Debates of Jan. 25th, 2016

Democratic Reform

[Scott Reid, Conservative, Lanark—Frontenac—Kingston, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the goals are public but everything the Prime Minister does with them is a secret.

On the subject of electoral reform, in the past two months we have seen a tsunami of editorials across the country calling for a referendum on electoral reform.

The Globe and Mail summarizes this near-unanimity by stating that electoral reform would be “...the biggest ever change in Canadian democracy. It will change how members of Parliament are elected, how governments are formed and who forms them....”

The Globe's conclusion was categorical: “When it comes to a change this big and this fundamental to our democracy, the only people qualified to decide are the people themselves. This has to go to a referendum.”

Is not The Globe and Mail right?

[Maryam Monsef, Liberal, Minister of Democratic Institutions]

Mr. Speaker, the government is committed to convening a parliamentary committee to study this and to consult broadly with Canadians.

I would like to take this opportunity to remind the members of this House that 100 years ago this week, the women of Manitoba secured the right to vote for women, and that is worthy of celebration.

Foreign Affairs

[Paul Lefebvre, Liberal, Sudbury, ON]

Mr. Speaker, last week, the world witnessed a horrendous terrorist attack in Jakarta, Indonesia, that took the life of one Canadian and another attack in Burkina Faso that claimed the lives of six Canadians. Our thoughts are with the victims' families.

Can the government tell the House what it is doing to support the investigations?

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, all Canadians are appalled by the horrendous attacks in Jakarta and Ouagadougou. The families of the Canadian victims can count on our full humanitarian and consular assistance, including repatriation of remains.

I am personally deeply aggrieved by the sudden end to the lives of the teachers who went to Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso to help a school. Let us carry on the victims' work by fighting terrorism wherever it rears its head and by doing good wherever it is needed.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Mr. Speaker, last week leaders from the Jewish, Sikh, and Muslim communities wrote to the Minister of Foreign Affairs indicating their strong support for the Office of Religious Freedom. They wrote that the office “has proven an effective advocate...raising our country's profile as a world leader in human rights promotion on the international stage.” This office is bringing people together internationally and here at home.

Will the minister commit today to keeping this vital office open?

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, freedom of religion is something that we will fight for very strongly. The way we will do it is something that the government is considering. All rights must be supported together. If we isolate them, they will be weaker; if we bring them together, they will be stronger. It is the approach that government will take in order to protect freedom of religion and all human rights everywhere that Canada needs to be.

Natural Resources

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

Mr. Speaker, the former Conservative government slashed environmental protections and gutted pipeline reviews, leaving out first nations on issues like climate change and cutting public participation. Last fall, the Liberals promised to reverse the damage and put in place a new review process for all pipelines, including existing proposals, but, as I speak, the Kinder Morgan and energy east reviews are continuing under the Conservatives' broken rules.

Will the minister stop pushing through reviews that come from the old discredited government and make good on the Liberals' election promise to establish new, stronger rules?

[Jim Carr, Liberal, Minister of Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, we have said all along that there will be a transitional process that will govern those major projects that are currently under review. That process will embody the principles that will be necessary if we are going to get approval of these very important projects for Alberta, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland. In an odd way, we are taking the member's advice.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

[Iqra Khalid, Liberal, Mississauga—Erin Mills, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to represent the people of Mississauga—Erin Mills in the House today. In my riding and across the country, Canadians have shown their willingness to help those who suffer and find themselves displaced from their homes and their countries. People have responded more than positively to the government's commitment to take in Syrian refugees.

Can the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship update the House on the number of Syrian refugees who have arrived on Canadian soil?

[John McCallum, Liberal, Minister of Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to thank my colleague for all of her hard work in this area. I am also pleased to tell the House that, as of today, 13,800 Syrian refugees will have arrived in Canada.

However, more important than the numbers, we have done this well, the world has noticed, and Canadians can take great pride in welcoming 25,000 people from a vicious civil war into our wonderful country of Canada.

Foreign Affairs

[Peter Kent, Conservative, Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, for months now, we have seen a growing wave of deadly attacks against Israelis by Palestinians, driven by the incitement of their leaders. Hamas and the Palestinian Authority make it clear they refuse to accept Israel's right to exist. Leaders of both entities have spoken openly of a third intifada, an uprising against Israel.

Can the Minister of Foreign Affairs explain his outrageously vague expression of concern yesterday and tell the House why he will not explicitly condemn the incitement?

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, Hamas was listed as a terrorist group in 2002 by a Liberal government. Canada will always fight terrorism and will never do anything other than condemn Hamas terrorism.

What we also want for our friend Israel is security, and for that we need a two-state solution. Any unilateral gestures, such as trying to recognize Palestine in a unilateral way instead of by the negotiations, or the settlements, are not a help for peace.

The Environment

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

Mr. Speaker, with all this chatter about Davos, I wonder if everyone has forgotten that the previous Prime Minister used that foreign and lofty perch to cut the retirement benefits of Canadians. It may have had something to do with his earlier retirement.

However, my question is to the Minister of Fisheries.

Right now there is an abandoned derelict vessel of great concern locally. I think that Canadians across this country are concerned about derelict vessels. The Kathryn Spirit was abandoned by its Mexican owners and no one is making sure that the toxic material within does not leak into Lac Saint-Louis.

Could the Minister of Fisheries give us an update please.

[Hunter Tootoo, Liberal, Minister of Fisheries]

Mr. Speaker, I think one of the main priorities and mandates of the Canadian Coast Guard is to protect our marine environment.

I want to take this opportunity to assure the member, all members of this House, and the public that the Kathryn Spirit is not discharging any pollutants. In fact, the Quebec ministry of environment has confirmed that there is no risk of contamination.

We will continue to work with our partners to mitigate any risks that fall within our jurisdiction.

Natural Resources

[Rhéal Fortin, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

Mr. Speaker, as opposition to TransCanada's energy east pipeline project grows, mayors in and premiers of western provinces are attacking Quebec, calling this pipeline Quebec's contribution to the Canadian economy and threatening that they will demand that Quebec pay back equalization payments. They are acting as though they own Quebec, in the name of Canadian unity.

Quebec has different values and has made different environmental choices. It is up to us Quebeckers to decide what happens in our own backyard.

Will the Prime Minister respect Quebeckers' right to say no to having a pipeline go through their national territory?

[Jim Carr, Liberal, Minister of Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, we are building the Canadian economy, and the Canadian economy will be built with large projects if they have the public confidence of Canadians. They have not had the public confidence of Canadians, which is why we are committed to modernizing the National Energy Board, and that modernization will proceed with a set of principles. The set of principles will include meaningful consultation with indigenous Canadians, a respect for the environment in all decisions, and an understanding that moving these resources to—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Order please.

The hon. member for Montcalm.

[Luc Thériault, Bloc, Montcalm, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Montreal metropolitan community tabled its report based on public consultations held last fall regarding TransCanada's energy east pipeline; 82 municipalities representing four million Quebeckers are against this pipeline project.

Since this project clearly does not meet the social licence requirement set by the Prime Minister, will he listen to the representatives of some four million Quebeckers and honour his election promise to not go ahead with this pipeline?

[Jim Carr, Liberal, Minister of Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, major projects will proceed if Canadians feel that they have been heard and if Canadians feel as if the process enjoys their confidence. It is possible in Canada to look at environmental protection and economic development at the same time. That is the commitment of this government, and that is what we intend to do.

Terrorist Attacks in Indonesia and Burkina Faso

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

I would now invite all members to rise for a moment of silence in memory of the victims of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, and Jakarta, Indonesia.

[A moment of silence observed]

Presence in Gallery

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

I would like to draw the attention of hon. members to the presence in the gallery of the Minister of Labour and Advanced Education and Minister responsible for Youth for the Province of Nova Scotia, the Honourable Kelly Regan.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear!

Performance Reports 2014-15

[Scott Brison, Liberal, President of the Treasury Board]

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of 93 departments and agencies, I have the honour to table, in both official language, the departmental performance reports for the 2014-15 fiscal year.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Order, please. I want to encourage members to take their discussions outside into the lobbies or behind the curtains. We would like to proceed with routine proceedings. I invite the whips to assist me with this.