House of Commons Hansard #257 of the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was c-50.

Topics

Agriculture and Agri-FoodOral Questions

3 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan

Order. The hon. member for Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères.

MarijuanaOral Questions

3 p.m.

Bloc

Xavier Barsalou-Duval Bloc Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC

Mr. Speaker, many Liberals are excited about the legalization of pot, but the government keeps repeating that it is doing this to crack down on organized crime.

However, according to the RCMP, that is not likely to happen. The RCMP commissioner said that he does not expect the bill to squeeze out criminals, and the assistant commissioner for federal policing criminal operations said that it would be naive to think that such would be the case.

Why are the Liberals in such a hurry? Is it just so that their friends can get a piece of the pie?

MarijuanaOral Questions

3 p.m.

Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe New Brunswick

Liberal

Ginette Petitpas Taylor LiberalMinister of Health

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for his question.

Protecting the health and safety of Canadians is our top priority. The current approach to cannabis is not working. It has allowed criminals to profit from cannabis and it has not kept marijuana out of the hands of our children. The cannabis bill will create a strict legal framework to control the production, distribution, sale, and possession of cannabis in Canada.

MarijuanaOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Bloc

Rhéal Fortin Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC

Mr. Speaker, there are so many Liberals involved in the sale of cannabis that even Lucie Charlebois, the Liberal minister responsible for the file in Quebec, has said that the federal Liberals who are investing in pot should take a good hard look at themselves.

It is pretty bad when the Quebec Liberal Party is lecturing the Liberal Party of Canada about ethics.

When will this government take its responsibilities seriously and work in the interests of Canadians rather than in the interests of its cronies?

MarijuanaOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe New Brunswick

Liberal

Ginette Petitpas Taylor LiberalMinister of Health

Mr. Speaker, the facts are very clear. Many of these licenses were approved by the previous Conservative government. Over 30 licenses were granted by the previous health minister, Ms. Ambrose.

Health Canada continues to administer a very clear, fair, and rigorous approval system to protect the health and safety of all medical marijuana users and ensure that those applying to become producers get the necessary authorization.

Natural ResourcesOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Green

Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC

Mr. Speaker, there have been a lot of claims made, even here today in the House, about the jobs that would be created by Kinder Morgan, but there is no evidence to back up those claims. There is no evidence because the National Energy Board refused to hear the evidence of Unifor. The largest union in the oil sands, Unifor went before the NEB to point out that building Kinder Morgan will cost Canadian jobs. The NEB refused to hear that evidence. Could the Prime Minister tell us on what independent study is he basing the claim that Kinder Morgan creates more jobs than it kills?

Natural ResourcesOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Papineau Québec

Liberal

Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister

Mr. Speaker, when it comes to the environment and the economy, we know the two things go together. That is central to the national interest. In regard to energy and pipelines, there are three elements that need to work together. First, we need to get our resources to markets overseas safely and securely. Second, we put forward a historic, world-class oceans protection plan to protect our coasts. Third, we put forward a real plan to reduce carbon emissions and meet our Paris targets.

We cannot get any of the three without getting all three. That is what this government understands.

Presence in GalleryOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan

I would like to draw to the attention of hon. members the presence in the gallery of the Hon. Ranj Pillai, Deputy Premier, Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources, Minister of Economic Development, and Minister responsible for the Yukon Development Corporation and the Yukon Energy Corporation.

Presence in GalleryOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Some hon. members

Hear, hear!

Presence in GalleryOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan

I also wish to draw to the attention of hon. members the presence in the gallery of the Hon. Jeanie Dendys, Minister of Tourism and Culture, Minister responsible for the Women's Directorate, Minister responsible for the Yukon Workers Compensation Health and Safety Board.

Presence in GalleryOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Some hon. members

Hear, hear!

Procedure and House AffairsCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Liberal

Larry Bagnell Liberal Yukon, YT

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Orders 104 and 114, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 50th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs regarding the membership of committees of the House. If the House gives its consent, I intend to move concurrence in the 50th report later this day.

Supporting New Parents ActRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Regina—Qu'Appelle Saskatchewan

Conservative

Andrew Scheer ConservativeLeader of the Opposition

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-394, An Act to amend the Income Tax Act (parenting tax credit).

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to rise today to introduce my private member's bill, the supporting new parents act.

Welcoming a new addition to the family is one of the greatest joys that any parent can experience. For many Canadians it is also a time of great anxiety. When parents take advantage of EI, maternity, or parental leave, they forgo over 40% of their salary. They take a huge pay cut to spend those critical first few months at home and provide that care for their child. Conservatives believe that when parents make that sacrifice, they should not then have to pay taxes on the benefits that they receive. The bill would provide a tax credit that would offset any taxes owing on their maternity and parental leave.

This also addresses a situation that many parents who receive a top-up from their employer experience. When they file their taxes, they often have to pay extra taxes because the EI system does not withhold enough on their benefits. Many new parents, in addition to the new costs of providing for their children, also then have to pay that. The bill would alleviate that.

I hope all members of Parliament will support this important piece of legislation for Canadian families.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

Opportunity for Workers with Disabilities ActRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-395, An Act to amend the Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act.

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour today to table in the House of Commons my private member's bill, the opportunity for workers with disabilities act. Unfortunately, across this country there is an inadvertent phenomenon which, as a result of our tax and benefits system, punishes some of our most inspiring workers when they endeavour to leave social assistance and enter the workforce. The combination of benefit clawbacks and taxation can often lead to marginal effective tax rates above 100%; that is, a person loses more than a dollar for every dollar the person earns. It is called the welfare wall and it keeps many of our otherwise hard-working people trapped in poverty and out of work.

Conservatives and all Canadians believe that hard work should be rewarded and not punished. The bill would inculcate one simple principle that all governments must follow, that workers with disabilities must always be allowed to earn more in wages than they lose in clawbacks and taxes.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

Department of Industry ActRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Conservative

Maxime Bernier Conservative Beauce, QC

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-396, An Act to amend the Department of Industry Act (financial assistance).

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

In my role as shadow minister for innovation, science and economic development, I have reviewed the files of corporations that have received financial assistance from the government. It has come to my attention that billions of dollars are being distributed every year by the government in subsidies and repayment contributions.

Many of these loans have not been paid back and nor do we know the status of the repayments. For 45% of the loans granted through the Minister of Industry's technology partnerships Canada program, we do not know if they have been paid back even though these loans were granted several years ago. The bill will enhance transparency in order to shed light on these loans.

I am against subsidizing businesses, but when they receive repayable loans, Canadian taxpayers should know if those loans have been repaid or not. This bill is very simple. It calls on the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development to publish information on the repayment of these loans. I hope that we will have the unanimous support of the House since this bill is absolutely not partisan.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

Procedure and House AffairsCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

Liberal

Larry Bagnell Liberal Yukon, YT

Mr. Speaker, if the House gives its consent, I move that the 50th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, presented to the House earlier this day, be concurred in.

Procedure and House AffairsCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan

Does the hon. member have the unanimous consent of the House to move the motion?

Procedure and House AffairsCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

Procedure and House AffairsCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan

The House has heard the terms of the motion. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

Procedure and House AffairsCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

Procedure and House AffairsCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan

(Motion agreed to)

The EnvironmentPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

Liberal

John Aldag Liberal Cloverdale—Langley City, BC

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to introduce a petition that was signed by signatories aged 10 to 83. The petition is from youth petitioners and those who care deeply about youth, who call upon the House of Commons to take meaningful steps to support the future of young Canadians and fulfill Canada's obligations under the Paris Agreement.

Indigenous AffairsPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

Liberal

Robert-Falcon Ouellette Liberal Winnipeg Centre, MB

Mr. Speaker, I rise to present a petition on behalf of my constituents from Winnipeg Centre concerning water on first nations communities.

The petitioners are calling on the federal government to ensure that all first nations communities and reserves in Canada have access to clean water; that there be new investments in water and waste water infrastructure on first nations reserves and that it be accompanied by regulations, sufficient funds for capital, operation, and maintenance, costs for community and household systems, and mechanisms to track progress; as well as the establishment of an independent first nations water commission with the authority to monitor and evaluate water policy and outcomes that affect first nations water quality in communities.

I hope to soon hear a response from the government concerning this very important issue for not only Canadians but first nations people having access to clean drinking water, which is a human right.

FirearmsPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

Conservative

Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB

Mr. Speaker, I rise to present a petition that is important to my constituents but also to all peoplekind.

This petition calls on the House of Commons to immediately reverse the 10-round magazine reclassification enforced by the RCMP and to remove the power of the RCMP to arbitrarily make classification decisions on firearms.

My constituents believe that when it comes to firearms classification, it is important for there to be predictability, certainty, and regulations based on legitimate public safety issues. They are concerned that arbitrary reclassification decisions can be made which change the classification of what was previously allowed property.

Questions on the Order PaperRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

Liberal

Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB

Mr. Speaker, I ask that all questions be allowed to stand.