Debates of Dec. 5th, 2017

Employment

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Employment]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague from Malpeque for his question and his tireless work on behalf of Canadians. We ran on a platform to invest in Canadians, to create jobs, and to support a thriving middle class. Canada has created more than 600,000 jobs since October 2015. We have the lowest unemployment rate in a decade. In November alone, we created 80,000 jobs, and this is through the hard work of Canadians, along with a government that supports them to do their absolute best.

Innovation, Science and Economic Development

[Matt Jeneroux, Conservative, Edmonton Riverbend, AB]

Mr. Speaker, Bell and several other media conglomerates have announced a proposal to create a mandatory blocking system for websites that they have arbitrarily determined are inappropriate. However, the blocking process would take place with little to no oversight by our courts. This plan has Internet and net-neutrality experts concerned. Will the government let these multi-billion dollar companies control Canadians' Internet access?

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

Mr. Speaker, as our minister has made very clear, we support the principle of net neutrality, where Canadians have access to the content of their choice in accordance with Canadian laws. I can assure my hon. colleague and friend that net neutrality is the critical issue of our times, much like freedom of the press and freedom of expression that came before it. That is why our government will continue to support a strong net-neutrality framework through the CRTC.

Fisheries and Oceans

[Fin Donnelly, NDP, Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC]

Mr. Speaker, in September, thousands of farmed Atlantic salmon escaped from a U.S. fish farm, infesting B.C. waters. In October, coastal first nations occupied two marine harvest farms because they never agreed to open-net salmon farms in their traditional territories. Last week, the world witnessed a graphic video of fish farms spewing virus-laden fish blood directly into the wild salmon migration routes. Scientific analysis shows it contains PRV, which threatens wild salmon with infection. Enough is enough. When will the minister get these disease-ridden farmed salmon out of B.C. waters?

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, Minister of Fisheries]

Mr. Speaker, as I have said a number of times in the House, and I have shared with my colleagues on this side of the House of Commons from British Columbia, and in numerous discussions with the provincial government, we understand the concern that people have, British Columbians have, with respect to wild Pacific salmon stocks. We also understand that our government has a responsibility to work with the province, to work with the industry, to ensure that all of the necessary reviews, audits, all of the necessary compliance measures are in place, including rigorous science. That is what we will continue to do, and we will work with indigenous communities in doing that as well.

Canadian Heritage

[Darren Fisher, Liberal, Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS]

Mr. Speaker, 100 years ago in Halifax Harbour, on December 6, 1917, two ships known as the Imo and the Mont-Blanc collided. The explosion that ensued left nearly 2,000 dead, 9,000 injured, and 25,000 homeless. The Mi'kmaq village of Turtle Grove near Shannon Park, Dartmouth, was completely levelled.

To this day, it is a day that remains etched in our city's collective memory. In this year of Canada 150, could the Minister of Canadian Heritage please update the House on what is being done to commemorate this solemn anniversary?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, Canada 150 is an important moment to remember the events that have shaped us as a country. Our government is proud to have invested just under $1 million to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Halifax explosion. This includes the creation of a memorial space, and it also includes the installation of 12 plaques across the country connecting the many stories of this disaster. Let us continue to ensure that the true legacy of this event is the resilience of the people of Halifax and Dartmouth in the face of unspeakable tragedy.

Foreign Affairs

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

Mr. Speaker, two more mass graves filled with the bodies of Yazidis have been unearthed in Iraq. Over a year ago, MPs unanimously voted to support a UN recommendation to preserve and document Yazidi mass grave sites.

The Prime Minister has told us what he is doing to provide reintegration and support to ISIS terrorists back in Canada. Will he tell us what he is specifically doing to expedite prosecution of ISIS terrorists at the International Criminal Court to bring justice to the victims of ISIS perpetrated genocide?

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness]

Mr. Speaker, this topic was on the agenda for the G7 security ministers when we met a few weeks ago in Italy. We agreed that we all needed to work very carefully together to collect and preserve all of the evidence from the battlefield, and to make sure that the evidence was in a form in which it could be used in all courts, whether international or domestic, anywhere around the world, to make sure that the interests of justice were served.

Employment Insurance

[Simon Marcil, Bloc, Mirabel, QC]

Mr. Speaker, former Aveos workers ended up on EI when Air Canada illegally moved their jobs. They took legal action to get their jobs back, but the government cheated and changed the law.

Today, that same government is forcing them to repay the EI benefits they received when they illegally lost their jobs as a result of the government's collusion. That takes some nerve.

Will the minister cancel their debts and stop the collection procedures?

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, Minister of Families]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to have this opportunity to say that our government is sensitive to and aware of the difficult circumstances that many workers, including the Aveos workers, have gone through in recent years.

These workers deserve the respect of the public service and Service Canada. I invite all of them to use every available resource, including their MPs, to ensure they are fully respected.

Public Services and Procurement

[Michel Boudrias, Bloc, Terrebonne, QC]

Mr. Speaker, in order to do its job, the navy needs three supply ships. It ordered three from Seaspan, but we have learned that this shipyard will not be able to deliver any until 2027.

Operational needs remain the same, however. The same number of interim supply ships is still needed for the next 10 years, as confirmed by an internal memo to the deputy minister of defence.

Is the defence minister sacrificing national security just to avoid having to admit that other shipyards are not up to the job and that Davie is the only way to get out of this mess and get the equipment we need on time and at a good price?

[Harjit S. Sajjan, Liberal, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, because we lost our two joint supply ships, there was a capability gap that was created, hence the reason why two joint supply ships are being built. In terms of the timeline that it has taken, the interim gap that needs to be filled, Davie shipyard is building that interim capability gap, and we thank them for that service.

(Bill C-64. On the Order: Government Orders:)

October 30, 2017—The Minister of Transport—Second reading and reference to the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities of Bill C-64, An Act respecting wrecks, abandoned, dilapidated or hazardous vessels and salvage operations.

Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Act

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

Mr. Speaker, because the abandoned vessel problem is so urgent and to give us a chance to insert, as early as possible, the solutions from coastal communities that used to be embedded in my non-votable Bill C-352, I ask for unanimous consent to move the following motion. I move:

That, notwithstanding any standing order or usual practice of the House, Bill C-64, An Act respecting wrecks, abandoned, dilapidated or hazardous vessels and salvage operations, be deemed read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

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

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

No.

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

Mr. Speaker, I mentioned a report when I asked my question earlier. In the interest of transparency, I am seeking the consent of the House to table the following report, which comes from the Department of Finance. It is the Government of Canada's 2016-17 annual report, which says, on page 16—

[Some hon. members]

No.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Apparently there is no unanimous consent in the House.

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I would ask you to re-canvass the House to see if, in fact, there is unanimous consent, as the member across the way suggested, with regard to Bill C-64, please.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Does the hon. member for Nanaimo—Ladysmith have the unanimous consent of the House to move the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

The House has heard the terms of the motion. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.