Debates of May 5th, 2016

Don River Watershed

[Julie Dabrusin, Liberal, Toronto—Danforth, ON]

Mr. Speaker, last Sunday, I paddled down the Don River with friends and residents from Toronto—Danforth, as well as my colleagues, the members for Don Valley West and King—Vaughan. Paddle the Don celebrates the importance of this major Toronto watershed in the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the New Credit and the resplendent parkland that surrounds and supports it.

Led by the representatives of the Métis Nation of Ontario, this 10-km paddle reminds us of the benefits we have received from the Don River watershed over the years, and for the harm we have done to it.

The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority wants to protect the Don River from the pressures of urbanization. Around 1.2 million people live in the Don watershed, and this event is a good way to raise awareness among many of them.

With the help of volunteers from the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary and Scouts Canada, along with many other people, a rainy day in Toronto became a remarkable experience.

Mental Health

[Karina Gould, Liberal, Burlington, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to speak during Mental Health Week. Brian Hansell, a father from my riding, founded the Paul Hansell Foundation in memory of his son.

The Paul Hansell Foundation looks to break down barriers and establish a proactive and preventive dialogue that puts mental health on an equal footing with all other forms of health. The conversation plate initiative was created to get people talking about all aspects of mental health.

Today, the foundation will celebrate the official conversation plate launch at Assumption Catholic Secondary School in Burlington. Assumption students will be performing their play Beneath Our Skin, which sheds light on difficult mental wellness issues.

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to make my own conversation plate, and I am proud to take the lead on a conversation thread here in the House.

I congratulate Brian, the foundation, and Assumption students on this important issue, and look forward to sharing this plate and this conversation with my colleagues.

International Day of the Midwife

[Deepak Obhrai, Conservative, Calgary Forest Lawn, AB]

Mr. Speaker, May 5 is International Day of the Midwife. We hope that soon it will be recognized as the national day of the midwife here in Canada.

Midwives in Canada are represented by the Canadian Association of Midwives. The organization provides leadership and advocacy for midwifery as a regulated primary maternity care system. Midwives are also well positioned to address the specific challenges still faced by women in rural, remote, and aboriginal communities in Canada, as well as in developing nations.

Today, I also attended the event on Parliament Hill by the Canadian Network for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, an organization that works to improve women's and children's health worldwide. Midwives play a critical role in this area too.

We must work on increasing women's access to quality midwifery services. Today, on International Day of the Midwife, I ask all my colleagues to please join me in celebrating the profession of midwifery in Canada and in the world.

21st Dictée Lavalloise

[Yves Robillard, Liberal, Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC]

Mr. Speaker, this week, I had the pleasure of awarding several young people in my riding certificates of recognition for their performances in the 21st Dictée lavalloise.

As a former teacher, I am delighted with the success of the Dictée lavalloise, a family activity that has gone international with students from Burkina Faso to France participating in the latest edition.

The young winners achieved excellence thanks to their teachers. That is why I am so proud to be part of a government that plans to support them by creating a tax benefit for teachers for up to $1,000 worth of school supplies.

I speak from experience when I say that teachers rarely hesitate to use their own funds to buy supplies that their students need—

[The Speaker, Geoff Regan]

Order. The hon. member for Burnaby North—Seymour.

Simon Fraser University

[Terry Beech, Liberal, Burnaby North—Seymour, BC]

Mr. Speaker, it is a true pleasure to rise today to congratulate Simon Fraser University on its 50th anniversary. Named after the famous explorer, SFU has stayed true to its spirit, encouraging its talented researchers, faculty, and students to push past boundaries and engage the world.

Their drive to explore and innovate are among the reasons that SFU is repeatedly singled out as Canada's finest comprehensive university. It is also what makes Simon Fraser's vision for the future so exciting. SFU Innovates is a bold action plan that embeds innovation and entrepreneurship throughout the university. That means all students, from engineers to anthropologists, can access the critical skills of entrepreneurship and innovation to succeed in the new economy.

I invite my fellow parliamentarians to celebrate this great university at a reception to be held next Tuesday and find out more about how SFU mobilizes the very best ideas and people for Canada.

Mental Health

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

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank you and the Minister of Veterans Affairs, alongside parliamentarians from all sides for joining me and Romeo Dallaire for the third annual Sam Sharpe breakfast this morning.

Each Mental Health Week combats mental health issues facing veterans and their families. This year, we heard broadcaster Joe Tilley speak about the tragic tale of his son Spencer, who succumbed to his addiction following his service in the Canadian Armed Forces. Whether it is PTSD, its effect on families, or whether it is addictions, our friend Michael Landsberg reminded us they are sick, not weak, and there is help for them.

Parliamentarian Sam Sharpe returned to Ottawa 100 years after he left for the Great War, surrounded by students from his old high school for the unveiling of his sculpture by Scugog artist Tyler Briley. What a legacy this parliamentarian from 100 years ago has, showing veterans and first responders today that they are not alone in their mental injuries.

Janssen Inc.

[Yasmin Ratansi, Liberal, Don Valley East, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to highlight a key contributor to research and innovation development in my riding of Don Valley East.

Janssen Inc. is the largest pharmaceutical company in Canada. It employs over 800 people and is providing world-class leadership in life sciences investment. Over the past two years, Janssen, along with its parent company Johnson & Johnson, has committed over $1 billion in investments to life sciences across Canada.

Additionally, Janssen is launching a new venture on May 11, JLABS @ Toronto, which will host up to 50 Canadian start-up companies that will share over $3 million in world-class lab equipment and scientific support. I applaud the company for its continuous efforts in being a good corporate citizen and for its leadership efforts in life sciences.

I look forward to working with Janssen and wish it continued success.

Midwives

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is International Day of the Midwife. My three daughters were born at home, thanks to midwives. Back then it was not even recognized by the province, so my bandmate Jason Collett and I had to barter the services for our daughters' births by building a deck for midwife Bridget Lynch, who, of course, has gone on to be a world leader on child maternal health.

Things have changed dramatically since then. In Ontario there are over 82 midwives just serving rural and isolated regions. I would like to thank the team at Centre de santé communautaire du Témiskaming, and the teams serving James Bay, Attawapiskat, and communities like Moosonee and Fort Albany.

Amy Moland-Osborne has come home to Timmins with Boreal Midwifery.

These women offer incredible service and mentoring.

Childbirth should be a sacred time and midwives and doulas have restored the power of this moment to the mother, to the child, and the family.

Let us praise the midwives.

Municipality of Wood Buffalo

[Shannon Stubbs, Conservative, Lakeland, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member for Fort McMurray—Cold Lake asked me to pass on the following message to the House and Canadians:

“Please pray for all the firefighters and first responders who are putting their lives on the line to save the municipality of Wood Buffalo. Many of the evacuees I have spoken to are very concerned about their future. Many have limited means as a result of the tough economic situation. Some people are already jobless and now their homes are gone.

“These people have nowhere to go and they just want reassurance that someone has their best interests at heart, that someone is there to help them get back on their feet and rebuild their communities. They need help to put the pieces of their lives back together. In many cases, just knowing we care and will not let them down can be enough.

“Canadians have never shied away from helping others in need. I am very proud of all Albertans who have opened their homes, provided food for their stomachs or fuel for their cars, and a shoulder to cry on and, in many cases, a few dollars for their pockets.

“Thank you, Canada, for your compassion and generosity.”

Jane Jacobs

[Adam Vaughan, Liberal, Spadina—Fort York, ON]

Mr. Speaker, 100 years ago this week, an extraordinary woman was born: Jane Jacobs. Jane Jacobs was an internationally recognized writer, an urban thinker, and a bit of a troublemaker. Her books on cities have been translated into dozens of languages. Even though they were written over half a century ago, many are still being used to teach in universities to this very day.

Jane Jacobs chose to live in Canada. It was my privilege to call her a friend and a neighbour.

When she died a decade ago, her friends and family chose to recognize her life by holding a series of walks in Toronto, talking tours that showcased her lessons, her life, and the impact that she had upon that city and others.

A decade later, these walks are now being held in close to 200 cities around the world, including in Canada. In fact, in Toronto this weekend, there will be more than 200 walks in neighbourhoods right across the city. I will be leading one on Friday and on Saturday. Members are welcome to join.

As we recognize the remarkable life of Jane Jacobs, I encourage everyone to look up janeswalk.org and join a walk this weekend to celebrate how city building and building better neighbourhoods is not just important work, but can be a lot of fun, too.

Fort McMurray

[Rona Ambrose, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, the crisis in northern Alberta seems to be worsening. Additional communities have now been evacuated, including emergency response centres, and the province has now declared a state of emergency. Residents are very worried about what the future will hold for them. Once this crisis passes and the reconstruction begins, will the Prime Minister assure the residents of Fort McMurray and region that infrastructure funding will be top priority for them?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the answer is yes. The rebuild of Fort McMurray will take many years, and this government will be a strong partner to the province, the municipality, and to the thousands of Canadians who will be rebuilding their lives in that important part of the country.

The thoughts of all Canadians are with the residents of the Fort McMurray area, as well as with the first responders who are working to keep them safe, and the courageous firefighters who are combatting the fire. Over 80,000 people have been evacuated, with many still in transit. Approximately 1,600 homes have been destroyed. Although the full scale of this disaster is still not yet known, the situation continues to evolve, and the Government of Canada is actively involved in ensuring that we provide support in every way we can, now and into the future.

[Rona Ambrose, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, the crisis in northern Alberta is getting worse by the hour. Additional communities have been evacuated. The province has now declared a state of emergency.

Can the Prime Minister give us his assurance that, once the crisis is over, Fort McMurray and the surrounding area will be a priority for infrastructure funding in order to assist in the rebuilding?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the crisis that the people of Fort McMurray are experiencing is absolutely devastating.

The Government of Canada will be a partner not only in the immediate emergency situation, but also in the long term, through the work we will do together in the coming months to restore the ability to grow and in the coming years to rebuild this important community and guarantee a future for everyone who has been affected by this disaster.

Aerospace Industry

[Rona Ambrose, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals' complete lack of transparency on spending taxpayer dollars now extends to their negotiations with Bombardier. While they negotiate to give $1 billion to a corporation, we have been given no details, no details on how that will be paid back, and no details on what taxpayers will receive in return. When will taxpayers get to see the bailout deal for Bombardier so that they can find out if it is actually worth their money?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I will point out to the hon. member what I have said many times in this House. The negotiations are ongoing. We believe in a strong future for the aerospace industry in this country. We know that there are many good jobs associated with it, not just in Quebec but right across the country. We are looking for a solid business case to make sure that the investments Canada makes in Bombardier or in the aerospace industry have benefits for Canadians, for good jobs and for our economy not just for the short term but for the medium and long term as well. That is the engagement we have made to Canadians, and that is the commitment we are keeping.

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

Mr. Speaker, we know that the government is currently in negotiations with Bombardier. As everyone knows, these negotiations are important.

Now we are hearing that the government wants to be involved in managing the C Series program. Considering how the Liberals turned our surplus into a deficit, if I were a shareholder, I would be extremely worried.

Since the Prime Minister likes to talk about transparency so much, this is the perfect opportunity for him to talk about how transparent he is being in this file.

What are the conditions? When will we know what is on the table with Bombardier? When will we finally see the results of these lengthy discussions?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians expect our government to invest in growth and in jobs, and to help the middle class and those working hard to join the middle class.

That is why investments in Bombardier will be determined by the negotiations that are underway with that firm's representatives. To ensure that the business case is solid, investments will be made in the short, medium, and long term in order to support job creation in Canada and the future of Canada's aerospace industry.

That is what Canadians expect, and that is what we are doing, in a responsible manner.

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

Mr. Speaker, I think that all Canadians were proud to learn recently that Delta Air Lines has placed a large order with Bombardier for a better, cleaner, and quieter airplane.

Why did they say no to expanding the Billy Bishop airport in Toronto? Why did they say they did not want to do this in Toronto? Perhaps they did not want to inconvenience certain members, but this is a whole other story.

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, you and all members in this House know very well that during the election campaign we committed to listen to Canadians and to respect members from the regions, so that they can be strong voices here in Ottawa and Toronto, where a large number of our members were elected. We made a commitment not to reopen the tripartite agreement, to respect the will of the people of Toronto, and that is exactly what we will do. We will keep our promises.

Canada Revenue Agency

[Thomas Mulcair, NDP, Outremont, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals continue to be in favour of special treatment for the wealthy and well-connected.

Today at committee, CRA officials testified that the sweetheart deal for KPMG clients did not include immunity from criminal prosecution.

My question is simple. If the Prime Minister is serious about tackling tax havens, and remembering that actions speak louder than words, will he ensure that those multi-millionaire tax cheats and those at KPMG who aided and abetted them face criminal charges?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we have committed to making sure that all Canadians pay their fair share of taxes and the CRA and the Canadian government enforces all the rules and responsibilities linked to that.

That, quite frankly, is why we put $440 million more in this current budget to go after tax avoidance and tax dodging.

At the same time, it was a Liberal member who launched the committee study that is being done on KPMG, and the audits, to ensure that we are actually doing that right.

[Thomas Mulcair, NDP, Outremont, QC]

Speaking of dodging, Mr. Speaker, as usual, the Prime Minister is dodging the question. I will repeat my very simple question. The Prime Minister talks about going after those who cheat on their taxes and hide their money illegally in tax havens. Today, the Canada Revenue Agency said that there is no immunity from criminal charges.

The question is quite simple: Will the Liberals do everything possible under the law, including the Criminal Code, to go after KPMG and these multimillionaires who have defrauded the system?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, obviously it is not enough to just talk about dealing with tax avoidance and tax evasion. We have to do something about it. That is why we added an extra $440 million in our budget to go after tax evasion and tax avoidance. That is why it was a Liberal member who proposed the study on KPMG and tax evasion. That is why we are going to do everything we must to ensure that everyone pays their fair share of taxes in Canada.