House of Commons Hansard #202 of the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was community.

Topics

TaxationOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Conservative

Phil McColeman Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON

Shell owners on Bay Street.

TaxationOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan

Order. The hon. member for Brantford—Brant is still having difficulty controlling himself. Perhaps he would like to step outside for the rest of the day, to exit and take a little break if he cannot stay calm. I invite him to do that.

The hon. member for Brandon—Souris.

TaxationOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Conservative

Larry Maguire Conservative Brandon—Souris, MB

Mr. Speaker, Kirby Baumung, who owns Lyons Transmission Centre, employs seven people in Brandon, Manitoba and is being forced to pay a massive tax increase because of the finance minister's punitive tax increase package. Why is the finance minister forcing Kirby to have to pay these huge, massive taxes that not even his millionaire owners of Morneau Shepell have to pay? How is this fair?

TaxationOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Toronto Centre Ontario

Liberal

Bill Morneau LiberalMinister of Finance

Mr. Speaker, a tax system that encourages the wealthy to incorporate to pay a lower tax rate than the middle class is not a tax system that is fair. We want to be clear that we want to encourage investment in small business, and that is why we plan on keeping small business tax rates low, the lowest in the G7 countries. That is our goal.

We are going to make sure the system does not encourage wealthy people to have a lower tax rate than the middle class and at the same time, encourage small businesses to invest in their business so that we can grow our economy.

International TradeOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Liberal

Emmanuella Lambropoulos Liberal Saint-Laurent, QC

Mr. Speaker, Quebec's largest industrial and research park is in my riding, Saint-Laurent. It is home to nearly 4,500 businesses, including 100 technology and innovation businesses in Technoparc Montréal's Campus Saint-Laurent, and employs over 105,000 people.

Can the Minister of International Trade tell the House how the comprehensive economic and trade agreement between Canada and the European Union will benefit businesses and start-ups in my riding and the rest of Canada?

International TradeOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Saint-Maurice—Champlain Québec

Liberal

François-Philippe Champagne LiberalMinister of International Trade

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for Saint-Laurent for her question.

That question is on the minds of all Canadians. The Canada-Europe free trade agreement will take effect tomorrow, giving businesses across Canada access to a market of over 510 million consumers. I encourage all MPs to use the free trade agreement to make a difference in the lives of small businesses, families, workers, farmers, and fishers. It will be a great day for Canada.

TaxationOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Conservative

Jacques Gourde Conservative Lévis—Lotbinière, QC

Mr. Speaker, how disgraceful and unfair.

The Minister of Finance wants to tax small business investment income at a rate of 73%. As a result, the retirement plans of a pork producer in my riding, Mario, will be seriously jeopardized.

Why is the Minister of Finance forcing Mario to pay a tax rate of 73% that the millionaire owners of Morneau Shepell do not have to pay? How is that fair? What a disgrace.

TaxationOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Toronto Centre Ontario

Liberal

Bill Morneau LiberalMinister of Finance

Mr. Speaker, we do not want to have a situation where the wealthy can simply change their situation by incorporating so they have a lower tax rate than the middle class. That is not a fair system. We want a system where small and medium-sized businesses have the opportunity to make investments with one of the lowest tax rates in the G7, but at the same time, one that is fair. That is our goal, and we are confident that we can create an economy that works for all Canadians.

The EnvironmentOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

NDP

Daniel Blaikie NDP Elmwood—Transcona, MB

Mr. Speaker, on the say-so of a U.S. court, North Dakota is pushing ahead with two water diversion projects that could have terrible consequences for Lake Winnipeg. Foreign organisms could be transferred between independent watersheds and increased nutrient loads could mean further problems with toxic algae.

It was a platform commitment of the Liberals to protect Lake Winnipeg. The way to do that is to refer these projects to the International Joint Commission for independent review and Canadian oversight. Now that the time for talk is over, will the Liberals stand up for Lake Winnipeg and make that referral?

The EnvironmentOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

North Vancouver B.C.

Liberal

Jonathan Wilkinson LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change

Mr. Speaker, the health of Lake Winnipeg is a priority for the government, and it was reflected in the budget. There was $27.5 million allocated in the budget to protect Lake Winnipeg and its basin. In that regard, we are working with the relevant provinces in the basin and the relevant states in the United States to ensure that we are protecting and enhancing the ecological status of the lake.

HealthOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Liberal

Rob Oliphant Liberal Don Valley West, ON

Mr. Speaker, tomorrow is World Alzheimer's Day. Almost every member of this chamber has been touched by Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia in some way or another, and so have most Canadians. We all know that more needs to be done to help those struggling with dementia and those caring for them, as well as in research to understand and treat these diseases.

As I congratulate the new Minister of Health on her appointment, can she update us on her department's work on this important issue?

HealthOral Questions

3:10 p.m.

Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe New Brunswick

Liberal

Ginette Petitpas Taylor LiberalMinister of Health

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for Don Valley West for his question and his work, along with the member for Niagara Falls, on Bill C-233.

This is a priority for our government and a priority of mine personally, as my mother lives with Lewy body dementia. This is why we are continuing to contribute $42 million to Baycrest Health Sciences to support new research and development, testing, and scale-up of products and services for brain health and aging. Last year we launched the largest-ever study in dementia in Canada.

We will continue to work to improve the lives of those with Alzheimer's and their families.

EthicsOral Questions

3:10 p.m.

Conservative

Peter Kent Conservative Thornhill, ON

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Indigenous Services filed her public declaration of assets with the Ethics Commissioner on February 26, 2016. In that disclosure, the minister said there was a compliance agreement permitting her to continue as president, treasurer, secretary, and director of her professional corporation until August 3, 2016.

Did the minister recuse herself from any discussions involving tax changes between November 4, 2015, and August 3, 2016?

EthicsOral Questions

3:10 p.m.

Markham—Stouffville Ontario

Liberal

Jane Philpott LiberalMinister of Indigenous Services

Mr. Speaker, I did not hear all the details of the question, but I would be happy to speak to the member afterwards.

I was not involved in the discussions related to the tax changes. I did have a medical professional corporation, and it was closed down. I made that decision on the day I was elected when I knew that I would not be practising for some time to come.

Natural ResourcesOral Questions

3:10 p.m.

Green

Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Natural Resources.

We know that since Bill C-38 in 2012, the National Energy Board, with no competence or experience in environmental assessment, is making a hash of the projects that it reviews. Two expert panels have now recommended taking the National Energy Board out of environmental assessment.

I think the National Energy Board may be nailing the nails in its own coffin with the recent approval of a Spectra natural gas pipeline against the advice of Environment Canada's concern for endangered species. A similar mining project in the same region is getting different treatment through the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency.

Can the minister confirm that we will get the National Energy Board out of environmental assessments once and for all?

Natural ResourcesOral Questions

3:10 p.m.

Winnipeg South Centre Manitoba

Liberal

Jim Carr LiberalMinister of Natural Resources

Mr. Speaker, as the member knows, the government has spent the last number of months looking at modernization and reform of the National Energy Board. It is part of a coast to coast to coast set of conversations with Canadians.

I can assure the member that when we come to the House later with legislation, it will embody those very principles that matter to her: indigenous consultation, environmental stewardship, and responsible economic growth for Canada.

Foreign AffairsRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

Fredericton New Brunswick

Liberal

Matt DeCourcey LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs

Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to take the time to table these documents on behalf of the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Pursuant to Standing Order 32.2, I have the honour to table in both official languages the treaties entitled “Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer”, adopted at Kigali on October 15, 2016; “Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution to Abate Acidification, Eutrophication and Ground-level Ozone”, adopted at Gothenburg on November 30, 1999; and “Amendment of the text of and annexes II to IX to the 1999 Protocol to Abate Acidification, Eutrophication and Ground-level Ozone and the addition of new annexes X and XI”, adopted at Geneva on May 4, 2012.

An explanatory memorandum is included with each treaty.

Access to Information Act and Privacy ActRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

Vancouver Granville B.C.

Liberal

Jody Wilson-Raybould LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

Mr. Speaker, I would like to table, in both official languages, a charter statement on Bill C-58, An Act to amend the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts.

Automotive IndustryPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

NDP

Tracey Ramsey NDP Essex, ON

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to present an online petition calling on the Government of Canada to secure future production levels at Unifor local 88, GM CAMI Ingersoll, where workers today are on strike over this very issue. The petition points out that GM announced in January 2017 that 625 workers would be laid off because production of the current model Chevrolet Equinox would end one year earlier than previously stated. The petition also states that for every auto job lost, the surrounding community loses seven jobs, negatively affecting 4,375 jobs; and that Canada has seen zero new auto factories over the last five years while Mexico has had nine new facilities.

The signers of the petition demand that GM reverse its decision to build the next-generation GMC Terrain in Mexico and bring that production back to GM CAMI Ingersoll, maintaining production and staffing levels at 2016 numbers.

The petitioners also request that the government engage stakeholders to develop an effective national auto strategy, including the integration of federal and provincial investment attraction incentives, ensuring that Canada's investment incentives are competitive and efficient, and reversing the automotive trade deficit with all countries, including Mexico.

Water QualityPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

Liberal

Denis Paradis Liberal Brome—Missisquoi, QC

Mr. Speaker, the subject of Lake Winnipeg came up during question period. I want to talk about Lake Champlain again. The lake needs government intervention because its water is green and smelly. No one would drink it. It is like pea soup.

I want to commend the mayors, especially the mayor of Venise-en-Québec, Jacques Landry, who chairs the Actions Lac Champlain committee.

On Saturday, a meeting will be held at Lake Champlain in the Saint-Armand sector, to discuss the state of the lake with our American friends. I want to take this opportunity to thank the hon. member for Saint-Jean for his support. He is monitoring this situation closely.

TaxationPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:20 p.m.

Conservative

Cheryl Gallant Conservative Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition signed by campers who stayed at Sportsman's Park Tent and Trailer in Alban, Ontario, a place as close to heaven as people can come while still being alive, in the riding of Nickel Belt. The petitioners call on the government to ensure that campgrounds with fewer than five full-time, year-round employees will continue to be recognized and taxed as small businesses.

Unlike having a chalet in the Laurentians or a villa in the south of France, campground owners toil day and night ensuring the availability of clean, running water; septic services; and everything necessary to keep guests safe and comfortable. These businesses are not tax-avoidance schemes. Reinstate the small business tax credit for them, and call off the tax grab on other small businesses.

The EnvironmentPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:20 p.m.

NDP

Wayne Stetski NDP Kootenay—Columbia, BC

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to present e-petition 927 with 1,432 signatures. It is concerning the old-growth prairie and the prairie farm rehabilitation administration pastures, which under the Conservative government were being transferred to the provinces and the private sector. These pastures are really important for meeting our commitments under the UN convention on biodiversity, the Aichi accord, the Paris accord, the migratory bird convention, as well as our national biodiversity strategy, “Pathway to Canada Target 1”.

The petitioners are asking the Minister of Environment and Climate Change to work with livestock producers, first nations, Métis organizations, and conservation organizations to create a multi-use prairie conservation network on all former PFRA community pastures, and protect the ecological well-being of this important ecosystem.

Palliative CarePetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:20 p.m.

Liberal

Vance Badawey Liberal Niagara Centre, ON

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to table a petition in the House on behalf of my constituents in my riding of Niagara Centre, particularly in the city of Port Colborne.

The petition has been duly certified and calls for hospice palliative care to be a defined medical service under the Canada Health Act so that provincial and territorial governments will be entitled to funds under the Canada health transfer system to be used to provide accessible and available hospice palliative care for all residents of Canada in their respective provinces as well as territories.

ContraceptionPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:20 p.m.

NDP

Irene Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON

Mr. Speaker, I present e-petition 935, signed by almost 1,000 constituents from across the country. The petition asks the Government of Canada to support the NDP's Motion No. 65, which calls on the federal government to work with the provinces to cover the full cost of prescribed contraceptives.

Foreign AffairsPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:20 p.m.

Green

Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present two petitions. The first is from residents within my riding of Saanich—Gulf Islands. It calls on the Government of Canada to withdraw Canadians troops from Iraq and Syria, to sign and ratify the UN arms trade treaty, and work toward lasting solutions for peace and civility globally.