Debates of Feb. 3rd, 2014

Consumer Protection

[Kevin Sorenson, Conservative, Minister of State (Finance)]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member will have to wait patiently until February 11, only eight more sleeps, to know what will be in the budget.

Unlike the New Democrats who have constantly talked about hiking tax rates for consumers, our Conservative government is continually taking action to protect consumers.

We have banned unsolicited credit card cheques. We have required clear disclosures around credit agreements. We have ensured that prepayment of credit cards never expires.

After eight more sleeps, there may be more.

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

Mr. Speaker, the minister of state can make light of this, but even the Minister of Finance knows that this is a legitimate problem and has said so, especially so for seniors, students, and persons with disabilities. He just refuses to do anything about it.

There have been eight consecutive budgets and no action. Now the budget once again is around the corner. Will the government finally take action to expand help for small business, to reverse the damaging cuts it has made, and to help vulnerable Canadians by capping ATM fees? Will it do that?

[Kevin Sorenson, Conservative, Minister of State (Finance)]

Mr. Speaker, our government has provided record support for low-income Canadians. For example, we have removed one million low-income Canadians, 380,000 of whom were seniors, from the tax rolls.

We have increased the amount Canadians can earn without paying any income tax. We have created the landmark working income tax benefit to support low-income Canadians who work.

As highlighted in the Speech from the Throne, our government will take further action to expand no-cost banking options available to Canadians.

International Trade

[Chris Charlton, NDP, Hamilton Mountain, ON]

Mr. Speaker, in cities across Ontario, the automotive industry supports 90,000 good, middle-class jobs. These are jobs put at risk by Conservative economic mismanagement.

A well-negotiated deal with South Korea could create real benefits for Canada, but a bad deal could destroy thousands of good jobs. For once, will the minister stand up for fair trade and make sure Canada's auto sector benefits from any new trade deal with South Korea?

[Erin O'Toole, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade]

Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member knows, and the House should know, the negotiations remain ongoing between Canada and South Korea. The United States, the European Union, and Australia have all signed trade agreements with South Korea. As a result, we have seen a $1.5 billion loss in exports from Canada. Therefore, we are moving to ensure the one in five jobs attributable to trade are there for Canadians.

[Chris Charlton, NDP, Hamilton Mountain, ON]

Mr. Speaker, never has a government been more proud of being such bad negotiators. The last time the Conservatives tried to negotiate an agreement with Asia, we ended up with the Canada-China FIPA, an agreement so bad, so flawed that the government is too ashamed to ratify it.

Canadian families that depend on the auto sector deserve a better answer than that. Let me ask again. What specifically is the minister doing to ensure that 90,000 good, middle-class jobs are not bargained away in negotiations with South Korea?

[Erin O'Toole, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade]

Mr. Speaker, it is sad to see the NDP multi-generational opposition to trade, particularly when one in five jobs are attributable to trade.

Our negotiations with South Korea will ensure that there is a level playing field, and non-tariff barriers will be specifically addressed so our world-class industries, including the world-class auto industry in Ontario, will thrive.

Justice

[Joy Smith, Conservative, Kildonan—St. Paul, MB]

Mr. Speaker, our government is committed to keeping our streets and communities safe. My constituents are very concerned that the Supreme Court of Canada recently struck down certain sections of the Criminal Code related to prostitution. I believe prostitution is harmful to our communities and facilitates the exploitation of vulnerable people, particularly women.

Could the Minister of Justice please inform the House about the actions our government intends to take to respond to the Supreme Court decision?

[Peter MacKay, Conservative, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for the question but also for her outstanding work to protect woman and girls in our country.

I share her concern over the Supreme Court's decision to strike down some of Canada's prostitution laws. In fact, the court did suspend the effects for some 12 months, giving Parliament time to fill that void. We are currently reviewing legislative options across the country on the harms of prostitution, particularly the exploitation of women and girls. We intend to provide assistance and prevention measures, as well as legislate in this area. We believe, unlike the Liberal Party, that doing nothing is not an option, and we will table new laws and programming to protect Canadians in the future.

Health

[Dany Morin, NDP, Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Commonwealth Fund has published the results of its health policy survey, and they are rather alarming. Canada is at the bottom of the list in several categories, including the number of people with access to a family physician and wait times in emergency departments and for appointments with their own family physician.

Will the government quickly take note of this report, seriously study its recommendations and work with the provinces to improve our health care system?

[Rona Ambrose, Conservative, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, we co-operate on an ongoing basis with provinces. In fact, I just got off the phone with one our provincial health ministers with whom I work very closely.

The member should also know that, while there are areas in which Canada can improve, there are also areas where Canada is number one in the world. There are always improvements that can be made, which is why we must collaborate.

The provinces are very thankful for what now is long-term, very stable, predictable funding that will reach up to $40 billion by the end of the decade. That is record funding to support the provinces and territories. In our field, of course, we are investing $1 billion in the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, supporting over 13,000 research projects, ongoing, right now.

[Libby Davies, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Mr. Speaker, that does not mean anything to the more than half of Canadians who cannot get a same day or next day appointment with their family doctor. That is way behind the international standard. Even the best performing province is behind the U.S., which is second last on the list.

Because of this poor performance, 50% of Canadians are ending up in emergency rooms for cases that could have been treated by a family doctor. When will the government act on this and work with the provinces to give all Canadians access to family doctors?

[Rona Ambrose, Conservative, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, as the member knows, beating up on the provinces is not the answer. The answer is to work closely with them to make sure we support them in the areas we are able to.

I am sure the member knows that according to the Canadian Institute for Health Information's most recent reports, in 2012 we saw the highest level of physicians per capita in Canadian history. We are no longer seeing the brain drain of medical professionals to the U.S. We are seeing people return to Canada, which is a positive thing.

We will continue to work with the provinces to ensure that we do have enough physicians available to Canadians from coast to coast to coast.

[Libby Davies, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the minister should not hide behind the provinces. This is about a lack of federal leadership.

The fact is, the Conservatives have also abandoned anti-smoking advertising. Instead, since 2007, the government has focused its tobacco advertising on contraband tobacco. This is very odd, as it happens to be the exact same priority as the lobbyists of big tobacco.

Why has the minister abandoned important anti-smoking advertising? Is it because she is bowing to the demands of well-connected Conservative lobbyists? Is that what she is doing?

[Rona Ambrose, Conservative, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, I happen to be a vehement anti-smoking advocate. I can reassure the member that if there are any opportunities to close any existing loopholes the member might see, she can come and speak to me, because I would happy to look at them.

The reality is that smoking now in Canada is at an all-time low, dropping from 22% to 16% over the last decade. A lot is in response to not only advertising campaigns but to changes we have made to packaging. A lot of that has been targeted at our youth, and we have seen huge success.

[Alexandre Boulerice, NDP, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, it is ironic that the tobacco companies got everything they wanted from this government. It is not surprising, though, given who was doing the lobbying: Ryan Sparrow, communications manager for Philip Morris, a former senior spokesman for the Conservative campaign; Keith Beardsley, a lobbyist for JTI Macdonald Corporation and the Prime Minister's former deputy chief of staff; and Chad Rogers, a lobbyist for Benson & Hedges, who is known to have ties to the Conservative Party.

Clearly, it is more lucrative for these companies to fight smuggling than it is to fight smoking. However, is that a good policy in and of itself, or did the Conservatives simply give in to their friends in the tobacco lobby?

[Rona Ambrose, Conservative, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, the member should be proud and aware that Canada actually has one of the strongest anti-smoking regimes in the world. Smoking is at an all-time low in Canada.

Frankly, when we look at the cost of smoking to the health care system, I am always open to looking at more ways in which we can cut down on tobacco use and encourage people to get off tobacco and find a more healthy lifestyle.

This government is proud of the legislation we have introduced to prevent tobacco companies from using flavours or additives in cigarettes that appeal to children and in prohibiting tobacco companies from advertising in magazines or any other--

[The Deputy Speaker, NDP, Joe Comartin]

The hon. member for Scarborough—Guildwood.

The Environment

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

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Natural Resources accused President Obama of ragging the Keystone XL puck. The minister unfortunately does not seem to realize that he is the one that is offside, and therefore, the President has to rag the puck until the minister gets serious about GHG emissions.

Therefore, when will the minister get onside with greenhouse gas regulations? When will he stop delaying the game? When will he allow President Obama to put the Keystone XL puck in the net?

[Joe Oliver, Conservative, Minister of Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, aside from misrepresenting what I said, the member also misunderstands what the final environmental impact statement on Keystone said. It concluded that if the project is not built, GHG emissions would rise by 28% to 42%. Therefore, opposing this project would not only block tens of thousands of Canadian jobs, it would also exacerbate the problem of climate change.

We are working with the Americans on a whole series of issues, and we will continue to do that. This project is ready, from an environmental point of view, for approval.

Employment

[Judy Sgro, Liberal, York West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, after a year of rhetoric and another multimillion dollar advertising blitz, the Canada jobs grant is a complete failure. Worse yet, current labour market agreements will expire in 56 days, flushing $300 million away from provincial unemployment programs. The provinces have a plan, but they need a real partner.

Will the Conservative government get off their fake action plan and work with those of us who really want to create jobs and ensure that they have a positive future for middle-class Canadians?

[Jason Kenney, Conservative, Minister of Employment and Social Development and Minister for Multiculturalism]

Mr. Speaker, I would thank the member for the question, except that it has very little to do with reality. The truth is that it was this government that created the labour market agreements and the half-billion dollar annual transfer to provinces in addition to billions of dollars in additional spending that we offer in skills development and job training.

We have been having good conversations with the provinces about how we can ensure that they continue with some of their good programs while at the same time moving toward more employer-led training, where there is more employer investment in skills development and where jobs are guaranteed at the end of the training. It makes a lot of sense, and perhaps that is why the Liberal Party does not support it.

Rail Transportation

[Philip Toone, NDP, Gaspésie—Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC]

Mr. Speaker, VIA Rail service in the Gaspé has been suspended for six months now.

CN's announcement that it is going to abandon a section of rail line in New Brunswick will turn the temporary suspension into a permanent closure. Both the Quebec and New Brunswick governments have spoken out in support of our rail system.

What about the Conservative government?

[Lisa Raitt, Conservative, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, VIA Rail is an independent crown corporation. As such, it is responsible for its own operating decisions.

As the member has pointed out, CN has indicated its desire to discontinue the line in New Brunswick. It is a private company. It is a private decision based upon their business practices. VIA will still have the ability to have the Montreal to Halifax run through a different part of New Brunswick.

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

Mr. Speaker, I wonder how much that is going to cost.

Not a single one of the eight Conservative MPs from New Brunswick is defending the province's rail service. It is time to clean house.

Thousands of people in eastern Canada will find themselves without rail service.

Instead of opening ministers' offices left and right and spending—