Debates of April 20th, 2016

Natural Resources

[Catherine McKenna, Liberal, Minister of Environment and Climate Change]

Mr. Speaker, unfortunately the member opposite maybe did not understand what I said previously, so I will repeat it.

What I said is that we are committed to making a decision within 90 days of getting the information required from the proponent. We will make decisions based on science, facts, and evidence. Because that is what Canadians expect, that is what we will do.

Canadian Coast Guard

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC]

Mr. Speaker, according to the Emerson report, not only is the Canadian Coast Guard understaffed, but its fleet is one of the oldest in the world and is in urgent need of renewal.

Nevertheless, we learned that the Liberals are not going to continue maintaining the only Canadian icebreaker, the Louis S. St-Laurent, even though the Diefenbaker will not be operational for about 10 years.

With China and Russia planning to sail the Northwest Passage, how do the Liberals plan to meet the urgent needs of the Canadian Coast Guard?

What is the plan?

[Hunter Tootoo, Liberal, Minister of Fisheries]

Mr. Speaker, as part of the Canadian Coast Guard's multi-year maintenance plan, PSPC issued an advance contract award notice to Davie shipyard to enter the Louis S. St-Laurent into dry dock for a retrofit and life-extension work.

Due to lack of available space at the Davie shipyard, the contract has been deferred until next year. That will ensure that this iconic vessel of the Coast Guard will be able to participate in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea program taking place in the Arctic this summer.

The Senate

[Karine Trudel, NDP, Jonquière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Senate expense scandal has been upsetting people for years. Canadians are angry that government cronies, who were inappropriately appointed, are treating taxpayers' money like an all-you-can-eat buffet. It is completely outrageous for a senator to be using his staff members, who are on the public payroll, to organize his home renovations and manage his tanning salon.

When will the government rein in these fat cats and clean up these practices that simply do not make any sense?

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

Mr. Speaker, we have always said that great care must be taken with government spending and the management of public funds, and that this government will not allow anyone, under any circumstances, to misuse taxpayers' money.

The Senate has taken control of the situation. It has changed some of its rules. We encourage it to continue to work toward openness and transparency.

[Daniel Blaikie, NDP, Elmwood—Transcona, MB]

Mr. Speaker, this week we are hearing of senators who are using their parliamentary staff to work in their private tanning facilities. We are hearing that they are using them to organize their home renovations.

The Liberals congratulate themselves a lot in this House for talk about openness and transparency. However, we have recommended concrete action. We have talked about tightening the expense limits in the Senate, limiting taxpayer-funded travel, and strengthening the Senate ethics office. What we are asking for the government to do today is to stand in the House and join us in demanding the implementation of those rules by the Senate. Will it do it?

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Order, please. There is some question about whether or not this is within the responsibility of the government, but I see the government House leader rising to answer the question.

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

Mr. Speaker, as we have said, we have at all times understood the importance of managing taxpayer money in an appropriate way. We have thought that at any point those who are responsible for abusing or misusing taxpayer money should be held to account, and the money should be reimbursed. That includes the money that the New Democratic Party took for its satellite offices.

National Defence

[James Bezan, Conservative, Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB]

Mr. Speaker, the sun is shining and the sky is bright blue today in Manitoba after electing a strong, stable Conservative majority government last night.

Unfortunately, here in Ottawa, our military is entering another era of darkness. The Liberals' $3.7-billion defence cut from the defence budget are not only for future procurements, but they are also cutting the budget for current projects like the Arctic offshore patrol ships and the Halifax-class frigate upgrades.

Why will the Prime Minister not get the equipment for our troops now?

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

Mr. Speaker, it is passingly strange to get a question from the Conservatives about the fiscal mess left behind. There was a perpetual mismatch between the procurement cycle and the fiscal cycle, and the Minister of National Defence is now trying to rectify that. Accordingly, there are no funds that will be not applied to projects as they are needed.

[Cheryl Gallant, Conservative, Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal procurement process is failing our military. The decision to withhold funding for the Cyclone search and rescue helicopter reminds Canadians of the horrible Chrétien decision of the 1990s to cancel the EH 101 helicopters.

Why is the Prime Minister so willing to put the women and men of the Canadian Armed Forces at risk by cutting military funding?

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

Mr. Speaker, that is from a member of Parliament who was part of a government that made lapsing military funding an art form in order to get to a bogus balanced budget.

There are no monies being cut from projects. Had the members opposite spent more time getting the fiscal and procurement cycles in order instead of climbing in and out of fake airplanes, and did the hard work that is needed to match those cycles, then just possibly, the men and women in uniform would be getting their—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

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

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

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals have already sunk the Department of National Defence into darkness. They have put off some crucial procurements until after the next election, but that is not the worst of it, as reported in the Ottawa Citizen. The Liberals are putting on hold procurement projects that are already under way, such as offshore patrol ships, Cyclone helicopters, and the CF-18 replacements.

Will the minister show us what kind of weight he has in this government? Will he step up and ensure that these projects continue to move forward?

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

Mr. Speaker, once again, had the former government, the party opposite, actually done its work, then the procurement cycle would have matched the fiscal cycle and accordingly, we possibly would have had some procurements met. The mess left behind on the procurement cycle by the party opposite means that we are having to realign all of our fiscal priorities. Accordingly, we are now funding matters as they become due.

Employment

[Filomena Tassi, Liberal, Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas, ON]

Mr. Speaker, constituents in my riding celebrated the announcement by the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour to greatly increase the funding available through the Canada jobs program. Considering the reaction, I had no doubt that we would see more employers take advantage of this opportunity and help start to train the future workforce of our country.

Would the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour please give the House an update on the current state of participation in regard to the Canada jobs program?

[MaryAnn Mihychuk, Liberal, Minister of Employment]

Mr. Speaker, the member for Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas is absolutely correct. Funding was doubled for Canada summer jobs this year, and we are on track to create 70,000 jobs for youth this summer. Applications are up 30% from the year before, with over 36,000 applications. It means more jobs and opportunity in Hamilton and each and every riding across Canada.

Communications

[Dan Albas, Conservative, Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals may not realize it but they are playing a very high-stakes poker game with the Government of Quebec. Bill 74 would allow the Government of Quebec to force federally regulated Internet service providers to act as censors, blocking Quebeckers' access to Internet gaming sites. This clearly raises concerns about Quebeckers' rights to the Internet and censorship.

Will the Liberals show their hand and tell us what their position is on this legislation?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, we believe in net neutrality. We will be having ongoing discussions with our counterparts in Quebec regarding that question.

I had the opportunity of meeting many stakeholders that have raised issues regarding that particular bill. It will be a pleasure to have further discussions on this subject.

Canadian Coast Guard

[Rachel Blaney, NDP, North Island—Powell River, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the Comox coast guard centre is slated for closure on May 10. We have heard troubling testimony at committee around the technology failures, HR challenges, and even possible tsunami risks, yet the minister is showing a disregard for the committee, for Parliament, and for residents.

Will the government protect our coastal communities and keep the Comox MCTS centre open, or will it just keep repeating the same excuses as the Conservatives used while it shuts down this important marine safety centre?

[Hunter Tootoo, Liberal, Minister of Fisheries]

Mr. Speaker, again I rise to respond to this question.

As the member pointed out, the staff were notified late last month exactly when the closure would happen, although they were notified that the closure would happen in 2014.

The modernization of the centre has been a long-standing project that began in 2007, and the closure of the Comox station is the last one to be done. We are moving forward with that plan.

Transport

[Nicola Di Iorio, Liberal, Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC]

Mr. Speaker, for all intents and purposes the driverless car is quite literally at our doorstep.

Technology in this area is advancing rapidly. In some countries, large amounts of money are being invested, and more and more driverless car projects are appearing. How does the government plan on supporting, regulating, and developing driverless cars in Canada?

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his excellent question, especially since I believe innovation in the transport sector is extremely important, so that we can improve safety on our roads and boost the Canadian economy. Connected and automated vehicles and the regulation of these vehicles are fundamental sectors of innovation.

I am also pleased that the Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications accepted my proposal to carry out comprehensive studies on these vehicles.

Public Safety

[Erin O'Toole, Conservative, Durham, ON]

Mr. Speaker, when the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness proposed outsourcing RCMP occupational health to provincial compensation boards in Bill C-7, he claimed that compensation would be reasonably consistent across the country. Yesterday in committee, we heard that in Lloydminster in his own province this could result in thousands less for one RCMP member depending on which detachment that officer came from, the Saskatchewan side or the Alberta side.

When will the minister acknowledge our concerns about fair treatment and strike clauses 40 and 42 from Bill C-7?

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness]

Mr. Speaker, our government has indicated a new regard for the work of parliamentarians on parliamentary committees. The Prime Minister has made it clear that he wants to see the work of parliamentarians be adequately supported and invigorated.

If the committee which is hearing all of the evidence with respect to this matter has suggestions to make about the shape of the legislation, the President of the Treasury Board and I would be more than happy to entertain that advice.