Debates of June 20th, 2018

Marijuana

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we promised to improve our system to better protect our young people and take money and profits out of the hands of organized crime. That is exactly what we did, and we did it in partnership with the provinces. We always work in partnership with the provinces.

These measures have been passed in Parliament and we are now preparing to move forward with them, but the province are asking for more time. We listened to them and agreed to their requests. The legalization of marijuana will take effect on October 17, 2018.

[Pierre Paul-Hus, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister says all kinds of nice things and makes all kinds of nice promises, but life is not about what gets said; it is about what gets done.

Quebec already has its legislation. It has already said it will not allow cultivation in apartments, condos, or homes.

Will the Prime Minister listen to Quebec, or is he gearing up for a court battle with Quebec? Will he listen to Quebec or not?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we are proud to have passed our bill to legalize, strictly regulate, and restrict access to marijuana. This measure will keep marijuana out of the hands of children and profits out of the hands of criminals.

I just gave the member opposite a very precise answer. I will repeat it to be sure he understands. This legislation will come into force on October 17. We made that decision because three of our largest provinces, including Quebec, asked for a little more time. I know how important it is to do this properly, and that is why we are giving Quebec more time.

Public Safety

[James Bezan, Conservative, Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB]

Mr. Speaker, Nada is a young Yazidi mother from Iraq. When ISIS invaded her community, she was sold as a sex slave. She recently recounted coming face to face with Abu Tawfiq, the man she says sold her and bought her. He was not in jail. He was not in Iraq. He is a free man in London, Ontario.

We need to believe victims, and the Liberals let this guy into our country.

Will the Prime Minister take responsibility for allowing ISIS terrorists to walk our streets freely and finally send these war criminals to The Hague?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, in regards to the Yazidis, our government has proven to be a global leader in welcoming refugees and we have more than doubled Canada's refugee numbers. We have provided a new home to more than 1,300 women and their families who endured the brutality of Daesh, 85% of whom are Yazidi.

Our government's commitment to supporting vulnerable women and girls is unwavering. We announced $20 million to expand our refugee program, specifically targeting women and girls.

We will continue to expedite applications so that their family members who escaped Daesh can join their relatives in Canada.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Mr. Speaker, after sitting with a Yazidi woman who survived sexual slavery, one leaves awed by her strength, concerned for her welfare, and left with a deep, white-hot desire to bring her justice. When we wax eloquent about #MeToo, we cannot forget our obligation to bring justice to women who have had their bodies used as tools of war.

Why does the feminist Prime Minister continually refuse to commit to refer Canadian ISIS terrorists to the International Criminal Court?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, our security agencies take all potential threats very seriously and use the full tool kit of measures, including surveillance, the no-fly list, revoking passports, and laying criminal charges when sufficient evidence exists. We trust our police forces and intelligence services to do their work and to do it well.

I find it troubling that the Conservatives seem to want elected officials to directly intervene with police officers and tell them who should be arrested and when they should be arrested.

We will continue to trust those responsible for the safety of Canadians to do their jobs.

Persons with Disabilities

[Cheryl Hardcastle, NDP, Windsor—Tecumseh, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Canada ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities eight long years ago but to this day we have failed to implement it. That is why Canadians are watching as the minister tables the government's long-awaited accessibility act this afternoon. People living with disabilities need more than a vague promise for a barrier-free Canada.

Could the Prime Minister tell us if today's legislation will fulfill Canada's obligations to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, our government is committed to ensuring the full participation of people with disabilities in society, and we have taken steps to do so. We support a variety of programs and services to assist those with disabilities to gain employment, to develop skills, and to gain experience.

For 10 long years, the Harper Conservatives promised to deliver legislation for persons with disabilities but did nothing. I am not going to break with parliamentary privilege, but I will confirm that we will be introducing this historic accessibility legislation before the House rises for the summer.

Health

[Anne Minh-Thu Quach, NDP, Salaberry—Suroît, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the number of victims of Lyme disease doubled in Quebec in 2017, and this number continues to grow every year as a result of climate change.

The government created the federal framework on Lyme disease one year ago, but the guidelines are still not being applied. If this disease is not treated, it can cause cardiac and neurological problems. False negatives are quite common.

When will victims of Lyme disease have access to better diagnostic testing and treatments for chronic cases in Canada?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for her question. This is an issue that affects far too many Canadians. I know that it is very difficult to live with Lyme disease.

We realize that a lot of research is needed on this disease. We are committed to working with those suffering from Lyme disease and with researchers to find the best approach to protect all Canadians.

This is a very important issue, and I thank the member for raising it in the House of Commons.

Foreign Affairs

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

Mr. Speaker, the Iranian regime continues to brutalize its own citizens. Mohammad Salas, a bus driver and member of a religious minority, was arrested. He was then tortured. His phoney confession was then broadcast on state television. It was used as the only evidence in his trial. On Monday, at dawn, he was executed. Then the regime refused to allow his family to even see the body.

When will the Liberal government start to support the Iranian people and stop fantasizing about normalizing relations with this vicious, murderous, terrorist regime?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we deeply oppose Iran's support for terrorist organizations, its threats toward Israel, its ballistic missile program, and its support for the murderous Assad regime. We will always defend human rights and hold Iran to account for its actions.

We led a resolution at the United Nations in November, calling on Iran to comply with its international human rights obligations. We will continue to maintain sanctions on Iran, which include restrictions on sensitive goods and a list of individuals and entities subject to asset freezes, with whom all transactions involving property are prohibited.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the foreign affairs minister finally acknowledged genocide of Yazidis at the hands of Daesh in Syria and Iraq. However, the government has yet to acknowledge genocide against Christian communities in the same areas, Assyrian, Chaldean and other Christians who live in communities alongside Yazidis and have often been treated in exactly the same way.

Will the Prime Minister today also acknowledge the Christian victims of this genocide?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, our government stands strong in the fight against Daesh and will continue to be part of the coalition, as we defend minorities of all types from the murderous terrorist organization of Daesh and the like. We continue to support victims of Daesh from all different cultures and religions. We have looked at resettling numerous minority refugees who are victims of Daesh.

We will continue to hold our place in the world in defending victims and minorities against the murderous actions of Daesh.

[Erin O'Toole, Conservative, Durham, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister just mentioned holding Iran to account. Last night the MP for Richmond Hill organized an event on the Hill for a regime-friendly Iranian lobbying group. Last week this same group publicly criticized the House of Commons for passing a motion condemning Iran.

The Iranian regime is an oppressive abuser of human rights. Does the Prime Minister approve of the actions of the MP for Richmond Hill, organizing parliamentary meetings for a group that supports the Iranian regime?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, as politicians, we engage with a broad range of people, but we have been unequivocal. We deeply oppose Iran's support for terrorist organizations, for its threats toward Israel, its ballistic missile program, and its support for the murderous Assad regime.

We will always defend human rights and hold Iran to account for its actions. We continue to maintain sanctions on Iran, which include restrictions on sensitive goods, and a list of individuals and entities subject to asset freezes.

We will always remain firm in our defence of human rights and are standing against state sponsors of terrorism around the world.

Health

[Raj Saini, Liberal, Kitchener Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, we have all seen the troubling statistics. In 2016, more than one million Canadians had to choose between feeding their family, heating their home, and filling the prescriptions they needed. I have heard similar complaints in my riding of Kitchener-Centre.

In budget 2018, we proudly announced the creation of an advisory council on the implementation of national pharmacare. Could the Prime Minister please update the House on the progress that our government has made in this area?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the member for Kitchener Centre for his work on this file and for his excellent French.

Canadians can be proud of our publicly funded, universal health care system. However, there is always room for improvement. That is why we created the Advisory Council on the Implementation of National Pharmacare, which will study, evaluate, and recommend pharmacare options. We also announced the names of the accomplished members of the council. We look forward to their report, so that we can give Canadians a better system.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

[Shannon Stubbs, Conservative, Lakeland, AB]

Mr. Speaker, in two months the Prime Minister will close the high-performing Vegreville immigration office, killing 288 jobs, dozens more in town, and millions in local revenue. It will not even save tax dollars. It will cost nearly $47 million more for renos and leasing for only 32 extra jobs in Edmonton.

The Prime Minister ignores the pleas of workers, the union, the town, and Alberta representatives of all parties at all levels. He is hurting the 74% of women supporting their families and disabled workers with long-term placements in the office.

Will the Prime Minister please stop this unfounded, cold-hearted closure?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, over the past two years, Canadians across the country have been thanking us for reinvesting in immigration services and processing times, after 10 years of Conservatives shutting down, creating backlogs, starving our immigration systems from being able to actually process the backlogs and giving them the resources they needed.

We know we need to do better on processing times. We need to invest in our immigration system. That is exactly why we are ensuring we have the capacity in our system to treat the files that Canadians and new Canadians expect us to treat rapidly and efficiently.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

I would ask the hon. member for Lakeland to stop interrupting.

The hon. member for Port Moody—Coquitlam.

Fisheries and Oceans

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

Mr. Speaker, recently a Liberal MP said, “The time has come to transition to closed containment salmon aquaculture in British Columbia.” I could not agree more.

Canada is well-positioned to become a world leader in closed containment, but we need action now. Globally, money is being invested in land-based salmon farming. Florida, for instance, is building a 90,000-tonne facility. It is time for Canada to invest in a safe, sustainable industry that protects wild salmon and employment, develops new technologies, jobs, and export opportunities.

Will the Prime Minister commit today to transition these farms to land?

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

I have to also ask the hon. member for Grande Prairie—Mackenzie not to talk when someone else has the floor.

The right hon. Prime Minister.

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we have tasked the federal science adviser to actually look into the question of aquaculture so we can make evidence-based policy moves going forward.

However, I would highlight for my colleague from the NDP that he should have a conversation with his provincial counterparts, if he is not fighting with them as they are with their provincial counterparts in Alberta. They just approved continued tenure for aquaculture farms. That is the decision on the provincial side and we know there are significant concerns that we are moving forward—