House of Commons Hansard #84 of the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was exports.
Alex Nuttall Conservative Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte, ON
Mr. Speaker, Canadian history is littered with Liberals doing whatever they can to help out Liberal lobbyists, and they always have the same excuses. “We followed the rules”, they will say. “This is just us listening and consulting with people”, they will say. “I was just doing this as an MP, not a minister”, they will say. However, every time it is friends of the Liberal Party who get access, favours and closed door meetings.
I will ask this one more time. Where is this member's judgment?
Dominic LeBlanc LiberalMinister of Fisheries
Mr. Speaker, my judgment is that it is important for Canadians to understand our government's commitment to growing the Atlantic economy.
That is why, when I received this invitation, I forwarded it to the Ethics Commissioner to confirm that nothing inappropriate was the case with my attending the event. I received that confirmation at which point I accepted the invitation.
To go to any group to talk about our government's commitment to growing the Atlantic economy, to welcoming new immigrants to Atlantic Canada, I am proud to do so, and I will take every opportunity I can to do exactly that.
Pierre Paul-Hus Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard accepted an invitation to attend a private cocktail party at a law firm. That would not be a problem if the firm in question did not have ties to the Irving family. It would not be a problem if the firm was not lobbying for Irving. It is a conflict of interest festival.
How can the Minister of Fisheries agree to be the guest of honour at this reception? Where is his judgment?
Dominic LeBlanc LiberalMinister of Fisheries
Mr. Speaker, as I have said many times, under no circumstances would I place myself in a conflict of interest. That is precisely why I sought the advice of the Commissioner before accepting the invitation.
When she confirmed that it was appropriate for me to speak to a group of Toronto business leaders about the economy in Atlantic Canada and our government's commitment to grow the Canadian economy, I was pleased to accept the invitation.
Linda Duncan NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
Mr. Speaker, a report issued today confirms that Canada is not on track to achieve its 2020 emissions reduction goal. This dire prediction was reached even before the approval of a new LNG project, emitting what some are calling a carbon bomb of 10 million tonnes of C02 a year.
Canadians want action, so where are the promised investments in clean energy alternatives for northern communities? Where are the investments in energy efficient housing? Where is the plan to deploy green infrastructure? We are running out of time.
Catherine McKenna LiberalMinister of Environment and Climate Change
Mr. Speaker, our government understands that the environment and the economy go together.
I was very pleased to hear Rachel Notley, the Premier of Alberta, say this with respect to yesterday's budget approval. She said that this was “...an important combination of sustainable economic growth while ensuring that you address environmental issues”.
I would also like to refer to Brian Cochrane. He is a business manager for a union representing over 12,000 members in B.C. He said that the Pacific NorthWest LNG's project environmental approval was very good news for B.C. members of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 115 who were standing by to help build this important energy facility.
Matthew Dubé NDP Beloeil—Chambly, QC
Mr. Speaker, on a day when we are talking about the Prime Minister's youth council, maybe we should start thinking about what kind of planet we are leaving for those young people.
Torture is immoral. It is ineffective and goes against every one of our international commitments to human rights. The ministerial directive allowing the use of information obtained through torture is still in place under the Liberals. This practice tarnishes Canada's reputation and certainly goes against our values.
Will the government repeal that directive or not?
Michel Picard LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Mr. Speaker, obviously we do not agree with this type of activity. However, ministerial directives are there to protect the safety and security of Canadians as well as their rights and freedoms. Although the directives are currently being reviewed, they are part of our consultation processes. They are also the reason why we submitted the plan for a committee of parliamentarians for study: precisely to review this type of activity.
Karen Vecchio Conservative Elgin—Middlesex—London, ON
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Liberals claimed that Brookfield relocation services apologized to them, yet today it was confirmed that no such apology was ever issued. As a matter of fact, all we got was more damning evidence. In a statement yesterday, Brookfield confirmed our assertion that Telford and Butts claimed expenses with no justification or receipts.
These so-called personalized cash payouts need to be explained. Why did the Prime Minister sign off on these?
Bardish Chagger LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister of Small Business and Tourism
Mr. Speaker, just in case nobody has heard the answer before, these relocation policies have been in place since the 1970s. They were most recently reviewed by the previous Conservative government in 2011. Our government recognizes that these policies need to be reviewed, and that is why our Prime Minister has asked the President of the Treasury Board to review the relocation policies.
Karen Vecchio Conservative Elgin—Middlesex—London, ON
Mr. Speaker, I am going to ask that the minister take this seriously, please. The Prime Minister's friends were shamed into giving some of that money back. However, everyone knows that a bank robber who returns part of the loot does not get away without repercussions.
Telford and Butts occupy the most powerful unelected positions in the government. They accepted money that now even they claim was unjustified. When will the Prime Minister do the right thing and explain why they were given it in the first place?
Bardish Chagger LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister of Small Business and Tourism
Mr. Speaker, the member has heard my response, time and again. If she does not like my response, maybe she wants to hear it from Guy Giorno, former chief of staff to Stephen Harper. He said:
The federal relocation program—which applies to hundreds of moves annually, including moves by employees of government, military and RCMP—exists for a very good reason. The relocation process is run by an independent third party. The third party determines the actual costs according to program criteria.
Jacques Gourde Conservative Lévis—Lotbinière, QC
Mr. Speaker, the government has a never-ending supply of excuses to defend the Prime Minister's friend and his chief of staff.
Yesterday, they told the House that the moving company lied. However, that is not true. My father always used to say that when you constantly change your story, it is most certainly because you have something to hide.
Why is the Prime Minister unable to simply say to Canadians that his staff and his government have the bad habit of abusing taxpayers' money?
Bardish Chagger LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister of Small Business and Tourism
Mr. Speaker, as I said, the policy on the reimbursement of moving expenses has been in place since the 1970s. It was Stephen Harper's Conservatives who developed this policy.
We know that this policy needs to be reviewed. That is why the Prime Minister has asked the Treasury Board to revisit this policy.
Jacques Gourde Conservative Lévis—Lotbinière, QC
Mr. Speaker, not only did the moving company not lie, but it said that some expenses were claimed without providing receipts. It bears repeating that repaying expenses only because you were caught red-handed does not make it acceptable.
This Prime Minister and this government must show some discipline when handling the money of Canadian families.
When will they stop spending money recklessly and defending the indefensible?
Bardish Chagger LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister of Small Business and Tourism
Mr. Speaker, if members do not want to listen to my response, they perhaps might listen to Guy Giorno, a former chief of staff, who said that the relocation process was managed by an independent third party and that the third party determined the real costs based on the program's criteria.
Karine Trudel NDP Jonquière, QC
Mr. Speaker, when the Liberals took office, they said that the days of lack of respect for workers were over.
However, yesterday, without even the slightest hint of embarrassment, the Liberals voted against prohibiting the use of scabs. The use of scabs violates bargaining rights and is damaging to labour relations.
Why is the Liberal government abandoning workers? Why it is refusing to protect bargaining rights?
MaryAnn Mihychuk LiberalMinister of Employment
Mr. Speaker, what I can say is that this is a government that respects workers and businesses and understands that collective bargaining works. In most cases by far, 95%, collective agreements have worked and there is no need for replacement workers.
Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet NDP Hochelaga, QC
Mr. Speaker, social housing stock in Canada is in rough shape. Over 170,000 people are on waiting lists. Many mayors and social housing leaders are meeting tomorrow in Toronto to sound the alarm. The government needs to do more, not less. Toronto is facing a repair backlog of $2.6 billion. The system is no longer working.
Will the minister provide the funding needed to renovate existing social housing units and build new units, and will he resolve the long-term agreement issue once and for all?
Jean-Yves Duclos LiberalMinister of Families
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to take the opportunity my colleague is giving me to remind members of just how committed the new Canadian government is to improving social housing. In the last budget, we allocated $2.3 billion to affordable housing, a historic investment that will make a huge difference in the lives of hundreds of millions of Canadians.
We also announced that we would work with our partners to ensure that these investments produce significant, tangible results. That is exactly what I am going to do tomorrow in Toronto.
Julie Dzerowicz Liberal Davenport, ON
Mr. Speaker, one of the most pressing issues in Davenport, my downtown west Toronto riding, is an urgent need for more affordable housing. Affordable housing options are needed for individuals and families whose incomes cannot keep up with the increasing cost of housing, for new Canadians looking to establish themselves near city services and supports, and for seniors who are looking to downsize but not move out of the neighbourhoods where they have lived most of their lives.
Indeed, this need for affordable housing is a problem across the country. Could the minister responsible for housing update the House on what the government is doing to address this urgent need?
Jean-Yves Duclos LiberalMinister of Families
Mr. Speaker, our government is indeed re-establishing federal leadership in housing. Through budget 2016, we made an historic $2.3 billion investment for urgent housing needs, including almost $600 million to support social housing and $200 million to support seniors housing. In Toronto, this represents an additional housing investment of over $150 million.
I am looking forward to participating tomorrow in the City of Toronto housing summit to help deliver tangible and real results for all families, in Toronto and across Canada.
Lisa Raitt Conservative Milton, ON
Mr. Speaker, it has been a difficult year for hard-working Canadians since the finance minister came to office. Wages are remaining stagnant, taxes have gone up, and Ontario Hydro rates are skyrocketing. What is the response from the government? It is to introduce even more new taxes, increasing the costs for Canadian families.
If taxpayers voted for change, I do not think they anticipated they would actually have to root for it in the seat cushions of their couches so they could pay their bills.
What is the Minister of Finance doing to help his own constituents in Ontario who struggle to pay these bills?
François-Philippe Champagne LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, let us be clear. We will take no lessons from the Conservatives when it comes to growing the economy. They left us 10 years of unprecedented low growth in the country.
What we have done, and I think my colleague misunderstood, is that our government reduced taxes for nine million Canadians in the first bill we passed in the House. We went on to introduce the Canada child benefit, which benefits nine families out of 10. Then, we are going to announce the Canada pension plan. We are working for Canadian families—