House of Commons Hansard #107 of the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was veterans.
Irene Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Veterans Affairs is once again insulting Canada's veterans. As Sean Bruyea said, he is now making our wounded veterans out to be greedy whiners and complainers. It is just despicable. The minister bragged they get up to $10,000 per month, but no one knows where that number comes from or how anyone would qualify for it.
Why does the minister insist on disrespecting our veterans? Will he at least now, finally, apologize?
Julian Fantino ConservativeMinister of Veterans Affairs
Mr. Speaker, clearly, that member did not read the article and if she did, obviously relied on certain facts that are not complete.
In fact, the average, and I stress “average”, monthly financial benefits available to an injured veteran may be anywhere in the area from $4,000 to $6,000 a month and, indeed, veterans are receiving in excess of $10,000 a month in total income and support from the Government of Canada. The member should know her facts because she and her party voted against all these benefits.
Sylvain Chicoine NDP Châteauguay—Saint-Constant, QC
Mr. Speaker, the minister would have Canadians believe that our veterans are rolling in money when he says that some veterans can receive as much as $10,000 a month.
The fact is that only four seriously wounded veterans are getting those types of benefits. The minister's half-truths are outrageous. Many of our veterans are living in poverty. Most of them are constantly fighting with Veterans Affairs, and most of the time they have to wait.
Will the minister have the decency to apologize?
Julian Fantino ConservativeMinister of Veterans Affairs
Mr. Speaker, that is quite an ironic scenario. The complaint is totally unfounded, especially so when we look at the consistent voting record of the NDP, voting against operational stress injury clinics, voting against the establishment of the Veterans Ombudsman and the veterans bill of rights, voting against independence housekeeping and grounds maintenance for veterans, and voting against funding for the provision of home care for veterans.
New Democrats voted against all of those, and I have another list. I could go on and on.
John McKay Liberal Scarborough—Guildwood, ON
Mr. Speaker, last week we were treated to the sad and sorry spectacle of the Minister of Finance traipsing through Ontario, criticizing the premier during the election campaign. The premier won; the meddling minister lost.
Specifically, he gave free lectures on balancing budgets, neatly ignoring the fact that he and his government know nothing about balancing budgets. To add to the hypocrisy, the PBO estimates that the Government of Canada shortchanged the people of Ontario by $1.2 billion.
Why does the Government of Canada not skip the lectures, write the cheque, and concentrate on getting its own house in order?
Kevin Sorenson ConservativeMinister of State (Finance)
Mr. Speaker, that member knows that federal support to Ontario has increased by 76% since our government took office. Federal support to Ontario will total over $19.1 billion in 2014-15, a whopping $8.3 billion increase since the Liberal government was in power.
We are also helping Ontario on the road back to becoming a “have” province, by making key investments in Ontario's auto sector, manufacturing sector, and much more.
David McGuinty Liberal Ottawa South, ON
Mr. Speaker, the most efficient way to create jobs is through infrastructure investment. David Dodge, the World Economic Forum, the Australians, and the British, they all get this.
The FCM says the building Canada fund is rife with red tape. It will cost property taxpayers way more money.
Now provincial ministers of finance are unanimous, blasting the minister for confusion, delays, and misinformation. No contribution agreements have been signed, not one. No shovels are in the ground. Projects are delayed.
It is June 19. Jobs are on the line. What are the Conservatives waiting for?
Peter Braid ConservativeParliamentary Secretary for Infrastructure and Communities
I will begin by suggesting, Mr. Speaker, that this Conservative government has no lessons to take from Liberals with respect to infrastructure investments.
Since 2006, our investments in infrastructure have nearly tripled. Moving forward, those record investments will continue: over $53 billion in stable, predictable funding.
There are no framework agreements. Yes, that is correct. There are no framework agreements because none are required. Let us get the job done.
Joyce Murray Liberal Vancouver Quadra, BC
Mr. Speaker, B.C.'s Premier Christy Clark is clear that the northern gateway pipeline does not meet her five conditions.
Despite that, the Conservatives have given the thumbs up to this risky proposal to run a pipeline clear through the heart of the province's wilderness and send massive supertankers along our treacherous coast.
B.C.'s Conservative MPs can run, but they cannot hide from their own government's bad decision. How could the Minister of Industry, the regional minister for B.C., possibly support this Conservative cabinet's approval of this dangerous project, dangerous for the environment, dangerous for the economy, and contrary to the wishes of British Columbians?
Kelly Block ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources
Mr. Speaker, our decision is based on the conclusions of an independent, science-based review panel. We have imposed 209 stringent conditions to ensure this project meets the highest safety standards.
The panel heard from nearly 1,500 participants in 21 communities and reviewed more than 175,000 pages of evidence.
The proponent clearly has more work to do with communities along the route.
Linda Duncan NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
Mr. Speaker, the Blood Tribe is already suing the government for its failure to provide safe drinking water for the reserve. On top of that, the tribe is now suffering under yet another catastrophic flood, issuing a state of emergency with warnings not to use water from cisterns that may be contaminated.
The past two auditors general have chastised the government for failure to resolve federal roles or to allocate adequate funding for natural disasters in first nations.
Alberta's Siksika felt abandoned after last year's flood. How many more first nations will be left stranded until the government finally takes real action?
Bernard Valcourt ConservativeMinister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development
Mr. Speaker, the truth and the facts do not bear out the statements made by that hon. member.
We are working in close co-operation with the Government of Alberta and with the affected first nations to address the issues that have arisen because of this flooding, for which the government is not responsible, by the way. I have checked with Environment Canada and it cannot do anything about it.
Therefore, we will keep working with the province and the first nations to ensure that the health and safety of those inhabitants is protected.
Jean Crowder NDP Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC
Mr. Speaker, talking about facts, the fact is that, a year after the flood, more than 100 people are still living in hotels. The temporary neighbourhoods that were supposed to be in place 60 days after the flood are still not ready. That simply is not good enough.
The government would never tolerate these kinds of delays in neighbouring communities, so why are families in Siksika still waiting for homes? It is the minister's responsibility. Why does he not get the job done?
Bernard Valcourt ConservativeMinister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development
Mr. Speaker, again, we are working in close co-operation with the Province of Alberta and the first nations that are affected by these floods. Everything is being done to ensure the health and safety of those inhabitants.
Rathika Sitsabaiesan NDP Scarborough—Rouge River, ON
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Employment and Social Development has been promising to fix the temporary foreign worker program for months, but the mess drags on. No penalties are being applied, no employers are being blacklisted, there is no independent review, and there is no fix to the mess the Conservatives have made of this program.
While businesses from various sectors complain about the uncertainty the Conservatives' mismanagement has created, why are they still leaving it to the media, the workers, and the unions to investigate abuses and problems with this program?
Jason Kenney ConservativeMinister of Employment and Social Development and Minister for Multiculturalism
Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the member for her consistency, because every single assertion in her question was wrong. She did not have a single fact correct.
For example, this government has added several employers to the new strengthened blacklist. We have referred several cases to the Border Services Agency for criminal investigation.
Let us peel back the onion here. When the member said that businesses are complaining about uncertainty, that is the way that the opposition parties are narrowcasting a different message to constituents who are employers who want more and faster access to the program. Here they pretend they are against it; with their constituents they pretend they are for the program.
This government will fix the program. We will mend it, not end it.
Sadia Groguhé NDP Saint-Lambert, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Conservative government, which has cut labour market research and prefers to google data, would have us believe that it can correct the problems with the temporary foreign worker program even though it has lost all credibility.
After ignoring the abuses by some employers and allowing Canadian workers to be replaced with cheap labour, how can the Conservative government believe that we will trust it to fix the temporary foreign worker program, a program that it botched?
Jason Kenney ConservativeMinister of Employment and Social Development and Minister for Multiculturalism
Mr. Speaker, once again, the member has it all wrong. In fact, it was the Conservative government that created the blacklist and added the names of bad employers. That was the first time that was done. It was the Conservative government that initiated criminal investigations of employer fraud. It was also this government that added new powers in a bill, resulting in sanctions for bad employers. In the near future, we will add other sanctions for bad employers who abuse the program.
Ted Opitz Conservative Etobicoke Centre, ON
Mr. Speaker, with Russia's ongoing military interference in Ukraine, as well as new NATO reports confirming additional troop buildup near the Ukrainian border, the eyes of the world are focused squarely on Russian military activity. Our government has been clear that we stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine. At the same time, there is no greater priority than defending Canadian borders and our sovereignty.
My question is for the Minister of National Defence. Can he update the House regarding Russian activity in the Arctic and what measures the government is taking to protect Canadian sovereignty?
Rob Nicholson ConservativeMinister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, I cannot comment specifically on operational matters, but I can confirm to the House that, yes, we continue to see Russian military activity in the Arctic. The Canadian Armed Forces remain ready and able to respond. In fact, the Royal Canadian Air Force CF-18s were dispatched in recent days in response to Russian aircraft movements.
NORAD has intercepted in excess of 50 Russian military aircraft over the last five years. This clearly demonstrates both our capacity to respond and the need for ongoing vigilance. We will continue to work with our allies to defend Canadian sovereignty.
Peggy Nash NDP Parkdale—High Park, ON
Mr. Speaker, the sad state of infrastructure and the road congestion in urban centres like Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver cost billions of dollars in economic losses.
It has been over a year since the Conservatives made their building Canada fund announcement, but the provinces and municipalities are saying that the process to apply for funds is still unclear.
How does the minister explain this lack of clarity and these delays?
Peter Braid ConservativeParliamentary Secretary for Infrastructure and Communities
Mr. Speaker, the new building Canada fund is open for business. The new building Canada fund includes the provincial and territorial infrastructure component. This is where municipalities can apply for projects. They initially apply to provinces. Provinces establish these processes. Why? It is so that the provinces can identify their own infrastructure priorities. Applications are being received. One has already been approved. It is a major transit project in Edmonton. We are getting the job done.
Peggy Nash NDP Parkdale—High Park, ON
Mr. Speaker, au contraire. Infrastructure is crumbling in Toronto, and all we get from this Conservative red tape brigade is more uncertainty and delay.
Thanks to the PBO, we finally do have some certainty on Conservative cuts to equalization payments. The Conservatives pulled the rug out from under Ontario. They changed the rules and are now shortchanging the province by $1.2 billion. These cuts will hurt Ontario families and will make us less competitive. Why is the minister undermining the fiscal stability of our biggest province?
Kevin Sorenson ConservativeMinister of State (Finance)
Mr. Speaker, Ontario will receive over $19.1 billion in federal transfers this year, a whopping increase of 76% from under the old Liberal government.
I want to read a quote. It says:
...[the Prime Minister] made a deliberate effort to bring a principle-based approach to...equalization and federal transfers.... We are very much in agreement with that kind of approach....
Who said that? It was former Liberal Ontario premier, Dalton McGuinty.
Hoang Mai NDP Brossard—La Prairie, QC
Mr. Speaker, the recall of vehicles with unsafe ignition switches continues to grow. Over 3 million cars were added this week. U.S. congressional hearings are seeking answers about why GM failed to act sooner and how the problem slipped past regulators.
However, in Canada, the minister is not getting to the bottom of things and the Conservatives have even blocked attempts to study the issue. Does the minister really think Canadians do not deserve more answers on a safety defect that cost at least 13 lives?