House of Commons Hansard #92 of the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was munitions.
Gerry Ritz ConservativeMinister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
Mr. Speaker, it very interesting that the member for Malpeque pulled himself from agricultural files several years ago because the agricultural industries out there did not recognize his brilliance. That continues today.
The question he asked is well in hand. I continue to work with my colleagues at CBSA and finance to find resolution on this file. Chicken farmers are well served by our government. They continue to tell us this, even when they were lobbying here last week.
Wayne Easter Liberal Malpeque, PE
Mr. Speaker, let us return to the question of the hiring practices for Conservative friends. Here is the list: John Lynn, now fired, friend and sailing buddy of the Minister of Justice and a repeat contributor to his campaigns; Nancy Baker, a former political aide to the justice minister while in another portfolio; Allan Murphy and Shaun Masterson, political staffers to the very same minister; Kevin MacAdam, friend and political aide to the minister while at ACOA.
Does the Prime Minister not see a common link here? When will there be cabinet accountability? When will we see it?
Rob Moore ConservativeMinister of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency)
Mr. Speaker, I reject the premise of the hon. member's question. If he were being forthright here, he would recognize that neither the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner, nor the Public Service Commission found any evidence of any political wrongdoing by political ministers, or by political staff. The member's entire question is unfounded.
Paul Dewar NDP Ottawa Centre, ON
Mr. Speaker, over 118 countries have signed the arms trade treaty, including every single NATO country except Canada. After much delay, the minister is now claiming that Canada's controls exceed those of the proposed ATT. Therefore, why not sign the ATT? In fact, this will stop the illicit trade of arms, which are now a problem in South Sudan, in CAR and in places like Nigeria. When will the minister sign this deal?
John Baird ConservativeMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, Canada has some of the strongest export controls in the world, including those through the Export and Import Permits Act and the automatic firearms country control list.
What we are deeply concerned about is the establishment of another long gun registry and the billions of dollars that could be wasted. I know that is a great disappointment to my friend opposite.
Laurin Liu NDP Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
Mr. Speaker, that is nonsense. This week, the Government of Nigeria and the International Committee of the Red Cross pleaded for the ratification of the arms trade treaty. This would help us keep illegal weapons out of the hands of terrorist groups like Boko Haram, which is responsible for kidnapping 200 girls in Nigeria. Will the minister listen to the Government of Nigeria and sign the treaty to save lives?
John Baird ConservativeMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, I am not aware of any Canadian arms that have gone to Boko Haram or any of the examples she has cited, so I am not sure how those problems would have been stopped.
What we do have is strong domestic legislation that controls Canadian arms from finding their way into the hands of the very organizations and governments that she just suggested.
She talks about the government of Nigeria. Obviously, we have some concerns in many respects of that government in terms of exporting arms, given its abysmal human rights record.
Dave MacKenzie Conservative Oxford, ON
Mr. Speaker, last night the House passed my Bill C-483. The bill would ensure that the Parole Board of Canada would make decisions related to the release of prisoners on escorted temporary absences. It would stop the process of allowing unaccountable bureaucrats the authority to make decisions about who could leave prison.
The bill came about as the result of an absurd decision to let a convicted cop killer out of prison after he had already been denied parole. The widow of the police officer, Kim Hancox, was fully supportive of my legislation.
Could the Minister of Public Safety please update the House on the bill?
Steven Blaney ConservativeMinister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I sit with the member for Oxford who not only brought forward the bill, but who has also been a great police officer.
I was pleased to see nearly all members of the House support this important bill. I wish the leader of the Green Party would have supported it. Why? Because it is another way to give a voice to victims.
Also, I hope the other place will adopt the bill so it can come into force rapidly.
Marc Garneau Liberal Westmount—Ville-Marie, QC
Mr. Speaker, 118 countries have signed the UN arms trade treaty, which is there to control the international trade of illegal arms to terrorists and criminals. Canada remains a laggard. Its continuing excuse is that it needs to consult its lobbyists before signing the treaty.
Could the government tell us when it will finish its consultation and leave the dwindling ranks of the non-signatory countries like Russia, Syria, North Korea—
John Baird ConservativeMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, I noticed the United States has not ratified the treaty in the United States Senate. I look forward to the United States putting that treaty before the United States Senate where there is a democratic—
The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer
Order, please. The member for Westmount—Ville-Marie should listen to the answer to his own questions. The Minister of Foreign Affairs is answering it. If he wants to try to get a supplemental, he might want to try another day, but for now he should listen to the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
John Baird Conservative Ottawa West—Nepean, ON
Mr. Speaker, we put it forward to the Obama administration, which has signed it, to try to ratify it, to put it before the United States Senate where his party has a significant majority. We will follow that very closely.
Obviously, we will follow the international discussions on this issue. We already have a strong arms control regime in Canada to prevent arms from getting into the hands of terrorists and bad actors.
Philip Toone NDP Gaspésie—Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC
Mr. Speaker, it seems as though VIA Rail has given us a raw deal.
For months, we were promised that passenger rail service would resume in the Gaspé as soon as the railway was fixed. The repairs will be finished at the end of June. However, VIA Rail has now announced that service cannot resume because the employees were let go. Enough with the excuses.
Will the government remind VIA Rail that it must follow through on its commitments, or are the Conservatives simply going to abandon the regions?
Jeff Watson ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, I would remind the member that it is this government that has been supportive of VIA Rail in terms of appropriations time and again and it is the party opposite that continues to vote against it, though members say somehow they are supportive of it.
I would remind the member opposite that any decisions by VIA Rail are in fact VIA Rail's own decisions. It is an independent crown corporation that operates at arm's-length from the government.
Patricia Davidson Conservative Sarnia—Lambton, ON
Mr. Speaker, saving the lives of mothers and newborns in developing countries is an issue people in my riding, and indeed all Canadians, care deeply about. Our government has been clear that saving the lives of mothers and children is our leading development priority.
Joel Spicer of the Micronutrient initiative has noted of the Prime Minister, “It was very clear he was personally committed, that he felt a sense of injustice”. The Prime Minister will continue to host high level meetings on this today in Toronto.
Could the parliamentary secretary please update the House?
Paul Calandra ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and for Intergovernmental Affairs
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member for Sarnia—Lambton for the passion she brings to this file.
Delegates are working together on three key objectives: delivering results for mothers and children; doing more together globally; and taking real action for women and children's health.
We are seeing tremendous results. Anthony Lake of UNICEF recognized the passion of Minister of International Development on the file and credited the Prime Minister. He said, “He has led the way on this and Canada has delivered and is delivering, again 80 per cent of its commitment at Muskoka”.
The solution to this problem is within arm's reach and Canada will be a driving force to realize this great achievement.
Peggy Nash NDP Parkdale—High Park, ON
Mr. Speaker, hazardous material is transported daily by rail throughout my riding. By not ensuring the highest safety standards for rail, Conservatives have left communities to fend for themselves.
In Toronto, community members have formed a safe rail communities group. They are calling for greater transparency in rail safety decisions. Why has the minister dropped the ball on this file and left it up to Canadians to do her job?
Jeff Watson ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, that is utter nonsense. This government has taken significant actions with respect to improving rail safety; many of those measures, by the way, opposed by New Democrats opposite.
We have worked with our partners, with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, with the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs, and with a number of stakeholders to improve information sharing with municipalities, for example.
We are taking action, not rhetoric, like from the opposition.
Dean Del Mastro Independent Peterborough, ON
Mr. Speaker, I thank the Minister of Industry for updating this House on his efforts to eliminate interprovincial trade barriers in Canada.
Interprovincial trade barriers are nothing more than ill-conceived, wrong-headed protectionist policies that cost our economy $50 billion per year and more robust job creation. I say to our premiers, tear down these walls.
Can the Minister of Industry please indicate if he has heard from the nation's businesses and job creators in this regard?
Intergovernmental AffairsOral Questions
Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam B.C.
Conservative
James Moore ConservativeMinister of Industry
Mr. Speaker, for years my colleague from Peterborough has been advocating this kind of reform.
Earlier this year I asked my deputy minister to go across the country and meet with our counterparts in all parts of the country to see what the interest was in moving forward with a new free trade agreement within Canada.
To my great satisfaction, there is great news for all Canadians who want to have more free trade. From British Columbia to Newfoundland and Labrador and now in Quebec, all parts of this country want to sit down and have a new, comprehensive, pan-Canadian free trade agreement within Canada. This is great news.
It should not be easier for a small business in Cornwall to do business in Syracuse than it is to do business in Sherbrooke. That is currently the case, and we want to make it right.
Jean-François Fortin Bloc Haute-Gaspésie—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia, QC
Mr. Speaker, today marks the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Empress of Ireland, which went down in the St. Lawrence River, off Sainte-Luce-sur-Mer, which is in my riding.
Mr. Speaker, I believe you will find unanimous consent from all parties to observe a moment of silence in remembrance of this tragedy that claimed 1,012 lives, including those of 134 children.
The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer
Does the hon. member have the unanimous consent of the House to observe a moment of silence?