House of Commons Hansard #55 of the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was farmers.

Topics

Foreign AffairsOral Questions

2:15 p.m.

Some hon. members

Hear, hear!

Foreign AffairsOral Questions

2:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer

The hon. member for Halifax.

Foreign AffairsOral Questions

2:15 p.m.

NDP

Megan Leslie NDP Halifax, NS

Mr. Speaker, the Russian Federation's unacceptable and aggressive military intervention in Crimea violates the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine. It is against international law, and it threatens regional stability.

Can the government tell us how many Canadian citizens are in Ukraine and Crimea, and what is the government doing to help them?

Foreign AffairsOral Questions

2:15 p.m.

Calgary East Alberta

Conservative

Deepak Obhrai ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and for International Human Rights

Mr. Speaker, as is normal in these cases, we have contacted all Canadians in Ukraine. I will provide the numbers later on today to the hon. members. We are asking them to contact our embassies and to call our international lines in case they need to tell us about their whereabouts and their well-being.

Canada takes seriously the concerns of citizens in that region, and we will continue working with them to ensure their safety if they wish to return from Ukraine.

Democratic ReformOral Questions

2:15 p.m.

NDP

Megan Leslie NDP Halifax, NS

Mr. Speaker, Reform Party founder Preston Manning is expressing serious concerns about Conservative changes to the Elections Act. He is concerned about the attack on Elections Canada's ability to educate and engage voters. Former B.C. election chief Harry Neufeld, who wrote a report on the problems in the last federal election, is warning about the potential for increased abuse at polling stations because of changes in this bill.

With so many concerns from so many Canadians, will the government now agree to cross-country hearings on this bill?

Democratic ReformOral Questions

2:15 p.m.

Nepean—Carleton Ontario

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre ConservativeMinister of State (Democratic Reform)

Mr. Speaker, of course, we welcome Mr. Manning's comments, also in their entirety, which I will read.

This legislation, which is a commendable democratic initiative, seeks to eliminate those practices—robo-calling, misuse of...vouching..., misuse of election contributions, etc.—which discredit elections and parties associated with them. It also seeks to strengthen the enforcement of electoral law by separating that role from Elections Canada and making it the sole jurisdiction of the Independent Commissioner of Elections under the Director for Public Prosecutions.

We certainly agree with Mr. Manning on that.

Democratic ReformOral Questions

2:20 p.m.

NDP

Nycole Turmel NDP Hull—Aylmer, QC

Mr. Speaker, there is growing opposition to the bill to reform the Canada Elections Act. This weekend, it was Preston Manning, the founder of the Reform Party, who expressed his concerns. He said that the Conservatives should be increasing rather than decreasing the Chief Electoral Officer's role in educating people about and promoting elections.

Does the government plan on following Mr. Manning's advice?

Democratic ReformOral Questions

2:20 p.m.

Nepean—Carleton Ontario

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre ConservativeMinister of State (Democratic Reform)

Mr. Speaker, I will repeat what Mr. Manning said.

I have them here in front of me.

This legislation, which is a commendable democratic initiative, seeks to eliminate those practices—robo-calling, misuse of the vouching provision, misuse of election contributions, etc.—which discredit elections and parties associated with them. It also seeks to strengthen the enforcement of electoral law by separating that role from Elections Canada and making it the sole jurisdiction of the Independent Commissioner of Elections under the Director for Public Prosecutions.

Sharper teeth, longer reach, a freer hand, better law enforcement.

Democratic ReformOral Questions

2:20 p.m.

NDP

Nycole Turmel NDP Hull—Aylmer, QC

Mr. Speaker, it has now gotten to the point that the Minister of State for Democratic Reform is sitting in his Ottawa bubble and refuses to listen to criticism from Conservatives out west.

In addition to Mr. Manning, Harry Neufeld also spoke out against the reform this weekend. Mr. Neufeld said that the bill would give an advantage to incumbents and create completely inappropriate conditions in a democracy.

Why does the minister refuse to listen to citizens, think tanks, the Chief Electoral Officer or experts—anyone who urges him to improve his reform?

Democratic ReformOral Questions

2:20 p.m.

Nepean—Carleton Ontario

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre ConservativeMinister of State (Democratic Reform)

Mr. Speaker, according to the current elections act, the first and second parties have the power to nominate election officers in all ridings across Canada.

For example, the revising agents, in section 33; deputy returning officers, in section 34; poll clerks, in section 35; registration officers, in section 39, are appointed on the recommendation of the first- and second-place finishing parties.

As it relates to central poll supervisors, they will be appointed on the recommendation of the first-place party from the previous election. However, under clause 44 of the bill, Elections Canada would have the ability to reject unreasonable recommendations.

Foreign AffairsOral Questions

2:20 p.m.

Liberal

Ralph Goodale Liberal Wascana, SK

Mr. Speaker, Canadians are deeply worried about the worsening situation in Ukraine. We all stand in solidarity with Ukraine's thirst for freedom, democracy, human rights, and the civilized rule of law, both domestically and internationally.

Given Russian actions and threats in relation to Ukraine, which clearly violate specific treaty obligations and multiple principles of international law, what is the exact current status today of Russia within the G8 group of countries? Does a G8 actually exist at this time?

Foreign AffairsOral Questions

2:20 p.m.

Calgary East Alberta

Conservative

Deepak Obhrai ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and for International Human Rights

Mr. Speaker, as I have stated, our Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs have spoken out quite clearly and very strongly. We join our allies in condemning in the strongest possible terms President Putin's military intervention in Ukraine.

Canada has suspended its engagement and preparation for the G8 summit, currently planned for Sochi, and the Canadian ambassador in Moscow has been recalled for consultation. We will continue working with our international partners to see what the international response will be.

InfrastructureOral Questions

March 3rd, 2014 / 2:20 p.m.

Liberal

Ralph Goodale Liberal Wascana, SK

Mr. Speaker, municipalities across Canada are concerned about arbitrary new rules imposed by the Conservative government on community infrastructure, and even more so, municipalities are worried about the deep cuts in the building Canada fund over the next five years. At the end of this month, the building Canada budget is being slashed by close to 90%, and federal funding is not due to be replenished, even to this year's levels, until 2019. That means an immediate and lasting gap in federal infrastructure support of some $4 billion. Why?

InfrastructureOral Questions

2:25 p.m.

Roberval—Lac-Saint-Jean Québec

Conservative

Denis Lebel ConservativeMinister of Infrastructure

Mr. Speaker, the premise of the question is completely false. Our government has tripled the average annual infrastructure investment since 2006. Economic action plan 2013 announced $70 billion for Canada's infrastructure over the next decade, including $53 billion—

InfrastructureOral Questions

2:25 p.m.

Conservative

The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer

Order. The hon. Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs has the floor.

InfrastructureOral Questions

2:25 p.m.

Conservative

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

Mr. Speaker, the economic action plan announced $70 billion for Canada's infrastructure over the next decade, including $53 billion for provincial, territorial, and municipal infrastructure. That is the biggest agreement we have ever had, and we hope to sign that very soon with the provinces.

InfrastructureOral Questions

2:25 p.m.

Liberal

Dominic LeBlanc Liberal Beauséjour, NB

Mr. Speaker, in just 29 days, cities and communities will see the building Canada fund cut by 90%. Mayors are saying that key projects are at short-term risk. What is worse, next year will be no better, and neither will the year after that. In fact, funding will not return to this year's levels until 2019.

Why do the Conservatives think that Canadians can afford to wait until 2019 for assistance with their municipal infrastructure?

InfrastructureOral Questions

2:25 p.m.

Roberval—Lac-Saint-Jean Québec

Conservative

Denis Lebel ConservativeMinister of Infrastructure

Mr. Speaker, that question is based on completely false premises. On November 5, the provinces and territories received the gas tax fund renewal agreement. We doubled the gas tax funding, made it a permanent feature of the act and indexed it. I invite all of the provinces and territories to move swiftly to sign this agreement because cities have many projects to pursue.

Democratic ReformOral Questions

2:25 p.m.

NDP

Craig Scott NDP Toronto—Danforth, ON

Mr. Speaker, this weekend, people I spoke with about the unfair elections act expressed deep concerns that Conservative changes could make it less likely that new Canadians will vote. Instead of empowering immigrant communities, the proposed changes in Bill C-23 to remove the ability of Elections Canada to educate risk disenfranchising these Canadians.

Why will the minister not listen to these kinds of concerns and abandon his plan to gut the ability of Elections Canada to educate and engage?

Democratic ReformOral Questions

2:25 p.m.

Nepean—Carleton Ontario

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre ConservativeMinister of State (Democratic Reform)

Mr. Speaker, our schools educate. Our parents educate their kids on politics and discussions around the dinner table. The media regularly keeps people informed. However, the education role that Elections Canada is supposed to play is to inform people where, when, and how to vote. According to Elections Canada's own data, it is failing in that role. That is why we are focusing the promotional campaigns of Elections Canada on the basics of voting: where, when, what ID to bring, and the special tools available to help people with disabilities cast a ballot.

Democratic ReformOral Questions

2:25 p.m.

NDP

Craig Scott NDP Toronto—Danforth, ON

Have no doubt, Mr. Speaker, the government is steamrolling changes that are going to make it harder for Canadians to vote. That is why experts like Harry Neufeld are speaking up. In Mr. Neufeld's report, he recommended improved—

Democratic ReformOral Questions

2:25 p.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh!

Democratic ReformOral Questions

2:25 p.m.

Conservative

The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer

Order, please. We are off to a shaky start with not allowing members to put their questions without undue noise.

The hon. member for Toronto—Danforth has the floor.

Democratic ReformOral Questions

2:25 p.m.

NDP

Craig Scott NDP Toronto—Danforth, ON

Mr. Speaker, that is why experts like Harry Neufeld are speaking up. In his report, he recommended improved recruitment and training for Elections Canada election-day workers, but, according to Mr. Neufeld, Conservatives have actually done the exact opposite in the unfair elections act.

Why is the minister using this bill to make it harder to vote instead of helping Elections Canada to better recruit and train election-day workers?

Democratic ReformOral Questions

2:25 p.m.

Nepean—Carleton Ontario

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre ConservativeMinister of State (Democratic Reform)

Mr. Speaker, I know what the member is referring to but is backing off from actually saying out loud: the issue of vouching. Mr. Neufeld's report demonstrated that there were over 50,000 irregularities with vouching in the last election. These were serious errors that could potentially lead to a judge overturning an election result. The NDP thinks that someone should be able to show up without any form of identification whatsoever and cast a ballot, which potentially leads to multiple voting or voting in the wrong riding. On this side of the House of Commons, we expect that people will use one of the 39 approved pieces of ID.