Debates of Feb. 8th, 2017

Employment

[Robert Aubin, NDP, Trois-Rivières, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government left things with Bombardier hanging for more than a year only to disappoint us now. The federal government's loan is not even in the same league as the Government of Quebec's contribution. To top it off, the government seems unable to guarantee the jobs at the Mirabel and Dorval facilities.

What is the minister doing to maintain and create jobs in Quebec's aerospace industry?

[Navdeep Bains, Liberal, Minister of Innovation]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to say that it is an honour to work with 40 outstanding MPs from Quebec who helped drive this file, who made sure that we made this investment. This investment is about workers. It is about Canadian families.

This investment will help secure 4,000 good-quality jobs. It will help create an additional 1,500 jobs. That is what the government is committed to doing. We are focused on middle-class Canadians. We are focused on good-quality jobs. We are going to support the aerospace sector for years to come.

[Alexandre Boulerice, NDP, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government took 16 months to make a move to protect our aeronautics sector and the thousands of jobs at stake: it came up with a loan. The NDP, the Government of Quebec, and the Machinists Union all leaned on the government, but it chipped in only about a third of what was expected. Everyone is disappointed. No details have been provided.

Did the government obtain assurances that jobs will be maintained and created in Quebec and Canada, or did it give the company carte blanche? My question is simple. Did the Liberal government make sure those jobs will stay here? We want proof.

[Navdeep Bains, Liberal, Minister of Innovation]

Mr. Speaker, of course we have received assurances. The assurance is that these jobs are going to make sure that we have good-quality jobs across the country and in Quebec as well: 4,000 jobs will be secured; 1,500 additional jobs will be created; thousands of indirect jobs will be created to help small businesses across the country.

The aerospace sector is so important to our economy. It contributes 211,000 jobs and contributes $28 billion to our national economy. We will make sure that we continue to invest in this sector for years to come.

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

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals have had multiple occasions to help out Bombardier, without spending taxpayer dollars. For example, they could have allowed the expansion of the runway at Billy Bishop Airport. If the Liberals had done that, then Porter Airlines would have bought more C-Series planes from Bombardier, and Bombardier could have made its own money, which it said it could.

How can the Liberals responsibly give over $372 million of taxpayer dollars when (a) when other options were there; and (b) Bombardier, itself, said it did not need the money?

[Navdeep Bains, Liberal, Minister of Innovation]

Mr. Speaker, I am surprised to hear the comment from the member opposite. She was at the cabinet table in 2008 when the Conservatives signed a $350 million cheque to Bombardier.

I want to make one thing very clear. Our contribution is to strengthen the aerospace sector. Our contribution is about supporting a very important sector across the country. Two-thirds of the jobs will be in Quebec, but the remaining jobs will be across the country.

We are committed to the aerospace sector. We are committed to good-quality jobs that, on average, pay 60% more than the average manufacturing job. We are going to grow the economy, and help our workers.

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

Mr. Speaker, Canada does have a great aerospace industry, no question. There are also lots of small and medium-sized enterprises—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Order, please. We need to hear the question. The hon. member for Haldimand—Norfolk might want to start over.

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

Mr. Speaker, in spite of the Liberals, Canada does have a great aerospace industry, with lots of small and medium-sized enterprises. However, like the big players, they have to compete internationally as well.

Will the Liberal government stop making the situation worse, and actually start helping these small businesses to compete by lowering their taxes, as was promised, and giving them a fair and level playing field?

[Navdeep Bains, Liberal, Minister of Innovation]

Mr. Speaker, this investment is about innovation, and innovation is going to help not only the company but its supplier base. It is going to help the small businesses. It is going to make sure that these small businesses create the value so they can be part of the global supply chain, so they can continue to grow and create jobs for years to come.

That is our strategy. It is about making sure we have long-term sustainable growth. That is why we are focused on innovation. That is why are focused on research and development. That is why we made a significant investment. It will create good-quality jobs because of such an incredible investment.

Regional Economic Development

[Matt Jeneroux, Conservative, Edmonton Riverbend, AB]

Mr. Speaker, my Alberta colleagues and I have spent the last months meeting with everyday Albertans to discuss the worsening job crisis in our province. Their stories are truly devastating.

Madeline told us, “I can't afford my mortgage. I feel depressed and forgotten”. Carla said, “We need help if we are to keep a roof over our heads and food in our stomachs”.

Albertans cannot shoulder any more of the Liberals irresponsible economic policies. Will the Liberals quit making a bad situation worse for struggling Albertans and stop raising taxes to pay for their out of control spending?

[Navdeep Bains, Liberal, Minister of Innovation]

Mr. Speaker, in the last campaign, rhetoric like that was rejected by Canadians. Those members are trying to pit one region of the country against the other.

Our government is committed to Alberta. That is why we put forward stabilization funding of $200 million. That is why we put forward funding for our universities and colleges in Alberta worth $240 million. That is why we provided an additional $500 million to the business development Canada program to help small businesses to grow and succeed in Alberta.

We will continue to invest. Above and beyond that, we have approved three pipelines that will create thousands of jobs for years to come.

[Shannon Stubbs, Conservative, Lakeland, AB]

Mr. Speaker, in the past year, over 200,000 workers in western Canada have lost their jobs. Hundreds of Alberta-based businesses have either downsized or permanently closed their doors. However, the Liberals never offered bailouts to the devastated business owners or families that lost everything in Alberta.

Now the Prime Minister expects these same struggling taxpayers to pay more. Albertans do not even expect bailouts. They just expect the Prime Minister to stop attacking their livelihoods.

When will the Prime Minister stop pitting one region against another and support all hard-working Canadians?

[Jim Carr, Liberal, Minister of Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, we are pleased to have a strategy that incorporates all regions of the country. We will have an opportunity later on in the House to debate energy workers in Alberta and across the country. It will be an opportunity for all of us to talk about what we have done and what we can do.

The government will remind all Canadians that the Nova gas pipeline will create 3,000 jobs. The Line 3 replacement will create 7,000 jobs. The Trans Mountain pipeline expansion will create 15,400 jobs. That is laying the foundation for long-term, sustainable jobs, good jobs, jobs people can raise—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

The hon. member for Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River.

Indigenous Affairs

[Georgina Jolibois, NDP, Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK]

Mr. Speaker, twice the human rights tribunal issued non-compliance orders to the government for not fully implementing Jordan's principle. The Liberals continue to say they have committed new funding but only a fraction has been rolled out. In the meantime, kids continue to slip through the cracks. The minister says one thing but the Liberals do the opposite.

Will the government stop misrepresenting the facts and immediately roll out the money for first nations kids at risk?

[Jane Philpott, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, our government is absolutely committed to the full implementation of Jordan's principle and to making sure that no child goes without care. Because of that, we have invested $383 million to make sure all kids get the care they need. Since we announced that, we have identified 3,200 children who are now going to get the care they need, 3,200 children who were not getting care a year ago today.

We will keep going, and I will keep pushing until all children have the care they need.

[Romeo Saganash, NDP, Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal family seems to be suffering from a terrible epidemic of broken promises.

The minister likes to repeat that her government will be adversaries no more. Well, she needs to explain why her government, after announcing negotiations for a national settlement on the Sixties Scoop, is still fighting in court, even trying to stall the decision in the Marcia Brown case.

These survivors have already fought for eight years. How can the minister justify more delays?

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada is deeply committed to renewing the relationship with indigenous peoples based on the recognition of rights, respect, co-operation, and partnership.

We remain open to the discussions to explore the options on how to best address the issues faced by those affected by the Sixties Scoop. Our government believes that dialogue rather than litigation is the preferred route for resolving these issues and to right these horrible wrongs.

Aerospace Industry

[Ramez Ayoub, Liberal, Thérèse-De Blainville, QC]

Mr. Speaker, many people in my riding, Thérèse-De Blainville, work directly in the aerospace industry or in some other related field. Many businesses and families have ties to the aerospace sector. We also have institutions and organizations that are leading research and development studies for the aerospace sector.

My question is for the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development. Could the minister tell the House how the government plans to support our aerospace sector?

[Navdeep Bains, Liberal, Minister of Innovation]

Mr. Speaker, as you know, this is a very important subject matter today. Again, I would like to thank the members, the 39 MPs from Quebec, who played a leadership role in the significant investment that we made in the aerospace sector.

This investment is a national investment that will help our sector, which is so significant across the country. However, this investment is about people. We invested in people to secure 4,000 good quality jobs. This is about making sure we have the latest and greatest technologies for our research and development, and to create growth for years to come.

Ethics

[Blaine Calkins, Conservative, Red Deer—Lacombe, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister's friends at Canada 2020 received a substantial amount of taxpayer money from the Minister of Science. We know Canada 2020 is just an extension of the Liberal Party of Canada and the Prime Minister. Yet in a quick search of Canada 2020's website, there is not one scientist as an employee or adviser.

Could the minister advise the House just how many scientists taxpayers hired at Canada 2020?

[Kirsty Duncan, Liberal, Minister of Science]

Mr. Speaker, our government values research, science, and scientists and the important work they do. The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council has a mandate to share and promote research to Canadians.

As I have said, the granting council is an arm's-length body that is able to issue contracts below a certain dollar value. This contract fell below that threshold. The granting council made a decision. Unlike the previous government, we will not politicize science.

[Blaine Calkins, Conservative, Red Deer—Lacombe, AB]

Mr. Speaker, it is very clear to everyone that all people have to do to get taxpayer money from the government is be a well-connected Liberal.

Infrastructure projects are stalled. Alberta's economy is taking a beating, but Canada 2020 gets its cash. Canada 2020 employs zero scientists, so how can the Liberal Minister of Science justify giving taxpayer money to an organization that has nothing to do with science but everything to do with Liberal politics?