Debates of March 31st, 2015

The Economy

[Stephen Harper, Conservative, Prime Minister]

In fact, Mr. Speaker, I have announced recently a range of economic actions, including assistance to exporters, additional federal money into infrastructure, tax credits for small business, incentives for people to undertake apprenticeships, the apprenticeship loan program, small business financing, and many other actions.

What the leader of the Liberal Party does not understand is Canadians do not think we respond to fallen oil prices by hiking taxes on the energy industry. They do not think we respond to that by imposing carbon taxes on Canadians. What we do is put money in people's pockets, and that is what we are doing.

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Papineau, QC]

Despite all those actions, Mr. Speaker, the Bank of Canada governor is still saying our economic growth is atrocious. The government does not have a plan. It does not have a budget. The Minister of Finance is completely missing in action.

We know putting dollars in the pockets of the middle class grows the economy, so why does the Prime Minister insist on giving a $2,000 tax break to the rich?

[Stephen Harper, Conservative, Prime Minister]

Once again, Mr. Speaker, the Canadian economy has grown over the past year and all experts, including the Bank of Canada, anticipate it will grow over this year, notwithstanding the immediate impact of energy prices.

As the leader of the Liberal Party really wants to put money into the pockets of middle-class Canadians, there is legislation before this Parliament that does that, that benefits every single middle-class, in fact every single Canadian, family in this country, but of course, the Liberal Party is wedded to tax hikes, wedded to deficits, and wedded to killing jobs.

Our politics are very different.

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Papineau, QC]

Mr. Speaker, today we learned that the Canadian economy is shrinking. It comes as no surprise, since the Minister of Finance is missing in action, the budget has been delayed and the Prime Minister has decided to give more money to the rich, instead of doing something for the middle class.

When will this government finally develop a responsible plan for economic growth?

[Stephen Harper, Conservative, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we will not hike taxes for the energy industry because of falling oil prices, nor will we impose carbon taxes on Canadian consumers. Those are Liberal Party policies.

We on this side of the House are lowering taxes for all Canadian families, which boosts their earnings. I encourage the Liberal Party to change its philosophy, support our initiatives and put money into the pockets of Canadians.

The Environment

[Megan Leslie, NDP, Halifax, NS]

Mr. Speaker, the government should be presenting its plan and targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions today. Unfortunately, I think we are never going to see that plan.

The government's inaction is making Canada a laughingstock in the eyes of its allies. Mexico submitted its plan. The United States presented its commitment and Russia is doing the same as we speak.

Why is Canada the black sheep on this issue?

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, we will submit Canada's greenhouse gas emissions targets in the weeks ahead. We are seeking information from the provinces and the territories on how they will meet their targets.

Our Conservative government is the first government in Canadian history to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We will continue to take action in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, without introducing a job-killing carbon tax supported by the Liberals and the NDP.

[Megan Leslie, NDP, Halifax, NS]

Mr. Speaker, the minister's talking points continue to be more fiction than fact, because the government consistently misses deadlines. It missed its own repeated deadlines for oil and gas regulations, and it is on track to miss its reduction targets. Now it is missing out on an important North American approach to fighting climate change.

Why is Canada refusing to co-operate with Mexico and the United States, our NAFTA partners, when it comes to protecting our environment and our economy?

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, we welcome the United States' announcement. We have always said that to effectively reduce global greenhouse gas emissions, all major emitters must be on board.

Canada has one of the cleanest electricity system supplies in the world, our energy coming from sources that emit no greenhouse gas emissions, whereas the United States has only 30%.

Leading up to Paris, we will continue to take action to reduce emissions, without introducing a job-killing carbon tax supported by the NDP and the Liberals.

[Megan Leslie, NDP, Halifax, NS]

Mr. Speaker, the government is not only missing in action, it is missing the point. Not only is climate change a threat to our health, our environment, and our economy, it is an economic opportunity that is waiting for us.

A study by the new NewClimate Institute shows that the U.S. targets announced today will reduce its reliance on foreign oil, avoid 7,000 premature pollution deaths every year, and create 470,000 renewable energy jobs by 2030.

When exactly is the minister going to stop stalling and announce Canada's commitment?

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, as I have stated, Canada will be submitting the greenhouse gas emissions targets in the weeks ahead. We are seeking information from the provinces as well as the territories on how they will meet their targets.

Our Conservative government is the first government in Canadian history that has reduced greenhouse gas emissions in Canada. We will continue to take action, without introducing a carbon tax, proposed by the NDP and supported by the Liberals.

Health

[Christine Moore, NDP, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives’ habit of missing target dates goes beyond missions.

Today is the first anniversary of the expiry of the health accords signed in 2004. Instead of sitting down with the provinces to negotiate new accords and improve our health care system, the government chose to deprive the provinces of $36 billion in transfers.

Why did the minister not make the effort to sit down with the provinces to try to renew the accords?

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

Mr. Speaker, our government is transferring the highest health care dollars in Canadian history. By the end of this decade, the transfers will be $40 billion per year, and we have committed to year after year increases.

Our government has made amazing progress in terms of these health care transfers.

[Murray Rankin, NDP, Victoria, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the reality is that federal leadership has never been so badly needed, yet the government has totally abandoned the field.

Today marks the sad anniversary of the Conservatives' total abandonment of health accords. They failed to work with the provinces and territories to address the real challenges faced by our cherished public health care system. They failed to act on home care. They failed to act on the high cost of prescription drugs. Why are they refusing to renew our health accords? Why are they undermining our health care system?

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

Mr. Speaker, since 2010, our increases to the provinces are more than double what the provinces are actually increasing their expenditures by. What we also need to make note of is it is not just money that is going to make a difference to the system. It is innovation. We have worked very well with the provinces around innovation.

I would like to quote from Brad Wall:

This can no longer just be about money. We've got to find ways to ensure that the health care is here for the future generations—that it's sustainable—without sacrificing patient care.

Food Safety

[Malcolm Allen, NDP, Welland, ON]

Mr. Speaker, 22 Canadians died of listeria in 2008 from unsafe meat. New inspectors were hired after that, inspections were supposed to be increased. However, now, after CFA has been forced by the government to reduce meat inspections and inspectors, meat sold in Canada is back to pre-2008 inspection levels.

Unfortunately, that is not the same when it comes to the Americans. The meat going to the U.S. is inspected 100%. It is a simple question for the minister. Why is meat going to America better inspected than meat going to feed Canadian families?

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

Mr. Speaker, Canada has one of the safest and healthiest systems in the world. The OECD rates our food safety system as number one against seventeen OECD countries. It is important to note that in our budget 2014 we committed to 200 new front-line food safety inspectors.

[Ruth Ellen Brosseau, NDP, Berthier—Maskinongé, QC]

Mr. Speaker, meat exported to the United States is subject to more inspections than meat destined for Canadians. That is completely unacceptable.

To save a few dollars, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency is cutting the number of inspections. These were put in place to prevent a food industry crisis such as the one that occurred in 2008, when 22 people died and dozens fell ill.

Why are the Conservatives moving backwards and putting Canadians' health at risk?

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

Mr. Speaker, again, the Conference Board of Canada rates our food safety system as number one against seventeen OECD countries. We are enhancing inspections and hiring more inspectors. There were 200 committed in 2014.

Some of the additional things we have done are that we have brought in tougher penalties, we have enhanced controls on E. coli and we have new meat labelling requirements. We are certainly making great progress in this area.

Access to Information

[Ève Péclet, NDP, La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Information Commissioner's report confirms what the NDP has been saying for years: the access to information system is outdated and ineffective.

The Conservatives campaigned on transparency and accountability. However, once in power, they voted against the NDP's Bill C-567, which would have given the commissioner the tools needed to expose government corruption.

Will the Conservatives finally listen to the commissioner and the NDP and strengthen the Access to Information Act?

[Tony Clement, Conservative, President of the Treasury Board]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the Information Commissioner for her report. We are currently studying her recommendations.

I can also say that the Federal Accountability Act of 2006 broadened the scope of the Access to Information Act so that it applies to more than 200 institutions. In 2013-14, our government processed almost 59,000 access to information requests, which represents a 9% increase.

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

Mr. Speaker, the Information Commissioner's report is a damning indictment of the government's culture of secrecy. No wonder the President of the Treasury Board is starving her of her basic funds.

The Information Commissioner has warned that under the government the Access to Information Act has become “a shield against transparency” and encourages “a culture delay”. She has outlined a pattern of interference, obstruction and secrecy.

Remember back in 2006 when the Prime Minister said that he was going to open the doors, that he was going to bring accountability and that he was going to end the culture of secrecy? What happened to the Prime Minister that he fell so far off the rails to get such a dismal grade on accountability?

[Tony Clement, Conservative, President of the Treasury Board]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to provide the hon. member with actual information. Since 2006, we have released more completed access to information requests than the Trudeau, Turner, Mulroney, Campbell, Chrétien and Martin governments combined.

Employment

[Judy Sgro, Liberal, York West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, despite Conservative bragging, Canada has again failed at job creation. However, the minister says that mounting job losses are all part of his master plan. Unemployed families struggling to pay their bills are not buying this nonsense.

The1,500 jobs lost at Future Shop, another 17,000 at Target and now the worst retail sales slide in years is not a plan.

I expect the minister will answer with his phony 1.2 million jobs line that he has used, but middle-class families are fed up with that and they know the Conservative fiscal policies are a disaster.

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

Mr. Speaker, they are trade, training and tax cuts. Yesterday, the Prime Minister was at an Ontario construction plant for Honda where it announced it would be exporting vehicles directly from Canada to Europe for the first time ever because of our free trade deal.

We are training people through more than half a million apprenticeship grants and shifting resources to high-demand industries. There are lower taxes so businesses can afford to hire, families can afford to save and consumers can afford to spend. That formula of trade, tax cuts and training has created 1.2 million net new jobs.