House of Commons Hansard #369 of the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was c-21.
Ralph Goodale LiberalMinister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Mr. Speaker, let me point out that Rafferty is in a federal penitentiary with two fences, three and a half metres high, three guard towers, human patrols, electronic surveillance. This prison also specializes in handling sex offenders. Rafferty is behind razor wire.
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
Mr. Speaker, the Veterans Affairs minister keeps missing the mark. Today, he will not even apologize for comparing his own career transition to that of ex-military personnel transitioning to civilian life. He missed it again last week at the Veterans Affairs committee when he would not commit to using the lapsed spending at Veterans Affairs to improve services for Canada's veterans.
The minister voted to end the practice of lapsed spending at Veterans Affairs. Therefore, will he honour his commitment to spending all money allocated for veterans on veterans, yes or no?
Veterans AffairsOral Questions
Seamus O'Regan Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, Lib.
Mr. Speaker, yesterday's announcement was on our commitment to the transition from the military to veterans life. It is an extraordinarily difficult transition for many people in the military, and it is one that our side of the government is committed to helping veterans and their families make.
We will not waver in our mission to make life better for veterans and their families. We will not be distracted by personal comments, innuendo, or maligning comments. We stay committed and focused on veterans and their families.
Joe Peschisolido Liberal Steveston—Richmond East, BC
Mr. Speaker, seniors make valuable contributions to our families, workplaces and communities. By 2036, seniors will represent close to 25% of the population.
Could the Minister of Seniors please update this House on what our government is doing to ensure that our seniors remain active, informed and engaged in our communities?
SeniorsOral Questions
Filomena Tassi Minister of Seniors, Lib.
Mr. Speaker, our government has been working hard for seniors from the day we were elected.
Last week I was very pleased to announce that the call for proposals for the pan-Canadian new horizons for seniors program is now open. This year, we have increased the funding to $5 million, and increased the length of time for the projects to five years.
Our government knows that these projects will go a long way to combat seniors' isolation and work towards inclusion. We all benefit when seniors are engaged and active in our communities.
John Brassard Conservative Barrie—Innisfil, ON
Mr. Speaker, at the veterans affairs committee last Thursday, the Minister of Veterans Affairs continued his attack on veteran Sean Bruyea when he was questioned why he publicly shamed Bruyea in the media. He suggested Bruyea's complaints about the Liberals were a result of mental health issues and anxiety. The minister was defending his decision to shame Bruyea after Bruyea dared question the Liberal pension for life scheme that finance department officials confirmed involves no new money.
Since the minister publicly attacked Sean Bruyea, will he publicly apologize for his personal attack on Mr. Bruyea?
Veterans AffairsOral Questions
Seamus O'Regan Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, Lib.
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member well knows that the case is before the court, and so, no, I will not comment.
Let me make a comment on pension for life, which the hon. member has maligned. It is very real. On April 1, 2019, we will be reintroducing a monthly tax-free pension for life. It is costed at $3.6 billion. It is very real.
Louis Plamondon Bloc Bécancour—Nicolet—Saurel, QC
Mr. Speaker, VIA Rail would rather award a $1-billion contract to a German multinational than to a Quebec company.
The Minister of Transport could have stood up for Quebec workers in three ways. He could have informed Bombardier of the Siemens bid, he could have included local economic spinoffs in the contract criteria, and he could have cancelled the bidding process and started over, but he did nothing.
Will the minister tell VIA Rail that it must reconsider its decision and give Bombardier a chance to win this contract, or will he let VIA Rail announce on Friday that it is awarding the contract to Germany?
Marc Garneau LiberalMinister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, when we are investing hundreds of millions, or even billions, of taxpayer dollars, we want the best deal for Quebeckers and Canadians. I am talking about taxpayer money.
When companies submit bids, they are aware of the criteria and the process right from the beginning. The opposition is asking us to interfere politically, violate our laws and, ultimately, hurt Canadians, which is unacceptable.
Rhéal Fortin Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
Mr. Speaker, the government allocated $100 billion to shipbuilding, but the Davie shipyard is getting practically nothing. The government allocated billions of dollars to the Trans Mountain pipeline, billions of dollars to the Muskrat Falls project and billions of dollars to the Ontario automotive industry.
Now, VIA Rail is awarding a $1-billion contract for a fleet of trains to a German multinational instead of a Quebec company, and Ottawa is standing idly by, even though the transport minister has the power to act. What is the use of even having a transport minister?
Why did the minister abandon Bombardier workers and their families in La Pocatière?
Marc Garneau LiberalMinister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, as we all know, Bombardier is able to do business around the world. That is why it sells trains in Israel, India, Africa and other places, including the United States. That is how international trade works when free trade agreements are in place. We need to abide by those rules. I know that the Bloc Québécois has a hard time understanding that concept, but that is how things work for adults who represent the government.
Hunter Tootoo Independent Nunavut, NU
[Member spoke in Inuktitut]
ᖁᔭᓐᓇᒦᒃ ᐅᖃᖅᑎ
[Member provided the following translation of the Inuktitut:]
Mr. Speaker,
[English]
my question is for the Minister of Intergovernmental and Northern Affairs.
Yesterday, Canada finally announced changes to the nutrition north program. The additional funding and other changes are welcome. However, the government has failed to fix the biggest problem with the program: its transparency and accountability. For example, the department has admitted the program subsidy received by some retailers is higher than the freight rate they are paying, which is why Nunavummiut believes some retailers are unjustly profiting from the subsidy.
Will the minister commit to finally fixing this problem before the spring budget?
Northern AffairsOral Questions
Dominic LeBlanc Minister of Intergovernmental and Northern Affairs and Internal Trade, Lib.
Mr. Speaker, yesterday my colleague from Labrador announced much-needed improvements to nutrition north based on extensive engagement our government had with northerners on how we can make perishable, nutritious food more affordable in Canada's north. As colleagues will know, the fall economic statement added $62.6 million of additional funding.
I absolutely share my colleague's concern with the need to add increased transparency. I have talked to him about that. I have talked to northern premiers about that.
We will bring more and further changes and we will start with the new Crown-Inuit working group on food security.
The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan
I would like to draw to the attention of hon. members the presence in the gallery of the Honourable Scott Fielding, Minister of Finance for the Province of Manitoba.
The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan
I would also like to draw to the attention of hon. members the presence in the gallery of the Honourable Gordon Wyant, Minister of Education for the Province of Saskatchewan.
Ali Ehsassi Liberal Willowdale, ON
Mr. Speaker, on a point of order, I would like to revert to the question I posed earlier.
The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan
Order. What I am looking for from the member is his argument on the question of whether or not it is within federal government responsibility and not the question itself.
Ali Ehsassi Liberal Willowdale, ON
Mr. Speaker, as you are aware, the federal government funds Waterfront Toronto. Therefore, I would like to pose a question to the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities.
The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan
The member is making the argument, I gather, that Waterfront Toronto is in fact a federal agency. I will allow the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities to respond.
Oral QuestionsPoints of OrderOral Questions
François-Philippe Champagne Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, Lib.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the member for Willowdale for his passion and his great work.
As one of the three government partners overseeing Waterfront Toronto, we respect the work that the organization is doing to lead the development of the waterfront. We are committed to Waterfront Toronto and the long-term revitalization of the port lands. In fact, I was pleased to be in Toronto recently to mark the groundbreaking of the port lands flood protection project, in which our government is investing $416 million.
We will continue to work with Waterfront Toronto. We will continue to work with the Province of Ontario and we will continue to work with the people of Toronto.
Treasury BoardOral Questions
Scott Brison President of the Treasury Board and Minister of Digital Government, Lib.
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the annual report to Parliament for the 2017-18 fiscal year on federal regulatory management initiatives. This report outlines the net benefit of significant regulations made by the Governor in Council in 2017-18 and reports publicly on the one-for-one rule as required by the Red Tape Reduction Act.
This tabling actually shows the reduction of 458 administrative requirements and federal regulations. A lot of governments talk about cutting red tape, but we are getting it done.
Candice Bergen Conservative Portage—Lisgar, MB
Mr. Speaker, on a point of order, I am not sure where the precedent is or what the rule is whereby you ruled that somebody's question was out of order, and then you give him advice on how to appeal that ruling, and then you extend question period and allow for an answer.
Perhaps you could please explain, because I do not know where that rule is, and I would very much like to be able to tell my caucus, who will be asking me.
The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan
Order. At the time of the question, members in the opposition seemed to be calling that in fact it was not a question within the responsibility of government. At the time, it sounded to me like it was not. Therefore, at the time, I ruled. However, I subsequently learned that the organization is a tripartite organization in which the Government of Canada is included. I should have known that. I apologize for not knowing, and therefore I tried to correct my mistake by allowing the answer to the question.
The hon. member for Grande Prairie—Mackenzie.