Debates of May 3rd, 2013

Elections Canada

[Tim Uppal, Conservative, Minister of State (Democratic Reform)]

Mr. Speaker, the independent audit that was recently released highlights widespread errors by Elections Canada in their operations during the last election.

As I have indicated before, we will bring forward amendments to the law in the not too distant future.

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

Mr. Speaker, let us be clear. Instead of supporting and enhancing a 21st century electoral system, Conservatives are slashing 8% from Elections Canada's budget, while pretending the cuts are somehow voluntary. These cuts will hamper investigations, they will fetter operations and they will impede the implementation of legislation and regulations; that is, if the current government ever gets around to introducing them.

Can the minister of state please tell Canadians where this legislation is, and how he plans to fund the implementation, when he is cutting Elections Canada so drastically?

[Tim Uppal, Conservative, Minister of State (Democratic Reform)]

Mr. Speaker, the fact is that Elections Canada has access to unlimited financial resources for elections and investigations, such as investigating the NDP accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in illegal donations. In fact, the Chief Electoral Officer confirmed at committee that he has the financial resources that he needs.

That said, an independent audit highlighted widespread errors by Elections Canada in its operations in the last election. We will bring forward amendments to the law in the not too distant future.

Foreign Affairs

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

Mr. Speaker, our incredibly hard-working Minister of Foreign Affairs is in Montreal today to lead the defence against Qatar's hostile attempt to relocate the International Civil Aviation Organization.

As members know, our government has worked in good faith to complete an agreement to extend ICAO's stay in that world-class beautiful city for 20 years, from 2016 onward. The ICAO council actually endorsed the agreement and gave the secretary general the authority to sign it.

Can the parliamentary secretary today please tell us what the Minister of Foreign Affairs is doing in Montreal?

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

Mr. Speaker, yes indeed the Minister of Foreign Affairs is working very hard and diligently with the City of Montreal and the Province of Quebec to ensure that ICAO remains in its natural home, Montreal.

Yesterday, the members of this House unanimously agreed to support those efforts, but within minutes the NDP's foreign affairs critic was out in the media, practically backing Qatar and undermining the campaign by team Canada. Just for once, we would hope that the New Democrats would promote Canada internationally, instead of running it down, and that they would join us in standing up for Canada, for Quebec and for Montreal.

Health

[Hedy Fry, Liberal, Vancouver Centre, BC]

Mr. Speaker, mismanagement in the health portfolio gets worse every day, putting human life and health at risk. The list is long, including: failure to regulate diluted chemotherapy drugs; or to issue warnings for ineffective birth control pills; or to act on poor quality control at Sandoz, and recently, Apotex. We now rely on the U.S. for drug safety.

The Auditor General said that the minister spent $2.5 million to distribute $5 million for a failed diabetes initiative. This minister always has a glib excuse. What is her latest excuse for this incompetence?

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, as I said earlier this week, the provincial committee is examining jurisdictional questions surrounding the drug service providers. Marchese has never applied for federal regulatory approval. We have proposed an interim solution to ensure that all drug service providers fall within federal or provincial regulations. We plan to continue to work closely with the provinces and the territories to address this issue.

Canada-U.S. Relations

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

Mr. Speaker, the U.S. is still talking about a new border tax—which Canadians would pay—despite the obvious drawbacks.

Our businesses, our manufacturers and our constituents will pay the price. This will be bad for cross-border trade. It is a serious issue.

Are the Conservatives at least taking the situation seriously? How does the government intend to ensure that the flow of trade and tourism between our two countries does not slow down?

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway]

Mr. Speaker, I can assure this House that our government will vigorously oppose any efforts to impose new border fees. In these challenging economic times, there is no better American job creator than trade with Canada and, of course, vice versa.

New border fees send exactly the opposite message. They undermine efforts to create new jobs in Canada and the United States. Canadians can be assured that our government will work tirelessly to promote the interests of Canadian exporters and investors.

Veterans Affairs

[Dave Van Kesteren, Conservative, Chatham-Kent—Essex, ON]

Mr. Speaker, as a Canadian of Dutch descent, I am pleased to rise today to highlight the 68th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands.

Canada contributed in many ways throughout World War II and made significant contributions in securing victory in Europe and ending the war. The liberation of the Netherlands is an important milestone for the Dutch and Canadians alike.

Could the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs please share with the House the strong relationship shared by our countries and the vital contributions Canada made in support of the Netherlands 68 years ago today?

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

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. member for Chatham-Kent—Essex for his strong constituency work.

The struggle to liberate the Netherlands played a very important role in bringing victory to Europe and the end of the Second World War. Canada's vital contributions to that liberation laid the foundation for a very strong relationship between our two countries, which we continue to enjoy today.

For over nine months, 7,600 Canadians paid with their lives to bring peace and freedom to the Netherlands. We on this side of the House will certainly not forget that sacrifice. I know all Canadians join me in remembering that sacrifice.

Employment Insurance

[Francine Raynault, NDP, Joliette, QC]

Mr. Speaker, more and more people in my riding are telling me just how difficult life has become for their families since the Conservatives decided to gut employment insurance. Longer and longer employment insurance processing times are forcing some people to turn to food banks, which cannot keep up with increasing demand.

Things like this should not be happening in Canada. Will the Conservatives finally listen to unemployed workers and cancel their reform?

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

Mr. Speaker, our government's priorities are job creation and economic growth for long-term prosperity. For that to happen, people have to get the skills they need for in-demand jobs.

That is why we have introduced skills training programs and improved the employment insurance system. People who work are better off than those who do not. However, for those who cannot find suitable jobs in their region, employment insurance will be there.

Intergovernmental Relations

[André Bellavance, Bloc, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage has decided to meddle in history lessons in Quebec. This flagrant intrusion in a jurisdiction that belongs exclusively to Quebec is right in line with the Conservatives' desire to impose new Canadian symbols—military ones, especially—even if it means rewriting history. This move is even more ironic, since the federal government refuses to shed light on the repatriation of the Constitution, a pivotal moment in Quebec's history.

How can the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages justify this interference into teaching history when his boss, the Prime Minister, refuses even to speak to the Premier of Quebec about the 1982 repatriation of the Constitution?

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

Let me just reiterate, Mr. Speaker. This study is not about how the provinces teach history in their schools. It is not about the interpretation of history in their schools. It is about how we can work together to help people better understand the important events, people and places that have helped shape our country, that have helped shape our provinces and our communities. We heard this loud and clear when we studied Canada's 150th.

A lot of the people around the country, who are in charge of ensuring Canadians understand and respect their history, want us to work together to give Canadians better access to that, and that is what we will do. We are not interfering in any jurisdiction. We are going to promote and work better with our jurisdictions.

Tourism Industry

[Bruce Hyer, Independent, Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, tourism in Canada is in crisis. It is one of the fast dropping sectors of the Canadian economy. One-third of Canada's record trade deficit can be attributed to the deficit in tourism, over $17 billion last year.

Will the government go back to the drawing board on its failed tourism policy, restore the HST rebate for tourists and reverse its 25% cut to the Canadian Tourism Commission?

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

Mr. Speaker, our government launched the federal tourism strategy, a plan to ensure Canada continued to create jobs and growth in this sector. Canadian tourism is on the right track. More money is being spent by international travellers in Canada, more tourism jobs are being created and we continue to welcome more Chinese, Indian, Brazilian and American travellers to our beautiful country of Canada.

Government Response to Petitions

[Tom Lukiwski, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8) I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to 50 petitions.

Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Peace River, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the sixth report of the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, entitled Bill C-428, An Act to amend the Indian Act (publication of by-laws) and to provide for its replacement. The committee has studied the bill and has decided to report the bill back to the House with amendments.

Asbestos

[Pat Martin, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to present a petition signed by literally tens of thousands of Canadians who call upon Parliament to take note that asbestos is the greatest industrial killer that the world has ever known and that more Canadians now die from asbestos than all other industrial or occupational causes combined.

The petitioners call upon Parliament to ban asbestos in all of its forms and to stop blocking international health and safety conventions designed to protect workers from asbestos, such as the Rotterdam Convention.

Climate Change

[Kirsty Duncan, Liberal, Etobicoke North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present four petitions regarding climate change, our most pressing environmental issue and perhaps the defining issue of our generation.

Climate change will profoundly affect our economy, environment, health, lifestyles and social well-being. How we respond will define the world our children and their descendants grow up in. More astringent actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions cannot be postponed much longer as dangerous climate change is associated with a global temperature rise of 2° Celsius. The latest analysis suggests the world is already on track to a warming of 3.5° Celsius.

The petitioners call on the government to accept the science of climate change, table a comprehensive climate change plan and commit to attaining the greenhouse gas emission goals it has promised internationally.

Immigration and Citizenship

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

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to present three petitions from constituents.

The first concerns the interim federal health program for refugees. Parkdale—High Park is a riding that has had the good fortune to welcome many newcomers, including refugees over the years. However, vulnerable refugee claimants are already being denied basic health services, such as medication, psychiatric treatment and hospitalization.

The petitioners call on the Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism to reverse the cuts to the interim health program for refugees and maintain Canada's reputation as a compassionate and humanitarian country.

Old Age Security

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

Mr. Speaker, my second petitioner is from constituents who are concerned about the government's changes to the old age security program. They believe this is a direct attack on some of the poorest of seniors who rely on that money for their daily expenses.

The petitioners call for maintenance of funding for OAS benefits and that Canada make the required investments in the guarantee income supplement to lift every senior out of poverty.

Shark Finning

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

Mr. Speaker, my final petition is from those who seek to have Canada join a growing number of U.S. states which are banning the practice of importing shark fins. This practice results in an estimated 73 million sharks being killed each year for their fins alone.

The petitioners therefore call on the Government of Canada to legislate a ban on the importation of shark fins to Canada.

Marine Atlantic

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

Mr. Speaker, my petition, with signatures from across the entire country, is with regard to a vital link for Nova Scotia, as well as the island of Newfoundland, and Marine Atlantic. I would like to thank Mr. Lewis Rideout of Valley Pond for organizing the petition. He did a masterful job.

Marine Atlantic provides that vital link between the province, particularly the island of Newfoundland, and Nova Scotia. The petitioners call for the Government of Canada to change the current fee structure to eliminate fees for passenger travels when leaving the island of Newfoundland going to the province of Nova Scotia.

Once again, I would like to thank Lewis Rideout for his work in putting this together.