Debates of Nov. 17th, 2014

Violence Against Women

[Rob Anders, Conservative, Calgary West, AB]

Mr. Speaker, over the past weeks we have heard many personal accounts of sexual abuse involving Jian Ghomeshi, and of stories right here on Parliament Hill. In light of these high-profile allegations of sexual violence in the headlines, a national discussion has finally stirred. We must not let this conversation stop.

It is clear now, more so than ever, that changes must be made to Canada's sexual assault laws. My private member's bill, Bill C-570, proposes to make these necessary changes by introducing a mandatory minimum sentence for rape. If we want to stop violence against women, we must put sexual predators behind bars. Victims must feel comfortable going to court, knowing that their perpetrators will face consequences and not reoffend. Only then will more survivors be empowered to come forward, like the brave women who have already done so in these past weeks.

Gérard-Bossé Foundation

[Réjean Genest, NDP, Shefford, QC]

Mr. Speaker, an organization in Granby that cares about young adults aged 18 to 35, the environment, sustainable development and nature has started a project called Les Écolos, in partnership with the city of Granby.

This project has given new life to many used items, thanks to the social engagement of more than 20 young people. On November 13, the organization's administrators held a gala titled Vert la relève in order to pay tribute to the perseverance and commitment of two young school dropouts who were able to make their mark and overcome life's challenges.

The Gérard-Bossé foundation is an organization that helps our youth and our environment. Congratulations to the recipients, and congratulations to the administrators for their dedication to the leaders of tomorrow.

Religious Freedom

[David Anderson, Conservative, Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK]

Mr. Speaker, around the world we are seeing increasing violations of religious freedom and belief. This is not acceptable. Religious freedom is a basic human right that should exist everywhere in the world. It is a freedom that speaks to human dignity, to rights of free speech, and the right to association.

Just over a week ago, I participated in an international meeting of parliamentarians from 18 countries around the world. We gathered at the Nobel Peace Centre, in Oslo, to create the International Panel of Parliamentarians for Freedom of Religion or Belief, and to jointly sign its charter. Our goal is to work together to give all people the right to believe as they choose, to change that belief if they choose, and to practice those beliefs.

It is incumbent on all of us to do everything we can to ensure that these vital freedoms are accurately understood and adequately protected. We are inviting parliamentarians from all parties, all regions, and all religions to join with us in this fight for a basic human right.

Premier of Prince Edward Island

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the Liberal caucus to congratulate my friend Robert Ghiz on eight successful years as Premier of Prince Edward Island and twelve years as leader of the Liberal Party of Prince Edward Island.

Elected as Liberal Party leader at the age of 29, Robert took the party from having one seat in the legislative assembly to forming a forceful opposition and then winning two straight majority governments. Robert has served the people of Prince Edward Island with distinction and has made a tremendous impact on the lives of islanders, including major improvements to education with the introduction of kindergarten as a full-day program, which is something I know he is incredibly proud of.

On behalf of the Liberal caucus, I want to thank Robert Ghiz for his years of dedication and service. I want to wish his wife Kate, and children, Julia, Emma, and Jack, all the best for whatever the future holds for them.

Cheremosh Ukrainian Dance Company

[Peter Goldring, Conservative, Edmonton East, AB]

Mr. Speaker, since 1969, the Cheremosh Ukrainian Dance Company, founded by Chester and Luba Kuc, has enthralled thousands in Canada and around the world.

Featuring traditional dance and song from a kaleidoscope of colourful folkloric-costumed youth, the creatively choreograph productions of Cheremosh have toured to great international delight and acclaim.

A fantastic 16-foot portrait of historical Ukrainian regional dance costumes was displayed in a place of great honour in the Alberta legislature, in 2010.

Cheremosh, this year, also celebrates 30 years of hosting the annual Cheremosh Festival, in which my daughters participated in their youth. Today, my granddaughters are beginning their own tour of cultural dance fantasia as part of the Cheremosh School of Dance.

I congratulate Cheremosh. May its delightful extravaganza of colourful folkloric dance continue to challenge our youth to great pride of accomplishment in artistic presentations of today, tomorrow and always.

Mnohaya lita.

The People of Gatineau

[Françoise Boivin, NDP, Gatineau, QC]

Mr. Speaker, last week, two legion branches in the riding of Gatineau, La Baie and Norris, commemorated Remembrance Day at the cenotaphs on Gréber Boulevard and Maloney Boulevard. We must never forget those who gave their lives to protect our values and beliefs.

Young students at the Greater Gatineau school also commemorated this date; these students decided to share their optimism by sending a message of peace even as as the world goes through some challenging times. I had the honour of participating in these activities, and I am proud of the values of the people of Gatineau, who embody these values at home and in conflict zones around the world.

The people of Gatineau also value compassion and generosity. The holiday season is fast approaching, and far too many families are struggling and will not be able to have the celebrations they would like. I invite Anthony, Johanne and all the people of Gatineau to join me in donating time or money, or in being there for others in need, so that everyone can have peace of mind and celebrate Christmas with dignity.

I am sure that the people of Gatineau will answer my call and that they will come through once again this year.

National Diabetes Awareness Month

[Ryan Leef, Conservative, Yukon, YT]

Mr. Speaker, today, I am pleased to recognize a delegation representing the Canadian Diabetes Association, which is on Parliament Hill. It is here to mark November as Diabetes Awareness Month.

More than 9 million Canadians live with diabetes or pre-diabetes—that is one in every four Canadians.

Diabetes will cost Canada's economy and health care system an estimated $14 billion, rising to $16 billion by 2020.

The impact of untreated or improperly managed diabetes is astounding. It causes 30% of stokes, 40% of heart attacks, 50% of kidney failure requiring dialysis, 70% of all non-traumatic amputations and is the major cause of blindness and eye disease.

However, there is good news. Diabetes can be prevented. With proper diabetes management, people living with it can lead healthy lives.

The CDA invites all Canadians to take the diabetes CANRISK test which through a few questions can help them find out if they are at greater risk of having pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes.

Taxation

[John Barlow, Conservative, Macleod, AB]

Mr. Speaker, thanks to our new family tax credit and the enhanced universal child care benefit, 100% of Canadian families with children in Macleod and across Canada will be better off. This means working, stay-at-home and single parents, one earner and two earner families, and, indeed, all families with children will have more money in their pockets.

Every parent will now receive almost $2,000 per child, but the Liberal leader committed to reversing our tax relief so he could spend the hard-earned money of Canadian families the way he wants.

Despite a Liberal leader who has positioned himself against middle-class families, I am proud our government is giving money back to each family with children in Canada.

Anti-Bullying Week

[Jinny Sims, NDP, Newton—North Delta, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge that this week is Anti-Bullying Week. Anti-Bullying Week was started by Bill Belsey, a teacher in Alberta. We thank Bill for his advocacy, and all teachers for doing their part to make our schools inclusive and safe places for all children to learn and thrive.

One in three Canadian kids report being bullied. In a study looking at 35 countries, Canada had the ninth worst rate of bullying among 13 year olds.

Among adults in the workplace, the numbers are remarkably similar.

We are not doing enough and government inaction on a national bullying prevention strategy only exasperates the situation. We cannot be bystanders. As adults and parliamentarians, we owe our youth more and we owe each other more.

We, as parliamentarians, are not exempt. We, too, must examine our behaviour and pledge again this week, and all weeks, our continued commitment to do better, to be better and to expect better.

Russia

[Ed Komarnicki, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

Mr. Speaker, our Prime Minister made headlines around the world on Saturday when he told Mr. Putin that he had to “get out of Ukraine”. I was incredibly proud of the moral clarity our Prime Minister showed that day, but nobody should have been surprised by it, least of all Putin himself.

Our government has been a leader in the global response to Russia's aggression in Ukraine and has been one of Ukraine's strongest supporters.

Canada's position on the Ukraine crisis has been clear from the very beginning. We will never recognize the illegal Russian occupation of any Ukrainian territory.

Mental Health

[Irene Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Mr. Speaker, on November 3, a tragic fire broke out in an apartment building in my riding of London—Fanshawe. One resident died.

This building was an unregulated, unlicensed and illegal home for people with mental illnesses. Many of the people who live in places like this are discharged hospital patients with nowhere to go. They cannot afford most housing and are unable to access accommodation run by the Canadian Mental Health Association because the wait lists are up to three years long. As a result, vulnerable people are forced to choose between homelessness and unregulated, potentially dangerous homes.

This is the direct result of a lack of adequate resources to treat people suffering with mental health challenges. We need to work together with all levels of government, organizations such as the CMHA, and community treatment initiatives to provide real support for people with mental illness.

We can and we must prevent suffering and tragic deaths, like that of my constituent

Taxation

[Peter Braid, Conservative, Kitchener—Waterloo, ON]

Mr. Speaker, our Conservative government is giving more money to parents, but the Liberals and the NDP want to use that money to create more bureaucracy. We are cutting taxes, but the Liberal leader wants to raise taxes.

Our plan helps 100% of families with kids, but the NDP plan would help only 10% of families. The average benefit of our family tax cut is over $1,100, and every family will now receive nearly $2,000 per child.

The moms and dads should have that money because they know what is best for their children. They do not need their government telling them how to spend it.

National Diabetes Awareness Month

[Yvonne Jones, Liberal, Labrador, NL]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today in recognition of National Diabetes Awareness Month, which takes place in November.

Diabetes is a debilitating disease and it affects millions of Canadians. At the current rate, it is estimated that 3.9 million Canadians will be living with diabetes by 2019. I encourage all Canadians to see their doctor and have a risk assessment done, because if caught early enough, there are ways to reverse it.

I ask my colleagues today to join me in extending our thanks to all of those people who work hard as volunteers to bring awareness to diabetes and to help raise money to fight this terrible disease in Canada.

Taxation

[Jeff Watson, Conservative, Essex, ON]

Mr. Speaker, 100% of Canadian families with children under 18 in Essex and across Canada will have more money in their pockets because of our family tax cut and enhanced universal child care benefit. That includes two-income families, one-income families and single parents. The vast majority of benefits will go to low and middle-income families.

Tax professionals agree with our family prosperity plan. H&R Block's Caroline Battista says “it's a great thing for families”.

Parents do not want the Liberal leader spending their hard-earned dollars on risky Liberal spending sprees, and we side with parents. Parents work hard and we want parents to prosper. Parents know best how to spend their money for their kids, and we are proud to be standing up for those parents.

Ethics

[Chris Charlton, NDP, Hamilton Mountain, ON]

Mr. Speaker, on May 2, 2013, Brian Mulroney was the headliner at a fundraiser to pay Dean Del Mastro's legal fees. With a setup like that, Conservatives should have known that something bad was going on.

The Minister of Employment and Social Development was there. The cost was a mere $600 a plate, and was conveniently located just a few blocks from Bay Street.

We now learn that this entire fundraiser was conducted by Del Mastro's riding association, meaning that rather than have to pay out the full price, the guest list of senators, developers, executives and Conservative caucus members actually got a taxpayer refund for their contributions to the “Free Dean” campaign. The Conservatives should now have to explain why of the $39,000 raised, almost $24,000 will be reimbursed by taxpayers.

When it comes to sticking it to the little guy, there is no one better than those Bay Street Conservatives and their old friend, Brian Mulroney.

Russia

[Cheryl Gallant, Conservative, Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Canada continues to strongly condemn Russia's illegal occupation of Ukraine and its ongoing aggressive military provocation.

Together with our NATO allies, we recognize the need to enhance security and stability in central and eastern Europe. This is why Canada is contributing to Operation Reassurance.

The Royal Canadian Air Force has deployed CF-18 fighter jets to take part in both training missions and Baltic air policing. Last week, two CF-18 Hornets based in Lithuania were conducting a routine training mission when they were re-tasked to respond to a non-NATO aircraft off the Baltic coast.

Our fighter jets intercepted and visually identified a Russian Federation air force plane being used as an electronic warfare and surveillance platform near Lithuanian air space. This interception demonstrates the capability of our armed forces to contribute to NATO missions.

I would like to thank our pilots and crews for their efforts.

Finally, I believe our Prime Minister said it best when he told Vladimir Putin “You need to get out of Ukraine”.

The Environment

[David Christopherson, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the final communiqué from the G20 meetings this weekend calls for strong and effective action to address climate change. That of course was not the message carried by our Prime Minister, even in the face of a historic U.S.-China deal to tackle emissions.

Impatience is growing with the government's inaction. On Friday, the Calgary Herald said, “the federal government should begin to create a realistic framework and targets for its own [emissions].”

Will the Conservatives now finally take real action to reduce emissions?

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, we have always said that for any international agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, all major economies and emitters must do their part.

With the United States and China accounting for 39% of global greenhouse gas emissions, we are very encouraged to see they are taking action. As Canada only emits less than 2% of global greenhouse gas emissions, we will continue to play our part by reducing emissions at home and work with our partners across the globe to establish an international agreement that includes all emitters.

[David Christopherson, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, let us be clear. This is the government that has stalled real action on climate change for years, arguing that we need to harmonize our oil and gas emissions reduction with the U.S. Now that the U.S. is acting, the government is not willing to lift a finger to make meaningful changes to reduce emissions in Canada. This is not leadership.

When will the Conservatives stop stalling and start taking real, effective action to cut emissions?

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, again, we are committed to protecting the environment while growing Canada's economy. We are a founding member and major financial contributor to an international coalition taking real action on black carbon and methane. We have contributed $1.2 billion to developing countries so they can reduce emissions. This of course is over 100 projects in over 60 developing countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. That is real action.

[Nycole Turmel, NDP, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Mr. Speaker, now that China and the United States have signed an agreement, the Conservative Party has become an even bigger climate change pariah.

Its number one excuse for failing to act just evaporated now that the two major emitters have committed to doing their part. The Liberals and the Conservatives have betrayed Canadians' interests by refusing to take action. This must stop.

When will the government come up with a real plan to tackle climate change?

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, we are very proud of our record. Again, we are a founding member of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition. We have made significant investments to help support green energy and infrastructure. We have one of the cleanest systems in the world. We have already regulated the transportation and electricity sectors and are planning to reduce HFCs, one of the fastest growing greenhouse gas emissions in the world. Thanks to these actions, carbon emissions will go down by close to 130 megatonnes from what they would have been under the Liberals, and without introducing a carbon tax by the NDP.

The Budget

[Nycole Turmel, NDP, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the economic update that was presented last week to a bunch of Toronto bankers is a sham.

If the minister ends up balancing his budget, it will not be because he is a good manager. It will be because he filched money from the unemployed and cut provincial health transfers.

Will the Minister of Finance admit that his tax cuts for the wealthy are funded by money that was meant for the unemployed and the sick?

[Joe Oliver, Conservative, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, the NDP refuses to face the facts. Our plan will benefit all families with children, which is to say, all four million families. The vast majority of these benefits will flow to low- and middle-income families; 25% of those families earn less than $30,000. That is our plan.

[Nycole Turmel, NDP, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Mr. Speaker, what we know is that the sick and the unemployed are paying the price for the Conservatives' bad budget choices.

Our veterans are receiving fewer and fewer services, Canadians' safety is at risk because of cuts to food inspection and transportation safety, and parents are still waiting for the day care spaces that the Conservatives promised them.

Does the minister understand that what he calls a budget surplus is really just another way of saying service cuts?