House of Commons Hansard #172 of the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was rcmp.
Claude Gravelle NDP Nickel Belt, ON
Mr. Speaker, a CN freight train hauling 100 cars of crude oil derailed Sunday morning near Gogama. Reports indicate that seven cars caught fire and oil was spilling out. People in nearby communities are concerned and want answers.
Has the cause of the derailment been determined, is oil still leaking, and is the fire now under control?
Jeff Watson ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, first of all, we are obviously relieved to hear that there were no injuries as a result of this particular incident.
For the benefit of the House, members should know that the minister's office has reached out to the local member of Parliament and will continue to provide updates on the incident in question. I understand, of course, that the Transportation Safety Board is on scene, and others. We will let the proper authorities determine the cause of this incident.
Hoang Mai NDP Brossard—La Prairie, QC
Mr. Speaker, there was another train derailment last December in Alberta.
According to the young conductor herself, the few weeks of training she had received were insufficient. However, two weeks ago, the Minister of Transport said the following:
It is up to CP and CN to ensure that they are training to the acceptable standards...if they do not, we will...ensure that they do this in an appropriate manner.
Will the minister take responsibility and ensure that workers receive enough training to keep Canadians safe?
Jeff Watson ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, I am not sure where the member was when the government gave its response to the Transportation Safety Board's report on the tragedy at Lac-Mégantic. This was one of the action points the department, of course, committed to, including important blitzes to see if there are any gaps in the training competencies of railway companies.
Brad Butt Conservative Mississauga—Streetsville, ON
Mr. Speaker, yesterday we learned of more barbaric attacks against Coptic Christians by ISIL. Twenty-one Egyptians who had been held for weeks have reportedly been beheaded, in a video released yesterday.
Would the Minister of National Defence be able to update the House on Canada's continued mission to fight the savage ISIL death cult in Iraq?
Jason Kenney ConservativeMinister of National Defence and Minister for Multiculturalism
Of course, Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada condemns in the strongest possible terms this barbaric mass murder committed by the death cult, ISIL.
This morning I called the Coptic bishop in Canada, Bishop Mina, to express our condolences. This reinforces the reason why Canada is engaged in the fight against ISIL in the Middle East.
Last Thursday, Captain Forget from the joint operations command stated that ISIL has suffered a number of tactical setbacks and is pressed on a number of fronts and is struggling to sustain its military efforts, thanks in part to the air strikes of the Royal Canadian Air Force and the great work of our special operations troops, which we support.
Laurin Liu NDP Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
Mr. Speaker, last week, the Mont-Mégantic observatory was on the brink of closing. Fortunately, the public was able to get the government to change its mind at the last minute.
However, there is a deeper problem. Since the Conservatives made cuts to science programs, it is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain our research infrastructure.
Will the Minister of State for Science and Technology finally get involved in this issue, which is so important to the Lac-Mégantic region, and ensure that another crisis does not happen two years from now?
Ed Holder ConservativeMinister of State (Science and Technology)
Mr. Speaker, we have made record investments in science, technology and innovation.
Let me add one other thing, if I might. We have great respect for the victims of Lac-Mégantic.
Our commitment to science, technology, and innovation is unprecedented in this country and it will remain so under this government.
Pierre-Luc Dusseault NDP Sherbrooke, QC
Mr. Speaker, the minister did not really understand the question.
Stars are not the only things the Mont-Mégantic observatory reveals. It has also revealed the incompetence of the Minister of International Development, who did not foresee the crisis precipitated by his own government two years ago. Rather than blaming scientists, the minister should recognize that his government was the one that changed the funding criteria for the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.
Will the minister get to work immediately to find a definitive solution to the Mont-Mégantic observatory's funding problems?
Ed Holder ConservativeMinister of State (Science and Technology)
Mr. Speaker, with respect to the observatory at Lac-Mégantic as it relates to observatories across the country where we have made significant investments, we are committed to the importance of science and technology, both in Quebec and throughout the country.
We will take no lessons from that party when it comes to our commitment to science, technology, and innovation.
Denis Blanchette NDP Louis-Hébert, QC
Mr. Speaker, last week, the Prime Minister was on tour in Quebec City. He put in a brief appearance at Carnaval, but once again, he did not have anything tangible to offer: nothing for the tall ships and no progress on the Quebec Bridge file. Seeing the Prime Minister sign a Valentine's day card for the Quebec Bridge was just pathetic. Sooner or later, in politics as in love, sweet-talking will only get you so far, then you have to put your money where your mouth is.
The Prime Minister promised the people of Quebec City that he would repaint the bridge. Will he finally keep that promise?
Jeff Watson ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, the government promised $75 million to repaint the Quebec Bridge. Together, all three levels of government committed to spending $100 million on this major project. We want CN to come to the table with the rest of the money needed to make it happen.
Annick Papillon NDP Québec, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister should stop hiding behind CN to justify his failure to act.
Does the Prime Minister understand that nobody is interested in his signature at the bottom of a Valentine's day card? We want his signature on a cheque to repaint the Quebec Bridge like he promised.
Jeff Watson ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, as the owner of the bridge, Canadian National is responsible for maintaining it and keeping it safe.
As I said before, our government committed to spending $75 million. Together with our partners, we have set aside $100 million for this major project. Now it is important for CN to come to the table with the rest of the money for this project.
John McCallum Liberal Markham—Unionville, ON
Mr. Speaker, last year the presidents of China and the United States personally agreed to 10-year visas for tourists and business travellers from both countries. Meanwhile, Canada is out in the cold at a great cost to Chinese Canadians, the tourist industry, and Canadian jobs.
Will the government immediately enter into discussions with China to get the same treatment as the United States, that is, 10-year reciprocal visas for visitors and business people?
Chris Alexander ConservativeMinister of Citizenship and Immigration
Mr. Speaker, any questions about Chinese visa policy might well be addressed to the Chinese government.
For our part, we have been giving much better service to all Chinese citizens coming to Canada since we began to clean up the Liberal mess in this area. We have visa application centres across China. Chinese citizens received over a quarter of all the visas issued by Canada in the world last year, and the vast majority of those were 10-year multiple entry visas.
John McCallum Liberal Markham—Unionville, ON
Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives have pursued yo-yo diplomacy with China, hating China when it boycotted the Beijing Olympics then loving China when the former foreign affairs minister referred to China as an ally. Is it not this incompetent, erratic policy that explains why the U.S. gets 10-year visas and Canada gets nothing? At this time of good will, as we usher in the Year of the Sheep, will the government approach China on 10-year visas today?
Chris Alexander ConservativeMinister of Citizenship and Immigration
Mr. Speaker, we are in touch with the Government of China on this, as on many other issues, because we are making huge progress with it on immigration issues and trade issues. We have grown trade and investment well beyond the levels achieved under the Liberals. There is approved destination status for tourist groups coming to Canada. We have multiplied the number of direct flights from China. There is service without visas for Chinese citizens transiting to the United States. This is a huge record of achievement that all Canadians should celebrate.
Pierre Nantel NDP Longueuil—Pierre-Boucher, QC
Mr. Speaker, in light of the number of online petitions, the petitions that have been presented in the House with almost 2,000 signatures and the fact that almost as many people attended the event at the Métropolis yesterday, I am wondering whether the heritage minister really understands her responsibilities.
Does the minister know that yesterday, the public joined forces with a whole host of artists, including Michel Rivard, Klô Pelgag, Ariane Moffat and Radio Radio?
If not, does she at least understand the message being sent by the 125 celebrities who are opposing the dismantling of CBC/Radio-Canada and who contributed to the video entitled Ensemble, Sauvons Radio-Canada? Does she not see the warning light on her dashboard?
Shelly Glover ConservativeMinister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages
Mr. Speaker, despite the member's little jokes, the truth is that the government is already giving CBC/Radio-Canada over a billion dollars a year.
I have already indicated a number of times what we expect from CBC/Radio-Canada, and that is that it promote programs that Canadians want to watch and listen to in English and in French. That is why it receives a billion dollars a year.
Pierre Nantel NDP Longueuil—Pierre-Boucher, QC
Mr. Speaker, the joke is on our Prime Minister, who talks about the employees of Radio-Canada/CBC.
Canada is at the bottom of the OECD when it comes to spending on public broadcasting. The CBC's announcement that it is slashing its budget and cutting hundreds of jobs is raising concern about its survival. While the Conservatives are turning their backs on public broadcasting, people across Canada are rallying in support of the CBC. When will the minister finally listen to citizens?
The NDP leader has a practical plan to save the CBC. When will the government listen and correct—
The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer
Order. The hon. Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages.
Shelly Glover ConservativeMinister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages
Mr. Speaker, I will repeat what I said in English. The member knows very well that we provide the CBC with over a billion dollars every year. We expect that it will honour its mandate under the Broadcasting Act to provide quality programming in French and English to Canadians.
I find it strangely odd that the NDP would suggest that we actually take money away from taxpayers, as we provide a universal child care benefit, to give to an organization that gets over a billion dollars a year. That is what I call irresponsible and we will not be going down that road.
Ted Opitz Conservative Etobicoke Centre, ON
Mr. Speaker, Canada continues to stand stalwartly in solidarity with the people of Ukraine. Our government has been very clear that Vladimir Putin must get out of Ukraine.
With today's reports that pro-Russian forces are not respecting the ceasefire and that the EU had imposed further sanctions, can the Minister of Foreign Affairs please update the House on the next steps that our government is taking to support Ukraine?
Rob Nicholson ConservativeMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, reports do indicate that pro-Russian forces continue to shell Ukraine merely hours after the ceasefire has come into effect. This is clearly unacceptable and we will continue to judge Vladimir Putin by his actions and not his words. The fact is that this conflict will end only once Russia halts its invasion, withdraws Russian armed forces, and stops aiding those so-called rebels.
Let us be clear: we will never accept the Russian occupation of sovereign Ukrainian territory.
While we have imposed numerous sanctions, we are prepared to coordinate with our allies and to take additional steps. We will support Ukraine.