House of Commons Hansard #36 of the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was union.
Jim Flaherty ConservativeMinister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, under our Conservative government Canada has one of the lowest youth unemployment rates in the G7. Since 2006, our government has helped 2.1 million youth obtain skills training and jobs. Budget 2013 also included 5,000 additional paid internships for youth.
Olivia Chow NDP Trinity—Spadina, ON
Mr. Speaker, protecting the public is the first job of any government, but this week we learned of yet another derailment. The Transportation Safety Board has repeatedly said that we must stop using the DOT-111 cars for dangerous cargo. For 20 years we have known these cars are not safe, yet the Conservatives just want to talk some more and do nothing.
What is the minister's timeline for phasing out the use of these cars for dangerous cargo, and how many more derailments will there be before they act?
Lisa Raitt ConservativeMinister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, we thank the Transportation Safety Board for its recommendations. This government has acted since the Lac-Mégantic tragedy that occurred this summer.
What we have done with respect to the DOT-111 cars is very clear. We have asked an advisory group on the transportation of dangerous goods to come together and study the matter. It is industry-led. It will be giving us its report by the end of January.
More importantly, two weeks ago we published tougher rules and regulations in order to ensure that new cars are going to be built to the greater standard.
Hoang Mai NDP Brossard—La Prairie, QC
Mr. Speaker, the minister is still talking about talking. For 20 years now, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada, the TSB, has been saying that DOT-111 cars are not safe. Twenty years. That means that the Conservatives and the Liberals ignored recommendations for improving rail safety. They ignored the warning signs.
Then came the Lac Mégantic tragedy. The TSB is again recommending that the use of old DOT-111 cars be discontinued.
Can the minister tell us, right now, when these cars will be taken off the tracks?
Lisa Raitt ConservativeMinister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, with respect to the record of members opposite, that is the group that decided to vote against our proposals to increase rail safety in this country. It is pretty rich for them right now to ask us what we are doing. We have increased inspections and increased the money. The top priority in our minds is the health and safety of Canadians.
The reality is that these cars are international in scope. Traffic flows between the United States and Canada. We are working with our counterparts in the United States to address this matter.
Peggy Nash NDP Parkdale—High Park, ON
Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives could choose to take action in order to make life more affordable for Canadian families. They could cap ATM transaction fees and prohibit major corporations from charging a fee for paper billing.
Will the Minister of Finance commit to including the NDP's practical solutions for making life more affordable for the middle class in the upcoming budget?
Jim Flaherty ConservativeMinister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, it is not my habit to include NDP solutions to economic issues in Canada.
As highlighted in the Speech from the Throne, our government will take further action to expand no-cost banking options available to Canadians.
Peggy Nash NDP Parkdale—High Park, ON
Sadly, Mr. Speaker, after eight years the Conservatives have simply failed to deliver for Canadian consumers.
Many families are struggling to make ends meet. Wages are stagnant, household debt is growing and costs are skyrocketing. The Conservatives have failed to act and they have failed to protect consumers. They have cut infrastructure spending, and they simply have no plan to create good quality jobs.
With this year's budget, will the finance minister change direction and finally provide real help for consumers to make life more affordable?
Jim Flaherty ConservativeMinister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, the opposition should get its facts right. Those members might be interested to know that we have taken the time to consult with Germany; they would have discovered that Canada does indeed have the best job creation record in the G7, with 6.1% growth. Germany has the third best record, with 4% growth.
It is disappointing to hear the opposition cheering against Canada's economic performance.
Joan Crockatt Conservative Calgary Centre, AB
Mr. Speaker, my constituents in Calgary Centre know how important pipelines are not only to the economy but to all Canadians' quality of life. Our government knows that the Keystone XL pipeline would provide benefits and jobs across Canada. Surprisingly, the NDP still continues to oppose this project and Canadian jobs, while our government has been promoting those economic benefits and growth.
Would the Minister of Natural Resources please update the House on this critical Keystone project?
Joe Oliver ConservativeMinister of Natural Resources
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for Calgary Centre for her very timely question.
As we all know, the Keystone XL pipeline would enhance national security and create tens of thousands of jobs and billions of dollars of economic activity. It has been the most studied natural resource project in the history of the world. The time for decision is now.
It is shameful that the NDP continues to stand against job creation and the interests of middle-class Canadians.
Alexandre Boulerice NDP Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC
Mr. Speaker, in December 2013, right after the end of the parliamentary session, Canada Post's head honcho explained that he and his 22 vice-presidents, who together earn over $10 million, would be eliminating home delivery service. To justify his decision, he said this would encourage seniors to get more exercise. Very funny. Seniors, however, did not find it so funny. Spare me the rhetoric about the independence of Canada Post. I am sure everyone remembers the special legislation of 2011.
What we want to know is simple: Do the Conservatives share Deepak Chopra's sensitivity and his brilliant ideas?
Lisa Raitt ConservativeMinister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member of Parliament for CUPW for the question on the matter—
The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer
Order, order. It might be best if we checked ourselves at referring to each other by actual riding names and titles.
Lisa Raitt Conservative Halton, ON
Mr. Speaker, the reality of the situation is this: one billion fewer pieces of mail are being mailed. People are making different choices.
It is the digital era, and so Canada Post must be able to address these matters and remain self-sufficient. It has a plan. It is putting it into action. We hope it does mean that it will be self-sustaining in the future.
Irene Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON
Mr. Speaker, I respect our postal workers.
Does the minister not understand that hiking prices and cutting services hurt Canadians, especially seniors and people living with disabilities? In a country where sidewalks are slippery and temperatures frigid, has the minister thought about the impact of these cuts on Canadian seniors?
Can the minister tell us why she signed off on these changes without proper consultation, consideration or concern for the seniors, the people affected, people living with disabilities?
Lisa Raitt ConservativeMinister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, perhaps some facts would be helpful in this matter.
Already two-thirds of Canadian addresses do not have door-to-door delivery; they have community mailboxes or rural box areas.
What we are talking about is one-third. I am sure members realize that there are slippery sidewalks for the other two-thirds of the people who clearly do not receive door-to-door delivery.
It is something Canada Post has experience in dealing with. It will accommodate, when it has requests to do so. We anticipate that, as it rolls out its plan, it will do so in a very thoughtful manner.
Malcolm Allen NDP Welland, ON
Mr. Speaker, officials in Ontario have confirmed a second case of PED, the pig virus.
The virus turned up in a swab test in Quebec. This is alarming for hog farmers. If nothing is done, this epidemic could cost the Canadian pork industry millions of dollars.
The Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food is failing to step up and deal with the problem. I have a simple question for the minister. What is the minister going to do to help stop this from becoming a disaster for a pork industry that has seen troubled times far too often over the last five years?
Gerry Ritz ConservativeMinister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
Mr. Speaker, as the member opposite should know, this is a provincial issue.
Having said that, CFIA stands ready to assist in any monitoring that is required. The government is the one that continues to work with the pork sector, the livestock sector across Canada, on traceability and on biosecurity on its farms.
Shamefully, the NDP opposition continues to vote against those objectives.
Ruth Ellen Brosseau NDP Berthier—Maskinongé, QC
Mr. Speaker, we are all familiar with the repeated failures of the Minister of Agriculture, and it is hard to believe that the pork producers in my riding will be reassured by the minister's official response. This is the same minister who was responsible for the contaminated meat scandal at XL Foods and the listeriosis crisis. Does anyone still have faith in this minister? Is the Prime Minister the only one?
Pork producers want reassurance. What are the specific details of the plan to prevent the spread of the porcine epidemic diarrhea virus?
Gerry Ritz ConservativeMinister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
Mr. Speaker, the member opposite should know that, while she was on holidays, I was meeting with the pork sector, the latest time at its summit in Banff the day after this particular outbreak was found.
We continue to work with the pork sector. We continue to work with the provinces of record on biosecurity, on traceability, on making sure that the population out there understands that this is not a health safety issue. This is of concern to the pork sector, and we continue to work with it.
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister commit today that he will reverse the callous decision and provide the necessary funding to keep the veterans affairs centres open?
Further, will he assure veterans that in the new budget he will provide the necessary funding to ensure that all veterans have ready access to trained case managers and that they can receive the necessary health services they require in a timely manner?
Julian Fantino ConservativeMinister of Veterans Affairs
In fact, Mr. Speaker, beginning in February there will be over 650 locations across Canada where veterans can receive in-person service from the Government of Canada, which is 16 times higher than back in 2006.
The NDP and the Liberals voted against increased investments toward Canadian veterans, and I bet they will do it again in a few weeks.
Veterans have told us that they want less paperwork and fewer trips downtown, which begs the question: Who are that member and his party actually working for?
Mark Eyking Liberal Sydney—Victoria, NS
Mr. Speaker, today Ron Clarke and other veterans from across the country are visiting the Hill. They are here to send a message to the Conservatives: Do not close the nine veterans affairs offices across this country.
The government needs to help our veterans when they have risked their lives for us. These offices will have their doors locked on Friday and thousands of veterans will be left out in the cold.
Will the Prime Minister come to his senses and change this mean-spirited decision?