May 18th
- MP
ndpFri 11:00 am | British Columbia, VictoriaAll those opposed will please say nay.
- MP
libFri 10:45 am | Quebec, BourassaMadam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I have a question for you.
Justice Thomas Lederer just made a decision and has declared the election in Etobicoke Centre null and void, on a challenge by our former Liberal colleague, Borys Wrzesnewskyj.
I would like to know what the status is of the member now. Since the election has been declared null and void, does it mean there is no longer a member of Parliament for Etobicoke Centre?
- MPndpFri 10:45 am | British Columbia, Victoria
I thank the hon. member for his comments. According to the information I have, there is an appeal period. The question is whether there will be an appeal. We cannot answer that question here today. This should lay the matter to rest for now, until we have more information. We will revisit the matter as needed.
The hon. member for Montcalm.
- MP
libFri 10:25 am | Prince Edward Island, MalpequeMadam Speaker, I am most pleased to rise and support Bill C-326, An Act to amend the Canada Pension Plan and the Old Age Security Act (biweekly payment of benefits).
It has been put forward by the member for Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, and I support my colleague.
Basically, in summary the bill enacts and amends the Canada Pension Plan and the Old Age Security Act to
...provide that any benefits that are required to be paid on a periodic basis under those Acts shall, on the request of the beneficiary, be paid on a biweekly basis.
In order to do that, it amends the Canada Pension Plan such that any benefits that are required to be paid on a periodic basis under this act shall be paid on a biweekly basis if the beneficiary submits a written request to the minister that the benefits be paid on a biweekly basis.
It basically states the same thing in the amendment to the Old Age Security Act.
Simply put, as my colleague, the member for Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor said, this bill is unique, it is not complicated, and it basically allows pensioners and seniors the freedom and flexibility to budget on their own.
To back up concerns on costs, my colleague did a fair bit of research. He ran the bill by the Parliamentary Budget Officer, who said that the costs of administration of this bill are “not fiscally significant”. However, with even such a simple change such as this and with costs not fiscally significant, the government did not do its own cost analysis but came out quite strongly against this bill.
I will quote what the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and to the Minister of Labour had to say:
Mr. Speaker, I will start by underscoring our government's commitment to improving the well-being of seniors and our continued efforts to address their needs now and into the future.
After making that statement, she went on to say:
However, our government's priority is reducing administrative costs to ensure the maximum amount of seniors benefits.
Then comes the kicker. She said:
As a result, the government cannot support a bill that would increase the administrative costs of government by tens of millions of dollars in this time of fiscal restraint.
The fact of the matter is that the government did not do an analysis to come up with that figure of tens of millions of dollars. It is opposing this bill before it even gets to committee to be discussed properly. Let us find out what those costs are.
Can the bill be amended in such a way that it would only be utilized by those who want the payment to be made biweekly? There are many who would, but in some cases it is not that they want to but that they need to.
Many seniors are living in poverty in this country. Some of them are getting old age security, some get the supplement, and some get the CPP. When we talked to them, they told us that when they get their cheque, they know they have to try to budget that cheque for the next 30 days.
These are mostly people who are between the ages of 65 and 80. Many of those who are over that age are in retirement homes, and the monthly payment works fine. However, those who are living in their own homes, which is where we want them to stay, have to take out money for their rent, electricity, telephone and maybe Internet for a computer, if they have one. They try to take enough money to purchase their drugs for the month. Then they allocate the rest for groceries. Some are very low in terms of what they can get for groceries.
Then something happens two weeks in, and they have no emergency money to buy medicine for a cold or a flu or whatever because they have run low on funds by that time.
Going to a biweekly basis for those who need it and are willing to apply for it would make a huge difference in terms of insecurity and worry in their lives for several days or weeks.
I know people on the government side do not like the Parliamentary Budget Officer's analysis, because he tells the truth. He lays it out before them. He has laid out the cost of many of the issues that the government has not been willing to inform us on; as a result, the government is not too enamoured of any analysis done by the Parliamentary Budget Officer, although his analyses have been proven to be quite accurate time after time.
That said, the government, without having done a cost analysis, opposes a bill that could make a significant difference in some seniors' lives at practically no cost, and it will not even allow it to go to committee to be discussed. That is pretty sad.
If we talk to seniors, maybe they would accept that this be done only for those who use direct deposit. I understand mailing cheques costs money. There is no question. There is the postage, the service fee at the bank, and so on. However, if it was done by direct deposit, the cost would be very minimal. It would make a huge difference in people's lives, but the government seems to be rejecting this proposal out of hand.
As I mentioned, the parliamentary secretary said:
As a result, the government cannot support a bill that would increase the administrative costs of government by tens of millions of dollars in this time of fiscal restraint.
We just heard in the House today, in answer to a question on the gun registration issue, that the government is not going to require those registrations. It is going to have another amnesty. That money probably would have paid more than the administration costs for doing something for seniors, but the government operates on the basis of ideology, not on the basis of care and concern for the people of this country.
To put it quite simply, it is unbelievably sad that a government would be so uncaring as to not even allow a proper hearing on a simple proposal in a private member's bill to help seniors who may not just want but need biweekly payments.
Can the government just not accept to help, even just a little, seniors who request some help?
If the parliamentary secretary was speaking on behalf of the PMO, as she was, then I say to the other members in the party at least that it is time to stand up. It is a private member's bill. It is time to stand up and allow this issue to be discussed without being a puppet on a string for the PMO. It is time for those members to represent the constituents and the seniors in their ridings and allow the bill to be debated at committee.
We know the government has done a lot of damage to new seniors coming into the system. By changing the age requirement from 65 years of age to 67, it has basically stolen $30,000 from the new seniors coming on. Conservative members can at least help out by allowing the bill to go to committee to be analyzed properly, to be debated, and hopefully, at the end of the day, to help those seniors who want this to be done in their interest.
- MP
ndpFri 10:15 am | British Columbia, Vancouver KingswayMadam Speaker, we have asked the Conservative government to make an apology in the House of Commons. It refused.
When the NDP forms the government in 2015, what would an NDP government do with respect to this issue, if and when it is in power?
- MPndpFri 10:15 am | British Columbia, Victoria
Is that agreed?
- MPlibFri 9:45 am | Quebec, Bourassa
Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for his speech.
I find it rather sad today that people in the House are trying to make political hay by pointing fingers at certain political parties.
We know that recognition by the House of Commons, by Parliament, is important. I would like to hear what my colleague has to say about that. Why is it important today to pass a motion and to have the House of Commons recognize this incident?
- MP
conFri 9:15 am | Saskatchewan, Regina—Lumsden—Lake CentreMadam Speaker, Question No. 579 will be answered today.
- MP
Fri 9:15 am | Ontario, Beaches—East YorkMadam Speaker, it is my privilege as the member of Parliament for Mississauga South to present a petition on behalf of my constituents.
My constituents are petitioning Parliament to amend section 223 of the Criminal Code of Canada to recognize every human being as human in law and to reflect the findings of 21st century medical knowledge.
- MP
conFri 9:15 am | Alberta, Fort McMurray—AthabascaWith regard to questions Q-386 through Q-509 on the Order Paper: (a) what is the estimated cost of the government's response to each question; and (b) what is the estimated cost of the government's response to this question?
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conFri 9:15 am | Ontario, ThornhillMr. Speaker, with regard to (a), Ssince January 1, 2006, Parks Canada has not sold, subdivided, leased, or in any other way alienated or dealt with its holdings of real property on the east side of Little Lake in Peterborough, Ontario.
With regard to (b), Parks Canada is not considering doing so.
With regard to (c), Ssince the answer to (a) is no, this is not applicable.
With regard to (d), Parks Canada has not communicated with any federal or provincial parliamentarians regarding Government of Canada holdings of real property on the east side of Little Lake in Peterborough, Ontario.
- MPlibFri 9:15 am | Prince Edward Island, Malpeque
With respect to staffing at Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC): (a) how many persons were employed by VAC in Prince Edward Island for the fiscal years 2007-2008, 2008-2009, 2009-2010, and 2010-2011, broken down by (i) full-time employees, (ii) part-time employees, (iii) term contract employees, (iv) student contract employees; (b) what is the deployment, broken down by percentage, of VAC staff to (i) departmental headquarters in Ottawa, (ii) departmental headquarters in Charlottetown, (iii) regional offices across Canada, (iv) sub-regional offices across Canada, (v) district offices across Canada; and (c) what was the total remuneration of VAC employees in Prince Edward Island for the same periods listed in (a)?
- MPndpFri 9:15 am | British Columbia, Vancouver Kingsway
Madam Speaker, I have a second petition. It is from the Fijian community, which is 100,000 strong. The petitioners are calling yet again for the establishment of a high commission in the Republic of the Fiji Islands.
The United States, China, Australia and New Zealand all have embassies or high commissions in Fiji. Many Canadians of Fijian descent who travel extensively to Fiji are left without adequate consular services in that part of the world. They do a lot of business in Fiji. They own property in Fiji. They point out that Fiji is a Commonwealth country and we should be making sure that Canadians have that necessary service in that part of the world.
- MP
conFri 9:10 am | Manitoba, Kildonan—St. PaulMadam Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the eighth report of the Standing Committee on Health entitled “Chronic Diseases Related to Aging and Health Promotion and Disease Prevention”.
Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to the report.
- MP
conFri 9:10 am | Ontario, Perth—WellingtonMadam Speaker, I have two petitions.
Canada is the only nation in the western world and in the company of China and North Korea without any laws restricting abortion. Therefore, the petitioners call upon the House of Commons and Parliament assembled to speedily enact legislation that restricts abortion to the greatest extent possible.
- MPndpFri 9:10 am | British Columbia, Vancouver Kingsway
Madam Speaker, it is my honour to present a petition that is the result of the tireless efforts of youth in Vancouver. Ethan Trinh, Kaitlyn Fung, Nick Nguygen, Angela Ho, Lucas Chan, Chris Ly and Amy Bui formed a group called Youth For Climate Justice Now. Together they gathered over 10,000 signatures for the environment.
The petition draws our attention to the serious threat of climate change and calls on the government to support the Save the Fraser Declaration, halt development of the proposed Enbridge pipeline, and support a ban on crude oil tankers off the coast of British Columbia.
These students have also expressed to me a deep concern over the government's recent comments equating environmental activists with eco-terrorists. They want Canadians to know that the biggest threat to their future is not environmental activists, but rather the Conservative government, which puts the interests of large corporations ahead of the interests of environmental sustainability.
We should listen to our youth.
- MPconFri 9:05 am | Saskatchewan, Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8)(b) I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to three petitions.
- MP
conFri 9:05 am | Quebec, BeauceMr. Speaker, what has the Bloc Québécois done for the regions of Quebec over the past few years? Absolutely nothing. We, on the contrary, are working with all the regions—the regions of Ontario, Quebec and particularly western Canada—to make our country more prosperous.
We have confidence in our entrepreneurs. They are the ones who create wealth and employment in Canada. We must support them. That is what we are doing with our budgetary measures, which have been very well received by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business and small businesses across Canada.
- MP
conFri 9:05 am | British Columbia, Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge—MissionMr. Speaker, I want to assure the member that the Department of Fisheries and Oceans will continue to support freshwater research across Canada. That is why, for example, we invested in the Lake Simcoe cleanup fund of $30 million in 2008. We are making very good progress using that money.
While we think that this facility would be better run by an academic private facility, we are going to continue to invest in clean water in our lakes. We are looking forward to facilitating a transfer from this particular facility to a private organization.
- MP
ndpFri 9:05 am | Ontario, Thunder Bay—Superior NorthMr. Speaker, two years ago the Conservative member for Kenora crowed about the importance of new dollars for the Experimental Lakes Area. He said, “The Experimental Lakes Area is known world-wide as Canada’s most innovative freshwater research centre. ...we are investing in projects like this one--helping to establish Canada as a leader in knowledge creation...”
Will the member for Kenora fight for the research centre that he bragged about recently or just allow his party to toss those investments and his credibility into the Experimental Lakes?
- MP
conFri 9:00 am | Alberta, Calgary EastMr. Speaker, the Government of Canada always supports free and fair elections in Ukraine. Because of our strong commitment to Ukraine, Canada will accommodate a request for election observers.
Yes, we are concerned about the recent events that have taken place in Ukraine, most specifically the imprisonment of the former prime minister.
Let me say this: Canada will continue to stand with the Ukrainian people to help them achieve their democracy.
- MP
ndpFri 9:00 am | Ontario, DavenportMr. Speaker, the greater Toronto area has some of the highest wait times for social housing in Canada. Families in need are waiting up to 15 years to get the housing they can afford.
This House just passed an NDP motion calling for greater federal support for affordable housing. When will the government take action?
- MPconFri 9:00 am | Quebec, Beauce
Mr. Speaker, all Canadians know that we have a plan to ensure that Canada becomes more prosperous and even more free: the economic action plan that we tabled recently.
Unlike the NDP members opposite, we are not trying to pit one region of Canada against another. We are working with all Canadians to ensure that there are jobs available for everyone.
We are doing this while—it is important to point out—managing the deficit and ensuring that we return to a balanced budget as soon as possible so that we can continue to decrease taxes for Canadian workers.
- MP
conFri 9:00 am | Ontario, Simcoe NorthThe hon. Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
- MP
conFri 9:00 am | Alberta, Calgary—Nose HillMr. Speaker, we are pleased with independent reports indicating that the elections appear to have been free and fair, and with no reports of violence. I especially note that 30% of the newly elected Algerian parliament are women.
Canada is also very encouraged by the recent political reforms that have taken place in Algeria. We support the new government as it continues on this positive path. Canada's foreign policy is based on supporting and promoting across the globe the principles of freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law.
- MPconFri 8:55 am | Alberta, Calgary East
Mr. Speaker, Canada is committed until 2014 to participating in an international mission to train Afghanistan security forces to prevent that country from becoming a safe haven for terrorists. We will assess what is necessary to meet these objectives and we have not made any final decisions at this time.
- MP
conFri 8:55 am | Ontario, Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—WestdaleMr. Speaker, despite a litany of calls from the international community for al-Assad to halt the violence and abide by special envoy Kofi Annan's six point ceasefire plan, the senseless killings continue. Just last week, Syrian forces fired upon onlookers at a funeral. These abhorrent acts drew strong international condemnation.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs please update this House on the latest actions Canada has taken?
- MPconFri 8:55 am | Ontario, Simcoe North
The hon. member for Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale.
- MP
libFri 8:55 am | Nova Scotia, Kings—HantsMr. Speaker, yesterday on television, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and to the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs stated that sex “...is not biology”. Then he went further. He said that Canadian teens should get their sex education from “their average adult video store”.
Sexually transmitted diseases are on the rise among Canadian teens, and teen pregnancy continues to be an issue. Why, then, is the Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and to the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs promoting pornography for Canadian teens instead of the sex education that they need?
- MP
ndpFri 8:55 am | Ontario, Ottawa CentreMr. Speaker, I can smell the flip-flop coming.
The Prime Minister will be facing additional challenges at the G8—
- MP
conFri 8:55 am | Ontario, Oak Ridges—MarkhamMr. Speaker, the reality is that this is another member who wants to talk about anything but what Canadians actually want to talk about.
What Canadians want to talk about is the jobs we have been creating through the economic action plan. They want to talk about the Minister of National Defence, who ended the decade of darkness. They want to talk about the Minister of Justice, who restored balance to our justice system, allowing the Minister of Public Safety to close prisons. They want to talk about the member for Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, who has brought in new legislation to protect our water resources. They want to talk about the member for Kildonan—St. Paul who continues to promote legislation to—
- MP
libFri 8:50 am | Nova Scotia, Cape Breton—CansoMr. Speaker, it has been six and a half years since the Conservatives took power.
- MPconFri 8:50 am | Ontario, Simcoe North
The hon. Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources.
- MP
conFri 8:50 am | Saskatchewan, Cypress Hills—GrasslandsMr. Speaker, I can tell the member what the benefits of the economic action plan are. It is 750,000 jobs across this country. Members opposite need to get on board with that plan.
Actually, yesterday we were able to have our committee meet. We had three ministers come and talk to us about our future plans. We look forward to the changes that are going to be made so that we can develop the economy across this country, protect the environment and develop even more jobs.
Hopefully the NDP will begin to work with us instead of trying to divide workers in one section from workers in another part of this country. Resources extend across this country, from British Columbia right across to Newfoundland and Labrador. The NDP needs to get on board and support Canadian jobs.
- MP
conFri 8:45 am | Nova Scotia, Central NovaThat is not true, Mr. Speaker. Once again and as always, this hon. member is providing inaccurate information.
We are in fact relocating professionals to Petawawa, in order to have them closer to those members of the military who will need that support. We have had to do so because of retirements and because individuals have transferred to new jobs. This is common turnaround within the Canadian Forces.
We are moving forward to hire more mental health professionals. We, in fact, have a goal of doubling the number. We are moving rapidly in that direction and will continue to support those soldiers, their families and our veterans when they need those services.
- MP
conFri 8:45 am | Manitoba, Portage—LisgarMr. Speaker, I am very pleased to answer that question today.
As part of our government's ongoing measures to reduce the deficit, we will need to end the waiver on firearms licensing fees. However, in order to help law-abiding gun owners, we are providing extra time for them to renew their licence for five years, at no cost. Those with restricted and prohibited licences can apply for a no-cost licence until September 17, 2012. Those with non-restricted licences have a whole year to apply.
This is good news for law-abiding gun owners and good news for taxpayers.
- MPndpFri 8:45 am | British Columbia, Vancouver Kingsway
Mr. Speaker, talk is cheap. Just two weeks ago, a damning report slammed the government's lack of mental health treatment for Afghan veterans. It called the situation a crisis.
Currently, the 6,000-member base in Petawawa has no psychologists and just one working psychiatrist.
These brave soldiers who risked their lives deserve to have their health care needs met. Why is the government not investing more into the health of our men and women returning from combat? It is time to back up words with action.
- MPconFri 8:40 am | Nova Scotia, Central Nova
Mr. Speaker, we will not speculate. What I would suggest is that the member take a look at the recommendations that will be coming out when the secretariat has a chance to bring all of these departments together to look at this important procurement project.
I would also suggest and encourage him to support this important replacement of the CF-18. This is a very major investment for our country. It is great for the aerospace industry. It will ensure that we have the ability to participate in Norad and NATO missions in the future. That is why we are pursuing this important replacement project, as we are on a number of fronts when it comes to our military.
- MPconFri 8:40 am | Ontario, Simcoe North
The hon. member for Ottawa—Vanier.
- MPlibFri 8:40 am | Prince Edward Island, Malpeque
Mr. Speaker, do the dark secrets of the Prime Minister's election tactics never cease?
Today it is the Privacy Commissioner's concern with respect to internal data from the Conservative CIMS mining information on Canadians for votes.
Previously, it was the admission of guilt on the in and out scandal that saw the Conservatives violating election laws as they ran on a platform of accountability, and the huge 2011 Conservative election fraud by way of the widespread, systematic robocall campaign of lies and misinformation.
Will the government drop its charade and call a royal commission? Will it just—
- MP
conFri 8:40 am | Ontario, PeterboroughMr. Speaker, one of the things that I think has really troubled Canadians in this entire story is the fact that it is the Liberals who actually did everything they could to obscure and hide the fact that they themselves had broken the law. It was not until they were caught that they then had to admit that they did conduct illegal calls using false names and, in fact, breaching election laws and CRTC regulations.
I will be clear here. The Conservative Party of Canada has been open. We are assisting Elections Canada. It is the Liberal Party that is not. Perhaps the member would like to turn over to the Privacy Commissioner all the records the Liberals have on U.S. servers on Canadians. That is what the Liberal Party—
- MPndpFri 8:40 am | British Columbia, Vancouver Kingsway
Mr. Speaker, the defence minister said several times that operating costs for the F-35 would be the same as the CF-18 operating costs. Now, the former parliamentary secretary is admitting that the F-35 will be much more expensive to fly than our CF-18s, roughly $12,000 more per hour.
Here is another contradiction. He now admits that the delivery of the planes will be pushed back by several years due to delays in rising costs.
Is the parliamentary secretary making up numbers or is this a sign of an impending cabinet shuffle?
- MP
libFri 8:35 am | Prince Edward Island, CardiganMr. Speaker, the government is gutting the Fisheries Act, taking quota away from the fishers and considering the elimination of the owner-operator and fleet separation policies. We now understand that it is eliminating over 1,000 jobs from DFO, on top of the over 400 employees who were fired at Christmas.
These employees give a valuable service to science and the protection of the fishery.
Why is the government trying to destroy the Canadian fishery?
- MPconFri 8:35 am | British Columbia, Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge—Mission
Mr. Speaker, to the contrary. While we will not apologize for acknowledging that our government's top priorities are to ensure a strong and growing economy and to spend tax dollars wisely, our government has found fair, balanced and moderate savings to reduce the deficit and accomplish this goal. Of course, DFO is included in that.
We have made business decisions to align activities and spending to focus on our core responsibilities, take advantage of modern technologies and remain efficient and effective.
- MPconFri 8:35 am | Ontario, Oak Ridges—Markham
Mr. Speaker, as I have said in the House a number of times, this government has actually invested more in arts and culture than any government has in the history of this country, and that includes our national museums. When we took over government, our national museums were starved for funding and resources. We actually reversed that trend.
On the exhibit that the member talks about, I am the father of two young girls and I will not be visiting it. It is up to parents to make that decision on their own. Originally the exhibit was meant for children 12 years and up. I was very pleased, as was the minister, that it was changed to 16.
We know Canadian parents can make their own choices. That is why we brought in choice for child care on this side of the House. The NDP voted against it. We will continue to focus on the priorities of Canadians.
- MPconFri 8:30 am | British Columbia, Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge—Mission
Mr. Speaker, as I have already said, we are doing our part in reducing the deficit. We have taken a very careful look at where our services are, where they need to be and where they can be administered in the most effective way. That is what we have done on the west coast and, in fact, that is what we have done throughout the country.
I can assure the member that the safety of mariners will not be affected.
- MPlibFri 8:25 am | Prince Edward Island, Cardigan
Mr. Speaker, the government is not only ruining the Canadian fishery, it is now putting Canadian lives at stake. After closing the coast guard centres in St. John's and Quebec City, now it has decided to shut down the biggest and busiest search and rescue centre on the west coast in Kitsilano, B.C. It is also reducing the coast guard regions from 5 to 3, and firing 763 coast guard employees.
Why does the government insist on putting Canadians at risk on the sea?
- MP
Fri 8:25 am | Ontario, WellandMr. Speaker, the government's jobs plan actually increased the unemployment rate in the last two months, so I am not too sure it is a great plan.
The government keeps pretending that employment insurance belongs to it but we all know that it does not. EI belongs to the workers. It belongs to the people who have put in the time and the sweat, and it is their money that goes into this program, not the Minister of HRSD's who has some distorted view of being unemployed.
The Conservatives seem to think that being unemployed is an all-inclusive vacation. Seasonal workers are, from coast to coast to coast, the backbones of many communities, so why the attacks? When will the government realize that EI does not belong to it, it belongs to the workers who paid for it.
- MPconFri 8:25 am | British Columbia, Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge—Mission
Mr. Speaker, I can assure my colleague that the top priority of the Canadian Coast Guard is the safety of mariners.
He referred to the consolidation on the west coast, which we are very familiar with. I can assure him that the service will remain the same and will be in line with other major Canadian ports. I would also remind him that the search and rescue capability in that area was actually improved through the addition of a hovercraft in the 2010 budget. I would also tell him that the coast guard will be establishing a new inshore rescue boat station for the summer season in the Vancouver port. He has no reason to be concerned.
- MPconFri 8:25 am | Ontario, Simcoe North
The hon. Leader of the Government in the House of Commons.
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