House of Commons Hansard #161 of the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was parks.
Nycole Turmel NDP Hull—Aylmer, QC
Mr. Speaker, while the Conservatives are trying to save money at the expense of our soldiers and veterans, many of them are struggling with post-traumatic stress and some are even putting an end to their own lives.
Yesterday, Corporal Scott Smith committed suicide in Gagetown. He is the 16th member of the Canadian Forces to take his own life this year.
What will it take for the Conservatives to wake up and give our soldiers and veterans the support they need?
James Bezan ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence
As I said, Mr. Speaker, this is a tragedy, and our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Corporal Scott Smith. This is an investigation that will be reported back in time.
I would like to remind the House that our government has increased the annual mental health budget for the Canadian military by over 20%. We have added additional mental health workers. There are over 415 now. Most recently, we have provided additional support to the Canadian Institute for Military and Veterans Research for further mental health studies.
Nycole Turmel NDP Hull—Aylmer, QC
Mr. Speaker, the inquest into Ashley Smith's death painted a troubling picture, yet Conservatives have taken a year to even respond.
Instead of listening to the jury, the government is rejecting key recommendations. Conservatives will not even agree to reduce solitary confinement for the mentally ill.
Instead of recycling old announcements, will the minister acknowledge a problem, listen to the inquest, and put an end to the use of solitary confinement for the mentally ill?
Roxanne James ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Mr. Speaker, what happened in this case was in fact a tragedy, and our thoughts remain with the Smith family in this instance.
To answer the opposition's question, the government has actually already implemented over half of the recommendations in the coroner's report. We stand very proud on that particular record.
In fact, earlier this year, our government launched a mental health action plan for federal offenders that includes action on timely assessment, effective management, sound intervention, ongoing training, and robust government oversight.
Nycole Turmel NDP Hull—Aylmer, QC
Mr. Speaker, her parents have waited a year for nothing, a year for the same old thing. Nevertheless, the jury was clear:
That there should be an absolute prohibition on the practice of placing female inmates in conditions of long-term segregation, clinical seclusion, isolation, or observation. Long-term should be defined as any period in excess of 15 days.
The jury is not alone. Leading human rights experts, such as the Honourable Louise Arbour, are calling on the government to put an end to its dependence on solitary confinement.
Why does the minister insist on defending the indefensible and why is he refusing to put an end to this abusive practice?
Roxanne James ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Mr. Speaker, administrative segregation is a common practice that is used in many western countries, not just here in Canada.
I would like to speak again about the mental health action plan for federal offenders.
It is a five-pillar strategy that was introduced earlier this year. It actually builds on our strong record in the Conservative government of ensuring faster mental health assessment, which is critical, as well as improved staff training and extended psychological counselling.
Sean Casey Liberal Charlottetown, PE
Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives prevented the Department of Veterans Affairs from spending more than $1 billion that had been promised to veterans, and now we have learned that they plan on spending $1.7 billion on a new plane.
National Defence spends its entire budget, but the Conservatives make sure that the Department of Veterans Affairs cannot do the same.
Why do the Conservatives always put veterans last?
James Bezan ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, unlike the Liberals, who oversaw and neglected our armed forces through the decade of darkness, and the NDP, which would prefer to never purchase any military equipment, we support our military and give it the equipment it actually needs.
Under the previous Liberal government, our soldiers and Disaster Assistance Response Team would have to rely on other countries for strategic airlift or use SALIS Antonovs to get around the world. When we were first elected, we fixed this very embarrassing situation by purchasing four new C-17 Globemaster strategic airlift planes, 17 new C-130J Hercules tactical airlift planes, and 15 new Chinook heavy-lift helicopters.
Sean Casey Liberal Charlottetown, PE
Mr. Speaker, Conservative priorities include a new $1.7 billion airplane for the military while our veterans suffer the effects of Conservative gutting of front-line programs which provided financial, disability, health, and transition support. Just yesterday, we lost yet another soldier to suicide.
The Minister of Veterans Affairs continues to pathetically defend this abuse of our veterans. Veterans do not respect him. Canadians do not trust him, and this entire country is disgusted by his rough treatment of our brave veterans.
When will he resign?
James Bezan ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, as I said, our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Corporal Scott Smith, and this tragedy is being investigated.
I would also like to remind the Liberals that their math is not very good. We actually bought four C-17 heavy-lift planes for $1.7 billion. They should get their math straight.
We will continue to make the investments in both mental health research and mental health support for Canadian soldiers and veterans. We will collaborate with academia and private sector to ensure that we utilize all of the resources available to us, so we can get the best possible results in mental health for our military.
Wayne Easter Liberal Malpeque, PE
Mr. Speaker, the treatment of our veterans by Conservatives is a national disgrace. The minister has clawed back over $1 billion from veterans. He has gutted the department, firing 1,000 front-line staff who delivered critical health services. He told those who suffered from PTSD to take a number. He closed nine specialized service centres. Canadians are appalled by this shameful Conservative neglect of veterans.
The government has a sacred obligation to veterans, and it failed. When will the Prime Minister stop defending and fire this minister?
Parm Gill ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs
Mr. Speaker, our government makes absolutely no apologies for eliminating big government bureaucracy and backroom offices, and making a substantial investment when it comes to investing in front-line services and resources.
Here are a couple of examples. We eliminated nearly 100 positions after we stopped requiring veterans to submit receipts for expenses like snow clearing, yard maintenance, and home cleaning.
We will continue to eliminate red tape to serve Canada's veterans for the benefits and services that they deserve.
Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
Mr. Speaker, while the Minister of the Environment talks about the importance of traditional knowledge at the climate change conference in Peru, here at home the chief scientist for the High Arctic Research Station is not even allowed to discuss traditional knowledge. Conservatives even went so far as to delete the very words “traditional knowledge” from their new high Arctic research act.
When the minister gets back from misleading the world, she can maybe explain why she is happy to use traditional knowledge to cover up for her inaction in fighting climate change, but prevents government scientists who are working in the Arctic itself from actually applying traditional knowledge in our science to fight climate change here at home.
Colin Carrie ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of the Environment
Mr. Speaker, that is ridiculous. The minister is hugely supportive of using traditional knowledge.
To update the member about leadership, yesterday, in Lima, the Minister of the Environment met with Ban Ki-moon, who expressed his appreciation for Canada's efforts to address climate change and that the country would continue supporting the process toward securing a meaningful universal climate agreement in Paris in 2015. He also thanked Canada for its recent contribution to the green climate fund.
That is leadership, and that is without a job-killing carbon tax the NDP would like to put in.
Murray Rankin NDP Victoria, BC
Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives have established that they will not show leadership. They have established that the NDP voted against bad Conservative budgets that failed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. What they have not established is that they are even trying to meet emission targets. Copenhagen targets simply cannot be met without oil and gas regulations, the single fastest-growing source of emissions.
For the sake of the planet, will they reconsider the Prime Minister's short-sighted announcement not to regulate the oil and gas sector?
Colin Carrie ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of the Environment
Again, Mr. Speaker, to be clear, the Prime Minister said that Canada would not take unilateral action and impose taxes and monetary penalties on the oil and gas sector.
What is very clear, though, is that the NDP would take unilateral action and put our Canadian companies at a competitive disadvantage. As well, what is very clear is that the opposition would put in a job-killing carbon tax. What is also clear is that it would gamble with 275,000 Canadian jobs. We are not going to do that. We are going to support hard-working Canadian families.
Philip Toone NDP Gaspésie—Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC
Mr. Speaker, last week, the Secretary-General of the UN told the Conservative government that it needed to do more about climate change, but the Conservatives responded by announcing that they would not regulate emissions from oil companies. Other sectors will have to do more to make up for excesses in the oil and gas industries.
Why do the Conservatives refuse to demand that these industries do their part in combatting climate change?
Colin Carrie ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of the Environment
Again, Mr. Speaker, that is ridiculous. Just yesterday, Ban Ki-moon thanked Canada for its contribution.
This is a North American issue that needs a North American solution. We always said that we were going to work collaboratively with the Obama administration on reducing greenhouse gas emissions for the oil and gas sector. We are the first government in Canadian history to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while supporting economic growth. We are going to do it without an NDP and Liberal job-killing carbon tax, and we are going to do it without taking unilateral action and imposing taxes and monetary penalties on the oil and gas sector.
Rosane Doré Lefebvre NDP Alfred-Pellan, QC
Mr. Speaker, most residents of Laval will lose their home mail delivery service in the coming months.
Like thousands of Canadians, the people of Alfred-Pellan refuse to let their mail delivery disappear for ideological reasons. The Conservative government is well aware that seniors and people with reduced mobility are the primary victims of these measures.
Why then is the Conservative government supporting these cuts and doing nothing to restore postal services in Laval?
Jeff Watson ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, I remind the member that two-thirds of Canadians currently do not receive door-to-door delivery at their homes.
Canada Post has taken action with respect to a five-point plan. It is precisely because it is delivering far fewer letters, 1.2 billion fewer in 2013 than in 2006. It posted three years of major multimillion-dollar losses as well. It has a legislative responsibility to be financially self-sustaining. Taxpayers expect it to do that, and we do as well.
Hélène LeBlanc NDP LaSalle—Émard, QC
Mr. Speaker, a year ago, the Conservatives decided to put an end to home mail delivery and raise the price of stamps just before Christmas.
They turned their backs on seniors and people with reduced mobility and told them to fend for themselves since there are private businesses that can provide that service for $30 a month. What a mess.
One year after the rollout of this irrational reform began, have the Conservatives heard the public outcry? Will they restore home mail delivery services?
Jeff Watson ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, that is the second consecutive question sponsored by CUPW.
I will remind the member that Canada Post is an independent, arm's-length crown corporation. It has taken action under its five-point plan to address three consecutive years of multimillion-dollar losses due to the significant decline in individually stamped letter mail, 1.2 billion fewer pieces in 2013 than in 2006. That is common to postal agencies around the world because of e-substitution. It has to operate on a financially self-sustaining basis. Taxpayers expect it to do that, and so do we.
Anne-Marie Day NDP Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC
Mr. Speaker, when the Conservatives were elected, they promised anyone who would listen a flexible federalism where the provinces would be respected. For Quebec, the blind cuts to employment insurance have resulted in an increase in welfare claims. The unilateral reform of health transfers represents a net loss of $36 billion. Once again, the provinces have to foot the bill.
Is that what the Conservatives meant by flexible federalism?
Intergovernmental AffairsOral Questions
Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière Québec
Conservative
Jacques Gourde ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister
Mr. Speaker, our government works closely with all the provinces, including Quebec. We transferred record amounts to the provinces because of the fiscal imbalance. This year, $19.6 billion will be transferred to Quebec. We are going to continue to support all of the provinces that need help.
Peggy Nash NDP Parkdale—High Park, ON
Mr. Speaker, the new Union-Pearson express will cost over $27 each way and is using dirty diesel trains. That is a pretty sorry excuse for public transit.
Gridlock is costing our city $6 billion a year. Infrastructure throughout the province is in desperate need of repair, but instead of working together in the interests of Ontarians, Conservatives and Liberals are waging a partisan war of words.
Why are the needs of Canadians taking a back seat to the Conservatives' childish battles with the provinces?