Debates of Feb. 6th, 2015

Taxation

[Paul Calandra, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and for Intergovernmental Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, let me thank the member for Wild Rose for sticking up for Canadian families each and every day in the House.

We know that the NDP has long advocated a job-killing carbon tax, but recently we also learned that the Liberal leader not only supports a job-killing carbon tax, but is actually encouraging his provincial comrades to bring in the exact same scheme.

Our government is going to continue to focus on families. The changes that we have made and the investments we are making will give Canadian families an extra $1,200 in their pockets. Those are real benefits, that is real change. Canadians know that they can continue to count on us to provide more money in their pockets so they can invest in their priorities.

Fisheries and Oceans

[Gerry Byrne, Liberal, Humber—St. Barbe—Baie Verte, NL]

Mr. Speaker, in the government's response to a report by the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans concerning small craft harbours, a suggestion—no, a promise—was made to the House and to the thousands of volunteer members of our country's harbour authorities that the government would not cut the very lifelines needed to manage these harbours for the mutual benefit of both DFO and the communities. Yet, in Newfoundland and Labrador, that is exactly what is happening: cuts to staff, cuts to training, and cuts to DFO offices.

Why the double-cross of our harbour authorities and the volunteers? Why was Parliament deceived?

[Randy Kamp, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans]

Mr. Speaker, I want to assure the member that our government values our small craft harbour authorities and our volunteers. Our communities and the industry benefit greatly from their work and they are to be commended for it.

However, let me be clear on behalf of the minister that we will not endorse any change that would result in the reduction of frontline services to harbour authorities. In fact, after considering the input received from volunteers, the minister can confirm that the third area manager position will be maintained. Discussions are ongoing with our harbour authorities and volunteers to ensure that their needs are met.

Employment

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

Mr. Speaker, thanks to the leadership of our Prime Minister, Canada has had the best job creation record in the G7 since 2006 when we were elected. While our focus is on creating jobs, the Liberal Party has the same old high tax, big government, high debt agenda that will threaten jobs and set working families back.

Given our government's unprecedented focus on the economy, could the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance please update us on the job numbers for Canada today?

[Andrew Saxton, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to tell the House today that employment increased in January by over 35,000 jobs. In addition, Canada has created over 1.2 million net new jobs since the economic downturn in 2009. Over 87% of these jobs are full-time, and the overwhelming majority are high-paying jobs in the private sector.

Unlike the opposition's plan to increase taxes, we will continue to move forward with lowering taxes and providing benefits directly to families for them to reinvest in the Canadian economy.

Taxation

[Jean-François Larose, Forces et Démocratie, Repentigny, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the IMF has recommended that G20 governments fund a major global infrastructure initiative through loans, not austerity measures.

Contrary to the government's rhetoric, the IMF and many other public finance experts have told us that we are entering a long period of economic stagnation, high unemployment and growing inequality between rich and poor.

It is time for the Minister of Finance to wake up. Does he not agree with the experts?

[Andrew Saxton, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, middle-class Canadians are better off because of our Conservative government. The median net worth of Canadian families has increased by 45% since we took office. For the first time, middle-income Canadians are better off than Americans. The average Canadian family pays nearly $3,400 less in taxes, and now every family with children in Canada will stand to benefit from our latest tax breaks, including the increase and the expansion of the universal child care benefit and the new family tax cut.

Shamefully, the opposition would take these benefits away.

[Jean-François Larose, Forces et Démocratie, Repentigny, QC]

Mr. Speaker, a simple yes or no would have sufficed.

The government is balancing its books at the expense of the regions, Canadians, the environment and our infrastructure. There will be a large debt to pay. The regions are dealing with economic decline and the exodus of their youth. The unemployment rate is rising.

Why does the government not take advantage of historically low interest rates to boost the power and financial capacity of all our regions, not just urban areas?

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec provides economic development services for all Quebec regions. We are waiting for projects and we will examine all of them on their merits.

Health

[Sana Hassainia, Independent, Verchères—Les Patriotes, QC]

Mr. Speaker, since last fall, many people in my riding have shared with me their concern about the alarming number of youth suicides. Since this is suicide prevention week in Quebec, I would like to remind members of some facts.

According to Statistics Canada, suicide was the cause of death for approximately 270 young people aged 10 to 19. What is more, although it is difficult to know how many suicide attempts were made, it is thought that for every death by suicide, there are 200 suicide attempts. It is possible to prevent these deaths, particularly by ensuring that people with mental health disorders have access to all the resources they need.

I would therefore like to know whether this government intends to respond favourably to the request of Partners for Mental Health to create a national youth suicide prevention fund.

[Paul Calandra, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and for Intergovernmental Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, we understand how important these issues are, and that is why we have made significant investments with our provincial partners in mental health issues.

At the same time, one of the most important things we have done since taking office in 2006 is to reverse the decade of health care cuts that was a hallmark of the Liberal government. We have increased transfers to our provincial partners by about 6% a year. We are going to continue to do that in the future because we understand how important health care is to Canadians.

Justice

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I am wondering if the Minister of Justice could answer two specific questions relating to Bill C-51, the act that would create a new secret police. One is whether the—

[Some hon. members]

Oh. oh!

[The Acting Speaker, Conservative, Barry Devolin]

Order.

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I am wondering if I could continue. There was too much noise.

My two questions for the Minister of Justice are simple. Will he amend the act to ensure that non-violent civil disobedience is precluded from the ambit of the act?

Second, could he please explain to the House the purpose of part 4, clause 42, that in taking measures to reduce the threat to the security of Canada, CSIS shall not “violate the sexual integrity of an individual”. Why was that—

[The Acting Speaker, Conservative, Barry Devolin]

The hon. Minister of Justice.

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

Mr. Speaker, with respect to the first part of the member's question, I think that over-the-top rhetoric is quite insulting to our security forces.

To the second part of her question regarding the protections against lawful protest, this is covered by the act. This would not pose a threat to individuals who engage in lawful assembly.

I spoke to the earlier part of her question with regard to the mandate of CSIS not extending beyond its lawful authority and, of course, being subject to judicial oversight.

Oral Questions

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

Mr. Speaker, during question period, the member for Ottawa—Orléans shouted disparaging and inappropriate remarks regarding the member for Beauharnois—Salaberry.

That member has been in the House for a long time. He knows what is appropriate and what is not. I therefore ask that he apologize to the hon. member for Beauharnois—Salaberry and withdraw his remarks.

[The Acting Speaker, Conservative, Barry Devolin]

The Chair also heard the comment. I would first like to remind all hon. members that when one of their colleagues has the floor, hon. members ought to be listening rather than speaking, so in that context any comment is inappropriate. However, I will allow the hon. member for Ottawa—Orléans to address the matter if he wishes. Failing that, the Chair will return to the House if necessary.

[James Bezan, Conservative, Selkirk—Interlake, MB]

Mr. Speaker, on a different point of order, I want to assure the House that the Minister of National Defence is representing Canada at the Munich Security Conference on Iraq, as it was alluded that he was not by the member for Ottawa Centre.

[The Acting Speaker, Conservative, Barry Devolin]

That was more a point of clarification.

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

Mr. Speaker, during one of the responses from our side of the House, the member for Scarborough Southwest clearly yelled something that I found very offensive and unparliamentary. I would request that he apologize to the House.

[The Acting Speaker, Conservative, Barry Devolin]

In this case, the Chair did not hear that comment. I do not know if the hon. member would like to respond.

The hon. member for Scarborough Southwest.

[Dan Harris, NDP, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

Mr. Speaker, certainly if anyone was offended by anything I might have shouted out in the House, I sincerely apologize. It is very difficult to keep a cool head when the Conservatives continuously boast about a million more Canadians being—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!