Debates of Nov. 25th, 2016

Softwood Lumber

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

Mr. Speaker, let us talk about how vigorously the government is going to defend it. The Liberals budgeted a measly $30 million. They just gave $25 million to a foreign organization with direct and indirect links to Hamas, a jihadist terrorist group. How vigorously is the government going to defend Canadian jobs?

Softwood lumber war number five is mere hours away. This means mill closures and job losses for Canadians from coast to coast to coast.

The minister has mismanaged this file from day one. When is the government going to stand up for hard-working forestry families from coast to coast to coast?

[David Lametti, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade]

Mr. Speaker, despite the righteous indignation of the hon. member, we will take no lessons from a party that refused to even initiate negotiations. As the member for Lac-Saint-Jean admitted in a public statement to the press, the previous government did not even start renegotiations with the Americans.

From the beginning, we have been in contact with workers and the industry across the country. We understand their concerns. We know their positions and we are defending those positions vigorously in negotiations. We are going to defend our position vigorously in front of tribunals.

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

Mr. Speaker, our government put an end to the most costly and longest trade war with the U.S. in 2006. Not only did we do that, but we also renegotiated an extension and a grace period that the present Liberal government has not been able to do with its BFF. There are going to be job losses, mill closures, and it is going to impact small communities from coast to coast to coast.

It is not just the forestry workers. It is the small mom-and-pops. It is service industries all across Canada. When—

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

The hon. Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade.

[David Lametti, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade]

Mr. Speaker, we have been standing up for Canadians from coast to coast to coast on this file since the get-go, which is more than we can say about the previous government.

Our strategy remains the right strategy. We are continuing to negotiate on behalf of Canadians. We are continuing to stay in contact with workers and the industry across the country. We are going to defend ourselves in front of trade tribunals, which the previous Liberal governments under prime ministers Chrétien and Martin did. We have never lost. We will continue to move forward in that direction.

Shipping

[Robert Aubin, NDP, Trois-Rivières, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the federal government's management of the icebreaker fleet is a complete fiasco. What is more, rather than purchasing the Aiviq for a price taxpayers can afford, the Liberal government is dragging its feet.

If the St. Lawrence seaway were shut down even for just a few days because of a lack of equipment to deal with winter weather conditions, it would be an economic disaster. As the member for the port city of Trois-Rivières, I know what I am talking about.

Why is the government refusing to buy the Aiviq?

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, Minister of Fisheries]

Mr. Speaker, a few weeks ago, we announced an open and transparent consultation process with the marine industry specifically to ensure that there is no break in services.

Nine Coast Guard vessels are currently providing icebreaking services in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and they will be on the St. Lawrence River next year and for several years to come.

At some point, we will have to consider other options to ensure that there is no shortage of services. My colleague should not worry people by making such claims.

[Guy Caron, NDP, Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to remind the minister that a confidential internal report by his own department called the situation critical.

Economic development in the St. Lawrence corridor depends on the seaway being open all winter long. In response to this critical situation, the government says that maybe someday it might think about possibly coming up with a long-term solution for a new fleet.

Is that the government's strategy? Instead of leaving the seaway up to chance, why is it not considering buying, or at least renting, the Aiviq?

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, Minister of Fisheries]

Mr. Speaker, I am surprised that my colleague would suggest proceeding in a way that is not open and transparent.

We announced consultations with the entire marine industry and all partners across the country who have suggestions about the possibility of acquiring vessels for the short term and ensuring that there is no break in services.

Instead of moving forward with a single suggestion, we think it is in the interest of all Canadians and taxpayers to have a more open process. That is what we are doing.

Post-Secondary Education

[Alexandra Mendes, Liberal, Brossard—Saint-Lambert, QC]

Mr. Speaker, it can be hard for parents to save for their children's post-secondary education. Day-to-day expenses, including everything from groceries to housing, always come first. However, saving for a child's education can have a huge impact on his or her future.

Can the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour inform this House of the steps the government is taking to help parents save for their children's post-secondary education?

[MaryAnn Mihychuk, Liberal, Minister of Employment]

Mr. Speaker, November 20 to 26 is Education Savings Week, and Canadians are encouraged to save for a child's post-secondary education. That type of education opens doors for better jobs, and helps Canadians obtain in-demand skills and education. The government has two incentives: the Canada learning bond, and the Canada education savings grant. We encourage all Canadians to save for the future and ensure our children are successful.

Democratic Reform

[Scott Reid, Conservative, Lanark—Frontenac—Kingston, ON]

Mr. Speaker, last week we learned that the Minister of Democratic Institutions will, at the cost of millions, be mailing out 13 million postcards asking feel-good questions about electoral reform, but this week she said that Canada cannot have a referendum on the very same subject because “we have...seen how expensive [referenda] can be.”

The Chief Electoral Officer has testified that a simple change that is under the minister's own direct control could cut the costs of a referendum in half. Given the minister's day-old enthusiasm for frugality, why will she not just take the CEO's advice and stop pretending that cost is an insurmountable barrier to democracy?

[Maryam Monsef, Liberal, Minister of Democratic Institutions]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the hon. member for all of his hard work on this special committee that is focused on electoral reform. I am sure that the member opposite, who has been asking for a year that we reach out to as many Canadians as possible, will be fully supportive of the third pillar of our outreach. We will be reaching out to Canadians from all walks of life. We want to hear their values on their democratic institutions, and we are counting on every single member of this House to help ensure that their constituents have a say in this third pillar of our outreach.

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

Mr. Speaker, let us talk about the minister's consultations. We are dealing with a government that keeps saying that it is consulting with and listening to Canadians from coast to coast to coast.

If 70% of Canadians want a referendum before we change our electoral system, and if the committee has a report that indicates that a referendum is the right way to go, will the minister and the Prime Minister finally listen to Canadians and respect their wishes, or will they do as they please based on their own whims?

[Maryam Monsef, Liberal, Minister of Democratic Institutions]

Mr. Speaker, it has been a while since I have heard from the hon. member, too.

We listened to Canadians when we proposed the special committee to go out and hear from Canadians. We listened to Canadians and the members of this House when they said to change the composition of the committee so that the majority would be with the opposition.

We will listen to Canadians in new and innovative ways. I am looking forward to receiving the committee's report on December 1. We will take that into consideration, along with the feedback we have received from Canadians, before we introduce legislation in this House.

The Environment

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

Mr. Speaker, while the Liberals ignore farmers, our Conservative government mandated that oil companies blend ethanol and biodiesel in our transportation fuels.

This has been good for jobs and the economy, good for the environment, and good for the farmers in my riding. The Ecofiscal Commission has recommended these farmers be left in the dust.

Can the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food confirm that the Liberals will not reduce the ethanol and biodiesel mandate?

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

Mr. Speaker, I am proud of our government's record on the environment and climate change. As we have said many times, our government is committed to a cleaner environment and a more innovative economy. Bioproducts, including biofuels, can help create new economic opportunities for farmers and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

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

Mr. Speaker, the government clearly does not want to confirm that it is going to continue having that mandate.

Farmers in my riding depend on the ethanol and biodiesel production for their livelihoods, but the Ecofiscal Commission wants to throw them under the bus. This will kill farms and jobs, give us a weaker economy, and a dirtier environment.

Why will the Liberals not stand up for farmers and our environment, and maintain the ethanol and biodiesel mandate?

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

Mr. Speaker, Canadians voted for a more responsible government that will create a cleaner environment and a more innovative economy. Canadian farmers use responsible land management practices. The Government of Canada is working with its provincial and territorial counterparts to help farmers reduce greenhouse gas emissions, preserve soil and water resources, and adapt to climate change.

Indigenous Affairs

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

Mr. Speaker, this week Cindy Blackstock, AFN, Chiefs of Ontario, and Nishnawbe Aski Nation all filed motions of non-compliance against the government, after already issuing two previous compliance orders.

When the Liberals supported our motion, indigenous families hoped things would change, but two days later the government was back in court fighting first nations children.

When will the government do what it promised and work with first nations peoples and not against them?

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for raising this question.

We, too, were disappointed that the plaintiffs decided to file motions again. There had been a very good offer by the chief commissioner of the Canadian Human Rights Commission for us to get the lawyers out of this, and be able to speak in a facilitated discussion to get going on the reforms that are really necessary.

I look forward to working with the member and with all first nations to get this kind of reform. That is the real discrimination, of way too many indigenous children in care and being looked after by non-indigenous families.

Human Rights

[Sheri Benson, NDP, Saskatoon West, SK]

Mr. Speaker, the NDP can be counted on to defend the rights of the LGBTQ community here and abroad.

However, it is not so clear with our Prime Minister, who while in Liberia, refused to condemn the country's criminalization of homosexual activity. According to him, different countries have different paces of evolution in recognizing the rights of LGBTQ persons.

Let me remind the Prime Minister that human rights are universal, no matter where people live or who they love. Can the Minister of Foreign Affairs explain this missed opportunity?

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for her constant work on this file on behalf of LGBTQ2 people in our country.

It is important that we work both at home and abroad to promote human rights across the world. It is important that in our statements that we advance human rights, that we are sensitive to where countries are in their own evolution, and that we always defend the rights. Over time, the long arc of history bends toward progress, and we are helping with that long arc.

National Defence

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

Mr. Speaker, the decision to purchase 18 interim Super Hornets does not make any sense. The commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force, the Canadian commander of Norad, and the chief of the defence staff have all confirmed that there is no capability gap.

What is more, we have now learned that 234 members of the Canadian Armed Forces and public servants have been muzzled for life. They are not allowed to talk about the aircraft procurement file. According to Alan Williams, former assistant deputy minister responsible for equipment, this is unprecedented. There is something fishy about this file. The government is hiding something.

How much will it cost to acquire the Super Hornets?

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

Mr. Speaker, the information being referenced by the hon. member is possibly some of the most commercially and security sensitive information that the Government of Canada has.

Therefore, it is not unreasonable that the employees who work with that very sensitive information be required to sign non-disclosure agreements.

We are determined not to make the same mistakes that the previous government made.