Debates of June 11th, 2018

Ethics

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Fisheries is under federal investigation for awarding a lucrative surf clam quota to his Liberal friends and family. His shady conduct has ensured that clam harvesting will not even happen this year, because the company he personally selected cannot even buy a boat. Meanwhile, the hard-working people of Grand Bank are losing their jobs because this minister wanted to make a few bucks for his friends.

Will the Prime Minister put an end to clam scam once and for all, and stand up for the people of Grand Bank?

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, Minister of Fisheries]

Mr. Speaker, our government will continue to stand up for the hard-working women and men, and not only of Newfoundland and Labrador who work in the fishery and the fish processing sector. My colleague, who represents Grand Bank, has been working on a number of proposals in partnership with indigenous communities and others, which will bring greater prosperity to his constituency and hopefully the people of Grand Bank as well. Our decision to include indigenous partners in the lucrative surf clam fishery was the right decision, and we continue to believe that this offers opportunities for reconciliation.

Marijuana

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

Mr. Speaker, the House received a batch of 46 amendments to its cannabis bill, a massive amount that shows that the government has to go back to the drawing board. Among those amendments, there is one that is crucial to Quebec and would specifically prevent Ottawa from infringing on the right of the provinces to regulate home cultivation. Enough is enough with Ottawa's need for control.

The Liberals have so far been stubborn and dogmatic.

Will they finally listen to reason and accept this rather essential change?

[Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, the current approach to cannabis is not working. It allows criminals to profit from cannabis and has not managed to keep it out of the hands of our children.

However, our government is legalizing, regulating, and strictly controlling access to cannabis, and we are pleased that Bill C-45 was passed by the Senate last week. Our government is carefully examining the amendments made by the Senate and we will come back with a response later this week.

International Trade

[Simon Marcil, Bloc, Mirabel, QC]

Mr. Speaker, last week, the Prime Minister climbed into a truck cab in Chicoutimi to make a stump-like speech that included a promise to protect supply management in NAFTA negotiations.

I would like to remind the government that, on September 26, the House adopted a unanimous motion to fully preserve supply management.

Will the government heed the unanimous will of the House of Commons, or will it break its promises as it did with CETA and the TPP?

[Marie-Claude Bibeau, Liberal, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie]

Mr. Speaker, our government is fully committed to protecting the supply management system. Our Prime Minister, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Agriculture, the 41 Quebec MPs, and our entire caucus believe in the supply management system, and we will protect it. Ours is the party that created the supply management system, and we will protect it.

Indigenous Affairs

[Hunter Tootoo, Independent, Nunavut, NU]

Mr. Speaker, qujannamiik uqaqti . My question is for the Minister of Indigenous Services.

Last week, I asked the Prime Minister a question regarding the recent declaration of crisis by two communities in my riding, declarations that stem from a lack of mental health services and an increase in suicide attempts.

Although I appreciate the answer provided, the funding mentioned is not solely intended for mental health support. Like other existing funding, it fails to address the need. These crises demonstrate that.

Will the minister commit to funding the mental health service and support needed by Nunavummiut?

[Jane Philpott, Liberal, Minister of Indigenous Services]

Mr. Speaker, I am happy to reassure the member for Nunavut that our budgets, both in 2017 and in 2018, had significant investments for mental wellness and addictions treatment. In fact, this year alone, for Nunavut, we have investments of $8.4 million for mental health priorities in that territory.

As the member may know, the funding allocations are determined in partnership with organizations like Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami. We are also happy, of course, to work with the Government of Nunavut to make sure that we have appropriate investments. We will continue to work with all partners, and look forward to the opportunity to working with the member himself.

Presence in Gallery

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

For people across the country, Canadian Armed Forces Day is an opportunity to honour the sacrifices that our military personnel make on our behalf.

It is my pleasure to draw to the attention of hon. members to the presence in the gallery of six members of the Canadian Forces who are taking part in Canadian Armed Forces Day today: Colonel Colleen Forestier, Sergeant Mena Ghattas, Sergeant Shirley Jardine, Leading Seaman Philippe Mercier-Provencher, Corporal Matthew Tate, and Ranger Judy Morris.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear!

Canada-U.S. Trade

[Tracey Ramsey, NDP, Essex, ON]

Mr. Speaker, in a moment I will be seeking the House's consent for a motion.

At this difficult moment in our history with our U.S. neighbours, Canadians need to know that all sides of the House stand united as one.

Mr. Speaker, there have been talks amongst the parties and I believe if you seek it, you will find consent for the following motion. I move:

That the House:

(a) recognize the importance of Canada's long-standing, mutually beneficial trading relationship with the United States of America;

(b) stand with Canadian workers in communities that directly or indirectly depend on this trading relationship;

(c) strongly oppose the illegitimate tariffs imposed by the U.S. government against Canadian steel and aluminum workers;

(d) stand in solidarity with the Government of Canada in its decision to impose retaliatory tariffs;

(e) remain united in support of Canadian farmers and supply management, which is integral for dairy, chicken, turkey, and egg farming;

(f) reject disparaging ad hominem statements by U.S. officials which do a disservice to bilateral relations and work against efforts to resolve this trade dispute.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

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

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[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?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

(Motion agreed to)

The House resumed from June 7 consideration of Bill C-69, An Act to enact the Impact Assessment Act and the Canadian Energy Regulator Act, to amend the Navigation Protection Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts, and of the motions in Group No. 1.

Impact Assessment Act

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

It being 3:12 p.m., pursuant to order made on Tuesday, May 29, 2018, the House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motions at report stage of Bill C-69.

The question is on Motion No. 1. A vote on this motion also applies to Motions Nos. 15 to 23, 28 to 61, 100 to 103, 105 to 147, 149 to 205, 208 to 214, and 216.

A negative vote on Motion No. 1 requires the question to be put on Motions Nos. 3, 4, 5, and 11.

(The House divided on Motion No. 1, which was negatived on the following division:)

Vote #739

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

I declare Motion No. 1 defeated. I therefore declare Motions Nos. 15 to 23, 28 to 61, 100 to 103, 105 to 147, 149 to 205, 208 to 214, and 216 defeated.

The next question is on Motion No. 3. A vote on this motion also applies to Motion No. 25.

The hon. Chief Government Whip on a point of order.

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I believe that if you seek it, you will find agreement to apply the results from the previous vote to this vote, with Liberal members voting no.

[Mark Strahl, Conservative, Chilliwack—Hope, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives agree to apply the vote and will vote no.

[Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet, NDP, Hochelaga, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the NDP agrees to apply the vote and will vote yes.

[Luc Thériault, Québec debout, Montcalm, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the members of Québec Debout agree to apply the vote and will vote in favour of the motion.

[Simon Marcil, Bloc, Mirabel, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Bloc Québécois agrees to apply the vote and will vote yes.