Debates of Oct. 3rd, 2014

Yom Kippur

[Peggy Nash, NDP, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

Mr. Speaker, tonight members of the Jewish faith in Canada and around the world will gather to observe Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.

I would like to recognize the Jewish people of my riding of Parkdale—High Park and all Jewish Canadians celebrating Yom Kippur beginning at sundown today.

Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish year, focuses on atonement and repentance. It is also a time for families to come together, to reconnect and reflect on the past year and the year to come. It is a time for prayer, for reflection and for family.

As Jewish families observe this solemn holiday, let us all commit to working together to build a better future.

Tzom Kal.

Property Rights

[Jim Hillyer, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

Mr. Speaker, property rights should be included in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Unfortunately any attempts to amend the Constitution through the general amending formula have failed.

However, the fight for property rights is still a fight worth fighting. More important, it is still a fight worth winning.

I have taken on the giant of constitutionally protecting property rights by means of the smooth stone of section 43, which requires only the approval of a single province if the amendment applies only to that province.

That is why on June 11, I introduced Motion No. 520 to Parliament, a resolution that would add property rights to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms in Alberta.

I am working closely with Alberta MLAs on this Alberta-led initiative. I have consulted with property rights and constitutional experts who agree that this approach is constitutionally valid and would be a major victory for the cause of property rights in Alberta and lead the way for the rest of Canada.

Eksperimenta

[Rick Dykstra, Conservative, St. Catharines, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Canada will be taking part in the 2014 edition of Eksperimenta, which is gearing up to host 11 countries from around the world and which will be showcasing artworks created by youth between the ages of 16 and 23.

The Canadian exhibition in Eksperimenta 2014 will consist of approximately 50 works of art representing 10 high schools from across Canada, from British Columbia to Nova Scotia. These artworks range in media, including digital photography, video animation, mixed media and a virtual reality environment.

Manitoba teacher Ann Donald and Brock University's Dr. Peter Vietgen will be travelling to Estonia during the week of October 20 to 25 to install the Canadian exhibition of youth art and deliver presentations about teaching contemporary art in high schools.

I would like to commend Dr. Vietgen for his work and congratulate St. Catharine's students Briun Pol, Tim Williamson and Jasmine Singleton who have been selected to exhibit their art to the word in Estonia.

Eid al-Adha

[Chris Charlton, NDP, Hamilton Mountain, ON]

Mr. Speaker, starting tomorrow, over one billion Muslims worldwide will begin to celebrate Eid al-Adha. This special holiday is a reminder to Muslims of Abraham's sacrifice of his son as an act of devotion to God. It is about giving of what is best of oneself, giving that which is most precious of oneself, to God. It is a celebration of generosity and charity.

Eid al-Adha also marks the end of the annual holy pilgrimage to Mecca. We welcome back all those who are returning from the Hajj and thank them for their deep commitment to the values of unity and peace.

These values of peace, charity, family and friendship are dear to Muslims and non-Muslims alike, and they reinforce our common bonds of humanity. They speak to our shared belief in fundamental social justice.

As Muslims come together in the days ahead to pray, feast and give back to their communities, I want to wish them a joyful celebration among family and friends.

On behalf of the entire NDP caucus, I want to thank Canada's Muslim community for its contribution and commitment toward creating a stronger fabric of respect and understanding in our country. In the spirit of peace and friendship, Eid Mubarak.

Yom Kippur

[Randy Hoback, Conservative, Prince Albert, SK]

Mr. Speaker, this evening at sunset, the Jewish community across Canada and around the world will gather together to observe Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement. Yom Kippur is the most sacred and solemn day in the Jewish calendar.

Those observing seek to atone for their wrongdoings of the past year through fasting, prayer and repentance, they seek forgiveness for the sins they have committed toward their fellow man and against God.

On this sacred day, the Jewish community comes together to reflect on the year that has passed and to look ahead with hope and optimism at the year to come, seeking this as an opportunity to start with a clean slate.

On behalf of the Prime Minister and the Canadian government, I would like to extend my sincere wishes to all those in Canada and around the world observing this most holy day to have an easy and meaningful fast, and may they be inscribed in the book of life.

G'mar Chatimah Tova.

Canada Post

[Ève Péclet, NDP, La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC]

Mr. Speaker, on September 21, I held a public meeting in my riding of La Pointe-de-l'Île about the cuts to Canada Post.

Over 100 people attended the meeting and several thousand have signed the petition to date. It is therefore imperative that the government listen to reason and cancel the cuts to home mail delivery. We are talking about a service that is vital to seniors, people with reduced mobility and community organizations in my riding. It is a service that helps make their daily lives a little bit easier. We are also talking about thousands of quality jobs that contribute to our economy.

Mail delivery is not a privilege. It is a service that our government has an obligation to provide. We will be the only G7 country that no longer provides home mail delivery. Once again, the Conservatives are showing their contempt for the most vulnerable members of our society. They do not deserve to be in power. I sincerely hope that, in 2015, Canadians will show the Conservatives how dissatisfied they are.

National Cyber Security Awareness Month

[Royal Galipeau, Conservative, Ottawa—Orléans, ON]

Mr. Speaker, during National Cyber Security Awareness Month, held every October in Canada and in the United States, Canadians are reminded how to protect themselves against cyber threats.

Central to that effort is the Get Cyber Safe initiative, a national cybersecurity awareness campaign and a key component of Canada's cybersecurity strategy.

Almost half of all Canadian adults have been a victim of cybercrime and nearly one in five Canadian youth do not know how to use the privacy settings on their social media accounts.

We all have a role to play in cybersecurity in Canada. That is exactly what we are doing in Orléans with VENUS Cybersecurity.

Therefore, it is with pleasure and urgency that I encourage everyone to visit “getcybersafe.ca” to ensure that they are as safe in the virtual world as they are in their communities.

Eid al-Adha

[John McKay, Liberal, Scarborough—Guildwood, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to wish Eid Mubarak to all Muslims across Canada and throughout the world celebrating the end of Eid al-Adha.

I have the honour of hosting this year's Eid dinner on Parliament Hill with the Association of Progressive Muslims, organized by the tireless efforts of Mobeen Khaja.

As one of the oldest Islamic celebrations, Eid al-Adha commemorates not only the end of the Hajj, but it also commemorates the great trials of faith and triumph in the life of the prophet Abraham. Eid al-Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice, is also a time of forgiveness and compassion when Muslims in Canada and around the world take time to consider the most disadvantaged members of society, to donate to the poor and share a meal with less advantaged members.

Eid al-Adha is also an occasion for Canadians of different backgrounds to see first hand the rich cultural and religious mosaic of Canada, which is one of its defining features.

On this blessed occasion, I wish each member peace, happiness, prosperity and a happy Eid.

International Trade

[LaVar Payne, Conservative, Medicine Hat, AB]

Mr. Speaker, no government in Canada's history has been more committed to the creation of jobs and prosperity for Canadian businesses, workers and their families.

Last month was the most successful month for trade and investment in Canadian history. We saw the release of the complete text of the Canada-EU trade agreement and the signing of the Canada-Korea free trade agreement.

However, the Minister of International Trade is not done yet. In just a few weeks, the minister will be leading a trade and investment mission to India, where he will continue to advance Canada's economic interests.

The Liberal record of neglecting trade, however, is just shameful. In 13 long years, it signed agreements with a measly three countries. That is shameful.

Conservative and Liberal Parties of Canada

[Françoise Boivin, NDP, Gatineau, QC]

Mr. Speaker, seeing what the Conservatives are doing to the environment, the economy, employment insurance, justice and foreign policy only reinforces our belief that we need to replace this tired old government in 2015 and change course.

However, we cannot just switch lanes, we need to make a U-turn. When we take a closer look at the issues championed by the Conservatives, it is clear that there is no real difference between the Conservatives and the Liberals: for the Keystone pipeline, the Conservatives got Liberal support; for the 30-day mission in Iraq, the Conservatives got Liberal support; for invading Canadians' privacy with Bill C-13, the Conservatives got Liberal support; and for destroying the belugas' breeding grounds at Cacouna, the Conservatives got Liberal support.

If the Liberals believe that hope and hard work mean giving the Conservatives a blank cheque and making off-colour jokes about a potential war, they are sadly mistaken.

The NDP will continue to demand accountability. We will provide a real alternative in 2015, and we will put an end to the status quo.

The Economy

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians understand the importance of living within their means, and they expect the government to do the same thing. That is why we are working so hard to spend taxpayers' money responsibly and to balance the budget in 2015.

Yesterday the Prime Minister announced that our approach is working. In fact, is it working so well that the deficit for the most recent fiscal year was just a little over $5 billion, which is much lower than the forecasted amount. This is good news for Canadians and for the economy. Balanced budgets allow us to cut taxes and still guarantee long-term sustainable government services for Canadians.

While the NDP and the Liberals continue to call for reckless spending, the Conservative government remains committed to ensuring that every taxpayer dollar is spent effectively. Unlike the leader of the Liberal Party, we know that budgets do not balance themselves.

Health

[Libby Davies, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Mr. Speaker, Canada has the most promising vaccine for Ebola in the world, but despite government promises two months ago, it is not getting to scientists and patients.

Yesterday the parliamentary secretary said “consent needs to be provided”, but whose consent did she mean? We know that the World Health Organization is not the problem, so whose consent is she referring to? Is it the pharmaceutical company the Conservatives gave the licensing rights to?

[Eve Adams, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, as I have been very clear in the chamber and on a number of panels with this critic, the vaccines have been donated to the World Health Organization. Canada owns these vaccines. We have 1,500 doses. We have donated up to 1,000 to the World Health Organization. It is up to the World Health Organization to deploy these vaccines as efficiently, ethically, and quickly as possible.

[Libby Davies, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the parliamentary secretary and the government have not been clear at all. They keep passing the buck to the WHO, which is not the problem. The American pharmaceutical company NewLink Genetics said it wants to “be in control” of clinical trials. Because of the deal the Conservatives signed with the company in 2010, now the lawyers are holding it up.

The situation is very dire, and Canada's vaccine could help now. Will the government tell NewLink Genetics to allow this vaccine to move, or will it cancel the deal today so that we can get this lifesaving vaccine to where it is needed?

[Eve Adams, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, the opposition is confusing issues. Let me very clear about this. Canada owns the doses. We own the intellectual property rights to these doses. We have fully and completely donated up to 1,000 of these doses to the World Health Organization. It is up to it to manage the logistics and to dispense them as quickly and as efficiently as possible.

[Nycole Turmel, NDP, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Africa has been hard hit by the Ebola crisis. In Liberia alone, 2,000 people have died from the virus. The President of Liberia is urging Canada and the international community to do more to stop this terrible disease. She is making a plea for skilled people, screening centres and trainers for health care workers. In short, the country is in need of everything, and fast.

When will the minister provide assistance to truly help in this crisis?

[Eve Adams, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, Canada has been at the forefront of responding to the Ebola crisis. We have been there since day one. We have offered $35 million to leading international humanitarian groups such as the Red Cross, the World Health Organization, and Médecins Sans Frontières. We are dispensing equipment, we are dispensing much-needed expertise, and we have the scientific lab on the ground where we have scientists rotating in and out.

Canada has always shown extreme compassion, and we are ready to help those who are affected.

National Defence

[Nycole Turmel, NDP, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives' 30-day mission in Iraq, supported by the Liberals, ends tomorrow. Now the Conservatives want to increase Canada's military involvement, but we still have not received an account of the first 30 days, and many questions remain unanswered. Why do the Conservatives want to send Canada into a new war in Iraq when they cannot even account for what has happened in the past 30 days?

[Rob Nicholson, Conservative, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, we have been forthright about what has happened in these last 30 days. We have said that we have been on the ground to provide strategic and tactical advice, but the NDP does not get it.

The Leader of the Opposition yesterday mumbled something about nobody being there until September 26, which was completely wrong. Right from the start, the Canadian military has been on the ground and assisting in giving advice. What is the problem with the NDP?

[Nycole Turmel, NDP, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Mr. Speaker, while only 26 of the 69 soldiers that we promised were needed, humanitarian aid is not forthcoming. In other words, what we are offering is not needed and what is needed is not being offered. While the Conservatives are getting ready to send Canada into the third war in Iraq in 20 years, what account have they given of the first 30 days of the mission and how does that justify significantly increasing our military involvement?

[Rob Nicholson, Conservative, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, ISIL poses a terrible threat to regional security and to the security of this country. The NDP should not need a briefing to know what a terrible organization this has been and the horrors that it has perpetrated on the people there. We have been forthright. We have told New Democrats this and we have indicated that we are putting people on the ground to provide advice to the Iraqis.

I know they do not get it, but again I would urge her to listen to what the Prime Minister has to say after question period today.

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Mr. Speaker, today the Prime Minister will be moving his motion on a combat mission in Iraq. According to news reports, the Prime Minister wants to limit debate on his combat mission in Iraq to five hours.

Does the Prime Minister really think that five hours is enough time to debate sending our Canadian Forces to war?

[Rob Nicholson, Conservative, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, I understand that these issues are being discussed among House leaders, but again I point out to the hon. member that under the Liberals there was no discussion on these things—no debate, no votes, no nothing. We have been very clear that any matter of this nature will be put to a vote in Parliament.

Again, I am looking forward to the Prime Minister's comments.

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the minister seems to have forgotten that we did not go into Iraq, thanks to a Liberal prime minister.

The Prime Minister will put forward a motion on a combat mission in Iraq today. Media reports indicate that the Prime Minister wants to limit debate on his combat mission to a mere five hours on Monday.

Does the Prime Minister really believe that five hours is sufficient time to debate sending the Canadian Armed Forces to war?

[Rob Nicholson, Conservative, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the changes this government has brought in so that any type of military mission will be subject to a discussion and a vote in Parliament. Again, I never agreed with the approach of the Liberals when we went into Afghanistan that there would be no discussion, no votes, no nothing.

We will never go back to the way things were with the Liberals. This is a step in the right direction.