Debates of May 30th, 2017

Infrastructure

[Xavier Barsalou-Duval, Bloc, Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC]

Mr. Speaker, hiding small sentences that weaken Quebec in mammoth bills is becoming the Liberal government's specialty.

Paragraph 5(4)(d) of the part of Bill C-44 on the infrastructure bank says that the government can order that the bank be an agent of the crown.

Why give a private investment fund the power to circumvent provincial and municipal laws? Are wealthy Bay Street investors more important to this government than Quebeckers?

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

Mr. Speaker, for the creation of the Canada infrastructure bank, we consulted very extensively with provinces, territories, municipalities, the private sector, institutional investors, and labour organizations. Our goal is to support municipalities and provinces to build more infrastructure that communities need. We work very closely with all of the provinces as we move forward with the design of it, as we move forward on the selection of the leadership of the infrastructure bank, as we move forward on the selection of the projects that are needed by our communities.

[Gabriel Ste-Marie, Bloc, Joliette, QC]

Mr. Speaker, it is primarily a gift for investors, and that is the problem. The government is basically giving the infrastructure privatization bank the power to expropriate people's land, like Ottawa did in Mirabel and Forillon. It is giving this bank the power to ignore agencies of public hearings on the environment and to disregard agricultural zoning. That is no joke. Why? It is to attract foreign investors who might be turned off by our way of doing things. That does not make any sense.

Will the government remove the part about the infrastructure bank that will allow companies to circumvent Quebec laws? We are tired of being walked all over.

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

Mr. Speaker, the legislation related to the bank is very clear. This is an optional tool for municipalities and provinces to use.

It is part of our overall extensive, ambitious, infrastructure plan to invest more than $186 billion, and out of that less than 10% will be invested through the bank. Again, it is optional. If they wish to do so, they can explore that option. If they wish not to do so, we will continue to support our provinces and municipalities through our traditional grant funding that is available to them.

Presence in Gallery

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

I would like to draw to the attention of hon. members the presence in the gallery of the Honourable Gordon Wyant, Minister of Justice and Attorney General for the Province of Saskatchewan; and the Honourable Scott Moe, Minister of the Environment for the Province of Saskatchewan.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear!

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

The Chair has received notice of several points of order.

[Robert Aubin, NDP, Trois-Rivières, QC]

Mr. Speaker, given the strange answer that I received, I thought there must be a problem with the interpretation. I would therefore like the opportunity to ask the parliamentary secretary my question again so that she can give an answer that is worthy of all the members for the Mauricie region.

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

I do not think that is a point of order. It is a matter of debate.

The hon. member for Beloeil—Chambly.

[Matthew Dubé, NDP, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

Mr. Speaker, given the partisan and troubling nature of the appointment of the new Commissioner of Official Languages, the main tool parliamentarians have is obviously committee testimony, particularly by the main person involved. I should point out that there is a contradiction between the answer given to the member for Outremont’s question about membership in the Liberal Party and what was stated in a written document provided to committee members.

I would like the committee to report, in light of the work by the member for Drummond—

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

Once again, I believe this to be a point of debate. The hon. member should perhaps find other means, such as debates, to ask these questions.

The hon. member for Saanich—Gulf Islands.

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

Mr. Speaker, this is a point of order that relates to our Standing Orders, particularly Standing Orders 16 and 18, which taken together mean we should not be interrupting each other in this place, nor speaking disrespectfully of each other. I noted today that we did have a duck question, and I know that sometimes ministers do duck questions. I also know that there are many canards on all sides of this place and sometimes, as today, the atmosphere becomes foul.

I just wanted to suggest that when it is not our—

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

I appreciate that the hon. member began by citing one of the articles in the Standing Orders, but in fact I think we are getting into a continuation of question period.

I would now like to go back to the hon. member for Beloeil—Chambly. I believe he is seeking unanimous consent to table a document.

[Matthew Dubé, NDP, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I simply wanted to inform you that once the committee has tabled its report, we will be raising a question of privilege on this issue and the fact that, in light of the information provided, it would seem we were misled in committee by the new commissioner. I wanted to give you advance notice.

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

Mr. Speaker, in response to my question on the Liberal mismanagement of the search and rescue aircraft, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Services and Procurement implied that perhaps I was involved in pyromanic criminal activity.

I would like to give the opportunity to the member to perhaps apologize and retract his comments.

[Steven MacKinnon, Liberal, Gatineau, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I was speaking metaphorically. I did not mean the hon. member actually started a fire.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

Order.

As I commented, these kinds of characterizations are usually unhelpful, and I think we will leave it at that.

The House resumed from May 18 consideration of the motion.

Opposition Motion—Autism Spectrum Disorder

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

It being 3:16 p.m., pursuant to an order made on Thursday, May 18, 2017, the House will now proceed with the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion of the member for Edmonton—Wetaskiwin relating to the business of supply. Call in the members.

And the bells having rung:

The question is on the motion. Shall I dispense?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

No.

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

[Chair read text of motion to House]

(The House divided on the motion, which was negatived on the following division:)

Vote #286

Business of Supply

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

I declare the motion lost.

Motion that debate be not further adjourned

[Bardish Chagger, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister of Small Business and Tourism]

Mr. Speaker, I move:

That in relation to the consideration of Government Business No. 14, the debate not be further adjourned.