House of Commons Hansard #118 of the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was cpp.
Bill Morneau LiberalMinister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, today's numbers are indeed good news for Canada. However, it is what is behind the numbers that is particularly important.
The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan
Order, please. I ask the member for Elmwood—Transcona and others to quietly listen to the answer. We each get our turn here. Each side does. Therefore, let us ensure we can hear both the questions and the answers.
The hon. Minister of Finance.
Bill Morneau Liberal Toronto Centre, ON
Mr. Speaker, as I was saying, today's numbers are indeed good news. It is what is behind the numbers that is particularly important. It is the strength and resiliency of the people in Fort McMurray as they rebuild their homes. They are not only helping them, but contributing to our broader economy. The story is even better. It is the generosity of Canadians who have worked together to make this happen. That is a wonderful story, one we will build on as we build Canada's economy.
Alupa Clarke Conservative Beauport—Limoilou, QC
Mr. Speaker, I asked the Minister of Public Services and Procurement a very simple question yesterday. She did not answer me, so I would like to repeat my question.
Her government's controversial decision to purchase 18 outdated Super Hornet fighter jets makes no sense. The minister's mandate is to ensure that all contracts awarded by the Canadian government are as profitable as possible and represent the best possible value for Canadian taxpayers.
Will the minister finally confirm the unit price of each Super Hornet? If she cannot do so, we will have to assume that she went ahead without full knowledge of the facts.
Public Services and ProcurementOral Questions
Bonavista—Burin—Trinity Newfoundland & Labrador
Liberal
Judy Foote LiberalMinister of Public Services and Procurement
Mr. Speaker, we made a decision that was in the best interest of our men and women in uniform to get them the equipment they needed to cover off a capability gap. We are in the process now of working with Boeing and the U.S. government to determine the best way forward. We will have an interim fleet to take care of our men and women in uniform.
I am not going to stand here and prejudge what the value of the contract will be. We are going to negotiate. We have an idea of what that cost will be, but it would be foolhardy for me to stand here and discuss it with the member and with anyone else before doing so with the U.S. government and Boeing.
Alupa Clarke Conservative Beauport—Limoilou, QC
Mr. Speaker, the truth is simple. She is not answering because she does not know the cost of the planes. That is what we call bad governance.
In Norway, their open and transparent process to replace their fleet of fighter jets took two years. The same kind of process took 16 months in South Korea and 11 months in Denmark.
The Liberals know that their management of this file will be a turning point for Canadians, who will judge the current government's performance very severely. That is precisely why they extended the bidding period over five years, until after the next election.
When will the minister properly fulfill her ministerial mandate instead of—
Public Services and ProcurementOral Questions
Bonavista—Burin—Trinity Newfoundland & Labrador
Liberal
Judy Foote LiberalMinister of Public Services and Procurement
Mr. Speaker, the reality is that our focus is on getting the best equipment we can for the men and women in service. We are going to do that by living up to our commitment to have an open and transparent competition, where any plane that meets the requirements will be able to compete. We want to make sure we get the best deal possible for our men and women in uniform, and for Canadian companies. We want to make sure we have middle-class jobs available for Canadians. We are going to do what the previous government did not do, and that is an open and transparent competition
Those members know they were in contempt—
James Bezan Conservative Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB
Mr. Speaker, we can do that competition within two years and select the proper fighter jet. There is absolutely zero logic to the approach of the Liberals to replacing Canada's fighter jets. The procurement minister has signed a blank cheque to buy a fleet of obsolete fighters. Procurement experts know that this is going to cost taxpayers billions of dollars.
After ignoring the air force, the Liberals unilaterally changed the number of fighter jets that our military needed. When the Liberals decided to sole-source the Super Hornet, who wrote the statement of requirements? Was it our air force or was it the PMO?
Public Services and ProcurementOral Questions
Bonavista—Burin—Trinity Newfoundland & Labrador
Liberal
Judy Foote LiberalMinister of Public Services and Procurement
Mr. Speaker, unlike the previous government, we are going to deliver for our men and women in uniform. We are going to make sure that we live up to our requirements under NATO and NORAD. We are not going to live with a capability gap as the previous government did when it mismanaged. We are going to make sure that we have the equipment we need to do the job expected of us.
Pierre Paul-Hus Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC
Mr. Speaker, in order to buy the 18 Super Hornets, the Liberals changed the number of jet fighters the Royal Canadian Air Force is required to have ready at any given time. This change was needed in order to justify the Liberals' narrative of Canada's capability gap, but that is nonsense. This move does not respond to any need or reflect the reality of Canada's defence. It only serves the interests of the Liberal Party. The Liberals clearly did not listen to our defence experts.
Who in the government came up with these changes?
John McKay LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, it is more than mildly ludicrous for Conservatives to lecture this government. Their requirements went from $9 billion, to $16 billion, to $26 billion, to $42 billion, to $45 billion, and they are telling us how to manage a procurement.
We have a capability gap. We have to manage the NATO requirements and the NORAD requirements. Those two requirements create a capability gap, which we no longer are prepared to manage; hence the decision this week.
Matthew Dubé NDP Beloeil—Chambly, QC
Mr. Speaker, while the RCMP is still trying to get enhanced surveillance powers, regular citizens have yet to see the changes to Bill C-51 that were promised during the election campaign.
The government seems to be listening more to the RCMP and CSIS than to citizens who have real concerns. The surveillance of journalists and indigenous activists and CSIS' illegal storage of data are hot topics these days.
When will the minister see the urgency of the situation and repeal Bill C-51?
Ralph Goodale LiberalMinister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Mr. Speaker, we have made it very clear that amendments with respect to Canada's security laws will be forthcoming when the national security consultation is complete. That consultation, by the way online, will finish on December 15. The government will then continue to examine the input from Canadians and take their advice into account, as we shape a new security framework for Canada that benefits from the input of ordinary Canadians.
Pierre-Luc Dusseault NDP Sherbrooke, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Auditor General issued a scathing report on the Canada Revenue Agency. Some taxpayers wait more than 896 days for an answer from the agency.
The agency has accumulated more than 171,000 objections to notices of assessment, and the processing times are virtually four times longer than those of other countries. Governments come and go, but the problems remain. We need more than just platitudes, we need action.
The minister wanted to improve services. Does she find it reasonable that Canadians have to wait more than two years to get an answer from her department?
Diane Lebouthillier LiberalMinister of National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the Auditor General for his report and I would like to say that the Canada Revenue Agency accepts the eight recommendations he proposed.
Canadians must have access to outstanding service when they contact the agency. That is a key point in my mandate letter. I made a commitment to do everything possible to provide outstanding service.
It is important to point out that an action plan to reduce processing times for objections is already being drawn up. It will be completed in early 2017.
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON
Mr. Speaker, two years ago, almost today, the former Conservative government granted the Ottawa Hospital's request to build in the big, open field right across the street. Problem solved.
However, the Liberal minister for Ottawa Centre stepped in, delayed the process for a year, and last week tried to force the Ottawa Hospital to move to a location it had twice rejected.
Now the Ottawa Liberal mayor, Liberal MPPs, and pretty much everyone else is disagreeing with her decision. The Liberal minister for Ottawa Centre created this mess.
Will she reverse her decision and let the hospital build in the place that it chose?
Mélanie Joly LiberalMinister of Canadian Heritage
Mr. Speaker, we will be receiving the report today. Of course, I will have a close look at it.
There is a clear need for a downtown hospital in Ottawa. We will make sure our approach acquires the support of the partners involved in building this important hospital that will serve the Ottawa community for the century to come.
We will be in touch with all levels of government. We look forward to working together to make sure that this important project happens.
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON
Mr. Speaker, all levels of government actually oppose the decision that the government is trying to force on the hospital.
However, when an Ottawa MP asks about an Ottawa hospital, Ottawa patients deserve to get an answer from an Ottawa minister. She is the one who created this mess. Now she is hiding behind a minister from Montreal.
If she cannot stand up, and speak up for her own city, will she step aside so the Prime Minister can appoint someone who will?
Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, Conservatives have shown that their way of approaching problems is to pit one region against the other. That is what they have done consistently, and that is what they are trying to do again here.
We and Canadians reject that approach.
The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan
Order, order. That is enough. The hon. member for Durham will come to order.
The hon. member for York Simcoe.
Peter Van Loan Conservative York—Simcoe, ON
Mr. Speaker, standing up for our constituents is what we were sent here to do.
Just months ago, the Liberals gave the CBC $675 million on top of the $1 billion-a-year it already gets. The CBC now says it is not enough. It wants another third of a billion dollars-a-year, and more from hard-pressed Canadian taxpayers.
When it comes to the CBC, it seems it is just never enough. The Liberals say they are open to this request from their friends.
Will someone over there finally take the side of taxpayers, and halt the convoy of Brink's trucks to the CBC?