House of Commons Hansard #235 of the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was parole.
Sadia Groguhé NDP Saint-Lambert, QC
Mr. Speaker, after 10 years of Conservative rule, the list of poorly managed procurement contracts just keeps growing. Everyone remembers the F-35s. Today we learned that the project to replace the Sea King helicopters with Cyclone helicopters, which was supposed to have been completed in 2008, is seven years behind. Furthermore, the Department of National Defence is now wondering whether the engines are powerful enough.
How can the Conservatives have mismanaged this priority file so badly?
Public Works and Government ServicesOral Questions
Selkirk—Interlake Manitoba
Conservative
James Bezan ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, I want to remind members that we inherited a decade of darkness from the previous Liberal government. It has been hard work to replace all of the procurements that are required and to put in place the new aircraft and tanks: C-17 Globemasters, which we have five of now, a brand new C-130J Hercules aircraft, tactical heavy-lift helicopters, Chinooks, and now the new Cylcones. These are going to serve the Canadian Armed Forces, and the Royal Canadian Navy, as they are going to be on board our Hali-class frigates.
Sadia Groguhé NDP Saint-Lambert, QC
Mr. Speaker, after 10 years of Conservative rule, families are struggling to make ends meet. We have lost 400,000 manufacturing jobs. The GDP has seen its biggest drop in six years, and our exports have fallen for the second straight quarter. It is no surprise that BMO is forecasting the slowest economic growth outside of a recession in 30 years.
Do the Conservatives realize that their job creation plan is a failure and that it is time to change direction?
Andrew Saxton ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, despite the fragile global economy, let us be clear about our record. Since the recession, we have created 1.2 million net new jobs, including 59,000 in May. We have the lowest taxes in 50 years and the lowest debt in the G7. We have a balanced budget, and with a balanced budget we are on the path to a more prosperous Canada. We are putting money back into the pockets of Canadian families.
Canadians simply cannot afford to go back to the high-tax, high-debt ways of the Liberals and the NDP. That would kill jobs and harm the economy. Now is not the time for reckless spending and untested leadership.
Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB
Mr. Speaker, my question is about the Prime Minister's failure to deliver to Canadians.
There have been over 30 incidents of gun violence in Surrey and Delta in the last few months alone. The Conservatives made a promise to help, and again they have failed to deliver. The mayors of Surrey and Delta and the residents of those two communities are concerned about the safety of their communities.
When will the new RCMP officers actually arrive in Surrey and Delta?
Roxanne James ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to say once again in the House that our government did approve the additional resources of 100 RCMP officers.
This government has passed more than 30 tough on crime measures and public safety measures in order to keep all Canadians safe, including those in British Columbia.
The first 20 RCMP officers of the additional deployment to Surrey have already arrived at the detachment.
Once again Canadians know that they can count on this Conservative government to keep our streets and communities—
Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB
The talk but no action continues, Mr. Speaker.
Canadians have lost patience with the tired old Conservative government and its failed economic policies. We think of stalled incomes, record-setting trade deficits, record-setting government deficits, soaring household debt, and the slowest job growth since the recession of 25 years. After a decade in office, the Prime Minister has earned the dubious distinction of having the worst economic growth record of any prime minister since the great depression.
On its last day in the House of Commons, does the government have any regrets when it comes to economic incompetence?
Andrew Saxton ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, the only plan we have heard from the Liberals is to raise taxes. The Liberal leader's proposed dramatic payroll tax hike would kill jobs in Canada and impose a $1,000 tax hike on every Canadian employee. In contrast, we have lowered taxes for the middle class, and all Canadians, saving a typical family of four $6,600 this year. While we are putting money back in the pockets of Canadians, the Liberals want to take it out.
Now is not the time for reckless spending and untested leadership.
John McKay Liberal Scarborough—Guildwood, ON
Mr. Speaker, over the last 10 years the Conservatives have run multi-billion dollar deficits, averaging about $15 billion a year. All of their incompetence, mismanagement, phony tax cut legacy, and personal debt records are buried in a whopping $150 billion addition to the national debt.
Does a Conservative balanced budget mean that over their term it balances out at about a $15 billion deficit? Is a multi-billion dollar deficit year after year what the Conservatives mean by balanced?
Andrew Saxton ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, at least our leader does not think that budgets balance themselves.
The Liberal leader thinks it is unfair that all families benefit from our low-tax plan. While we are focused on creating jobs, the Liberal leader is pushing a dramatic payroll tax hike that would kill jobs and hurt the Canadian economy. Canadians have a clear choice: the high tax Liberals, or our low-tax plan for all Canadians.
Now is not the time for reckless spending and untested leadership.
Rosane Doré Lefebvre NDP Alfred-Pellan, QC
Mr. Speaker, Sunday is National Aboriginal Day, and we have sadly just learned that the economic conditions in aboriginal communities have gotten worse under the Conservative government. According to The Aboriginal Economic Progress Report, the employment rate for people on reserve is 9% lower than that for other Canadians.
How does the minister justify such a disastrous record?
Bernard Valcourt ConservativeMinister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development
Mr. Speaker, I urge the member to read the entire report. She will see that significant progress is being made across the country. Our government understands that economic development is necessary to improve living conditions for aboriginal peoples.
Since the beginning of our mandate, we have taken measures to improve living conditions for the first nations by giving them the means to fully take advantage of the country's economic prosperity. We have invested in education and training, for example, and we brought in income assistance reform to give these children personalized services to help them acquire skills.
Rosane Doré Lefebvre NDP Alfred-Pellan, QC
Mr. Speaker, with answers like that one, I think that Canadians need a real change in government.
Today the RCMP will release a new report on missing and murdered aboriginal women. The families of these victims, aboriginal groups, the provinces, the territories, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada and even the United Nations all agree that we need a national inquiry to understand and put an end to this tragic problem.
Will the government stop ignoring this issue and launch a national inquiry into missing and murdered aboriginal women?
Susan Truppe ConservativeParliamentary Secretary for Status of Women
Mr. Speaker, we do not need another study on top of the 40 we already have. It is our government that continues to stand up for victims of violence. Since coming into office, we have toughened sentences for murder, sexual assault, and kidnapping and have imposed mandatory prison sentences.
We also passed historic legislation that gave aboriginal women on reserves the same matrimonial rights that member has, including emergency protection orders, and that member and her party voted against it.
It is our government that is taking action. It is our government that stands up for aboriginal women and girls, not that side of the House.
Irene Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON
Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives' idea of tangible action to end violence against indigenous women is funding a website. It will take a lot more than a website to end this horrendous violence. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission, national aboriginal organizations, Amnesty International, and victims like Rinelle Harper have been very clear: we need a national inquiry.
Canadians are tired of the current government playing partisan games with the lives of women. When will the Conservatives agree to a full inquiry into the murders and disappearances of indigenous women?
Susan Truppe ConservativeParliamentary Secretary for Status of Women
Mr. Speaker, it is our Conservative government that brought the action plan to address family violence and violent crimes against aboriginal women and girls as well as the family violence protection program. That member and her party, once again, voted against them. Since coming to office, we have passed more than 30 criminal justice and safety initiatives. That member and her party voted against them. Again, we passed Bill S-2. That party and the member voted against it.
While our government takes action, the opposition party does not. That side of the House never votes to support women and girls in Canada.
Irene Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON
Mr. Speaker, a website is not action, and that is not the end of it. Canadians know that under the current government, aboriginal unemployment has increased and the wage gap has increased. Instead of helping aboriginal communities, the government does not even count unemployment on reserves. It allows businesses on reserves to bring in temporary foreign workers. The Conservatives have failed to invest in education or infrastructure that could help communities develop. They have been left in dire poverty. Why are the Conservatives ignoring our indigenous communities?
Bernard Valcourt ConservativeMinister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development
Mr. Speaker, the NDP and that member can try to play politics with the situation of first nations and aboriginal Canadians, but it will lead nowhere. The fact of the matter is that since we have come to office, we have taken measures to improve the well-being of first nations. For example, in the last budget, we again increased significant resources to expand the first nations land management regime, which has led to some $300 million in further investments in aboriginal communities. Again, the opposition voted against it.
Craig Scott NDP Toronto—Danforth, ON
Mr. Speaker, Canadians expect Parliament to get results on issues that matter. A bill by an NDP member to ensure that transgender people have the same rights as everyone else and a bill to give more autonomy to members of Parliament have both passed in the House. Yet the undemocratic Senate is killing them, just like it did with Jack Layton's climate change bill. The government ordered its senatorial troops to pass Bill C-51 without amendment. Why the double standard?
Bob Dechert ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice
Mr. Speaker, ever since we were elected, our government has put the rights of all victims first, regardless of their gender, race, or religion. We are aware that the Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs made amendments to the bill. The House hopefully will have an opportunity to review these changes in accordance with parliamentary procedure. There are significant protections currently found in the Canadian Human Rights Act as well as in the Criminal Code.
Mathieu Ravignat NDP Pontiac, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister can say that the Senate expenses scandal has nothing to do with him, but he cannot deny that he is the one who appointed Duffy, Wallin, Brazeau and the others.
He also made Housakos Speaker of the Senate, and it was his office that tried to cover up the Duffy expenses scandal. People are tired of these vague answers, and they are ready for real change.
Will the Conservatives stop defending the Senate's corruption?
Paul Calandra ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and for Intergovernmental Affairs
Mr. Speaker, as you know, we do no such thing. It was the Senate that invited the Auditor General in to review senators' expenses, and we expect them to co-operate in that process.
At the same time, the report of the House administration found that there are 68 members of the NDP caucus who owe three times as much as the Auditor General identified with respect to the Senate. It is $2.7 million, and as of July 1, the NDP members will be forced to repay by having their wages garnished instead of doing the right thing and repaying it on their own. It is a shame. They should have done the right thing on their own.
Mathieu Ravignat NDP Pontiac, QC
Mr. Speaker, senators charged Canadian taxpayers for rounds of golf, fishing trips and their spouses' personal travel to organize a Valentine's Day ball.
People are sick and tired of these privileges being granted to the governing party's cronies. They want this archaic and undemocratic institution to be abolished. It is time to chart a new course.
Why are the Conservatives so determined to maintain the status quo?
Paul Calandra ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and for Intergovernmental Affairs
Mr. Speaker, we have put on the table some significant reforms to the Senate, and now it is, of course, up to the Council of the Federation to look at.
However, I want to quote something: “Can you confirm where these employees will be working? The employment forms indicate that they all live in the Montreal area but they will be working in the Ottawa office? Will they be in a set office [ in Montreal or Ottawa]?”
The response from the leadership of the NDP: they will work “In Ottawa”.
The problem with that is they worked in Montreal in an illegal partisan office, and they should repay the $2.7 million they owe taxpayers.
