Debates of May 11th, 2015

Ethics

[David Christopherson, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

Well, Mr. Speaker, the fact is that this matter is not before the courts, and quite frankly, Canadians deserve answers, not antics. Instead of honest responses to written questions, we get excuses and evasions from that member.

To the Prime Minister's parliamentary secretary, how does the Prime Minister ensure that the people he appoints are actually eligible to fill their positions, and what criteria did they use to determine whether Mike Duffy, Pamela Wallin, or any other appointees were actually residents of the provinces they were appointed to represent?

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

Mr. Speaker, I have answered that question on a number of occasions. As members know, the constitutional practice on this has been clear for almost 150 years. It is the same practice with other issues that come before us in this House.

For instance, it is not appropriate to use House of Commons resources, taxpayers' resources, for partisan political purposes. We know, for instance, that the member for Gatineau used $24,498 against the rules of this House to fund an illegal partisan office in Montreal, and I hope that she will do her best to repay those funds immediately.

Employment Insurance

[David Christopherson, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, while disgraced Conservative Senator Mike Duffy was pocketing thousands of dollars, the Conservative government was spending $1.3 million fighting moms like Jennifer McCrea. She had the misfortune of getting seriously ill while on parental leave. More than 3,000 women paid EI premiums only to have the government deny them support just when they needed it most.

Conservatives promised to fix this situation, so why are they still denying these women the sickness benefits they paid for and that they deserve?

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

Mr. Speaker, while we cannot discuss an individual case, obviously our hearts go out to anyone who is in these difficult circumstances. That is precisely why our government introduced legislation to ensure that people who fall ill while they are on EI parental leave can get sick leave as well. It was in 2013 that we put it forward. We promised it and we also delivered it.

[Sadia Groguhé, NDP, Saint-Lambert, QC]

Mr. Speaker, between 2002 and 2011, the federal government systematically refused women who were on parental leave access to sickness benefits. Over 4,000 women were denied benefits because they had the misfortune of becoming seriously ill right after giving birth.

The Conservative government promised to fix this problem, but its solution failed 3,000 women like Jennifer McCrea. What is the minister going to do to right this wrong?

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

Mr. Speaker, obviously we cannot talk about a specific case, but we have a great deal of sympathy for people in those kinds of situations. That is why we introduced a bill in 2013 that allows people to access sickness benefits if they fall ill while receiving parental benefits. That is already in place and we have resolved the issue for future cases.

[Sadia Groguhé, NDP, Saint-Lambert, QC]

Mr. Speaker, 3,000 women are not one specific case. The Conservative government has done nothing about most of the claims that were unfairly denied between 2002 and 2011. It handed out payments arbitrarily and left thousands of other women without compensation. In 2011, however, following Natalya Rougas' appeal, the umpire ruled that women can claim sickness benefits during parental leave.

When will the minister fix this unfair situation for young mothers who became ill?

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

Mr. Speaker, that is exactly what we did in 2013 when we introduced a bill that is now in force. The bill allows people who become sick during their parental leave to receive sickness benefits as well. This has been a positive change. Our government delivered that. As I just said, it is now in force for future cases.

Taxation

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Wascana, SK]

Mr. Speaker, last week, for the 52nd time, the government reported a monthly massive trade deficit at $3 billion, and job numbers keep falling. There were 20,000 more Canadians out of work in April. There are 200,000 more jobless Canadians today than before the recession. There is no economic growth and inequality is rising.

Instead of investing in growth and fighting inequality, why is the government providing a $2,000 tax bonus to those earning a quarter of a million dollars, but no tax break at all for a single mom?

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

Mr. Speaker, actually, single moms will receive the Prime Minister's enhanced universal child care benefit, which is $2,000 for every child under the age of 6, and $720 for children ages 6 through 17.

The Liberals have announced that they will take away the universal child care benefit. They also announced that they would raise taxes on half of families with kids by cancelling income splitting. Income splitting or the family tax cut helps almost half of those families with kids. The Liberals have announced that they will raise taxes by up to $2,000 on those very families.

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Wascana, SK]

Mr. Speaker, if the government were truly committed to real fairness for middle-class families, it could give those families a child benefit that is much bigger. For a family of $45,000 with one child, it could be $2,000 more. For a family of $45,000 with two children, it could be nearly $4,000 more. For a family at $90,000 with two kids, it could be $2,500 more.

If we are progressive and fair, if we focus on those who need the help the most, nine out of ten families can get more tax free. Why is the government against that?

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

Mr. Speaker, in addition to the Liberal tax increases, the ones the Liberals admit, they have billions of dollars in unfunded promises in their plans. Just like budgets do not balance themselves, the Liberal leader's platform does not balance itself either. He admits there is a $2 billion hole, his tax increases will not raise the money he claims, and he has not properly accounted for the real costs of his promises.

When the Liberals have massive multi-billion dollar financial holes, we know what they do. They raise taxes on the middle class. We will balance the budget and keep taxes low.

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Wascana, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I have actually balanced a budget. The Conservative government has not balanced a budget since before the recession eight years ago. It has the worst economic growth record in eight decades. Job creation is down 60% from two years ago. Job quality is the worst in 25 years. New Conservative debt has ballooned to $4,400 for every man, woman and child in the country. Now the Conservatives are against a better tax credit. Why do they not just get out of the way?

[Joe Oliver, Conservative, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, if opposition members had risen to cheer again as they did last time I spoke, I might have thought, hope against history, that they would vote for the budget.

Our government is focused on what matters to Canadians: jobs and economic growth, with 1.2 million net new jobs created, 20% more than the G7. According to the International Labour Organization, Canada has the second best pay gains in the G20.

With a fragile economy, we must stay the course with our low-tax plan for jobs and growth.

Employment

[Peggy Nash, NDP, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

Mr. Speaker, 20,000 Canadians lost their jobs last month. Fully 1,000 GM workers in Oshawa will soon be unemployed, as will 300 workers in Mirabel, 125 workers at the Rivière-aux-Rats sawmill and dozens of workers in Matane and Havre-Saint-Pierre. Nevertheless, the Conservative budget only gives gifts to the wealthy.

Why is there nothing in the budget to boost the economy and create jobs for everyone?

[Joe Oliver, Conservative, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, the New Democrats have a lot of nerve criticizing our record on job creation.

They voted against every job creation measure adopted by our government, including the freeze on EI premiums, the tax cuts for manufacturers, the $70 billion investment in stable and predictable job-creating infrastructure, and more.

The NDP would rather raise taxes for Canadian businesses, which would kill jobs.

[Peggy Nash, NDP, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

In fact, Mr. Speaker, under the Conservatives, our economy is slipping and Canadian families are feeling the pinch. Last month alone we lost 20,000 jobs.

With major jobs in construction and retail, Canadian workers in all sectors across the country are worried their jobs could be next, but the Conservatives keep giving gifts, tax cuts to the wealthy few.

When will the Conservatives stop giveaways to those who need it least and start to take action to help Canadians struggling to find work?

[Joe Oliver, Conservative, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, I am proud of the many tax measures that will benefit all Canadian families, the middle class, seniors and the disabled.

We are doing a great deal for Canadians. We are helping job-creating businesses. We are reducing the small business tax from 11% down to 9%. We have provided an additional break of over $1.5 billion to small businesses. We are providing tax breaks to large manufacturers.

What we are doing will create prosperity and security for Canadians over the long term.

Employment Insurance

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

Mr. Speaker, Carissa Kasbohm became seriously ill shortly after she gave birth to her son in 2010. At a time when she really needed support, the government denied her sick benefit claim.

Some women who were unjustly denied benefits by the government have since received payment, but more than 3,000 of them have been forced to go to court to try to get justice for the unfairness perpetrated by the government.

Why are the Conservatives refusing to give women like Carissa Kasbohm the benefits they paid for, the benefits they need to support their families?

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

Mr. Speaker, our hearts go out to any family in these difficult circumstances. That is why, in 2013, our government brought forward the Helping Families in Need Act to ensure that parents who fell ill during their parental claim could receive their sickness benefits.

As the matter in question is before the courts, it would be inappropriate to comment. We have delivered results for all future cases by passing the Helping Families in Need Act.

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

Mr. Speaker, what about the 3,000? The Conservatives always have money for their wealthy friends, but nothing for Canadians in need.

The Conservatives just do not seem able to grasp that the money in the EI account does not belong to them; it belongs to Canadians. Fewer than four in ten unemployed Canadians get EI benefits, yet instead of improving access, the Conservatives are raiding the account to pay for tax cuts for the wealthy.

Why are the Conservatives giving the rich the benefits they do not need and leaving unemployed Canadians to fend for themselves, 3,000 of them?

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

Mr. Speaker, our hearts go out to anybody who finds himself or herself in these difficult circumstances. That is why back in 2013, we introduced the Helping Families in Need Act. This act will ensure that people who fall ill while they are collecting parental leave can also get sickness benefits.

[Robert Aubin, NDP, Trois-Rivières, QC]

Mr. Speaker, 20,000 workers lost their jobs in April. Meanwhile, 1.3 million Quebeckers and Canadians are already unemployed. They contributed to the employment insurance fund every payday, but fewer than four in 10 unemployed Canadians will get benefits when they need them. Why? It is because the Conservatives, like the Liberals before them, are looting the EI fund to give gifts to their friends rather than giving unemployed workers the insurance they paid for.

When will the Conservatives stop misappropriating EI contributions to write cheques for the rich?

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

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is wrong. What he said is not accurate. The reality is that the employment insurance fund will be balanced in the medium term. During the recession, there was a deficit in the fund. Now, that deficit is being paid back. However, we are going to decrease contributions in 2017 to reduce costs for businesses and workers. That will create jobs.

The NDP wants to increase contributions, which will kill jobs.

National Defence

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

Mr. Speaker, less than a week after creating a security breach and sparking a political fiasco by posting videos showing Canadian special forces, the Prime Minister's office has posted yet another video, with footage showing the faces of soldiers. Apparently, DND approved this video. Of course, we have heard that before.

Could the minister tell us this? Is it or is it not the government's policy to protect the identities of our forces for security reasons, or is this a standard that applies only to journalists but not the Prime Minister's propaganda videos?