Debates of Dec. 5th, 2014

Rail Transportation

[Jeff Watson, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, it is precisely because of this government's actions that municipalities like Toronto will know what is going through their communities.

There are emergency responders as a result of discussions between the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, and this government. Those discussions produced an important information sharing directive so that emergency planners can in fact do the type of preparedness they need to do and the type emergency exercises they need to do. That did not exist before. Our government brought that in. We are taking care of that important information sharing with municipalities.

[Peggy Nash, NDP, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

Well, there are still no answers for the residents of my city, Mr. Speaker.

The Transportation Safety Board said that rail companies should be required to look at alternate routes to avoid population centres when shipping hazardous goods, but because of the secretive process imposed by the minister, we cannot know if they actually have. Now the mayors of Toronto and Mississauga have called for greater transparency and for action to cut hazardous shipments.

Will the minister work with the mayors to reduce the amount of hazardous goods coming through our city?

[Jeff Watson, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, the minister in fact continues to work with the municipalities on an ongoing basis.

I met with the president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities not that long ago, who praised the working relationship with the minister and Transport Canada, a relationship that has produced an historic information sharing protocol and agreement with municipalities and first responders, a relationship that has produced a number of important actions by the government, and a new task force as well for ongoing work to increase our emergency preparedness response across the country.

We are going to continue to take action. We wish those members would support that.

Holiday Celebrations

[David Wilks, Conservative, Kootenay—Columbia, BC]

On a lighter note, Mr. Speaker, as we approach the holiday season, Canadians across this great land will be celebrating Christmas and a variety of other holidays. This is a special time of year to spend with family and friends, to remember the memories of the past year, and to look forward to what 2015 will bring. For many Canadians this involves many trips to stores for Christmas lights and ornaments to create a festive atmosphere.

Could the President of the Treasury Board please update the House on what the government is doing to spread the holiday cheer?

[Tony Clement, Conservative, President of the Treasury Board]

I would be happy to, Mr. Speaker. Sometimes I feel that in this place festiveness is the only holiday from the traditional airing of grievances.

Of course, we know that Canadians love to decorate around the holiday season. This week I sent out a message to all public servants, letting them know that they should feel free to festoon their workplaces around this holiday season. Whether it is Kwanzaa or Hanukkah or Christmas, indeed I encourage all public servants, and all Canadians, to enjoy the holiday season.

Citizenship and Immigration

[Emmanuel Dubourg, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

Mr. Speaker, five years after the terrible earthquake in Haiti, the Conservatives are lifting the moratorium on deportations to Haiti and Zimbabwe, while today, on the government's website, they are warning Canadians.

This announcement concerns 3,500 people who have integrated into the community and whose children are in school.

Will they be removed from Canada? Will the minister consider their integration efforts? What will he do to ensure that we are honouring our humanitarian duty?

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

Mr. Speaker, temporary suspension of removals of foreign citizens who are subject to deportation are in place for a limited time while their country of origin is going through a major crisis.

Upon a full review by the Canada Border Services Agency, it was determined that the conditions in Haiti and Zimbabwe have improved considerably. Accordingly, the temporary suspension of removals has been lifted.

However, we are putting in place a special process that will allow these individuals who are facing removal to apply for permanent residence in Canada on humanitarian grounds.

Health

[Raymond Côté, NDP, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the fact that the Conservative government has failed to do anything to fight the pollution coming from the Port of Québec is shameful.

Despite large spikes in pollution and alarming reports dating back to the 1980s, the government has done nothing to increase oversight and limit the pollution's harmful effects on Quebec City residents.

Why is the minister deliberately turning a blind eye to the Port of Québec's poor environmental track record?

[Jeff Watson, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, the member may advocate a takeover of ports authorities by the government, but they are in fact independent organizations responsible for running their day-to-day operations.

Notwithstanding that, the minister has been clear that ports authorities, in the conduct of their activities, should be working with local tenants to reduce the red dust pollution. I understand that the Quebec Port Authority has been working with tenants to reduce those dust emissions. The member opposite should be supporting the port authorities' efforts to do that with their tenants.

International Development

[John Weston, Conservative, West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, BC]

Mr. Speaker, as a Canadian and a British Columbian, I am proud of our government's leadership in matters relating to the Pacific Rim, in terms of the economy, last week's announcement on the Korean free trade agreement, and on the humanitarian side.

Last year, in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan, our government took a real leadership role. We pledged a willingness to help, and we sent DART and Red Cross field hospitals to the Philippines. Building on that generosity, our government set up a matching fund, to which donors contributed $85 million to support the victims of that typhoon.

Constituents of mine are troubled to hear that another typhoon is moving in the direction of the Philippines. I am wondering if the minister can update the House on this situation.

[Christian Paradis, Conservative, Minister of International Development and Minister for La Francophonie]

Mr. Speaker, we stand behind our friends in the Philippines and we stand ready to help if needed.

We have already reached out to several humanitarian partners on the ground to gather information on current preparedness measures being implemented and to assess potential response options. We have in place important emergency response tools, such as the emergency disaster assistance fund, to support immediate response activities of the Red Cross movement. As was noted by the Auditor General in his report, this fund allows our partners to respond rapidly when required.

We are ready and will assist if needed from the beginning.

Forestry Industry

[Claude Patry, Bloc, Jonquière—Alma, QC]

Mr. Speaker, this week, north shore mayors sounded the alarm about the terrible plight of Quebec's forestry industry. Today, more plant closures are being announced.

Rather than standing idly by and rejecting measures to develop new products and markets, why does the government not take action to support this important sector of Quebec's economy?

[Christian Paradis, Conservative, Minister of International Development and Minister for La Francophonie]

Mr. Speaker, that is absolutely false. In fact, the opposite is true.

My colleague should stop being so divisive. We implemented measures to develop new markets through the use of new technologies and to see how we can move the forestry industry into the 21st century.

We can achieve great things by working together. By working together with Quebec, New Brunswick and the rest of the Canadian francophonie, we were able to ensure that the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean was elected as the Secretary General of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie. We can be proud of that.

[Claude Patry, Bloc, Jonquière—Alma, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Greenpeace is lobbying for a review of the FSC certification standards.

Nevertheless, Quebec has some of the best forestry practices in the world. The Government of Quebec has been talking to industry clients, particularly in Europe and the United States, to show how exemplary the industry's practices are.

Does the federal government plan on joining the Government of Quebec in supporting Quebec's forestry industry?

[Kelly Block, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, our government sympathizes with those who are affected by the closures that the member has mentioned.

Our government has taken strong action to support the forest sector through unprecedented investments. Unlike the member who repeatedly opposes our government's investments, we will continue to support rural jobs in this important sector of our economy.

Canadian Human Rights Commission

[Brent Rathgeber, Independent, Edmonton—St. Albert, AB]

Mr. Speaker, taxpayers want to know why the acting commissioner of the Canadian Human Rights Commission has been allowed to rack up nearly $760,000 in travel expenses over the last eight years.

David Langtry has been acting chief commissioner since September 2010, and as acting chief has not been required to relocate to Ottawa.

The Minister of Justice has said he will appoint a permanent chief commissioner soon. As this untenable arrangement has been ongoing for over four years, how does the government justify not appointing a permanent commissioner to start protecting taxpayers from exorbitant expense claims?

[Bob Dechert, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice]

Mr. Speaker, any misuse of taxpayer dollars is simply unacceptable. The Canadian Human Rights Commission is an independent, arm's-length agency responsible for managing its own resources. Our expectation is that expense decisions are made with a mind to respecting taxpayer dollars. We are working to fill this position on a permanent basis.

Government Response to Petitions

[Tom Lukiwski, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to 14 petitions.

Impaired Driving

[David Wilks, Conservative, Kootenay—Columbia, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present a petition signed by many British Columbians.

The petitioners are calling on our government to increase the penalties for impaired driving, specifically those that cause death.

International Aid Policies

[Hoang Mai, NDP, Brossard—La Prairie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, today I would like to present petitions signed by hundreds of people from my riding.

They are calling on the government and the House of Commons to commit to adopting international aid policies that support small farmers and women in particular, in order to acknowledge their vital role in the fight against hunger and poverty. They also want the government to ensure that policies and programs are developed in consultation with small farmers and that these policies protect the rights of small farmers in southern countries so that they can save, use and freely trade their seeds.

Autism Spectrum Disorders

[Kirsty Duncan, Liberal, Etobicoke North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition to present on autism spectrum disorders, which are pervasive disorders that affect one person in eighty-eight. They are characterized by social and communication challenges, and a pattern of repetitive behaviours and interests. They are lifelong, and affect development and life experience. They exert emotional and financial pressure on families.

The petitioners call on the government to work with the provinces and territories and stakeholders to develop a pan-Canadian strategy for ASDs, including innovative funding arrangements for financing therapy, surveillance, respite care, and research.

Agriculture

[Stephen Woodworth, Conservative, Kitchener Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to present a petition from constituents of my riding and surrounding areas who are concerned about the role of small family farmers and international development, and the difficulty they may have in obtaining seed stock for their farms.

The petitioners are calling on the Government of Canada and the House of Commons to commit to adopting international aid policies that support small family farmers, especially women, and to ensure that programs are developed in consultation with family farmers.

Senate of Canada

[Réjean Genest, NDP, Shefford, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to present a petition about abolishing the Senate of Canada.

Given that senators are not elected and do not represent Canada's interests and values, the petitioners are calling on the Government of Canada to abolish the Senate once and for all since it is filled with unelected people who are accountable to no one.

Impaired Driving

[Randy Kamp, Conservative, Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge—Mission, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to present a petition signed by residents of the Fraser Valley, British Columbia, who believe that our current impaired driving laws are too lenient and should be strengthened by the implementation of new mandatory minimum sentencing for those persons convicted of impaired driving causing death.

Agriculture

[Tarik Brahmi, NDP, Saint-Jean, QC]

Mr. Speaker, today I am presenting a petition from my constituents who are concerned that the agri-food industry is gradually replacing the wide variety of seeds with patented seeds.

As a result, they are calling on the Government of Canada to ensure that there is greater diversity, so that small farmers, and in particular women, can contribute to the fight against hunger, especially in southern countries.