Debates of May 6th, 2013

Natural Resources

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for Sault Ste. Marie for a most important question for northern Ontario.

I was speaking this morning to the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum in Toronto to emphasize our approach of proactively engaging first nations groups as well as industry groups and other stakeholders with a view to coming to solutions and ensuring that the 15 departments and agencies of the federal government are working together to facilitate the development of this most important project, which means jobs and opportunity not only throughout northern Ontario but throughout Canada.

This will be a game changer for our economy, and it is a positive development for first nations communities. However, it has to be handled correctly, and we will do our part.

Employment Insurance

[Élaine Michaud, NDP, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives' EI reform is wreaking havoc in my riding. Service Canada ordered an employee who had been at a summer camp for 17 years to leave his seasonal job or else lose his EI benefits. The camp owner is worried that he will lose employees and their valuable expertise.

This is not an isolated example. What will happen to the seasonal industries if the Conservatives threaten all of their skilled workers? What other kinds of abuse will we see before the Conservatives understand that they need to cancel this reform?

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

Mr. Speaker, the changes to the system are meant to encourage unemployed workers to accept positions they are offered. They were also made because people are better off when they are working.

If the hon. member wants to discuss a particular case, I encourage her to come talk to me so that we can resolve it.

Fisheries and Oceans

[Jean-François Fortin, Bloc, Haute-Gaspésie—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia, QC]

Mr. Speaker, since Ottawa has been completely inept at properly maintaining the Percé wharf, the entire tourism industry of the Gaspé peninsula is now suffering the consequences, not to mention all the fishers whose jobs are more difficult because of the closure.

The Percé wharf is just the tip of the iceberg. If the federal government could neglect one of the most popular wharves on the Gaspé peninsula that badly, one can easily imagine the state of other wharves, harbours and ports that belong to the federal government.

When will the government understand the serious consequences of its negligence and come up with a credible maintenance plan for small craft harbours?

[Randy Kamp, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and for the Asia-Pacific Gateway]

Mr. Speaker, we are well aware of the impact of this situation on local parties, but the safety of users is DFO's primary responsibility.

As I said earlier, engineers are on site today, and they are conducting a thorough structural review. They will provide information, and with that information DFO officials will work with local authorities to determine the next steps.

Government Expenditures

[Maria Mourani, Bloc, Ahuntsic, QC]

Mr. Speaker, seven days ago we found out that the Conservatives lost track of $3.1 billion earmarked for public safety.

Seven long days, and we still have no answer about how this pile of money disappeared. This government is making cuts to fundamental aspects of public safety, such as the police officers recruitment fund, which represents for Montreal about $30 million over 5 years to maintain squads such as the Eclipse squad, an effective crime-fighting resource, but there is nothing about the $3 billion.

Will the Minister of Public Safety at least have the decency to rise and tell us where the $3 billion went?

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

Mr. Speaker, this matter relates to the categorization of expenses by the Treasury Board between 2001 and 2009.

All of the funds in question are accounted for in public documents presented to Parliament, as I have already said, including the public accounts. There is no indication that any dollars are missing or were misappropriated or misspent.

Oral Questions

[Bob Rae, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, there was an exchange earlier involving the member for Ajax—Pickering on his use of the term “old Trotskyite” in referring to a reporter for the CBC.

I wonder, if he is not prepared to apologize for the term “Trotskyite”, could he at least stop using the word “old” as some kind of pejorative adjective?

[Chris Alexander, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, none of us on this side of the House would ever dare use that word with regard to the member for Toronto Centre or indeed any of our colleagues in this House. Moreover, I would always take second place to the member for St. John's East when it comes to deciding who and who is not a Trotskyite.

Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

It is my duty, pursuant to section 23(2) of the Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act, to lay upon the table the report of the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for the province of New Brunswick with an addendum dated April 10, which disposes of the objections raised by members of the House of Commons.

Procedure and House Affairs

[Joe Preston, Conservative, Elgin—Middlesex—London, ON]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Orders 104 and 114, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 52nd report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs regarding membership of the committees of the House.

If the House gives its consent, I intend to move concurrence in the 52nd report later this day.

[Joe Preston, Conservative, Elgin—Middlesex—London, ON]

Mr. Speaker, if the House gives its consent, I move that the 52nd Report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, presented to the House earlier this day, be concurred in.

(Motion agreed to)

[Pierre Nantel, NDP, Longueuil—Pierre-Boucher, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent of the House to move the following motion: That, notwithstanding any Standing Order or usual practice of the House, clauses 213 to 224 regarding the National Capital Act and the Department of Canadian Heritage Act be removed from Bill C-60, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 21, 2013 and other measures, and that these clauses do compose Bill C-62; that Bill C-62 be deemed read a first time and be printed; that the order for second reading of the said bill provide for the referral to the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage; that Bill C-60 retain the status on the order paper that it had prior to the adoption of this order; that Bill C-60 be reprinted as amended; and that the law clerk and the parliamentary counsel be authorized to make any technical changes or corrections as may be necessary to give effect to this motion.

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

Does the hon. member have the unanimous consent of the House to move the motion?

[Some hon. members]

No.

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

There is not unanimous consent.

Search and Rescue

[Fin Donnelly, NDP, New Westminster—Coquitlam, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to present two petitions. The first petition is focused on saving the Kitsilano Coast Guard station, which is one of the busiest stations in Canada. The recent decision by the federal government to close the Kitsilano Coast Guard station is a grave mistake that will undoubtedly cost the lives of those in peril on the shores and waters near Vancouver Harbour. The petitioners call upon the Government of Canada to rescind this decision and reinstate full funding to maintain the Kitsilano Coast Guard station.

Shark Finning

[Fin Donnelly, NDP, New Westminster—Coquitlam, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition is calling for a shark fin importation ban. The petitioners say that measures must be taken to stop the global practice of shark finning and to ensure responsible conservation and management of sharks. The petitioners call upon the Government of Canada to immediately legislate a ban on the importation of shark fins into Canada.

Canada Post

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

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to present a petition against the closure of the post office located at 4895 Sherbrooke Street, in Westmount. This post office is an important part of the community; many residents of my riding have been using it for decades and would like for it to stay open.

Health Care

[Linda Duncan, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table two petitions. The first is from Albertans calling on the Government of Canada to take action on health care to ensure that we have the same high-quality health services wherever people in Canada live, including a pan-Canadian prescription drug strategy; funding transfers to provinces and territories to ensure high-quality home care and long-term care; improved access to primary care; and in particular, improved health care access for aboriginal people.

The petitioners call on the government to fully co-operate with the provinces and territories to negotiate a new health accord by 2014.

The Environment

[Linda Duncan, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition is from Canadians calling on the government to oppose the Kinder Morgan pipeline. The petitioners say that they have concerns about it going through densely populated areas and the territory of 80 first nations and that it is for export of raw bitumen, which will impact Canadian jobs. They ask the Government of Canada to oppose this pipeline.

Canada Post Corporation

[Mark Eyking, Liberal, Sydney—Victoria, NS]

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition signed by over 400 of my constituents from my riding of Sydney—Victoria calling on the government to address the issue of moving cluster mailboxes to Halifax centre. These residents are concerned in relation to next-day delivery of their local mail not being maintained and also about the loss of jobs of Canada Post employees in Cape Breton.

Motor Vehicle Safety

[Olivia Chow, NDP, Trinity—Spadina, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions. The first one is from cyclists and pedestrians asking for the federal government to introduce a regulation under the Motor Vehicle Safety Act requiring aerodynamic side guards for trucks and trailers to prevent cyclists and pedestrians from being pulled under the wheels of these vehicles.

The petitioners note that side guards on trucks were made mandatory in the U.K. in 1986 and in the European Union in 1989, resulting in a 61% drop in cyclist and pedestrian death in the U.K. and a 20% drop in pedestrian fatalities in Germany. They also note that large trucks are involved in approximately 20% of cycling fatalities in Canada. It is about time this got done.

Parks Canada

[Olivia Chow, NDP, Trinity—Spadina, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition is from folks in Ottawa. They want to see the Rideau Canal and Trent-Severn Waterway returned to the 2011 operating hours and length of season so that Canadians and visitors can enjoy this beautiful sight.

The Environment

[Carol Hughes, NDP, Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table a petition that is quite timely, given the recent International Joint Commission report and the critical economic downfall situation residents from Manitoulin Island, Tobermory and Owen Sound and area are facing from the government's inaction on the docking ports for the MS Chi-Cheemaun. It basically speaks to the drop in water levels since 1999, with no sign of rebound in 13 years. It is far greater than previous fluctuations, and it has not only caused immeasurable damage to aquatic wetlands and spawning areas along the shores of the North Channel, Manitoulin Island and Georgian Bay but is also causing serious economic and safety concerns for communities in this area.

The petitioners are from across Manitoulin Island, from as far away as Edmonton and from lots of areas in southern Ontario as well. It is not just northern Ontario people who are concerned about the Great Lakes water levels. It is also people across this country.