Debates of Oct. 20th, 2014

Marine Safety

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

Mr. Speaker, on Friday, a Russian ship carrying more than 500 million litres of bunker fuel lost all power just off the coast of Haida Gwaii.

The Canadian Coast Guard vessel, the Gordon Reid, was hundreds of kilometres away, and it took almost 20 hours for it to reach the drifting ship. Thankfully, favourable winds helped keep the ship from running aground, and a private American tugboat eventually towed it to shore.

Is the minister comfortable with a marine safety plan that is based on a U.S. tugboat and blind luck in order to keep B.C.'s coast safe?

[Gail Shea, Conservative, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans]

Mr. Speaker, luck had nothing to do with the situation.

The Russian ship lost power outside Canadian waters in very rough weather. The private sector provides towing service to the marine industry.

We are grateful that the Canadian Coast Guard was able to keep the situation under control in very difficult conditions until the tug arrived from Prince Rupert.

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

Mr. Speaker, if the government really wanted to show its gratitude to the Canadian Coast Guard maybe it would not have cut $20 million and 300 personnel from its budget.

Even after the Gordon Reid arrived, its tow cable snapped three times. The Russian ship was only about a third as big as the huge supertankers that northern gateway would bring to the very same waters off the west coast.

How can Conservatives, especially B.C. Conservatives, back their government's plan to put hundreds of oil supertankers off the B.C. coast when we do not even have the capacity to protect ourselves right now?

[Gail Shea, Conservative, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans]

Mr. Speaker, this Russian ship lost power outside of Canadian waters. The Canadian Coast Guard responded and kept the situation under control, under very difficult conditions, until the tug arrived from Prince Rupert.

We as a government have committed $6.8 billion through the renewal of the Coast Guard fleet, which demonstrates our support for the safety and security of our marine industries and for our environment.

Canadian Heritage

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

Mr. Speaker, here is a riddle. How can we tell that the Conservatives know they will not be government in 2017?

The answer is that they are blowing through the anniversary budget for the 150th celebration of Confederation now, three years before festivities, but more significantly, before the coming election.

We have a government that says, “No money for veterans, no money for seniors, no money for child care”, but has an endless bucket of taxpayers' money for self-promotion.

Would the government just stop this egregious abuse of taxpayers' trust?

[Shelly Glover, Conservative, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages]

Mr. Speaker, that is just nonsense. We are proud of Canada. We are proud of the 150th anniversary that will be coming in 2017.

What the member is referring to is some recent advertising campaigns about the Charlottetown and Quebec conferences, which in fact are celebrating 150 years in 2014. We are proud of them. We are proud of Canada. It is a country strong, proud and free. It is too bad they do not appreciate it.

[Mathieu Ravignat, NDP, Pontiac, QC]

Mr. Speaker, it is unbelievable that the Conservatives are spending millions of dollars on ads for an anniversary that is still three years away. Come on. They did not spend millions of dollars on ads today to announce the end of home mail delivery. There were no ads to announce the cuts to veterans' services, and there were certainly no ads to announce the elimination of jobs in the public service.

Instead of spending millions of dollars on their partisan advertising, why not invest in essential services for Canadians for once?

[Shelly Glover, Conservative, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages]

Mr. Speaker, as I just said, the current advertising campaign is highlighting the 150th anniversary of the Charlottetown and Quebec conferences.

Without those two conferences, there would be no Canada or Confederation to celebrate in 2017, so we are pleased to acknowledge the contributions of those two conferences, which in fact have their 150th anniversary in 2014. Why does the opposition not want to celebrate them?

Canada Revenue Agency

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

Mr. Speaker, what the government has been doing does not fly.

While the Conservatives are attacking charities, the Canada Revenue Agency is cracking down on a group of birdwatchers because of their so-called political activities.

The definition of political activity is so vague that the Conservatives use it to clip the wings of their opponents.

Will the minister stop this witch hunt and leave the birdwatchers alone?

[Kerry-Lynne Findlay, Conservative, Minister of National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, it is well-known that CRA audits occur free of any political interference and motivation. Rules regarding charities are longstanding.

In 2012 alone, over $14 billion was tax receipted from approximately 86,000 charities. Charities must respect the law. The CRA has a legal responsibility to ensure that charitable dollars donated by charitable Canadians are used for charitable purposes.

Why is the NDP attempting to score cheap political points at the expense of professional public servants at the CRA?

[Murray Rankin, NDP, Victoria, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives' tough on crime agenda has now extended to birdwatchers. Yes, this is a group of birdwatchers celebrating their 80th anniversary.

Now, suddenly, the Conservatives have them in their sights. They are now subject to the Conservatives' crackdown on charities and subject to real threats of expensive and punishing tax audits.

Meanwhile, the real tax cheats are laughing all the way to their offshore banks.

When will the minister put a halt to her relentless campaign against charities and start focusing on the real tax cheats?

[Kerry-Lynne Findlay, Conservative, Minister of National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, the CRA is proud of what it has done to combat international tax evasion. We have unprecedented success, in terms of people coming forward on our voluntary disclosure program.

We, in fact, this year, are ahead of all of last year and will double those numbers. That shows that our drive to cut down on tax cheats and make them accountable is working.

With respect to charitable organizations, this is an arm's-length exercise through professional public servants.

Consumer Protection

[Glenn Thibeault, NDP, Sudbury, ON]

Mr. Speaker, today marks the beginning of small business week, the economic engines of our communities. Despite throne speech commitments by the Conservative government to crack down on credit card processing fees, one year later, small and medium-sized businesses are still being gouged.

The Minister of Finance will not get results by crossing his fingers and closing his eyes hoping for voluntary measures by this industry. Will the government finally agree to support the NDP's plan and bring down the cost of processing credit card fees?

[Kevin Sorenson, Conservative, Minister of State (Finance)]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians know that they are better off with this Conservative government. Canadian consumers deserve access to credit on fair and transparent terms.

That is why we have taken action to protect Canadians using credit cards by banning unsolicited credit card cheques, requiring clear and simple information, providing timely advance notice of rates and fee changes, limiting anti-consumer business practices, and ensuring prepaid cards never expire.

Canadians know they are better off with this Conservative government.

[Andrew Cash, NDP, Davenport, ON]

Mr. Speaker, what Canadians know is that when it comes to protecting small businesses and consumers, the government has a failing record. Take pay-to-pay fees, for example. A year after promising to ban them, Canadians are still being charged to get their bills in the mail.

This $700 million cash grab targets seniors, those on fixed income, immigrants, and those with little to no access to the Internet. How much more are Canadians' pockets going to be picked before the government acts? Why are they still being charged these fees?

[Ed Holder, Conservative, Minister of State (Science and Technology)]

Mr. Speaker, Canadian consumers should not have to pay extra to receive paper bills. That member of the opposition knows it only too well.

That is why this government will introduce legislation shortly to end pay-to-pay billing practices in the telecommunications sector because what Canadians have been very clear on is that they expect lower prices and better services from our telecommunications providers. That is what we are going to do.

[Mylène Freeman, NDP, Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives already promised in the budget and the throne speech that they would put an end to this unfair practice, where consumers have to pay to receive a paper copy of their bills. However, despite that promise, nothing has been done. Consumers are still getting fleeced by the banks and telecommunication companies. That is unacceptable.

When will the Conservatives rein in big businesses and protect consumers from pay-to-pay billing practices?

[Ed Holder, Conservative, Minister of State (Science and Technology)]

Mr. Speaker, the answer is the same. Canadian consumers should not have to pay extra to receive paper bills. That is why our government will introduce legislation to end pay-to-pay billing practices in the telecommunications sector.

Marine Safety

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

Mr. Speaker, the Russian container ship that drifted off the west coast raises serious concerns about the response capability of the Canadian Coast Guard. This serious situation was only under control when a U.S. tugboat arrived.

After scathing reports from the Auditor General and Environment Commissioner, and after cutting hundreds of millions of dollars and hundreds of vital employees, why has the Conservative government allowed our Coast Guard to degrade so severely? What steps are being taken to protect Canadians?

[Gail Shea, Conservative, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans]

Mr. Speaker, yes, this was a very serious situation. This Russian ship lost power outside Canadian waters.

On the west coast, the private sector provides towing services to the marine industry, but we are very grateful to the men and women of the Canadian Coast Guard and the Department of National Defence. They were able to keep the situation under control in what were very difficult conditions.

This member should not be asking about the Canadian Coast Guard because he well remembers what happened during his tenure. For over a decade, they let the Coast Guard vessels sit tied up—

[The Deputy Speaker, Joe Comartin]

Order, please. The hon. member for Vancouver Quadra.

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the Coast Guard took more than 20 hours to reach the Russian cargo ship drifting in heavy seas right off the coast of Haida Gwaii. The Haida chief himself noted it was only luck that prevented a disaster, luck of offshore winds and luck of an American tugboat with the right equipment. However, it was close and the next time it could be an oil tanker.

A year ago, a federal panel noted there were major gaps in the government's oil spill response. The minister's excuse today was about new Coast Guard ships in the future, but talk is cheap. After nine years, not a single piece of steel has been cut.

When will the government fill these gaps?

[Gail Shea, Conservative, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans]

Mr. Speaker, this was a private towing vessel that came to tow the vessel that was in trouble. I want to support and salute our men and women in the Canadian Coast Guard and our men and women in the Department of National Defence because they did all the work to keep this vessel safe until some help arrived.

Our government has provided unprecedented support of $6.8 billion to renew the Coast Guard fleet. This investment demonstrates our support for the safety and security of marine industries and for—

[The Deputy Speaker, Joe Comartin]

The hon. member for Avalon.

[Scott Andrews, Liberal, Avalon, NL]

Mr. Speaker, the Atlantic Pilotage Authority is considering changing the interception point for ships entering Placentia Bay on the south coast of Newfoundland. The proposed change of this new point of interception has it 13 miles farther inshore to shallower waters and several small islands.

A study of Canada's bays concluded that Placentia Bay is one of the most dangerous bays in the country and is at the highest risk of a catastrophic oil spill. It will be only a matter of time.

Will the Minister of Transport put an immediate stop to this reckless change that puts the east coast at risk?