Debates of June 6th, 2014

Battle of Normandy

[Dan Albas, Conservative, Okanagan—Coquihalla, BC]

Mr. Speaker, this week our Prime Minister and a contingent of Canadian veterans have travelled a great distance to Normandy. There they will reflect and honour the loss of so many lives and the many brave Canadian soldiers who did not return.

One of those veterans is Mr. Denis Hubber from my riding of Okanagan—Coquihalla. Mr. Hubber will turn 91 this year and served with the Royal Navy, from 1941 to 1946, and later with the Royal Canadian Air Force.

This journey has great meaning for Mr. Hubber, and I ask that all members of the House join with me in recognition for the many brave Canadians who served at Normandy.

Lest we Forget.

Normandy Landing

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

Mr. Speaker, 70 years ago on the morning of June 6, 14,000 brave and fearless Canadian soldiers landed on Juno Beach in Normandy.

The Royal Canadian Navy supplied the ships for the landing, and our planes flew over the ancient dunes, preparing the terrain for shelling. Of the 14,000 who chose to crowd into those boats, over 1,000 were killed or wounded freeing Europe from the Nazi scourge.

Every member here is proud to pay tribute today to those who were willing to sacrifice their lives for our freedom. I speak for us all when I say, “Lest we forget”.

Canada-Africa Leadership Intern Program

[Joe Daniel, Conservative, Don Valley East, ON]

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of my constituents of Don Valley East, I rise to congratulate the trainees of the first Canada-Africa leadership intern program that was recently completed in Ottawa.

The participants represented the Kingdom of Lesotho, the United Republic of Tanzania, Uganda and the Republic of Zambia. This leadership program was a resounding success and the participants enjoyed their experience, including the snow that they had never seen before.

I thank all those who helped make this program a success, including the Library of Parliament; ITTS, Parliament clerks, table officers and committee clerks, Senate and Senate staff, Office of the Black Rod, human resources; commissioners, Sergeant-at-Arms, and all the staff and assistants. I thank them all for their help on this program.

I also thank High Commissioner Tsepa from Lesotho, First Secretary Joseph Sokoine from Tanzania, former High Commissioner Margaret Kyogire from Uganda and High Commissioner Bobby Samakai from Zambia for their support and help in facilitating this program.

I look forward to initiating further programs and the inclusion of more African countries.

70th Anniversary of D-Day

[Peter Goldring, Conservative, Edmonton East, AB]

Mr. Speaker, 70 years ago, dawn broke over Normandy with the silhouette of war painted across the horizon. D-Day had arrived to tranquil shores, bearing witness to history's largest invasion, 1,000 ships of allied might prepared to strike the heart of Nazi tyranny, to free Europe from its grasp.

More than 100,000 stormed ashore, earning their place in history under horrific enemy fire. Many did not reach the beach, slipping beneath the channel's cold water. Fathers and sons were driven from peaceful pasts to take up arms for their God, King and country, testing the mettle of their fortitude and soul. Canada's soldiers truly triumphed on D-Day, a crucial day on the road to victory and to a free world.

The price of peace in Canada today has been the high cost of lives lost in the wars of the past.

Lest we forget.

Normandy Landing

[Sylvain Chicoine, NDP, Châteauguay—Saint-Constant, QC]

Mr. Speaker, 70 years ago today, more than 14,000 Canadian soldiers were getting ready for the largest allied offensive in Normandy.

The Royal Canadian Navy would send 109 ships and 10,000 sailors to join the massive armada of 7,000 allied ships that took to the sea on D-Day. Those soldiers came from across Canada. Most of them were young and had never taken part in a combat mission before. Thanks to their courage and tenacity, they were able to push back the German troops and pave the way for the liberation of Europe.

More than 5,000 of our soldiers made the ultimate sacrifice and are buried far from their loved ones and their homeland. Those who returned home suffered physical and psychological injuries, which they are still dealing with today.

The cost of freedom and democracy can be a steep price to pay. Let us remember those who sacrificed their lives for the protection of these ideals. Let us remember those who sacrificed their present for the sake of our future.

We will remember them. Lest we forget.

Battle of Normandy

[James Bezan, Conservative, Selkirk—Interlake, MB]

Mr. Speaker, 70 years ago today, Canada and our allies dared to attempt the seemingly impossible. They bravely landed on the heavily defended shores of Normandy and, with great vision and perseverance, forever changed the course of history. Canada's courageous troops were among the first into action and, against terrible odds, they fought their way onto Juno Beach.

The success achieved in Normandy was a turning point in the Second World War, paving the way to victory in Europe.

As a nation, we remember those who sacrificed for democracy, justice and peace, and we pay tribute to the fallen.

Lest we forget.

Laval—Les Îles

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

Mr. Speaker, as this will be the last time I rise before the end of the session, I would like to take this opportunity to thank my constituents for their support and their significant involvement in political life.

In the past few months alone, thousands of people have shared their disgust with the decision to end home mail delivery. They also support the NDP position to reduce ATM transaction fees and the NDP's environmental policies.

I would like to thank all the people of Laval for their support, and I want to reassure them that I will continue to fight to protect their rights and defend their interests here in Ottawa.

In closing, I would like to invite my constituents to meet with me at my office or at one of the events that will take place this summer in our lovely city, especially our national holiday, Canada day, and some of the festivities in western Laval or the Greek and Armenian festivals.

I look forward to seeing you there.

The Economy

[James Lunney, Conservative, Nanaimo—Alberni, BC]

Mr. Speaker, thanks to our government's determined direction, Canada's economy is a model among developed nations. The World Economic Forum has rated our banking system as the most sound in the world for the past six years. Forbes has rated Canada the best country in the G20 in which to do business.

Under the leadership of our Prime Minister, we continue to open new markets for Canadian businesses, supporting them as they compete in the global marketplace. The anti-trade NDP, au contraire, wants to implement risky schemes to raise taxes, while the Liberal leader thinks that budgets balance themselves.

Every middle-class family knows that it takes discipline to balance the chequebook, but only our Conservative government is focused on the priorities of Canadians: jobs, growth and economic prosperity. We are keeping taxes low, we are on track to balance the budget and we are getting the job done for hard-working Canadians.

70th Anniversary of D-Day

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, St. Paul's, ON]

Mr. Speaker, on this the 70th anniversary of D-Day, all Canadians remember the enormous sacrifice of those who fought and died to defeat the embodiment of evil. We honour the profound courage of those Canadians who landed on Juno Beach under heavy fire to establish a crucial foothold for the liberation of Europe.

My Dad landed through Juno Beach five days after the initial wave, and went on to help hold the bridge at Nijmegen in Holland. Dad rarely spoke of the war, but he said that he hoped our sons—that no one's sons—would have to face the horrors of war.

Peace is not merely the absence of war but the presence of social justice.

We have much more work to do to honour those who fought for peace and those who in uniform continue to put their lives in harm's way to protect us.

Battle of Normandy

[Stephen Woodworth, Conservative, Kitchener Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, under overcast skies 70 years ago this very day, thousands of brave Canadians battled on land, at sea and in the skies over occupied Europe, when allied forces stormed the beaches of Normandy and began the march to victory in the Second World War.

However, the Canadian triumph on D-Day and during the Battle of Normandy was purchased with much sacrifice, blood and loss. Of the more than 90,000 Canadians who served in the Battle of Normandy, more than 5,000 would give their lives.

Today, we remember those who served, and we reflect on the legacy that they have given into our care: the precious gift of freedom.

Lest we forget.

Shootings in Moncton

[Claude Gravelle, NDP, Nickel Belt, ON]

Mr. Speaker, this morning, I would like to acknowledge the courage of three RCMP officers who gave their lives to protect the people of Moncton.

Constable Fabrice Georges Gevaudan, Constable David Joseph Ross and Constable Douglas James Larche are three heroes whom people in Moncton, the Atlantic region and all of Canada will remember.

Our thoughts are with their families, loved ones and colleagues. We are eternally grateful for their service and their sacrifice.

On behalf of all of my colleagues, I offer our sincerest and most profound condolences to the families of the fallen members.

Yesterday, the people of Moncton showed grace under pressure.

Today we shall stand together and mourn the deaths in the line of duty of these brave officers.

These events will remain etched in our memories forever.

We shall not forget them.

[Gerald Keddy, Conservative, South Shore—St. Margaret's, NS]

Mr. Speaker, this morning at 12:10 a.m., after a long, arduous, and dangerous manhunt, the RCMP apprehended the suspect in the recent horrific shooting in Moncton.

Monctonians can rest assured that the safety and security of their community has been restored. All Canadians can be proud of the resiliency shown by the community of Moncton and how the people have come together in this very difficult time. Front-line law enforcement officers have shown tremendous bravery in apprehending this deranged individual.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of Constable Fabrice Gevaudan, Constable David Ross, and Constable Douglas James Larche, who all gave the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.

We will be forever grateful for their service.

Justice

[Nycole Turmel, NDP, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Supreme Court's Bedford decision was about ensuring the safety of vulnerable women, but the Conservatives' legislation is raising concerns across the country. It has provisions that most likely do not respect the charter and do not appear to respect the Supreme Court's ruling. This will be dragged through the courts for years.

Will the government do the sensible thing and refer this legislation to the Supreme Court before proceeding further?

[Peter MacKay, Conservative, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, I disagree with the hon. member insofar as we have made genuine efforts to address the inherent dangers of prostitution. More than just the legislation, we have put in place significant resources to help prostitutes exit this life and find a better, safer, healthier path. That is what is happening in addition to the legislation.

With regard to a Supreme Court reference, it was just six months ago that we received the Bedford decision. It is the role and the responsibility of parliamentarians to examine legislation and bring forward laws we feel are good for Canadians.

[Nycole Turmel, NDP, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Mr. Speaker, several analysts have concluded that Bill C-36 does not do an adequate job of protecting prostitutes as required by the Supreme Court in Bedford. A number of experts and sex workers believe that Bill C-36 will force prostitution further underground and expose people to more violence.

Will the government disclose the legal opinions it received and refer its bill to the Supreme Court as quickly as possible to ensure that it is charter compliant and in line with the Bedford ruling?

[Peter MacKay, Conservative, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, once again, our government has no intention of compromising the authority and responsibility of Parliament.

With respect to the concerns around prostitution and the inherent dangers, clearly that was reflected in the bill itself. What we are attempting to do is protect Canadians, protect those who are most vulnerable, protect communities as well, including children, from the exposure to prostitution.

This is a complex issue. To suggest that there is an answer that is going to solve all of these issues overnight is simply not realistic. I would encourage the member to examine the bill.

Public Works and Government Services

[Nycole Turmel, NDP, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Mr. Speaker, apparently the government has a report recommending the purchase of 65 F-35s without a bidding process.

Members may recall that in 2012, a damning Auditor General report accused the Conservatives of failing to do due diligence for a $25 billion contract.

Will the minister table that report before the House adjourns? Can she also tell us why she is still refusing to launch a bidding process?

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

Mr. Speaker, no decision has been made about replacing the fleet of CF-18 fighter jets.

When we developed the seven-point plan to replace the CF-18s, we undertook the most independent and transparent review ever in Canadian history. A panel of independent experts ensured that the Royal Canadian Air Force evaluated the options both rigorously and impartially.

We will take a very careful look at a number of reports to make a decision about replacing Canada's existing fleet of CF-18 fighter jets. We will make sure that the Canadian Forces have the equipment they need to do their job.

[Matthew Kellway, NDP, Beaches—East York, ON]

Mr. Speaker, reruns are a sure sign that summer is here. We have seen this F-35 show before. The story where we do not need an open competition to get the best price. The story where we can buy 65 jets for $9 billion. There are never credible story lines and it is never credibly performed.

Here we are again with the Conservatives rejecting open competition in favour of sole-sourced procurement for the F-35s.

Could the minister at least tell us if the Canadian companies are guaranteed work?

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

Mr. Speaker, I will repeat for the member opposite because he did not seem to listen to my previous answer. No decision has been made on the replacement for the CF-18 fighter jet fleet. Our government will finish a number of reports related to defence capabilities, industrial benefits, costs, and other factors with a view to replacing our CF-18 fleet.

I can assure the member that we remain committed to ensuring that our men and women in uniform have the equipment they need to perform their duties.

We will reveal that information to the House in due course.

[Matthew Kellway, NDP, Beaches—East York, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I did listen to the answer but the thing is, I have heard that answer many times, in fact, years ago. The parliamentary secretary had to blow the dust off his paperwork.

The results of the Canadian government's study have already been reported in Washington. Government and industry officials have been leaking their version of events here in Canada. If Conservative spinners are willing to leak the report to the media and industry, why are Conservative ministers not willing to answer questions here, to stand by their decisions, to stand to account to Canadians here in the House?

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

Mr. Speaker, as part of our seven-point plan, the Royal Canadian Air Force has conducted a rigorous examination of the ability of available fighter aircraft to carry out the missions outlined in the Canada first defence strategy. An independent panel comprised of experts, external to government I should add, ensured that the valuation of options being conducted by the RCAF was both rigorous and impartial.

Our government will be carefully reviewing a number of reports related to defence capabilities, industrial benefits, and costs to make sure we have an adequate replacement of our CF-18 fleet. Once we have reviewed all of these reports, we will make a decision and we will announce it.

Employment

[Emmanuel Dubourg, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

Mr. Speaker, every day Canadians continue to watch as full-time jobs are replaced by part-time jobs. Canadians' paid hours of work have not changed over the past year. All the new jobs created are part-time jobs that pay less and provide fewer benefits.

Will the Conservatives admit that there is a problem and finally introduce real measures to create jobs?

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

Mr. Speaker, even though the global economy remains fragile, our economic policies have kept Canada's economy strong. Since coming to office in 2006, Canada has had the strongest job growth of any in the G7 countries, that is, the most industrial countries in the world.

Since coming to power, the Conservative Party and this government have led all other G7 countries in economic growth. Over one million net new jobs have been created since the deepest part of the recession. By far, the overwhelming number of these jobs are full-time jobs in the private sector.

[Scott Brison, Liberal, Kings—Hants, NS]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians are watching their full-time jobs be replaced by part-time work. According to the latest jobs report, Canada is actually down 27,000 full-time jobs compared with last year. TD Economics reports that the Canadian job market remains disappointing. All net new jobs have been part-time. These jobs pay less and they have fewer benefits.

Instead of repeating these old, out-of-date, Conservative talking points, will the Conservatives actually admit there is a problem and introduce a real jobs plan to create full-time work across Canada?