Debates of May 8th, 2014

National Defence

[James Bezan, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, Canada has declined to participate in ballistic missile defence in the past, and no decision has been made to change this policy. We will continue to monitor international developments and will also continue to ensure both the safety and security of Canadians both at home and abroad.

The member is vice-chair of the House defence committee. The defence committees in both the Senate and over here in the House are studying missile defence and the defence of North America respectively, and we should let those committees continue their work.

[Élaine Michaud, NDP, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

Mr. Speaker, once again, the minister responsible for the file cannot even confirm or deny whether Canada will take part in a missile defence program. It is simple: either we intend to take part, or we do not intend to take part.

The cost of a system like this is astronomical, and the system's success has yet to be proven. Could the minister please tell us whether his government intends to take part in a ballistic missile defence program? If so, could he also explain where he intends to find the money?

[James Bezan, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, I just said that there has been no change to the policy. We made the decision not to participate in ballistic missile defence. The member, as a member of the national defence committee in the House of Commons, should wait until we actually finish our study. We will have some collaboration and discussions, make a recommendation, and report back to the House of Commons.

Public Safety

[Rosane Doré Lefebvre, NDP, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

Mr. Speaker, let us change the subject, but keep talking about the Conservatives' lack of judgment.

Instead of keeping our communities safe, the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness prefers to waste his time making the Canada Border Services Agency participate in a reality TV series for the third consecutive season against the written recommendation of CBSA president Luc Portelance. Border Services officers do serious and dangerous work. It is not entertainment.

When will the minister listen to the Border Services officers and let them do their job?

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness]

Mr. Speaker, I agree with my colleague.

Border Services officers do serious and important work to preserve the integrity of our immigration system.

They are taking part in the third season of a program that attracts nearly 11 million viewers a year. This helps show Canadians the remarkable work Border Services officers do to enforce our laws, to ensure that people coming from other countries are properly received and that those who are not entitled to enter are turned away appropriately.

[Randall Garrison, NDP, Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the minister is not entitled to his own facts here. He is the one who approved the third season of the reality TV show that recklessly exploits immigration raids. He did this against the recommendation of CBSA president Luc Portelance, who cited costs and the need for CBSA to focus on its real priority, keeping Canadians safe, and not on having to worry about filming reality TV programs.

Will the minister finally employ some common sense, listen to his officials at CBSA, and put a stop to this reckless and wasteful PR stunt?

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness]

Mr. Speaker, we are very proud of the work that is accomplished on a daily basis by our front-line officers to ensure that our borders are safe and that our immigration system is working properly. That is why we are not shy about the work they are doing. We are proud that CBSA is participating in that documentary that explains the work of the front-line officers and that is viewed by more than 11 million viewers a year.

National Defence

[Laurie Hawn, Conservative, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Mr. Speaker, we can never give enough thanks to the brave men and women who serve in the Canadian Armed Forces. We must never forget those who fought and those who fell during Canada's mission in Afghanistan, including those from the South Alberta Light Horse Regiment, whose tie I proudly wear today. The Prime Minister has designated tomorrow, May 9, as a National Day of Honour. This is a truly important moment in our history, when we will recognize the courage and sacrifices made by our soldiers and their families.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence please provide this House with some details regarding the events taking place tomorrow?

[James Bezan, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for Edmonton Centre for his service to Canada and for his ongoing support and work in support of our troops and our veterans.

Tomorrow's National Day of Honour will be commemorated right across Canada through a series of events. In Ottawa, the national ceremony will begin with a parade that will travel from the Canadian War Museum up to Parliament Hill.

I ask and encourage all Canadians to please observe two minutes of silence tomorrow afternoon at 1:30 p.m. eastern standard time. This will recognize the completion of the mission in Afghanistan and honour the more than 40,000 members of the Canadian Armed Forces who served overseas.

To the families of the fallen, Canadians will forever be grateful for their sacrifice. Lest we forget.

Canadian Heritage

[Pierre Nantel, NDP, Longueuil—Pierre-Boucher, QC]

Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, when we asked the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages if she would appear before the committee to talk about the crisis currently rocking CBC/Radio-Canada, she said she was open to the idea.

This morning, the Conservative members of the parliamentary committee voted against the NDP motion calling for a special appearance by the minister. While CBC/Radio-Canada might be an independent crown corporation, the minister has responsibility for it and she must be transparent.

Why did her colleagues vote against the motion? Why is the minister refusing to take one hour of her time to explain how these cuts will affect millions of Canadians?

[Rick Dykstra, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, the member actually answered his question in his question when he stated that the CBC is in fact an independent organization that operates at arm's length from the government. When it comes to the direction it wants to take, whether it be programming, whether it be fiscal decisions, whether it be human resources, that is a decision to be made by the CBC. I think it is appropriate, and this government believes it is appropriate, for those responsibilities to remain with the CBC.

[Irene Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Mr. Speaker, this morning, Conservatives voted down an NDP motion inviting the heritage minister to appear at committee to respond to CBC cuts. Despite the minister telling this House she wanted to appear, her colleagues obstructed our motion.

The CBC is in crisis. It has lost great talents like Linden MacIntyre, yet we cannot even discuss it in Parliament. Will the minister tell her Conservative colleagues that she wants to appear at committee to explain these drastic cuts to Canadians?

[Rick Dykstra, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, this member knows as well that CBC operates independently and at arm's length from the government.

What folks would probably like to understand is that currently we are undertaking a study of Canadian music and the way that music is funded and the growth of all the artists who are Canadian who create all of this music across this country that is so well known around the world. In fact, if Greg Keelor, from the band Blue Rodeo, were in the audience today, I have a feeling that he would prefer that we focus on the success of the music, its industry, and our artists in this country instead of on questions that have nothing to do with what we are studying at committee.

Foreign Affairs

[Paul Dewar, NDP, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the United States sent a strong message to Russian president Putin by blacklisting Igor Sechin and Sergei Chemezov, close allies of President Putin, but Canada has yet to follow suit. These men have close ties to the Russian security establishment. Their companies have very large investments in Canada.

The question is this. Why were they left off the list, and will the minister include them on Canada's sanctions list immediately?

[John Baird, Conservative, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, in fact, Canada has the largest number of people and organizations and businesses sanctioned of any country in the world. No other government has stood up more forcefully and more aggressively against the Russian aggression in Ukraine. This government is very proud of our record. We have expanded the sanctions list on a number of occasions, and we will be expanding it again in short order.

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

Mr. Speaker, not only are our sanctions different than those of our allies, but Canada has yet to suspend its high-tech military exports to Russia, as requested by the NDP.

Canada must continue to support the Ukrainian people. When will the minister finally suspend our military exports to Russia and when will he impose sanctions on all the Russian individuals and businesses already sanctioned by our allies?

[John Baird, Conservative, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to report to the House that Canada has no bilateral military exports to the Russian federation. I have instructed the department not to approve any export applications destined for Russia and that any pending applications are to be suspended and refused. Nothing will be approved that could benefit the military in Russia.

Veterans Affairs

[Frank Valeriote, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

Mr. Speaker, while we rightfully honour those who served in Afghanistan, the current government continues to neglect the many military personnel and veterans who still suffer from physical and emotional injuries. When will the Conservative government stop underfunding services for veterans and recognize in court, where they are currently fighting them, that they actually owe our veterans a sacred obligation?

[Julian Fantino, Conservative, Minister of Veterans Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to respond to the question. The hon. member is of course conscientious and concerned. I realize that, but Canadian veterans who have service-related conditions benefit from many of the initiatives that are in place to address not only their particular issues but their transition into civilian life, and of course, support for their families, as well, in a whole range of support systems that are geared and structured and available to them to help them through their difficult times. Of course, for any veterans who need help, or their families, we are here to do exactly that.

Correctional Service Canada

[Wayne Easter, Liberal, Malpeque, PE]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness has now been told by the Auditor General as well as by the Correctional Investigator that double-bunking presents a serious risk to prison staff as well as to inmates. In its own report, prepared in 2012, CSC warned it would be challenged to meet reduction targets on violent incidents and assaults, and double-bunking was the problem.

Why does the minister continue to create an explosive environment in prisons, putting correctional staff and inmates at risk?

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness]

Mr. Speaker, the only explosive thing we have seen is the verbal explosion by opposition members, who claimed that our prisons would be full, which is not the case. The truth is that there has been little increase in the prison population. Furthermore, with the 1,700 cells we have added, we are now able to ensure that criminals are behind bars.

We will continue to make our streets and communities safer.

Fisheries and Oceans

[Ryan Cleary, NDP, St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NL]

Mr. Speaker, all players in the Newfoundland and Labrador fishery agree that the quota for northern shrimp must be reduced to protect the stock. Most quarters in the fishery also agree that inshore fishermen, who are becoming a rare breed, must not bear the pain alone. The quota must be balanced between the inshore and big business offshore sectors.

The inshore fishery is the heart and soul of our outports. Will the minister defend the survival of these communities by ensuring they are not sacrificed on the altar of big business?

[Randy Kamp, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans]

Mr. Speaker, these are difficult decisions for the minister because she is well aware that changes in the ecosystem that require reductions in the total allowable catch do affect people's lives and livelihoods. That is why she has consulted broadly with stakeholders on this science-based decision that she has made.

With respect to the last in, first out policy, it has had its roots since 1997 when the Liberal government of the day allowed new entrants into the fishery. The new entrants received the vast majority of the increased access since that day with the knowledge that, should it decline, it would—

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

The hon. member for Trois-Rivières.

Employment Insurance

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

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives have essentially gutted Service Canada. One result is that now, one in four unemployed workers does not receive a response to their EI claim within the 28-day deadline. Think about it: four weeks without income is huge when rent, grocery and hydro bills are piling up.

Yesterday the minister asked the parliamentary secretary to find out how he could shorten wait times. I have a very simple suggestion for him: hire more staff.

Does the minister understand that the time to do more with less has passed?