Debates of June 17th, 2014

Natural Resources

[Stephen Harper, Conservative, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, that is an interesting way for the Leader of the Opposition to cover his own tracks. We all know that the NDP is ideologically opposed to all development of resources, something the NDP has called a disease on the Canadian economy.

The process we have in our government, in terms of environmental evaluations, is we establish independent expert panels that follow a public and scientific process. We have received a report from that process. We will make a decision, obviously based on the facts, in the not too distant future.

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Papineau, QC]

Mr. Speaker, UBC researchers have told us that a single tanker spill from the northern gateway would be catastrophic for B.C.'s pristine north coast and its economy. A large spill would cost $10 billion to clean up, and would wipe out over 4,000 full-time B.C. jobs.

Will the Prime Minister do the right thing and say “no” to the northern gateway pipeline?

[Stephen Harper, Conservative, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we know very well the leader of the Liberal Party's and his party's deep hostility to Canada's energy sector.

Notwithstanding that, the reality is that when we do environmental assessments of these very important projects, what we do is we set up independent experts, scientific panels that examine the facts. This government has approved some projects, not approved others, and conditionally approved some, based on the findings of panels, based on the finding of fact.

We are examining that report. We will make a decision based on the facts and the expertise in the not too distant future.

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Papineau, QC]

Mr. Speaker, on the north coast of British Columbia, people make their living on the water. The ocean is their economy, and it has been since before European contact.

Will the Prime Minister protect the B.C. economy, and say “no” to the northern gateway pipeline?

[Stephen Harper, Conservative, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I repeat, we make our decisions on these kinds of things, whether we approve, not approve, or conditionally approve projects, on the basis of the findings of independent panels of experts.

We will not approve a project unless we can determine that it is safe for the environment and safe for Canadians.

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Papineau, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the clock is ticking on the northern gateway pipeline project, and the Prime Minister needs to step up and take responsibility.

We still have no response to the questions about environmental impact, and aboriginal communities still have not been properly consulted.

Will the Prime Minister do the right thing and say “no” to the northern gateway pipeline?

[Stephen Harper, Conservative, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the responsible approach is completely different from the approach the Liberals would take. We cannot make a decision before we know the facts. We have established an independent panel of experts to examine this project, as we have done for other projects.

We will make a decision, based on the facts and the expertise we have received, in the not too distant future.

[Megan Leslie, NDP, Halifax, NS]

Mr. Speaker, the northern gateway pipeline project is dangerous for the environment. The risks of a spill are high and navigating oil tankers in the area will be difficult.

Apart from alienating the first nations, the only thing that this pipeline will do is export thousands of jobs. Canadians know that the northern gateway pipeline is destructive at every level.

Why do the Conservatives want to destroy the magnificent yet fragile ecosystem on the north coast of British Columbia?

[Greg Rickford, Conservative, Minister of Natural Resources and Minister for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario]

Mr. Speaker, we are carefully reviewing this report and a decision will be made shortly. Projects will be approved only if they are safe for Canadians and safe for the environment.

Speaking of reports, let us talk about the report from the Board of Internal Economy, which had but one recommendation: that the NDP pay back the $1.7 million it took from taxpayers. It is time for the NDP to pay it back.

[Nathan Cullen, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, like a schoolyard bully, the Prime Minister has targeted opponents, attempted to divide communities, and silenced the voices of anyone who dare oppose Enbridge northern gateway.

First nations in British Columbia will not be bullied by the Prime Minister. Communities are more united now than ever. Try as they might, the Conservatives will not silence the voices of the people of British Columbia.

The 21 Conservative MPs from British Columbia, will one of them have the audacity, the courage to stand up and say “no” to the Prime Minister, “no” to the oil lobby, and say “yes” to British Columbia, and reject this bad pipeline?

[Greg Rickford, Conservative, Minister of Natural Resources and Minister for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario]

Mr. Speaker, we are carefully reviewing this report, and a decision will be forthcoming. Projects will only be approved if they are safe for Canadians and safe for the environment.

While we are on the topic of reports, let us talk about the report from the Board of Internal Economy. That report has one recommendation: that the NDP pay back the $1.17 million it took from taxpayers. It is time for the NDP to pay it back.

[Nathan Cullen, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, not a single Conservative MP would stand up and answer that from British Columbia. It shows a lot about their convictions and their courage.

The Conservatives are preparing to rubber-stamp this project in just a few short hours. First nations are preparing their legal defence with their allies.

Who does the Conservative government have to blame for this opposition? According to its own special envoy, it is the Conservative Government of Canada. For years, the Conservatives put all of their efforts into berating opponents and insulting first nations. Do they know the best way to show first nations respect? It is to show first nations respect: Say no to this bad pipeline.

[Greg Rickford, Conservative, Minister of Natural Resources and Minister for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario]

Mr. Speaker, first nations have and will continue to make important contributions as a full partner in the development of our natural resources. In fact, the natural resources sector is the largest private employer of first nations and people in Canada. The success of this sector depends on their full participation, from environmental stewardship to the economic benefits of responsible resource development.

Aboriginal Affairs

[Linda Duncan, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Mr. Speaker, time and again the Conservatives simply fail to respect first nations. Now four Alberta first nations have filed suit against the government for failing to ensure access to safe drinking water, arguing failure to respect treaty rights, the Constitution, and international law.

Far too many first nations still suffer the effects of contaminated water, yet all the government has done is enact a law to transfer liability to the first nations.

How many more children will be denied safe drinking water before the government acts?

[Bernard Valcourt, Conservative, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development]

Mr. Speaker, our government is taking action so that first nations across Canada have the same quality of drinking water as all Canadians. That is why, since 2006, we have invested approximately $3 billion in first nations' water and waste water infrastructure and related public health activities.

As a matter of fact, in the last economic development action plan 2014, we invested $323 million, and that member and that party voted against it.

[Jean Crowder, NDP, Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC]

Mr. Speaker, we voted against Conservative budgets that failed first nations.

We have heard the minister's excuses many times before and from many different ministers. The shameful state of drinking water on first nation reserves has been ignored for far too long by far too many governments. Imagine parents being afraid to wash their children because the water is not safe. This has to change.

Will the minister stop stalling and ensure that first nation communities have the necessary funds for ensuring that everyone has access to safe drinking water?

[Bernard Valcourt, Conservative, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development]

Mr. Speaker, indeed, this has to change. That is why we passed the Safe Drinking Water for First Nations Act, which will, for the first time, provide first nation communities with drinking water and waste water standards that are comparable to other communities in the country. Again, on this one, the opposition voted against it.

[Jonathan Genest-Jourdain, NDP, Manicouagan, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the minister does not seem to be taking the matter seriously. I wonder how he would react if his home had no access to drinking water.

The problem of drinking water on reserves affects hundreds of people. By not living up to their commitment to provide resources to ensure access to drinking water on reserves, the Conservatives are leaving the communities exposed to shortages, or worse, to the contamination, of their drinking water.

We do not want to know what the excuses are; rather, we want to know how the minister has managed to allow this situation to deteriorate and what he is going to do to correct it.

[Bernard Valcourt, Conservative, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development]

Mr. Speaker, we are going to continue on exactly the same path that we started on: we will continue investing in aboriginal communities. Since 2006, we have invested approximately $3 billion in water and waste water infrastructure in aboriginal communities across the country.

As a matter of fact, in budget 2014 we propose to continue implementing our action plan with an investment of $323.4 million. That is a significant and meaningful investment.

Public Works and Government Services

[Élaine Michaud, NDP, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

Mr. Speaker, according to the Department of Defence's timeline, the contract to replace the CF-18s will not be finalized until 2018. That is the best-case scenario. The department has also acknowledged the possibility that the contract might not be signed until 2020. That gives the department plenty of time to launch a bidding process to get the best value for money and maximize spinoffs for aerospace industry workers.

Why does the Conservative government want to give billions of dollars to Lockheed Martin without even launching a bidding process to replace the CF-18s?

[Diane Finley, Conservative, Minister of Public Works and Government Services]

Mr. Speaker, as I have said many times, no decision has been made about replacing the CF-18 fleet. We have received reports from the air force, and those reports have been reviewed by a group of experts outside government. The experts confirmed that the analysis was both thorough and impartial. We will make a decision based on the reports, and that decision will be in the best interests of the forces that need this equipment.

National Defence

[Élaine Michaud, NDP, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

Mr. Speaker, first we had Bill Graham and David Pratt, two former Liberal ministers who never hid their enthusiasm for the American missile defence shield. Now a committee of Liberal and Conservative senators is recommending that Canada join the missile defence program.

Unelected people are taking a position and the Liberal leader is dodging questions while the Prime Minister is being very vague about his intentions. Either the Conservatives want in or they do not. There are no half measures here.

In the midst of slashing services to the public, are the Conservatives really going to spend billions on this questionable project?

[Rob Nicholson, Conservative, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the Senate for this report. I point out that it was unanimous. All the Conservatives and all the independent Liberals, or Liberal independents, whatever they are, were on side with this. We will review it very carefully.

[Jack Harris, NDP, St. John's East, NL]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister and his cabinet have already launched a few trial balloons on missile defence, and the answer from Canadians will always be “no” to this very expensive and ineffective system.

Yesterday's report from unelected and unaccountable Liberal and Conservative senators called on the Conservative government to favour joining the missile defence scheme. Is the government going to buy into this expensive boondoggle?

[Rob Nicholson, Conservative, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, what we are going to do is review the recommendations very, very carefully, as we should, and we are going to continue to monitor the international developments. Our focus will always be on the safety and security of Canadian families.