Debates of Nov. 21st, 2014

Taxation

[Candice Bergen, Conservative, Minister of State (Social Development)]

Mr. Speaker, we are on track to balance the budget. We are also fulfilling our commitment to Canadian families. We have expanded and increased the universal child care benefit. That means that the $100-a-month cheque for every child under six years old is expanded to $160, and we are also giving it to families with children over six-years old.

We know what the Liberals think. They think that if we give families money, they will waste it. The Liberals and the NDP do not trust Canadian families. Canadian families should not trust the NDP or the Liberals.

International Development

[Mark Eyking, Liberal, Sydney—Victoria, NS]

Mr. Speaker, in 2010, the Conservative government announced it would freeze foreign aid for five years to balance its budget. Then in 2012, further spending cuts were announced, padding its surplus. We have now learned that the government has also deliberately underspent Canada's aid budget for poor countries by $125.9 million. Development assistance for people who need it the most is being slashed. These countries overseas have some of the highest infant mortality rates. They need our help.

Why are the Conservatives allowing this to happen to these poor people in the world who need our help?

[Christian Paradis, Conservative, Minister of International Development and Minister for La Francophonie]

Mr. Speaker, as I explained earlier, we spent in total $240 million more than was planned because of unprecedented crises in in Philippines, Syria, South Sudan, and the Central African Republic, which all happened at the same time. In these kinds of cases, instead of looking at one planned expenditure in a column of the budget like the opposition does, we just go on a pragmatic and effective basis to help the people most in need.

Under this government, Canada now finally pays what it pledges and fulfills all of its international commitments.

Youth

[Mike Sullivan, NDP, York South—Weston, ON]

Mr. Speaker, at a time when youth unemployment is high and skilled trades are in demand, apprenticeships provide an important opportunity for young workers to get a good job. The hammerheads program connects underprivileged youth with training and jobs.

In Budget 2013, the Conservatives promised to support the use of apprentices in infrastructure projects receiving federal funding, but eight months later, young Canadians are still waiting.

When can we expect the minister to finally deliver on Jim Flaherty's promise to connect infrastructure spending to training more young Canadians?

[Candice Bergen, Conservative, Minister of State (Social Development)]

Mr. Speaker, every single measure that we have introduced to encourage and help young people with apprenticeships, the NDP has voted against.

Here is what we have done when it comes to apprenticeships: the Canada summer jobs, our youth employment strategy; the apprenticeship completion grant: the apprenticeship incentive grant; the textbook tax credit; expanded RESPs; and Helmets to Hardhats. That is a huge list of what we have done to help connect young people with available jobs. We agree that it is in skills, it is in trades. In the trades, we have introduced the Canada job grant.

Every one of our initiatives that we introduced, the NDP votes against and criticizes. It is unbelievable getting a question like that from the NDP.

The Environment

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

Mr. Speaker, our government has always said that climate change is a global issue that requires a global response.

The green climate fund should become one of the primary sources of multilateral financial support to help the world adapt to climate change.

Would the Minister of the Environment please update the House on the action we are taking to protect the environment?

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague from Orléans. I know of his practical commitment to the environment where he has planted 52,000 trees.

The green climate fund is expected to encourage significant private sector investments to address climate change. This fund is transparent, accountable, and results based. Yesterday, I was pleased to announce that Canada will be contributing $300 million to the green climate fund. Canada's contribution shows our continued leadership toward establishing a new international climate agreement in Paris in 2015, which will include binding obligations from all emitters.

We are proud of the concrete actions we have taken on climate change, and we have done all of this without imposing a carbon—

[The Deputy Speaker, NDP, Joe Comartin]

Order, please.

The hon. member for Montcalm.

Canada Post

[Manon Perreault, Independent, Montcalm, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the drop in gas prices and the resulting devaluation of the Canadian dollar clearly show that the health of Canada's economy is closely linked to natural resource development and that Canada is unfortunately caught in a trap of circular logic and would do well to diversify its sources of revenue.

That being said, how can the government ignore the proposals that would allow Canada Post to have better revenues and thereby contribute to our collective assets?

[Jeff Watson, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, as the member will know, Canada Post is experiencing a major transformation in its business case, not unlike postal agencies all around the world. People are changing their modes of communication and as a result Canada Post delivered 1.2 billion fewer letters in 2013 than it did in only 2006. The result of this is a financial crisis at Canada Post, one that it is addressing with a five-point plan. I encourage the member to support Canada Post's efforts.

[Manon Perreault, Independent, Montcalm, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we know that private companies are trying to put themselves in a favourable position to take over Canada Post's home delivery service, suggesting that this service, which the public appreciates, can be profitable.

In their efforts to radically transform the government and its public services, the Conservatives will soon be leaving the people of Terrebonne and Mascouche without home mail delivery service.

How is the Conservatives' market transformation of crown corporations going to benefit the general public?

[Jeff Watson, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, I would remind the member that Canada Post is an independent, arm's-length crown corporation with a responsibility to operate in a fiscally sustainable way. It has a five-point plan, taking measures to return the corporation to a sound business case, getting its revenues back in line.

While she is fighting for door-to-door delivery for one-third of Canadians, it is fighting to preserve daily mail for all Canadians.

The Economy

[Manon Perreault, Independent, Montcalm, QC]

Mr. Speaker, in addition to not adequately diversifying our sources of revenue, the government is downloading its financial responsibilities to the provinces. Passing Bill C-10 increased the inmate population in provincial prisons by 11%.

The legacy this Prime Minister's government is leaving us is disastrous: slashed public services, devastated environment, abandoned workers—the list is long.

Do the members of this tired government intend to right the ship before it is too late?

[Andrew Saxton, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, federal support for the provinces has reached historic levels of nearly $65 billion, and will continue to grow every year. Federal support for health, education, and social services has increased by over 56% since we formed government. We have also made changes to ensure that transfers grow in line with the economy, allowing the program to remain affordable and sustainable.

On top of this, I am happy to say that we are on track to balance the budget and to have a surplus next year.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

[Roxanne James, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the 2013 annual report on the RCMP's Use of the Law Enforcement Justification Provisions.

Government Response to Petitions

[Tom Lukiwski, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8) I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to six petitions

Republic of Moldova

[Harold Albrecht, Conservative, Kitchener—Conestoga, ON]

Mr. Speaker, if you seek it, I believe you would find unanimous consent for the following motion. I move:

That this House reiterates Canada's continued support for freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law around the world; reaffirms Canada's support for the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova and the inviolability of its borders; encourages the efforts of the Republic of Moldova to further their advancement of democratic reforms; affirms the Republic of Moldova's sovereign right to determine its own partnerships free of external coercion and pressure; notes the Republic of Moldova's signature of an Association Agreement and Deep and Comprehensive Free trade area with the European Union on June 27, 2014, and the ratification of the agreement on July 2, 2014; and welcomes the Republic of Moldova's choice to pursue the path of European integration.

[The Deputy Speaker, NDP, Joe Comartin]

Does the hon. member have the unanimous consent of the House to move the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Deputy Speaker, NDP, Joe Comartin]

The House has heard the terms of the motion. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

[Some hon. member]

Agreed.

[The Deputy Speaker, NDP, Joe Comartin]

(Motion agreed to)

Agriculture

[Stephen Woodworth, Conservative, Kitchener Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions to present.

The first is a petition from a number of constituents in and around the Kitchener area who are concerned about our foreign aid assistance, protecting small family farmers, and the exchange, preservation and use of seeds by small family farmers.

The petitioners want our aid policies to be consistent with those concerns and to be developed in consultation with small family farmers.

Sex Selection

[Stephen Woodworth, Conservative, Kitchener Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition I have is yet another petition from many people across Canada who call on Parliament to condemn discrimination against girls occurring through sex-selective pregnancy termination.

The petitioners note that 92% of Canadians believe that it should be illegal, and that there are over 200 million girls missing worldwide.

Aboriginal Affairs

[Linda Duncan, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I have four petitions.

The first petition calls on the Government of Canada to launch an independent national inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous women, because of the more than 1,200 cases, and the need for a deeper understanding of the magnitude and the systemic causes of this grievous condition.