Debates of Feb. 20th, 2015

Natural Resources

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

Mr. Speaker, mining is a global industry, and our government is committed to attracting investment, opening new markets, supporting innovation, improving regulatory effectiveness, and promoting corporate social responsibility. That is why we are continuing to lower taxes, reduce red tape, open new markets, and create the conditions for companies to succeed in Canada, particularly those in the extractive sector. Canada has the lowest overall tax rate on new business investments in the G7, giving us a distinct advantage in the extractive sector.

We will continue to build on this action.

[Claude Gravelle, NDP, Nickel Belt, ON]

Mr. Speaker, every year the government leaves the decision to extend the mineral exploration tax credit to the last minute. The budget delay means added uncertainty for the whole mining sector and lower investment in Canada.

There are 25,000 people, from one hundred countries, meeting in Toronto in just over a week, and all of them are waiting to know if the government will extend the tax credit that is set to expire at the end of March.

When will the government give the mining sector the predictability that it needs to make investment and create jobs in Canada?

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

Mr. Speaker, as I have said, we are continuing to lower taxes, reduce red tape, open new markets, and create the conditions for companies, particularly those in the extractive sector. We want to see them succeed here in Canada.

As I have said, we have the lowest overall tax rate on new business investments in the G7. That gives us a distinct advantage in the extractive sector.

We will continue to build on these actions.

Aboriginal Affairs

[Jonathan Genest-Jourdain, NDP, Manicouagan, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservative government's mismanagement has also taken its toll on education.

The Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador is now turning to the Auditor General of Canada to get things done. Yesterday, the organization gave the Auditor General a thick file outlining the mismanagement of the Department of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development.

What is the minister waiting for? When will he take action and respond to the demands of aboriginal peoples who, like everyone else, just want a quality education for their children?

[Bernard Valcourt, Conservative, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development]

Mr. Speaker, our government believes that first nations students should have access to a quality education system, just like all other Canadians. They deserve it.

That is why, since 2006, our government has invested over $10 billion to support the elementary and secondary education of approximately 117,000 first nations students living on reserves. We have invested approximately $1.7 billion in school infrastructure.

The purpose of all of these investments is to give first nations children access to a good education system.

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

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives can fool some of the people some of the time, but they cannot fool all of the people all of the time with their rhetoric.

Many first nations communities face underfunding and a lack of training when it comes to fire and emergency services. Communities across the country are without fire protection and dependent on the neighbouring towns. These communities experience major response time delays that can have devastating and tragic impacts.

Will the minister recognize this crisis and work with these communities so they get the protection they need and deserve, or will the government continue to turn a blind eye and continue to put people at risk?

[Bernard Valcourt, Conservative, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development]

Mr. Speaker, the fact is that the government is working co-operatively and in partnership with first nations throughout Canada in order to allow them to provide fire protection on reserves. The budgets are constant and going up throughout Canada. Since 2006, we have invested over $185 million to support these services on reserves.

We will continue to work in partnership with first nations to continue in the same direction.

Natural Resources

[John Williamson, Conservative, New Brunswick Southwest, NB]

Mr. Speaker, Canada's natural resource sector supports an impressive 1.8 million good paying jobs. It accounts for nearly 20% of our economy and provides government tax revenue for important services like health, education, and infrastructure.

Residents in my riding expect our government to create jobs and grow our economy, while, of course, protecting the environment. Most are eager to see more oil and pipeline development in New Brunswick.

Could the minister share with the House what we are doing to provide benefits for working Canadians?

[Bernard Valcourt, Conservative, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for that important question.

As he said, Canadians expect our government to make decisions based on facts and scientific evidence. That is why any decisions about the energy east project will be based on independent scientific studies.

However, the leader of the Liberal Party has already jumped to conclusions by saying that this project is not socially acceptable. That is what he is saying in Quebec. We have been clear. Our decisions will be based on scientific evidence and facts, not on ideology.

Food Safety

[Wayne Marston, NDP, Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, ON]

Mr. Speaker, you will know that Canadian beef exports to South Korea are worth $25.8 million annually. The Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement was supposed to increase the beef trade with South Korea, but the latest BSE discovery has now put a halt to these exports. Other trading partners may soon follow suit if information or reassurances are not provided.

What steps is the minister taking to protect our existing beef exports, and when will Canadian farmers be able to resume their beef exports to Korea?

[Gerald Keddy, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture]

Mr. Speaker, the World Organisation for Animal Health recognizes Canada as a controlled risk status country. We expect our trading partners to continue to recognize this status. South Korea, in particular, has followed our bilateral trading protocol and used Canada's strong controlled system. The government is working to fix this temporary trade disruption as soon as possible.

[Jean Rousseau, NDP, Compton—Stanstead, QC]

Mr. Speaker, free trade agreements alone will not improve our trade balance, especially not the ones negotiated by this government.

For example, the free trade agreement with South Korea did not prevent that partner from imposing a moratorium on Canada because of the discovery of one case of mad cow disease. That is very worrisome. Nevertheless, we will continue to export Canadian beef.

What is the government's plan to reassure Korean consumers, and more importantly, what will the minister do to help our beef producers given that he promised them better access to the Korean market?

[Gerald Keddy, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture]

Mr. Speaker, as I said previously, South Korea has followed our bilateral trading protocol and used Canada's strong controlled system. The government is working to fix this temporary trade disruption as soon as possible.

Parks Canada

[Dennis Bevington, NDP, Northwest Territories, NT]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives' drastic cuts to Parks Canada have forced parks to scale back or shut their gates for winter, and now volunteers are needed to keep many of Canada's national parks open. An $800-million investment in parks can produce $5 billion in economic activity, supporting local jobs and communities. Parks like Wood Buffalo need strong support, especially to increase tourism.

Why are the Conservatives abandoning Canada's national parks?

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, as I stated yesterday, there have been no reductions to Parks Canada's budget. In fact, the overall budget has increased by 26%, and this is in addition to the $391 million we announced in economic action plan 2014 to maintain and upgrade Parks Canada's infrastructure. These investments will ensure that Canadians and visitors are safe and continue to enjoy our country's natural heritage. Our government also launched the national conservation plan last year, which includes new investments.

Health

[Christine Moore, NDP, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives' incompetence and flip-flop on the approval of citronella has had a negative impact on our economy.

A Quebec company lost more than $1 million, and some employees lost their jobs. The company was even forced to buy back stock from customers, in addition to paying fines.

This entire industry is in the process of rebuilding. This is amateur hour.

How does the minister explain this whole mess?

[Cathy McLeod, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health and for Western Economic Diversification]

Mr. Speaker, our government is committed to ensuring that Canadians have access to a wide array of choice for natural health products, and Health Canada's oversight recognizes the lower risk of most natural health products. The department has approved thousands of products as being safe and effective.

Regarding citronella, the department has announced a review to ensure that these products have the proper level of oversight, and this review will ensure that Canadians have access to safe and effective products.

International Development

[Kirsty Duncan, Liberal, Etobicoke North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, as the fourth anniversary of the Syria crisis approaches, 5.6 million children are in need of assistance. Will the Minister of International Development personally attend the donor conference in Kuwait on March 31, and will he make a meaningful contribution on behalf of all Canadians to champion the children of Syria?

[Lois Brown, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Development]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague for that question. Indeed, the conference is coming up in March in Kuwait. We are still in consideration of whether or not the minister is going to attend that. However, I can tell the House that Canada has been one of the largest donors. It is the third-largest donor to the World Food Programme, helping the people of Syria and helping the people who are most vulnerable.

We will continue to assess the situation with our allies and continue to work with our partners.

Foreign Affairs

[Irwin Cotler, Liberal, Mount Royal, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the imprisonment and cruel and inhumane treatment of Saudi blogger Raif Badawi continues to be met with outrage in Canada and around the world.

The government called for clemency, but calling for clemency does not guarantee that Raif Badawi and his lawyer will be immediately and unconditionally released, nor does it allow Raif to be reunited with his family in Quebec.

Will the government explicitly demand that these two individuals be released immediately and unconditionally and that Raif be reunited with his family here in Quebec?

[David Anderson, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Consular]

Mr. Speaker, the Canadian government considers the punishment of Mr. Badawi to be a violation of human dignity, and we continue to call for clemency in this case.

The promotion and protection of human rights is an integral part of our Canadian foreign policy. Mr. Badawi is not a Canadian citizen, but we will continue to make our position known both publicly and through diplomatic channels. Our government has made representation, and it will continue to do that.

Rail Transportation

[Philip Toone, NDP, Gaspésie—Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC]

Mr. Speaker, VIA Rail is caught in a vicious cycle. It has fewer customers as a result of bad service. The fewer customers it has, the less service it provides. The equipment and service in the east are pathetic.

Parliament must regain control of this fundamental service and impose a governance and funding structure on VIA Rail, as has been done in the United States with Amtrak.

Will the Conservatives support a legislative framework for VIA Rail? Why are they treating passengers like second-class citizens?

[Lisa Raitt, Conservative, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, VIA Rail's primary objective is to provide safe and efficient passenger service, but it has to do it in as cost-effective a manner as possible. The government has supported VIA Rail significantly since 2006. In fact, $1 billion in investment has gone into this passenger rail service.

We always ask VIA Rail how it plans to increase ridership and how it plans to improve service. It is its job to get it done, and we expect it to do so.

Justice

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

Mr. Speaker, the New Brunswick Court of Appeal has six judges. At present, there are three anglophone and two francophone judges. The Association des juristes d'expression française du Nouveau-Brunswick is justified in asking that the next judge be a francophone, so that both communities have equal representation.

Will the minister undertake to appoint a francophone to the New Brunswick Court of Appeal and promise not to pick from the list of Conservative organizers, as they did with Justice Richard Bell?

[Peter MacKay, Conservative, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, the member certainly understands that we must have a non-partisan judicial system. Judges are picked on the basis of their qualifications and merit. We are happy to continue that practice. I have confidence in the competence of the judicial system in New Brunswick, or anywhere else in Canada.