House of Commons Hansard #149 of the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was money.

Topics

Opposition Motion—Tax FairnessBusiness of SupplyGovernment Orders

1:45 p.m.

NDP

Daniel Blaikie NDP Elmwood—Transcona, MB

I do not think I discerned a question in that, Madam Speaker, but I will give a response nonetheless.

I think the member for Winnipeg North and I may have a philosophical difference about what it means to listen. When government members go across the country and think listening means smiling and nodding politely in town halls where ordinary Canadians speak and then go off and do whatever the heck it was they were going to do anyway, that seems to me to be the member for Winnipeg North's conception of listening.

If they mean going out and actually listening to people and then having what ordinary Canadians say inform their policy and sticking to their promises instead of caving as soon as Bay Street lawyers come down and say they do not want to pay more in taxes, then the Liberals say that is too bad and they will just disregard the promise they put in writing, then we have a different point of view.

It is our point of view that the Liberals should listen to ordinary Canadians, keep their promises, and not fold the first time Bay Street shows up on the doorstep of a newly minted minister.

Opposition Motion—Tax FairnessBusiness of SupplyGovernment Orders

1:45 p.m.

NDP

Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC

Madam Speaker, I thank the member for talking about the trade-offs we are making. We are creating over $100 billion in tax havens for the super-rich, so they can have nice yachts, as he pointed out, and probably really good chefs too.

The Liberals talk about the nine million Canadian who got middle-class tax breaks. What about the 17.9 million Canadians who did not get anything? Maybe the member could talk about the decisions the government could make right now to fix this problem.

Opposition Motion—Tax FairnessBusiness of SupplyGovernment Orders

1:45 p.m.

NDP

Daniel Blaikie NDP Elmwood—Transcona, MB

Madam Speaker, the member is exactly right. We might have gotten some clarity from the Liberals in response to an Order Paper question where they were asked to define the middle class, but they could not do it.

As far as we are concerned, when we talk about the middle class and people working hard to join it, we are talking about the working class, and that includes people making under $45,000 a year. That is why our proposal to change the Liberals' tax cut was a good one, and it was shameful that they did not endorse it.

Opposition Motion—Tax FairnessBusiness of SupplyGovernment Orders

1:50 p.m.

NDP

Pierre Nantel NDP Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, QC

Madam Speaker, we have been hearing about austerity and cuts for years. We are familiar with the refrain of successive governments in Ottawa, Quebec, and elsewhere in the world, who have been feeding us the same message for at least 30 years, the same reductive solution of having to tighten our belts and live within our means.

It is as though the public institutions that we have legitimately established were an extravagance, as though the state structure built in Quebec and Canada to better educate ourselves, to take better care of ourselves, and to develop our economy were but a fantasy.

The entire time that a thousand and one cuts were being made, the system was haemorrhaging billions of dollars. Untold billions of dollars are leaving our tax system as a result of tax evasion and tax avoidance orchestrated by accounting firms big and small on behalf of their clients, the richest individuals and businesses in Canada. They are the wealthiest 1%. These people send the profits they make in Canada to tax havens and refuse to contribute to society like everyone else does.

This has been going on for years. Not enough has been done and ordinary people have been asked to pay more for too long. It is like a plumber coming to the house and telling us that instead of repairing the huge leak that is spewing water in the street, we will have to learn to live with lower water pressure.

The use of tax havens in the Caribbean or even the British Isles, for example, where billions are tucked away, has reached historic levels. Never before have we seen such an abuse of the tax system, and it is an international problem. In 2015, the last year the Conservatives were in power, $40 billion were transferred from Canadian bank accounts to about ten tax havens. Since 1990, $270 billion have disappeared.

Every year, billions of dollars are stashed away in tax havens. As if that were not bad enough, the government also gives the wealthy all kinds of little tax goodies to help them save. That costs the treasury $100 billion a year. The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives is very diligent about reminding us of that.

It is easier to tell Quebeckers and Canadians that they are not living within their means than it is to confront the wealthiest 1% of CEOs about the things they do that are hurting everyone.

This is happening right before our very eyes. We are talking about multinational corporations whose products we buy every day. People who buy their coffee at Starbucks probably know that the company was at the centre of a scandal in the United Kingdom because it went for years without paying taxes by using a strategy that enabled it to remove its profits from the country to give the impression that it was not making enough money in its stores there.

Canadian businesses and banks use the same strategy. In 2009, TD Bank paid just 7.6% in taxes when everyone else was paying 32%. BCE reported profits of $30 billion from 2004 to 2014 but paid a mere 5% in taxes. Gildan, a Montreal-based textiles manufacturer that makes t-shirts all over the world and has benefited substantially from a number of government subsidies, makes hundreds of millions in profits every year, but paid no taxes in 2009, 2010, 2011, or 2012 thanks to an address in the Caribbean.

That is all it takes to keep billions of dollars out of the Canadian tax system, and more often than not, it is completely legal and even condoned by our governments.

How is it that these companies seem to think that they do not have any responsibility to society and they do not have to contribute? How is it that our governments agreed to turn a blind eye to this sort of tax avoidance, when they have been saying for years that they need to make cuts to hospitals, schools, rail regulations, and our presence on the international stage, when they are still saying that there is not even enough money to give seniors in long-term care facilities baths?

When asked about the consequences of such practices by the CBC, André Lareau, a professor of tax law at Laval University, had this to say:

The net effect is less taxes collected by authorities in Quebec and Canada.

With millions of dollars saved by Bombardier and millions of dollars saved by all companies that use this type of vehicle, there is no way to win for Quebec or Canada, which are short a phenomenal sum.

Moreover, all this is legal. In fact, Professor Lareau said, “Canada has given them permission to do this.” The Canadian government is basically encouraging the largest companies to take a tax holiday. Don't ask where the potholes come from.

However, our fat cats are not the only ones exploiting the flaws in our system; we now turn a blind eye to web giants who are stuffing themselves in the online shopping buffet. E-commerce is exploding, yet the government here in Ottawa, like the Conservative government before it, continues to treat online providers from here and elsewhere differently.

While a business here has to pay taxes on its business transactions on the Internet, a company that does business online in Canada doesn't have the same obligation, a situation that is making less and less sense as e-commerce grows.

That is likely why the OECD is now proposing standards for the taxation of online goods and services. Basically, the Minister of Finance believes that, if a corporation has no head office or physical presence in Canada, it is not engaged in commercial activity here. He may be right when it comes to cobblers and pizzerias, but certainly not for something like Facebook, which has millions of users in Canada, and certainly not for Amazon or Apple, which compete directly with businesses here.

Any other Canadian business that dares compete with online companies is immediately at a disadvantage, simply because it will be taxed. This is especially difficult in the media industry, which is going through a very tough time. The editor of the Winnipeg Free Press pointed out that Canadian readers of the online edition are taxed on their subscription, but they are not taxed when they subscribe to the New York Times online edition. Go figure.

Five or ten years ago, companies' advertising budgets were divided between radio, Quebec and Canadian television, and national and regional media, both print and digital. Today, however, 80% of those budgets go directly out of the country, through ad placements on Facebook and Google. This amounts to hundreds of billions of dollars a year that are leaving the country without being taxed. Our media are being bled dry. Even worse, in some cases, these foreign online ad placements are even tax deductible. We know very well that, in the case of the biggest web-based multinationals, this money literally disappears.

In the United Kingdom, instead of registering its British advertising revenue and being taxed in the U.K., Facebook recently decided to move everything to Ireland and the Cayman Islands in order to avoid paying token amounts in taxes. When word got out, people reacted negatively and Facebook did some back-peddling, after a few years of a little tax holiday, because the public got upset, but more importantly, because political officials took responsibility.

Yes, I am looking at the government.

Since 2015, the British government has been a pioneer in charging an extra 25% levy on foreign corporations that try to avoid paying taxes. That was a tough pill to swallow for the likes of Facebook and Amazon, who finally started paying their taxes after having processed all their transactions through Luxembourg for years. The moral of the story is: where there is political will, tax avoidance can be beat, including when it comes to companies that do business online.

The statement by British finance minister, George Osborne, could not have been clearer: he said that their corporate tax rate was among the lowest in the world, but England expects those taxes to be paid.

Here in Ottawa, we can only dream of our Minister of Finance having that much political courage. In the meantime, this wide-scale tax avoidance is doing immeasurable harm to businesses in Quebec and Canada.

Last weekend's edition of La Presse called this the Swiss cheese effect because it could create holes in Quebec's economy. The same article quoted Peter Simons, the president of La Maison Simons, a very successful and well-known Quebec retailer that just opened a new store in the nearby Rideau Centre. Mr. Simons talked about how big of a problem this is for electronic commerce. He pays his taxes and his customs fees, and he pays for his products and buildings, which are taxed. However, his competitors do not do any of that.

He said it very clearly: taxes are his biggest expense. He added that it is not right for a company that conducts 90% of its operations in North America to send 99% of the profits to Luxembourg. He also added that the things that cost the most in a society are the people, education, roads, and health, and that, as a society, we need to fund our values. He went on to say that he worries that the government will fall back into a pattern of making cuts without identifying root causes. He said that he does not have all the answers but that he believes that everyone should have to pay their fair share and participate in society. Companies cannot come to Quebec and Canada and expect to do business without taking any responsibility.

That is from one of our own business people. He is worried that governments are not listening to him and not getting his message. Mr. Simons added that he is not sure the government sees any urgency here and that the legislative framework must be redefined.

The weekend edition of La Presse said the same thing: Our elected representatives have to do a better job of helping merchants rise to those challenges and stopping multinationals from getting around the rules.

I wish I could say that I believe Canada will change the rules to put a stop to tax havens, but the truth is that Conservative and Liberal party cronies are the ones who created those tax havens in the first place. Here are just a few of them: Graham Towers, a former governor of the Bank of Canada, was an advisor to the Government of Jamaica when that country became a tax haven. Jim MacDonald, once a high-ranking Conservative Party lawyer, drafted the Cayman Islands's tax policies when that country became a tax haven. Donald Fleming, a former Canadian minister, put together the Bahamas' tax measures when that country became a tax haven in the 1960s.

Paul Martin, a businessman and former Canadian prime minister, has a company registered in Barbados. In other words, lots of people—

Opposition Motion—Tax FairnessBusiness of SupplyGovernment Orders

2 p.m.

NDP

The Assistant Deputy Speaker NDP Carol Hughes

Order. I am sorry to interrupt the hon. member, but his time has expired and we must proceed with statements by members. There will be a five-minute question period after oral questions, when the subject is once again before the House.

We will now proceed with statements by members. The hon. member for Nunavut.

NunavutStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Independent

Hunter Tootoo Independent Nunavut, NU

Qujannamiik uqaqti. Madam Speaker, I stand today to honour my father Batiste, and all Inuit of his generation. They were born and raised on the land, and survived only because of what they learned from their forebears. This long line of inherited insight enabled intelligence and skill development among Inuit, and served as a true form of evidence-based knowledge. One of my dad's favourite sayings is, “There is no such thing as can't.” Living by these words, his intelligence and persistence allowed him to provide solutions to the most difficult problems.

The Inuit have survived by following similar principles, and with a strong sense of community to unite them they have tackled tough circumstances together. They worked together, cared for and respected each other, and were always open to new and better ways of doing things. This is the kind of mentality that must persist in our future generations.

Therefore, I say to my dad, “I am so very grateful and proud of you, and your generation. Nagligivagit ataata.”

National Hockey LeagueStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Liberal

Randeep Sarai Liberal Surrey Centre, BC

Mr. Speaker, as a hockey dad, I know that it is every Canadian kid's dream to be in the NHL. One such dream is Surrey's own 6'4" Edmonton Oiler, number 54, Jujhar Khaira. He started playing hockey on the streets of Surrey, learning to skate, and then getting drafted to the Edmonton Oilers. On January 16, he scored his first NHL goal on the Arizona Coyotes.

In the same vein, I watched another kid grow up with a similar passion for hockey. However, instead of playing, he loved his play-by-play commentating. Many told him his dream was impossible, but he was never deterred. Harnarayan Singh created his own show, Hockey Night in Canada Punjabi Edition, which became infamous for his “Bonino, Bonino, Bonino, Bonino” call last year. Now he has become the first Sikh to broadcast an NHL game in English.

Congratulations to Jujhar and Harnarayan, two up-and-comers who have shown us all that in Canada everything is possible.

Langley—AldergroveStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Conservative

Mark Warawa Conservative Langley—Aldergrove, BC

Mr. Speaker, I had the opportunity to meet with grade 5-6 students at Langley Christian School and West Langley Elementary School. Some of Canada's brightest minds attend these schools, and will be tomorrow's leaders in science, medicine, agriculture, engineering, trades, teachers, astronauts, and, yes, Canada's first prime minister from beautiful Langley—Aldergrove. These exceptional students had great questions. They asked what an MP does. They asked about Canada's immigration and refugee policies. They want the system to be fair and safe. They ask about religious freedoms, and want protection for all faiths in Canada. They want a future with opportunities for them, with good-paying jobs. They do not want the government to borrow away their future with growing deficits that they will have to pay back with huge tax increases. They also want the government to keep its promises.

I enjoyed meeting those students. I know they will work hard and study hard. It is now our responsibility to make sure these students have opportunities for a safe and prosperous future.

Anti-SemitismStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Liberal

Michael Levitt Liberal York Centre, ON

Mr. Speaker, on February 6, a McGill student society representative incited violence against Jewish students, tweeting “punch a Zionist today”. On February 19, mezuzahs were ripped off door frames, and anti-Semitic messages were found in Toronto. On February 22, a swastika and the words “gas the Jews” were found spray-painted in Hamilton. On February 27, swastikas were found on classroom walls at York University. On the February 28, the Calgary Jewish Community Centre received a bomb threat. Today, Jewish community centres in London and Toronto were threatened and evacuated.

This is just some of the recent hate targeting Jewish Canadians. I also recognize the growing hate being targeted at Muslim Canadians. Condemning these actions is not enough. We must ensure that our legal system is empowered to act against these incidents, and that justice is upheld.

Waste Reduction WeekStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

NDP

Fin Donnelly NDP Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC

Mr. Speaker, each year during waste reduction week, elementary students in Port Moody—Coquitlam participate in my annual litterless lunch challenge. Many people do not realize that an average elementary school produces over 20,000 pounds of lunch waste annually. With my litterless lunch challenge, students are encouraged to pack litter-free lunches and make waste reduction a part of their everyday routine. This year, more than 530 students took up the challenge, and two winning classes set a new record by going 99% litter free.

Congratulations to Madame Boulanger's grade 4-5 class at École Rochester Elementary School in Coquitlam and Ms. Ogilvie's grade 4-5 class at Heritage Mountain Elementary School in Port Moody.

A big thanks to all of the students, teachers, and parents who participated in this year's litterless lunch challenge. I hope this encourages them to continue their efforts throughout the year.

Royal Canadian LegionStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

Liberal

Shaun Chen Liberal Scarborough North, ON

Mr. Speaker, last month, the Scarborough Centennial Branch 614 of the Royal Canadian Legion celebrated its 50th anniversary. Named in honour of the Canadian Centennial, the branch began with 51 prospective members in 1967 and has since grown to 386 members who are part of Canada's largest organization for veterans and their families.

Not only do legion members support the brave men and women who serve our great country, they also teach our youth to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Every year, Branch 614 distributes poppies in local schools to ensure that future generations never forget.

Over the decades, the branch has fundraised to give back to the community, partnering with other branches to raise over $100,000 for the Scarborough Hospital.

As Canadians, we should be proud of the important work that legion branches do all across the country.

I want to congratulate the president, Wayne Hayes, the president of the ladies' auxiliary, June Hayes, as well as all members of Branch 614 for their 50 years of service and social outreach.

International Women's DayStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

Conservative

Dianne Lynn Watts Conservative South Surrey—White Rock, BC

Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today in recognition of March 8 as International Women's Day. This is a day in which we celebrate the contributions and achievements of women from all around the world. It is also a day that reminds us of the women and young girls who need our support: women who are fleeing persecution; women who are trying to survive in war-torn countries; women who are exploited through human trafficking, domestic violence, sexual assault, and rape; and women who struggle to feed their children, to find safe shelter, or try to access education.

Therefore, as we celebrate all that has been achieved over the years, let us remember how much we have yet to do. It is our responsibility as women and members of a global family to help those who continue to struggle. We should not and cannot stop until all of us are on an equal footing with equal opportunities and equal rights.

Communication Disabilities Access CanadaStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

Liberal

Yasmin Ratansi Liberal Don Valley East, ON

Mr. Speaker, founded in 2001, and located in my riding of Don Valley East, Communication Disabilities Access Canada is a national not-for-profit organization that promotes accessibility, inclusion, and human rights for people with speech and language disabilities.

Over 400,000 Canadians have speech, language, or communication disabilities not necessarily caused by hearing loss. Regardless of the cause of their disability, everyone who has a communication disorder is protected under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Many of these people experience discrimination when looking for jobs and accessing other social services. It is therefore important to have a national strategy to ensure consistency in services available to anyone with speech and language disabilities, because accessibility is a human right.

Wagmatcook First NationStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

Liberal

Mark Eyking Liberal Sydney—Victoria, NS

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the eight students in grade 11 and 12 visiting Ottawa today from Wagmatcook, a beautiful first nation community nestled on the Bras D’or Lake in in my riding.

The students are in the nation's capital today to learn more about leadership and Canadian politics, and to see some of the wonderful landmarks here in Ottawa. Joined by the students are teachers Vince Budge, Jackie MacLellan, and Wagmatcook CEO Brian Arbuthnot. The group has joined us here today in this chamber to witness question period, and I am sure they will be impressed.

When members of this House and their families come to visit our wonderful island of Cape Breton, I invite them to drop in to the Wagmatcook Culture and Heritage Centre to learn more about the language and history of the Mi’kmaq people and also have a delicious meal at the restaurant overlooking the beautiful Bras D'or Lake.

I ask members in the House to welcome these students, our future leaders, to Parliament Hill.

JusticeStatements By Members

March 7th, 2017 / 2:10 p.m.

Conservative

Chris Warkentin Conservative Grande Prairie—Mackenzie, AB

Mr. Speaker, in 2015, Constable David Wynn was shot and killed in the line of duty. This incident was completely preventable. His killer was out on bail at the time, notwithstanding that he had 50 prior criminal convictions, 38 outstanding charges, and several failures to appear. Yet, due to a loophole in the Criminal Code, none of that was brought to the attention of the judge at the bail application hearing.

Today, Shelly MacInnis-Wynn is in Ottawa to draw attention to legislation that my colleagues have proposed that would close the loophole that cost her husband his life.

In the past, the justice minister has said that she will oppose this legislation. However, I wonder today if she will put aside partisan politics. Yes, she is on the red team and my colleagues are on the blue team, but I wonder if she would consider the good that we could do by working together to honour the memory of Constable Wynn, and ensure that no family ever suffers such a great loss as to know that their loved one's death could have been prevented if only this law had been passed.

WaterlooStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Liberal

Raj Saini Liberal Kitchener Centre, ON

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to welcome the University of Waterloo to Parliament Hill. The University of Waterloo is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year.

The university is here today to celebrate its history of disruptive innovation and entrepreneurship.

It is well versed on the subject, as it is once again ranked Canada's most innovative university, a title it has held for 25 years straight.

I invite all my colleagues to join us in the parliamentary dining room this evening to meet these leaders in Canadian innovation.

Also, I would like to take a moment to welcome representatives from the Waterloo Regional Police Service, who are on Parliament Hill today along with their colleagues from across the country.

I am sure that all members join me in thanking all police officers for their hard work in keeping our communities safe.

International Women's DayStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Liberal

Linda Lapointe Liberal Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC

Mr. Speaker, on this day before International Women's Day, words cannot reflect the immense gratitude I feel for the women who have come before me. It is thanks to the encouragement, open-mindedness and precious advice of my mother and grandmother that I can be who I am today.

I would also like to pay tribute to my father and thank him. I worked with him for several years. My parents have always wished for my success by teaching me the workings of life, without discrimination. Women's Day is certainly a day to appreciate the progress made towards gender equality, but it is also a day to reflect on the road that our society still has to travel.

Let us remain vigilant, and denounce intolerance, sexism and injustice. Together, we must allow all the talents of our society, regardless of gender, origin, culture and religion, to continue to build our great country.

TaxationStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Conservative

Marilyn Gladu Conservative Sarnia—Lambton, ON

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government claims to be open and transparent, yet when we asked for the numbers on how much this federal carbon tax will cost Canadians, it blacked out the numbers in the answer provided.

The Liberal government claims it wants to create jobs. My riding of Sarnia—Lambton has decisions pending on a Nova project and two other major energy projects that will create thousands of jobs if they are built here, but without certainty about how much extra cost the carbon tax will add, they are considering going to the United states, and still, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change has done nothing to reassure them or my constituents.

The Liberal government claims it wants to help the middle class and those hoping to join it, so why does it not tell us how much money this carbon tax is going to take out of the pockets of the middle class and those hoping to join it and the small businesses that are going to go out of business? Why the carbon tax cover-up?

Daughters of the VoteStatements By Members

2:15 p.m.

Liberal

Pam Damoff Liberal Oakville North—Burlington, ON

Equal Voice has coordinated a historic initiative, Daughters of the Vote, to celebrate 100 years of some women's right to vote and to inspire women to be equal participants at every political decision-making table in the country.

Tomorrow one young woman from every federal riding in Canada will be taking her MP's seat in Parliament. These 338 emerging leaders have come to share their vision for Canada. I am proud to welcome Tarini Sharma to Ottawa as Oakville North—Burlington's Daughter of the Vote.

Tomorrow, in my riding, I will be launching the young women in leadership program to offer young women in my community the opportunity to job-shadow in a local business or organization to gain career experience and confidence, an idea that came from a round table on women's empowerment I hosted on International Women's Day last year.

Today and tomorrow, we celebrate these young women.

HousingStatements By Members

2:15 p.m.

NDP

Murray Rankin NDP Victoria, BC

Mr. Speaker, at the end of World War II, the federal government began investing in affordable housing in recognition of the fact that the market alone could not provide homes for all Canadians. For decades after, the federal government helped to build much of the social and co-operative housing we still see standing in our communities today. However, starting in the late 1980s, subsequent governments reduced the federal role in building affordable housing. The consequences of this lack of investment are now painfully evident in the city of Victoria, where we now have the lowest vacancy rate in Canada and some of the highest rents and housing prices. Many families and seniors cannot find housing at all.

Victoria's economy is growing. We have a thriving high-tech sector, and young families are trying to build their careers and start families. We cannot let this housing divide hold our cities back. Our municipalities and provincial governments simply cannot go it alone.

I am calling on the government to deliver a significant capital investment in social housing infrastructure in the upcoming budget and to restore the federal government's role as a leader in making sure that all Canadians have a safe place to call home.

HousingStatements By Members

2:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan

Colleagues know that we do not recognize the presence or the absence of a member in the chamber. Therefore, I can say that I am delighted to recognize the hon. member for Abbotsford.

Liberal Party of CanadaStatements By Members

2:15 p.m.

Conservative

Ed Fast Conservative Abbotsford, BC

Mr. Speaker, it is so good to be back in the House with my parliamentary family. I thank my colleagues for their kind words and prayers. They were very much appreciated.

Alas, upon my return, I find that the ship of state has run aground on a massive iceberg of deficits and broken promises. Listing to the left, the good ship Sunny Ways is awash in a sea of red ink and carbon taxes. Casting about for someone to blame, the captain has thrown his hapless first mate for democratic reform overboard. Two other shipmates have been dispatched on the diplomatic lifeboats, the McCallum and Dion. Diving for the last lifeboat, the captain realizes he does not have the cash for access and was last seen elbowing his way to the front of the line. This is a disaster of Titanic proportions. As the panicked caucus orchestra plays, and the good ship Sunny Ways slowly sinks under the sea, I can hear the captain singing, My Heart Will Go On.

It is so good to be back in the House.

Richer DubucStatements By Members

2:20 p.m.

Liberal

Brenda Shanahan Liberal Châteauguay—Lacolle, QC

Mr. Speaker, I would like to say a few words to express our great sadness at the loss of Constable Richer Dubuc, who was stationed with the Champlain detachment in C Division of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Forty-two-year-old Constable Dubuc died from injuries sustained in a car accident that occurred the evening of March 6 near Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle in my riding. A native of Joliette, Constable Dubuc was the married father of four children. He was a seven-year veteran of the RCMP who began his career in New Brunswick and joined the Champlain detachment in January.

We mourn with his wife and four children, and we know how difficult this must be for the entire police community, especially in Quebec. On behalf of all members and all Canadians, we offer our sincere condolences to Constable Dubuc's family, friends, and colleagues. Our thoughts and prayers are with them.

Richer DubucStatements By Members

2:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan

There have been discussions among representatives of all parties in the House and all have agreed to observe a moment of silence in honour of the RCMP officer who lost his life in Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle, Quebec.

[A moment of silence observed]

EthicsOral Questions

2:20 p.m.

Sturgeon River—Parkland Alberta

Conservative

Rona Ambrose ConservativeLeader of the Opposition

Mr. Speaker, this is the first time in the history of Canada that a sitting prime minister has been under investigation by the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner. This is serious.

The Prime Minister needs to tell Canadians the truth. Did someone in the PMO or the Privy Council Office tell him that this private flight was against the rules?