House of Commons Hansard #343 of the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was elections.

Topics

Carbon PricingOral Questions

11:30 a.m.

Conservative

John Brassard Conservative Barrie—Innisfil, ON

Madam Speaker, we had a really deep dive into Liberal ideology earlier in question period with respect to the carbon tax. The minister admitted that large emitters would be exempt to save Canadian jobs, yet small and medium-sized enterprises, which employ 80% of Canadians, will not be exempt.

Why are these businesses and those jobs less important to the Liberals than large emitters? Is this not just another attack on small business?

Carbon PricingOral Questions

11:30 a.m.

Ottawa Centre Ontario

Liberal

Catherine McKenna LiberalMinister of Environment and Climate Change

Madam Speaker, it is always so surprising to hear the other side talk about how much they care about jobs. We reduced the small business tax rate to 9%. We have created more than 500,000 jobs for Canadians. We have the lowest unemployment rate in decades.

What are we also going to do? We are going to tackle climate change. We are going to save businesses money by helping them be more energy efficient.

At the end of the day, we are going to do what is critically important, which is to ensure we have a sustainable planet for our kids.

JusticeOral Questions

11:30 a.m.

NDP

Cheryl Hardcastle NDP Windsor—Tecumseh, ON

Madam Speaker, a French court that was supposed to rule today on a decision that released Hassan Diab from a French prison and allowed him to come home to Canada has pushed that decision to next year. This nightmare saga has persisted for over a decade. However, the government insists on carrying out a narrow review that will not even look at reforming our deeply flawed extradition regime.

Why will the government not do the right thing and call a public inquiry?

JusticeOral Questions

11:30 a.m.

Arif Virani Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Lib.

Madam Speaker, our government recognizes there is a legitimate interest in better understanding the process that led to Dr. Diab's original extradiction under the previous government. The Minister of Justice has asked for an external third-party review of this matter so a thorough review, examining the circumstances of that extradiction to France, can take place.

That independent external review is being led by Murray Segal. Mr. Segal has been given the tools, access and discretion necessary to conduct a thorough review of the case. We look forward to his report.

Foreign AffairsOral Questions

11:35 a.m.

NDP

Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON

Madam Speaker, Germany has cut off arms sales to the Saudi regime. There is no way the current government can justify this arms deal to the house of Saud.

Here is a simple plan. One, we cancel the deal as there is not an international body anywhere that will take the side of the Saudis. Two, we impose the Magnitsky sanctions on these criminals. Three, we repurpose the plant in London to build military vehicles for our troops that need the upgrades.

As for the Saudi crown prince, will the government do the right thing and tell him that we do not apologize to tyrants and that he can go stuff his objections?

Foreign AffairsOral Questions

11:35 a.m.

Pam Goldsmith-Jones Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Consular Affairs), Lib.

Madam Speaker, we condemn the murder of Jamal Khashoggi. We demand that Canadian arms exports be used in a manner that respects human rights. That is why we are committed to a stronger and more rigorous arms export system.

As the Prime Minister said yesterday, we are actively reviewing existing export permits to Saudi Arabia.

EthicsOral Questions

11:35 a.m.

Conservative

Peter Kent Conservative Thornhill, ON

Mr. Speaker, on November 20, 2015, James Cudmore, the CBC's military affairs reporter, broke a story. The first sentence read, “The new Liberal government is delaying approval of a deal to convert a civilian cargo ship into a badly needed military supply vessel.”

On December 21, Mr. Cudmore wrote his last story about controversial problems in the navy's procurement program.

His last official day at the CBC was January 8. He started work for the defence minister four days later. However, on what day did the minister offer Mr. Cudmore a job?

EthicsOral Questions

11:35 a.m.

Karen McCrimmon Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, Lib.

Madam Speaker, again, I will quote sections on the sub judice convention principle outlined in chapter 13 of House of Commons Procedure and Practice, third edition. The convention “recognizes the courts, as opposed to the House, as the proper forum in which to decide individual cases...as Speaker Fraser noted, “to maintain a separation and mutual respect between legislative and judicial branches of government”.

EthicsOral Questions

11:35 a.m.

Conservative

Peter Kent Conservative Thornhill, ON

Madam Speaker, the Conflict of Interest Act says, “a public office holder is in a conflict of interest when he or she exercises an official power, duty or function that provides an opportunity...to improperly further another person’s private interests.”

We know ministers often hire journalists for their communications skills to promote government policies. This seems to be the first time a journalist has been hired to block his communications skills to shut him up.

Therefore, the date is important. When did the minister hire Mr. Cudmore and give him a job?

EthicsOral Questions

11:35 a.m.

Karen McCrimmon Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, Lib.

Madam Speaker, I was told that the date was provided—

EthicsOral Questions

11:35 a.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh!

EthicsOral Questions

11:35 a.m.

NDP

The Assistant Deputy Speaker NDP Carol Hughes

I would ask members to allow the parliamentary secretary to answer the question. If they have other questions, they will be able to stand.

EthicsOral Questions

11:35 a.m.

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, Lib.

Karen McCrimmon

Madam Speaker, the sub judice rule dictates that members are expected to refrain from discussing matters that are before the courts or tribunals, which are courts of record. Therefore, we will not be making further comment on that.

EthicsOral Questions

11:35 a.m.

Conservative

Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC

Madam Speaker, that is completely untrue. Our leader's office was not told the date on which Mr. Cudmore was hired or offered a job. I cannot understand how the 40 MPs from Quebec can accept such ridiculous answers from the government on this. With respect to the Irving lobby, Mario Dumont recently said on the air, “I cannot believe that the 40 Liberal government MPs from Quebec would agree to feel less influential than a family of business people.”

My question is very simple. Will one of the 40 members from Quebec finally stand up and ask the Prime Minister to defend Davie workers? Will they tell us when James Cudmore was offered a job?

EthicsOral Questions

11:35 a.m.

Karen McCrimmon Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, Lib.

Madam Speaker, the government will not comment or speculate on any matter that is currently before the courts. On this side of the House, we believe in an independent judiciary. I would remind the member that the sub judice rule can be breached and violated by public statements that risk prejudicing matters or issues that are before the courts.

EthicsOral Questions

11:40 a.m.

Conservative

Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC

Madam Speaker, we are asking for a date, not a comment. Just a date. That is all we are asking for at this point. What is so secret about a date, a day, month and year? Every date is public. I have a calendar here with plenty of dates on it. Plenty. It is like a multiple choice question. None of the dates are marked confidential.

What I am asking is simple and the public has a right to know. On what date did the Liberal government offer James Cudmore a job? It is simple.

EthicsOral Questions

11:40 a.m.

Karen McCrimmon Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, Lib.

Madam Speaker, the role of the House of Commons is to help develop public policy and the laws needed to implement that policy. Police forces investigate and lay charges. The courts decide individual cases. Accordingly, it would be inappropriate to comment on this matter.

PovertyOral Questions

11:40 a.m.

NDP

Tracey Ramsey NDP Essex, ON

Madam Speaker, in my riding of Essex, one in four kids live in poverty. That is unacceptable. Our food banks are strained, there is a lack of affordable housing and hope for a minimum wage increase was just shattered by Doug Ford. The cancelled basic income pilot project in Ontario was helping us gather critical information on how to reduce poverty levels.

While Ford continues to attack the most vulnerable, the Liberals are turning a blind eye. The New Democrats join our leader Jagmeet Singh and call on the Liberals to continue this program.

Will Liberals help or are they going to turn their backs on vulnerable Ontarians too?

PovertyOral Questions

11:40 a.m.

Québec Québec

Liberal

Jean-Yves Duclos LiberalMinister of Families

Madam Speaker, I am so pleased to talk about the importance of reducing poverty in Canada. It has been the objective of our government since 2015.

We started by introducing the most innovative social policy in a generation, the Canada child benefit, which is lifting 300,000 children out of poverty every month and 200,000 parents at the same time.

We have launched, in August, the first-ever poverty reduction strategy, which is going to reduce poverty for a further 100,000 people in Canada by March 2019. We look forward to working with other governments to ensure this is well understood.

HousingOral Questions

11:40 a.m.

NDP

Sheri Benson NDP Saskatoon West, SK

Madam Speaker, the application process for the government's co-investment fund is onerous and complicated for non-profits. On the other hand, the rental construction financing initiative geared to the private sector has less stringent criteria for affordability, environmental assessment and accessibility.

Why do non-profit groups have to jump through more hoops to get similar benefits? Will the minister listen to feedback and allow flexibility so these non-profits can get down to work?

HousingOral Questions

11:40 a.m.

Québec Québec

Liberal

Jean-Yves Duclos LiberalMinister of Families

Madam Speaker, we have been so pleased and so proud to work since 2015 with a number of partners in Canada. I have been waiting for a long time for the first ever national housing strategy of this country to be launched in November 2017. We have been delighted with the level of input and the quality of the advice that they were giving to us. We look forward to working with them over the next 10 years on this $40 billion-plus investment in the homes of all Canadians, in particular the more vulnerable ones.

Indigenous AffairsOral Questions

11:40 a.m.

Liberal

Randy Boissonnault Liberal Edmonton Centre, AB

Madam Speaker, no relationship is more important to Canada than that with indigenous peoples and our government is committed to building renewed relationships based on recognition of rights and mutual respect. The Lubicon were left out when Treaty 8 was signed in 1899, and as a result, they have been negotiating with the government for almost 40 years over their rightful title to lands and treaty benefits.

Could the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations update the House on reconciliation with the Lubicon Lake Band?

Indigenous AffairsOral Questions

11:40 a.m.

Toronto—St. Paul's Ontario

Liberal

Carolyn Bennett LiberalMinister of Crown-Indigenous Relations

Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. member for his ongoing advocacy. This week, we took a historic step forward on the path of reconciliation with the Lubicon Lake Band. After decades of negotiations, our government, the Government of Alberta and the Lubicon Lake Band have reached agreements to finally address this historic injustice of land, compensation and community infrastructure.

As Chief Billy Joe said, this means a brighter future, a brighter economic future for their people. We acknowledge Premier Notley and her late father, the late Jim Prentice, generations of Lubicon Lake—

Indigenous AffairsOral Questions

11:40 a.m.

NDP

The Assistant Deputy Speaker NDP Carol Hughes

The hon. member for Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock.

Natural ResourcesOral Questions

11:45 a.m.

Conservative

Jamie Schmale Conservative Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON

Madam Speaker, Bill C-69 is putting a chill on investment in Canada's natural resources sector. The president of the Indian Resource Council said, “Bill C-69 will harm Indigenous economic development, create barriers to decision-making, and make Canada unattractive for resource investment.”

This legislation must be stopped. To make matters worse, under the current Prime Minister, Canadian energy investment has seen its biggest decline in more than 70 years.

When will the natural resources minister kill this bill?