House of Commons Hansard #228 of the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was budget.
Peggy Nash NDP Parkdale—High Park, ON
Mr. Speaker, this is the worst economic performance Canada has seen outside of a recession in three decades. Some 200 workers have been laid off at the Davie shipyard in Lévis.
In the past year, Montreal has lost thousands of jobs: 1,000 at Bombardier, 3,000 at Target and 430 at Energizer, not to mention the 300 workers who have lost their jobs at Bell Helicopter.
When will the Conservatives finally do their job and create jobs for the middle class?
Pierre Poilievre ConservativeMinister of Employment and Social Development and Minister for Democratic Reform
Mr. Speaker, the only plan that the Liberals and the New Democrats have for jobs is to raise taxes for job creators.
What is more, both parties are saying they will support Kathleen Wynne's plan to impose a new $1,000 payroll tax on workers and the small businesses that employ them across the country.
We are doing the opposite. By lowering taxes, we have created 1.2 million new jobs. We are going to continue with that approach.
Peggy Nash NDP Parkdale—High Park, ON
Mr. Speaker, Canadians are losing their jobs because the Conservatives cannot be bothered to do theirs.
Major layoffs have hit Canadians from coast to coast: 485 jobs at Blacks, 1,000 at GM Oshawa, 1,500 at Future Shop, nearly 18,000 laid off at Target, Sony, Mexx, Smart Set. The list goes on. This is worst economic performance Canada has seen outside of a recession in more than three decades.
When will the Conservatives stop their self-congratulations and bring forward a real plan to put people back to work?
Pierre Poilievre ConservativeMinister of Employment and Social Development and Minister for Democratic Reform
Mr. Speaker, the NDP's only plan for jobs is to tax people who create them. New Democrats, along with the Liberals, propose a new $1,000 payroll tax on workers and on the small businesses that employ them. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business says that would force the majority of employers to cut wages, jobs and hours.
Our approach is to lower taxes and to expand trade and training. That has helped to create 1.2 million net new jobs, 80% of them full time and two-thirds in high-wage sectors.
Paul Dewar NDP Ottawa Centre, ON
Mr. Speaker, in 2009, Peter Kennedy went to work and did not come home. He was killed in an explosion right here, right next to Parliament Hill. Public Works was found guilty of violating health and safety laws. The court ordered safety inspections to ensure that these problems would be fixed.
Now we learn that not a single inspection has taken place as per the orders. We have seen the tragedy that can result when the government ignores health and safety laws.
The simple question is this: why did the Conservatives put workers at risk by failing to comply with the court's order?
Diane Finley ConservativeMinister of Public Works and Government Services
Mr. Speaker, of course our sympathies rest with Mr. Kennedy's family. I can assure members that in fact regular inspections have been done. The Technical Standards and Safety Authority completed an inspection in May and said that “No non-compliance issues were noted...and...no further actions are required....”
Mathieu Ravignat NDP Pontiac, QC
Mr. Speaker, we learned today that no labour inspections have been conducted at the Cliff Street central heating plant, even though an inspection was ordered by the court last year. All members of the House remember the tragic accident at this plant that led to the death of engineer Peter Kennedy.
How can the Minister of Labour justify the lack of inspection? Does the minister not care about the safety of federal employees and buildings?
Diane Finley ConservativeMinister of Public Works and Government Services
Mr. Speaker, our sympathies remain with Mr. Kennedy's family. I can assure the House that inspections are still being conducted because we make workers' safety a priority.
The workplace health and safety committee has been conducting monthly inspections. As well, the Technical Standards and Safety Authority gave an all-clear in May of this year, and I have the report.
Joyce Murray Liberal Vancouver Quadra, BC
Mr. Speaker, defence budget cuts and future plans will reduce defence funding to its lowest percentage of GDP since the 1930s. The Conservatives' military procurement strategy is a failure of titanic proportions.
The Conservatives do not deliver, but they certainly know how to posture. The Prime Minister exploited special forces members in Iraq with vanity videos, and now he has cooked up another photo opportunity, this time with the Royal Canadian Navy in Poland.
How cynical. Why does he constantly put his own partisan interests above the needs of Canadian Armed Forces members?
National DefenceOral Questions
Erin O'Toole Minister of Veterans Affairs, CPC
Mr. Speaker, that question gives me an opportunity, as someone who flew on the Sea King helicopter, to rise in this House and say that the gall of the Liberal Party to even talk about defence spending in this House after the decade of darkness when they took our men and women in the Canadian Armed Forces and whittled them down to a voluntary force is shameful.
Over the course of our government, there has been $6 billion in new spending. We have provided needed equipment and uniforms and training, and morale is up as a result.
We will never let the Liberals do that again.
Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB
Mr. Speaker, back in 2011, the Manitoba government intentionally flooded out over 5,000 first nations people living downstream from the Fairford Dam.
This was not a natural flood. Lake St. Martin First Nation was 100% displaced. Many are homeless and are ending up on the streets in Winnipeg and elsewhere. Their economic and traditional livelihoods have been destroyed.
We have looked to the federal government for leadership and we have found it to be wanting. My question to the minister is this: what has he done to assist the people of Lake St. Martin First Nation to have their reserve back?
Bernard Valcourt ConservativeMinister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development
Mr. Speaker, we understand that this is a difficult situation for those first nations individuals and families who remain evacuated from their homes, and of course our thoughts are with them.
We have concluded an agreement with the Canadian Red Cross to deliver evacuation and emergency services to first nations in Manitoba. We have announced plans to advance negotiations that would, if finalized, see the flood evacuees from the Lake St. Martin area first nation return to their home communities. In addition, we are continuing to work with the province to achieve this.
Anne-Marie Day NDP Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC
Mr. Speaker, Canada Post has announced that a number of post offices in Ontario, New Brunswick and Manitoba will no longer provide services in both official languages. There will now be even fewer services for francophones. The future of francophone minorities depends on having access to services in French. There have been nothing but setbacks for official language under the Conservatives.
What will the minister do to ensure that francophones continue to receive postal services in their language?
Lisa Raitt ConservativeMinister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, we take the allegation very seriously, and I will ensure that we discuss the matter with Canada Post.
Claude Gravelle NDP Nickel Belt, ON
Mr. Speaker, the government needs to stop claiming all is well with official languages.
Francophones in Winnipeg, Miramichi and Kirkland Lake, Ontario, will lose access to postal services in French. Not only is Canada Post unable to deliver the mail, but it is now turning its back on francophones.
Does the minister have a plan to stop the erosion of French-language services across Canada?
Lisa Raitt ConservativeMinister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, as I have already said, we take the matter of the provision of services in both official languages very seriously, and I will bring up the matter with Canada Post.
Dean Allison Conservative Niagara West—Glanbrook, ON
Mr. Speaker, trade and the free movement of goods between the provinces that make up this great nation are a pillar of Canada's Constitution and its history.
This government strongly supports the reduction of internal trade barriers between the provinces and territories. We believe in jobs, prosperity, and growth.
Can the Minister of Industry please update this House on the status of the agreement on internal trade?
James Moore ConservativeMinister of Industry
Mr. Speaker, after 20 years of starts of stops and failing, yesterday I was pleased to join with all 13 out of 13 provinces and territories as they sat down with the federal government and agreed to have a brand new free trade deal for all of Canada.
Canada is a global free trade leader. We are the only country in the world with free trade access to more than 52% of the global economy. However, having a free trade deal within Canada that works has been a struggle for Canada for over 20 years. We agreed yesterday—these are Conservative, NDP, and Liberal provincial governments agreeing unanimously—to have a comprehensive free trade deal for Canada. All provinces are on side, and it will be delivered to all the provinces and to all Canadians by March of 2016. This is an historic day for Canada.
Judy Sgro Liberal York West, ON
Mr. Speaker, StatsCan confirmed that Muslims are the only group to face an increase in hate crimes. This week alone, Ahmadi Muslims in Woodbridge were victimized when their residence and mosque were vandalized.
The National Council of Muslims blames this increase on toxic political rhetoric. Leaders of many faiths agree, and urge governments to tone down the rhetoric, as it creates fear and mistrust.
Will the government tone down its anti-Muslim rhetoric and work to make all Canadians safe from discrimination, regardless of faith?
Steven Blaney ConservativeMinister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Mr. Speaker, our government takes terrorist threats seriously.
That is why we aim to protect all Canadians. That is also why we appreciated the comments in support of the measures we are taking to protect the Canadian public, including the support from members of the Muslim community.
I encourage the member to show a little respect in a debate on national security.
Hélène Laverdière NDP Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC
Mr. Speaker, Lebanese singer Mohamed Eskandar has three concerts planned in Canada over the next few days.
However, his songs clearly incite violence against women and homosexuals. We simply cannot tolerate these kinds of messages, which fly in the face of our values. Back in 2012, the government denied him a visa.
Can the minister confirm whether a visa was granted to Mr. Eskandar, and if so, why was it granted, when it was denied in 2012?
Chris Alexander ConservativeMinister of Citizenship and Immigration
Mr. Speaker, yes, it is true, anyone who holds a Canadian visa must meet all of the visa requirements.
We will continue to uphold Canada's laws.
Ben Lobb Conservative Huron—Bruce, ON
Mr. Speaker, it is estimated that between 6% and 15% of seniors aged 65 and older are living with some form of dementia. The number of Canadians living with dementia is expected to double by 2031. That is why I am proud that my motion supporting the strong action our government is taking will be discussed again tomorrow in the House.
Could the Minister of Health update the House on the latest action to address dementia?
Rona Ambrose ConservativeMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, I was very pleased to announce the launch of Dementia Friends Canada with the Canadian Alzheimer Society. This is going to improve awareness and understanding for those who are living with dementia in Canada, and it builds on our government's work to create a national strategy with provinces as well as to find a cure for dementia by 2025.
I invite all colleagues on all sides of the House to please join myself and you, Mr. Speaker, in the Speaker's lounge to become a Dementia Friend. We have a selfie booth set up. It takes 30 seconds to sign up. We are trying to sign up one million Canadians to become Dementia Friends to show those who are suffering with dementia and their caregivers that we support them.
Isabelle Morin NDP Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC
Mr. Speaker, the cities of Dorval, Pointe-Claire, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue and Kirkland have joined the class action lawsuit against Canada Post. The government continues to stonewall and is allowing Canada Post to install community mailboxes without consulting the municipalities.
Why does the government refuse to listen to the cities, the municipalities and the people of the West Island who oppose the end of home mail delivery?