House of Commons Hansard #155 of the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was conversation.

Topics

Democratic ReformOral Questions

3 p.m.

Conservative

Blake Richards Conservative Banff—Airdrie, AB

Mr. Speaker, as we speak, opposition MPs continue to stand up to defend Canadians from the Liberals' attack on democracy. Not only does the Prime Minister only want to show up and be accountable to Canadians one day a week, but I have never seen a more pathetic display of arrogance than I saw in question period today as he laughed and smirked as opposition MPs tried to hold him accountable for his actions.

I can assure him that in the next election, Canadians will wipe that smirk right off his face.

Democratic ReformOral Questions

3 p.m.

Conservative

Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister purports to be a feminist, yet when a strong, confident woman dares to question his arrogance and unilaterally changing the fundamentals of Canadian democracy, he tried to stare her down and yell at her. Will this so-called feminist stand up and apologize to my colleague, or will he once again make a woman do his dirty work?

Democratic ReformOral Questions

3 p.m.

Waterloo Ontario

Liberal

Bardish Chagger LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister of Small Business and Tourism

Mr. Speaker, I am very proud to be a strong woman who has been empowered by a government to have a voice and to help create the change we were elected to create.

It is clear that this House needs modernization. The House needs this conversation. The House needs a solid, substantial discussion, and that is exactly what I am encouraging all of us to do.

Each of us has a role. Each of us represents a riding. We represent Canadians all together. Let us work better together.

The EnvironmentOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Liberal

Darrell Samson Liberal Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS

Mr. Speaker, I am honoured today to talk about some young leaders in my community. Some of them belong to my riding's community group. These young people are very interested in the environment and want to know how they can get more involved in protecting the environment.

I would like to ask the Minister of Environment and Climate Change if she could share with the House how young people in Canada can get more involved and play a bigger role in climate change.

The EnvironmentOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Ottawa Centre Ontario

Liberal

Catherine McKenna LiberalMinister of Environment and Climate Change

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook for his question.

It is a shame, but our young people are already seeing the impact of climate change in their communities. I am very happy to see them be part of the solution by buying reusable products, reducing waste, using public transit, and preserving natural spaces.

I also strongly encourage young Canadians to submit their bold ideas for clean growth to the North American youth innovation challenge. Winners will receive $5,000 and will have a chance to pitch their innovations to me and my counterparts from Mexico and the United States.

Canadian HeritageOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Conservative

Jacques Gourde Conservative Lévis—Lotbinière, QC

Mr. Speaker, now that the Minister of Canadian Heritage is not denying that 87% of the projects approved for Canada 150 are in Liberal ridings in Quebec, can she explain to the House why the objectives and criteria for the Canada 150 program were changed in the summer of 2016?

Does the Prime Minister think it is acceptable to change the criteria and objectives of a program that is already under way?

Canadian HeritageOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Ahuntsic-Cartierville Québec

Liberal

Mélanie Joly LiberalMinister of Canadian Heritage

Mr. Speaker, Canadians are very excited about the 150th anniversary celebrations. This is obvious from the thousands of projects we received, all totalling nearly $2 billion, when we have only $200 million in available funds.

My colleagues and Canadians know that the celebrations will feature four main themes: youth, the environment, inclusiveness and diversity, and reconciliation with indigenous peoples. I am very pleased to say that Canadians will come through, there will be equitable regional distribution, and when all is said and done, 2017 will be a big year.

HealthOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

NDP

Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet NDP Hochelaga, QC

Mr. Speaker, an organization in my riding, Projet Harmonie, has been receiving funding since 1999 from the community action program for children. The organization offers services to extremely vulnerable young people, including some struggling with problems related to street gangs.

As a result of a serious internal crisis and administrative management problems, which it has recognized, the organization's funding was cut. Project Harmonie has gotten back on track and would like to restore its partnership with the Public Health Agency.

Will the minister step up and support this important organization?

HealthOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Markham—Stouffville Ontario

Liberal

Jane Philpott LiberalMinister of Health

Mr. Speaker, I assume that the member opposite is speaking about the community action fund. I have heard from several members of the House about the importance of the community action fund. The Public Health Agency of Canada is making sure that all programs that are doing this good and important work have the resources necessary for them and is working with the provinces and territories in that regard. We look forward to continuing to support this kind of work.

Innovation, Science, and Economic DevelopmentOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Liberal

Dan Ruimy Liberal Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge, BC

Mr. Speaker, in my riding of Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge, I see more and more entrepreneurs and businesses either starting up something new in the clean-tech sector or creating a business line that offers clean-tech innovation. In a recent report on B.C.'s clean-tech sector, it was reported that there are now 273 clean-tech companies with 8,650 jobs based in B.C. These companies are diversified and operate in everything from transportation to agriculture.

Could the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development please share with us what the government is doing to support this sector and to create good, quality jobs.

Innovation, Science, and Economic DevelopmentOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Mississauga—Malton Ontario

Liberal

Navdeep Bains LiberalMinister of Innovation

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge for his leadership on this file.

Last week, I was in beautiful British Columbia and saw first hand the diversity of this innovative economy, especially the vibrant clean tech sector.

The member opposite has highlighted the leadership role that B.C. is playing in clean tech, with the number of companies, the number of jobs, and these are good-quality jobs that, on average, pay $84,000. That is why our government invested $58 million in clean tech jobs. This is about addressing the problems of tomorrow and creating good-quality jobs today.

Official LanguagesOral Questions

March 22nd, 2017 / 3:10 p.m.

Conservative

Sylvie Boucher Conservative Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île d’Orléans—Charlevoix, QC

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Commissioner of Official Languages tabled a report denouncing the shortage of bilingual agents at Canadian airports. Only 9% of employees in Vancouver, Edmonton, and Toronto speak French.

The Official Languages Act stipulates that all Canadians flying through an airport in Canada should be able to be served in the official language of their choice. Complying with legislation is mandatory, not optional.

When will the Minister of Transport enforce the use of official languages by the employees in question?

Official LanguagesOral Questions

3:10 p.m.

Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Westmount Québec

Liberal

Marc Garneau LiberalMinister of Transport

Mr. Speaker, bilingualism is very important to our government, as is respect for official languages. Federal services must be provided in accordance with the Official Languages Act.

Airport security is important and CATSA does good work, but it must also do so by providing service in both languages with courtesy and respect, of course.

The EnvironmentOral Questions

3:10 p.m.

Green

Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC

Mr. Speaker, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and the International Energy Agency have all urged governments around the world to do two things, at a minimum: to put in place a carbon price and to eliminate all fossil fuel subsidies.

I wonder if the Prime Minister could update us on where we are. We know progress is being made on the carbon price. Where are we on eliminating fossil fuel subsidies?

The EnvironmentOral Questions

3:10 p.m.

Winnipeg South Centre Manitoba

Liberal

Jim Carr LiberalMinister of Natural Resources

Mr. Speaker, I am glad for the question, especially on budget day, because it gives us the chance to reflect back to budget 2016.

The commitments that were made included $81 billion over 11 years in public transit, green infrastructure, transportation, and smart cities. We are committed to transitioning to a low-carbon economy, while encouraging businesses to innovate, grow, and create good, well-paying jobs for Canadians.

I am sure all members will be very anxious to hear what the Minister of Finance will have to say on the subject only minutes from now.

Oral QuestionsPoints of OrderOral Questions

3:10 p.m.

Conservative

Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. Our purpose during question period is to question the government and hold it to account. After asking the question today, the government House leader looked at me and said, “I'm going to get you for this”. In that sense, I believe my privilege, and others here, has been violated. As such, I ask you to look into this matter.

Oral QuestionsPoints of OrderOral Questions

3:10 p.m.

Waterloo Ontario

Liberal

Bardish Chagger LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister of Small Business and Tourism

Mr. Speaker, as I have said in the House time and time again, I have the utmost respect for this place. No such comment was made. If the member feels that was the case, I have no problem having a conversation with her. I personally was surprised after their response of what we were getting, but I do believe we can work better in this place.

Oral QuestionsPoints of OrderOral Questions

3:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan

I will review the blues and recordings and come back to the House.

The hon. member for Montcalm on a point of order.

Standing Orders of the HousePoints of OrderOral Questions

3:10 p.m.

Bloc

Luc Thériault Bloc Montcalm, QC

Mr. Speaker, when a parliamentarian is deeply hurt and wronged by comments and debates in the House that undermine the very essence of his work, he must immediately stand up and say so. I therefore rise on a question of privilege.

I humbly address all my colleagues. I heard the House Leader of the Official Opposition refer to the government's approach to procedural reform as dictatorial. I heard the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons say that she wanted to hold a discussion and have all parliamentarians take part in it. I would humbly submit to the House that we have had to witness this exchange even though we cannot sit on the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs or any other committee. Indeed, since October 19, 2015, we have been banned from this type of debate and thus ostracized as parliamentarians.

What I am humbly stating today is that if we want to reform the Standing Orders, I imagine that we want to do so for the good of parliamentary democracy. Therefore, no one would oppose our right to speak, which we had in the case in the Special Committee on Electoral Reform. It is an affront to hear people who have millions of dollars, and so much the better for them, to spend on being heard and having their constituents' voices heard. I was legitimately elected by people who pay their taxes to the federal government and I have the right to sit on the committee that will study parliamentary reforms.

Standing Orders of the HousePoints of OrderOral Questions

3:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan

I thank the hon. member from Montcalm for raising this question of privilege.

As the matter is before the committee, I would ask the hon. member to discuss its membership with the committee.

Standing Orders of the HousePoints of OrderOral Questions

3:15 p.m.

Green

Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC

Mr. Speaker, I rise on much the same point.

I completely agree with my Bloc Québécois colleague. This is a problem, but I believe that there is a solution.

Standing Orders of the HousePoints of OrderOral Questions

3:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan

I did not hear the first part of the member's statement. Would she start again, please.

Standing Orders of the HousePoints of OrderOral Questions

3:15 p.m.

Green

Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC

Mr. Speaker, I completely agree with my Bloc Québécois colleague because we have the same problem. Of course I am the only member of the Green Party, but the Green Party is a parliamentary party.

We recognize that the motion before the committee at the moment recognizes that parties that do not sit on the committee as a caucus have some ability to participate, but we are not, at this point, informed as to what that ability would be. And, unfortunately, the discussion paper itself makes a large mistake in vocabulary in describing members of the Bloc and members of the Green Party as though we were independents, which we are not.

Standing Orders of the HousePoints of OrderOral Questions

3:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan

The hon. member for Bécancour—Nicolet—Saurel wants to add his comments.

Standing Orders of the HousePoints of OrderOral Questions

3:15 p.m.

Bloc

Louis Plamondon Bloc Bécancour—Nicolet—Saurel, QC

Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to add that this is the only democracy in the western world that has a double standard for members. We do not see this in any Canadian province or in any western democracy. It is time to address this injustice.