Debates of May 2nd, 2013

Privacy

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the fact is, they left over one million Canadians vulnerable to fraud artists, and the minister has no plan. Thanks to Conservative mismanagement, more and more Canadians have been left open to this kind of fraud and lost information. Some departments are seeing breaches every 48 hours. Instead of coming clean with Canadians, they sat on 90% of the breaches.

The minister could not keep track of $3 billion. He cannot keep the private information of seniors safe. Where is a third-party manager to help him do his job?

[Tony Clement, Conservative, President of the Treasury Board and Minister for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario]

Mr. Speaker, I am going to make a bold prediction. If I was not meeting with the Privacy Commissioner, he would be the first person standing up and demanding my resignation for not doing so, so the hypocrisy is beyond bounds.

We take this matter very seriously. We know that Canadians expect us to take it seriously, and we are, in fact, doing so. That is why the meeting with the Privacy Commissioner is important. That is why all of the efforts we have made in the past already to protect veterans' privacy and to make sure that there is mandatory reporting and other measures go to our commitment on behalf of Canadian citizens.

Search and Rescue

[Annick Papillon, NDP, Québec, QC]

Mr. Speaker, when the Conservatives are in trouble, they rush to hold a news conference.

Search and rescue has not been on the Conservatives' list of priorities for far too long. Lives were put at risk because of their failure to act.

Despite today's damage control attempt, the Search and Rescue Volunteer Association of Canada is about to implode, and its president has tried to get hold of the Minister of National Defence on numerous occasions, only to be ignored.

Why has the minister ignored this association that saves lives?

[Peter MacKay, Conservative, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, I did receive one correspondence from this individual. In fact, it was last September that the deputy minister of the Department of National Defence responded in a comprehensive way, pointing out, as the member would know, that the responsibility for ground search and rescue is at the provincial level, and encouraging him to continue to work with provincial and territorial governments.

We, of course, in undertaking this comprehensive review today, will be reaching out to all stakeholders, looking for ways we can improve the way in which search and rescue is coordinated, and most importantly, making investments in the equipment and the plans and the programs delivered by our brave SAR techs. I take this opportunity to thank them for their incredible service to Canada.

[Ryan Cleary, NDP, St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NL]

Mr. Speaker, the minister's announcement is clearly too little, too late. The lives of Canadian mariners are still at risk. Under the Conservatives' watch, search and rescue has deteriorated for years—years. Only now are they scrambling to pick up the pieces.

The Search and Rescue Volunteer Association of Canada represents thousands of volunteers. It is now facing collapse, yet the minister did not even bother to respond to calls. Why is the minister giving the cold shoulder to stakeholders? Why is search and rescue such a low priority for the government?

[Peter MacKay, Conservative, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, of course, that is false. We would not be announcing today the comprehensive review, the numerous investments that are ongoing, the commitment to replace fixed-wing SAR and the ongoing efforts to improve and augment across the country what is already the very best, most active, most engaged search and rescue system anywhere in the world.

With respect to this individual, there was a request for further assistance, because the federal government is already investing in this particular program, but we reminded the individual that it is, in fact, a provincial responsibility.

We will continue to work with all groups and stakeholders to improve our terrific search and rescue system across Canada.

Government Expenditures

[Mathieu Ravignat, NDP, Pontiac, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Conservative mismanagement is out of control. The President of the Treasury Board failed to protect the privacy of over a million Canadians and lost track of over $3 billion in security funding. It was not three laptops; it was $3 billion.

What was he doing with his time, one might ask? Apparently he was rebranding Government of Canada websites in Conservative Party blue. As if using department websites for political attacks was not enough, Conservatives have lowered the bar even further. Why are they not going after the missing $3 billion instead of rebranding government websites?

[Tony Clement, Conservative, President of the Treasury Board and Minister for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario]

Mr. Speaker, we have already answered that. In fact, the Auditor General has already answered the question about the funds in question.

However, let me answer about website colours. I would be happy to do so in the chamber. Apparently, different colours were tested with web specialists, and it was found that blue worked best as a contrast to other aspects of the site, and therefore blue was chosen.

Privacy

[Mathieu Ravignat, NDP, Pontiac, QC]

Mr. Speaker, while they are rebranding departmental websites in Conservative Party colours, the President of the Treasury Board is unable to protect the privacy of Canadians and has lost track of $3.1 billion in security spending.

What has he done to fix it? Absolutely nothing. By the way, was the $3.1 billion spent on changing the colour of the websites?

Instead of playing crass partisan games, why does the minister not protect Canadians' privacy?

[Tony Clement, Conservative, President of the Treasury Board and Minister for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario]

Mr. Speaker, as I already said, the Auditor General gave an answer about the Treasury Board funds.

As for the question about colour, of course various colours were tested by web experts who determined that blue provided the best contrast in relation to other parts of the site.

Telecommunications

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Mr. Speaker, with Wind Mobile up for sale and Shaw selling its spectrum to Rogers, we are going to see less competition in the cellphone sector.

The Minister of Industry's only response is to beg for more foreign investment. That is not going to happen under the rules he created last fall. He had a chance to increase competition and expand rural coverage through this fall's spectrum auction, but he failed to do so.

Why should middle-class Canadians have to pay higher cellphone bills because of his incompetence?

[Christian Paradis, Conservative, Minister of Industry and Minister of State (Agriculture)]

Mr. Speaker, when asking questions, my colleague should base his questions on the real facts.

Just yesterday, we could see from StatsCan that the average price for wireless consumers dropped by 18% from 2008 when we adopted our policies, which are oriented for more competition, more choices and better rates for consumers.

Taxation

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians will pay nearly $2 billion more this year because of increased EI premiums.

Meanwhile, the Conservatives have closed every youth employment centre in the country. The Conservatives' tariff hikes mean that Canadians will pay more for hundreds of everyday items. At the same time, they have lost the protection of search and rescue centres on both coasts.

Why are the Conservatives forcing middle-class families to pay more taxes while receiving fewer services in return?

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

Mr. Speaker, what we are doing is providing better service to Canadians. We are modernizing systems, making it possible for people to access various government programs online, through the Internet, to complete applications, file taxes.

To do these things online is more efficient, it is more effective, it is more cost-effective and it certainly shows more respect for the taxpayers and their hard-earned tax dollars.

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, small businesses got hit with a $2.3 billion tax hike in budget 2013.

To help them cope, the Conservatives are slashing the Canada Revenue Agency's business assistance program. The budget will force victims of violent crimes to pay GST on medical records they need for court. Meanwhile the Conservatives have slashed border services programs, like the K-9 units, that help stop guns and drugs at our borders.

Why are everyday Canadians being forced to pay higher taxes for fewer of their cherished public services?

[Jim Flaherty, Conservative, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, the member opposite asks about many things. It generally seems to be questions about the economy.

I am sure he is mindful of the fact that earlier this week Statistics Canada announced that Canada's economy grew by 0.3% in January and February, surpassing analysts' expectations.

With respect to small business, we have long recognized the importance of small business in Canada. That is why, since 2006, we have lowered their tax bill, reducing the small business tax rate from 12% to 11%, which the NDP voted against, increasing the amount of income eligible for the lower small business tax rate from $300,000—

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

Order. The hon. member for Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine.

Employment

[Isabelle Morin, NDP, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives' rose-coloured glasses definitely do nothing to improve the future of young people. Young people of my generation are struggling with crippling debts. Their purchasing power is constantly declining, and the unemployment rate is reaching levels comparable with those of 2008, in the middle of the recession.

Not only did the so-called measures that were announced fail, but the Conservatives are reducing access to social services and programs and asking young people to pay the price.

When will the government introduce an employment policy for young people that truly meets their needs?

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

Mr. Speaker, budget 2013 includes measures to help young people find work, and also internship programs for thousands of trainees. These programs are new initiatives.

The cornerstone of our plan is skills development, so that all Canadians have access to in-demand jobs. The NDP should support this budget if it really wants to help young people find jobs.

[Matthew Dubé, NDP, Chambly—Borduas, QC]

Mr. Speaker, asking the NDP to support the government's failures is not an action plan.

Instead of providing a concrete plan, the minister keeps blaming the opposition and talking about available internships. Young people want jobs, and the reality is that there are no jobs.

Consider Trois-Rivières. In March 2006, the unemployment rate stood at 7.7%. After seven years of Conservative government, that rate now stands at 15%. It is the same everywhere in Quebec.

Will the minister finally undertake to consult young people and propose a true job creation plan for them?

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

Mr. Speaker, the cornerstone of budget 2013 is skills development and job creation. If the NDP really wants to help young people find jobs, it should support our budget. I should also mention that Canada has one of the world's lowest youth unemployment rates. That said, a lot remains to be done and we will do it. The NDP should help us.

The Environment

[Anne Minh-Thu Quach, NDP, Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives are clearly not doing enough for our youth, and they are clearly not doing enough about climate change. They are not doing enough, and the problems are getting worse.

While they wage war with the UN, the World Meteorological Organization is sounding the alarm about record Arctic ice melt last August and September.

The Minister of Natural Resources, with his archaic ideas, believes that global warming of two degrees is not a problem, but young people of my generation totally disagree.

Will the Conservatives take this situation seriously or will they reject the analysis because it comes from the UN?

[Peter Kent, Conservative, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, I again respond to my colleague that while the NDP proposes a $21 billion carbon tax that would pick the pockets of Canadians without reducing a single megatonne of GHGs and while NDP members wander abroad attacking Canadian jobs, American jobs and responsible resource development, we have a sector-by-sector regulatory plan, which is working, which is reducing greenhouse gases and which is now halfway toward achieving our 2020 reduction targets.

[Anne Minh-Thu Quach, NDP, Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the minister's answer was completely irrelevant and irresponsible, particularly considering that Canada is about to take over as chair of the Arctic Council for two years.

The World Meteorological Organization report says that sea ice melt will have disastrous consequences. Sea levels are rising, natural habitats are disappearing and flooding is becoming more common.

Canada is a northern nation, so we absolutely must have a plan to mitigate the impact of climate change on melting Arctic ice.

What strategy will the Conservatives adopt when they take over as chair of the Arctic Council?

[Peter Kent, Conservative, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, I would invite my colleague to visit the north to see exactly how our programs to address the climate change-related problems in the north are being done.

The appointment of the Minister of Health as a dedicated Minister for the Arctic Council, taking the Arctic Council chair rather than the Minister of Foreign Affairs, reflects the importance that our government attaches to the north, to the Arctic Council and to our upcoming chairmanship.

Canada's chairmanship of the Arctic Council, which we assume next month, will put northerners first. Initiatives will reflect the views and the aspirations and concerns of our northern population.