House of Commons Hansard #125 of the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was rouge.
Rob Nicholson ConservativeMinister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, of course, anything from the private sector would be offending to the NDP.
That being said, nobody has had a better record of supplying, refurbishing, and modernizing the Royal Canadian Navy, and that would include the Halifax-class frigate modernization program, the Globemaster strategic airlift, and the Arctic offshore patrol ships.
We will continue to work. We will supply the Royal Canadian Navy with what it needs. That is what we are committed to.
Francis Scarpaleggia Liberal Lac-Saint-Louis, QC
Mr. Speaker, to date the government has failed in its feeble attempts to reach its own greenhouse gas reduction targets. The cause of this failure: federal inaction, and by that I mean the abysmal lack of leadership on the part of this Conservative government, which has not even bothered to meet with representatives of the oil sector since March 2013 to discuss regulations for this sector.
When will the government take action and finally take the threat of climate change seriously?
Leona Aglukkaq ConservativeMinister of the Environment
Mr. Speaker, our government record is very clear. We have taken decisive action in a responsible way to protect our environment and support the economy.
Thanks to our leadership and the efforts of different levels of government, businesses, and consumers, Canada's total greenhouse gas emissions in 2020 are projected to be 130 megatonnes lower than what they would have been under the Liberals.
We will continue to move forward with regulatory measures that will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions while creating jobs.
John McKay Liberal Scarborough—Guildwood, ON
Still glued to the talking points, Mr. Speaker. Today and yesterday, the minister said the government's record is clear and we have had decisive action—
The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer
Order, please. The hon. member for Scarborough—Guildwood has the floor.
John McKay Liberal Scarborough—Guildwood, ON
There seems to be some enthusiasm for the question, Mr. Speaker.
The environment commissioner, however, says that federal departments have made unsatisfactory progress in the areas examined. Time lines have not been met. Departments are not able to assess whether the measures in place meet the emissions records expected.
Is this the record the minister is bragging about that is clear and decisive? That would be talking point number four.
The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer
Order, please. The hon. Minister of the Environment now has the floor.
Leona Aglukkaq Conservative Nunavut, NU
Mr. Speaker, I would like to read for the record a quote from the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association, which told our department, upon the release of the report of the environment commissioner, that it was quite disappointed in the environment commissioner's report, because it omitted information. It said that the renewable fuel regulations introduced by this Conservative government have removed the equivalent of a million cars and trucks from our roads and that they did so while promoting $3.5 billion of economic growth.
Robert Chisholm NDP Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS
Mr. Speaker, after the Conservatives savaged EI in Atlantic Canada, it appears that the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans perhaps got worried about her seat, because the Conservatives decided they would split P.E.I. in two, effectively dividing islander against islander. The government itself projects that this move would cost the average recipient in Charlottetown $2,560 in lost benefits, and that is if they qualify at all.
My question to the government is: Instead of ramming through this senseless move, why would the Conservatives not just fix EI so that all islanders will benefit?
Gail Shea ConservativeMinister of Fisheries and Oceans
Mr. Speaker, let me be clear that this change is all about fairness. Maybe the member can tell his constituents and Nova Scotians how many regions there are in Nova Scotia.
Robert Aubin NDP Trois-Rivières, QC
Mr. Speaker, Conservative ministers from Quebec have done absolutely nothing for pyrrhotite victims. They would rather send the issue back to the Quebec courts.
The federal government is responsible for concrete aggregate standards. However, it failed to prevent this tragedy. People in the Mauricie region are calling for a public inquiry to look into this tragedy.
Will the minister listen and do what it takes to ensure that this kind of crisis never happens again?
Ed Holder ConservativeMinister of State (Science and Technology)
Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member knows, the pyrrhotite issue falls under provincial jurisdiction.
The Government of Quebec has launched a very important program to provide financial assistance to owners who are dealing with pyrrhotite damage.
I urge people affected by this issue to contact the Société d'habitation du Québec.
Joyce Bateman Conservative Winnipeg South Centre, MB
Mr. Speaker, a small town in Colorado has won a battle with the U.S. federal government over a bridge that contained Canadian steel. A protectionist policy known as “Buy America” would have forced the town to dismantle the bridge and to take the Canadian-made steel out in order to be eligible for a grant.
Could the Minister of International Trade please update the House on the government's position regarding Buy America?
Ed Fast ConservativeMinister of International Trade
Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for that excellent question. We are pleased to see that this issue has been resolved. The situation in Colorado highlights how highly integrated the Canadian and U.S. economies are and how difficult it is to segregate North American supply chains.
Protectionism is bad policy and is bad for businesses on both sides of our borders. We will continue to oppose Buy America measures as we engage with our American trading partners to improve the free flow of goods, services, and people between our two great countries.
Judy Sgro Liberal York West, ON
Mr. Speaker, just weeks after Ottawa police lost one of their own, the RCMP announced the death of Corporal Ron Francis. Sadly, the list of soldiers and first responders suffering with PTSD grows, yet little is being done to help. Much is said about supporting our troops, but for those with PTSD, actions speak louder than words, and silence is all they see from those with the power to prompt change.
Will the government stand with first responders, outlaw harassment, and create a PTSD strategy that will really work before we lose any more of our heroes?
Roxanne James ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for that question.
First and foremost, our prayers and our thoughts continue to go out to the family of the RCMP officer, as well as to fellow officers within the RCMP. It was certainly a tragedy.
As the member knows, the RCMP continues to offer services to treat members with operational stress injuries, including PTSD. We rely on those services provided to help these individuals cope with their injuries.
I just also want to say in addition that RCMP officers also benefit from OSI clinics through Veterans Affairs Canada.
Anne Minh-Thu Quach NDP Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC
Mr. Speaker, when the Minister of Immigration transferred case processing to Mississauga, he promised that there would be no additional delays. However, we are hearing a different story from our constituents.
Whether it is for a work permit or family reunification, some of my constituents have been waiting more than 13 months for a response. That is absolutely unacceptable.
Does the minister fully realize that these delays, which are getting longer and longer all the time, are having a major impact on the lives of those involved?
Chris Alexander ConservativeMinister of Citizenship and Immigration
Mr. Speaker, that is not true.
On the contrary, our office in Mississauga has made very significant progress on citizenship cases. The staff there have processed a record number of cases this year, and the same is true of family cases and economic immigration cases.
We have made huge progress in reducing the backlog that we inherited from the Liberal Party in 2006.
Kyle Seeback Conservative Brampton West, ON
Mr. Speaker, every day Canada gets closer to hosting the Pan Am and Parapan American Games. We will welcome 10,000 athletes, coaches, volunteers, and, of course, their families and friends from 41 participating countries.
I am proud to say that our government is fully committed to these games, with funding that will provide sports facilities across Ontario and legacy initiatives that will leave a lasting impact for both high-performance athletes and for families.
Could the Minister of State for Sport please provide an update on how Canadians can get involved in these games?
Bal Gosal ConservativeMinister of State (Sport)
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for Brampton West for the question. He is an Olympian himself.
We are proud to be hosting the largest multi-sport games Canada has ever hosted next summer. The venues, including buildings such as the athletes' complex in North Shore, the Velodrome in Milton, and an aquatic facility in Scarborough, will leave a lasting legacy.
I am also pleased that our government is supporting a torch relay, which I first announced alongside our honorary torchbearer, Commander Chris Hadfield. Pan Am will need 3,000 volunteer torchbearers to carry the flame through 130 communities across Ontario and five major cities across Canada that have hosted major games.
I know that this will be an opportunity to showcase everything that Canada has to offer. I encourage everyone—
Sadia Groguhé NDP Saint-Lambert, QC
Mr. Speaker, Saint-Lambert's city council unanimously opposed the elimination of door-to-door mail delivery, which is slated for 2015 on Montreal's south shore. Canada Post's decision will deny seniors in my riding, such as Jocelyne Langis of Longueuil, of an essential service.
Not everyone can pay a private company to deliver mail to their home.
How can the government claim to be listening to the people when it is ignoring the unanimous call by elected officials on the south shore?
Lisa Raitt ConservativeMinister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, Canada Post currently only delivers to the doors of one-third of Canadian homes. It will be moving to phase that out over the next five years in order to ensure that it can remain self-sufficient, as it is supposed to do under its constituting statutes.
That said, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities has had this discussion. It has duly considered a recommendation and a resolution asking the government to overturn Canada Post's decision, and it soundly defeated this resolution en masse.
Canada Post will continue to implement its five-point plan.