House of Commons Hansard #187 of the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was violence.
Diane Finley ConservativeMinister of Public Works and Government Services
Mr. Speaker, we made a promise to rehabilitate the armoury, and we will keep that promise. It will take time, but we are doing our best to finish it as soon as possible.
Larry Maguire Conservative Brandon—Souris, MB
Mr. Speaker, jihadi terrorists have declared war on us. They have specifically targeted Canada and have urged their supporters to attack disbelieving Canadians “in any manner”.
There is no greater responsibility for any government than the protection of its citizens, especially from those who would do us or our families harm. Can the Minister of Foreign Affairs please update the House on the government's plan to further confront and degrade the terrorist group ISIL?
Rob Nicholson ConservativeMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, of course ISIL has declared war on Canada. No reasonable person or political party would dispute this, which takes us to the position of the NDP. It has said that the fact that ISIL has declared war on Canada is “preposterous”. The only thing preposterous is the NDP continuing to deny the obvious truth that ISIL is a serious threat that requires a serious response. This is why we will not sit on the sidelines and why we will soon table a motion to extend and expand Canada's mission against these terrorists.
Dominic LeBlanc Liberal Beauséjour, NB
Mr. Speaker, Conservative cuts at Correctional Services Canada endanger the safety and security of the women and men who work inside the walls of our penitentiaries.
The recent announcement about closing the Shepody Healing Centre in Dorchester, New Brunswick, a fully accredited psychiatric hospital, continues this trend and puts Canadians at greater risk. The hospital gave the staff the tools they needed to manage some of Canada's most difficult and dangerous psychiatric cases.
Why is the minister being irresponsible and closing this important psychiatric facility, which is important to the safety of Canadians?
Steven Blaney ConservativeMinister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for his question.
On the contrary, we are maintaining psychiatric care at the Shepody Healing Centre. Not only are we maintaining it, but we are enhancing it. From now on, every inmate who needs psychiatric care will have it 24/7. It is part of our mental health strategy.
However, let us be clear: inmates with mental health problems should be in hospitals and not in penitentiaries.
That is why we must continue to work with the provinces.
Ryan Cleary NDP St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NL
Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives are poking the Newfoundland and Labrador bear over shrimp quotas, and failing to put coastal communities first.
Last year, inshore harvesters lost 26% of their quota compared to only 5% for the offshore fleet, and despite concerns about declining shrimp stock, we are hearing that there might not be quota cuts. The science does not add up. We do not even know what that science is.
Will the Conservative government commit now to the principle of adjacency, that those closest to the resource must benefit from the resource?
Randy Kamp ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans
Let me say that as someone with hearing loss, Mr. Speaker, I always appreciate a question from this member. However, there seems to be no correlation between the volume of the question and the quality of the question.
With respect to the question, when it comes to fish harvesting decisions, we always look for the right balance between maximizing economic opportunities for fishermen and ensuring sustainable fisheries.
Our management decisions are always based on science, and we share this science with both the inshore and offshore industry to ensure they have an opportunity to comment. We are waiting for that input.
Joan Crockatt Conservative Calgary Centre, AB
Mr. Speaker, tonight we will vote on the respect for communities act, which would give residents, law enforcement, and community leaders a say when safe drug injection sites want to open in their areas.
Unfortunately, the Liberals have voted against giving communities this say, while the Liberal leader wants to open more injection sites across the country.
We all know that drug injection houses allow the use of dangerous and addictive drugs. We also know that drugs promote family breakup. They tear families apart, promote criminal behaviour, and ruin lives.
Can the Minister of Health please update the House on the latest developments on this important legislation?
Rona Ambrose ConservativeMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is right in saying that these dangerous and addictive drugs do tear families apart. They promote criminal behaviour and they destroy communities.
The Liberal leader's pledge to blindly open drug injection houses in neighbourhoods is not only disturbing, it is risky for the health of Canadians.
As Minister of Health, I will make sure that communities have a say when injection sites want to open, and we will, of course, most importantly, continue to support treatment and recovery programs that work to get those who are addicted to drugs off drugs, and help them lead recovered and drug-free lives.
Louis Plamondon Bloc Bas-Richelieu—Nicolet—Bécancour, QC
Mr. Speaker, last week the member for Beauce said that he was fed up with the National Assembly's unanimous declarations. The member, who is a minister, showed a clear lack of respect for Quebec's parliament.
Can the Prime Minister tell us whether his minister was speaking on behalf of the Conservative government? If he was, is the federal government's new policy to tell Quebec's government to take a hike? If he was not, will the Prime Minister reprimand his minister for his lack of judgment and apologize to the National Assembly?
Denis Lebel ConservativeMinister of Infrastructure
Mr. Speaker, as the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, I am pleased to inform the House that we work with all the provinces and respect their jurisdictions.
Reciprocity is important when it comes to jurisdictions, and we work well with our partners in the Quebec government to advance all the province's files. That is our objective.
Brent Rathgeber Independent Edmonton—St. Albert, AB
Mr. Speaker, in February alone, 14,000 Albertans lost their jobs. Then last week, another 1000 job losses were announced in the energy sector.
Late last year, the Prime Minister emphatically stated that it would be crazy to impose carbon emission standards given the fragility in the energy sector, but then he surprisingly told Peter Mansbridge that he was musing about a carbon levy.
When will Canadians hear more details about the Prime Minister's proposed multi-billion dollar, job-killing carbon tax, levy, tech fund, or whatever else he decides to call it?
Leona Aglukkaq ConservativeMinister of the Environment
Mr. Speaker, this side of the House has been very clear on carbon tax.
We will not introduce the NDP or Liberal carbon tax.
Brent Rathgeber Independent Edmonton—St. Albert, AB
Mr. Speaker, since coming into office in 2006, the government has spent nearly $750 million on government advertising.
Some of it admittedly is quite helpful, such as informing Canadians of new programs, assuming that those programs actually exist, or health and safety risks. Others are pure shilling for the government agenda and partisan objectives.
Does the government that brought us the Federal Accountability Act not believe in protecting taxpayers from using public dollars that advance partisan ends?
Tony Clement ConservativePresident of the Treasury Board
Mr. Speaker, I am sure his constituents appreciate his sarcasm, but the truth is that we have an obligation to ensure that citizens are aware of government programs that may affect them in their everyday lives.
We will continue to advertise these excellent government programs, which are in fact increasing job opportunities, increasing infrastructure, and doing the right things for Canadians. We are proud of that, and we will advertise the details to Canadian citizens.
Maria Mourani Independent Ahuntsic, QC
Mr. Speaker, German Chancellor Angela Merkel urged the public to turn their backs on Pegida:
So I say to all those who go to such demonstrations: do not follow those who have called the rallies. Because all too often they have prejudice, coldness, even hatred in their hearts.
Next Saturday, Pegida Quebec, the first chapter of the movement in North America, is holding a rally in Montreal's Little Maghreb.
Will the Prime Minister echo Angela Merkel and unequivocally urge the people of Quebec not to take part in this?
Steven Blaney ConservativeMinister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Mr. Speaker, obviously we have important values and principles in Canada. Respecting rights and freedoms and gender equality are important principles. Although people are free to take part in demonstrations, we encourage them to abide by the rules of democracy.
The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer
I would like to draw the attention of hon. members to the presence in the gallery of the Hon. Wade MacLauchlan, Premier of Prince Edward Island.
Peter Van Loan ConservativeLeader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 111.1(1), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, a certificate of nomination with biographical notes for the proposed appointment of Joe Friday to the position of Public Sector Integrity Commissioner.
I request that the nomination be referred to the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates.
Government Response to PetitionsRoutine Proceedings
Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre Saskatchewan
Conservative
Tom Lukiwski ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8) I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's responses to 23 petitions.
Harold Albrecht Conservative Kitchener—Conestoga, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present two petitions today, signed by a number of citizens of Canada. Petitioners want to see tougher laws and the implementation of new mandatory minimum sentencing for those persons convicted of impaired driving causing death. They are also asking that we redefine the offence of impaired driving causing death to vehicular manslaughter.
Peggy Nash NDP Parkdale—High Park, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have petitions signed by another one hundred members of my community in Parkdale—High Park on the issue of rail safety. Petitioners note the alarming number of tank cars rolling through our neighbourhoods, but also that the budget for rail safety has been cut by the government by more than 20%. They want safer, tougher standards for tank cars. They want to restore the budget to oversee safety management systems. They want the industry to explore ways to reduce the volatility of Bakken crude, including partial refinement at source. They also want both the railways and the shippers to carry sufficient insurance to cover the cost of an accident spill or derailment through densely populated neighbourhoods like ours.
Frank Valeriote Liberal Guelph, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have a petition calling on the House of Commons to ensure that our nation's obligation to care for our veterans and their families is upheld. They ask that this be done by strengthening the new veterans charter to reflect this commitment, ensuring that veterans have access to veterans services by reopening nine closed regional veterans affairs offices, reviewing the fairness of lump sum payouts to veterans made under the new veterans charter, and ensuring that military personnel and veterans have timely and adequate access to mental health services on an as-needed basis.
Brad Butt Conservative Mississauga—Streetsville, ON
Mr. Speaker, I rise to present a petition on behalf of dozens of Canadians who are calling on the Government of Canada to enact a policy to reduce the risk for anaphylactic passengers using Canadian airlines.