Debates of June 13th, 2016

Veterans Affairs

[Candice Bergen, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

Mr. Speaker, we are used to the Liberals breaking election promises, but now it looks like they are misleading Canadians as well.

The member for Winnipeg Centre sent a mail-out to his riding saying the Liberals had restored lifelong pensions for veterans. That is just not true. Why would he say that?

Would the Minister of Veteran Affairs correct the record and admit that the Liberals have not restored veterans benefits in terms of lifelong pensions?

[Karen McCrimmon, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians gave us a strong mandate to repair the relationship with veterans, with one of the focuses being on financial security for veterans, especially for ill and injured veterans. That is what we are working on. That work will include the development of a lifelong pension.

Veterans told us to get it right, and that is what we are doing. We are making progress on that mandate, and we will be delivering in short order.

Consumer Protection

[Louis Plamondon, Bloc, Bécancour—Nicolet—Saurel, QC]

Mr. Speaker, on average, the 6,400 members of the Quebec convenience stores association pay $36,000 each in credit card transaction fees every year. Large retailers like Costco and Walmart no longer want to do business with Visa, whose transaction fees are too high. However, smaller retailers cannot afford to turn their backs on their customers.

When will the minister lower the cap on the credit card transaction fees being charged to merchants, as was done in 28 European countries, where fees are as low as 0.5%?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance]

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

As my colleague is well aware, Canada's credit card market is complex. Over the next few months, we plan to observe the results of the voluntary agreement that has been introduced. We are already seeing that the voluntary agreement with merchants in this country that accept credit card payments has reduced fees by 10%. We are monitoring the situation very closely. I want to assure the House that Canadian consumers are our top priority.

Natural Resources

[Rhéal Fortin, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

Mr. Speaker, energy east is an economic and environmental disaster.

Last week, the former chief economist at CIBC said that the project was not economically viable. There is no justification for the expansion of one of the most polluting industries in the world. Quebec has resolutely turned toward green energy and has an ambitious plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, Parliament still seems to think that the oil sands are an attractive prospect.

When will the 40 Liberal members from Quebec rise and support their constituents by speaking out against this project, which goes against our values and interests?

[Jim Carr, Liberal, Minister of Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, as the member knows, the government is committed to energy development that respects the integrity of the environment.

On the question of the energy east issue itself, the proponent has not yet installed the final papers with the regulator, the National Energy Board. When that happens there will be a process that will begin, during which all members of the House will have ample opportunity to give their views on the balance between economic growth and sustainable development.

[Luc Thériault, Bloc, Montcalm, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister may be hiding his position on energy east, but the Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government has no such qualms. As recently as Friday, he said, and I quote, “This government has put a process in place to see future pipelines get done”.

When it comes to selling weapons to Saudi Arabia to the detriment of human rights, this government's main concern is Canada's business reputation, but what about the promise it made to the international community in Paris concerning greenhouse gas emissions?

[Jim Carr, Liberal, Minister of Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, it is clear to us on this side of the House that our international obligations will be taken seriously, as will our commitment to move our natural resources to market sustainably.

We have installed a new process to make that happen that has confidence in Canadians to make up their own minds, because the process will ask them their views. We will take seriously indigenous leaders because we have a constitutional and a moral obligation to consult with them meaningfully. Unfortunately, that has not been done in the House in a very long time.

Robert Hall

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Following discussions among representatives of all parties, I understand that there is agreement to observe a moment of silence in memory of Robert Hall, who was held hostage in the Philippines since September 21, 2015. I now invite hon. members to rise.

[A moment of silence observed]

Presence in Gallery

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

I draw the attention of hon. members to the presence in the gallery of The Honourable Mark Furey, Minister of Business and Minister of Service for the province of Nova Scotia.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear!.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Canadian Forces Day is an opportunity for Canadians across the country to recognize the sacrifices that our men and women in uniform make on our behalf.

It is with great pleasure that I draw to the attention of hon. members the presence in the gallery of six members of the Canadian Forces who are taking part in Canadian Forces Day today.

Captain Robert S. Oikle, Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class Corey A. Lange, Sergeant Joshua K. Collins, Master Corporal Noel J. Martin, Master Corporal Christopher C. J. Wells, and Corporal Howard A. Kack.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear!

Government Response to Petitions

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to 11 petitions.

Public Accounts

[Kevin Sorenson, Conservative, Battle River—Crowfoot, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the following report of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts: The 11th report, entitled “Report 1, Implementing Gender-Based Analysis, of the Fall 2015 Reports of the Auditor General of Canada”.

Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report.

Old Growth Forests

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

Mr. Speaker, for the first time, I have the experience of presenting an e-petition, now that we have innovated in this place to allow electronic petitions. This one has the requisite number of signatures and is on the subject of ancient forests.

Petitioners are calling on the Government of Canada to establish an ancient forest preservation act to map out remaining old growth forests across Canada, work with first nations, and determine boundaries to create protection for this class of forest.

Manufacturing Industry

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

Mr. Speaker, my second petition is from Vancouver Island residents looking for extended producer responsibility so that products that are manufactured ultimately go back to the manufacturer for recycling to avoid their being placed in solid waste dumps.

The Economy

[Larry Bagnell, Liberal, Yukon, YT]

Mr. Speaker, right now a healthy Canadian economy depends on economic and population growth. I have an interesting petition from Yukoners who suggest that it is not sustainable. They want to know what solution we have for this to create prosperity without growth. They consider it doable and what is needed for a sustainable economy.

Questions on the Order Paper

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, I ask that all questions be allowed to stand at this time.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Is that agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

The House resumed consideration of the motion.

Opposition Motion — Decriminalization of Marijuana Possession

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Following the speech by the hon. Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, there will be five minutes left for questions and comments.

The hon. member for New Westminster—Burnaby.

[Peter Julian, NDP, New Westminster—Burnaby, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the question has come up this morning. We have asked repeatedly, given the size and scope--

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

My apologies. Apparently I am mistaken. There are five minutes remaining in the member's time for speaking, and then we will go on to questions and comments.

The hon. member for Montarville.