House of Commons Hansard #123 of the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was isil.
Megan Leslie NDP Halifax, NS
Mr. Speaker, the question was about polar bears, and it is not an issue for debate. This research was carried out over three decades, and the implications are—
The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer
Order, please. The hon. member for Halifax still has the floor.
Megan Leslie NDP Halifax, NS
Mr. Speaker, it is difficult to hear, but the research was carried out over three decades, and the implications are clear. Polar bears are getting smaller, and so is their population. We know that climate change is very likely a major factor. While other nations are taking action on this, our government refuses to take action.
Let us put aside the question of whether or not the minister believes in climate change. I will ask her this: Will she address this serious issue and fund polar bear research and monitoring?
Leona Aglukkaq ConservativeMinister of the Environment
Mr. Speaker, I am looking forward to releasing a report that was just concluded last week. Canada has one of the best polar bear management systems in the world.
Last week I had the pleasure of meeting all of the Inuit leaders of Canada, including the first nations of northern Ontario, to develop our go-forward plan for polar bear management and conservation. Our government's position on polar bear management and conservation is based on science and Inuit traditional knowledge that those members have ignored for years.
Wayne Easter Liberal Malpeque, PE
Mr. Speaker, during today's debate on the threat of ISIL, not much is being said by the minister of national security about the threat to Canada from those Canadians returning home who are suspected of terrorism acts abroad.
Some progress, we understand, was being made in a united effort by the Muslim community, the RCMP, and others to combat homegrown terrorism with a strategy titled “United Against Terrorism”. However, the RCMP has suddenly withdrawn its support. Why, and was the minister involved in this decision to withdraw RCMP support from this collaborative effort?
Steven Blaney ConservativeMinister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Mr. Speaker, in this critical time, I commend the effort of the RCMP to reach out to communities to prevent terrorism. It is a pillar of our counterterrorism strategy.
This being said, I understand that the RCMP is no longer participating in the project the member talked about. During a review of the document, contents were found that were inconsistent with the values of the RCMP and Canadians in general.
On this side of the House, we do not bow down to terrorists.
Wayne Easter Liberal Malpeque, PE
Mr. Speaker, the question was not: Do they bow to terrorists? The question was: What are they doing about homegrown terrorism?
According to the “2014 Public Report On The Terrorist Threat To Canada”, individuals have returned to Canada after travel for “suspected terrorism-related purposes”. We believe that figure to be 80.
How many of those have been arrested and charged under the Combating Terrorism Act? It is a serious question. I want a serious answer.
Steven Blaney ConservativeMinister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Mr. Speaker, as elected representatives, we have the important responsibility of making decisions to ensure that our national security agencies have the tools they need to protect Canadians.
Why did the member and his party vote against revoking passports? Why did they vote against revoking the citizenship of terrorists using Canadian passports? That is unacceptable.
Annick Papillon NDP Québec, QC
Mr. Speaker, consumers' bills are going up and the profits of small businesses are declining. Why? Because credit card companies never lose. They pay themselves first.
Despite the government's promises, nothing has been done to reduce credit card fees.
When will the Conservatives act to help SMEs and families and rein in the greed of credit card companies?
Joe Oliver ConservativeMinister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, Canadian consumers deserve access to credit on fair and transparent terms.
That is why we have taken measures to protect Canadians who use credit cards. We have banned unsolicited credit card cheques and required credit card companies to provide clear and simple information as well as timely advance notice of rates and fee changes.
Armed with the best information, Canadian consumers will be able to make informed decisions in their best interests.
Glenn Thibeault NDP Sudbury, ON
Mr. Speaker, that question was about small businesses, so let us try that again. Let us see if the minister can understand this.
Small and medium-sized businesses are the heart of our economy, but the government has ignored skyrocketing credit card processing fees that SMEs are paying. Canadian businesses have been waiting too long for the government to take action. Even back in the summer of 2013, the Competition Tribunal, in a rare move, called for a regulatory framework.
With Small Business Week fast approaching, will the Conservatives finally regulate credit card processing fees? Why has the government failed to act on this file?
Joe Oliver ConservativeMinister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, we have been working with the credit card companies, with the banks, with small businesses and we are looking forward to some volunteer actions taken by the credit card companies, which will be in the interest of small companies, as well as consumers.
Ed Komarnicki Conservative Souris—Moose Mountain, SK
Mr. Speaker, our government is proud to support projects that create jobs, grow the economy and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Last week, I had the privilege of participating in the official opening of the Estevan Boundary Dam carbon capture and sequestration project, a world first technology. Representatives from nearly 20 countries came to Estevan, my riding of Souris—Moose Mountain, to observe first hand this made in Canada technology.
Could the Minister of Natural Resources please advise the House as to how our government has helped this project along?
Greg Rickford ConservativeMinister of Natural Resources and Minister for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member for Souris—Moose Mountain for his advocacy on this world-leading technological advancement in energy production going on in Estevan, Saskatchewan, the energy city.
We were proud to support the research and development of carbon capture and sequestration, and see the technology developed through commercialization at the Boundary Dam project, a technology that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions at that facility by 90%.
We remain committed to growing the economy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions with world-leading technologies. I congratulate Estevan.
Chrystia Freeland Liberal Toronto Centre, ON
Mr. Speaker, over the past week, half a dozen Ukrainian soldiers and a Red Cross worker have been killed in the Donbass, despite the alleged ceasefire there. Germany and France are talking with the OSCE about deploying armed forces to help monitor that ceasefire.
There is cross-party support for Ukraine in the House and Canada has particular influence there. Will Canada therefore be joining Germany and France in further supporting the OSCE peacekeeping and monitoring mission?
Deepak Obhrai ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and for International Human Rights
Mr. Speaker, Canada has been at the forefront of the global response to the Russian aggression in Ukraine and has been one of Ukraine's strongest supporters. Canada will continue to stand in support of the Ukrainian people.
Although a negotiated ceasefire is in place, we continue to see Russian-provoked violence in eastern Ukraine and we have not seen any progress on our calls for Russia to end its support for the armed militants maintaining violence.
Ruth Ellen Brosseau NDP Berthier—Maskinongé, QC
Mr. Speaker, we were shocked to learn about the closure of the Health Canada office in Shawinigan on Friday. This represents a loss of 34 jobs and $2.5 million in economic spinoffs for the Mauricie region. Once again, the regions are paying the price for the Conservatives' mismanagement.
Why do the people of the Mauricie region, who pay taxes like all Canadians, not have the right to economic spinoffs?
Rona Ambrose ConservativeMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, I understand that this is a pay consolidation issue and this does not in any way affect front-line services on health.
Phil McColeman Conservative Brant, ON
Mr. Speaker, thanks to the strong leadership of our Prime Minister and Jim Flaherty, this government is a world leader in providing support for Canadians living with disabilities. It was this government that introduced the registered disability savings plan, the first plan of its kind in the world, to assist Canadians with disabilities and their families in saving for the long term.
Could the minister of state please update the House on the steps our Conservative government is taking to support parents in providing for their children with disabilities?
Candice Bergen ConservativeMinister of State (Social Development)
Mr. Speaker, one of the greatest concerns facing families that have children with disabilities is what will happen to those children when they are gone. That is why our government created the registered disability savings plan. It is a great savings vehicle, as well as a very generous program that our government has created under the leadership of our Prime Minister.
Sadly, the opposition never supports these great initiatives, but families that have children with disabilities can count on us to do the right thing for them.
Wayne Marston NDP Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, ON
Mr. Speaker, after paying into CPP for 25 years, Bruce Thompson, a veteran from my riding, was diagnosed with aggressive terminal cancer. His doctors say he has a few months to live.
Bruce applied for CPP disability, but because he took some time off when his father was dying to help him, he is a few hundred dollars short of the threshold. His claim was denied. His expedited appeal has been denied. Bruce will not live through the rest of the appeal process.
Will the minister and the Conservative government show some compassion and make an accommodation in this tragic situation?
Jason Kenney ConservativeMinister of Employment and Social Development and Minister for Multiculturalism
Mr. Speaker, we enjoin Mr. Thompson and any Canadian battling cancer strength and courage as they do so.
The law does not allow me to comment on individual cases without a privacy waiver. However, the terms for benefits are set in legislation. Of course, there are recourses available to individuals, however, there is no provision in the law for ministerial or political discretion when it comes to benefits.
We encourage the individual in question to pursue the recourses available, and we wish him the very best.
André Bellavance Independent Richmond—Arthabaska, QC
Mr. Speaker, a private company is going to make a profit off of Canada Post's decision to eliminate home delivery.
That is not surprising, since the Conservative government has paved the way to privatization, as demonstrated by the secret memo on the privatization of the British postal service, which the Prime Minister gave to senior officials at Canada Post. However, 65% of respondents in a recent poll spoke out against the privatization of Canada Post.
Can the Prime Minister tell us why the public will now have to pay between $20 and $60 for home mail delivery?
Lisa Raitt ConservativeMinister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, the reality is that they do not.
Canada Post is facing a serious cash crunch going into the future. As a result, it has put together a five-point plan that will enable it to remain self-sufficient as it is supposed to do under the terms of its statute. One of the contingencies in this plan is that it goes to community mail boxes.
Indeed, it is important to note that the Federation of Canadian Municipalities overwhelmingly rejected a motion brought to its floor asking that the federation condemn the government and reverse the decision. It said no to that.
Canada Post will continue with its plan.