House of Commons Hansard #10 of the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was infrastructure.
Carolyn Bennett LiberalMinister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs
Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for his tireless advocacy on behalf of his people, and all indigenous children in the country.
This ruling is really important because it brings Canadians with us to understand the injustice that has taken place over these years. Yes, we will make significant investments in the future budget to try to rectify this injustice.
Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON
Mr. Speaker, as Cindy Blackstock says, indigenous children have waited too long for justice in the country and they want action now.
Unfortunately, the pattern of systemic discrimination continues to be the operating culture within various government departments today. For example, Cindy Blackstock has identified Michael Wernick as a key player in fighting her human rights case. He was also lambasted by a parliamentary committee for dragging his feet on the child welfare crisis.
For reconciliation to be real, action must be louder than words. What kind of message is the Prime Minister sending to indigenous families by appointing Mr. Wernick to oversee the entire civil service?
Carolyn Bennett LiberalMinister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs
Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for his work on behalf of indigenous people. However, he must understand that the primary goal of the public service in our country's is loyal implementation. There is a new government here and the Clerk of the Privy Council is empowered to deliver the work that we promised in the past election, and he will do it.
John Barlow Conservative Foothills, AB
Mr. Speaker, contrary to what the Liberals may believe, Alberta is facing an economic crisis. It is losing jobs at a rate we have not seen before or since, ironically, the Liberals introduced the national energy program in the 1980s.
When asked about these job losses, the member for Calgary Centre sounded like a Liberal from the 1980s. He said that the people he had spoken with felt “refreshed” with the Prime Minister's failed approach. Refreshed is certainly not the feedback I am hearing from Albertans. They are not refreshed to be losing their jobs. They are not refreshed to be losing their homes.
Why is the only job that the minister seems to care about is his own?
Jim Carr LiberalMinister of Natural Resources
Mr. Speaker, we know there are job losses across the country in the natural resource sector. We were in New Brunswick only last week where hundreds of jobs were lost in a potash mine because of commodity prices.
We understand that Alberta is very keen to see natural resources moved in a sustainable way. We can no longer talk about the economy without environmental sustainability. That is the economy of now. That is our way forward.
Shannon Stubbs Conservative Lakeland, AB
Mr. Speaker, the government's position on job losses in Alberta is pathetic. The most the Minister of Finance could say when he visited Calgary recently was that he had a heightened sense of concern about Albertans losing their jobs.
Yesterday, the Minister of Veterans Affairs said that Calgarians were “refreshed” with his government's direction. Really? There are 100,000 lost jobs and people are losing their homes.
My constituents in Lakeland are resourceful, but they are not refreshed.
Was the minister serious? Does he actually think Albertans are happy with his government in charge?
Bill Morneau LiberalMinister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, we recognize that the change in oil prices has had a significant impact on Alberta. It has had a significant impact on other parts of the country as well.
We have started with a plan that is going to make a difference in the country. We started with tax reductions that are going to help nine million Canadians to be better off. We are going to move forward with infrastructure investments that are going to make a significant impact on growth in the country. We want to focus on things that can help in Alberta and in the rest of the country to improve our economy.
Blaine Calkins Conservative Red Deer—Lacombe, AB
Mr. Speaker, unemployment is skyrocketing in Alberta. In the riding of Red Deer—Lacombe, people are faced with the prospect of losing their homes and their life savings. Some of my constituents are desperate to put food on their table and to pay their mortgage. They do not want to be left out in the cold.
However, the Minister of Veterans Affairs yesterday callously referred to these as refreshing times. Does he think it is refreshing to lose one's home in Alberta in January?
Bill Morneau LiberalMinister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, we know that the natural resource sector accounts for about 1.8 million jobs in Canada. It accounts for many jobs in Alberta, and many of those jobs have been lost. We recognize this is an extremely challenging situation.
We are working to put in our budget measures that will improve the situation in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and other parts across the country so we can deal with this enormous challenge.
Kelly Block Conservative Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek, SK
Mr. Speaker, every day the fine print of the Liberal platform becomes more and more devastating to Canada's economy. We have recently heard announcements from CP and WestJet. The Liberal government's silence on the job losses in Alberta and Saskatchewan and the resulting impact on the transportation sector is deafening.
Will the member for Wascana continue to remain silent or will he stand up and support western Canadian jobs?
Bill Morneau LiberalMinister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, we are focused on how we can help Canadians across the country within a challenged global economy. We are particularly focused on how we can help those people in the parts of our country that are so deeply impacted by the change in global oil prices.
We are working diligently to figure out the priorities of Canadians so that in our budget we can address these issues by helping people in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland, and across the country.
Guy Caron NDP Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC
Mr. Speaker, the government has not engaged in any pre-budget consultations here in Parliament, as is usually the case.
Instead, it is using the Liberal Party website to consult people and, unintentionally I am sure, collect information that can be used for partisan fundraising. The economy has slowed down, more and more jobs are being lost, and 38% of people who pay into employment insurance do not have access to it.
Instead of looking out for itself, will the government help those in need immediately and create a universal 360-hour eligibility threshold for EI?
MaryAnn Mihychuk LiberalMinister of Employment
Mr. Speaker, this gives me an opportunity to talk about our government's plan to help Canadians in a situation that is very serious for those who are facing it, most acutely in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Newfoundland.
There are inherent barriers in the EI system that we promised to take care of and address immediately, and that will happen very soon.
Niki Ashton NDP Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, MB
Mr. Speaker, Canadians want answers on timelines. If the Liberals were actually consulting with Canadians on the budget, they would know that they are hurting.
The economy is slowing, but only 38% of Canadians who are out of work are eligible for EI. Instead of speeches to millionaires in Switzerland, Canadians want to see real action in their own communities.
Will the government expand access to EI immediately by creating a universal threshold of 360 hours?
MaryAnn Mihychuk LiberalMinister of Employment
Mr. Speaker, we have indicated to all Canadians that we are reviewing the EI system. It is inherently unfair. It penalizes, in particular, those re-entrants and new entrants into the EI system. It is our intention, as promised, to address it as soon as possible.
Borys Wrzesnewskyj Liberal Etobicoke Centre, ON
Mr. Speaker, by militarily invading and annexing Crimea, and continuously sending soldiers and lethal military equipment into the Donbass, the Kremlin has not only violated European borders, but has also broken all international agreements on the sanctity of borders.
Recently, the Prime Minister made clear Canada's position to Russia's president. Could the Minister of Foreign Affairs share with the House the government's position on Russia's continued illegal occupation of Ukrainian territory?
Stéphane Dion LiberalMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, the travelling I have been planning for a while to Ukraine will be four days from now. I am so pleased to go to Ukraine to express to the Government of Ukraine the steadfast support of Canada for Ukraine, how much we deeply disagree with the invasion and interference of the Russian government in Ukraine, and also how much we will not tolerate from a Russian minister any insults against the community of Ukraine in Canada.
We owe so much to Ukrainian Canadians and we will always support them.
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Mr. Speaker, the United States Senate is holding a hearing entitled “Canada’s Fast-Track Refugee Plan: Unanswered Questions and Implications for U.S. National Security”. It is our understanding that government representatives may have received an invitation to participate in the hearing but have in fact declined.
Could the minister explain to Canadians why the Liberals would decline this opportunity to be transparent, open and accountable?
Ralph Goodale LiberalMinister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada is transparent, open and accountable in this House. This is the Parliament of Canada and this is where we respond to the questions, like Canadian security.
We have put in place layers of security activity to ensure that our refugee initiative with respect to Syria can be successful. The program is working well and indeed it will result in something of which Canadians can be very proud.
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Mr. Speaker, I am sure our allies to the south will find that answer very interesting.
I also find it interesting because I believe that my colleague, the former president of the Treasury Board, actually appeared at a Senate committee hearing to testify in June of this year. That begs this question. Since there is still time for the Canadian government to send a representative to this hearing, will the minister explain to Canadians this new precedent it is setting and what it is trying to hide from both Canadian citizens and our American allies?
Ralph Goodale LiberalMinister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Mr. Speaker, there is absolutely nothing to hide because we have completely briefed the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. ambassador to Canada, and there is a very open line of communication directly to the White House. They understand exactly the layers of security screening that are put in place, from the activity with the UNHCR through the personal interviews that are done to the collection of biometrics to the checking against international databases, to ensure this project is done safely and successfully, which is a very strong humanitarian credit to Canada.
Bob Saroya Conservative Markham—Unionville, ON
Mr. Speaker, some Syrian refugees have been stuck in cramped temporary accommodations for weeks. They have said that there is hardly any communication from the government.
We are also hearing reports of low-income Canadians being asked to leave their housing to make room for the Syrian refugees.
Will the minister apologize to Canadians and refugees for his failure to provide long-term living solutions for Syrian refugees, because refugees are people, not a number on a scorecard?
John McCallum LiberalMinister of Immigration
Mr. Speaker, I can assure the member and Canadians that the vast majority of refugees are super happy to be in this country, as they have expressed to the media and to me.
Yes, in the course of accepting thousands of new Canadians everything will not be perfect at every instant and there are some issues in hotels, with which we are dealing. However, it is perfectly normal for refugees to spend some weeks in hotels before going on to their permanent accommodations. All of the workers, the Canadians, all levels of government, and all of the volunteers are doing fantastic work.
Bob Saroya Conservative Markham—Unionville, ON
Mr. Speaker, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship is on the record saying, “Are we treating Syrians differently than refugees from other parts of the world? Yes we are.”
Can the minister confirm that this is the government's policy and explain if being treated differently means being stuck in temporary cramped housing for weeks?
John McCallum LiberalMinister of Immigration
Mr. Speaker, Canadians across this land are welcoming with open arms and with open hearts the Syrian refugees.
They are proceeding quickly to their housing. Yes, they are spending some time in hotels. That is normal for the process. It is also the case that refugee applicants from other countries are proceeding as planned.
Canadians can be reassured that this operation is a great success, and we will soon have 25,000 new Canadians on our soil.