Debates of Oct. 25th, 2016

National Defence

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

Mr. Speaker, images of Canadian troops operating Iraqi vehicles, sighting targets with sniper rifles, and painting targets near Mosul have emerged on social media. One source said that Canadian soldiers are still moving on the front line.

When the Liberals were in opposition, they demanded more transparency but have now ended briefings on what our troops are doing in the battle for Mosul. This is blatant hypocrisy. Why should Canadians have to learn on Twitter what our troops are doing to defeat ISIS, rather than from the government?

[John McKay, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, as you will recollect, the House debated the train, assist, and advise motion back in February and March of this year, and based upon that motion, and based upon instructions from the government, the military is, in fact, conducting its train, advise, and assist motion. Any other commentary beyond that, such as suggested by the hon. member opposite, would, in fact, jeopardize operational security, and he would not, I am sure, wish to do that.

[Pierre Paul-Hus, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I think that the safety of our soldiers is more important and that Canadians should be informed.

The government is very tight-lipped about what our soldiers are doing in Iraq. Our Kurdish partners, in contrast, do not seem to have the same sense of restraint. Kurdish news station Rudaw broadcast images of Canadian soldiers on the front line during the Mosul liberation operation. We are getting information about where Canadian soldiers are on the ground and what they are doing from a Kurdish agency. That is pathetic.

Will the Liberal government start being transparent and give Canadians information?

[John McKay, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, I am actually a bit surprised that the hon. member would raise issues of images of Canadian soldiers, alleged or otherwise. It is an important operational security issue that the government, if I may use his words, remains tight-lipped about these issues.

The siege of Mosul is under way. It is enjoying some success. Canadian soldiers stay within their mandate to train, assist, and advise.

The Environment

[Fin Donnelly, NDP, Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC]

Mr. Speaker, it has been two days since the Nathan E. Stewart ran aground, spilling diesel fuel into the traditional waters of the Heiltsuk first nation. The situation is being described by first nation leaders as an environmental disaster, and the government response has been an abject failure. First, massive delays, then a vessel hired to help with the cleanup began to sink, and yesterday, oil booms failed because of rough weather.

What is the government doing to prevent further damage? Is this what the minister meant by a world-class response, and if so, what planet is he living on?

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, our government remains committed to improving marine security. That is why I am working with my colleague, the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, to come forward with a coastal strategy that will improve marine safety. Certainly the tragic events of the Nathan E. Stewart tug sinking is a clear illustration that we need to do more. We are working with the local community. I spoke today with the Heiltsuk chief of that region, and we are working with them.

We will be coming forward with better measures in the future to address marine security.

Telecommunications

[Rachel Blaney, NDP, North Island—Powell River, BC]

Mr. Speaker, instead of expanding access to broadband Internet, companies like Telus are actually disconnecting my constituents. As of November 16, residents of Cortes Island and parts of Quadra Island will have no Internet whatsoever.

While we have seen some commitments on broadband, there seems to be zero funding for last-mile connection in rural Canada.

What will the government do to prevent my constituents from being cut off from the Internet next month and to make sure that all rural Canadians have access to broadband?

[Navdeep Bains, Liberal, Minister of Innovation]

Mr. Speaker, we understand the challenges on the digital divide. This is something our government is very much committed to addressing. We are also working on a program called connecting Canadians, and it is about making sure that we connect Canadians in rural and remote regions.

Above and beyond that, in the last budget we committed over $500 million for broadband connectivity. We are going to be rolling out this program to make sure that we deal with that digital divide and the socio-economic issues that exist in some of our urban centres, as well.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs

[Cathy McLeod, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the RCMP is investigating how a chief and his family allegedly took $4.2 million over three and a half years. This money was to be used for bands to improve life on reserve but instead went to trips to Cuba and Vegas. The information sat in the department for years, where people noticed nothing amiss. Members only found out about this outrageous abuse through the First Nations Financial Transparency Act.

When will the minister ensure that basic information is easily accessible to band members?

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, accountability and transparency are key tenets of the government and are vital in ensuring the delivery of the historic investments in indigenous and northern communities through budget 2016.

While we are engaging first nations on the way forward on transparency and accountability, first nations continue their long-standing practice of reporting on their financial and program performance both to their members and to the department. The member knows this very well.

[Cathy McLeod, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals have been engaging for over a year, and they have done absolutely nothing.

The First Nations Financial Transparency Act showed that the vast majority of first nations expenditures were reasonable and appropriate. Unfortunately, we now have a list of bands where there is significant concern, from Alexander to Samson Cree. In the words of Sherry Greene, the grassroots people are the ones suffering in the end.

When will the minister get the records out of the department's basement and enforce the transparency act?

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, the government takes these allegations of misuse very seriously, and when necessary, as the member knows well, INAC conducts a forensic audit to ensure that the funds were used in the intended manner.

The audit was commissioned by the Alexander First Nation, and therefore we cannot comment on it, but we are reviewing the situation to determine whether or not a forensic audit will be required.

We are working with the information and each first nation, and any first nation member who has any questions can get that information--

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

The hon. member for Cypress Hills—Grasslands.

Agriculture and Agri-Food

[David Anderson, Conservative, Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food's chief of staff faces allegations of perjury in court this week.

Is it true that this is a private prosecution because the previous charge filed was thrown out by Justice of the Peace and former Ontario Liberal agriculture minister Leona Dombrowsky, whose family sold its quota to the same chief of staff's company?

There was $140 million of egg quota, lawsuits left and right, sealed court records, and a failed Liberal candidate.

Why is the minister keeping this walking, talking ethics time bomb around?

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, having a person in my office with agriculture experience is an asset to my office and to the agricultural community.

This is a very successful and upstanding member of her community, my chief of staff. She is a successful lawyer and a successful businesswoman. She has also been nominated as citizen of the year.

I think it is an asset to agriculture and an asset to my office to have a women with these credentials working in the office.

Health

[Denis Lemieux, Liberal, Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC]

Mr. Speaker, as many of my colleagues know, I am working to make Saguenay the Canadian capital of healthy lifestyles. I am challenging my colleagues in the House to do the same in their community.

Can the Minister of Health tell us how the major announcement she made yesterday on healthy eating habits will help Canadians make healthy choices?

[Jane Philpott, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague the member for Chicoutimi—Le Fjord for the question.

We are using all the tools at our disposal including legislation, regulations, and education to encourage healthy choices. We are updating Canada's Food Guide, improving labelling, addressing sodium, trans fats, sugars, and food colouring, as well as dealing with advertising aimed at children.

International Trade

[David Yurdiga, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Canadian International Trade Tribunal has begun an investigation into the Liberal drywall tariff and its effects. The tribunal expects to have its first hearings in late November.

This Liberal drywall tariff is far from being settled and has devastating effects on the people in Fort McMurray, who are trying to rebuild their homes and lives.

Will the Minister of International Trade suspend the Liberal tariff until a verdict is reached, or is this new tax just too much for the Liberal government to pass on?

[Bill Morneau, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, we know that many families in western Canada are concerned that anti-dumping tariffs are affecting the price and availability of drywall, especially those working to rebuild Fort McMurray.

There are concerns that these duties could delay important projects, including the rebuilding there. Ensuring fair trade practices is important, but delays in reconstruction are a serious concern. That is why I have asked the Canadian International Trade Tribunal to investigate whether or not tariffs are in the public interest immediately, instead of after its final determination is made, and to report on their findings as soon as possible in January so that we can determine the best path forward.

National Defence

[Sheri Benson, NDP, Saskatoon West, SK]

Mr. Speaker, today is Rainbow Day on Parliament Hill, but the government has failed to fix many issues still facing members of the LGBTQ community.

LGBTQ Canadians who served this country proudly as members of the Canadian Forces and were dishonourably discharged for being gay or lesbian are still waiting for the revision of their service records.

Given that the defence committee has just voted unanimously to right this wrong, and the military ombudsman stands ready to act, will the government act to revise the records without further delay.

[John McKay, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, the question by the hon. member was raised by her colleague earlier in the year. It is an important question, and I think all of us in the House can agree that the practices prior to 1992 are unacceptable in 2016. As this is an important issue, the whole of government is engaged in this in an appropriate and fulsome response to the question she has raised.

I am hoping that in the fullness of time we will get back to her in a way that is quite appropriate.

Natural Resources

[Jennifer O'Connell, Liberal, Pickering—Uxbridge, ON]

Mr. Speaker, today is the first annual ENERGY STAR day in Canada. The ENERGY STAR symbol identifies high-efficiency products in lighting, appliances, electronics, and new homes.

Would the hon. Minister of Natural Resources tell the House how the ENERGY STAR program contributes to energy efficiency in our daily lives and saves Canadians money?

[Jim Carr, Liberal, Minister of Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, we are proud to support ENERGY STAR, a symbol that identifies products and new homes that meet or exceed high efficiency standards. Earlier this year, I presented the 2016 ENERGY STAR Canada award at the Manitoba hydro building in Winnipeg, one of the most energy efficiency buildings in the world.

On this inaugural ENERGY STAR day, we encourage all Canadians to make a commitment to save energy and protect the environment.

Health

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

Mr. Speaker, this morning I met with a number of thalidomide survivors who are in Ottawa today. Their stories are heartbreaking. They have been denied coverage under the compensation that our government announced in 2015, and they have no right to appeal.

Will the Minister of Health do the right thing, start working with the survivors, and provide them with the compensation that would make their life more bearable?

[Jane Philpott, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member has indicated, the story of the use of thalidomide in the 1950s and 1960s was a tragedy. As Minister of Health and as a family doctor, I sympathize deeply with the hardship that this has caused for those who have been impacted.

The previous government developed a compensation program for affected individuals and selected Crawford & Company to act as an independent third party administrator.

Our government is committed to continuing to offer support to help people live the rest of their lives with dignity.