Debates of March 22nd, 2018

Taxation

[Bill Morneau, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, as we consider the way our economy is changing, with large international firms that have new business models, we are going to carefully figure out how we can assure that our tax revenues stay, appropriately, the way they are today, and that those enterprises pay the appropriate level of tax.

As we know, other G7 countries are working together with us and with the G20 to consider how we can do this together, because international firms working together on an international basis is most appropriate. We have agreed, at the G7 and G20, to work toward a 2020 deadline.

Privacy

[Peter Kent, Conservative, Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals assure us the 2016 pilot data project and contract with Mr. Wylie was one time, a quick $100,000 out the door, contract ended, let us move on.

We now know two senior Liberal data specialists were on stage with Mr. Wylie at a conference later that year. One of them was the Liberal research bureau's director, and the other Brett Thalmann, now the director of special projects in the Prime Minister's Office.

Could the minister explain this continuing relationship with Mr. Wylie at the highest levels of the PMO?

[Scott Brison, Liberal, President of the Treasury Board]

Mr. Speaker, the LRB was clear and transparent in issuing the work statement yesterday, making it very clear that no information on Canadians was in any way compromised.

Participating in conferences is not a new thing for political staffers. In fact, just a few weeks ago at the Manning Networking Conference, a Conservative conference, there was a closed book session on Facebook training. We do not know what was discussed at that session, because it was closed to the media. The Conservatives did not want Canadians to know what they were talking about behind closed doors.

[Peter Kent, Conservative, Thornhill, ON]

That is simply not adequate, Mr. Speaker. One is measured by those with whom one associates.

Could the minister explain to the House whether the mining of Canadians' social media data, and the use of the results of such analysis to tilt future Canadian election outcomes falls under Mr. Thalmann's responsibilities as the director of special projects for the Prime Minister?

[Scott Brison, Liberal, President of the Treasury Board]

Mr. Speaker, I am glad the hon. member brought up data mining, because Hamish Marshall, the Conservative campaign director, is also president of his own data mining company Torch. He also led a panel at the same Manning conference.

Mr. Marshall has also gone further. He says on his website that he is “fearless in crafting an approach that pushes the boundaries, breaks the rules and harnesses the power of all digital channels.”

Which rules does he intend to break in the next election for the Conservatives?

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

Mr. Speaker, who is Christopher Wylie? He is a guy who used dubious practices to harvest data from Facebook. This guy also worked with two Liberal leaders, and he worked on Donald Trump's presidential campaign. This same guy was hired by the Liberals, using taxpayer dollars, to collect voters' confidential personal data. The use of public money for this purpose is no small matter.

Was this payback for the work he did on the Prime Minister's last election campaign?

[Scott Brison, Liberal, President of the Treasury Board]

Mr. Speaker, Hamish Marshall, the Conservative campaign director for the next election, was also president and chief operating officer of Go Nuclear in 2011, when it bragged of providing everything from the standard tools like websites and email blasts, and web videos to social media management and infiltration.

How much infiltration did Mr. Marshall do on behalf of the leader of the official opposition to help him win the leadership? Perhaps the member for Beauce and the member for Durham should be asking that question.

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

Mr. Speaker, it is fascinating to see how casually the government is taking the reports coming out in the media and around the world.

Here are a few excerpts from the contract Christopher Wylie was given in 2016: “partner with members of the Liberal caucus and recruit constituents”; “monitor the performance of the Liberal members of Parliament in communicating with their constituents”; “setting up social-media monitoring tools”.

Now we learn that, in August 2016, he worked with two senior specialists in the Prime Minister's Office.

For the benefit of Canadians, could the Prime Minister explain the special relationship between Christopher Wylie and the Liberal Party's top officials?

[Scott Brison, Liberal, President of the Treasury Board]

Mr. Speaker, we used a very secret strategy to win the 2015 election, and I want to share this with him.

We actually put Canadians first. We focused on growing the middle class. In fact, in the last two years, that is exactly what we have done, creating 600,000 jobs, and the lowest unemployment rate in 40 years. In fact, I will give him a little hint. We may use the same strategy in 2019 as well.

[Blaine Calkins, Conservative, Red Deer—Lacombe, AB]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday we learned the individual at the heart of the Facebook data leak, Christopher Wylie, was a long-time Liberal staffer. We know the Prime Minister hired him to collect information on Canadians. The Liberals claimed they never used what Mr. Wylie was offering, but they paid him $100,000 anyway. Why?

[Scott Brison, Liberal, President of the Treasury Board]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives used data strategy when they engaged in a $100,000 contract with Agility PR Solutions. They have not actually provided the public with the statement of work. The LRB has actually done that. This individual had a brief contract to do a pilot for LRB. That contract was not renewed.

Hamish Marshall is the campaign director for the Conservative Party for the next election. Perhaps they should be explaining their association with somebody who actively data mines all the time.

[Blaine Calkins, Conservative, Red Deer—Lacombe, AB]

Mr. Speaker, we know the Liberals hired Christopher Wylie in 2016, but they claim he did not do any work for the government. We also know he received $100,000 of taxpayers' money for services rendered.

If he really did not do any work, why was he paid? Was it payback for his help in the 2015 campaign?

[Scott Brison, Liberal, President of the Treasury Board]

Mr. Speaker, the contract commenced in January 2016. Later that year, that pilot was completed, and the LRB did not renew it.

In terms of Facebook ads, in terms of using Facebook, right now the NDP have four ads running on Facebook, the Liberal Party has 25, and the Conservatives have 247 ads on Facebook, 240 of which are used to attack Liberal MPs. It is very clear that the party is quite familiar on how to use Facebook.

Automotive Industry

[Tracey Ramsey, NDP, Essex, ON]

Mr. Speaker, auto manufacturers remain united in their opposition to the TPP, and believe the side letters with Japan do nothing to help Canada gain market access. The Liberals refuse to acknowledge that this trade agreement will harm the auto industry and the good-paying jobs that it supports.

Auto's major stakeholders have called the side letters useless, and the ministers claims laughable. Auto workers, auto manufacturers, and Canadians have real and fair concerns about their future.

The minister claims he is Canada's chief marketing officer, so why does he continue to ignore the very real fears of Canada's second largest exporter?

[Pam Goldsmith-Jones, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade]

Mr. Speaker, trade helps strengthen the middle class by attracting job-creating investment in Canada, and expanding export opportunities for Canadian businesses to large and fast-growing markets. With CPTPP, Canada will soon have preferential access to half a billion customers in the world's most dynamic and fast-growing market. This will strengthen Canadian businesses, grow the economy, and create more well-paying jobs for middle-class Canadians.

Our government negotiated the CPTPP to create and sustain growth, prosperity, and well-paying jobs for all Canadians. We wanted a good deal, and that is what we achieved.

Dairy Industry

[Karine Trudel, NDP, Jonquière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, dairy producers are tired of the Liberals using them as bargaining chips. CETA and the TPP alone will cost producers over $300 million per year, and there is no telling how much the Liberals will leave on the table in NAFTA negotiations and talks with Mercosur.

Will the Liberals stop using them as bargaining chips? When will they get that dairy producers are vital to regions such as the Saguenay—Lac-Saint-Jean?

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, I can assure my hon. colleague and the House that our party is the party that fought to implement supply management, and will continue to defend supply management.

As an example, when we put the program in place, we put $350 million in the program to make sure that supply management of the dairy industry remained on the cutting edge; $250 million to make sure the farmers stayed on the cutting edge; and $100 million to make sure that processors stayed on the cutting edge. We have and will continue to make sure that the supply management system remains strong in this country.

Canada Revenue Agency

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, while the government was tying itself in knots over whether to call people Mr., Mrs., Ms., or God-knows-what, Canadians were busy dealing with real problems.

For one thing, we found out that Canada Post lost 427 passports last year. That is unacceptable. We also found out that the Canada Revenue Agency lost track of 21,000 documents. That, too, is unacceptable. That information is private, important, and extremely sensitive.

What is the government going to do about this ineptitude?

[Diane Lebouthillier, Liberal, Minister of National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, the CRA takes the protection of Canadians' tax information very seriously because the trust of individuals and businesses is the cornerstone of Canada's tax system.

The vast majority of breaches reported were the result of misdirected mail. The CRA is one of the government’s largest service organizations, with more than 40,000 employees. It thoroughly investigates all security breaches and possible breaches of confidentiality of taxpayer information and takes appropriate action.

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Mr. Speaker, it is the same old story. It is not my fault, it is Canada Post's fault. That is what the minister just said.

This is a very serious matter. The Canada Revenue Agency lost 21,000 files. That means 21,000 Canadians do not know exactly what the government is doing with their files. This is extremely important. It is about security. Either people trust the government or they do not.

What will the minister do instead of blaming Canada Post?

[Diane Lebouthillier, Liberal, Minister of National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, had my colleague opposite listened carefully to my answer, he would know that I did not blame Canada Post.

What I said was that the agency takes the protection of Canadians' tax information very seriously because the trust of individuals is the cornerstone of Canada's tax system. The vast majority of breaches reported were the result of misdirected mail. The agency is one of the largest service organizations, with more than 40,000 employees. It thoroughly investigates all security breaches and possible breaches of confidentiality, and takes appropriate action.

The Environment

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Carleton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, in February 2017, the Minister of Environment told the House that all of the carbon tax revenues would go back to provincial governments, and none of it would go to the federal Liberal government. Last week though, the government quietly released a document which said that these revenues did not include those in respect of the GST charged on products and services that may have embedded carbon pricing costs on them.

In other words, the Liberals are going to collect GST on the carbon tax that Canadians are forced to pay. Why is the Environment Minister breaking her word and taxing the tax?

[Catherine McKenna, Liberal, Minister of Environment and Climate Change]

Mr. Speaker, I always love getting up to answer the questions regarding putting a price on pollution from the opposition members. I am glad that the hon. member is very interested in learning more, because we want to put a price on what we do not want, pollution, so that we can get what we do want, innovation and reduced GHG, so we can have a sustainable planet for our kids and grandkids.

In terms of GST, it applies as a final price on all goods and services. This has always been the case as the member well knows.

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

It's a tax on a tax.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Order. The hon. member for Cypress Hills—Grasslands may not like the answer. I know he can restrain himself from talking throughout the answer.

The hon. member for Carleton.