Debates of Feb. 16th, 2015

Justice

[Wayne Easter, Liberal, Malpeque, PE]

Mr. Speaker, let us come back to the Minister of Justice, who seems to believe that judicial appointments under his purview are to place friends into high placed, high-paying jobs. Nine judges were appointed and six are his friends: the best man at his wedding; his best man's wife; two past Conservative vice-presidents of riding associations; a former vice-president of the Nova Scotia PC association; a friend from law school. Why the ethical lapse? What happened to integrity in appointing judges, or is the minister just exercising patronage heaven for his friends?

[Bob Dechert, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice]

Mr. Speaker, perhaps the hon. member does not know how the judicial appointments process works, so I will help him out. Every person who applies for judicial appointment must go through the judicial advisory committee in their area. It is only upon the recommendation of those independent committees that persons are appointed to the bench. Our judicial appointments are based on one criterion and one criterion only: whether the individual is qualified for the job, determined on merit and legal excellence.

National Defence

[Dany Morin, NDP, Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives will do whatever it takes to win an election.

In 2007, they promised an investment of $300 million and 550 new soldiers for the Bagotville base. No new infrastructure has been announced to date, and the first 250 soldiers who were supposed to arrive on the base by the end of 2014 have not yet arrived.

When will the new Minister of National Defence honour the Conservatives' election promises and release the infrastructure funding for 2 Wing?

[Jason Kenney, Conservative, Minister of National Defence and Minister for Multiculturalism]

Mr. Speaker, over the past three years, we have invested approximately $7 million to help maintain the existing infrastructure portfolio.

What is more, the Royal Canadian Air Force just set up the core of an air expeditionary wing, which will bring in an additional 230 people. More personnel are expected to arrive in 2015 to assist command and the wing's support elements.

I must add that the NDP is against all of our additional investments in the armed forces.

Northern Development

[Ryan Leef, Conservative, Yukon, YT]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal leader does not understand the north or the needs of northerners. First, he went on what he called a “northern tour”, but he forgot to go to Yukon. He also said that Yukon does not have party politics even though it has had politics like that for decades. He must have been shocked then to hear that the Yukon Liberal leader actually exists and that he opposes the federal Liberal Party's carbon tax because it would be harmful to Yukoners.

Could the Minister of the Environment please tell the House what work our government is doing to help northerners keep more of their hard-earned dollars in their pockets?

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Yukon for the hard work he has done in representing his constituents. We will continue to stand up for northerners and all Canadians. While a rich southerner with a trust fund may have no issues with implementing a new carbon tax, we oppose Liberals' reckless policies such as carbon taxes, which would raise the cost of living for northern families. Instead, we are taking concrete action to make life more affordable for northerners. Our tax relief measures include reducing the GST and raising the universal child care benefit, which will put cash directly in the pockets of parents. We will continue to oppose a job-killing carbon tax that would raise the price—

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

The hon. member for Thunder Bay—Superior North.

Infrastructure

[Bruce Hyer, Green, Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, our cities have crumbling infrastructure. We are the only G20 country with no national housing strategy. For decades the feds have downloaded onto the provinces, and the provinces onto the municipalities. So when will the Conservatives stop subsidizing undertaxed multinational corporations like big oil and start working with mayors to invest in critical infrastructure like public transit, municipal housing, and important projects like the proposed event centre in Thunder Bay?

[Denis Lebel, Conservative, Minister of Infrastructure]

Mr. Speaker, that is exactly what we are doing.

We have introduced the largest and longest infrastructure plan in Canadian history in partnership with the provinces and municipalities. The Federation of Canadian Municipalities was involved at each stage of the plan.

I applaud our government, which is investing $75 billion over 10 years in new infrastructure.

International Trade

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

Mr. Speaker, various free trade agreements are currently being discussed, and the opening of international markets could have a serious impact on small and medium-sized businesses in Canada if they are not prepared for it. The global markets action plan does not include any concrete measures specifically for SMEs.

With several agreements about to be implemented, we are still wondering if the government plans to develop a strategy to help SMEs manage the risks associated with international trade.

Can the Minister of State for Small Business and Tourism explain why he is leaving SMEs to fend for themselves?

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Minister of International Trade]

Mr. Speaker, the member actually did not mention which trade agreement he was referring to, but I would say this.

If he had followed our government's actions, he would know that about a year ago we released Canada's global markets action plan, which identifies the priority markets that matter to Canada, identifies the priority sectors of our economy that matter to Canadians, and puts a special focus on the small and medium-sized enterprises that the member referred to.

On this side of the House, we take our obligations to Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises seriously. That is why we have embarked upon the most ambitious trade plan Canada has ever seen.

Justice

[Jean-François Fortin, Forces et Démocratie, Haute-Gaspésie—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Quebeckers had the courage to hold a non-partisan debate on the right to die with dignity.

However, the federal government has always refused to recognize the law passed by the National Assembly. Ottawa has always responded by saying that the Criminal Code applies. This lame excuse no longer holds water, since the Supreme Court just struck down the section that banned patients from putting an end to their suffering.

Now that the Criminal Code excuse no longer holds water, will the Minister of Justice finally commit to recognizing and fully honouring the Quebec law?

[Bob Dechert, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice]

Mr. Speaker, as the member knows, this is a very sensitive issue for many Canadians, with deeply held beliefs on both sides.

We will study the decision and ensure that all perspectives on this difficult issue are heard.

Employment Insurance

[Jean-François Fortin, Forces et Démocratie, Haute-Gaspésie—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia, QC]

Mr. Speaker, instead of helping workers who lose their jobs and fall on tough times, the federal government is doing precisely the opposite and acting like a bully.

A survey released last week showed that instead of helping applicants get what they are entitled to, the federal government is making Service Canada staff use practices intended to discourage the unemployed from claiming employment insurance benefits. Then people are surprised when a record number of unemployed Canadians are not receiving employment insurance.

When will the government treat workers who lose their jobs as people who deserve respect and not as people to be fleeced?

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Minister of Employment and Social Development and Minister for Democratic Reform]

Mr. Speaker, I want to begin by thanking the Prime Minister, my constituents, and all Canadians for the opportunity they have given me to serve the public in my new role.

Our system is very generous to the unemployed. We are working to provide them the benefits to which they are entitled. We are in the process of reducing the waiting period for receiving benefits, and we will continue to do so.

Oral questions

[Royal Galipeau, Conservative, Ottawa—Orléans, ON]

Mr. Speaker, on Friday, February 6, the House Leader of the Official Opposition raised a point of order against me. It can be found on page 11171 of Hansard.

In his intervention, the leader claims that during question period that very day I shouted disparaging and inappropriate remarks regarding the hon. member for Beauharnois—Salaberry. He is right to say that I know what is appropriate and what is not.

I thank the hon. opposition leader for raising this matter. When he did, I was in the public gallery above him with the hard-working president of the Convent Glen—Orléans Wood Community Association. I was not aware of what I might have said to so offend the sensibilities of the hon. member for Burnaby—New Westminster, so I looked in the blues and did not find my intervention.

Obviously, whatever I said caused so little fuss that the keepers of the official record ignored it.

However, I do recall reacting to the preamble to the question from the member for Beauharnois—Salaberry. She said that the Government of Canada, which is so capably led by the current Prime Minister, had cut billions of dollars in health transfers. Since we have increased these transfers by 68%, $14 billion, in nine years, I erupted, something I rarely do.

Since the opposition House leader drew my rare heckling to the Speaker's attention, it is now printed in the Debates of the House of Commons on page 11168.

I am unreservedly contrite for having used the Lord's name in vain. It was an unconsidered intervention. I had never done it before and I will not do it again. I seek your forgiveness, Mr. Speaker, and that of the House.

I have the deepest respect for the member for Beauharnois—Salaberry and for her professional training as a teacher. For that reason, I was surprised by the lack of rigour in the preamble to her question of February 6. She deserves the presumption of good faith. I have no doubt that when she asks her next question, she will—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

Order, please. I think the hon. member has made his point to the House.

The hon. member for Burnaby—New Westminster is rising on the same point.

[Peter Julian, NDP, Burnaby—New Westminster, BC]

Mr. Speaker, you will recall that on the date in question, the Speaker himself said that he would follow up with the member for Ottawa—Orléans and make sure that he gave his excuse and his apologies to the member for Beauharnois—Salaberry. That has not been the case.

Through you, again, Mr. Speaker, to the member for Ottawa—Orléans, he should be standing, he should be apologizing, he should be withdrawing his remarks, and that is all he should be doing.

The member for Beauharnois—Salaberry is owed an apology.

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

This is the first day back since the incident happened. I will look into it and come back to the House if necessary.

Order Paper

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

I wish to inform the House that in accordance with a representation made by the government pursuant to Standing Order 55(1), I have caused to be published a special order paper giving notice of government bills and motions. I now lay upon the table the relevant document.

Public Safety and National Security

[Daryl Kramp, Conservative, Prince Edward—Hastings, ON]

Mr. Speaker, today I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the ninth report of the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security, entitled “Social Finance as It Relates to Crime Prevention in Canada”.

Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report.

Agriculture

[Claude Gravelle, NDP, Nickel Belt, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present two petitions.

The first one is signed by hundreds of people in the city of Sudbury. It calls on the Government of Canada and the House of Commons to adopt international aid policies that support small family farms.

As members know, the Conservative government has always supported corporate farms, and it is time for the government to pay attention to family farms.

Dementia

[Claude Gravelle, NDP, Nickel Belt, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition has been signed by petitioners from right across Ontario. It is from area codes 902, 613, 506, 516, 905, and 705. It calls on the government to adopt my private member's bill, Bill C-356, calling for a national strategy on dementia.

Sex Selection

[David Anderson, Conservative, Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions today.

The first petition is from folks around Saskatchewan who call upon members of Parliament to condemn discrimination against girls occurring through sex-selective pregnancy termination.