House of Commons Hansard #218 of the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was research.
Romeo Saganash NDP Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC
Mr. Speaker, it is so sad when someone starts to become more and more incompetent in a particular job.
There is yet another failed Conservative program. The first nations market housing fund was created eight years ago but has produced less than 1% of the 25,000 homes it was supposed to produce by 2018.
Is that the Conservatives' response to the housing crisis in aboriginal communities—an ineffective program that has done little more than finance one more bureaucracy?
Candice Bergen ConservativeMinister of State (Social Development)
Mr. Speaker, the purpose of that program is to increase private home ownership for first nations people on reserve. We want to see first nations individuals being able to have the pride, the security, and the financial stability that come with owning their own home.
We always review programs to ensure that they meet the goals required, but we think it is important that first nations individuals can own their own home on reserve. That is why we created this fund.
Carolyn Bennett Liberal St. Paul's, ON
Mr. Speaker, the minister should know that the government cynically promised to build 25,000 homes in this $300 million market fund. Now, seven years later, they have built 99.
The government's own estimates confirm a housing crisis on reserve, with severe shortages of 20,000 to 35,000 new units and 5,200 replacement units.
Building sufficient and safe housing on reserve builds local economies and creates jobs. The government has failed miserably.
Where are the 25,000 homes that the government promised?
Candice Bergen ConservativeMinister of State (Social Development)
Mr. Speaker, the member does not understand what the program is designed to do. It is to encourage and to enable individuals to choose to build their own home and own it on reserve.
It is no surprise coming from the opposition, which voted against and does not believe that women should have their own property rights on reserve. It seems that it does not agree that aboriginal individuals should have their own homes on reserve.
We believe that they should. That is why we created this program. We always review our programs to ensure that they are meeting the goals that we set out.
John McCallum Liberal Markham—Unionville, ON
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Minister of Finance had a deathbed conversion, suggesting the possibility of increasing voluntary contributions to the Canada pension plan. He did not even mention the provinces, although two-thirds of them would have to support it.
Instead of playing the politics of cynicism, why does this government not commit to working with the provinces to improve the Canada pension plan?
Kevin Sorenson ConservativeMinister of State (Finance)
Mr. Speaker, again, we know the Liberals do not want to give Canadians choices. They want to force Canadians to pay higher job-killing payroll taxes.
By contrast, our government believes that Canadians want to pay lower taxes. They also want the freedom to make their own financial decisions. That is why we are open to giving Canadians the opportunity to invest into a voluntary Canada pension plan. That is what we do. We give Canadians the opportunity to save for a secure, dignified retirement.
John McCallum Liberal Markham—Unionville, ON
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has spent nine long years in office and many years before that opposing every conceivable reform to the CPP. Simply put, the Prime Minister hates the Canada pension plan. Now he comes up with a last-minute plan that was not even in the budget.
Why should Canadians believe for one second that the Prime Minister is serious about doing anything at all with the Canada pension plan, except to blow it all up?
Kevin Sorenson ConservativeMinister of State (Finance)
Mr. Speaker, we are proud that this government has spent nine years cutting taxes for Canadians, bringing forward options so they could save for retirement.
We intend to consult with experts and stakeholders during the summer on options for allowing for additional voluntary contributions to the Canada pension plan. Our government understands that Canadians want low taxes and the freedom to make their own choices. However, the Liberals would impose a job-killing payroll tax.
We know the Liberals would shut down the tax-free savings account. We know they would take away income splitting, and income splitting for pensioners. We will not let that happen.
Irene Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON
Mr. Speaker, stories of constituents upset with Canada Post's decision to end door-to-door delivery are pouring in across Canada, not only because of the decision itself but the treatment that people receive from Canada Post. When one of my constituents phoned to express legitimate concern about the location of a community mailbox in her neighbourhood, she felt that her concerns were unfairly dismissed. She told us that she was upset beyond belief.
When will the minister start listening to Canadians and stop making excuses for Canada Post?
Jeff Watson ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, the member knows that in 2014 Canada Post delivered 1.4 billion fewer letters than it did in 2006, and that two-thirds of Canadians currently do not have door-to-door delivery. Canada Post must balance its finances without being a burden on Canadian taxpayers.
The NDP's so-called plan for Canada Post would cost taxpayers half a billion dollars a year, which means it would have to raise taxes on Canadians. We will not let it.
Anne Minh-Thu Quach NDP Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC
Mr. Speaker, I would just like to remind everyone that Canada Post made nearly $200 million in profits last year alone.
Over 3,000 people in my riding have signed a petition opposing the elimination of home mail delivery. The towns of Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Huntingdon and Saint-Louis-de-Gonzague have passed a resolution calling for a moratorium on the installation of community mailboxes. Nearly 600 cities and towns have denounced what is happening at Canada Post.
Will the government listen to our constituents or will it keep forcing people to use community mailboxes?
Jeff Watson ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, maybe the member should actually read Canada Post's 2014 annual report. On page 68, it states:
Without pension relief, the Corporation would have been required to make special payments of approximately $1.3 billion in 2014. The special payments without pension relief would amount to $1.4 billion in 2015...
They should not be spiking the ball. Canadians expect that Canada Post will not be a financial burden to them, and so do do we. That is why we expect it to carry through with its five-point plan.
Mathieu Ravignat NDP Pontiac, QC
Mr. Speaker, it is getting harder all the time to separate fact from fiction in the Conservative budget.
The Conservatives claim that they will save $900 million by scrapping public service sick leave and creating a private short-term disability plan, as Canada Post did for its employees. However, Canada Post did not report any savings.
Why are the Conservatives trampling on collective agreements in order to achieve fictitious savings?
Tony Clement ConservativePresident of the Treasury Board
Mr. Speaker, the 40-year-old sick leave accumulation system is antiquated and does not meet the needs of the majority of our employees. We need a system that is fair and reasonable for employees, of course, but also for taxpayers. That is our plan. We will be fair and reasonable during bargaining. We have to reach an agreement, if that is possible.
The budget numbers are hard numbers, and they have been better.
Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
Mr. Speaker, the Conservative Minister of Finance must have taken a page out of the old Liberal playbook, pretending to balance the books.
It now turns out that the $900 million so-called savings the minister is banking on by scraping public sector sick leave just does not add up. The management geniuses at Canada Post tried this a couple of years ago. How much did they save? Nothing. These guys are booking on $900 million, a complete fiction.
Why are Conservatives tearing up collective bargaining rights for a terrible plan just to trick Canadians?
Tony Clement ConservativePresident of the Treasury Board
Mr. Speaker, the Canada Post plan is not the plan we are suggesting and are bargaining in good faith with the unions on this.
If the NDP wants to be the advocate for the union bosses, it has the right to do that in the House. We will stand up for the taxpayers.
Joan Crockatt Conservative Calgary Centre, AB
Mr. Speaker, the RCMP recently arrested 10 people who were radicalized in Montreal and who were planning to travel abroad to join the international jihadist movement.
Could the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness please tell Canadians what our government is doing to counter this threat?
Steven Blaney ConservativeMinister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Mr. Speaker, here is what Louise Vincent, the sister of slain Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent, said, “If C-51 had been in place on October 19...Martin Couture-Rouleau would...have been in prison and my brother would not be dead today”. That is why we put this bill together, despite the opposition, comments and attitude of the NDP.
The RCMP said “we welcome” the lowering of thresholds in Bill C-51. Why? Because police will be able to put terrorists behind bars and keep Canadians safe.
Laurin Liu NDP Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives lack vision and are not fit to build the economy of tomorrow.
According to Analytica Advisors, the Canadian clean technology industry is losing market share, dropping from 14th to 19th place in the world. That is because of the government's lack of political will and lack of investment in innovative technologies.
Why is the government asleep at the switch when it comes to supporting the green technology sector?
Kelly Block ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources
Mr. Speaker, we are investing in green infrastructure, energy efficiency, renewable and clean energy technologies that produce less emitting energy and fuels. We are proud that Canada has one of the cleanest electricity systems in the world, with 79% coming from non-emitting sources.
While that member voted against increasing investments in clean technology, we remain committed to supporting its development.
Megan Leslie NDP Halifax, NS
Mr. Speaker, we want clean energy, not hot air.
Yesterday, the Minister of the Environment's department admitted that it could not do the math on climate change. It looks like the government cannot do the math either when it comes to clean-tech exports and jobs.
Global investment in clean tech last year topped $300 billion, but according to a new report, Canada's share of that global clean-tech market dropped by 41%. Why? Because the Conservatives are doing nothing for our clean-tech sector and exports.
Where is the plan to support Canada's clean tech and boost our exports?
Kelly Block ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources
Mr. Speaker, unlike that member who wants to impose a carbon tax, our government's sector-by-sector approach is demonstrating results, while keeping taxes low.
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 on non-emitting sources for 79% of our electricity mix, one of the cleanest in the world.
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
Mr. Speaker, the results speak for themselves, and they reveal an abysmal Conservative record on trade, a growing clean-tech sector that is being muscled out of the global market—
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
They laugh, Mr. Speaker.
Trade talks with Japan are completely stalled and the Conservatives are unable to even set a date for negotiations. Canada has fallen from 15th to 23rd in exports to key Asian markets and has record trade deficits in 2015.
The New Democrats understand that strong trade performance is critical to Canada's economic future. How does the minister defend his record of failure that is leaving Canada behind?