Debates of May 3rd, 2013

Employment Insurance

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

Mr. Speaker, with some poetic licence and an apology to Sir Winston Churchill, never in history has so much damage been done to so many by one crew.

Half the provincial premiers in the country have voiced their unqualified opposition to the EI changes. Provincial houses of assembly are unanimous in their disapproval. These changes hurt seasonal workers. They hurt business. They hurt families, and they are devastating communities. When will the Conservatives stop hammering people because of these EI changes?

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

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member has it completely backwards. In fact, the changes are designed to help Canadians find the jobs that are out there, that are in demand by employers who are having problems filling those jobs and to make sure that people have the skills to fill those jobs so that they and their families will be better off in the future. We have also changed it to make sure that when someone works, they are better off than when they do not.

That being said, if there are no jobs available locally within the skill range of people, EI will continue to be there for them, as it always has been.

Labour

[Peggy Nash, NDP, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

Mr. Speaker, today is World Press Freedom Day. I would therefore like to ask the Conservatives why they are continuing to stick their noses into the CBC's affairs.

Once again, the Conservatives want to meddle in the crown corporation's management. That is a disturbing decision.

This idea comes from a minister who lost track of $3.1 billion.

Why does he not focus on managing his own financial affairs rather than going after the CBC?

[Andrew Saxton, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board and for Western Economic Diversification]

Mr. Speaker, the government has the ultimate financial responsibility for crown corporations. We must ensure that these costs are sustainable. The measures proposed in the budget implementation bill are neither new nor revolutionary. In fact, the leader of the NDP was part of a provincial government that required political approval for negotiating mandates for crown corporations such as Hydro-Québec, Loto-Quebéc and Télé-Québec, to name a few.

[Peggy Nash, NDP, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

Mr. Speaker, let us get back to the facts here. Conservatives have made it clear that they do not like the CBC. Today, on World Press Freedom Day, as we reflect on the importance of a free press, the Conservatives' latest move to take more control over our public broadcaster is unprecedented and troubling. This has nothing to do with defending taxpayers. It is about the Conservatives interfering with crown corporations.

Why will the minister not focus on getting his own finances in order and get his hands off our public broadcaster?

[Andrew Saxton, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board and for Western Economic Diversification]

Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned, the government has the ultimate financial responsibility for crown corporations. We must ensure that these costs are sustainable.

Economic action plan 2013 stated that the government will look at options to improve the financial viability of crown corporations, including compensation levels. We are ensuring that public service labour costs align and that taxpayers' hard-earned dollars are used efficiently.

Foreign Affairs

[Hoang Mai, NDP, Brossard—La Prairie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives have still not managed to protect jobs across the country.

The ICAO offices in Montreal are in danger of shutting down. Everyone wants the organization to stay in the city.

Let us be clear. These jobs are in jeopardy because of this government's disastrous foreign policy.

How did Canada manage to go from being a world leader to fighting tooth and nail just to keep international organizations in the country?

[Deepak Obhrai, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, we are working with the provinces, the city and others to keep ICAO where it belongs: in Montreal. We are dismayed by the way Qatar has been going about it. It undermines what has been a very strong and successful partnership. We have a deal to keep, and we will work very aggressively with our partners to keep ICAO where it is, and that is in Montreal.

[Paul Dewar, NDP, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, we all want to protect our national interest here. We want to make sure we keep this asset in Montreal, but the minister needs to reflect on how we ended up here.

The death toll now stands at over 500 in Bangladesh after the factory collapse. This is an horrific event that has touched many Canadians. Business as usual is no longer an option. Therefore, will the government agree to the motion the NDP has put forward to study this tragedy at committee and work with us to strengthen corporate social responsibility abroad?

[Deepak Obhrai, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, we offer our sincerest condolences to the people of Bangladesh. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Bangladesh and to those who lost family members or friends in this tragedy.

Canada remains concerned about dangerous working conditions in the global garment sector. Canada is a member of the International Labour Organization. We urge Bangladesh to live up to the international agreement, ILO Convention 81, Labour Inspection Convention, which it has ratified. It is very important that all governments take concrete measures to provide workers with safe and healthy working conditions.

Citizenship and Immigration

[Bob Zimmer, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River, BC]

Mr. Speaker, in Canada's 2013 economic action plan, our government renewed its commitment to a fast and flexible immigration system that is more focused on Canada's labour market needs. Could the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration please update the House on Canada's largest economic immigration system, the federal skilled worker program?

[Rick Dykstra, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, as part of our government's transformational changes to the immigration system and a new improved federal skilled worker program, tomorrow we will begin accepting new applications. The updated selection criteria will help us attract immigrants who will be ready to integrate more rapidly and successfully into Canada's economy, helping spur economic growth and long-term prosperity. This is good news for newcomers and their families who will begin integration into this country with a job and a promise for tomorrow. It is good for this country. It builds on our economy for today and for the long term. We are moving in the right direction.

Science and Technology

[François Choquette, NDP, Drummond, QC]

Mr. Speaker, in addition to voting against the NDP's motions to recognize climate change, the Conservatives are bent on attacking, muzzling and discrediting scientists.

They are axing funding for science, technology and innovation. Industry Canada's budget is being cut by over 50%. Fifty per cent. It will drop from $419 million to $173 million by 2015-16.

Will the Conservatives stop waging their ideological war and making cuts to science at a time when most OECD countries are doing the opposite?

[Mike Lake, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, here go the New Democrats again, making things up on the fly. Federal scientists regularly provide media interviews and publish thousands of research papers every single year. How can New Democrats claim that they support Canadian scientists when they reject the science behind the Keystone XL pipeline and vote against new funding at every single opportunity? The answer is simple: they cannot.

Canadian Heritage

[Dan Harris, NDP, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Canadarm made us all proud and is central to Canada's role in space history. This should be above politics. Why has an event to honour our space history turned into another event marred by politics? The first Canadian astronaut in space played an important role in Canadarm history and space science. Can the government not recognize this? Does the minister not agree with the NDP that the first Canadian in space should have been invited to the Canadarm event?

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

Mr. Speaker, it is interesting in the lead question today the NDP members were talking about the fact that they did not want to actually talk about history, that it was not important to talk about history, but now they are talking about how important Canadian history is.

We are very proud of Canada's astronauts. We are proud of the Canadian Armed Forces. In this particular event, the Canadian Space Agency was in charge of who was invited to this event. We are very, very proud of the accomplishments of Canada in space and will continue to recognize that history as often as we possibly can. We are very proud of Canada's astronauts. It is a shame that the Liberal Party rejected him by 80% at their leadership convention.

Intergovernmental Relations

[Dan Harris, NDP, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

Mr. Speaker, that answer is disgraceful and beneath a member of the Government of Canada. Conservatives cannot be bothered to show respect for the first Canadian in space, yet they want us to trust them to rewrite provincial history books. Conservatives at the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage are now trying to remake our nation's history in their own image. The last thing Canadians want is politicians deciding what is in their children's textbooks.

Can the government admit that it is a mistake to try and tell provincial schools what history they should teach?

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

Mr. Speaker, we have no intention of telling the provinces what they should be teaching in our schools. What we are trying to do is reconnect Canadians with our history, making sure that the federal government works with other governments if possible, works with communities to tell the stories, the events and the things that have helped shape this country.

Imagine the horror. We are going to invite the Library of Parliament to come before committee. We are going to invite the people who do our Hansard to come and talk to us, and museum curators. I will work closely with you, Mr. Speaker, and the Sergeant-at-Arms to make sure that our committee is secure from these very scary people who will come to talk about Canadian history.

[Raymond Côté, NDP, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Quebeckers want nothing to do with these history classes with a Conservative twist. They made that clear in 2011.

Once again, the Conservatives are stomping all over provincial jurisdictions. They can say what they want, but their irresponsible motion clearly talks about looking at how teachers teach in each province.

That has nothing to do with promoting Canadian history. That is interference, pure and simple. The former Reformers now want to control everything. What is the world coming to?

Does the government really think that this should be the priority of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage?

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

Mr. Speaker, of course, the motion says no such thing. What the motion says is that we would like to see how history is treated across the country so that we can work with other governments, so that we can work with our regions, to make sure that we get this history out there, and that we work together.

What is wrong with asking Hansard to make it easier for Canadians to access the important debates of this chamber? What is wrong with asking museum curators about the important stories they want to talk about?

We have things that are very exciting to all of us in our regions and home ridings. I think we should work together to make sure those stories get out there for Canada's 150th birthday and beyond. Canadians want to know more about the things that have made this country great. We are going to work with Canadians to make sure they have access to that.

Search and Rescue

[Scott Simms, Liberal, Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, NL]

Mr. Speaker, at the beginning of question period the Minister of Health said, and I quote, “We listened to the Auditor General”.

Well, in light of the announcements about search and rescue, following the scathing report from the Auditor General, well over 90% of the announcement material had nothing to do with what the Auditor General said.

Specifically on fixed-wing aircraft, search and rescue airplanes on the west coast are now over 45 years of age; older than a lot of people in this House. When is this issue going to get some serious concern?

We have been listening to this now since the minister promised them several years ago. It is just like the base in Gander. The Conservatives promised money, but nothing was delivered.

If this is a Canada-first defence policy, why is search and rescue last?

[Kerry-Lynne Findlay, Conservative, Associate Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, like the Auditor General, our government recognizes that a quick and efficient search and rescue service is critical to many Canadians.

We too see the replacement of our search and rescue fixed-wing aircraft as a priority. We are committed to an open and transparent process to replace our aging Buffalo and Hercules aircraft fleets. We will do this in a manner that respects Canadian taxpayers and ensures value for their hard-earned tax dollars.

We will continue responsible management of this file, including ongoing consultations with industry. We are looking for the best outcomes.

Veterans Affairs

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

Mr. Speaker, budget 2013 falsely claims to commit $65 million over the next two years for veterans' funeral and burial expenses. However, the minister knows full well that this $65 million will not be spent over the next two years but will be spread out over some undefined, indeterminate period. It is a ruse. Further, every single veteran who is presently ineligible under the program will not be helped by this budget.

When will the government stop misleading veterans?

[Eve Adams, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, it is disheartening to hear this type of question come from the Liberals after they in fact reduced the benefits available to our veterans when they were in power. They did absolutely nothing to bring back those benefits for our veterans through all those years in power. What economic action plan 2013 does is double the amount of money for funerals for our veterans.

We were already leading the world in the benefits we provided to our veterans for funerals and burials. Now we are the leader. Our Conservatives support our veterans.

Elections Canada

[Alexandrine Latendresse, NDP, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Mr. Speaker, it has been 417 days since the Conservatives supported our motion to give Elections Canada more power.

Nothing has happened since, except for an attempt to introduce a mysterious bill, which was then abandoned because of pressure from Conservative backbenchers. The opposition did not even get to look at it.

The Conservatives are moving at a snail's pace on this. There is a limit to how long they can stall, and they passed that limit long ago.

When will they stop this nonsense, and when will we see changes to the Canada Elections Act in the House?