House of Commons Hansard #244 of the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was terrorist.

Topics

Canadian HeritageOral Questions

3 p.m.

Ahuntsic-Cartierville Québec

Liberal

Mélanie Joly LiberalMinister of Canadian Heritage

Mr. Speaker, Canada's cultural sector is very pleased that we invested $2.3 million in the Canada Council for the Arts, the CBC, Telefilm, and the National Film Board, organizations that employ thousands of people across the country.

We are, of course, very concerned about what is happening in the print media industry. We know the media are facing huge challenges. That is why I have already announced that we are going to modernize our approach so that we can better support the industry in both paper and online formats.

We are also going to help the media show leadership in transitioning to the web to ensure their viability.

Foreign AffairsOral Questions

3 p.m.

Liberal

Anita Vandenbeld Liberal Ottawa West—Nepean, ON

Mr. Speaker, today we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the historic Ottawa Treaty banning the use of anti-personnel landmines. Because of Canada's leadership, there are now 162 states party to the treaty. Twenty-eight countries have been declared mine-free, and over 48 million stockpiled landmines in 88 countries have been destroyed.

However, there is still work to be done. Can the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs tell the House what Canada is doing to rid the world of landmines?

Foreign AffairsOral Questions

3 p.m.

Fredericton New Brunswick

Liberal

Matt DeCourcey LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Ottawa West—Nepean.

We are proud of what the former Liberal government did under the leadership of Lloyd Axworthy, and we remain committed to the elimination of land mines around the world.

We have seen significant results since December 3, 1997, when the Ottawa Treaty was signed, including the destruction of 51 million landmines worldwide, and just today, our minister announced $12 million to pursue Canada's goal of ridding the world of landmines.

We are always willing to work with our international partners to continue to strive for a mine-free world.

Veterans AffairsOral Questions

3 p.m.

Conservative

Phil McColeman Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON

Mr. Speaker, despite promising not to do so in the last election, the Liberals continue to fight our veterans in court. Today, in the Equitas case, the B.C. Court of Appeal ruled against veterans.

Does the Prime Minister regret breaking his promise not to take our veterans back to court?

Veterans AffairsOral Questions

3 p.m.

St. John's South—Mount Pearl Newfoundland & Labrador

Liberal

Seamus O'Regan LiberalMinister of Veterans Affairs

Mr. Speaker, we value the significant contributions veterans and Canadian Armed Forces members have made and continue to make in protecting Canadians and their peace and security at home and around the world.

Regardless of the results of this case, we remain and are committed to bringing a pension-for-life option, and that is what we will do. We need to deliver the right option for a lifelong benefit for ill and injured veterans. We took the time to get it right, including consulting with veterans, some of whom are involved with the Equitas Society.

Public Services and ProcurementOral Questions

3 p.m.

Bloc

Xavier Barsalou-Duval Bloc Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC

Mr. Speaker, the government is beneath contempt in the Davie shipyard situation.

In the Quebec City region, 800 jobs will be in jeopardy by Christmas and not one minister has had the courage to meet with the workers. Eight hundred jobs is worth five minutes of their time. As luck would have it, we have some union representatives with us in Parliament today.

Will the Minister of Public Services, the Minister of National Defence, or the Minister of Transport show a bit of respect and agree to meet with the workers who are here?

Public Services and ProcurementOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Delta B.C.

Liberal

Carla Qualtrough LiberalMinister of Public Services and Procurement

Mr. Speaker, obviously we are very concerned about the impact of job losses on workers and their families.

We recognize the expertise of the workers at the Davie shipyard and the excellent work that was done on the Asterix. Over the past few weeks, our government has been in touch with management at the Davie shipyard. Last week, I personally met with them. I can assure the House that my colleagues and I are quite seized with the issue.

Public Services and ProcurementOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Bloc

Marilène Gill Bloc Manicouagan, QC

Mr. Speaker, Irving is unable to deliver a single ship despite being awarded $63 billion in federal contracts, yet the government continues to grant it favours.

Today, the government is making us vote on whether to allocate an additional $54 million to cover Irving's cost overruns. While 800 workers at Davie are going to lose their jobs due to a lack of contracts, Ottawa is rewarding an incompetent shipyard that, number one, is not up to the task, and number two, costs too much. If that is not favouritism, what is?

I will repeat the question directed at the Minister of Public Services. Will she, the Minister of Transport, or the Minister of National Defence take five minutes—

Public Services and ProcurementOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan

Order. The hon. Minister of Public Services and Procurement.

Public Services and ProcurementOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Delta B.C.

Liberal

Carla Qualtrough LiberalMinister of Public Services and Procurement

Mr. Speaker, our government is committed to equipping the Royal Canadian Navy and the Canadian Coast Guard with the ships they need to serve Canadians.

The strategy is a long-term commitment that will reinvigorate our marine industry, support Canadian innovation, and create jobs for Canadians across the country. This strategy has contributed $7.5 billion to our GDP and creates 7,000 jobs a year. We regularly monitor shipyards to make sure they are meeting the strategy's requirements with regard to jobs and economic benefits.

EthicsOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Bloc

Luc Thériault Bloc Montcalm, QC

Mr. Speaker, through the member for Louis-Hébert, the Liberal government has misled the public.

The Ethics Commissioner was unable to give her blessing to a kickback worth about $70,000 in Papineau, because the report of the Chief Electoral Officer was not even available, as the members of this government are well aware.

Will the Prime Minister apologize for once again taking the public for fools?

EthicsOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Winnipeg North Manitoba

Liberal

Kevin Lamoureux LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

Mr. Speaker, these assertions 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 postings, postings in publicly accessible spaces, and timely reporting of events, details, and guest lists. Contrast that to opposition parties, which continue to organize their fundraising events in secret, barring journalists and hiding details about who is attending their closed-door events.

Presence in GalleryOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan

I wish to draw the attention of hon. members to the presence in our gallery of Her Excellency Eunide Innocent, Minister for the Status of Women and Women's Rights for the Republic of Haiti.

Presence in GalleryOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Some hon. members

Hear, hear!

Presence in GalleryOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Conservative

Pat Kelly Conservative Calgary Rocky Ridge, AB

Mr. Speaker, misleading the House is a serious matter, which I know no member would do deliberately. Today the Minister of National Revenue again claimed that there had been no changes to the disability tax credit. I have in my hand a copy of an email obtained through an access to information request that contradicts the statements the minister has made today and in the past. I ask for unanimous consent to table this document.

Presence in GalleryOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan

Is there unanimous consent?

Presence in GalleryOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Some hon. members

No.

Presence in GalleryOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan

The hon. member for Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne.

Presence in GalleryOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Liberal

Sherry Romanado Liberal Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne, QC

Mr. Speaker, in response to a point of order made earlier today by the member for Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, in May, the member for Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman publicly made inappropriate, humiliating, and unwanted comments to me that were sexual in nature. These comments have caused me great stress and have negatively affected my work environment.

Presence in GalleryOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Conservative

Steven Blaney Conservative Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC

Mr. Speaker, further to an issue raised in question period, I have here the report from a Liberal-dominated committee that states that the Royal Canadian Navy is in urgent need of a supply ship.

In the interest of transparency and openness, I would like to seek the unanimous consent of the House to table this report.

Presence in GalleryOral Questions

3:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan

Does the hon. member for Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis have the unanimous consent of the House?

Presence in GalleryOral Questions

3:10 p.m.

Some hon. members

No.

Government Response to PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Winnipeg North Manitoba

Liberal

Kevin Lamoureux LiberalParliamentary 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 10 petitions.

Status of WomenCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Conservative

Karen Vecchio Conservative Elgin—Middlesex—London, ON

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 10th Report of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women, entitled “Supplementary Estimates (B) 2017-18”.

Industry, Science and TechnologyCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Liberal

Dan Ruimy Liberal Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge, BC

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the ninth report of the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology, entitled “Supplementary Estimates (B) 2017-18: Vote 5b under Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Votes 1b and 5b under Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, Votes 1b and 5b under Canadian Space Agency, Votes 1b and 10b under Department of Industry, Vote 5b under Department of Western Economic Diversification, Vote 5b under Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, Vote 10b under National Research Council of Canada, Votes 1b and 5b under Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, Vote 1b under Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, Vote 1b under Standards Council of Canada and Vote 1b under Statistics Canada”.