House of Commons Hansard #38 of the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was service.
Leona Aglukkaq ConservativeMinister of the Environment
Mr. Speaker, our government is committed to protecting our environment. That is why our government announced that we will be unveiling a new national conservation plan.
Since we formed government, we have created two national marine conservation areas, three marine protected areas, three national wildlife areas, two national parks, and one national historic site. The total area of the land that we have protected is twice the size of Vancouver Island.
Cheryl Gallant Conservative Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON
Mr. Speaker, our government supports job creation and economic growth from natural resources development. We focus on what matters to Canadian families. We understand that economic development must be balanced with environmental protection.
Would the Minister of Natural Resources update the House on what our government is doing to hold companies to account in the case of an accident?
Joe Oliver ConservativeMinister of Natural Resources
Mr. Speaker, our government is absolutely focused on the responsible development of our natural resources. That is why today I had the pleasure of tabling the energy safety and security act, which will significantly increase environmental protection for the offshore and the nuclear sector and hold companies responsible for any damages to the environment.
While the opposition recklessly opposes safety measures that will protect Canadians, we are making progress on what matters.
Denis Blanchette NDP Louis-Hébert, QC
Mr. Speaker, the federal government has wasted close to $400,000 in legal costs fighting CN over the Quebec Bridge. That $400,000 was not spent on bridge repairs.
The provincial government came to an amicable agreement with CN. However, the Conservatives refuse to budge and are making no progress. Had the federal government not been involved in this matter, it would not have dragged on for nine years.
Will the minister change tactics and invest in the Quebec bridge infrastructure instead of ringing up legal bills?
Lisa Raitt ConservativeMinister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, the owner of this bridge is Canadian National. It made a deal with the Government of Canada back in 1997, and the government assumed it would fully restore the bridge. It has not done that, and that is why, on behalf of Canadian taxpayers, the Government of Canada is taking CN to court to ensure that taxpayers get value for the deal they made for the bridge.
Bruce Hyer Green Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON
Mr. Speaker, CN is a problem. CN Rail will abandon the line from Bathurst to Miramichi that VIA Rail needs to connect the Maritimes to the rest of Canada. CN is also ending passenger service north of Sault Ste. Marie. Passenger rail service is in jeopardy across our country.
Why will the Minister of Transport or the Conservative members for Sault Ste. Marie or Miramichi not take action to save passenger rail from CN Rail?
Lisa Raitt ConservativeMinister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member has said, CN is a private company that takes decisions regarding which lines it wants to operate in the country. If it chooses not to operate and to discontinue a line, it goes through a process that is set out in the Canada Transportation Act. CN is following that right now. We are monitoring closely. We are working with VIA Rail and with everybody who has an interest in these lines to get to the right place.
That said, it is incredibly important to note that VIA Rail is an arm's-length corporation that makes its own business decisions.
The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer
Do not cry because it is over; smile because it is happening.
The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer
I would like to draw the attention of hon. members to the presence in the Ladies Gallery of my provincial and territorial colleagues: the Hon. Kevin Murphy, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Nova Scotia; the Hon. Carolyn Bertram, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island; Monsieur Jacques Chagnon, Président de l'Assemblée nationale du Québec; the Hon. Dan D’Autremont, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan; the Hon. Dale Graham, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick; the Hon. Jackie Jacobson, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories; the Hon. David Laxton, Speaker of the Yukon Legislative Assembly; the Hon. George Qulaut, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut; the Hon. Daryl Reid, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba; the Hon. Linda Reid, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia; the Hon. Ross Wiseman, Speaker of the House of Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador; the Hon. Gene Zwozdesky, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta; and the Hon. Bas Balkissoon, Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.
The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer
I would also like to draw the attention of hon. members to the presence in the gallery of the Hon. Peter Taptuna, Premier of Nunavut, and the Hon. Johnny Mike, Minister of the Environment of Nunavut.
Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
Mr. Speaker, I cannot let pass the comment that your closing remarks at question period are setting a new bar. I hope it is sustainable, and you have a plethora of ways to bring us some mirth at the end of tough question periods.
Today is Chinese New Year's eve, and I join all my NDP colleagues to wish everyone a happy Chinese New Year. This year we celebrate the Year of the Horse. The horse is kind, fast and energetic. It represents power, grace and mobility. New Democrats wish those celebrating this new year good fortune, good health, and prosperity.
[The member spoke in Chinese]
I am honoured to rise on behalf of the official opposition to ask the government what it has planned for the House for the remainder of this week and next week.
In particular today, I am rising to ask the government House leader if his party will allow a vote tonight on the important motion that we are debating here today in the House.
The motion calls for us to stand in solidarity with our armed forces personnel and reverse the devastating decision to close eight Veterans Affairs offices, which is taking effect tomorrow.
The Minister of Veterans Affairs, whoever he is, has obviously failed in his performance this week, but my hope is that he does not add hypocrisy and insult to injury to our brave veterans by ducking out on the vote altogether, ahead of the veterans office closures tomorrow.
Peter Van Loan ConservativeLeader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, first let me wish you and everybody else a happy new year.
This afternoon, we will continue the NDP's opposition day. Tomorrow, we will consider Bill C-8, the Combating Contraband Products Act, at report stage and third reading. Should we need to call a second bill, we will resume debate on Bill C-2, the Respect for Communities Act, which went through its seventh day of debate on Monday.
Monday and Tuesday shall be the third and fourth allotted days. Wednesday and Thursday, we plan to continue the second reading debate on Bill C-20, the Canada-Honduras Economic Growth and Prosperity Act.
As for the invitation from my friend, I certain would not want to tread upon the very important responsibilities of the whips, and I am sure they will carry out those discussions among themselves.
Joe Preston Conservative Elgin—Middlesex—London, ON
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent of the House to revert to the rubric “Presenting Reports from Committees” under Routine Proceedings, in order to present two committee reports and seek concurrence of the House in those reports.
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 fifth and sixth reports of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs regarding membership of committees of the House, and I should like to move concurrence at this time.
The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer
Does the hon. member have the unanimous consent of the House to propose the motion?
Procedure and House AffairsCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings
Some hon. members
Agreed.
The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer
The House has heard the terms of the motion. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?
Procedure and House AffairsCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings
Some hon. members
Agreed.