Debates of May 4th, 2016

Ministerial Expenses

[Scott Brison, Liberal, President of the Treasury Board]

Mr. Speaker, Liberals have led on openness and transparency.

In fact, it was Paul Martin's Liberal government that was the first to actually post ministerial expenses publicly. It was our Prime Minister, who, when leader of the Liberal Party and leader of the opposition, ensured that the Liberal caucus was the first caucus to publicly post our expenses.

We led the way then in terms of openness and transparency and proactive disclosure, and we will continue to.

The Environment

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Abbotsford, BC]

Mr. Speaker, it appears that our boxing Prime Minister is playing rope-a-dope with Canadians.

He recently sent out a fundraising letter praising his new Canada-wide climate change plan. However, Canadians are asking, what plan is that? Is it the one that was promised in Paris within 90 days, which he failed to deliver in Vancouver?

If there is a climate change plan that only Liberal insiders know about, will the Prime Minister now table it, so that all Canadians can see how painful it will be and who will pay the costs?

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

Mr. Speaker, I am very proud of our government's climate change plan.

We not only went to Paris and helped to negotiate a very ambitious climate agreement, we had the greenest budget ever. We negotiated an agreement with the U.S. on climate and clean growth, and now we are engaged with the provinces and territories to develop a climate change plan that will make a real difference for all Canadians, especially the next generation.

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Abbotsford, BC]

Mr. Speaker, they are still misleading Canadians.

On the one hand, the Liberal Party's fundraising material claims that the government does have a national climate change plan in place. On the other hand, when asked to show Canadians that long-promised plan, the Prime Minister has steadfastly refused to do so.

Will he acknowledge that the Liberals have no plan?

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

Mr. Speaker, I am very excited to see that the member opposite is so concerned with the climate change plan. It is unfortunate that, for 10 years, the party opposite did nothing.

We are very committed to taking action on climate change. We negotiated an ambitious agreement in Paris. We have made a climate agreement with the United States. Now we are working with the provinces and territories so we take real action to tackle climate change. The other party did not.

Telecommunications Industry

[Niki Ashton, NDP, Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, MB]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians already pay some of the highest wireless prices in the world.

Greater competition in Manitoba means that we have paid lower prices than other parts of the country. However, the proposed takeover of MTS by Bell could erase this advantage, lead to job losses, and sharply increase the prices we pay.

Will the Liberals commit to a public study of this potential takeover, or will they rubber-stamp this deal and stand with well-connected business interests instead of standing up for Manitoba jobs and Manitoba consumers?

[Navdeep Bains, Liberal, Minister of Innovation]

Mr. Speaker, our number one concern is to ensure competition for Manitobans and continued investment in rural service.

While the government does not comment on individual company's plans, such transactions would be subject to all relevant regulatory approvals.

We will be looking carefully to make sure that the concerns of Manitobans are addressed. The government supports competition, choice, and availability of service. We want to make sure we have a climate that is good not only for businesses but for consumers as well.

[Brian Masse, NDP, Windsor West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, standing up for competition means some action from this minister, not words anymore.

The fact of the matter is that the big three telecom companies have 90% of the market in Canada alone. Canadians are left paying some of the highest wireless prices anywhere in the world.

This proposed takeover would mean greater concentration and less competition, as opposed to what the minister says.

Will the industry minister promise that he will not rubber-stamp a takeover deal without specific protections for jobs and consumers? Will Canadian consumers be supported by a minister who will take specific action and timelines to protect them and their services?

[Navdeep Bains, Liberal, Minister of Innovation]

Mr. Speaker, I like the enthusiasm and the passion of the member opposite.

He knows full well that this is a very important file for the government. The telecommunications sector is an absolutely essential platform for our innovation agenda and for the digital economy. That is why this government has been very clear on supporting competition, choice, and availability of service.

With regard to choice for consumers in the wireless sector, we are going to work hard with the sector to make sure we make available more spectrum to make sure that we have an environment where prices are lower and there is more competition and choice for the consumer.

Iran

[Tony Clement, Conservative, Parry Sound—Muskoka, ON]

Mr. Speaker, there are numerous victims of terror currently attempting to collect damages in Canadian courts for brutal actions carried out by the regime in Tehran.

However, the Liberals' insistence on buddying up to Iran will have a negative impact on these significant proceedings.

Will the Minister of Foreign Affairs commit today that the government will do nothing to jeopardize these cases, and any new ones that will come forward?

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, we will certainly not infringe on the judicial process, but I want to repeat what I said already about that.

Canada is better off when we engage with the world. It was a mistake for the former government to withdraw from countries because we dislike the regimes. It was a mistake to withdraw from the United Nations. Canada is back in the world with open eyes in order to make progress on our national interests and the universal values in which we believe, like human rights, and it is important for Canada to be in Iran for that.

[Tony Clement, Conservative, Parry Sound—Muskoka, ON]

Mr. Speaker, since last week, billions of dollars in new revenues have gone into the coffers of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Ayatollah Khamenei referred to Hezbollah as a source of honour and pride for the Islamic world. The minister has not publicly condemned this despicable statement.

Does the Liberals' reluctance stem from their new relationship with Tehran?

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, absolutely not, on the contrary. We are taking a very different approach.

We will be frank with the governments with whom we disagree. We are also not going to practice empty-chair politics. We must get involved in the world if we hope to make progress. The world we are living in is not very nice and Canada has to help make it a better place.

[Peter Kent, Conservative, Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals have quietly delisted two-thirds of the individuals and entities prohibited by Canada under Iran's sanctions. When they did add six individuals directly linked to ballistic missile testing, they kept those names secret from Canadians. We had to learn those names from the American public listing.

The minister can also issue sanctions exemption permits to allow Canadian individuals or companies to seek commercial opportunities. Could the minister tell us today just how many Iran exemption permits he has signed and for whom?

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Our approach in getting sanctions, Mr. Speaker, is to be effective. In order to be effective, one works with one's allies. If Canada is alone in getting sanctions against Iran, it will be barely noticed in Iran and will negatively affect Canada, Canadians, companies, families, Iranian Canadians, and so on.

We need to be effective. Effective sanctions must go through in order to make progress. Ineffective sanctions have no raison d'être.

Youth Employment

[Bobby Morrissey, Liberal, Egmont, PE]

Mr. Speaker, funding for the youth employment strategy was cut by more than $60 million under the previous government, with $30 million of that funding going unspent in the 2014 fiscal year. I recently met with students facing significant personal barriers to employment, who were taking part in training funded through skills link, a stream of the youth employment strategy that assists young Canadians facing such barriers.

Could the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour provide the House with a timeline on increased funding for this important program?

[MaryAnn Mihychuk, Liberal, Minister of Employment]

Mr. Speaker, the previous government actually froze the youth employment strategy funding from 2009 at the $340-million level. In budget 2016, we are increasing the investment to youth by $278 million. This includes more funding to help youth through skills link programs, to create green jobs, to make a difference, to provide young people the experience. In April, I announced—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

The hon. member for Lakeland.

Disaster Assistance

[Shannon Stubbs, Conservative, Lakeland, AB]

Mr. Speaker, Fort McMurray is devastated by the wildfires still raging today. Up to 80,000 people have been evacuated; entire neighbourhoods have been destroyed, and people have lost their homes, their businesses, and everything they own. Like Alberta always does, communities and businesses have come together to help family, friends, and complete strangers. I want to acknowledge the government's full and timely response so far.

Would the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness please give us an update on the assistance efforts?

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

Mr. Speaker, in addition to the items I mentioned earlier, air force assets are obviously being positioned in the area to be helpful, as required. Satellite and geomatics intelligence is being provided on the progress of the fire. The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre is assembling assets and personnel to assist Alberta personnel in the actual fighting of the fire, with type 1 and type 2 professional firefighters. Health Canada is involved in stockpiling living supplies. The Red Cross is fully engaged in dealing with issues like clothing, food, and water. The innovation department is making sure that communications systems are working in northern Alberta.

Official Languages

[François Choquette, NDP, Drummond, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we may have changed governments, but it is the same old story when it comes to official languages.

According to a report from the Commissioner of Official Languages, it is still difficult to get services in French from the RCMP officers on Parliament Hill, even though the act is clear in that regard. It is also a security issue. French speakers need to be able to be understood in emergency situations.

What is the Minister of Canadian Heritage waiting for? When will she require all federal institutions, including the RCMP, to comply with the act?

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for his question.

Our government is committed to fulfilling the official languages mandate in all federal government departments. We are working closely with them to ensure that bilingualism is practised in our country. We are working with the RCMP and all of the departments. We care about official languages.

Housing

[Frank Baylis, Liberal, Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the subsidies granted to people living in co-operative housing across the country are about to expire. However, these subsidies of a few hundred dollars a month give people a roof over their head.

The Cloverdale housing co-operative in my riding of Pierrefonds—Dollard is the largest housing co-operative in Canada. Unfortunately, last fall, its subsidy agreement was not renewed.

What is the government doing to resolve this difficult situation?

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, Minister of Families]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for that important question. I would also like to commend him for his interest in the subject.

Budget 2016 announced a record investment of $2.3 billion in affordable housing, the biggest investment in this area in 25 years. This funding is available for projects such as the Cloverdale co-operative and other similar projects across Quebec and Canada.

I offer the member my support in serving his community and in helping to meet society's affordable housing needs.

Veterans

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

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Veterans Affairs has created six advisory groups whose mandate will apparently be to assess various urgent issues affecting our veterans and to advise the minister accordingly.

However, veterans themselves find that the mandate and membership of those groups remain nebulous. On April 22, 2016, right here in the House, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs remained silent when I asked her questions about this.

Can the minister share a few salient details about these advisory groups with the members of this House, in order to provide some clarity?