House of Commons Hansard #131 of the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was community.
The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan
Order, please. Members are excited today. It is a Wednesday. We need to hear both the questions and the answers. We need to try to remain calm. It is not easy to do but we can do it. I have great confidence.
The hon. Minister of Science has 19 seconds.
Kirsty Duncan Liberal Etobicoke North, ON
Mr. Speaker, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council aims to connect research with Canadians and therefore supports conferences and initiatives that promote the social sciences. The organization is an arm's-length body and has the authority to issue contracts of up to $25,000. As this contract falls below that threshold, the decision was made entirely by the organization.
Blaine Calkins Conservative Red Deer—Lacombe, AB
Mr. Speaker, it is not surprising the Liberal government has so many ethical problems, it does not even recognize an ethics question when it gets one.
Canada 2020 received $15,000 of taxpayer money from the Liberal government, the same Canada 2020 that hosted exclusive events in Washington when the Prime Minister was there, the same Canada 2020 whose president is married to the Liberal Party president, and the same Canada 2020 that boasted on Twitter earlier this week about new offices opening in the parliamentary precinct.
There is a pattern developing here. The conflict of interest is self-evident. Will the Prime Minister commit today that no more taxpayer money will be given to Liberal think tank Canada 2020?
Kirsty Duncan LiberalMinister of Science
Mr. Speaker, our government believes in the importance of independent, non-partisan scientific advice. Unlike the previous government, we will not politicize scientific research.
As I have mentioned, the organization is an arm's-length independent body and has the ability to issue contracts up to $25,000. As this contract falls below that threshold, the decision was made entirely by the organization.
Marilyn Gladu Conservative Sarnia—Lambton, ON
Mr. Speaker, while Canadians are struggling to make ends meet, the Liberals are inventing new ways to waste taxpayer money.
Canadians were astounded when the Minister of Infrastructure spent $835,000 redoing his offices, but they were flabbergasted that the former Minister of Status of Women spent $1.1 million to furnish a new office.
Having visited her previous office, which was perfectly adequate, I want to know why hard-earned taxpayer dollars were wasted on this unnecessary extravagance?
Maryam Monsef LiberalMinister of Status of Women
Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to serve as the Minister of Status of Women with a government that has put gender equality at the heart of its priorities, and with a Prime Minister who is a feminist in words and in actions.
Previous to the Prime Minister's leadership, there was no full ministry of status of women. The staff needed a place to work. I am so proud that the public service as well as the ministerial team are on the same floor. This was a responsible use of dollars, and we will continue to deliver on behalf of all Canadians.
Marilyn Gladu Conservative Sarnia—Lambton, ON
I hope the new minister does not want to redecorate, Mr. Speaker. We could buy four condos in Ottawa for the same price the minster spent furnishing her new office.
While seniors cannot pay their hydro bills and veterans go homeless, the Liberals keep wasting Canadian money. Will the Prime Minister put a stop to this entitled, ridiculous, lavish spending and start focusing on the needs of real Canadians?
Maryam Monsef LiberalMinister of Status of Women
Mr. Speaker, after 10 years of neglect by the previous government, we are finally making progress to ensure that people of all genders have equal opportunity to thrive.
The decision to have both ministerial staff and the public service on the same level was important. It is important to reduce silos across all sectors, including our own. We will continue to deliver positive results on behalf of all Canadians.
Guy Caron NDP Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC
Mr. Speaker, a week ago today, New Brunswick was hammered by an ice storm.
Nearly 13,000 homes remain without electricity or heat in the month of February. Warming centres and shelters in Miscou, Shippagan, and Lamèque are still overflowing.
On Monday, I asked the Minister of National Defence why it took three days after the request from the Province before the troops arrived. No response.
My question is for the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness. The federal government responded swiftly to the fires in Fort McMurray and the floods in Calgary and Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu. Why the radio silence for New Brunswick?
Ralph Goodale LiberalMinister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Mr. Speaker, just as soon as we were contacted by the Government of New Brunswick, the Government of Canada acted promptly on each and every request.
Romeo Saganash NDP Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC
Mr. Speaker, Marcia Brown Martel was taken from her indigenous birth parents, declared dead, and handed over to be adopted by non-indigenous parents.
The removal of children to eliminate their race is an act of genocide. Over 20,000 survivors of the Sixties Scoop are now seeking justice.
The minister has declared that her government will be “adversaries no more”. Well, if so, when will her government stop fighting them in court and make reparations for these despicable historic wrongs?
Carolyn Bennett LiberalMinister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs
Mr. Speaker, I am very proud to say that we are adversaries no more and that negotiation rather than litigation is our government's preferred route to settle these differences and right historical wrongs. This is why our government today is launching negotiations toward a national resolution to the Sixties Scoop litigation. Several parties have already expressed interest in these discussions, and I hope all parties will participate.
The Sixties Scoop is a dark and painful chapter in our history. Resolving these cases is an important step in our journey of reconciliation with indigenous peoples.
Rona Ambrose ConservativeLeader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, Constable David Wynn was shot and killed in the line of duty by a career criminal out on bail, because his criminal record was never presented at the bail hearing. Now there is a bill before the House that would close the bail loophole that cost Constable Wynn his life.
The Prime Minister's cabinet would obviously have discussed it. Therefore, it was disturbing when the Prime Minister said at a town hall that he did not know anything about this bill.
Now that he has had time to catch up with his work, will he instruct his caucus to support Wynn's law?
Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, first, I would like to extend my deepest sympathy to the family of Constable David Wynn and especially to his widow, Shelly MacInnis-Wynn.
We are committed to ensuring an effective and efficient bail system. The Minister of Justice will continue to collaborate with the provinces and territories and consult stakeholders that use these important Criminal Code provisions every day.
Rona Ambrose ConservativeLeader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, I would like the Prime Minister to translate that back for me.
This is a very simple change in the Criminal Code. This career criminal was out on bail, because his criminal record was never presented at the bail hearing. It is very simple. It is a small loophole that can be closed if this bill is passed.
I appreciate the Prime Minister's words. They mean a lot to the family, I am sure, but what would mean even more is if he passes this bill. Will he say yes or no? Will he instruct his caucus to pass this bill?
Jody Wilson-Raybould LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, I would echo the words of the Prime Minister extending our deepest sympathies to the family of Constable Wynn.
We are committed to conducting a comprehensive review of the criminal justice system, including bail reform. That is why I continue to engage with my counterparts in the provinces and territories to ensure that we are meeting the needs of the justice system, ensuring we keep public safety top of our mind. Certainly, we agree with the objective of this legislation in terms of ensuring that information is made available to make necessary decisions.
Rona Ambrose ConservativeLeader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, I have another question for the Prime Minister.
One of his Liberal members, the member for Beaches—East York, thinks that the Prime Minister is not going far enough when it comes to legalizing marijuana. He wants the Prime Minister to “decriminalize all drugs”.
There is a good reason that all drugs are not legal, and that is because they ruin the lives of our loved ones. Will the Prime Minister unequivocally denounce the comments that his Liberal colleague made and immediately commit to Canadian families that he will not put our youth at risk in legalizing tough, hard drugs like heroin and cocaine?
Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, the government is committed to evidence-based policy, unlike the previous government. That is why we support safe consumption sites and want to do everything we can to protect Canadians from the ongoing opioid crisis.
We have committed to legalizing marijuana, but we are not planning on legalizing anything else at this time.
Angelo Iacono Liberal Alfred-Pellan, QC
Mr. Speaker, the minister was in Laval on January 16 for a major joint announcement with the Province of Quebec about a $400-million investment in social housing.
Would the minister tell the House how this investment in social housing will help vulnerable people across Quebec, including children living in poverty, seniors, and victims of domestic violence, while stimulating the economy?
Jean-Yves Duclos LiberalMinister of Families
Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the member for Alfred-Pellan on his excellent question and on the important work he is doing on behalf of his constituents.
Our government is proud to have signed an agreement allocating nearly $300 million more for affordable housing in Quebec. Quebec will be able to spend that money on its own priority projects to support vulnerable families in its communities.
We are very excited to continue working hard for the middle class and those working very hard to join it.
Shannon Stubbs Conservative Lakeland, AB
Mr. Speaker, it is a new year and a new minister, but employees of the Vegreville immigration case processing centre are still reeling. In response to my Order Paper question, the department said that closing the centre involved extensive consultation with another government department, but of course, not with the employees, the town, or local businesses. In fact, there was zero consultation with anyone who will actually be impacted.
Will the new minister do what his predecessor refused to do, reverse this heartless decision and save these rural jobs?
Ahmed Hussen LiberalMinister of Immigration
Mr. Speaker, I am very happy to let the member opposite know that I spoke to the mayor of Vegreville a few weeks ago. That is an example of outreach. That is an example of me letting the mayor tell me the concerns of the community.
We are aware of the impacts on staff and families of this relocation. I want to assure the member opposite that all current employees in the Vegreville case processing centre will have their jobs in the new location.
Sheila Malcolmson NDP Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC
Mr. Speaker, front-line workers are decrying the lack of action from the Liberal government to end violence against women. They are calling the government's progress to date a massive disappointment.
There needs to be an immediate increase in funding for shelter operations. No woman or child should ever be turned away when fleeing domestic violence. When will the Liberals create a national action plan to end violence against women as promised to the United Nations?
Maryam Monsef LiberalMinister of Status of Women
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. member for her commitment to this work. As a fellow Trent University alumna, I am looking forward to working on this file together.
I am happy to say that our government is fully committed to addressing gender-based violence so that women and girls can live free of violence. That is why we are developing a strategy to address this. Our government is engaged with experts, academics, civil society, and with those with lived experiences.
Our investments in shelters and transitional housing will allow women to live safe and free from violence. Unlike the previous government, we are working to create the conditions to ensure that Canada is a place—