Debates of June 16th, 2017

Standing Orders of the House of Commons

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

Mr. Speaker, as I just said in French, during the election campaign, we promised to bring real change to Parliament to make it more effective, open, and transparent. We made a specific commitment on how to achieve this. We have worked in good faith with the opposition, and we welcome a debate on the proposed changes in the coming days. Yesterday, I put a motion for the changes.

We have been working very well together. I knew we could. My door has always been open. It was good to see members come through that door so we could collaborate and work for Canadians.

Ethics

[John Brassard, Conservative, Barrie—Innisfil, ON]

Mr. Speaker, she ought to do that with her hand over her heart. It is much better.

However, the Heritage Minister is preparing a cultural document that will determine the future of Canadian online content for providers like Google. Her chief of staff has been lobbied six times alone this year by Google, a company for which she was a top executive.

Now, under the Conflict of Interest Act, minister's staff must abstain from participating in decisions that would place them in a conflict of interest. The rules are clear, but the minister either ignores them or thinks they do not apply to her.

Why did the minister allow Leslie Church to participate in these sensitive discussions?

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, we have said it many times before. Creative industries are going through a period of disruption brought on by the digital shift.

The minister has met with all major digital platforms as part of the Canadian content in the digital age review. Ms. Church's expertise and broad knowledge of the digital landscape is essential to our understanding of how to best support this sector during this transition. She has been fully transparent about her former employment, including with the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner.

[John Brassard, Conservative, Barrie—Innisfil, ON]

She is still in a conflict, Mr. Speaker.

Husky Energy recently hired that Minister of Natural Resources's former chief of staff, Janet Annesley, who worked for the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers just prior to taking the job with the minister, and Husky lobbied her just before the one-year cooling-off period began. In other words, up until she left the minister's office, she was directly involved in decisions that could directly impact her new employer.

Again, the law is clear. We know conflicts of interest come naturally to the Liberals, but will they stop using their offices as a resource to set their friends up for greener pastures?

[Kim Rudd, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, as we well know, all former staff is bound by a set of rules laid out by the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner. Those rules are quite clear and those rules will be followed.

Government Appointments

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

Mr. Speaker, all five members appointed by the Prime Minister's Office to the Halifax Port Authority donated to the Liberal coffers. Their combined contributions were $76,000.

Will the Prime Minister admit right now that when it comes to appointments, Liberals need only apply?

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, I have a bit of déjà vu here. I reject the premise of the question, of course, because we are taking a new open and transparent approach that is merit-based, that also takes into account diversity, including gender diversity.

The Port of Halifax is extremely important for Canada's economy. I am very proud of the five people who we have named because of their professionalism. This is good for the Port of Halifax.

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

Mr. Speaker, that is a government that when it was campaigning, said it was going to be the most open and transparent government in Canadian history. One of those donors gave over $50,000 to the Liberal coffers. It is truly transparent. It is transparent that someone who is a Liberal donor gets the job, a Liberal donor gets the appointment, a Liberal donor gets the project.

Why is the minister putting the interests of Liberal donors ahead of everyday Canadians?

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Again, Mr. Speaker, I totally reject the premise of that question. Our selection of board members for the Port of Halifax, and any other port across the country, is based on an open, transparent competitive process that is merit-based and takes into account diversity, including gender diversity.

We are very proud of the people who we have selected for the Port of Halifax. They are a great group of people who have the interests of the Port of Halifax, the economy of Nova Scotia—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

Order, please. There is too much noise in the chamber. It is very difficult to hear the questions and in some cases the answers. I would ask for order.

The hon. member for Saskatoon West.

Health

[Sheri Benson, NDP, Saskatoon West, SK]

Mr. Speaker, after cutting funding to one-third of all HIV organizations, including AIDS Saskatoon in my riding, the minister told us not to worry. She said there were $30 million of new funding for the federal initiative on HIV. Well, we have the department documents and guess what they say. The increase to the federal initiative on HIV, zero dollars. The increase to the community action fund, which funds these groups, zero dollars.

Could the minister explain where exactly is this funding or did she mislead the House and Canadians?

[Joël Lightbound, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, our government is deeply committed to addressing HIV and AIDS in Canada. As the minister said yesterday, and I will reiterate, budget 2017 included new investments of $30 million over five years to support front-line interventions to reduce new cases of HIV and hepatitis C by adopting a harm-reduction approach. This builds on the $72.6 million being spent this year alone under the federal initiative to address HIV/AIDS, with $26.4 million going to community-based organizations, such as the one to which she has referred.

We continue to work closely with all our partners in order to meet our targets and eliminate AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.

Official Languages

[Anne Minh-Thu Quach, NDP, Salaberry—Suroît, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals botched the process for replacing the Official Languages Commissioner, and they refused to support a new process that most of the parties agreed on. What a mess.

The problem is that the interim commissioner's term ends tomorrow. When my colleague from Drummond asked the Minister of Canadian Heritage about this two days ago, all she said was, “I will have an opportunity to tell you about the process.”

Today, I am giving her the opportunity to explain to us who will make sure that the Official Languages Act is complied with as of Sunday.

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, our two official languages are at the heart of Canada's history and identity. They are a priority for us.

We promised Canadians a new, open, rigorous, and merit-based process, and that is what we gave them. The role of Commissioner of Official Languages is very important, and we are sure that the person recommended will have all the required qualifications. We will be making an announcement in the next few days.

Infrastructure

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, residents of the national capital region understand the importance of public transit for shorter commutes, cleaner air, and a stronger economy. With the first phase of light rail nearing completion, it is important that we build on this momentum and expand the system. Could the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities please tell the House how the government is supporting the future of public transit in this, our beautiful national capital region?

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

Mr. Speaker, because of the hard work of the members of the national capital region caucus, this morning the Prime Minister announced more than $1 billion toward Ottawa's light rail transit, stage two, project. This investment will transform public transit across the region and create jobs and economic growth in the national capital region, while making communities more sustainable and inclusive.

We are very proud to support the city of Ottawa and the national capital region.

Indigenous Affairs

[Cathy McLeod, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday we learned that the director of operations for the missing and murdered indigenous women and girls inquiry has resigned. That is four senior employees that have jumped ship in less than a year.

The inquiry is losing credibility. Families are suffering with trust and trauma issues. Does the minister not see that there is a problem? Why is there such a significant staff turnover, and what is she going to do to reassure families that she will personally make sure that the inquiry gets back on track?

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, we are committed to ending this ongoing national tragedy. After decades of loss, discrimination, and mistreatment, families of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls are speaking and feeling heard. The commission has acknowledged the need to increase communication and that families must be at the centre of the inquiry, and it is committed to ensuring this.

I was also pleased to see the positive feedback from the first family sessions in Whitehorse. I am confident that the commissioners have the background, the experience, and the mandate to lead this inquiry.

Natural Resources

[John Barlow, Conservative, Foothills, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister vowed to phase out the oil sands, and unfortunately for Canada, it seems his plan is working. Imposing a carbon tax, axing the discovery wells tax credit, and forcing his anti-oil activists onto the energy minister's staff are taking their toll. In March, there were 25 junior oil companies left in Alberta, down from close to 100. These risk-takers are the heartbeat of Alberta's energy sector.

When will the Prime Minister make the right priorities? Why are his priorities a job-killing carbon tax and paid anti-oil activists, when they should be Canada's economy and the jobs of hard-working Albertans?

[Catherine McKenna, Liberal, Minister of Environment and Climate Change]

Mr. Speaker, unlike the party opposite, we understand that the environment and the economy go together. That is why we are putting a price on pollution that will reduce what we do not want, which is pollution, and foster what we do want, which is innovation, clean growth, and good jobs.

We also approved two pipelines, which the party opposite was unable to do. We understand that the environment and the economy go together. We want a more sustainable future for our kids, and we want clean growth and good jobs.

Taxation

[Robert Gordon Kitchen, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals have calculated how much revenue could be generated from a carbon tax, but they will not release that important information. The estimated cost of the tax is $2.5 billion in Saskatchewan alone. That is right, billion, with a “b”.

In my riding, one trucking company estimates that this Liberal cash grab will cost him an extra half a million dollars per year. Why do the Liberals refuse to disclose the cost this forced carbon tax will have on Saskatchewan families and businesses?

[Catherine McKenna, Liberal, Minister of Environment and Climate Change]

Mr. Speaker, let me be clear to the member opposite. As we have repeated over and over, all revenues that are received to better put a price on pollution go directly back to the province.

Let me also be clear that 80% of Canadians live in a jurisdiction where, through the leadership of the provinces, there is already a price on pollution. We are very hopeful that every province will step up, do the right thing, put a price on what we do not want, pollution, and foster what we do want, clean jobs, innovation, and a more sustainable future for our kids.

Agriculture and Agri-Food

[Larry Maguire, Conservative, Brandon—Souris, MB]

Mr. Speaker, every day, the Liberals continue to drag their feet on the reintroduction of vital security measures that would help eliminate the PED outbreak in hogs in Manitoba. By doing so, it continues to put the livelihoods of farm families at risk. Manitoba farmers cannot wait any longer. The time to sit around and talk is long gone. The Liberals need to listen to industry experts and take immediate action.

Will the Minister of Agriculture stop ignoring the very people he is meant to help and reintroduce the much-needed biosecurity measures immediately?

[Jean-Claude Poissant, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, porcine epidemic diarrhea, or PED, poses no risk to human health. PED is a reportable disease at the provincial level and is not regulated by the federal government.

The minister of agriculture for Manitoba and the Manitoba Pork Council are following the normal response protocol for PED. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has offered its support to Manitoba and will assist as needed.

It is too early at this stage of the investigation to identify the source of the disease or how far it has spread.