Debates of Sept. 19th, 2014

Public Safety

[Peter MacKay, Conservative, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, the member for Souris—Moose Mountain makes a very good point. It is clear that the Liberal leader believes that terrorists with dual citizenship should keep their Canadian passports.

This government works to protect Canadians, both at home and abroad, and believes that we should be tough on terrorists. It seems the Liberal leader is worried about a two-tiered system. We will revoke the citizenship of dual nationals who are convicted of these very grave acts of terrorism against our country. If the Liberal leader does not understand the difference between law-abiding Canadians and terrorists, as the old saying goes, he is clearly not up to the job.

Justice

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives have shut Parliament out of the review process for Supreme Court nominees. The minister is doing this because of the lack of confidentiality in the previous review process.

However, he failed to mention that it was his government that was responsible for leaking information to the media.

Despite the risk of self-incrimination, will the minister impose sanctions for future Conservative leaks?

[Peter MacKay, Conservative, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, as always, the member is mistaken.

In fact, this government has been more open, more inclusive, more transparent than any when it comes to the process and inclusion of all of the individuals within the justice system for the selection of judges. Of course we consulted with justice ministers at the provincial level, Supreme Court judges and bar societies. We have even consulted lawyers like the member himself when it comes to these important decisions.

The member can be sure and Canadians certainly have assurances that this government will proceed, as we always have, with making good appointments based on legal merit, which is, of course, the executive decision of government.

Public Safety

[Kennedy Stewart, NDP, Burnaby—Douglas, BC]

Mr. Speaker, last month RCMP officers from the national security division showed up at the door of 71-year-old Lesslie Askin to question her. Why? The concerned citizen had taken photos of some aging fuel tanks near a Kinder Morgan facility in Burnaby. We know the Conservatives are going after charities that disagree with them—but now grandmothers?

The people who oppose Kinder Morgan are not foreign radicals. Rather, they are law-abiding citizens. What does the government have to say to this grandmother? Will it apologize to her and make sure she has no permanent record on her file of these activities?

[Roxanne James, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for that question.

The RCMP, like any policing agency in our country, investigates tips and complaints, which are filed. Obviously, that is its mandate. It investigates things that it receives.

I also understand that this matter has been resolved.

Foreign Affairs

[Bob Zimmer, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River, BC]

Mr. Speaker, earlier this week President Poroshenko restated the importance of strengthening global energy security. Our government is taking action. Yesterday, the Minister of Natural Resources and the United States Secretary of Energy continued their work to demonstrate global leadership on this important file.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources update the House on what our government is doing for Ukraine?

[Kelly Block, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for Prince George—Peace River for that question.

We are working closely with the United States in support of G7 efforts to share our collective expertise and technologies with Ukraine to assist it in transitioning to other energy sources. The minister also spoke about the importance of energy infrastructure in North America, and expressed the benefits of the Keystone XL pipeline and that we will have those benefits for both of our countries.

Unlike the NDP, who go to Washington to attack Canadian jobs, our government will work with the United States on these important issues.

International Trade

[Claude Patry, Bloc, Jonquière—Alma, QC]

Mr. Speaker, nearly a year after the announcement of a free trade agreement with the European Union, the federal government's promise to compensate the cheese producers of Quebec is still nothing but hot air, and the producers in my region are worried about potential losses—and rightly so.

When will the government keep its promise and deliver a compensation plan that meets the needs of cheese producers in Quebec?

[Pierre Lemieux, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture]

Mr. Speaker, our government has always defended Canada's supply management system and with this agreement, we are continuing to do so. The three pillars of our national supply management system remain intact. We will monitor the potential impact of this historic agreement on dairy producers' income and, if the level of protection is adversely affected, we will help the producers financially.

We are holding consultations with leaders in the dairy sector.

[Bruce Hyer, Green, Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, if our Prime Minister introduced a bill that would stick Canadian taxpayers with billions of dollars in payouts to China for three decades, give Chinese companies huge advantages over Canadian ones, and let secret tribunals weaken Canadian sovereignty, he knows that even his own MPs would vote against it. So why did the Prime Minister ratify this incredibly secretive, one-sided, and foolish treaty with communist China?

[Erin O'Toole, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for that question, but as the member knows well, China is the second-largest economy in the world. Canadian exporters are selling to and dealing with that country on a daily basis, and the jobs created from that account for one in five jobs in Canada.

Canadian exporters have been asking for protection. The P in FIPA stands for “protection”. This will give these companies certainty in their contractual dealings in China. It is levelling the playing field, because Chinese companies already have such protections and certainty in Canadian courts. This is about securing that certainty for our exporting sector.

Government Spending

[Brent Rathgeber, Independent, Edmonton—St. Albert, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the government established Shared Services Canada in 2011 to provide centralized technology infrastructure services. Its mandate includes providing better value for money. However, in 2013 alone, Shared Services Canada paid more than $275,000 in late-payment fees for cellular telephone services.

The government has promised, and I look forward to, a balanced budget in 2015. So the simple question is this: How much has the government budgeted to cover its own inability to pay its bills on time?

[Bernard Trottier, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Works and Government Services]

Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned earlier, Shared Services Canada has a mandate to manage telephony costs, and that is why it consolidated accounts from 75,000 separate accounts, and it is ensuring now that over 99% of all accounts are paid on time. We have reduced telephone costs alone by $57 million a year.

Presence in the Gallery

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Royal 22nd Regiment, I wish to draw the attention of members to the presence in our gallery of a number of soldiers from that regiment. Some are active members, others are retired.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear!

Interparliamentary Delegations

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, the report of the Canadian delegation of the Canada-Africa Parliamentary Association respecting its bilateral mission to the Republic of Madagascar and the Republic of Mozambique from March 15 to 21, 2014.

Navigable Waters Protection Act

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-624, An Act to amend the Navigable Waters Protection Act (Nepisiguit River).

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to introduce a bill today to protect the Nepisiguit River. I have an obligation to do everything I can to protect this waterway for my constituents. It is one of the most beautiful rivers in the northeast and runs alongside Pabineau First Nation land. We need to protect this treasure for future generations who, I hope, will be able to enjoy a clean and healthy river.

Unfortunately, the changes that the Conservatives have made to fish habitat protection, to the Navigable Waters Protection Act and to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act are going to compromise the quality of life of our children and grandchildren. That is why my New Democrat colleagues and I are taking measures to build a fairer and greener Canada.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed.)

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

Mr. Speaker, since I am already standing, I move that the House proceed to first reading of Senate public bills.

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

The question is on the motion. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

No.

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

All those in favour of the motion will please say yea.

[Some hon. members]

Yea.

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

All those opposed will please say nay.

[Some hon. members]

Nay.

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

In my opinion the nays have it.

And five or more members having risen:

Call in the members.