Debates of June 17th, 2013

Justice

[Rob Nicholson, Conservative, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to see that this important piece of legislation is back from committee and in the House of Commons.

However, I am troubled that the Liberal leader has picked up speaking fees totalling at least $270,000 from mental health groups, crime prevention centres and victims' rights groups.

I am proud of the fact that our government works tirelessly for victims. We work to keep our communities safe and we support non-profit groups. The Liberals, on the other hand, think these groups should be supporting them. That is the difference between our two parties.

National Defence

[Christine Moore, NDP, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the F-35 procurement process has been badly botched. Senior officers in the Royal Canadian Air Force warned the government that the F-35s were not compatible with our air-to-air refuelling fleet. Despite the mismanagement of this file and all of the alarm bells, the Conservatives are still in love with the F-35s and refuse to put an end to this misadventure.

Why do the Conservatives still refuse to hold an open and transparent bidding process?

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

Mr. Speaker, the RCAF will look at options to deliver air-to-air refuelling capabilities as indicated in the KPMG report. It is the government's intention to maintain a strategic aerial refuelling capability no matter which fighter is chosen.

The evaluation of options being conducted by the secretariat and the Air Force is currently looking at all fighter options and Canada's requirements. The government will inform Canadians once decisions are taken.

[Matthew Kellway, NDP, Beaches—East York, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it has been a merry-go-round of ministers on this file, but the one constant has been Conservative mismanagement.

We know that the F-35 is not compatible with our current air-to-air refuelling fleet, and it is in this context that the Canadian Armed Forces has warned the minister that air-to-air refuelling is “critical to the defence of Canada”.

When and how is the government going to account for the need for a brand new refuelling fleet to accompany the purchase of the F-35?

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

Mr. Speaker, I just stated the RCAF will look at options to deliver air-to-air refuelling capabilities. That has been indicated in the KPMG report. It is part of the government's options analysis, which is ongoing right now, and we will be maintaining a strategic aerial refuelling capability no matter which fighter is chosen.

The government has a plan to replace Canada's aging CF-18 fighter fleet. The first annual costing report was released in December, and we will inform Canadians once these decisions are taken.

Labour

[Chris Charlton, NDP, Hamilton Mountain, ON]

Mr. Speaker, we know the PMO likes to have its dirty work done by backbenchers, and now we have had it confirmed that this is exactly how the unconstitutional union disclosure bill came to be. An access to information request revealed that the government asked the Canada Revenue Agency to provide language for the bill, hardly a normal procedure for a private member's bill.

Will the Conservatives finally come clean and admit that this attack on workers came straight out of the PMO?

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, public polling indicates that the overwhelming majority of Canadians, surtout les Québécois, support union financial disclosure. They support it because unions receive millions of dollars in tax benefits, and taxpayers deserve to know how those benefits are spent. As well, workers deserve to know how their forced dues are spent.

The only ones who are opposed to it are the NDP members, because the NDP received at least $340,000 in illegal union money and it has something to hide.

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

Mr. Speaker, with Bill C-377, the Conservatives are going after unions the same way the IRS went after the Tea Party in the United States. The Canada Revenue Agency is trying to squeeze $72 million out of unions.

The Minister of National Revenue continues to claim that she has not put a figure to the penalties, but an internal document from her agency proves the opposite. Why?

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, the vast majority of Quebeckers support this bill. According to Leger Marketing, more than 80% of Quebeckers are in favour of union transparency. They know that workers are required to pay high dues. They also know that the New Democrats received more than $300,000 in illegal union donations.

The time has come for unions to be transparent.

Government Appointments

[Gerry Byrne, Liberal, Humber—St. Barbe—Baie Verte, NL]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of National Defence has been at the centre of several investigations involving a call on ECBC, one by the Public Service Commission and an ongoing one by the Ethics Commissioner involving John Lynn, with whom he is familiar.

I can inform the House today that a third investigation has now been initiated surrounding ECBC. It is related to the hiring of people right out of the office of the Minister of National Defence, this one by the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner out of concern for potential gross mismanagement at ECBC.

Who will be accountable for all this? Is it the current Minister for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, the former minister for ACOA or the Minister of National Defence?

[Gail Shea, Conservative, Minister of National Revenue and Minister for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency]

Mr. Speaker, I cannot speak to any details of any ongoing investigation, but as soon as we became aware of any allegations, I directed ACOA officials to refer the matter to the Ethics Commissioner.

We expect that ECBC will conduct their business with integrity, accountability and respect for Canadian taxpayers. I can say that the proper process is in progress to deal with these issues, and they will be addressed in due course.

Ethics

[Gerry Byrne, Liberal, Humber—St. Barbe—Baie Verte, NL]

Mr. Speaker, I hope the integrity commissioner's report is not whitewashed like the last one.

The member for York Centre lists the Economic Club of Canada as a source of significant income for him, which he continues to receive in addition to his salary as a member of Parliament.

Could the government disclose how many times federal cabinet ministers have appeared at the Economic Club of Canada to the profit of the member for York Centre since the May 2011 election campaign, and could it also tell the House how the rate of attendance of these cabinet ministers compares to two years prior to the May 2011 election campaign?

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

I have not spoken at many events, Mr. Speaker, but certainly most of the charitable events I speak at benefit charities, unlike the case with the leader of the Liberal Party.

Further to this list, he took $7,500 from the Nova Scotia Nature Trust. He took $20,000 from the Learning Partnership, which encourages students to stay in school, and $20,000 from the Canadian Mental Health Association.

When we speak at a charitable event, we should always give to the charity, not take from the charity. What is it about the Liberals that they do not understand?

Public service is about supporting charity, supporting our constituents and supporting the public, not ripping them off. Why do they not get it?

Employment

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

Mr. Speaker, under this government it is apparently easier to give someone a job in the Senate than to provide employment to young people.

Without a targeted plan to create quality jobs, the Conservatives are mortgaging the future of an entire generation, namely mine. This generation's wage gap and the difficulty young people are having in finding a job are in themselves extremely disturbing. The government should actually be helping young Canadians lead Canada into the 21st century.

When will the Conservatives come up with a real action plan and a real job plan for young Canadians?

[Kellie Leitch, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and to the Minister of Labour]

Mr. Speaker, the numbers speak for themselves: 54,400 new jobs for young Canadians.

I urge the member opposite to read the budget and look at all the wonderful things that are being done to create jobs and opportunities for training for young Canadians, whether that be 5,000 paid internships, the Canada job grant or opportunities with pathways to education. These are all great things for young Canadians.

We are getting the job done. We encourage members opposite to get on board.

Government Appointments

[Nathan Cullen, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages keeps insisting that the charges related to Saulie Zajdel's are only related to his time as a municipal councillor.

How does he know that none of these potentially illegal activities happened while he was in the minister's office? Does the minister really have no concerns about fraud, corruption or breach of trust that may have occurred while Mr. Zajdel was working in his office?

Why is he dismissing these concerns so casually?

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

Mr. Speaker, I am not dismissing the concerns, but that is the scope of the mandate of the investigation. It is 2006 to 2011, because the police said so this morning. He does not have to believe me, but he might want to believe the Montreal police. That is the scope of the investigation mandate.

Again, if Mr. Zajdel, Mr. Applebaum or anybody else broke the law, they should have the book thrown at them and be held accountable, because it is what taxpayers expect. If anybody steals money, they should be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.

Natural Resources

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Peace River, AB]

Mr. Speaker, Canada is blessed to have the third-largest deposits of oil on the planet. Oil is a vital energy resource, providing one-third of global energy needs.

Canadian oil production is creating jobs and economic growth across Canada, and our government is currently fighting for Canadian jobs overseas by ensuring that Canada has access to markets.

To that end, I wonder if the Minister of Natural Resources can update the House on the lastest problems posed by the European fuel quality directive.

[Joe Oliver, Conservative, Minister of Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, the European fuel quality directive is non-scientific, discriminates against Canada, discourages transparency, undermines European competitiveness and will not achieve its environmental objective, yet the NDP deputy leader told reporters it was a perfectly reasonable way to set regulations.

This bizarre statement is the latest attack by the NDP on Canada's reputation and economic prospects in a foreign country. It is yet another instance that the NDP does not know when to stop.

Foreign Affairs

[Irwin Cotler, Liberal, Mount Royal, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the United Nations recently released its horrific report on death, destruction and devastation in Syria: 93,000 dead, 5,000 killed monthly, war crimes and crimes against humanity committed daily, 4.5 million displaced internally and 7,000 new refugees each day.

While the government has increased aid to refugees in Jordan, will it increase aid to internally displaced persons in Syria, facilitate family reunification and resettlement for Syrian refugees, join the Swiss-led initiative to bring war criminals to justice and, finally, affirm and implement the responsibility to protect doctrine?

[Julian Fantino, Conservative, Minister of International Cooperation]

Mr. Speaker, our government condemns the actions of Assad and his thugs. Canada commends Syria's neighbours for their generosity in welcoming those seeking safety within their borders. Our government has committed additional humanitarian assistance for people affected by the Syrian crisis, and we remain committed to saving lives and addressing the needs of those affected by the Syrian crisis both inside and outside of Syria.

Health

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

Mr. Speaker, another cloud of toxic dust engulfed people in the Quebec City area this weekend.

The province is concerned, Quebec City is concerned and hundreds of worried citizens have already signed the NDP's petition. Arrimage du St-Laurent, a stevedoring company, has proposed an action plan that has been addressed by all levels of government, except of course the one responsible for the port.

What does the Minister of Transport, or his Environment colleague, think of Arrimage du St-Laurent's plan?

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, the Port of Quebec is an independent port authority and is responsible for managing its own operations and activities.

That being said, the port has invested $12 million in preventive measures to remedy the situation. We will continue working with the people in the area and we will continue monitoring the situation very closely.

Public Safety

[Lawrence Toet, Conservative, Elmwood—Transcona, MB]

Mr. Speaker, last week the leader of the NDP was confused. When he arrived on Parliament Hill, he must have thought that he had arrived at the Montreal Grand Prix. He admitted that he sped through numerous stop signs on his way across the parliamentary precinct, but rather than being greeted at the winner's circle, he was met by an RCMP member who had been pursuing him. Rather than showing contrition for his reckless acts, he berated the female officer, saying he would get her in a lot of trouble.

Could the Minister of Public Safety tell the House the importance of security on Parliament Hill?

[Vic Toews, Conservative, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, contrary to the suggestion of the NDP member for Timmins—James Bay that female RCMP officers are meter maids, our Conservative government thanks all RCMP members for their service.

Thousands of tourists, including many children, pass through Parliament Hill every week. Last week, the conduct of the NDP leader could have put them at risk. Angry outbursts, intimidation and seeking special treatment are no way to treat the women and men who ensure our safety here on Parliament Hill.