Debates of Oct. 21st, 2016

Taxation

[Catherine McKenna, Liberal, Minister of Environment and Climate Change]

Madam Speaker, we are the only party that seems to understand that the environment and the economy go together. We are committed to taking serious action on climate change. We are very proud that two weeks ago we were able to ratify the Paris agreement. Unfortunately, the party opposite did not support that.

We are working with the provinces and territories to have a pan-Canadian plan that will make a real difference, will create good jobs, and will build a clean economy for future generations, for my children, for our children, and for our grandchildren.

[Len Webber, Conservative, Calgary Confederation, AB]

Madam Speaker, it is no secret that the Alberta economy is suffering and that Albertans are suffering. There is growing frustration, and the Liberals have given up even trying to help. The evidence is clear. It has been one year since the Liberals promised sunny ways. In that time, Calgary's unemployment rate has grown by 36%, higher than the national average. The Liberals keep hiking taxes and making things worse. Why are the Liberals kicking Calgarians when they are already down?

[Bill Morneau, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Madam Speaker, we take very seriously the challenges facing people in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Newfoundland and Labrador. We know that resource prices are hitting that province hard. We have made a number of decisions that are making a difference for people in Alberta, and across Canada: the tax decreases, which are helping them; the Canada child benefit, which helps nine out of ten families with more money in their pockets; and the changes to our employment insurance system, which makes a difference in softening the landing. In the long term, we are making investments that can help to grow our economy, and grow the economy of Alberta.

Small Business

[Robert Gordon Kitchen, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

Madam Speaker, this week is Small Business Week in Canada. One small business in my riding, which services oil rigs, contributes $340,000 yearly to the local economy in fuel. However, with its fleet of 20 trucks, and the Liberal carbon tax, this business will pay an additional $29,000 annually in fuel alone. The carbon tax is roughly the cost of employing one to two shop hands, one mechanic, or one labourer. Why are the Liberals forcing a carbon tax that will hurt the struggling oil and gas industry even further?

[Gudie Hutchings, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business and Tourism]

Madam Speaker, while our hearts go out to those in the oil fields, I would like to make one point. This government does understand small business. We made a huge investment into Destination Canada this year. The small business operators tell us that they want customers. I am pleased to report that Destination Canada has said that tourism was up by over 10%, for June, July, and August. It was the best summer we have had since 2002. Small business operators wanted more customers, and that is what we have given them.

[Marilyn Gladu, Conservative, Sarnia—Lambton, ON]

Madam Speaker, raising taxes on small businesses is not going to help them.

The Liberals promised that their $10 billion deficit would go toward infrastructure spending to create jobs, but 110,000 Canadians have lost their jobs across the country and the Liberal deficit continues to grow. Meanwhile, there seems to be a new tax every day. The Liberals hiked taxes on small business and they continue to hike taxes on everyday Canadians. When will the millionaire finance minister stop his war on the middle class?

[Bill Morneau, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Madam Speaker, we know that providing jobs for middle-class Canadians and providing opportunities for those who want to get into the middle class are critical issues that Canadians are worried about. That is exactly why we did the opposite of what the member said. We lowered taxes on middle-class Canadians because we know that they want to see the benefits from our economy. We know the Canada child benefit helps all Canadians with children, nine out of 10 families, with $2,300 more on average. This is important for middle-class Canadians. It will make a real difference.

Labour

[Bev Shipley, Conservative, Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON]

Madam Speaker, for 197 years the Arva Flour Mill has had a perfect safety record. This week is Small Business Week, but this small business will not have anything to celebrate if the labour minister does not grant an exemption from the federal labour code. It has been months since I asked the minister for action, and there has still been no contact with the mill from her or her office.

Is it the plan of the minister to let the small mill die a slow death? The minister has the authority to exempt it. Will the minister do her job and keep—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, Carol Hughes]

Order, please.

The hon. Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour.

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

Madam Speaker, as the member well knows, the Canada Labour Code requires employers to implement preventative measures to ensure that employees are not exposed to dangerous conditions. A danger directive was issued back in May to Arva Flour. The labour program's health and safety officers are working with the employer to ensure its compliance with the code. It would be inappropriate for me or the minister to speak anymore about the matter.

Democratic Reform

[Irene Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Madam Speaker, the Liberals are once again supporting Conservative policies in our courts. First, they took veterans to court regarding promised pensions and now this government is denying expat Canadians the right to vote. Just like pensions for veterans, that is something they promised to change.

When will the Liberals keep their promises and stop recycling tired Conservative policies, the same policies they campaigned against only a year ago?

[Maryam Monsef, Liberal, Minister of Democratic Institutions]

Madam Speaker, it is a great privilege to be here on this traditional Algonquin territory.

As a government, we are firmly committed to enhancing Canadians' participation in our democratic institutions. We believe that more Canadians ought to be able to vote. We are currently examining the law as it relates to long-term, non-resident Canadians who wish to vote in federal elections. We intend to introduce legislation this year that will meet the needs of highly mobile Canadian citizens who live in today's increasingly interconnected world.

[Nathan Cullen, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Madam Speaker, in the last campaign just a year ago, the Liberals promised to stop the terrible Conservative plan to strip Canadians overseas of their sacred right to vote, but yesterday we learned that the Liberals are actually continuing the Conservatives' fight at the Supreme Court of Canada against Canadians living abroad.

The Liberal Party had the audacity to hit these very same Canadians up for a donation during the campaign. Someone once said “A Canadian is a Canadian is a Canadian”, and I agree, so why would the Liberals take up Stephen Harper's scheme to rob 1.5 million Canadians of their right to vote?

[Maryam Monsef, Liberal, Minister of Democratic Institutions]

Madam Speaker, it is always great when the member opposite and I agree. We have heard from the 1.2 million Canadians who live abroad and wish to be part of our democratic institutions and participate in the voting process. As I mentioned, we are currently examining legislation to find ways to allow individuals who live abroad in this highly globalized world to be part of our elections, and I look forward to working with the member opposite, since we agree to that end.

Ethics

[Pat Kelly, Conservative, Calgary Rocky Ridge, AB]

Madam Speaker, the Minister of Finance recently attended a cash for access fundraiser. The Liberal House leader has repeated ad nauseam that this was within the rules. However, the Prime Minister's document, “Open and Accountable Government”, says that ministers “have an obligation to perform their official duties and arrange their private affairs in a manner that will bear the closest public scrutiny”, an obligation that “is not fully discharged merely by acting within the law”.

When will the Prime Minister start enforcing his own code of ethics?

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Madam Speaker, I will repeat that all members of Parliament and all parties fundraise, and we all abide by the exact same rules, rules that were put in place by the previous Harper government. Events like these are one part of every party's fundraising and engagement work. Federal politics is subject to some of the strictest political financing legislation and regulations in the country, and the party fully complies with the Elections Act in all cases.

[Pat Kelly, Conservative, Calgary Rocky Ridge, AB]

Madam Speaker, both the Minister of Finance and the Prime Minister held cash for access fundraisers in obvious violation of the Prime Minister's code of ethics. They claim that they are complying with the Ethics Commissioner, yet the commissioner told The Globe and Mail that she cannot tell whether the rules were breached because the Prime Minister gave that power to the Privy Council Office. Who does the Privy Council Office answer to? Guess who? It is the Prime Minister. Is this what he calls open and accountable government?

When will the Prime Minister actually start being transparent with Canadians?

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Madam Speaker, all members of Parliament and all parties fundraise and we all abide by the exact same rules, rules that were put in place by the previous government, rules that many members sitting on the other side of the House use to fundraise for the Conservative Party.

I would like to remind the members opposite that on July 9 of this year, just three short months ago, the Leader of the Opposition, along with former prime minister Stephen Harper, held a barbecue fundraiser in Calgary and charged a whopping $2,000 per table. I do not know about anyone else, but I have never been to a barbecue where someone has to buy a table.

Clearly, the—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, Carol Hughes]

The hon. member for Barrie—Innisfil.

[John Brassard, Conservative, Barrie—Innisfil, ON]

Madam Speaker, that was a constituency association event.

It looks like the Prime Minister is picking up right where Kathleen Wynne left off. It should be no surprise to anyone considering that Gerry Butts created the Liberal cash for access fundraising scheme in Ontario. The Prime Minister himself instructed ministers that there shall be no preferential access to government in exchange for partisan political donations from the Liberal elite. The Prime Minister needs to keep his word.

Why can the Prime Minister and his ministers not see that using their government positions to line the pockets of their—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, Carol Hughes]

The hon. Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons.

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Madam Speaker, again I would like to remind the members opposite that on July 9 of this year, just three short months ago, the Leader of the Opposition, along with former prime minister Stephen Harper, held a barbecue fundraiser in Calgary and charged a whopping $2,000 a table.

[Ron Liepert, Conservative, Calgary Signal Hill, AB]

It was the riding association. Check your facts.

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

Madam Speaker, we all understand that many members sitting on that side of the House—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, Carol Hughes]

Order. I want to remind members that while the member has the floor, we give him the respect that he deserves. As we know, that is in the Standing Orders.