House of Commons Hansard #41 of the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was jobs.
John McCallum LiberalMinister of Immigration
Mr. Speaker, it sounds like the hon. member did not hear my answer to the previous question. Perhaps she could revise her questions in light of what has been said. The point is that these people are largely out of hotels, with 87% in permanent housing.
The other thing I said was that we were under budget. We have delivered this program on time, under budget, and it is good news.
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Mr. Speaker, it will be interesting to see what “largely” is defined as now that the Liberals have increased humanitarian assistance to refugees by over 250%.
If the Liberals had any plan to deal with this, they would see that they should be ensuring that government sponsored refugees are not sitting in hotel rooms. Why are the Liberals not matching Syrian refugees who are sitting in hotel rooms with privately sponsored refugee groups?
John McCallum LiberalMinister of Immigration
Mr. Speaker, refugees always spend some time in hotels. For the third time, I would inform the member that 87% of those refugees are now in permanent housing.
Also, I am probably the only immigration minister in the world whose major problem is an inability to get refugees to Canada fast enough to satisfy the overwhelming generosity of Canadians, but I am working on it.
Darshan Singh Kang Liberal Calgary Skyview, AB
Mr. Speaker, budget 2016 announced $2 billion for the post-secondary institutions strategic investment plan to improve research and innovation infrastructure at Canada's post-secondary institutions. I know post-secondary institutions in Alberta see this investment as not only a net positive for science but also for the Canadian economy.
Could the Minister of Science tell Canadians why our government is making such a big investment?
Kirsty Duncan LiberalMinister of Science
Mr. Speaker, post-secondary institutions are front-line agents in fostering science and research excellence. That is why we announced last Friday nearly $20 million to 33 Canadian universities. The new SIF fund will improve research and innovation infrastructure at Canada's post-secondary institutions.
As the University of Calgary president Elizabeth Cannon said, these investments “...will support students and scientists with modern labs, green technologies and enhanced capacity for commercialization”.
We are proud to tell the House that the application process is under way.
Cathy McLeod Conservative Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC
Mr. Speaker, in response to the Daniels decision, National Chief Dorey stated that the 600,000 Metis and non-status aboriginals should have access to the same resources available for decades to those with status. He also noted that the government always had pools of money set aside for unexpected events.
Any prudent government would have analyzed the full implications of this decision. Again, would the minister share with Canadians what the projected costs will be?
Yvonne Jones LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs
Mr. Speaker, first, we welcome the ruling by the Supreme Court of Canada, and we respect the ruling. We have every intention to continue our partnership with Métis and non-status people in the country to advance them and move them forward.
In fact, the president of the Metis National Council has already said, “...the Trudeau government has already recognized the Métis Nation and is prepared to deal—
The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan
Order, please. Unless the she was referring to a previous government, I would remind her that we do not refer to members by their proper names but by their titles, the Prime Minister's government, perhaps.
The hon. member for Jonquière.
Karine Trudel NDP Jonquière, QC
Mr. Speaker, yesterday, a coalition of associations representing Quebec workers launched a campaign for real reform of the employment insurance program.
The program has been gutted for years by the Liberals and the Conservatives, and now, too many workers continue to be disqualified. The budget did not contain any commitment to help seasonal workers, and the government continues to dip freely into the fund, planning to take nearly $7 billion over the next three years.
When will the Liberals fix their own mistakes of the past and truly help workers?
MaryAnn Mihychuk LiberalMinister of Employment
Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to say that we have provided $2.5 billion to Canadians from coast to coast to coast, including reducing the deductible, improving service, reversing the negative 2012 changes, eliminating the punitive measures that targeted women, youth and immigrants, doubled the work-sharing program and reduced premiums for small business.
Raj Grewal Liberal Brampton East, ON
Mr. Speaker, since the great people of Brampton East sent me to the House, my office has received over 500 immigration cases, clearly showing that the system was broken under the previous government.
Could the hon. Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship please update the House on how we we will make the immigration process more accountable and more transparent for all Canadians?
John McCallum LiberalMinister of Immigration
Mr. Speaker, in the near future, we will be making it easier for international students to become permanent residents. We will also be reducing significantly the processing time for families.
Already we have brought in more than 26,000 Syrian refugees. We have re-established refugee health care. Also, we have re-established the principle that there is one, not two, class of Canadian citizens.
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Mr. Speaker, here is what Katrina Lantos Swett with the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom had to say about the Liberal decision to kill the office of religious freedom, “The world is kind of on fire, as it relates to religious freedom. So the timing...couldn't be much worse.”
The Liberals said that they would replace the office with something else, but the office is now gone and we still have no planned replacement.
Could we actually get a timeline? When will the Liberals do something about international human rights?
Foreign AffairsOral Questions
West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country B.C.
Liberal
Pam Goldsmith-Jones LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, the promotion and protection of human, including the freedom of religion, belief and conscience is an integral part of Canada's constructive engagement in the world. I know you know the words.
The minister just announced in Burma Canada's $44 million investment in a bilateral development assistance program, which will strengthen and promote democracy and fundamental freedoms, including those of religious minorities, for instance, like the Rohingya.
We are continuing our important work as we move toward a comprehensive vision of human rights. Dr. Bennett and staff remain with us during this transition.
The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan
When the parliamentary secretary said, “I know you know the words”, I guess she was talking about me, but otherwise I know she would not use the word you. I would encourage her not to use the word you unless she means me.
The hon. member for Rivière-du-Nord.
Rhéal Fortin Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
Mr. Speaker, this morning we learned that KPMG accountants and senior officials from the Canada Revenue Agency have been getting together to toast the health of Canadians.
KPMG and the CRA are as thick as thieves. The firm recruited a senior advisor from among experienced public servants, and KPMG and the CRA even came to an agreement that granted amnesty to profiteers who hid $130 million in tax havens.
Does the Minister of National Revenue think that this close relationship between her employees and these tax haven dealers is appropriate?
Diane Lebouthillier LiberalMinister of National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to repeat, for my colleague's benefit, that the event was organized by the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada, a professional association. Most of the CRA employees who work in accounting and auditing belong to that association.
Rhéal Fortin Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
Mr. Speaker, one has to wonder about investigators who party with the professionals they are investigating.
The minister has been reading from the same pink notecard for weeks: she updated the strategy, she audited the taxpayers, she has taken legal action, and she has invested in the fight against tax evasion. The problem is that, in most cases, tax evasion is institutionalized. When what these people are doing is not exactly legal, as in the case of Barbados, they can always make arrangements with the CRA, as we can see from the amnesty granted in the KPMG scandal.
Will the minister finally put an end to cocktail and cronyism hour in her department?
Diane Lebouthillier LiberalMinister of National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, if I am always repeating myself, it is because my colleague opposite does not seem to be able to understand the correct answers.
The Canada Revenue Agency was allocated an unprecedented budget of $444 million to work on combatting tax evasion and tax avoidance. That is what we promised Canadians and that is what we are going to do this year.
Luc Thériault Bloc Montcalm, QC
Mr. Speaker, when asked about Bill C-14 on Friday, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice said that the bill on physician-assisted dying would have made Kay Carter eligible despite the vague concept of “reasonably foreseeable natural death”.
Can the Minister of Justice tell us whether she shares her colleague's opinion, and if so, how spinal stenosis fulfills the “reasonably foreseeable natural death” criterion?
Jody Wilson-Raybould LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, we look forward to having a vigorous debate on Bill C-14. As the Attorney General, I read the Carter decision very carefully. I am confident we are responding in a substantive way to the Carter decision, as well as ensuring that it is in compliance with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. We have put forward what we believe is the best solution now which balances personal autonomy and ensures we protect the vulnerable. I look forward to the debate.
Bill Morneau LiberalMinister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 83(1) I wish to table a notice of ways and means motion to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 22, 2016, and other measures.
Pursuant to Standing Order 83(2) I ask that an order of the day be designated for consideration of the motion.
David Graham Liberal Laurentides—Labelle, QC
Mr. Speaker, there have been discussions among the parties and if you seek it, I believe you will find unanimous consent for the following motion. I move:
That, notwithstanding any Standing Order or usual practice of the House, at the expiry of the time provided for Oral Questions on April 19, 2016, the House shall consider Ways and Means motion No. 6 immediately following the taking of the deferred recorded division on Ways and Means motion No. 2.