Andrew Cash

[Committees of the House, November 17th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I listened to my colleague's answer with great interest. Right now we can broadly agree that we are in a youth employment crisis in Canada. In fact, it is so significant that we had the Governor of the Bank of Canada recently suggest that young people should work for free to beef up their CVs.

What the member opposite just said was that apprenticeships lead to employment, but the fact is that more and more young people are working several unpaid internships. We can call it payment on a non-payment basis. That is what it is, but those internships are not leading to jobs.

I would like to know what the government is doing about this blight of unpaid internships in Canada.

[Labour, November 6th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, onto another story. Stories of abuse of unpaid interns continue to pile up in this country. In fact, unpaid interns in federally regulated industries have none of the protections paid employees have, things like protection from sexual harassment in the workplace and protection of the right to refuse unsafe work.

My colleague has put forward a bill that would extend these and other protections to unpaid interns. I have a simple question for the government. Will it support our intern protection act?

[Citizenship and Immigration, November 6th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, standing up for basic Canadian values is never a scandalous thing to do in this Parliament.

Because of his reckless, inhumane policy, a refugee claimant, 32 weeks pregnant, went to two emergency rooms suffering from lower abdominal pain, and on both occasions, she was told that she would have to be responsible for covering the cost of her visit. She left both on both occasions without being seen.

Why does the minister think treatment like this of a young, pregnant, and likely frightened refugee is a Canadian value?

[Citizenship and Immigration, November 5th, 2014]

That is wrong, wrong and wrong, Mr. Speaker.

The Federal Court and the Federal Court of Appeal could not have been more clear. Conservatives' treatment of refugees was deemed inequitable, unconstitutional, and yes, causing refugees harm.

However, instead of restoring the interim federal health program, the minister is playing politics, deciding some people get it and some people do not.

Why will he not just respect the court's decision and restore health care to refugees?

[Citizenship and Immigration, November 5th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, that minister's disdain for some of the most vulnerable people in our society is on full view today and it is not a pretty sight.

First, he refused to accept when the Federal Court ruled his actions were unconstitutional. Then he continued his attack by using the omnibus budget bill to sneak in changes that would take social assistance away from refugees. Now he is refusing to fully respect the court's decision on refugee health care.

What does the minister have against refugees?

[Citizenship and Immigration, November 4th, 2014]

Instead of the baloney, let us talk about the facts, Mr. Speaker. The harm being done to refugees by the government is a matter of fact. It is accepted by the Federal Court and Federal Court of Appeal. It is not a matter of debate.

It is also true that looking after one another is a Canadian value. It will always be a Canadian value, no matter how much the Conservatives might hate it.

Why will the minister not just give up his fight and provide health care to refugees?

[Citizenship and Immigration, November 4th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, abandoning vulnerable women and children might be a Conservative value but it is not a Canadian value.

On Friday, the Federal Court of Appeal was the latest to confirm that the health and lives of refugees were being put at risk by the government's actions. The court joined refugee advocates, provincial governments, doctors, parliamentarians and the Federal Court in denouncing the harm the government is causing.

No one agrees with the government, so why is the minister continuing his attack on refugees?

[Citizenship and Immigration, November 3rd, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, there is a clear pattern of behaviour here. The minister ignored the protests of doctors, refugee advocates, provinces, and parliamentarians and took health care away from children and pregnant women.

He ignored the ruling of the Federal Court that said his cuts were “cruel and unusual”. Now he's lost another case, as the Federal Court of Appeal has emphasized the harm suffered by refugees without health care.

Will the minister finally give up his lengthy assault on basic Canadian values?

[Citizenship and Immigration, October 30th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, it has been four months since the Federal Court told the government that its cuts to refugee health care were cruel and unusual. Now the government is scrambling to come up with a contingency plan just days before the court deadline to reinstate the program.

We have a suggestion for the government. Instead of dragging its feet and coming up with more excuses and trying to circle the rules, why does the government not just reinstate the interim federal health program?

[Citizenship and Immigration, October 28th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, there is no clear commitment there when it comes to banks. Actually, what they are saying is, “If you are being ripped off by banks who are charging pay to pay fees, this government is not going to stand up for you.”

On the subject of refugees, refugees are fleeing persecution. They arrive in this country with nothing but hope for a better life. Now the Conservatives are cutting them off, and they are hiding it in an omnibus bill. If the minister really insists on standing by this heartless attack, will he at least agree to a full and open debate?