House of Commons Hansard #267 of the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was environmental.
Ralph Goodale LiberalMinister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister indicated that particular member extended an invitation that never should have been extended and when the fact of that invitation became known to the Government of Canada and particularly the Prime Minister's Office, that invitation was rescinded, as it should have been.
Mark Strahl Conservative Chilliwack—Hope, BC
Mr. Speaker, we have two theories here. The first is that the member for Surrey Centre acted alone and issued an inappropriate invitation for which he will be having a very stern meeting with the Prime Minister. The other theory, which has been advanced by the national security adviser, is that this was a vast Indian conspiracy set out to embarrass the Prime Minister.
Which one of those theories advanced by the Liberal government is a lie?
Ralph Goodale LiberalMinister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Mr. Speaker, it has been said repeatedly and accurately that the invitation should never have been extended. Once that invitation became known it was rescinded by the Government of Canada.
We have also made the point very clearly that our national security and intelligence and police agencies perform their functions in a completely non-partisan and impartial manner, and always in the best interests of Canada.
Cathy McLeod Conservative Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC
Mr. Speaker, last February, we warned the government that putting our senior care facilities in the hands of Anbang, a company with murky Chinese ownership, was dangerously naive. Wall Street even had concerns about it but the government just blindly went ahead and did it. What has happened? Anbang has collapsed, the chairman was arrested, and our senior care facilities are now in the hands of communist China. We warned the Prime Minister and our fears have come true.
Does the minister believe that it is appropriate that our senior care homes across British Columbia are owned by communist China?
Navdeep Bains LiberalMinister of Innovation
Mr. Speaker, when it comes to the Cedar Tree acquisition, the legally binding commitments remain in place with regard to jobs, not to close or repurpose any of the existing residences, to support expansion, which is very important, and also to abide by provincial and health regulations. We are going to make sure that these commitments are honoured.
Alice Wong Conservative Richmond Centre, BC
Mr. Speaker, last year, the Liberals approved the sale of dozens of B.C. retirement homes to the China-based Anbang Insurance Group. On Friday, we learned that officials in Beijing had assumed control of Anbang's assets, including Canadian seniors' homes.
Does the minister really think that this is an acceptable situation?
Navdeep Bains LiberalMinister of Innovation
Mr. Speaker, any decision we make goes through a rigorous and robust process under the Investment Canada Act.
We have been very clear that the legally binding commitments remain in place around jobs and making sure that we maintain a high number of jobs in Canada, not to close or repurpose any of the existing residences, and to support expansion. I also want to take this opportunity to highlight that the particular acquisition must abide by provincial and health regulations, which is very important for the senior residents.
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
Mr. Speaker, last Friday, the Chinese government took over insurance giant Anbang, citing serious corruption and incompetence. This is the same company that the Liberal government allowed to take over British Columbia's largest retirement home provider.
Decisions about the care of Canadian seniors are now being made offshore by a foreign government. When the Canada Health Act calls for public administration of our health care system, it does not mean from Beijing.
What is the Minister of Health doing to address this unacceptable situation?
Navdeep Bains LiberalMinister of Innovation
Mr. Speaker, I can assure the member opposite that the specific, legally binding commitments around the health regulations will remain intact.
This is something that we took precision around in terms of the Investment Canada Act process. We understand the important concerns raised by the members opposite, but I can assure the member and the House that we always have and always will continue to advance our national interest and do what is in the best interests of all Canadians.
Christine Moore NDP Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC
Mr. Speaker, on February 20, the Canadian Judicial Council recommended that Justice Michel Girouard be removed from office.
He has been barred from hearing cases since 2013. In a vast court region like Abitibi—Témiscamingue—Nord-du-Québec, his absence is having major repercussions on public access to justice.
Could the Minister of Justice tell us where we are in the process and whether she is planning to make a recommendation to Parliament this week, so that we can act swiftly to restore access to justice?
Jody Wilson-Raybould LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the question being brought up. I did receive, last week, a recommendation from the Canadian Judicial Council that recommended the removal of the judge that was referenced.
I will now consider that recommendation and will proceed in due course. I wanted to thank the inquiry committee and the Canadian Judicial Council for their input in this regard. Anything further would be inappropriate for me to comment on, as this matter may come before the House.
Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC
Mr. Speaker, I will quote a grain farmer who said, “If we can't move our product to market, we can't pay our bills. And we are punished for something out of our control but within the government's”.
That is a heartfelt plea from a western grain farmer who is currently unable to sell her product because the Liberals refuse to act. They have the power and the means, but as usual, they are blaming others for their inaction. The Minister of Agriculture is way off track.
When is he going to tell the Minister of Transport to stop punishing grain farmers and get our exports moving again?
Marc Garneau LiberalMinister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, the government certainly recognizes the importance of an efficient rail system for transporting grain, and we are working on that issue. That is why I was in contact with CN and CP last month and with CN this morning. We recognize that this is important.
February was a particularly hard month, but the situation is getting better, and I am confident that grain transportation rates will improve over the coming weeks.
Glen Motz Conservative Medicine Hat—Cardston—Warner, AB
Mr. Speaker, Conservatives negotiated CETA and TPP because we know the importance of market access for our agricultural sector.
Recently, CN and CP have fulfilled only 38% of the grain commitments. This growing rail backlog has led to lost sales and unreliable exports for our grain producers. The Liberal government is putting critical trade deals at risk, and now Canadian farmers cannot even get their products to port.
Will the agriculture minister get off the bench and take action to ensure our farmers have adequate rail access to get their grain to market?
Agriculture and Agri-FoodOral Questions
February 27th, 2018 / 2:55 p.m.
Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Westmount Québec
Liberal
Marc Garneau LiberalMinister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, our government recognizes the importance of an efficient and reliable rail system to transport grain for our farmers.
That is why we put Bill C-49 in place, unlike the previous government that did absolutely nothing for 10 years. I have been in touch with CN and CP. I was in touch with CN this morning. The month of February was particularly difficult, but at this point I feel that, looking to the future, the grain situation will certainly improve in the months to come.
John Barlow Conservative Foothills, AB
Mr. Speaker, it is great to hear the government once again standing up for the rail lines and not fighting for Canadian farmers.
The Western Grain Elevator Association said that the situation is dire, and that the grain backlog is getting worse not better. The Liberals ignored our advice to pass a separate grain transportation bill. They failed to extend important provisions that were in Conservative legislation that were protecting Canadian farmers. The Liberals have to stop blaming everybody else for their mismanagement and take definite action now.
How much money and how many critical export markets are our farmers going to have to lose before the government stands up and takes action?
Marc Garneau LiberalMinister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, unlike the previous government that did nothing for 10 years, we actually brought forward Bill C-49, which, by the way, that side voted against. It was intended to have fair rail legislation for the movement of grain.
I was speaking to CN this morning and in actual fact, the amount of grain transported at this point in time is only 3% behind the average of the past three years. Last week was particularly bad, but the situation is improving.
Ramez Ayoub Liberal Thérèse-De Blainville, QC
Mr. Speaker, innovation and research are key to improving the lives of people suffering from brain-related illnesses and disorders. Foundations such as Brain Canada, whose offices are in Montreal, are actively working on changing the lives of some 3.6 million Canadians suffering from all kinds of neurological infections.
Can the Minister of Health inform the House of her efforts to support neuroscience research across Canada?
Ginette Petitpas Taylor LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague from Thérèse-De Blainville for his important question, his work in his riding, and his work on the health committee.
We recently announced, at McGill University, a $10-million grant to create a pan-Canadian neuroscience platform in partnership with Brain Canada. This platform is a partnership of 15 universities that will facilitate the dissemination of data that support research to advance treatments for Canadians suffering from neurological diseases.
Mel Arnold Conservative North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC
Mr. Speaker, last week the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans expropriated 25% of the Arctic surf clam quota and awarded a new licence to a consortium of two companies. The president of both companies in that consortium is the brother of the Liberal member for Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook.
Did the fisheries minister know that his Liberal caucus mate's brother was the president of the consortium of companies?
Dominic LeBlanc LiberalMinister of Fisheries
Mr. Speaker, what we did know is that the previous Conservative government began a process in 2014-15 to bring a new entrant into this fishery. However, what we knew, which they did not know, was the importance of including indigenous people in the prosecution of that fishery.
We had an open, public process where we received nine submissions, which were carefully analyzed, that included partnerships between indigenous people and other commercial entities to participate in this lucrative fishery. We chose the best proposal in terms of employment opportunity for indigenous people and we are proud of that.
Hélène Laverdière NDP Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC
Mr. Speaker, Canada must put pressure on Syria and Russia to maintain and observe the ceasefire, not just for part of the day, but permanently. To act otherwise is an affront to our humanity.
The only way to bring peace to the Syrian people is to find a political solution and ensure that those responsible for atrocities are brought to account. Where is Canada in pushing for such a solution?
Matt DeCourcey LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, the UN Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire in Syria to allow humanitarian access must be implemented. We strongly condemn the brutal and targeted attacks against civilians, including in eastern Ghouta. It is vital that all parties respect the ceasefire unconditionally to stop the massacre of civilians and allow the delivery of humanitarian supplies.
The massacre of the people in Syria must end, and Canada will continue to act and add voice on this issue, including funding first responders in eastern Ghouta such as the White Helmets.
Anthony Housefather Liberal Mount Royal, QC
Mr. Speaker, on January 24, the Minister of Transport was in Israel to finalize the expansion of the Canada–Israel air transport agreement. Many constituents in my riding have greatly benefited by the free travel back and forth between the two countries, in particular the new Montreal–Tel Aviv route introduced last year.
What were the outcomes of the minister's discussions? Could we see more flights between Canada and Israel?
Marc Garneau LiberalMinister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, for this government, offering more choice at lower cost with better service is one of our priorities. That is why I was particularly glad to announce the expansion of the air transport agreement between Israel and Canada. We are adding up to seven more flights on a weekly basis. This is not only good for moving people and goods; it is good for business and it is good for our strong relationship between Canada and Israel.