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Tuesday, June 17, 2008 (No. 114)

Questions

The complete list of questions on the Order Paper is available for consultation at the Table in the Chamber and on the Internet. Those questions not appearing in the list have been answered, withdrawn or made into orders for return.

Q-199 — February 14, 2008 — — With regard to federal spending in the federal riding of , what has been the total federal spending in each of the last seven years by the following departments, described by individual line item and program: (a) Canadian Heritage; (b) Human Resources and Social Development Canada; (c) Veterans Affairs Canada; (d) Infrastructure Canada; (e) Transport Canada; (f) National Defence; (g) Industry Canada; (h) Environment Canada; (i) Fisheries and Oceans Canada; (j) Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency; (k) Health Canada; (l) Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada; (m) Justice Canada; (n) Natural Resources Canada; (o) Public Safety Canada; and (p) Citizenship and Immigration Canada?

Q-256 — April 24, 2008 — — With regard to federal spending, how much support was given to individual airports over the last five years, in each federal riding?

Q-257 — April 29, 2008 — — With respect to the Kapuskasing Experimental Farm (KEF), located in Kapuskasing, Ontario: (a) what are the plans of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) for the near-term and long-term improvement, expanding or improving of the infrastructure of the KEF; (b) is the government considering closing or reducing the scope of the KEF and, if so, what are the details and plans of AAFC for community consultations; and (c) what research projects are now ongoing at the KEF and what new projects are planned?

Q-261 — May 1, 2008 — — With respect to gas and diesel prices: (a) is the government planning to implement the Energy Cost Benefit program, announced in October 2005; (b) what measures is the government implementing to build a greener economy, promote transparency in markets, promote alternative energy sources and improve fuel economy; (c) what steps will the government take to greater transparency in markets, fuel efficiency improvements and fuel alternatives; (d) is the government planning to index both the old age security pension and the Guaranteed Income Supplement payments to offset the increasing gas prices; and (e) what is the government’s specific plan with respect to research investments to develop renewable and alternative fuels, such as cellulose-based ethanol and hydrogen-based fuels, to reduce Canadians’ reliance on global fuel markets?

Q-262 — May 1, 2008 — — With respect to religious freedom around the world: (a) will the government recognize that religious persecution is an international crisis affecting many religious groups in the world; (b) will the government develop an automatic array of interventions that may be imposed by Canada against foreign governments, such as Iraq, that may support religious persecution or fail to prevent it; and (c) what steps is the government prepared to take to improve measures for refugees who have suffered religious persecution?

Q-265² — May 6, 2008 — — With regard to government involvement with the Evergreen Light Rail Transit Project: (a) what funds have been committed to the project; (b) what are the expected costs to the government; (c) which department is responsible; (d) what is the expected timeline; (e) what is the amount of money that will be approved in grants; (f) what amount will be in loans; (g) what consultations have been carried out with (i) the government of British Columbia, (ii) municipal governments, (iii) local residents, (iv) local businesses, (v) local post-secondary institutions; (h) what construction techniques have been committed to the project; (i) what is the expected length of track that is being built; (j) what environmental impact studies have been either commissioned or reviewed; (k) how will merchants along the Evergreen line be compensated for disruption to their businesses; (l) what research is the government using for estimates of ridership along the line; (m) what will be the revenue source if ridership numbers are below those expected; (n) will construction of the line be constructed at grade or below through Port Moody; (o) what efforts have been made to enhance security at stations; (p) will the line be fully integrated with the existing system allowing for continuous travel from Port Moody to Commercial Drive; (q) what efforts have been made to ensure that environmentally sensitive lands, such as Miller Park Ravine are protected; (r) what negotiations have taken place with Canadian Pacific Railway Limited; (s) is the government considering using a P3 model for the project; and (t) does the government have any plans with regard to foreign workers and the project?

Q-266² — May 7, 2008 — — With regard to the Canadian mission in Afghanistan: (a) which Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)-funded programs from 2006 to present day involve or concern the Afghan judiciary or corrections systems, (i) what amounts of monies have been allocated to date for such programs, (ii) what amounts of monies have been spent to date on such programs, (iii) what are the documented outcomes or progress reports returning from these programs, (iv) are there plans to alter the aforementioned programs; and (b) will CIDA be funding new programs involving the Afghan judiciary or corrections systems this fiscal year?

Q-267² — May 8, 2008 — — With regard to the world-class arctic research station mentioned in the Speech from the Throne opening the Second Session of the 39th Parliament: (a) what is the anticipated cost; (b) which Northern communities are being considered for the location of the station; (c) when will the final selection be made for the location; (d) when will the station be included in the government's budget plans; (e) what types of scientific research will be supported by the station; and (f) will the station be part of existing arctic scientific research facilities such as the Aurora Research Institute in Inuvik, Northwest Territories?

Q-268 — May 12, 2008 — — With regard to the Port Divestiture Program: (a) has any wharf that has been divested of both management and ownership by the government and turned over to a local port authority or community group ever received additional funding for repairs and maintenance from the government, after the initial funding provided upon divesture; and (b) does the Department of Transport or the Department of Fisheries and Oceans have any plans to implement a grant program for authorities and community groups to obtain additional funding for emergency repairs or required maintenance of the wharf that has been divested to them for operation and management?

Q-270² — May 13, 2008 — — Prior to the government's creation of the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer and with regard to government funding towards cancer research between the years 2000 and 2008, how much federal funding was granted by the government to private research organizations, hospitals, university research teams and, if possible, how much of this funding was delivered for research by specific cancer types?

Q-271² — May 14, 2008 — — With respect to the case JOHN GUENETTE and JOANNA GUALTIERI v. ATTORNEY GENERAL OF CANADA, FRANK TOWNSON, IAN DAWSON, KEN PEARSON, JAMES JUDD, GORDON SMITH, GEOFF CLIFFE-PHILLIPS, DONALD CAMPBELL and LUCIE EDWARDS and also the case JOANNA GUALTIERI v. ATTORNEY GENERAL OF CANADA, FRANK TOWNSON, IAN DAWSON, KEN PEARSON, JAMES JUDD, GORDON SMITH, GEOFF CLIFFE-PHILLIPS, DONALD CAMPBELL and LUCIE EDWARDS: (a) what are the total expenditures of the government with regard to these cases including, but not limited to, all legal fees, monitoring the progress and impact on public opinion of the case, in preparing communications strategies, and in preparing briefing packages for officials and ministers, on an annual basis, broken down by expenditure item; and (b) with respect to the figures in (a), how much was spent annually, on a departmental or agency basis?

Q-272² — May 15, 2008 — — Regarding requests for financial assistance made to the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec for the 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 financial years, and by regional office: (a) for requests submitted for the authorization of the Regional Director, how many did he approve, and how many did he reject; (b) for requests submitted for the authorization of the General Director for Regional Coordination, how many did he approve, and how many did he or she reject; (c) for requests submitted for the authorization of the Vice-President for Operations, how many did he approve, and how many did he reject; (d) for requests submitted for the authorization of the President, how many did he approve, and how many did he reject; and (e) for requests submitted for the authorization of the Minister, how many did he approve, and how many did he reject?

Q-273² — May 22, 2008 — — With regard to the observations and recommendations in the May 2008 report of the Auditor General of Canada pertaining to the management of detentions and removals by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA): (a) has the Process Monitoring Framework for the issuance of temporary resident permits to persons with serious past criminal convictions (paragraph 7.18) been implemented; (b) what measures does the Department of Public Safety intend to take to ensure compliance with the conditions of these permits; (c) what measures does the Department of Public Safety intend to take to ensure the consistency of CBSA decisions regarding detention (paragraph 7.24); (d) does the Department intend to establish a process for when the number of detainees exceeds the number of beds available to ensure that the number of detainees awaiting hearing who are in a cell does not exceed capacity and that these detainees have access to a bed (paragraph 7.28); (e) are talks underway between CBSA and Quebec’s Ministry of Public Security towards an agreement on detention costs (paragraph 7.32); (f) why does the Quebec Region of CBSA no longer receive funding for the removal of failed refugee claimants (paragraph 7.42); (g) will the Quebec Region of CBSA once again receive additional funding for the removal of failed refugee claimants; (h) what is the total amount recoverable from air carriers who brought failed refugee claimants into Canada (paragraph 7.44); and (i) have the debts of any of these carriers been written off or is the government still attempting to recover the unpaid amounts (paragraph 7.44)?

Q-274² — May 27, 2008 — — With respect to the redecorating and renovations of ministers’ parliamentary and departmental offices in the National Capital Region for the last five years: (a) what amount has each department spent on such improvements, on an annual basis; (b) on which date was each project approved and completed; (c) what was the nature of the renovations undertaken in each instance; (d) what is the normal approval process for such work; (e) which projects were undertaken at the demand of a minister or their political exempt staff; (f) when were they undertaken and at what cost; (g) how much has been spent on buying or renting art work for each ministers’ office, on an annual basis; (h) what artwork was purchased, when, and for how much; (i) how much has been spent on flowers or plants for each minister’s office, on an annual basis; (j) how much has been spent on new furniture for each minister’s office, on an annual basis; (k) what furniture was purchased, when, and for how much; (l) how much has each minister spent on purchasing new technology for their office, on an annual basis; and (m) what new technology items were purchased, when, and for how much?

Q-275 — May 27, 2008 — — With regard to the costs of the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games: (a) what are the direct costs, past and planned, in grants and transfers to the Province of British Columbia (BC) or the governments of any municipalities therein from the federal government; (b) will the federal government be making any financial contribution to the 2010 Olympic Games by way of loans to the BC government or the governments of any municipalities therein and, if so, have these loans already been issued and what are the current and projected total amount of any loans issued by the federal government in this matter; (c) given the existing cost overrun from the 2003 bid forecast, will or has the federal government been providing financial assistance in any way either through direct grants, transfers or loans to the provincial government of BC or the governments of any municipalities therein to cover any additional cost overruns; (d) will the BC government be solely responsible for any additional cost overruns; (e) what are the direct costs in grants and transfers to all non-governmental entities, organizations, committees and agencies associated with the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games from the federal government; (f) what are the indirect costs to the federal government for the 2010 Olympic Games including (i) direct payment and transfers to the BC provincial government or the governments of any municipalities therein in terms of transportation, logistics and salary costs associated with private and RCMP security for the games, (ii) military security costs for transportation and logistical costs associated with all military security provided for the 2010 Olympic Games; (g) what are other infrastructure costs being born by the federal government including construction, renovation, expansion or improvements of buildings, highways, public transportation or transportation for athletes associated with the 2010 games; and (h) what is the best government estimate at this time for the total cost of the 2010 games to the federal government taking into consideration all aforementioned direct and indirect expenses?

Q-276 — May 27, 2008 — — With regard to the security of the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games: (a) how many total Royal Canadian Mounted Police and private security personnel will be detached to provide security services for the games; (b) how many total Canadian Forces (CF) personnel will be employed to provide security services for the games; (c) how many of these CF personnel are reservists; (d) how many of these CF personnel are regular forces personnel; and (e) what are the total anticipated salary costs of all CF personnel who are currently or will be tasked with providing security or logistical services for the 2010 games?

Q-277 — May 28, 2008 — — With regard to the tax reductions introduced by the government since the beginning of 2006, how much less in taxes could a retired couple over the age of 65 with combined income of $40,200 (with one spouse having a private pension income of $23,000, $11,490 in income from Canada Pension Plan and Old Age Security (OAS) payments, and the other spouse having an income of $5,710 in OAS payments) save as a result of: (a) the introduction of pension income splitting; (b) the increase in the age credit; (c) the increase in the pension income credit; (d) the reduction in the goods and services tax; (e) the increase in the basic personal exemption; (f) the reduction of personal income tax rates; (g) the increase in the refundable medical expense supplement, if eligible expenses are $2,000; (h) the introduction of the public transit tax credit, if the cost of a monthly pass is $42; (i) the increase in the maximum amount eligible for the spouse or common-law partner credit; and (j) the Tax-Free Savings Account?

Q-278² — May 28, 2008 — — With respect to Canada's mission in Afghanistan and the use of cluster munitions by Canadian Forces: (a) does Canada use cluster munitions in its military operations; (b) do any of Canada's allies use cluster munitions in areas where the Canadian military is operating; (c) have cluster munitions been used by Canada or its allies in Afghanistan and, if so, when, and does this practice continue; (d) what assurances exist to ensure that cluster munitions are not used by Canada or its allies in Afghanistan; (e) are there any agreements between Canada and its allies explicitly prohibiting the use of cluster munitions in joint operations; (f) are there any agreements between Canada and its allies explicitly prohibiting the use of cluster munitions in Afghanistan; (g) are there any agreements between Canada and its allies prohibiting the use of certain military tactics or weapons; (h) have cluster munitions ever been deployed by Canada or its allies in past joint military operations; (i) has Canada ever negotiated guidelines for the prohibition of certain weapons in joint operations; (j) what is the government's definition of what constitutes an acceptable success rate for self-destruction mechanisms and precision guidance systems for cluster munitions; (k) how was this acceptable rate of success arrived at; (l) has the Canadian Forces destroyed all existing stockpiles of cluster munitions in its arsenal and, if not, why not; and (m) does Canada intend to procure munitions in the future?

Q-279² — May 28, 2008 — — With respect to Canada's military imports and exports: (a) did Canada import any products from the United Kingdom between October and December 2007 containing depleted uranium and, if so, what were these products and what were their end uses; and (b) has Canada imported any products containing depleted uranium from 2007 to 2008 from other countries and, if so, what products and from which countries?

Q-280² — June 3, 2008 — — With respect to the Department of Citizenship and Immigration, what has been the total departmental spending on citizenship courts, divided by line item, for each of the last ten fiscal years: (a) nationally; (b) in each province and territory; and (c) in each of Mississauga, Toronto and Ottawa, Ontario, Québec City and Montréal, Quebec, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Saskatoon and Regina, Saskatchewan, Edmonton and Calgary, Alberta and Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia?

Q-281² — June 3, 2008 — — With regard to the Canada Student Loans Program, for each year for the 5 fiscal years starting with 2002-2003, up to and including 2006-2007: (a) what were the total number of direct loan borrowers in repayment status; (b) what was the total amount of interest revenue generated by those direct loan borrowers; (c) what were the total administrative costs for the program; (d) how many direct loans were written off; and (e) what was the total dollar value of those written off direct loans?

Q-282² — June 3, 2008 — — With regard to the Canada Student Loans Program, for each year that the debt reduction and interest relief programs have been operating: (a) how many students have applied for assistance under each program; (b) how many of those applications have been approved; (c) from the applications that were denied, how many applications have been appealed, and how many of these appeals have subsequently been approved; (d) what are the three most common reasons for the decline of a debt reduction or interest relief application or for an appeal; and (e) how many students who have been previously declined for debt reduction or interest relief reapply at a later date?

Q-283 — June 5, 2008 — — With respect to federal spending in the riding of Hamilton Mountain, what has been the total federal spending during fiscal years 2006-2007 and 2007-2008, itemized according to: (a) the date the money was received in the riding; (b) the dollar amount of the expenditure; (c) the federal program from which the funding came; (d) the ministry responsible; and (e) the designated recipient?

Q-284 — June 5, 2008 — — With respect to federal spending in the city of Hamilton, what has been the total federal spending during fiscal years 2006-2007 and 2007-2008, itemized according to: (a) the date the money was received in the city; (b) the dollar amount of the expenditure; (c) the federal program from which the funding came; (d) the ministry responsible; and (e) the designated recipient?

Q-285 — June 5, 2008 — — With respect to federal spending in the riding of Hamilton Mountain, what total federal spending has been announced for fiscal year 2008-2009 and beyond, itemized according to: (a) the date the money is to be, or has been received in the riding; (b) the dollar amount of the expenditure; (c) the federal program from which the funding came or will come; (d) the ministry responsible; and (e) the designated recipient?

Q-286 — June 5, 2008 — — With respect to federal spending in the city of Hamilton, what total federal spending has been announced for fiscal year 2008-2009 and beyond, itemized according to: (a) the date the money is to be, or has been received in the city; (b) the dollar amount of the expenditure; (c) the federal program from which the funding came or will come; (d) the ministry responsible; and (e) the designated recipient?

Q-287² — June 10, 2008 — — With respect to the Mountain Pine Beetle disaster: (a) how much money has been designated by the government to address this issue; (b) when, where and which government official announced these allocation of funds; (c) to date, how much has been spent; (d) in which provinces and municipalities have these funds been spent; (e) how have these funds been spent; (f) which companies or front-line government agencies have received payment for related services; (g) what is the timeline for the spending of any remaining funds; and (h) how will these remaining funds be allocated?

Q-288² — June 10, 2008 — — What is the total amount of government funding, since fiscal year 2004-2005 up to and including the current fiscal year, allocated within the constituency of , listing each department or agency, initiative, and amount?

Q-290² — June 11, 2008 — — With regard to the government initiative to determine the legitimacy of overseas marriages of Canadians: (a) in what countries is this initiative operating; (b) is this initiative operating in Canada; (c) how many reports have been submitted by anyone involved in this initiative to any Canadian visa office; (d) what are the costs incurred by this initiative; (e) how many individuals or teams of individuals involved with this initiative are operating either inside or outside of Canada; (f) what training documents or operations manuals are given to these individuals or teams of individuals; (g) what mandate and instructions are given to these individuals or teams of individuals; (h) what criteria are used to assess the legitimacy of a marriage; (i) are the individuals or teams of individuals doing this work Canadian citizens; and (j) has the government made foreign governments of countries where these individuals or teams of individuals are operating aware of this initiative?

Q-291² — June 11, 2008 — — With regard to Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s total spending on it’s Immigration Program, listed by each year, to 2009, and projected into 2011: (a) in fiscal year 2008-2009 and the two fiscal years following, what positions, departments, services, resources will be eliminated, downsized, or merged; (b) are there any plans to lay off staff and, if so, how many staff will be laid off; (c) are there any plans to eliminate or reorganize positions and, if so, how many staff positions will be eliminated; (d) are there any additional plans for reorganization or downsizing of staff positions; (e) are there any plans with regards to the merger or reorganization of offices within the departments; (f) which offices within the departments will be eliminated; (g) which offices within the departments will be downsized; (h) are there plans to eliminate any services; (i) how many services will be reorganized or merged; (j) how many services will be downsized; (k) how many resources will be eliminated; (l) how many resources will be downsized; (m) how many resources will be reorganized or merged; (n) which regions, towns, municipalities or provinces will face a reduction or reorganization of immigration and settlement services, offices, staff, resources, departments or centers; (o) what translation or multi-language resources, services, staff, departments or offices will be reorganized, downsized, eliminated or merged; and (p) which overseas offices, processing centres, welcoming centres, information centres, will be reorganized, downsized, merged or closed?

Q-292² — June 12, 2008 — — With regard to the enlistment of a private company to process immigration visas by the government: (a) how many privately run visa application centres are operating abroad, under contract with the government; (b) in which countries are private companies processing Canadian visa applications; (c) what security provisions have been made to protect the process from abuse, theft or exploitation; (d) what assurances were sought or received by the government that the personal information of applicants using these private immigration centres is not shared with foreign governments or other third party actors; (e) what are the terms of reference with respect to contracts signed between private companies operating Canadian visa applications centres abroad and the government; (f) what are the total costs of contracting these services to private companies, according to company, on an annual basis and over the duration of their contract; (g) what are the names and contact information for all companies operating these centres; (h) which representatives of these companies did the government deal with in awarding the contracts; (i) what is the rationale for out-sourcing immigration services to the private sector and what cost-benefit analysis has been undertaken to show that this model provides a better monetary value as opposed to using canadian immigration officials; (j) when did this process begin and under whose request; (k) what is the change in application cost in places where private immigration centres operate, what additional costs are charged to prospective immigration applicants, by location, since the inception of private immigration services; (l) what studies, audits or evaluations were consulted before enlisting private companies to process immigration visas; with respect to those paid for by the government, what was the title and date of publications of each report, who was the principal authors and if private consultants were used to pursue these studies, who were they and how much were they paid; (m) what services are the privately run centres contracted to offer; (n) have any assurances been made by foreign governments with regard to the security of documents held at these centres; (o) do representatives of the foreign countries, in which these private immigration centres operate, have the right to enter the facilities and seize documents; (p) what provisions have been made to ensure the quality of service offered by these centres; (q) has any Canadian employee lost employment or receive reassignment due to the enlistment of these private companies and, if so, how many and in which locations; (r) were the contracts awarded to private immigration centres publicly tendered and, if so, when and, if not, why not; (s) who signed the awarded contracts to private companies on behalf of the government; (t) has any Canadian company applied for contracts under the tendering process and, if so, which ones; (u) has any Canadian company won contracts to offer these services and, if so, which ones; (v) has the government taken measures to ensure that no extra fees are charged by these companies directly to visa applicants; (w) has the government studied past reports of security breaches by VFS Global reported in the news media; (x) is the government liable for lost or stolen private documents in these private facilities and, if so, has a legal opinion been sought on this contract; and (y) does the government have the right to end the contract in the event of lost of stolen documents?

Q-293 — June 12, 2008 — — When will the government commence construction of a new school in Cat Lake to replace the Cat Lake First Nation's school?


² Response requested within 45 days