Debates of Jan. 29th, 2016

Democratic Reform

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

Mr. Speaker, I will never ever know whether the best people were chosen because that will be big fat secret.

As for the question of electoral reform, last June, the Prime Minister told Maclean's, “...it hasn’t gone unnoticed by people that electoral reform has had a lot of trouble getting through plebiscites.” Now, of course, the evidence from New Zealand would suggest otherwise. Still, this is the reason given by the Prime Minister for not holding a referendum.

Therefore, who is truly cynical? Those who want the Canadian people to make the final choice, or a Prime Minister who will not give Canadians a vote because they may not approve of the electoral system that he personally has designed for them and, probably, as well, for his party's own advantage?

[Mark Holland, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Democratic Institutions]

Mr. Speaker, I welcome the member opposite's new-found enthusiasm for public engagement.

The reality is that for over a decade we heard about transformation of our electoral system, or transformation of the Senate, yet we saw only great disappointment and broken promises.

In the short time that we have been in office, we have already described a robust plan to engage Canadians from coast to coast to ensure their voices are heard in keeping our commitment to end the first past the post system and to ensure that all Canadians, no matter who they are, get the opportunity to express their democratic will.

Canada Revenue Agency

[Francesco Sorbara, Liberal, Vaughan—Woodbridge, ON]

Mr. Speaker, many registered charities have seen their important work impeded by the former government's decision to audit them for political activities. In many cases, these charitable organizations felt that the reason for which they were being audited was because they disagreed with the policies of the government at the time.

Could the Minister of National Revenue update the House on the Canada Revenue Agency's political activities audit program?

[Diane Lebouthillier, Liberal, Minister of National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, our government recognizes the essential role of charities in society and their contribution to politics and public debate.

The independence of the Canada Revenue Agency in its watchdog role is a fundamental principle that must be protected. That is why, as Minister of National Revenue, I will not play a role in selecting the audits to be done or making decisions about the results of those audits.

Veterans Affairs

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Mr. Speaker, for decades the Canadian Armed Forces has issued record of service ID cards to members when they leave the military. Tens of thousands of veterans use this card with employers, legions, and veteran-friendly establishments around the world. The Liberal government is eliminating this ID card and replacing it with a gimmicky discount card.

Why would the government take away ID cards held by thousands of Canadian veterans and cheapen their service by replacing them with an inferior commercial card?

[Karen McCrimmon, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, this is simply a transition with technology. We are upgrading the card that we will be offering to veterans once they leave the Canadian Armed Forces. It will give them more options and it will provide more service. It is a step in the right direction.

National Defence

[Nick Whalen, Liberal, St. John's East, NL]

Mr. Speaker, transnational criminal organizations cause enormous harm around the world. Canada has a tradition of participating in international efforts to stem the tide against organized crime whether at home or abroad.

Could the Minister of National Defence inform the House of the government's latest initiative to help disrupt illicit trafficking operations at sea?

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

Mr. Speaker, I have seen the terrible damage inflicted onto Canadian cities and citizens caused by organized crime and their business in drug trafficking. This year's record success in Operation Caribbe is a testament to the Canadian Armed Forces, in particular the Royal Canadian Navy and the Royal Canadian Air Force's dedication and perseverance to work with our allies in complex environments for the safety and security of the citizens of this continent.

Forestry Industry

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

Mr. Speaker, while the Liberal government is busy brainstorming ways to add more and more red tape to discourage resource development and investment in our country, it has forgotten we currently stand without a Canada-U.S. softwood lumber agreement, an agreement that ended costly trade disputes between Canada and the U.S., and ensured 145,000 forestry jobs are protected in B.C.

Will anyone from the government please stand and tell us why the Liberals are not fighting for the hard-working Canadians employed in the forestry sector? Anyone.

[David Lametti, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade]

Mr. Speaker, the softwood lumber dispute between Canada and the United States is a priority for our government. It is a question that has been raised at the very highest levels. We are consulting stakeholders. We are consulting the provinces. The minister has met with Premier Christy Clark of British Columbia. The Prime Minister and the minister have had conversations with their counterparts in the United States. We will do our best to ensure that there is softwood access to the American market.

Official Languages

[Mario Beaulieu, Bloc, La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC]

Mr. Speaker, as we learned this week, because of the federal government's institutional bilingualism policy, 60% of non-francophone newcomers in Quebec do not feel it is necessary to learn French to live and work in Montreal.

Does the Minister of Canadian Heritage realize that the policy of institutional bilingualism is contributing to the anglicization of newcomers and threatening the future of French in Quebec?

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for his question.

Our government is extremely proud of Canada's international reputation when it comes to official bilingualism. A Liberal government put that policy in place, and a Liberal government is going to clean up the mess caused by 10 years of ignorance on the part of the former Conservative government. We are going to improve conditions for francophones in minority communities and the anglophone minority in Quebec. That is our duty, and we take it seriously.

[Mario Beaulieu, Bloc, La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC]

Mr. Speaker, a new study has confirmed what people have known for a long time: individual bilingualism is found mainly in Quebec.

Does the Minister of Canadian Heritage think it is acceptable for the City of Ottawa, the nation's capital, to boast that we are a great country that is bilingual from coast to coast when it has been refusing for years to designate Ottawa as officially bilingual?

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, we are taking charge of Canada's official bilingualism. We respect the jurisdictions of each level of government in this country. The mayor and councillors of a city are the ones who decide on its bilingual status. We are going to work to encourage any city across the country that wants to become officially bilingual.

Securities

[Xavier Barsalou-Duval, Bloc, Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC]

Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, Françoise Bertrand, the president and CEO of the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec, wrote a commentary criticizing the government for wanting to create a Canadian securities commission.

Ms. Bertrand called it a bad idea that was artificially created by Ottawa and that will have serious consequences for Quebec's economy.

Can the minister tell us why the government is so intent on stripping Montreal of its financial sector and its decision-making powers?

[Bill Morneau, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, we will respect the 2011 Supreme Court ruling on this issue. We will respect the rights of all provinces to decide whether or not they would like to be part of a national securities regulator.

We will move forward with those provinces that are willing, because we believe that it creates some efficiency in our country around this issue. We respect that other provinces may decide to go alone.

Oral Questions

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Carleton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order.

There was considerable debate today about the state of Canada's finances at the time of the current government taking office. The member for Elgin—Middlesex—London pointed out that there was a $1 billion surplus.

I have here in my hands a publication of the Department of Finance called The Fiscal Monitor for which I would like to see unanimous consent to table. It states, “For the April to November 2015 period of the 2015–16 fiscal year, the Government posted a budgetary surplus of $1.0 billion...”

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

Order, please. As opposed to having the member get into the actual meat of the document, is there unanimous consent for the member to table the document?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

No.

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

I am not seeing any consent for the proposal.

Interparliamentary Delegations

[Rodger Cuzner, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Employment]

Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to stand to present two reports from interparliamentary delegations, in both official languages: the report of the Canadian delegation of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association with respect to its participation and bilateral visit to Australia, held in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory; Sydney, New South Wales; and Hobart, Tasmania, from February 5 to 15, 2015; and, the Canadian delegation of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association with respect to its participation at the executive committee meeting at the CPA 61st General Assembly held in London, from October 1 to 5, 2015.

Procedure and House Affairs

[Larry Bagnell, Liberal, Yukon, YT]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Orders 104 and 114, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the first report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs regarding the membership of committees of the House.

If the House gives its consent, I intend to move concurrence in the first report.

[Larry Bagnell, Liberal, Yukon, YT]

Mr. Speaker, I move that the first report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, presented to the House earlier this day, be concurred in.

(Motion agreed to)

Impaired Driving

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

Mr. Speaker, on March 17, 1990, my family's lives were changed forever as my brother Fabian's life was taken very quickly at the hands of a drunk driver.

I wish to table today a petition on behalf of the residents of Cariboo—Prince George, and throughout British Columbia, who are calling upon Parliament for the implementation of new mandatory minimum sentencing for those persons convicted of impaired driving causing death, and that the Criminal Code of Canada be changed to redefine the offence of impaired driving causing death as vehicular manslaughter.

Justice

[Gord Brown, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to submit a petition that is signed by constituents in my riding of Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, and from many other ridings across Canada, who call upon the Government of Canada to pass legislation to recognize preborn children as separate victims if the mother is injured or killed.