Debates of April 14th, 2016

Grain Transportation

[Kelly Block, Conservative, Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek, SK]

Mr. Speaker, Prairie farmers and farm families are waiting for the Liberals to extend the grain freight provisions, including inter-switching, that have helped them get their grain to market.

The minister could have made this decision last year, but will spend the rest of the year consulting, unnecessarily, By the time he is done dithering, these provisions will have ended, leaving producers without reliable access to market.

Why is the minister deliberately delaying this extension?

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, we are looking at this matter very seriously. It comes at a time when the Canada Transportation Act review has been submitted, something which I tabled in the House on February 25, a very serious document with a large number of recommendations, some of which touch upon grain transportation.

I can assure my colleague that we are looking at this matter very seriously.

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Grande Prairie—Mackenzie, AB]

Mr. Speaker, if the Liberals were serious about doing anything on this, the Liberal MPs yesterday would not have refused to agree to hear from prairie grain farmers who were concerned about these provisions not having yet been extended.

In fact, I then took the opportunity this morning to meet with these farmers. They said that while the Liberals refused to listen to them, they know that this side of the House would stand up for them.

Will the minister extend these provisions that the farm families desperately need?

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, I am sorry, but my hon. colleague is blowing smoke here. We have met with a number of groups ever since I put out that report. As I said, I put it out on February 25, because I wanted to hear back from western grain farmers, from the shippers, and from the railroads. I wanted to hear from everybody. Believe me, my schedule shows that I am meeting a whole bunch of them. I encourage my hon. colleague to relax. I am doing my work.

Foreign Affairs

[Hélène Laverdière, NDP, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government continues to dig itself a deeper hole in the Saudi Arabia arms deal.

The minister claims that his hands were tied and that the contract was a done deal by the former government, but that is not true. He authorized the export permits, the most crucial, essential step.

Why does the minister continue to mislead Canadians? Will he finally step up and confirm that this decision was made by his government?

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, I think my colleague is well aware that she is the one who is confusing the matter. I want to share a quote from a news story:

At the end of March, Minister Dion said that he and government officials would examine whether the armoured vehicles exported to Saudi Arabia “comply with international laws, human rights and our national interests”.

If a journalist understood, why did my colleague not understand?

Manufacturing Industry

[Irene Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Mr. Speaker, divisive personal attacks are not going to distract from the government's misleading of Canadians.

Trying to pit the jobs of workers against human rights is a cynical distraction, but it does not hide government failure to open up new responsible markets and support long-term sustainable manufacturing jobs in our region. Instead, the Liberals have gambled the jobs of workers on a deal with an oppressive state, giving our city an unfair black eye.

Where is the government's plan for long-term sustainable jobs for the workers at General Dynamics and throughout London?

[Navdeep Bains, Liberal, Minister of Innovation]

Mr. Speaker, we are very committed to the manufacturing sector. We understand the importance of this sector in London in particular. I was there just a few days ago, making an announcement with respect to the automotive innovation fund and extending this fund for the next three years. This would allow further investments to allow job creation.

Above and beyond that, just a few days ago I was in Kitchener with my colleagues to announced the automotive supplier innovation fund initiative, which again invests in a supplier base. We are investing in manufacturing. We are investing in jobs. We are growing the economy. That is good for the country.

Justice

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

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister's guidelines outline that ministers and parliamentary secretaries must avoid a conflict of interest or the appearance of one at all times. The guideline states:

There should be no preferential access to government, or appearance of preferential access, accorded to individuals or organizations because they have made financial contributions to politicians and political parties.

Does the Minister of Justice not see that by attending a pay-to-play private event with high priced Bay Street lawyers who might be considered for a Governor in Council appointment she is actually granting preferential access?

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

Mr. Speaker, we have said on a number of times in the House, the minister contacted the Ethics Commissioner proactively to ask whether it was appropriate for her to attend that fundraising activity, as every member in the House of Commons does from time to time and as did ministers in the previous Conservative government from time to time. She received a confirmation that it was entirely appropriate for her to do so.

In fact, the Ethics Commissioner, in a three-page letter, confirmed that to my hon. colleague who asked the Ethics Commissioner that exact question. We consider this matter closed. The member is obviously having a struggle ending the matter.

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

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister states that the definition of a stakeholder is an individual employed in, contacted by, or who otherwise represents corporations or organizations that have current or anticipated official dealings with ministers. The Minister of Justice had a secret and private pay-to-play fundraiser in Toronto with high-priced lawyers who have a history of lobbying the justice department.

Why did the minister contravene the Prime Minister's guideline, which is far above what the House leader is currently saying in defence of her, and why did she put the integrity of her office in so much jeopardy?

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

Mr. Speaker, my hon. colleague knows full well the minister did no such thing. He keeps referring to this supposed secret fundraiser. Just because he repeats these exaggerated lines does not make them true. A fundraiser where every donation is disclosed on the Internet is hardly a secret fundraiser. It is something that members opposite have done many times over.

We will continue to respect all of the provisions of the Prime Minister's open and accountable government code, as well as the Conflict of Interest Act and any other related provisions.

[Michael Cooper, Conservative, St. Albert—Edmonton, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister's own ethics code states that ministers shall not raise funds from department stakeholders and lobbyists. Yet last week the Minister of Justice attended a pay-to-play fundraiser at a law firm with extensive dealings with the minister's department and a lobbyist who was registered to lobby, guess who, the minister.

Therefore, will the minister stand in the House and advise which other lobbyists were at the fundraiser?

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

Mr. Speaker, again, the hon. member keeps repeating these silly phrases like “pay-to-play”. He is confusing his Saturday night at the arcade with a very legitimate fundraising activity—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Order, please. I would encourage ministers to use judicious language and not do things that bring disorder to the House. It is not helpful.

The hon. member for Middlesex—London.

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

Mr. Speaker, we have been asking the same questions for four days, with no answers. The House leader continues to stand on behalf of the justice minister.

We are talking about her Prime Minister's guidelines, clearly outlined instructions to ministers. She was not only told to avoid conflicts of interest, but to avoid the appearance of one as well.

Was the Prime Minister consulted when his justice minister decided to ignore his rules?

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

Mr. Speaker, my colleague, the Minister of Justice, has answered that question a number of times.

My colleague across the aisle knows very well that members in the House attend fundraising events from time to time, done entirely according to law. All of the donations are disclosed publicly, as is required by law.

The Minister of Justice did absolutely nothing different than the ministers in the previous government used to do. Every member on this side of the House respects the Elections Act and the Prime Minister's code of conduct, and will always continue to do so. That is something the Conservatives had considerable trouble doing when they were in government.

Rail Transportation

[Linda Duncan, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Transport claims rail safety is his top priority, yet this week rail inspectors told our committee, despite a projected tenfold increase in dangerous cargo, that the rail safety budget was being slashed 21%.

Yesterday it was revealed that Transport Canada had withheld information on the 500 most dangerous level crossings, two of the most dangerous in my riding of Edmonton Strathcona.

Cuts, inaction, secrecy will not improve rail safety. When will the minister take real action on rail safety?

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, of course rail safety is my top priority. It is in my mandate letter. I was very glad that the Minister of Finance announced in this last budget $143 million additional dollars dedicated toward safety. That is a very serious commitment.

With respect to grade crossings, I have made it very clear that this information, which is a tool that Transport Canada uses, can be made accessible to the municipalities if they wish it. In fact, I will be meeting with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities in two weeks to make that offer to them.

[Matthew Dubé, NDP, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Quebeckers and Canadians certainly understand that rail safety is important. The minister says he understands it is important. Maybe he should tell that to the Minister of Finance because the rail safety budget was cut by 21%.

Tragic incidents like the one in Lac-Mégantic and other accidents happen across Canada. The Lac-Mégantic tragedy is very fresh in people's memory.

We recently learned that Transport Canada sat on information about the 500 most dangerous rail crossings. It is time to stop talking and start taking action.

When will the minister and the government start taking action?

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, let me be clear: rail safety is my top priority. I do not know which budget my colleague was looking at, but in our budget, the Government of Canada allocated $143 million to rail safety in this country over the next three years.

I was very clear about the information on grade crossings. We will certainly share that information with the municipalities if they want. I am meeting with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities in two weeks to talk about it.

International Development

[Steven MacKinnon, Liberal, Gatineau, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Syrian crisis sparked an outpouring of sympathy on the part of Canadians, who responded with tremendous generosity.

Our communities have welcomed over 25,000 refugees and continue to do so. People have donated a great deal to help those who are settling in their regions.

Can the Minister of International Development and La Francophonie tell the House about the kind of support the government is still providing?

[Marie-Claude Bibeau, Liberal, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague from Gatineau for his question.

The Syrian refugees on the Hill today will be pleased to hear that Canadians have donated nearly $32 million to the Syria Emergency Relief Fund. As promised, our government is matching that contribution, and even topping it up for a total of $100 million.

Of the 29 projects that will receive funding, the largest is the UNICEF project that will help 84 education centres in Jordan, provide school supplies in Syria, and support a national vaccination campaign.

Veterans

[Alupa Clarke, Conservative, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Veterans Affairs keeps repeating the words “care”, “respect”, and “compassion” when talking about our veterans. One veteran, Robin Brentnall, recently went on a hunger strike to protest the bad decisions made in his case by the department.

Can the minister confirm that he has been in contact with this veteran, that he has gone to visit him in order to save him before it is too late?