House of Commons Hansard #53 of the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was rcmp.
Lawrence MacAulay LiberalMinister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
Mr. Speaker, I can assure my honourable colleague, this House, and Canadians that my chief of staff has completed all the requirements of the Conflict of Interest Commissioner and will be abiding by all guidelines set forward. This includes a conflict of interest screen which has been established and will be followed.
My chief of staff is an outstanding member of her community and has a deep commitment to agriculture.
Chris Warkentin Conservative Grande Prairie—Mackenzie, AB
Mr. Speaker, that was the same talking points that he gave to me on January 25, but we found out just recently from the Ethics Commissioner that her new ruling requires that his chief of staff not engage with the TPP, not have any involvement with regard to the egg industry, and have nothing to do with the supply management system.
I ask the minister, given the commissioner's clear ruling, can the minister guarantee that since day one in his office, she has had absolutely zero to do with any of these crucial files?
Lawrence MacAulay LiberalMinister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
Mr. Speaker, again I can assure my honourable colleague that my chief of staff has completed all the guidelines required by the Conflict of Interest Commissioner, and she will follow the guidelines.
Does my honourable colleague indicate that all we want to work in agriculture are people who know nothing about agriculture?
Bev Shipley Conservative Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON
Mr. Speaker, let us be clear. We now have a Minister of Agriculture, and his chief of staff cannot talk about eggs, cannot talk about supply management, and cannot even talk about the trans-Pacific partnership.
If she has been involved in any of these files in the last six months, it is a conflict of interest.
That is what we knew from the beginning. The minister refused to listen to us. How can the minister assure farmers and processors that his chief of staff has not been using this job for personal gain?
Lawrence MacAulay LiberalMinister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
Mr. Speaker, I know the member for Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, and I am surprised that he would indicate that such a competent lady would be in this role. I am truly disappointed.
My colleague understands that the Ethics Commissioner has ruled, and all the guidelines submitted by the Conflict of Interest Commissioner will be followed.
Again, does he just want somebody in agriculture who knows nothing about agriculture? I think not.
Bev Shipley Conservative Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON
Mr. Speaker, I am amazed that he is criticizing the Ethics Commissioner for making the comment about what she can do and what she cannot, because the Minister of Agriculture hired his chief of staff, a major stakeholder in one of the largest egg producers and processing companies in Canada. Now she is prohibited from supporting supply management, the egg industry, and any trade issues, particularly around the trans-Pacific partnership.
Why did he leave supply management and free trade in the hands of an individual who is not allowed to talk about them?
Lawrence MacAulay LiberalMinister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
Mr. Speaker, I think my honourable colleague wants to be careful about what my chief of staff is and is not involved in. She has a career of her own.
However, the Conflict of Interest Commissioner has set guidelines. I have indicated quite clearly to this House a number of times, she will follow the guidelines.
Sheila Malcolmson NDP Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC
Mr. Speaker, last week, Pauktuutit called on the federal government to ensure the upcoming inquiry into murdered and missing indigenous women and girls meets Inuit concerns.
Funding is needed to support the participation of indigenous peoples, including access to healing and support services, and action is needed now to prevent violence. There is no need to wait until the end of the inquiry in order to act.
Will the government listen and provide full support for the full participation of indigenous women, and will it act now to prevent violence?
Yvonne Jones LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs
Mr. Speaker, we would certainly like to thank Pauktuutit and IKT for their input into this process.
Missing and murdered indigenous women has been a priority for us since we have taken government. We are committed to seeing this inquiry through.
We are determined to work with all of those who have been impacted to ensure that this inquiry has the outcomes that are necessary for healing, and for reconciliation for so many women, children, and families across our country.
Ruth Ellen Brosseau NDP Berthier—Maskinongé, QC
Mr. Speaker, everyone seems to understand the need for urgent action on the diafiltered milk issue except the Liberal government.
Yesterday Agropur announced that it would stop using diafiltered milk, and dairy farmers have once again criticized the government for its failure to act. The Liberal government should be ashamed. The minister called it an emotional issue for farmers. It is an economic issue, because farmers are losing millions of dollars.
When will the Liberal government finally take action and when will the Minister of Agriculture start doing his job?
Lawrence MacAulay LiberalMinister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate my honourable colleague's question and concern.
The Liberal Party implemented supply management and will defend supply management.
We recognize that this is an important issue for dairy farmers, and we are working to reach a long-term solution that will work for all of the dairy sector across this nation.
Alupa Clarke Conservative Beauport—Limoilou, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Liberals announced that a monument would be established in Ottawa to commemorate trade unions.
Unfortunately, we are still waiting for a monument to honour our veterans of the Afghanistan War. Clearly, even though some of our soldiers gave their lives for Canada, the Liberals simply cannot give priority to a tribute in their honour.
Why does this government have the political will to go ahead with certain monuments, when it is clearly incapable of honouring our 40,000 veterans of the Afghanistan War?
Kent Hehr LiberalMinister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, I can assure the member that commemoration is important to this government. We will continue to honour those who have served from Vimy Ridge to Juno Beach, through peacekeeping efforts in the seventies, eighties, and nineties, from the Gulf War to the Afghan theatre, in a dignified fashion.
We are working closely with the ministry of heritage to see this project through, and rest assured it will be done.
James Bezan Conservative Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB
Mr. Speaker, protecting the members of the Canadian Armed Forces and their families must be a priority for every government.
Last week the media tagged along on General Vance's tour to Iraq and had some face time with special operations forces. The problem is that the media published the faces of the soldiers it met. When this happened under our government, we took full responsibility and fixed the mistake.
I have a simple question. Will the defence minister own up to this error and ensure the identity of our troops is protected?
John McKay LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, the safety of our Canadian Armed Forces personnel and the security of our operations are of primary concern. Canadian Forces thoroughly assess and implement appropriate measures to ensure safety and security.
The members who were recently profiled were preselected and approved by Canadian Armed Forces leadership.
James Bezan Conservative Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB
Mr. Speaker, General Vance described the Prime Minister's decision to triple Canada's ground troops in Iraq while withdrawing Canadian air support as an overall riskier mission.
The images published in the media last week could expose Canadian special forces members and their families to even greater risks. When I was the parliamentary secretary and this happened under the previous Conservative government, I stood in the House, took responsibility, and we fixed the problem.
Will the parliamentary secretary admit that allowing these photos to be published was a mistake and take the necessary actions to protect and ensure the safety of our troops and their families?
John McKay LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, as I recollect, the hon. member standing in the House in a previous Parliament was because his government wanted some photo ops. Accordingly, we have fixed that system.
Accordingly, the members who were recently profiled were approved by Canadian Armed Forces leadership. It had nothing to do with the Minister of National Defence.
Yves Robillard Liberal Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC
Mr. Speaker, budget 2016 provides funding for electric vehicles as well as alternative fuels infrastructure. These initiatives will allow for more low-carbon-emitting vehicles and will benefit both our economy and our environment.
Can the Minister of Natural Resources tell the House about the support our government is providing during the transition to transportation options—
Jim Carr LiberalMinister of Natural Resources
Mr. Speaker, clean technologies are a central part of our clean growth plan to transition to the economy of tomorrow.
Yesterday we announced that funding proposals are now being accepted under two new electric vehicle and alternative fuel infrastructure initiatives. As part of budget 2016, this $62-million program will put more low-carbon vehicles on the road, which will decrease emissions.
By investing in electric vehicle technology, we will be showing national leadership on climate change while our economy grows.
Cathy McLeod Conservative Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs said that Canada's resource sector was being put on notice.
There have been fustian words and mixed messages coming from the Liberal front bench regarding what indigenous free, prior, and informed consent actually means.
Will the Liberals clarify for Canadians if implementing the UN declaration gives a veto over critical infrastructure projects?
Yvonne Jones LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs
Mr. Speaker, as I have stated before, and as the Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs has said, we do not see a strong working relationship with indigenous people as an impediment to resource development of any kind in this country.
In fact, Mr. Perry Bellegarde, the national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, has already said that veto is not utilized in free, prior, and informed consent in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. I think collaboration and working together is the way forward, and that is the path we are on.
Fin Donnelly NDP Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC
Mr. Speaker, in 2015, the Federal Court banned fish farms in B.C. from using diseased Atlantic salmon in open-net pens. The risks to wild salmon were, and still are, unacceptable. However, the Conservatives, on behalf of a foreign-owned company, appealed the court's decision. Not only is the Liberal government continuing this appeal, shockingly, it is fast-tracking the efforts to overturn the ruling.
Why is the government continuing with this Conservative approach, fighting the court ruling, and putting B.C. wild salmon at risk?
Hunter Tootoo LiberalMinister of Fisheries
Mr. Speaker, I would like the member to know that this is an issue that has been recently brought to my attention.
I have had discussions with the Minister of Justice on this. I would like to inform the member that I plan to meet with her to discuss this further in the near future.
Gary Anandasangaree Liberal Scarborough—Rouge Park, ON
Mr. Speaker, several weeks ago, the Minister of Veterans Affairs and I met with our wounded soldiers in my riding of Scarborough—Rouge Park as they were training for this year's Invictus Games. As members may be aware, the Scarborough Pan Am centre will co-host the 2017 Invictus Games.
Can the minister advise us as to how the government will be supporting our soldiers and our veterans in representing Canada?
