Debates of Dec. 4th, 2018

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, it is interesting to have a question about sensitizing journalists. He is quoting Rebel Media talking points. We are going to continue to stand up for immigration, knowing that defending diversity is a source of strength. Welcoming people through a rigorous immigration system, from around the world, is what has made Canada strong, and indeed something the world needs more of, not less of, like they want.

Prime Minister's Trip to India

[Guy Caron, NDP, Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the report on the trip to India tabled yesterday does not answer all the questions we have been asking about that disastrous trip.

People were expecting answers about the presence of a man like Mr. Atwal at the residence of Canada's High Commissioner in India and the possibility of foreign interference, but the Prime Minister's Office redacted the committee's findings.

Does the PMO understand the difference between Liberal security and national security?

Does it understand the difference between Liberal interests and national interests?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I understand that the NDP thinks the Conservatives are still in power, but I am pleased to state for the record that neither I, nor my office, requested or directed any redactions.

A proposal was made by our professionals in the security and intelligence community, and it was accepted. Nothing was added or removed.

[Guy Caron, NDP, Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC]

Mr. Speaker, in 2015, the Liberals promised an open and transparent government.

The only thing about the Prime Minister's trip to India that was clear and transparent was that the whole thing was a complete and utter failure.

In addition to being under investigation by the RCMP, the member for Brampton East is also under investigation by the Ethics Commissioner for his participation in that trip. He invited a business partner who got privileged access to the Prime Minister and the members of cabinet who were present. The trip is now doubly embarrassing for him and his government.

Is that why the Prime Minister's Office redacted the findings of the report so heavily?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I will repeat what I told the member opposite. The Prime Minister's Office did not request any redactions. A recommendation was made by our professionals in the security and intelligence community, and it was accepted.

No redacting was done by the Prime Minister's Office.

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the security report on the Prime Minister's National Lampoon vacation to India is out. We found out the Prime Minister actually has the power to redact the documents, including the questions of foreign interference. I mean, what is with that? Questions of foreign interference cut to the very heart of democratic accountability. Donald Trump would love to have the power to black out investigations of foreign interference and his political hijinks. It was the Prime Minister's decision to put the interests of the Liberal Party ahead of the interests of Canada that caused this debacle.

Why is this Prime Minister continuing to put the petty interests of the Liberal Party ahead of the interests of protecting the people of Canada?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, again, we see the member opposite refusing to let facts and direct answers get in the way of sanctimonious rhetoric. Let me repeat for the member opposite. Neither I, nor my office, requested or directed any redactions. A proposal was made by our professionals in the security and intelligence community, and it was accepted. We did no extra redacting. We did no under-redacting. We accepted the advice of the professionals.

Member for Brampton East

[Nathan Cullen, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, parliamentary privilege is a powerful tool afforded to all members of Parliament so we can do our jobs. However, the Liberal member for Brampton East used his privilege to ask senior law enforcement officials troubling questions about money laundering. After the Prime Minister told us that the member was quitting, that MP reversed his decision, maintaining his parliamentary privilege, which protects him from being subpoenaed by the House of Commons and also from being forced to testify in court against someone who, say, is accused of money laundering.

Is the Prime Minister actually okay with the scenario, and if he is not, what is he going to do about it?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, two weeks ago the member stated his intentions after informing us of the challenges he is facing. He is no longer a member of the Liberal caucus.

We respect the independence of the RCMP and the important work it does.

We highlight that being in the House is no protection from criminal prosecutions, as we all found out when Dean Del Mastro was led away in shackles.

Ethics

[Andrew Scheer, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, numerous media reports have tied the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development to allegations of questionable real estate deals in Brampton. These reports also involve the Liberal member for Brampton East, Liberal Party donors, a former Liberal Party riding president and, of course, the Prime Minister's disastrous trip to India.

Could the Prime Minister tell us if his innovation minister has been questioned by the RCMP in relation to these reported allegations, yes or no?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, following up the question the NDP member asked about parliamentary privilege, let me make something clear for people at home.

In the House of Commons, members are protected by parliamentary privilege, which also permits them to make baseless accusations. The best way to find out if what the member opposite is saying is true, is to see whether he is willing to repeat those insinuations outside the House. I invite my colleague to do so.

[Andrew Scheer, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, I would be happy to repeat what I have just said in the House of Commons outside the House, because these allegations are the subject of media reports. They have already been printed.

The question was very simple. Of course, the minister has the benefit of the doubt under Canadian law in this. The question was whether or not the minister is being investigated.

Has the Minister of Innovation been questioned by the RCMP, yes or no?

[Bardish Chagger, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, I have the privilege of reminding the leader of the official opposition that when it comes to the RCMP, it works independently of government. The government of the day does not direct investigations. This government will not undermine our security officials. We respect the work they do.

We know that the Conservatives might have chosen a new leader. What is clear is that their approach of undermining security officials remains the case today.

[Alain Rayes, Conservative, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Mr. Speaker, if the Liberals think they can threaten and bully the members on this side of the House into silence, they are profoundly mistaken.

Yesterday, the Minister of Innovation refused to answer simple questions relating to a National Post article about a troubling, sketchy transaction that took place in Brampton. The municipality even filed an official complaint with the RCMP.

Here, again, is my question. What is the Minister of Innovation's connection to that company?

[Bardish Chagger, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, as I said yesterday and every other day, any insinuation that the Minister of Innovation committed any wrongdoing is false. If the member would care to repeat that outside the House, he will hear from the minister's lawyer.

Yesterday, the member said some things outside the House, but he did not use the same words he used in the House. I would like to see him repeat the exact words outside the House.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Order. I need to hear both the answers and the questions.

The hon. member for Wellington—Halton Hills will please come to order.

Order. I thought you were going to behave yourselves.

The hon. member for Richmond—Arthabaska.

[Alain Rayes, Conservative, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons can talk louder, shout or make threats all she wants, but I can assure her that our knees are not knocking. On the contrary, we are going to stand tall on this side of the House.

If the Minister of Innovation does not want to disclose what ties he has with that company's executives, can he tell us why several of the company's directors took part in the Prime Minister's disastrous trip to India?

Why did this minister take a photo with one of these directors, who is a former member of a Liberal association?

Why have this company's executives made donations to the Liberal Party?

These are all legitimate questions.

Has the Minister of Innovation been contacted by the RCMP? If so, when?

[Bardish Chagger, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, if members would like me to speak more slowly, I can do so. The member knows that the RCMP operates independently of government, and we respect the work it does.

[Lisa Raitt, Conservative, Milton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, there is a confidential report sent to a Liberal MP and a Liberal minister; a $1.1 million windfall for a Liberal Party insider on a real estate flip who subsequently was a guest of the Prime Minister on an India trip; a forensic investigation ordered by a city council with the result that council sends a report to the RCMP.

Since the minister has been mentioned in this situation, I would like to know this from the minister. Has he been interviewed by the RCMP yet, yes or no?

[Bardish Chagger, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, what is clear is that the Conservatives have never let facts get in the way of what they say in this place. The member should very well know that when it comes to the RCMP, it works independently of government. The government does not direct the RCMP.

This government respects the work of our security officials. We will not undermine their work like the Conservatives clearly continue to do.

[Lisa Raitt, Conservative, Milton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I do not think that was the answer she meant to give. Usually she threatens us with legal action outside the House. If that is the case, I would be more than happy to accept service at my constituency office, when we talk about this later today.

The question for the minister is not to the RCMP and it is not questioning the RCMP's duties or its investigation. It is for the minister and it is the House leader who is preventing the minister from standing and answering his own question, which is this. Have you been questioned by the RCMP, yes or no?

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

The hon. member for Milton knows that when we say “you” in the House, it generally refers to the Chair. I do not think she meant the Chair. I am pretty sure.

The hon. government House leader.

[Bardish Chagger, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, even you would know that the RCMP works independently of the government and this government respects the work of our security officials. The minister has responded to these questions directly in this place. The minister has put himself on the record.

I have no problem reminding people when they are taking advantage of the privilege of this place. Members opposite choose to make accusations in this place, but they do not repeat those exact same accusations outside this place, which is absolutely fascinating.

We respect the work of the RCMP and we think it should do its important work.

International Trade

[Karine Trudel, NDP, Jonquière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, our dairy producers are fed up with being used as a bargaining chip in trade agreements. The Liberals have been in such a hurry to finish the Conservatives' work that they abandoned dairy producers for the third time in three years.

What is more, they agreed to a clause that gives the United States oversight of our supply management system. That is unacceptable, and our producers have good reason to no longer trust the Liberals.

Can the minister tell us exactly when his government will offer producers full compensation for all three agreements?