Debates of Oct. 24th, 2014

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation

[Rick Dykstra, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, equating a strategy that the president and the organization of CBC are implementing in terms of dealing with the changes that are happening within the markets across this country, and trying to qualify that as something that has anything to do with this government, is completely unfair. We certainly understand the important role the CBC and Radio-Canada plays in remote and minority-language communities. Having said that, our government and all Canadians expect the CBC to fulfill its duty to provide quality programming to official-language minority communities under the Official Languages Act and the Broadcasting Act.

Public Safety

[Judy Foote, Liberal, Random—Burin—St. George's, NL]

Mr. Speaker, the government has indicated it is considering new legislation with new powers for law enforcement. Can the minister confirm whether the existing tools that were passed by the House as part of Bill S-7, the Combating Terrorism Act, have been employed in any of the RCMP's 60-plus active national security investigations?

[Roxanne James, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness]

Mr. Speaker, this gives me an opportunity to talk about the upcoming legislation and why it is needed.

As we know, the passage of the CSIS Act occurred back in 1984. We are talking 30 years ago. A lot has changed in 30 years. When we think about where any of us may have been, I may have still been in high school. I certainly did not have a computer, did not have a cellphone and did not have email.

Things have changed, so has terrorism in this country and so have issues related to national security. That is why we need to modify and clarify the tools that CSIS has.

[Judy Foote, Liberal, Random—Burin—St. George's, NL]

Mr. Speaker, in the context of any new national security legislation, is the government prepared to create a national security oversight committee with representation from all parties consistent with those that exist among our allies, whose role will be to ensure that the right national security measures are in place, and also that there is a balance between the needs of our national security agencies and the rights that Canadians enjoy?

[Roxanne James, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness]

Mr. Speaker, first we are not any other country, we are Canada. In Canada we already have independent robust oversight that actually includes a former member of provincial parliament from the NDP. We are not interested in creating another bureaucracy that has the same responsibilities as the oversight body already in place.

[Francis Scarpaleggia, Liberal, Lac-Saint-Louis, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to talk about the new national security legislation. Will the government be creating a parliamentary oversight committee?

I am not talking about red tape but about a parliamentary oversight committee that includes our security agencies and all of the parties. Its role would be to ensure that appropriate security measures are put in place and that there is a balance between the needs of our security agencies and the rights of Canadians. That is what our allies are doing.

[Roxanne James, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness]

Mr. Speaker, as I just indicated, Canada already has independent, robust oversight over our security agencies.

In fact, the difference between us and the Liberals and the NDP is that we would rather focus our resources on giving law enforcement and security agencies the tools they need.

International Development

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

Mr. Speaker, the Ebola epidemic continues to threaten global health. Cases were reported yesterday for the first time in Mali and in New York.

Urgent global action is necessary to bring infection under control and save lives. What is the government doing to scale up Canada's Ebola response in West Africa?

[Lois Brown, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Development]

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to have that question today because I can now report that $52 million is being distributed to our trusted partners.

We continue to work with organizations like the World Health Organization, the World Food Programme, the World Food Programme logistics team, UNICEF and International Red Cross. We have been at the forefront of the international response efforts, and we will continue to be a world leader in the global response.

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

Mr. Speaker, these measures are a good start, but we need to do more. We need to be quicker at delivering the goods and contributing more to the World Health Organization. We need to control this epidemic because soon it will be too late.

Does the government plan to strengthen our approach?

[Lois Brown, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Development]

Mr. Speaker, as I just said, we have signed agreements with the organizations with which we are working. These are organizations that are under the direction of the World Health Organization. We gave distributed $52 million as of today, and we will continue to work with all of our partners. We want to see this disease eradicated.

Aboriginal Affairs

[Romeo Saganash, NDP, Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Cindy Blackstock's lengthy battle is coming to an end this week, as she is giving her closing arguments before the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal. Child welfare agencies on reserves receive 22% less money from the federal government than agencies off reserve. Ms. Blackstock has been fighting for some time to correct this injustice.

Does the government plan to listen to her arguments and adjust its funding accordingly?

[Mark Strahl, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development]

Mr. Speaker, the health, safety and well-being of first nations children is a top priority for our government. That is why since 2006, we introduced a prevention-based approach to delivering child and family services on reserve, and our government has increased funding for on-reserve child and family services by 40% since taking office.

We will continue to take action to ensure that children and families have the support they need to lead healthy and safe lives.

[Jean Crowder, NDP, Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC]

Mr. Speaker, first nations children receive 22% less funding from child welfare services than what other children in Canada receive. That is a fact, and it is one that the minister continues to ignore.

Can the minister explain what he will do to ensure that child welfare services for first nations children meet the same standards as for all other children in this country?

[Mark Strahl, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development]

Mr. Speaker, what is a fact is that our government has increased funding for child and family services on reserve by 40% since taking office. Another fact is that every time we introduce new measures to protect children and families on reserve, the opposition votes against it.

National Defence

[Rick Norlock, Conservative, Northumberland—Quinte West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, our nation's resolve was tested, and the brave men and women of our armed forces came under threat. Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent and Corporal Nathan Cirillo both gave their lives serving their country. Corporal Cirillo paid the ultimate sacrifice undertaking the highest honour, guarding our nation's war memorial.

Could the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade please update the House on how the nation will honour these fallen heroes?

[Erin O'Toole, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade]

Mr. Speaker, it is with deep sadness that I inform the House that Canada's Highway of Heroes will see another hero travel its length.

Later this afternoon, Corporal Cirillo and his family will return to Hamilton and his unit along the Highway of Heroes. This will allow Canadians in communities like those in Northumberland and my riding of Durham to pay respect to Corporal Cirillo.

I know I speak for all members of the House and all Canadians when I say that our thoughts and prayers are with his family. We stand with the Canadian Armed Forces at this time.

International Trade

[Guy Caron, NDP, Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC]

Mr. Speaker, in Europe the debate over investor state dispute settlement is beginning to boil over. The new President of the European Commission is strongly opposed, as are Germany and Austria. The Financial Times is now reporting that it is unlikely CETA will pass the European parliament as is.

Given their potential to derail the implementation of this deal, is the government ready to drop these controversial provisions or will it insist on them?

[Erin O'Toole, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade]

Mr. Speaker, as that member well knows, both Canada and European negotiators were specifically instructed to provide for investor state dispute resolution within the agreement. Such dispute resolution has been used by Canada and by most European countries to provide certainty.

It is sad that the NDP continues to try to find ways to oppose trade and the one in five jobs that come from it.

[Guy Caron, NDP, Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the parliamentary secretary should be following what is happening in Europe. He should take into account the fact that we have a robust justice system, as does the European Union. Both systems protect their own investors, and there is no need to harmonize those mechanisms.

If the Conservatives really want their agreement with the European Union to be successfully concluded, why not concede that an investor state dispute settlement mechanism is unnecessary in the context of the Canada-European Union agreement and simply get rid of that measure?

[Erin O'Toole, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade]

Mr. Speaker, the member knows as well that legislators and leaders throughout the European Union and member states like Germany have pledged their support for these provisions and for CETA. This is an opportunity for Canada to create 80,000 net new jobs.

This is just another way the member is trying to oppose trade. This agreement is robust. It has taken us a long time to get here, but it is a big win for Canada.

Quebec Bridge

[Alexandrine Latendresse, NDP, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Mr. Speaker, in Quebec City, we have a bridge in need of a paint job. Wednesday's ruling by the Quebec Superior Court clarifies matters, if nothing else. CN and Transport Canada have to stop passing the buck.

The federal government is now obliged to respect the agreements signed in 1997 in the context of privatizing the bridge.

Will the minister respect this ruling and get the Quebec Bridge painted?

[Jeff Watson, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, we are disappointed with this ruling. Officials are reviewing this decision. We will wait for the second part of the ruling before commenting further. In the meantime, we continue to believe that CN should have respected its agreement with regard to painting the bridge.

[Alexandrine Latendresse, NDP, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Mr. Speaker, this is really disappointing, especially considering that in 2005, the Prime Minister himself made fun of the Liberals, saying that they could not even get a bridge painted.

Now that the Superior Court ruling clearly shows that the federal government must do its part, will the government prove that it can get the Quebec Bridge painted?

[Jeff Watson, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, as owner of the bridge, Canadian National is responsible for its maintenance and safety. In August 2013, Transport Canada inspected the rail section of the bridge, which is under federal jurisdiction. Transport Canada did not detect any problems with the rail section of the bridge. The road portion of the bridge falls under provincial jurisdiction.