Debates of Sept. 30th, 2016

Rosh Hashanah

[Anthony Housefather, Liberal, Mount Royal, QC]

Madam Speaker, on Sunday evening, Jews in Canada will begin celebrating Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. As such, it is a good time for us to recognize the enormous contributions that Canadian Jews have made to our society.

Since 1760, the Jewish community has left its mark. In politics, Ezekiel Hart was the first Jew elected to the legislature of Lower Canada in 1807. In 1872, Henry Nathan, of Victoria, was the first Jew elected to the House of Commons. Since then, they have been followed by such luminaries as Herb Gray, David Lewis, Dave Barrett, Joe Oliver, and Irwin Cotler.

From Supreme Court justices like Bora Laskin and Rosalie Abella, to athletes like Bobbie Rosenfeld and Mike Cammalleri, to writers like Mordecai Richler and Adele Wiseman, to actors like Seth Rogen and William Shatner, to musicians like Leonard Cohen, Geddy Lee, and Drake, Jewish Canadians continue to make Canada proud.

I wish all who celebrate Rosh Hashanah a healthy, peaceful, and sweet New Year. L'Shanah Tovah.

Finance

[Candice Bergen, Conservative, House Leader of the Official Opposition]

Madam Speaker, yesterday the parliamentary budget officer confirmed our worst fears. Compared with under the Conservative watch, the Liberals have increased spending by more than $3 billion, and that was just in the first three months of this year. Yet, there is nothing to show for this reckless spending. Jobs are being lost across the country.

When will the Liberals stop their out-of-control spending and start respecting hard-working taxpayers?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance]

Madam Speaker, this is the government that has decided to invest in Canadians and the Canadian economy. What we are doing has been applauded around the world.

Let me quote what the managing director of the IMF, Madame Christine Lagarde, said recently. She said, really, very much of the Canadian economic policies “can actually go viral”.

What we are doing is right for Canadians and is applauded around the world. We will continue to do that.

[Candice Bergen, Conservative, House Leader of the Official Opposition]

Madam Speaker, the ordinary Canadian is struggling. The economy has lost over 60,000 jobs just over the summer. Investment is leaving Canada. Household debt is at record levels. Yet, the Liberal government continues to spend recklessly and increase taxes.

Expert after expert confirms that the Liberals' spending spree is not working and is not helping the economy.

When will the Liberals do the right thing, cancel their tax hikes on Canadian families, and control their reckless spending?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance]

Madam Speaker, actually, growth was up in July. Let us be clear on the facts.

More importantly, this government has, as its first priority, reduced taxes for Canadians, because that is what Canadian families wanted. After that, we went on to introduce the Canada child benefit, which is helping nine families out of ten. Then we went on to enhance the CPP, the Canadian pension plan. Then we went on to make historical investments in infrastructure and innovation.

That is the way to grow an economy, and we will continue to do just that.

[Candice Bergen, Conservative, House Leader of the Official Opposition]

Madam Speaker, Canadian businesses are losing confidence in the Liberal government. Less than 48 hours after the Pacific NorthWest project was approved, Petronas is rumoured to be selling its stake. Why? Because the cost and uncertainty of doing business in Canada is too high.

When will the Liberals stop raising taxes and stop choking businesses with needless red tape and delays?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance]

Madam Speaker, let me state for the record very clearly, the very first thing that this government did was to reduce taxes for nine million Canadians. That is the first thing we did, and we are very proud of it.

What we are doing is applauded around the world, by the IMF managing director, by the governor of the Bank of Canada, by the PBO.

What we are doing is the right thing for Canadians, and we will continue to do just that.

Health

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lévis—Lotbinière, QC]

Madam Speaker, interfering in provincial jurisdictions is thoroughly ingrained in the Liberal culture. This centralist government wants to impose conditions on health care and the money transferred to the provinces for Canadians' well-being.

Does the Minister of Health know what it means to respect provincial jurisdictions?

[Jane Philpott, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Madam Speaker, Canadians are proud of their public health care system.

I understand the concerns, and I would like to point out that the Canada health transfer is going to increase by over $1 billion next year, bringing it up to more than $37 billion. I have already had discussions with my counterpart in Quebec, as well as the other provincial and territorial ministers. We will continue our discussions on how to create a health care system that meets Canadians' needs.

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lévis—Lotbinière, QC]

Madam Speaker, the provinces are in the best position to spend health care dollars. We on this side of the House understand that.

Today I am calling on the Minister of Health to remove all conditions on the transfer of funding intended for Canadians' health care. The minister needs to mind her own business and respect provincial jurisdictions for the well-being of Canadians.

[Jane Philpott, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Madam Speaker, I find it fascinating that the members opposite who, while they were in power for almost a decade, did nothing to advance health care in this country are now dictating how it should be done.

Our government works with a spirit of collaboration with our partners. All levels of government have a role to play in health care. It requires us to work in collaboration with patients, with health care providers, all of us working together for the betterment of the health of Canadians.

Indigenous Affairs

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

Madam Speaker, today marks Orange Shirt Day, a day to honour residential school survivors, so let us recognize survivors who were left out of the residential school agreement. For example, the day scholars have a certified class action, and time is of the essence because plaintiffs are passing away. However, the government has refused to settle with them in good faith.

In honour of Orange Shirt Day, will the Minister of Justice finally commit to true reconciliation and stop fighting survivors in court?

[Yvonne Jones, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs]

Madam Speaker, the government is committed to ensuring justice for all victims of this dark chapter in our history and that all those entitled to compensation will receive it. We will continue to pursue the vital work of advancing reconciliation with indigenous people and bringing closure to the tragic legacy of abuse of indigenous children.

We uphold the Indian residential school settlement process, and we will protect the integrity of that independent assessment process.

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

Madam Speaker, there will be no reconciliation without justice in this country. To achieve that, the government has to stop forcing residential school survivors to fight in court to get their compensation.

The Minister of Justice has to get rid of the endless procedural red tape that her department is imposing on residential school survivors.

On this day of recognition of residential school survivors, will the minister commit to doing that?

[Yvonne Jones, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs]

Madam Speaker, I do not think there is any doubt of our government's commitment to all the victims who have suffered through this dark saga of residential schools in Canada. Just yesterday, we talked about the settlement, out of court, of the Andersen case in Newfoundland and Labrador.

We are very proud that our government is moving forward with the truth and reconciliation process.

We will continue to work hard to reconcile with indigenous people and with survivors. Litigation is not our choice or the course of action we prefer.

Foreign Affairs

[Matthew Dubé, NDP, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

Madam Speaker, speaking of human rights, yesterday, Saudi Arabia refused to acknowledge its past abuses. It also said that the sale of arms is an act of friendship.

We can agree that most Canadians are quite certain that we do not need to be friends with a country that violates human rights.

Will the government support the NDP's motion to enhance oversight of arms sales? If not, why not?

[Pam Goldsmith-Jones, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Madam Speaker, we are delivering on our campaign commitment by acceding to the Arms Trade Treaty in line with our G7 and G20 allies, thus promoting responsibility, transparency, and accountability in regulating the global trade of arms.

This is the right thing to do. It is what we are committed to doing, and we are delivering on our promise.

Right now, we are consulting with NGOs and industry before introducing legislation, at which time all members of the House and in committee will have the opportunity to scrutinize and review.

I look forward to working with my colleagues on this.

[Matthew Dubé, NDP, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

Madam Speaker, I have yet to hear a convincing argument against supporting our proposal.

Let us go down memory lane a little bit. The Minister of Foreign Affairs quietly approved export permits for Saudi Arabia while claiming that his hands were tied.

Later we learned that the minister approved the export contract shortly after a private meeting with the Saudi ambassador. No wonder Saudi Arabia considers this arms deal to be an act of great friendship.

However, Canadians do not want to be friends with human rights abusers. Is this why the Liberal government is so afraid to support our motion for more transparency? Is this an act of great friendship with Saudi Arabia?

[Pam Goldsmith-Jones, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Madam Speaker, this government sticks to its word. We said we would accede to the Arms Trade Treaty and we are.

The NDP, on the other hand, does not stick to its word. Let me quote its leader during the last election: “You don't cancel a commercial accord retroactively, it's just not done.”

Yet now we find that New Democrats are willing to abandon almost 3,000 well-paying jobs for hard-working Canadians.

We are honouring our promise of jobs for the middle class, and we are honouring our promise to make the arms export process more rigorous and transparent.

Employment

[Matt Jeneroux, Conservative, Edmonton Riverbend, AB]

Madam Speaker, the people of Alberta have worked hard for generations and the entire nation has benefited from Alberta's economic strength. However, now unemployed Albertans are struggling to provide for their families.

My province is the economic engine of the country, and we desperately need the Prime Minister to quite putting up hurdles and raising taxes on innovators and job creators in my province.

When will the government recognize the significance that a struggling Alberta has on the rest of the country?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance]

Madam Speaker, we recognize the situation in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.

I can say that the first thing the government did, which is helping people in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, was reduce taxes for Canadians. Then we went on to the Canadian child benefit. More importantly, we also reviewed the employment insurance regions to provide more benefits to people there when they lost their jobs.

This is a government that is listening to people and is acting for the people.

[Matt Jeneroux, Conservative, Edmonton Riverbend, AB]

Madam Speaker, I want the minister to know that this is not just an economic crisis but is a human tragedy as well. Since the beginning of 2015, the unemployment rate has risen from 4.8% to 8.4%, and more than 200,000 Albertans are out of work. Skilled workers across Alberta are struggling.

Can the Minister of Finance commit to reversing course on his ill-advised plan to raise taxes, spend recklessly, and string up red tape before it is too late for Albertans?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance]

Madam Speaker, let me be clear. We are listening to western Canadians. We are listening to people in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.

We understand the situation. That is why we reduced taxes for Canadians. That was the first bill we passed in this House. It was to reduce taxes for Canadians and invest in infrastructure and invest in innovation. Those types of investments in the Canadian economy and in the Canadian middle class are going to make the people of western Canada and people across the country more prosperous.

That is what we promised to do, and that is what we are going to be doing.

Softwood Lumber

[Joël Godin, Conservative, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

Madam Speaker, I invite the government to live up to its responsibilities. It is holding consultations, forming committees, and working on a number of files, but nothing is getting done.

The softwood lumber file is a pressing matter. In a few days, the agreement will expire. We need to know what will happen to this industry. It is important for the regions.

When will the government move beyond its fine words and conclude an agreement in the interest of Canadian families?

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

Madam Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague for the question.

We are working very hard on this file. Our negotiators are in more or less constant contact with provincial representatives, the workers, the industry, and obviously their U.S. counterparts. We are working very hard on this file to get an agreement that is good for the workers of Canada and Quebec, not just any old agreement.