Bob Rae

[China, February 23rd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, every prime minister since John Diefenbaker has taken—

[China, February 23rd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Foreign Affairs about China. Just last week his predecessor, David Emerson, who is now in the private sector, was enormously critical of the government for its failure to engage on China, for its failure to pay attention to the importance of this relationship, and for allowing a few ideological enthusiasts to take over Canada's China policy. Why has the minister allowed this to happen on his watch?

[Afghanistan, February 11th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I know he is getting his orders from the minister of defence, but before he does that, it was Mr. Manley who made it very clear that we needed to understand not only what is taking place in Afghanistan but also what is taking place in Pakistan, which is where the Taliban are being trained.

Can the minister tell us why we would not be matching what is taking place in other jurisdictions by putting politics, diplomacy and development far ahead, following that direction and recognizing the problem?

[Afghanistan, February 11th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the Minister of Foreign Affairs. The events that took place in Kabul overnight, the loss of life in the ministry of justice in Kabul, pose a serious security threat. They raise real questions about what is taking place in Afghanistan.

One of the recommendations of the Manley report was not taken seriously by this government, and on our side we believe it very much should be. The Americans have just appointed a senior envoy for Pakistan and for Afghanistan. Why does Canada not do the same? Why do we not have someone senior looking at the overall political situation--

[Foreign Affairs, February 10th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Khadr's situation is primarily a Canadian issue. I would like to put my question to the minister again.

Will he acknowledge that it would be better to guarantee guidance and supervision to bring Mr. Khadr back, instead of having a situation where we do not know exactly what will happen in the U.S. courts? Why not take advantage of the situation and negotiate directly with the Americans to ensure Mr. Khadr's return to Canada?

[Foreign Affairs, February 10th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The Government of the United States is discussing with a number of its allies the question of what to do with those who are currently prisoners in Guantanamo.

I would like to ask the minister whether or not Canada is participating in these discussions and whether or not discussions about Guantanamo will be held between the Prime Minister and the President of the United States when he comes next week.

[Budget Implementation Act, 2009, February 9th, 2009]

Madam Speaker, I hope I have some time to respond at least to one of the issues, and that is the pay equity issue which was raised by my friend from Hamilton East—Stoney Creek as well as by my friend from Winnipeg North.

I would ask them to have a look at the legislation, because the member for Winnipeg North said that it got rid of the notion of equal pay for work of equal value, but in clause 394, the preamble states:

Whereas Parliament affirms that women in the public sector of Canada should receive equal pay for work of equal value.

That is what it says. It is right there in the bill.

I am not convinced it is altogether the right thing, but the government has made the obligation to live up to the principles of the act a proactive obligation of the employer to make it a provision of collective bargaining and build it into the collective bargaining process, and make the Public Service Staff Relations Board responsible for the legislation, and not make it a long legal process that takes 10 to 15 years and goes to the Canadian Human Rights Commission. It is giving the Public Service Labour Relations Board the power and the authority to deal with the question. I am not saying this is perfect. I am happy to listen to the criticisms and the concerns.

My colleague from Hamilton East—Stoney Creek put the pressure on me and pointed out all the great things that our government did between 1990 and 1995. Ontario had the most progressive pay equity legislation in the world in those years, but we also insisted that it was the Pay Equity Commission that should take responsibility for supervising and overseeing the conduct of collective bargaining and the approach and the improvements that were made.

We cannot say that the old system was perfect because the old system federally has put a tremendous obligation on individuals and on unions to take complaints to the Human Rights Commission that have nothing to do with the collective bargaining process and that delays things for a very long period of time.

I would say to my colleagues in the New Democratic Party that I have not changed my ground at all. I believe that Parliament should be committed unequivocally to equal pay for work of equal value. Let us just see if we can improve this legislation to make sure that we take account of all the provincial experiences that have taken place, that we take account of everyone's experience and see if it cannot be improved.

I can assure the member for Trinity—Spadina, who is my neighbour, that we will be looking very carefully at the provisions she has mentioned to see whether or not there are improvements that can be made. That is why we are there.

[Budget Implementation Act, 2009, February 9th, 2009]

Madam Speaker, I am not trying to win anyone over here. I have lived through three recessions and I saw what happened in a recession. I simply want to share my experience and give the House a few things to think about.

Frankly, I am not satisfied with the measures proposed by the government, but I cannot say, as the hon. member just did, that there is absolutely nothing in this budget to help unemployed workers, as that is not the case. One cannot say things that are simply not true. We must say what is true. We can say that the measures are insufficient, that they can be improved and that amendments can be made.

Based on my experience, if the government is open, the committee stage allows the opportunity to make amendments that can meet people's needs and address their problems.

[Budget Implementation Act, 2009, February 9th, 2009]

I am sorry, Madam Speaker.

I would like to say to the minister that the government is continually underestimating the problem. That could be the reason we keep saying that the proposed measures may not be enough to deal with the problems.

[Budget Implementation Act, 2009, February 9th, 2009]

Madam Speaker, you are right in saying that it was more of a comment than a question.

All I can say is—and this is my personal opinion—that you continue to underestimate the impact this global recession is having on Canada. The numbers that you have presented, given the—