Debates of April 22nd, 2016

Southern Resident Killer Whales

[Randall Garrison, NDP, Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke, BC]

Madam Speaker, I rise once again today to call for action to save the southern resident killer whales. These whales have great spiritual significance for first nations. They are an icon for Vancouver Island and an important part of our local tourism economy.

Despite the recent baby boom, they remain on the edge, especially as newborn orcas have a mortality rate exceeding 50%. The whales are doing their part, but our Canadian government, not so much. The southern residents were listed as endangered in 2003, and therefore the Species at Risk Act requires the Government of Canada to implement an action plan for their recovery. Thirteen years and three governments later, we still have no plan in place.

In 2013 I introduced a motion laying out the elements necessary for an effective recovery plan. In 2014, the Conservative government put forward a draft plan missing most of those elements, but even that weak plan is still sitting on the shelf.

I call on the Minister of Environment to act quickly to adopt an action plan for the southern resident killer whales that includes real action and the funding necessary to make sure that these orcas will continue to be here to inspire generations to come.

Don Valley Revitalization

[Rob Oliphant, Liberal, Don Valley West, ON]

Madam Speaker, today we celebrate Earth Day. Tomorrow I will join friends for neighbourhood and park cleanups as we enjoy nature in the beautiful Don Valley. Next weekend, I will paddle the Don, a river whose history has been inextricably linked to countless generations of Toronto residents since it was first known to the Ojibwa as Wonscotanach.

On Earth Day, we are reminded of our shared task to ensure that the Don Valley and its river will be a living place for generations to come. I am proud of the broad new efforts of our government, which is making progress on climate change and on protecting our national parks.

I am equally proud of local groups such as Friends of the Don East and the Evergreen Brick Works, which are working with the City of Toronto to restore the river that shaped Toronto and make better use of its adjacent green spaces.

On Earth Day, I thank the students, volunteers, planners, and architects who are working hard to revitalize the Don Valley, and I invite all members to discover the Don.

Kellard Witt

[Cheryl Gallant, Conservative, Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON]

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a dear friend and long-time community stalwart, Kellard Witt.

Kellard was born on August 26, 1926, on Twin Creek Farm near Pembroke, Ontario. He recently passed away at the age of 89.

Kellard served his community in many ways, including as a municipal politician, and served 28 years on local council. He was forward thinking, serving as the inaugural chair of the Ottawa Valley Waste Recovery Centre and establishing Renfrew County as an environmental leader through practices such as waste diversion and recovery and green bin recycling, which were in place years before they were considered in more urban communities.

In many ways Kellard was my political mentor. He and his wife Shirley were always available to help in any task that he was called upon to do.

I first got to know Kellard as a man of deep and abiding faith. He was a pillar in the pro-life community, someone who was not afraid to walk the walk when it came time to talk the talk. I miss Kellard.

To all in his family, I share their grief. I thank Kellard for making a positive difference in the lives of so many.

Verdun Skate Park

[David Lametti, Liberal, LaSalle—Émard—Verdun, QC]

Madam Speaker, on this Earth Day, I would like to rise to congratulate the borough of Verdun, as well as Verdun youth and the Montreal skateboarding community on the Verdun skate park that will see its official opening on May 27.

This important piece of sports infrastructure and its training elements will be a place where young people, especially those who are marginalized and most at risk, can develop a passion for a culture, get some exercise, and develop perseverance. It will also be a place where diverse communities and multiple generations can cross paths and share experiences.

I look forward to visiting the park with my own children and I wish skateboarders, BMXers, and others who will enjoy this park a happy International Go Skateboarding Day this June 21.

Events in West Nipissing

[Marc Serré, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

Madam Speaker, I rise in the house today to congratulate the Municipality of West Nipissing on its successful bid to host the International Plowing Match and Rural Expo. This is a community rich in resources, where the agriculture sector is a very prominent and vital part of the region's economy.

I am very proud of the many farmers in West Nipissing. Their hard work and dedication to their craft is very impressive.

This is the second time that the International Plowing Match will take place in northern Ontario since its first iteration in 1913, over 100 years ago. I am very proud of this unique opportunity to share everything the north has to offer. You are all invited to visit the beautiful municipality of West Nipissing.

We have the opportunity to showcase the variety of unique local agricultural products enjoyed by residents and tourists alike.

Congratulations, and I look forward to seeing everyone in the beautiful Municipality of West Nipissing.

Lucille Pakalnis

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Carleton, ON]

Madam Speaker, this place is always changing. People come and go, dramas flare up and flame out, and stars are born and then fall with the speed of light.

Over 12 years, five elections, seven offices, and three prime ministers, the one constant for me through it all has been my correspondence director of over a decade, Lucille Pakalnis. In that role, she has helped me respond to over 400,000 letters.

It will shock the House to learn that not all of them had nice things to say about me, yet despite the occasional tough customer, Lucille has literally never been in a bad mood—forever the happy warrior, never an unkind word about a colleague, and always there for the team. Because of Lucille, when I knocked on thousands of doors in the last election, not a single person told me that we had not responded to his or her letter.

As she moves on to the next phase of her career and her life, I ask all members to join with me in thanking her for over a decade of service to Parliament and all Canadians.

Diabetes

[Pam Goldsmith-Jones, Liberal, West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, BC]

Madam Speaker, I would like to invite all of my hon. colleagues to support the all-party juvenile diabetes caucus. There are 300,000 Canadians who live with type 1 diabetes.

I will never forget the day my daughter was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. My husband was out of town, and as I drove her to the hospital in December, I had all the windows rolled down and I had to shake her the whole way to keep her from going unconscious. That night at British Columbia Children's Hospital in Vancouver, all she kept saying to me was, “I'm so sorry, Mum.”

Children who live with chronic conditions take on a lot of responsibility, as do their families and friends. The overall incidence of type 1 diabetes is increasing, particularly among children one to 14 years old. Little children are diagnosed every day.

Canada has a rich legacy of innovation in type 1 diabetes research. From the world-changing discovery of insulin by Sir Frederick Banting and Dr. Charles Best to the Edmonton protocol to new areas of research, such as encapsulation and the artificial pancreas project, Canadian researchers are leading.

With gratitude for Canada's research scientists and their continued—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, NDP, Carol Hughes]

The hon. member for Montarville.

Rail Safety Week

[Michel Picard, Liberal, Montarville, QC]

Madam Speaker, I want to let members know that Rail Safety Week is from April 25 to May 1 this year. This is an annual campaign organized by Operation Lifesaver to raise awareness and promote safety around trains and rail property.

The Government of Canada supports initiatives to maintain the safety of people and vehicles around rail facilities and supports safety in the transportation of dangerous goods by rail.

Our country has one of the largest rail networks in the world, and we have made it safer for everyone and all communities in Canada. That is what we will continue to do.

Taxation in Alberta

[Matt Jeneroux, Conservative, Edmonton Riverbend, AB]

Madam Speaker, Albertans are an amazing group of hard-working, dedicated people. However, they are being attacked by both the federal Liberals and the Alberta provincial NDP. These attacks are only making it harder for Albertans to get back up.

Last week the Alberta NDP announced its intention, in spite of the struggling economy, to continue moving forward on a provincial carbon tax. This tax would be on top of the Liberal pet project of a federal carbon tax. Alberta unemployment remains high, and families are finding it harder every day to make ends meet. These carbon taxes would increase food prices, increase the price of heating homes, and make it more expensive to fill up at the gas pumps.

This carbon tax would hit small businesses, the businesses and the very entrepreneurial spirit that Albertans are known for. These tax increases would be unfair to hard-working people across Canada, particularly in Alberta, where families are struggling to get by. Quite simply, now is not the time to be taxing Albertans more.

Daffodil Month

[Kamal Khera, Liberal, Brampton West, ON]

Madam Speaker, I am honoured to speak in this House about Daffodil Month. April is a crucial month, when Canadian Cancer Society volunteers work to raise awareness to support life-saving research for Canadians living with cancer.

I have had the privilege to work as an oncology nurse and take care of many Canadians battling cancer, some of whom lost their lives, including my own Aunt Sadjiv. I am wearing my daffodil for their memory and to show support for all those fighting today.

We have made great progress in cancer research in Canada, but there is still so much more to do, so I ask everyone to wear their daffodil for the rest of this month to show support for Canadians living with cancer and for the research that will one day mean that no Canadian has to fear cancer.

Earth Day

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

Madam Speaker, as we celebrate the earth today, I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and state my respect and solidarity with all indigenous people around the globe who stand to defend their traditional territories.

I would like to repeat the words of Solange Bordones, who has successfully led her council, pushing for collaboration with Barrick Gold over developing in their territory in southern Chile. She said, “We are not fighting for money, because with money I cannot water my garden. We have a cosmo vision, a particular view of the world, which few people understand: We do not think of the water as separated from the earth, the air, or the sun. Love for Mother Earth is something that is sacred to us. We are not descendants of original people; we are that people. Our ancestral power is rooted in our identity. That is, we identify ourselves by the land and our relationship with that land.”

On Earth Day and every day, I stand by that philosophy.

Organ Donation

[Len Webber, Conservative, Calgary Confederation, AB]

Madam Speaker, on the same day that this Liberal government introduced legislation to help Canadians die, it also refused to give more Canadians the chance to live.

It is quite disappointing that the Liberal government will not support a national organ donor registry, and it is very sad that we find this out on the eve of National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week. Canada will remain the most developed nation in the world without a national registry.

More than 4,500 Canadians are waiting for an organ transplant. Every donor can save up to eight lives.

Next weekend at Confederation Park in Calgary, I will run in the 5th annual Canadian Transplant Association Transplant Trot. Transplants can have amazing impacts on so many lives, but we need more donors.

Canadians should talk to their families and their loved ones about their organ and tissue donation wishes.

I thank the hon. member for Edmonton Manning for his hard work on his initiative, Bill C-223.

Earth Day

[Jean-Claude Poissant, Liberal, La Prairie, QC]

Madam Speaker, today is Earth Day, which is celebrated every year on April 22 by people all around the world. This day has been firmly entrenched in American traditions for the past 45 years, although it has been officially celebrated in Quebec only since 1995.

Over one billion people in 192 countries are celebrating Earth Day today by taking part in all kinds of activities to raise awareness about environmental issues. This day is more than just symbolic; it reminds us how important it is to take care of our planet.

What does it take to contribute? Little things count, such as planting trees or finding ways to repurpose our waste materials. We definitely all have an important role to play in looking after our beautiful planet, but we must not forget that our farmers are an important part of the solution to ensuring food security for future generations.

I often tell the people around me that we must always be mindful of this beautiful earth. It sustains us today, but it might destroy us one day if we do not look after it.

Foreign Affairs

[Jason Kenney, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

Madam Speaker, on March 17, United States Secretary of State John Kerry said that ISIS “is responsible for genocide”, but five days later in this place, the minister of global affairs denied Secretary Kerry's recognition, saying instead that the U.S. wanted to do more research.

The British Parliament and the U.S. House of Representatives have unanimously endorsed a recognition of the genocide as such. ISIS itself does not deny its efforts to exterminate these historic communities, so why will the government not just recognize this genocide?

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Madam Speaker, the horrors committed by the so-called Islamic State have the hallmarks of genocide, but official recognition of genocide is to be done by a credible judicial process, following a proper international investigation, an investigation that we will do everything to support, as I have said to the UN special advisor on the prevention of genocide. Our U.K. ally has also said that the government is not a prosecutor, a judge, or a jury. Canada continues to stand side by side—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, NDP, Carol Hughes]

The hon. member for Calgary Midnapore.

[Jason Kenney, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

Madam Speaker, that is legal pettifogging. Those are word games. This is not about a judicial process.

This House and the previous Conservative government recognized the historical reality of the Armenian genocide without an international judicial process. We did so with respect to other historic genocides. This is happening today. We do not have time to wait for lawyers. We do not want to give ISIS the benefit of the doubt in a judicial process. We need simply to reflect the reality that it is seeking to exterminate the indigenous communities of Mesopotamia. Why will the government not follow the lead of Britain and the United States and—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, NDP, Carol Hughes]

The hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs.

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Madam Speaker, that is why we have improved the plan to fight ISIL and to be sure that this awful terrorist group will stop killing people. Canada is more and more involved in a more effective way with our allies to be sure that we will win and that this terrorist group will stop its atrocities.

[Jason Kenney, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

Madam Speaker, that is exactly why this government is refusing to recognize the genocide as such. This government decided to end Canada's combat mission against the genocidal terrorists of Daesh. It was this government that withdrew Canada's air force, which was combatting these genocidal terrorists in the Middle East.

Will the minister admit that the reason he is refusing to recognize the genocide as such is that Canada ended its combat mission?

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Madam Speaker, as my colleague knows, Canada has tripled its efforts to train combatants who are fighting this awful terrorist group on the ground. We have doubled our intelligence capacity in order to determine where this terrorist group is. We have enhanced our humanitarian and development assistance. We are supporting Jordan and Lebanon more than ever, and we will beat this terrorist group.

Ministerial Expenses

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Madam Speaker, one thing that is typical of this government is that it likes to go on and on about its lofty principles, but its actions say quite the opposite.

Take transparency, for example. This government and its ministers must be accountable for all their expenses, yet a number of ministers have not yet reported their expenses. The example comes from the top. The President of the Treasury Board, the person who watches every penny spent every day by this government, was late in filing his expense report and did so only after we asked him questions.

Why do these paragons of virtue say one thing and do the opposite?

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board]

Madam Speaker, Canadians deserve openness and transparency, and the Liberal Party has been a leader on that. In fact, it was a Liberal prime minister, Paul Martin, who was the first to proactively disclose the expenses of ministers. Then it was a Liberal leader, our Prime Minister, who in opposition led the charge on being the first party in the House of Commons to have open and transparent disclosure of MP's expenses, and other parties, sometimes reluctantly, followed suit.

We will continue to disclose our expenses, because it is the right thing to do.

Air Canada

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Madam Speaker, it is always nice to hear someone on the government side talking about Paul Martin, who, unlike the current government, hated deficits.

Moving on to another issue, the Minister of Transport has been doing a lot of improvising with regard to Bill C-10, and that is putting it mildly. Yesterday morning, he was accusing the NDP. In the afternoon, he was saying that the Quebec minister did not understand, and in the evening, he had another answer.

Will the minister at least give us a clear and solid explanation today? Why is he imposing a gag order on Bill C-10? Is he going to rattle off yet another answer?