Debates of Nov. 7th, 2014

Taxation

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

Mr. Speaker, Public Service Pension Investments, which is responsible for addressing the post-2000 pension obligations of the federal government, operates at arm's length from the federal government. It is not part of the federal public administration, and its business and affairs are managed by a board of directors.

We expect investments to be done in compliance with laws, rules, and regulations in a transparent manner while keeping in mind the best interests of the clients. Our government has a strong record of combatting international tax evasion, including a number of new measures dedicated to offshore compliance activities.

National Defence

[John McKay, Liberal, Scarborough—Guildwood, ON]

Mr. Speaker, according to DND's annual report, the department missed 60 of its performance targets. That is six, zero. Half of all government procurements are hopelessly behind schedule, and that record is actually worse than the year before. In addition, it hit only 9% of the air force reserve recruitment targets.

No CEO would be allowed to continue her job if they missed 60 performance targets. Are these performance targets, or are they just casual suggestions?

[James Bezan, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to remind the Liberals that after their decade of darkness, we actually undertook some major, ambitious defence procurement projects right here in Canada. This includes modernization of our Halifax-class frigates. We bought four C-17 Globemaster III heavy-lift aircraft, 17 C-130J Herc aircraft, 15 Chinook helicopters, and Arctic offshore patrol vessels in our national shipbuilding procurement strategy, not to mention the Leopard 2 tanks we bought.

[John McKay, Liberal, Scarborough—Guildwood, ON]

Mr. Speaker, 60 missed performance targets is gross incompetence, but it is completely inexcusable to not support our troops.

By the government's own numbers, over a third of the Canadian Armed Forces, that is one third, say that they do not believe the government will look after them if they are injured.

Why is the government so indifferent to the needs of those who put their lives on the line for us?

[James Bezan, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, we have increased the overall budget of National Defence to $19.5 billion this year. There is a new $900 million in the supplemental estimates this year, and the year is not even finished yet. That is going into new procurement. It is going into more capital projects, and it is in investments in health care services that are needed so desperately by those brave men and women who serve us in uniform.

Access to Information

[Charmaine Borg, NDP, Terrebonne—Blainville, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the action plan on open government that the Conservatives launched this week has some major flaws. They do not even have the nerve to modernize the Access to Information Act, which is the key to an open government. What is more, when the NDP introduced a bill to reform the Access to Information Act, the Conservatives voted against it.

How can the government claim to be more open when it refuses to modernize 32-year-old legislation?

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

Mr. Speaker, this government has done more than any other government to make sure that Canadians have access to information, particularly through the Access to Information Act. Last year we saw an increase of about 27% in inquiries being answered.

We are making sure that there are investments to make sure that Canadians get access. We are doing more on open data to make sure they can get more information on hundreds of thousands of different data sets. This government is getting it done for Canadians.

[Charmaine Borg, NDP, Terrebonne—Blainville, QC]

Mr. Speaker, it is ridiculous for the Conservatives to say they are modernizing the administration of the act, when it is the law itself that needs to be fixed. The experts they consulted, and even their own advisory panel, told them so. The Information Commissioner has said that fixing the law is the one element that needed to be in the plan, and it is not there.

I would like to give the minister a chance for real openness. Why does he refuse to fix the Access to Information Act?

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

Mr. Speaker, in 2012-13, our government set a number of records for openness and transparency. The government processed a record number of access to information requests, released a record number of materials, and had an improved turnaround time. Our government processed nearly 54,000 access to information requests, which represents, as I said, a 27% increase over the previous year, or over 10,000 more requests. The government also released a record number of materials. Over six million pages were released, an increase of nearly two million.

The numbers do not lie. Canadians are getting more and better access than ever, thanks to this government.

Citizenship and Immigration

[Jinny Sims, NDP, Newton—North Delta, BC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration proved to be scandalously unaware of the impact that his cuts are having on real people. Every single case that the NDP mentioned yesterday was real. They are refugees who were refused health care in Canada because of a decision by the Conservative government.

The minister has decided to turn his back on basic Canadian values. Why is he also refusing to take responsibility for the real harm caused by his decision?

[Costas Menegakis, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, the member knows very well that the premise of her question is untrue. Refugees do indeed get health care in our system.

However, what is shameful is that the NDP and the Liberals support failed asylum seekers who receive health care benefits that are better than those provided to hard-working Canadian families.

Canadian taxpayers deserve better than that, and we urge the opposition parties to stop supporting failed asylum claimants and stand up for hard-working Canadians.

[Wayne Marston, NDP, Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the minister is clearly feeling the heat, and so now the Conservatives want to have it both ways. They want to claim credit for restoring health care for pregnant women and children, and at the same time the minister is appealing the court decision in order to take that away again. The minister claims that he is only trying to save taxpayers' dollars, by launching expensive lawsuits on a policy that the court has already ruled unconstitutional.

Why does the minister not end this embarrassing charade?

[Costas Menegakis, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, the NDP record with respect to refugee and refugee protection is indeed shameful. Do not take my word for it; let us look at its voting record.

On the Balanced Refugee Reform Act, did the NDP vote for it? No. On protecting Canada's immigration system act, did the NDP vote for it? No. On the Faster Removal of Foreign Criminals Act, did the NDP vote for it? No. On standing up for Canadian citizenship, did the NDP vote for it? No.

The NDP's record is shameful.

Veterans Affairs

[Gary Schellenberger, Conservative, Perth—Wellington, ON]

Mr. Speaker, next week Remembrance Day ceremonies will take place from coast to coast to coast. Canadians are honoured and proud to commemorate our fallen heroes.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs share with this House the exceptional role of our brave men and women in this time of conflict?

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

Mr. Speaker, first I would like to thank the member for Perth—Wellington for his question and his work on this file.

Veterans and still-serving members of the Armed Forces have helped to build this great country. In times of conflict, they have kept us safe and free. This November 11, we will honour and thank our veterans and remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

Lest we forget.

CBC/Radio-Canada

[Pierre Nantel, NDP, Longueuil—Pierre-Boucher, QC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, a group of citizens from Gatineau and Ottawa came together to denounce the draconian cuts to Radio-Canada/CBC. They launched the group “CBC, I Care!”. They are calling for the board of directors to resign if it is not willing to fight for the CBC.

Since the Mulroney government, CBC's budgets have been cut by 40%. It is now impossible for the crown corporation to fulfill its mandate.

The government has already cut the fat, the muscle and the bone. Now there are cuts to service, news, archives and even wardrobe. Is it the CBC's soul that the minister is after?

[Rick Dykstra, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, another question period, another comment from the member that is completely untrue and unfounded. These changes are being made by the CBC as a result of declining advertising revenue and declining viewership in very key demographics.

Our government provides significant taxpayers' funds to the CBC. I believe it can and should operate within its existing budget.

[Pierre Nantel, NDP, Longueuil—Pierre-Boucher, QC]

Mr. Speaker, while the Minister of Canadian Heritage and her parliamentary secretary keep falsely claiming that the CBC is separate from the government, the CBC has a board of directors stuffed with big bosses of mining and oil companies and former directors of the Conservative Party. They are not there for their knowledge of arts and culture. It is like the minister-of-no-concern, pardon me, the Minister of Infrastructure, who said yesterday that he enjoys culture as much as he enjoys pizza.

Why does this government have such contempt for culture?

[Rick Dykstra, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, the member is fully and well aware that the appointments made at CBC are done through a very strict and regimented process. He should not be standing up here on a daily basis categorically insulting the people who are working on behalf of Canada at the CBC and doing the work that they are doing.

I would also add that it is up to the CBC to provide programming that Canadians actually want and to fulfill its mandate under the Broadcasting Act. They are working on it, they are doing it, and the member should quit insulting them.

Champlain Bridge

[Tyrone Benskin, NDP, Jeanne-Le Ber, QC]

Mr. Speaker, instead of closing the debate on changing the name of the Champlain Bridge, the Minister of Infrastructure told us that he was working hard on finding a new name.

The minister has missed the point. The problem is not the name “Maurice Richard”. The problem is that he is trying to get rid of the current name.

When will the minister tackle the real issues with the Champlain Bridge: the transparency of the bidding process, communication with Quebec and elected officials, and especially the toll?

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the goods news is that a new bridge will be built over the St. Lawrence, and this will create 30,000 jobs for the greater Montreal area.

We are staying the course and moving the project forward, including with respect to the terms of the toll. The tendering process is progressing and there are three consortiums in the running.

[Djaouida Sellah, NDP, Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC]

Mr. Speaker, La Presse is reporting that the toll on the Champlain Bridge continues to poison relations with the Quebec government and the cities in the metropolitan area.

The Quebec government is saying that a toll cannot be charged and people who do not pay cannot be prosecuted unless it is involved.

Instead of creating fake debates about the name of the Champlain Bridge, will the minister finally sit down with the Quebec government and elected officials in greater Montreal to talk about the real issues, such as the toll?

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we are staying the course and moving the project forward, including with respect to the terms of the toll. The tendering process is progressing and there are three consortiums in the running.

That is very good news for the greater Montreal area.

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Infrastructure has backed down. This is good, but does he understand his mistake?

The Champlain Bridge will not be called the Maurice Richard Bridge, but who knows what brilliant idea the minister will come up with next? After all, there is another Richard, Henri Richard, the valiant Pocket Rocket who won the Stanley Cup more times than any other player in history.

Can the minister promise that he will not suggest naming the Champlain Bridge the “Henri Richard Bridge” or the “Pocket Rocket Bridge”?

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, no decision has been made about a name for this new bridge in Montreal.