Debates of Nov. 30th, 2018

Foreign Affairs

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

Mr. Speaker, Canada calls for an immediate ceasefire in Yemen. We deplore the humanitarian disaster and demand immediate access for life-saving food and aid. Canada has led a resolution at the UN to renew the mandated experts to examine human rights violations in Yemen. We require and expect that Canadian arms exports are used in a way that fully respects human rights. If there is evidence that Canadians arms are being misused or have been diverted, we will suspend those export permits as we have done in the past.

[Hélène Laverdière, NDP, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we provide humanitarian assistance and then we provide arms to the country that prevents that humanitarian assistance from reaching those who need it.

We have been calling on the government for three years now to stop exporting weapons to Saudi Arabia. Some of the reasons for that include political prisoners, torture, the oppression of women and forced disappearances, not to mention the terrible war in Yemen, which brought famine, destruction and war crimes to that ravaged country.

What is the government waiting for? When will it finally stop exporting weapons to Saudi Arabia?

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

Mr. Speaker, our government condemns the horrible murder of Jamal Khashoggi and is deeply concerned by reports of the participation of Saudi officials. We strongly demand and expect that Canadian arms exports are used in a way that fully respects human rights.

As the Prime Minister said, we are actively reviewing existing export permits to Saudi Arabia and, of course, during this review, no permits are being issued.

Finance

[Diane Finley, Conservative, Haldimand—Norfolk, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals are going to have to pay $23 billion next year just for the interest on the country's debt and they are going to borrow $20 billion to pay for it. That is like using one credit card to pay off another. Every sensible Canadian knows that is a recipe for financial disaster.

To fix the problem, the Liberals need to keep their promise to Canadians to balance the budget. When will they?

[Joël Lightbound, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, in 2015, under the Conservative government's disastrous policies, Canada was headed for a recession. In fact, Canada was technically in a recession in 2015, with the worst job creation and the worst GDP growth since the Second World War. We took a completely different approach, one that has been praised by the international community. It involves investing in our infrastructure, investing in Canadians, reducing inequality, and giving more to the middle class. In fact, because of our actions, next year, the average Canadian family will have $2,000 more in its pocket than it did under the former government. The economy is growing and our debt-to-GDP ratio is steadily declining, which is fiscally responsible.

Natural Resources

[Pat Kelly, Conservative, Calgary Rocky Ridge, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I grew up in Calgary during Pierre Trudeau's national energy program and 36 years later, we have another made-in-Canada energy crisis. The Prime Minister has killed northern gateway, brought in a tanker ban, killed energy east by changing the application process and spectacularly failed on Trans Mountain. Canada is practically giving away its energy under the government.

When will the Liberals finally stop making things worse and will they kill the “no more pipelines” bill, Bill C-69?

[Paul Lefebvre, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources, Lib.]

Mr. Speaker, we understand the frustration and we care deeply about supporting our energy sector. Our focus is on ensuring that every barrel of Alberta oil gets its full value. That is why our government has made addressing this national issue an urgent priority. We know that the long-term solution is to build pipeline capacity and expand to global markets. That is what we are doing.

Actually, the Minister of Natural Resources, a proud Albertan, was in British Columbia having those consultations with first nations with respect to the Trans Mountain expansion project. We are also having discussions with stakeholders and provinces to look at all short-term options to make sure we get this right.

[Shannon Stubbs, Conservative, Lakeland, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals need to stop talking about their feelings and fix the crisis they have created.

Under Conservatives, four new pipelines were built and companies wanted to build three more, two to new markets, when the Liberals came to power, but the Liberals chased them all away. Provinces, industry and financial experts all agree that the Liberals “no more pipelines” bill, Bill C-69 will do exactly what it is designed to do: stop any new pipeline from being proposed or built in Canada again.

Will the Liberals act and commit right now to scrap their “no more pipelines” bill, Bill C-69, yes or no?

[Paul Lefebvre, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources, Lib.]

Mr. Speaker, Bill C-69's better rules would lead to more timely and predictable reviews, and encourage further investments in Canada's natural resources sector and in our people. The Conservatives gutted this process, and we see the results. Nine-nine percent of our oil exports were to a single buyer, the United States. The Conservatives' approach failed.

We are working to restore trust and make sure that good projects can move forward and grow our economy.

[Shannon Stubbs, Conservative, Lakeland, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the reality is that in 2019, companies planned to have completed three brand new pipelines in Canada, but the Prime Minister deliberately sabotaged all of them. Those pipelines are gone because of the Liberals, and their “no more pipelines” bill, Bill C-69 will mean no new pipelines proposed or built in Canada again.

This week, Trican Well Service had to lay off 70 employees. Thousands more job losses are expected in the new year, but I guess that is what the Prime Minister wants, since apparently he thinks oil and gas and trades workers are dangerous to rural communities.

Will the Liberals commit right now to scrap their “no more pipelines” bill, Bill C-69, yes or no?

[Paul Lefebvre, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources, Lib.]

Mr. Speaker, while the previous government failed to get the job done, we are taking decisive action and seeing results.

We secured the largest private sector investment made in history through the $40-billion LNG Canada project. We are helping producers build up refining capacity here in Canada, because we know that means more value for every barrel. We announced major tax incentives in the fall economic statement for refiners and upgraders. We are moving forward in the right way through meaningful consultations on the Trans Mountain expansion project.

This is the progress that we have been making, but we know there is more work to do, which is exactly what we intend to do.

International Trade

[Brigitte Sansoucy, NDP, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals have just caved in to President Trump again.

NAFTA 2.0 includes a clause that gives the United States oversight of our supply management system. Give me a break. By sacrificing dairy producers, the Liberals are sacrificing our food sovereignty.

Do they still have the nerve to tell us that they signed a good agreement?

[Jean-Claude Poissant, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, we understand that there will be repercussions for our farmers and we are committed to supporting them fully and fairly.

To support their success, we are forming working groups with dairy producers and processors and with egg and poultry producers and processors. We will help our supply managed producers and processors innovate, grow, and remain competitive and sustainable for future generations.

[Anne Minh-Thu Quach, NDP, Salaberry—Suroît, QC]

Mr. Speaker, what the member just said makes no sense. As a farmer himself, he should be ashamed. Three times in three years—in the agreement with Europe, in the TPP and now in the United States-Mexico-Canada agreement—the Liberals opened breaches in supply management. Worse still, there is a clause in the agreement that gives the U.S. oversight of our system.

The Liberals promised to protect supply management at all costs. Farmers believed them, but they bitterly regret it now.

After opening up nearly 10% of our market to foreign producers, how can the Liberals continue to claim that they are there to protect our farmers?

[Jean-Claude Poissant, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, I will say it again.

The NDP says one thing in the House, but behind closed doors it admits that this agreement protects Canadian jobs. The leader of the NDP celebrated the agreement at an event in Ottawa on October 30. The NDP member for Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, who is also the NDP's lieutenant, described it as the best possible agreement. The NDP privately admits that this is a good agreement because it protects the millions of Canadian jobs that were in jeopardy.

Public Safety

[Anju Dhillon, Liberal, Dorval—Lachine—LaSalle, QC]

Mr. Speaker, last Wednesday, a major wind storm cut communications for the people of the Magdalen Islands. The storm made it impossible to communicate with the mainland and the people were cut off from the rest of Quebec.

Thursday afternoon, the Quebec public safety minister, Geneviève Guilbault, declared that the emergency was beyond the provincial government's capacity to respond.

Can the minister explain what our government is doing to help the people of the Magdalen Islands?

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness]

Mr. Speaker, our thoughts are with the people of the Magdalen Islands.

I have spoken with the Minister of National Revenue and we immediately responded to Quebec's request. A Hercules aircraft is on its way with the personnel needed to assist in the evacuation.

On behalf of all Canadians, we are grateful for the first responders, Canadian Armed Forces and the teams of people working during this very difficult time.

Telecommunications

[Kevin Waugh, Conservative, Saskatoon—Grasswood, SK]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals are not taking Canada's national security seriously. New Zealand is the third of our major allies to block their biggest telecoms from giving Huawei access to their 5G network. They understand that giving the Chinese government access is cause for alarm.

Why does the Liberal government not understand the national security risk, and say no way to Huawei?

[David Lametti, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Innovation]

Mr. Speaker, as we have said a number of times, our government will never compromise our national security, full well understanding that we need to attract foreign investment, full well understanding that 5G is part of where we are going in the future in terms of providing quality service to Canadians.

For some time now the Conservatives have been playing politics with national security. But now it seems that the mastermind of these questions—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

One moment please. The translation is not working.

We are okay now. I will ask the hon. parliamentary secretary to continue.

[David Lametti, Liberal, LaSalle—Émard—Verdun, QC]

Mr. Speaker, as I said, our government on a number of occasions in the House will never compromise national security in these matters, yet we have to be open to global investment and 5G is part of our plan moving forward in order to provide good quality service to Canadians from coast to coast to coast.

For some time, the Conservatives have been playing politics with our national security. It seems the mastermind of these questions, their director of communications Jake Enwright, is working for the same company they say is a threat to our economic prosperity. It makes one wonder who they are serving.

[Pierre Paul-Hus, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, once again, they are sneakily trying to change the subject.

The United States, Australia and New Zealand, three of the Five Eyes, abandoned Huawei, but the other two countries in this security alliance—just two—are still waiting. Why?

Even Germany and Great Britain have serious doubts with respect to national security.

Why does the Prime Minister think this company does not pose a threat to Canada's national security?

[David Lametti, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Innovation]

Mr. Speaker, as I just said in English, we are open to global investment that will drive our growth and to developing the 5G system in Canada. This system will be very important to Canadians' future, but we will never compromise national security.

It is strange that the Harper government's director of communications, Jake Enwright, is now working for the company my colleague just mentioned. That makes one wonder.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

[Pierre Paul-Hus, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, it is up to Mr. Enwright to answer those questions. I am here as the official opposition and I am asking the question. It is important for Canada.

We now have another problem: illegal immigrants. Yesterday, we learned from the Parliamentary Budget Officer that it is going to cost $1.1 billion between now and 2020 to process the files of the illegal immigrants who have come to Canada.

What is more, yesterday, the minister misled the House by saying that the Parliamentary Budget Officer had it wrong when he said that the system was not working.

Most of the illegal migrants are from Nigeria, which proves that the Prime Minister's irresponsible tweet had an impact everywhere except the United States.

When will the government fix this problem?

[Peter Schiefke, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister (Youth) and to the Minister of Border Security and Organized Crime Reduction, Lib.]

Mr. Speaker, every time the Conservatives and my hon. colleague try to convince Canadians that a tweet is the reason why people are arriving at our borders, they are questioning Canadians' intelligence.

Like every other country, Canada is seeing an increase in migrants. Canadians are proud that we have one of the best systems in the world for protecting our borders and ensuring that every asylum seeker has access to a fair and transparent system. Ultimately, that is what Canadians expect of us and that is exactly what we are doing.