Debates of May 13th, 2014

Privacy

[Murray Rankin, NDP, Victoria, BC]

Mr. Speaker, given the way these Conservatives consistently mount personal attacks against anyone who disagrees with them, Canadians rightly want the personal information they provide to their government to be properly safeguarded. If there is a good reason for government to be sharing around people's personal information, it should make that case to a judge. Tax data is the second most sensitive kind of data that citizens share with their government, after health information.

Therefore, does the minister think it is appropriate to permit the sharing with police of deeply personal information without a warrant?

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

Mr. Speaker, our government will continue to protect Canadians, particularly their tax data, while ensuring their privacy is protected. There are rare occasions, I repeat, when CRA officials, in the course of their ordinary duties, become aware of information that any reasonable person would believe is evidence of serious criminal activity.

Let me be clear. Information cannot be shared on the mere suspicion of criminal activity or based on a request initiated by law enforcement authorities. It should be noted that this legislation responds to a recommendation from the OECD for member countries to adopt such measures.

Employment

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

Mr. Speaker, according to Statistics Canada's most recent employment numbers, almost 30,000 Canadians lost their jobs last month. What is more, according to the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, 95% of the jobs created in 2013 were part time.

The youth unemployment rate is twice the national average and household debt keeps climbing.

When will the Minister of Finance put measures in place to help the middle class and economic recovery, such as reinstating the small business hiring tax credit?

[Joe Oliver, Conservative, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, our government is focusing on what is important to Canadians: jobs and economic growth. Although the global economy remains fragile, our economic policies have helped protect Canada. More than one million net new jobs have been created since July 2009, almost 90% of which are full time and more than 80% of which are in the private sector.

[Nathan Cullen, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, that is quite an answer. I hope we have better ones from the minister tomorrow when we have four hours together at the committee of the whole; he will have some support.

Conservatives have, once again, been caught making up statistics about the economy. This time it was the Bank of Canada that shed a little light on the reality of the Canadian economy.

The real fact is that long-term unemployment has not improved since the start of the recession. The real fact—that is, according to the Chamber of Commerce—is that 95% of all jobs created in 2013 were in the part-time wage sector. The fact is that Toronto is now seeing unemployment at almost 10%.

Will the minister drop his make-believe statistics and admit that the jobs that have been created are precarious, part time, and of a poorer quality?

[Joe Oliver, Conservative, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, we know that the hon. member has problems with numbers and problems listening. The fact is that over one million new jobs were created. The member is picking and choosing among different studies. There are different ways to analyze, but the fact is that Canada is doing better than most other G7 countries. We are very confident that we are going to continue the growth and reach a budgetary surplus next year.

Law Enforcement Animals

[Laurie Hawn, Conservative, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, in Edmonton, the Prime Minister announced the introduction of Quanto's law. The story of Quanto's sacrifice certainly touched Edmontonians and many others.

This legislation would ensure that those who harm law enforcement, service, and military animals would face serious consequences.

I know that the member for Richmond Hill was instrumental in getting this bill to the house.

Would the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration tell us a bit about this signature piece of legislation?

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

Mr. Speaker, the inspiration for my private member's bill was the tragic death of Brigadier, a Toronto Police Service horse killed in the line of duty. I was touched by the many constituents who shared the tragic tale of Brigadier.

Quanto's law would honour the memory of Edmonton Police Service dog Quanto, as well as Brigadier and many other law enforcement animals that made the ultimate sacrifice.

It is my hope that my colleagues opposite will join us in supporting this important piece of legislation to ensure its speedy passage through the House.

Infrastructure

[Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet, NDP, Hochelaga, QC]

Mr. Speaker, in 2013, the Conservatives promised that the building Canada fund was going to be transferred to cities and municipalities in April 2014. However, the Conservatives are constantly changing the rules and demanding more information from municipalities, thereby delaying the approval of the projects.

In the middle of the construction season, the Conservatives are building nothing but confusion. Municipalities do not even know how to apply for infrastructure funding. Why have the Conservatives decided to put last-minute obstacles in the municipalities' way?

[Denis Lebel, Conservative, Minister of Infrastructure]

Mr. Speaker, the only confusion is in the minds of the NDP. That has been clear from the outset.

Cities know full well that, in Quebec, every municipality must first submit its projects to the province. For provinces to receive money from the gas tax fund, they have to sign an agreement. It is simple.

The new government in Quebec is working on the agreement that was provided last November 5. As soon as it is signed, no construction season will be lost. Everyone in Quebec knows that the work will be done. Everyone, that is, except the NDP.

[Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet, NDP, Hochelaga, QC]

Mr. Speaker, urban centres across the country are waiting to receive funding in order to replace aging infrastructure. Some of their projects could be delayed for a full year because of this. Construction jobs may never see the light of day. Major infrastructure projects may be delayed for a year.

The federal government has only one job: hand over the money. Can the minister do that? The municipalities cannot do the minister's job for him.

[Denis Lebel, Conservative, Minister of Infrastructure]

Mr. Speaker, this is incredible. Never in the history of this country has a government done more for infrastructure in Canada than ours. Never.

After the billions and billions of dollars in investments, which the NDP has always voted against, not only does the NDP not understand the programs, it votes against them and then tries to take credit for them. That is the height of irony.

Municipalities and the provinces know full well that the program is working. The money for the building Canada fund has been available since April 1, and only a few provinces have yet to sign on for the gas tax.

[Fin Donnelly, NDP, New Westminster—Coquitlam, BC]

Mr. Speaker, Conservative mismanagement of the building Canada fund is leaving municipalities struggling to get shovels in the ground on vital infrastructure projects. Municipalities are raising concerns that the application process is causing delays and leaving provinces like British Columbia struggling.

This year's construction season is already under way. These projects are too important to be stalled in Conservative red tape for another year. Why is the government making it so hard to get the funds flowing to these much needed infrastructure projects?

[Denis Lebel, Conservative, Minister of Infrastructure]

Mr. Speaker, this year, there is still $6 billion of the former program that will flow all across the country this summer. That is already done, and the new program is on its way. We are working with the provinces and territories. FCM was at all the round tables that were held during the process to set up the new program. It knows everything that is going on in the project, and all the information is available on the Infrastructure Canada website.

[Matthew Kellway, NDP, Beaches—East York, ON]

Mr. Speaker, ever since the Liberals' 1996 budget took funding for housing out at the knees, Toronto's infrastructure has been neglected by the federal government. Now Canada faces a deep and deepening infrastructure crisis in our cities.

Conservatives are playing games with the rules, municipalities are fed up with the gamesmanship, and Torontonians are frustrated. When will the Conservatives do what the Liberals failed to do and make real investments in Toronto's infrastructure?

[Denis Lebel, Conservative, Minister of Infrastructure]

Mr. Speaker, 71% of the funds of the new program go directly to municipalities in our country. That is more than what FCM was asking for at the beginning of the process.

For sure, we will continue to work with the provinces, territories, and municipalities. We do not prioritize the projects; they do that. We will continue to support them. There is $53 billion, $70 billion in 10 years, including the federal investment in our organization in our own buildings, and we will continue to support the municipalities and provinces all across the country.

The Environment

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

Mr. Speaker, NASA has now confirmed that the ice melt in western Antarctica is “almost certainly unstoppable” and that a three-metre rise in sea levels may now be almost “inevitable”. Meanwhile, we have a Minister of the Environment from Iqaluit, which will almost certainly disappear, giving nonsense answers in question period. If the minister refuses to give meaningful answers here, will she at least, this afternoon, meet with the press and share her thoughts on this impending climate catastrophe?

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, for the record, I am from Gjoa Haven.

Since 2006, our government has invested significant funds in more efficient technologies, better infrastructure, and adaptation in clean energy. We have taken action on two of the largest sources of emissions in the country, transportation and the electricity sector. In fact, in the first 21 years of our coal regulations we expect to see cumulative reductions in greenhouse gas emissions equal to removing about 2.6 million vehicles per year from the road.

Natural Resources

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Mr. Speaker, soon the Conservatives will make their decision on the northern gateway pipeline. Because of environmental concerns, indigenous peoples, the Kitimat community, and British Columbians do not support it. The Supreme Court of Canada itself requires that the federal government consult and accommodate first nations interests, but this has not happened. Yesterday, the UN top advocate for the rights of indigenous peoples agreed, saying the government should not go forward with this project. Will the government finally listen to these collective voices and reject this pipeline?

[Greg Rickford, Conservative, Minister of Natural Resources and Minister for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario]

Mr. Speaker, first nations have made and will continue to make important contributions as a full partner in the development of our natural resources. In fact, the natural resources sector is the largest private employer of first nations people in Canada, and the success of this sector depends on their full participation, from environmental stewardship to the economic benefits of responsible resource development.

Employment Insurance

[Robert Chisholm, NDP, Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS]

Mr. Speaker, Conservatives promise greater transparency with their new Social Security Tribunal. Instead—surprise, surprise—there is more secrecy than ever. Before the new tribunals were established, all decisions were made public. Since, only 18 of nearly 1,000 decisions have been made public. Canadians are left wondering what the Conservatives have to hide. What is the government going to do to make sure this problem is corrected?

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

Mr. Speaker, it is a bit embarrassing that the member opposite does not know or understand that this is an independent, quasi-judicial body that is not managed by the government. Those charged with responsibility for the Social Security Tribunal determine what they report publicly. They tell me that they will be increasing the number of decisions they put online, so if he has an issue with this, I encourage him to contact the chair of the quasi-judicial, independent Social Security Tribunal.

[Robert Aubin, NDP, Trois-Rivières, QC]

Mr. Speaker, transparency and equal access to justice are non-negotiable. That is why the Barreau du Québec is concerned.

One year after it was created, the Social Security Tribunal has made less than 2% of its decisions public. However, the tribunal said that the vast majority of decisions would be available.

Government lawyers have access to all of the case law, but the lawyers who represent the unemployed do not.

Can the minister tell us when the tribunal will make all of the information available and why it has not yet done so?

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

Mr. Speaker, I will say it again. The Social Security Tribunal is a quasi-judicial body that is independent of the government. The chair has said that they will be increasing the number of decisions put online. If the member would like to see changes to the tribunal's policies, I encourage him to contact the chair of the independent quasi-judicial Social Security Tribunal.

Transport

[Tilly O'Neill-Gordon, Conservative, Miramichi, NB]

Mr. Speaker, last month the Minister of Transport met with stakeholders from my province of New Brunswick and listened to the concerns regarding CN's plan to discontinue rail operations in the Newcastle subdivision. Yesterday, my home province was pleased to host the minister for an important announcement regarding passenger rail service in New Brunswick.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice please update this House on the agreement reached between VIA and Canadian National Railway?