Debates of April 20th, 2015

Taxation

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

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives are once again lowering taxes for the rich.

Income splitting—a $2 billion tax break—will disproportionately benefit the wealthy, and now the Conservatives are now preparing to double the contribution limits for tax free savings accounts.

The majority of middle-class Canadians cannot take advantage of this measure. They are already struggling to make ends meet.

Why are the Conservatives not helping the middle class? Why do they want to bring in even more tax breaks for the wealthy?

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

Mr. Speaker, income splitting—our tax break for families—will help them by putting around $2,000 in their pockets.

However, the Liberals want to increase taxes for these same families. They also want to eliminate income splitting for seniors. Now, they claim to want to eliminate the tax free savings account, which will not only increase taxes for 9 million families but also threaten their retirement savings.

The Conservatives are the only ones who can be trusted to help families and lower their taxes.

Citizenship and Immigration

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

Mr. Speaker, can the minister tell the House whether the government has gone beyond discussions between officials and reached a formal agreement with Quebec on the implementation of the changes to the temporary foreign worker program?

It seems that the changes announced on April 2 will unilaterally take effect in Quebec on April 30. As we know, there is a Canada-Quebec accord on immigration.

Will the principles of that accord be respected?

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

Mr. Speaker, we respect all of our agreements with the provinces. The rules regarding the temporary foreign worker program will apply across the country, in every province.

The Liberals want to raise taxes for workers, which will kill jobs, and apparently the Liberals plan to give those jobs to temporary foreign workers.

We want all available jobs to go to Canadians.

Fisheries and Oceans

[Hedy Fry, Liberal, Vancouver Centre, BC]

Mr. Speaker, 2,700 litres of toxic bunker fuel was spilled in English Bay. Despite 911 calls from boaters, the Coast Guard took 5 hours to respond, 11 hours to find the source and contain it, and 12 hours to notify the City of Vancouver. The closed Kits Coast Guard base could have responded in six minutes.

The government cut 34% from marine search and rescue communications and resources. Now fisheries and beaches in Stanley Park are closed indefinitely. Will the government reverse its cuts and reopen Kits Coast Guard station immediately?

[Gail Shea, Conservative, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans]

Mr. Speaker, we have improved our ability to respond to these events, including new funding, new tools, and ensuring that companies responsible are the ones that pay. Under our government, investment in the Canadian Coast Guard has increased by 27%, but the Liberals would not understand that.

I can assure members there will be a full review of this incident, including the response, and we will wait for all the facts to be known instead of speculating about what happened.

National Defence

[Élaine Michaud, NDP, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

Mr. Speaker, three separate investigations were launched following Sergeant Doiron's tragic death in Iraq on March 6, 2015.

However, The Globe and Mail recently learned that the investigation on the circumstances of his death is now complete. This information came from an interpreter, who is working on contract in northern Iraq for the Department of National Defence.

Can the minister confirm this information and tell us when the findings of the report on Sergeant Doiron's death will be released?

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

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. member for her question.

Canada is conducting two internal investigations.

The military investigation service is leading one of the inquiries and the other is being done by Canadian Special Operations Forces Command. As soon as I have received both of those reports, I would be happy to render all aspects of those reports public that would not affect operational effectiveness.

[Jack Harris, NDP, St. John's East, NL]

Mr. Speaker, last month, the Chief of the Defence Staff told the Canadian press that the U.S. would be “leading their own investigation” into the death of Sergeant Doiron in Iraq, but the U.S. Combined Joint Task Force has now told the Globe and Mail that they are “not conducting a separate or concurrent investigation”. Also, details about Canada's own investigation are scanty.

Can the minister tell the House exactly who is doing an investigation into the death of Sergeant Doiron, when will we have the results and why is there not a board of inquiry?

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for the question about this very tragic friendly fire incident. The National Investigation Service, which is operated by the Canadian Forces Military Police, is conducting an inquiry. We have not yet received a report. Another inquiry is being done by the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command.

I do intend to release those aspects of these reports that do not bear on confidential military operations.

The CDS informed me this morning that he had received a summary of a U.S. report as well.

Public Safety

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

Mr. Speaker, Canadians in Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Windsor, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Edmonton, Vancouver, Victoria, and many other communities gathered together this weekend with one common goal: to urge the government to stop Bill C-51 from becoming law.

They recognize that this legislation will be ineffective, dangerous and that it undermines Canadians' rights and freedoms. Why does the minister not listen to them and withdraw this legislation?

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

Mr. Speaker, Canadians know they can count on our government to keep them safe. That is why we are making sure that our police have the tools they need to keep Canadians safe.

We are of the view of the witness who came to committee and said that legislation is important to combat radicalization. We need better tools to try to track jihadists who travel overseas.

Ms. Raheel Raza is the president of the Council for Muslims Facing Tomorrow. We share her views and we will deliver.

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

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives have managed to get unanimity across the country. Canadians are unanimously opposed to the government's anti-terrorism bill.

In cities such as Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Vancouver and Ottawa, thousands of people have protested against Bill C-51. Members of first nations, unions and experts across the board are telling the Conservatives that this legislation is unnecessary and dangerous.

When will the minister listen to Canadians and do the right thing: drop Bill C-51?

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

Mr. Speaker, our government will continue to take responsible measures to fight terrorism by preventing terrorists from boarding planes, by allowing parents to know that their child is being radicalized, and by shutting down sites that promote terrorism.

Common sense measures are supported by Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent's sister, who came here to Ottawa to call on all parliamentarians to stand up and protect Canadians from terrorism.

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

Mr. Speaker, Canadians are very concerned at the reports coming out of Montreal that two ISIS inspired extremists have been detained for plotting to engage in terrorist activity.

We all recall the horrific terrorist acts last October when Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent and Corporal Nathan Cirillo lost their lives at the hands of cold-blooded jihadi terrorists.

Could the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness give this House an update on what our Conservative government is doing to combat terrorism?

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

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member for Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale for his excellent work and his important question.

I also want to thank our RCMP officers for their work, working hand-in-hand with police officers and with other agencies to keep Canadians safe.

This is a stark reminder that the threat is real, that we need to take action and make sure that we have the resources and the tools that are needed to keep Canadians safe. Canadians can count on the Conservative government to take action.

Food Safety

[Malcolm Allen, NDP, Welland, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservative cuts to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency are putting Canadians at risk. Inspector positions have been cut or left empty, the frequency of inspections has been reduced, and companies are now being expected to inspect themselves. Inspectors are even being asked to sign certificates for products they have not inspected. This is just the beginning. There are more cuts to come.

Will the Conservatives finally take food safety seriously, stop the cuts, and immediately restore the number of food inspectors we need in this country?

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

Mr. Speaker, I think it is very important to note that the Conference Board of Canada rates our food safety system number one out of 17 OECD countries. In 2014, we hired more than 200 front-line inspectors.

I would like to share a quote from Dr. Sylvain Charlebois, from the University of Guelph, who says that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's method is the“right way” to approach inspections.

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

Mr. Speaker, that is incredible. We are talking about a real shortage of inspectors in Quebec.

Data gathered by federal unions show that on average, the abattoirs and processing plants where deli and prepared meats are produced in Montreal East, Saint-Hyacinthe and Quebec City have 10 fewer inspectors than required. More cuts to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency are anticipated in tomorrow's budget.

Why is food safety not a priority to this government?

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

Mr. Speaker, I want to reiterate our commitment in economic action plan 2014 for 200 more front-line food safety inspectors.

Let me share another quote, from Dr. Stuart Smyth, who is with bioresource policy at the University of Saskatchewan. He says:

Canada has one of the top...food safety systems in the world. Other countries look to our regulatory system as a model of food safety....

...food products that are available for purchase in our grocery stores are as safe as they possibly can be.

Seniors

[Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet, NDP, Hochelaga, QC]

Mr. Speaker, many seniors groups, including CARP, are hosting a meeting today to talk about the issues facing our seniors: the lack of home health care, the shortage of beds in long-term health facilities and the critical need for a seniors' strategy.

All of the parties were invited, but the Conservatives did not even bother to send anyone. Why? Is it because the government does not consider these issues to be important?

[Alice Wong, Conservative, Minister of State (Seniors)]

Mr. Speaker, no other government has done as much as our government for seniors. At this morning's meeting, I was unable to attend, but I did send my staff.

We will continue our record of support for seniors with initiatives like increasing funding to community-based projects for seniors, which both the NDP and Liberals voted against, a low tax that has helped to remove thousands of seniors from the tax rolls completely, which again both the Liberals and the NDP opposed, and of course, a policy that both the NDP and Liberals have wanted to repeal: pension splitting for seniors that is keeping their hard-earned money in their pockets, where it belongs.

[Irene Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians expect their government to listen and to participate in dialogue. Today the Conservatives did not even bother to send anyone to a major seniors event, and last week, the Conference Board of Canada warned that failure to address the demographic boom of seniors will compromise health care services. They also joined a growing list of organizations calling for a coordinated seniors strategy.

Will the Conservatives finally listen to the experts? Will there be a seniors strategy in tomorrow's budget?

[Alice Wong, Conservative, Minister of State (Seniors)]

Mr. Speaker, I was not able to attend this morning, but I sent a representative from my staff to be there. She probably overlooked that part.

We have had the largest increase in the GIS in a quarter-century. There have been millions of dollars invested in low-income housing for seniors, and the list goes on and on. Our record is that we stand by seniors, and the opposition would take away income splitting for our great seniors.

Ethics

[Wayne Easter, Liberal, Malpeque, PE]

Mr. Speaker, nobody begrudges the Prime Minister looking his best. Even I know nice hair is a wonderful thing. However, we learned from court that Mike Duffy paid for his makeup artist from a slush fund. Then we heard that the Prime Minister's makeup artist was paid from that same slush fund.

Why did the Prime Minister's budget not pay for his makeup rather than taxpayers being stuck with that bill, and will the government conduct an immediate review of all the Prime Minister's makeup expenses and repay Canadian taxpayers for any work paid for with this dirty money?