Debates of March 27th, 2015

The Economy

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

Mr. Speaker, one of the government's most important jobs is to instill a sense of confidence in the economy. That is clearly not happening now. In fact, Conservatives outright refuse to talk about the economy at all. They have indefinitely postponed their budget because they have no plan, and the finance minister simply stopped answering questions two months ago.

The fiscal situation facing governments in Alberta and Quebec did not prevent them from making tough decisions and presenting budgets on time. Why is this government running away from its responsibilities?

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

Mr. Speaker, contrary to what the member says, we are talking about the economy. We are talking about the fact that Canada's economic action plan has created 1.2 million net new jobs since the lowest part of the recession.

We are talking about the economy in saying that we are going to keep taxes down. We are going to keep money in the pockets of Canadians. We are going to keep money for the families of Canadians. We are going to keep money in the pockets of pensioners and seniors.

We know that party would take it all away. It would tax and spend. That is why its members are looking forward to a budget. They believe that a budget is an opportunity to take from Canadians.

Public Safety

[Randall Garrison, NDP, Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC]

Mr. Speaker, after two weeks of testimony, one thing that really stands out is what a bad job the Conservatives did in drafting Bill C-51.

Witness after witness has revealed how flawed the bill is. At committee we learned that the Conservatives had not even consulted Canadian airlines on changes to the no-fly list. Here is what we heard from them at committee: the changes in Bill C-51 are likely unworkable and could end up costing airlines and travellers millions without making us safer.

How could the minister fail to do such basic due diligence in drafting the bill?

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

Mr. Speaker, as with all legislation, it is, of course, incumbent on the Department of Justice and other departments to give input into this legislation.

Let us not overlook the intent here. This is about sharing information amongst government departments. It is about ensuring that our security agencies have the ability to follow the trail of terrorists, to pre-empt, make arrests, and prevent these acts of terror before they occur on Canadian soil, thus keeping Canadians safer.

It is fine for members of the opposition to throw out these wild allegations and to try to scare Canadians into thinking somehow that this bill is going to harm their rights. There is valid, strict, judicial oversight. This is a good bill for Canadians.

[Rosane Doré Lefebvre, NDP, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday we concluded a marathon in committee, after hearing some very important testimony on Bill C-51.

Forty-five of the 48 witnesses we heard asked us either to amend the bill or to go back to the drawing board. Now is the time to act responsibly in the face of terrorism and radicalization.

Will the minister listen to the concerns experts expressed about Bill C-51 and will he make the necessary major changes to his bill?

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

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank that hon. member and the members of the committee who have taken part in a very comprehensive study of this bill, a bill that does contain a number of extremely important provisions. We have heard from experts on the bill.

I thank her and the members who have participated in what was obviously a very intense study of this legislation. We have heard from a number of important witnesses. We are proceeding now with the regular process that occurs with examination of bills such as this.

This is legislation that we believe sincerely will make Canadians safer. That is why it is before Parliament. That is why we have presented it in such a way. I do encourage members opposite to support this important legislation.

[Françoise Boivin, NDP, Gatineau, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we have been down this road before.

A badly drafted bill from the Conservatives that threatens the charter is just going to land the government in court. The Canadian Bar Association said it best. Bill C-51 is clearly unconstitutional.

Why has the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada lent his support to such a flawed and dangerous piece of legislation when it is his job to ensure that the Constitution is respected?

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

Mr. Speaker, it is the advice and the input from the Department of Justice, and me, as Attorney General and Minister of Justice, that this bill is in fact constitutional and will meet the charter screen.

I want to come back to the point that the member made with regard to the Canadian Bar Association. There is some reference in their testimony that judges will somehow be put in a compromised position. I remind her, and she as a practising lawyer will know, that judges, each and every day, are called upon to make assessments of evidence presented for warrants before them.

This is completely consistent with the tradition of the judiciary. It should give her great solace and comfort, and the Canadian Bar Association, to know that the judiciary are so involved in this process.

Firearms Registry

[Françoise Boivin, NDP, Gatineau, QC]

Mr. Speaker, to put judges in a position to accept doing certain things illegally?

On another note, in a split five-four decision, the Supreme Court ruled this morning that the federal government could destroy the firearms registry data. The judges are unanimous that this destruction is a political decision.

The judges in the minority felt that the federal government was deliberately trying to hurt the provinces by seeking to destroy the data. I would not be proud of that. Quebec has been clear: the data are important to public safety.

Will the Conservative government hand over the registry data to Quebec and show some open federalism—

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

Order.

The hon. Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness.

[Roxanne James, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness]

Mr. Speaker, the Supreme Court of Canada has been very clear in this decision. We are pleased that they upheld the decision of the Quebec Court of Appeal in this matter.

I would like to remind the member opposite that we have a strong system of gun control in Canada, and our government has toughened laws and penalties for those who commit crimes with guns.

We will continue to ensure there is safe and sensible firearms legislation.

Citizenship and Immigration

[Lysane Blanchette-Lamothe, NDP, Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC]

Mr. Speaker, in January of this year the Canadian government committed to taking in an additional 10,000 Syrian refugees over the course of the next three years.

However, since the government just reached its 2013 objective, which was to accept just 1,000 refugees, two years late, we have cause for concern. For example, we still do not know when these refugees will arrive or how many refugees will be supported by the government.

Will the minister develop a credible plan to fulfill his promises and ensure that these 10,000 refugees arrive in Canada within the next three years?

[Costas Menegakis, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, as of March 10, our commitment to resettle 1,300 refugees from Syria was met. They have all been granted permanent residence. That is a commitment made and a commitment kept.

Canada has been and will continue to be a world leader in providing support for conflict-affected Syrians and Iraqis. We are expanding our commitment to help Syrian refugees by resettling an additional 10,000 Syrians over the next three years. This brings Canada's total commitment to helping Syrian refugees to 11,300.

The Economy

[Megan Leslie, NDP, Halifax, NS]

Mr. Speaker, according to the finance minister, because of falling oil prices he cannot do his job and table a budget. Yet, yesterday, Alberta, which is far more dependent on oil, tabled a budget.

Something does not add up here, and it is not just the Conservatives' plan to take billions away from the middle class and give it to the wealthy few.

The finance minister cannot seriously expect Canadians to accept his worn-out excuse. When will he stop hiding and table a budget that stands up for Canadians?

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

Mr. Speaker, we know full well that we are in a fragile global economy. Of course, this country has been severely impacted by the dramatic fall in oil prices. That is all the more reason to stick to Canada's action plan and to the government's low-tax plan that has generated 1.2 million net new jobs since the end of the recession.

It is because of actions like this that the overall federal tax burden is at its lowest in the last 50 years. Contrast that to an opposition that believes that a $20 billion carbon tax would be the answer to the economy. We know that would cost jobs.

They would raise taxes—

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

The hon. member for Halifax.

[Megan Leslie, NDP, Halifax, NS]

Mr. Speaker, it is funny. That did not really look like the finance minister. In fact, the finance minister has not been responding for weeks, and he has only answered questions on four days this year.

Nobody is buying that it is because he is too busy to draft a budget. What is he using, an abacus? Is he getting out his pot of ink and his feather quill? Dab, dab, dab. Slide another bead across. Come on.

Does anyone on that side get that Canadians want answers and they want action on a budget?

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

Mr. Speaker, again, our government has a low-tax plan that benefits all Canadians. It is a low-tax plan that helps our economy grow, and a low-tax plan that helps all sectors of the Canadian economy. That plan is working. It will return Canada to a balanced budget this year. We will bring forward the budget; the minister has said it will not be before April.

However, we reject the opposition's plans to tax more. It looks forward to a budget because it views it as a way to take money out of the pockets of Canadians. It believes that its $21 billion carbon tax is going to help grow an economy. We know that it would cost jobs. We are going to keep on track. Canadians—

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

Order.

The hon. member for Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques.

[Guy Caron, NDP, Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC]

Mr. Speaker, while the minister of state lives in his bubble, we are living in the real world, where the provinces are able to table budgets. It seems that the Conservative government is incapable of tabling a budget.

For weeks now the government has been dragging its feet and postponing significant investments that the middle class needs right now, such as tax cuts for small business or measures to help manufacturers create jobs.

How many more weeks will the middle class have to wait for a plan to advance families' priorities?

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

Mr. Speaker, we are advancing the interests of the middle class by reducing taxes and providing child care benefits.

We introduced a plan that reduces families' taxes through income splitting, which will yield up to $2,000 for each family. We have enhanced this benefit, which provides $2,000 for each child under the age of six and $720 for each child between the ages of 6 and 17.

The NDP and the Liberals want to increase taxes and eliminate these benefits, but we will not let them.

CBC/Radio-Canada

[Pierre Nantel, NDP, Longueuil—Pierre-Boucher, QC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday CBC management announced that the corporation is cutting another 244 jobs, including 100 in French-language operations.

In Quebec and across Canada, the regions are the victims of this Conservative government's blind cuts. In a panic, management is now shedding young employees, the very people who could make Radio-Canada and the CBC leaders when it comes to reflecting our identity on new platforms.

Quebeckers love Radio-Canada, whether it is in Rimouski, Rouyn-Noranda, Trois-Rivières, Sherbrooke, Roberval or Sept-Îles.

Is the Minister of Canadian Heritage not ashamed of forcing our public broadcaster to inflict these deep cuts?

[Rick Dykstra, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, they can keep asking the question; the answer is going to be the same.

CBC is responsible for its own operations. It is up to the CBC to provide programming that Canadians actually want to watch and listen to, in both of our official languages. Our government provides the CBC with significant funding on a yearly basis.

If the member, who sits on the committee with me, understood and certainly looked back, he would understand and know that these changes are part of a strategic plan that the CBC went through in 2014 and is beginning to implement.

Manufacturing Industry

[Judy Sgro, Liberal, York West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, despite announcing the advanced manufacturing fund in March 2013, until today not a single penny was spent from the fund while our manufacturing sector in southwestern Ontario continues to suffer from Conservative neglect. It was only after the Liberals called them out on this neglect that the Conservatives quickly cobbled together today's announcement. After 750 days of foot-dragging, can the Conservatives at least explain why they are making these companies pay federal tax on these loans as if they were income?

[Mike Lake, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, this gives me the opportunity to inform the House that the government has announced today that we are investing in Hamilton's manufacturing sector through the advanced manufacturing fund. This investment will support nearly 80 jobs and create countless others in the supply chain.

Our government will continue to support policies that create jobs and grow the economy.

However, it is interesting because the Liberal leader has said that southern Ontario needs to “[transition] away from manufacturing-based employment as a driver in the economy”.