Debates of Oct. 31st, 2016

Agriculture and Agri-Food

[Jean-Claude Poissant, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague from Miramichi—Grand Lake for his question.

I first want to acknowledge all the hard work done by the Minister of International Trade during the negotiations. This agreement will help middle-class families and create new opportunities for many sectors of the Canadian economy, including agriculture.

We are proud of the work we have done and proud to have signed an agreement that will boost agricultural exports by over $1.5 billion. We are very aware of the needs of our dairy sector, which is why we are currently working on transition assistance.

Public Services and Procurement

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Carleton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, this Halloween is all tricks and no treats for unpaid public servants. The government has been in office for a year and it is missing its own deadline to fix pay problems.

The minister made the decision to proceed with Phoenix, even though the system was known to be unready. Now my office and many others are being inundated with people desperate to get the money they are owed.

Will the minister responsible agree to suspend her own pay until all public servants get theirs?

[Judy Foote, Liberal, Minister of Public Services and Procurement]

Mr. Speaker, there is no one more concerned about the fact that we have employees who are not getting paid for work performed than this minister. That is why we have pulled out all the stops. That is why the Department of Public Services and Procurement has put in extra measures. We have hired 250 people. We have put in place four satellite offices. We are responding to the issues.

It is totally unacceptable for people to go without pay for work performed. We will continue to work hard to resolve these issues.

Indigenous Affairs

[Georgina Jolibois, NDP, Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK]

Mr. Speaker, there is more sad news coming from my riding. There has been a sixth suicide in the span of three weeks in northern Saskatchewan. On behalf of the NDP, I would like to extend our condolences to the families and communities going through this hard time.

The government needs to end the band-aid strategy and commit to a culturally appropriate long-term approach to mental wellness. Will the Prime Minister stand up and address the immediate needs for indigenous mental health in the north? How much louder do our kids need to be?

[Jane Philpott, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, I want to echo the sentiments of my hon. colleague opposite. It is absolutely devastating to hear of these young people in northern Saskatchewan and indeed in other communities in Canada who have taken their own lives in recent weeks. I believe all members of the House would like to express our condolences to the families.

The member is absolutely correct. We need to be thinking not only of how we can support these families and these communities in the short term, as we are working very hard to do, but we must think of the long-term solutions. In fact, I look forward to working with all members of the House to support indigenous health and wellness, to make sure we find—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

The hon. member for Scarborough Centre.

Transport

[Salma Zahid, Liberal, Scarborough Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, today is Halloween and many children will be on the streets trick or treating. However, we must remember that roads can be dangerous and that our children must be protected.

Could the minister please update the House as to what he is doing to improve the safety of roads in Canada?

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for her caution and safety on Halloween. All of us in this government care deeply about road safety. Although I am not a big one for tricks, I do like a treat once in a while.

That is why I am glad to announce that as of May 1, 2018, all new cars that are sold in Canada will have to be equipped with a rear camera system. We think this is a good idea, because even though rear-view mirrors do help, they do not give us the full picture. We are particularly concerned about the safety of our children.

Public Services and Procurement

[Alain Rayes, Conservative, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the minister promised that the Phoenix pay problems would be resolved by October 31. However, as of today, not dozens, not hundreds, but thousands of federal employees have not been paid for several weeks, and in some cases, for several months.

What is more, we learned today of the skyrocketing operating costs. Naturally, skyrocketing costs, like the deficit, do not seem to bother the Liberals.

When will the Liberal government finally solve the problem and ensure that federal employees receive their pay with dignity and without being forced to beg?

[Judy Foote, Liberal, Minister of Public Services and Procurement]

Mr. Speaker, let me repeat how unacceptable it is for public service employees to go without pay for work performed.

We are now looking at the complex issues that remain. Seventy-five percent of the backlog cases have been addressed. We are putting a dedicated unit on to deal with the complex issues that remain. We are determined to get those resolved as quickly as possible.

Again, we are not at all happy that people are having to face hardships as a result of these pay issues. We are dedicated to finding a resolution to these outstanding pay issues.

Agriculture and Agri-Food

[Rhéal Fortin, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

Mr. Speaker, what a pretty picture yesterday in Brussels, as the trade agreement with the European Union was finally signed with handshakes and smiles for the camera. I am not sure that our cheese producers are smiling quite as broadly.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Order.

The hon. member for Rivière-du-Nord.

[Rhéal Fortin, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

Mr. Speaker, what a pretty picture it was yesterday in Brussels, as the trade agreement with the European Union was signed with handshakes and a—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[Rhéal Fortin, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

Mr. Speaker, point of order. I think I should have my 35 seconds to ask my question. May I?

[An hon. member]

Yes.

[Rhéal Fortin, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday in Brussels, all the handshakes and smiles for the camera made for quite a pretty picture. The agreement with the European Union was signed. I am not sure our cheese producers are smiling quite as broadly now that 17,000 tonnes of European cheese will be flooding the market. That spells trouble for our Quebec cheeses.

Will the Minister of Finance's economic update include fair compensation for our cheese and dairy producers, or will the Liberals once again cheer as they break another promise?

[Jean-Claude Poissant, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, the European Union signed CETA. We have always maintained that the government should help dairy producers and processors make the transition. We consulted the dairy industry, and the feedback we received is helping us develop programs to address the challenges the sector is facing and promote growth.

As I mentioned, we are committed to helping the dairy industry get through the transition and adapt to new conditions.

Canada Revenue Agency

[Gabriel Ste-Marie, Bloc, Joliette, QC]

Mr. Speaker, in his economic update, the parliamentary budget officer confirmed that the government can afford to spend more.

However, it is not the expense column I am worried about. It is the revenue column. The government refuses to go after the billions of dollars that the big banks are hiding in Barbados. As a result, it is middle-class families that are stuck with the bill to pay for our declining public services.

Why is the government refusing to go after the money the banks are keeping in Barbados?

Is the government standing up for Canadians or for Bay Street?

[Diane Lebouthillier, Liberal, Minister of National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, middle-class Canadians who pay their fair share have every right to be upset when wealthy taxpayers use sophisticated schemes to avoid their tax obligations.

The Government of Canada invested an unprecedented $444 million to counter what is happening offshore. We have agreements in place, our officials are working on this, and we are going to keep our promises.

Taxation

[Gabriel Ste-Marie, Bloc, Joliette, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the government is refusing to ask the banks to pay their fair share. The law remains unchanged and the government is doing nothing about it. However, it does not hesitate to take money from students.

The government brags about offering students in Quebec $80 million in financial assistance, but then it turns around and takes $200 million in tax credits away from them. The net balance is $120 million less for students in Quebec. This falls under the Prime Minister's responsibility. He is the Minister of Youth.

Will the Minister of Youth announce in tomorrow's economic update that he will return the $120 million he took from Quebec's students?

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

Mr. Speaker, I am happy to see that the Conservative bench is really pleased about the $4 billion that we invested in students in this country, such as the $330 million for the youth employment strategy, the $1.5 billion for student grants, and the $125 million for all MBAs. We believe in investing in students in this country. That is what will pay long-term dividends and create long-term, well-paying jobs. That is what this government is all about. We promised it and we are doing it.

International Trade

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, Minister of International Trade]

Mr. Speaker, under Standing Order 32(2), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the agreement entitled “The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between Canada, of the One Part, and the European Union and its Member States, of the Other Part”, done at Brussels, Belgium, on October 30, 2016.

Office of the Correctional Investigator

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness]

Mr. Speaker, I certainly want to applaud my colleague the Minister of International Trade for her accomplishment but I have some documents to table as well.

I am pleased to table, in both official languages, the 2015-16 Annual Report of the Office of the Correctional Investigator of Canada as required under Section 192 of the Corrections and Conditional Release Act.

I am also tabling the response to the three recommendations in the Public Safety Canada report and the response to the 24 recommendations regarding Correctional Service Canada.