Debates of June 6th, 2016

Budget Implementation Act, 2016, No. 1

[David Graham, Liberal, Laurentides—Labelle, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I think I will have some trouble following the grim reaper of questions.

I have a very quick question. How did the member and the NDP plan to carry through on their promises when they promised not to have any deficits, ever, and to pursue the policy of austerity?

[Rachel Blaney, NDP, North Island—Powell River, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I gratefully accept the question from the member opposite.

Our party felt very strongly that the important thing was to look at the reality that large corporations are taxed way below average across this world. We need to increase some of that money because it is about making decisions and having priorities. Therefore, we need to tax people who have more, support the people who have less, and take a step in creating equality across this country. I am very sad that the opposite side did not choose to really work for the people of Canada and continues to work for larger corporations.

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

Before we resume debate, I must inform the hon. member for Mount Royal that there are only four minutes remaining for his speech.

The hon. member for Mount Royal.

[Anthony Housefather, Liberal, Mount Royal, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank all of the hon. members who spoke before me in this debate today. This is the second time I have had the opportunity to speak in the House on Bill C-15.

To try to say something different, I want to start off by focusing on a couple of the things I have heard.

This morning, I heard a Bloc Québécois member accusing the government of neglecting Quebec. He also accused the government members from Quebec of neglecting Quebec.

Then I heard another member from Alberta saying that the budget disproportionately helped eastern Canada and affected Alberta.

I just want to say that we can be upset and disagree with provisions in the budget, but I would call upon all of us, as Canadians, to recognize that we are here as members of Parliament, not only to stand up for the people of our riding and our region, but also to stand up for all of Canada.

Therefore, I would call upon us not to continually divide ourselves by region, saying that one region is favoured over another, but to recognize that all of us believe in the best interest of Canada, and that we are furthering policies that are in the best interest of Canada.

I would only suggest that that be how we start off in this debate. I am pleased to be able to talk about Bill C-15, because coming out of an election campaign, I saw a lot of things going on in my riding that were disconcerting. I am very happy that some of these situations are alleviated by provisions taken in Bill C-15 and in the budget as a whole.

Number one is the Canada child benefit. It was frustrating, as we all walked door to door during the election, meeting so many families with children living in poverty. I am lucky to represent a riding that has a very affluent side, but we also have a very poor section. I got to meet families living on very low incomes with children, who had to question whether they had enough money to put their child in an after-school program as well as feed them.

All parties, whether Conservative, Liberal, or New Democrat, agree that we want Canadian children to start out with a fair chance, to have a full belly, to be able to participate not only in primary and secondary school but to go to university or trade school or whatever option they want post-secondary, and to be able to participate in after-school sports or arts or other programs.

The Canada child benefit says we are focusing on the poorest Canadians, we are focusing on those parents who earn, for example, less than $30,000 a year, and saying they are going to get $6,400 tax free for children below the age of six and $5,400 tax free for children above the age of six. That makes a real difference.

Whatever we think of the whole budget, whatever we think of Bill C-15, I certainly hope we are able to applaud that measure.

As well, I want to focus on seniors. One of the things that was also disconcerting was seeing the number of seniors in my riding living in poverty, widows especially, living alone in their 80s and 90s, with no family in Montreal to support them. These people will benefit from the enhanced guaranteed income supplement for single seniors, of 10%.

I will resume my comments later.

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

The hon. member for Mount Royal will have six minutes for his speech when the House resumes debate on this motion.

Haut-Richelieu Women's Centre

[Jean Rioux, Liberal, Saint-Jean, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to acknowledge the exceptional work of the Centre de femmes Haut-Richelieu. It is a centre for public education on the status of women that was founded in 1983 to help improve the living conditions of women.

This year, Lucie Boudreault and Francine Pilon, two smart, caring women, won the prestigious female personality of the year award for 2016. These two women in the riding of Saint-Jean are very involved in their respective fields. We can see that their influence is paving the way to economic and social equality.

I want to congratulate the two award recipients and the Centre de femmes Haut-Richelieu and point out to my colleagues that this organization worked actively to submit a proposal to Status of Women Canada for an initiative to prepare women for political life and thereby promote gender parity in decision-making bodies.

Sex Trafficking

[Arnold Viersen, Conservative, Peace River—Westlock, AB]

Mr. Speaker, recently ECPAT International released a study showing that Canada is a prominent child sex tourism destination with indigenous women and children being especially vulnerable.

This report also reveals that the Internet allows sex traffickers to easily advertise their victims online, often through the website backpage.com. In April, Toronto police arrested two sex traffickers who forced a 16-year-old girl into prostitution. In May, three more sex traffickers were arrested in Toronto after trafficking a 17-year-old girl. Both girls were featured in ads on backpage.com. Since 2013, the Toronto police have investigated 359 sex trafficking cases. In each of these cases, every single girl was advertised on backpage.com. This is a reality in other cities across Canada as well.

The previous Conservative government ordered Craigslist to end similar ads in 2010, and they complied.

I urge the Liberal government to demand that backpage.com stop allowing victims of sex trafficking to be advertised in cities across Canada.

Portugal Day

[Julie Dzerowicz, Liberal, Davenport, ON]

Mr. Speaker,

Love is a fire that burns unseen;
A wound that aches yet isn't felt;
An alway discontent contentment;
A pain that rages without hurting.

So wrote one of the most revered of Portugal's poets, a man by the name of Luis de Camoens in one of his most famous poems, Amor é um fogo que arde sem se ver. Luis de Camoens serves as a symbol of the Portuguese nation. The day of his death, June 10, is the day that Portugal observes its national day. It is also a day that Portugal celebrates its global Portuguese community, its emigrants, and their descendants living in communities all around the world. I am proud to say that one such community is in my riding of Davenport, home to the largest Portuguese community in Canada.

We will also join in on the celebrations right here on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. The Canada-Portugal Parliamentary Friendship Group together with Portugal's Ambassador to Canada, José Fernando Moreira da Cunha, is hosting the first ever Portugal Day on the Hill tomorrow evening, Tuesday, June 7, all members are invited—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

The hon. member for Courtenay—Alberni.

Emergency Preparedness

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

Mr. Speaker, this week in Port Alberni, volunteers will be training how to best respond to a disaster caused by an earthquake or tsunami. These exercises, put on by the province and local governments along with the Red Cross and Salvation Army, will teach life-saving skills and emergency preparedness procedures. On Vancouver Island, we know that it's not a matter of, "if” a big one will hit but “when” a big one will it hit. That is why we need federal leadership on emergency preparedness across jurisdictions.

Sadly, all we've seen from the federal government is the cancelling of the joint emergency preparedness program; continued downloading onto provincial and local authorities; and, the recent closure of the Coast Guard MCTS Centre in Comox, which was the only communications centre not in a tsunami subduction zone.

It is time Canadians, especially those in coastal communities, had the confidence that their federal government is there for them, ready for these kinds of emergencies, not if they strike, but when they strike.

Ramadan

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC]

Mr. Speaker, as-salaam alaykum to you and all our Muslim sisters and brothers in Canada observing the fast of the holy month of Ramadan.

As in many faiths, fasting is prescribed upon believers to help attain a higher state of consciousness and knowledge. During the blessed month of Ramadan, many Canadian Muslims enjoy fasting as a retreat to help clear the mind and strengthen body and spirit.

However, the month of Ramadan is not just about self-awareness and purification. It is also a month for sharing and helping the most vulnerable members of our society. Some examples of such initiatives include the charitable work done by the mosques in our communities, including my riding of Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs.

Ramadan Mubarak.

The Honourable Len Marchand

[Cathy McLeod, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to the Hon. Len Marchand, who passed away last week in Kamloops. Len was considered a true hero. His autobiography, entitled Breaking Trail, truly embodied what he achieved during his life.

Len advocated for a stronger role for indigenous people in Canadian political life. He was the first and only first nations person to be elected three times in the House of Commons from British Columbia. In Ottawa, he was appointed as parliamentary secretary, minister of state, minister of the environment, and, laterally, a senator.

According to B.C.'s lieutenant-governor, upon receiving the Order of B.C., Mr. Marchand was able to influence Canadian policy from the inside in a way that no other aboriginal Canadian had ever been able to do. Beyond, politics, his achievements were far-reaching and have a huge impact on our country and community.

A true gentleman, Len will be dearly missed. I know his legacy will live on and I offer my sincere condolences to the family.

Ramadan

[Salma Zahid, Liberal, Scarborough Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, today is the first day of Ramadan. Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar and is a very blessed and revered month for Muslims all over the world. The word sawm, or fasting, is one of the five major pillars of Islam.

Fasting is not just abstaining from eating and drinking from dusk to dawn. It teaches a person the principles of compassion and encourages patience and selflessness, as through fasting, we feel the pains of deprivation, but endure them patiently. It creates in a person the real spirit of social belonging, unity, and brotherhood, of equality before God, as well as before the law. Fasting has benefits like detoxifying and overhauling the body. It also provides a person with a transparent soul and a clear mind.

I would like to wish all Canadians of Muslim faith Ramadan Kareem and Ramadan Mubarak, and in this blessed month, please make a special prayer for all of our brothers and sisters in Fort McMurray.

[Iqra Khalid, Liberal, Mississauga—Erin Mills, ON]

Mr. Speaker, today is the first day of Ramadan, the most auspicious month in the Islamic calendar. Over the next month, millions of Muslims will fast from sunrise to sunset without a morsel of food or a sip of water. Fasting is one of the main pillars of Islam and it gives those who observe the fast a stronger sense of patience and a look into the lives of those less fortunate.

I want to wish every Canadian a Ramadan Mubarak. I hope this holy month brings each of us closer to our families and friends. Every evening as we gather for Iftar, which is the meal to break the fast for the day, and we break bread together, we strengthen the ties and relationships in our communities. Across Canada and in my riding of Mississauga—Erin Mills, we begin our fast and welcome the joyous celebrations this month will bring.

In other news, I am hungry. Ramadan Mubarak.

Democratic Reform

[Scott Reid, Conservative, Lanark—Frontenac—Kingston, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the government is peddling a fictional narrative that it consulted the Conservative Party on its amendment to the NDP motion for a special committee on electoral reform. Here are the facts.

The day the motion was debated, I did not learn that an amendment was in the works until moments before debate started. Even then, I was never shown a copy. As for advance consultation, the day prior, the minister sent a note on a torn sheet of paper saying she wanted to chat. In a conversation that certainly did not last five minutes, she asked what I thought of the NDP motion without ever indicating that she was planning to seek amendments. So far was I from being a part of the subsequent negotiations that I reacted to the minister's peculiar little visit by going to the NDP critic's office to warn him that the Liberals were up to something. I was right; I just did not guess what.

If the Liberals wants to pass off this kind of sandbagging as consultation, is it any wonder that Conservatives are adamant that the final consultation on any new voting system must take the form of a national referendum?

Attack on Amritsar Temple

[Randeep Sarai, Liberal, Surrey Centre, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I was nine years and old and it was Saturday morning that I woke up and saw my father and mother glued to the TV, only to find out that the place I had visited twice before, a place that mesmerized me because of its tranquillity, radiance, and royalty, the Golden Temple, the holiest of Sikh gurdwaras, built by Guru Ram Das himself, was being shot with heavy artillery, machine guns, and tanks.

All I could hear was my father saying, “I never thought this could happen. Who would attack a place of worship?” Thousands of worshippers had come to pray, but were confined as no one was allowed to leave. In the barrage of fire, thousands were killed, the healing waters turned red with blood, and the classical rags of music fell silent to the screams of the wounded.

While Sikhs will never forget 1984, we continue to pray that places of worship remain such: a place for prayer, reflection, and refuge.

Len Marchand

[Robert-Falcon Ouellette, Liberal, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

Mr. Speaker, this weekend saw the passing of two public figures, both known as passionate fighters, each in his respective rings and arenas. Strong minded and passionate, both fought for their communities and both addressed issues in the broader civil society. One of these figures was the world renowned boxer, Muhammad Ali.

The other was a fighter and a hero to many throughout British Columbia, and indeed left a lasting impression on all Canadians, Len Marchand. Len was born in Vernon, B.C., a member of the Okanagan Indian Band. As our Prime Minister has so aptly put it, Canada has lost a trailblazer.

Beginning his long career in federal politics as a staffer in 1965, Len became a special assistant to ministers within the ministry of Indian Affairs. In the 1968 general election, underestimated and against huge odds, Len was elected to the House, making him the very first status Indian to join Parliament. He served as the minister of small business and the minister of the environment, and ended his political career serving in the Senate for four years. He was a leader who stood tall and would never fail in the tasks ahead of him.

Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of this great role model and great Canadian.

Normandy Landing

[Pierre Paul-Hus, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, June 6, 1944, D-Day, was a pivotal day in human history, known as the longest day.

That day, nearly 150,000 American, British, French, and Canadian soldiers stormed the Atlantic Wall in Normandy to free Europe from Nazi oppression.

Over 14,000 Canadian heroes from all over the country took part in the Normandy landing, and 355 of them gave their lives. That was the first day of an extremely arduous campaign that would take nearly three months to complete. The road to Caen was opened through the efforts of Canadian soldiers and, from there, France and western Europe were liberated.

As a former commanding officer of the Régiment de la Chaudière, the only French-Canadian unit to participate in the landing at Juno Beach, I am particularly honoured to commemorate this historic day.

Let us remember all of those who gave their lives in battle to protect our freedom, and let us be forever grateful to these heroes as we say, “never again”.

D-Day

[Sherry Romanado, Liberal, Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank our veterans on the 72nd anniversary of D-Day.

The Royal Canadian Navy sent over 100 ships and 10,000 sailors as the Canadian contingent of over 14,000 soldiers landed in Normandy, France, including Juno Beach alongside the Allied troops. The success achieved in Normandy was the turning point in World War II. Canadians gave their lives to end the scourge of Nazi Germany.

We are proud of our veterans, and we are grateful for their service and sacrifice, which allow us to enjoy the freedom we have today and ensure that the events of the Second World War never happen again. Those who lost their lives in the wars of the past made the ultimate sacrifice.

Let us remember those who gave their lives for the sake of our future.

Lest we forget their enormous sacrifice for our freedom.

Canada Summer Jobs

[Pierre-Luc Dusseault, NDP, Sherbrooke, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to announce that about 322 young people in Sherbrooke will have quality summer jobs that will give them work experience in their fields of study thanks to the Canada summer jobs program. I would therefore like to thank the government for doubling the budget envelope for this program, whose benefits I have seen.

The more than $1 million injected directly into my community will allow 124 organizations in Sherbrooke, which work in a variety of areas, to hire hundreds of students and give them their first real work experience. Without this money, these unique employment opportunities would not be available. As the member for Sherbrooke, this is the sixth time that I will be able to attest to the remarkable results and benefits of the Canada summer jobs program.

I would like to wish all the recipient organizations and the young people who will benefit from the program a great summer marked by learning, personal development, friendship, and success. I wish the people of Sherbrooke a good summer.

D-Day

[James Bezan, Conservative, Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB]

Mr. Speaker, today is the 72nd anniversary of D-Day, one of the most important military victories of all time. On this day in 1944, the Allied forces in the Second World War achieved one of the most significant victories in history. Nearly 150,000 Allied troops courageously stormed the beaches of Normandy. Over 14,000 Canadian soldiers fearlessly fought shoulder to shoulder with our allies in the face of tyranny and fascism.

All aspects of the Canadian Armed Forces were engaged in this historic battle: the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division landed ashore with our allies; the Royal Canadian Navy provided support in the waters; and the Royal Canadian Air Force helped prepare the invasion by bombing targets. Canadian troops rallied to take Juno Beach and push farther into enemy territory than any of their allies. This victory forever altered the course of the Second World War and all of history. As a result, we are able to enjoy freedom, democracy, and the rule of law, cornerstones of our Canadian way of life.

Three hundred and fifty-five Canadians never returned from the beaches of Normandy. We are eternally grateful for their sacrifice. Lest we forget.

Ramadan

[Terry Duguid, Liberal, Winnipeg South, MB]

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in the House to say Ramadan Mubarak and Ramadan Kareem and offer my best wishes to the Muslim community for the first day of fasting in the holy month of Ramadan.

During Ramadan, Muslims will be fasting between the hours of sunrise and sunset and they will practice zakat, which demonstrates selflessness and compassion for those less fortunate. These actions embody the very values we cherish as Canadians.

This is an important time to be thankful for the rich cultural and religious diversity that we are privileged to share in Canada. During this holy month, I stand with Winnipeg's Muslim community to celebrate the spirit of Ramadan.

Ramadan Mubarak, Ramadan Kareem.

Democratic Reform

[Rona Ambrose, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals say that they will abandon their plans to change our voting system if they do not have widespread public support. Yet they refuse to commit to the most transparent and accessible way of gauging that public support, which is a referendum.

Does the Prime Minister think making such a significant change should be behind closed doors by a handful of Liberal cabinet ministers, or will he finally commit to giving Canadians a direct say in the future of their democracy?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, in the last election, Canadians overwhelmingly voted for parties that had committed to moving beyond first past the post, which is why in our committee we are happy to reflect a broad range of voices from Canadians and are glad to work with opposition parties to ensure there are strong voices heard on all sides of the issue. That is the kind of consultations and engagement that Canadians expect to hear and see when we talk about electoral reform. That is exactly the kind of engagement the previous government did none of.

[Rona Ambrose, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, every Canadian expects to have a direct say in the future of their democracy.

In 2012, the current Minister of Foreign Affairs wrote, “Precedent makes holding a referendum necessary in Canada: changing the voting system would require popular support”.

There is one thing Canadians support, and that is a referendum.

Will the Prime Minister listen to his own minister and finally commit to holding a referendum?