Debates of March 21st, 2016

Foreign Affairs

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Mr. Speaker, atheists in Canada are very concerned about the growing persecution of non-believers in Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, and elsewhere. Religious freedom includes the right to not believe. While some atheists were initially skeptical about the Office of Religious Freedom, they are now represented on its external advisory board. Atheists remain skeptical, of course, but not about the work of this office.

Will the current government finally give atheists some hope for the future, some assurance of things yet unseen, and support our motion to renew the Office of Religious Freedom?

[Pam Goldsmith-Jones, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, a sense of humour is a wonderful thing. There is hope.

As a multicultural and multi-faith country, Canada is well placed to champion all human rights internationally. In fact, our own charter guarantees everyone the fundamental freedom of religion, and freedom of expression, association, and assembly, which is precisely what the member opposite was getting to. I thank him for his question.

[Peter Kent, Conservative, Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the United States, the European Union, and the Vatican have characterized the barbaric actions of ISIS as genocide, but the Liberals refuse to use the term to describe the slaughter of Yazidis, Christians, and Shia Muslims in territories ISIS controls.

Is that because the government's watered down, so-called non-combat mission in Syria and Iraq can do nothing to stop genocide under the terms of the UN convention?

[Pam Goldsmith-Jones, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, Canada strongly condemns the crimes perpetuated by the so-called Islamic State, including those committed against religious and ethnic minorities. However, genocide is not a term to be used lightly, and Canada is a member of the International Criminal Court, which means the use of that term is different than it is for the United States, which is not a member.

We are committed to preventing and halting genocide and crimes against humanity. We are committed to holding perpetrators of such serious international crimes to account; and our new, strong, three-year anti-ISIL strategy seeks to address the ongoing crisis in Iraq and the destabilizing impacts on Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

I am hoping we will keep showing respect for each other and listen carefully and not interrupt.

The hon. member for Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles.

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

Mr. Speaker, I understand my colleague's explanations, but I am going to ask the question again.

The European Parliament, the Pope, and even the Prime Minister's good friend President Obama have characterized the terrorist acts that ISIS is committing against religious groups in Iraq and Syria as genocide. All that the Minister of Foreign Affairs has done is weakly condemn those crimes.

Does the minister agree with the Obama administration? Will he confirm that this is indeed a genocide?

[Pam Goldsmith-Jones, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to repeat that Canada is a member of the International Criminal Court. The term genocide there means much more than the term genocide in terms of halting genocide, and the opposition should know that. This is absolutely serious. This is not the United States of Canada, and our strategy—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Colleagues, we all know that each side gets to have its turn to speak: to ask questions and answer the questions. Let us let each other take their time. Even if you do not like the answers or the questions sometimes, let us show respect for this place.

The hon. parliamentary secretary has the floor.

[Pam Goldsmith-Jones, Liberal, West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Our anti-ISIL strategy, in fact, is an example of our strengthening conviction against the hideous crimes of ISIL. That is all I have to say.

Health

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Mr. Speaker, there is a national epidemic of drug overdoses, and the Minister of Health has acknowledged that safe injection sites like Insite in Vancouver make sense and save lives. Public health officials in Toronto and cities across Canada are asking for federal help to open these desperately needed facilities. Yet, Liberals are refusing to repeal Conservative legislation that blocks communities from providing harm-reduction services.

Will the government stop stalling, make an evidence-based decision, and repeal the Conservatives' Bill C-2?

[Jane Philpott, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, as my colleague well knows, we are a government that bases our decisions on evidence. In terms of the matter of problematic substance use, we will address this on the basis of public health concerns as well as a focus on harm reduction.

I am very pleased that communities across the country have recognized that our government is supportive of supervised consumption sites, which have been known to save lives, prevent infections, and help people to access the health care system in a safe way. We will continue to work with communities to make these sites more available.

Regional Development

[Erin Weir, NDP, Regina—Lewvan, SK]

Mr. Speaker, concerns have been raised about millions in federal funding for Regina's Global Transportation Hub. This crown corporation spent $21 million buying land at inflated prices from businessmen with cozy ties to the governing Sask Party. Two weeks ago, the President of the Treasury Board promised to look into this scandal. Even a former Sask Party MLA has called for a police investigation.

Will the minister now report what he found, and will he be referring this matter to the RCMP?

[Scott Brison, Liberal, President of the Treasury Board]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his question and also for his inquiry when I appeared before committee.

The reality is that the provincial government in Saskatchewan has actually engaged its auditor general to look into this matter. It is a provincial matter. We look forward to seeing the result of the auditor general's inquiry on the provincial side. The hon. member has played a role in provincial politics in Saskatchewan in the past. That is very good, but we would urge him to focus on his role as a member of Parliament and the federal issues that we are seized with today.

Indigenous Affairs

[Karen Vecchio, Conservative, Elgin—Middlesex—London, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it has come to light that the Minister of Justice actively opposed the Site C dam project. The minister worked closely with Treaty 8 first nations to oppose it for years. Now with her role at the cabinet table, how can we be assured that she will stay neutral? The minister's mere presence will still have an influence.

Will the minister remove herself from the discussions on this project?

[Jonathan Wilkinson, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change]

Mr. Speaker, in the fall of 2014, the former government approved the project and set out a range of legally binding conditions with which the proponent must comply. BC Hydro must meet the requirements set out in the decision, and we are active in verifying compliance. We will continue to be proactive in that regard. We continue to reach out to indigenous groups to ensure that they are consulted and that we understand the concerns that are being brought forward.

Ethics

[Karen Vecchio, Conservative, Elgin—Middlesex—London, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Benjamin Bergen was the executive assistant to the current Minister of International Trade and her campaign manager. Now, he has begun lobbying the Liberals. His relationship with the minister gives him access to her and her cabinet colleagues. He has even stated that he has an extensive network among senior public sector officials that would be of benefit to their organization.

What is the Prime Minister going to do about yet another insider getting special access to Liberal ministers?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, Minister of International Trade]

Mr. Speaker, once again, the members opposite are looking for stories where there are none. Ben Bergen worked for me in my constituency office and never worked for me in my ministerial capacity. I am absolutely confident that he will follow all ethical guidelines.

I would like to add, however, that I am a strong supporter of Canadian innovators and entrepreneurs, particularly in the tech sector, and I am delighted to have met with him and will continue to support this crucial indigenous Canadian industry.

[Alex Nuttall, Conservative, Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte, ON]

Mr. Speaker, while people across this country were working hard this winter to balance their household budgets, our Prime Minister was in the Caribbean working hard on his tan. What is worse is that Canadian taxpayers are on the hook for $50,000 so the Prime Minister could enjoy his sunny ways. Fifty thousand dollars is just the bill for the private jet to sit on the tarmac.

How much will the Canadian taxpayers have to shell out for the Prime Minister's private Caribbean vacation?

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, members of the Conservative Party know well that there is a long-standing government policy, for security reasons, that prime ministers always use Royal Canadian Air Force aircraft for every purpose, including personal travel. As was the case with the previous prime ministers when travelling for personal reasons, the Prime Minister and members of his family reimbursed an economy airfare.

They also know that standard procedure requires, within three hours, the Prime Minister to be able to return to Canada in case of a national emergency. That policy existed under previous governments, and we are respecting that same policy today.

International Trade

[Geng Tan, Liberal, Don Valley North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, with the CETA agreement, started by the previous government, stalled since September 2014, I was thrilled to learn that our government was able to get the talks back on track for signature and implementation next year.

In 2008, Canadian goods and services exports to the European Union totalled $52.2 billion.

Would the Minister of International Trade tell the House what the impact of CETA will be for Canada and how it can benefit Canadians through increased growth and prosperity?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, Minister of International Trade]

Mr. Speaker, I was delighted last month to announce that the legal review of this gold-plated deal was finally complete and that we have successfully responded to Canadians' concerns about transparency and fairness in the investment chapter.

I am thrilled that this progressive deal is now moving ahead at full speed toward implementation next year.

I am also pleased that this evening I will have a chance to discuss the agreement with visiting members of the European Parliament's trade committee—a further sign of the new momentum behind CETA.

Foreign Affairs

[Joël Godin, Conservative, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

Mr. Speaker, defeated Liberal candidate Jocelyn Coulon is now working for the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Mr. Coulon once said that NATO was amplifying the Russian threat to Ukraine and Europe because it wanted member states to increase their military budgets.

He even wrote that “They use any argument, even the stupidest, to advance their rearmament agenda.”

Does the minister agree that the Russian threat to Ukraine is just a pretext for boosting NATO military budgets?

[Pam Goldsmith-Jones, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, Canada stands steadfast with Ukraine. We always have and we always will. We have been explicit in our condemnation of Russia's unlawful annexation of Crimea. The Russian interference and invasion of Ukrainian territory is completely unacceptable. We have one of the strongest sanctions in the world, strengthened further last week in order to apply economic pressure on Russia and the Putin government for its aggression.

As the government of Ukraine has said, “I believe Canada will be strong and firm in its pressure on Russia”.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Al-Obeidi, a citizen of Iraq and former political prisoner of Saddam Hussein, managed to escape and became a government-sponsored refugee in 2002. He landed in Canada in 2007. Ten years after he fled, Saddam Hussein is no longer a threat. He travelled back to visit his family and to get married. In 2012, cessation provisions became law and now the government wants to take away his permanent resident status. This law makes no sense.

Will the minister repeal the cessation provisions in Bill C-31?