Debates of Sept. 29th, 2016

Ethics

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

Mr. Speaker, here again we have the Liberals defending their actions by saying the rules made me do it. How about some good judgment when it comes to conflicts of interest?

The minister of fisheries is in charge of the government's litigation strategy. He has been ordered by the Ethics Commissioner to not have any dealings with the Irvings. The law firm hosting this party recently represented J.D. Irving Limited in court, and that same firm is now promoting its access to the minister. If it walks like a conflict of interest, if it talks like a conflict of interest, it is a conflict of interest.

Where is the minister's judgment?

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, Minister of Fisheries]

Mr. Speaker, my judgment told me that when I received this invitation, as many members of Parliament and ministers do, I asked the Ethics Commissioner if it was appropriate for me to attend. This is an annual event that has taken place over a number of years where guest speakers are invited to meet the business community in Toronto, hosted by a particular law firm.

Law firms do not tell the public who is on their client lists. Nothing about that event speaks to a particular file, a particular client, or particular litigation. This is an event to talk about our government's proud record in Atlantic Canada.

Health

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

Mr. Speaker, this government should spend a little less time with its friends and more time taking care of its provincial partners.

When it comes to health care transfers, no one can say that the government has a very good relationship with the provinces. Instead we see an obvious lack of leadership on the Liberals' part and an unprecedented degree of interference into provincial jurisdictions.

When will the minister really listen to her provincial counterparts and eliminate the conditions attached to the health transfers?

[Jane Philpott, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, just today I met with two health ministers, including Quebec's minister of health and social services.

Canadians are proud of their public health care system and they expect their government to make sure that it will always be there for them. The Canada health transfer is going to increase by over $1 billion next year, bringing it up to more than $37 billion.

I will continue holding meetings with my provincial and territorial counterparts.

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

Mr. Speaker, it just so happens that the federal minister told us yesterday she had had some good discussions with her provincial counterparts, but Quebec's health minister said no discussion had taken place.

Today, about an hour ago, the minister stated that she is extremely worried about what is going on in health care. The facts are the facts. The government is treating the provinces paternalistically and infringing on their jurisdiction. That is against Canadian federalism.

When will they show some respect for their provincial counterparts and eliminate the conditions attached to health transfers?

[Jane Philpott, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, I was pleased to meet not one but two of my provincial counterparts today in Ottawa to discuss with them the importance of health care in our country. I have had good discussions with all of my colleagues across the country. I respect their jurisdiction.

Canadians do well when all stakeholders collaborate, and that includes every level of government that has a responsibility for health care. This will be necessary for Canadians to have the health care they need and deserve.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Mr. Speaker, by breaking their promise and adopting Stephen Harper's cuts to health care, the government is letting Canadians down.

Now the premiers are denouncing the lack of consultation and conservative approach that the Liberal government has adopted. They are also protesting the decision of the Liberals to impose over $1 billion in federal cuts on the provinces next year alone.

Will the federal government reverse these cuts to provinces and agree to their simple request to sit down with the Prime Minister?

[Jane Philpott, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, it is important that the House understands the facts clearly. There will be no cuts to health care. In fact, the Canada health transfer will grow next year. I look forward to very excellent conversations with my counterparts across the country.

Canadians want a health care system that is there for them. All levels of government have a responsibility in that. When we work together, we will find synergies, and we will ensure Canadians have the health care they need.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Mr. Speaker, that is hard to believe when the Prime Minister has been ignoring the request of the provinces to meet since July.

The Liberals promised that they would not make any changes without negotiating with the provinces. In opposition, the Liberal health critic called the 50% cut to the health escalator walking away from medicare. However, now in government, the Liberals have adopted that very reduction, and unilaterally will remove $36 billion from health care and continue to ignore requests for a meeting.

Could the minister please explain how this is real change?

[Jane Philpott, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, the approach of this government to health care is fundamentally different from anything we have seen in the last decade.

The Prime Minister made it very clear to me that he wanted me to negotiate a new health accord with the provinces and territories, and that is exactly what I am in the process of doing.

We will not only increase the Canada health transfer, but we will negotiate new investments in health. We will ensure that Canadians have the home care they need. We will make the transformations. I will do that in collaboration with my colleagues.

[Brigitte Sansoucy, NDP, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals are on board with Stephen Harper's health care cuts, and the provinces are furious. The Liberals said they wanted good-faith negotiations with the provinces, but now that they are in power, they are unilaterally cutting $36 billion and trying to impose a list of conditions on Quebec.

Does the minister understand that people wanted to do away with Stephen Harper and his policies?

[Jane Philpott, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, this government is not making cuts to health care.

I am actually curious as to how members of the New Democratic Party think they would not have had to make drastic cuts when they said they were going to deliver a balanced budget.

This government is prepared to invest new money in health care. We are prepared to work with our counterparts across the country to invest in home care, and to ensure Canadians have better access to mental health care.

I look forward to delivering a new health accord.

[Brigitte Sansoucy, NDP, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC]

Mr. Speaker, once again, the government is saying one thing and doing another. All of the provinces, particularly Quebec, Alberta, and British Columbia, denounced the government's approach to health care accords. The people of those provinces are having déjà vu. They are very familiar with that attitude. It is exactly the same as the Conservatives'.

How many provinces will it take for the government to listen to reason and cancel its cuts?

[Jane Philpott, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, I have had very good discussions with my counterparts across the country, and that includes all of the health ministers.

We will keep talking about what we need to do to improve health care systems across Canada.

Canadians expect us to work together. We are working closely with the provinces and territories. We will improve Canadians' health care system.

Ethics

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

Mr. Speaker, we already have a Toronto minister responsible for Atlantic economic development. We have the possibility that a Toronto judge could take the Atlantic Canada spot on the Supreme Court. Now to get in good with the Prime Minister's Atlantic kingpin, one has to get an invitation to a private reception in Toronto, literally being held on Toronto Street.

The Minister of Fisheries secret event is billed “Get the Atlantic Edge”. Why does getting the Atlantic edge have to mean dodgy unethical cocktail parties in downtown Toronto?

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, Minister of Fisheries]

Mr. Speaker, it will not surprise you that the exaggerated and fabricated beginning of that question around ethical challenges is exactly that.

When l received the invitation, the commissioner confirmed to me in writing that it was appropriate for me to accept that invitation. The member knows very well that ministers and members of Parliament attend events around the country all the time.

The Atlantic growth strategy announced by my colleague, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, in Prince Edward Island in July is something all of us are proud of and I welcome an opportunity to talk about it.

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

Mr. Speaker, when it comes to his ethical screen, perhaps the minister has misunderstood the definition of the word “screen”. Maybe he is thinking about an enormous screen door with great big holes in it, big enough for him and his friends to jump through. However, I do not think that is what Canadians have in mind.

Where is the minister's judgment?

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, Minister of Fisheries]

Mr. Speaker, all ministers and all members of our government have an ethical judgment that is entirely superior to that member's former party. When we receive invitations like this, we proactively reach out to the Ethics Commissioner. Her office confirms that it is entirely appropriate for us to accept events like that.

The member knows very well that it is the ethical and proper way to handle these sorts of situations. That is exactly what I did. I am sorry he is so traumatized that our government is engaged in Atlantic Canada.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Order, please. Most members on all sides have the ability to sit here quietly and listen to things that are provocative from the other side. I am asking that we all do that now and let us listen to the member for Huron—Bruce.

[Ben Lobb, Conservative, Huron—Bruce, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Group m5 is the lobbying and PR wing of the law firm where the minister will be the guest of honour on Wednesday. It has a long list of clients, including Irving Oil and J.D. Irving.

What a coup it must be to have the Prime Minister's Atlantic kingpin and trusted adviser. The problem is that the minister is not supposed to have anything to do with the Irvings. That should include clinking glasses at fancy Toronto restaurants with lobbyists.

How could the minister not see this blatant violation of his own ethics declaration?

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, Minister of Fisheries]

Mr. Speaker, again, if the Ethics Commissioner in her judgment does not see any violation whatsoever, the hon. member should accept her judgment. On this side of the House, we value her judgment with respect to ethics considerably more than that member's.

[Ben Lobb, Conservative, Huron—Bruce, ON]

Mr. Speaker, with answers like that, I think the fisheries minister is going to get to know Justices Charbonneau and Gomery really quick and really long.

The ethically challenged fisheries minister has had rules forced on him by the Ethics Commissioner, so he cannot have any dealings with Irving. Therefore, what is he going to do on Wednesday? He is going to break every rule the Ethics Commissioner told him not to do. There are 330 MPs in the House who see the conflict. Why can the minister not see it?

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, Minister of Fisheries]

Mr. Speaker, again, simply because the member fabricates and asserts a falsehood does not make it true. I have received written confirmation from the Ethics Commissioner—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

The hon. minister knows that we do not suggest that a member fabricates falsehoods in the House of Commons.

We will go on to the member for Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte