Debates of May 15th, 2015

Government Advertising

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

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Employment and Social Development thinks he can do whatever he wants. He is using federal public servants to promote the Conservatives' budget measures.

Public servants are not puppets that the minister can use for partisan purposes. This whole thing is a bit ironic when we know that the latest budget completely undermines public servants' right to collective bargaining. This is a sure sign that the government is worn out and does not respect our public servants.

Does the minister realize that he is using Canadians' money and the neutrality of the public service to produce partisan ads?

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

Mr. Speaker, the New Democrats and the Liberals do not want Canadians to know that they are entitled to increased benefits.

We are increasing the universal child care benefit for all families, to nearly $2,000 for every child under the age of 6 and $720 for every child between the ages of 6 and 17. I am working to ensure that mothers and fathers know they are entitled to this.

[Rathika Sitsabaiesan, NDP, Scarborough—Rouge River, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives are using public money to promote partisan interests. The jobs minister is focused on self-flattery when he should be focused on the thousands of Canadians who lost their jobs this week. He once railed against the Liberals' abuse of taxpayer dollars for partisan self-promotion, yet now he is finding ways to be even more unaccountable than the Liberals.

Why is the minister using public servants and taxpayer dollars to create vanity videos of himself promoting the Conservative Party platform?

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

Mr. Speaker, the NDP and Liberals do not want Canadian parents to know about the increased universal child care benefit, because the opposition parties would take those benefits away. We will not let them. In fact, I am proud to work hard to communicate the increased universal child care benefit to parents right across this country. They are entitled to $2,000 for each child under six and $720 for each child aged six through 17. I will continue in my role to visit parents right across this country to inform them of the increased benefits the Prime Minister and this government are delivering to them.

Ethics

[Rathika Sitsabaiesan, NDP, Scarborough—Rouge River, ON]

Let me try something else, Mr. Speaker.

According to the RCMP, the Prime Minister's Office interfered in a confidential Senate report about Mike Duffy. Nigel Wright is quoted in court documents saying, “Mike is pleased with this so it will give us a little bit of time if David can pull it off”, adding, “Marjory is fully on-board.” Yet Conservative Senators David Tkachuk and Marjory LeBreton continue to sit on the Senate's internal economy committee.

Is the PMO planning to yet again interfere while the Senate drafts reports on rule-breaking senators?

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

Mr. Speaker, as you know, it was the Senate that asked the Auditor General to come in and review their expenses, and I think it is important that we allow the process to continue.

Government Advertising

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

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Employment and Social Development used taxpayers' dollars to pay for his election advertising, and he has the nerve to say that he is informing people about government programs.

Either the government does not think it is accountable, or it thinks we are too stupid or apathetic to care.

After nine years in office, the government has attained new heights of arrogance and is showing utter contempt for Canadians. Where is the shame?

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

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals are the ones who should be ashamed. They are the ones who want to abolish the universal child care benefit. They have already admitted that. That is why they do not want families to know that they are eligible for our benefit.

As minister, I am proud to be working to make sure that families know about this benefit. I want to make sure that all families that are entitled to a cheque sign up to receive one in July.

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

Mr. Speaker, let me be blunt. When the employment minister uses taxpayer money for self-promotion videos to get re-elected and then has the gall to say that he is merely informing Canadians about government policy, it is like a slap in the face to all Canadians who expect accountability. Either that, or he thinks we are stupid, or possibly that we do not care. We do care. After nine years in power, the government has achieved a state of supreme arrogance and complete contempt for Canadians. Where is the shame?

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

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals and NDP are angry that Canadian parents will find out that they are going to receive an increased universal child care benefit. We know why the two opposition parties do not want Canadian parents to know about these benefits. It is because the Liberals and NDP would take them away. It is my role to ensure that every single family that is eligible to receive the increased universal child care benefit knows about it and signs up, and I will work hard seven days a week to ensure that parents get their money and that the money goes directly into their pockets.

Public Service of Canada

[Rodger Cuzner, Liberal, Cape Breton—Canso, NS]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians should know that for the vast majority of public servants who take a sick day, their position is not backfilled. That means that the cost of that sick day is already covered in their annual salary. Yet the government, in its phony attempt to show a balanced budget, claims it is saving $900 million by eliminating a sick bank that costs the government squat.

Will the government stop misrepresenting this fake, bogus savings and quit misleading Canadians about the character and integrity of our public servants for its own political gain?

[Dan Albas, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board]

Mr. Speaker, economic action plan 2015 reaffirms the Government of Canada's commitment to pursuing a new disability and sick leave management system. We continue to negotiate with the public service, and our objectives are clear. We will not pay sick leave to people who are not sick.

The government's continued overarching goal in these negotiations is to reach agreements on total public service compensation that is fair and reasonable to both the employees and the taxpayer. These changes do not impose a legislated regime.

Aboriginal Affairs

[Romeo Saganash, NDP, Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC]

Mr. Speaker, last Wednesday, Canadians got to see first-hand how little the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs cared about his file. He was unable to answer very simple questions. Worse, when asked about the suicide rate in first nations communities and Inuit communities, he answered that it was not his responsibility. How could the minister be so heartless in the face of such an epidemic in our communities?

[Mark Strahl, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development]

Mr. Speaker, of course, the preamble to that question is absolute nonsense, and our thoughts and prayers are with those who have lost friends and loved ones to suicide. Our government remains committed to working with willing partners to reduce and eliminate suicide on reserves.

To that end, we have provided $200 million annually for aboriginal mental health services. We have invested over $32 million since being elected in innovative research specifically related to suicide and its prevention. Action plan 2015 committed to another 10-year mandate for the Canadian Mental Health Association. I hope the member will get on board and support it.

[Romeo Saganash, NDP, Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the minister does not even try to answer our questions in the House anymore.

Aboriginal communities deserve better than a minister who blames families for their children's performance and who responds that crime is the main cause of 1,200 missing or murdered women.

Frankly, instead of being part of the problem, could the minister at least try to be part of the solution?

[Mark Strahl, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians deserve better than an opposition that votes against every single measure we take to improve the lives of first nations living on reserve. Since taking office, we have given women living on reserve the same matrimonial property rights as other Canadians. We have brought in increased transparency and accountability for first nations communities for those members. We have brought in a more transparent on-reserve election system. We have taken away key impediments to reaching treaties. Every single time we bring in these measures to improve the lives of first nation Canadians, that member and that party vote for the status quo.

The Economy

[Linda Duncan, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the current government, like the outgoing Alberta Conservative dynasty, remains stubbornly blind to Albertans' frustration with the overreliance on the boom-and-bust oil economy. Albertans are suffering layoffs in the tens of thousands of workers, including in the oil industry. The Conference Board of Canada reports that Alberta's GDP will continue to contract this year.

Everything but the kitchen sink was thrown in the government's omnibus budget bills, yet they remain misers in supporting the 21st century energy sector: renewable energy.

Where is the action to end perverse subsidies and, instead, incent a clean energy economy?

[Kelly Block, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, natural resource development contributes 1.8 million jobs, 52% of our exports, and $30 billion annually in royalties and taxes to governments, but that member and her party just do not get it. They oppose all oil and gas development. They oppose mining projects. They oppose nuclear energy. They even speak out against the forest sector.

On this side of the House, we are focused on creating jobs and growing the economy.

[Linda Duncan, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Perhaps not in Canada, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, if ever there was a time for investing in a diversified economy, it is now.

One weeps to consider the wasted millions of dollars on ads in U.S. metro stations that could have assisted our technical schools to train and provide jobs for young Canadians deploying cleaner energy.

Instead, there is a growing wait list for these programs.

Does the current government just not get that Canadians want to share in the economy of the future, created through investments in a clean, renewable energy economy?

[Kelly Block, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, energy efficiency improvements have saved Canadian industry $5.6 billion, which is the equivalent of 27.5 megatonnes of GHG emissions.

Our government has made significant investments to promote clean energy projects that protect the environment, create jobs and grow the economy. We are proud that Canada relies upon non-emitting sources for 79% of our electricity mix, which is one of the cleanest in the world.

National Defence

[Dave MacKenzie, Conservative, Oxford, ON]

Mr. Speaker, media are reporting on a new audio message allegedly from the leader of the barbaric death cult ISIS, once again mentioning Canada and our allies by name. Canada is not sitting on the sidelines. We are proud of our men and women in uniform.

Would the Associate Minister of National Defence update this House on Canada's military mission to degrade ISIS so it is no longer a threat to Canada?

[Julian Fantino, Conservative, Associate Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, the international jihadist movement has declared war on Canada and Canadians are being targeted by this death cult simply because these terrorists hate our society and our values. We are joining our allies in supporting the international coalition in the fight against ISIL. As of May 13, our CF-18 Hornets have struck 80 ISIS fighting positions, 19 vehicles and 10 explosives factories and storage facilities.

We are grateful, indeed, to our serving men and women for their valuable efforts in fighting this jihadist death cult.

Canada Post

[Djaouida Sellah, NDP, Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the frustration with Canada Post's decision to terminate door-to-door delivery continues to grow.

The mayors of Montreal, Longueuil, Laval, Westmount and 15 other surrounding municipalities are raising their voices. They are joining forces to take legal action against Canada Post, a first in Canada. In addition, they are calling for a moratorium on the end of home mail delivery.

Will the minister ever listen to Canadians and reverse this foolish decision?

[Jeff Watson, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, that member will know that Canada Post, in 2014, delivered 1.4 billion fewer pieces of letter mail than it did in 2006. That is causing difficulties with its financial balance sheet.

It is proceeding with a five-point plan, which includes the extending the community mailboxes to the one-third of Canadians who still have door-to-door. It has a responsibility, under law, to not be a burden to taxpayers. We expect nothing less than that from Canada Post.

[François Pilon, NDP, Laval—Les Îles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the government has a choice: it can tell Canada Post to go back to the drawing board.

Mayor Coderre is furious. He described this as a unilateral decision by Canada Post and said that the consultation that was promised is nothing but hot air. The mayor of Laval even tried to work together with Canada Post, but to no avail. Over 500 municipalities are denouncing Canada Post's decision.

Will the minister ever take responsibility and call for a moratorium?