Debates of June 3rd, 2015

Aboriginal Affairs

[Peter Julian, NDP, Burnaby—New Westminster, BC]

Mr. Speaker, more words are not needed; action is needed.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission was clear that in order to achieve reconciliation, we need a new relationship based on mutual respect, a nation-to-nation relationship.

However, despite the many moving stories Canadians heard yesterday, the Prime Minister is still insisting that he will not implement the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

In the spirit of reconciliation, I ask the Conservatives again, will they listen to the commission and implement the UN declaration?

[Mark Strahl, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development]

Mr. Speaker, as I said, Canada is one of the only countries in the world where aboriginal and treaty rights are recognized in its Constitution. We have endorsed the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

We have also done more than that. We have extended the rights on reserve to women. Women living on reserve were given the same rights as women living off reserve. We brought the Canadian Human Rights Act to bear on reserve. When we do that, the opposition always votes against it.

[Peter Julian, NDP, Burnaby—New Westminster, BC]

Mr. Speaker, reconciliation is about more than just words. It is also about taking concrete action. We need to start fresh, in a nation-to-nation relationship, and that is what the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples would allow us to do. However, the Prime Minister is still caught up in his ideology.

Why is he refusing to protect the fundamental rights of aboriginal peoples? Why?

[Mark Strahl, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development]

Mr. Speaker, actions do speak louder than words. Every time we take action to improve the lives of first nation people, the NDP votes against it.

We have brought in matrimonial property rights for women living on reserve. We have brought in water and waste water standards, like all other Canadians expect, for Canadians living on reserve. We have brought in the Canadian Human Rights Act to protect people living on reserve. The NDP always votes against aboriginal Canadians whenever it is presented with the chance in the House.

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, Beauséjour, NB]

Mr. Speaker, the report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada shows how much work we need to do to repair the harm suffered by first nations, Métis and Inuit peoples.

This government appointed Justice Sinclair, who made 94 recommendations to really close this sad chapter in our history, which has been described as cultural genocide.

The Liberal Party immediately accepted those 94 recommendations. Will this government do the same?

[Mark Strahl, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development]

Mr. Speaker, we do thank the truth and reconciliation commission and the commissioners for their work and salute the former residential school students who shared their stories with Canadians. We appreciate that being documented for all Canadians.

We will take the time to consider the recommendations in the light of the full report, which will be released at the end of this year, so we can carefully consider those. Unlike the Liberal Party, we believe that we need to take a close look at those recommendations and consider them in the light of the full report.

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Wascana, SK]

Mr. Speaker, the chair of the truth and reconciliation commission, Justice Sinclair, says the abhorrent system of residential schools was an exercise in cultural genocide. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada agrees, as do previous prime ministers, and Canadians more generally.

However, judging by comments made by Judge Sinclair yesterday, after his meeting with the Prime Minister, the government is not yet on the same page.

Would the government explicitly acknowledge the cultural genocide that has taken place and will it agree with the TRC's recommendations?

[Mark Strahl, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development]

Mr. Speaker, when the Prime Minister made the historic apology on behalf of all Canadians in 2008, the government recognized that the Indian residential schools caused great harms to individuals, to communities and to an entire society, and that the attitudes that gave way to that policy had no place in Canada.

While we cannot undo the past, we can learn from it. We have taken the steps necessary to bring closure to the legacy of Indian residential schools. We will continue to promote reconciliation between aboriginal and non-aboriginal Canadians, and we will consider the recommendations of the report in the context of the full report, which will be released later this year.

International Trade

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

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Minister of State for Small Business said that Canada would promote supply management during the trans-Pacific partnership negotiations.

That same day, his colleague from Edmonton Centre called supply management an anachronism that needs to disappear, and the Prime Minister's Quebec lieutenant spoke about compensating Canadian producers who could be penalized in the trans-Pacific partnership negotiations.

Is the government truly committed to protecting supply management, yes or no?

[Maxime Bernier, Conservative, Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism]

Yes, Mr. Speaker.

Aboriginal Affairs

[Carol Hughes, NDP, Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the report issued by the commission yesterday was clear. A public inquiry into missing and murdered women is a step towards reconciliation.

Once again, the minister is refusing to show respect and sensitivity. This is not the time to remain seated, arms crossed. Now is the time to show some leadership and launch this inquiry.

Why does the minister keep refusing to listen to victims?

[Susan Truppe, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary for Status of Women]

Mr. Speaker, we do not need another study on top of the 40 we already have. It is this government that continues to stand up for victims of violence.

Since coming to office, we have toughened sentences for murder, sexual assault, kidnapping and imposed mandatory prison sentences for most of the crimes, and that member and that party votes against everything we do. We also passed the historic legislation that gave aboriginal women on reserves the same matrimonial rights that they have, including emergency protection orders. Again, those members vote against everything we do to help aboriginal women and girls.

[Carol Hughes, NDP, Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the minister did not stand; he stayed in his seat. Shame on them.

During Justice Sinclair's address, the room erupted with cheers when he called for a national inquiry on missing and murdered indigenous women, yet the minister pointedly stayed in his seat.

There are now more than 1,200 missing and murdered indigenous women in Canada. Without justice for these women and their families, there can be no reconciliation.

Will the minister do the right thing and commit to immediately launching a national inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous women?

[Susan Truppe, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary for Status of Women]

Mr. Speaker, it was this government that brought in the action plan to address family violence and violent crimes against aboriginal women and girls, as well as the family violence prevention program. Again, the opposition members voted against it.

Since coming to office, we passed more than 30 criminal justice and public safety initiatives, including tougher sentences for murder, sexual assault, kidnapping and mandatory prison. The opposition members continue to vote against every single thing we do to help women and girls in Canada.

International Trade

[Malcolm Allen, NDP, Welland, ON]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Minister of State for Agriculture claimed that he would defend supply management, but at committee the hon. member for Edmonton Centre said, “supply management needs to disappear”. It seems some members of the Conservative caucus have actually been telling the truth lately. Farmers no longer really trust the government when it comes to supply management.

Will the minister denounce the member for Edmonton Centre, or have the Conservatives truly given up on egg farmers, poultry farmers and dairy farmers across our country?

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Minister of International Trade]

Mr. Speaker, our government will continue to promote Canada's trade interests across all sectors of our economy, across every region of our country, including supply management. That has never prevented us from successfully completing trade agreements with countries like the United States, the European Union and South Korea.

We make no apologies for ensuring that any deal reached must be in Canada's best interests. As always, we will only sign a trade agreement that is in the best interests of Canadians.

[Ruth Ellen Brosseau, NDP, Berthier—Maskinongé, QC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday another Conservative gave farmers yet more reason to worry about whether our supply management system will be protected.

In committee, the member for Edmonton Centre said that supply management should disappear. Negotiations are going on behind closed doors, and farmers are in the dark. This will jeopardize 3,500 farms in Quebec alone. The industry is worth $3.2 billion per year.

Have the Conservatives decided to sacrifice supply management, yes or no?

[Maxime Bernier, Conservative, Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism]

Mr. Speaker, earlier, I told my Liberal Party colleague that we will continue to defend supply management. I said yes.

In answer to this question, I have to say no because the question was whether we will dismantle supply management. We will continue to promote supply management.

[Ruth Ellen Brosseau, NDP, Berthier—Maskinongé, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the minister responsible for Quebec said that concessions would have to be made for the trans-Pacific partnership to work.

The minister of state is playing word games by saying that he will promote supply management without guaranteeing that he will maintain it.

For his part, the Prime Minister said that Canada will have to make difficult choices.

Farmers deserve honesty.

My question is simple. Will the Conservative government preserve supply management within the context of the trans-Pacific partnership, yes or no?

[Maxime Bernier, Conservative, Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism]

Mr. Speaker, yes, we will continue to preserve supply management.

The Economy

[Sadia Groguhé, NDP, Saint-Lambert, QC]

Mr. Speaker, clearly, the Minister of Finance keeps burying his head in the sand.

Our economy shrank by 0.6% in the first quarter, but the minister has brushed off any concerns about Canada possibly moving into recession.

This morning the OECD downgraded its forecasts for Canada's economic growth.

When will the minister pull his head out of the sand and admit that the economy is in trouble?

[Joe Oliver, Conservative, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, at the G7 meeting last week, it became clear that the global economy remains fragile.

The United States had a tough first half of the year, China's growth declined and Europe continues to struggle.

However, the Bank of Canada, the IMF and private sector economists are predicting a recovery for Canada's economy and solid growth throughout the year. Our economic action plan has been highly praised.

Taxation

[Pierre Dionne Labelle, NDP, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

Mr. Speaker, while the middle class is struggling to make ends meet, the Conservatives are allowing Canadian companies to put billions of dollars in tax havens with total impunity.

This year Canadians companies will hide $200 billion from the taxman. Of the five most popular destinations for Canadian direct investment abroad, three are tax havens. That is not right.

Instead of cutting thousands of jobs at the Canada Revenue Agency, will the Conservatives do something to combat offshore tax evasion?

[Kerry-Lynne Findlay, Conservative, Minister of National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, the government has zero tolerance for tax evasion. From 2006 to March 31, 2014, the CRA audited over 8,600 international tax cases, identifying over $5.6 billion in additional taxes. There has been no cut to auditors. In fact, we have increased the number of auditors at CRA.

Our unprecedented investments have provided the CRA with enhanced tools to pursue tax evaders like never before.

Additionally, our government has introduced over 85 measures to improve the integrity of the tax system. The NDP has voted against all—

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

Order, please. The hon. member for Skeena—Bulkley Valley.