisakhi manaye ate sanjha vadhaya.

[English]

Happy Vaisakhi.

Ralph Klein

[Blaine Calkins, Conservative, Wetaskiwin, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I stand here today to pay tribute to a man of the people who worked his way up to become a trusted community voice, the premier of the province he loved and a symbol all Albertans are proud of.

Ralph Klein was born and raised in Calgary. From humble beginnings, he first earned the public's trust as a journalist on television and radio and later as mayor of Calgary for most of the 1980s, where his visionary leadership built the light rail transit system and made Calgary an Olympic city, hosting the 1988 winter games.

Ralph Klein served as a minister in Don Getty's government and went on to succeed him as the 12th premier of Alberta.

A straight-talking figure, respected by the people who elected him, his successes were innumerable. Chief among them is that he led the way in securing the economic success from which Alberta and all of Canada continue to benefit today.

He was a unique personality and an exceptional leader. Albertans and all Canadians mourn his loss.

Our deepest sympathies go out to Colleen and family, and we thank them sharing him with us.

Ralph loved the people of Alberta and we loved him back. He will be missed.

Peter Kormos

[Malcolm Allen, NDP, Welland, ON]

Mr. Speaker, two weeks ago, Welland lost a friend and champion of the little guy. Peter Kormos died at 60. The key to Peter's political life was an unswerving commitment to the strifes and struggles of workers and the oppressed. He had a generous personality, a character of great empathy, an understanding of both the large and small things of life and boundless energy mixed with an infectious wit and sometimes outrageous repartee.

His passionate intelligent politics influenced everything about his life. A gifted orator, Peter combined political courage with unwaivering conviction and became a consistent irritant to those of every political stripe who betrayed the trust of those who elected them. His commitment to working-class struggles was matched by his humour, his wealth of knowledge and wise judgment.

When the news of his passing emerged, the entire community went into a state of mourning. We will miss the man who was on a first-name basis with everyone and always greeted them with a hearty “howdy”, the man who met them at the legion, the picket line, the cultural events and the Welland Farmers' Market.

Every community deserves a Peter Kormos. We were fortunate enough to have had one. Rest well, my friend.

New Democratic Party of Canada

[Cheryl Gallant, Conservative, Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON]

Mr. Speaker, our Conservative government is squarely focused on what matters to Canadians: creating jobs and economic growth and securing Canada's long-term prosperity.

By implementing Canada's economic action plan, Canada has experienced one of the best economic performances among G7 countries, both during the global recession and throughout its recovery. Unfortunately, while we are focused on jobs and economic growth, the socialist NDP is focused on imposing a $20-billion job-killing carbon tax on Canadian families, which would raise the price of gas, food, electricity and everything else. Such a tax would ruin our economy.

The NDP's $20 billion job-killing carbon tax would be devastating for the Canadian economy. That is why our Conservative government will continue to fight the socialist NDP's reckless economic experiments and remain focused on creating jobs and economic growth.

Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada

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

Mr. Speaker, the announcement was made at 5:45; the hopes of a nation came bursting alive;
The emotional roar was honest and loud; a promising young leader who will make us all proud;
But then as expected, just after 6:30, came the vicious attack ads, abusive and dirty;
And we fully expect in House statements today, the PM will issue what each Tory must say.
They'll read off their drivel with mind-numbing zeal; to perform in the blue tent, you must be part seal;
'Cuz on that side the Kool-Aid isn't sipped, it's guzzled, by a backbencher who's been beaten, neutered and muzzled;
But Canadians are wise; they've seen this before; and Republican-style politics they've come to deplore.
They want hope, they want promise, they want a future that's bright; they want a leader who's willing to work hard and fight.
You see, our guy is great and he's loved by the masses; And when the next writ is dropped, he is going to kick their—door down.

Veterans Affairs

[Daryl Kramp, Conservative, Prince Edward—Hastings, ON]

Mr. Speaker, colleagues from all sides know that it is rare when I stand and am personally critical of individuals in the House.

However, as a result of an online article by the member for Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, I received significant outrage in my riding. As the son of a veteran, I was deeply dismayed to hear the member praise communism and mock the contribution of our veterans.

The NDP leader tried to downplay the article when he said not to forget that it was written years ago. Then the NDP member further defended his article in saying that it is a text with which he has no problem; “I still think like that”.

This offensive article diminishes what Canadian soldiers fought and died to defend in the world war. On their behalf, the member and the Leader of the Opposition need to apologize for their anti-veteran, anti-military, anti-Canadian and indefensible statements.

I ask the member if he still thinks like that.

New Democratic Party

[Alexandre Boulerice, NDP, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my colleagues and I just came back from a great weekend in Montreal. More than 2,000 NDP delegates gathered at the largest convention in our history. The NDP caucus is proud of the participation of all the delegates.

We stressed that, unlike the Conservatives, we want to help all Canadian families, improve the EI system, protect our environment, put an end to attacks on workers, provide better health care to our veterans and build a fairer, greener and more prosperous Canada.

After an unequivocal vote of confidence for our leader and his compelling speech, Canadians know that he has all the required experience and skills to become the next prime minister of Canada.

The hope and optimism so dear to Jack were very much in evidence at the convention all weekend long.

With an experienced and proven leader, a united and diverse caucus, and thousands of supporters ready to work for change, we are ready to replace the Conservatives in 2015.

Margaret Thatcher

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Centre-North, AB]

Mr. Speaker, it has been said that, if you set out just to be liked, you would be prepared to compromise on anything at any time and you would achieve nothing. In embodying this tenet, Margaret Thatcher emboldened her nation to abandon its tether to the yoke of managerial socialism.

Her leadership redefined the concept of equality from one of standardized mediocrity to one rooted in the promise of opportunity. She rejected the notions that the state is superior to the capability of the individual, that tokenism trumps merit, that cotton-candy rhetoric can successfully grow an economy and that the pursuit of power is purely a sport of popularity to be sought for the sake of itself alone.

She said that being powerful is like being a lady: if one has to tell someone, one is not. She carried this principle through to the concept of vision, in that she taught us that ideas do matter, in fact, and that one must stand for something or one stands for nothing at all.

It has been said that Lady Thatcher saved her country, but I like to believe she empowered it to save itself.

Employment

[Thomas Mulcair, NDP, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, last Thursday, the Royal Bank took responsibility and publicly apologized for firing Canadian workers in order to replace them with temporary foreign workers.

The 340,000 temporary foreign workers currently in Canada work in every sector of our economy, from the Royal Bank to Tim Hortons. The public forced the Royal Bank to apologize for doing the wrong thing.

Will the Prime Minister do the same? Will he do the right thing and insist that his Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism apologize to Canadians?

[Stephen Harper, Conservative, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, as we have already indicated in the budget, we intend to reform this program. Obviously the purpose of this program is not to replace Canadian workers. The government will reform the program as promised.