House of Commons Hansard #163 of the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was economy.
Canadian Security Intelligence ServiceOral Questions
Parry Sound—Muskoka Ontario
Conservative
Tony Clement ConservativePresident of the Treasury Board
Mr. Speaker, the travel directive of the Government of Canada is very clear. It states that the most economical means is to be selected given the nature of the trip when booking transportation, accommodations, and meeting facilities.
The government takes the management of taxpayers' money very seriously. I have already directed that officials look into this matter.
Rosane Doré Lefebvre NDP Alfred-Pellan, QC
Mr. Speaker, it makes no sense that the director of CSIS spends more on travel than the minister. A hotel room for $750 a night is a bit much, especially when we know that CSIS agents are overworked because they are tracking people who have become radicalized.
Are those the changes the Conservatives claim to be making in Ottawa? How can they stand for this kind of waste?
Canadian Security Intelligence ServiceOral Questions
Parry Sound—Muskoka Ontario
Conservative
Tony Clement ConservativePresident of the Treasury Board
Mr. Speaker, as I already said, there are regulations for this and we will demand answers. I have directed my officials to look into this matter.
I would say to the hon. member that it is a little rich coming from them. Maybe they were doing their research from one of the illegal offices they had that they still have not reimbursed the taxpayers for.
Niki Ashton NDP Churchill, MB
Mr. Speaker, as the Conservatives waste thousands, they are downloading huge new costs onto provinces. Most recently they tried to sneak through changes making it harder to qualify for federal assistance in the wake of natural disasters. This will have a huge impact on Manitoba. In the last five years we have had three major floods as well as other disasters. Under the new rules, the current government is upping the threshold, leaving municipalities and the province with no relief.
How can the minister justify leaving behind disaster-stricken communities across my province?
Steven Blaney ConservativeMinister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Mr. Speaker, on the contrary, Public Safety Canada has signed an agreement with Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada to ensure that money makes it to the first nations and also to make it easier to coordinate with the provinces.
This news was well received by the communities and the provinces, and we will continue to support aboriginal communities that experience natural disasters.
Robert Chisholm NDP Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS
Mr. Speaker, we are talking about disaster relief for the provinces. The current government, without any notice, has tripled the threshold to qualify for disaster relief. In Nova Scotia, for example, that means that in the past 20 years, they would have had to forgo $20 million.
The question is really simple. Why is the government downloading again to the provinces? Why does it figure the provinces have to carry this on their own?
Steven Blaney ConservativeMinister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Mr. Speaker, this government is standing by communities and provinces when it comes to large disasters. The federal government is covering up to 90% of the cost when those big tragedies occur, and we are working hand in hand with the provinces and communities.
Let us be clear. This program was not updated or indexed for decades. We took half the indexation. The provinces are still part of the program. We will continue to support the provinces and communities whenever it is needed in this country, and we will face the challenge.
Joyce Murray Liberal Vancouver Quadra, BC
Mr. Speaker, yesterday in the House, the Minister of National Defence justified front-line combat by saying, “I am not sure we could train troops without accompanying them.”
Yet on September 30, the Prime Minister explicitly ruled out combat on the ground. He said in question period, the mission “is to advise and to assist. It is not to accompany.”
Why is the defence minister directly contradicting the Prime Minister and the Prime Minister, today covering for him?
Do Canadians not deserve the truth?
Rob Nicholson ConservativeMinister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, we have been very clear with respect to the role of our air force operating out of Kuwait and of our special forces who are there to advise and assist.
I think what Canadians will not accept is the Liberal position that it will only take military action if the outcome is already known or if others are doing the heavy lifting. That has not been part of Canadian history. That is not what this country is all about. Canadians stand with this government and what we are doing in that area.
Stéphane Dion Liberal Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC
Mr. Speaker, the contradiction is far too blatant here.
On September 30, the Prime Minister said, “ It is to advise and to assist. It is not to accompany.”
Yesterday, the Minister of National Defence said, “I am not sure we could train troops without accompanying them.”
What a blatant contradiction.
When the Prime Minister misled the House and Canadians with his incorrect statement, why did the Minister of National Defence not rise, at the time, to tell Canadians and the House that the Prime Minister was mistaken and that the troops would be “accompanying”?
Rob Nicholson ConservativeMinister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member does not want our troops doing anything. That is one thing we can all agree on. We have been very clear that our special forces will be there to advise and assist and that we will be conducting air raids out of Kuwait. The contradiction is that the Liberal Party wants us to do nothing in this fight against terrorism. Nobody agrees with them.
Claude Gravelle NDP Nickel Belt, ON
Mr. Speaker, for years the Ontario Liberals have been bickering with Conservatives in Ottawa over the Ring of Fire and getting nothing done for northerners. Instead of creating jobs in Sudbury, the Liberals are sitting on their hands.
Can the minister explain to me why if there is something that needs to get done in southern Ontario it gets done, but when it is up north, there is a lot of talk and no action?
Greg Rickford ConservativeMinister of Natural Resources and Minister for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario
Mr. Speaker, that might be a question for the provincial legislature, but I will put it to my friend and colleague, Minister Gravelle, this afternoon, who I will be meeting with to hopefully talk about specific projects that pertain to the Ring of Fire.
As I have reminded this place and my colleagues in Ontario, the building Canada fund announced in 2013 has the potential to support infrastructure funding for legacy resource development projects like the Ring of Fire. To this date, departments across our government have made responsible investments in the Ring of Fire. We are hopeful that the provincial government will get on board with specific proposals to move this forward.
Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON
Mr. Speaker, the fact is that the Conservatives are cutting $11 million out of the FedNor budget for northern Ontario over the next four years. This is on top of the fact that we have already lost 30,000 jobs in the north. If that was not bad, we actually then have to deal with the provincial Liberals who do not seem to understand the Ring of Fire is not a karaoke song; it is a $9 billion investment in the future.
I want to ask my colleague this. Where is the action plan? We have communities like Timmins, Thunder Bay and Capreol being sidelined by this lack of investment that would help our businesses, our communities and our first nations.
Where is the plan?
Greg Rickford ConservativeMinister of Natural Resources and Minister for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario
Mr. Speaker, that is a timely question. I was just in Timmins, Kirkland Lake, Cochrane and Hurst early last week. It was -38o. The folks there were warmed up and comforted by the investments that FedNor was making across that region.
When they got frosty was when I reminded them that the member voted against every one of those measures.
Lawrence Toet Conservative Elmwood—Transcona, MB
Mr. Speaker, Canada remains committed to showing our solidarity with the Ukrainian people in the face of Russian military aggression.
So far the Canadian Forces have made significant contributions to NATO's Baltic air policing activities, have deployed approximately 120 Canadian Armed Forces members to Eastern Europe to participate in training events, and have sent 20 operational planners to NATO headquarters.
Could the Minister of National Defence please update the House on the latest contribution Canada has made to NATO's Ukrainian assurance measures?
Rob Nicholson ConservativeMinister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, last month HMCS Fredericton departed Canadian Forces Base Halifax to join Operation Reassurance.
The Fredericton is the first modernized, high-readiness frigate to deploy overseas. As a result of investments from this government, HMCS Fredericton has new radar capabilities, a new electronic warfare system and upgraded communications and missiles.
People should make no mistake. This government will continue to show, by supporting this mission, our support for the people of Ukraine.
Ralph Goodale Liberal Wascana, SK
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Transport. We are all glad to see she is in such good health.
A group of agricultural shippers released a report yesterday showing that the railways were again some 12,000 cars behind in meeting orders to ship grain, and there is still no equity among corridors. North-south shipments, especially, are suffering and that particularly hurts Saskatchewan.
Since the farm groups will be updating their report every week, could the minister confirm that their figures are accurate? How will the minister respond if the railways continue to fall short for the rest of this crop year?
Lisa Raitt ConservativeMinister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, I very much appreciate the member's kind wishes, but I knew there was going to be a “but” in there.
I am very well aware of the report. We want to ensure that all corridors are being served in Canada. We are going to continue to increase the transparency in the Canadian logistics system.
One of the key things that we have done is we have accelerated the review of the Canadian Transportation Act. There is a panel in place that is taking a look at what our transportation needs are going to be in the next 20 to 30 years. I am confident it will get to the right answers.
I encourage anybody in the logistics chain, be it agriculture, lumber, mining, whatever, to ensure they make their input into the CTA review.
John Rafferty NDP Thunder Bay—Rainy River, ON
Mr. Speaker, just as everyone in this place has seen, I am pleased to see the Minister of Transport back, safe and sound. However, it has been a year now since I asked the minister to help get the James Street bridge in Thunder Bay reopened.
The loss of this bridge has a significant economic impact on both Thunder Bay and Fort William First Nation. It impedes the work of first responders.
CN should not be allowed to hold a community hostage like this. Will the minister finally respond to my request and intervene to get this important bridge reopened?
Lisa Raitt ConservativeMinister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for his kind wishes as well.
We are aware that there are negotiations ongoing between Thunder Bay and CN Rail, because CN owns this bridge. If there are responsibilities and liabilities related to bridge repair and maintenance, we expect CN to fulfill these.
Randy Hoback Conservative Prince Albert, SK
Mr. Speaker, this government has been steadfast in its support of the Ukrainian government in its opposition to Russian aggression.
The Minister of International Trade was recently in Kiev on a trade and development mission to build on Canada and Ukraine's strong economic and cultural ties.
Could the minister please share with the House the latest development in the Canadian-Ukrainian economic partnership?
Ed Fast ConservativeMinister of International Trade
Mr. Speaker, our government is committed to supporting efforts to build a prosperous, peaceful and democratic Ukraine.
The people of Ukraine face enormous security and economic challenges, and Canada will remain Ukraine's steadfast and trusted partner in its time of need.
Yesterday I was in Kiev to announce that Canada and Ukraine were actively engaged in negotiations toward a free trade agreement. I also announced another $52 million of development assistance and economic support.
By further strengthening our economic partnership, our work together will improve social and economic conditions, and create growth and prosperity for all Ukrainians.
Dennis Bevington NDP Northwest Territories, NT
Mr. Speaker, the nutrition north program is another failure and symbolic of the Conservatives' failed Arctic policies. Now the minister's department has put out a tender for a consultant to help him out with nutrition north, not now but next fiscal year.
The reality is that parents across northern Canada are going without food and elders are scavenging in the dumps.
Canadians in southern Canada have begun sending food to northerners through organizations like Helping our Northern Neighbours.
Why are the Conservatives delaying action on this immediate crisis?
Bernard Valcourt ConservativeMinister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development
Again, Mr. Speaker, the government is indeed taking action. We indicated to the House and to northerners that we would implement all of the recommendations of the Auditor General.
The fact remains that the NDP may grandstand and try to make political points and play politics with the fate of northerners, but the fact is that the results are clear.
Since the implementation of the nutrition north program, perishable and nutritious food shipped to northern Canada has gone up by 25%. The cost of a food basket for a family of four has gone down by $110 per month. That is quite a significant achievement.