House of Commons Hansard #147 of the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was farmers.
Kelly Block ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources
Mr. Speaker, the National Energy Board is a robust, independent regulatory body that conducts a rigorous science- and fact-based review on projects.
As I said, the board must hear from those who are directly affected by a proposed project and may choose to hear from those who have relevant expertise on the matter.
Again, we have been clear: these projects will not proceed if they are not safe for Canadians and not safe for the environment.
Daryl Kramp Conservative Prince Edward—Hastings, ON
Mr. Speaker, Canadians were shocked with the horrific terrorist attacks of late October. As a result of extreme actions by ISIL, Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent and Corporal Nathan Cirillo lost their lives.
Often in the past we have had a tendency to under-react to these very real threats against us. My constituents want to see this Conservative government take strong action to protect them from violent terrorists.
Could the Minister of Public Safety please update the House on what the government is doing in this regard?
Steven Blaney ConservativeMinister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member for Prince Edward—Hastings, who has the important role of chair of the public safety committee.
This very afternoon I will appear in front of the committee to invite that member to support the protection of Canada from terrorists act. We are removing the passports from those terrorists. We are ready to take out dual citizenship when they are convicted of terrorist acts. It is unfortunate that the opposition is opposed to this.
We are sure of one thing. We will move forward with surveillance, arrest, and detention. These are additional measures to keep Canadians safe.
Kirsty Duncan Liberal Etobicoke North, ON
Mr. Speaker, in 2009 the Prime Minister attended the Copenhagen conference and committed Canada to reducing carbon pollution to 17% below 2005 levels. However, the environment commissioner says Canada is on track to miss its Copenhagen targets.
Next week, leaders from around the world will convene in Peru to begin negotiations on the new climate agreement before the summit begins.
I have a simple question for the Minister of the Environment. Will Canada achieve its Copenhagen commitment?
Leona Aglukkaq ConservativeMinister of the Environment
Mr. Speaker, we have always been clear that in any international agreement to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions, all major emitters and economies must do their part. With the U.S. and China accounting for 39% of global greenhouse gas emissions, we are encouraged by the promises they have made to reduce their emissions, as Canada emits less than 2%.
In 2012 Canada's greenhouse gas emissions were roughly 5% lower than 2005 levels, while the economy grew by 10%.
We will continue to play our part by reducing emissions at home and by working with our partners across the globe to establish an international agreement that would include all—
Megan Leslie NDP Halifax, NS
Mr. Speaker, Halifax's Leave Out Violence program, or LOVE program, does incredible work by helping extremely at-risk youth find and keep jobs in our community. There are glowing reports of its success. Everyone at the department recommended a renewal of LOVE's funding, but the minister denied its funding.
How are people supposed to play by the rules when the minister changes the rules at whim, casts aside evidence, and ignores everyone's advice? Why is he denying funding to LOVE, a program with proven success in helping at-risk youth?
Jason Kenney ConservativeMinister of Employment and Social Development and Minister for Multiculturalism
Mr. Speaker, very simply, the proposed grant would have cost approximately $45,000 in tax dollars for every job created.
I know that to the New Democrats there is no limit in the largesse with which they would have government spend tax dollars. We are committed to creating jobs and assisting youth at risk, which is why we invest enormously in skills development in that area. However, there has to be a practical limit. I know the New Democrats would be happy to spend $80,000 or $120,000, but we think that spending $45,000 in tax dollars to create one job is unreasonable and unjustifiable.
Joy Smith Conservative Kildonan—St. Paul, MB
Mr. Speaker, according to reports from the Associated Press, ISIL is actively conscripting children for battle at a young age. A United Nations panel has reported that ISIL “...prioritises children as a vehicle for ensuring long-term loyalty, adherence to their ideology and a cadre of devoted fighters that will see violence as a way of life.”
These are incredibly disturbing reports. Can the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence please update the House on Operation Impact and Canada's ongoing contribution to the fight against ISIL?
James Bezan ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member for Kildonan—St. Paul for her work in ending human trafficking and child warriors.
These are indeed horrific and disturbing reports. It is just further proof that ISIL is a barbaric and murderous organization. The fact is that it has to be stopped. I can confirm that aircraft in the Royal Canadian Air Force have now conducted 109 sorties. Last week, in a pre-planned mission, two CF-18 fighter jets successfully struck ISIL fighting positions in the desert area near Kirkuk. This has significantly assisted the Iraqi security forces that are fighting ISIL on the ground in the region.
Make no mistake, Canada will do its part in this fight against tyranny, oppression—
Raymond Côté NDP Beauport—Limoilou, QC
Mr. Speaker, while toxic dust continues to fall on Limoilou and Beauport Bay, the government insists on allowing ports to evade provincial environmental regulations.
Véronique Lalande, of Initiative citoyenne de vigilance du Port de Québec, is in Ottawa today to share the concerns of the people of Quebec City.
Will the minister finally put an end to her policy of impunity and ensure that environmental laws are obeyed on port property?
Jeff Watson ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, the member will know that the Port of Quebec is an arm's-length organization and as such is responsible for its own operational decisions. However, I can confirm for the member that the Port of Quebec has been working with a number of tenants over the last number of months in order to implement important measures to reduce the contamination of dust emissions.
Louis Plamondon Bloc Bas-Richelieu—Nicolet—Bécancour, QC
Mr. Speaker, with its cuts, the federal government is forcing CBC/Radio-Canada to make unfortunate decisions. We thought that the government would allow the public broadcaster to maintain its freedom with respect to creativity and programming.
However, it seems that the former heritage minister personally intervened to get more time for the monarchy, to support Canadian nation-building, and to ensure that the former leader of the Bloc Québécois would not be hired.
Will the Prime Minister launch an independent review to ensure that the crown corporation's journalistic independence is protected and to build a thick wall between the news staff and politicians?
Rick Dykstra ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage
Mr. Speaker, this government's appointments come after a rigorous, transparent, and merit-based selection process. Our goal is to appoint candidates who are the most competent into each one of those positions. Our government does not interfere with the democratic process and the democratic rights of board members to vote for or donate to any other parties.
I will say it again: the CBC acts independently.
Maria Mourani Independent Ahuntsic, QC
Mr. Speaker, a group of people and social leaders from Ahuntsic are calling for 1,000 affordable housing units to be created in the next 10 years, and rightly so.
Many of the current affordable housing units are in jeopardy because agreements with the federal government are coming to an end. By 2016, 100,000 housing units in Canada will lose their financial support, and that includes many in Ahuntsic.
Does the government understand that it needs to reverse its decision and renew these agreements?
Candice Bergen ConservativeMinister of State (Social Development)
Mr. Speaker, housing agreements have been coming to an end over the last many years and will continue to come to an end over the next 20 years because the mortgages are paid off.
What we have done, though, in order to help these housing units is extend our investment in affordable housing with the provinces. They are free, once these agreements come to an end, to continue support.
We have also created some flexibilities for co-ops.
Nicholas Gazzard, of the Co-Operative Housing Federation, said of our flexibilities:
This additional flexibility allows co-ops to use federal funds to provide rent-geared-to-income assistance for vulnerable low-income households, even after their funding agreements have expired.
Massimo Pacetti Independent Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC
Mr. Speaker, according to the Canadian Intellectual Property Office, Canada has 25 recognized geographic indicators. In the 2004 agreement with the European Union, only 9 of the 25 indicators were protected in the European Union, but we recognized more than 1,400.
Recently, in the free trade agreement, this government recognized an additional 179 European geographic indicators, but we got no additional protection for our products.
Is there a reason why this government is refusing to protect Canadian products internationally?
Ed Fast ConservativeMinister of International Trade
Mr. Speaker, I reject the premise of that question.
As in any other trade negotiation, our trade negotiations with the European Union represented an outcome that represents a Canadian balance. We are very pleased with that balance.
I would remind the member that this is the most comprehensive trade agreement that Canada has ever signed. It is going to add 80,000 new jobs to our economy. It is going to add $12 billion of additional economic activity to our economy.
This is an excellent outcome for Canadians, and I hope he will support it when he has a chance to vote for it in this House.
The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer
I would like to draw to the attention of hon. members the presence in the gallery of Senator Marcela Guerra Castillo, the head of a delegation of representatives from the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies of the United Mexican States participating in the 20th Canada-Mexico Interparliamentary Meeting.
Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON
Mr. Speaker, it is my honour to present, in both official languages, the eighth report on the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights in relation to the study on proposals for a miscellaneous statute law amendment act, 2014.
Megan Leslie NDP Halifax, NS
Mr. Speaker, today is the 25th anniversary of the House's unanimous approval of the resolution to eliminate poverty among Canadian children.
All of the parties worked together to achieve this monumental goal, but a quarter-century later, the work is still unfinished.
Following talks between the parties, I am standing here to ask all members of the House, members from all parties, to recommit to that goal. We owe it to the parliamentarians who came together 25 years ago, and most importantly, we owe it to all Canadian children. Therefore, I would like to seek unanimous consent for the following motion:
I move that the House recognize the 25th anniversay of the unanimous resolution of the House to eliminate poverty among Canadian children by the year 2000, adopted on November 24, 1989, and since that goal has not been achieved, that the House recommit itself to eliminating poverty among Canadian children.
That the House recognize the 25th anniversary of the unanimous resolution of the House to eliminate poverty among Canadian children by the year 2000, adopted on November 24, 1989, and since that goal has not been achieved, the House recommit itself to eliminating poverty among Canadian children.
The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer
Does the hon. member have the unanimous consent of the House to propose this motion?
Justice and Human RightsCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings
Some hon. members
Agreed.
No.