Debates of Nov. 19th, 2014

Infrastructure

[Claude Gravelle, NDP, Nickel Belt, ON]

Mr. Speaker, despite their claims, the Conservatives do not support the Ring of Fire. Their actions speak louder than their words.

The minister has flatly refused to invest in the infrastructure required to unlock the jobs and economic potential of our region, saying that we must fight for scraps of a fund the Conservatives already slashed by billions of dollars.

Why do the Conservatives continue to nickel and dime northern Ontarians and play the blame game with the province?

Where is the federal leadership this project so badly needs?

[Greg Rickford, Conservative, Minister of Natural Resources and Minister for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario]

It is right here, Mr. Speaker. We met with Mattawa communities just a couple of days ago. We remain very optimistic that once the province has submitted its list of priorities for infrastructure projects, which should include infrastructure projects to support the Ring of Fire, we will be there.

[Adam Vaughan, Liberal, Trinity—Spadina, ON]

Mr. Speaker, a bridge collapses in Montreal, and the government offers a tax break. Public housing built in Toronto by the federal government starts to fall apart, and it cuts the program. In Calgary, the city gets flooded, roads are washed away, and the government says, “Wait until the budget is balanced before we help”. Vancouver needs transit, Halifax needs a water system, Iqaluit needs housing, and the list is getting longer and long.

When will the government finally answer the calls of cities and towns across the country? When will it fund the programs now? When will it deliver the money now? Why will it not stand up for Canada's cities and towns?

[Denis Lebel, Conservative, Minister of Infrastructure]

Mr. Speaker, I remember the years I was mayor. We had no money from the Liberal government.

Under the leadership of the Prime Minister, we have tripled the investment in infrastructure. We will continue to do so.

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the western premiers have called on the federal government to be a partner in building the critical infrastructure they need for getting their products to markets. The government is spending billions on extra tax breaks for the rich by way of income-splitting, but refuses to invest in the roads, rail, and bridges that will make our export markets stronger and help all Canadians and the economy.

Do the Conservatives not realize that their 90% cut to the build Canada fund will have a devastating effect out west?

[Denis Lebel, Conservative, Minister of Infrastructure]

Mr. Speaker, the preamble to this question is totally false. On the gas tax fund, all municipalities in the country already have the money available, which was announced all across the country and municipalities know it. We will continue to support the development of our economy in supporting the development of infrastructure all across the country in core support and to help the economy of this country.

Regional Economic Development

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, here is what is at stake for Canada in the Ring of Fire: 5,500 jobs; $25 billion in economic activity for our financial services, wholesale, retail, utilities, infrastructure, and manufacturing sectors; full participation of first nation communities. Ontario has brought $1 billion to the table. An independent development corporation has been set up. Corporate investors are on stand-by.

Time is of the essence. Will the Prime Minister meet with Ontario's premier by the end of this year, do his job, and support this project of national significance?

[Greg Rickford, Conservative, Minister of Natural Resources and Minister for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario]

Mr. Speaker, Ontario has not committed a red cent and has set up a development corporation that is not supported by first nation communities, the private sector, and it is not a policy option for this government in its current form. We have made significant investments in the Ring of Fire and will continue to demonstrate our commitment by working with first nation communities and the provincial government should it identify the Ring of Fire as an actual priority.

National Defence

[Robert Chisholm, NDP, Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS]

Mr. Speaker, because of Conservative mismanagement, our navy now faces a seven-year period with no re-supply capacity. The minister's original plan has clearly fallen through. His promises that the navy's capabilities would be unaffected are in doubt. The minister will soon have before him a number of options to deal with this service gap. Could he share with us how much the Conservative government's mismanagement will cost Canadians?

[Rob Nicholson, Conservative, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, I will share this with the hon. member. Every cent that we have committed to the military and to the navy has been opposed by the NDP, which the member would of course know. But our national shipbuilding project represents a $36.6 billion investment that will contribute to our surface fleet for decades. The joint supply ships with replace the navy's current Protecteur-class vessels and, of course, we are considering options that will ensure that our navy can be re-supplied in the medium term.

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

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives are incapable of following through on their military procurement plan. It is failure after failure.

As a result of the Conservatives' mismanagement, the Canadian navy now faces a seven-year period with no re-supply capacity. The new ships will not arrive until 2021.

How much will the government's failure to renew its supply capacity on time cost Canadians?

[Rob Nicholson, Conservative, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, I want to be clear again. Every cent that has ever been committed to our military has consistently been opposed by the NDP. They do not want us to spend anything on our armed forces and our navy. We have undergone the Halifax class modernization program to give our frigates new equipment, sensors, and weapons. These will have world-class, multi-role capabilities. The program is on-track, on schedule, and we are considering options that will ensure that our ships are re-supplied in the medium term.

Veterans

[Sylvain Chicoine, NDP, Châteauguay—Saint-Constant, QC]

Mr. Speaker, for the first time in months, the Minister of Veterans Affairs will be going to Quebec City to meet with groups of former soldiers.

However, those who have criticized the new veterans charter will be excluded from the discussions. Furthermore, not a single disabled veteran is expected to attend this meeting.

Does the Minister of Veterans Affairs realize that so many veterans are angry and are boycotting his photo ops because of his failure to listen and his belligerent behaviour?

[Parm Gill, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, this week we look forward to meeting with representatives from Canada's major veterans' groups. Our government is proud to say that we have had the privilege of meeting with thousands of veterans, including the very people mentioned by the member opposite.

[Peter Stoffer, NDP, Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS]

Mr. Speaker, I want to publicly thank the Department of Veterans Affairs for tweaking the benefit package of the late Corporal Nathan Cirillo so that his family will receive all of the benefits of a regular force person, as he was a reservist. The problem is that many other reservists who become injured or die in the line of duty will not get the same benefits as those of a regular force person who is injured or dies in the line of service. The major veterans' groups, all veterans' advocacy groups, the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs, and the ombudsman have asked repeatedly that reservists who are injured or die in the line of duty get the same benefits as regular force members.

When will the government honour those recommendations and do the right thing for the reservists of our country?

[Parm Gill, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, our government has directed Veterans Affairs and National Defence officials to provide the complete benefits and programs available to regular force members to the dependent family members of those two remarkable Canadian veterans.

Our government is working to fix the discrepancy for the other reservists killed in the line of duty as well.

National Defence

[Stella Ambler, Conservative, Mississauga South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Canada continues to make a significant contribution to the coalition campaign against ISIL. I understand that our planes have flown at least 80 sorties and, along with our coalition allies, have significantly degraded the military capacity of this terrorist group.

Can the Minister of National Defence please update the House as to the latest activities of the Canadian Armed Forces as a part of Operation Impact?

[Rob Nicholson, Conservative, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, in addition to Monday's successful air strike on a warehouse being used to manufacture improvised explosives, late last night two CF-18 Hornets, in a pre-planned mission, dropped four 2,000-pound bombs on an ISIL fighting position in the desert near Kirkuk, Iraq. These significant strikes have denied the enemy the use of this position and has further extended the security buffer between ISIL and Iraqi security forces.

As always, I congratulate the members of our armed forces for another successful mission. Needless to say, Canada will continue to do its part in the fight against terrorism.

Access to Information

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservative government's attack on the Access to Information Act continues. First, it denied the Information Commissioner the order-making tools she requires to keep the government honest. Now it is cutting the resources she needs to handle investigations. Her budget has been cut by 9%, while complaints against government obstruction are up a whopping 31% just this year. She has said that without the adequate funding she will not be able to do her job. Maybe that is what the minister wants. Could he clarify if he is going to continue undermining her work or going to give her the resources she needs so that she can keep the government on the straight and narrow?

[Dan Albas, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board]

Mr. Speaker, the independent commissioners of Parliament are responsible for managing the funds in their offices, and we expect this to be done in a way that is fair to the taxpayer. If agents of Parliament believe they need extra funding, they should respect the process and make a formal request through a Treasury Board submission. The Treasury Board gives fair consideration to all submissions for additional funding in the supplementary estimates. Currently, the President of the Treasury Board has not received a formal request for additional funds from the Information Commissioner.

[Alexandre Boulerice, NDP, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives cut the budget of the Information Commissioner as a way of muzzling her. As of last year she had already spent 99.8% of her budget, and there are more and more requests. They are piling up.

The Conservatives probably like hiding the truth, but the public has a right to obtain information without having to wait an eternity.

Will the minister keep his word and respect the wishes of Parliament? Will he stop stifling the Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada and will he give the office the tools it needs to serve the public?

[Dan Albas, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board]

Mr. Speaker, commissioners are independent of Parliament and are responsible for managing their own offices' budgets. We expect them to do so in a way that is fair to taxpayers. If parliamentary agencies feel that they need more money, they should respect the process and make a formal request to the Treasury Board.

The Treasury Board gives fair consideration to all submissions for additional funding in the supplementary estimates, and currently the President of the Treasury Board has not received a formal request for additional funds for the Information Commissioner.

The government will not negotiate a request—

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

The hon. member for Saint-Lambert.

Citizenship and Immigration

[Sadia Groguhé, NDP, Saint-Lambert, QC]

Mr. Speaker, some 100 social groups are condemning the Conservatives' underhanded attack on refugee protection claimants.

Denying refugees social assistance based on their immigration status is like denying a lifeline to the most vulnerable members of our society . That is particularly true for those who do not immediately obtain a work visa.

Is the minister not ashamed of using a budget bill to backstab the most vulnerable members of our society?

[Chris Alexander, Conservative, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, no, we are not ashamed of exercising our responsibility to taxpayers, of providing quality health care to refugees and of appealing the court's ruling. That ruling means that people whose refugee protection claims have been found to be fraudulent could receive better health care than Canadians receive. That would be irresponsible, and this government will continue to protect refugees and taxpayers.