Debates of Feb. 24th, 2015

Veterans Affairs

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives pay lip service to the brave men and women who serve in our armed forces, but they fail to deliver when help is needed. The government trumpeted its plan to give ex-military members priority for public service jobs, but it is refusing to let former members transfer all of their pensions if they make such a move.

Why do the Conservatives disrespect the service of our armed forces members and why are they treating them so unfairly?

[Erin O'Toole, Minister of Veterans Affairs, CPC]

Mr. Speaker, there is no such barrier to hiring. I am very proud that our government has put forward the veterans hiring act in order to give priority to the men and women injured in the service of Canada.

We are looking at a specific and small situation for reservists that treats them fairly so that Canadian Forces reservists can take advantage of this excellent policy for our veterans.

National Defence

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Mr. Speaker, here is another failure to deliver.

Robyn Young joined the Canadian Forces as a reservist at the age of 17, serving full time until 2011. In 2009, a military doctor misdiagnosed her tumour and performed unnecessary surgery. The result is a debilitating condition that now affects her ability to work. Young now works only part time and no longer gets the medical benefits she needs to heal and return to full-time work, benefits she would have received if diagnosed correctly.

Would the minister commit today to fix this injustice for Robyn and any others who may be in her situation?

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

Mr. Speaker, both the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces are aware of this troubling case. The Canadian Forces health services group is conducting a full review of it. While this review is ongoing, both DND and the Canadian Armed Forces are continuing to cover her medical costs and meet her medical needs relating to her present condition.

As this is a health-related matter, it would be inappropriate for me, with respect to patient confidentiality and the Privacy Act, to comment further.

Quebec Bridge

[Denis Blanchette, NDP, Louis-Hébert, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the former president of the Quebec City chamber of commerce has clearly stated that the federal government is responsible for the mess in the Quebec Bridge affair and that the federal government has to pay.

Who messed up the contract in 1995? The Liberals. Who went to court and lost? The Conservatives.

While the Conservatives are trying to throw the ball back into CN's court, the people of Quebec City are still waiting.

Will the Prime Minister finally keep his promise? I repeat, will he keep his promise and get the Quebec Bridge repainted?

[Lisa Raitt, Conservative, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, I do not know if the member has been keeping up with the information, but it is very clear that our government is committing $75 million in order to repaint the Quebec Bridge. We are acting on exactly what we said we would do.

All three levels of government are committing $100 million towards this important project, but it is up to CN. CN has to come to the table and commit the other funds that are necessary for this project to get done.

[Annick Papillon, NDP, Québec, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the minister claims she did her part when she put $75 million on the table to repaint the Quebec Bridge. The problem is that her offer is conditional on CN's participation, but CN is not responsible for painting the bridge because of the Liberals' negligence. The minister's $75 million is money that Quebec City will never see.

Is the Prime Minister gearing up for another election by promising to paint the bridge or will he finally keep his word and get on with it?

[Lisa Raitt, Conservative, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, a significant contribution to this issue has been offered by the Government of Canada. CN has a responsibility for the maintenance and the operation of this bridge. As such, we call on CN to commit and come to the table and make sure that the funds that are necessary to get this work done are there.

Human Rights

[David Sweet, Conservative, Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale, ON]

Mr. Speaker, this evening our Parliament will be debating the troubling rise of anti-Semitism worldwide. It is an important issue that I will be speaking on this evening. I encourage all of my colleagues to get involved in the debate this evening.

I would like to ask the Minister for Multiculturalism if he would give us his update on why this debate is so important at this time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for his question and his leadership on this issue.

Indeed, I want to acknowledge the member for Mount Royal for proposing this important take-note debate this evening. It will allow us to discuss the rising wave of anti-Semitism across the world. We see incidents from Paris to Brussels to Copenhagen, as well as right here at home. It is deeply troubling and gives contemporary expression to the most ancient and pernicious and durable form of hatred, anti-Semitism.

It is not just the old anti-Semitism, with which we are sadly familiar, but the new anti-Semitism, which is often located in particular opprobrium for the Jewish homeland of Israel.

I invite all members to participate in this debate tonight. As Canadians, we join together in condemning the brutality of anti-Semitism.

Foreign Affairs

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Westmount—Ville-Marie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Mohamed Fahmy's struggles continue. He just learned that his new trial has been delayed. The possibility of returning to prison weighs heavily on him. He already spent over 400 days in prison in atrocious conditions.

Why does the Prime Minister not pick up the phone and call President el-Sisi to ask that Mr. Fahmy be returned to Canada as soon as possible?

[Lynne Yelich, Conservative, Minister of State (Foreign Affairs and Consular)]

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Fahmy is receiving consular services, so in fact we are ensuring his well-being.

I think that instead of writing ill-informed letters to the editor, the member should take the time to understand that our government is very clear at all levels. As the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Consular, I have assured this House that our government will continue to raise the case. Canada advocates for the same treatment of Mr. Fahmy as other foreign nationals have received.

Public Safety

[Claude Gravelle, NDP, Nickel Belt, ON]

Mr. Speaker, at a time when we are all concerned about Canadians' safety, the Conservatives are forcing the Canadian Security Intelligence Service to make major cuts. That does not make any sense. The race to balance the budget is at the expense of the safety of Canadians and the bilingualism of officers.

Can the minister tell us how he plans to increase security while protecting bilingualism?

[Shelly Glover, Conservative, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages]

Mr. Speaker, we take our country's two official languages seriously.

The proof is the roadmap for official languages, the most comprehensive investment in our country's history. It is a $1.1 million investment. There is no question about that.

The Canadian Security Intelligence Service is proud to have a bilingual and diverse workforce, and it will continue to serve Canadians.

International Development

[Joy Smith, Conservative, Kildonan—St. Paul, MB]

Mr. Speaker, constituents in my riding are concerned with the living conditions of mothers, newborns, and children in the developing world. Our Conservative government has shown global leadership on this file, and the figures are staggering. Globally, between 2010 and 2013, an estimated two million child deaths from disease have been prevented. Two million children have been saved.

Could the minister please update Canadians on our action?

[Christian Paradis, Conservative, Minister of International Development and Minister for La Francophonie]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for Kildonan—St. Paul for her hard work and her question.

Our Prime Minister announced a sizeable contribution that will help vaccinate 300 million children and should save up to six million lives.

We are working with other donors, the private sector, international organizations, and developing countries to deliver results.

We are especially proud of our partnership with GAVI Alliance and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. We are thrilled to welcome Mr. Gates to Ottawa tomorrow for meetings.

The Environment

[Louis Plamondon, Bloc, Bas-Richelieu—Nicolet—Bécancour, QC]

Mr. Speaker, after refusing to have all of TransCanada's documents on the energy east project translated into French, the National Energy Board is now refusing to suspend the consultation process, as called for by the Union des producteurs agricoles du Québec.

We still do not know the final route of the project, and instead of asking TransCanada to go back to the drawing board, the board is now moving forward with no regard for the effects the route will have on Quebec's agricultural land.

Will the minister admit that this consultation is a sham and that the environmental process that must be respected is Quebec's?

[Greg Rickford, Conservative, Minister of Natural Resources and Minister for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario]

Mr. Speaker, first of all, the National Energy Board has fulfilled its obligations under the Official Languages Act. Second, all of the documents produced by the board must be published in both official languages.

Questions on documents filed by the applicant should be directed to the proponent.

Public Safety

[Brent Rathgeber, Independent, Edmonton—St. Albert, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Defence says that Bill C-51 would protect civil liberties by ensuring that the powers of oversight are vested in the courts. However, in 2013 CSIS was censured by Federal Court judge Richard Mosley for not disclosing relevant information and for deliberately misleading his court.

This weekend, retired Supreme Court Justice John Major said that he was puzzled at the government's reluctance to provide better oversight over Canada's spy agencies. The judges themselves understand that warrant obtainment alone is simply inadequate.

The government is fond of dismissing criticism from the bench, which it labels as unelected, meddling, and interventionist, so why the sudden conversion by placing such confidence in the courts to provide effective oversight?

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness]

Mr. Speaker, on the contrary, the Supreme Court and the Federal Court have twice enhanced the powers of our review committee. We can be very proud of that.

This is an independent review body with extensive powers to decide the scope and type of investigations it conducts. It is accountable, it certifies the report of the director of the intelligence service and it investigates activities at its own discretion, free from government involvement or partisanship.

We can be proud of our review committee.

Presence in the Gallery

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

I would like to draw the attention of hon. members to the presence in the Gallery of His Excellency Cemil Çiçek, Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of the Republic of Turkey.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear!

Oral Questions

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

The hon. Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness used a term during question period that I think, upon reflection, he may wish to address now.

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness]

Mr. Speaker, I have a great deal of respect for decorum in the House. I apologize and I withdraw the unparliamentary comments I made and may have made about the Leader of the Opposition.

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

I thank the hon. member for that.