House of Commons Hansard #138 of the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was ukraine.
Dianne Lynn Watts Conservative South Surrey—White Rock, BC
Mr. Speaker, the Conservative government funded over 500 infrastructure projects in Alberta, worth $7 billion combined total funding, with provinces and municipal partners. Under the Liberals, only one announced project in Alberta has started construction. There is a serious job crisis.
Yesterday I did not get an answer from the minister, so I will ask it again. When will the Liberals uphold their promise and fast-track the $700 million in infrastructure funds to Alberta?
Marc Miller LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities
Mr. Speaker, as the member knows, we were elected on a platform to deliver a historic plan to invest in infrastructure. We are delivering on our commitment by investing more than $180 billion in over 12 years to create long-term growth jobs for the middle class, create a low-carbon economy, a green economy, and improve social inclusion. In Alberta, we have approved 127 projects, which compares favourably to five projects announced in 2014 and two projects in 2013. We are busy building an economy while the party opposite spent 10 years deconstructing—
Anne Minh-Thu Quach NDP Salaberry—Suroît, QC
Mr. Speaker, young Canadians, some of whom voted for the first time in the last election, voted for this Prime Minister because he promised to change our voting system.
They were deeply disappointed when the Prime Minister broke that promise last week, and understandably so. When elected officials break their promises, it serves only to fuel the cynicism of young Quebeckers and Canadians.
What does the Prime Minister have to say to the young people who voted for him based on that promise and who may now lose all interest in politics?
Karina Gould LiberalMinister of Democratic Institutions
Mr. Speaker, as I said today, it is important that all members of the House and all of Canada's political leaders do everything they can to encourage young Canadians to participate in democracy. What is more, we introduced Bill C-33, which will create a register of young Canadians between the ages of 14 and 17. We know that once young people vote once they vote for the rest of their adult lives.
We are taking steps to get young Canadians involved, and I look forward to working with my colleagues in the House in order to increase youth participation in our democracy.
Anne Minh-Thu Quach NDP Salaberry—Suroît, QC
Mr. Speaker, these broken promises are making young people feel disengaged, not more interested in participating.
In fact, a group of young people spoke publicly of their disappointment with this broken promise. It was the Liberal McGill group, which officially represents the Liberal Party of Canada at McGill University. They said, “Today’s decision by [the] Prime Minister to remove electoral reform from the government's mandate is a crushing disappointment to the executive and membership of Liberal McGill.”
What does the Prime Minister, who is also the Minister of Youth, have to say to his own membership?
Karina Gould LiberalMinister of Democratic Institutions
Mr. Speaker, as we in the House all know, Canada is a democracy. In a democracy, we debate ideas. We have different positions and we are quite proud of the fact that here in the House we can debate several points of view with wisdom and respect, in order to encourage everyone to share their ideas. That is what we will continue to do to improve and strengthen the democratic tradition that we have here in Canada.
Pierre Paul-Hus Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC
Mr. Speaker, in an Order Paper question the defence minister said, “All Canadian Armed Forces personnel serving at all Operation IMPACT Kuwait locations received Tax Relief effective 5 Oct 2014...to 1 Sept 2016.” He misled the House yesterday when he blamed the former government. He took away their benefits. He did nothing to help them.
Why are the Liberals taking away our soldiers' benefits?
Jean Rioux LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question and his concern for our military personnel deployed abroad. As the minister said yesterday, we are committed to taking care of our soldiers, including their compensation. We want to make sure that tax measures are fair and equitable. That is why the minister asked the chief of the defence staff to work with the relevant agencies to review the compensation rules and propose changes, including finding ways to prevent negative impacts on deployed personnel.
Pierre Paul-Hus Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Liberals are saving money by cutting the pay of soldiers deployed abroad. Those soldiers have no way to defend themselves. The Liberals know they are easy prey. Ruthlessly cutting the pay of our men and women in uniform who have been deployed to eradicate ISIS is despicable.
How could the minister, who is a veteran like me, consent to letting something like this go through? It is not like he was blindsided; we brought this to his attention in December.
Jean Rioux LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, the opposition critic himself said this yesterday:
The defence minister is a proud veteran, and he knows better than anyone how important danger pay is not just for our brave men and women in uniform but for their families back at home as well.
I could not have put it better myself. Then the minister responded as follows:
We have to work through a process to be able to resolve some of these issues. Many different departments are involved, and we are working [really hard] through it, and we will get through this.
Cathay Wagantall Conservative Yorkton—Melville, SK
Mr. Speaker, the number of Canadian veterans who are suffering permanent physical brain stem injuries as a result of mefloquine, the anti-malaria drug they were ordered to take, is growing daily. The veterans affairs minister must put veterans first and work toward a national registry to provide the evidence to diagnose and treat mefloquine toxicity.
Will the minister finally bring relief to the stigma and the pain of veterans who are suffering simply because they followed orders during their sacrifice and service to Canada?
Sherry Romanado LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Forces take the health and well-being of Canadian Forces members and veterans very seriously.
I thank the member opposite for her tireless efforts in working for veterans affairs.
While I cannot comment on specific cases, I do hope this individual looks after her health and consults with her doctor. We provide a range of services and programs to promote the welfare of those who become ill or injured in the line of duty, including disability and related health care benefits, rehabilitation services, financial benefits, and support to families.
John Brassard Conservative Barrie—Innisfil, ON
Mr. Speaker, I am not sure that the parliamentary secretary heard the hon. member's questions.
Canada's allies have banned the use of the anti-malarial drug mefloquine. In fact, the veterans affairs committee wrote a letter to the Minister of Health to study the effects on November 18, 2016. The physiological and psychological effects on those who were given mefloquine during service is a cause for great concern within the veterans' community.
Will the Prime Minister direct the Minister of National Defence to follow the lead of our allies and ban the use of mefloquine not only for our soldiers but for their families as well?
Jean Rioux LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, the health and well-being of all Canadian Armed Forces members are critically important to our government. Malaria is an infectious disease that can endanger the lives of our military personnel, who can be exposed in the course of their duties.
Members of the military make personal decisions regarding malaria prevention in close co-operation with their health care professionals, based on an assessment and extensive medical information.
The use of mefloquine in the Canadian Armed Forces is currently under review.
Rachel Blaney NDP North Island—Powell River, BC
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development said the reason the Liberals have not delivered on their home care commitment is because of the provinces.
Let me read their home care promise from Liberal.ca, because apparently that is where the real promises live. It states, “As an immediate commitment, we will invest $3 billion”.
It is 14 months later, and now it is the provinces' fault. When will the Liberals stop blaming others and finally come through on their commitment for home care?
Joël Lightbound LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health
Mr. Speaker, our health care funding to the provinces will more than cover the rate of inflation and the GDP increase. We are offering to increase Canadian health transfers by nearly $1 billion a year, not to mention another $11.5 billion over the next 10 years specifically for home care and mental health.
I think this will meet the needs of Canadians in the areas of mental health care and home care. This has the potential to transform Canada's health care system.
Georgina Jolibois NDP Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK
Mr. Speaker, The Conference Board of Canada has released a report confirming the shortfall in infrastructure funding in northern and indigenous communities. The report states that a long list of northern and aboriginal concerns need to be addressed. We are talking about access to safe water, housing, roads, Internet, cell coverage, and power.
When will the Liberals acknowledge these rights and provide the urgently needed services?
Yvonne Jones LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for her question because I think it is very important to note that this is a government that takes investments into infrastructure in indigenous communities across Canada very seriously. This past year we have invested record amounts of money into housing, water, waste water, and other infrastructure needs both on reserve and in northern and indigenous communities. In fact, yesterday I happened to be in Nunavut with the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and the Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs where they talked about the $50-million investment in Nunavut alone to improve the housing conditions in that community. We will keep doing what we are—
Ron McKinnon Liberal Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam, BC
Mr. Speaker, our Canadian Armed Forces operates in a wide variety of challenging and geographically diverse locations around the globe. Whether our forces are at home in Canada's North or abroad providing international humanitarian assistance and meeting our commitments to NORAD and NATO, they need to rely on the equipment our government provides them to get the job done.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Services and Procurement inform this House about recent investments made in support of our Canadian Armed Forces?
Steven MacKinnon LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Services and Procurement
Mr. Speaker, I have great news. Our government is committed to providing the men and women of the military the equipment they need to do their job, while providing well-paying jobs for the middle class and those working hard to join it. That is why yesterday our government announced the award of contracts totalling $168 million to acquire new portable shelter systems for our military. These contracts will not only provide our military with the modern equipment it needs to do its job safely and securely in virtually any environment, at home or abroad, they will also create or maintain 160 good-paying jobs, and generate economic benefits for Canadians.
Alupa Clarke Conservative Beauport—Limoilou, QC
Mr. Speaker, there is clearly a political controversy surrounding the procurement of the Super Hornet fighter jets.
At the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates yesterday, the Liberals refused to hold an emergency debate, even though that committee's mandate is to examine procurement contracts. The goal is to ensure that everything is done by the book and that Canada's Government Contracts Regulations are followed.
Will the Liberal government allow our committee to do its job on these important matters and will it respect the parliamentary process?
Steven MacKinnon LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Services and Procurement
Mr. Speaker, the good news does not stop there.
Our government announced its decision to launch an open and transparent competition to replace the entire fleet of CF-18s shortly after the results of the defence review were released.
This competitive process will help ensure that the members of the Canadian Armed Forces have the best aircraft for the long term, while getting the best value for money and generating the most economic benefits possible for Canadians.
All aircraft manufacturers that meet the requirements can submit a tender. We will deliver—
