Debates of May 19th, 2017

Canada Revenue Agency

[Maryam Monsef, Liberal, Minister of Status of Women]

Madam Speaker, happy Friday to you and all my colleagues in the House.

I thank my hon. colleague for bringing this issue to our attention. I can assure members that all policies, programs, and legislation that come through cabinet and eventually to the House are put through a GBA+ lens. This issue is exactly why we need to put that lens on all policies. We will continue to do that.

In the meantime, we will make sure that our gender-based violence strategy is implemented, with $100.9 million, so women and girls in Canada can thrive.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

[Shannon Stubbs, Conservative, Lakeland, AB]

Madam Speaker, yesterday the Minister of Public Safety wrongly claimed recruitment and expansion justified the closure of CPC Vegreville. Here is the truth. Since 2013, over 600 applications came in for the three hiring drives. Today, the union for the majority of workers said that having permanent positions there, most are not, would help with retention. However, what does it know. It was not even consulted. Nothing is stopping the Liberals from hiring in Edmonton right now.

Will the minister do the right thing and reverse this mistake?

[Serge Cormier, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Immigration]

Madam Speaker, our government committed to making responsible choices that improve services for Canadians and create jobs.

We have always been upfront and transparent about the costs of the relocation. In fact, a letter was sent from our department to the union, dated March 1, 2017, containing the very numbers quoted by the member opposite.

The reality is that about 20% of available positions are currently vacant. This move will address long-standing staffing challenges, allow for an expansion of operations, and create more jobs for Albertans. I repeat that all employees will be able to keep their jobs.

[Shannon Stubbs, Conservative, Lakeland, AB]

Madam Speaker, for months now the Liberals have been dodging questions and making up excuses. They claim it will save money, but it is tens of millions more. They claim it is to expand, but the reality is Vegreville has room for the 32 more staff planned.

The Liberals slag the employees, but the department itself says that they are high performers, exemplary workers who always exceed departmental targets. There was no consultation, no transparency, and no honesty.

Will the minister admit this is an attack on middle-class rural Canadians and stop it now?

[Serge Cormier, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Immigration]

Madam Speaker, once again, our government is committed to making responsible decisions and services to Canadians and to creating jobs. Once again, we have always been upfront and transparent about the costs of the relocation. In fact, a letter was sent from our department to the union, dated March 1, outlining the costs requested by the member opposite.

The reality is that about 20% of available positions are currently vacant. This move will address the long-standing staffing challenges, allow for an expansion of immigration operations, and create more jobs for Albertans.

The Environment

[Kelly Block, Conservative, Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek, SK]

Madam Speaker, while the Minister of Environment is forcing her carbon tax onto the provinces, the Minister of Transport has introduced a tanker ban, which his own officials acknowledge targets just one industry.

This is not a ban on tanker traffic, as they will continue to move up and down the coast of British Columbia. It is a ban on Canada's resource development.

Why are the Liberals continuing their blatant attacks on western Canada's resource sector?

[Karen McCrimmon, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport]

Madam Speaker, our government is delivering on our promise to formalize a crude oil tanker moratorium along the north coast of British Columbia. This will protect this incredible environment that coastal and indigenous communities call home, ensure clean water for our kids and grandkids.

Our proposed legislation would prohibit oil tankers carrying crude and persistent oils as cargo from stopping, loading, or unloading at ports, marinas and installations in northern British Columbia.

Fisheries and Oceans

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

Madam Speaker, if the tanker ban was not bad enough, now we are being told to expect fisheries closures off the coast of British Columbia. We have heard from academics, scientists, industry, and fishermen at the fisheries committee. They have all said the same thing. The Liberal consultations are a sham and fail to take into account the economic, social, and environmental impacts of identifying marine protected areas.

What does the minister have to say to the numerous witnesses who have all said that the Liberal plan on marine protected areas will be a disastrous failure?

[Terry Beech, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries]

Madam Speaker, our government is committed to increasing the proportion of marine and coastal areas that are protected to 5% this year, and to 10% by 2020. We are going to achieve these targets with sound science and transparent decision-making. Indeed, we are consulting broadly.

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

There's no consultation.

[Terry Beech, Liberal, Burnaby North—Seymour, BC]

Madam Speaker, we are actively engaging with our partners in the provinces and territories, with indigenous people and people in industry.

Also, we can all be proud in British Columbia of the most recent marine protected area, the Hecate Strait and Queen Charlotte Sound glass sponge reefs MPA, that was designated just this year.

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, Carol Hughes]

I just want to remind the member for Cariboo—Prince George, who had the opportunity to ask the question without being disturbed, that I would expect he would respect the person who is responding to him as well.

The hon. member for Essex.

The Environment

[Tracey Ramsey, NDP, Essex, ON]

Madam Speaker, Canada is refusing to even match the U.S. investments in protecting the Great Lakes. People in my riding of Essex are concerned about the complete silence from the Liberal government when it comes to the water quality of Lake Erie. Algae blooms are negatively impacting the health of the lake, which our communities rely on for commercial fishing, tourism, and drinking water. Lake Erie has been in crisis before and deserves urgent protection to protect it now.

The health of our communities is directly tied to the health of our lakes. Will the Liberals step up and take a leadership role in protecting our treasured freshwater Great Lakes?

[Jonathan Wilkinson, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change]

Madam Speaker, we on this side of the House agree very much with many of the comments that were made by the hon. member. The Great Lakes are an incredibly important resource for many, both in Canada and the United States. It is an important recreational area for many people in Canada and the United States.

Some of the environmental challenges that exist in the Great Lakes, which have existed for some time, are very significant. In budget 2017, we saw a significant expansion in funding going toward the Great Lakes to address issues such as phosphorus and nitrogen runoff which are causing some of the algae blooms that are particularly problematic in Lake Erie. We are committed to addressing the problems in the Great Lakes.

Veterans Affairs

[Randall Garrison, NDP, Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke, BC]

Madam Speaker, LGBTQ Canadians are getting tired of waiting for real action to follow the selfies. Nearly a year ago, the government received briefs from groups representing those who were dishonourably discharged from the military or fired from the public service, asking for an apology. Just before he marched in Toronto Pride last year, the Prime Minister promised a formal apology for the harm done.

Now, at the first anniversary of this promise, all we have is a re-promise, and those who have been waiting more than 25 years for justice have been told to wait again. Will the government finally keep this promise? Does the government intend to make the apology or not?

[Jean Rioux, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence]

Madam Speaker, all men and women who serve their country deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, no matter their sex or background. We are pleased with the progress that is being made by the Canadian Armed Forces in eliminating sexual misconduct. Professional measures are taken to deal with offenders, robust training programs have been implemented, reports of sexual misconduct that were deemed unfounded in the past are currently being reviewed, and most importantly, victims are getting more support.

Canada-U.S. Relations

[Dan Ruimy, Liberal, Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge, BC]

Madam Speaker, as chair of the innovation, science and technology committee, I was pleased to take our committee to Washington, D.C. earlier this month to meet with business and government. It is so exciting to know that many of our companies have a strong relationship with our neighbours to the south.

For most of the last three decades, trade has been an important part of that relationship. Only last year, U.S. goods and services trade with Canada totalled an estimated $627.8 billion U.S.

Could the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development tell the House what he is doing to grow this mutually beneficial relationship on the ground?

[Navdeep Bains, Liberal, Minister of Innovation]

Madam Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague from Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge for his hard work and leadership as the chair of the innovation committee.

He is absolutely correct. Our trade is fair and balanced with our U.S. counterparts. Since NAFTA came into force, our economies have more than doubled, so it truly is a win-win situation. We have integrated economies, highly competitive, that allow us to compete globally. I have shared this viewpoint with my counterparts in Michigan, Colorado, California, and Nevada. We will continue to work together, build things together, and create jobs—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, Carol Hughes]

The hon. member for Richmond—Arthabaska.

Infrastructure

[Alain Rayes, Conservative, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Madam Speaker, yesterday, the chair of the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities sent a letter to the Standing Committee on Finance to confirm that committee members agreed on the infrastructure bank, which is completely false.

It gets worse. The chair sent a letter on Wednesday; the committee sat on Thursday; the letter was dated today. If that is not arrogance or contempt, then I do not know what is.

When will this government start respecting our institution and give up on this ridiculous infrastructure bank idea?

[Amarjeet Sohi, Liberal, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities]

Madam Speaker, for almost a decade the municipal sector was neglected by the previous government. Our goal is to put forward an infrastructure plan that will help rebuild Canadian communities from coast to coast to coast.

The creation of the infrastructure bank would allow us to build more infrastructure by mobilizing private capital. That would help us to build and transform infrastructure that our communities need and deserve.

[Ron Liepert, Conservative, Calgary Signal Hill, AB]

Madam Speaker, the finance committee is currently studying the budget bill, Bill C-44, but this omnibus bill contains the Liberals' so-called infrastructure bank. We have had several witnesses appear before committee who have studied this scheme and are testifying that this bank is being set up to invest in high-risk projects.

My question is for the Minister of Finance. Why is he gambling with $35 billion of hard-earned taxpayer dollars?

[Amarjeet Sohi, Liberal, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities]

Madam Speaker, I can assure the hon. member and the House that we will do the proper due diligence before we undertake any project, by the bank, by the private sector, by the municipal sector, by the provincial sector, people who will be involved in building that infrastructure.

Our goal is to make sure that we protect the public interest, to make sure that public dollars are protected, while we build the infrastructure that is required by our Canadian communities.

Consular Affairs

[Gerry Ritz, Conservative, Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK]

Madam Speaker, for more than a year now Canadian citizens John Chang and his wife Allison Lu have been held in jail by China's general administration of customs. Their company, Lulu Island Winery in B.C., has successfully exported to China for some six years, so they know the system well. The arrest of Mr. Chang and Ms. Lu for a fabricated customs violation is an assault on their basic rights, a breach of China's international trade obligations and China's own customs laws. This is clearly a trade issue, not a consular issue.

Why will the Prime Minister not intervene in this new era of the Canada-China relationship?

[Omar Alghabra, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Consular Affairs)]

Madam Speaker, I want to assure the hon. member and all Canadians that we are following this case very closely. I had the chance to meet with their daughter and I spoke with their lawyer. Our government is highly engaged on this file. We are in constant contact with Chinese local authorities. We want to resolve this matter as quickly as possible.

As the hon. member knows, due to the Privacy Act, we cannot reveal further details about this matter.