House of Commons Hansard #93 of the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was tobacco.
The Deputy Speaker NDP Joe Comartin
Resuming debate, the hon. member for Winnipeg North. I would advise the member that he will only have about four minutes before we move on to statements by members.
Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB
Mr. Speaker, the Liberal Party supports the passage of this bill, but we also recognize that there are more things that we could be doing to improve the environment with respect to the negative impacts of contraband cigarettes or smoking.
Let me approach it from a different way. Back in 1988, when I was first elected to a provincial legislature, budget after budget would come through with increases to cigarette taxes. There is a strong correlation: the higher the cost of cigarettes, the more people are inclined to quit smoking. Often I would hear, “The government is increasing the price of tobacco. I'm going to quit smoking. This is my last pack. I'm going to save that money that I would be spending in taxes and put it toward something else.” We did see significant decreases.
Contraband cigarettes have been counter to the government's attempt to decrease the population's involvement in purchasing tobacco and smoking.
At one time when I was first elected I would argue that the government used tobacco tax as a revenue generation. It was all about money coming in. What we find is that smoking costs society far more than we could ever possibly generate in terms of tobacco tax. We do not get anywhere near as much money in taxes as we spend on things such as health care. In Manitoba alone, hundreds of millions of dollars is spent annually on health. Nationwide, we are probably talking well into the billions of dollars in terms of the negative impacts of tobacco.
If we take a look at those negative impacts today, the issue goes beyond health. There are public safety issues, such as organized crime, which has gotten hold of this issue and is making millions of dollars of revenue every year to be used for other aspects of crime. It is used to complement things such as drugs, prostitution, and all sorts of other issues that are brought into this whole area.
We can and should be doing more. These elements of public safety, of health, and of lost revenue have all had a profound impact on Canadians from coast to coast to coast. Therefore, when we take a look at this bill, what we see is a step in the right direction. There are some concerns that we have with respect to judicial independence, for example, but there are other issues and as such we could have done so much more. We ask the government to look at the bigger picture in terms of what else it can be doing to deal not only with contraband cigarettes but also with some of those other crimes that are being factored in in terms of organized crime.
Those are my comments. I will not be continuing on after question period.
The Deputy Speaker NDP Joe Comartin
If the member does want to continue on, he would have another sixteen and a half minutes.
Scott Armstrong Conservative Cumberland—Colchester—Musquodoboit Valley, NS
Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to acknowledge the passing of my friend, Chief Lawrence Paul. Chief Lawrence Paul led the Millbrook First Nation for close to 30 years.
He was a visionary leader and because of his vision, he established two priorities for his people: education and economic development. As an educator, I saw first-hand the fruits of his efforts, and today over 80% of Millbrook First Nation youth graduate from high school, far above the national average.
In terms of economic development, his other priority, to establish a robust economy for his people, led Atlantic Business magazine to declare that Chief Paul was one of the top 50 CEOs in Atlantic Canada.
On behalf of Tammy and myself, we offer the Paul family, Chief Gloade, the band council, and the entire Millbrook First Nation our condolences. He was a great man and my friend. We will all miss him.
Jamie Nicholls NDP Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC
Mr. Speaker, I would like to tell the House about five festivals that have become must-see events in my region of Vaudreuil-Soulanges: Les Seigneuriales in Vaudreuil-Dorion, which transports us to New France; the Vaudreuil-Dorion international circus festival; the Hudson Music Festival; the S.O.U.P.E. festival; and, to close out the season, the Rigaud festival of colours.
This year's theme is “Stimulez vos six sens dans Vaudreuil-Soulanges”, in other words, stimulate your six senses in Vaudreuil-Soulanges.
I am proud to be from a region that puts culture as a top priority. Developing the creative economy is crucial to the New Democrats because we realize the importance of arts and culture to economic development. Arts and culture constitute 8% of real GDP and bring in billions of dollars to the Canadian economy. However, money is not the only benefit we derive.
This also nurtures our sense of belonging and brings us all together regardless of our age, where we are from or what language we speak.
I commend the Groupe des 5 and I wish them good luck.
Come one, come all to enjoy the magnificent Vaudreuil—Soulanges.
Parm Gill Conservative Brampton—Springdale, ON
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the students of Louise Arbour Secondary School for standing up for Canadian values. After being concerned by a racist flyer that was recently circulated around Brampton, the students have launched a campaign #ConsiderThisBrampton.
The actions of few behind a discriminatory flyer that was distributed around Brampton go against Canadian values that we hold dear, such as tolerance, freedom, and pluralism. These are values the students of Louise Arbour Secondary School are defending with this campaign.
On behalf of all my colleagues in the House, I would like to thank and congratulate the students for standing up for real Canadian values.
Mark Eyking Liberal Sydney—Victoria, NS
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize two astounding retirees from Cape Breton: Bruce Reardon and Brent Denny.
Bruce worked tirelessly for 31 years with the Sydney Service Canada Centre. Bruce was a dedicated employee in helping many residents of Cape Breton access important programs and providing tools to enter the workforce, thus contributing greatly to our community.
Brent Denny is a member of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality Fire and Emergency Services and began volunteering with the Sydney River Volunteer Fire Department in 1974, eventually taking over the role as chief from 1985 to 2005. Brent also has been an active member of the Fire Service Association of Nova Scotia, serving in many executive positions, including a two-year term as president.
Both of these men exemplify a strong work ethic that has brought great pride not only to their families and friends but to Cape Breton and the community at large. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating them both for their contributions and wishing them the best and a great retirement.
Rick Norlock Conservative Northumberland—Quinte West, ON
Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment t:o thank the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans for funding opportunities under the recreational fisheries conservation partnerships program, and the member for Dauphin—Swan River—Marquette for spawning the idea.
I had the opportunity to announce funding for the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority last week, with assistance from the member for Durham. Our government is providing significant funding to the Ganaraska River riparian tree planting project.
I am pleased to see the success of this program and for the government's continued commitment to support individuals and organizations working along the shores of lakes, rivers, and streams across the country to protect and restore fishing habitats for future generations.
Projects like these have a direct benefit on the health of our watersheds as well as an indirect benefit on local economies. Recreational fishing alone attracts thousands of visitors to Canada and contributes billions of dollars to our economy every year.
Projects funded under the recreational fisheries conservation partnerships program will benefit our communities for many years to come.
Mathieu Ravignat NDP Pontiac, QC
Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today to talk about how the people of Pontiac feel about the replacement of the Des Alumettes Bridge, which crosses our magnificent Ottawa River.
The federal government promised millions of dollars in 2011 for the bridge linking l'Isle-aux-Allumettes in Quebec and Pembroke in Ontario.
The first thought is job creation. Everyone knows that the unemployment rate in the northwestern part of my beautiful riding of Pontiac is close to 10%. Many of my constituents were hoping to find jobs working on the bridge replacement.
Second, the people of Pontiac are wondering whether this announcement was nothing more than an opportunity for the Conservative Party to award bogus contracts to their friends.
Third, will we get this new bridge as promised on the government's website? I hope the government will take note of my constituents' thoughts.
James Rajotte Conservative Edmonton—Leduc, AB
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the contributions of a great Albertan and a great Canadian. Dr. Eric Newell is well known by many members of the House as a source of wisdom on the responsible development of Canada's oil sands . His vast knowledge led him to a storied career in Canada's petroleum and energy industries. In this regard, he is perhaps best known for his 14 years as the CEO of Syncrude.
Dr. Newell is also well known for his contributions to higher education, notably the University of Alberta, and his passion in ensuring the success of aboriginal people in Canada.
In 2008, the Alberta government tasked Dr. Newell with building and chairing the Climate Change and Emissions Management Corporation. This organization funds initiatives to achieve actual and sustainable greenhouse gas emission reductions. This organization is now in the midst of its Grand Challenge, through which innovative thinkers from around the globe are invited to put forward ideas on how to turn a liability like carbon into a useful asset.
I am honoured to consider Dr. Newell a friend. He, and other energy visionaries like him, leave me with nothing but optimism about the future of Canada's energy industry.
Deepak Obhrai Conservative Calgary East, AB
Mr. Speaker, today, I would like to acknowledge the rise of the Ethnique Media in Canada. It is filling the niche that mainstream media has ignored. It caters to the needs of the ethnic community not only by acting as a link to the home country but also by highlighting the achievements of members of the ethnic community.
Some of those involved, like Shan and Jaya Chandrasekar, have been recognized by their entry into the hall of fame.
For all those from coast to coast who work in the ethnic media, I sincerely thank them for their hard work and dedication, despite numerous barriers and hardship. These media highlight our Canadian diversity.
Raymond Côté NDP Beauport—Limoilou, QC
Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise in the House to talk about the exceptional job done by an organization in my riding, Radio CKRL 89.1.
CKRL 89.1, North America's oldest French-language radio station, is celebrating its 41st anniversary this year and continues to charm listeners. During ADISQ's recent annual gathering of music industry players in Quebec, CKRL won the community radio station of the year award.
This well-deserved victory was an awesome kick-off to the station's annual radiothon. The hugely successful event surpassed its fundraising goal, raising over $40,000.
I would like to congratulate the staff on their hard work, as well as the volunteers who get involved because they want to provide Quebeckers with radio programming that is varied, lively and in touch with the people. Once again, congratulations, and long live CKRL 89.1.
James Bezan Conservative Selkirk—Interlake, MB
Mr. Speaker, I have received feedback from many veterans in my riding who have told me that our government needs to improve its communication with Canada's veterans. That is why our government has launched an advertising campaign to ensure that veterans have the information they need.
We must ensure that veterans are aware of the programs and services available to them so they can benefit from them. Surely the members opposite would agree that spending 0.1% of program funding to ensure that veterans know what benefits and services are available is money well spent.
Annick Papillon NDP Québec, QC
Mr. Speaker, this week, I was very excited and proud to participate in the launch of the new Royal 22nd Regiment museum at the Citadelle of Québec.
The Citadelle is one of the largest museums to showcase Canada's francophone military heritage, second only to the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa. This year, the Royal 22nd Regiment, also called the “Vandoos”, is celebrating its 100th anniversary. An avant-garde exhibit, entitled “Je me souviens”, teaches about the regiment's history, mission, exploits and heroes.
I was the only federal representative at the launch because, unfortunately, the Conservative government did not want to send anyone to attend this very special event. It did not want to hear the Royal 22nd Regiment's military music, just like it does not want to hear the military music played at international events such as the International Festival of Military Bands in Quebec City, or the Tattoo of Freedom in Caen, France, in honour of the 70th anniversary of the Normandy invasion. It is a disgrace. The Conservatives have abandoned our soldiers, our veterans and our history.
Susan Truppe Conservative London North Centre, ON
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is wrapping up what must be considered an extremely successful summit in Toronto that has focused the world's attention on maternal, newborn, and child health. The summit has allowed, once again, for Canada to continue in our leadership role, addressing the health challenges faced by women, children, and newborns in developing countries.
Yesterday our government pledged an additional $3.5 billion that will allow crucial investments in critical areas, such as immunization, nutrition, and birth and death registration. This announcement has been praised by many, including the president and CEO of World Vision, who said, "I'm really encouraged. It's clear that the prime minister, the government is keeping their commitment.”
Because of our Prime Minister's personal dedication and commitment to saving the lives of mothers and children worldwide, Canada is continuing in its global leadership and saving the lives of mothers and children worldwide.
Sean Casey Liberal Charlottetown, PE
Mr. Speaker, on Prince Edward Island, we have a deep appreciation for our history and a determination to continue playing a key role in shaping our country. It was 150 years ago that Charlottetown welcomed the 23 Fathers of Confederation, who provided a vision for the country we know today.
As Prince Edward Island prepared to celebrate this historic anniversary, a small group of Islanders explored a single question: what would 23 women have envisioned for the future of Canada? This September, our island will welcome 23 Canadian women from across the country. They will share their bold vision for the next 150 years.
These 23 women come from varied backgrounds, including rocket scientists, social activists, physicians, politicians, journalists, educators, artists, and electricians, and each of them has at least one thing in common: they have a profound love of Canada.
I am proud to stand in the House today and congratulate these 23 women, who include three colleagues from the House of Commons, the members for St. Paul's, Churchill, and Ahuntsic.
Bold Vision is a collaborative effort of Women's Network PEI, the PEI Coalition for Women in Government, the PEI Business Women's Association, the Prince Edward Island Advisory Council on the Status of Women, and the Interministerial Women's Secretariat.
Jacques Gourde Conservative Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Liberal leader, who is scoffing at his active Liberal members by saying that they engage in too much navel-gazing, is once again demonstrating that he does not have what it takes to be party leader.
It has been months now, yet we still know nothing of his policy agenda; however, we do have clear proof that the Conservative government is the only party focused on what matters to Canadians: jobs and economic growth.
While I have the utmost respect for political life, I must admit that the Liberal leader is just like his predecessors: he is thinking about himself too much.
Our Conservative government's leadership is the only thing that can unite the provinces, including Quebec, and create a more prosperous country.
Alain Giguère NDP Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC
Mr. Speaker, when the spouse of a veteran suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder tried to speak to the Minister of Veterans Affairs, he was scared and ran away.
When the Minister of Employment and Social Development is held to account for the management of the temporary foreign worker program, this champion of no accountability tells us that it is not his fault, that it is not his program, that it is the fault of the Liberals and everyone else, except for him.
When the Prime Minister turns the appointment of a Supreme Court judge into a real fiasco, he pretends that he did not know about the rules.
I do not know if others agree with me, but I am beginning to see a trend, that of a government that refuses to face the music.
While the Liberals are asleep at the wheel, the Conservatives can rest assured that every time they make a bad decision or every time they show a lack of respect for our veterans, they will find the NDP in their way.
Kelly Block Conservative Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar, SK
Mr. Speaker, day in and day out, the NDP continues to defend its illegal satellite offices and subsequent looting of millions of dollars from taxpayers. In fact, New Democrats have dug themselves into a hole so deep that they are even using the Duffy defence, with the leader going so far as to say we all do it, just as all senators fiddle their expenses.
Clearly, the Leader of the Opposition knows that the NDP can only win an election when rules are lax and never enforced.
I see that the Leader of the Opposition is in my home province, touring Saskatoon, Moose Jaw, and Regina. I have some advice for him. He should hold off on these satellite office, because since 2004, federally, Saskatchewan has been NDP-free, and we like it that way.
Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC
Mr. Speaker, after using strategies such as arriving late for a meeting and then insulting veterans, yesterday, the minister adopted a new strategy: running away when the spouse of a veteran asked him for help.
All that veterans and their loved ones want is to be heard and respected, something the minister was incapable of doing yesterday. It is shameful.
When will the minister apologize to Jenifer Migneault?
Parm Gill ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs
Mr. Speaker, in respect of the veteran's privacy, we cannot speak about any assistance, support, or contact that might have been provided to him or his family. That said, veterans with PTSD are eligible for a full suite of benefits and programs, including rehabilitation and financial support. As I reported several weeks ago, Veterans Affairs has been in touch with this individual and his family, at the minister's direction.
Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC
Mr. Speaker, no apology is shameful; there is no other way to put it. What Canadians have seen from this minister and the government is a record of failure, mismanagement, and running full speed away from accountability.
Last January, the minister was caught belittling veterans. He spends millions of dollars on propaganda while closing offices that provide important personal services to veterans. Then, yesterday, he completely ignored the spouse of a wounded soldier, actually running away in the other direction.
When will this minister stop running away and agree to meet with veterans and their families?
Parm Gill ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs
Mr. Speaker, I can assure my hon. colleague and all members in this House, as they know full well, that the minister is deeply concerned and cares about Canada's veterans. As a matter of fact, Canadians know full well that this government has a strong record when it comes to defending our veterans, when it comes to caring and providing benefits and services. That is exactly the reason why we have invested almost $5 billion in new additional funding since coming to office. We will continue to stand up for Canada's veterans, even though the New Democrats and the Liberals will vote against every single initiative.
Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC
Mr. Speaker, let us be clear that the NDP will proudly vote against any Conservative budget that cuts veterans services.
The Canadian privacy community is speaking out against the Conservatives' choice for commissioner. Ontario watchdog Ann Cavoukian said:
...looking at someone whose expertise is in public safety and defence would seem the antithesis of the expertise you'd seek for privacy commissioner.
Yet again, of course, Liberals support the Conservatives' bad decisions, but the New Democrats stand with privacy commissioners.
Will the Conservatives do the right thing and withdraw the nomination?
Dan Albas ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board
Mr. Speaker, Mr. Therrien is a qualified candidate who will bring to this job his considerable experience in dealing with legal and confidentiality issues. The appointment was made following a rigorous process that identified Mr. Therrien as the best candidate.