Debates of May 27th, 2013

Cystic Fibrosis

[Kirsty Duncan, Liberal, Etobicoke North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, each time I pass a cystic fibrosis donation box, I think of my childhood friend, the darling of our gymnastics club, Jenny.

She sparkled, she performed for CF telethons and she took a handful of large green pills with each mouthful she ate to battle CF, a multi-system disease that affects mainly the lungs and the digestive system. We all believed that Jenny would get to grow up because a cure would come by the time she was a teenager or young adult. My childhood friend died after a battle with pneumonia at the age of 10.

Today, there is still no cure and time remains precious for those living with CF. Of the Canadians with CF who died in 2011, half were under 34 years old. Let all Canadians join in the fight against CF, for better treatment and care, and for equitable and affordable access to medicines.

Long Gun Registry

[Garry Breitkreuz, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Mr. Speaker, the one-year anniversary of the Canadian long gun registry's demise passed quietly eight weeks ago.

There is a reason hardly anybody noticed. Gun control advocates predicted that the scrapping of the long gun registry would increase firearms abuse, but there is no correlation. In fact, a CBC news story in April noted that shootings in the city of Ottawa plunged from 11 while the registry was still in place to just 2 for the same period this past year.

Responsible gun owners are not the least bit surprised at this result. We know that the registry was simply feel-good legislation that was never designed to increase public safety. It was nothing more than a political ruse to lull Canadians into a false sense of security. That is why I made it one of my priorities as a member of Parliament to get rid of the long gun registry.

While it took nearly two decades to get the job done, I believe it brings Canada one step closer to fairer firearms legislation for all.

Canada Summer Jobs

[Ève Péclet, NDP, La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC]

Mr. Speaker, this year, 46 organizations in my riding, La Pointe-de-l'Île, submitted proposals for a total of 221 positions as part of the Canada summer jobs program.

Filling all of those positions would have cost over $870,640, but only $307,415 was allocated to my riding. There is clearly a major gap between what our communities need and what the government is giving them.

Minimum wage is on the rise, but program funding is not increasing in step, so the number of young students able to benefit from the program is falling from year to year.

Canada summer jobs is an excellent way for young people to get a foothold in the job market. This initiative helps youth. I am therefore asking the government to ensure that all young people can access this great opportunity.

Stampede Days

[Colin Mayes, Conservative, Okanagan—Shuswap, BC]

Mr. Speaker, every May long weekend is Stampede Days in the little town of Falkland in my riding of Okanagan—Shuswap. Cowboys and cowgirls from the rodeo circuit and all the ranches in the area come to Falkland to enjoy the bull and bronco riding, the calf roping, and all the other entertainment that goes along with a rodeo.

This year was very special because Merv Churchill, known to all as Mr. Falkland, was inducted into the Canadian rodeo hall of fame for his many years of organizing the rodeo event. In Merv's younger years, he rode with the best, and when he retired from the circuit, he became Falkland's Mr. Rodeo.

Last weekend when I attended the Falkland Stampede parade, I was met, as always, by the smiling cowboy, Merv Churchill, who was busy with his son Jason, his wife Dot, and the girls and their grandchildren organizing the 95th Annual Falkland Stampede.

It was great to see Merv and his family recognized for all they do for the community and the Falkland stampede. As a cowboy poet would say, it pretty near brought a tear to my eye to see him receive the award. I congratulate Merv.

Convex Affirmative Enterprises

[Pierre Lemieux, Conservative, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON]

Mr. Speaker, today I am honoured to congratulate Groupe Convex, an organization in my riding that provides services to persons with disabilities.

Caroline Arcand and her Groupe Convex team have spared no effort to generate meaningful jobs for people who face employment challenges. Groupe Convex has established nine successful businesses that offer valuable opportunities to enrich employees, as well as our community. Our government supports these key initiatives.

I have toured these businesses and spoke with their employees. They should be proud of the excellent work they do: managing a recycling centre, working in a woodshop, running a small restaurant-café and catering service, and so on. They all show they have outstanding skills and talent.

I am impressed with Groupe Convex and what it does to create jobs, but I am particularly proud of its employees and the excellent work they do. Well done to each of them.

Kempton Howard

[Craig Scott, NDP, Toronto—Danforth, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Kempton Howard was an inspiring young leader dedicated to helping other youth in the community of Toronto—Danforth. He was a role model to countless teens through his volunteer work at the Eastview Neighbourhood Community Centre and the Eastview Boys and Girls Club, where he was a moderator of a junior leadership program, an after-school children's program leader, a summer day camp counsellor, a youth basketball coach and a recipient of the youth Ontario services award.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of his murder by gunfire in 2003. We must understand that the victims of crime, especially crimes of violence and crimes involving guns, include the loved ones of the direct victims, the family and friends who suffer from their loss. That is why I believe we must implement a country-wide system of adequate support for victims of crime and their families; ensure reliable, long-term funding for programs that help divert youth away from gangs and crimes; and introduce a long overdue comprehensive anti-smuggling strategy for guns.

I encourage everyone to sign Kempton's legacy petition in support of victims of crime.

Members of the New Democratic Party

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, truth is sometimes stranger than fiction.

Last week, we learned that the member for Jeanne-Le Ber and the NDP's former national revenue critic, the member for Brossard—La Prairie, owe Revenu Québec tens of thousands of dollars in unpaid taxes. Canadian taxpayers are supposed to play by the rules and pay their fair share.

If the NDP members are so concerned about making sure people follow the rules and pay their fair share, they should practise what they preach.

It is ironic to hear the NDP talk about raising taxes for Canadians when they cannot even manage to pay their own taxes. They are setting a bad example.

Halifax Mooseheads

[Peter Stoffer, NDP, Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS]

Mr. Speaker,

Sit a spell, for there is a story I have got to tell;

About a hockey team from the great east coast that gave us all a chance to boast;

To Saskatoon to do what is right against the Winter Hawks, the Blades and Knights;

The tourney is called the Memorial, where we give thanks to the lads who gave it their all;

All the players did their best to remember those who were laid to rest;

It took four games to pass the test, and in the end Halifax was best;

With MacKinnon, Fucale, Frk and Drouin, the best damn hockey you have ever seen;

So now the season is all done, we proudly say we are number one;

So, Mr. Speaker, spread the word: the Mooseheads are the greatest, ya heard.

Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada

[Paul Calandra, Conservative, Oak Ridges—Markham, ON]

Mr. Speaker, while our Conservative government and Canadians alike are focused on delivering meaningful reform to the Senate, including elections, term limits and tough spending oversight, with his divisive comments this week, the Liberal leader again underscores his lack of judgment and experience.

The Liberal leader has come out as the champion of the status quo, demanding that the Senate remain unelected and unaccountable, because in his words, it is an advantage to Quebec. He said there are 24 senators in Quebec and only 6 for Alberta and British Columbia, which is to Quebec's benefit.

The Liberal leader refuses to offer any substantive commentary on reform or commit his party to work with us to deliver accountability for taxpayers. Instead, the Liberal leader maintained his divisive track record of pitting one region of Canada against another.

It is time for the Liberal leader to get behind our Conservative government and deliver real reform to the Senate.

Halifax Mooseheads

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Mr. Speaker, last night the Halifax Mooseheads overpowered the Portland Winterhawks to win the 2013 Memorial Cup.

Led by CHL coach of the year Dominique Ducharme, the herd received great performances from Nathan MacKinnon, Martin Frk, Konrad Abeltshauser, Zach Fucale, co-captains Trey Lewis and Stefan Fournier, and CHL player of the year Jonathan Drouin.

Nova Scotians were elated with the success of the Moose this season and will proudly welcome their team home today.

This is the first franchise Memorial Cup win for the Mooseheads, which makes it very special for their fans, and the tournament erased any doubt about who deserves to be the number one overall pick in this year's NHL draft.

I invite all colleagues to join me in congratulating team owner Bobby Smith, GM Cam Russell and the hard-working Halifax Mooseheads on winning the Memorial Cup, emblematic of junior hockey supremacy in Canada.

Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada

[Dick Harris, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the leader of the Liberal Party is clearly in over his head. Instead of working with our government to bring greater accountability and transparency to the Senate, the Liberal leader is promoting the Senate status quo. This time, as he says, it is because it is to Quebec's advantage.

The Liberal leader said there are 24 senators in Quebec and only 6 for Alberta and British Columbia, which is to Quebec's benefit.

These divisive comments are not surprising. They are consistent with the Liberal leader's poor judgment and lack of respect of Canadians outside of his home province.

The Liberal leader famously once said, “Quebecers are better than the rest of Canada because, you know, we are Quebecers, or whatever”, and that he would think of wanting to make Quebec a country.

The Liberal leader's decision to pit one region of Canada against another is just more proof that he does not have the judgment to be Prime Minister.

Conservative Party of Canada

[Kennedy Stewart, NDP, Burnaby—Douglas, BC]

Mr. Speaker, Conservatives are hearing from constituents who are angry about the Senate scandal and the PMO cover-up.

People are angry about how a senator can get paid off by the Prime Minister's chief of staff, and government backbenchers are angry about being given evasive talking points by the PMO that range from the implausible to the unbelievable.

I, for one, agree with the member from Kootenay—Columbia who said:

Any person who holds a public office position...should not only withstand public scrutiny, but stand before the public to explain any short comings.

Remember what the then-leader of the opposition said in 2005:

When you're under the kind of cloud the Prime Minister admits his government is under, I think you would use every opportunity to be as forthright as possible.

Yet the Prime Minister now acts just like past Liberal prime ministers, evading questions and refusing to come clean.

Canadians deserve better.

Leader of the Liberal Party

[Randy Hoback, Conservative, Prince Albert, SK]

Mr. Speaker, over the weekend the Liberal leader attacked Saskatchewan and all of western Canada by saying there are 24 senators in Quebec and only 6 for Alberta and British Columbia, which is to Quebec's benefit. The Liberal leader is demanding that senators remain unaccountable and unelected because it is an advantage for Quebec.

The Liberal leader's comments were strongly rebuked by Premier Wall today, who said he was disappointed in him. The Liberal leader's attack on Saskatchewan is more proof that he has neither the experience nor the judgment to be a prime minister.

The Liberal leader continues to pit region against region. Maybe the Liberal leader simply does not know or understand what Canada's national interests are, or maybe he is in way over his head.

Ethics

[Thomas Mulcair, NDP, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, last week, the Prime Minister ran away to Peru to avoid answering questions about the Senate scandal. It has been two weeks since we found out that the Prime Minister's former chief of staff gave Mike Duffy $90,000 in hush money. Will the Prime Minister finally answer some questions today?

The PMO would have us believe that everything is business as usual. Sunshine and lollipops, in fact. Does the Prime Minister really believe that a secret $90,000 payout from his chief of staff to a senator is business as usual?

[James Moore, Conservative, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages]

Mr. Speaker, speaking of last week, the Prime Minister sent Canadians a clear message that we have to move forward with Senate reform. That is why we now have legislation before the House for Senate elections and term limits. We have also been in contact with the Supreme Court about a proposal for even more significant reforms.

If the Leader of the Opposition genuinely supports meaningful Senate reform, he should say so and support this bill today.

[Thomas Mulcair, NDP, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives have been in power for nearly eight years and they have done nothing.

I will read a quote, which states:

The Prime Minister should have known that. He cannot get away with saying, “Don’t blame me. I was only the piano player. I had no idea what was going on upstairs”.

Who said that? It was the Prime Minister to Paul Martin during the sponsorship scandal.

The current Prime Minister's own chief of staff gave a $90,000 payoff to silence a sitting Conservative senator and the Prime Minister claims that he did not even know about it.

When will the Prime Minister take responsibility, show accountability and finally start answering questions?

[James Moore, Conservative, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is taking responsibility and showing accountability by moving forward with what we said we would do, which is reform the Senate. Moving forward with Senate reform is what Canadians want. It is what our government is doing.

If the Leader of the Opposition really believes in accountability, he would support those reforms of term limits and Senate elections. If he really believes in accountability, maybe he will tell this House how many more NDP MPs are not paying their taxes.

[Thomas Mulcair, NDP, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, there we go with the Conservative playbook. Plan A is to hide out in South America. Plan B is to blame the opposition. Why do they not try Plan C, which is to start telling Canadians the truth?

For the Conservatives it is business as usual. Does the Prime Minister think it is business as usual for a senator to defraud taxpayers? Is it business as usual to give a $90,000 payout?

Dodging questions about political payouts was shameful when Paul Martin did it. Why does the Prime Minister think it is just business as usual today?

[James Moore, Conservative, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages]

Mr. Speaker, what is NDP business as usual is to yell from the mountaintops about the need for reform but to not actually support reform when it is before the House of Commons.

We have legislation for Senate elections and legislation for term limits. Even the idea of abolishing the Senate requires a mandate from the Supreme Court to understand the mandate capacity of the House of Commons, which is what we have done. However, the NDP is even against that.

Again, if the NDP members believe in accountability, they will support these reforms. If they believe in standing up for taxpayers, the leader of the NDP will come clean on how many MPs are avoiding paying their taxes.

National Defence

[Thomas Mulcair, NDP, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, we see that the Conservatives are preparing for their role in opposition, which is a good thing because that is where we are sending them in 2015. Until then, they are the government, unfortunately, and they have to answer the questions, so here is another one.

This weekend we learned that for months CSIS, Canada's top intelligence agency, watched convicted spy Jeffrey Delisle pass classified information to another power without ever informing the RCMP. The Mounties only learned about it from the FBI. That was a devastating leak, yet one key department did not even know what the other was doing.

Why did CSIS fail to inform the RCMP about Jeffrey Delisle?

[Vic Toews, Conservative, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, we cannot comment on operational matters of national security. However, what I can say is that the conclusions drawn in that story are totally incorrect. Information is shared between law enforcement agencies in accordance with Canadian law.

Speaking of Canadian law, I am wondering how many NDP MPs have not paid their taxes.

[Thomas Mulcair, NDP, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, we will try to get—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

Order. The hon. Leader of the Opposition.

[Thomas Mulcair, NDP, Outremont, QC]

Mr. Speaker, for the past two weeks, the members opposite have treated us to a song and dance as they try to sidestep the issues. I will make my question clear, so clear that even the Minister of Public Safety might understand it.

My question was not about the conclusions, which he just talked about. My question was about whether it was the FBI, not CSIS, that informed the RCMP. Was it or was it not?

Will he try to tell the truth for once?