House of Commons Hansard #192 of the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was amendment.
Sven Spengemann Liberal Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of National Defence and the chief of the defence staff are seeking to facilitate the transition to civilian life for soldiers who retire or leave the Canadian Armed Forces. They want to close the seam. We owe a huge debt to our troops who retire after serving our country.
Can the parliamentary secretary tell the House what is in the new defence policy to facilitate the transition for those leaving military life?
Jean Rioux LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, we owe a debt to the men and women who served our country. The new defence policy reworks our approach to their transition to civilian life. A group of human resources experts will be created to ensure that members leaving the Canadian Armed Forces receive personalized support. This new transition group will also ensure that all the benefits are in place before a solider transitions to civilian life. Special attention will be given to those who were injured or sick.
Robert Sopuck Conservative Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB
Mr. Speaker, the Atlantic Salmon Federation has recently urged the Liberal government to take an aggressive approach to dealing with the egregious overfishing by Greenland of Canadian Atlantic salmon. Canadian Atlantic salmon numbers are critically low and greatly affecting the economy of many maritime communities. While Greenland plunders Canadian salmon while producing no salmon of its own, our stocks are becoming more difficult to maintain.
When will the Liberals stand up for Atlantic Canada, and put strong diplomatic and economic pressure on Greenland in order to restore Canada's Atlantic salmon and protect our fisheries?
Terry Beech LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries
Mr. Speaker, the conservation and rebuilding of wild Atlantic salmon stocks is a shared responsibility. It is a continuous, long-term process that requires the concerted efforts of everyone involved. I am encouraged by the steps that Greenland took in 2016 to strengthen its measures to manage its salmon fishery. However, there is still room for improvement. Fisheries and Oceans Canada will keep encouraging Greenland to reduce Greenland's harvest, both bilaterally and through bodies like NASCO, the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization.
Xavier Barsalou-Duval Bloc Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Quebec minister of culture has criticized the Minister of Canadian Heritage regarding the CRTC's terrible decision to abandon Quebec television. He said, and I quote, “Quebec is internationally recognized for its rich and diverse television production. The CRTC's recent decision can only hinder the creation of original French-language productions.”
Will the minister take responsibility and cancel the CRTC's decision regarding the licence for Séries+ and Historia, as allowed under the legislation?
Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications CommissionOral Questions
Charlottetown P.E.I.
Liberal
Sean Casey LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage
Mr. Speaker, our government firmly believes in the importance of arts and culture. That is why we invested more than $1.9 billion in this area, the largest investment in the past 30 years. We did so because we know that arts and culture are key drivers in our economy. We are currently studying the repercussions of the CRTC's decision.
Monique Pauzé Bloc Repentigny, QC
Mr. Speaker, the CRTC's decision is having a negative impact on Quebec television. As soon as the CRTC made its announcement, Séries+ cancelled three TV series. Speciality television that reflects Quebec culture is in danger of disappearing, and it will be the CRTC's fault. It will be responsible.
However, the law gives the Minister of Canadian Heritage the power to act on her own initiative. Will she take that initiative? Will she react to this attack on Quebec television? Will she overrule the CRTC's decision regarding the renewal of licences for Séries+ and Historia?
Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications CommissionOral Questions
Charlottetown P.E.I.
Liberal
Sean Casey LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage
Mr. Speaker, as I said, our government has invested over $1.9 billion in arts and culture, the largest investment a federal government has made in this area in 30 years. What is more, we are the only country in the G7 to have invested so much.
We are very aware of the fact that creative industries are facing challenges in the digital era, and that is why we have taken leadership on this issue. We are developing a new cultural policy that better reflects the issues facing our 21st-century creators.
Gabriel Ste-Marie Bloc Joliette, QC
Mr. Speaker, this government is working for Bay Street. It tried to override Quebec's Consumer Protection Act for Bay Street, and it is setting the infrastructure bank up on Bay Street for its Bay Street buddies.
Now Ottawa is once again facing off against Quebec in court defending another bad idea: the securities regulator.
When will Ottawa stop taking Quebeckers' money and using it to try to undermine Quebec in court for Bay Street's benefit?
Bill Morneau LiberalMinister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, we respect the jurisdiction of Quebec. We believe that the cooperative capital markets regime is something that can help our economy work well with risks in the economy. That said, we expect to be able to continue to work with those provinces that do not participate, and we will respect Quebec's decision in that regard.
The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan
I would like to draw to the attention of hon. members the presence in the gallery of His Holiness the 17th Karmapa.
The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan
I would also like to draw to the attention of hon. members the presence in the gallery of the Hon. Dale Kirby, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development for the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador; and the Hon. Brian Kenny, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development for the Province of New Brunswick.
The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan
To people across the country, Canadian Forces Day is an opportunity to honour the sacrifices that our military personnel make on our behalf.
It is with great pleasure that I draw to the attention of hon. members the presence in the gallery of six members of the Canadian Forces who are taking part in Canadian Armed Forces Day today: Major Gustave Garant, Master Warrant Officer Agata Slominska, Petty Officer 2nd Class, Edward Keith Slade, Master Corporal Anthony Vail, Master Corporal Catherine Desmarais, and Leading Seaman Chad Baldwin.
The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan
The member for Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou is rising on a point of order.
Romeo Saganash NDP Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC
Mr. Speaker, I am sure you will agree that respect in the House must be a priority for all members, and that includes the Prime Minister. During question period, the Prime Minister said that adopting the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples would be tantamount to imposing something on indigenous peoples in this country.
Will the Prime Minister rise to withdraw that insulting statement that suggests that there is anything wrong with simply respecting indigenous human rights in this country?
We are all bound by the rule of law in this chamber. To even suggest that the rights of indigenous peoples are subject to debate is troublesome, especially coming from the Prime Minister of Canada.
The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan
I thank the hon. member for Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou for raising this point. However, it is more a point of debate. I do not see anyone rising to respond to it.
The House resumed from June 8 consideration of the motion.
The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan
The House will now proceed to the deferred recorded division on the motion. Call in the members.
Shall I dispense?
Opposition Motion—Nuclear DisarmamentBusiness of SupplyGovernment Orders
Some hon. members
Agreed.
No.