Debates of Sept. 26th, 2014

Citizenship and Immigration

[Robert Aubin, NDP, Trois-Rivières, QC]

Mr. Speaker, in July and September, Trois-Rivières hosted two oath-taking ceremonies where more than 200 immigrants from around the world became Canadian citizens.

Their pride at finally being fully integrated into Canadian society was lovely to see. They showed the same pride at having chosen Trois-Rivières and Mauricie to start this new chapter of their lives. I was pleased to be able to finally say “welcome home”.

However, we all know that for their integration to be a success, new Canadians certainly have to be able to participate in the workforce. I wish new Canadians the same success as the people who have had the pleasure, I hope, of working with me over the past few years. Those with names like Boivin, Dowd, Vézina or Lupien work alongside people called Chevaucherie, Verbeeck, Traoré or Karkach.

That is why I am again calling on all employers back home to take a chance on being open. Do not be intimidated by a name that is hard to pronounce. Together, we will meet the challenge of developing a more prosperous, fairer, and more inclusive society.

Russia

[Eve Adams, Conservative, Mississauga—Brampton South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, on this day in 1960, Cuban leader Fidel Castro announced his support for the then U.S.S.R. From that day forward, the world watched as the U.S.S.R. expanded and positioned itself as a threat to the western world, with an ally that is particularly close to Canadian and U.S. shores.

My family and millions of others lived through the horrors of Communism in Europe, and we now see the threat of expansionist Russia through the continuing hostilities in Ukraine. Allies in eastern Europe are likewise concerned.

This is a seminal moment in Ukrainian history, and the people of Ukraine need good neighbours and honest brokers to step up and speak up. I am proud to be a part of a team that is stepping up and denouncing the actions of a very aggressive Russian state.

Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health

[Cathy McLeod, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday our Prime Minister addressed the General Assembly of the United Nations, where he focused on Canada's global leadership to end the preventable deaths of mothers and children within a generation.

In his address, he noted the tremendous progress the world has made to save the lives of the world's most vulnerable through significant financial commitments and strategic partnerships. This was generated through the Canadian-led 2010 Muskoka initiative, and then the 2014 Saving Every Woman Every Child: Within Arm's Reach summit, which was in Toronto.

There are very inexpensive things that are making an enormous difference: from training birth attendants to providing small kits that cost five cents to reduce infections in children, newborns, and mothers to providing vitamin A tablets, which make a significant impact on mortality, at a cost of four cents a year.

In the words of our Prime Minister, “We have seen success, and we have momentum. Saving the lives of children and mothers is a fight we can win.”

The Apple of Tomorrow

[Mylène Freeman, NDP, Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to inform the House about the efforts of a group of farmers who have been working tirelessly for over 20 years to create a new apple: the Rosinette.

This new variety of apple is now being grown in numerous orchards in Oka, including the Coeur de pomme and Jude-Pomme orchards, and throughout Quebec.

The Rosinette, which is proof of our farmers' leadership, is available thanks to a group called The Apple of Tomorrow, producers and people of various backgrounds who are working to develop and diversify the apple industry. I am very proud of the farmers who make their career their passion, who provide us with the best nutritious foods and who form the foundation of a sustainable economy in our rural communities.

The Rosinette will be sold in Quebec this fall. Montrealers will be able to find it at the Verger Villeneuve kiosk in the Jean-Talon market.

I invite all my colleagues to join me in congratulating Roland Joannin, of Saint-Joseph-du-Lac, who started this project, as well as all those who have worked so hard to create the Rosinette.

Gilles Latulippe

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, it was with great sadness that Quebeckers learned of the passing of Gilles Latulippe, a great actor and comedian from Quebec's large artistic family.

Throughout his long career, he brought laughter and comfort to millions of Quebeckers over many generations. His passing leaves us with fond memories of his humour and talent. He will be remembered as one of the mainstays of television, given his many successful shows including Le 5 à 6, Symphorien, Poivre et Sel and Les démons du midi, just to name a few.

He was also a theatre personality and staged an annual summer show at his own theatre. He travelled all over Quebec, making us laugh and providing us with endless thrills as only he could, in such a simple and straightforward manner.

He received many awards and accolades, and right now, my thoughts are with his family, because he was, first and foremost, a great man to all those who loved him.

Labour

[John Rafferty, NDP, Thunder Bay—Rainy River, ON]

Mr. Speaker, “What we desire for ourselves, we wish for all”. Those are the immortal words of J.S. Woodsworth, and words we live by on this side of the House each and every day.

While the end of the Bombardier strike in Thunder Bay is something to be celebrated, the decision by the members of Unifor Local 1075 to go on strike, to stand firm during negotiations, and to hold out for a better deal was rooted in universal values that are held by most Canadians. Fairness, equality, and solidarity are all values we hold dear in this country.

We know that when times are tough, we should co-operate to make them better, and when times are good, we should share in this hard-won prosperity. We believe that in a competitive global marketplace, we are stronger standing together than on our own. These values were defended with great pride and effectiveness by the members of Unifor Local 1075 during this strike.

I congratulate all members of Unifor Local 1075 on their new collective agreement, and I would like them to know that on this side of the House we standing in solidarity with them.

International Trade

[Pierre Lemieux, Conservative, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to congratulate the organic sector of agriculture on an important trade accomplishment. Last week, the agriculture minister announced an agreement with Japan to boost trade in organic products. This new deal will make it much easier for Canadian businesses to sell organics in Japan, and gives our organic farmers equivalency agreements in markets, representing 95% of the world's organic sales.

Japan is the largest organic market in Asia. Demand is very high for quality Canadian products, like maple syrup, honey, soybeans, and grains. Industry estimates that this agreement will enable organic exports to Japan to reach $20 million annually in the next five years.

To quote Matthew Holmes of the Canada Organic Trade Association, “The government's leadership has ensured our producers enjoy privileged market access, while saving Canadian organic farms and businesses the needless costs of additional inspections and redundant certification”.

There is no doubt that Canada's products and standards are among the best in the world. Canadian farmers can count on our government to support growth and long-term prosperity on their farms.

Police and Peace Officers' National Memorial Day

[Scott Andrews, Liberal, Avalon, NL]

Mr. Speaker, September 28 is Canadian Police and Peace Officers' National Memorial Day. This occasion recognizes police and peace officers who have sacrificed their lives in the line of duty. This weekend, men and women from across Canada will gather in Ottawa to take part in the weekend's events.

I would like to recognize officers from the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary and the Newfoundland correctional officers who are here today. They have travelled from Newfoundland and Labrador to participate in the national memorial day. I thank all police and peace officers from my province and the entire country for the work they do and the important services they provide.

We only need to reflect back to June of last year, when a tragedy fell upon Moncton and three officers of the RCMP were killed in the line of duty. Families and colleagues continue to mourn their loss, while Canadians remain steadfast in support of the RCMP and all police and peace officers throughout the country.

As Canadians, we must never forget those who have sacrificed their lives, and always be mindful that police and peace officers do their jobs so we can be safe in our homes and communities. Today, we remember and stand in honour of officers who have sacrificed their own lives to serve and protect others. We continue to support and pray for the officers who work every day to protect us and our families.

Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health

[Lois Brown, Conservative, Newmarket—Aurora, ON]

Mr. Speaker, like my colleague from Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, I too would like to highlight the work of our Prime Minister in maternal, newborn, and child health.

The Prime Minister and Minister of International Development and Minister for La Francophonie have been in New York this week advocating for children and mothers. When world leaders met in Muskoka, in 2010, our Prime Minister put maternal and child health on the agenda. Our government followed up with an important high-level summit in Toronto, in May, generating tremendous support for this issue.

Yesterday, the Prime Minister announced an important investment through the World Bank that will engage the expertise of the private sector, leveraging funds to make a difference. These are key initiatives, agreed upon in Toronto, that further our record of encouraging involvement by partner countries and organizations.

Our government is a world leader in the protection of mothers and children, and Canadians can rightly take pride in Canada's leadership.

National Defence

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

Mr. Speaker, sending Canadian men and women into harm's way is the most serious responsibility we have as legislators. Yet, the Prime Minister has refused to answer a single question in the House about the deployment for war.

It was in New York that he first mused about sending bombers to Iraq. Meanwhile, his hand-picked spokesman has treated the House of Commons as a crude circus, underlining Conservatives' disrespect not just for the institution of Parliament but for the Canadian people.

The Conservatives have systematically undermined the independent officers of Parliament who hold government to account; they have created black holes of secrecy around their ministers, and turned parliamentary committees into kangaroo courts. However, now they have reduced Parliament itself to a debased side show on the eve of a war.

In a minute, the Leader of the Opposition will rise to ask the Prime Minister questions about the plan to deploy troops to Iraq. The Prime Minister has a chance to answer these questions in the House about sending our men and women overseas to fight another war. Will the Prime Minister do this?

Islamic State

[Chungsen Leung, Conservative, Willowdale, ON]

Mr. Speaker, as the world watches the disturbing situation unfold in Iraq and Syria, we are again shocked by ISIL's latest action.

A few days ago, we learned that ISIL destroyed the Armenian Holy Martyrs church, and the Museum of the Holy Martyrs, a memorial to the victims of the Armenian genocide that houses the remains of those who perished in 1915. The deliberate and barbarous destruction of another holy site again reveals the true nature of ISIL and its agenda, which is driven by hate and intolerance.

Our government continues to condemn ISIL, a terrorist organization that tramples on the fundamental rights of all people.

National Defence

[Thomas Mulcair, NDP, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, on Wednesday, in New York, the Prime Minister claimed that he had received a letter from the United States asking Canada to take on a larger role in the war in Iraq. Last night it was revealed in several news media and in particular, on Global, that it was in fact the Prime Minister who proposed getting Canada even more deeply involved in Iraq. Why did the Prime Minister mislead Canadians about who proposed escalating Canada's involvement in Iraq?

[James Bezan, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, let us put things in perspective here. We have a murderous terrorist group literally raping and pillaging across the Middle East. They are beheading journalists, kidnapping women and selling them into slavery. Our government is focused on how Canada can contribute to stop this reign of terror. Instead, the opposition is focused on intergovernmental correspondence.

[Thomas Mulcair, NDP, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, let us put things in perspective here. This is about whether or not the Prime Minister of Canada tells the truth. Here is what the Prime Minister said in New York:

The United States has just recently, in the last couple days, has asked [Canada] for some additional contribution....

That was not true and that is a serious matter.

Yesterday evening, the Minister of Foreign Affairs said that the House of Commons would vote before Canada launched any air strikes in Iraq.

Since when has Canada been planning on delivering air strikes?

[James Bezan, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, we are in constant contact with all our allies, including and especially the United States, on multiple foreign affairs matters, including what is going on in Iraq with ISIL. We are working with our allies to determine what role Canada can play to oppose this murderous regime.

The U.S. request for further military assistance is under consideration. What we have yet to hear from the NDP is exactly what it would do to address the ISIL terrorist threat.

[Thomas Mulcair, NDP, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, are these air strikes one of the options that the government is currently considering? Are they one of the requests contained in the letter that the Prime Minister claims to have received?

For the sake of clarity, since the Conservatives are saying that there is no problem, why not make the letter public so that Canadians can judge for themselves?

[James Bezan, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, unlike the previous Liberal government, our government's practice on combat missions, whether it was in Afghanistan or back in Libya, has been clear. The government's decision to deploy the Canadian Armed Forces in a combat mission will be debated and voted on in the House of Commons as a matter of confidence. Canada's current mission is not a combat mission. We are looking at renewing our current 30-day commitment, which started on September 5.

I am not going to speculate on a decision that has not as yet been taken. That said, our government's practice of subjecting combat missions to parliamentary debate and votes is long-standing.

International Trade

[Thomas Mulcair, NDP, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, actually, the public record could not be clearer. Ten years ago, when he was opposition leader, the current Prime Minister said, every military mission, no conditions, no exceptions. There was absolutely no reference to combat missions. They are making that up now. The same thing happened in the 2007 throne speech. They are making it up.

This morning, while the Prime Minister is smiling for photo ops with European diplomats, the largest economy in Europe is preparing to block the new agreement. Germany wants to say no.

Can the minister confirm that Germany is threatening to reject the new free trade agreement between Canada and Europe?

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

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to announce to the House that Canada, just today as part of our Canada-EU summit, has released the full text of the agreement for CETA.

This is a deal that will lead to 80,000 new jobs for Canadians and a 20% increase in trade. The German delegation that was here yesterday is very positive on this agreement. This will move it forward and will bring tremendous opportunity for exporters in Canada.

[Thomas Mulcair, NDP, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, here is what the Germans are very positive about. They are very positive that they reject the investment rules in the agreement. They said:

It is utterly clear that we reject these investment protection rules....

Germany is rejecting the nefarious investor state provisions in the CETA that would give private corporations the right to sue elected governments and effectively overturn democratically elected laws. Numerous news agencies report that Germany stands ready to block the deal. Will Conservatives finally abandon these undemocratic provisions in the CETA and get a trade deal with Europe that is a good deal for all Canadians?

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

Mr. Speaker, the leader of the official opposition once again has it wrong. Negotiators from Canada and the EU, including Germany, were given a clear mandate for investor state dispute settlement to be a part of this deal, as has been the case with dozens of other deals that the EU and Germany have signed. This provides certainty for both countries in the event of any dispute. In a deal this big—we are talking about a $12 billion impact on our economy and 80,000 net new jobs—it is sad to see that the NDP is once again going to oppose trade.

National Defence

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Westmount—Ville-Marie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, in an interview with the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday, the Prime Minister suggested that he had been approached by President Obama about making a bigger contribution to the war in Iraq. Yesterday, we learned that, in fact, the opposite was true. The Prime Minister was the one who asked the United States what else we could do.

Why did the Prime Minister mislead Canadians?

[James Bezan, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, that is not at all what has happened. We know that this conversation started back in August with President Obama reaching out to Canada and to the Prime Minister to engage all allies in trying to build a coalition to deal with ISIL. I can say that throughout history Canada has always answered the call when innocents are being killed and when civilization itself is threatened. We will not stand idly by while ISIL continues to murder the innocent civilians and religious minorities in Iraq.

The United States has asked for additional military support. We are going to consider this request as we come up on the renewal of the 30-day deployment.

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Westmount—Ville-Marie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, in his interview with The Wall Street Journal, the Prime Minister was in fact misleading on more than one issue. He in fact told the interviewer of The Wall Street Journal that Canada does not collect metadata for its national security activities when in fact it does. As I said, the Prime Minister told Canadians that he was approached by the United States, as opposed to the inverse of that. Do Canadians not deserve a Prime Minister who is honest on these crucial issues?

[James Bezan, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, what a bunch of bunk. I can say that CSEC is prohibited by law from targeting Canadians at home or abroad, directly or indirectly. The CSEC's independent watchdog said in his annual report this year that he is “concerned that commentators are raising fears that are based, not on fact, but rather, on partial and sometimes incorrect information regarding certain CSEC activities”. He also verified that “CSEC's activities do not intentionally target the private communications of Canadians or any person in Canada, which would be unlawful”. The opposition members should read the watchdog's report.