Debates of June 10th, 2014

Youth Centres in Quebec

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

Mr. Speaker, last Saturday, for the first time in 20 years, I got on a bike to join the clients and supporters of the Centres jeunesse du Québec in the 2014 edition of Une route sans fin, a cycling challenge.

Although the ride may have seemed like just one of a politician's professional activities, my involvement in the Baie-Comeau section of the event was primarily motivated by a desire to discreetly gather information and observations that might allow me to assess the cultural appropriateness of the approach used by those caring for a vulnerable clientele, 42% of which is made up of Innu and Naskapi young people.

As a result of conversations with Mr. Huard, the director of the Centre de protection et de réadaptation de la Côte-Nord, I come back to the House to report that the services are well tailored to the realities of a provincial clientele of young people, 117,000 of them each year, who most often come from dysfunctional social units. Having surreptitiously listened in on the discussions during our bike ride, I have no difficulty in concluding that the residents of the centre in Baie-Comeau enjoy outstanding guidance that is in clear contrast to the negligence that too often has marked their short lives.

Portugal Day

[Brad Butt, Conservative, Mississauga—Streetsville, ON]

Mr. Speaker, today is Portugal Day, and in the coming days, this will be celebrated across Canada with parades and other community gatherings.

Canada is proud to have a well-established and well-integrated Portuguese community across the country. Portugal Day gives all Canadians the opportunity to celebrate Portuguese culture and heritage. Streetsville is home to the Portuguese Cultural Centre of Mississauga and is a vibrant part of our community.

Portuguese explorers were among the first to arrive in Canada. They discovered the land that later became known as Labrador. Indeed, the Portuguese connection to Canada goes back to the very discovery of our country, and today, Canadians of Portuguese heritage continue to make Canada strong.

I extend my best wishes to all Canadians taking part in Portugal Day celebrations.

New Westminster Salmonbellies

[Peter Julian, NDP, Burnaby—New Westminster, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honour the 125th anniversary of the New Westminster Salmonbellies and to celebrate North America's oldest lacrosse club, winner of 24 national Mann Cup championships, in the greatest lacrosse city in the world.

New Westminster, the oldest city in western Canada, is the home of the Salmonbellies, who are to lacrosse what the Montreal Canadiens are to hockey. We are proud of our bellies, and you can only say that in New West, Mr. Speaker.

The Salmonbellies are active members in the community, participating in the annual Hyack parade, hosting events for Canadian military personnel, sponsoring “Cops for Cancer” with the New Westminster police department, and putting on many camps and clinics with the New Westminster Minor Lacrosse Association. The Salmonbellies' 24 Mann Cup banners hang from the rafters in Queen's Park Arena. This year I am confident that the team will bring home its 25th Mann Cup national championship banner.

Congratulations to the Salmonbellies on behalf of the citizens of New Westminster. Go bellies!

70th Anniversary of D-Day

[Laurie Hawn, Conservative, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about last week's D-Day commemoration from the perspective of the children.

There is no doubt of our gratitude and honour for Canadians and allies who fought and fell in the cause of our collective freedom. It is important that this torch of remembrance be passed to following generations, and that is what we saw happening last week. We saw hundreds of young Canadians on the beach at Juno and at the Canadian cemetery at Bény-sur-Mer. They were learning about and speaking about the service and sacrifice of their grandparents, and I know that they will share their Normandy experiences with their classmates.

We also met many French children, who are absorbing the gratitude of their elders for what Canada means to their life in France today.

One of the simplest and most moving of our events was on the beach with 48 local students. They each picked up sand from the beach and gave it to us to bring back to Parliament as a sign of their young gratitude, sand like I hold in my hand, and then we all sang O Canada together.

We all express the sentiment of “Lest We Forget”, and I was very encouraged by what I know will become the mantra of young people on both sides of the Atlantic: We will remember them.

Shootings in Moncton

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Wascana, SK]

Mr. Speaker, all Canadians are united in grief today as we pay our final respects to Fabrice Gevaudan, Douglas Larche, and Dave Ross, three courageous members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police who gave their lives in the line of duty last week in Moncton. We think of their loved ones, their families, and friends. We think of Constables Darlene Goguen and Eric Dubois, who were also injured. We think of all their contemporaries who trained with them, as all Mounties have done since 1885, at “Depot” Division in Regina. As they say, it is the place where Mounties are born, and they are born into a force, a tradition, and a police family of remarkable character and calibre that is uniquely and distinctly Canadian.

The RCMP is integral to how this country defines itself. When a member is taken, we all share the loss. We all send our heartfelt sympathies. A grateful nation, together, says thank you and God speed.

The Environment

[Robert Sopuck, Conservative, Dauphin—Swan River—Marquette, MB]

Mr. Speaker, today I am proud to stand up in the House of Commons to inform Canadians of the work our government is doing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while keeping the economy strong.

Under the previous Liberal government, Canada lacked any policy to reduce these emissions, which is why our government has been working so hard to reduce emissions. We have introduced new emissions regulations for vehicles, and we were the first major coal user to ban the construction of traditional coal-fired power plants.

Climate change is a global issue, and while Canada currently emits less than 2% of global greenhouse gases, we believe it is important to assist other countries. That is why we contributed $1.2 billion to help developing countries do their part. We achieved all of this without imposing the NDP's $20-billion carbon tax on Canadians. Thanks to our actions, carbon emissions will go down close to 130 megatonnes from what they would have been under the Liberals.

Shootings in Moncton

[François Pilon, NDP, Laval—Les Îles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise today in the House to honour the memory of James Larche, Georges Gevaudan and Dave Ross, who were killed by a gunman last Wednesday evening as they were working to keep the people of Moncton safe. Three families were robbed of their loved ones in a cowardly act of senseless violence that shook the whole nation.

On behalf of my colleagues, I would like to express my deepest sympathies to all members of the RCMP, the people of Moncton and especially the families and loved ones of the three victims. I cannot even begin to imagine the pain and distress these people must be feeling.

None of us here will ever forget the heroism of these three police officers, nor will Canadians across the country. Their dedication to protecting the community of Moncton will be an inspiration for years to come.

My deepest sympathies go out to their family members and friends.

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

Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that Canadians from coast to coast to coast turn their attention to Moncton, New Brunswick. Today, along with family and friends, thousands of RCMP officers, law enforcement officials, and first responders, joined by the Governor General, the Prime Minister, and the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, gather in Moncton to honour the lives and memory of three fallen RCMP officers.

Let us take a moment to remember and send our thoughts and prayers to the families and friends of Constable Fabrice Gevaudan, Constable David Ross, and Constable Douglas Larche. A candlelight vigil in honour of the officers is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in front of the Codiac RCMP headquarters.

I know I speak for all members of the House when I say we shall mourn their passing and that their sacrifice will never be forgotten.

Finance

[Libby Davies, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Mr. Speaker, income splitting is an economic policy that picks winners and losers, a policy opposed by many experts. The late Jim Flaherty voiced his concerns, saying, “I'm not sure that overall it benefits our society”. Today another report shows he was right. Nine out of 10 Canadian households would receive no benefit.

Will the Conservative government abandon this unbalanced tax proposal that benefits so very few Canadians?

[Kevin Sorenson, Conservative, Minister of State (Finance)]

Mr. Speaker, our Prime Minister said that income splitting is a good policy for Canadian seniors, and it will be a good policy for Canadian families. Once the budget is balanced, we are committed to continuing to look for greater tax relief for all Canadians. As a result of our low-tax plan, the average Canadian family of four right now has $3,400 extra in its pockets in 2014. It is because this government has a low-tax plan that helps build jobs, create jobs, and the NDP have a high-tax plan that will take money from Canadians.

[Libby Davies, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Mr. Speaker, if the minister has specific facts on this issue, he should make them public, because the facts that we know are very distressing. Under 2% of families with children would ever be eligible for the maximum benefit. There are also vast disparities in different parts of the country, and it would not benefit the middle class or working families.

Let us be clear. This is an ideologically driven, unbalanced fiscal policy designed to reward only a few. Will the Conservatives now agree to abandon this shortsighted and costly tax plan?

[Kevin Sorenson, Conservative, Minister of State (Finance)]

Again, Mr. Speaker, under this government, over one million low-income Canadians, including 380,000 seniors, have been completely removed from the tax rolls in this country. Since we have come to office, we have cut taxes 180 times, reducing the overall tax burden to its lowest level in 50 years. As we approach the next budget, again, we will be looking for measures that will continue to lower taxes for Canadian families, help create jobs, and build this economy.

Public Works and Government Services

[Libby Davies, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Mr. Speaker, once again, we see that ideology and photo ops trump sound policy. Just as we have seen with gross Conservative mismanagement on fighter jets and the F-35s, Conservatives stubbornly refuse to tell the House or Canadians when the decision will be announced or whether there will be a competition, and now we learn that the Conservatives have been looking for ways to drag this out until after the next election.

Will the government put aside its photo ops and PR and finally agree to an open and accountable procurement process?

[Diane Finley, Conservative, Minister of Public Works and Government Services]

Mr. Speaker, in fact, the procurement process and the review through our seven-point plan have been totally transparent and open. In fact, all the data that has been gathered and that we are looking at, and numerous pieces of analyses, are available on the website so that Canadians know the motions we are going through.

We also brought in an independent panel of outside experts to review the analysis prepared by the Armed Forces to look at the risk assessment to make sure it was both a rigorous review and one that is impartial. Once a decision has been made, then we will make the announcement.

[Sadia Groguhé, NDP, Saint-Lambert, QC]

Mr. Speaker, it will soon be eight years since the government signed the memorandum of understanding regarding the procurement of 65 F-35s without a bidding process. Eight years later, it is clear that the Conservative government has not learned from its mistakes. It is preparing to repeat the fiasco, which was criticized by the Auditor General, by once again rushing into the arms of Lockheed Martin without a bidding process.

After eight years of dithering and bungling, why are the Conservatives refusing to launch an open and transparent bidding process and guarantee industrial benefits for Canadians?

[Diane Finley, Conservative, Minister of Public Works and Government Services]

Mr. Speaker, we all know that there were problems with the procurement process to replace the CF-18s. That is why we came up with the seven-point plan in order to conduct the necessary analyses and identify and evaluate all the options for replacing the CF-18s. A decision has not yet been made. Once a decision has been made, then we will make an announcement.

[Sadia Groguhé, NDP, Saint-Lambert, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives are going to once again put the interests of Lockheed Martin lobbyists above those of Canadians.

While other companies, such as Dassault, are guaranteeing that the aircraft will be assembled in Canada and that it will partner with the aerospace industry, Lockheed Martin is not guaranteeing anything at all. For years, the Conservatives told us that they had a firm contract with Lockheed Martin, which is completely false. There is nothing in their seven-point plan to guarantee a bidding process and nothing to guarantee industrial benefits.

Why are the Conservatives preparing to give billions of dollars to Lockheed Martin without getting anything in return?

[Diane Finley, Conservative, Minister of Public Works and Government Services]

Mr. Speaker, we are working to ensure that the Canadian Forces get the equipment they need to do their job. In order for us to do that properly, research and analyses must be conducted in a rigorous and transparent way. That is what we are doing.

That is why we brought in a panel of experts to review the analysis prepared by the armed forces. Many Canadian companies have already had business opportunities—

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

Order. The hon. member for Wascana.

The Economy

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Wascana, SK]

Mr. Speaker, the government's economic policy is a full-throated celebration of mediocrity. At 1.2%, its economic growth record continues to be the worst since R.B. Bennett.

A hundred and forty other countries are projected to grow faster this year than will Canada, including thirteen in the OECD, and at least the U.S. and the U.K. in the G7. The trade balance is in deficit. The current account balance is in deficit. Full-time jobs are being shredded.

Does the government have anything to offer Canadians beyond its mediocre, repetitive talking points?

[Kevin Sorenson, Conservative, Minister of State (Finance)]

Mr. Speaker, again, those just are not the facts. Thanks to the economic action plan, Canada has enjoyed a strong economic performance during both the recession and the recovery.

Over one million net new jobs have been created, of which over 80% are in the private sector and 85% are full time.

The IMF and the OECD both project that Canada will have among the strongest growth in all G7 countries in the years ahead. For the sixth straight year, we have a top credit rating.

The opposition should not be so pessimistic.

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Wascana, SK]

Mr. Speaker, compared to just before the recession, Canada's employment rate today is down, while the unemployment rate is up. There are 230,000 more jobless Canadians looking for work and another 200,000 who have just given up.

The Bank of Montreal calls the Canadian job market “anemic” and “lacklustre”.

Outside of one province, the rest of the country's growth in jobs this past year is a mere rounding error at 0.1%, and add to that sluggish wages, soft working hours, questionable job quality.

Does the government even care that this is a problem for middle-class Canadians?

[Kevin Sorenson, Conservative, Minister of State (Finance)]

Again, Mr. Speaker, even though the global economy remains fragile, this government has always said that. We have stood in the House and we have said that the recovery remains fragile. That is why we must be diligent in keeping our focus on job-creation measures and making certain that the economy is strong.

Since coming to office, Canada has had the strongest job creation record in the G7 and has led in economic growth.

Again, over one million net new jobs have been created since July 2009. These are overwhelmingly full-time jobs in the private sector.

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the government cannot deny that Canada has shed 26,000 full-time jobs since last month. Behind each of those jobs is a human tragedy.

Our economic growth is lagging behind that of 140 other countries, 13 of which are OECD countries. Our merchandise exports have not even rebounded to pre-recession levels, and Canadian families have an average of $1.64 in debt for every dollar they make. Our economy is struggling, and Canadians want jobs.

Why is the government dragging its feet on the building Canada fund? At this rate, the construction season will have come and gone.

[Kevin Sorenson, Conservative, Minister of State (Finance)]

Again, Mr. Speaker, all around the world, whether it is the OECD or the IMF, they believe that Canada is on track, that we have the strongest job creation and strongest growth in the economy.

Although he may be pessimistic, I think most people look at Canada very optimistically. Indeed, some countries wish they were in the same position Canada was.

Let us look at what the Liberals have done. Every time measures have been brought forward to help build this economy, they have voted against them, whether it is freezing the EI or tax cuts for manufacturers. One thing for certain is we will—