Debates of Jan. 25th, 2016

Employment

[Candice Bergen, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

Mr. Speaker, this is a lesson to a new minister: never ask a question to which he does not know the answer. In fact, our government saw four major pipelines built across Canada, two of the pipelines to the U.S., with approximately 1.25 million barrels of oil per day flowing safely and responsibly to market. That is what our government did on this side of the House, and that is a fact.

We want to see more pipelines built. They create jobs and investment.

Will the Prime Minister pick up the phone, call his friend the mayor of Montreal, and tell him to smarten up and start standing up for Canadians jobs?

[Jim Carr, Liberal, Minister of Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, one of the major obligations of the Government of Canada is to make sure our resources end up at tidewater responsibly, and to do that we have to have processes that have the confidence of Canadians.

If we had had the confidence of Canadians, these major pipelines might have been built a long time ago, but there is none of that.

However, after we get through with a consultation process that has substance, includes indigenous peoples, and understands environmental issues, we will have a better chance than that government had.

Natural Resources

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Mr. Speaker, last week, the mayor of Montreal and the metropolitan community announced that they were against the energy east project. That is bad news for the Canadian economy. We need this project for Canada's economy and for every one of Canada's natural resource sectors.

What did the Prime Minister do about this while he was in Davos? Between selfies, he showed total disrespect for our natural resources industry. It is insulting and unworthy of a Prime Minister.

Can the Prime Minister call his old friend, Denis Coderre, the mayor of Montreal, and tell him that energy east is a good project for all Canadians, all Montrealers, and all Quebeckers?

[Jim Carr, Liberal, Minister of Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, I have had the opportunity to consult with Canadians in Winnipeg and in Halifax, and in two weeks in Vancouver.

My first trip outside of Ottawa was to Calgary, where I had an excellent conversation with industry leaders who had just come to the realization that if we are to determine the best way of getting our resources to market, we will need government, environmentalists, indigenous leaders, and industry.

If we are not able to accomplish that, we will have the record about which the people across should not be very boastful.

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the government seems to forget that the pipeline is the safest and most environmentally friendly way to transport oil. It is important, and it is part of the equation. We know that it is very important to Quebec's economy. We are talking about 3,000 jobs and economic spinoffs of more than $1 billion. Quebec's economy and Canada's economy need this project.

When will the Prime Minister take his position seriously? When will the Prime Minister take responsibility and call the mayor of Montreal?

[Jim Carr, Liberal, Minister of Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, we are aware of the importance of the resource economy to Canada. We know that 20% of our country's GDP is embedded in the natural resource sector. We are committed to developing this sector in a responsible way because we understand that tens of thousands of people are now suffering because of low commodity prices, not only in Alberta and Saskatchewan but in New Brunswick as well. We understand the importance of developing the sector responsibly.

We also understand that the consequence of this downturn has a real impact on people. We understand that and we recognize it—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

The hon. member for Regina—Qu'Appelle.

[Andrew Scheer, Conservative, Regina—Qu'Appelle, SK]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals have not yet brought in one new program to create even a single job. I know of a shovel-ready, massive stimulus project that would create thousands of new jobs all across this country and would not cost taxpayers a cent. It is energy east.

We know the Liberals have a habit of saying different things in different parts of the country, so will the regional minister for Saskatchewan assure the House that he clearly supports the energy east project? Will he stand today and denounce the Liberal mayor of Montreal's divisive statements?

[Jim Carr, Liberal, Minister of Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, I understand that the premier of Saskatchewan has actually quoted the Prime Minister on this matter. We understand that to develop our resources responsibly—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Colleagues, let us get off to a good start. Let us restrain ourselves. I know we are excited to be back in the House. It is nice to see you all, I must say, but let us restrain ourselves and let each side have its turn and listen carefully.

The hon. Minister of Natural Resources has the floor.

[Jim Carr, Liberal, Winnipeg South Centre, MB]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians want to find a responsible way to move these resources to international markets. They want to determine the safest, most economically advantageous and environmentally responsible way of moving them. The only way that these resources will move across the country is if the people of Canada have public confidence in the decisions that got us there. That is our commitment. That is what we intend to do.

[Andrew Scheer, Conservative, Regina—Qu'Appelle, SK]

Mr. Speaker, the thousands of people in my province employed in the energy sector want to hear from the Saskatchewan minister. The member for Wascana has a habit of voting against his own constituents instead of listening to the people back home in his riding. He voted to keep the wasteful gun registry. He jailed farmers under the Wheat Board, and he stayed silent while his Prime Minister killed the northern gateway.

It is never too late to kick the habit. Will he stand today, denounce the divisive statements of the Liberal mayor of Montreal, and stand up for Saskatchewan's energy sector?

[Jim Carr, Liberal, Minister of Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, I would not mind having the member's voting record: the number of people who have voted for him over these last 27 years. I am sure one of the many reasons they vote for him is that he listens to them and he is responsive to what they have to say.

This government will be responsive to what Canadians tell us about moving these resources to market responsibly. That is the way we develop public confidence, and that is exactly what we are doing.

Health

[Romeo Saganash, NDP, Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC]

Mr. Speaker, today we are in mourning and we offer our sincere condolences to the community of La Loche.

We must do more, though. Too many young people in our northern communities are growing up without hope, and they need support. The Conservatives blithely made cuts to health care services. Now, Health Canada is regularly turning down requests for mental health services for first nations, even though these services are available to other Canadians.

Will the minister put an end to this discrimination and finally help those who need these services?

[Jane Philpott, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to respond to this question, although obviously it is under tremendously tragic circumstances.

I want to say first of all how deeply I grieve with all Canadians for the tragedy that took place in La Loche. Immediately upon hearing the news, I spoke to the folks at the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch to ensure that they were sending crisis workers to the community, and they did so immediately. I have been in touch on a daily basis with the folks in Saskatchewan. I have committed to people in that community that the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch will continue to provide support for mental health needs in the community in the days and months to come.

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

Mr. Speaker, I know I speak for members of all parties when I express grief for the tragedy in La Loche. However, condolences are not enough. Parliament must take action, because all too often the young people feel left alone, whether it is a suicide and violence in La Loche, or the 600 young people who gave up hope in a Mushkegowuk territory and tried to kill themselves since 2009.

My question is for the health minister. Her department routinely rejects requests for counselling services for mental health for indigenous youth. What steps will she take to guarantee that practice will end and will not continue, not just in the days and weeks ahead but in the years to come?

[Jane Philpott, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, the matter of mental health needs in first nations and other indigenous communities is a pressing matter that I will pay full attention to. I agree with the member that up until now there have been inadequate resources and serious gaps in terms of the health outcomes and the opportunities that first nations and Inuit children have to access these resources. We will do everything in our power to make some changes in that area, and I will work in the months and years to come to make it so.

National Defence

[James Bezan, Conservative, Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB]

Mr. Speaker, what a difference six months makes. In July, Canada was hosting a anti-ISIS meeting in Quebec City, and now we were not even invited to the anti-ISIS meeting in Paris. The Liberals' incoherent and indecisive messaging has diminished Canada's reputation on the world stage.

When will the Prime Minister provide Canadians and our allies with a detailed strategy to defeat ISIS, and will he leave our CF-18s in the fight?

[Harjit S. Sajjan, Liberal, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, meeting with our coalition partners is extremely important. That is why in my first two weeks of taking on my mandate I hosted the Halifax security conference, where I got to meet with my counterparts from all over the world.

More important, meeting with political leaders is actually to get the ground truth on the ground. That is why I went to the region twice within two months. That is how serious we take this mission.

[James Bezan, Conservative, Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians and her allies have grown tired of the Liberals' incoherent messaging and lack of a concrete plan to defeat ISIS. That is why we were not invited to the anti-ISIS meeting in Paris last week.

When the Minister of National Defence was first asked why he was not attending the meeting, he used his busy schedule as an excuse. Later his office confirmed that he was never even invited. When will the minister apologize for intentionally misleading Canadians?

[Harjit S. Sajjan, Liberal, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, for the last two years, Canadians have not actually attended this meeting. I attended a meeting with my coalition partners, I got to meet with Defence Secretary Fallon in London, and I got to meet with my counterparts in many different countries.

More important, Canadians expect us to be responsible. That is why I am taking the time to ensure that we get this right, to ensure that we take the fight to this horrible enemy, and to ensure that we not only do it from a military manner, but also to bring in the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of International Development so we get this mission right.

Foreign Affairs

[Joël Godin, Conservative, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the families of the victims of the terrorist attack in Burkina Faso found out through the media that their loved ones had died. It was not until 48 hours after the attack, after the official opposition intervened, that they finally got a call from the government.

Since the attacks, we have not seen any compassion from the Prime Minister. His call to the husband of one of the victims was not worthy of a prime minister. The mother of another victim even said, and I quote, “I'm ashamed of my Prime Minister.”

How does the Prime Minister justify his attitude towards the families of these victims and his government's bungling?

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, the government is profoundly moved by the victims' suffering, and the Prime Minister is as well.

I want to thank the staff at our international emergency operations centre and the on-site staff in Burkina Faso, who worked heroically to help the victims' families.

I can assure the House that the victims' families will continue to receive full consular assistance, including help to bring the bodies back home. We owe them that. They have suffered a horrible tragedy, and our hearts go out to them.

[Joël Godin, Conservative, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the recent attacks in which seven Canadians lost their lives were terrorist attacks. Reality is catching up with the Prime Minister. He has to realize that we are not bystanders and that the terrorist threat is real.

Canada should not be on the sidelines when it comes to the international coalition. Canada must keep up its air strikes in order to root out terrorism. Training and humanitarian assistance are not enough to deal with these terrorists.

Can the Prime Minister reassure Canadians and tell them that we will continue to have an important role in the fight against ISIS?