Debates of May 12th, 2015

Aboriginal Affairs

[Niki Ashton, NDP, Churchill, MB]

Mr. Speaker, the question is asking the government to clear its own record from last Friday, which it has not done.

The RCMP admitted that their comments were, as they called them “unfortunate” and that they do not represent the views of their organization. However, the government, yet again, has doubled down describing it as “absolutely abhorrent” that anyone would even ask for an apology on this kind of discriminatory language.

Therefore, I am asking the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, will he stand with the RCMP, apologize and make it clear that this kind of discriminatory language toward first nations is unacceptable?

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

Mr. Speaker, as I just said and the member mentioned, the RCMP did apologize for that comment. However, once again, every single measure that we have brought forward in this House to support our law enforcement agencies, whether it be RCMP or national security agencies, have been obstructed or voted against by that opposition member and the NDP. Just once, I would like that member to stand up and actually support our law enforcement agencies, as opposed to some of the stuff that those members say about our security agencies in this country.

Veterans

[Sylvain Chicoine, NDP, Châteauguay—Saint-Constant, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we have a social covenant with our armed forces. They offer to fight for us, protect us and defend our values. In exchange, the government offers them benefits, care and services during and after their service. However, the Conservative government has not been shy about challenging its obligations in the courts and closing offices. That kind of behaviour is unworthy of a government.

Will the Conservatives support our motion, and if so, will they finally fulfill all of their obligations to our veterans?

[Erin O'Toole, Minister of Veterans Affairs, CPC]

Mr. Speaker, as that member knows, we will be supporting the motion later today. In fact, the obligation statement we have made through Bill C-58, now in the budget implementation act, goes much further than that motion. It applies to all veterans and talks about the obligation we have, It goes further and says that it must be liberally construed.

More important are the benefits in that bill that would help veterans at 65 with their retirement income security benefit, their critical injury benefit and the family caregiver relief benefit. These are all new benefits and programs. That is enough time posturing; the NDP needs to get behind it.

[Fin Donnelly, NDP, New Westminster—Coquitlam, BC]

Mr. Speaker, a moral, social, legal and fiduciary covenant exists between Canada and members of the Canadian Armed Forces. This means the government must provide support to those who are injured, are disabled or have died as a result of military service, and to their families. I thank the members for supporting our motion. Now will they implement it? Will the Conservatives agree to a stand-alone covenant and immediately end all legal action against Canada's veterans?

[Erin O'Toole, Minister of Veterans Affairs, CPC]

Mr. Speaker, as that member well knows, we introduced legislation with the most comprehensive set of reforms and benefits for military veterans and their families since the creation of the new veterans charter. For six weeks, the NDP and the Liberal Party made no comment on this legislation and the benefits in it. It contains an obligation statement that calls on the language used by Robert Borden in this place almost a century ago. We have shown there is an obligation; it is now and in the future. It is time for them to get behind these reforms and support the budget implementation act.

Canadian Heritage

[Stella Ambler, Conservative, Mississauga South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of all Canadians, we are delighted that on May 2, Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge welcomed the birth of their second child, Her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana of Cambridge.

Can the Minister of State for Social Development please tell this House how the Government of Canada is marking this wonderful occasion?

[Candice Bergen, Conservative, Minister of State (Social Development)]

Mr. Speaker, to mark the exciting birth of Princess Charlotte, we are thrilled to announce that the Government of Canada will be donating $100,000 to the organization Immunize Canada to help promote the use of life-saving vaccinations across the country. The Royal Family has always been engaged when it comes to the health and well-being of Canadian children, so this is a very fitting gift to honour the princess.

We are also giving the princess a Canadian-made snowsuit in honour of our being a northern country.

On behalf of all Canadians, I want to congratulate the Royal Family on the birth of Princess Charlotte.

International Trade

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

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives' record on international trade definitely does not measure up to their rhetoric. A year ago, the Conservatives made a big show of announcing that they had finalized the terms for the free trade agreement between Canada and the European Union, with just some minor details left to work out. Now more and more European governments are hinting that they may not ratify the agreement.

Will the minister finally tell us the truth and set the record straight regarding the status of this long-overdue agreement?

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Minister of International Trade]

Mr. Speaker, I can confirm that steps are being taken to bring this agreement into force. I recently spoke to the European Union's commissioner of trade, Cecilia Malmström, who actually confirmed that in fact the European Union considers the deal done. We know that the chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel, has said that this deal is done.

We have our nose to the grindstone. We are committed to bringing this agreement into force. I wish the opposition parties would get behind it, and do something for Canadians.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the minister should talk to Hungary and Greece, which both just said that they would not ratify the deal.

The minister's rhetoric does not match the facts. According to the World Economic Forum 2014 rankings of 138 countries, Canada is 48th in predictability of import procedures, 95th in cost of imports and 97th in tariff complexity. We have also slipped from 15th to 23rd in exports to important Asian markets. That is the real Conservative poor record on trade.

The minister will not even give Canadians a straight answer on whether or not the Chinese are seeking a trade agreement with Canada, so I am asking him here. Did China offer Canada an opportunity to open bilateral trade negotiations, as the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada has publicly stated, or not?

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Minister of International Trade]

Mr. Speaker, we have made it clear to China that before moving forward with free trade negotiations, we expect to see more balance in our trading relationship.

There is plenty that our government has already done in that regard. We secured preferred destination status for tourists, we have negotiated a ten-year multiple entry visa and we have launched North America's first renminbi trading hub.

On top of that, it was this government that brought the China-Canada foreign investment promotion and protection agreement in force, which the NDP members voted against. They have absolutely no credibility on trade.

Employment and Social Development

[Matthew Kellway, NDP, Beaches—East York, ON]

Mr. Speaker, a new report reveals the devastating effect that years of Liberal and Conservative inaction have had on families in Toronto. Fewer than one in five children have access to licensed child care space. Those who do, are currently paying up to $20,000 per child, per year.

Too many families are being kept in the cycle of poverty and unemployment because of the failings of successive Liberal and Conservative governments. Why will the government not break that cycle and adopt our NDP plan for affordable child care?

[Candice Bergen, Conservative, Minister of State (Social Development)]

Mr. Speaker, that member is wrong. It is actually our policies, policies like the universal child care benefit, that has helped lift 80,000-plus children out of poverty during some of the most difficult times. That is why we have expanded it and increased it.

We believe that not only is it is a great tool to help lower and middle-income families, but it gives all families support across the country.

We believe that whatever the choice is in child care that families decide on, they deserve support, whether in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Winnipeg, right across the country. Every family deserves support for their child care choices.

[Jinny Sims, NDP, Newton—North Delta, BC]

Mr. Speaker, 80% of children do not have a space, and that government is congratulating itself for a job well done.

Across the country, child care is the single largest expense families face, more than food, clothing or a mortgage, yet the Conservatives and the Liberals have offered plans that will not create a single new affordable child care space.

Canadian parents are desperate for help. Why are Conservatives giving tax breaks to the wealthy few instead of helping parents by investing in affordable child care?

[Candice Bergen, Conservative, Minister of State (Social Development)]

Mr. Speaker, we are helping all families by increasing the universal child care benefit and the family tax cut.

What the opposition has to offer is tax increases and removals of programs like the universal child care benefit, the family tax cut, income splitting for seniors for and for families. They want to increase taxes on every sector of our economy.

How will that help families that are in need? It will not help them. We know what families have come to count on under the Prime Minister and under this government. It is low taxes and it is money in their pockets.

Citizenship and Immigration

[Emmanuel Dubourg, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

Mr. Speaker, there has been a great deal of concern in the Haitian community ever since the Conservative government lifted the moratorium on deportations to Haiti and Zimbabwe for over 3,500 people. Many of these individuals have been in Canada for 10 years and are wondering whether they will be deported.

The minister gave them until June 1 to regularize their status. So far, only 20% of these individuals have submitted applications, despite the fact that the Government of Quebec has allocated resources to support them.

Will the minister agree to the Quebec immigration minister's request to extend the deadline by three months, and we also agree—

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

The hon. Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.

[Chris Alexander, Conservative, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, these temporary measures have been in place for 10 years, thanks to one of the most generous immigration systems in the world. It should come as no surprise, not to the Haitians nor to anyone else, that these temporary measures are coming to an end, because we announced it on December 1.

Minister Weil and I met with the community in January. I personally visited the Maison d'Haïti in Montreal and the one in Toronto three times. Yes, let us be clear: all Haitians will have the opportunity to apply for permanent residence on humanitarian grounds until May 31. If Minister Weil would like to open other avenues towards permanent residence, she can use Quebec's programs to do so.

International Development

[Kirsty Duncan, Liberal, Etobicoke North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives are bypassing their own accountability legislation. Bill C-59 creates a new developing financing institution within Export Development Canada. It will not be covered by the government's own Official Development Assistance Accountability Act. There are no guarantees the funds will be used for poverty reduction.

Why are the Conservatives bypassing their own accountability law? Is the DFI about poverty reduction or about advancing commercial interests abroad?

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Minister of International Trade]

Mr. Speaker, our government is committed to promoting both Canada's economic interests around the world as well as supporting countries that need our help through development assistance and humanitarian aid. We are very proud of the work that EDC does in supporting Canadian companies as they look for new opportunities around the world, but we are also very proud of our record of delivering achievements on the development assistance front.

We are very pleased that it was this government that introduced the policy initiative on newborn, child and maternal health. This is something that has been embraced by countries around the world, billions of dollars of investments helping countries around the world improve their health outcomes.

Public Safety

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

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives like to talk tough on crime, but the reality is that their cuts to rehabilitation programs are actually putting communities at risk. Volunteers who help with programs like Circles of Support and Accountability to ensure that offenders are safely reintegrated are raising the alarm as their funding disappears. These are exactly the same concerns about inadequate offender rehabilitation that were raised by the Auditor General in his spring report.

Why are the Conservatives putting public safety at risk by cutting these reintegration programs?

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

Mr. Speaker, our government believes that dangerous sex offenders belong behind bars. That is why we have put forward a number of important measures to ensure our streets and communities are safe for children, such as establishing the high-risk child sex offender database and cracking down on convicted sex offenders who seek to travel. Unfortunately, the opposition has voted against all of these.

Just to let the member know, Circles of Support will continue to receive funding up to $350,000 to fund its support for offenders who are within their warrant expiry date.

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

Mr. Speaker, the reality is that the Conservatives are not shy about cutting reintegration programs, which reduce the rate of recidivism in our communities.

These programs are provided to over 2,600 inmates, including many in the greater Montreal area. The Conservatives claim to be champions of reducing crime.

Can the minister explain why he thinks nothing of sending offenders at risk of recidivism back on the street without any support?

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

Mr. Speaker, I did speak a moment ago of Circles of Support, but I also want to point out that the Commissioner of the Correctional Service of Canada actually said that 95% of inmates who were released had completed their recognized programs in relation to the correctional program.

While the opposition continues to make these allegations, the reality is that inmates are receiving that. It is a fact. I just wish, for once, that the opposition would stand and support the victims of crime instead of those who are behind the bars.