Debates of June 7th, 2016

Ministerial Expenses

[Blaine Calkins, Conservative, Red Deer—Lacombe, AB]

Mr. Speaker, countless Liberals have defended the million dollars the infrastructure minister spent on sky palace 2.0. The average Canadian household only spends a couple of thousand dollars on furniture. The Liberals are so out of touch with everyday Canadians that the minister spent half a million dollars on furniture alone for one office.

When will the Liberals realize that the money they are blowing is taxpayer money and not their own personal entitlement funds?

[Amarjeet Sohi, Liberal, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities]

Mr. Speaker, before November 4, 2015, Infrastructure Canada did not have a dedicated, stand-alone minister's office. We did not have a stand-alone DM's office, and we did not have a space for our staff members.

The expenditures the member is referring to were to provide office space for the minister and the deputy minister and a space for all of our staff members, as well as to consolidate them on one floor. The department followed all the Treasury Board procurement guidelines. All contracts over $10,000 have been proactively disclosed.

Temporary Foreign Workers

[Luc Thériault, Bloc, Montcalm, QC]

Mr. Speaker, more than 200 Quebec farmers are still waiting for foreign workers to arrive in order to harvest their crops. At present, 1,000 workers are required. In my riding alone, Les Frères Riopel family farm has lost almost $5,000 in crops to date, and it is not the only one. Even though the applications were submitted in November, the visas will not be ready before mid-June. The only reason for that is incompetence.

Has the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food heard of the verb “to act”? Will he stop working in isolation and do what has to be done so that the workers can be in the fields by the end of—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

The hon. Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship.

[John McCallum, Liberal, Minister of Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, I am aware that there is a problem with foreign agricultural workers. The officials in my department are working very hard. They told me today that these workers will arrive on June 25 or earlier. I believe they will be here in time to do the work.

Official Languages

[Mario Beaulieu, Bloc, La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Commissioner of Official Languages said that taxpayer-funded Air Canada is violating its legal obligation to provide services in French. This is no surprise, because for 45 years, Air Canada has been at the top of Canadian institutions that have no regard for francophones. This is yet another example of Canada's failed official languages policy.

Will the Minister of Canadian Heritage force Air Canada to obey the law, or will she do the same thing as her colleague from the Department of Transport and let the company thumb its nose at Quebeckers, just like it thumbed its nose at Aveos workers?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, I assure my colleague that our two official languages are very important to this government. Enforcing the Official Languages Act is, of course, a priority for this government.

Under the circumstances, it goes without saying that Air Canada must obey the law. The status quo is unacceptable. That is why I will work with my colleague, the Minister of Transport, on this issue, to ensure that the recommendations of the Commissioner of Official Languages will be examined. This work will, I hope, be done in collaboration with the Standing Committee on Official Languages.

Presence in the Gallery

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

I would like to draw to the attention of hon. members the presence in the gallery of His Excellency Josef Saller, President of the Federal Council of the Republic of Austria.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear!

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, Beauséjour, NB]

Mr. Speaker, perhaps you could explain to the House what would be the appropriate rules in terms of recognizing people in the gallery. For example, let us say that Gerald Regan, the former premier of Nova Scotia, were in the gallery today. Would it be appropriate for the Chair to recognize a former premier in the gallery?

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

It is a little late now, is it not? I suggest the hon. member check with the clerk or with my office about the guidelines for such things in future.

The hon. member for Richmond—Arthabaska on a point of order.

[Alain Rayes, Conservative, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I have here a very interesting, thorough, and relevant document in both official languages. I ask for the consent of the House to table this document from my colleague, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and father of the Clarity Act, regarding the importance of holding a referendum on any changes a government makes to the voting system.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Does the hon. member have the unanimous consent of the House?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

No.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

There is no unanimous consent.

The House resumed from June 2 consideration of the motion, and of the amendment.

Opposition Motion—Special Committee on Electoral Reform

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Pursuant to order made Thursday, June 2, 2016, the House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the amendment to the opposition motion relating to the business of supply.

The question is on the amendment.

(The House divided on the amendment, which was agreed to on the following division:)

Vote #79

Business of Supply

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

I declare the amendment carried.

The next question is on the main motion, as amended.

(The House divided on the motion, which was agreed to on the following division:)

Vote #80

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

I declare the motion, as amended, carried.

The House resumed consideration of the motion.

Agriculture and Agri-Food

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

The House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion to concur in the third report of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food.

The question is on the motion.

(The House divided on the motion, which was agreed to on the following division:)

Vote #81

Committees of the House

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

I declare the motion carried.

I wish to inform the House that because of deferred recorded divisions, government orders will be extended by 30 minutes.