Evidence of meeting #65 for Citizenship and Immigration in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was irb.

A video is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Ray Ivany  President and Vice-Chancellor, Acadia University
Frank McKenna  Deputy Chair, Corporate Office, TD Bank Group
Clerk of the Committee  Ms. Erica Pereira
Peter Halpin  Executive Director, Association of Atlantic Universities
Sofia Descalzi  Chairperson, Canadian Federation of Students (Newfoundland and Labrador)
Natasha Clark  International Student Advisor, Memorial University of Newfoundland

3:55 p.m.

Conservative

Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB

Were you aware of a Conference Board of Canada report commissioned to look at the economic analysis of the Energy East pipeline project? That report stated that more than 3,771 jobs would be created by this project for New Brunswick specifically, and, it looks like, close to a billion dollars in tax revenues created for New Brunswick. Were you aware of that report?

3:55 p.m.

Liberal

Alaina Lockhart Liberal Fundy Royal, NB

I was not aware of that report specifically, but I'm aware of the potential impact of Energy East.

3:55 p.m.

Conservative

Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB

Excellent. In February of last year, there was a motion before the House that read:

given this time of economic uncertainty, the House: (a) recognize the importance of the energy sector to the Canadian economy and support its development in an environmentally sustainable way; (b) agree that pipelines are the safest way to transport oil; (c) acknowledge the desire for the Energy East pipeline expressed by the provincial governments of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, and New Brunswick; and (d) express its support for the Energy East pipeline currently under consideration.

How did you vote on that motion?

4 p.m.

Liberal

Alaina Lockhart Liberal Fundy Royal, NB

I did not vote for that motion. As you are aware right now, the Energy East project is being reviewed by the NEB. We've been very clear that our government supports getting our resources to tidewater, but we need to do it in a responsible way, and there was a process in place.

4 p.m.

Conservative

Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB

If the NEB rules in favour of that project, will you support it?

4 p.m.

Liberal

Alaina Lockhart Liberal Fundy Royal, NB

Yes.

4 p.m.

Conservative

Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB

How do you feel about other pipeline projects such as the gateway project that was approved by the NEB yet politically overturned by the government?

4 p.m.

Liberal

Alaina Lockhart Liberal Fundy Royal, NB

I think the government needs to make decisions on an individual basis in line with individual circumstances. Clearly, the Energy East project is one that potentially has more impact for Atlantic Canada, so that's the one I've focused on, but yes—

4 p.m.

Conservative

Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB

So it's okay for the Energy East pipeline to be approved and go forward, but not the gateway project that was overturned by the government.

4 p.m.

Liberal

Alaina Lockhart Liberal Fundy Royal, NB

That's not what I said. What I said—or what I intended to say if I didn't make it clear—was that there is a process, and we respect the process. I respect the process. If that process deems that Energy East is a good project, and the recommendation is to go forward with it, then I would support the government in their decision to do so.

4 p.m.

Conservative

Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB

Would you support the government if they decided to overturn the project as they did with gateway?

4 p.m.

Liberal

Alaina Lockhart Liberal Fundy Royal, NB

I think you've seen in the past that my colleagues and I, all 32 of us, would have an opportunity to talk with the government about the potential impacts you mentioned, and depending on the circumstances at that time, the government will make that decision.

4 p.m.

Conservative

Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB

So the Atlantic Liberal caucus would support Energy East in spite of a cabinet decision to overturn it—

4 p.m.

Liberal

Alaina Lockhart Liberal Fundy Royal, NB

I can't speak for what will happen in the future. What I'm telling you is that I support the process that's under way now.

4 p.m.

Conservative

Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB

That's a definite “I don't know” on 3,700 jobs.

I'll move on to a different report. Four of your colleagues wrote a report called the “Report of the Atlantic Growth Strategy Subcommittee on Innovation”, and in it they said:

Four to five months can be a lifetime for a business, especially for a startup. Following the approval of an application

—and this is in regard to ACOA—

finalizing the related contribution agreement may take anywhere from two to 12 months, further impeding a business’ opportunity to execute successfully.

In your opinion, is an ACOA minister from Mississauga the best way to overcome this particular impediment to economic growth in Atlantic Canada?

4 p.m.

Liberal

Alaina Lockhart Liberal Fundy Royal, NB

With all due respect, Ms. Rempel, we are talking today about immigration. That is the area that I'm focused on, and I think we have seen disruption of this committee and the way the time for testimony has been used. I'd really like to focus on immigration today.

4 p.m.

Conservative

Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB

I realize that you might be testy over this, but you did point out at the front end of your comments that you acknowledged there is a linkage between the retention of immigrants and economic growth. ACOA is a vehicle, supposedly, to see economic growth in Atlantic Canada. If your community and your colleagues are stating that the approvals process for ACOA grants is an impediment to economic growth, would you characterize the fact that the ACOA minister is now from Mississauga as an impediment to economic growth, and ergo, immigration retention?

4 p.m.

Liberal

Alaina Lockhart Liberal Fundy Royal, NB

No, I wouldn't say that at all. Actually, I would like to clarify. I believe what the report said was that that was one of the pieces of feedback my colleagues heard during that report.

June 7th, 2017 / 4 p.m.

Conservative

Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB

Actually, it's a determinative statement that I just quoted.

4 p.m.

Liberal

Alaina Lockhart Liberal Fundy Royal, NB

I don't believe it is.

4 p.m.

Conservative

Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB

It actually says:

Four to five months can be a lifetime for a business, especially for a startup. Following the approval of an application, finalizing the related contribution agreement may take anywhere from two to 12 months, further impeding a business’ opportunity to execute successfully.

Would you like to clarify your statement?

4 p.m.

Liberal

Alaina Lockhart Liberal Fundy Royal, NB

No, actually, what I would like to clarify is that ACOA has always been a vehicle for economic growth in Atlantic Canada, and I think it will remain very important in the future. As I mentioned in my—

4 p.m.

Conservative

Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB

Do you support having an ACOA minister Mississauga, Ontario, and the delays that have been created as a result?

4 p.m.

Liberal

Alaina Lockhart Liberal Fundy Royal, NB

Actually, I'm not going to qualify that question because it's putting all kinds of words in my mouth.

4 p.m.

Conservative

Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB

Thank you. I turn it over to Mr. Tilson.