Debates of Dec. 1st, 2017

Media Industry

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, I will be pleased to send my colleague the speech that I gave at the end of September in either print or digital format.

In that speech, I clearly stated that we are going to continue to support our local media and help them through this difficult transition so that we can retain our journalists and maintain jobs in this field across the country.

We know that journalism lies at the heart of our democracy. As a government, we believe in the importance of print media, whether it is in paper or digital format.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

[Monique Pauzé, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Leony Pavithra Lawrence is a perfect example of a refugee who has adjusted well to life in Quebec and makes Quebec even stronger, but the government wants to deport her and her entire family.

The school board is calling on the government to reverse its decision. The opposition in Quebec City, much like the opposition here, is calling on the government to reverse its decision.

The Government of Quebec, with the support of Quebec society as a whole, says it wants to find a way to keep the Lawrence family in Quebec. They will be deported on Sunday if no action is taken immediately.

Will the government reverse its decision?

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

Mr. Speaker, I share the concerns of the member opposite.

As members know, pursuant to Canadian privacy laws, we cannot discuss individual cases. Every case is unique and is assessed on its own merit.

In accordance with Canadian law, our government is committed to submitting each case to IRCC where it will be assessed fairly and based on merit. All applicants can expect fair and impartial treatment.

Ethics

[Gabriel Ste-Marie, Bloc, Joliette, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Lawrence family is scheduled to be deported on Sunday. The government had better act fast.

We want an explanation before the Prime Minister leaves for China next week. We know that, on May 19, the Prime Minister attended a $1,500 dinner for Vancouver's Chinese community with the founder of a bank. On July 7, the Liberal government authorized that bank to do business in Canada.

What we did not know was that, in the space of 48 hours, the Prime Minister received $70,000 from wealthy Chinese individuals in Vancouver for his Liberal riding association. If that is not payback, then what is?

[Bardish Chagger, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister of Small Business and Tourism]

Mr. Speaker, as I have said in the House many times, we have some of the strictest rules when it comes to fundraising in our country. The assertions that the member is making are entirely false, as confirmed by the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner. Not only that, but the Liberal Party has moved forward with the strongest standards in federal politics for openness and transparency, including facilitating media coverage, advance posting, hosting in publicly accessible spaces, and timely reporting of event details and the guest list.

We committed to Canadians a more open and transparent government, and that is exactly what we are doing. We look forward to opposition members following the lead of this government.

The Environment

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

Mr. Speaker, for more than 30 years, every federal government and every prime minister, regardless of political stripe, has stood to defend the Canadian interests in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The Trump administration, through a GOP budget bill, now proposes to reopen the issue with the threat of oil and gas development on the U.S. side of the shared territory of the Gwich'in peoples, where they depend on the porcupine caribou and the porcupine caribou depend on those calving grounds.

Could the Minister of Environment tell us what steps the government is taking to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge?

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

Mr. Speaker, Canada absolutely supports conservation of the habitat of the porcupine caribou herd and is opposed to any development of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. We certainly oppose opening these areas to resource development. I have been very clear in my discussions with the U.S. administration, as has our entire government.

We recently hosted an event at our embassy in Washington, D.C., where a united Canadian position, consisting of the federal, tribal, and territorial governments, jointly discussed the importance of the porcupine caribou herd for the Gwich'in peoples and other indigenous peoples in Yukon and the Northwest Territories and our clear opposition to development in critical habitat areas like the Arctic refuge and the 1002 Area.

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Mr. Speaker, earlier, in response to our questions, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance claimed that the tax policy the government introduced on December 7, 2015 raised taxes on the richest Canadians. In the interest of full disclosure, I seek leave of the House to table the following document.

The Department of Finance Canada Annual Financial Report of the Government of Canada Fiscal Year 2016–2017, page 16, states, “Personal income tax revenues decreased by $1.2 billion...largely reflecting the impact of tax planning by high-income individuals”. That is the truth.

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, Anthony Rota]

I believe the hon. member is raising a matter for debate, but does he have the unanimous consent of the House?

[Some hon. members]

No.

[Diane Lebouthillier, Liberal, Gaspésie—Les-Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to clarify something for my colleague opposite. When he asked his question, I though he was asking me if I had met with representatives of Diabetes Canada. I met with them this week, but I have not yet met with Autism Canada representatives, although I am looking forward to meeting with them, as well.

Government Response to Petitions

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

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

Veterans Affairs

[Neil Ellis, Liberal, Bay of Quinte, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the seventh report of the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs, entitled “Supplementary Estimates (B) 2017-18”.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs

[MaryAnn Mihychuk, Liberal, Kildonan—St. Paul, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 11th report of the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs, entitled “Supplementary Estimates (B) 2017-18: Vote 1b under Canadian High Arctic Research Station and Votes 1b, 7b, 9b and 10b under Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development.””

Pensions

[Karine Trudel, NDP, Jonquière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to table a petition calling for an end to corporate pension theft. This petition is in line with the bill introduced by my colleague from Hamilton Mountain.

Workers rely on their pensions and benefits so they can live and retire with dignity. We are calling on the government to amend its bankruptcy laws, which currently allow corporations to take money intended for their employees' pensions and benefits, instead of paying CEOs, banks, and investors.

Access to Education

[Scott Duvall, NDP, Hamilton Mountain, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have the great pleasure to rise today in the House to present a petition on behalf of the residents of Hamilton Mountain who support the goals of the ONE campaign to increase access to education for girls around the world. They also recognize that in too many countries being poor and female means a life sentence of inequality, oppression, and poverty.

The petitioners therefore call upon the Government of Canada to ensure that girls everywhere have access to quality education, and specifically to increase Canada's funding on global education from the current $302 million to $592 million by 2020.

Student Debt

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present e-petition 1168.

The petitioners wish to call the attention of the House to the staggering reality that there is now $28 billion in student debt. Ever since the mid-1990s, interest has been attached to student debt. Today, a student, graduating with $30,000 in debt, will pay $10,000 in interest.

The petitioners ask the House to work to eliminate interest charges on the debt of students who have used the Canada student loans program and that the Government of Canada should act to eliminate the practice of applying interest at all on student debt.

The Environment

[Sheila Malcolmson, NDP, Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC]

Mr. Speaker, because five bulk commercial anchorages, each for 300 metre long freighters in the Strait of Georgia, also known as the Salish Sea, are proposed to stop at Gabriola Island, petitioners from Nanaimo, Port Coquitlam, North Vancouver, Vancouver, and Gabriola Island urge the Minister of Transport to have the new anchorage proposal withdrawn.

They cite the risks from oil spills, catastrophic storms, impacts on commercial and sport fishing, and tourism in the area. We urge the government to take their advice.

Sittings of the House

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Mr. Speaker, sometimes I get asked if signing a petition makes a difference, but the 30,984 people who signed e-petition 983, asking the Liberals to reverse their decision to end Friday sittings and have the Prime Minister attend QP only once a week, made a difference by forcing them to reverse their decision.

With that and on a Friday, I am pleased to table this petition, led by Kerri Frank, with my deep thanks to her and to all those who signed.

Access to Education

[Diane Finley, Conservative, Haldimand—Norfolk, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present two petitions on behalf of constituents in my riding of Haldimand—Norfolk.

The first petition is from constituents who are concerned about the insufficient amount of funding available for global education for girls. The petitioners call upon the government to increase Canada's funding on global education to $592 million by 2020.

Religious Freedom

[Diane Finley, Conservative, Haldimand—Norfolk, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition is from constituents who are deeply concerned about clause 14 of Bill C-51. As it stands, clause 14 would remove the only provision in the Criminal Code that directly protects the rights of individuals to freely practise their religion, whatever that religion may be.

The petitioners call on the government to remove clause 14 from the legislation and to protect the religious freedom of all Canadians.

Organ Donation

[Peter Fragiskatos, Liberal, London North Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday was miracle day in the Ferguson and Lashbrook household. Three years ago, Doug Ferguson, a constituent in London North Centre, was able to live because he received a liver transplant. He can now enjoy life with Laurie, his wife, Sarah, Erika, and Duncan.

I stand to present e-petition 1155, the result of Erika, his step-daughter's very hard work on this. She gathered 680 signatures on her own. It encourages more Canadians to consider organ donation. I applaud Erika's work.

I salute the family for all the work it is doing to improve knowledge of this important issue. Doug is an outstanding community member and we are very fortunate to have him.

Questions on the Order Paper

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

Mr. Speaker, today the following questions will be answered: Questions Nos. 1230, 1231 and 1236.

Question No. 1230

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

With regard to expenditures on private security firms in Myanmar: (a) which private security firms have been utilized in Myanmar since January 1, 2017; (b) what specific actions is the government taking to ensure that private security forces receiving government expenditures do not participate in violence against Rohingyas or other minorities; (c) is the government aware of any firms referred to in (a) participating in violence against Rohingyas or other minorities; and (d) if the answer to (c) is affirmative, what specific actions did the government take against such firms?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, with regard to (a), since January 1, 2017, the Embassy of Canada to Myanmar in Yangon has utilized one private security firm, IDG Myanmar Co. Ltd.

With regard to (b), as part of the embassy’s due diligence process in contracting a security firm to provide a security guard for the embassy, market research is conducted to identify capable suppliers, which includes but is not limited to referrals from other embassies or international organizations, and online and local research. IDG has provided and provides security services in Myanmar including guarding services and security training to the UN, EU, the Norwegian Embassy, and the British Embassy. Positive recommendations have been received from the UN and the Norwegian Embassy. The contract award is based on predetermined evaluation criteria and methods of selection assessing several areas such as experience, capacity, capability, transition plan, and price. The contracted security firm, IDG Myanmar Co. Ltd, has provided effective, professional security services for the embassy since its opening in 2014.

Contract clauses used within Global Affairs Canada ensure that security providers must be in compliance with local law and that they abide by specific governance and ethics clauses including anti-terrorism and international sanctions. Canada may terminate this contract, or reduce or suspend any payments under it if the contractor fails to honour the provisions within these clauses. These contracts are also subject to the integrity provisions policy and directive.

IDG Myanmar Co. Ltd is part of the IDG group of international security companies, a member in good standing of the International Code of Conduct Association, ICoCA, for private security companies. ICoCA member companies must submit to ongoing and independent monitoring, auditing, and verification of conduct, including adherence to international human rights standards.

With regard to (c) and (d), we have no indication that IDG Myanmar Co. Ltd has participated in violence against the Rohingyas or other minorities.