Debates of Nov. 7th, 2014

World Diabetes Day

[Réjean Genest, NDP, Shefford, QC]

Mr. Speaker, November 14 is World Diabetes Day. The 2014 campaign slogan is “Diabetes: protect our future”. This day is recognized worldwide because diabetes does not discriminate. It affects people from all walks of life and of all ages.

According to the International Diabetes Federation's Diabetes Atlas, there are currently 382 million people living with diabetes, and that number will rise to 592 million by 2035. A further 316 million people are currently at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes, with the number expected to increase to almost 500 million within a generation.

Leading medical experts call this a 21st century pandemic. November 14 is an important day for everyone. Let us take control of our health now.

Human Rights in Iran

[Deepak Obhrai, Conservative, Calgary East, AB]

Mr. Speaker, last week I welcomed Dr. Ahmed Shaheed, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Horrific human rights abuses are ongoing in Iran, and the situation continues to worsen. Dr. Shaheed's research reveals that the number of persons executed in Iran has risen since 2004. A recent case that has shocked and saddened the international community was the execution of 26-year-old Reyhaneh Jabbari, who was hung without due process or a fair trial for killing a man attempting to sexually assault her.

Unfortunately, it is not surprising that basic rights, including freedom of expression, freedom of religion, and access to a fair trial continue to be ignored by the Iranian government.

Later this month Canada will co-sponsor the UN resolution on Iran. This resolution is significant to the promotion of human rights.

World Prematurity Day

[Irwin Cotler, Liberal, Mount Royal, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on the eve of World Prematurity Day, November 17, recognized internationally to promote awareness and related action on prematurity, as it is a leading cause of infant mortality and morbidity, affecting many families who are forever changed following a premature birth.

This day has special meaning to me, as I have two grandchildren who were born premature: Lavi, a 25-weeker who struggled valiantly but sadly passed away, and Ella, a 32-weeker and now a healthy five-month-old.

Today we salute these amazing little fighters who beat the odds. We salute their families and the team of neonatologists and NICU nurses who truly work miracles every day. Words can never describe the gratitude families have for them.

On this day, major monuments around the world and in Canada are lit up in purple, in tribute and recognition. It would be most inspiring and would bring strength to all those affected to see Parliament Hill lit up in purple by lighting up the Peace Tower on this day.

Remembrance Day

[Patricia Davidson, Conservative, Sarnia—Lambton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to speak today in order to pay my respects to those who have served our nation with courage and valour.

During World War II, my father served for four years in the European theatre. He was able to return home. It was not so for my uncle, who served courageously as a rear gunner before being lost in battle somewhere over the North Sea.

In recent times I was touched by the loss of two young men from Sarnia—Lambton, Private Will Cushley and Corporal Brent Poland, both of whom lost their lives serving in Afghanistan while fighting for the same freedoms that we enjoy each and every day here in Canada. Their brave service encompasses the incredible character of the men and women of the Canadian Forces, who serve this nation with pride in perilous times.

Many Canadians have similar stories of heroic returns and tragic losses. This November 11, I ask all Canadians to remember the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice, as well as all servicemen and women who are on active duty and cannot be here with their families.

Riding of Pontiac

[Mathieu Ravignat, NDP, Pontiac, QC]

Mr. Speaker, on October 21, I had the honour of attending the presentation of decorations for bravery ceremony.

In my riding, on April 19, 2011, Rachel Lacroix Pilon, Janelle Lanoix and Josée Pilotte managed to prevent an armed man from harming any students at the Saint-Laurent elementary school in Buckingham. They showed tremendous restraint and remarkably quick thinking. As a parent of young children, I want to personally thank them for doing everything in their power to keep the children safe.

I would also like to take a moment to highlight two important anniversaries. The Shawville Lions Club will soon celebrate its 65th anniversary. That organization's generosity has helped improve the lives of many vulnerable people and families.

The Gracefield Co-op is also celebrating its 75th anniversary. I wish to congratulate the co-operative, which contributes to Gracefield's local economy and employs people in the region.

Thank you to everyone for making the riding of Pontiac such a wonderful place to live.

Hunting, Trapping, and Fishing Heritage

[Rick Norlock, Conservative, Northumberland—Quinte West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to stand before the House today to acknowledge of the passing of my private member's bill, Bill C-501, which formally designates the third Saturday in September as Canada's national hunting, trapping and fishing heritage day.

Hunting, trapping, and fishing heritage runs deep within my family ancestry and was an integral part of the lives of the first Canadian settlers and aboriginal peoples. Bill C-501 received all-party support in the House and the Senate, as well as the support of every provincial and regional outdoor federation across the country.

I would like to thank Senator Lynn Beyak and all those who helped get the bill passed and invite all members to join me in celebration on the next third Saturday in September and each year thereafter to mark this important part of our nation's history.

Decorations for Bravery

[James Bezan, Conservative, Selkirk—Interlake, MB]

Mr. Speaker, on October 21, I was honoured to attend the Governor General's decorations for bravery ceremony.

The decorations for bravery recognize people who risk their lives to try to save or protect another. The Medal of Bravery is awarded by the Governor General to Canadians in recognition of acts of bravery in hazardous circumstances. I was proud to watch Mr. Clayton Joseph Beck of St. Andrews, along with fellow Manitoban Mark Alexander, being presented the Medals of Bravery for their selfless and valiant efforts.

On August 29, 2011, Clayton Beck and Mark Alexander rescued a man from a burning house. Despite the intense heat and smoke, both men made their way inside the house to locate the unconscious victim and bring him safely outside. These men ran into a dangerous situation, putting their own lives at risk to save someone else. The actions of Clayton Beck and Mark Alexander are something that all Manitobans and Canadians alike can be proud of.

On behalf of the constituents of Selkirk—Interlake and indeed all Canadians, I thank them for their bravery and congratulate them on their deserving distinction of honour on being awarded the Medal of Bravery.

Remembrance Day

[François Pilon, NDP, Laval—Les Îles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity that has been given to me today in the House to acknowledge the courage and bravery of our veterans.

As Remembrance Day approaches this Tuesday, November 11, my thoughts go out to the members of the two legions in my riding of Laval—Les Îles: Branch 216 in Laval West and Branch 251 in Chomedey. Your service and the sacrifices made by you and your families will forever be etched in our collective memory. We are eternally grateful for what you did.

I also want to commend those who made the ultimate sacrifice to defend our country and our rights. I honour their memory today. I am thinking especially of Corporal Nathan Cirillo and Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent, who died tragically, as we all know.

To you, your families and your friends, I say: lest we forget.

Taxation

[David Yurdiga, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

Mr. Speaker, thanks to our new family tax cut plan, 100% of families with children in Fort McMurray—Athabasca and across Canada will be better off. That includes working, stay-at-home, and single parents and one-earner and two-earner families. Indeed, all families with children will have more money in their pockets.

Every parent will now receive up to $1,920 per child, but the Liberal leader committed to reversing our tax relief so that he could spend their money the way he wants. Despite a Liberal leader who has positioned himself against middle-class families, I am proud that our government is giving money back to each and every family with children in Canada.

Victims of Sexual Assault

[Laurin Liu, NDP, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, this week the Fédération des femmes du Québec, in co-operation with Je suis indestructible, an initiative that gives a voice to sexual assault victims, launched the hashtag #AgressionNonDénoncée on Twitter.

I was moved by the courageous stories of victims of sexual assault. Thank you for helping us understand the silence of women who have been raped, and for refusing to trivialize their experiences and blaming them.

According to the YWCA, only 33 cases of sexual assault out of 1,000 are reported to police. Too many victims live in shame and in silence. The fact of the matter is that when it comes to consent, there are no 50 shades of grey. There are no blurred lines.

In Quebec, the helpline for sexual assault victims is 1-888-933-9007. There are other resources that provide support, such as the Regroupement québécois des CALACS.

There are many of us fighting the same fight. We must work together because together we will change the world.

Remembrance Day Service at Osgoode Hall

[Erin O'Toole, Conservative, Durham, ON]

Mr. Speaker, as we enter Remembrance week, in a year that marks the 100th anniversary of the start of World War I, it is important for Canadians to remember the 61,000 Canadians who gave their lives in the Great War.

Next Monday I will be at Osgoode Hall for a special event at which the Law Society of Upper Canada posthumously calls to the bar 58 law students who left promising young careers to serve in the Great War and gave their lives for Canada. They join 113 lawyers who gave their lives in the Great War and are marked on the Osgoode Hall Great War memorial. That includes Sam Sharpe, the member of Parliament for Uxbridge, who was my predecessor 100 years ago. He fought at Vimy Ridge and died as a result of his service in the Great War.

I thank the Law Society of Upper Canada, in particular lawyer Patrick Shea for his vision on this event, and I thank the Highlanders' foundation for making it possible.

Beechville Bicentennial

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the community of Beechville on its 200th anniversary. Beechville, which was originally called Beech Hill, was first settled in 1814 by men and women of African descent. The settlers were refugees from the United States who escaped slavery during the War of 1812. Despite facing many hardships, the residents of Beechville have endured and have made significant contributions to the culture of Nova Scotia.

I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Beechville's proud history.

Taxation

[Bob Dechert, Conservative, Mississauga—Erindale, ON]

Mr. Speaker, under our family tax cut, all families with children will receive more money in their pockets, which is where it belongs. The vast majority will go to low- and middle-income families. A single parent with two children earning $30,000 would receive over $1,500 per year, a single parent with two kids making $50,000 would see over $900 in relief and benefits, and a two-income family with kids whose mom earns $48,000 and dad earns $12,000 would receive a benefit of over $1,100. That is a whopping 36% of their federal tax bill.

Our plan also includes increasing the universal child care benefit so that parents will soon receive a benefit of $160 per month for each child under six.

Our Conservative government is fulfilling its promise to balance the federal budget, and we are proud to be in a position to fulfill our promise to help Canadian families balance theirs.

Harassment in the Workplace

[Françoise Boivin, NDP, Gatineau, QC]

Mr. Speaker, every Canadian, no matter where they work, has the right to work in a safe, harassment-free environment. Parliament Hill is no exception.

Everyone needs to feel safe: employees, elected officials, interns, journalists, everyone.

We need to work together and stop thinking about ourselves and what is best for our party, so that we can create a safe, respectful environment. This is not the time for grand gestures; we need results.

We need to look at our policies and our daily actions to determine how we can prevent harassment and put support and crisis-management mechanisms in place.

We need to do a better job of supporting victims and ensuring that they have the resources they need to face the physical and psychological consequences of harassment and to overcome their ordeal.

I just want to tell the victims of harassment, and there are far too many in Canada, that we are with you. You are not alone.

Employment

[Roxanne James, Conservative, Scarborough Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, today Statistics Canada announced an increase of 43,100 jobs in October, with the majority being full time. This is further proof that our government's plan for jobs and growth is working.

While monthly employment numbers can be volatile, what is more important is the long-term trend. Our government has had the best job creation record in the G7, and we are leading in economic growth. In fact, we have created almost 20% more jobs than our closest competitor. Since the depth of the global recession, over 1.2 million net new jobs have been created.

While we are focused on creating jobs, the Liberals have the same old Liberal high-tax, high-spending agenda that will threaten jobs and set working families back. At the same time, the NDP continues to push risky high-tax schemes, such as a $20 billion carbon tax that would hurt Canada's economy and kill Canadian jobs.

Our Conservative government is focused on what matters to Canada: growing the economy and helping create jobs.

Taxation

[Nycole Turmel, NDP, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives have taken another page from Mike Harris's shady playbook by deciding to deliver their economic update outside Parliament to an audience of financial elites rather than to the people's representatives. Not surprisingly, they are completely out of touch with what families need.

Instead of offering tax cuts that will not benefit 85% of Canadians, why is the government not using next week's economic update to keep its promise to create 125,000 day care spaces?

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

Mr. Speaker, after today's announcement on job creation, our record is over 1.2 million net new jobs created since the end of the recession. This is the best job creation record in the G7. In fact, we have created almost 20% more jobs than our closest competitor. Our economic action plan is working. While the opposition continues to focus on high-tax and high-spend schemes, our government will continue to focus on job creation and economic growth.

[Nycole Turmel, NDP, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the truth is that there are 200,000 more unemployed people than there were at the beginning of the recession. The truth is that the Conservatives have nothing to offer families and workers in the manufacturing sector. I, for one, am not surprised that the Minister of Finance is seeking refuge among Toronto bankers.

Why is the government not using next week's economic update to help families and workers?

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

Mr. Speaker, our Conservative government is focused on what matters to Canadians: economic growth and job creation. While monthly employment numbers can be volatile, more important is the long-term trend. Since coming into office, our government has had the best job creation record in the G7 and we are leading in economic growth. Since the depth of the global recession, over 1.2 million net new jobs have been created. However, Canada is not immune to the economic challenges beyond our borders. That is why our Conservative government is working hard to help create jobs and economic growth.

[Nycole Turmel, NDP, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Finance again plans to ignore Parliament and instead deliver the fall economic update at an exclusive $80 a plate event in Toronto, but his bad choices do not end there. We already know he wants to spend billions on an income-splitting scheme for the wealthy that will give no benefit whatsoever to more than 85% of Canadians. Does he honestly believe that ordinary working families would be impressed with his Bay Street budget?

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

Mr. Speaker, actually every single Canadian family with children under age 18 will benefit from our announcements that we announced a week ago. Under our family tax cuts, close to two million families will benefit, as well as the increase to the universal child care benefit. Another really good feature of what we have announced is the expansion of the amount that individuals and families can claim for child care expenses. We have increased that by $1,000 in every one of the categories.

We know that the NDP and Liberals would end income-splitting for families. We know they would take away the universal child care benefit. Families can only count on this government to keep money in their pockets.

Child Care

[Chris Charlton, NDP, Hamilton Mountain, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am sure the Minister of Finance is looking forward to heading back to hang out with his Bay Street buddies next week, but Canadian families are wondering when they will get their update on what happened to the Conservatives' promise to create 125,000 new child care spaces. Last I checked, the counter is still at zero and the costs of child care continue to climb.

How many new child care spaces will be announced in the fall economic update?

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

Mr. Speaker, here is the difference between our plan for helping families with child care and the NDP's. The NDP plan is a $5 billion plan that would help less than 10% of Canadian families. What we believe is that families need choice. Not every single family chooses a nine-to-five formalized daycare option. Many families either use a private daycare or they might use other family members to help. We believe families should have the choice and the decision-making power. That is why the universal child care benefit is being increased and expanded to let families make the choice.

[Chris Charlton, NDP, Hamilton Mountain, ON]

Mr. Speaker, perhaps the Conservatives' income-splitting scheme will go over better in a room full of bankers than it does with regular Canadians, or economists, or former finance ministers, or pretty much anyone else who has looked at the details. They are all opposed.

By contrast, New Democrats have put forward a plan for quality universal child care at $15 a day or less. Why will the minister not adopt our plan to create one million spaces and reverse the trend of climbing costs that put the squeeze on so many families?

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

Mr. Speaker, we know that the NDP and the Liberals voted against our plan to expand the universal child care benefit. We know that given the opportunity, they would claw it back. They would take it away to fund their $5 billion huge scheme that would only help less than 10% of Canadian families.

We have seen their true colours. We have seen how they have voted and what they have said about the universal child care benefit. Canadians know that if the NDP had the chance it would take away that benefit that families depend on.