Debates of May 14th, 2014

Aboriginal Affairs

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

Mr. Speaker, while the minister gives us meaningless answers to the effect that the root cause of crimes against aboriginal women is criminals, thousands of aboriginal women are still missing or murdered and the victims' families are left without answers.

The Minister of Justice keeps talking about studies. Can he tell us what those studies indicate are the main socio-economic causes of the disappearances and murders and what specific measures his government has put in place to address those causes?

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

Mr. Speaker, he is the one talking about studies, he and members of the NDP. We are talking about the $25 million injected into the aboriginal justice strategy. We are talking about the creation of a National Centre for Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains. There are law enforcement enhancements, the victims fund, and support for aboriginal community-based awareness initiatives and safety plans.

The time for talk is over. The time is now to continue these important action initiatives, not just talk about them.

[Romeo Saganash, NDP, Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC]

Mr. Speaker, in the meantime, the list of victims is getting longer.

Inuit and first nations communities have been faced with a housing crisis for too long. There is not enough housing, people live in overcrowded conditions and the housing needs major renovations. We need concrete action to resolve this crisis.

Does the minister recognize that this is an urgent situation and will he vote in favour of our motion, implement our solutions and put an end to the chronic underfunding of housing?

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

Mr. Speaker, as the member knows, we have created important programs especially for first nations, to build new housing as well as renovate thousands of housing units across the country. It is definitely a challenge that we must address together with the first nations. We are continuing our efforts in this area.

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

Mr. Speaker, nowhere is the crisis in housing more apparent than in first nations, Inuit, and Métis communities. The Conservative-Liberal approach of trickling dollars out simply has not worked. We can do better.

In 2005, Jack Layton forced the government to invest $1.6 billion in new affordable housing—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

Order, please. Members of the parties in the chamber still have some opportunities to ask questions, but right now the member for Nanaimo—Cowichan has the floor, so I will ask them to wait until it is their turn.

The hon. member for Nanaimo—Cowichan.

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

Mr. Speaker, in 2005, Jack Layton forced the government to invest $1.6 billion in new affordable housing, with money set aside just for aboriginal housing providers. That is the NDP record: working with people, getting results.

Why will the Conservatives not drop their miserly approach and support the NDP motion?

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

Mr. Speaker, our government recognizes indeed that housing is fundamental to a good quality of life. That is why we have taken concrete steps to support first nations in providing safe and warm shelter. Since 2006, our government supported, through my department, the construction of 11,000 new homes and the renovation of 21,000 existing homes in first nation communities. While we continue to work in collaboration to improve the first nation quality of life, the NDP continues voting against every measure.

The Environment

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

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Minister of the Environment seemed keen for us to know that she comes from the community of Gjoa Haven, but according to NASA and National Geographic, if polar ice melts continue as predicted, her community and vast stretches of the Arctic Ocean will be under water.

Since she seems to be indifferent to the fate of the rest of us, has she at least convened a community meeting in her own community to discuss adaptation and mitigation measures before this dramatic rise in sea level?

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, our government is taking a leadership role in international climate change efforts. We have been clear that any international agreements must be fair and effective. That includes all commitments by all major emitters.

Meanwhile, we have taken real actions domestically, and we are seeing progress. Thanks to our actions, carbon emissions will go down by close to 130 megatonnes from what they would have been under the Liberals, and we have done that without introducing a carbon tax.

Veterans Affairs

[Frank Valeriote, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

Well, Mr. Speaker, we have more Conservative waste on self-promotion.

Yesterday we learned that the Department of Veterans Affairs spent over $100,000 on promoted tweets, including $88,000 alone for Remembrance Day tweets, over the same month it was closing nine Veterans Affairs offices. There are few veterans—or Canadians, for that matter—who need $88,000 in tweeted reminders for when Remembrance Day is.

Can the minister answer why he is spending necessary funds looking good instead of spending money doing good for our veterans?

[Julian Fantino, Conservative, Minister of Veterans Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, our Conservative government is working to deliver the support our veterans deserve. They stood up for our country and we are standing up for them.

We are in fact communicating clearly and in plain language so that veterans and their families can quickly and easily access information that is important to them and their quality of life.

Foreign Affairs

[Paul Dewar, NDP, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians are deeply concerned about the kidnapping of hundreds of schoolgirls in Nigeria. We all want to make sure these girls are returned safely to their families. Canadians also want detailed information about the assistance our government is offering to the government of Nigeria.

The U.S. has laid out its help in great detail. Will the minister please do the same and let Canadians know precisely what help our government is providing to rescue these young girls?

[Deepak Obhrai, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and for International Human Rights]

Mr. Speaker, Canada is very much concerned, as the Prime Minister said yesterday, about this kidnapping.

As the Prime Minister said yesterday, Canadians are already on the ground in Nigeria working with our U.K. and U.S. allies. Canadian personnel on the ground are there solely in a liaison and advisory capacity.

[Hélène Laverdière, NDP, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, French president François Hollande is holding a summit on Boko Haram on Saturday. Nigeria, neighbouring countries, the European Union, Great Britain and the United States will be participating. As a co-chair of the Sahel Working Group of the Global Counterterrorism Forum and a contributor to the current effort, Canada should take advantage of every opportunity to become involved.

Was Canada invited to the meeting?

[Deepak Obhrai, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and for International Human Rights]

Mr. Speaker, I can tell the hon. member that Canada will attend and our representation will be determined very shortly.

The Environment

[Ryan Leef, Conservative, Yukon, YT]

Mr. Speaker, the Nááts'ihch'oh National Park Reserve in the Northwest Territories was intended to protect the habitat of mountain caribou, grizzly bears, Dall sheep, and mountain goats.

The Minister of the Environment previously committed to creating a new park that would protect 86% of the entire south Nahanni watershed from development.

I know many northerners have been concerned about when the minister would follow through on her commitment to take action. I wonder if the minister can update the House on where the government stands on this initiative.

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague from Yukon for that great question.

I am very pleased to say that the Nááts'ihch'oh National Park Reserve act was just tabled in the Senate. The creation of this park has been years in the making, involving consultations with communities, aboriginal groups, industry, and the Government of the Northwest Territories.

Our government signed an agreement with the Sahtu Dene as well as the Northwest Territories Metis to ensure that northerners will benefit from the lasting economic, cultural, and social benefits while protecting the habitat.

Tulita will be the gateway to the park, creating jobs, skills, and training for people in the community. I encourage everyone in the House—

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

The hon. member for Saint-Maurice—Champlain.

Forestry Industry

[Lise St-Denis, Liberal, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the small community of Parent, in the Mauricie region, is in limbo, as there are persistent rumours that the local sawmill it is hugely dependent on will shut down. Every week, the forestry industry is weakened by the government's mismanagement. Since this shutdown would have an effect on his riding and mine, does the minister responsible foresee that the federal government will get involved in consolidating the forestry industry?

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

Mr. Speaker, from Muskoka to the Manitoba border, our government will continue to focus on community economic development, business growth, competitiveness, and innovation that creates jobs and long-term prosperity.

We will continue to ensure that communities and businesses in northern Ontario have the tools they need to have a strong, diversified economy, working with all levels of government, including first nations and other stakeholders, to ensure we maximize the economic opportunities and long-term sustainability of northern Ontario and Quebec.

Champlain Bridge

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

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Infrastructure is maintaining his code of silence on the Champlain Bridge.

Yesterday, at the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, his senior officials were unable to tell us whether Ottawa was in possession of any kind of study on how a Conservative toll would affect traffic in the greater Montreal area.

We are tired of hearing the same old story from the minister. Can he tell us whether such a study exists? If so, when will he table it and make it public?

[Denis Lebel, Conservative, Minister of Infrastructure]

Mr. Speaker, as we announced on October 5, 2011, we are moving ahead with our plan to build the new bridge over the St. Lawrence, and we will keep up maintenance on the existing bridge. I want to point out that this member and his party voted against a $380-million investment in maintaining the existing bridge.

The request for qualification period finished on May 7. We are committed to moving forward with the requests for proposals. We are going to build a bridge while they try to play politics.

International Trade

[Joyce Bateman, Conservative, Winnipeg South Centre, MB]

Mr. Speaker, trade is a vital part of our economy. In Canada, one in five jobs are related to export. In fact, trade is very important in my riding, where food producers will benefit from Korean and European free trade.

Could the Minister of International Trade tell the House how our government is helping to create jobs through international trade, not only in my riding, but also across Canada?