Debates of Nov. 1st, 2017

Privacy

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we know the world is changing in a rapid way. It is important Canadians not just be part of it but help shape the way the world is going to change in a way that respects people's rights and freedoms and privacy. We need to ensure the right balance between innovation, economic growth, and opportunities are matched with the defence of our charter rights and the inherent rights of Canadians.

That is why we are so excited about the fact the world is looking to Canada as a place to innovate, and to build the cities of the future in ways that benefit all of our citizens, not just the wealthiest 1%.

Budget

[Francesco Sorbara, Liberal, Vaughan—Woodbridge, ON]

Mr. Speaker, last week, our government tabled Budget Implementation Act, 2017, No. 2.

Budget 2017 is the next step in our government's ambitious plan to make smart investments that will create jobs, grow our economy, and provide more opportunities for the middle class in my riding of Vaughan—Woodbridge and across Canada.

Could the Prime Minister tell the House what we are doing to put the middle class first?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for Vaughan—Woodbridge for his question and I congratulate him on his bilingualism.

Canadians are at the heart of our plan for a more innovative economy that creates jobs for the middle class. We are helping Canadians working in federally regulated industries better balance their professional and personal lives by making their working conditions more flexible. These changes will help them better adapt. As the parliamentary budget officer said, our investments aimed at Canadians and our economy are working.

Ethics

[Peter Kent, Conservative, Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, we have become accustomed in this House to Liberal ministers violating the written and unwritten laws and rules of the House. In every case, after obfuscation and stonewalling, there is an admission of wrongdoing, with various excuses and justifications.

We have photographic evidence that the Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities improperly used parliamentary resources, campaigning for his dad in a recent Calgary election.

Does the Prime Minister support what the minister did, or does the Prime Minister think the minister should follow the rules?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, after 10 years of a government that paid no attention to its rules, chose secrecy, obfuscation, and partisan advantage over just about everything else, Canadians are relieved to have a government that takes transparency, accountability, and openness as seriously as we do.

We will continue to follow the rules. We will continue to demonstrate that Canadians were right to place their trust in us. We will continue to demonstrate we are worthy, day in and day out, of the trust Canadians placed in us.

[Nathan Cullen, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, what is truly amazing is he can say all of that with a straight face.

We did some quick research as to how many Canadians in the riding of Toronto Centre benefited from the introduction of Bill C-27. We found one. It was the finance minister. He gained $2 million in four days. It is remarkable.

The Prime Minister says he respects Parliament so much that he looks at serious ethical violations and calls them noise. He is worried about the young people so much that he just spent an hour not answering a single direct question from the opposition.

Will he end all of this, and this is the only way to do it, will he end his attack—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

The right hon. Prime Minister.

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I believe in sunny ways. I believe in staying focused on Canadians, and that is exactly what we are doing. I believe that sunshine is the best disinfectant. Openness and transparency is what Canadians expect. That is what we will always stand for.

I respect the member opposite tremendously for his responsibility to ask difficult questions, and to press the government on it. I am going to stay focused on doing the right things the right way, and ensuring our team is doing that, and always respecting the Ethics Commissioner for the work she does to ensure we all follow the rules.

The Environment

[Bernadette Jordan, Liberal, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

Mr. Speaker, derelict vessels are a problem for many coastal communities, including in my riding of South Shore—St. Margarets. That is why I introduced Motion No. 40, and was very proud when the House adopted the motion unanimously.

Earlier this week, our government introduced Bill C-64 in Parliament to address this important issue. Could the Prime Minister please update Canadians on the new measures included in this unprecedented legislation?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for South Shore—St. Margarets for her advocacy on this important file.

Following up on our oceans protection plan, which I announced a year ago, we introduced legislation regarding vessel owners responsible for wrecked, abandoned, or hazardous vessels. This legislation is the first of its kind in Canada, and with it we are delivering on our commitment to better safeguard the environment, increase the safety of Canadians, and strengthen local economies. Coastal communities across the country can continue to count on our support.

Public Services and Procurement

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

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the workers at Donnacona Institution were protesting simply to ask us to pay them. This government set itself the goal of fixing the problems with Phoenix by October 31, 2016. One year later, nothing has been fixed. One employee has suddenly been forced to live on $300 because the government chose to recover overpayments, although it is still not paying her properly.

We are in 2017. Why has the Prime Minister not found a solution to properly pay the honest workers who serve the government? When is our Prime Minister's new deadline?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the public service pay problems are totally unacceptable. A report by Goss Gilroy Inc. confirms that the government underestimated the project's complexity in the planning and initial preparation stages.

Our priority stays the same, namely ensuring that public servants are paid on time and accurately. Our government-wide efforts focus on four areas: governance and oversight, process improvement, capacity, and partnerships. We will continue to work very hard—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

The hon. member for Nunavut.

Nunavut

[Hunter Tootoo, Independent, Nunavut, NU]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister.

While touring my riding, many constituents expressed concerns about Nunavut's low standard of living. Currently, we are heavily dependent on federal transfers. However, access to own-source revenues would go a long way in improving this standard. The recent moratorium on oil and gas, although beneficial for the Arctic environment, also removes this potential own-source revenue.

How will the Prime Minister work with the new territorial government to improve our standard of living, and achieve a stable and self-sustaining economy in Nunavut?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we believe in real collaboration to support families, to build sustainable communities, and to create robust economies.

We are committed to working with the newly elected officials of Nunavut on a new Arctic policy framework which will replace the outdated northern strategy.

We will continue to support the people of Nunavut in their decision-making over resource development and conservation that affects their communities, culture, and well-being. We are putting northerners in the driver's seat to drive their economy now and into the future.

Presence in Gallery

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

I would like to draw to the attention of members the presence in the gallery of the Hon. Reza Moridi, Minister of Research, Innovation and Science for the Province of Ontario.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear!

[Scott Duvall, NDP, Hamilton Mountain, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask for unanimous consent for the following motion:

That notwithstanding any Standing Order or usual practice of the House, the order for second reading and reference to the Standing Committee on Finance of Bill C-27, an act to amend the Pension Benefits Standards Act, 1985, be discharged and the bill withdrawn from the Order Paper.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Does the hon. member have the unanimous consent of the House to move the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Yes.

No.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Carleton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is customary under the Standing Orders for members to table in the House of Commons documents they have made reference to during debate or question period. Earlier on, I explained that the requirement to receive the disability tax credit was for someone to require 14 hours a week of life-sustaining therapy and that the minister had denied people whose doctors had certified that they had met that.

I have in my hand a letter in which she actually writes that people suffering from diabetes are not eligible to meet that requirement, even when their doctors have certified that they are. I know that the Prime Minister will want to read this—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

The hon. member is asking for unanimous consent to table the document.

There is no unanimous consent.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

[Serge Cormier, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to subsection 94(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the “2017 Annual Report to Parliament on Immigration”.

Government Response to Petitions

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to 15 petitions.

Interparliamentary Delegations

[Rob Oliphant, Liberal, Don Valley West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, the report of the Canada-Africa Parliamentary Association respecting its participation in the bilateral mission to the Republic of Ghana and the Republic of The Gambia, at Accra, Ghana, and Banjul, The Gambia, from August 25 to 30, 2017.