Debates of Sept. 15th, 2014

Immigrant Workers

[Andrew Cash, NDP, Davenport, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to rise today on behalf of the good people of Davenport, in the great city of Toronto, to register my concern about racial profiling and the targeting of primarily Portuguese and Latino immigrant workers in my riding. This summer, agents from Canada Border Services reportedly went into bakeries, malls, and construction sites, asking those who fit this profile for their ID. The sweep has created outrage, anger, and fear among many in our hard-working immigrant communities.

In fact, I first heard of these raids from a local high school student who, close to tears, told me about how his father brought the family to Canada a couple of years ago from Portugal, got a job, and is working hard. They are building a life here, but since his work papers are expiring, they too are afraid that they are going to be targeted.

Instead of encouraging hard-working immigrant families, the government is harassing them. We need to fix this broken system. We can do this by putting the needs of families at the heart of our immigration system.

World War II Heroes

[Laurie Hawn, Conservative, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Mr. Speaker, on Wednesday, September 10, I was honoured to join my colleagues, veterans, and their families right across Canada to pay tribute to and remember those who fought and lost their lives in the Second World War.

On September 10, 1939, Canada stood up as a nation of just 11 million people and declared war in support of our allies. Canada rose up yet again to defend the rights of all people to live in peace and freedom. That is what makes Canadians who we are, the people who are prepared to the go to the aid of others we have never met simply because it is the right thing to do. At home, abroad, in the air, on land, and at sea, people across this great land rallied together in extraordinary ways to defeat a brutal Nazi regime and stop its unspeakable atrocities.

At this event, I was honoured to present a limited edition lapel pin and certificate to those most deserving Canadian veterans. As we pay our respects in the coming months and years, let our veterans hear with one clear voice from Parliament that we shall never forget their heroism and sacrifice.

Lest we forget.

Rugby World Cup

[Massimo Pacetti, Liberal, Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC]

Mr. Speaker, this summer Canadian rugby took a giant leap forward, as our senior women's rugby team earned a second place finish at the 2014 Rugby World Cup. It was Canada's best result ever.

I would like to point out the contribution made by the seven Quebec players on the national team, including Magali Harvey whose outstanding play led her to score 61 points for her team in five games. She was named the women's player of the year by the International Rugby Board for her efforts.

Our side showed cohesion and skill that only comes from countless hours of hard work and pushing the limits.

On behalf of the Liberal Party, I am pleased to offer my congratulations for a job well done to our team. As a proud Canadian and a former rugby player who fondly remembers his time on the pitch, I would like to thank these extraordinary women for raising Canadian rugby to new heights.

Well done, Team Canada. The future of rugby looks bright indeed.

Go, Canada, go.

Franklin Expedition

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

Mr. Speaker, my mother was born in Chesterfield Inlet and was raised in the Arctic as my grandparents worked for the Hudson Bay Company.

For me, and all Canadians, one of the great mysteries in Canada's history was the tragic loss of the ships in the Franklin expedition, in 1846. This mystery has been wrapped in the icy waters of Canada's Arctic for more than 160 years. Earlier this month, a large clue to this national mystery was revealed with the finding of one of Sir Franklin's ships.

Where many have failed, we are fortunate to have succeeded. The discovery would not have been possible without our modern technology, skilled archaeologists, hardy crews, and the oral history of the Inuit, the same people who have inhabited these lands since time began.

Canadians are thankful to all those who contributed to this noble and important endeavour. While questions remain about the Franklin expedition, today there can be no question about the Arctic and Canada. Since the beginning, the Arctic has been an integral part of Canada, and forever shall it be the true north, strong and free.

The New Democratic Party of Canada

[Alexandrine Latendresse, NDP, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my NDP colleagues and I are back in Ottawa in fine form after spending the summer touring our constituencies.

Canadians are exasperated by the partisan attacks and empty rhetoric of the Liberals and the Conservatives. They are calling for a truly progressive government that has solutions to their problems.

When we look at their policies, we realize quite quickly that the red and blue policies are very similar. Just think of the oil port in Cacouna, the Keystone pipeline, the agreement with China and the current war in Iraq.

Canadians deserve better. They deserve real change, not just superficial change.

In the next few weeks, we are going to show that, together, we can fix our health system, create good jobs and set up day care centres that meet our needs.

A year away from an election, the NDP is ready to form the government, a real progressive government that actually listens to people.

Liberal Party of Canada

[Roxanne James, Conservative, Scarborough Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is said that someone can be judged by the company they keep.

This summer, not only did we learn that the leader of the Liberal Party opposes revoking the passports of those who go overseas to commit terrorist acts, but we also learned that he visited the Al-Sunnah Al-Nabawiah mosque in Montreal.

This mosque is listed by the Pentagon as a location where known al-Qaeda members were recruited, trained, and facilitated. Above and beyond that, this mosque teaches a fundamentalist distortion of Islam, one that preaches extremist, intolerant views and treats women as second-class citizens.

The leader of the Liberal Party thinks that the government should be telling him where he should and should not go. If he does not have the judgment to see barbarism is not a Canadian value, then he is definitely in over his head.

New Member

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

I have the honour to inform the House that the Clerk of the House has received from the Chief Electoral Officer a certificate of the election and return of Mr. John Barlow, member for the electoral district of Macleod.

Mr. John Barlow, member for the electoral district of Macleod, introduced by the Right Hon. Stephen Harper.

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

I have the honour to inform the House that the Clerk of the House has received from the Chief Electoral Officer a certificate of the election and return of Mr. Arnold Chan, member for the electoral district of Scarborough—Agincourt.

Mr. Arnold Chan, member for the electoral district of Scarborough—Agincourt, introduced by Mr. Justin Trudeau.

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

I have the honour to inform the House that the Clerk of the House has received from the Chief Electoral Officer a certificate of the election and return of Mr. Adam Vaughan, member for the electoral district of Trinity—Spadina.

Mr. Adam Vaughan, member for the electoral district of Trinity—Spadina, introduced by Mr. Justin Trudeau.

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

I have the honour to inform the House that the Clerk of the House has received from the Chief Electoral Officer a certificate of the election and return of Mr. David Yurdiga, member for the electoral district of Fort McMurray—Athabasca.

Mr. David Yurdiga, member for the electoral district of Fort McMurray—Athabasca, introduced by the Right Hon. Stephen Harper.

Foreign Affairs

[Thomas Mulcair, NDP, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, how many members of the Canadian Forces are being sent to Iraq?

How many members of the Canadian Forces will be sent to Iraq? How many?

[Stephen Harper, Conservative, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, as the government has announced, and I gather was reviewed by a committee of this body, the Royal Canadian Air Force has been deployed to Iraq to deliver humanitarian and military assistance to Kurdish forces fighting the Islamic State, ISIL, and there are several dozen Canadian army personnel also deployed to Iraq in an advise-and-assist capacity.

We are, of course, very proud that the men and women in uniform are always ready to undertake these missions on behalf of Canadians.

[Thomas Mulcair, NDP, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, in the Prime Minister's 2007 throne speech, he promised “any future military deployments must also be supported by a majority of parliamentarians”. That is a direct quote from the Prime Minister. It puts his honour on the table. Now he is sending Canadian troops to join the war in Iraq without a vote in the House, without even a debate in this House.

Why is the Prime Minister breaking his own solemn promise to Canadians?

Why is the Prime Minister sending members of the Canadian Forces to Iraq without discussion, debate or a vote in the House?

[Stephen Harper, Conservative, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I think the hon. member should know well the government's position. Of course, it is the right of any government that has the confidence of the House of Commons to advise the Governor General on military operations.

That said, wherever there has been a deployment of a combat nature, the government has put this to Parliament for a further confidence vote, and that is not the case with the present mission to Iraq.

Employment

[Thomas Mulcair, NDP, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, let me remind the Prime Minister what exactly he said back then, in 2007, “any future military deployments”. He is inventing now a distinction that did not exist at the time.

Does the Prime Minister think it is acceptable that in a country as rich as Canada, families where both parents work full time can still be under the poverty line?

Does the Prime Minister think that is acceptable, yes or no?

[Stephen Harper, Conservative, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I think if you review the record, you will see the government's position on parliamentary votes on military deployment has been very consistent.

As for minimum wage, the labour market is largely regulated by the provinces. The federal government follows the wages set by the provinces. It does not make sense to have two different wages for different classes of employees.

We will continue to work with the provinces on this.

[Thomas Mulcair, NDP, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, many studies have shown that raising the minimum wage can help families make ends meet, without increasing unemployment or inflation. This has been proven on numerous occasions.

Why, then, is the Prime Minister handing out tens of billions of dollars in tax cuts to Canada's richest companies and refusing to increase wages for families at the low end of the scale?

[Stephen Harper, Conservative, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, it is quite the contrary.

This government lowered the GST for all Canadian families. This government created the universal child care benefit, and the New Democrats are the ones who voted against benefits for Canadians.

[Thomas Mulcair, NDP, Leader of the Opposition]

It is interesting, Mr. Speaker, that the Prime Minister does not hesitate to interfere in the market when it comes time to bring in more temporary foreign workers and pay them 15% less than Canadian workers to suppress wages, or to force seniors to work an extra two years before they can retire, or to trample on collective bargaining rights and impose back-to-work legislation.

Why is the Prime Minister only willing to interfere in the market when it is to lower wages?

[Stephen Harper, Conservative, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, it is quite the contrary. We are very proud to see that wages in this country have continued to rise in spite of the general economic turmoil around us.

There is lots we do for Canadian families, obviously. I mentioned the universal child care benefit, cutting the GST that affects all Canadian consumers, and enhancing the guaranteed income supplement. There are three things alone that benefit families, workers, and poor people, and in every case, the NDP voted against them. Why does the NDP vote against every idea unless it is about more taxes and more borrowing?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Papineau, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians need a plan for jobs and growth. This government's EI proposal would create neither.

Why would the Prime Minister sign off on his finance minister's plan that provides greater incentives to fire workers than to hire new ones?