Debates of March 22nd, 2018

Opposition Motion—National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister

[Ruby Sahota, Liberal, Brampton North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am incredibly offended by the speech given by my colleague just now. I implore members to stick to the facts and stick to what they are trying to achieve. This reference to costumes that I have been hearing in debate after debate is incredibly offensive.

I would like to share a little story about a girl growing up here in Canada, me. A child of immigrant parents, I struggled constantly to try to be proud of my culture and my heritage. I could not help just wanting to fit in. I wondered why my parents could not just wear western clothing to my teacher-parent interview. Maybe I would fit in a little better. Maybe the kids would not make fun of the clothing we traditionally wear.

This continual reference by the opposition to our clothing being costumes is outrageous. I wonder if my colleague is offended that I am wearing his costume right now. Would you call a business suit a costume? Should I ask people from around the world what they think about my wearing a white man's costume? Are you offended? I am incredibly offended that again and again I hear reference to our clothing as costumes. It is not a costume. It is clothing that we wear every day, day in and day out. Indians wear that clothing, and it is nothing compared to a uniform of a police officer.

The Prime Minister respected our culture and our traditions, including the clothing we value so dearly. I am so happy that my child, my son, can see a Prime Minister today who respects his culture, his tradition, and where he comes from.

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I just want to remind hon. members to place their questions through the Speaker and not directly across to other members. It just makes things a lot easier and they would be following the rules.

The hon. member for Sturgeon River—Parkland.

[Dane Lloyd, Conservative, Sturgeon River—Parkland, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I would certainly take the statement by the member much more seriously if what the Prime Minister did in India was not cultural appropriation on the grandest scale. In fact, Indian politicians were claiming that the Prime Minister was offending them. He was literally wearing wedding clothes in India. It was an absolute joke. It was a lack of sensitivity to our Indian counterparts.

It is a shame on the government that the Prime Minister could not even be bothered to be professional when he went over to India.

[Lloyd Longfield, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

Mr. Speaker, maybe the member across the way could comment on the 13 agreements that were signed in India, the most important being about protection of lentil shipments from Saskatchewan, $1.3 billion a year, which will be opened up by the end of 2018. Has he read those statements from the Saskatchewan lentil association?

[Dane Lloyd, Conservative, Sturgeon River—Parkland, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the most important statements I have read are the statements from farmers in my community. Mere months ago, the price of lentils was above $8 and now it is going down to $6, which is directly caused by the 20% increase in tariffs that resulted after the Prime Minister's trip to India. That is the most important thing that we need to be looking at here in Canada.

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I want to pick up on the closing comments made by my colleague.

I have had the opportunity to wear, with great pride, a Punjabi suit. I feel very comfortable with that. I am wondering if my colleague across the way recognizes that wearing clothing of different ethnic heritage is actually a positive thing.

[Dane Lloyd, Conservative, Sturgeon River—Parkland, AB]

Mr. Speaker, that is a clear deflection of the issue. There is a time and a place to respect culturally appropriate wear. However, the Prime Minister has completely overdone it. By wearing a wedding suit in India he has drawn the ire of Indian politicians. It is an absolute shame.

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Resuming debate, the hon. member for Mississauga—Lakeshore.

I just want to point out to the hon. member that he will have five minutes and then he can resume his debate once the topic is taken up again after question period.

[Sven Spengemann, Liberal, Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I will be splitting my time with the member for Montarville.

Today's opposition motion puts into question the professionalism of some of the most senior public servants in our country. Canada's national security agencies are non-partisan and both highly competent and effective. We trust them to protect and promote Canada's security.

The answer in regard to the invitation and discussion is clear. In fact, the invitation should never have been issued, and when that invitation was discovered, it was immediately rescinded.

The government has great confidence in the security and diplomatic advisers to the government, who always act in an impartial fashion and always in the best interests of Canadians. They continue to do an excellent job in serving and protecting these interests. We respect our national security agencies, and we respect the non-partisan public service. We respect their ability to provide non-partisan advice.

Reflecting the 1.4 million Canadians of Indian heritage, and cognizant of Canada's geostrategic and commercial interests in the Indo-Pacific region, the Prime Minister's objective during his recent visit was to reaffirm that Canada stands with a united India. Recognizing that the relationship between Canada and India is based on a shared commitment to pluralism, diversity, and democracy, the Prime Minister visited cultural and religious sites of significance to people in Canada, India, and around the world.

During this debate, we are also wise to reflect again on the importance of India in regional and global geopolitics. Given Canada's own strong global bonds and priorities, there is clear potential benefit in collaborating with India in many areas. As many Canadians clearly appreciate, India is the largest and most influential state in south Asia. It is the key actor in its immediate neighbourhood, with complex and important relationships with neighbours like Pakistan and China. It also plays a key role in Asia as a whole in its strategic interactions, especially, but not limited to, in the Indian Ocean region.

India is important for the pursuit of Canadian geopolitical interests across Asia. Not surprisingly, therefore, the recent meetings between our Prime Minister and Prime Minister Modi included consideration of this very question. As a result, the two leaders resolved to work together in bilateral and multilateral frameworks to promote a stable and rules-based Indo-Pacific region, which would not only benefit Canada economically but also serve to broaden our effectiveness and penetration as the region moves forward toward greater wealth, influence, and connectivity.

A number of important shared challenges face India and Canada in the Indo-Pacific region. During the visit, for example, the two prime ministers discussed a number of regional and global issues of critical importance.

With respect to the ongoing situation in Afghanistan, the leaders paid special attention to security matters. Both called for the immediate cessation of violence, the renunciation of links with international terrorism, and the dismantling of infrastructure to support terrorism. The leaders also affirmed support to the government and the people of Afghanistan to achieve an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned, and Afghan-controlled national peace and reconciliation process. Our relationship with India on these matters is important in order for lasting peace and prosperity in the region to be realized.

Our Prime Minister and Prime Minister Modi also called on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to abide strictly by its international obligations and commitments. They called on all states to implement rigorously the relevant UN Security Council resolutions relating to the DPRK.

Both prime ministers deplored the current state of affairs in the Maldives and urged the government of that country to allow democratic institutions, including parliament and the judiciary, to function independently in a fair and transparent manner.

Furthermore, the prime ministers also discussed the humanitarian and security crisis in Myanmar and across the border in Bangladesh, and called for the voluntary, safe, and sustainable return of the Rohingya refugees, while stressing the importance of ensuring law, order, and respect for human dignity in the process. The leaders called for the restoration of humanitarian access for relevant United Nations and other international organizations to facilitate the return process.

This is a matter that remains of great concern to many Canadians. In fact, a number of concerned constituents in my riding of Mississauga—Lakeshore have written letters to my office about the Rohingya crisis—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

We have a point of order from the hon. member for Calgary Rocky Ridge.

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

Mr. Speaker, on a point of order, I know that the time is almost up before we have to break for question period, but we are about five minutes into the member's speech and he has not addressed the motion yet. I know there is a lot of latitude around relevance, but perhaps when we return afterwards the member could address the substance of the motion, which is allowing the head of public security to appear before the public safety committee to address the comments of the Prime Minister and his conspiracy theory.

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

The hon. member is at the end of his five minutes, and he does have five minutes coming to him afterwards. Often relevance is a question, and seeing how it gets brought back. I will leave that with the member. I am sure it will be very interesting once he returns after question period.

The hon. member for Saanich—Gulf Islands.

World Water Day

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

Mr. Speaker, today is World Water Day, and as the National Geographic advises us, we are in a water crisis where the crisis is too much water in some places and not enough in others.

Studies by scientists have shown that between 1995 and 2015, 90% of all weather-related events, such as extreme weather events, floods, storms, heat waves, and droughts, were water-related events. Of the world's large megacities, 14 out of 20 are now experiencing water scarcity.

The reality is that the water crisis runs in tandem with the climate crisis. As we operate in a state of cognitive dissonance, we all know that the climate crisis is real. Measures are being taken by the government but they are not close to enough to avoid the climate crisis.

Therefore, we need to wake up, we need to act, and we need to stand together and say that we stand with water protectors and that water is sacred.

Burger Week

[Andy Fillmore, Liberal, Halifax, NS]

Mr. Speaker, it's the sloppiest, sauciest, greasiest time of the year in Halifax. It is Burger Week again, presented by The Coast newspaper, with a portion of profits going to Feed Nova Scotia.

Now in its sixth year, with a record-breaking 125 burgers to choose from, there is a burger for everybody. We have burgers for vegans at DeeDee's, with a lentil and roasted mushroom patty. There are burgers for breakfast at Robie Street Station, a sausage patty with egg between two hash browns coming right up.

Doughnut lovers can rejoice. They can enjoy their beef and a coffee-glazed bacon doughnut fritter bun at Vandal Doughnut. Got the munchies? The Auction House burger comes topped with mac and cheese, Mmmmmm.

What would Halifax Burger Week be without a donair burger, sandwiched between garlic fingers, brought to us by King of Donair? Try to save room for a trio of tiny macaroon burgers at the Old Apothecary.

I call on my fellow Haligonians to grab their burger passports and wet wipes, and hit the town, using #HFXBurgerWeek.

Firearms

[Bob Zimmer, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC]

Mr. Speaker, this Tuesday we saw, with great fanfare, the Minister of Public Safety announce changes to our new firearms law. We expected some changes that would actually keep guns out of the hands of gang members, but we saw little of that. What we did see, however and unfortunately, was changes adding additional red tape to lawful firearms' ownership and then buying non-restricted firearms in Canada.

Sadly, though, the worst of the worst happened. Along with my colleagues behind me, what we predicted was a return of the long gun registry to Canada, not just through the back door, as in the new reference system where every non-restricted firearm will need a reference number and be tracked by the registrar, but also deliberately handing through the front door a copy of the old firearms registry data to the province of Quebec.

This is indeed shameful and a breach of the Liberals' promise to their constituents in rural Canada that they would not re-establish the long gun registry. It is unfortunate that the Prime Minister is so uninformed about Canadian firearms law.

Impaired Driving

[Nicola Di Iorio, Liberal, Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC]

Mr Speaker, we mark an historic moment. Parliament is sitting during the first National Impaired Driving Prevention Week. Impaired Driving is the criminal act that kills the most Canadians.

As we are on the eve of cannabis legalization, we should all have an heightened sense of urgency in addressing this terrible scourge that kills indiscriminately and severely injures thousands of Canadians.

I want to share my vision zero. We must support scientific research, which will lead to progress and developments to positively shape drivers' behaviour and to give them the technological tools they need to improve road safety. I urge all of my colleagues to write to all school principals in their ridings to remind them that every single life can be saved in the fight against impaired driving.

World Water Day

[Fin Donnelly, NDP, Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC]

Mr. Speaker, on World Water Day, I rise to speak about the importance of protecting Canada's lakes and rivers.

In 2012, the Conservative government gutted the Navigable Waters Protection Act. During the 2015 federal election, the Liberals promised they would immediately reverse stripped environmental protections and create new environmental safeguards.

Almost three years later, the Liberals finally introduced Bill C-69, the Navigation Protection Act, which falls considerably short of what the Liberals promised during the election campaign. In fact, the minor changes introduced in the bill make little or no difference for the protection of 99% of our waterways. Instead, Canadians will be forced to fight the government on a case-by-case basis to protect each lake, river, creek, or stream.

On World Water Day, I hope the government and all MPs will acknowledge the importance of water to Canadians and pledge to conserve, protect, and restore watersheds across our great country.

540 Golden Hawks Squadron

[John Oliver, Liberal, Oakville, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the achievements of two young women in the Oakville 540 Golden Hawks Squadron. Flight sergeants Maya Moussli and Rachel Shi have received Air Cadet League long service medals for their commitment to leadership and service to Oakville.

Named after the world famous Golden Hawks precision flight team of the Royal Canadian Air Force, the 540 Golden Hawks Squadron is one of over 450 Royal Canadian air cadet squadrons across Canada. Locally, it has been serving the youth of Oakville since 1951. Hundreds of youth each year participate in its programs and gain valuable skills in leadership, community engagement, and teamwork.

Its committed and engaged young leaders, like Maya, Rachel, and all the 540 Golden Hawks Squadron cadets make me so proud to represent Oakville. I know their futures are very bright, and I expect big things from the entire 540 Golden Hawks Squadron. Keep up the great work.

Swift Current Broncos

[David Anderson, Conservative, Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK]

Mr. Speaker, the Swift Current Broncos has a remarkable history, a history of great success and tremendous challenge. A successful junior A franchise in the smallest Western Hockey League city requires a huge community effort, and this year that commitment was there. With a record-setting year for attendance, an improvement of 18,000 fans from last year, all of southwest Saskatchewan is supporting our team. It is for good reason.

The Broncos are rated number four in the country and have recorded the most points in a season since they won the Memorial Cup in 1989. They finished second in the WHL and are moving into the first round of the playoffs against the Regina Pats, a team that wants to win because it is this year's host of the Memorial Cup.

The hard hitting, fast skating Broncos are on their way, led by their captain, Glenn Gawdin and goalie Stuart Skinner.

Swift Current and area will be decked out in blue and green as the Swift Current Broncos begin the road to another Memorial Cup. Go Broncos go.

Stephen Hawking

[Raj Saini, Liberal, Kitchener Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, on March 14, the world lost a brilliant mind. Stephen Hawking sought to better understand the underlying laws that govern the universe.

He probed the fabric of our reality, and along the way he helped to make theoretical physics and cosmology accessible to millions, acted as a champion for those with disabilities, and became a beloved pop culture icon.

In my community of Kitchener—Waterloo, Mr. Hawking will be best remembered for his work at the Perimeter Institute, where he was a distinguished visiting research chair.

People around the world will remember his scientific diligence, his intellectual honesty, his humour, and his work on black hole theory.

On behalf of Kitchener—Waterloo and the House, I would like to take this opportunity to offer my condolences to the Hawking family and to all of those with whom Mr. Hawking explored the farthest reaches of our universe.

Anne

[Jennifer O'Connell, Liberal, Pickering—Uxbridge, ON]

Mr. Speaker, last summer, the member for Malpeque and I visited the Lucy Maud Montgomery Society in Uxbridge.

Anne of Green Gables, her iconic and cherished Canadian story, is based in Prince Edward Island. Earlier this month I was able to tour the set of the new CBC show Anne. I am proud that this hit television show is partially filmed in my riding of Pickering—Uxbridge. It was a pleasure to tour the set and meet the talented actors, writers, and production staff. They make the show so enjoyable to watch for so many Canadians.

At the Canadian Screen Awards, Anne was nominated for 13 awards, which included taking home the award for best drama series. Visiting the set and seeing Anne win at the screen awards serves as an important reminder of the tremendous Canadian arts and culture scene. We should all be proud of the Canadian film and television industry.

I want to thank Canadian Media Producers Association and the cast and crew at Anne for their hospitality, and congratulate them on all their success.

Port Dover Motorcycle Rally

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

Mr. Speaker, Friday the 13th in southern Ontario means one thing: firing up the bike and partying with a hundred thousand or so of one's closest personal friends in Port Dover.

Since 1981, bikers from all over Canada and the U.S. descend on this delightful little town of 6,000 people for a motorcycle rally like no other. This year, the first will be on Friday, April 13, and the second will be Friday, July 13.

What started out as a small get-together over 35 years ago grew by word of mouth. Now, the Dover rallies are among the biggest social events of the year in Haldimand—Norfolk.

This April and July on the13th, I ask people to put on their leathers and ride down to Dover. They will have a great time. It will be great for people watching, great to see all sorts of amazing bikes, old and new, and great for receiving the best hospitality that small town Ontario has to offer.

So saddle up, gas up, and keep the rubber side down.

Seniors

[Jati Sidhu, Liberal, Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon, BC]

Mr. Speaker, over the last three weeks, I hosted seven seniors' town halls throughout my riding, in Mission, Abbotsford, Agassiz, Lillooet, Lytton, Ashcroft, and Cache Creek, to get feedback from constituents on shaping our national seniors strategy. Connecting with constituents is always gratifying, and these meetings were well attended, with a spirited discussion and great ideas.

Through these consultations, I was able to identify several key areas of improvement, including national pharmacare, easier access to assisted living facilities, and financial security for our seniors.

I would like to thank the member for Nickel Belt for his hard work with the national seniors strategy and for joining me in my riding.

I am committed to continuing the conversation and ensuring that the voices of all seniors are heard across our country.

Forestry Industry

[Gudie Hutchings, Liberal, Long Range Mountains, NL]

Mr. Speaker, Canada's forest sector provides good jobs for families in communities all across the country. Constituents in my riding of Long Range Mountains are extremely concerned by the unjustified anti-dumping duties announced by the U.S. against Canadian forest workers.

This government is defending the interests of softwood lumber workers by providing nearly a billion dollars to support workers, communities, and companies.

However, today I am calling on our government to do more to stand up for pulp and paper workers by extending supports to help this industry. In my hometown, Corner Brook Pulp and Paper supports middle-class jobs, provides opportunities for resident across Newfoundland, and provides a market for our wood harvesters all throughout our riding.

Rare Diseases

[Tom Kmiec, Conservative, Calgary Shepard, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my support for the patients with rare disorders and their family members who came to Ottawa this week to meet parliamentarians and attend the Rare Disease Day conference held by CORD, Canada's national network for organizations representing all those with rare disorders. Their message was clear. We need to improve access to treatments for the 2.8 million Canadians affected by a rare disorder.

The Canadian approval process for rare disease treatments or orphan drugs has been called a “Kafkaesque nightmare”. Fewer than 60% of orphan drugs make it into Canada, and only one in three Canadians with a rare disorder can access the treatments he or she needs. The federal government is failing to recognize that orphan drugs and rare diseases are complex issues that cannot simply be rolled under one umbrella regulatory review.

Therefore, I call on the Minister of Health to introduce the orphan drug framework that was completed by the previous Conservative health minister, Rona Ambrose. Canadians with rare disorders need this vital framework to address the current challenges and, ultimately, to help improve and save their lives.