Debates of June 13th, 2014

Citizenship and Immigration

[Costas Menegakis, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians take pride in their Canadian citizenship. We are taking action by reforming the Canadian Citizenship Act. They are the first comprehensive changes to the act since 1977. The minister said nothing of the sort that the member is alluding to.

When my parents came here in the mid-fifties, there was a five-year requirement. People had to be in Canada for five years before they could apply for their Canadian citizenship. In 1977, the Trudeau-led Liberals reduced that to three years. I would argue that is what cheapened it.

Public Works and Government Services

[Laurin Liu, NDP, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, it came as no surprise yesterday, when we learned from the panel on the replacement of Canada's fighter fleet, that the decision would be a political one.

However, we also know that the acquisition will be based on a document that is out of date and almost entirely unfunded, the Canada first defence strategy.

Would the government tell us why it is not using this stale strategy for the rest of the Department of National Defence's planning, but it thinks it is fine for the F-35s?

[Bernard Trottier, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Works and Government Services]

Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned earlier, the government has received a report from the independent panel of experts, including several other reports that it is reviewing right now. It is looking at the different options in terms of defence capabilities, benefits to Canadian industry, and finally life-cycle costs. These are all important factors.

What is really important, though, is that the men and women in uniform have the equipment that they need to defend Canada and to participate in missions with our allies.

[Laurin Liu, NDP, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, days come and go, and still the Conservatives refuse to answer our questions. We still have no guarantee about the industrial benefits of buying the F-35s.

The report from the independent review panel has yet to be made public. Government members have it in their hands. If it contained good news, they would not hesitate to talk about it at every opportunity.

What is in the report? When will it be made public?

[Bernard Trottier, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Works and Government Services]

Mr. Speaker, as I just said, the government has received a report from the independent panel of experts. There are several other reports. Many of them are available on the National Fighter Procurement Secretariat's website. I invite the member to take a look.

Meanwhile, the decision will be based on the benefits to Canadian industry, as she said. We will also look at life cycle costs.

What is really important, though, is knowing what the Canadian Forces need to protect Canada and participate in missions with our allies.

[Mathieu Ravignat, NDP, Pontiac, QC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday's report on the fighter jet replacements was clear: the decision, regardless of what it is, will be made by the ministers alone. Public officials did the work and now the final decision is in the hands of the Conservatives. This will be a political decision, period.

However, the only way to get the best jet at the best price and to guarantee industrial benefits is to proceed with an open and transparent bidding process.

Why are the Conservatives going to make a political decision instead of letting competition do its job?

[Bernard Trottier, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Works and Government Services]

Mr. Speaker, the member is completely wrong. The decision will be based on the needs of our military, but what is even more important is that it will be made on the basis of what equipment the Canadian Forces need to protect Canada. That is what matters most at the end of the day. This includes participation in foreign missions.

This decision will be made. We do not need any lectures from the member's party.

Labour

[Mathieu Ravignat, NDP, Pontiac, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we will see.

Cascade Aerospace, in B.C., does maintenance work for our military transport on search and rescue planes, but now Cascade is asking for huge concessions from its workers. Even worse, it is bringing scabs into a labour dispute.

Would the government sit down with Cascade Aerospace and ask it to take its demand for a two-tier contract off the table?

Does the minister not agree that the maintenance and upkeep of our Hercules aircraft, and other search and rescue aircraft, is too important to be put on the line by these bullying tactics?

[Cathy McLeod, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Labour and for Western Economic Diversification]

Mr. Speaker, our government is committed to safe and fair labour practices. Of course, if anyone has any concerns in terms of practice, they do have the ability to make reference to the Industrial Relations Board. We have no intention of making any changes to our regulations at this time.

International Trade

[Bob Zimmer, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River, BC]

Mr. Speaker, our government continues to advance the most ambitious pro-trade plan in Canadian history. In March, the Prime Minister and the president of South Korea announced the conclusion of the Canada-Korea free trade agreement. The agreement is a landmark achievement. It is Canada's first free trade agreement in the Asia-Pacific, which is one of the fastest-growing and most dynamic regions in the world.

Would the hard-working Minister of International Trade advise this House on the next step in implementing this important free trade agreement, which would help create jobs and opportunities?

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Minister of International Trade]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member for his keen interest on the trade file. Three months ago, our government was pleased to conclude free trade negotiations with South Korea. This is Canada's first trade agreement in Asia. It would provide Canadian exporters and investors with a gateway into the larger Asian marketplace.

Yesterday, in this House, I tabled the complete text of the trade agreement.

Our Conservative government continues to focus on the priorities of Canadians by delivering on the most ambitious trade plan in Canada's history.

Public Safety

[Tarik Brahmi, NDP, Saint-Jean, QC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness justified his inaction in terms of the management of the airspace over provincial prisons by saying that, at the time, he did not want to deal with a separatist government.

Separatist government or not, it seems to me that the Conservatives should have done something, since Quebec asked the federal government to take action to prevent prison breaks. When will the minister impose a permanent no-fly zone over provincial prisons?

[Roxanne James, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness]

Mr. Speaker, to let the member opposite know, the Government of Quebec did in fact receive a response, so his allegations are completely false.

Let us talk for a moment about a no-fly zone and what exactly that would do. We are talking about a helicopter that illegally landed in the middle of a prison courtyard, illegally picked up escaped convicts who were waiting to be picked up, and then removed them from that facility.

We are talking about multiple crimes here. I hardly think that a no-fly zone would stop a helicopter from landing because I do not think the operator was concerned about getting a ticket.

[Tarik Brahmi, NDP, Saint-Jean, QC]

Usually criminals do things illegally, Mr. Speaker.

The minister said that he discussed ways of improving penitentiary security with his Quebec counterpart. Can the minister tell us what concrete measures he is going to take to prevent any more helicopter-assisted prison breaks, which are obviously illegal?

[Roxanne James, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness]

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to remind the member that this is a provincial jail under provincial jurisdiction. Of course our government is working with the Quebec government on this issue, and of course we also expect that the criminals responsible for the escape and those who did escape should be found and put behind bars, where they belong.

Housing

[Ruth Ellen Brosseau, NDP, Berthier—Maskinongé, QC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, Justice Michel Richard of the Superior Court made his decision on the class action suit filed by homeowners affected by pyrrhotite. The NDP has repeatedly asked the government to change concrete standards in order to prevent another such tragedy. The Conservatives keep refusing.

In his decision, the judge wrote that the standards have to be adjusted. Can the government commit to respecting this decision?

[Scott Armstrong, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Employment and Social Development]

Mr. Speaker, as we have heard before, the regulations around pyrrhotite are controlled by the provincial level of government, so I would ask the member opposite to refer her questions to the Quebec government.

[Ruth Ellen Brosseau, NDP, Berthier—Maskinongé, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the pyrrhotite problem is a serious one. It is quite troubling to see the Conservatives refuse to assume their responsibilities. Homes in the greater Mauricie region are ruined. Families have to cover the very high cost of these renovations.

It is not just the NDP calling on the government to do something about this. A judge is ordering the government to take action. Will the Conservatives respect the court ruling and update the standards?

[Scott Armstrong, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Employment and Social Development]

It is the same question, Mr. Speaker, and it will receive the same answer. This is under the regulation and jurisdiction of the provincial level of government, so I would suggest that the member opposite take these concerns to the provincial government of Quebec.

Privacy

[Wayne Easter, Liberal, Malpeque, PE]

Mr. Speaker, there was another Supreme Court decision this morning, this one telling the Government of Canada that it cannot request telecoms companies to provide information on citizens without a warrant. In layman's terms, it means that spying on Canadians without a warrant is illegal.

Beyond Bill C-13 and its misdirection, we know that the Government Operations Centre has ordered all departments to report on any and all demonstrations within their jurisdictions. These are not illegal demonstrations.

Will the government suspend that directive to spy on Canadians through the Government Operations Centre immediately?

[Bob Dechert, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice]

Mr. Speaker, we always respect the work of the Supreme Court, and we will take the opportunity to review the decision.

However, what parents have told us, what victims have told us, what victims organizations have told us, and what all Canadians have told us, is that they want legislation that will protect Canadians from online criminals, and that is what we will do.

[Wayne Easter, Liberal, Malpeque, PE]

Mr. Speaker, I know sometimes the members on the government side do not hear criticism really well.

We are talking about the Government Operations Centre and its directive to look at all the demonstrations in Canada and compile data on those demonstrations. What is the government doing with that information?

If farmers are out there demonstrating in favour of the Canadian Wheat Board, does it compile that data? When it gets that data, does it threaten to cut off their agristability? What about public servants demonstrating against job cuts? Does it compile that information? Will it cease and desist?

[Roxanne James, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness]

Mr. Speaker, I think I have answered this question half a dozen times in the House.

Let us take a look at what a protester rally is. The people who are in the protester rally are there. The spectators or the people who walk by them are aware of the situation. In fact, many times the media shows up. Of course, once the media shows up, it is across national television and it is on the Internet. Not only are the protesters, the people watching the protesters, Canadians and people all around the world aware of this protest, but suddenly someone in the government is aware of this and those members think it is a public safety concern and a privacy issue. Give me a break.

The Environment

[Linda Duncan, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Mr. Speaker, Alberta has announced a $30 million program to incent home energy retrofits and the potential for solar installations, which is good news for families whose energy bills are on the rise. This also responds to Albertan calls for deeper action on climate change and the health impacts of fossil fuels.

Energy retrofit and solar installation projects would create well-paying jobs across our nation's communities, but the Conservatives axed the federal program. Will the government take real action to address growing family debt and reinstate the federal eco-energy home energy retrofit program?

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

Mr. Speaker, we are proud of the fact that Canada relies on non-emitting sources for more than three-quarters of our electricity mix. In fact, the International Energy Agency rated Canada second in energy efficiency improvements between 1990 and 2010.

Our government will continue to invest in Canadian companies that develop innovative and sustainable technologies.