Debates of Feb. 24th, 2015

Taxation

[Judy Sgro, Liberal, York West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has slashed old age security, and infrastructure for our cities, has taxed income trusts, proposed income splitting for the rich, and now plans to double TFSA contribution limits, something the Parliamentary Budget Officer called fiscally irresponsible this morning. Doubling the TFSA limit is another expensive Conservative scheme that will only benefit the wealthy more than others.

While the Conservatives insist on giving 100% to the top 10%, working families are asking, what is left for us?

[Kevin Sorenson, Conservative, Minister of State (Finance)]

Again, Mr. Speaker, this government is proud to be bringing forward measures that would put money back into the pockets of Canadians rather than into government coffers like the Liberal Party would do. Our government introduced the tax-free savings account as a way for Canadians to save for the things that were important to them, like a child's education or perhaps a down payment on a home. There are 11 million Canadians who have TFSAs. Nearly half of those with TFSAs earn less than $42,000.

We know that the opposition members would take the TFSA away. We know that they would take pension income splitting away. We know that as much as we lower taxes for Canadians, they want to take more out of their pockets.

Infrastructure

[Adam Vaughan, Liberal, Trinity—Spadina, ON]

Mr. Speaker, what do the following cities have in common: Kitchener, Vancouver, Burlington, Sydney, Markham, Montreal, Cambridge, Ottawa, Halifax, Toronto, Mississauga, and Regina?

I have talked to the mayors of those cities, and what they have in common is a very simple thing: none of them got any federal infrastructure money last year, and they don't expect to get any money this year because of your government's policies. In fact, none of them are getting any money.

Do you understand that? None of them are getting any money. Can the minister explain why he is spending $29 million on billboards but not a penny on new infrastructure in these important cities?

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

It seemed like much of that question was directed at me and not the minister. I know the member will try to remember to direct his comment through the Chair and not directly at the minister. I do see that the hon. Minister of Infrastructure looks eager to answer the question, so I will allow him to do so.

[Denis Lebel, Conservative, Minister of Infrastructure]

Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to remind the member that since 2006, Canada has led G7 countries in total investment as a percentage of the GDP. We are leading the way.

We introduced the largest infrastructure plan in Canadian history with $75 billion. They want to centralize everything in Ottawa. We are doing that in partnership with provinces and municipalities, and we will continue to do so.

[Adam Vaughan, Liberal, Trinity—Spadina, ON]

Mr. Speaker, we have heard that answer before. In fact, we have heard it countless times.

What the government needs to understand is that the program it has put together is not working for cities. It does not work in cities. In fact, the program is back-end loaded. That is the problem.

What we have seen is a 90% cut in infrastructure spending. What has happened is that it was $2 billion two years ago; it is $200 million now. This is hurting cities across this country.

The question is very simple. Municipalities cannot wait. Cities cannot wait. Canadians cannot wait. Why will the government not fix the program now and spend the money now so that cities can get back to building infrastructure that we need in this country now?

[Denis Lebel, Conservative, Minister of Infrastructure]

Mr. Speaker, we have doubled the gas tax fund and made it permanent.

This year, since the beginning of the program, the new building Canada fund has accepted $5 billion and is in process. Since the member was a member of a city council, we have fixed the Scarborough subways, the Toronto-York Spadina subway extension, the Sheppard light rail transit, and Union Station revitalization, and more, only in Toronto.

Rail Transportation

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

Mr. Speaker, an investigation into the train accident near Gogama found that 29 cars derailed, 21 cars caught fire, and it took 6 days to extinguish.

A million litres of crude oil were released. Even more disturbing, the new standards put in place in 2014 for tank cars are still inadequate. The safety board is urging Transport Canada to quickly introduce enhanced protection standards for more robust cars.

When will the minister introduce higher standards to protect Canadians?

[Lisa Raitt, Conservative, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, Transport Canada has already removed the least crash-resistant DOT-111 tank cars. In fact, we moved far faster than anyone else has with respect to this matter.

Second, because of the nature of the tank cars between the United States and Canada, it is very important that we work in co-operation and coordination with the United States on these matters. That is exactly what the department is doing.

[Hoang Mai, NDP, Brossard—La Prairie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the minister did not answer the question.

The facts are simple. The Transportation Safety Board is reporting that the new standards adopted in 2014 for DOT-111 cars are not safe for transporting crude oil. They are simply not tough enough. The TSB is asking Transport Canada to adopt stricter standards to prevent another tragedy like Lac-Mégantic.

My question is simple. When is the minister going to put effective standards in place? When?

[Lisa Raitt, Conservative, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, last April we announced some very important milestones.

We announced that we would take 5,000 tank cars out of the system within 30 days. That was completed. Transport Canada also announced that within three years, we would also be phasing out the other DOT-111 cars, to new higher standards. We also have announced that we are working with the United States on what the new tank car standard will bring.

We are continuously working on these matters. The TSB has recognized the significant progress that the government has made on the matters, and we will continue to do so.

Aboriginal Affairs

[Mylène Freeman, NDP, Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the families of the 1,200 missing and murdered aboriginal women and girls are also still looking for answers.

While they are getting ready to meet tomorrow to give their testimony to the provincial, territorial and federal delegates who will meet on Friday, we hope that their voices will finally be heard and that this government will understand that the causes of this violence need to be understood before we can move forward.

Will the government finally listen to the families and launch a national public inquiry?

[Kellie Leitch, Conservative, Minister of Labour and Minister of Status of Women]

Mr. Speaker, our government is focused and committed to preventing all forms of violence against women and girls. I think all Canadians know that our focus has been on supporting, preventing, and protecting these young women.

Our government has put forward a bill to make sure that matrimonial property rights for women living on reserve receive the support that they require. Our government has put forward a victims bill of rights. These are acts that help protect and support women when they are in the most dire need. The opposition voted against them every time.

[Mylène Freeman, NDP, Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC]

Mr. Speaker, it is not an either-or choice between investments and a national strategy.

Families of the 1,200 women and girls who have gone missing or been murdered in Canada deserve to see coordinated action to end the crisis. They deserve answers to understand how indigenous women, who make only up 4.3% of Canada's female population, represent 16% of all the women killed in Canada.

Will the government commit to concrete action with its provincial and territorial counterparts and call a national public inquiry?

[Kellie Leitch, Conservative, Minister of Labour and Minister of Status of Women]

Mr. Speaker, let me be clear. We will have federal representation at the table, but we do not support a call for a national inquiry.

This government moved forward in September of 2014 with an action plan to support aboriginal women and the violent crimes that are committed against them. We made substantive investments and we are committed to them.

In addition to that, as I mentioned before, we moved forward with legislation on matrimonial property rights and a victims bill of rights. The opposition obviously did not read the action plan, because we are taking action, unlike them. They just want to talk about things and vote against them.

Foreign Affairs

[John Barlow, Conservative, Macleod, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the international jihadist movement has declared war on Canada. This is precisely why our government has deployed the Canadian Armed Forces in the fight against ISIL.

Every day we hear new reports of crimes against humanity committed by this terrorist group. Yesterday was no exception. According to human rights groups, ISIL terrorists abducted at least 90 people from Christian villages in northeastern Syria.

Can the Minister of Foreign Affairs please provide Canada's update on this atrocity?

[Rob Nicholson, Conservative, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, the deliberate targeting, killing, and abduction of religious minorities by the jihadist terrorist group ISIL is simply outrageous. Canada condemns these abhorrent acts in the strongest possible terms.

We will continue to work with our allies to confront and degrade this terrorist threat. This is in addition to the significant humanitarian aid our government has provided to the region.

The Liberals and the NDP are presenting Canadians with a false choice. It is not about either security or aid; we cannot effectively deliver aid without security. This is why we are committed to this fight and why it is about time the opposition got on board with us.

Democratic Reform

[Craig Scott, NDP, Toronto—Danforth, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the unfair elections act is running into trouble in the courts, just as we knew it would and as expert testimony predicted. Provisions of this act are so problematic that two leading organizations are ready to ask for an injunction. There are sections of the unfair elections act that clearly infringe on charter rights.

Did the minister honestly believe that his flawed bill would go ahead without serious and expensive court challenges?

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

Mr. Speaker, we had a very thorough debate on this question of whether people should be required to show ID when they vote. The opposition fearmongered and raised alarm bells, and Canadians heard all of these warnings. However, when the debate was said and done, 87% of Canadians agreed that it is reasonable for people to show ID when they vote.

That is what the fair elections act requires. We will defend that position in court, and we are very confident that we will win.

[Pierre-Luc Dusseault, NDP, Sherbrooke, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the inevitable has happened. The Conservatives' unfair elections act is being challenged in court.

A majority of experts, citizen groups and even some Conservative politicians have strongly condemned this law, which would deprive some citizens of their right to vote. The Council of Canadians and the Canadian Federation of Students are asking for an injunction, which is the logical consequence of this botched bill.

Why are the Conservatives trying to prevent students from voting in the next election? What are they afraid of?

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

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals and the New Democrats want to let people vote without showing identification. We think it is reasonable to ask people to show ID to identify themselves when voting in an election.

Fortunately, surveys show that 87% of Canadians agree with us. Our position is reasonable, and we believe that we will win in court.

Foreign Affairs

[Hélène Laverdière, NDP, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the participation of foreign diplomats in partisan events, such as fundraising campaigns, may be perceived as a form of support for a political party. Foreign diplomats must not be placed in such situations. The Liberals should know that. Clearly, they and their leader really lack judgment.

Will the minister follow up with the Pakistani High Commissioner to find out why the consul-general was at a Liberal Party event?

[Rob Nicholson, Conservative, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, it is highly inappropriate for foreign dignitaries to participate in partisan events, and the Liberal Party event was clearly political in nature.

While there is nothing wrong with members of Parliament bringing the concerns of their constituents to foreign ambassadors in meetings, exploiting an ambassador or an official for partisan gain is clearly unacceptable. To do so undermines the relationships between nations, and the Liberal Party should know better.

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians were concerned to read recent reports that the Pakistani consul general in Toronto participated in a fundraiser for the Liberal Party of Canada. It was also reported that he then went to Scarborough and participated in a partisan event with the Liberal candidate. We then understand that the Chinese ambassador pulled out of an event when he realized it was being put on by and for the Liberal Party of Canada.

This just shows a real lack of judgment. What does the government intend to do to ensure that foreign diplomats are not being used for domestic partisan purposes by particular parties?

[Rob Nicholson, Conservative, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, that is a wise question. I want to thank the NDP for that. This is good. This is the kind of thing we have to have in question period.

Again, it is inappropriate for foreign dignitaries to participate in partisan events. I am hoping that the Liberal Party has learned from this tragic mistake.