OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD)

House of Commons Debates VOLUME 147 NUMBER 069 2nd SESSION 41st PARLIAMENT Friday, April 4, 2014 Speaker: The Honourable Andrew Scheer HOUSE OF COMMONS CANADA (Table of Contents appears at back of this issue.) COMMONS DEBATES April 4, 2014 DEBATES Edited Hansard * Table of Contents * Number 069 (Official Version) Official Report * Table of Contents * Number 069 (Official Version) Compte rendu officiel * Table des matières * Numéro 069 (Version officielle) 147 069 04 04 2014 2014/04/04 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. 1 The House resumed from April 3 consideration of the motion that Bill C-31,

An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on February 11, 2014 and other measures , be read the second time and referred to a committee, and of the amendment. Bill C-31. Second reading Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Winnipeg North, Lib.) : Mr. Speaker, I would like to indicate that I will be sharing my time with the member for Charlottetown . I must say, it is a bit of a challenge to address such a large bill in only 10 minutes, but I will give it my best shot. Within the Liberal Party, we have talked a great deal about the middle class over the last period of time.

We believe that the government is not doing what needs to be done to assist the middle class of Canada. I would suggest that some of the questions we have raised, and the general of lack of a response from the government, speaks volumes about the way the government treats the middle class of Canada. I thought it was most interesting yesterday when my colleague from Toronto Centre made reference to median household income. The government really needs to understand how the middle class has been neglected.

When we look at median household income, 50% of Canada's population has received an increase of $100 since the government took office. In fact, if we look at the bottom 20%, we are talking about a decrease of $500. We need to put in proper perspective how difficult it is for our middle class today and why the government needs to give more attention to this issue. Look at personal debt today. Never before has it been as high, and the government seems to pay no attention. The government has failed to address what are important and critical issues for our middle class.

Health care is an issue all Canadians are concerned about. There is no issue more important in terms of a social service provided by the government than the issue of health care, with the possible exception of some of our pension programs and veterans' services. What have we seen? The government has dropped the ball in a significant way. It is a government that does not recognize the important leadership role it is supposed to be playing in what is one of the most important issues for Canadians, that being health care. Why has the Prime Minister not met with his premier counterparts?

Why have we not seen an attempt by the government to build on the 2004 health care accord? It was put in place under Paul Martin. Canadians and politicians from coast to coast saw the merits and benefits of that accord. What has the government done? It has let the clock run down. As of midnight, March 31, that ten-year health care accord has expired, and the government let it go without a whisper. There was no action. There was no indication that it really cared about the future of health care in Canada. The Conservatives will say that they have increased health care spending to record highs.

I will agree that health care spending from Ottawa going to our provinces is at record highs. I will agree on that point. However, it is not the Conservative Party that established the amount of money going to health care today. It was under Paul Martin that the Liberal Party of Canada signed off on the health care accord. It was the actions of the Liberal Party that allowed the government to claim that we have record amounts of health care dollars going to our provinces. A member across the floor is heckling with regard to health care cuts during the 1990s.

Let me remind the member and the Conservative government that prior to Jean Chrétien, we were allowing the transfer of tax points as a way to finance health care. During the 1990s, I was in the Manitoba legislature, and we were saying that if that was allowed to continue, the federal government would not be financing health care at all in the future. It was Jean Chrétien, during the 1990s, who established the floor and gave the guarantee of health care funding. No matter how the Conservatives try to rewrite history, former prime ministers Mr. Chrétien and Mr.

Martin are the reason we have health care cash flowing. However, Canadians are saying that they want more than that. They want to ensure that the five fundamental principles of the Canada Health Act are being enforced. They want the federal government to demonstrate leadership on the health care file. There must be standards. Canadians are concerned about the number of doctors in our communities. They are concerned about wait times in our emergency wards. This is what Canadians want the Government of Canada to show an interest in, but it has not done that.

For whatever reason, the current Prime Minister does not believe in the health care Canadians want. I find that most unfortunate. We will continue to push this issue. Grain has been a very important issue over the last number of months in the Prairies and in my home province of Manitoba. I have had the opportunity to talk a lot about grain in recent months, because there is a crisis on our family farms in Manitoba and in the Prairies. Imagine having piles of grain in our fields, a lot of it just covered in plastic. Yet we have empty ships in the Pacific Ocean.

The problem is that the Conservative government has failed to establish transportation to get that prairie grain to the Pacific Ocean. The people who are paying the price are the prairie farmers, the farmers in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta, because the government has not recognized that it needed to take action. Yes, it has taken some action, but the government has fallen short, and it is the prairie farmer who is having to pay the price. I could talk about citizenship and the backlog in processing. It is absolutely terrible the amount of time it is taking to process citizenships.

On crime and safety issues, the government needs to do more in regard to getting tough on the causes of crime and on preventing crimes from taking place in the first place. As my time has expired, my last thought will be in regard to the size of the budget and the undemocratic actions of the Conservative government. It is wrong the way the Conservative government is compiling so much legislation and forcing it through. That is the reason I have only been given 10 minutes. The Conservatives are forcing things through on this important legislation, which is most tragic.

(1010) Mr. Mike Sullivan (York South—Weston, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, I listened with interest to my colleague's speech. I too am very dismayed that the bill is being rushed through. After only 25 minutes of debate, the government gave notice to shortchange us on the amount of time we could debate it. I notice that the budget does not include very much, if anything, on housing. Housing is a critical need in the city of Toronto, in my riding, and in many places across the country. The Liberals cut federal housing support in the 90s.

It was only after Jack Layton convinced Paul Martin to not give corporate Canada a big bonus that we got a little housing money put into the budget in 2005. However, this government has really not done anything for housing. Would the member like to comment?

(1015) Mr. Kevin Lamoureux : Mr. Speaker, housing has always been of high interest to me. There is so much more we could be doing to deal with housing programs, housing co-ops, lease programs, and home renovations. People, especially within the middle class, do not have the resources to do a lot of the types of changes that are necessary. Some of those renovations are critical. We are talking about water pipes, electrical work, roof repairs, and so forth. There are wonderful opportunities. If only the government would take an interest in that whole area, we could be doing so much more.

The member made reference to the Liberal administration. I was a provincial critic for housing at a time when I was begging the provincial NDP to provide more for infill housing and renovation programs. They too fell short. If we looked at the history of governments, we would see that the Liberal Party takes a back seat to no other party in terms of providing adequate housing. The reason we have literally hundreds of thousands of housing units across the country is in good part because it was Liberal administrations that provided the seed money to make that happen. Hon.

Lynne Yelich (Minister of State (Foreign Affairs and Consular), CPC) : Mr. Speaker, the

section on creating jobs and opportunities, on page 208, talks about how the government played a key role in addressing the recent economic downturn with housing-related measures in the action plan of 2009. I was parliamentary secretary for human resources at the time, so I know that the $2 billion to create new housing and to renovate existing social housing resulted in more than 16,500 social housing and first nation housing projects across Canada.

Through the $2 billion for the municipal infrastructure lending program, CMHC provided 272 low-cost loans to municipalities for house-related infrastructure projects in towns and cities across the country. Our homelessness partnering strategy for housing first, announced in 2013, was renewed. I just wanted the member to know that if he read page 208, he would see that we have addressed housing. Mr. Kevin Lamoureux : Mr. Speaker, I am glad the member made reference to that.

I would ask her to reflect on the issue of infrastructure when thinking of numbers presented in the budget, because it is a very deceptive budget. Let me use infrastructure as an example. On the one hand, the government says that it is doing such a wonderful job with a huge investment in infrastructure. When one reads the budget, what has the government actually done with infrastructure? It has decreased it. If we look at how much money we have spent on infrastructure last year compared to this year, there is a decrease of 80% plus. That is a cut. No matter what one calls it, a cut is a cut.

That is what the government has done. When the government says that it is doing a wonderful job in certain areas, I would remind people that they need to look at it year over year, such as with infrastructure. When the government says that it has actually increased infrastructure funding, it is not true, when we look at it from budget year to budget year. There is an actual cut. Mr. Sean Casey (Charlottetown, Lib.) : Mr. Speaker, I am thankful for the opportunity to speak to this budget implementation bill.

The government has introduced this bill in order to implement the provisions contained in the budget that was delivered just over a month ago in the House of Commons. The budget was the ninth budget from the former minister of finance, the hon. member for Whitby—Oshawa . I would like to take this opportunity to wish the minister well in his future endeavours, and to thank him for his service to Canada and his home province of Ontario, where he served for many years in the provincial legislature. The former minister has earned a great deal of respect on both sides of the aisle, including mine.

That does not mean that I agree with everything that has occurred since 2006; actually, it is quite the opposite. There has been much that has transpired since 2006 that has negatively impacted the Atlantic region of the country, my province of Prince Edward Island, and indeed my home city of Charlottetown, a city that is coined “the birthplace of Confederation”. It is a constituency for which I am immensely proud and honoured to serve. Canada is an enormous country. Sometimes it is worth remembering just how large it is. It is home to a proud people from diverse backgrounds.

We are a country of languages, culture, and geography, but we are bound together by a common citizenship. We have a duty to strengthen the bonds of that shared citizenship, if for no other reason than to enhance our sense of unity. I believe that the Canadian government has a critical role to play in this regard. When I think of citizenship, I think of rights. I think of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the diversity of our languages, our culture, the anthem, and, yes, hockey. For those reasons and many others, we have managed to maintain, in difficult times and in good times, the sense of Canadian pride.

I am further reminded of this as a member of the House of Commons, where I see individuals from across the country, from all parties, all cultural and ethnic backgrounds, attempting to do their best for Canada. When I think of citizenship, I think of shared responsibility. A budget, any budget, whether it is a family budget or a federal budget, is constructed on the basis of one's means, the amount of income one has, and the obligations we all have that require certain expenditures. A federal budget provides insight into the values of the government of the day. It certainly provides insight into its priorities.

It gives insight into whether or not it seeks to strengthen the spine of our citizenship. Do we craft a budget to leave out the vulnerable, to pit one region against another, to pit one Canadian against another, or do we seek to strengthen the spine of our citizenship? The Canadian government is the only government with the obligation to act in the interests of all Canadians and, in the case of the budget, to allocate its collective resources in a way that signals we are all equal and we are all to be treated fairly, knowing that every region and province has particular needs.

I am sorry to say that much of what the current government has done since 2006 has hurt people. It has hurt good people in my community and province. Much of what it has done has loosened the bonds of unity and shared citizenship. Allow me to give a few examples of what I mean by that. I believe it is the role of the Canadian government to provide services that are equal and accessible to all Canadians, regardless of where they reside. That, to me, is fundamental. I reject the notion that the role of government is to get out of the way, that there is no role in levelling the playing fields of opportunity.

This idea has seeped into our national discourse over the last eight years. I reject the notion that we are merely taxpayers and not citizens, implying that the only voices that matter are from those whom the Conservatives call taxpayers. We are more than taxpayers; we are Canadians. There is a large number of fellow Canadians who do not pay income tax simply because they do not make enough money to pay taxes. For example, there are seniors who have spent their whole life contributing to Canada and who now, perhaps in the twilight of their years, do not pay taxes because of their low income.

Are they any less Canadian?

(1020) Are the poor to be left out of the national conversation simply because they do not fit the definition of the so-called taxpayer? Is that really the central component of our citizenship? Our shared citizenship is much more meaningful than this myopic view. Unlike the members of the current government, I do not want a government that always gets out of the way; I want a government that makes a difference for all Canadians, not just those who are successful in life or who have means.

We have a serious issue in Canada as it relates to the incomes of most Canadians, and the widening gap between those who are doing well and those who are living paycheque to paycheque or worse. We do not knock success. We do not knock the people who work hard and have done well in life. Nor should we knock those who have not had the same opportunities in life, who struggle in poverty, sometimes generational poverty. We should not knock those people, then, who look to government to give them a hand up, not a handout, but a hand up.

It is a message that we are all in this together and that when a large swath of our fellow citizens find themselves in a vast and wealthy country with little opportunity or hope, we have a duty to intervene, to help create opportunity. I am reminded of the great work of community-minded people across the country, and in my hometown, who day in and day out help and advocate for more opportunities for those who are less fortunate. For over two decades, and I include my own party in this regard, we have failed to adopt a real national anti-poverty strategy.

Despite the best efforts of the previous government, we did not do enough. We should have a comprehensive anti-poverty strategy, but we will not under the current government, for no other reason than that with the wave of an imperial hand, the Prime Minister of Canada has declared that caring for the poor is a provincial responsibility. It is so myopic and so unwilling to take leadership to make a difference for those in need. The Conservative government has all but abandoned its role in health care in Canada.

In doing so, the Conservatives have abdicated the Canadian government's historic role and responsibility to ensure equal and universal access to health care. That is what I mean by shared citizenship, the programs and the values that drive them and that strengthen our shared citizenship. Then there is the matter of unemployment insurance, a program that has been decimated by the current government. In the case of my home province, the recent changes that make it harder to qualify have hurt families, caused hardship and worry.

In far too many cases, they have left too many Canadians feeling left out, rejected, or, worse, made to feel like the members of the government think they are lazy or cheaters. Is this the type of shared citizenship that Canadians want or expect from their Canadian government? Is this what Canadians deserve? What about the matter of infrastructure support and nation building? We embrace today, with a sense of reverence and sentimentality, the notion of nation building as reflected in the railroad, a railroad that linked Canadians from coast to coast to coast.

When it was not possible to link islands like Prince Edward Island on land, we were linked by ferry. Or, in the case of another significant investment in infrastructure, we are reminded of the Trans-Canada Highway, again, a big and ambitious endeavour that links Canadians. These great projects helped build, literally and figuratively, this country and provide in part that sense of shared citizenship. The current government has cut its build Canada infrastructure fund by 87%.

It is astonishing to think that the Conservatives would allow these cuts to occur and then cynically open the spigot for an election campaign. On Prince Edward Island, we expect that the Canada jobs grant will be exactly like per capita funding for health care, exactly like the civil service cutbacks. The provinces that have less will be penalized and the richer ones will benefit. This has started to play out. We feel kicked to the curb, again. Never in the history of this country have we had such a narrow view of the role of the Canadian government. In the Conservative view, people are on their own.

If they succeed, “Great. You're welcome”; if they do not, well that is their fault.

(1025) We can do better and we must do better. This budget is an abject disappointment for the people of Prince Edward Island and Charlottetown. Hon. Lynne Yelich (Minister of State (Foreign Affairs and Consular), CPC) : Mr. Speaker, I thought it was very kind of the member to acknowledge the best finance minister, probably in the world, that Canada has ever had. I believe it is very honourable that he would mention how because of that finance minister we have one of the best places in the world to do business. We have a stable economy and low taxes.

In fact, the overall tax rate on new business investment is the lowest in the G7. We have the soundest banking system, the best net debt to GDP ratio in the G7, and are one of the few countries in the world with the highest credit rating possible. The member fell short when he spoke about the best finance minister. What he said about infrastructure is false. The finance minister and the Prime Minister made it law that the gas tax is shared; it had never been shared before. It also goes with inflation. I would like the member to please acknowledge that.

(1030) Mr. Sean Casey : Mr. Speaker, I will start by saying that I was badly misquoted. I certainly did indicate that the finance minister is to be commended for his service to the citizens of Canada, but his record, unfortunately, is extremely disappointing. I pointed that out in the speech. In terms of regional disparity and income inequality in this country, those two problems continue to plague us and are particularly prevalent in my part of the country.

While the former Minister of Finance is to be commended for his service to Canada and the fact that he has won respect across the aisle, there have been a lot of people left behind, and they certainly include the constituents in my region. [ Translation ] Mr. Denis Blanchette (Louis-Hébert, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, after only 25 minutes of debate, the government imposed a gag order on one of the most important bills of the year. There was only 25 minutes of debate.

I would like to thank the hon. member for pointing out a few things that I feel are important, including the fact that the budget does nothing to address poverty. I would argue that nothing is being done for public transit either, and that includes rail transit. I would like to hear my colleague's comments on that. Mr. Sean Casey : Mr. Speaker, it is somewhat difficult for me to provide any insight on that issue since there are no rail lines in Prince Edward Island anymore. They were abandoned about 40 years ago. It is true that we need a national transit plan, and it is true that our infrastructure is too old.

This country has an infrastructure deficit. It is true. Unfortunately, railways are now a part of P.E.I.'s history. [ English ] Mr. John Weston (West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, I will be sharing my time with the chief government whip .

I rose this morning, before rising here, thinking about how grateful I am to be in this wonderful institution in this amazing country of ours, how grateful I am just to be standing here, and what an honour it is to represent the people of West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country and to be with colleagues who champion the interests of Canadians day by day. It is also my honour to express support for a bill that keeps Canada on track. I am speaking of economic action plan 2014, tabled by our Minister of Finance .

Our government has charted a course for this nation that has led us through uncharted waters, namely the fragility of the global market. However, despite this uncertainty, there is no doubt that we have emerged triumphant, as our nation's economy continues to thrive. This is not a coincidence. Our government has, since 2006, relentlessly pursued job creation and economic growth with the full intention of creating a stable, sustainable, and prosperous Canada. In my remarks today I will focus on four aspects of budget 2014, which illustrate this focus and commitment.

I will be drawing direct ties to the people of my constituency who brought their interests to me and to this Parliament through me. Canada's economic success manifests a vision set forth by our Prime Minister . We cannot witness the transition from a multi-billion dollar deficit to a predicted multi-billion dollar surplus next year without first acknowledging the efforts of this Conservative government.

With the elimination of our deficit, Canadians can anticipate lower taxes, a higher standard of living, greater opportunities for job creation, and a significantly smaller financial burden on our children and grandchildren. Canada has already leapt from number six to number two in Bloomberg's annual ranking of the most attractive countries for doing business in the world, just behind Hong Kong. A reduced deficit will continue to attract investment and signal our nation's stability on the global stage. What I see in front of us is a budget that reflects the priorities of our citizens.

I know for a fact that this budget addresses four key areas that interest my constituents and other Canadians: the environment, the economy, health and fitness, and search and rescue. I am equally confident that it will reflect the concerns of Canadians from coast to coast. We have seen a growing number of Canadians voice their concerns regarding our environment. Today I am proud to tell these Canadians that their government has listened. It is my long-held belief that the economy and the environment are inherently entwined.

In fact, in my speech to this House last year, entitled “The environment is the economy”, I relayed the concerns of The Future of Howe Sound Society and other constituents that we must embrace the two in tandem. Economic action plan 2014 follows the lead of innovative Canadians who continually find ways to stimulate the economy while protecting our natural resources. The economy and the environment are not at war, so the advancement of one should not prejudice the other.

This is evident in B.C., where a great number of people, including constituents of mine like CaroleAnn Leishman, have expressed their concerns over proposed pipeline projects, despite their potential economic rewards. This budget will fund the National Energy Board to review pipeline projects so that Canada's economic pursuits can be reconciled with the protection of its natural resources. Our government will not commit to specific energy transportation projects, but will sustain dialogue with the aim of reconciling economic potential with environmental restraint.

As our Minister of Natural Resources recently declared: No project will be approved unless it is safe for Canadians and safe for the environment. Energy exports will continue to grow and create many great jobs for Canadians, but the government remains committed to ensuring safe and responsible resource development.

Economic action plan 2014 will also invest in environmental sustainability by protecting Canada's recreational fisheries, so brilliantly championed by organizations in my riding such as the Sea to Sky Fisheries Roundtable, the West Vancouver Streamkeepers, the Squamish Streamkeepers Society, and the Squamish River Watershed Society. Last year, the recreational fisheries conservation partnerships program received $10 million, and this year the government is renewing its commitment to environmental sustainability, another demonstration of our government's ability to balance both economic and environmental goals.

The recreational fisheries conservation partnerships program commenced last year at the urging of organizations like the ones I mentioned and people around the country who care about the recreational fishery. I congratulate the member for Dauphin—Swan River—Marquette for his championing of this program. This is a strong encouragement to show our government has listened to and acknowledged the voices of people who are passionate about salmon and other fisheries in B.C. and throughout the country.

Increasing financial support for another great organization, the Pacific Salmon Foundation, responds effectively to advocacy by fellow Conservative B.C. members. I am proud to have championed the PSP cause along with them. It is another great aspect of budget 2014.

(1035) With our government's devotion to environmental sustainability in mind, Canadians can anticipate more economic progress without great cost to the environment. My constituents in Powell River and the Sunshine Coast and the mayors who have been so powerful in advocating for new jobs, like Wayne Rowe in Gibsons, John Henderson in Sechelt, and Dave Formosa in Powell River, can look forward to adding more jobs in their areas as Canada's economy continues to strengthen. More than one million net new jobs have been created since the recession.

When compared with other G7 nations, Canada's economic performance is among the best, leading the pack in job growth. In this budget, the government has re-emphasized its desire to find employment for every Canadian and reduce job vacancies. Internationally, I commend our government for securing free trade agreements with other countries. When our government came into power, Canada had three established FTAs. This number has now grown to 44, including the recent Canada-Korea trade agreement—to which the Speaker has contributed—our nation's first official trade agreement in Asia.

Under our government's leadership, Canada will continue to bolster its economy by trading with other nations in a way that is mutually beneficial. Within our borders, our government also commits to the future employment of our youth, through its youth employment strategy. This program aims to provide young Canadians with real-life work experience that aligns with the evolving realities of the job market. We need to ensure that young Canadians can access employment in high-demand fields, like science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and trades.

The government has recognized this need and proposed a $40-million investment to support 3,000 full-time internships, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises. Allowing our youth to gain work experience is a worthy investment and a proactive step toward reducing future unemployment and strengthening our economy. I am also excited to see how our government has recognized health and fitness as a priority in its 2014 economic action plan, a priority I have championed, to reflect the emphasis on this area shown by my constituents in the Olympic riding.

I applaud the government's initiative to increase the rate of excise duty on tobacco products as a viable method of increasing federal tax revenue. This measure illustrates our government's desire for fiscal responsibility and, more important, for a healthy Canadian population. This budget also addresses prescription drug abuse, another concern shared by my many Canadians, including West Vancouver police chief Pete Lepine, who has worked closely with me to bring about a national prescription drug drop-off day, which will occur this year on May 10.

The new economic action plan proposes to invest $44.9 million, over five years, to expand the focus of the national anti-drug strategy, so we can also address this emerging health and safety concern. This investment would serve a diverse Canadian population, by enhancing education on the safe use, storage, and disposal of prescription drugs, among other things. Having watched our Olympians and Paralympians demonstrate the ultimate in health and fitness in Sochi, I am delighted to see our government's continued desire to support Canadian athletes of all levels. Sport promotes leadership.

It plays a vital role in our culture, both as an expression of our national identity and as a means of inspiring more Canadians to become active and healthy. This budget would maintain our government's record level of investment for athletes without leaving anyone behind. While our Olympians are supported through initiatives like own the podium, our government supports Paralympians, amateurs, and Special Olympics athletes, as well. The last provision upon which I would like to touch is the search and rescue tax credit.

This commemorates Tim Jones, the amazing revered volunteer who led the North Shore rescue team for 26 years and who participated in over 1,600 rescue operations. The search and rescue tax credit would recognize the important role played by volunteers who put themselves at risk for the sole purpose of serving their communities. In conclusion, I see Canada's 2014 economic action plan as another step in the right direction.

Today, I have highlighted four of the many aspects of budget 2014 that are particularly relevant, not only to my constituency but to the whole country: environmental sustainability, economic prosperity, health and fitness, and the recognition of our nation's search and rescue volunteers. The return to a balanced budget is the fulfillment of a long-term goal. The proposals I have mentioned are examples of our government's commitment to Canadians. It is a good time to be a Canadian. This budget would help ensure good health for our people, our environment, and our economy.

(1040) Mr. Murray Rankin (Victoria, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, I listened with interest to the speech read by my hon. colleague opposite. My question for the member, through you, Mr. Speaker, is what are his views on the appropriateness of the government introducing a motion to limit the debate after 25 minutes on another monster omnibus budget bill, a bill that is over 350 pages, with almost 500 clauses that would amend dozens of bills, some of which have nothing to do with the budget? I would ask, through you, Mr.

Speaker, to hear his views on the appropriateness of that in a democratic parliamentary system. [ Translation ] Mr. John Weston : Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. member for his question. [ English ] Where I would focus in terms of the democratic aspect of the budget is how it links the aspirations of Canadians from coast to coast, how individual Canadians and agencies have seen their aspirations realized in this budget. We have seen, for instance, health and fitness, something that is a concern for all Canadians.

We have seen specific things that were voiced by Canadians from coast to coast; we have seen the fulfillment in the budget. The $44.9 million for prescription drug abuse is something that was put on the table by individual Canadians in round tables here in Ottawa and in my constituency. My colleague, who is also from British Columbia, will know that it is the search and rescue volunteers who enable people to enjoy the great outdoors of British Columbia.

These are the kinds of things; Canadians rejoice to see their parliamentarians take their needs, put them into policy, take the policies, put them into law, and implement that law through the budget.

(1045) Mr. Mark Warawa (Langley, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, as my colleague knows, under a former Liberal government, health and social transfer payments were dramatically cut to the point where it really affected youth training and post-secondary education. I am very proud that this government is focusing on jobs and connecting and helping to train our youth through universities and also through trade schools and the Red Seal program. The government has created more than one million net new jobs since the depth of the recession. Yesterday, we heard there were more than 42,000 new jobs last month; so we are on track.

Things are fragile, but we are on track. What does the hon. member think about focusing on youth and helping them through the creation of the Canada apprenticeship loan to help our youths who are going to post-secondary and trade schools? What does he think about that? Mr. John Weston : Mr. Speaker, we have seen time and again how the government has supported youth—for instance, at Vancouver Island University, the Powell River campus in the riding I represent. The $40 million investment in this budget will support 3,000 full-time internships for small and medium-size enterprises.

This is a government that walks the talk. We talk about the amazing youth. For instance, some youth in my riding have created HEY Day, Helping Every Youth Day, which is an opportunity every year for youth to come together, and they bring in the top volunteer organizations from around Canada and showcase them to inspire other youth. There are the MP book awards, something I had the honour to initiate in my riding, which challenge our young people to show their writing skills. These are young people, the leaders of tomorrow, who produce essays that address things like the economy.

From the budget through what our parliamentarians are doing, I see that we revere our youth. We know they are the leaders of tomorrow. We are behind them, and this budget supports them. Mr. Mike Sullivan (York South—Weston, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, I am very interested in the notion of apprenticeships. We have been pushing very hard in Toronto, in my riding in particular, for apprenticeships as a result of infrastructure building that is going on—some of it federally supported, but most of it provincially supported—and the province is not being very helpful. I was encouraged in 2013 when Mr.

Flaherty suggested that future federal infrastructure spending would actually require apprenticeships. Nothing happened in the 2013 budget implementation bills 1 and 2, and nothing is in this budget implementation bill. I wonder if the member would be able to tell me why the government makes promises in budgets but does not follow through. The Acting Speaker (Mr. Barry Devolin) : Before I go to the hon. member, I would remind all hon. members that they ought not to refer to their colleagues or ministers by their given names, but rather by their title or riding.

The hon. member for West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country. Mr. John Weston : Mr. Speaker, I am glad my colleague raised the question, because I am sure his intent is virtuous, but his facts are ill-informed. In fact, in this budget we see $40 million invested in our youth, and the genius of that investment is that the money is to go through small and medium-size enterprises so it can be leveraged. These youth will gain experience through internships and apprenticeships that will enable them to broaden their life experience, which is even more valuable than the money that will come to them.

The money is essential as well, and the money will certainly enable those small and medium-size enterprises to hire the students. It is a boost to the economy. It is a boost to the specific companies that take advantage of this benefit. Most importantly, it is a support for our youth who are the leaders of tomorrow. Hon. John Duncan (Minister of State and Chief Government Whip, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to rise today to speak in support of the budget implementation act. This is a very significant budget.

There are two things that I would love to highlight in the budget that are particularly meaningful to me. This year's budget is a major step forward in balancing Canada's books, and its success is a direct result of the Prime Minister 's leadership, good judgment, and world-leading economic stewardship. Having created 1.1 million jobs since the recession, today Canada has the strongest job record in the developed world.

We have almost balanced the budget, and we have done so while increasing transfers to provinces, investing in infrastructure and skills training, delivering real support for families, and keeping taxes low. This is a remarkable achievement. For the sake of the members opposite, and particularly for the leader of the Liberal Party, I would like to clarify that balancing the budget did not happen all by itself. It happened because the Prime Minister has remained focused on the economy and on the priorities of our families and our communities.

It happened because we have looked for ways to use taxpayers' money more responsibly and more effectively. Even as we have focused on bringing the budget back to balance, we have continued to look for new opportunities to invest in meaningful measures that accomplish a lot with a little. It is two of these measures that I wish to emphasize today. They are two measures included in budget 2014 that are very meaningful for me and for many others, and for which I strongly and actively advocated. The first is Lindsey's law.

In budget 2014, our government committed up to $8.1 million over five years and $1.3 million per year on an ongoing basis to create a national DNA-based missing persons index. My connection with this issue began in August 2013, when I met Judy Peterson for the first time at a teddy bear picnic in my riding. The picnic was in remembrance of her daughter, Lindsey, and took place in the community where Lindsey had disappeared 20 years earlier, in 1993. By the time this community was added to my riding in 1997, Judy had already moved away.

By the time we met last summer, she had been championing a national DNA-based data bank of missing persons for most of the intervening years. We had the opportunity to talk. She told me about what she has been through since Lindsey went missing in 1993 and how a national data bank would allow the DNA of missing persons to be compared with DNA collected through crime scene investigations. I was shocked to learn that without a data bank, every time investigators want to test DNA from a crime scene, they have to ask the family's permission.

The family does not have the option of providing blanket permission to compare against an existing sample, so they have to go through the roller coaster of emotions between hope and disappointment every time the cross-reference fails to end in certainty. Even worse than getting these calls is not getting them. Without a data bank in place, it is much harder for investigators to link an individual crime scene with missing persons. Even when provinces have good cross-checking systems in place, they currently do not extend beyond the provincial border.

Even if the missing person's family can have confidence that their loved one has not been found in their own province, there are currently too many barriers to have the same confidence with crime scenes in another jurisdiction. A national missing persons index would solve these problems. Investigators would automatically be able to run crime scene DNA against the missing persons index all across the country and with other jurisdictions. The families would not have to go through the pain of wondering every time a search was done.

In addition, this measure would be an important tool for solving crimes related to missing persons.

(1050) It was impossible not to be moved by this message, and I promised Judy that I would advocate for it in Ottawa. That job was, of course, made much easier by the fact that my colleagues quickly saw the merit in the approach and supported my efforts to move this measure forward. I will admit that when the budget speech was read and I saw Judy in the House of Commons gallery as the finance minister acknowledged all of the work she had done, it was the most memorable and emotional moment of my 20 years in Ottawa. There was a second item in the budget that was also meaningful to me.

I was an early supporter of the idea of the volunteer firefighters tax credit and was proud when our government was able to introduce this measure. However, even from the earliest days I believed that it should also include search and rescue volunteers. Over the years, I have gotten to know a number of ground and marine search and rescue volunteers in my riding. I know how dedicated and passionate they are about what they do.

They give their time, juggle their training commitments with their family, friends, and work life, and make significant personal investments in gear and training, all so that when the phone rings Sunday night at midnight, they can gear up and head out into the rain instead of going back to sleep. They are volunteers who will not hesitate to head into inclement weather and dangerous environments. They work in rough seas, swift water, high-angle terrain, mountains, and forests.

They develop and maintain a high skill level as well as a profound sense of professionalism that is not diminished at all by the fact that they are not paid. In the early fall of 2013, I was approached by search and rescue volunteers in my riding. They made such a strong case for recognition that I felt I had to take a more active role in promoting a search and rescue volunteer tax credit. Again I enjoyed great support among my colleagues, and together we were able to make it happen. The search and rescue volunteer tax credit is not about paying volunteers.

It is about recognizing the unique role that search and rescue volunteers, like volunteer firefighters, play in our communities and the sacrifices they make to keep us safe. I am proud of these volunteers in my riding and across Canada and I am happy to see their efforts recognized. These are two examples that are meaningful to me, but I would like to point out that many items in the budget are there because MPs listened to their constituents and brought their message back to Ottawa.

It is a testament to our budget process that items highlighted in the budget speech in front of the nation can begin with a conversation, with consultation, and with thoughtfulness and compassion. For all that we do here, it is very satisfying to see the ingenuity of ordinary Canadians find its way to the national stage and to know that as members of Parliament, we had an opportunity to play a small role in making important and progressive changes happen.

(1055) The Acting Speaker (Mr. Barry Devolin) : The time for government orders has expired, so the questions and comments for the Minister of State and Chief Government Whip will take place when this matters returns before the House.

STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS Statements by Members [ English ] Human Trafficking Mr. Maurice Vellacott (Saskatoon—Wanuskewin, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, sexual trafficking is a global scourge, and Canada is not immune to this crisis against women. With the member for Kildonan—St. Paul and Senator Jaffer, next week I am co-sponsoring the viewing of Red Light Green Light , a documentary exploring the problem of sexual trafficking across 10 countries. Nations around the world are trying to address this scourge. The member for Kildonan—St. Paul has been a leader in keeping it at the forefront of public policy in Canada.

The Supreme Court of Canada recently struck down Canada's prostitution laws, so Parliament has to rewrite the law. Our government has launched online consultations with respect to Canada's prostitution laws. Red Light Green Light is a Canadian production. It is an important tool in this battle against prostitution and sexual trafficking as it seeks to answer the question of how we can prevent sexual exploitation before it happens in the first place.

Governments and all Canadians must participate in the battle against sexual trafficking, and I urge all my colleagues to contact the office of the member for Kildonan—St. Paul to confirm their attendance at the screening next Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. in the East Block.

(1100) [ Translation ] Canada Post Mrs. Anne-Marie Day (Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, since the beginning of the week, Canadians have been forced to pay $1 to mail a standard letter. In addition to endorsing this staggering 58% increase, the Conservatives have agreed to let Canada Post stop door-to-door mail service, reduce hours at rural outlets and cut thousands of good jobs that support local economies. Here we have the Conservatives at their best: radical price increases and radical service cuts.

This unilateral decision was made without consulting the communities that will be most affected by it, it was announced very quietly, and it has made Canada the only G8 country that no longer offers home mail delivery. Never before have so many people of Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles spoken out against draconian cuts to their essential services. I am one of the thousands of people in my community who find these decisions repugnant. The NDP will keep fighting so that these people can have a decent, viable public postal system.

[ English ] Iran Hon. Deepak Obhrai (Calgary East, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, on April 2, 2014, I welcomed Dr. Ahmed Shaheed, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The situation of human rights in Iran has worsened and our government is deeply concerned about the increase in the number of executions. Many of the executions are taking place without due process and are not justified under international law. A recent case is the deeply worrying example of a 24-year-old woman who was sentenced to be executed for attacking her rapist.

It is important for the victims of human rights violations to know that the international community stands with them in solidarity and will hold Iran and its leadership to account with respect to their rights and dignity. I am proud that our government has sustained and continues to lead the United Nations resolution on human rights with respect to Iran. Dr. Shaheed also thanks Canada for our continued support for human rights in Iran. [ Translation ] Sickle Cell Disease Mr. Emmanuel Dubourg (Bourassa, Lib.) : Mr. Speaker, I rise today in the House to raise awareness about sickle cell disease.

It is a disease of the blood that causes chronic anemia, periodic episodes of pain and other health-related complications. Approximately 10,000 Canadian children are seriously ill from this hereditary disease. At this time, there is no cure for sickle cell disease, but adequate medical care can prevent its effects. On April 12, as I do every year, I will be attending the fundraising gala for the Sickle Cell Anemia Association of Quebec. This year's theme is “Courage and Perseverance”.

I wish to congratulate the association's members and its president, Wilson Sanon, for their hard work in providing assistance to people who have the disease and their loved ones, and for the excellent work they do in raising awareness and educating high-risk populations. I salute the entire medical community, including doctors, researchers, nurses and other caregivers who support patients and their loved ones. I also salute the sponsors and Héma-Québec for holding blood drives. Long live the association.

[ English ] National Hunting, Trapping, and Fishing Heritage Day Mr. Rick Norlock (Northumberland—Quinte West, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, later today I will rise in the House to address my private member's bill, Bill C-501 , which would designate the third Saturday in September each year as Canada's national hunting, trapping, and fishing heritage day. Hunting, trapping and fishing historically set the tone and direction of our nation's economic and social development, as these activities were the first forms of trade and currency.

The purpose of this bill is twofold: to honour the heritage of those who have gone before us and to bring special recognition and encouragement to those who participate in hunting, trapping, and fishing today. These activities are part of my family's heritage, and I encourage all my fellow Canadians to explore this wonderful country of ours by getting outdoors and doing a little fishing and hunting. I ask all the hon. members here today to continue supporting this bill.

[ Translation ] Ovarian Cancer Mr. Denis Blanchette (Louis-Hébert, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, imagine a young mother being diagnosed with a type of cancer that usually affects older women. Imagine that there is no reliable early detection screening and that the average survival time is less than five years in 75% of cases. Imagine that this same woman is resistant to the most effective chemotherapy and that her survival depends on experimental research protocols. Imagine that one of the drugs is not covered by her insurance company and costs her $4,000 every three weeks. Imagine the pressure on her family's budget.

Imagine that the benefits from treatment will not be permanent and that she will soon have to travel if she wants to live longer. That is the true story of a young mother in Louis-Hébert with ovarian cancer. What she wants is quite simple: to watch her daughters grow up for as long as she can. We can help her if we improve our research capacity and allow physical and financial access to experimental treatments.

(1105) [ English ] Iran Mr. James Bezan (Selkirk—Interlake, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, despite President Rouhani's charm offensive, the Islamic Republic of Iran continues to violate human rights and persecute political prisoners at an accelerated rate. Over 50 executions were reported in the first month of 2014. In 2013, 660 prisoners were executed in Iran, with 430 of them put to death after the June 14 election charade, often in horrific public group executions to intensify the atmosphere of terror throughout Iran.

Additionally, there are recent reports that Iraq is in negotiations with Iran to extradite the Mujahedeen-e-Khalq, who are Iranian refugees. The MEK would become political prisoners if deported to Iran to face torture and execution by Iran's clerical regime. Finally, Ms. Reyhaneh Jabbari is at risk of imminent execution for defending herself and killing an attacker who was attempting to rape her. The regime tortured her until she confessed to the murder. This is just another example of Iran's flagrant abuse of human rights. We must not forget the daily atrocities going on inside Iran.

The Iranian people deserve the dignity, respect, and freedom they have been denied for far too long.

International Cooperation Ms. Lois Brown (Newmarket—Aurora, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, Canadians have been following with great interest the events taking place in the Philippines since the devastating Typhoon Haiyan. Shortly after the disaster, the Minister for International Development visited the region to assess the damage. When catastrophes strike, Canadians have always shown themselves to be extremely generous. Recognizing their willingness to help, our government acted swiftly and announced the Typhoon Haiyan matching fund.

Yesterday, the Prime Minister announced that $85 million in eligible donations will be matched by the government. It means clean, safe drinking water; nutritious food; warm, dry clothing; and shelter. Much of that money has already been put to use in the Philippines. I am very proud of our government's leadership on this file, and Canadians can be proud of their response to this tragedy.

[ Translation ] Homelessness Ms. Nycole Turmel (Hull—Aylmer, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, on Monday in the House, I asked the Conservative government if it planned to reverse its cuts to funding for the fight against homelessness. I was told that there had been no cuts. Yesterday, when I met with the minister responsible for this file, I was told once again that there had been no cuts. However, in the Outaouais, the situation is very clear. Funding for organizations has been cut. For example, funding for Entraide familiale de l'Outaouais has been reduced by more than $14,000.

We have been told that budgeted amounts are being redistributed and that other moneys will be available soon. Homelessness must be addressed right now. People who do not have a roof over their heads need help right now. Community organizations working with the most vulnerable in the Outaouais are having trouble meeting their commitments right now. The federal government must clarify the situation and honour its commitment to fund the fight against homelessness right now.

[ English ] International Trade Mr. John Weston (West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...”. So wrote Charles Dickens at the beginning of his book, A Tale of Two Cities . When it comes to the economy, the worst of times may be when a leader really believes that the budget balances itself, as the Liberal leader has recently concluded. However, the best of times is when a country in the midst of the most ambitious trade expansion in its history. That is where we Canadians are today.

When our Conservative government came to office Canada had only five concluded free trade agreements. Our government has added 38 signed or concluded agreements. The results are clear. Statistics released yesterday show that Canada's overall trade balance returned to a surplus in February of $290 million. With 38 countries, our government has added more free trade agreements than there are Liberal members. Chinese Veterans Ms. Irene Mathyssen (London—Fanshawe, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today to honour a fellow Londoner whom I have known since I was four years old.

Hank Wong is a veteran who served during World War II. He, along with 12 other Chinese Canadian men, was trained as part of British special operations. Their mission was to go behind enemy lines. Hank is the last remaining survivor of Operation Oblivion. His story, and that of his fellow Chinese Canadian recruits, is only now being told. Earlier this year, a television documentary film aired their experiences during the war.

Even after Canada had stripped away their rights as citizens and essentially left them excluded from much of society, these brave men were still willing to enlist and serve the country that exposed them to racism and marginalized them. There is now a campaign to have a permanent commemoration for Operation Oblivion at the Canadian War Museum to finally acknowledge their contributions to the war. I truly hope that the heroism and dedication to Canada of Hank Wong and his colleagues will be honoured.

(1110) Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada Mrs. Susan Truppe (London North Centre, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, once again the Liberal leader has demonstrated that he is in way over his head. He recently called on the government to keep an open line of communication with the Iranian regime. As members know, the Iranian regime constitutes the greatest threat to global peace and security. This is a continuation of a troubling trend that Canadians have seen from the Liberal leader. Let us examine the record. Last year the member made excuses for the Boston marathon terrorist bombers.

Last year he said that he admired China's “basic dictatorship”. He also joked about the crisis in Ukraine and said that the Prime Minister 's recent visit to Ukraine was no more than a three-hour photo-op. The Liberal leader does not have the experience, substance, or judgment to lead Canada in uncertain and challenging times.

[ Translation ] Michel Picard Hon. Mauril Bélanger (Ottawa—Vanier, Lib.) : Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank a man whose community is very important to him and whose career is coming to an end. After working at Radio-Canada for 41 years, today, Michel Picard is retiring, thus ending a remarkable career in the media. Michel is known for his professionalism, volunteer work and warmth and, over the course of his career, he attracted the interest of an ever-growing number of people who watched and listened to his programming on Radio-Canada.

I would like to recognize and thank his wife, Brigitte, for agreeing to share him with us for so many years. Although tomorrow is the first day of his retirement, Michel plans to remain closely and actively involved in our community. By way of evidence, I will be seeing him tomorrow at lunchtime as he judges a pancake-eating contest taking place near the Vanier sugar bush—North America's only urban sugar bush—as part of the 28th edition of the Maple Sugar Festival.

[ English ] The Economy Mr. Corneliu Chisu (Pickering—Scarborough East, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, today we have more proof that our plan to create jobs is working. StatsCan has announced that job growth beat expectations in March, increasing by over 42,000 jobs. Indeed, under the strong leadership of the Prime Minister , Canada has created over one million net new jobs since the depths of the recession. However, the global economy remains fragile. We know that good economic management requires tough decisions and sound judgment. Unfortunately, the Liberal leader consistently displays a total lack of judgment.

While collecting his taxpayer-funded salary, he also padded his personal wealth by ripping off charities with excessive speaking fees. With judgment like that, it is no wonder he thinks that budgets magically balance themselves and that he has no plan for the economy. Despite the Liberal leader, our government remains focused on balancing the budget, keeping taxes low, and creating jobs for all Canadians.

[ Translation ] Elections Act Mr. Alain Giguère (Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, the minister responsible for electoral “deform” insists on misinterpreting quotes from the Neufeld report, even though Neufeld himself has tried to correct him. The minister turned a deaf ear to the concerns of the Chief Electoral Officer. He fought tooth and nail to defend the tall tales told by his colleague from Mississauga—Streetsville , even when it became clear that the so-called fraud he was talking about was a product of his overactive imagination.

Most of all, he did nothing as everyone pointed out that the new law would do nothing to stop the Conservatives' fraudulent calls or to help the criminal investigation into these calls. He proved, once again, that a criminal can get out of anything if he pulls out a Conservative Party card. It is no surprise that a bill based on a satirical TV show has become a running gag. The minister needs to stop joking around and start taking this seriously.

[ English ] Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada Mr. Scott Armstrong (Cumberland—Colchester—Musquodoboit Valley, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, in an interview with a Toronto Farsi-language media outlet, the leader of the Liberal Party called on Canada to take a more balanced approach to the Middle East. So what balance would he be talking about? Balance, by joining the hordes who condemn Israel for the sake of anti-Zionism, rather than standing up for the only liberal democracy in the Middle East?

Balance, in approaching Hamas, because somehow a murderous, terrorist enemy bent on the destruction of Israel will respond to a kinder, gentler approach? Balance, by joking about Crimea in the midst of an invasion that destabilized global peace and security? Balance, by empathizing with the Boston Marathon bombers? Or balance by believing that the Iranian supreme leader has somehow magically become a moderate? Has the leader of the Liberal Party forgotten that the government of Iran has murdered more, not fewer, political prisoners since Rouhani was installed as president?

Clearly, the Liberal leader is in over his head.

ORAL QUESTIONS Oral Questions (1115) [ English ] Democratic Reform Mr. Peter Julian (Burnaby—New Westminster, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, Sheila Fraser did not pull punches when she was investigating Liberal corruption during the sponsorship scandal. She is a Canadian hero, and she has been clear on the Conservatives' unfair elections act. She calls it an attack on democracy. She is particularly troubled by limitations imposed on the Chief Electoral Officer's independence. Independent officers of Parliament and the government is now restricting what they can say? It's just so inappropriate.

Does the minister finally understand that his changes are inappropriate and unfair, and will he withdraw his attack on democracy? Hon. Pierre Poilievre (Minister of State (Democratic Reform), CPC) : Mr. Speaker, we already knew Elections Canada's position on this. We just disagree with it. Elections Canada and the government disagree on the view that Canadians should present ID when they vote. The everyday Canadian voter has no problem presenting that ID. It is a reasonable position, it is common sense, and the Canadian people support it. Mr. Peter Julian (Burnaby—New Westminster, NDP) : Mr.

Speaker, the minister should stop attacking Sheila Fraser and chief electoral officers from across the country, and witnesses as well, and he should start listening to Canadians. The minister has been answering questions about Sheila Fraser's stinging criticism by attacking this trusted public figure. We are seeing this again now. He is trying to demonize Elections Canada and attack the credibility of Sheila Fraser. Sheila Fraser deserves our country's thanks. She stood up against Liberal corruption, and she is getting shameful treatment by the Conservatives.

Will the minister now stand up and apologize to Sheila Fraser for his inappropriate comments? Hon. Pierre Poilievre (Minister of State (Democratic Reform), CPC) : Mr. Speaker, it is entirely appropriate for an elected government, based on reason and common sense, to disagree with Elections Canada. Elections Canada serves Parliament, not the other way around. That is the way it works in a democracy. Elected officials listen to the views of all Canadians and then make decisions in their interest. That is what we have done with the fair elections act.

It is based on common sense, it is reasoned, and the Canadian people support it. [ Translation ] Mr. Peter Julian (Burnaby—New Westminster, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, Canada's former auditor general, Sheila Fraser, who exposed the Liberal sponsorship scandal, feels that Bill C-23 is an attack on Canadian democracy. When it came time to go after the Liberals, with good reason, the current Minister of State for Democratic Reform mentioned the former auditor general's name 65 times in the House. Today, he is acting as though she does not even exist. Will the minister listen to Sheila Fraser and withdraw his bill? Hon.

Pierre Poilievre (Minister of State (Democratic Reform), CPC) : Mr. Speaker, we have already listened to officials from Elections Canada, but we do not agree with their proposals. We do not agree with Elections Canada when they say that people should be able to vote without ID. It is not that we did not listen. Quite the opposite, actually. We listened closely. It is because we listened that we disagree with Elections Canada's proposals. Our bill is reasonable, it makes sense and Canadians support it. Ms. Nycole Turmel (Hull—Aylmer, NDP) : Mr.

Speaker, the Native Women's Association of Canada provided an eloquent reminder of the significant barriers to the electoral participation of aboriginal women. By eliminating Elections Canada's education and awareness initiatives, Bill C-23 will exclude even more aboriginal women who are already wary of our electoral system and a government that does not care about their needs. The government should withdraw its bill and come up with a totally new approach to reform. Will it? [ English ] Hon. Pierre Poilievre (Minister of State (Democratic Reform), CPC) : Mr.

Speaker, the education function and the advertising function of Elections Canada are not being limited. They are being focused on their real purpose, and that is to inform Canadians of the basic information about voting. For example, I think it is a terrible failure of the election agency that it failed to inform three-quarters of aboriginal youth that they can vote early if those aboriginal youth happen to be working on election day or are busy with their studies and cannot make it to the polling station.

They missed their chance, because Elections Canada failed to inform them in the last election that there are other opportunities to vote. We are going to fix that by requiring that the agency provide people with information. (1120) [ Translation ] Ms. Nycole Turmel (Hull—Aylmer, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, this week, the Minister of State for Democratic Reform pulled another rabbit out of his hat. He said that his electoral reform was needed to protect stay-at-home moms from administrative headaches when they make calls for political parties. That statement is unacceptable.

Can the minister tell me where he found even one stay-at-home mom who was concerned about the administrative burden of call centre operators? Maybe on Infoman ? [ English ] Hon. Pierre Poilievre (Minister of State (Democratic Reform), CPC) : Mr. Speaker, what the NDP is proposing is that if a volunteer is making phone calls from home or from a local community campaign office to a group of other volunteers to organize putting up lawn signs or some other local campaign initiative, they would first have to fill out a full registration with the national telecommunications regulator. That is outrageous.

If there was one way to drive people out of the democratic process, the NDP has found it.

Infrastructure Hon. Ralph Goodale (Wascana, Lib.) : Mr. Speaker, after two months of denial, the Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs is starting to fess up. In his last answer in the House, about the building Canada fund, he finally admitted that it has, in fact, been chopped from $1.6 billion down to just $210 million. That is an 87% reduction. This is the major fund for big municipal projects: just $210 million for the whole country. What portion of that small amount will be available for infrastructure in places like Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo regional municipality?

Precisely how much for them? [ Translation ] Hon. Denis Lebel (Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, what the member said is completely false. The infrastructure plan consists of a number of components. He wants to isolate just one to make himself look good, but what he is saying is incorrect. Canada's municipalities are already benefiting from the gas tax, which brings in $2 billion a year. We indexed it, we doubled it and we made it permanent.

These are unprecedented measures. [ English ] Hon. Ralph Goodale (Wascana, Lib.) : Mr. Speaker, the minister should check his own budget, at page 178. Cutting this fund by 87% makes no sense. The finance department itself says that infrastructure funding is the most cost-effective way to drive future growth. Investments now capture low interest rates and transform that value into long-term capital assets, but the vast majority of the building Canada fund is postponed. Three-quarters of it will not happen until after 2019, and municipalities cannot get answers.

I ask again, of the small amount that is available, how much is earmarked specifically for Fort McMurray? Hon. Denis Lebel (Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, he talks about the building Canada plan. That is the building Canada plan. Once again, the opposition is misleading the House. Canadian municipalities will have access to over 71% of the new fund in the building Canada plan, and that is $53 billion over 10 years.

The largest component of the new plan is the gas tax fund. He is not speaking about that. It is 100% dedicated to municipalities. [ Translation ] Mr. Emmanuel Dubourg (Bourassa, Lib.) : Mr. Speaker, after denying reality for two months, the minister responsible for infrastructure is finally acknowledging the facts. In the answer he just gave about the building Canada fund, he finally admitted that the fund has been cut by 87%. He is allocating only $210 million for the entire country. What proportion of that $210 million is available for infrastructure needs in Montreal and Quebec? Exactly how much? Hon.

Denis Lebel (Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, the member can make up all the stories he likes, but he is completely mistaken. The infrastructure plan that we just tabled is the longest and biggest in Canadian history. The gas tax, the GST rebate, the national infrastructure fund, the infrastructure fund projects with the provinces and territories and the

part involving public-private partnerships will all help municipalities build infrastructure. The government is investing over $2 billion a year. We did not make cuts to the fund as the member is claiming.

(1125) [ English ] Rail Transportation Mr. Mike Sullivan (York South—Weston, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, when rail companies started to run trains with only a single operator, they did so without approval from Transport Canada, because they did not need any approval. Companies make their own rules and simply give Transport Canada a heads-up afterwards. In the aftermath of Lac-Mégantic, when a train run by a single operator derailed and exploded, killing 47 people, it is obvious to everyone that our rail safety system is broken. Why will the minister not admit it and fix it? Mr.

Jeff Watson (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, on the contrary, the member will know that the minister issued a protective direction after the tragedy in Lac-Mégantic, which is doing exactly that, ensuring that there are two-person crews for trains carrying transportation of dangerous goods. Those rules are now permanent. The member should support that. Mr. Mike Sullivan (York South—Weston, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, that is proving that the system did not work. It is not just New Democrats asking the government to act on rail safety.

Rail companies themselves are now saying that if the government does not act now and eliminate the use of the unsafe DOT-111 rail cars, there is no telling when they will be replaced. The minister appears to be more concerned about the strain it will place on the manufacturers. This is about the safety of families who live near the tracks. Where is the minister's concern for them? When will she act? Mr. Jeff Watson (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, obviously we commend CN and CP for taking action on, I think, about 300 of the DOT-111 cars.

As for the remaining 90,000 or so that are out there, newer DOT-111s, the member will know, are already being built to higher standards. On the phase-out of the older DOT-111s, we are working not only with stakeholders here in Canada but with our U.S. counterparts to ensure that we have a comprehensive solution. As the minister has said, some of the long-range timelines that have been floated out there are simply not acceptable. We will find the right solution. [ Translation ] Ms. Rosane Doré Lefebvre (Alfred-Pellan, NDP) : Mr.

Speaker, a year before the Lac-Mégantic tragedy, Transport Canada gave MMA permission to have a single conductor on board, despite the known dangers. MMA provided documentation regarding how it would manage the risks involved in its plan to cut staff, but the department refuses to make those documents public. Even worse, the department is saying that it never really gave its consent and that MMA simply informs the department of its plans to go with a single conductor. Will the Minister of Transport accept her share of responsibility for this fiasco? [ English ] Mr.

Jeff Watson (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, it would seem apparent that the rules were not followed. Rail safety regulations exist to ensure the safety and protection of the public. If these regulations are not followed, we will not hesitate to take whatever course of action is available to us. We will await the results of the investigation into this tragedy. [ Translation ] Ms. Rosane Doré Lefebvre (Alfred-Pellan, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, in committee yesterday, the rail companies said that there are limits to safety. This kind of talk is troubling and unacceptable.

The people of Lac-Mégantic deserve better. Conservative and Liberal governments have left the industry to decide everything for itself. They have allowed rail companies to operate with a single conductor and to use DOT-111 cars despite the known risks. When will the government finally take responsibility and reject the fatalistic rhetoric being used by rail companies? [ English ] Mr. Jeff Watson (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, the member actually was not at the committee yesterday, but let me say what is happening here.

We have not only made these rules permanent with respect to two-man crews for trains carrying dangerous goods. The Conservative government has taken a number of very important actions. We have strengthened information-sharing with respect to municipalities with dangerous goods going through their communities. We continue to hire inspectors on the ground to ensure that the trains and the track and everything that goes on are safe in this country. Currently, the standing committee on transport, at the minister's request, is looking further into whether there are even more actions we can take.

The member and her party should get on board with that.

[ Translation ] Democratic Reform Ms. Alexandrine Latendresse (Louis-Saint-Laurent, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, does the Minister of State for Democratic Reform know Sheila Fraser? If so, has he read her position on Bill C-23 ? If so, what does he think about the former auditor general's criticism of the electoral reform?

(1130) Hon. Pierre Poilievre (Minister of State (Democratic Reform), CPC) : Mr. Speaker, we are very familiar with Elections Canada's position. There is nothing new there. Elections Canada does not agree with our position. We believe that Canadians should show some ID when they vote. That is reasonable, but Elections Canada disagrees. We believe that the commissioner who conducts investigations under the elections act should be independent. He disagrees. The reality in a democracy is that from time to time there are going to be officers of Parliament who disagree with parliamentarians. Ms.

Alexandrine Latendresse (Louis-Saint-Laurent, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, the Minister of State for Democratic Reform has used the former auditor general's name in the House 65 times. Now, he pretends not to know her and that he knows nothing about her criticisms. It is much easier for him to attack elections experts than someone he has blithely used for political purposes. Sheila Fraser is saying exactly the same thing as Neufeld, Côté, Mayrand, Corbett, and the list goes on. What does the Minister for Democratic Reform think of Ms. Fraser's criticisms? [ English ] Hon.

Pierre Poilievre (Minister of State (Democratic Reform), CPC) : Mr. Speaker, I have already answered the question. Elections Canada just happens to disagree with us on this point. We believe that people should present some form of ID. Now, it does not have to be photo ID. They can choose from a list of 39 different forms of ID that include everything from a utility bill to an Indian status card to a student card to a letter from a soup kitchen or a homeless shelter or a student residence. These are all forms of identification that people can use to identify themselves.

Most Canadians think that is very reasonable, and on this point we are just going to disagree with Elections Canada. [ Translation ] Mr. Jonathan Genest-Jourdain (Manicouagan, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, across the country, first nations communities run into serious problems when it comes time to vote. As we heard in committee, it is hard for many members of these communities to obtain the type of ID card that will be required under Bill C-23 . Why is the minister refusing to amend his bill to prevent thousands of Canadians from losing their right to vote? [ English ] Hon.

Pierre Poilievre (Minister of State (Democratic Reform), CPC) : Mr. Speaker, in addition to the fact that all Canadians can use government-issued ID and photo ID when they vote, there are 39 different alternatives that people can choose from. For example, an Indian status card is acceptable. An attestation of residence issued by the responsible authority of a first nations band or reserve is also acceptable.

I think Elections Canada has done a terrible job of informing people of what acceptable forms of ID are, and that is why the fair elections act would require the agency to start to inform people of what they are. Mr. Craig Scott (Toronto—Danforth, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, Sheila Fraser has said that the unfair elections act will exacerbate problems with money in politics, despite the minister's absurd and contradictory rhetoric about this bill somehow taking big money out. Sheila Fraser said that new fundraising exemptions give advantages to some parties, and Conservatives, of course, get the biggest advantage of all.

Ms. Fraser warned about the potential for abuse of these rules. Why will the minister not listen to her? This is not about vouching. Why is he making election fundraising less accountable and less transparent? Hon. Pierre Poilievre (Minister of State (Democratic Reform), CPC) : Mr. Speaker, it is very interesting that the member does not want me to talk about vouching anymore. I think that as time has gone on, the NDP is starting to hear from Canadians who do not agree with their position that voters should show up and cast a ballot without any ID whatsoever. That position is not supported by the Canadian public.

The NDP has lost that debate. On the issue of fundraising, the reality is that in its leadership race the NDP allowed its candidates to exclude all fundraising costs from spending limits. We have a much more narrow exemption in the fair elections act. It is fair, it is reasonable, and we are moving forward. Mr. Craig Scott (Toronto—Danforth, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, the minister truly is delusional.

Back in 2004, the Prime Minister said Sheila Fraser's “competence and her courage have shone a bright light on the mismanagement, incompetence and corruption that this Liberal government has been trying to hide for more than a decade”. Almost 10 years later, once again she is shining a bright light on a government gone seriously wrong. Will the minister acknowledge and accept her critiques of the unfair changes to the act? Will he present a bill that actually promotes democracy, rather than attacking it on multiple fronts?

(1135) Hon. Pierre Poilievre (Minister of State (Democratic Reform), CPC) : Mr. Speaker, we have indeed proposed a fair elections act. It does promote democracy. It keeps everyday Canadians in charge of democracy by putting special interest groups on the sidelines and putting rule-breakers out of business altogether. It closes loopholes to big money. It prevents fraudulent voting. It creates a new registry to track calls so that we can prevent rogue callers from impersonating political parties' candidates and Elections Canada. It is a fair, reasonable, common sense bill, and that is why we are moving forward with it.

Rail Transportation Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Winnipeg North, Lib.) : Mr. Speaker, except for our railways, every witness—and I repeat, every witness—that appeared before the agricultural committee on the grain transport bill said that amendments are necessary to make service contracts mandatory, to better define what service means, to provide an objective way to measure performance, and to make penalties reciprocal. Is the government prepared to accept amendments along these lines, or will the power continue to be concentrated in the hands of the railway duopoly? Mr.

Pierre Lemieux (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, the fair rail for grain farmers act is good legislation, and it is decisive legislation to help with the challenges facing the supply management sector. I would ask the member to support this legislation. He asked about amendments, so let us allow the committee to do its work. Members of the committee heard from witnesses this week. They have not seen any amendments yet, so let us allow the committee members to review the amendments that are proposed and to do their work.

[ Translation ] Aboriginal Affairs Hon. Carolyn Bennett (St. Paul's, Lib.) : Mr. Speaker, as we approach National Victims of Crime Awareness Week, it is time that we highlight the problem of the victims forgotten by the Conservatives' agenda and shine a light on this issue. Will the minister meet next week with the members of aboriginal families who have lost their mothers, wives or daughters to violence in order to hear their poignant stories and calls for justice? [ English ] Hon. Peter MacKay (Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, CPC) : Mr.

Speaker, the reality is that the time for talk is long past. As a government we have made significant investments, including recent investments in the budget to provide renewed funding for the aboriginal justice strategy. Millions of dollars are flowing directly to programs that assist women and girls on reserve. We made it a priority as a government to ensure that matrimonial property rights applied to women on reserve, a measure that was opposed by members of the opposition. We will continue with community programs and with tougher justice initiatives that hold offenders accountable.

This is real action, as opposed to the talk offered by the member opposite. Hon. Carolyn Bennett (St. Paul's, Lib.) : Mr. Speaker, yesterday aboriginal organizations were very clear that the government's proposed elections law will have devastating impacts on the democratic rights of indigenous people in Canada. The law will undermine the important work NAOs and Elections Canada are doing to reach out to first nations, Inuit, and Métis to increase voter participation. The removal of vouching will disenfranchise many aboriginal people in Canada.

How can the minister justify this attack on democracy and its blatant discrimination? Hon. Pierre Poilievre (Minister of State (Democratic Reform), CPC) : Mr. Speaker, we in the Conservative government do not believe that Canadians necessarily have to bring photo identification or even government-issued identification. There are 39 different options that Canadians can use to present to Elections Canada officials as proof of who they are and where they live. Those things include everything from an Indian status card to correspondence from an aboriginal band.

If one is a student, one can get a letter from student housing or bring a student card. I could go on, but unfortunately there is not enough time to list all the options that are available to Canadians.

[ Translation ] Search and Rescue Ms. Élaine Michaud (Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, an internal memo states that the Canadian Forces do not have the equipment required to successfully conduct search and rescue operations. They cannot afford to make mistakes in such operations, which are highly dependent on the equipment available. Lives are at stake. The Conservatives continue to repeat that they have put an end to the Liberals' decade of darkness, but the situation has not improved. Why have the Conservatives not been able to correct the Liberals' mistakes?

Why have they allowed the situation to deteriorate to this extent? [ English ] Mr. James Bezan (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, Canadians can be proud that this government has ensured that we have a robust search and rescue system that is always standing on guard and ready to help individuals in need of life-saving assistance. Since 2006, our government has increased investments into the Canadian Armed Forces by over 27%.

The Chief of the Defence Staff said in the same report that the Canadian Armed Forces are currently resourced and able to deliver on their assigned tasks within the federal search and rescue mandate. That being said, search and rescue remains a top priority for this government. We are always exploring ways to improve our capabilities and equipment to provide the best possible search and rescue services to Canadians in times of need.

(1140) Ms. Irene Mathyssen (London—Fanshawe, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, a year ago, the Auditor General delivered a stark warning. Search and rescue services were in dire need of serious work. Now, a year later, a new report confirms that there are still major problems with the availability of planes, proper equipment, and trained and experienced personnel. This is about saving lives. What is the minister doing to immediately and urgently correct these dangerous deficiencies? Mr. James Bezan (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence, CPC) : Mr.

Speaker, first of all, as the report said, we are resourced, we are capable, and we are delivering search and rescue services across this country. We do take this as a responsibility, and it is paramount in the services provided by the Canadian Armed Forces. I would remind all members that search and rescue is a shared responsibility that includes several federal departments, including the Canadian Armed Forces and the Canadian Coast Guard. It includes provinces and territories, municipalities, and thousands of volunteers across this country.

We did create a quadrennial review for search and rescue practices to enhance the integration and alignment of our search and rescue partners. We expanded the search and rescue posture shifts to maintain flexibility for seasons.

Veterans Affairs Ms. Irene Mathyssen (London—Fanshawe, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, instead of passing the buck, let us see if we can get a real answer to this question. Caring for our veterans is a responsibility that we all share, but apparently some Conservative MPs do not agree. Senator Roméo Dallaire said he has heard some of them complaining about money spent on veterans. These comments would be shocking were it not for the fact that the Conservatives have an abysmal record when it comes to veterans' issues. Why do the Conservatives think that lip service is the only service that our veterans deserve? Mr.

Parm Gill (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, no other government in the history of our great nation has done more for Canada's veterans than this government under the leadership of our Prime Minister . We have invested almost $5 billion in additional funding since coming to office in 2006. I would like to ask the opposition parties why they have voted against every single initiative that we have brought forward. It is about time that they should stop playing politics with our veterans and get on board. [ Translation ] Ms.

Élaine Michaud (Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the late Corporal Leona MacEachern's husband sent a strong message to the Conservatives who would like to turn their backs on veterans. He revealed that his wife had not received help from any specialist for her post-traumatic stress disorder and that she had to fight with Veterans Affairs to obtain help. This is a tragic story that, unfortunately, is not an isolated case. When will the minister stop shortchanging veterans and start providing the services they need? [ English ] Mr.

James Bezan (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, first, our thoughts and prayers continue to be with the MacEachern family, and our government takes this issue of member suicide very seriously. In fact, no government has done more when it comes to the care of our ill and injured men and women in uniform. We have increased our annual care expenditure by over $100 million, to a total of $420 million each and every year. Today the Canadian Armed Forces have nearly 400 full-time mental health professionals, and we are working to hire even more.

Our men and women can rest assured that this government will continue to make the well-being of our men and women in uniform a priority that I am proud of.

Justice Mr. Mark Warawa (Langley, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, my constituents are increasingly concerned about what they see as an imbalance in Canada's justice system. There are far too many examples of offenders receiving light sentences and of victims being ignored. Yesterday the Prime Minister introduced the Canadian victims bill of rights. This historic legislation came as a result of an extensive consultation process. Could the Minister of Justice please inform this House about who was consulted and what he heard that led to these important and much-needed reforms?

(1145) Hon. Peter MacKay (Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for Langley for championing this cause. He is correct that yesterday was a historic day in Canada. For the first time ever, victims of crime will have their own rights entrenched in a single law at the federal level. We consulted broadly. We consulted every province and territory. We certainly heard directly from many stakeholders, including victims themselves, advocacy organizations, criminal justice professionals, legal experts, and provincial and territorial officials.

Many people shared touching stories of revictimization and injustice. This is why we have informed the country that the drafting of the Canadian victims bill of rights is now complete. I know members of the opposition parties are struggling to find fault. I encourage them to set their ideology aside and support this important initiative.

[ Translation ] Agriculture and Agri-food Ms. Ruth Ellen Brosseau (Berthier—Maskinongé, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, 20 million tonnes of grain in the west are just sitting there. The inventory at the port of Vancouver is at a historic low. More than $8 billion in potential sales have already been lost, and the situation will only get worse. Every week at least $140 million is lost as a result of this grain transportation crisis. When will the Conservatives stop letting themselves be bossed around by the rail companies and finally start listening to and defending farmers? [ English ] Mr.

Pierre Lemieux (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, I would invite this member to follow what is actually happening here in Parliament. Just last week, our government put forward Bill C-30 , which is the fair rail for grain farmers act. It would obligate the rail companies to move one million metric tons of grain a week to help clear the logistic backlog with respect to grain. It would also increase supply chain transparency, strengthen contractual mechanisms between producers and shippers, and help ensure that the entire chain is working at peak capacity.

I invite this member to vote in favour of this legislation. Ms. Ruth Ellen Brosseau (Berthier—Maskinongé, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, I have been paying attention. I spoke on Bill C-30 , and we have been studying it in committee every day. I want to know when the Conservatives will stop taking these farmers for granted and actually take action. The minister knows full well that increased interswitching limits do not compensate farmers and that Bill C-30 is not a long-term solution. These changes will cost rail companies more, and these higher costs will be passed on to farmers.

While a few grain companies will fight over the profits, it is farmers who are paying more. Will the minister accept our constructive amendments at committee? Mr. Pierre Lemieux (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, I listened to that last question and I had hard time determining whether she is on the side of the railroads or she is on the side of the farmers. This government wants to fix the transportation problems related to grain. That is why the bill is in front of Parliament. With respect to amendments, I would ask the member to respect the work of committee.

Committee members have not even seen the amendments that may have been submitted. The committee will be doing this work next week. However, one thing I can say is that the committee heard from witnesses this past week, and the vast majority of witnesses who came in front of committee strongly supported the legislation. I ask the member to do the same.

[ Translation ] Canada Post Mrs. Anne-Marie Day (Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, my constituents do not understand the Conservatives' decision. They allowed Canada Post to cut thousands of jobs, impose a 58% tax on stamps and put an end to home delivery. The Conservatives are letting Canada Post executives pocket $20 million while they cut services to the public. Do the Conservatives think that this is a good strategy to revitalize Canada Post? [ English ] Mr. Jeff Watson (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport, CPC) : Mr.

Speaker, the New Democrats and the Liberals are the only ones in this House who think that Canada Post is not facing a crisis. They have said that on the record, and it cannot be more wrong. In fact, in 2012, Canada Post delivered one billion fewer addressed letter mail pieces than it did in 2006. That number is plummeting. It is projected to run deficits of nearly $1 billion just six years from now. They want Canada Post to do nothing. We at least support it. [ Translation ] Mrs. Sana Hassainia (Verchères—Les Patriotes, NDP) : Mr.

Speaker, while Canada Post executives pocket $20 million in salaries, the Conservatives are imposing a 58% tax—a draconian increase that is not in line with regular inflation. I am worried for the poorest members of our society who do not have Internet access and who are looking for jobs and sending their resumés through the mail. How can the minister stick the bill to the least fortunate who are looking for jobs? (1150) [ English ] Mr. Jeff Watson (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, the minister is doing no such thing.

The member should know that Canada Post is an independent arm's-length crown corporation. It is responsible for its own operational decisions. It has, in response to the plummeting levels of letter mail volumes in this country, responded with a five-point plan. The increase in the cost of a stamp is part of the five-point plan, but that is its decision. We support that Canada Post is doing something about this problem. It is only the opposition that thinks there is no crisis at Canada Post.

Democratic Reform Mr. Sean Casey (Charlottetown, Lib.) : Mr. Speaker, the commissioner of elections has asked for the power to compel witness testimony during an investigation. It is the same power that the director of competitions has in investigating deceptive telemarketing and price fixing. We believe that rigging an election is more, not less serious than price fixing. Does the minister agree, and, if so, will he amend the act to give the commissioner the power that he seeks? Hon. Pierre Poilievre (Minister of State (Democratic Reform), CPC) : Mr.

Speaker, the CEO of Elections Canada is obviously seeking more powers for his agency. That is not surprising, nor is it new. However, the reality is that agency already has all the same investigative powers of a police agency. Police forces investigate extremely complex files with unco-operative witnesses and missing evidence, and they manage to come to conclusions, lay charges, and secure convictions all the time. We would invite Elections Canada to do its work with the powers it has, and after the passage of the fair elections act, the commissioner or the investigator would be independent. Mr.

Sean Casey (Charlottetown, Lib.) : Mr. Speaker, the minister just indicated that the Commissioner of Elections Canada has the same powers as police who are investigating serious crimes. That is not true. The police have the power to intercept private communications, commonly known as a wiretap. Will the minister now agree to amend the act to give that power to the commissioner of elections, which would make his answer true, or will he correct his answer? Hon. Pierre Poilievre (Minister of State (Democratic Reform), CPC) : Mr.

Speaker, I personally have not seen a recommendation from Elections Canada that it seeks the power to do wiretapping, but what I can tell the member is that the agency currently has all the same powers of a police force to carry out an investigation, and we would invite it to continue to do that.

[ Translation ] Citizenship and Immigration Ms. Lysane Blanchette-Lamothe (Pierrefonds—Dollard, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, people around the world have noticed the measures that the Conservatives have taken to close our doors to refugees. This week, the UN published a report confirming that in 2013, Canada accepted half as many refugee claims as in 2012. It also described highly divergent trends. Many Canadians feel that Canada is moving away from its role as a country that welcomes victims of persecution. When will the minister move to counter the adverse effects of this bungled immigration reform? Mr.

Costas Menegakis (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, Canada has welcomed one out of every ten resettled refugees in the world. That is more than almost any other country in the world. We are world leaders when it comes to protecting refugees. The Government of Canada is determined to help refugees resettle, become part of Canada and succeed in their new home. Our goal is to help them achieve the best results they can. [ English ] Ms. Lysane Blanchette-Lamothe (Pierrefonds—Dollard, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, Conservatives do not get it.

The measure of a good refugee system is not how much claims are dropping; it is whether those in danger get the protection they need. There is clear evidence that changes to the refugee law have unbalanced our system. Naming countries like Hungary as safe, despite the recent surge in far-right anti-Semitic rhetoric, is alarming. People who face persecution may not find a safe haven in Canada. Does the government not understand that it is the problem? Mr. Costas Menegakis (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, CPC) : Mr.

Speaker, our government has a balanced and responsible plan for refugee resettlement. Unlike the NDP and the Liberals, we do not make policy on a whim. The opposition is shamefully and purposely misleading Canadians. Our government has a balanced and responsible plan for refugee resettlement, and I would urge the hon. member to support all of our measures. It is incredible that any time we bring measures in the House that support the refugee system, the members of the opposition, and the member, vote against them.

Foreign Affairs Mr. John Weston (West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, Canadians believe in democracy at home, in Ukraine, in Iran, and around the world. For instance, in dealing with the government of Iran, our government has consistently supported the democratic aspirations of the people of Iran. The crisis in Ukraine has reminded Canadians that democracy is not a reality for everyone, but Canadians are proud that our Prime Minister 's visit to Ukraine was the first of any G7 leader since the crisis began.

However, in a recent interview with the Farsi language media, the Liberal Party leader attacked our government's support of democracy around the world. Can the Minister of Canadian Heritage please affirm our government's foreign policy?

(1155) Hon. Shelly Glover (Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, the recent comment by the Liberal leader is of great concern to this government. As the Prime Minister stated, Israel is the only country in the Middle East which has long anchored itself in the ideals of freedom, democracy, and the rule of law. Our government will not shy away from supporting the sole liberal democracy in the region. On this side of the House, we have led the world with a clear and principled foreign policy, one that is based on freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.

Whether it is in Ukraine, Israel, or the situation in Iran, we will do what is right and just, regardless of whether it is popular, convenient, or expedient.

The Environment Hon. Geoff Regan (Halifax West, Lib.) : Mr. Speaker, all week, the Minister of the Environment has avoided questions on the impact of climate change. She has simply read from her pre-approved cue cards. I would like to give her a chance to show that she can think for herself. What is the minister's response to the new report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change? Hon. Leona Aglukkaq (Minister of the Environment, Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency and Minister for the Arctic Council, CPC) : Mr.

Speaker, our government is committed to protecting the environment while keeping Canada economically strongly. Thanks to our actions, carbon emissions will go down by close to 130 megatonnes from what they would have been under the Liberals. This is the equivalent of shutting down 37 coal-fired electricity plants, and we are accomplishing this without introducing the Liberal carbon tax.

Rail Transportation Mrs. Carol Hughes (Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, the days are counting down for passenger service on the Algoma Central Railway, yet the minister has not even bothered to respond to three separate requests to meet with the working group who are looking for options to save the service. Will the government do the right thing and work with stakeholders to find a solution to save ACR passenger service and help protect a unique $20-million a year tourism economy? Will the government finally get on board? Mr.

Jeff Watson (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, Transport Canada advised CN that effective March 31, 2014, the Government of Canada will no longer provide CN with funding through the regional and remote passenger rail services class contribution program. The decision by CN to discontinue the passenger rail service between Sault Ste. Marie and Hearst is a business decision made by a private company. The Government of Canada has no direct role in owning or operating railways.

Railway companies are private entities that make their own decisions concerning their operations and which services and routes are offered to their customers.

Industry Mr. David Sweet (Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, Sir John A. Macdonald, our first prime minister, had a vision of a railway from coast to coast. Today, as we near Canada's 150th birthday, digital technology is what connects Canadians, bridging the divisions instantaneously. There are few jobs, few sectors, and few aspects of our lives that remain untouched by digital technology. Can the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry please tell the House what our government is doing to promote Canada's digital future? Hon.

Mike Lake (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry, CPC) : Mr.

Speaker, this morning the Minister of Industry announced digital Canada 150, which is focused on five key pillars: connecting Canadians, ensuring that Canadians have access to the latest wireless technologies; protecting Canadians, ensuring that their online privacy is protected; economic opportunities, ensuring Canadians have the skills and opportunities necessary to succeed in a digital economy; digital government, making Canada a global leader in using digital technologies and open data; and, Canadian content, including measures that celebrate our national story and what it means to be Canadian.

As we celebrate our nation's birthday— The Acting Speaker (Mr. Barry Devolin) : Order, please. The hon. member for Jonquière—Alma.

[ Translation ] Forestry Industry Mr. Claude Patry (Jonquière—Alma, BQ) : Mr. Speaker, when I asked about the unfair treatment of Quebec, the government answered that the existing softwood lumber agreement does not penalize anyone. How hypocritical. The president of the Québec Forest Industry Council has made it clear that even though Quebec has changed its stumpage system, it is still being penalized,

whereas the Atlantic provinces are not. He said, “Ottawa's policy puts the Quebec industry at a serious competitive disadvantage.” When will the government do its job and protect the interests of the Quebec forestry industry? (1200) [ English ] Mr. Erin O'Toole (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, the softwood lumber agreement continues to enjoy strong support from the industry and provincial governments across the country for the stability it provides. In fact, the industry has thrived under this agreement.

While the NDP, and it seems the Bloc, continue to promote policies that would actually slow growth and kill jobs in this industry, our government is building trade relationships in Europe and Asia that would secure jobs in our lumber and wood product industry.

[ Translation ] Employment Insurance Mr. Claude Patry (Jonquière—Alma, BQ) : Mr. Speaker, two years ago this week, the government announced its employment insurance reform, without assessing the repercussions it would have on families and the regions. Now we are seeing the consequences. People are waiting longer to get their benefits. It takes longer and is more complicated to challenge bad decisions, and more importantly, families across Quebec are being financially penalized. Clearly, this reform is bad for workers who have lost their jobs. It is making them and their families poorer.

Now that the consequences are known, will the government cancel this reform, which is bad for workers in Quebec? [ English ] Mr. Scott Armstrong (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Employment and Social Development, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, we are making changes that will connect people with available jobs. Those are the changes that we are making. We are seeing good results from that across the country. Employment insurance will always be there for anyone who applies and there are no jobs available in their region.

Rail Transportation Mr. Bruce Hyer (Thunder Bay—Superior North, GP) : Mr. Speaker, our passenger trains are dead or dying. Routes from Montreal to Saint John, Toronto to Cochrane, Barrie to Orillia are all dead; Toronto to Sarnia has been cut in half. The route from Sault Ste. Marie to Hearst will die on April 30. The route from Toronto to Niagara is dead. The route from Montreal to Gaspé is suspended. Both the Ocean and Canadian trains are threatened. Why are we the only country in the G20 that is not investing in passenger rail? Mr. Jeff Watson (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport, CPC) : Mr.

Speaker, that is nonsense. The government has invested over a billion dollars in capital investments for VIA Rail. We invest millions every year in its overall network. I am reminded, though, that the member over there is the one who continually and consistently votes against that support for VIA Rail. That is a shameful record. We will do our part.

ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS Routine Proceedings [ English ] Ways and Means Notice of Motion Hon. John Duncan (Minister of State and Chief Government Whip, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 83(1) I have the honour to table a notice of a ways and means motion to introduce

an act to give effect to the Tla'amin final agreement and to make consequential amendments to other acts. Pursuant to Standing Order 83(2), I ask that an order of the day be designated for consideration of this motion.

Tla'amin Final Agreement Hon. John Duncan (Minister of State and Chief Government Whip, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the Tla'amin final agreement, the Tla'amin final agreement appendices, and the Tla'amin tax treatment agreement.

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 45 petitions.

[ Translation ] Committees of the House Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Mr. Mark Strahl (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the fifth report of the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development in relation to Bill C-25,

An Act respecting the Qalipu Mi'kmaq First Nation Band Order . (1205) [ English ] The committee has studied the bill and has decided to report the bill back to the House without amendment.

Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act Mr. Corneliu Chisu (Pickering—Scarborough East, CPC) Bill C-585. Introduction and first reading moved for leave to introduce Bill C-585,

An Act to amend the Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act (period of residence) . He said: Mr. Speaker, I rise today to table my private members' bill,

an act to amend the Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act (period of residence) . This enactment would amend the Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act to adjust the national eligibility standard for social assistance to provide that no minimum period of residence may be required with respect to social assistance for Canadian citizens or permanent residents as well as for victims of human trafficking who receive temporary resident permits and certain other protected persons. (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

Petitions Canada Post Mr. Mike Sullivan (York South—Weston, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, residents in my riding have signed a number of petitions protesting the loss of home mail delivery by Canada Post. They call upon the Government of Canada to reject Canada Post's plan to reduce services and to explore other options to update Canada Post's business plan.

Chinese Canadians Mr. Rick Norlock (Northumberland—Quinte West, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, I have a few petitions. The first one says that during the darkest days of the war in the Pacific, the British special operations executive asked the Canadian government for Chinese Canadian volunteers to train for a covert mission that would place them behind Japanese enemy lines to seek out Chinese resistance fighters to help train them for the Allies, to defeat the Japanese. Many prisoners of war were saved because of this. Agriculture Mr. Rick Norlock (Northumberland—Quinte West, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, the second petition is about Bill C-18 and farmers being able to keep the seeds they have purchased.

Democratic Reform Mr. Rick Norlock (Northumberland—Quinte West, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, I have another petition on fair election representation.

Mining Industry Mr. Rick Norlock (Northumberland—Quinte West, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, I have another petition asking for the creation of a legislative ombudsman mechanism for responsible mining. [ Translation ] Mr. Emmanuel Dubourg (Bourassa, Lib.) : Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present this petition signed by people in the riding of Bourassa, which I represent. The petitioners are calling for the creation of a legal ombudsman mechanism for responsible mining and are recommending that the Government of Canada impose sanctions on any company that does not comply with standards.

[ English ] Divorce Act Mr. Maurice Vellacott (Saskatoon—Wanuskewin, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, I rise to present a petition. The petitioners are drawing attention to the fact that children thrive best when raised by both parents, even in the course of a breakdown of the marriage. Therefore, the petitioners are calling on Parliament to amend the Divorce Act, as in my Bill C-560 , to require that equal shared parenting be treated as the rebuttable presumption in custody decisions, except in cases of proven abuse or neglect.

Public Transit Operators Mr. Murray Rankin (Victoria, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, I rise to present a petition calling attention to the increasing violence against bus drivers that occurs every year. The number of assaults has gone up. Bus drivers serve our public across this country. I have had meetings with bus drivers in my riding, who serve Victoria and Oak Bay, from Unifor Local 333. This petitions calls for an amendment to the Criminal Code to create a distinct, specific offence to punish those who assault bus drivers and to establish more stringent penalties for those who commit those cowardly offences.

Impaired Driving Mr. Mark Warawa (Langley, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to present two petitions. The first recognizes and honours the death of 22-year-old Kassandra Kaulius, who was killed by a drunk driver. A group of people who have also lost loved ones due to impaired drivers, called the Families for Justice, says that the current impaired driving laws are too lenient. The petitioners would like to see new mandatory minimum sentencing for people who have been convicted of impaired driving causing death.

(1210) Sex Selection Mr. Mark Warawa (Langley, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, the second petition highlights that there are over 200 million missing girls in the world right now due to sex selection. The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada vehemently opposes sex selection, as do 92% of Canadians. The petitioners are calling on Parliament to condemn the practice of discriminating against girls through sex selection.

[ Translation ] VIA Rail Mr. Philip Toone (Gaspésie—Îles-de-la-Madeleine, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to rise today to present two petitions on the same subject. The petitioners are calling for improved VIA Rail service in eastern Quebec and northern New Brunswick. The petitions I have here today are proof that despite the responses the government has given us in question period, the people of my region and northern New Brunswick believe that VIA Rail service must be improved and that the investments made so far are clearly not enough for eastern Canada.

[ English ] Senate Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Winnipeg North, Lib.) : Mr. Speaker, I have petitions to table today from residents of Winnipeg North who are asking Parliament to look at ways in which we can make changes to the Senate. The petitioners are calling on Parliament to look at ways to reform the Senate that would not require constitutional amendments.

[ Translation ] Canada Post Ms. Ève Péclet (La Pointe-de-l'Île, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, I have a petition signed by more than 100 people. They are asking the government to reject Canada Post's service reduction plan and explore other avenues for updating the crown corporation's business plan to consider seniors, people with reduced mobility, self-employed workers and small businesses, who will all suffer because of this reduction plan.

[ English ] Rail Transportation Mrs. Carol Hughes (Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, I rise to table a few petitions. The first petition is with respect to the hopes of many. It is signed by people from Sault Ste. Marie, from Goulais River, and from Wawa. The petitioners' hope is that the government will stop the derailment of their tourism economy. It is with respect to the fact that the ACR passenger service is about to terminate at the end of April. The petitioners are calling on the government to reinstate the funding. There has been no consultation with the stakeholders, and that needs to happen.

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