House of Commons Hansard #65 of the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was honduras.
John McKay Liberal Scarborough—Guildwood, ON
Mr. Speaker, I took the liberty of notifying the minister that I would be asking a question on the IPCC report in order to relieve her of the burden of reading from her talking points.
In light of the decimation of her budget and the even greater decimation of the climate change file, how does the minister and the Government of Canada respond to the IPCC report? It says:
Human interference with the climate system is occurring, and climate change poses risks for human and natural systems.
The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer
Order. The hon. Minister of the Environment has the floor, and I would like to hear the answer.
Leona Aglukkaq ConservativeMinister of the Environment
Mr. Speaker, again, our government is taking action on climate change.
We are a founding member of, and a major financial contributor to, an international coalition taking action to reduce pollutants such as black carbon and methane. We have also made addressing these pollutants a priority under Canada's chairmanship of the Arctic Council.
We have contributed $1.2 billion in developing countries so that they can reduce emissions. For example, we are making investments in projects in Kenya, Mexico, Colombia, and Chile to help them adapt to climate change and strengthen their economies.
Jack Harris NDP St. John's East, NL
Mr. Speaker, new fixed-wing search and rescue capability is desperately needed now to save lives off our coast, especially in British Columbia and the north, yet because of continued Conservative mismanagement in procurement, six whole years have been wasted. This restart is on top of the minister's decision to push off more than $3 billion in procurement spending until after the next election.
These planes have been promised for more than a decade. Can the minister explain what it will take to make these desperately needed planes a priority for the government?
Rob Nicholson ConservativeMinister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, we are making our men and women in uniform and our armed forces a priority of this government. There have been a number of huge successes in the area of procurement: the C-17 Globemasters; Hercules; medium-support vehicles; Leopard tanks. We are making a commitment to our armed forces to get them the very best equipment, and that will continue, under this government.
Élaine Michaud NDP Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC
Mr. Speaker, the government's half-answers are not enough. The acquisition of a new fleet of search and rescue planes has been a fiasco under both the Liberals and the Conservatives. All of these delays have driven up costs and forced search and rescue teams to work with aging and failing equipment.
It does not make sense to ignore the six years of research done by the Department of National Defence. We want clear answers.
When will we finally get a new fleet of search and rescue planes?
Rob Nicholson ConservativeMinister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, I am glad to give the hon. member clear responses and clear direction. We have increased defence spending over 27%. It is unprecedented the commitment that this government has made. Yes, we too take all of these matters seriously. They have been a priority of this government, and this will continue.
Megan Leslie NDP Halifax, NS
Mr. Speaker, scientists from more than 100 countries contributed to the report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which paints a bleak picture of the situation in Canada and throughout the rest of the world. Arctic temperatures are increasing four times faster than the global average, and all people on all continents will be affected by climate change.
Speaking of fossils, why does the minister refuse to regulate the oil and gas industry?
Leona Aglukkaq ConservativeMinister of the Environment
Mr. Speaker, again, our government is a world leader when it comes to addressing climate change. We continue to work with the provinces on reducing emissions from the oil and gas sector. It is premature to comment further on any future regulations, but what I can tell members is that thanks to our actions, we have seen significant reductions in greenhouse gas, unlike the Liberal government which increased greenhouse emissions by 130 megatonnes.
Megan Leslie NDP Halifax, NS
Is that a fact, Mr. Speaker? The fact is that Canada now ranks dead last among OECD countries when it comes to climate change. From pulling out of the Kyoto accord, to sabotaging international climate talks, to appointing a minister who doubts the climate science, the Conservatives' dismal record on climate change speaks for itself.
The IPCC report is clear. Canadians are already dealing with the stark realities of climate change, and it is only going to get worse.
When will the government drop the rhetoric and actually act on fighting climate change?
Leona Aglukkaq ConservativeMinister of the Environment
Mr. Speaker, since 2006, we have invested more than $10 billion in green infrastructure, energy efficiency, adaptation, clean technology, and cleaner fuels. Thanks to our actions, carbon emissions will go down by close to 130 megatonnes from what they would have been under the Liberals. We are accomplishing this without the Liberal and NDP carbon tax.
David Sweet Conservative Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale, ON
Mr. Speaker, all Canadians rely on our country's public health system to treat themselves and their families. That is why my constituents are so pleased to see our historic support to the provinces and territories in health care and innovation.
This is in stark contrast to the Liberal policy of balancing budgets at the expense of health care transfers.
Would the Minister of Health please update the House on how our government is delivering on health care?
Rona Ambrose ConservativeMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, as the member knows, our government is delivering the highest health transfer dollars in Canadian history, to provinces and territories. This record funding will reach $40 billion by the end of the decade, and provinces would have the stability and predictability of funding that they need.
However, and I have said this before in the House, more money is not the only answer here to fix the inefficiencies in our health system. What we have learned in the past 10 years is that innovation really is the key. We know that innovation is making a difference and we will build upon that success by creating a wise persons’ panel to examine, not only the state of health innovation, but also ensure that our federal actions create a more innovative health system.
Ruth Ellen Brosseau NDP Berthier—Maskinongé, QC
Mr. Speaker, last week, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs proposed amendments to create new mandatory service agreements. Today, the CEO of CN said that other key players in the supply chain had to be held to account for their performance. The Conservatives had a chance to take action six months ago, but they chose to reject the NDP's call to implement service level agreements.
Will the government finally listen to farmers and agree to these amendments?
Gerry Ritz ConservativeMinister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
Mr. Speaker, the member opposite knows there will be full hearings at the SCAAF committee all this week, starting today, where I and the Minister of Transport will appear. A lot of the witnesses will be bringing forward different ideas. I think it is too soon to prejudge what form any of those amendments should take or what they will be. We are there to listen and we are there to put forward the best foot that we can.
Malcolm Allen NDP Welland, ON
Mr. Speaker, the farmers, as we know, are getting frustrated across the prairie provinces because of the minister's failure to do his homework. He rammed through changes to the Canadian Wheat Board, calling it “marketing freedom”. They are free to lose $140 million a week is exactly what farmers are free to do now, and there is chaos throughout the system. Even the CEO of CN says that the lack of coordination across the supply chain is one of the biggest causes of the grain transportation crisis, and the minister is still trying to speed through a new bill that even his Conservative colleagues are saying needs to be amended.
Will the minister now do the right thing and fix this bill?
Gerry Ritz ConservativeMinister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
Mr. Speaker, as the CEO of CN runs down his list of excuses, I would be appreciative if the member opposite would actually listen to all the witnesses that will be coming before the SCAAF committee this coming week, and look at the reasoned positions that a lot of them will put forward. I have had the opportunity to meet with all of the bulk shippers in western Canada. They all tell the same story. They are under capacity. They are a lot of tonnage and bushels behind, including Canpotex, which is a quasi-single desk and is several hundred thousand tonnes of potash behind.
The answer is not a single desk. The answer is increased capacity and increased awareness of all sectors in that supply chain.
Matthew Kellway NDP Beaches—East York, ON
With another example of the government failing to deliver for Canadians, Mr. Speaker, starting today small and medium-size businesses will pay between 35% and 59% more to send mail. An individual stamp now costs $1. Once again, the Conservatives are making it harder to get by.
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business estimates that 98% of small and medium-size businesses will be affected. What does the government have to say to those whose costs just got so dramatically higher overnight?
Lisa Raitt ConservativeMinister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, the reality is that there are one billion fewer pieces of mail being delivered in Canada since 2006. Along with that, of course, comes the reality that the revenues are not exceeding what the expenses are and, in fact, it is estimated that it is going to cost $1 billion per year to Canadian taxpayers.
Canada Post has a five-point plan. That five-point plan includes the increase in postal rate stamps today, and we support Canada Post on its path forward to return to self-sufficiency.
Alexandre Boulerice NDP Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives are so incompetent that they are not even capable of delivering the mail to people anymore. That makes no sense. People want the government to improve services, not cut them.
With the increased cost of a stamp, we will now be paying 35% to 59% more to send a letter. Once again, this measure will hurt the least fortunate and small businesses. Meanwhile, the 23 Canada Post executives are pocketing $20 million a year.
Instead of letting their buddies gut our postal service and take money from taxpayers' pockets, why do the Conservatives not try to find new revenue streams for this public service to secure its future?
Lisa Raitt ConservativeMinister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, I may have missed it in translation, but I am sure the hon. member understands that the government does not actually deliver the mail. In fact, it is his buddies at CUPW that deliver the mail.
What I would say to what he indicated is this. In the greater good, we want to ensure that the taxpayer is not on the hook for the ongoing potential losses at Canada Post as a result of the delivery of mail not happening at the rate that it used to in terms of letters being sent. It has a five-point plan. It has recognized the problem. The government recognizes the problem. It is time to move on and implement this plan.
Frank Valeriote Liberal Guelph, ON
Mr. Speaker, in the century since Robert Borden established our social covenant with brave Canadians who risk their lives in the service of our country, it has been the job of the government to hold up its end of that deal. Yet veterans seeking fairness in a B.C. courtroom are told by government lawyers that this social covenant was only a political statement. Imagine.
The minister finally acknowledged that a social covenant and sacred obligation does exist. Does the minister actually believe in the social covenant and will he drop his defence of the suit, or his new-found faith in our sacred obligation just a political statement only intended to get votes?
Parm Gill ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs
Mr. Speaker, on November 19, the minister appeared at the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs, where he stated on the record his support for the social contract:
The work our government does each day has been and can be called many things: duty, responsibility, commitment, social contract, obligation, sacred or not, or covenant. Colleagues, I believe it is all of those things.
This is nothing new. I call on the member and his party to stop playing partisan games and get onboard.
Hedy Fry Liberal Vancouver Centre, BC
Mr. Speaker, in 2006, Conservatives abandoned the collaborative goals of the 2004 health accord and began the erosion of medicare. The Prime Minister has refused to meet with the premiers on health, despite their requests. Instead, he unilaterally imposed a new per capita funding for health, ignored regional demographics, and left smaller provinces without the ability to provide equal access to care.
Could the Prime Minister assure us that he would meet with the premiers and reverse this damaging trend that threatens the very essence of the Canada Health Act?