Debates of Oct. 25th, 2016

The Economy

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Papineau, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I will continue to get out across this country to listen to Canadians and talk about how to build a stronger economy and protect the environment at the same time. I will not write off any corner of the country and will continue to engage and show Canadians that every voice matters to me.

This gives me a great opportunity to congratulate all the candidates who stepped up in our democratic process and to indicate that I look forward to welcoming the new member for Medicine Hat—Cardston—Warner to the House.

Ethics

[Rona Ambrose, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, fundraising by the Prime Minister's most senior cabinet ministers has now crossed the ethical line. From drug company executives to mining tycoons, his cash for access fundraising with the finance minister makes it seem like the Liberals learned nothing from the 1990s. These fundraisers are unethical and they violate the Prime Minister's own rules to raise money from people who are seeking preferential access to government.

Why is the Prime Minister ordering his ministers to be star attractions at these cash for access Liberal Party fundraisers?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians know that they elected a government that is more open and accessible to all Canadians than ever before.

The number of consultations our ministers are doing, listening to Canadians, is actually the subject of much mirth and criticism from our opponents across the aisle, but we get out and are accessible to everyone. In terms of fundraising, we will always follow all the rules and all the laws in place. The low limits on personal donations in the federal system ensure that there are no ethical challenges in fundraising that follows the rules.

[Thomas Mulcair, NDP, Outremont, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has given clear directives forbidding the sort of cash for access fundraising that a number of ministers have been caught participating in, but last week when we raised the problem, the Prime Minister refused to admit anything was wrong or to return the money.

Today we found out why. The Prime Minister has his own sketchy fundraisers on the go. Canadians are wondering, has the Prime Minister lifted his ban on “pay for play” permanently or is it just as long as he is doing it?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, as Canadians watch what is going on in the electoral cycle south of the border, we can be confident that the system we have in place is actually tremendously powerful in terms of keeping individual donations low, banning corporate donations, and banning union donations.

The rules in place ensure that when those rules are followed, there are no ethical breaches. There is openness, transparency, accountability, and the expectation of openness that Canadians expect of all their members of Parliament.

[Thomas Mulcair, NDP, Outremont, QC]

Mr. Speaker, last week his defence was that he is not as bad as the Conservatives. This week it is that he is not as bad as Trump.

The Prime Minister knows that, given its checkered past, his government's ethical conduct must be irreproachable. Giving privileged access to people who can write $1,500 cheques to fill Liberal Party coffers is not irreproachable ethical conduct.

Will the Prime Minister be sincere in his efforts to serve the public interest and put an end to his government's practice of giving rich people access to ministers?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, in our federal system, we have very clear, very strict rules about fundraising. It is impossible for anyone to donate more than $1,500 per year to a federal party. We are following those rules, as are all members of the House.

That is what Canadians expect. That is why money does not influence our decisions as the government or as parliamentarians. All Canadians can be proud of our system.

Indigenous Affairs

[Thomas Mulcair, NDP, Outremont, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the situation in Muskrat Falls is getting worse by the day. This government promised a new nation-to-nation relationship with indigenous peoples.

In the words of the Prime Minister, “No relationship is more important to me and to Canada than the one with Indigenous Peoples.”

What happened to those fine words? Will the Prime Minister finally take action on this file and protect the health of the indigenous peoples who depend on these fisheries?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, indeed the commitments we made to indigenous peoples indicate that respect, collaboration, and partnership are essential.

We believe the same to be true about the provinces. The fact that the province is working with the communities affected and consulting indigenous peoples is very important in determining whether to move forward with the project or not. We have confidence in our provinces in this confederation.

[Thomas Mulcair, NDP, Outremont, QC]

Mr. Speaker, hunger strikers and their supporters travelled all the way from Labrador to bring concerns about Muskrat Falls to the Prime Minister here in Ottawa. All they got in return was a flippant, insulting comment from a Liberal backbencher that shows how out of the touch the government really is when it comes to the realities in Labrador. These are fundamental issues of indigenous rights and health.

What is the Prime Minister doing, specifically, to address the concerns raised by Inuit and Innu about the poisoning of their fishery with methyl mercury? What is he doing?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the relationship with indigenous peoples is extraordinarily important for this country, based on respect, based on science, based on partnerships. That is why we are ensuring that the province continues to consult and engage on this project with the full respect that we all expect will be shown towards indigenous peoples in this country.

Regional Economic Development

[Denis Lebel, Conservative, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is going to eliminate the position of minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec. This is a slap in the face to the regions of Quebec, which are losing someone who specifically listened to their needs.

Worse still, none of the other 39 Liberal members from Quebec are standing up and saying that this is not right and that we must defend the regions.

Do they realize that, to help the regions, it takes people who are very familiar with each region of the country?

Will the Liberals keep those positions, and will any members from Quebec stand up and say that it makes no sense to eliminate them?

[Navdeep Bains, Liberal, Minister of Innovation]

Mr. Speaker, we have a strong team of 40 members from everywhere across the province who are working hard for Quebec.

Through Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, our government is working to support economic development in the regions of Quebec. Our government is committed to promoting innovation, fostering the growth of businesses, and developing a clean economy that benefits everyone.

[Denis Lebel, Conservative, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Mr. Speaker, for eight years, I had the honour of serving as the minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec. From Sept-Îles to Hemmingford, from Val-d'Or to Longueuil, I travelled all over Quebec.

I have nothing against the minister and I am not familiar with the Mississauga region, but I can say that, in Quebec, it is important to understand the uniqueness of each region. When it comes time to create jobs, it is really difficult.

Will the government finally sign the softwood lumber deal? If the deal with Europe falls through, can we at least reach a deal for softwood lumber?

[Navdeep Bains, Liberal, Minister of Innovation]

Mr. Speaker, Quebec wants a government that is going to be able to deliver for it. That is why we have invested $380 million in our post-secondary institutions in Quebec. That is why we have invested over $300 million in the regional economic development agency, to invest in all regions throughout Quebec.

More importantly, we are committed to the aerospace sector. With the Mirabel announcement, for example, we are going to help secure over 1,000 jobs in that region. That is delivering for Quebec.

International Trade

[Gerry Ritz, Conservative, Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK]

Mr. Speaker, when the now trade minister was in opposition as trade critic she said, “Mr. Speaker, on CETA, we in the Liberal Party are adults”.

Unfortunately, she was unable to follow her own advice last week as she stormed out of the room during important talks.

Since the trade minister cannot get it done, will the Prime Minister spend some of his shrinking political capital, get on a plane to Brussels, and finalize this important deal?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, Minister of International Trade]

Mr. Speaker, I am all in for Canada at the negotiating table and I will continue to deliver for Canadians on trade time after time.

As it happens, I am 48-years-old, and I am proud of the achievements in my life, from growing up in northern Alberta to raising my three kids in Toronto today.

I am sure every member of the House is equally proud of their achievements and their work for Canadians. For any member to infer that any other member is not an adult diminishes us all.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

I know that all members want to be seen as adults and therefore will want to listen to the answers.

The hon. member for Battlefords—Lloydminster.

[Gerry Ritz, Conservative, Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK]

Mr. Speaker, it is her line not mine.

The fact that the trade minister walked away from a deal that would deliver at least 80,000 new jobs for Canadians and increase our bilateral trade with the EU by 20% gives Canadians, business, and exporters cold comfort.

The Prime Minister loves to roll up his sleeves for photo ops. How about he rolls up his sleeves, gets on a plane, and gets the job done that the trade minister could not. If he cannot do that, maybe he would like to double down and get the TPP done.

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, Minister of International Trade]

Mr. Speaker, when it comes to CETA, Canada has done its job. In fact, Stephen Harper's former director of policy has said, “There is not much to fault this government for on CETA. I think they have been working hard. In fact, I know they have been working hard to conclude this deal.”

Perrin Beatty, a former Conservative minister and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, has said, “Canada has done what it can.... This is a matter of internal politics within Europe and they have to resolve it themselves.”

If the Conservatives really support CETA, maybe they should be adults and get behind this.

Small Business

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

Mr. Speaker, last week, the millionaire finance minister told those Canadians who work in jobs like truck driving or reception that their services are no longer required.

Mr. Speaker, there is a lot of yelling.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Order. I am hearing noise from both sides. We do not want to hear noise from both sides. We want to hear the question.

The hon. opposition House leader.

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

Mr. Speaker, this talk of adult conversations seems to have gotten everyone all worked up.

Mr. Speaker, the dismissive comments by the Liberal finance minister are sadly very typical of the Liberal elite. While the finance minister has time to hobnob and listen to his rich friends who can pay for access to him, he ignores ordinary Canadians who work in everyday jobs.

When will the finance minister stop consulting these friends who are so clearly out of touch with ordinary Canadians, and start doing his job?

[Bill Morneau, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, we know that it is critically important to support Canadians as they strive to be successful. We know that the challenges of globalization and technological change are real. We also know that Canadians can succeed.

We are working to support them through education, training, and retraining, methods that we know will enable us to continue to be successful in the face of global challenges. That is what we are going to do for Canadians now and in the future.