Steven Fletcher

[Jobs and Growth Act, 2012, November 29th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, before entering the political world, the member was a small-business man with a master's degree. He had a company that dealt with marble and created jobs. I wonder if the member could explain how the Conservative philosophy expressed in the budget would help Canadian middle-income families and businesses.

There was also some talk earlier about the Navigable Waters Protection Act. Can the member explain why the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and all the municipalities in the country support what we have done with that legislation?

[Raoul Wallenberg, November 23rd, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to inform the House that Raoul Wallenberg's legacy will be honoured by Canada Post with a Raoul Wallenberg commemorative stamp.

Our government is proud to honour Canada's first honorary citizen on the 100th year of his birth. The sacrifices he made to save tens of thousands of Hungarian Jews during the Second World War will always be remembered.

[Status of Women, November 23rd, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I have answered the question. Canada Post is working as fast as it possibly can to implement the Supreme Court ruling. Naturally, we would like Canada Post to do it as fast as possible.

However, while I have the floor, that member is not representing men or women in her riding when she stands up and advocates for policies against the resource extraction industry, a carbon tax and other things that would harm families.

[Status of Women, November 23rd, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, our government is committed to high-quality mail service for all Canadians. The crown corporation is arm's-length from government, as the member knows, and that includes its human resource issues. Canada Post officials respect the Supreme Court decision on pay equity and will implement the court's ruling as soon as possible.

[First Nations Financial Transparency Act, November 20th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I wonder if the hon. member could take a moment to elaborate on this. We heard a member from the Liberal Party talk about the Kelowna accord. I actually have never seen a copy of that so I do not know if it even exists. The Liberals never put it in the budget. It shows a disrespect to first nations that a member would raise it.

Also, with transparency comes accountability and with accountability comes better use of taxpayer money, which is really what is funding most of what we are talking about. Could the member talk about accountability and taxpayer money as opposed to first nations?

[Questions on the Order Paper, November 7th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, in response to (a), there is one anchoring mechanism, wheelchair tie-down, used to accommodate persons who are confined to a wheelchair installed in 86 railway cars used by VIA Rail Canada.

In response to (b), VIA’s policy is that customers with special needs will be treated with the same dignity, respect and care as those who do not require special attention. This policy applies to all types of persons with disabilities, be it physical or mental, permanent or temporary, including children and those travelling on a rail pass. A special service request is added to the passenger reservation file to ensure the file is queued to the appropriate agent, who will make necessary arrangements and confirm available services. Special service requests must be made at least 24 hours in advance, 48 hours in cases of special meals, electric adaptors, stretchers and special stops. All VIA trains are accessible to travelers in wheelchairs and are equipped with wheelchair tie-downs, narrow wheelchairs, tools to reduce the width of certain manual wheelchairs, and grab bars in washrooms. The availability of these services varies according to the train equipment in use. Please see following link for more info: http://www.viarail.ca/en/useful-info/special-needs/reduced-mobility.

Regarding (c) and (d), there is no file or report concerning accessibility requests for persons with reduced mobility. In response to (e), VIA received 101 complaints over the 2008 to 2012 period.

In response to (f), of the 101 complaints received over the five-year period, 47 pertained to on train services related issues, 50 pertained to station services and four to reservations. In response to (f) (i) and (ii), yes, VIA Rail responded to every customer complaint by telephone or by email and followed up where appropriate. This involved in many situations informing and/or reviewing the customer level of service provided by VIA Rail and options available. In other situations the complaints were reviewed and discussed with the activity groups involved with employee follow-up involving assistance related issues.

In response to (g), requests by persons with reduced mobility are handled by VIA Rail’s telephone sales office and travel options are determined based on the group’s travel needs and mobility restrictions as well as the train equipment type and accommodations available. For example, personal manual wheelchairs that are collapsible can be stored in the baggage rack within a passenger rail car while electric wheelchairs can either be accommodated in the assigned wheelchair tie-down or transported in the baggage car where assigned. VIA’s current plans in regard to accessible transportation pertain to the installation of an improved redesigned wheelchair tie-down and accessible washroom in its Renaissance and LRC equipment, Head End Power, HEP 1 sleepers.

Regarding (h) and (i), Via Rail Inc. does not have this information.

[Canada Post, November 7th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, these members do not seem to understand that Canada Post is a crown corporation at arm's length from government. Canada Post is in charge of making operational decisions, day-to-decisions and so forth. That is why we have crown corporations. That is why it is at arm's length.

If there is an additional cost to provide the service, we expect the people who use the service or develop it, like in this case the developers, to absorb that cost. We do not expect taxpayers to subsidize developers.

[Canada Post, November 7th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, this member has it all wrong. Our government is committed to universal and economically viable postal services for all Canadians.

As the member has noted, Canada Post operates at arm's length from government. The answer to his question is clear: We expect Canada Post to offer quality services to Canadians while respecting the taxpayer. It is that simple.

[Canada-Panama Economic Growth and Prosperity Act, November 6th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for his excellent remarks. It was very interesting to hear about his family connection to Panama.

Can the member explain why free trade with countries big and small is so important, and why the New Democrats seem to always vote against free trade, in spite of the fact that it creates wealth and jobs in both Canada and whatever country the free trade agreement is with? Can the member spend a few minutes explaining to the members opposite about the benefits of free trade?

[Canada-Panama Economic Growth and Prosperity Act, November 6th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, the member claims that the NDP is in favour of free trade, yet there is no example of the NDP ever supporting a free trade agreement. In fact, the NDP has opposed every free trade agreement, including the free trade agreement with the United States, NAFTA, and dozens of other agreements.

Free trade allows everyone involved to raise their standard of living. Why does the member and her party want to deny the people of Canada and the people of Panama an opportunity to raise their living standards?