Debates of Sept. 27th, 2017

Taxation

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, this government is always proud to stand up for, and stand with, our friends from Atlantic Canada.

We know that creating economic growth and boosting small businesses that create economic opportunity across Atlantic Canada is a priority that this government shares with all Atlantic Canadians.

That is why we are moving forward to make our tax system fairer. It is so that we can support small businesses as they work hard to grow our economy right across the country, and we can make sure that everyone pays their fair share of taxes.

Canada Post

[Thomas Mulcair, NDP, Outremont, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister himself made a campaign promise to restore home mail delivery to those who lost it. Ten months ago, the House of Commons committee that includes a number of his MPs recommended restoring the service, but since then it has been radio silence from his government.

Why will the Prime Minister not just admit that he broke his promise to restore home mail delivery?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians expect quality service from Canada Post, and that is what we have promised to deliver. We all know the world is changing. We placed a moratorium on new community mailboxes. We recognize the need for more conversations about how best to serve Canadians and to ensure that Canada Post is meeting our expectations and fulfilling our responsibilities. We are working very hard on that.

Fisheries and Oceans

[Pat Finnigan, Liberal, Miramichi—Grand Lake, NB]

Mr. Speaker, we all know that our oceans are absolutely essential to our planet's health.

As Canadians, we are all connected to our oceans, which are significant to our heritage, our culture, and of course our economy. Canada is committed to protecting 5% of our marine and coastal areas by the end of this year, and 10% by 2020.

Can the Prime Minister update this House on the government's progress toward these targets?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we are deeply committed to achieving our marine conservation targets. I am pleased to announce in this House today that we are taking one more step toward reaching our goal by creating two marine refuges on the east coast, including one in Miramichi Bay, in my colleague's riding.

This is just one more example of our real action to protect our oceans for future generations.

Taxation

[Peter Van Loan, Conservative, York—Simcoe, ON]

Mr. Speaker, 100 years ago, the wartime government of Robert Laird Borden introduced an income tax. Believe it or not, Liberals actually opposed the new tax—but wait: Liberals opposed the new income tax because it was not high enough.

The Liberal whip of the day said that it would be “a mere flea-bite”, and complained that the new tax “does not take from men enough to make it hurt.”

I give them full marks for consistency, but after 100 years of Liberals continually pressing to raise taxes, is it not time to stop making it hurt so much?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, over the past two years we have seen, after 10 long years of Conservative governance, positive signs of growth, job creation, and an economy on the upswing. A large part of that is because of the investments we made in our communities, in the middle class, and because we lowered taxes on the middle class and raised them on the wealthiest 1%. We brought in the Canada child benefit, which puts more money in the pockets of those who need it by not sending money to those who do not need it. We continue to be committed to making our tax system fairer for Canadians. That is exactly what we are doing with the recent measures we are discussing.

Indigenous Affairs

[Hunter Tootoo, Independent, Nunavut, NU]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister's speech to the UN General Assembly stressed the humiliation, neglect, and abuse that many indigenous people have suffered as a result of colonialism in Canada. The trauma experienced by those of us who attended residential schools has resulted in transgenerational addiction and mental health issues in Nunavut. These issues have contributed and continue to contribute to a suicide rate in Nunavut that is 10 times the national average. Can the Prime Minister inform the House of the government's plan to address this crisis?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we are committed to a renewed nation-to-nation relationship and to closing the gap in health and mental wellness outcomes for first nations and Inuit peoples. We are investing more than $300 million each year in community programming to help address the mental wellness needs of first nations and Inuit populations. Budget 2017 also included $118.2 million over five years to supplement existing mental health programming for first nations and Inuit. There remains much more to do, but we are committed to supporting local communities in a true Inuit-to-crown relationship.

Presence in Gallery

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

I would like to draw to the attention of hon. members the presence in the gallery of Her Excellency Malu Dreyer, President of the Federal Council, the Bundesrat, of the Federal Republic of Germany.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

The hon. member for Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie on a point of order.

Aerospace Industry

[Alexandre Boulerice, NDP, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I believe you will find unanimous consent for me to move the following motion:

That the House acknowledge the importance of the aerospace industry and the fact that Bombardier is a major employer in Quebec and elsewhere in Canada, as well as reiterate the importance of standing up to protect the industry and jobs against Boeing’s unjustified complaint and the United States government’s preliminary decision.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Does the hon. member have the unanimous consent of the House to move the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

The House has heard the terms of the motion. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

(Motion agreed to)

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Carleton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. It is standard practice that whenever members make reference to government documents in the House of Commons, they table them. Earlier on during the debate, I made reference to the “Annual Financial Report of the Government of Canada”, which showed that the wealthiest Canadians paid less tax in the government's first full fiscal year in office, revenues from that group falling by roughly $1 billion. I quoted directly from page 16 of that document.

The Prime Minister said that was all false. I am here today to table the document in question, and trust I will have unanimous and enthusiastic consent from the government.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Does the hon. member have the unanimous consent of the House?

[Some hon. members]

No.

Foreign Affairs

[Matt DeCourcey, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the treaties entitled “Agreement on Enhancing International Arctic Scientific Cooperation,” done at Fairbanks on May 11, 2017; “Acts of the 26th Congress of the Universal Postal Union,” done at Istanbul on October 6, 2016; and “Modifications in Part IV, Section II in Schedule V of Canada to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994, pursuant to the Ministerial Decision on Export Competition,” adopted in Nairobi on December 19, 2015. An explanatory memorandum is included with each treaty.

National Defence

[Jean Rioux, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 109, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to the 4th report of the Standing Committee on National Defence entitled “Protection of our Military Personnel”, tabled in the House of Commons on April 6, 2017.

Interparliamentary Delegations

[Leona Alleslev, Liberal, Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1) I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, the report of the Canadian delegation of the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association respecting its participation at the 62nd annual session of the Parliamentary assembly, from November 18 to 21, 2016, in Istanbul, Turkey.

Pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, the report of the Canadian delegation of the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association respecting its participation at the joint meeting of the defence and security, economics and security, and political committees in Brussels, Belgium, from February 18 to 20, 2017.

Canadian Heritage

[Hedy Fry, Liberal, Vancouver Centre, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 7th report of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage entitled “Canadian Women and Girls in Sport”.

Pursuant to Standing Order 109 the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report.