Debates of Sept. 19th, 2014

National Defence

[Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet, NDP, Hochelaga, QC]

Mr. Speaker, today's announcement that four ships are going to be decommissioned means that the navy will have only one 50-year-old resupply ship. The minister knows full well that if the government had not cancelled the resupply ship contract in 2008, our resupply capabilities would not be as limited as they are now. What is worse, thanks to the Conservatives' mismanagement, the last of the resupply ships will be decommissioned two years before the new ships become available.

Is the minister going to rely on a foreign country to supply our troops?

[Rob Nicholson, Conservative, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, every element of the fleet is undergoing upgrades to make sure that the Royal Canadian Navy has the capability it is going to need for the 21st century. As I have already indicated, the 12 Halifax-class patrol frigates, which are the backbone of the Royal Canadian Navy, have been undergoing refit.

I want to remind the hon. member that every time we want to spend money on defence, New Democrats always oppose it. There is an inconsistency there for sure.

Foreign Affairs

[Peggy Nash, NDP, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

Mr. Speaker, without any explanation, the Conservatives quietly removed two Russian banks from the list of Canadian sanctions, and they did this the day after the visit from the President of Ukraine. Furthermore, the Conservatives still refuse to impose sanctions on Putin's close allies who have financial interests in Canada.

These strangely selective sanctions are counterproductive.Why are the Conservatives being so hypocritical when it comes to Ukraine?

[Deepak Obhrai, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and for International Human Rights]

Mr. Speaker, following receipt of the new information and further investigation and analysis, these entities are being removed from the list. They are deemed to be sufficiently divorced from the events and Russian aggression against Ukraine. Because of the concentrated efforts by Canada and our allies, the Russian economy is now in recession and key individuals and entities are feeling the effects of these global sanctions.

[Peggy Nash, NDP, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

Mr. Speaker, sanctions are sanctions. The minister confirms he has removed these three Russian banks from the list, but he has not given us a coherent reason why.

On top of quietly removing two Russian banks with no explanation, three Russian tycoons who have close ties to President Putin are still mysteriously off the Canadian sanctions list, even though they are on the American sanctions list.

Supporting Ukraine is serious. It is about more than just photo ops and a lot of hot air. It is about working with our allies to make sure we send Russia a clear message. Why is the minister muddying the waters?

[Deepak Obhrai, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and for International Human Rights]

Mr. Speaker, Canada has one of the strongest sanction regimes in the world, which has been coordinated with our allies to target key individuals and entities and isolate Russia, politically and economically.

As the president of Ukraine said, we are Ukraine's best friend. We have been helping them fight the Russian aggression. We will continue doing so and we will maintain that we are the leading country in the world to put sanctions against Russia. We will continue to act accordingly with our allies.

Taxation

[Bryan Hayes, Conservative, Sault Ste. Marie, ON]

Mr. Speaker, our government's low-tax plan is saving the average Canadian family nearly $3,400, but the Liberals voted against our tax cuts and against middle-class families. Now the leader of the Liberal Party has threatened to reverse income splitting. Seniors in Sault Ste. Marie will be outraged if they are forced to pay back their pension income-splitting savings.

Could the Minister for Democratic Reform please tell the House how the government will stand against the Liberal leader to protect seniors' hard-earned dollars?

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

Mr. Speaker, that is a great question from that side of the House.

Before our government took office an elderly couple with a single pension paid much higher taxes than a dual income couple that earned exactly the same amount. That is why we introduced pension income splitting, which saved thousands of dollars and brought tax fairness for our seniors. Now the Liberal leader announced that he plans to raise taxes on these middle-class seniors by cancelling pension income splitting.

Our seniors have worked hard all their lives. They deserve to keep their pensions for themselves to invest in their communities and create jobs. This Prime Minister will let them do that.

Aboriginal Affairs

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

Mr. Speaker, families of missing indigenous women have taken it upon themselves to organize a dredge of the Red River, looking for the remains of their loved ones. They are tired of waiting for answers and are not getting any support they really need.

Why are the Conservatives continuing to ignore the overwhelming consensus calling for a national inquiry for missing and murdered indigenous women? We need to end this crisis. We need an inquiry.

[Susan Truppe, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary for Status of Women]

Mr. Speaker, I am very proud of our action plan to address family violence and violent crimes against aboriginal women and girls, which will counter violence. We will continue to work with communities to develop safety plans to raise awareness and take measures to empower aboriginal women and girls.

We are developing more community safety plans on and off reserve, including regions identified specifically by the RCMP. This action plan will raise awareness to break intergenerational cycles of violence. It will engage men and boys and it will address underlying causes of violence through structured initiatives.

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

Mr. Speaker, we need to do more than just raise awareness.

The Conservatives' action plan for missing aboriginal women offers nothing more than the status quo. Right now, families are searching rivers themselves to try to get answers to their questions. That is unacceptable. We cannot allow even one more woman or girl to go missing without taking action.

Will the minister immediately launch a national public inquiry on the 1,200 aboriginal women who have gone missing or been murdered over the past 30 years?

[Susan Truppe, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary for Status of Women]

Mr. Speaker, ending violence against aboriginal women is a priority of the government. We have taken concrete action and have invested $11 million since 2007 through Status of Women Canada toward local projects that work to eliminate violence against aboriginal women. We have made historic investments to improve the quality and ensure accountability of education on reserves for aboriginal students. We passed the Family Homes on Reserves and Matrimonial Interests or Rights Act, extending basic rights and protections to aboriginal women living on reserves.

Maybe the parties opposite should have supported the bill if they wanted to stand up for aboriginal women.

[Romeo Saganash, NDP, Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives want us to give up and forget that 1,200 aboriginal women have gone missing or been murdered. Today we will set aside the government's agenda and debate the adoption of the special committee's report in order to discuss this tragedy in our society. The report should have recommended a national inquiry. We definitely have no intention of allowing these women to be forgotten.

When will we get a national inquiry?

[Susan Truppe, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary for Status of Women]

Mr. Speaker, we do not need a national inquiry. What we need is action. I would like to read a quote from Chief Ron Evans of the Norway House Cree Nation. He says:

We have spent years researching the statistics and systemic causes of violence; we have worked with and have involved families of victims, front-line workers, local and national organizations and law enforcement. Their input is the foundation of this Action Plan. This is a significant step forward in addressing family and domestic violence, intergenerational violence, providing supports and resources to front-line workers....

The government is listening to aboriginal communities and is taking action.

[Romeo Saganash, NDP, Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC]

Mr. Speaker, our actions in this country must be consistent with justice and reconciliation.

Today, we will set aside the government's agenda and move concurrence in the committee's report.

Canadians understand the importance of calling an inquiry. Canadians know violence against indigenous women must be ended. An inquiry is a crucial step along that path. Why will the government not finally agree to call an inquiry?

[Susan Truppe, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary for Status of Women]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to share another quote with the House, this time from Bernadette Smith. Her sister, Claudette Osborne, has been missing since July 2008. She said:

This Action Plan is something that our families have been waiting for. I would like to thank...the Government for their commitment to addressing this issue.... We've had numerous studies on this issue and the time for action is now. We can't stand idly by and talk about this without taking significant action. This Action Plan will have a direct impact on families and it will help keep our women and girls safe.

I am proud of the action our government is taking.

Government Spending

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Mr. Speaker, this inept government squandered more than $280,000 because it could not pay its cell phone bills on time. Taxpayers are not happy to see their money wasted on late charges.

Millions of Canadians pay their bills on time every month. Why can the government not do that?

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

Mr. Speaker, the late fees incurred by Shared Services Canada last year were completely unacceptable to Canadian taxpayers and to our government. That is why Shared Services Canada took action to consolidate billing down from 75,000 individual phone bills and ensured that nearly 99% of all phone bills are now paid on time.

We have reduced telephone costs by $57 million in this year alone.

[Francis Scarpaleggia, Liberal, Lac-Saint-Louis, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister's initial response to the global economic crisis was to tell Canadians that it provided some great buying opportunities.

Then the Conservatives sold off the royal silverware from Rideau Hall for $4,000 and had to buy it back for $100,000. Now we learn that they sold a bulldozer for $5,500 and then were forced to buy it back for $65,000.

Their record clearly shows that they should not be in the business of providing market advice. Will the Conservatives apologize to Canadians for their incompetence?

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

Mr. Speaker, the decision by public servants to sell these items was clearly made in error.

In 2012, a review was initiated to ensure that there are greater checks in place to help prevent this from happening in the future.

Following a review of the program, a management action plan was implemented and the minister has been advised that no further incidents such as this have since occurred.

Regional Economic Development

[Claude Gravelle, NDP, Nickel Belt, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Ring of Fire in Ontario's north holds vast potential for economic growth and regional development, but this week we learned that the company is preparing to walk.

Northerners are fed up. Instead of a real plan from the Liberals of Ontario, there is real trouble. Start-up is delayed; the smelter is on hold. Thousands of potential jobs are in jeopardy, but we see no leadership from the Conservatives.

What will the Conservatives do now to get the Ring of Fire file moving?

[Mike Lake, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, our Conservative government is focused on what matters to Canadians, creating jobs and economic growth throughout the country, including Ontario's north.

Since its creation, FedDev and FedNor Ontario have helped build a prosperous Ontario region by investing in community and economic development programs. This has helped increase business activity grow new economic opportunities and create new jobs.

Canada has the best job creation record among all G7 countries, and we will continue down that path. We hope the opposition parties will support us in that.

[Claude Gravelle, NDP, Nickel Belt, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I think this time the parliamentary secretary should listen to the question.

Northern Ontarians are tired of empty talk that is not backed up by any action. Unlocking the vast potential of the Ring of Fire will require a nation-to-nation approach and real engagement from the federal government. Northern communities should not be forced to pay the price for the government's inaction.

We are talking about good, value-added jobs and economic development that would transform our region. How can the Conservatives explain their inaction to northern Ontarians?

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

Mr. Speaker, we welcome Ontario's interest in the Ring of Fire. Until recently, it had not been identified as a clear priority by the Ontario government.

We have been clear. If the province identifies the Ring of Fire as a priority, economic action plan 2013 allocates significant infrastructure funding for this kind of legacy resource development. We have made significant investments in the Ring of Fire, and we will continue to demonstrate our commitment to responsible resource development that creates jobs and economic growth for northern Ontario.

Public Safety

[Ed Komarnicki, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

Mr. Speaker, recently authorities in Australia arrested more than a dozen Islamic terrorists who had hatched a plot to conduct random beheadings. It is clear that the Islamic State represents a threat to Canada. It is indeed a dark and dangerous world we live in, yet the Liberal leader said seizing passports from terrorists in an affront to Canadian values.

Can the Minister of Justice tell the House what our government is doing to keep Canadians safe?