Debates of June 5th, 2017

Madawaska—Restigouche Graduates

[René Arseneault, Liberal, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

Mr. Speaker, June is a rather special month. It marks the beginning of the summer and the end of the school year.

I would like to take this moment to wish all of the 2017 grads of Madawaska—Restigouche the best of luck in their choices after high school graduation.

I am talking about students from École Aux quatre vents in Dalhousie, Roland-Pépin high school in Campbellton, and Marie-Gaétane high school in Kedgwick, Alexandre J. Savoie high school in Saint-Quentin, École Grande-Rivière in St-Léonard, and Cité des Jeunes A.-M.-Sormany in Edmundston.

It also includes the grads from Dalhousie Regional High School, Campbellton's Sugarloaf Senior High School, and Edmundston's Saint Mary's Academy. Our young people are now entering a new chapter in their lives.

Dear graduates, I wish you the best of luck in your endeavours next year.

Some will choose college or university; others will jump immediately into the labour market.

Whatever path you choose, approach this new chapter in your life with gusto and do your very best.

Once again, congratulations and good luck to all those who are graduating in 2017.

The Environment

[Linda Duncan, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the current government has been vociferous in defending its legislative and policy agenda, alleging it is protecting the environment while supporting economic development. However, these claims are roundly discredited even by the government's own expert panels, which report that public credibility in federal processes for reviewing and approving major energy projects is seriously broken. Significant environmental impacts are being given short shrift, including those to transboundary waters, indigenous rights and title, and threatened species and habitat, as well as feasible less-impacting alternatives.

The growing number of lawsuits by indigenous communities offers similar evidence of a deeply eroded trust in the government. Canadians, particularly in impacted communities and indigenous peoples, are demanding a voice well beyond individual projects and reviews. They want a seat at the table to ensure energy law and policy reflect their environmental, social, and cultural priorities.

On World Environment Day, is it too much to hope for real change to finally give Canadians a voice in their energy future?

Ramadan

[John McKay, Liberal, Scarborough—Guildwood, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to wish the Muslim community in Scarborough-Guildwood a peaceful and blessed Ramadan.

During this month of fasting and prayer, Muslims around the world engage in spiritual reflection, acts of charity, and good deeds. They are reminded of the suffering of those less fortunate and contemplate the values of compassion, empathy, and generosity.

Ramadan is a time for renewing faith and strengthening the bonds between family and friends.

I wish all those celebrating in my community and across the country Ramadan Mubarak.

As you fast and offer prayers, may you find greater peace, joy, and enlightenment.

Religious Freedom

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I am sure that all members will join me in recognizing and commending among our fellow Canadians those Muslims who are fasting during this month of Ramadan.

In Canada, we proudly respect the hard-won right of all people to practise their faith. Unfortunately, some Muslim communities around the world will face severe discrimination as they seek to undertake this religious practice. Muslim Uighurs in China face various efforts by the government to prevent them from fasting: restaurants being forced to remain open; people being forced into 24-hour guard shifts, which make fasting virtually impossible; and students being forced to watch communist propaganda films on the day of their prayers. In at least one school, students are regularly forced by administrators to eat and drink.

Uighurs, as well as Tatars in Russian-occupied Ukraine and Rohingya in Burma, face severe religious and ethnic discrimination. Muslim minority communities continue to face severe religious discrimination in many Muslim majority countries.

Rather than continuing to curry favour with brutal human rights violators, Canada must be a strong voice for justice and religious freedom.

Ramadan Mubarak.

In Memory of Members of Parliament

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in the House to honour the memory of parliamentarians who have left us in the past year. I want to thank them for dedicating their lives to serving Canadians.

As everyone knows in the House, parliamentarians often sacrifice careers and precious family time to contribute to Canada's thriving and stable democracy.

They make those sacrifices because they believe in our country, in our democracy, and in the importance of helping to advance our society. They are part of the men and women who, over the decades, have given their all to building a strong, united, and prosperous Canada that is open to the world.

These colleagues will forever remain in our collective memory. We thank them for their courage, their determination, and their desire to build a better future for all Canadians.

I thank them for their precious contribution to our country. They will never, ever be forgotten.

Portugal Day on the Hill

[Peter Fonseca, Liberal, Mississauga East—Cooksville, ON]

Mr. Speaker, [Member spoke in Portuguese as follows:]

Bon dia a todos.

[English]

I rise today to announce that tomorrow, June 6, the Canada-Portugal Parliamentary Friendship Group will be hosting our second annual Portugal Day on the Hill celebration. This year, everyone is welcome to join us in the East Block courtyard from noon to 2 p.m. for a delicious Portuguese barbeque. Please come hungry.

Portugal Day, June 10, is celebrated both in Portugal and around the world by Portuguese. It is a special day of pride for me, both as a Portuguese immigrant who came to Canada at the age of two with my family and as a resident of Mississauga, a city I am happy to call home to over 20,000 Portuguese Canadians, many of whom are constituents living in the riding of Mississauga East—Cooksville.

Portugal Day honours the date of the death of the 16th century poet Luis de Camões, who captured the word in Portugal's age of discovery.

To our Portuguese community across Canada--

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

The hon. member for Calgary Shepard.

Calgary Ukrainian Festival

[Tom Kmiec, Conservative, Calgary Shepard, AB]

Mr. Speaker, this past weekend I joined fellow Calgarians on their journey of all things Ukraine at the 8th annual Calgary Ukrainian Festival. Every year this Calgary festival aims to inform, educate, and entertain in a celebration of the beautiful customs and traditions of Ukraine. It offers the unique and rich Ukrainian heritage brought to Canada over 125 years ago.

I want to take the opportunity to honour the memory of all those brave Ukrainians who traversed the oceans in search of a better life for their families and who, in the process, proudly contributed to the rich cultural history of Canada.

Through Ukrainian folks songs, dance performances, traditional cuisine, arts and crafts, and especially, beautiful pysanka eggs, this weekend's festival offered Canadians of all backgrounds the opportunity to gain an appreciation of and experience true Ukrainian hospitality, undiminished by the passage of time.

I would like to congratulate the organizers, including my friend Michael Ilnycky, on another successful festival that showcased the rich and vibrant culture of Calgary's Ukrainian community.

Steel Days

[Terry Sheehan, Liberal, Sault Ste. Marie, ON]

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of my riding of Sault Ste. Marie and all Canadians, for the second year in a row I am honoured to rise in the House and extend a warm welcome to members of the Canadian Steel Producers Association as they partake in their annual Steel Days on Parliament Hill.

Domestic steel operations directly employ over 22,000 middle-class Canadians while supporting an additional 100,000 indirect jobs. The Canadian Steel Producers are the national voice of Canada's $14-billion steel industry. Member companies, which include Algoma and Tenaris, annually produce approximately 13 million tonnes of primary steel and over one million tonnes of steel pipe and tube products in Canadian facilities. Canadian steel supports a healthy Canadian economy, which benefits Canadians from coast to coast to coast.

Please join with me in welcoming members of the Canadian Steel Producers Association to Parliament Hill.

Saint-Laurent–Mont-Royal Chamber of Commerce and Industry

[Emmanuella Lambropoulos, Liberal, Saint-Laurent, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I had the pleasure of attending the Saint-Laurent–Mont-Royal chamber of commerce and industry Alpha gala last Thursday. Nearly 500 people were there to celebrate and highlight the excellence and entrepreneurial spirit of businesses in my beautiful riding of Saint-Laurent.

Winners such as Novatech International, Green Cross Biotherapeutics, BlueMed Medical Supplies, Brivia Group, as well as Legal Logik and many others, are a few of the outstanding examples of what we can accomplish together.

I would also like to thank the Saint-Laurent–Mont-Royal chamber of commerce and industry and Développement économique Saint-Laurent for the strong support they provide the riding's many businesses.

I thank them for helping to create business and employment opportunities for thousands of Canadians.

I look forward to continuing to work with everyone to help our community thrive.

PTSD Awareness Month

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

Mr. Speaker, June is post-traumatic stress disorder month and is dedicated to raising awareness of those it affects. This month is also meant to teach all of us how we can help those who suffer from PTSD.

As a former firefighter, I am very proud to have supported the work done by the member from Cariboo—Prince George on Bill C-211, an act respecting a federal framework on post-traumatic stress disorder.

PTSD does not discriminate. It can affect anyone at any age at any time at any stage of their lives. It affects those in combat situations, veterans, first responders, and other occupations, like doctors and nurses.

I would also like to recognize the work of Natalie Harris, a Barrie resident who, as a paramedic, suffers from PTSD, but it does not prevent her from selflessly helping others with PTSD. Natalie was in Ottawa last month testifying at the health committee. She is an inspiration to me and to so many others.

Let us all work together to raise awareness and help those suffering from PTSD.

Islamic Relief Canada

[Omar Alghabra, Liberal, Mississauga Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Islamic Relief Canada on 10 years of success, growth, and accomplishments. IRC is a humanitarian organization that provides assistance to the most needy at home and abroad.

In Canada, they were there for Fort McMurray after the wildfires. They have supported soup kitchens in Iqaluit and have helped resettle hundreds of refugees across Canada. Internationally, they are combatting gender-based violence, raising awareness against female genital mutilation, campaigning against hunger, and responding to natural and human-made disasters.

This year they are celebrating their 10th year in Canada. During those years, they have helped 30 million individuals, regardless of their race, faith, gender, or sexuality. That is almost the entire population of Canada.

I want to thank Islamic Relief Canada staff past and present, boards of directors, volunteers, and supporters for being exemplary global citizens who represent the best of humanity.

Christine Archibald

[Murray Rankin, NDP, Victoria, BC]

Mr. Speaker, 30-year-old Christine Archibald, from Castlegar B.C., was killed on London Bridge when three terrorists turned a van into a weapon and targeted civilians walking on that bridge. She was one of seven people who lost their lives in the horrifying attacks. Her fiancé, Tyler, watched her die in his arms. This is such a tragic loss, almost beyond comprehension.

Christine has been described as a bright light by those around her. She dedicated her life to helping the homeless and people suffering from addictions. Her family said, “She had room in her heart for everyone and believed everyone was to be valued and respected.” Her life deserved that same respect.

On behalf of all New Democrats, we extend our deepest condolences to Christine's family and loved ones. We are so very sorry for their loss.

[Candice Bergen, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

Mr. Speaker, on Saturday, the people of the U.K. were once again viciously attacked by a group of radical Islamic extremists. This follows a string of attacks: in Manchester; in Kabul; and in Egypt, in the attack that targeted and killed 28 Christians.

These Islamic extremist thugs and cowards are the lowest form of humanity. They are weak and they are impotent and they are only filled with hatred. There is no excuse for their existence, and there is no excuse for their actions. As Canadians, we must remain vigilant, but we must also join with our allies to confront and destroy radical Islamic extremism and terrorism in all its forms.

This latest attack hit us here at home. A Canadian woman from B.C., Christine Archibald, was among those killed. She had moved to the U.K. to be with her fiancé, Tyler. Chrissy was a social worker, dedicating her life to those who are less fortunate. She was known as generous, kind-spirited, and a bright light.

Today we honour those who lost their lives in London, and we reaffirm that light, like the light Chrissy showed, will always outshine the darkness.

[Stephen Fuhr, Liberal, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness I rise to share our condolences with the families and friends of those killed in the attack in London this past weekend. We grieve with those who have lost loved ones and wish all those injured a full and speedy recovery.

Our thoughts and prayers are especially with the family of Canadian Christine Archibald in their time of immense loss. Christine's family recently wrote, “She had room in her heart for everyone and believed every person was to be valued and respected.” They added that “She would have had no understanding of the casual cruelty that caused her death”, and called on us to honour her by making our communities better places.

These hateful acts do not deter us. They only make us stronger, strengthen our resolve, and bring out the best in our nature. Our response remains consistent when confronted by violence. We stand together with our allies.

Attack in London

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Following discussions among representatives of all parties in the House, I understand that there is an agreement to observe a moment of silence in memory of the victims of the attack in London and to commemorate Christine Archibald, from Castlegar, British Columbia. I now invite hon. members to stand.

[A moment of silence observed]

Events in United Kingdom

[Andrew Scheer, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, on Saturday, our friends and allies in the United Kingdom were once again attacked by radical Islamic terrorists. I want to thank the Prime Minister for his statement, and trust that all members stand in solidarity at this time.

A Canadian, Chrissy Archibald, from British Columbia, was a victim, and her family is asking Canadians to “Volunteer your time and labor or donate to a homeless shelter. Tell them Chrissy sent you.” I want to echo that sentiment today.

Can the Prime Minister please provide us with an update as to the government's response and reaction to this latest act of terror?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, it is with sadness that I rise to offer our condolences to the family and friends of Christine Archibald, who was a victim of Saturday's horrific attacks in London. As I reaffirmed with Prime Minister May an hour ago, we stand in solidarity with the British people.

The people of the United Kingdom have always been strong and resilient in the face of adversity.

This time will be no different.

Canadians stand with the British people, as well as with our allies, our friends, and our communities.

I also want to welcome and thank the leader of the official opposition for his question, and I look forward to working with him on issues of import to all Canadians.

Infrastructure

[Andrew Scheer, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is misleading Canadians about his $35-billion infrastructure bank. He refuses to admit that taxpayers will be on the hook for bad projects.

However, we have learned that his own officials are telling investors that they can keep their profits, but the bank will absorb any losses incurred.

Can the Prime Minister tell us, once and for all, who will pay for failed infrastructure projects? Will it be foreign investors or Canadian taxpayers?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians know that we need to invest in infrastructure. That is the choice they made during the last election when they voted for a party with ambitious plans to build roads and bridges and invest in public transit and green infrastructure for the future and support our communities today and going forward.

However, there is such a desperate need for infrastructure all across the country that even our historic investments worth hundreds of billions of dollars will not be enough. That is why we are introducing a new tool to help build more infrastructure for Canadians.

[Andrew Scheer, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the historic investments in infrastructure came from the Conservative government, not from the Liberal government.

Now the Prime Minister's billionaire friends have talked him into the infrastructure bank, and, guess what, Canadians will have to pay for it. It is not too late to do the right thing. He can listen to those who have raised serious concerns about this $35-billion boondoggle waiting to happen.

Will the Prime Minister put the brakes on this scheme, or does he really want to force Canadian taxpayers to co-sign loans for the richest 1%?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we raised taxes for the richest 1% and lowered them for the middle class, which, unfortunately, the members opposite voted against. We are committed to making sure that middle-class Canadians get the infrastructure they need: community services, green infrastructure, the public transit that is so necessary. On top of our $180 billion toward infrastructure, we know that drawing in private capital from around the world will get more things built for Canadians, will grow our economy, and create a better future for our kids.

Government Appointments

[Andrew Scheer, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister's message to foreign investors is: No credit, no problem.

On another note, we have been asking the Minister of Canadian Heritage for weeks now to cancel the partisan appointment of Ms. Meilleur as official languages commissioner.

Unfortunately, the minister is bound and determined to politicize the job by appointing a Liberal whom even the Prime Minister's advisors deemed too partisan for a Senate seat. This is ridiculous.

Will the Prime Minister do the sensible thing and cancel Ms. Meilleur's appointment?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we went through an open, transparent, merit-based appointment process.

For 10 years, the previous government always opted for partisan appointments. Now, we are choosing the right people regardless of their past political affiliation. We know Canadians need reassurance that the best possible people are getting these jobs. That is why we make sure to choose people from very different backgrounds who will serve their country, and that is what we will continue to do.

[Andrew Scheer, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the one thing we can count on about Liberals is that eventually they start acting like Liberals. Now Canadians are seeing the Prime Minister once again put the interests of a Liberal insider ahead of the integrity of our institutions. This time he is trying to ram through the appointment of Madeleine Meilleur as official languages commissioner. He wants us to believe that the only person qualified to serve in this non-partisan role just happens to be a lifelong Liberal who supported his leadership campaign.

When will the Prime Minister do the right thing, cancel this tainted nomination, and start a non-partisan process?