Debates of June 19th, 2014

Transport

[Lisa Raitt, Conservative, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, car companies in our country are required to notify Transport Canada of any defects and process the recall as soon as they are aware of them. We have no information that would seem to make us have a conclusion other than the one that GM issued its recall here in Canada when it received its information.

That being said, we continue to monitor the situation in the United States, and if we do see that GM Canada had information prior to the recall we, of course, would take the appropriate steps.

[Hoang Mai, NDP, Brossard—La Prairie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the United States Congress grilled GM over its lax approach to safety and recalls.

American legislators want to know what happened and what measures have been taken to prevent this from happening again. Canadians also want answers.

Why are the Conservatives refusing to examine this problem in parliamentary committee?

[Lisa Raitt, Conservative, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, as I said before, GM Canada learned of the defect and the recall exactly when it issued its recall in accordance with our act.

That being said, we continue to monitor what is happening in the United States. If there is any information that would lead us to believe that GM Canada knew prior to that, of course, we would investigate and continue to ensure that we would prosecute to the fullest extent of the law.

Official Languages

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

Mr. Speaker, the so-called roadmap for official languages is a sham. No new money has been allocated to this plan. The government even cut $120 million from assistance to communities.

Nevertheless, the government could at least deliver the existing programs. Complaints are coming in from all over. Literacy, training and social partnerships are all stalled, and communities cannot wait any longer.

What is the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages doing? It is her responsibility to wake this government up and get it moving.

[Shelly Glover, Conservative, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages]

Mr. Speaker, I said the same thing yesterday. I will say it again so the member understands.

The road map for official languages is the most complete fund that we have ever had in our country. It is $1.1 billion. This is a fund that will provide to our official language communities in a way that has never been done before, including under that member's government.

We continue to push forward with getting these funds out of the door. My colleagues are doing everything in their power to do so, because they care about these communities.

I would ask the member to please assist us in ensuring that if he has information regarding some funds that are lapsing, then let us know.

Veterans Affairs

[Frank Valeriote, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

Mr. Speaker, last week, the minister tried to justify spending tens of millions of dollars more on advertisements and commemorations, instead of programs and services, by telling Canadians about all of the veterans who received $10,000 a month in benefits. There are four who receive that amount. That is less than 1% of seriously injured veterans. Most get much less.

It is insulting to veterans to justify wasteful advertising spending by trying to make it sound like, somehow, they just won the lottery.

When will he stop running away from our veterans and finally provide them with the care they desperately need and deserve?

[Julian Fantino, Conservative, Minister of Veterans Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, that does not make it true. I will say again. The average monthly financial benefit an injured veteran may be eligible for is between $4,000 and $6,000 a month. As I said at committee, some injured veterans are receiving a total income that exceeds $10,000 a month. This is in addition to rehabilitation and other supports from our government to help them transition to civilian life. That is the truth.

Health

[Carol Hughes, NDP, Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives proclaim loud and clear that Canada is a leader in maternal health, but in reality, aboriginal women in Canada do not have access to the support they need.

We recently learned that a maternal health program managed by the first nations and set up on 14 Manitoba reserves will soon lose all of its funding, even though assessments show that the program is effective.

Could the minister explain why she wants to put an end to the funding for this essential program?

[Rona Ambrose, Conservative, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, the government has committed over $2.4 billion every year to programs and services aimed at improving aboriginal health, including 24/7 access to essential nursing services in 77 remote communities and home and community care in 686 first nations and Inuit communities.

We have also committed to excellent projects on the ground every year. These are things like the teddy bear fairs on reserve, which provide cognitive and development screening for children 0-6 years of age and the head start on reserve program, which nurtures the health growth of children from birth to 6 years.

[Carol Hughes, NDP, Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, ON]

Mr. Speaker, we are talking about maternal health here. The NDP fully supports maternal health overseas, but women in Canada need support too.

According to Statistics Canada, the infant mortality rate among first nations in Manitoba is approximately twice that of the general population. That is completely unacceptable.

Will the minister reverse the decision and maintain funding for this vital maternal health program, yes or no?

[Rona Ambrose, Conservative, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, first, the member knows that we transfer over to $30 billion a year to the provinces and territories to deliver health. On top of that, we are delivering an additional $2.5 billion directly to first nations for programs and services aimed specifically at exactly what she is talking about.

Let me tell her about the brighter futures program, which involves activities supporting improved mental health, child development, parenting skills and healthy babies. A very successful program across the country, the aboriginal head start on reserve program, nurtures the healthy growth and development of children from birth to 6 years of age by meeting their social, health, nutritional, cultural and psychological needs.

We will continue to work on this issue.

Parks Canada

[Corneliu Chisu, Conservative, Pickering—Scarborough East, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the recent launch of the national conservation plan by our Prime Minister makes a commitment to connect Canadians to nature, particularly people living in urban areas. The problem is there are no national urban parks in Canada. What is our government doing to make this a reality?

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to say that we have tabled a bill in the House recently that would create the Rouge national urban park in the greater Toronto area. The park is near 20% of Canada's population, enabling Canadians to connect with nature, culture and agriculture, without having to travel far from their homes. This park would be 16 times larger than Central Park in New York City. This action has been taken by our Conservative government to make this happen.

Foreign Affairs

[Kirsty Duncan, Liberal, Etobicoke North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, instability continues in the Central African Republic. Over 140,000 people have been killed, and fighting has left 2.5 million in need of humanitarian aid.

On Monday, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs told the House that while Canada would not be sending troops to CAR, “there are other ways” Canada would support the UN mission. Our allies have made specific commitments.

Exactly in what other ways will the government support the UN mission?

[David Anderson, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, Canada is the ninth largest contributor to the UN's peacekeeping budget and supports the UN, French and African Union efforts in this crisis.

In the last two years, as well, we have provided over $23 million in assistance to help meet the widespread humanitarian needs and over $5 million to the efforts by the African Union and France to restore security in the area. That includes $6.5 million for humanitarian assistance, $5 million for security and another $16 million for humanitarian assistance later in the year.

Health

[Libby Davies, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the Royal Society expert panel on the review of Safety Code 6 released its report a month ago and recommended that more research was needed into the health risks of radio frequency fields. Consumers and health advocates are demanding more information and safeguards to reduce exposure to harmful radiation and to investigate radiation hypersensitivity.

How does the Minister of Health plan to follow up on the concerns coming from the public and the Royal Society's recommendations?

[Rona Ambrose, Conservative, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, first, we have already committed to hosting public consultations on any revised safety standards. We do appreciate the work of the Royal Society and we thank it for its report.

The member should know that Canada's limits are similar to those of other countries around the world like the United States, Australia, the European Union and Japan. Canadians should be confident that our limits are some of the strongest science-based standards in the world.

However, we will continue to review the Royal Society's recommendations and we will take all necessary actions to protect Canadians and their families.

Democratic Reform

[Joe Preston, Conservative, Elgin—Middlesex—London, ON]

Mr. Speaker, today the Governor General will grant royal assent to the fair elections act, which will require all voters to present a physical copy of their ID proving who they are before they vote. Identity vouching is gone and so is the use of unpaid loans to get around donation limits.

Could the minister comment on how the fair elections act will keep everyday Canadians in charge of democracy?

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Minister of State (Democratic Reform)]

Mr. Speaker, with royal assent, the fair elections act will be enacted today. Identification will now be mandatory in order to vote.

With today's royal sanction, we have finally and happily achieved the fair elections act, and it will be passed into law.

We will have royal assent. We will have a requirement for physical ID every time someone votes. No longer will politicians be able to use loans to get around donation limits. We will have independent investigations. It is fair, it is reasonable and, as of today, it will be the law.

Public Service of Canada

[Mathieu Ravignat, NDP, Pontiac, QC]

Mr. Speaker, federal employees are boycotting National Public Service Week once again this year.

The week, which is intended to recognize the importance of the public service, no longer has any meaning, since the Conservatives have cut 19,000 public service jobs and are promising to cut even more. Public servants lament the contemptuous attitude of this government, which prefers to govern based on its own ideology.

When will the Conservatives stop turning their noses up at the excellent work done by the 400,000 federal public servants?

[Dan Albas, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board]

Mr. Speaker, we are committed to a modern and high-performing public service that gets results for Canadian taxpayers. In fact, our government is getting results while making the public service more effective and efficient.

For example, there are $3,400 less in taxes per year for the average Canadian family and a balanced budget in 2015.

If the member opposite would like to ask a follow-up question, I have a whole list of things that are good for Canadians.

Natural Resources

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

Mr. Speaker, this is a question for the Prime Minister of critical importance for federal-provincial relations and jurisdiction.

If the Premier of British Columbia continues to maintain that British Columbians and the Government of British Columbia reject Enbridge's twin toxic pipelines, will the Prime Minister agree to rescind approval and respect the province of British Columbia's jurisdiction and the collective will of British Columbians, or does he intend to force it down our throats?

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

Mr. Speaker, we have been clear that projects will only move forward if they are safe for Canadians and safe for the environment. After carefully reviewing the independent regulator's report, the government accepts the recommendation to impose 209 conditions on the project. It will be up to the proponent to show the regulator and Canadians that those conditions have been met.

The House resumed from June 18 consideration of the motion that Bill C-2, An Act to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, be read the second time and referred to a committee.

Respect for Communities Act

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

Pursuant to an order made on Tuesday, May 27, the House will now proceeding to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion at the second reading stage of Bill C-2.

Call in the members.

The vote is on the motion.