Debates of Sept. 19th, 2016

Foreign Affairs

[Harjit S. Sajjan, Liberal, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians rejected this type of pessimism in the last federal election. They voted for a party that promised to re-engage Canada in the world and a government that would be committed to actively contributing to greater security and peace in the world. Over the last 10 months, under the leadership of our Prime Minister and our government, we have had the support of the United Nations on climate change, gender equality, in welcoming Syrian refugees, fighting disease, and investing in peace support operations as well. This will be a whole-of-government effort.

[Rona Ambrose, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, in 2014, the Prime Minister had this to say about the deployment of troops to fight ISIS: “Canadians expect the highest standard of openness and honesty from a leader who wants to send our forces to war.”

He asked the government to allow the House of Commons to debate and vote on the issue, and that is what the previous government did.

Will the Prime Minister walk the talk and allow debate and a vote in the House?

[Harjit S. Sajjan, Liberal, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, our government is committed to actively contributing to greater security and peace in the world, and we welcome a healthy debate both in the House and with Canadians. During my consultations with the defence policy review, we heard from Canadians, and peace operations was at the top there. Members should keep in mind that peace operations are just one small part. We have to look at conflict mediation, conflict prevention, and construction as well. I have to state over and over again that this will be a whole-of-government effort, not just strictly peace operations.

Health

[Thomas Mulcair, NDP, Outremont, QC]

Mr. Speaker, a leopard cannot change its spots.

The Liberals promised real change for health care, but today they are resorting to their favourite strategy from the past, a good fight with Quebec.

Instead of attacking Quebec on a file the province has already taken care of, will the government deal with the underlying problem of the $36 billion in cuts made by Stephen Harper?

[Jane Philpott, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, I have had the great pleasure of working collaboratively with my colleagues in the provinces and territories since the time I became minister of health. I have enjoyed many good conversations with my colleagues across the country. We have talked about our shared priorities and where we want to invest in health.

There will be no cuts to health. We will continue to increase the Canada health transfer, as previously discussed, and we will discuss other areas where there can be investments made that are important to Canadians.

[Thomas Mulcair, NDP, Outremont, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the minister has just confirmed that they are in fact continuing with the cuts imposed by Stephen Harper. Those reductions are going to hurt health services in all of those provinces and territories she just referred to.

Canadians were promised a change from the Conservative government's approach on health care, but now the Liberals are admitting that they are going to continue with those cuts. Could the minister explain to us how following the Conservative cuts in health care somehow constitutes real change in Canada?

[Jane Philpott, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, I am happy to talk about why our approach to health care does constitute real change. We are investing. The Canada health transfer this year is the largest ever, to the tune of $36.1 billion. It will go up accordingly next year, according to plan.

However, what Canadians want are investments in innovation. Canadians know that while our health care system is something we are proud of, it could be better. We are going to talk with our colleagues in the provinces and territories about where those investments should be made and what Canadians can expect.

Foreign Affairs

[Thomas Mulcair, NDP, Outremont, QC]

Mr. Speaker, when she says it is going according to plan, what she is actually saying is it is going according to the Conservative plan.

As the Prime Minister talks to our allies today about the role of our country on the world stage, we are again reminded that actions speak louder than words. Despite the words about peace, just last month in Geneva the government actually voted against nuclear disarmament. Real leadership means acting in the interests of peace, not just talking about it.

Will the Liberal government reverse this shameful position and vote in favour of nuclear disarmament at the UN General Assembly next week?

[Harjit S. Sajjan, Liberal, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, the most effective way to reach a nuclear-free world is with a pragmatic step-by-step approach. We need to have a strategy of engagement. We will be at the table in Geneva and again in Japan with our G7 allies, working together for the elimination of nuclear weapons. We will continue to be present with our allies.

The Environment

[Thomas Mulcair, NDP, Outremont, QC]

Mr. Speaker, on this step-by-step approach, let us suggest that one of those steps should be actually voting for nuclear disarmament.

I was in Paris with the Prime Minister when he promised to take action on the crucial climate change file. This is the most important commitment for future generations.

Apparently, instead of keeping its promise, the Liberal government is going to ratify the Paris agreement with the same targets and deadlines set by Stephen Harper.

Does the minister believe that this is what constitutes change, the Conservative plan handed to us by the Liberals with a smile?

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

Mr. Speaker, we are ready to take action on climate change. I spent the summer talking with my counterparts all across the country.

However, let us be clear, the Harper targets were fake targets. When one puts out targets and does not have a plan to meet them and emissions go up—and we have been very transparent about how the emissions have gone up—it is hard to meet them.

What Canadians expect is real action, and we are going to deliver real action with the provinces and territories, with indigenous leaders, with business, with youth, with all Canadians, because that is what we are committed to doing.

Finance

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

Mr. Speaker, in the last fiscal year, this government turned a large operating surplus into a deficit. The current government is spending non-stop.

The government does not have a plan for returning to a balanced budget. The Minister of Finance is talking about a plan for the future that involves making our grandchildren pay off his debt. That is his plan for the future.

When will the government present its plan for returning to a balanced budget?

[Bill Morneau, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, we know that Canada's middle class is struggling and that investments are needed immediately.

We began by implementing programs that will help the middle class right now, such as the middle-class tax cut and the Canada child benefit, which will help nine out of 10 families.

It is important for our future that we make investments and stimulate growth, and that is exactly what we are going to do.

International Trade

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

Mr. Speaker, another area that is very important for our country's economy is the softwood lumber industry. In fact, 400,000 jobs depend on it.

In 2006, we rectified a situation. People waited 10 years for the former Liberal government to find a solution to the problem, and we are the ones who solved it. Since then, Canadian businesses have been able to export their products to the United States with relative ease.

The government made big promises, including a good relationship with the United States. Meanwhile, the Minister of International Trade has said that Canada will turn to the courts. What a great idea. Let us take our American partners to court rather than coming to an agreement with them.

Why are the Liberals unable to settle this matter with the Americans through negotiations?

[David Lametti, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade]

Mr. Speaker, this issue is a priority for us and the opposition knows that.

We are in the midst of serious negotiations on this issue. There is unprecedented co-operation with producers, industry workers, and the provinces and territories. Last week, the minister met with the U.S. trade representative, Mike Froman, in Washington.

We do not want to reach just any old deal. We want a good deal for Canada.

The Environment

[Mark Strahl, Conservative, Chilliwack—Hope, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals have now confirmed that they are planning to impose a made-in-Ottawa carbon tax on all Canadians, no matter where they live and no matter if their province already has a carbon tax.

British Columbia already has a carbon tax, but the Liberals in Ottawa are indicating that it might not be high enough to kill jobs, and it might not take enough money out of the pockets of hard-working British Columbians.

Why are the Liberals in Ottawa threatening to force the government of B.C. to raise taxes on British Columbians?

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

Mr. Speaker, we understand that the environment and the economy go together. Right now, 80% of Canadians live in a jurisdiction where there is a price on carbon: B.C. and Alberta have a carbon tax; Ontario and Quebec have a cap and trade system.

We understand that carbon pricing is the most efficient way to reduce emissions and to foster innovation.

I am very proud that 25 Canadian companies have joined on to our carbon pricing leadership coalition calling for a price on carbon, because they know it is the way forward to innovate and to grow our economy.

[Mark Strahl, Conservative, Chilliwack—Hope, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the minister does not seem to understand that 110,000 energy workers have lost their jobs.

B.C. is home to a developing LNG sector, where tens of thousands of jobs are riding on the investment decisions of LNG companies.

When Liberals in Ottawa threaten to increase carbon taxes on B.C. employers, they threaten billions of dollars of investment in the economy, money that would pay for hospitals and schools and would provide thousands of family-supporting jobs.

Why are the Liberals so intent on threatening British Columbia families with their made-in-Ottawa, job-killing carbon tax?

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

Mr. Speaker, the member opposite might not understand that B.C. has a carbon tax, and it is revenue neutral, so B.C. actually returns the revenues to its citizens.

The energy companies are actually with us. Let me quote from Suncor CEO Steve Williams:

We think climate change is happening. We think a broad-based carbon price is the right answer.

CEO of Dutch Shell, Total, and four other major energy companies:

We firmly believe that carbon pricing will discourage high carbon options.... We now need governments around the world to provide us with this framework....

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

Mr. Speaker, maybe that minister is listening to CEOs, but she needs to start listening to premiers of provinces like Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, and the territories, who have been clear. They do not want a carbon tax, because they know that Canadians, particularly rural and northern Canadians, cannot afford it.

Why is the government ignoring the provinces and imposing a carbon tax that will hurt the economy, hurt Canadians, and do nothing for jobs?

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

Mr. Speaker, unlike the party opposite, we understand that the environment and the economy go together.

Since I was elected, I have spent time criss-crossing the country, meeting with all provinces, all territories, meeting with labour leaders, meeting with indigenous leaders, meeting with Canadians, and meeting with business.

Canadians expect us to act on climate change, because we are the first generation to feel the impact, and we are the only generation that can actually change things.

We are going to move forward with our plan, because we understand that it is the right thing to do to tackle climate change and grow our economy.

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

Mr. Speaker, that minister clearly has not been talking to the hundreds of thousands of Canadians in the energy sector whose jobs have been lost. She is not listening to the provinces that do not want a carbon tax.

A carbon tax will kill jobs, and it is an imposition of Ottawa on the provinces. Why are the Liberals ignoring not only what the premiers are saying but what rural and remote Canadians are saying? They do not want a carbon tax. It is going to kill jobs. The Liberals need to listen to people outside of the city of Ottawa.

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

Mr. Speaker, I have spent the last eight months criss-crossing the country speaking with labour, speaking with business leaders, speaking with indigenous Canadians, speaking with everyone who would like to actually move forward on climate change. We have had discussions. I met with my territorial counterparts. They are concerned about the impact of carbon pricing, and we are having a good discussion with them.

The bottom line is that right now, 80% of Canadians live in a jurisdiction where, through the leadership of the province, because there was inaction by the Conservative government, there is a price on carbon. We are going to move forward in a thoughtful way, working with provinces and territories—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Order, please. The hon. member for Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou.

Indigenous Affairs

[Romeo Saganash, NDP, Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government was elected with a promise to build a new nation-to-nation relationship, so why is it still discriminating against first nations children?

The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal found the government guilty of discrimination, but it is still failing to comply with the tribunal's order.

My question is simple: how can the Prime Minister, the Minister of Youth, justify systematic discrimination against indigenous children in 2016?