Debates of May 17th, 2016

Natural Resources

[Rona Ambrose, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, after more than two years of study, the National Energy Board will deliver its decision on the Trans Mountain pipeline this week.

However, rather than accept an independent science-based process, the Prime Minister wants a review of the review. The last thing Canada's energy sector needs right now is more uncertainty created by more political Liberal interference, but that is all the government has to offer.

When will the Prime Minister stop creating uncertainty and quit stalling on vital pipeline projects?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the uncertainty has been created by 10 years of a government that refused to understand that we can only build a strong economy when we are protecting the environment, when we are listening to Canadians, when we are building partnerships with indigenous peoples, and when we are respecting the science that surrounds all these projects.

The fact is that for 10 years the members opposite could not get it done. We are committed to building a strong economy by protecting the environment at the same time.

[Rona Ambrose, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, this was a very thorough review. It involved more than 1,600 participants, including local municipalities and 35 indigenous groups. However, the Liberals feel there was insufficient reviewing. They added a parallel review, so that when they received the independent review, they could review both reviews together.

Still unsure about whether this is enough reviewing, the Liberals are now giving the whole process another review. When will the Prime Minister stop reviewing his reviews and make a decision?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, yet again, the members opposite are demonstrating that they did not understand why, for 10 years, they were unable to get anything done.

The reason they were unable to get anything done is that Canadians lost faith in their capacity to look out for the big picture, to build a strong economy while protecting the environment.

We are working very hard, as Canadians have asked us to do, to restore their faith in our processes, in our government, in our capacity to build a strong economy and protect the environment, together.

Democratic Reform

[Rona Ambrose, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, speaking of faith, after months of delays, the Liberals finally announced their process on electoral reform, and it is a sham.

The committee is dominated by Liberals, with principles written by Liberals, and the Liberal cabinet will make the final decision. They could not have designed a process that is less democratic.

Will the Prime Minister finally commit to giving all Canadians a final say in their democracy by holding a referendum?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, again, for the members opposite to be talking about consultation and referendum is the height of irony, since the previous government rammed through the Fair Elections Act that was designed to disenfranchise thousands upon thousands of Canadians from being able to vote against that government. They failed in that attempt.

What we have committed to do is to consult with Canadians, to engage with Canadians about how to build a better electoral system and how to build a stronger democracy. Canadians' voices will be heard, and we will fulfill our promise of ending first past the post.

[Denis Lebel, Conservative, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Mr. Speaker, it is interesting to note that more Canadians voted in the last election than in the past, which means that we did a good job.

It is unfortunate to see that six Liberal MPs will be allowed to decide the future of democracy in this country. It is really unbelievable. The electoral reform that Canadians want should take into account Canadians' views, not just the Liberals' views, as well as their ability to choose.

Will the Prime Minister promise to hold a referendum?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we have committed to consulting with Canadians and listening to Canadians who have concerns. For 10 years, they had concerns about how their government was behaving. They made the right choice in the last election, choosing a party that is committed to reforming our electoral system. That is exactly what we are going to do, in order to ensure that Canadians' voices are heard and to give them a better government. That is what Canadians expect us to do, and that is what we will deliver.

[Denis Lebel, Conservative, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we are extremely proud to have left the government with the best debt-to-GDP ratio and the best job creation record in the G7. We will see what the Liberals end up delivering. Maybe they will deliver nothing more than words. We shall see.

What is the logic behind using social media to hold consultations when it is so hard to know where the social media users are from? Will people from other countries be sharing their point of view?

We think that it is important to know where Canadians stand on this and that there needs to be a referendum.

Will the Prime Minister commit to holding one?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we are committed to doing things differently, listening to Canadians, and talking to them about the future of our country and our electoral system, unlike that party, which imposed changes to our electoral system without consulting Canadians and without talking to the opposition members. We are committed to doing this in a responsible, open manner in order to build a better electoral system that will serve all Canadians better. That is what Canadians asked us to do. That is what we are going to do.

Marijuana

[Thomas Mulcair, NDP, Outremont, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Justice, appearing at committee today, said that the Liberals' approach to legalization would “ensure that we decriminalize the use of marijuana”. Once again, these are mixed signals from the government, while thousands of mostly young Canadians are still getting criminal records for personal use of marijuana.

If the government is, indeed, willing to decriminalize, our question is simple. What the hell are they waiting for?

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

The hon. member knows that is not parliamentary language, and I would ask if perhaps he could rephrase that in his next question. That was inappropriate.

The right hon. Prime Minister.

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the fact is that we made our commitment to legalize marijuana around two fundamental principles: one, that right now it is too easy for young people to get access to marijuana under the current regime, and second, the fact that funds from the sale of marijuana fund, to the tune of billions of dollars, criminal organizations, street gangs, and gun runners.

That is what our focus is and why we are going to be legalizing, patrolling, regulating marijuana: to protect our kids and to protect our streets.

[Thomas Mulcair, NDP, Outremont, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the question is this. What in heaven's name are they waiting for?

The government is promising to legalize marijuana. Just today, the minister said that the Liberals would also decriminalize it.

Now, the question is whether the government's legislation will include provisions to pardon everyone convicted of possession or personal use of marijuana.

Will there be a pardon, yes or no?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, our commitment to legalize, control, and regulate marijuana is based on two principles.

First, it is too easy for young people to get access to marijuana under the current regime, and we must protect them.

Second, street gangs, organized crime, and gun runners are making billions of dollars every year from the illegal sale of marijuana.

That is why we committed to controlling, regulating, and legalizing marijuana. Obviously, when we legalize something we also decriminalize it, but legalization and control are what is important.

Aerospace Industry

[Thomas Mulcair, NDP, Outremont, QC]

Mr. Speaker, since the Liberals took office, thousands of young people have been convicted and will have a criminal record for the rest of their lives. What are the Liberals waiting for? When will they decriminalize marijuana? Even Jean Chrétien is calling for it, for heaven's sake.

When he was a member of the opposition, the Prime Minister strode, swaggered, and strutted before the Parliament Buildings with Aveos workers. He chanted “solidarity” into a megaphone saying that these jobs were so important and that this was ridiculous.

Why is he now cutting off debate on something that he—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Order. The right hon. Prime Minister.

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, Canada's aerospace industry is extremely important to economic growth. It also a source of high-quality jobs in Canada.

That is why we are proud to introduce a bill on Air Canada that will guarantee jobs in Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec in Air Canada's manufacturing and aircraft maintenance sectors. We are going to build a strong aerospace industry in Canada for the future through our bills and our commitment.

[Thomas Mulcair, NDP, Outremont, QC]

Mr. Speaker, it is shameful that the government is proud of exporting thousands of good Canadian jobs.

With closure, stacking committees, and whipping votes, whatever happened to real change and sunny ways?

Liberals are retroactively stripping thousands of good jobs from Canada. He stood in front of Parliament with the workers of Aveos, screamed solidarity into a microphone, and now he is letting those jobs go elsewhere.

What is the excuse?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Quite the opposite, Mr. Speaker. This government is committed to creating the high-quality jobs that the aeronautic industry has always brought forward. That is why we are pleased that this Air Canada bill would guarantee jobs in Manitoba, in Ontario, and in Quebec. These are the kinds of good, high-paying jobs we need as we invest in our aerospace industry, as we build a brighter future for all Canadians.

I am pleased for the opportunity to highlight what we are doing in terms of creating economic growth for middle-class Canadians and those working hard to join the middle class.

Democratic Reform

[Blake Richards, Conservative, Banff—Airdrie, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Democratic Institutions seems to really love Liberal doublespeak. On one hand, she claims to want Canadians to be able to participate in a democratic process, but on the other, she appointed six Liberal MPs to rig the future of Canadian democracy.

The only way to truly consult all Canadians is to give them a direct say through a referendum.

Will the minister finally drop the talking points and commit to giving all Canadians a referendum?

[Maryam Monsef, Liberal, Minister of Democratic Institutions]

Mr. Speaker, over 60% of Canadians in the last election voted for parties committed to changing the first past the post voting system. Canadians want it changed because it provides an election outcome that is not consistent with the results of the election. It is a system inherited from a distant past, not designed to meet the needs of a multi-party democracy.

Many countries around the world have developed other systems, and we would do well to learn from them.

It is time for a 21st century model of elections, and we are committed to delivering on our promise to Canadians.

[Blake Richards, Conservative, Banff—Airdrie, AB]

Mr. Speaker, to encourage more Canadians to vote, the Liberals first have to realize that we cannot accomplish that by taking away their right to vote at all.

Canadians are demanding the right to have a say in a referendum before any changes are made to their electoral system. That right belongs to all Canadians, not this minister and her six Liberal cronies.

If the Liberals were truly listening to Canadians, as the minister claims, they would already have heard that loud and clear. Why will they not hold a referendum?

[Maryam Monsef, Liberal, Minister of Democratic Institutions]

Mr. Speaker, in 1872, Canada adopted a secret ballot. In 1918, women began to be extended the franchise. In 1920, the office of the Chief Electoral Officer was established. In 1960, voting rights were extended to indigenous persons. In 1970, those under the age of 21 were allowed to vote.

None of these changes were the result of a referendum. They happened because the parliamentarians of the day displayed leadership and courage. That is the kind of leadership and courage that the members of this House need to have.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!