House of Commons Hansard #341 of the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was elections.
Alain Rayes Conservative Richmond—Arthabaska, QC
Mr. Speaker, on November 20, CBC reporter James Cudmore broke the story of the Liberals' decision to terminate the Davie contract. Curiously, two months later, as if by magic, he was hired by the Minister of National Defence's office as a policy adviser.
I have a simple question for the Prime Minister. Was it the Prime Minister's Office or the Minister of National Defence's office that hired Mr. Cudmore to keep him quiet about the Liberal schemes he had exposed involving the Davie contract?
Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, these employment details were already provided to the opposition House leader.
The Conservatives are simply trying to indirectly prosecute an ongoing court case in the House. We will not comment on an ongoing court case.
Alain Rayes Conservative Richmond—Arthabaska, QC
Mr. Speaker, all we asked for was the date that James Cudmore was offered a job in the Minister of National Defence's office. We have had no answer for three days.
We asked if he was hired to stop him from continuing to report on the Liberals' political meddling in the Davie shipyard contract, but our question is still unanswered.
This sounds like more Liberal skulduggery.
What is the Prime Minister hiding?
Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, these employment details were already provided to the opposition House leader. The Conservatives are simply trying to indirectly prosecute an ongoing court case in the House. We will not comment on an ongoing court case.
Lisa Raitt Conservative Milton, ON
Mr. Speaker, I believe the question that the government was asked to answer was the date on which the offer was made. That is the information we will continue to seek.
In 2015, right after swearing in, the cabinet and the government set up a secret cabinet committee. This secret cabinet committee had one purpose, and that was to stop the procurement of a navy vessel.
Interestingly enough, in the attempt to cover it up, the government is now denying documents for a fair trial. In the spirit of access to justice week, will the Prime Minister release these documents?
Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, those employment details were already provided to the opposition House leader. The Conservatives are simply trying to indirectly prosecute an ongoing court case in the House. We will not comment on an ongoing court case.
Lisa Raitt Conservative Milton, ON
Mr. Speaker, what I am looking for comment on is the reason why the Prime Minister is withholding documents for a straight-up defence of a person accused of a serious crime. If he will not tell us who he is protecting, maybe I can surmise that it was the President of the Treasury Board who did receive a letter from Irving, asking for his intervention.
I also note that the current Minister of Intergovernmental and Northern Affairs and Internal Trade did not post his conflict screen until three months after the secret cabinet meeting.
Is that who the Prime Minister is protecting?
Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, the member opposite and, indeed, the Conservatives in general used to understand that we cannot comment on an ongoing court case. That is why they cited that rule in the House over 300 times when they were in government.
We respect the independence of the judicial system, and we will not comment.
Anne Minh-Thu Quach NDP Salaberry—Suroît, QC
Mr. Speaker, there are 40 Liberal MPs from Quebec, but they are obviously not listening to Quebeckers. Opposition to energy east is practically unanimous, but when the Conservatives promise to bring back the pipeline, the Liberals leave the door wide open.
Does Ottawa listen to anyone but oil industry lobbyists?
How much does the ear of an opposition leader or a prime minister cost? Does a private dinner go for $1,500?
That is a small price to pay to jeopardize Quebec's main drinking water source.
Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, I would encourage the NDP to follow the new public funding rules we brought in. We welcome the media, and we are open and transparent about all political donations. That is what we are doing. Why are they still hiding their secret fundraisers? All parties should be more transparent, just as we are being more transparent.
On the subject of investment, we are always open to investment, but everyone needs to follow the proper procedure. That is what all Canadians, including Quebeckers, expect.
Alexandre Boulerice NDP Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC
Mr. Speaker, I know a lot of Quebeckers who are going to be concerned about the Prime Minister's answer because they are committed to protecting our rivers and our access to clean drinking water.
The Prime Minister is using his slingshot to fight climate change, when what we really need is to bring out the heavy artillery. The Conservatives are declaring war on Quebec by trying to bring back energy east. We are in trouble. The Liberal and Conservative pipeline coalition could care less about the environment.
What I want is for the Prime Minister to commit, here and now, to never bring back energy east.
Does he have the courage to do that or is he the oil lobbies' puppet? What is it going to be ?
The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan
I encourage members to be careful with their comments. They know that they are to avoid remarks that could be construed as an insult.
The right hon. Prime Minister.
Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, the NDP is all talk and no action.
We have a real plan that will enable us to meet the Paris greenhouse gas reduction targets. We are putting a price on pollution with the understanding that we need to create jobs and a greener and more prosperous future for all Canadians.
That is the balance we are striking. We understand that that balance is what is necessary, and it is what we heard Quebeckers and Canadians say they want. The NDP is still pitting the environment and the economy against each other, which does not work for Quebeckers or indeed all Canadians.
Pierre Paul-Hus Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC
Mr. Speaker, I will rephrase my question. We are not talking about Vice-Admiral Norman's case.
What the Conservatives want to know is whether the Prime Minister gave journalist James Cudmore a job so he would stop reporting on the Liberal government's shenanigans at the expense of Davie.
Erin O'Toole Conservative Durham, ON
Mr. Speaker, on November 4, the Liberal cabinet was sworn in and within days it was trying to change the Davie contract. CBC journalist James Cudmore wrote three stories on this controversy. The last one was on December 21, and on January 8, he left his job with the CBC.
The Prime Minister is trying to be cute here. On what day was James Cudmore offered a job, and who in his office offered that job? Was it on Christmas Day? Give us the day, through you, Mr. Speaker, when James Cudmore was offered a job.
Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, as I said, employment details have already been provided to the opposition House leader.
The Conservatives are simply trying to indirectly prosecute an ongoing court case in this House. We will not comment on an ongoing court case.
Erin O'Toole Conservative Durham, ON
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister suggests he has provided that information and we are suggesting he has not. I would ask him to table the documents they have shared on what date he was offered a job.
What is really concerning about this is that James Cudmore's stories led to a Privy Council investigation in January. That investigation revealed six separate leaks and 73 people who knew the details of the Liberal cabinet meeting. I want the Prime Minister to tell this House how many of those 73 were Atlantic Liberal MPs.
Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, on this side of the House, we respect the independence of our judicial system. It is out of respect for that independence that we will not engage with the Conservatives' prosecution of this case on the floor of this House. It would be inappropriate for me to comment on an ongoing court case. The Conservatives well know that because they made that clear over 300 times when they were in government.
Sonia Sidhu Liberal Brampton South, ON
Mr. Speaker, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and rightfully so. As we know, across Canada, one out of eight women will receive the diagnosis of breast cancer during her lifetime. Research is key.
Can the Prime Minister inform this House of the actions taken by the government regarding breast cancer?
Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for Brampton South for her hard work and her advocacy on this important issue.
Thousands of Canadians have joined walks in their cities and communities with many others who have also been impacted by breast cancer. This month, let us all learn more about breast cancer, starting with prevention and screening. We recognize the importance of research, and support organizations like Canadian Partnership Against Cancer with close to $50 million annually.
Mr. Speaker, through you to all survivors and families who have lost loved ones, we will not stop until we find a cure.
Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is a good actor, but a very poor negotiator. Just ask any dairy, egg or poultry producer in Quebec or the rest of Canada, who were sacrificed at the negotiating table to reach a deal with the U.S.
The president of Dairy Farmers of Canada has been clear. He simply does not understand how that agreement will benefit the 220,000 Canadian families that depend on dairy for their livelihood.
A good actor repeats his lines, and the Prime Minister has done plenty of that today. A good negotiator, though, prepares his strategy.
Can the Prime Minister tell us what studies he looked at before deciding to turn his back on Canadian farmers?
Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, the agreement with the United States and Mexico preserves and maintains supply management. Its future is no longer in question.
With regard to market shares, we promised farmers that they would receive full and fair compensation. The changes to market access in this agreement are similar to those in the TPP, which was lauded by the Conservatives.
Supply management is protected and farmers will be compensated. As always, the Conservatives are playing political games.
Richard Cannings NDP South Okanagan—West Kootenay, BC
Mr. Speaker, this spring, there were two significant sulphuric acid spills from transport trucks in Trail, B.C. Over a thousand cars that drove through the spills had to be written off because they were unsafe to drive. The Trail fire department lost two of their trucks. A smaller spill happened again in September. Regional authorities are deeply concerned that Transport Canada does not have the staffing capacity to effectively deal with incidents like this.
Is Transport Canada investigating these acid spills? What enforcement actions will it take to resolve the issues faced by local residents and governments?
Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, obviously, we take this situation seriously. This is something which, of course, Transport Canada is looking at. We know that the protection of communities and citizens right across the country is one of the fundamental responsibilities of any government, and it is one which we take very seriously.