House of Commons Hansard #150 of the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was safety.
Megan Leslie NDP Halifax, NS
Mr. Speaker, domestic violence is not just an issue for workplaces. Half of the women and girls in Canada will face physical or sexual violence in their lifetimes. More needs to be done to support women who are trying to escape this violence—especially, first nation, Inuit, and Metis women, who face violence at catastrophic rates.
Will the government work with the NDP to create an action plan to end violence against women?
Kellie Leitch ConservativeMinister of Labour and Minister of Status of Women
Mr. Speaker, violence against women and girls is simply unacceptable. This government is on the record of stating that again and again.
However, I do find it strikingly odd. The opposition opposes every action we have taken to combat criminals and support victims. I guess I just find it passing strange that it is asking for this today, when this government has moved forward on a number of initiatives, whether that be safe streets, whether that be a victim's bill of rights. It votes against them all. I encourage the opposition to get on board, and let us make sure we are eliminating violence against women and girls
Larry Maguire Conservative Brandon—Souris, MB
Mr. Speaker, the opposition's record on infrastructure is abysmal. The Liberals did nothing in 13 years in power. The NDP has voted against every penny that we have ever put forward. That is quite a contrast from our Conservative government, which has put the building Canada plan in place and enhanced the gas tax, doubled it, indexed it, and made it permanent.
Would the Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs inform the House on the important announcement made by the Prime Minister this week?
Denis Lebel ConservativeMinister of Infrastructure
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for his work and support on this important matter.
Last week, the Prime Minister announced a significant investment in federal infrastructure. This investment adds up to our government's unprecedented and historic investment to ensure Canada's future economic growth for years to come—investments in national historic sites, Canadian Armed Forces facilities, research centres, small-craft harbours, and the Canadian Coast Guard, just to name a few—and we have done that while balancing the budget.
Randall Garrison NDP Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC
Mr. Speaker, in the wake of the Liberal sponsorship scandal, the Office of the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner was created to give principled whistleblowers a place to go.
Conservatives promised it would stop corruption and abuse.
Now, La Presse is reporting that serious allegations of abuse within the RCMP are contained in a report from the integrity commissioner.
Instead of fighting the publication of this potentially explosive report in court, what action is Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness taking, now that he is aware of these serious allegations of wrongdoing in the RCMP?
Steven Blaney ConservativeMinister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Mr. Speaker, as the member knows, this issue is in front of the courts, so it would be inappropriate to comment.
However, this being said, we expect the RCMP to conduct itself with the highest standards.
While I am on my feet, I want to thank every police officer protecting us in this very House and across the country, making this country safe.
Rosane Doré Lefebvre NDP Alfred-Pellan, QC
Mr. Speaker, what is troubling is that the government is trying to deny its responsibility when it comes to the integrity of the RCMP.
This government is spending its time trying to suppress the integrity commissioner's report instead of addressing the reprehensible behaviour within the RCMP.
What is the point of having a Public Sector Integrity Commissioner if he cannot look into shortcomings in our federal police service? The minister really needs to take responsibility and stop hiding behind the courts.
What will he do to ensure integrity within the RCMP?
Steven Blaney ConservativeMinister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Mr. Speaker, as I just said, this issue is in front of the courts, but we expect the RCMP to conduct itself with professionalism and integrity.
I am pleased to confirm that as of Monday, we expect to have some important developments. If members will recall, we wanted to improve accountability within the RCMP and put in place some new institutions. Now it is time to take action. Stay tuned, as they say, for news is coming.
Pierre Nantel NDP Longueuil—Pierre-Boucher, QC
Mr. Speaker, in addition to stacking the board of directors with party cronies, the Conservatives have their hands all over CBC programming.
Outraged by a documentary that revealed the many connections between the Conservatives and ideological movements, the Prime Minister's press secretary, Carl Vallée, contacted the information director repeatedly to complain. According to the Prime Minister's Office, the documentary confirmed what it calls its “worst suspicions” about the public broadcaster.
Can the Prime Minister tell Canadians at home what those “worst suspicions” are?
Rick Dykstra ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage
Mr. Speaker, the CBC ombudsman is charged with representing the interests of the public by investigating and addressing complaints such as the one referred to by the member. In this particular case, the ombudsman said the rules of journalistic standards and practices for the presentation of opinion documentaries had not been correctly applied in the airing of La droite religieuse au Canada.
Pierre Nantel NDP Longueuil—Pierre-Boucher, QC
Mr. Speaker, that is the art of quoting very selectively. Like any other citizen, Mr. Vallée can complain about content from our public broadcaster.
However, when the Prime Minister's press secretary threatens an information director, that is another story. When the director took a stand, Carl Vallée wrote back that they would “have to consider other options”, and that is a threat. When those threats come from the office that controls the purse strings, that is a really big problem.
How can the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages possibly think that Canadians believe her when she says that the cuts to CBC were not ideological? Come on.
Rick Dykstra ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage
Mr. Speaker, I am not sure if the member actually heard the response to the question. There is a lot of smoke and mirrors there, a lot of accusations, but we will take the word of the ombudsman on this matter. He ruled on this and indicated that in terms of the rule on presentation of opinion documentaries, it had not been correctly applied in the airing.
Do not listen to anyone else; listen to the ombudsman. He made the ruling and said it was incorrect.
Judy Sgro Liberal York West, ON
Mr. Speaker, for most Canadians, there is nothing better than spending time with family after a long day at work, but for many in the GTA, getting home now takes much longer. Traffic gridlock in Toronto costs the economy up to $11 billion and adds frustration and expense to the work day. Worse yet, it robs people of quality time with their families.
Rather than running ads and re-announcing and re-announcing old promises, as the government does, when is the government going to take things seriously and start investing in the serious infrastructure and transit needs of all of our cities?
Denis Lebel ConservativeMinister of Infrastructure
Mr. Speaker, our government has invested more in public transit infrastructure than any other government in this country's history.
Transit corporations across the country recognize that, and we have done it with due regard for jurisdiction. Cities and provinces are responsible for public transit.
The Liberals want to centralize everything in Ottawa, and so does the NDP. We are doing our job with due regard for our partners' jurisdiction.
Adam Vaughan Liberal Trinity—Spadina, ON
Mr. Speaker, federal infrastructure spending has dropped by 90% this year. The money that the government has promised municipalities will not arrive until after the next election. Many of the roads and bridges were built by the federal government almost 50 years ago, and it is those roads and bridges that are now falling apart and need help now. Calgary's infrastructure deficit is $3.2 billion. Clearly, sending Conservatives to the House of Commons has not helped that city.
If the federal government knows that its own roads and bridges need repair, why does it not know that cities in this country need the same help? Why will it not fund those cities now? Why will it not step up to the plate now? Why is it missing in action?
Denis Lebel ConservativeMinister of Infrastructure
Mr. Speaker, that is completely wrong.
Last summer everybody in the country was saying that there was too much work on the streets and the roads of this country, that we have problems with the traffic because there was work on the roads everywhere.
That is completely false. The money is already available. For the gas tax fund, we are working with all provinces and territories. We have already invested more than $600 million this year for projects, and there is a lot to come.
That is completely wrong. Our government is delivering—
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
Mr. Speaker, this week, 65,000 Canadians petitioned Port Metro Vancouver, calling on this government to halt shipments of endangered whale products through Canadian territory.
We have learned that Canada is being used as a conduit to ship prohibited meat from the most endangered whales on Earth, from Iceland to Japan, despite Canada's international commitment not to trade in those species.
Will the minister stop this facilitation of trade in the most endangered species on earth?
Ed Fast ConservativeMinister of International Trade
Mr. Speaker, I would be glad to take that member's question under advisement. Our government has been very clear that we stand against the trade in endangered species.
However, it also allows me to point out the hypocrisy of the NDP. This is a party that stands in this House, day after day, attacking our efforts to expand legitimate trade around the world, which would open up new markets for Canadians, open up new markets for Canadian investors.
On this side of the aisle, we stand up for Canadians, we stand up for Canadian companies, and we stand up for Canada's interest.
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
Mr. Speaker, the minister has the power to stop this practice, if he wants to, just as the U.S. has done.
Port Metro Vancouver says:
...the shipment of meat from a [convention]-listed [endangered] species is inconsistent with Canada's trade priorities and is something...[we do] not support.
In February, the Minister of Foreign Affairs called on world governments to “protect our threatened species” and act “before it's too late”.
Will the Minister of International Trade heed the Port of Vancouver and his own colleague's advice before it is too late?
Ed Fast ConservativeMinister of International Trade
Mr. Speaker, I can assure the member that all trade that takes place within Canada and with its trading partners takes place in accordance with Canadian law, as well as international law. We stand up for the protection of endangered species.
I will go right back to the NDP members. They are talking about trade. This is the party that is ideologically opposed to trade, that has opposed almost every single trade initiative that this government has brought forward.
It is time for the NDP members to stand up in this House and understand and articulate a clear support for Canada's trade and investment objectives all around the world.
Corneliu Chisu Conservative Pickering—Scarborough East, ON
Mr. Speaker, recent events in eastern Europe have plunged what was a calm and stable region into a state of heightened tension. The military aggression from the Putin regime towards Ukraine is completely unacceptable.
This is why Canada has already made a significant contribution to Operation Reassurance. This includes CF-18 fighter jets for Baltic air policing, the deployment of HMCS Toronto in the Mediterranean, and numerous training exercises by our armed forces personnel being conducted in Poland.
Could the Minister of National Defence please update the House on our government's action to support the people of Ukraine?
Rob Nicholson ConservativeMinister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, I can confirm to this House that the first shipment of surplus military equipment to Ukraine has left via C-17 strategic airlifter this morning from CFB Trenton.
This shipment includes 3,000 pairs of boots, 2,400 coats, 3,500 pairs of pants, and 3,300 pairs of gloves, and it responds directly to a request for assistance from the Ukrainian government.
We will also provide a military field hospital, as well as equipment such as tactical communications systems, tactical medical kits, and both night and thermal vision goggles.
Make no mistake; we stand in solidarity with the Ukrainian people. Once again, we are sending the message to Putin that he needs to get out of Ukraine.
Stéphane Dion Liberal Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC
Mr. Speaker, the collection and acquisitions at Library and Archives Canada are lamentable: 98,000 boxes of documents are collecting dust and $15 million has been wasted on digitization that still has not materialized. Such are the horrors uncovered by the Auditor General of Canada.
The minister blames the previous administration, but then how did that administration remain in place for four years if it was so incompetent? Also, if things were going so poorly, then why cut $9.6 million or 10% of LAC's budget?
Rick Dykstra ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage
Mr. Speaker, Library and Archives Canada plays an important role in preserving the documentation and heritage of our country.
The issues identified in the report did occur under the previous leadership at Library and Archives. Our government has put new leadership in place. Mr. Guy Berthiaume and LAC is now developing a more robust digital strategy for implementation, which begins in the spring of 2015.
