10231 OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) House of Commons Debates VOLUME 147 NUMBER 156 2nd SESSION 41st PARLIAMENT Friday, December 5, 2014 Speaker: The Honourable Andrew Scheer HOUSE OF COMMONS CANADA (Table of Contents appears at back of this issue.) COMMONS DEBATES December 5, 2014 DEBATES Edited Hansard * Table of Contents * Number 156 (Official Version) Official Report * Table of Contents * Number 156 (Official Version) Compte rendu officiel * Table des matières * Numéro 156 (Version officielle) 147 156 05 12 2014 2014/12/05 10:05:00 House of Commons Débats de la Chambre des communes House of Commons Debates 41 2 The House met at 10 a.m.

Prayers GOVERNMENT ORDERS Government Orders (1005) [ English ] Economic Action Plan 2014 Act, No. 2 Bill C-43. Report stage The House resumed from December 2 consideration of C-43, A Second Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on February 11, 2014 and other measures , as reported (with amendment) from the committee, and of the motions in Group No. 1. Mr. Bryan Hayes (Sault Ste. Marie, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to speak to Bill C-43 , economic action plan 2014. I want to step back for a moment.

Three and a half years ago, I sought the nomination for the Conservative Party. At that time, I was not a political guru. Part of the nomination process was to go through the policies of the government. I read the Conservative policies and realized that they so applied to me. These were policies that spoke to caring for our families, supporting our businesses, ensuring that we are participants rather than observers in the global economy, caring for our seniors and our veterans, and promoting jobs, growth, and long-term prosperity, to name but a few.

Economic action plan 2014 builds on those policies and those initiatives. Today I want to focus a bit on those that are particularly important to northern Ontario and Sault Ste. Marie. My history is in northern Ontario. I went to high school in North Bay, when my father was stationed there as part of the Canadian Armed Forces. I went to college in Sudbury and got a diploma from Cambrian College and then received a university degree from Laurentian University. I then moved to Sault Ste. Marie, where I reside now. I have been there for 33 years.

During that tenure, I travelled all around northern Ontario as part of the Ontario March of Dimes, so I am very familiar with northern Ontario and its needs. One of the most important components of the economic action plan is FedNor, which is the economic development fund for northern Ontario. It is a significant fund. The economic action plan continues to fund this program. It is a program that delivers programs that support innovation, sustainable community economic development, and business growth and competitiveness.

Since 2006, $329 million has been funded through FedNor for 1,600 projects across northern Ontario that have created 21,000 jobs. As part of economic action plan 2014, the minister announced what is called the targeted manufacturing fund, which is part of FedNor. This would provide financing for operational assessments and upgrading capital equipment. I encourage those who are watching at home to go to fednor.gc.ca to learn more about the programs offered through FedNor. On December 4, the Minister for FedNor announced the community investment initiative for northern Ontario.

This is a great initiative for rural municipalities and first nations communities that will facilitate staffing, the identification of opportunities, and the management of local economic development efforts to strengthen the economy and create jobs. Up to $100,000 per year is available over a three-year period for non-repayable financing toward staffing positions. This agency has been incredible in Sault Ste. Marie. I just want to speak to a couple of the projects that have occurred in Sault Ste. Marie. One is a company called JD Aero Maintenance.

FedNor provided financing of $475,000 to assist it in its hanger development. As a result of that, it has created 28 jobs in Sault Ste. Marie, as JD Aero services the last Porter flight that comes into Sault Ste. Marie every evening. Recently, $762,000 went to the Innovation Centre to deliver broadband e-business and marketing and innovation accelerator programs to enhance innovation, commercialization, management, and trade capacity for small and medium enterprises in northern Ontario over the next two years. The Economic Development Corporation in Sault Ste. Marie just received $2.2 million.

This is for an incredible new initiative in Sault Ste. Marie. A study done in 2013 by KPMG stated that the “economic and other benefits of the proposed harbour expansion are expected to be significant”. The report states that combined with anticipated production capacity increases by Sault Ste. Marie's steel products manufacturers, the expanded port would add as much as $228 million to Canada's GDP and would support up to 1,800 new employment positions as a result of the direct, indirect, and induced economic impacts.

It would provide $262 million in economic activity generated by the infrastructure investments in the harbour and would support just under 1,400 person years of employment. The project right now is in the process of establishing the critical path for port development. They are doing logistics, a market and commercial sensitivity analysis, a traffic forecast, and business planning and development. There is also port project infrastructure planning, design, and preparation, port logistics, and the preparation of the business case. That is what is really critical.

Once that is done, the port project will apply to the new Building Canada fund. This is a national infrastructure component. This project is a $120-million to $150-million investment that will happen in Sault Ste. Marie. That leads me to another component of economic action plan 2014 that is incredibly important to northern Ontario and to all of Canada, and that is the new Building Canada fund. The new Building Canada plan is the largest long-term infrastructure plan in Canadian history. It will provide stable funding for a 10-year period.

It includes the community improvement fund, consisting of the gas tax fund and the incremental business services tax rebate for municipalities. This will provide $32 billion to municipalities for projects such as roads, public transit, recreational facilities, and other community infrastructure. I spent eight years on city council in Sault Ste. Marie, and one of the biggest concerns was infrastructure funding. Through our gas tax fund, which we will increase by at least 2% per year, we have put $4.6 million a year for the past couple of years into that fund for major infrastructure projects for Sault Ste. Marie.

There will also be a $14 billion new Building Canada fund, which will consist of the $4 billion national infrastructure component that will support projects of national significant. For smaller communities, there is the $10 billion provincial-territorial infrastructure component for projects of national, regional, or local significance. Of this amount, $1 billion is dedicated to projects in communities such as Sault Ste. Marie, with populations of fewer than 100,000 residents.

An additional $1.25 billion will be put into the P3 public private partnership Canada fund, and that will go along with the $6 billion in funding that continues to flow across the country this year and beyond under existing infrastructure programs. I want to talk a little bit about taxes. The average family of four, under our government, pays $3,400 a year less than when we formed government. We formed government in 2006. Since then, we have administered over 160 tax cuts, and most recently, under economic action plan 2014, we have done some incredible things for families.

The first is the universal child care increase. It was originally $100 per month. It would now go up to $160 per month. If a family has a child under six years of age, there would be $1,920 available to use as the family sees fit. We would also expand the program to include funds for children aged six to 17. We would put $60 a month into that program, so there would be an additional $720 a year available. On top of that, we have introduced the family tax cut, which is geared towards couples with minor children.

This would allow a transfer of up to $50,000 a year in income to the spouse in the lower tax bracket, and it would be capped at a $2,000 credit. We would also increase the child care expense deduction limit by $1,000 and double the fitness tax credit to $1,000 and make it refundable. These initiatives in economic action plan 2014 would put an average of $1,140 back into the pockets of families with children.

On top of that, we have introduced initiatives for empowering Canadian consumers, investing in skills and training, investing in Canada's youth, supporting small business, supporting seniors, supporting Canada's veterans, and supporting Canada's farmers. I could go on and on. I am just very proud to stand here and talk about these policies that are so incredibly important to Canadians.

(1010) [ Translation ] Mr. Raymond Côté (Beauport—Limoilou, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for his question. In his speech, he mentioned a harbour expansion project in Sault Ste. Marie. My speech on Bill C-43 basically dealt with issues related to the amendments the bill would make to the Canada Marine Act. Those amendments were hidden in the omnibus bill and were not even examined by the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities.

However, I would like to inform my colleague that the president of the Association of Canadian Port Authorities told the Standing Committee on Finance that the federal government was not providing sufficient funding to support the development of Canadian ports. Was my colleague aware of that? What will the government propose to resolve this serious problem, which affects Canada's ability to play a major role on the international stage? [ English ] Mr. Bryan Hayes : Mr. Speaker, I was not aware of that, because I did not hear the member's speech, quite frankly.

Although I did sit in on the budget implementation clause by clause, that did not come up during my time. I am aware, however, that there is an initiative on the table by the federal government. I believe it is a $40-million initiative specific to enhancing ports. In my own riding, we will be looking into those funds. That will not apply to our deep sea harbour, which has not been constructed. It will be for existing ports and harbours. I would anticipate that those funds would be able to assist the member. I am certainly prepared to meet with him afterward to discuss it more fully and so he can brief me.

(1015) Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Winnipeg North, Lib.) : Mr. Speaker, the member talks about tax breaks. One of the things that has come across to Canadians is the government's arrogance concerning its income splitting tax proposal. At the core is a $2-billion plan, which would be financed by the middle class of Canada, and the people who would benefit from it would be less than 15% of the population. How does the member or his government justify having the middle class pay for a $2-billion commitment for less than 15% of Canada's population? Mr. Bryan Hayes : Mr.

Speaker, what is most important, as I mentioned in my speech, is that the average family of four would pay $3,400 less per year in taxes. What we have introduced with our new tax plan would mean that every single family that has children under the age of 17 would benefit. I am not sure I agree with the comment that we would only be reaching 15%. That being said, every single proposal the government puts forward does not necessarily meet the needs of the population as a whole.

When we talk about veterans, there are currently 200,000 veterans we are putting in programs for through Veterans Canada, at a cost of $3.5 billion a year. Those programs impact veterans. We have to look at the broad scope. Hon. Pierre Poilievre (Minister of State (Democratic Reform), CPC) : Mr. Speaker, the member will note that the Liberal member who just stood up said that tax cuts cost the middle class money. In reality, tax cuts save the middle class money. The reality is that when families have to pay less tax, that does not cost them money. It saves them money.

It means they can go out and spend in their communities or on raising their families. The member raised the issue of family tax fairness, which allows a single-income family to have the same tax bill as a dual-income family making the same amount of money. That would help about two million families in this country. On top of that, we have increased the universal child care benefit by $720 a year and have extended that additional benefit to children over the age of five.

I wonder if the member, who knows a lot about northern Ontario communities, can tell us whether families in his riding would prefer to have money in their pockets to make the right decisions for their children or whether they would like the Liberal Party to take that money back and spend it on a government day care program, which will not help 90% of families. Mr. Bryan Hayes : Mr. Speaker, to respond to the question, it is obvious what Canadians want: Canadians want choice. What we are providing them is more discretionary income to use as they see fit, and that is incredibly important to all Canadians. Mr.

Maurice Vellacott (Saskatoon—Wanuskewin, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in respect to our budget, and there are many wonderful things to be said about some of the measures across the board. However, I will spend the limited time I have speaking in respect to the family tax measures. I sincerely believe, after now some 18 years in this place, and I have seen it more and more across our country, that support of family is absolutely vital. It is very crucial. If we support family, we will not be paying the costs in terms of the health care system, social welfare system, and justice system.

However, if we choose to undermine and hurt family by way of regressive tax policies and numerous other things, then we do it to our own detriment, and we will eventually pay through the nose in various other programs. I am pleased to see that our Conservative government has followed through on its election promise to introduce income splitting with our new family tax cut. Of course, there is always more that can be done in these areas in respect of providing tax relief for individuals, but I am excessively proud of the fact that we have done this for our country and for our families in particular.

I was one of a handful individuals in the early days some years back who agitated, pushed, and provoked for this. The groundswell, that momentum, grew such that we have these very commendable provisions of income tax splitting for families. To get into specifics, the family tax cut is a federal tax credit that would allow a higher-income spouse to transfer up to $50,000 of taxable income to a spouse in a lower tax bracket. That credit would provide tax relief, presently capped at $2,000, for couples with children under the age of 18, effective for the 2014 tax year.

Income splitting is already helping seniors across the country. I hear reports of that in my riding, with gratefulness expressed on the help that it is to them. It is also why the government is now proposing a similar relief for other families as well. Increasing the universal child care benefit, UCCB, for children under the age of six is a measure we are implementing. As of January 1, 2015, parents would receive a benefit of $160 per month for each child under the age of six, which is up from the current $100 per month, and that is important. In a year, parents would receive up to $1,920 per child.

Expanding the UCCB to children aged 6 to 17 is another one of our measures here. It is a new measure as of January 1, 2015. Under the expanded UCCB, parents would receive a benefit of $60 a month per child aged 6 through 17. Therefore, in a year, parents would receive up to $720 per child through that particular measure. As another measure, we are increasing the child care expense deduction dollar limits by $1,000 effective for the 2015 tax year.

The maximum amounts that can be claimed would increase to $8,000 from $7,000 per child under the age of 7, and it would increase to $5,000 from $4,000 for children aged 7 through 16. It would also increase to $11,000 from $10,000 for children who are eligible for the disability tax credit, which is near and dear to my heart. I understand, on a personal and first-hand basis, the challenges of parents and families who have kids with disabilities.

They are special children in our world, and our government, thankfully, is taking some measures to effect some positive benefits for these families in respect to those dear children. Families could claim the family tax cut in the spring of 2015 when they file their 2014 tax returns. They would begin to receive payments under the enhanced UCCB in July 2015, this coming summer. The July UCCB payment would include up to six months of benefits to cover the period from January through June, and so it would be a catch-up for the prior six months.

The enhanced UCCB would replace the existing child tax credit, CTC, for the 2015 and subsequent tax years. I should remark, so that there is no misinformation or misunderstanding—because we have had questions in my constituency office, as other members will no doubt—on the enhanced UCCB replacing the existing child tax credit, CTC. I want to be clear that this is different from the Canada child tax benefit, or CCTB. There are all these acronyms that are important to understand. That significant benefit would continue on.

The Canada child tax benefit is a significant benefit to low-income families and some middle-income families. It would continue on in addition to these new benefits that have just been announced to kick in starting January 1, 2015.

(1020) The government would continue the Canada child tax benefit, but as I said, it would merge the child tax credit with the universal child care benefit. The child tax credit provides up to about $344 per child, per year, and it only goes to families with children under the age of 18 who paid federal income tax,

whereas the UCCB would provide at least $720 per child, per year, and would go to every family with children under 18 years of age. It is not a means-based, income-tested provision, but it is one that would go to every family. Members across the way, including the Liberal member who spoke just prior, have inferred that it would not apply to a lot of people, only 15%. If I were not in this place, I would use another term to describe what those members said. They are trying to confuse Canadians by giving them misinformation with respect to this. This would benefit people across the board. I think it is some 80%.

The majority of Canadian families would benefit from this. These new provisions mean that all families with children would benefit from these new measures introduced by our government. The average tax relief and benefits for these families would be $1,140 in 2015. Low- and middle-income families would receive two-thirds of the overall benefits provided by the package. The family tax cut would eliminate or significantly reduce the difference in the federal tax payable by a one-earner couple relative to a two-earner couple with a similar family income.

Earlier this month, the government announced its intention as well to double the children's fitness tax credit and make it refundable. It would come as an actual cheque instead of being taken off income tax paid. The maximum amount of expenses that may be claimed under the credit would be doubled from its current limit to $1,000 for the 2014 tax year and subsequent tax years. The credit would be made refundable, effective 2015 and subsequent tax years.

Canadians at all income levels benefit from the federal tax relief measures introduced since 2006, with low- and middle-income Canadians receiving proportionately greater relief. I want to give a case study as to how the family tax cut would work for many Canadian families. As an example, Pat and Chris are a two-earner couple with children. Pat earns $60,000 of taxable income and Chris earns $12,000, for a combined taxable income of $72,000. Pat faces a marginal federal tax rate of 22% and Chris is in the first tax bracket, where income is taxed at 15%.

Since the value of Chris' non-refundable tax credits is greater than the tax on taxable income, he does not pay any federal tax presently, so for federal tax purposes under the proposed family tax cut, Pat would be able to, in effect, transfer $24,000 of taxable income to Chris and that would bring their taxable incomes for the purposes of calculating the credit to $36,000 each, which puts both of them in that 15% tax bracket. In addition, Chris would be able to use up his unused non-refundable tax credits with the notional transfer of income.

As one person in the couple may claim the family tax cut, they decided Pat would be the one to do so. The family tax cut would reduce Pat's tax payable by about $1,260 in 2014, taking into account both the reduced tax on their taxable incomes and the additional value of the non-refundable credits that Chris is able to use. That would give them a great benefit. I would like to explain what the combined benefits of the family tax cut and the enhanced UCCB would mean to another Canadian family. Dale and Kelly are a two-earner couple with two children aged seven and three. Kelly earns $95,000 and Dale earns $25,000.

To sum it up, this family would be better off by about $7,285 in 2015 as a result of all of the benefits that would be derived from this recently announced package. I am proud of this. If we can help families, then we are helping society. We are also helping ourselves as a government. There would be less of a tax burden in the welfare system, the justice system, and the health system. Helping families, the basic building blocks of society, is always a good thing to do. I am very proud that our Conservative government is doing just that.

(1025) Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Winnipeg North, Lib.) : Mr. Speaker, my question is in relation to a program that the Liberal Party has talked about a great deal. That is the EI premium exemption, which would apply for every new hire for employers. It was exceptionally well received by different stakeholders who have given it credit. It has the potential of creating literally tens of thousands of jobs. If we compare that to the government's plan, which is the small business job credit plan, it is questionable in terms of the number of jobs it would create.

It is very expensive, and a number are suggesting that it would, in some bizarre, twisted way, actually provide an incentive to lay off some people who are in marginal types of positions. Could the member explain to the House why the government is not recognizing the valuable idea that has been put forward by the Liberal Party, which would actually create literally thousands of jobs for every region of our country?

(1030) Mr. Maurice Vellacott : Mr. Speaker, I do know, and to the Liberal member opposite, the Liberal Party, not the classic liberals per se, has never met a tax it did not like, or a tax it did not hike. Business owners are always glad when there is some relief in respect to the benefit packages they pay, as long as there is good benefit for their employees. Our party has done the right thing. We have had some pretty good reviews of that approach as well. I know the member is being a bit selective in terms of suggesting it would not help, but by and large, our program has helped.

We have done a great thing for business owners across the country in the package of reforms we have done over the course of the years we have been in government, since 2006. We have some of the lowest unemployment rates in the world at this point and we are pretty grateful for that as well. All in all, our package is doing what it ought to do in producing the jobs, the income, and the employment for people across our fair country. Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Winnipeg North, Lib.) : Mr. Speaker, it is with pleasure that I rise today to speak to the budget implementation legislation before us.

There are two or three points that I would like to pick up on, which I have already had the opportunity to express at least in part, through questions to the former two speakers. Let me start by talking about time allocation. I will be very brief on that particular point, but I want to read a quote that I have referenced in the past. This is a quote from the Prime Minister , back in the days when he was in opposition. This was before he was the Prime Minister. This is what he had to say about the type of legislation that we are debating today: We can agree with some of the measures but oppose others.

How do we express our views and the views of our constituents when the matters are so diverse? Dividing the bill into several components would allow members to represent views of their constituents on each of the different components in the bill. He went on to comment on how the budget bill, then a Liberal budget bill, was virtually an affront to democracy and the functionality of Parliament. That was what the Prime Minister said back in the days when he was in opposition.

Liberals recognize that there are other aspects brought into budget implementation bills, which the Liberal Party did when it was in government. We recognize that at times there is even a need for things like time allocation. The Liberal Party did that too. However, what is worthy of noting is that never in the history of our federation have we seen such an assault on the democratic principles of accountability and transparency in this House as the majority Conservative government has been exercising in the last few years.

We are talking about massive budget implementation bills, into the thousands of pages combined, in three or four budgets. That is totally unacceptable. We are talking about a record number of time allocation motions, approximately 90, give or take two or three. Time allocation means that government is preventing members of Parliament from standing to speak on important pieces of legislation. What could be more important than the budget when government is spending billions of Canadian tax dollars?

Time and time again, the government uses time allocation, not only for this, but it seems for all pieces of legislation. It is a tool that it has been abusing at great cost. I want to talk about income splitting because it is an important issue. It is more than symbolic. It is an issue that is going to cost, some say $2 billion. I might even suggest that is underestimating it. We are talking about at least $2 billion in taxes. Who is paying the bill for that?

Primarily, it is going to be the middle class of Canada who are going to have to come up with that $2 billion.That $2 billion is then going to be given out for income splitting, which a vast majority of Canadians will not see one penny of. There is less than 15% of Canada's population who will receive a benefit from that $2 billion tax for income splitting. I believe that it encourages inequality and that the government has it wrong. I am glad that the leader of the Liberal Party has taken the right position on this particular issue.

(1035) It is interesting that the more the Liberals push on this issue, the more the government says, “Well, we have this child care issue, and that is going to have a lot more impact for all Canadians.” The Conservatives are bundling that into the income splitting because they know that the income split is wrong. A number of Conservatives know that. If we listen to what they have to say, many of them have deep respect for the late Jim Flaherty, the former finance minister. He put together the budget we are debating and was opposed to the income split, and he had a good solid reason.

The Liberal Party agrees with the late Conservative finance minister with respect to the income splitting program. The Prime Minister needs to reverse that policy. He does not have to bundle it into the budget to try to mislead Canadians. Canadians are not stupid. They understand what the government has put forward in terms of the income split. Another issue that I raised in the form of a question was on the EI premium exemption. The government often challenges opposition members to come up with ideas.

There was an idea that the leader of the Liberal Party brought to the floor of the House, and we challenged the government to recognize the value of the idea. What sort of response did we get? We got the envious New Democrats suggesting that it was not a good thing to do, even though Jack Layton supported the principle of what the Liberal Party was talking about; it was a part of his own election platform. However, I will expand upon that at another time.

What surprises me is that it is the government, this very Prime Minister , who do not recognize the value of what has been offered through the leader of the Liberal Party. We are talking about generating tens of thousands of jobs, in all regions of our country, and this has been confirmed by independent stakeholders, individuals who have a lot to contribute to the debate. There is no question that it would do that. I would compare that with the government.

The government says, “No, we don't want to accept that because we have our own plan.” Its “own plan” is the small business job credit, using EI, talking about deductions on EI. How many jobs would that create? There is a big huge question mark on that issue. Would it be a few thousand jobs? What we do know is that there are critics saying that it such a bizarre plan that it could ultimately lead, in certain situations, to employers laying off employees, that it would be in their financial interest to consider the option of laying off employees. It is not just the Liberal Party that has made that assertion.

We have the Conservatives and the Prime Minister saying that they have a plan. Their plan would be nowhere near as effective as ours, nor does it have anywhere near as much support as the Liberal plan, yet they stand by it and proceed. I only have one minute left, so perhaps I will talk about the Canada Post issue. I believe that the government has made a mess on the Canada Post issue and that there is a hidden agenda with respect to both the CBC and Canada Post. However, I will focus on Canada Post. Canada Post announced a while ago that it is ending door-to-door delivery. The current government supports that.

The government is the one that is allowing it to occur. That debate never occurred inside this chamber, and I believe that was a huge mistake. I get phone calls. I get people stopping by my office. I get petitions. I get postcards. Canadians are very upset that the government has done nothing on that particular issue. There is a hidden agenda with Canada Post by this government. It prevails in its lack of desire to deal with what Canadians value, and that is the service provided by Canada Post.

(1040) My time has expired. Hopefully I will get a question and maybe I could comment on health care as well. Hon. John Duncan (Minister of State and Chief Government Whip, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, the member went on at large about income splitting and how income splitting promotes inequality. Why do the Liberals want to reverse income splitting for seniors? Mr. Kevin Lamoureux : Mr. Speaker, when the member says “reverse income splitting for seniors”, he should know that most seniors will not derive any benefit from the income splitting that is being proposed by this plan. He should not try to give that impression.

How are single seniors living on their own going to benefit? They are not. The vast majority of seniors will not benefit from this program. If the government wants seniors to benefit from something, it should deal with issues such as the cost of medication and health care, to which I made reference. The government did not renew the health care accord. Health care is important to our seniors. If the minister wants to do something that would benefit our seniors, this income split is not going to benefit the vast majority of seniors.

The price of medications should be dealt with, or looking at how to renew the health care accord. Those would have been better measures. The reason we have the unheard of contributions toward health care today is not because of the government. Those record-high donations of federal dollars going to provinces are not because of the Conservative government; they are because of Paul Martin . It is the health care accord that instituted that. That is the reason that we have the health care we have today. [ Translation ] Mr. Raymond Côté (Beauport—Limoilou, NDP) : Mr.

Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague from Winnipeg North for his speech, but I must admit that he has a lot of nerve. In Quebec, there is a situation involving the packaging of meat. Some grocers are changing the best-before labels on meat. The Liberals are very good at changing labels and trying to pass off their tainted meat as fresh meat. The Liberals' new media pitch is standing up for the middle class. The Conservatives abandoned the middle class a long time ago. That being said, let us come back to Canada Post.

In 2006, during my first election campaign, the big thing that everyone was talking about in Quebec was the closure of the postal sorting station. That happened under the Liberal watch, so it is not just the Conservatives who are dismantling Canada Post and allowing the crown corporation's management to destroy our postal services, quite the contrary. How can my colleague claim to defend the interests of people who want home mail delivery? (1045) [ English ] Mr. Kevin Lamoureux : Mr.

Speaker, Canada Post is in existence, in good part, because of the Liberal Party of Canada having been in government for the vast majority of the years in which we have been a confederation. At no point in time has it ever said it would get rid of door-to-door delivery. Having said that, the member made reference to needs, and somehow started to blame what I suspect is maybe the provincial Liberal government. Let me suggest that all he needs to do is look at middle-class jobs, at what is happening in Manitoba, where the NDP is killing the pork industry.

The provincial government in Manitoba is not allowing the pork industry to develop. It has been at a huge cost. I have had tours of the Maple Leaf plant, in Brandon, where they cannot meet the demand. There is not enough pork, and now it has to look outside of the province. This is purely because of NDP policy. The member should not try to tell me that the New Democrats are the only political entity that can take the high road in terms of the middle class. That is just not the case. [ Translation ] Mr. John Weston (West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, CPC) : Mr.

Speaker, it really is a privilege for me to speak to Bill C-43, Economic Action Plan 2014 Act, No. 2 . [ English ] I was thinking that if I were asked by some of the wonderful people in the riding I represent—volunteers like Randine Hardy, Mary Ann Smith, or Tom Dalimor, or some of our wonderful youth who take leadership positions, like Andrea Choo or Yuan Kim or Ania Salehirad—what a budget implementation act is, I would go back to a question of mission and values. I would say that a budget implementation act is like a rudder steering the ship of government.

The budget itself is like the road map, but if we do not understand the mission and values of the government, then it would be hard to put these things in context. I like to think that this government stands for values that Canadians cherish: freedom, responsibility, equality, compassion, and integrity. We see these values in acts like the budget implementation act. In very specific terms, this act touches upon the economy, on jobs, on responsible resource development, on health, and fitness and volunteers. I will take us through some of these things in the act and am looking forward to questions from my friends.

There are many good things in Canada's economic action plan 2014. There is the promotion of jobs and economic growth, which we see brought forward through the budget implementation act. There is an underlying commitment to return to balanced budgets in 2015, a sense of that responsibility. While we are controlling departmental spending, federal support to Canadians, like seniors benefits, would keep growing.

That is essential to some of the leading seniors in the riding I represent, like Brooke Campbell, Garry Sutherland, and Christopher Hebb, who have been bringing me issues about RRSPs and how these can be improved. We see in this budget implementation act major transfers to provinces for health care, education, and other services that Canadians rely on. These will keep growing to record levels. There is a focus on connecting Canadians with available jobs, which is key in the sunshine coast and corridor areas of the riding I represent.

We see the launching of the Canada job grant so that Canadians can get the skills training they need to get in-demand jobs. There is the creation of the Canada apprentice loan, which would provide apprentices in Red Seal trades access to over $100 million in interest-free loans each year; and there is the launching of a job-matching service, a new service that would match Canadians looking for work with the employers who want to hire them. There would be more paid internships for young Canadians. In fact, $55 million would be invested to create such internships.

This is good news for universities in the riding I represent, including Quest University Canada, Capilano University, Vancouver Island University, as well as for academic institutions across the country. There is also the initiative to help older workers get back to work, with some $75 million invested in this targeted initiative to support these older workers who want to participate in the job market. That is something we often hear about at breakfast tables at the West Vancouver seniors' centre. Budget 2014 also focuses on ensuring responsible resource development and on conserving Canada's natural heritage.

If there is something that matters to British Columbians in addition to creating jobs and spurring the economy, it is ensuring that we preserve our wonderful natural heritage and that we have sustainable investment in the environment and fisheries. Groups like the Future of Howe Sound Society and people who want to ensure that if there is an LNG natural gas project at Squamish Woodfibre, it is done according to international standards of safety and good environmental standards, will be delighted to see the initiatives brought forth in the budget implementation act of 2014.

We see an emphasis on responsible resource development, including an increase in funding for the National Energy Board, to ensure that projects like that one I mentioned are reviewed in a comprehensive and timely manner. There is also tax relief for green energy, encouraging investment in clean energy generation thereby. I come back to the conservation of Canada's natural heritage. Included in this effort are investments in Canada's national parks and historic canals; expanded tax relief for environmental conservation of lands; and bolstered recreational fisheries.

The latter will be of great encouragement to the West Vancouver Streamkeepers and streamkeepers throughout our riding, as well as the Pacific Salmon Foundation, which does a great job in encouraging up to 40,000 volunteers throughout British Columbia.

(1050) I would like to touch on steps that our Conservative government is taking related to health and fitness, including the introduction of the children's fitness tax credit and the search and rescue volunteer tax credit. It is Christmas time. It is a time for gift giving and for thinking of others above ourselves. Our government's job is to think of our citizens first. It is not about creating more bureaucracy, as other parties in the House would like to do. It is about empowering others to be the best they can be. That is where the value of responsibility comes in.

It is in tune with that value that our government has recently doubled the children's fitness tax credit to $1,000, effective this tax year. It is also providing a refundable tax credit for the registration of a child under 16 in a sports program or physical activity. Why is this children's tax credit so important? We have noticed dwindling rates of physical activity, alarming and increasing obesity rates, and climbing cardiovascular and diabetes problems. The economic costs of these issues are huge.

The Public Health Agency of Canada is telling us that it costs $7 billion a year to deal with the consequences of inactivity relating to cardiovascular and diabetes problems. We are now facing the terrible situation where children will die at a younger age than their parents. This will be the first time in history that has ever happened. I am pleased to see that these government initiatives are supported and bolstered by a bill that I have sponsored in the House, the national health and fitness day bill.

We will be speaking to it this coming Monday, December 8, and voting on it for the third time on Wednesday, December 10. It is my hope that this will be a gift from the riding I represent to all Canadians as we approach the Christmas season. Beside the children's fitness tax credit, I would like to bring to the attention of the House the increase and expansion in the universal child care benefit. This represents a benefit of almost $2,000 for families with children under 6, and $720 a year for parents with children aged 6 to 18.

As someone who is passionate about promoting health and fitness for all Canadians, it is my hope that these changes will help parents offset the cost of having their children enrolled in organized sports or other physical activities. Finally, I would like to emphasize how much the Conservative government shines a light on our volunteers. We have seen an illustration of this through the introduction of the search and rescue volunteer tax credit.

Three years ago, the Conservative government introduced a volunteer firefighters' tax credit in recognition of the important role played by volunteer firefighters in contributing to the security and safety of Canadians. I was pleased to advocate for that tax credit on behalf of firefighters throughout the riding I represent. In the same spirit of recognizing those who play a critical role in emergency preparedness and response, economic action plan 2014 announced a search and rescue volunteer tax credit for ground, air, and marine search and rescue volunteers.

This credit would be available to search and rescue volunteers who perform at least 200 hours of service during the year. I would like to bring this down to one individual, Tim Jones, a hero from the North Shore in the Vancouver area. He led the huge team of search and rescue volunteers in the North Shore, who over 50 years have committed themselves to more than 2,500 search and rescue operations. These people put themselves in harm's way day in and day out, with more than 200,000 hours of selfless effort by them in the North Shore search and rescue team.

Whether it is supporting volunteers, promoting health and fitness, spurring jobs, or creating economic development, these are all consistent with the five key values I mentioned at the beginning. These are the values of freedom, responsibility, equality, compassion, and integrity. I am proud to stand in the House on behalf of the people I represent and to speak on behalf of all Canadians and to support the government's budget implementation act, 2014. (1055) [ Translation ] Mr. Pierre-Luc Dusseault (Sherbrooke, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, I am glad to have this opportunity to ask my colleague a question.

He seems to be pretending that all of the Conservative government's bad statistics just do not exist. The Conservatives always want to make us think that they have such a stellar track record, but plenty of numbers suggest the opposite. In 2013 alone, employment growth was slower than ever since the recession. Since the current Prime Minister took over, 300,000 more people have joined the ranks of the unemployed, and there are now 400,000 fewer manufacturing sector jobs. Sherbrooke has been affected by the loss of manufacturing sector jobs. Some 400,000 good jobs have disappeared on the Conservatives' watch.

Canada's trade balance is still in a deficit situation: $61 billion in 2013. In addition, the Conservatives have given us deficit budgets ever since coming to power. Can the member explain how the Conservatives can call themselves good economic managers when they have run deficit budgets since coming to power? Mr. John Weston : Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to answer that question. I am so glad that my colleague opposite talked about statistics because no government in the world has done better on that front than ours.

Thanks to our government, next year's budget will be better than balanced and there are more than 1.2 million new jobs in our economy. With respect to investment in our country, many experts have said that Canada is one of the best countries in the world to invest in. That is thanks both to hard-working Canadians and to this government's leadership.

STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS Statements by Members [ English ] Brian Ronald Macdonald Mr. Gary Schellenberger (Perth—Wellington, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay my respects to a great Canadian who passed away last week. Brian Ronald Macdonald came to Stratford Festival in his early days, an inventive choreographer and director. Born in Montreal, Brian travelled the world over with legendary ballet and theatre companies. A founding member of the National Ballet of Canada, he worked tirelessly on scores of projects from coast to coast. His work as a director of opera and musicals resonates in Stratford today.

A companion of the Order of Canada, Brian was recognized for his important contributions with numerous awards, including a Governor General's Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. The arts are an important part of the Stratford and Canadian economy. We are fortunate to have had such a talented, dedicated artist in our country. Brian will be missed.

(1100) Tibet Mr. Bernard Trottier (Etobicoke—Lakeshore, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, December 10 marks the 25th anniversary of the conferring of the Nobel Peace Prize on the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people, His Holiness the Dalai Lama. I rise in recognizing this occasion and to express my solidarity with Tibetans in their demands for religious freedom and respect for basic human rights. Recently I had the opportunity to lead a delegation of Canadian parliamentarians to meet His Holiness in Vancouver, where we confirmed Canada's support for the cause of the Tibetan people.

His Holiness was made an honorary Canadian citizen in 2006. Last week, I met with Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay, the democratically elected leader of the exiled Central Tibetan Administration. He too expressed dismay at the People's Republic of China for its disregard for Tibetans' legitimate requests for freedom and the rule of law. On behalf of the proud Tibetan-Canadian community in Etobicoke—Lakeshore and across Canada, I urge the People's Republic of China to allow Tibetans to live their lives in freedom.

Prime Minister of Canada Mrs. Carol Hughes (Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, as the holidays approach, our thoughts turn to giving, and who needs to be given something more than this government, which deserves to be given the boot? We are reminded of a Dr. Seuss classic, but with a twist. It is the Grinch who stole Canada, and while we all wait for the Prime Minister 's heart to grow three sizes, sadly, it seems to only shrink. He said that if we give the Conservatives five years, we won't recognize Canada. How scary and true.

He rolled back environmental standards and regulations, transforming our pristine wilderness into wastelands. He is making people who rely on a public pension work two more years before retiring. He maintained a mean-hearted freeze on first nations' education budgets so aboriginal children are forced to make do with less and less year after year. He made cuts to health care and hoarded money from every department, including Veterans Affairs. He is pushing injured members of our military out of the forces so they never become eligible for pensions.

Food bank use is at an all-time high, and so is part-time, low-wage work. Are his shoes just too tight? Is his sweater at fault? It may be the stress of the job, but in the new year it will be the NDP that will get the job done.

[ Translation ] Violence Against Women Mr. Royal Galipeau (Ottawa—Orléans, CPC) : Mr.

Speaker, tomorrow marks the 25th anniversary of the École Polytechnique massacre in Montreal. [ English ] For the past 24 years I have pleaded with the media to honour the 14 innocent victims rather than recall the name of the misogynist murderer. [ Translation ] Today I would like to honour 12 posthumous engineers, Annie Turcotte, Annie St-Arneault, Michèle Richard, Sonia Pelletier, Anne-Marie Lemay, Maryse Leclair, Maud Haviernick, Anne-Marie Edward, Barbara Daigneault, Nathalie Croteau, Hélène Colgan and Geneviève Bergeron. [ English ] I also honour budget clerk Maryse Laganiere, nurse Barbara Klucznik-Widajewicz , and all those who were present at École Polytechnique on that day, also victims of this madness.

We continue to remember them and tell their families that we share their sorrow.

Ukraine Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Winnipeg North, Lib.) : Mr. Speaker, one year ago, Ukrainians took to the streets to stand up for their democratic rights and to secure a stronger future for Ukraine. With over 1.2 million people of Ukrainian heritage in Canada, our country as a whole stood and continues to stand in solidarity with Ukraine. What took place in Maidan inspired people around the world, as the people of Ukraine spoke louder than any government could have. A year since the Maidan began, Ukraine has come a long way.

In May President Poroshenko was elected, and in October the parliamentary election took place. As a Canadian parliamentary observer in Kiev for both elections, I witnessed first-hand the spirit of hope. As we mark this one-year anniversary, we must continue to provide our support to Ukraine and to work with our allies in ending Russia's interference in Ukrainian affairs. Promoting Ukraine's sovereignty and the strengthening of ties with the EU and Canada is a priority

International Civil Aviation Organization Hon. Deepak Obhrai (Calgary East, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, this week marks the 70th anniversary of the Convention on International Civil Aviation, signed on December 7, 1944, which led to the creation of the International Civil Aviation Organization, ICAO, headquartered in Montreal since its inception in 1947. Canada is proud to be both the host state to this important United Nations specialized agency and a contributing member state of the council of ICAO.

I would like to ask all members of the House to join me in recognizing this milestone anniversary in Canadian and global civil aviation history and in underscoring Canada's continued strong dedication to the work and well-being of ICAO. This is demonstrated by our sustained commitment, together with our partners in Montreal and Quebec. Canada, along with Quebec and Montreal, looks forward to hosting a reception this evening at ICAO headquarters in Montreal to commemorate this year's 70th anniversary of the creation of ICAO.

(1105) [ Translation ] The Environment Mr. Pierre-Luc Dusseault (Sherbrooke, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, the people of Sherbrooke and I are concerned about protecting the environment. However, protecting the environment is last on the Conservatives' list of priorities. That is in part due to the fact that they have an incompetent minister and in part due to the fact that they simply deny that climate change exists. As world leaders are laying the foundation for a new international agreement, Canada is playing the role of a mere onlooker or even a saboteur.

Luckily, for my generation and future ones, in October 2015, we will finally have an NDP government, which will take its climate change responsibilities seriously and will ensure both a healthy environment and a sustainable economy. One of the first things our government will do is go to the Paris conference and move from being an onlooker to a leader. Waiting is not an option. We need to take action now.

[ English ] Halifax Explosion Mr. Gerald Keddy (South Shore—St. Margaret's, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, tomorrow, December 6, is the anniversary of the Halifax explosion. Ninety-seven years ago, the SS Mont Blanc , a French munitions ship, and the SS Imo , a Belgian relief ship, collided in Halifax Harbour. Minutes later the SS Mont Blanc ignited and quickly exploded. That explosion was the largest prior to the atomic bomb. The blast was heard and felt over 200 kilometres away. About 1,600 people were killed immediately, and another 9,000 were seriously injured. Hundreds more perished in the resulting fires.

Worse yet, that evening a winter nor'easter dropped freezing temperatures and heavy snow on the survivors. Much of Halifax was a destroyed city, and relief trains were sent from the rest of the country, but the first to reach Halifax, carrying doctors, nurses, and supplies, was from Boston, Massachusetts. In 1919, the province of Nova Scotia sent a giant Christmas tree to Boston as a thank you. In 1971, that tradition was continued, and every year since, a 15-metre-tall Nova Scotia Christmas tree is lit in the Boston Common as a reminder of our gratitude for Boston's assistance long ago.

Taxation Mr. Maurice Vellacott (Saskatoon—Wanuskewin, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, 100% of families with children in Saskatoon—Wanuskewin, and for that matter across Canada, will be better off thanks to our Conservative government's new family tax cut. We expanded and increased the universal child care benefit so that every family in Canada, such as the Penners and the Wiebes and the Klassens in my riding, will now receive nearly $2,000 per child. That is nearly $12,000 over a child's first six years of life. The NDP has never met a tax it did not like, and the Liberals have never seen a tax that they would not hike.

The Liberals and the NDP would reverse our Conservative tax cuts and force every Canadian to pay more. Only this Conservative government can be trusted to put more money back into the pockets of hard-working Canadians and to support families, which are the basic building blocks of society and the bedrock of our society.

Oil Industry Mr. Kennedy Stewart (Burnaby—Douglas, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, two years ago the Conservatives gutted the process by which we approve new oil pipelines, eliminating the voices of ordinary people and tilting the process to favour companies. It is so bad that many Canadians who might have their homes expropriated cannot even send a letter to the National Energy Board to express their objections. Disturbingly, the Liberals completely back these Conservative process changes. The Liberal leader says, “So I'm very much a proponent of Keystone XL” and “I am...very interested in the Kinder Morgan pipeline....

I certainly hope that we're going to be able to get that pipeline approved....” The last few weeks have seen the arrests of over 100 ordinary people who oppose Kinder Morgan's plan to build a new pipeline through our community. These are not radicals, but regular people who have been silenced by the Conservatives' changes to the approval process, changes that the Liberals support. I went to Burnaby Mountain ten times over the course of the recent turmoil and have spoken many times in the House to the stress these changes have caused.

It is clear that the NDP is the only choice for Burnaby voters in the next election, as we are the only party to stand with them.

Taxation Ms. Lois Brown (Newmarket—Aurora, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, moms and dads should be able to make the important decisions that affect their own children. That is why our new family tax cut will give 100% of families with kids an average of more than $1,100 per year to spend on their own priorities. The majority of benefits flow to low- and middle-income families. Our government trusts parents to invest in their children, but both opposition parties are against putting money back into the pockets of hard-working families. In fact, the Liberals have said they will reverse our tax cuts.

On this side of the House, we will not hike taxes, as the Liberals and the NDP propose to do; rather, we are proud to ensure that mom and dad have the final say in where their money is going.

(1110) [ Translation ] Holiday Season Ms. Anne Minh-Thu Quach (Beauharnois—Salaberry, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, as the holiday season approaches, most of us are planning to buy presents for our loved ones. People of Beauharnois—Salaberry, this year I challenge you to make all your purchases locally.

You could attend one of the many craft fairs in places like Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Sainte-Martine, Beauharnois, Sainte-Clotilde and Sainte-Anicet or a Christmas market in Hemmingford, Huntingdon, Saint-Louis-de-Gonzague or Saint-Cyprien-de-Napierville, where you can buy artisanal products or local delicacies and meet the people who made all these things by hand. By buying locally, people will be killing two birds with one stone: they will find unique gifts while stimulating the local economy.

If they have the means, they can take the opportunity to donate locally grown and prepared food to the food banks in our region, buy a gift to donate to Sapin du petit bonheur, an organization that provides presents for the less fortunate, or help fill the Christmas hampers in a number of businesses and at my office in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield. Thank you to those who organize these initiatives to help the less fortunate enjoy a holiday season with a full belly and a twinkle in their eyes.

[ English ] Violence Against Women Mrs. Joy Smith (Kildonan—St. Paul, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, tomorrow is Canada's National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, which commemorates the 14 young women who were brutally murdered at École Polytechnique in 1989. Women and girls continue to face violence and harassment in their homes, schools, and workplaces, as well as online and on the streets. Women's equality advocates identify prostitution and human trafficking as two of the most serious forms of violence against women. It is fitting, therefore, that Bill C-36 will come into force tomorrow.

This is a historic moment for Canada. Under Bill C-36 , Canada's laws will uphold the equality of women as human beings, not objects to be bought and sold. It will seek to end the violence against women that is inherent in prostitution and human trafficking, tomorrow and every day of the year. Let us remember the victims, and let us be resolved to continue to stand against violence against women in all its forms.

[ Translation ] Violence Against Women Mr. Claude Patry (Jonquière—Alma, BQ) : Mr. Speaker, for 25 years now, Quebec has been coping with a wound that will not heal, grief that will not end, and unease that will not go away: 14 female students were killed because they were women. We must always speak out against all forms of violence against women and never let our guard down. We need to work constantly to promote gender equality. We also have a duty to reflect and take action to ensure that all men and women can live in safety and free from violence.

This House needs to do everything in its power to ensure that such events never happen again. Out of respect for the victims and our children, let us work together to ensure that there will never be another incident like the one that occurred at École Polytechnique.

[ English ] Violence Against Women Ms. Kirsty Duncan (Etobicoke North, Lib.) : Mr. Speaker, tomorrow and always, we remember 14 promising young women who, just because they were women, did not have the opportunity to grow older, pursue their dreams, and have the gift of time with their families.

We hope that their families know that their daughters are not forgotten, that they instill courage, that they inspire, and that they remind us all to fight tirelessly to end violence against women, which sadly remains a daily reality for 3,000 women in Canada and sends 1,000 women and children to shelters each day. [ Translation ] Twenty-five years later, none of us can imagine the pain experienced by the families of these young women, and we are deeply saddened.

We hope that the presence of loved ones and the compassion of an entire nation can bring them some comfort. [ English ] We profoundly thank the families for sharing their smart, courageous, motivated young daughters with us. We promise never to forget them.

(1115) Violence Against Women Ms. Peggy Nash (Parkdale—High Park, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, Barbara Klucznik-Widajewicz, Geneviève Bergeron, Hélène Colgan, Nathalie Croteau, Barbara Daigneault, Anne-Marie Edward, Maud Haviernick, Maryse Laganière, Maryse Leclair, Anne-Marie Lemay, Sonia Pelletier, Michèle Richard, Annie St-Arneault, and Annie Turcotte were 14 women killed for the simple reason that they were women, 14 women who we will never forget. [ Translation ] Tomorrow we will commemorate the 25th anniversary of the École Polytechnique massacre in Montreal.

Even though we have made progress since then, violence against women remains a concern. [ English ] I am referring to women like Zahra Mohamoud Abdille of Toronto, killed with her sons this week after seeking shelter from abuse, and the 1,200 indigenous women and girls who have gone missing or been murdered. [ Translation ] In memory of all those women, today let us renew our commitment to put an end to violence against women once and for all.

[ English ] Violence Against Women Mrs. Cathy McLeod (Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, 25 years ago, on December 6, 1989, a horrific crime took place: 14 young women at l'École Polytechnique de Montréal were brutally murdered. On that awful day, their lives were senselessly ended, along with the hopes and dreams they had for the future. In shared sorrow, families across our country hugged their daughters a little tighter that night.

The tragic events of that day brought a new focus in our society on violence against women, yet well over two decades have passed since then, and many challenges still remain. Sadly, Status of Women Canada must continue to focus on initiatives to address gender-based violence across the country. This includes engaging men and boys to understand that gender-based violence is not acceptable or normal behaviour. While we cannot and probably never will be able to make sense of the crimes of that day, we must continue working to ensure that they never happen again.

On this anniversary, let us resolve to respect one another and value each other as equals. The Speaker : I now invite the House to rise and observe a minute of silence in memory of the victims of the tragic event that happened 25 years ago at École Polytechnique in Montreal. [ A moment of silence observed ]

ORAL QUESTIONS Oral Questions [ Translation ] The Environment Mr. Peter Julian (Burnaby—New Westminster, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, the Secretary-General of the United Nations is speaking out against the Conservatives' laissez-faire attitude towards climate change and is calling for a more ambitious and visionary policy. He notes that Canada lacks leadership and that it should immediately start transitioning towards a green economy. Why are the Conservatives letting down the United Nations and the international community? Why do they not have a plan to fight climate change? Mr.

Colin Carrie (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of the Environment, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, our government wants to reach a fair agreement in Paris, one that includes all emitters and all economies. It is important that the agreement be durable, flexible and effective. In the meantime, Canada will continue to take concrete measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while keeping the economy strong. Furthermore, Canada is responsible for less than 2% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions. Canada's per capita emissions are now at their lowest level.

(1120) Mr. Peter Julian (Burnaby—New Westminster, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, the reality is that their so-called policy is a failure and is costing the Canadian economy billions of dollars. That is the reality. What is more, instead of attacking climate change, the Conservatives are attacking honest people with the shameful bill introduced by the member for Vancouver South . Ban Ki-moon has good reason to criticize this government's lack of action. Canada is ranked as one of the worst industrialized countries because of 20 years of inaction by the Liberals and the Conservatives.

The question is clear: will the Conservatives accept a binding international agreement to fight global warming, yes or no? [ English ] Mr. Colin Carrie (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of the Environment, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, as I have said before, we are working with all of our international partners so that we have an effective agreement. We are very proud of our record. We are a founding member of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition. We have made significant investments to help support green energy and infrastructure internationally. We have one of the cleanest systems in the world.

We have already regulated the transportation and electricity sectors. We are planning to reduce HFCs, one of the fastest growing greenhouse gases in the world. Thanks to these actions, carbon emissions will go down close to 130 megatonnes from what they would have been under the Liberals, and we have done it without a job-killing carbon tax. Mr. Peter Julian (Burnaby—New Westminster, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, climate change is killing jobs in Canada. It is costing the Canadian economy billions of dollars already. That is the reality.

The UN Secretary-General is begging Canada to act on climate change, which means the Conservatives should put their extreme ideology aside. However, instead of acting, the Conservatives prefer shameful bills, like that of the MP for Vancouver South , that risk criminalizing people who speak out on the environment. Leadership is needed. The Conservatives promised oil and gas regulations for almost a decade. When will they finally act? When will this decade of darkness for the environment finally be over? Mr. Colin Carrie (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of the Environment, CPC) : Mr.

Speaker, when it comes to oil and gas regulations, the member knows that this is a continental issue that needs a North American solution. Our government will continue to work with the Obama administration on reducing greenhouse gas emissions for the oil and gas sector. We feel it is best to align with the Obama administration, as we have already done in the transportation sector. We will continue to protect the environment and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in a way that maintains job creation and economic growth, and we will do it without that job-killing carbon tax.

Status of Women Ms. Libby Davies (Vancouver East, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, 14 women were killed at École Polytechnique, 25 years ago on December 6. These women were killed because they were women. I know that all of our thoughts are with the families of those women, but we must also commit ourselves to action. Twenty-five years later violence is still targeted at women because of gender. Will the government commit to working together with the NDP and our action plan to end violence against women? Hon. K. Kellie Leitch (Minister of Labour and Minister of Status of Women, CPC) : Mr.

Speaker, the massacre at l'École Polytechnique de Montréal was a Canadian tragedy. This week we remember the crimes that took place 25 years ago. While I would never think we could make sense of why those crimes took place that day, we must continue to ensure this never happens again in Canada. Our government will continue to stay focused on supporting the victims of these crimes, as well as punishing the criminals who commit these heinous crimes. Ms. Libby Davies (Vancouver East, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, the tragic murder of Zahra Abdille and her children shows how our system fails women fleeing violence.

Women like Ms. Abdille need support, like legal aid and housing. A Canadian Bar Association report said: ...victims of domestic violence are among the most vulnerable in society and require access to legal and other services to protect themselves and their children. What measures is the government taking to improve access to legal aid and housing for women who are fleeing violence? Hon. K. Kellie Leitch (Minister of Labour and Minister of Status of Women, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, our government has been committed to preventing violent crimes and violence against women and girls.

Let me list some of the things we have done, and I would encourage the members opposite to participate in supporting these initiatives: the victims' bills of rights act; the creation of a DNA-based missing persons index; passing new laws to protect victims who have been harassed by those who have committed crimes against them; eliminating pardons for serious crimes; and better protecting youth from adult sexual predators. These are a few of many initiatives this government has taken. I am very proud of that record of supporting victims and putting criminals behind bars. (1125) [ Translation ] Mr.

Emmanuel Dubourg (Bourassa, Lib.) : Mr. Speaker, 25 years ago tomorrow, a killer shot 14 students at the École Polytechnique in Montreal. They were killed simply because they were women. Now, 25 years later, how are we doing at protecting Canadians? People who sell firearms, including the kind used during the École Polytechnique massacre, are no longer obligated to confirm whether the buyer has a licence or to keep a record of the transaction. That is irresponsible. The Conservatives are doing everything they can to destroy gun control. When will they stop jeopardizing the safety of Canadians? [ English ] Hon. K.

Kellie Leitch (Minister of Labour and Minister of Status of Women, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, as I have already mentioned, this week is a time to remember that crime that took place at the Polytechnique 25 years ago, in fact a Canadian tragedy. We will continue to support those victims as well as punish criminals. As I have mentioned already in this House today, there are a number of initiatives that this government has already taken, whether they be the victims bill of rights act or making sure we have safe streets and communities. These are initiatives we have moved forward on, and we will continue to do so. Ms.

Kirsty Duncan (Etobicoke North, Lib.) : Mr. Speaker, tomorrow we remember 14 young women who were murdered simply because they were women. Twenty-five years later, the government wants to pass legislation that will make Canadians less safe. The bill would ease transport restrictions on automatic weapons so they can be moved more freely outside public places like a grocery store or a school campus. Given that tomorrow is the 25th anniversary of the Montreal massacre, will the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness re-consider these elements of his bill? Ms.

Roxanne James (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, I would like to first state for the record that what was just said is absolutely false. In fact, this legislation would, for the first time in Canada, impose mandatory training safety courses. That is a first here in Canada and I am very proud that it is this Conservative government that has brought forward that measure.

Additionally, it is important to note that we are making amendments to the Criminal Code to impose bans, prohibitions on anyone convicted of domestic violence, and that includes up to a lifetime ban, which is extremely important in this country. I am proud to be part of this Conservative government. Ms. Kirsty Duncan (Etobicoke North, Lib.) : Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Minister of Status of Women said she listens to women, but we have seen no evidence of this.

Women's organizations from across the country have called on the government to take action on violence against women: the YWCA, the Native Women's Association of Canada, the Canadian Teachers' Federation, Plan Canada, and Canadian Council of Muslim Women have all raised their voices to call for a national action plan. Twenty-five years after the Montreal massacre, will this government come to the table and create a national action plan to end violence against women? Hon. K. Kellie Leitch (Minister of Labour and Minister of Status of Women, CPC) : Mr.

Speaker, as I have mentioned in the House already today, the government takes extremely seriously violence against women and girls and condemns these acts. Whether it be my work with Plan Canada on International Day of the Girl or recent announcements with the YWCA of Canada or whether it was just this last Friday when I did an announcement with the White Ribbon campaign and the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness , this government is focused on local, community actions to make sure we are improving the areas where we know it is required.

Whether that be supporting victims or making sure we put criminals behind bars, we are focused on actions, as opposed to just the rhetoric and talk across the aisle. [ Translation ] Ms. Anne Minh-Thu Quach (Beauharnois—Salaberry, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, 25 years ago, on December 6, 1989, 14 women were killed just because they were women. As part of our duty to remember these victims of misogyny, we must do better at supporting women who are victims of violence and their families. However, in 2014, 67% of Canadians know a woman—a mother, a daughter or a friend—who has been a victim of violence.

This reality is unacceptable. Will the government work with us to eradicate violence against women in our society? [ English ] Hon. K. Kellie Leitch (Minister of Labour and Minister of Status of Women, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, any allegations of violence, of harassment, whether it be in a workplace, at home, or otherwise, must be taken extremely seriously. Our government has taken significant action, as I have outlined in this House today, to better protect Canadians, particularly women and girls.

I encourage anyone who has been the victim of any sexual harassment or violence to please step forward and report it to the authorities so that they can take action. On this side of the House, we are taking action through a number of initiatives. I would encourage the opposition to join us in doing that. (1130) [ Translation ] Ms. Anne Minh-Thu Quach (Beauharnois—Salaberry, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, this is 2014, and 25 years after the Polytechnique massacre, it is clear that the measures the Conservatives have brought in are not enough. The statistics speak for themselves.

In 97% of cases of sexual assault against women in Canada, the aggressors are never convicted. That is right, 97%. Then people wonder why women do not want to report these assaults. How does the government plan to put an end to this appalling situation and support victims, who are still far too numerous 25 years after the massacre? [ English ] Hon. K. Kellie Leitch (Minister of Labour and Minister of Status of Women, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, the government is taking significant action to make sure that women and girls are safe.

Whether that be our movement forward on cyberbullying and cyberharassment, the victims bill of rights, the focus we have had on punishing criminals, making sure that those who have committed serious crimes no longer have the ability to have a pardon, or better protecting youth and young women, these are things we are focused on. We are taking action to make sure that those victims of crime are supported and that the individuals who commit these crimes feel the full extent of the law.

[ Translation ] Employment Mrs. Anne-Marie Day (Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, work is one way for women to become more independent and therefore less vulnerable. For that to happen, they need access to affordable day care. Will the Conservatives finally face the facts and offer Canadian women the option of returning to the workforce without having to jeopardize family finances? [ English ] Mr. Scott Armstrong (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Employment and Social Development, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, we have introduced the family tax cut.

This provides support to every single family with children across the country. We have increased the universal child care benefit. For young people under age six, it will be increased by $60 a month, or $720 a year. For children aged six to 17, it is also going to be increased to $720. We are getting the job done for families from one end of this country to the other. We ask the opposition, if they truly care about child care, if they truly care about young families, to please stand up and support this legislation.

[ Translation ] Status of Women Mrs. Anne-Marie Day (Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, the member sidestepped the question. I was talking about work. Too many women are struggling with precarious living conditions. A total of 21% of single mothers in Canada are raising their children in extreme poverty. Every day in Canada, more than 3,000 women go to emergency shelters to escape domestic violence. Every night, approximately 200 of them are turned away because there is not enough room. How can the government leave these women out on the street? [ English ] Mr.

Scott Armstrong (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Employment and Social Development, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, we are making advances in low-income housing. We are supporting families with tax reductions. We are investing in child education. We are investing in apprenticeships to support young people, young families, and young women to get the education they need to take available jobs in this country. We are getting the job done, but every one of these initiatives we put forward, the opposition, time after time, votes against.

When are they going to stand up, finally, for young people in this country and support them in getting the jobs and training and success they deserve? Mrs. Carol Hughes (Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, the advances the government is making in low-income housing are actually laughable. [ Translation ] There are higher rates of violence against women and girls in the north. However, 70% of northern and remote communities do not have safe houses or emergency shelters. Yes, 70%. That is unconscionable.

What is the government doing to address the lack of access to emergency resources in these northern and remote communities? [ English ] Hon. K. Kellie Leitch (Minister of Labour and Minister of Status of Women, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned before in this House, violence against women and girls is something the government takes extremely seriously. Whether that be support for shelters on reserve or off, or whether that be support for programming to make sure victims of crime are supported, we are focused on making sure we are taking action today to make sure these victims of crime are supported. Mrs.

Carol Hughes (Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, the reality is that there are still far too few shelters and resources for women in the north. Despite the fact that they face a much higher likelihood of violence, women in the north are 10 times more likely to be sexually assaulted. Inuit women and girls are 14 times more likely to experience violence. All the government has offered are failed initiatives. Why will the government not announce a real action plan, with real measures, to address violence in the north?

(1135) Hon. K. Kellie Leitch (Minister of Labour and Minister of Status of Women, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, as I have said many times today, there are a number of initiatives this government is taking to make sure women are protected and supported.

Whether that be matrimonial property rights on reserve or whether that be the victims bill of rights, we are very focused on making sure the victims of these crimes, as well as women experiencing domestic violence, are supported and are able to transition into new opportunities, as opposed to the opposition, whose focus, actually, has been to vote against some of these actions that I think will truly benefit these women in need. Ms. Jean Crowder (Nanaimo—Cowichan, NDP) : Mr.

Speaker, prevention is one of the keys to ending violence against women, but a 2013 study from the Canadian Network of Women's Shelters & Transition Houses found that many prevention initiatives are short term and short lived, and a special committee report on violence against indigenous women found that first nations, Inuit, and Métis people lack access to prevention programs. What actions are the Conservatives taking to improve prevention programs and increase access to them? Hon. K. Kellie Leitch (Minister of Labour and Minister of Status of Women, CPC) : Mr.

Speaker, there are a number of initiatives we have already taken that the opposition has not supported.

Whether that be matrimonial property rights, actually the opportunity for a women to stay in her own home, with her children, because she has the right to be there and be protected in that circumstance, or whether it be the family violence program we supported to make sure they receive the support they need when they are in shelters, which has just been augmented by our new initiative, tabled here in the House of Commons on September 15, to support aboriginal women, we are moving forward to make sure they are well supported, unlike the opposition.

Aboriginal Affairs Ms. Jean Crowder (Nanaimo—Cowichan, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, rates of violence against women are going up, not down. That is the evidence needed that the government's policies are simply not working, especially for indigenous women, who experience rates of violence that are three times higher than they are for non-aboriginal women. Most shockingly, indigenous women and girls are seven times more likely to be killed than non-indigenous women. That is completely unacceptable. Why will the current government not call a national inquiry and propose a real action plan to end the violence? Hon. K.

Kellie Leitch (Minister of Labour and Minister of Status of Women, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, I guess my question would be, why will the opposition not support the action plan we have put in place that would take action today for aboriginal women, as opposed to waiting for several years? Our focus is making sure that the women who are experiencing these violent crimes receive support, help, and protection today. I would encourage the opposition to join us in doing exactly that. These women deserve all the support of everyone here in this House of Commons. [ Translation ] Mr.

Romeo Saganash (Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, the minister does not seem to understand that their plan is simply not working. Aboriginal girls and women continue to be victims of violence. Nearly 1,200 of them have gone missing or been murdered. Aboriginal communities are calling for a national inquiry so we can finally take a serious look at this issue. Will the government finally listen to reason and launch a national public inquiry? [ English ] Hon. K. Kellie Leitch (Minister of Labour and Minister of Status of Women, CPC) : Mr.

Speaker, I guess I would beg to differ with the member of the opposition. Whether it be the Native Women's Association of Canada, whether it be individual aboriginal Canadian women who have come to speak with me personally, or whether it be the friendship centres across the country, they have endorsed our action plan and have asked others to join us in making sure that we are protecting and supporting aboriginal women. I would encourage the opposition to please pick up a copy of the plan and read it. It was tabled in the House on September 15.

I can tell members that aboriginal women and their families have continued to support this, because we are moving forward to support these Canadians. Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Winnipeg North, Lib.) : Mr. Speaker, the issue is real. In the past few months alone, Winnipeg has experienced a young lady pulled out of the Red River. We have experienced another young lady who was left for dead. There have been over 1,200 women and girls of aboriginal and first nations heritage murdered or gone missing. The government is not listening.

Whether it is aboriginal leadership, whether it is premiers or municipalities, everyone is recognizing the need for a public inquiry. Why are the Prime Minister and the Conservative government not recognizing the need for a public inquiry?

(1140) Hon. K. Kellie Leitch (Minister of Labour and Minister of Status of Women, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, as has been mentioned in the House before, there have been over 40 studies completed. I will give members a quote. This is a quote from Bernadette Smith, one of those individuals who has a sister who is missing. She said: This Action Plan is something that our families have been waiting for. I would like to thank...the Government for their commitment to addressing this issue.... We've had numerous studies on this issue and the time for action is now.

We can't stand idly by and talk about this without taking...action. This Action Plan will have a direct impact on families and it will help keep our women and girls safe.

Veterans Affairs Mr. Sean Casey (Charlottetown, Lib.) : Mr. Speaker, stories of Conservative neglect of our veterans get worse by the day. Today we learned that Conservatives rewarded Veterans Affairs officials with nearly half a million bucks in bonuses for cutting services. At the same time, they fired almost 1,000 front-line workers who delivered services that our veterans so desperately need, and clawed back money that was supposed to support those who served. How can the minister stand in the House and defend the perverse practice of rewarding people for denying services to our vets? Mr.

Parm Gill (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, we make no apologies for reducing bureaucratic expenses at Veterans Affairs Canada. The opposition wants to increase government bureaucracy. We are increasing front-line support for Canada's veterans. We recently announced eight new front-line mental health clinics for Canadian veterans. While the NDP defends the unions, along with the Liberals, we are defending Canada's veterans. Mr. Rodger Cuzner (Cape Breton—Canso, Lib.) : Mr.

Speaker, the government members should be appalled, not applauding, especially in light of the scathing Auditor General's report that showed some veterans waited months, if not years, for access to mental health services. There is the lapsing of well over $1 billion promised for veterans services and now the rewarding of officials for denying services to our brave veterans. Are they still prepared to clap for a minister whose sole legacy is the shafting of Canadian veterans? When will the Prime Minister take action and punt the minister? Mr.

Parm Gill (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, we are making investments to help support Canada's veterans when it comes to mental health issues and challenges. Our recent announcement helps Canada's veterans, and here are some of the initiatives we have introduced: the road to mental health program; the mental health first aid program; and the new operational stress injury clinic in Halifax, with satellite offices across the country, including in St. John's, Chicoutimi , Pembroke, Brockville, Kelowna,Victoria, Montreal, and the greater Toronto area.

We are also expanding the military family resource program for medically released Canadian veterans and their families. Who will continue to stand up for Canada's veterans? This side of the House.

[ Translation ] Access to Information Mr. Mathieu Ravignat (Pontiac, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, while the Information Commissioner is scrounging around for money to balance her books, the Conservatives are throwing the door wide open to raising fees. Some are even talking about $200 per media request. That will do nothing to increase access to information. This government has the audacity to brag about its open data policy. Instead of fleecing the public even more, why do the Conservatives not meet deadlines and give the Information Commissioner the resources she needs? [ English ] Hon.

Tony Clement (President of the Treasury Board, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, every agent of Parliament is responsible for managing the funds that are allocated to them by Parliament. That is part of their role and responsibility. If any particular agent of Parliament has a problem with that, he or she can make a submission to the Treasury Board, and we would be happy to consider it. If the hon. member wants to litigate this publicly, that is fine, but there is a process by which these budgets are considered and ultimately passed or not passed by Parliament. Mr. Murray Rankin (Victoria, NDP) : Mr.

Speaker, the Conservative MPs on the House access to information committee think that the best solution to fix our ever-shrinking right to know in Canada would be to charge journalists and other Canadians hundreds of dollars just to file a request for information that should be public. That is on the record. Why should Canadians be stuck with giant fees to ask for information that by law belongs to them? Does the President of the Treasury Board agree with his Conservative colleagues that jacking up fees is a good way to fix our broken access to information law?

(1145) Hon. Tony Clement (President of the Treasury Board, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, the hon. member raised the more general issue. Let me cite some statistics. In fact, the responses to access to information requests have gone up by around 40%. There were six million pages released last year alone, which is an increase of two million pages. I would say to the hon. members that the access to information law is there for the public, for members, and for the media of course. If the agent of Parliament, the Information Commissioner, has a problem with her budget, she knows where to go.

Citizenship and Immigration Mr. Paul Dewar (Ottawa Centre, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, Canada committed to taking in 1,300 Syrian refugees by the end of 2014, but only 457 Syrian refugees have landed in Canada. The minister failed to deliver on his commitment and repeatedly misled Canadians and the House. These are not just numbers. They are actual human beings in the worst war zone in the world, left behind by this minister. How can he justify such a pathetic track record on behalf of those who are so vulnerable? Mr. Costas Menegakis (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, CPC) : Mr.

Speaker, nothing could be further from the truth. More than 1,100 refugees from Syria have been approved to come to Canada. In fact, more than 1,150 have been approved to come to Canada and will be here in short order. They will join the more than 1,900 Syrian refugees who are here and have been granted protection in Canada since the start of the Syrian civil war. We can and will do more, and I think the member opposite knows that. [ Translation ] Ms. Hélène Laverdière (Laurier—Sainte-Marie, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, that is not all. The UN has asked developed countries to take in 100,000 additional Syrian refugees.

What has Canada committed? A big fat nothing. Nada. Zilch. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is holding a ministerial meeting next Tuesday in Geneva, to talk about the relocation of Syrian refugees. Will the minister bring anything to this meeting other than his indifference to the humanitarian crisis facing Syrian refugees? [ English ] Mr. Costas Menegakis (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, we welcome one in ten of the world's resettled refugees.

In fact, we work very closely with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, António Guterres. We continue to work very closely with him and look forward to meeting him next week in Geneva. We will be there at the table. The member opposite needs to stop playing partisan politics at this time, using the plight of people who really need help as an excuse to stand up in the House with misinformation like that.

National Defence Mr. Ted Opitz (Etobicoke Centre, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Canadian Armed Forces provided yet another technical briefing on Operation Impact and Canada's ongoing mission against ISIL. This is just further proof of the government's commitment to keep Canadians informed regarding the activities of our brave men and women in uniform serving in Iraq. I would like to ask if the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence will please provide a further update to the House on Operation Impact. Mr. James Bezan (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence, CPC) : Mr.

Speaker, I want to thank the member for Etobicoke Centre for his question and his service as a proud veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces. Early this morning, two CF-18s, in a pre-planned mission, conducted air strikes against two ISIL fighting positions as well as two ISIL machine-gun positions in the area north of Mosul, Iraq. These positions represented a clear threat to Kurdish Peshmerga forces on the ground. Our men and women in uniform have conducted themselves with the utmost professionalism in this ongoing fight against ISIL. I want to again thank them for their great efforts.

Canada will continue to do its

part in the international efforts to confront ISIL.

[ Translation ] Veterans Affairs Ms. Isabelle Morin (Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, yesterday we learned that in recent years, the Conservatives have paid more than a half million dollars in bonuses to executives at Veterans Affairs. Meanwhile, more than 1,000 employees lost their jobs in that department, which has resulted in cuts to services. Furthermore, $1 billion that should have gone to help veterans was put back into the treasury. Why are the Conservatives rewarding executives, the ones who laid off staff and who talk about saving money on the backs of veterans? [ English ] Mr.

Parm Gill (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, we make no apologies for reducing bureaucratic expenses at Veterans Affairs Canada. The opposition wants to increase government bureaucracy. We are increasing the front-line support for Canada's veterans. We recently announced eight new front-line mental health clinics for Canada's veterans. While the NDP defends unions, we are defending Canadian veterans, and we will continue to stand up for Canada's veterans on this side of the House.

(1150) Mr. John Rafferty (Thunder Bay—Rainy River, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives said they needed to cut jobs at Veterans Affairs Canada, even while we hear from the Auditor General that the system is failing, yet the Conservatives have fired almost one-quarter of all Veterans Affairs staff. The parliamentary secretary just a moment ago said that it is important to reduce bureaucratic expenses. Now the Conservatives want us to believe that their top 60 bureaucrats actually needed half a million dollars in bonuses. I guess that is not a bureaucratic expense. It is nonsense.

Why did they not use that money to actually help veterans? Mr. Parm Gill (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, as I just mentioned, our government is standing up for Canada's veterans, and we make absolutely no apologies for reducing the bureaucratic expenses at Veterans Affairs Canada. The opposition wants to increase government bureaucracy. We are increasing front-line support to help Canada's veterans.

We recently announced that we are adding eight additional operational stress injury clinics across the country, with the main one in Halifax and the others in cities across this country. We will continue to stand up for Canada's veterans when it comes to providing them with benefits and services. They deserve it.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Mr. Malcolm Allen (Welland, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, the Canadian Wheat Board is now owned by Canadians. It is a public company and its financial statements actually should be made public. Is it losing money? Is it making money? Well, we do not know, because no one on that side will tell anyone. In addition to keeping the documents secret, the minister will not even confirm or deny that he is going to give this public asset away to a private company. I have a really simple question for the minister.

Will the government make the Wheat Board's financial documents public before it literally gives it away? Mr. Pierre Lemieux (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, the motivation behind this question is that the member and his party are ideologically opposed to offering western Canadian grain farmers the marketing freedom they deserve. We promised western Canadian grain farmers marketing freedom. We delivered on that promise, and with great success. There is renewed optimism in grain farming, and farmers are prospering.

The CWB will assess all serious bidders and then submit a plan for commercialization to the government in accordance with the legislation passed in December 2011. Mr. Malcolm Allen (Welland, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, on this side of the House we are actually ideologically in favour of transparency, and we want to see some transparency from the government for a change. Are the Conservatives going to give the assets away, yes or not? Why is are the Conservatives giving out cushy patronage jobs?

We would like to know why exactly the Conservatives' friends are actually getting these jobs in the first place, when there really are people out there who could do the job and who are not just simply patronage additions. There is actually no end in sight to the grey and black log, and my friend across the way knows that. Will the minister for once give the rhetoric a rest and tell Canadians and farmers how much money the Wheat Board actually owes, how much it makes, and will the minister give the board away, or is he going to sell it and make money for Canadian farmers? Mr.

Pierre Lemieux (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, the NDP want the public to know what is going on except when it comes to their NDP offices, which were run illegally. However, back to the CWB, the NDP's first alarmist concern regarding the CWB was that ending the CWB monopoly would somehow cause the destruction of wheat farming in Canada, which is obviously not true. The NDP's second alarmist concern was that a voluntary wheat board would not be viable, which is obviously not true as well.

As I just mentioned, the CWB will assess all serious bidders and then submit a plan for commercialization to the government, as stated in legislation passed in December 2011.

[ Translation ] Foreign Affairs Hon. Mauril Bélanger (Ottawa—Vanier, Lib.) : Mr. Speaker, we must all help fight violence against women and girls here in Canada and all around the world. It has been almost seven months since Nigeria asked Canada for help to find and rescue more than 200 young girls who were kidnapped by Boko Haram, a known terrorist group. Can the government tell us where things stand in our efforts to rescue these young girls, who are victims of extreme violence, before it is too late, if it is not too late already? [ English ] Hon.

Deepak Obhrai (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and for International Human Rights, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, we are extremely concerned about the transfers by Boko Haram to the Nigerian nation and the nations around there. I attended the security conference this past summer to help Nigeria fight this terrorist organization. We will continue to give it the capacity-building needed to fight this terrorist organization that has created havoc and kidnapped those 200 girls. We are hoping that this terrorist organization will be brought to heel and brought to justice.

(1155) The Environment Hon. Scott Brison (Kings—Hants, Lib.) : Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives have hurt Canada's international standing. Now we hear that UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is scolding us. He says that Canada needs to stop stalling on climate change and that we need to start thinking about others. Even if the Conservatives do not believe in climate change science, do they not know that their failure to act on climate change is hurting our economy and risking Canadian jobs?

Do they not understand that their hostility to the environment is the reason that important projects like Keystone XL have not been approved? Mr. Colin Carrie (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of the Environment, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, that is ridiculous. Our government wants to reach a fair agreement in Paris that includes all emitters and all economies. It is important that this agreement be durable, flexible, and effective. Meanwhile, Canada will continue to take concrete actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while keeping the economy strong.

It is important that Canadians know that Canada emits less than 2% of greenhouse gas emissions globally and that Canada's per capita emissions are now at their lowest level since we started recording them in 1990. Let us compare that with the Liberal record, when greenhouse gases went up by 30%. That is unacceptable. We are committed to getting results.

Rail Transportation Mr. Mike Sullivan (York South—Weston, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, more than 100,000 carloads of oil were shipped by rail last year, but citizens do not know when, where, or how risky it is because the Conservatives refuse to stand up for transparency when it comes to the shipment of dangerous goods. Now we learn that the risk assessments ordered by the minister of hazardous shipments through Toronto will be kept away from local residents and even from municipal officials. Why does the minister think that railway companies' interests come before Toronto residents' right to know? Mr.

Jeff Watson (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, it is precisely because of this government's actions that municipalities like Toronto will know what is going through their communities. There are emergency responders as a result of discussions between the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, and this government. Those discussions produced an important information sharing directive so that emergency planners can in fact do the type of preparedness they need to do and the type emergency exercises they need to do.

That did not exist before. Our government brought that in. We are taking care of that important information sharing with municipalities. Ms. Peggy Nash (Parkdale—High Park, NDP) : Well, there are still no answers for the residents of my city, Mr. Speaker. The Transportation Safety Board said that rail companies should be required to look at alternate routes to avoid population centres when shipping hazardous goods, but because of the secretive process imposed by the minister, we cannot know if they actually have.

Now the mayors of Toronto and Mississauga have called for greater transparency and for action to cut hazardous shipments. Will the minister work with the mayors to reduce the amount of hazardous goods coming through our city? Mr. Jeff Watson (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, the minister in fact continues to work with the municipalities on an ongoing basis.

I met with the president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities not that long ago, who praised the working relationship with the minister and Transport Canada, a relationship that has produced an historic information sharing protocol and agreement with municipalities and first responders, a relationship that has produced a number of important actions by the government, and a new task force as well for ongoing work to increase our emergency preparedness response across the country. We are going to continue to take action. We wish those members would support that.

Holiday Celebrations Mr. David Wilks (Kootenay—Columbia, CPC) : On a lighter note, Mr. Speaker, as we approach the holiday season, Canadians across this great land will be celebrating Christmas and a variety of other holidays. This is a special time of year to spend with family and friends, to remember the memories of the past year, and to look forward to what 2015 will bring. For many Canadians this involves many trips to stores for Christmas lights and ornaments to create a festive atmosphere.

Could the President of the Treasury Board please update the House on what the government is doing to spread the holiday cheer? Hon. Tony Clement (President of the Treasury Board, CPC) : I would be happy to, Mr. Speaker. Sometimes I feel that in this place festiveness is the only holiday from the traditional airing of grievances. Of course, we know that Canadians love to decorate around the holiday season. This week I sent out a message to all public servants, letting them know that they should feel free to festoon their workplaces around this holiday season.

Whether it is Kwanzaa or Hanukkah or Christmas, indeed I encourage all public servants, and all Canadians, to enjoy the holiday season.

(1200) [ Translation ] Citizenship and Immigration Mr. Emmanuel Dubourg (Bourassa, Lib.) : Mr. Speaker, five years after the terrible earthquake in Haiti, the Conservatives are lifting the moratorium on deportations to Haiti and Zimbabwe, while today, on the government's website, they are warning Canadians. This announcement concerns 3,500 people who have integrated into the community and whose children are in school. Will they be removed from Canada? Will the minister consider their integration efforts? What will he do to ensure that we are honouring our humanitarian duty? Mr.

Costas Menegakis (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, temporary suspension of removals of foreign citizens who are subject to deportation are in place for a limited time while their country of origin is going through a major crisis. Upon a full review by the Canada Border Services Agency, it was determined that the conditions in Haiti and Zimbabwe have improved considerably. Accordingly, the temporary suspension of removals has been lifted.

However, we are putting in place a special process that will allow these individuals who are facing removal to apply for permanent residence in Canada on humanitarian grounds.

Health Mr. Raymond Côté (Beauport—Limoilou, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, the fact that the Conservative government has failed to do anything to fight the pollution coming from the Port of Québec is shameful. Despite large spikes in pollution and alarming reports dating back to the 1980s, the government has done nothing to increase oversight and limit the pollution's harmful effects on Quebec City residents. Why is the minister deliberately turning a blind eye to the Port of Québec's poor environmental track record? [ English ] Mr. Jeff Watson (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport, CPC) : Mr.

Speaker, the member may advocate a takeover of ports authorities by the government, but they are in fact independent organizations responsible for running their day-to-day operations. Notwithstanding that, the minister has been clear that ports authorities, in the conduct of their activities, should be working with local tenants to reduce the red dust pollution. I understand that the Quebec Port Authority has been working with tenants to reduce those dust emissions. The member opposite should be supporting the port authorities' efforts to do that with their tenants.

International Development Mr. John Weston (West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, as a Canadian and a British Columbian, I am proud of our government's leadership in matters relating to the Pacific Rim, in terms of the economy, last week's announcement on the Korean free trade agreement, and on the humanitarian side. Last year, in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan, our government took a real leadership role. We pledged a willingness to help, and we sent DART and Red Cross field hospitals to the Philippines.

Building on that generosity, our government set up a matching fund, to which donors contributed $85 million to support the victims of that typhoon. Constituents of mine are troubled to hear that another typhoon is moving in the direction of the Philippines. I am wondering if the minister can update the House on this situation. Hon. Christian Paradis (Minister of International Development and Minister for La Francophonie, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, we stand behind our friends in the Philippines and we stand ready to help if needed.

We have already reached out to several humanitarian partners on the ground to gather information on current preparedness measures being implemented and to assess potential response options. We have in place important emergency response tools, such as the emergency disaster assistance fund, to support immediate response activities of the Red Cross movement. As was noted by the Auditor General in his report, this fund allows our partners to respond rapidly when required. We are ready and will assist if needed from the beginning.

[ Translation ] Forestry Industry Mr. Claude Patry (Jonquière—Alma, BQ) : Mr. Speaker, this week, north shore mayors sounded the alarm about the terrible plight of Quebec's forestry industry. Today, more plant closures are being announced. Rather than standing idly by and rejecting measures to develop new products and markets, why does the government not take action to support this important sector of Quebec's economy?

(1205) Hon. Christian Paradis (Minister of International Development and Minister for La Francophonie, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, that is absolutely false. In fact, the opposite is true. My colleague should stop being so divisive. We implemented measures to develop new markets through the use of new technologies and to see how we can move the forestry industry into the 21st century. We can achieve great things by working together.

By working together with Quebec, New Brunswick and the rest of the Canadian francophonie, we were able to ensure that the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean was elected as the Secretary General of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie. We can be proud of that. Mr. Claude Patry (Jonquière—Alma, BQ) : Mr. Speaker, Greenpeace is lobbying for a review of the FSC certification standards. Nevertheless, Quebec has some of the best forestry practices in the world.

The Government of Quebec has been talking to industry clients, particularly in Europe and the United States, to show how exemplary the industry's practices are. Does the federal government plan on joining the Government of Quebec in supporting Quebec's forestry industry? [ English ] Mrs. Kelly Block (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, our government sympathizes with those who are affected by the closures that the member has mentioned. Our government has taken strong action to support the forest sector through unprecedented investments.

Unlike the member who repeatedly opposes our government's investments, we will continue to support rural jobs in this important sector of our economy.

Canadian Human Rights Commission Mr. Brent Rathgeber (Edmonton—St. Albert, Ind.) : Mr. Speaker, taxpayers want to know why the acting commissioner of the Canadian Human Rights Commission has been allowed to rack up nearly $760,000 in travel expenses over the last eight years. David Langtry has been acting chief commissioner since September 2010, and as acting chief has not been required to relocate to Ottawa. The Minister of Justice has said he will appoint a permanent chief commissioner soon.

As this untenable arrangement has been ongoing for over four years, how does the government justify not appointing a permanent commissioner to start protecting taxpayers from exorbitant expense claims? Mr. Bob Dechert (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, any misuse of taxpayer dollars is simply unacceptable. The Canadian Human Rights Commission is an independent, arm's-length agency responsible for managing its own resources. Our expectation is that expense decisions are made with a mind to respecting taxpayer dollars. We are working to fill this position on a permanent basis.

ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS Routine Proceedings [ English ] Government Response to Petitions Mr. Tom Lukiwski (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to 14 petitions.

Petitions Impaired Driving Mr. David Wilks (Kootenay—Columbia, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present a petition signed by many British Columbians. The petitioners are calling on our government to increase the penalties for impaired driving, specifically those that cause death.

[ Translation ] International Development Mr. Hoang Mai (Brossard—La Prairie, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, today I would like to present petitions signed by hundreds of people from my riding. They are calling on the government and the House of Commons to commit to adopting international aid policies that support small farmers and women in particular, in order to acknowledge their vital role in the fight against hunger and poverty. They also want the government to ensure that policies and programs are developed in consultation with small farmers and that these policies protect the rights of small farmers in southern countries so that they can save, use and freely trade their seeds.

[ English ] Autism Spectrum Disorders Ms. Kirsty Duncan (Etobicoke North, Lib.) : Mr. Speaker, I have a petition to present on autism spectrum disorders, which are pervasive disorders that affect one person in eighty-eight. They are characterized by social and communication challenges, and a pattern of repetitive behaviours and interests. They are lifelong, and affect development and life experience. They exert emotional and financial pressure on families.

The petitioners call on the government to work with the provinces and territories and stakeholders to develop a pan-Canadian strategy for ASDs, including innovative funding arrangements for financing therapy, surveillance, respite care, and research.

Agriculture Mr. Stephen Woodworth (Kitchener Centre, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, I rise to present a petition from constituents of my riding and surrounding areas who are concerned about the role of small family farmers and international development, and the difficulty they may have in obtaining seed stock for their farms. The petitioners are calling on the Government of Canada and the House of Commons to commit to adopting international aid policies that support small family farmers, especially women, and to ensure that programs are developed in consultation with family farmers.

(1210) [ Translation ] Senate of Canada Mr. Réjean Genest (Shefford, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, I would like to present a petition about abolishing the Senate of Canada. Given that senators are not elected and do not represent Canada's interests and values, the petitioners are calling on the Government of Canada to abolish the Senate once and for all since it is filled with unelected people who are accountable to no one.

[ English ] Impaired Driving Mr. Randy Kamp (Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge—Mission, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, I rise to present a petition signed by residents of the Fraser Valley, British Columbia, who believe that our current impaired driving laws are too lenient and should be strengthened by the implementation of new mandatory minimum sentencing for those persons convicted of impaired driving causing death.

[ Translation ] Agriculture Mr. Tarik Brahmi (Saint-Jean, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, today I am presenting a petition from my constituents who are concerned that the agri-food industry is gradually replacing the wide variety of seeds with patented seeds. As a result, they are calling on the Government of Canada to ensure that there is greater diversity, so that small farmers, and in particular women, can contribute to the fight against hunger, especially in southern countries.

[ English ] Prostitution Mr. Maurice Vellacott (Saskatoon—Wanuskewin, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions to present. In the first petition, the petitioners draw attention to the high percentage of prostitutes who are forced into the sex trade and trafficking. As we have no law on the books right now, there is a gap there. The petitioners are calling on the House of Commons to legislate that it be a criminal offence to purchase sex with a man, woman, or child, and that it be a criminal offence for pimps, madams, and others to profit from the proceeds of the sex trade.

Agriculture Mr. Maurice Vellacott (Saskatoon—Wanuskewin, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, in the second petition, the petitioners are expressing concern about multinational seed companies gradually replacing the immense diversity of farmers' seeds. The petitioners are calling on the government to consult with small farm families, and that we preserve the rights to use and freely exchange seeds.

Pensions Mrs. Carol Hughes (Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in the House to table petitions from constituents from Elliot Lake and Blind River with respect to CPP and QPP and the government's plan to continue going down the road of increasing the age of eligibility to 67. This would slash $11 billion from seniors, most of whom are living in poverty and would be living two extra years in poverty. The petitioners recognize that the CPP Investment Board is one of the most successful investment funds. They want the government to take note of what the experts are saying, which is that it sho