Debates of March 3rd, 2014

The Budget

[Chris Charlton, NDP, Hamilton Mountain, ON]

Mr. Speaker, after cancelling the long form census and having previously slashed the Stats Canada budget, the Conservatives are now moving ahead with another $15.6 million cut, saying that they will try to find “alternative data sources”. Can the minister explain to Canadians what exactly are those alternative data sources? More important, what programs will be cut as a result of this drastic reduction to the Stats Canada budget?

[James Moore, Conservative, Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, everybody has to do his or her part in order to arrive at a balanced budget and, in speaking with Wayne Smith and the folks at Stats Canada, that department has the funds necessary to fulfill the mandate that this Parliament has given it.

Indeed it does seem odd to everyday taxpayers to have two, three, and four branches of the Government of Canada collecting the same information. Certainly, in answer a question from the Liberal Party on digital economy, part of a digital strategy for the government is to actually have agencies of the government sharing information, one with another, so that we do not have to duplicate these matters and put a further burden on Canadian taxpayers. It is called making government efficient, not invading the privacy of Canadians, and having good government.

Taxation

[Guy Caron, NDP, Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives have done nothing but pay lip service to the issue of tax evasion. The main estimates foresee cuts of over $400 million to the Canada Revenue Agency. How do the Conservatives think the agency will be able to step up the fight against tax evasion with an even smaller budget?

[Kerry-Lynne Findlay, Conservative, Minister of National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned last week in the House, we are not taking any measures to reduce CRA's compliance resources. In fact, there are about 400 more tax auditors today than when we took government.

Further, we have increased the size of our international audit program by over 40% and we have identified nearly $4.6 billion in unpaid taxes.

The Liberals and NDP, of course, have opposed our over 75 measures to increase and improve the integrity of the tax system. We have heard nothing but empty rhetoric from that side of the House.

Rail Transportation

[Olivia Chow, NDP, Trinity—Spadina, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Canada came together as a nation when our railway was completed from coast to coast, but through neglect and millions in budget cuts, the government is stripping VIA Rail of its ability to deliver services to Canadians. People in Gaspé and New Brunswick are losing vital rail services.

How can the government justify tabling estimates with another $4 million cut to VIA Rail?

[Lisa Raitt, Conservative, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, as we know, VIA Rail is responsible for its own operational decisions. Regardless, there is one truism here. Our government does support a passenger rail network, but that passenger rail network has to meet the needs of today's travellers as well as be fair and not burden the taxpayer. We expect VIA Rail to operate in that manner. Indeed, that is exactly what it is doing.

We are concerned that it does continue to post significant losses regardless of how much money we are putting into the system.

Champlain Bridge

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

Mr. Speaker, this morning the Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs presented an uncosted business plan for replacing the Champlain Bridge. I repeat: an uncosted business plan.

There is no dollar figure for the need to replace the toll or for the consequences of imposing a toll on just one of the bridges linking Montreal to the south shore. Instead of holding pointless press conferences, will the minister sit down with his provincial and municipal counterparts in order to agree on a detailed game plan for replacing the Champlain Bridge?

[Denis Lebel, Conservative, Minister of Infrastructure]

Mr. Speaker, my colleague is two months behind. The business plan was tabled on January 15. My colleague should be congratulating us because the matter—

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

Order. I think there is a problem with the interpretation.

It is working now.

The hon. Minister of Infrastructure.

[Denis Lebel, Conservative, Roberval—Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we announced the business plan on January 15. This morning, contrary to what my colleague is saying, we announced that we would move forward with the process and that on March 17, we would issue requests for qualifications so that companies could apply to build the bridge. While the members opposite keep talking and telling us what to do, we will be building a bridge and not imposing a $21-billion carbon tax.

Mining Industry

[Rob Clarke, Conservative, Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK]

Mr. Speaker, our government understands the importance of the mining industry and the significant role it plays in providing over 400,000 good jobs for Canadians. Canada is a global leader in this sector, with the mining and minerals accounting for over 20% of Canada's exports.

The mining sector in my riding of Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River is very important to both aboriginal and non-aboriginal mining workers. Mining workers and communities across Canada know they can count on the government's support. Can the parliamentary secretary please update the House?

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

Mr. Speaker, our government is proud to support Canada's mining industry. I am pleased to share that the minister joined the Prime Minister at the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada's annual conference to meet with stakeholders and announce our government's plan for increased transparency for the extractive sector.

Unlike the opposition, we will continue to support Canadian jobs in this vital sector of our economy.

Aboriginal Affairs

[Jonathan Genest-Jourdain, NDP, Manicouagan, QC]

Mr. Speaker, in 2007, the Prime Minister announced that he was committed to resolving the some 800 specific claims that were gathering dust on a shelf. However, that was just another promise for the Conservatives to break. As of April 2014, significant budget cuts will be made to the organizations that are researching the specific claims, which means that first nations people will no longer be able to finalize outstanding claims. How can the minister justify these cuts?

[Bernard Valcourt, Conservative, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development]

Mr. Speaker, we launched the Justice at Last initiative in 2007 to streamline and improve the specific claims process.

As a result, our government has cleared up the huge backlog of specific claims left by the previous government. Since 2007, we have settled over 100 outstanding land claims, and we will continue in that direction.

[Jean Crowder, NDP, Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC]

Mr. Speaker, justice will not be achieved if these funding cuts to vital research go through. Only 15% of the claims that the minister referred to have actually resulted in settlements. The vast majority have been rejected or closed by the government. Groups like the AFN and UBCIC, and even the specific claims tribunal, are criticizing the Conservative government's take it or leave it approach.

Settling historical claims with first nations should be a priority. Would the minister now recognize that specific claims are lawful obligations and reverse his decision to this crucial funding?

[Bernard Valcourt, Conservative, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development]

Mr. Speaker, I know that the NDP likes to play politics on the backs of aboriginal people. We announced the Justice at Last initiative in 2007 to streamline and improve the specific claims process. As a result, we have cleared up the huge backlog of specific claims at the assessment stage. As a matter of fact, we have settled over 100 outstanding land claims in Canada and we continue to make substantial progress. We will continue in that direction.

National Defence

[Jack Harris, NDP, St. John's East, NL]

Mr. Speaker, HMCS Protecteur is on a perilous journey back to Hawaii after a serious engine room fire left the ship adrift with nearly 300 aboard. Our first concern, of course, is the safety of the crew and families and the well-being of the 20 crew members injured in bravely fighting the fire. Bravo Zulu.

This ship was built in 1969, and the Conservative delays in ship procurement have left our navy without the capacity it needs. Now the minister wants to further delay $3.1 billion in procurement spending. Have the Conservatives learned nothing from their past mistakes?

[Rob Nicholson, Conservative, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, no government has done more to make sure our men and women in uniform have the equipment they need than this government.

Since he raised the question of the HMCS Protecteur, the men and women on there did an outstanding job containing and putting out this fire. They deserve a vote of thanks from all Canadians.

[Élaine Michaud, NDP, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

Mr. Speaker, this serious accident reminds us of just how vulnerable our aging fleet is. The Conservatives' indecisiveness with respect to military procurement has delayed the replacement of our 1960s-era supply ships by 10 years.

It is up to the government to ensure that our navy has the equipment it needs to do its job safely. Unfortunately, because of the Conservatives' poor management, Canada may have to go 18 months without a functional ship. It is time to act.

When will the supply ships be delivered?

[Rob Nicholson, Conservative, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, that is a bit rich coming from the NDP. Again, no government has done more to invest in the Royal Canadian Navy than this particular government. What is consistent, and what we can all agree on, is that these measures have all been opposed by the NDP, every single one of them.

Democratic Reform

[Scott Simms, Liberal, Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, NL]

Mr. Speaker, as time goes on, academics, experts, and now polling show that even the average Canadian feels that the changes to the elections act benefit only the Conservative Party of Canada and not the average voter.

I want to go back to what Preston Manning said and I want the minister to directly address exactly what Preston Manning had to say. He said “...most worrisome for me personally and calls for, I think, immediate and serious attention”.

He goes on to say “...to constantly affirm and reaffirm our commitment to extending, rather than limiting, the democratic expression”.

He want serious amendments. Will the minister do it? Maybe he would like to point out why Preston Manning is so wrong.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Minister of State (Democratic Reform)]

Mr. Speaker, in fact we are extending Elections Canada's ability to get people out to vote by focusing those efforts on the information Canadians actually need. Those are the basics of voting: where, when, what ID to bring, and what special tools are available to help disabled Canadians cast their ballot. Elections Canada's own data demonstrate that the agency has done a poor job of informing Canadians of that basic information. The fair elections act will ensure that it improves.

National Defence

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Mr. Speaker, amid the glamour of last night's Oscars, Canadians were dismayed to see the Conservatives squandering millions on ads promoting programs already around for years, this when soldiers with PTSD and their families suffer today with not enough support thanks to government budget cuts and hiring freezes. The price of just one ad could pay the salary for a PTSD doctor for an entire year.

Why does the government choose partisan self-interest over the health of injured soldiers?

[Rob Nicholson, Conservative, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member has it completely wrong. No government has done more to care for our ill and injured men and women in uniform and for our veterans than this government. We have hired almost 400 full-time mental health professionals. We have increased the budget to unprecedented levels. This for once should have the support of the hon. member.

Agriculture and Agri-food

[Malcolm Allen, NDP, Welland, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the grain backlog plaguing western farmers is costing them billions of dollars. On the weekend, former Conservative minister Chuck Strahl said that he warned rail companies years ago that their excuses were not fooling anyone and that he had told them to shape up and stop abusing their duopoly or face regulation, but here we are again: farmers are suffering while the rail companies offer up the same old excuses.

What is the minister going to do? Hopefully it will not be to have another meeting. Will the minister now commit to the House that he will take action so that the rail companies will move that grain to port and get our farmers paid?