Lots of election posturing between the Liberals and the Conservatives. The main focus was on EI, pensions and taxes.
Sockeye salmon, the forestry sector, mental illness and oil sands were also mentioned.
Statements
MP Albrecht (Con) – Suicide, mental illness and mental health issues – M388 bill on Internet predators counseling suicide
MP Dosanjh (Lib) – Fraser River sockeye salmon crisis: what is being done? Why is there such a disparity between predictions and actual stocks?
Questions
Liberal
The Liberals focused on taxes, EI, and the PM’s upcoming meeting with Obama.
Ignatieff asked about the lack of action from the government on US protectionism and climate change issues. How can we trust the PM to advance the cause of Canadians on the economy and environment tomorrow when he’s failed for 4 years?
The PM replied that the leader of the opposition should focus on supporting positive initiatives instead of forcing a wasteful and unwanted election.
Other questions include:
Buy American clause: Will the PM protect the interest of Canadians by standing up against the buy American clause? This clause is smothering Canadian growth – why have the conservatives failed to protect Canadian jobs from American protectionism?
Infrastructure funds: The government’s ministers are abusing the system, getting money for their own ridings – will the PM explain? How can we trust the government when they are so busy looking out for themselves?
Taxes/Payroll tax increase: Why does the government want to kill jobs with this payroll tax hike? Income taxes were increased, taxes on income trust, higher EI premiums –all broken promises. How can Canadians trust a government that continues to raise taxes when it promises not to?
Young people: Youth unemployment is at 20%, much higher than the national average. How can the government justify that it has no short term plan, no long term vision to help young people get jobs?
Pensions and retirement savings: How can Canadians trust this government to protect their savings today when they deny there’s a problem?
BQ
The BQ focused on EI.
Duceppe asked about the government’s new EI measures: will the measure help forestry workers and those in the pulp and paper industry?
The PM replied that the measures are good for workers in all sectors across the country. The BQ should support these measures.
Other BQs also asked:
There are problems on accessibility and eligibility – some 50% unemployed do not have access to the system. How can the minister claim she is helping when many are being abandoned?
The whole system should be reformed – why is the government refusing to take action now?
Blackburn replied that all sectors, including mining and forestry, are eligible for EI based on the measures introduced yesterday. The system is being reformed by this government through various measures introduced by this government.
Other questions include:
Forestry sector: Will the government put in place the measures recommended to protect this sector? Bill for wood in federal buildings – how will the minister, who says he wants to help, explain how he has allowed his colleagues to vote against this measure?
White-collar crime: bill for ending release after 1/6 of one’s sentence. Will the government enable this bill to be adopted today?
Omar Khadr: does the PM intend to ask for the repatriation of Khadr when he meets with the President tomorrow?
Buy American clause: does the PM intend to mitigate the buy American program so that the US will be able to accept products from outside the US?
H1N1: First nations and Inuit should be on the priority list. Can the minister ensure that these groups be on the priority list?
French at the Olympics: what is the government going to do to respects its legal obligations with respect to Francophones?
NDP
Layton asked about climate change: wouldn’t it be better to raise with Obama the solutions that will actually solve the problem instead of supporting dirty oil from the oil sands?
PM replied that the Minister of Environment and this government are in support of clean energy.
Layton also asked about Afghanistan: Obama is looking for longer term support. Will the PM reassure Canadians that he will not assign the troops to an extended mission?
PM replied that the position of the government is clear: the mission will end in 2011.
Layton also asked about protecting Canadian sovereignty. Will the PM protect Canadian sovereignty by asking the president to lift the fishing ban in the Beaufort sea, in Canadian territory?
PM replied that this territory has been in dispute for some time and that the government is working to solve the problem. However, the government will assert its rights.
Other questions include:
Pensions: workers are being told to go to the back of the line. Will the finance minister stand up for cdn workers and enact legislation that protects workers’ pensions and severance?
Flight safety: The government is underfunding their safety inspectors. Will the government ensure its responsibility to protect Canadians when they take to the air?
Government
Crime agenda: Could the minister explain the details of the crime agenda and how that agenda could be derailed by an election. The minister of justice replied that many Canadians are in support of the government’s measures
White-collar crime: Will the minister explain how this bill will protect Canadians? Parliamentary secretary to the minister replied that this government is committed to this measure.
Free trade and Foreign affairs: Could the minister tell this house how this government is helping build international relationships. The minister (Day) replied that many members of this government have recently been to India and China, building relationships.
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