Debates of Oct. 26th, 2016

Ethics

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, it is important to remind Canadians that the federal system has some of the strictest fundraising rules and expectations of any jurisdiction in this country. The fact is there are still jurisdictions in Canada that have no limits on personal donations, that allow corporate developers and allow unions to donate.

We have a system that has very strict limits on only personal donations, and has total transparency. Canadians can know that the federal system around fundraising is secure, transparent, and ethical.

[Rona Ambrose, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, we know those rules because we actually brought them in.

There is a word for the Prime Minister's attempt to defend the Liberal fundraisers, wrong. We need the Liberals to follow the rules. The Prime Minister knows very well that what is happening is wrong, and he should not be defending this. Canadians should not have to pay $1,500 to access their government.

The Prime Minister put in place clear rules on ethics and accountability, and he and his ministers are now violating them.

Does he really believe in his own rules for an open and accountable government, or is this—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

The right hon. Prime Minister.

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, members opposite, indeed all Canadians, know that the level of access Canadians have to this government, including Canadians who disagree with this government, is unprecedented. Whether it is town halls with Canadians who disagree with me or whether it is prebudget consultations that the finance minister is doing across the country, we are an open and accessible government. People do not have to pay a cent to have us hear their concerns.

That is what Canadians expect. We follow all the rules and laws around fundraising. This is why we are proud that we have one of the strictest regimes around fundraising of political parties in the country.

[Thomas Mulcair, NDP, Outremont, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we do know that there is political fundraising that may currently be legal but is also clearly unethical.

On November 27, 2015, the Prime Minister recognized this when he instituted new ethics rules for members of his cabinet, and he boasted about that. These rules clearly prohibit “preferential access to government, or appearance of preferential access” for political donors.

If the Prime Minister is indeed serious about setting the bar higher, why does he not do as the Ethics Commissioner has suggested and put his rules into law?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians can be reassured that at the federal level we have some of the strictest limits on donations of anywhere in the country. There are still places where developers can give unlimited amounts of money to political parties in our country. At the federal level, we cannot.

We have $1,500 maximum donations per year on personal limits and total transparency as to who gives that money. That means there are no ethical contradictions between fundraising for one's party and—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

I would remind members that most members in the House can hear things they may or may not like without reacting and are able to wait their turn to speak. Let us have the rest of us do that, please.

The hon. member for outremont.

[Thomas Mulcair, NDP, Outremont, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the question is obvious. If the Prime Minister believes in his own rules, why does he say nothing when his ministers break them?

Let us be clear. We are not talking about spaghetti dinners in a church basement. That is not what this is about. We are talking about selling preferential access to ministers to the wealthiest Canadians.

If he does not feel like enforcing his own fundraising rules, will he give the Ethics Commissioner the power to do so in his place?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we have very clear rules about political donations at the federal level. It is impossible for anyone to give more than $1,500 a year to a political party. This is done with full transparency and the level of accountability that Canadians expect.

At the same time, this government is the most open and accessible in the history of Canada. We regularly meet with people who have different views. We regularly meet with Canadians who have concerns. That is what people expect of us.

Indigenous Affairs

[Thomas Mulcair, NDP, Outremont, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister proclaims that no relationship is as important as that with indigenous peoples, yet he is refusing to hand over the court-ordered $155 million to end the discrimination that indigenous children have faced for far too long.

Can the Prime Minister tell the House that his government will support our motion to end discrimination against indigenous children, yes or no?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, our government understands the tremendous importance of repairing relations with Canada's indigenous peoples, of engaging respectfully with them, and of partnering with them to address the huge challenges they face.

That is why we have made a historic five-year investment of $8.4 billion. We know that an investment in the future of young indigenous people is an investment in the future of our country. It is important for our country to be fair, equitable, and open.

[Thomas Mulcair, NDP, Outremont, QC]

Mr. Speaker, it is also important to comply with the law.

The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal has issued a historic ruling that the government discriminates against first nations children in its delivery of child welfare services on reserves. Since that ruling, the tribunal has issued two further compliance orders to force the Liberals to act.

Instead of continuing to fight first nations children in court will the Prime Minister support our motion to put an end to this discrimination?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we know that Canadian governments over the past years and, indeed, generations have failed indigenous people with not giving them the respect, the tools, or the support needed to be successful. We know this is something that is going to take time to turn around. It is why we are investing a historic $8.4 billion over the next five years to begin to fix these terrible wrongs.

We know there is much more to do, and we continue to work on that.

International Trade

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

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has proven that he is incapable of signing major trade agreements.

Why does the Prime Minister prefer taking part in fundraising activities for the Liberal Party over signing trade agreements that would benefit all Canadians?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, Minister of International Trade]

Mr. Speaker, Canada has done its job, and we remain committed to signing CETA as soon as the European Union is ready. I cannot say the same thing of the Conservatives.

When we took office, that very important agreement had stalled because the Conservatives could not reach a deal with the European Union.

We have done our job, and now it is up to the Europeans to do theirs.

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

Mr. Speaker, the Europeans must be very proud to hear that they are not doing their job.

If I understand correctly, my colleague is saying that Mr. Barroso did not do his job when he came to Canada to speak with Mr. Harper about that agreement. There was an agreement, but the Liberals could not close the deal. Perhaps we should have stayed.

That said, do the Liberals want our 400,000 forestry workers to pay $1,500 each to attend a fundraising event so that they can finally resolve the softwood lumber issue?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, Minister of International Trade]

Mr. Speaker, our government has followed through on its commitments to Canadians. I cannot say the same thing of the previous government. The only thing it did with Mr. Barroso was throw parties to celebrate an agreement that had not yet been concluded.

CETA had stalled under the previous government. Our government did the work needed to get it back on track. Now Europe needs to do its part.

Ethics

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

Mr. Speaker, The Globe and Mail reports that the Liberals took deliberate steps to keep their cash for access fundraisers secret and exclusive, using Internet protocols to keep them out of search engine results. Now the Minister of Finance is set to attend another fundraiser at the home of a registered lobbyist for Shaw Communications, and Google search produces no results.

If these fundraisers are above board and ethical, why are the Liberals trying so hard to keep them secret and what other unethical behaviour are they covering up?

[Bardish Chagger, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister of Small Business and Tourism]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a quick moment, because there are many communities that will be celebrating this weekend, to wish all members in the House and all Canadians a happy Diwali and happy Bandi Chhor Divas.

To answer the member's question, he knows very well that federal politics is subject to some of the strictest rules when it comes to finance legislation. I can assure the member that everybody on this side of the House complies with all the rules.

[Shannon Stubbs, Conservative, Lakeland, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals used a privilege of government to raise money for themselves. This time, the Minister of Finance charged $1,500 a ticket just to meet with him.

Young Canadians cannot afford to spend two month's rent in order to be consulted. Times are tough for everyday Canadians, yet the Liberals will make everything cost more for everyone with the carbon tax.

I know these tickets probably cost about the same as one of the Minister of Finance's shoes, but when will he stop padding Liberal pockets, stop hurting Canadian families, and get Canadians back to work?

[Bardish Chagger, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister of Small Business and Tourism]

Mr. Speaker, this government ran on a commitment to engage with Canadians and to work with Canadians. We ran on a platform, and we are committed to advancing that platform.

We committed to a more open, more transparent, more accessible government. We have reduced taxes on the middle class. We have increased taxes on the 1%. We will continue to make the investments we are making to ensure Canadians have a government they can continue to work with.

[Blaine Calkins, Conservative, Red Deer—Lacombe, AB]

Mr. Speaker, when it comes to cash for access fundraising events, the Liberals keep saying they are following the rules, but that is just not the case. The Prime Minister's own rules clearly state ministers should not grant preferential access to stakeholders.

Barry Sherman, the chairman of Apotex, is helping organize the Minister of Finance's next cash for access even in Toronto. The Minister of Finance defends these secret fundraisers as being part of the budget consultation process.

When did secret events at the homes of millionaires become legitimate parts of the budget consultation process?

[Bardish Chagger, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister of Small Business and Tourism]

Mr. Speaker, the member is intentionally confusing an open and transparent budget consultation process with lawful and ethical fundraising.

The federal rules are some of the strongest in the country, and the member knows that we follow all the rules, and he knows it very well.

[Blaine Calkins, Conservative, Red Deer—Lacombe, AB]

Mr. Speaker, these events are not open to all Canadians. Most Canadians cannot afford the cover charge to get into these special secret consultations.

Once again, the Apotex chairman is helping organize the Minister of Finance's November high roller event. Apotex has lobbied the Minister of Finance's staff multiple times. They have lobbied the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, the Minister of International Trade and the Minister of Health. Plus, Apotex is suing the government for $500 million.

Does the Prime Minister really expect Canadians to believe that these donations are not buying special access to his cabinet?