House of Commons Hansard #158 of the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was report.
Bardish Chagger LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister of Small Business and Tourism
Mr. Speaker, I always appreciate the opportunity to reply to the opposition House leader and to work with her. We have had meaningful conversations and I know we can continue to build upon them.
We will continue to do the important work that Canadians elected us to do. I know that we need to bring this place into the 21st century. We committed to modernizing the way Parliament works. We will continue to do this important work, hopefully together.
Candice Bergen ConservativeHouse Leader of the Official Opposition
Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, in an effort to shield the Prime Minister from the mess he has created, the Liberal chair of the committee has just suspended the meeting, clearly under the instructions of the PMO. This type of hard-handed tactic is making this place toxic.
It is hard to know why the Prime Minister is being so irrational on this. What opposition parties are asking for is reasonable and it is with precedent.
Will the Prime Minister show some good judgment on behalf of all of us, and commit that no changes will be made unless we all agree?
Bardish Chagger LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister of Small Business and Tourism
Mr. Speaker, as I have said time and time again, this is an important discussion paper and an important conversation for all members to have. I look forward to engaging in that conversation so that we can bring this place into the 21st century, exactly as we committed to Canadians.
Our objective has always been to ensure that Parliament is relevant to Canadians, to ensure that their voices are also heard in this place.
Sheila Malcolmson NDP Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC
Mr. Speaker, the Liberals continue to show just how out of touch they are with Canadian families. They say they are helping by making parental leave longer, but families will not receive any additional money, meaning that families with new babies would have to live on just one third of their normal income.
What is the government's defence on why it fails to help low-income families? It is that wealthy parents need more support. That is unacceptable.
When will the government finally deliver on real change for everyday people and not just those at the top?
Jean-Yves Duclos LiberalMinister of Families
Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to remind all members of the House that this government was elected to grow the economy in order to grow the middle class and make sure that no one feels excluded from development and economic growth.
For that purpose, we put in place last year, and in last week's budget, important measures that will increase the flexibility and the inclusiveness of all programs, including the EI program.
Matthew Dubé NDP Beloeil—Chambly, QC
Mr. Speaker, an Angus Reid Institute poll indicates that half of all Canadians are wary of the new powers given to U.S. border officers under Bill C-23, even though they support preclearance.
U.S. border officers on Canadian soil would be armed and have the power to conduct strip searches without a Canadian border officer present and to detain and interrogate Canadians. Bill C-23 is inconsistent with human rights and privacy rights.
I ask the minister again, if the current system works so well, which we agree, why do the Liberals insist on forging ahead with giving American officers all these new powers on Canadian soil?
Ralph Goodale LiberalMinister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Mr. Speaker, it is interesting to note what the New Democratic Party said when the existing system was introduced a number of years ago. It said that it was no good and should be rejected. Now it is using the same line with respect to Bill C-23. The fact of the matter is that under this improved pre-clearance arrangement, more Canadians will be able to clear American customs but do so in Canada, on Canadian soil, and under the protection of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
John Oliver Liberal Oakville, ON
Mr. Speaker, Canada's automotive sector produces a vehicle every 14 seconds. That is 2.3 million vehicles a year. It contributes $18 billion to our GDP and creates employment for over half a million Canadians.
My question is for the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development. Could you please expand on how the government plans to ensure that Canada's automotive sector will continue to be at the forefront of innovation and create those good-paying jobs for Canadians?
The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan
Before the minister speaks, I will remind the hon. member for Oakville to direct his comments to the chair.
The hon. Minister of Innovation.
Navdeep Bains LiberalMinister of Innovation
Mr. Speaker, the member for Oakville has done a great job as the auto caucus chair. He is correct. We are supporting the automotive sector. We extended the automotive innovation fund. We changed the terms for more investments, which resulted in a $500-million investment by Honda in Alliston, Ontario, which will help secure 4,000 jobs. Last Thursday, along with the Prime Minister, Ford announced a $1.2-billion investment in the Windsor Essex plant and in creating a new connectivity centre, which will help create and secure 800 jobs.
We are growing the economy. We are growing the automotive sector and creating good-quality jobs.
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON
Mr. Speaker, the Liberals have forced middle-class taxpayers to loan $400 million to Bombardier, which then axed 14,000 middle-class jobs and gave a 50% pay hike to executives. Now these billionaires have generously offered to defer these pay hikes, which means they will still get their millions before taxpayers get repaid. Will the government force Bombardier to cancel all pay hikes and bonuses until middle-class taxpayers get their money back?
Navdeep Bains LiberalMinister of Innovation
Mr. Speaker, we actually reduced the tax rate for middle-class Canadians by asking the wealthiest 1% to pay a little more. However, I do understand the concerns raised by the member and Canadians with regard to compensation. As members know, the company is taking action in this regard. However, more importantly, the investment that we made was to support the aerospace sector. The $372.5-million repayable contribution is going to help create 1,300 research and development jobs. This will create more opportunities going forward.
We will continue to support the sector. We will continue to support good-quality jobs.
John Barlow Conservative Foothills, AB
Mr. Speaker, the Liberals are not lowering taxes; they are raising them. We have heard of this carbon tax. The Liberals are covering up the costs of their carbon tax because they know it is a disaster. A secret briefing has said that a $300-per-tonne carbon tax is needed to meet their climate change targets.
Let us recap the Liberal carbon tax so far: more than 100,000 Albertans are out of work; 4,000 Calgary businesses have already shut their doors; and three global energy companies have left Alberta.
The Liberal carbon tax is costing Canadians their jobs and thousands of dollars a year. The Liberals need to stop the carbon tax cover-up and tell Canadians exactly how much the Liberal carbon tax will cost.
Jonathan Wilkinson LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change
Mr. Speaker, our government is very much committed to creating a more innovative economy that reduces emissions and protects the environment while creating good middle-class jobs. The pricing of carbon pollution will actually incent innovation in Canada. It will provide predictability and stability to businesses as they plan going forward. After 10 years of nothing being done in this country on the part of the previous government, our focus is on lasting action to reduce climate change, to provide a good future for our kids, and to boost innovation and create good middle-class jobs for Canadians.
Karen Vecchio Conservative Elgin—Middlesex—London, ON
Mr. Speaker, Canadian families are struggling to make ends meet. The costs of heating their homes, feeding their families, and transportation have skyrocketed, and the Liberals' carbon tax is making this bad situation even worse. We already knew that the Liberals' plan was going to cost thousands of dollars. Now we learn that it will be five times that. Why will the Liberals not release the secret data we have been demanding for months? Is it because they know that most Canadian families and seniors will not be able to afford this?
Jonathan Wilkinson LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change
Mr. Speaker, I would remind the hon. member that 80% of Canadians already live in jurisdictions that have implemented a price on carbon pollution. The provinces have moved forward in a thoughtful manner in order to address greenhouse gas emissions and boost innovation in this country.
I would also ask the hon. member to perhaps refer to where she actually got the number. This is an external review that looks at carbon pricing as the only mechanism that is utilized to address greenhouse gas emissions.
This government has put together a comprehensive plan that includes regulatory measures, pricing of carbon pollution, and investments in clean technology in order to address carbon emissions and to promote innovation in Canada.
Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC
Mr. Speaker, I will try in French.
This is just more window dressing on the part of the Liberals. The National Post reported that Environment Canada informed the Minister of Environment that the carbon tax would fall short of meeting its stated objectives. Furthermore, it will cost Canadian families thousands of dollars. This Liberal hypocrisy is bad for Canada.
The minister needs to make decisions to protect our environment and she must table a real and effective plan to achieve the Paris agreement targets. More importantly, this plan must not be funded on the backs of Canadian families.
Jonathan Wilkinson LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change
Mr. Speaker, this government has presented a plan to reduce carbon emissions and meet our Paris agreement targets. It is called the pan-Canadian framework, and I would ask the hon. member perhaps to take a look at that document.
Brigitte Sansoucy NDP Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC
Mr. Speaker, many professional bodies in Quebec, representing everyone from lawyers to doctors to nurses, have asked for clarification regarding the definition of “reasonably foreseeable natural death” under the legislation on medical assistance in dying.
Not only is this legislation too restrictive, but it is also too vague. This situation is so bad that people who are suffering are ending their own lives. The Government of Quebec understands that people who are suffering and those who are most vulnerable need to feel understood.
Will the federal government finally realize that, too?
Jane Philpott LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, our government passed legislation that provides a legislative framework for medical assistance in dying and that protects the most vulnerable Canadians while giving them safe and consistent access to medical assistance in dying across the country.
As required by the legislation, we launched independent reviews of complex issues that are outside the purview of the act. We will continue to work with the provinces and territories to support patient care coordination for end-of-life care.
Brian Masse NDP Windsor West, ON
Mr. Speaker, the Liberals have failed to conduct crucial national security reviews of two sensitive takeovers by foreign companies. Now the Liberals have approved a Chinese takeover of a Montreal firm specializing in sensitive laser technology that is used to produce weaponry.
The Conservatives blocked this same deal in 2015 after being warned that it jeopardized national security. Why would the Liberals refuse the previous government's decision and allow this dubious idea to take over and to proceed? What has changed, and how can they explain that to the Canadian public right now?
Navdeep Bains LiberalMinister of Innovation
Mr. Speaker, as I have said before, we have never compromised and never will compromise on national security. Let me be clear. We did not overturn a cabinet order. The previous government mismanaged the process, which is the reason why it ended up in court. We pursued a rigorous process. We did our due diligence. We did our homework and we examined all the facts by our national security agencies.
Again, I would like to remind the member opposite that we made a decision that was in our national interests and we stand by our decision.
John Brassard Conservative Barrie—Innisfil, ON
Mr. Speaker, what a coincidence that Trudeau Foundation donations have gone up 600% since the Liberals were elected. The rules are clear. Parliamentary secretaries are banned from accepting travel, yet that did not matter. We have learned that the former parliamentary secretary for immigration took a trip paid for by, wait for it, the Trudeau Foundation.
How many investigations will it take before Liberals understand they are not above the rules or the law?
Arif Virani LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage (Multiculturalism)
Mr. Speaker, I came to this country as a refugee and I have spent my career as a constitutional and human rights lawyer, promoting social justice, diversity, pluralism, and inclusion. Prior to agreeing to speak at this conference on diversity and pluralism, I proactively contacted the Conflict of Interest Commissioner, who approved the travel.
Upon my return, I submitted the proper declaration, and that information has been publicly posted for over a year. I am proud to be part of a government that continues to advance social justice, diversity, pluralism, and inclusion, not only in this country, but around the world.
Marilyn Gladu Conservative Sarnia—Lambton, ON
Mr. Speaker, now that the Liberal members of Parliament see that the Prime Minister does not follow the rules, it is “monkey see, monkey do”. The member for Brampton West has accepted—