House of Commons Hansard #157 of the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was co-operatives.

Topics

Official LanguagesOral Questions

11:35 a.m.

Nipissing—Timiskaming Ontario

Liberal

Anthony Rota LiberalThe Assistant Deputy Speaker

Order, please.

The hon. member for Elmwood—Transcona.

EthicsOral Questions

11:35 a.m.

NDP

Daniel Blaikie NDP Elmwood—Transcona, MB

Mr. Speaker, it is baffling that someone who can blow $1,700 on food for a three-hour flight cannot find help to understand the law. As a result, the Prime Minister is under two different investigations by the Ethics Commissioner and has violated the Official Languages Act. Let us quote the Prime Minister:

...when you make a mistake you admit it, you make amends, you ask for forgiveness and you make sure it never happens again.

Will he admit his mistake, make amends, ask for forgiveness, and make sure it never happens again?

EthicsOral Questions

11:35 a.m.

Winnipeg North Manitoba

Liberal

Kevin Lamoureux LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

Mr. Speaker, one of the first things we did after taking office was ask the Clerk of the Privy Council to develop guidelines surrounding reimbursement for travel by sitting prime ministers, their families, and guests.

Prior to our government taking office, there was no such policy that existed. As per long-standing government policy, and for security reasons, the Prime Minister must travel on government aircraft—we all know that—whether he is on official or personal business.

FinanceOral Questions

March 24th, 2017 / 11:35 a.m.

Conservative

Gérard Deltell Conservative Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC

Mr. Speaker, this morning, The Canadian Press confirmed that the Liberal government is strengthening its ties with communist China. Canadian taxpayers' money will be funnelled to China's investment bank. In fact, $256 million in taxpayers' money will be sent abroad.

Is this how they will supposedly help the middle class?

FinanceOral Questions

11:35 a.m.

Compton—Stanstead Québec

Liberal

Marie-Claude Bibeau LiberalMinister of International Development and La Francophonie

Mr. Speaker, our government makes a significant contribution of $5 million a year to development assistance and humanitarian aid. Yes, from now on we will be contributing to the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. This bank will support development and infrastructure projects that will benefit the poorest and most vulnerable people in that region.

FinanceOral Questions

11:35 a.m.

Conservative

Gérard Deltell Conservative Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC

Mr. Speaker, that is not at all reassuring.

Let us remember that the Liberal government has a special relationship with China. Let us remember the sad statement made by the current Prime Minister who was fascinated by and expressed his admiration for China's dictatorial regime. Let us also remember that, although he denied it at first, the Liberal leader finally admitted to meeting and discussing affairs of state with representatives from China in order to fundraise for the Liberal Party.

I will ask my question again. How will this investment help the middle class?

FinanceOral Questions

11:35 a.m.

Compton—Stanstead Québec

Liberal

Marie-Claude Bibeau LiberalMinister of International Development and La Francophonie

Mr. Speaker, our government is proud to make a significant contribution to development and humanitarian aid around the world. My mandate is to refocus Canada’s international assistance to help the poorest and most vulnerable people, and there are many such people in Asia.

This investment bank deals with development projects and infrastructure projects related to energy, for example. These projects will improve the quality of life of the poorest and most vulnerable people.

National DefenceOral Questions

11:40 a.m.

Conservative

Cheryl Gallant Conservative Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals claim that the $8.48 billion cut in this year's defence budget relates to the fixed-wing search and rescue and upgrades to the light armoured vehicles, but according to defence analyst David Perry, these two projects at most could account for $2.84 billion.

Perry also says that finance officials cannot account for the $5.6 billion shortfall, so what other equipment does the Prime Minister plan on taking away?

National DefenceOral Questions

11:40 a.m.

Vancouver South B.C.

Liberal

Harjit S. Sajjan LiberalMinister of National Defence

Mr. Speaker, I can assure the member that when it comes to flowing the money, it is making sure that we have the money in the appropriate years for the combat surface combatant, the fixed-wing search and rescue aircraft—the contract we signed—that we finally can have for our search and rescue technicians, and a laundry list of other equipment as well. This is about making sure we have the right money in the right years to pay for the full life-cycle costs of these projects.

We are committed to the Canadian Armed Forces. We have a defence policy that is coming out shortly. I look forward to presenting that to this House and to the rest of Canada.

National DefenceOral Questions

11:40 a.m.

Conservative

Kelly McCauley Conservative Edmonton West, AB

Mr. Speaker, Canada must pull its weight internationally. With this budget's $8.5-billion cut to military equipment spending, this is becoming less and less possible. The Liberals are not only putting at risk the livelihoods of tens of thousands of skilled industry workers, we are also pushing the schedules for our shipbuilding strategy further and further away.

Canada has a long, proud military history. Why are the Liberals gutting our defence capabilities to pay for their out-of-control spending?

National DefenceOral Questions

11:40 a.m.

Gatineau Québec

Liberal

Steven MacKinnon LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Services and Procurement

Mr. Speaker, we have very good news for our men and women in uniform, including naval officers. Our government is committed to equipping the Royal Canadian Navy and the Canadian Coast Guard with the ships they need to serve Canadians. The strategy is a long-term commitment and will bring economic benefits to both coasts of our country, and indeed, to suppliers across this country. It will reinvigorate our marine industry, support Canadian innovation, and result in middle-class jobs for Canadians across the country.

Innovation, Science and Economic DevelopmentOral Questions

11:40 a.m.

NDP

Anne Minh-Thu Quach NDP Salaberry—Suroît, QC

Mr. Speaker, the idea of giving young and marginalized people access to the digital economy comes up several times in the Liberals' budget, and that is a good thing. However, there is nothing in the budget about new money for high-speed Internet service in rural municipalities. In my riding, young people, business people, and professionals in places such as Hemmingford, Saint-Anicet, Havelock, and Huntingdon have been waiting years for stable Internet access that does not cut out whenever it is windy or rainy. When will the Liberals ensure that rural communities get the same Internet access as everyone else?

Innovation, Science and Economic DevelopmentOral Questions

11:40 a.m.

LaSalle—Émard—Verdun Québec

Liberal

David Lametti LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Innovation

Mr. Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague for his question. In the digital world, access to broadband service is essential to everyday activities, to work, and to staying competitive. For people in rural and northern regions in particular, high-speed Internet opens up a world of economic opportunity. Earlier this year, we announced the connect to innovate program, which will invest up to $500 million between now and 2021 to bring broadband Internet access to 300 of Canada's rural and remote communities.

Veterans AffairsOral Questions

11:40 a.m.

NDP

Randall Garrison NDP Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke, BC

Mr. Speaker, with this budget, the Liberals have yet again failed to deliver on their most crucial promise made to veterans during the election campaign: lifelong financial security for those who have served Canada and are now ill and injured. Instead, the Liberals, in their second budget, are still offering no clear commitment and no timeline. Those who have served to protect Canadians and our values deserve so much better.

When will the minister finally take action to ensure that veterans have the lifelong pensions they so rightly deserve?

Veterans AffairsOral Questions

11:40 a.m.

Calgary Centre Alberta

Liberal

Kent Hehr LiberalMinister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence

Mr. Speaker, budget 2017 focuses on the overall well-being of veterans and their families by investing in mental health supports, educational opportunities, and career transition services. I can say we remain committed to a pension-for-life option, and this too will better serve veterans and their families.

This builds on the momentum we saw in budget 2016, when we delivered $5.6 billion in new financial security for veterans, bettering our earnings loss benefit as well as our disability award. To that end, 67,000 veterans will be receiving more money in their pockets very soon and bettering outcomes for their families.

HousingOral Questions

11:45 a.m.

Liberal

Wayne Long Liberal Saint John—Rothesay, NB

Mr. Speaker, our government was elected on a strong commitment to re-engage the federal government in affordable housing. Last year, we made significant investments in affordable housing, and this week, budget 2017 announced a national housing strategy, which received praise nationally and by many stakeholders in Saint John—Rothesay, my riding.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development inform the House of the benefits of this strategy for Canadians?

HousingOral Questions

11:45 a.m.

Spadina—Fort York Ontario

Liberal

Adam Vaughan LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Families

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for Saint John—Rothesay for his tireless advocacy on reducing poverty in this country.

It gives me great pleasure to be talking about housing instead of just the House. Our government has made extraordinary investments in housing with this budget: $11 billion over the next 10 years, which builds on the $4-billion base that is there. Additionally, we have doubled, a 100% increase, the money focused on dealing with homelessness right across this country.

We know that a national housing strategy is long overdue. We know we can deliver it with this budget. We are proud to deliver affordable housing to Canadians, housing that is affordable to Canadians, and I am very happy to say this budget—

HousingOral Questions

11:45 a.m.

Liberal

The Assistant Deputy Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

The hon. member for Sarnia Lambton.

Status of WomenOral Questions

11:45 a.m.

Conservative

Marilyn Gladu Conservative Sarnia—Lambton, ON

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals have made a big show of adding gender considerations to the budget, but after forming a special committee to look at pay equity, there are four pages of rhetoric in the budget and zero dollars for it. The amount of money put towards addressing violence against women is four times less than was recommended. If the Prime Minister really wants to be seen as a feminist, he needs to put his money where his mouth is.

Will the Prime Minister pay more than lip service to addressing violence against women?

Status of WomenOral Questions

11:45 a.m.

Winnipeg South Manitoba

Liberal

Terry Duguid LiberalParliamentary Secretary for Status of Women

Mr. Speaker, in budget 2017, our government has made gender equality a priority. We are the first government to provide a comprehensive gender statement in one entire chapter of the budget and measures in the budget that will help advance gender equality: $100 million for a gender-based violence strategy, $7 billion for child care, $11 billion for housing, and better parental and care benefits.

I think the hon. member will agree that budget day was a very good day for women's equality in this country.

Natural ResourcesOral Questions

11:45 a.m.

Conservative

Ron Liepert Conservative Calgary Signal Hill, AB

Mr. Speaker, when it comes to this budget and Alberta, we give on one hand and we take away more on the other. The budget provides Alberta with a one-time grant of a paltry $30 million while at the same reducing the petroleum incentive drilling credit by up to $140 million.

It is obvious that the finance minister was bullied by the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and the Prime Minister, both of whom want to phase out the oil sands and phase out fossil fuels.

When will the Minister of Natural Resources start to stand up for Albertans and the energy industry?

Natural ResourcesOral Questions

11:45 a.m.

Ottawa Centre Ontario

Liberal

Catherine McKenna LiberalMinister of Environment and Climate Change

Mr. Speaker, our government understands that the environment and the economy go hand in hand—

Natural ResourcesOral Questions

11:45 a.m.

Liberal

The Assistant Deputy Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

The hon. member for Calgary Signal Hill asked a question. I am sure he wants to hear the answer. I would like to remind everyone to keep it down.

The hon. Minister of Environment and Climate Change.

Natural ResourcesOral Questions

11:45 a.m.

Liberal

Catherine McKenna Liberal Ottawa Centre, ON

Mr. Speaker, our government understands that the environment and the economy go hand in hand. I work extraordinarily closely with the Minister of Natural Resources.

As the Prime Minister said very recently, there couldn't be a serious climate plan without pipelines, and there couldn't be pipelines without a serious climate plan.

We have committed to take action to protect our environment. We committed at the G20, with other countries, to reduce fossil fuel subsidies. We are doing that. We are also moving forward with pipelines.

We understand the need to get our resources to market and we understand the need to protect—

Natural ResourcesOral Questions

11:45 a.m.

Liberal

The Assistant Deputy Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

The hon. member for Calgary Signal Hill.