Debates of June 20th, 2018

Ethics

[Andrew Scheer, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, he says he is investing in the middle class. Since when does the Prime Minister's family count as the middle class? Instead of planning for Canada's economy against the external threats that face us, where are his priorities? Where are his investments? Well, there is $8,500 for new boat racks, $13,000 for a new deck with sun umbrellas, and $7,500 for a new play structure.

I have bought many swing sets and play structures for my kids. Can the Prime Minister tell me what exactly is part of a $7,500 swing set?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we got elected on a commitment to invest in the middle class and those working hard to join it, and that is exactly what we have done. The first thing we did was lower taxes for the middle class and raise them on the wealthiest 1%, which the Conservatives voted against. Then we delivered on a Canada child benefit, which helps nine out of 10 Canadian families by not sending child benefit cheques to millionaires. It is lifting hundreds of thousands of kids out of poverty across the country, and the Conservatives voted against it.

The Conservatives continue to look for boutique tax cuts for the wealthiest Canadians while we are supporting middle-class Canadians right across the country, and we will continue to do just that.

[Andrew Scheer, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is writing cheques from taxpayers' accounts to his own family to reimburse it for personal costs. It does not end there. He spent $28,000 to groom his cross-country ski trails, $5,000 for a new golf cart, and more than $4,000 to wire up his new sauna, but I have to come back to the swing sets. I have bought several for my family. I am trying to imagine what goes into a $7,500 swing set.

Can the Prime Minister tell me, is there a chair lift for the slide, are the seats on the swing ergonomically designed, and will he finally reimburse taxpayers for that expense?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the National Capital Commission is responsible for ensuring the appropriate and timely maintenance for all official residences, including Stornoway.

The NCC is conducting much-needed rehabilitation work at Harrington Lake in order to conserve this federally designated heritage building. The RCMP will also be conducting work to enhance the security features at Harrington Lake. The NCC is working to address these issues in a timely fashion.

[Andrew Scheer, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, I just want to let the Prime Minister know that, if he will allow me, I will be seeking unanimous consent after question period to table a document entitled “Sportspower 8 station swing set”. It has a wonderful slide, seesaw, and several swings, and it only costs $198.

Will he allow me to table this document after question period?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we are in a tariff conflict with the United States. We are seeing horrific images of children being detained across the United States. We are seeing indigenous peoples in this country challenged, needing better opportunities. We are seeing a broad range of issues that matter on this the last day of the spring sitting of the House of Commons. We are moving forward on the legalization of marijuana, which I know the Conservatives have issues with. However, this is what the Leader of the Opposition chooses to spend his last day in Parliament before the summer—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Geoff Regan]

Order. I remind the hon. opposition House leader and others that the time to make their arguments is when they have the floor, and not when someone else has the floor.

The hon. member for Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques.

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship

[Guy Caron, NDP, Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC]

Mr. Speaker, two days after accusing the NDP of playing politics because it condemned the separation of children from their migrant parents at the Mexico-U.S. border, the Prime Minister now recognizes that the situation is unacceptable.

Now that he has condemned the situation, can the Prime Minister tell us whether he still believes that the United States is a safe country for asylum seekers?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians across the country are troubled by the images that we have seen. As I said, what is happening is unacceptable. I cannot imagine the pain these families are experiencing.

The safe third country agreement has been in place for more than 10 years and we continue to seek ways to modernize it. We are in ongoing talks with the United States. We will continue to closely monitor developments in the United States.

[Guy Caron, NDP, Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister cannot have his cake and eat it too. A safe third country means that the country with which we signed an agreement is a place where asylum seekers are treated fairly, humanely, and decently.

He criticized a situation in the United States where children are being separated from their migrant parents.

I will repeat the question. Beyond talking points, if he is prepared to condemn what is happening in the United States, if he is prepared to say that that situation is unacceptable, will he now say that the country that is treating people that way is no longer a safe third country for refugees?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, as I said, this situation is unacceptable. We are monitoring the situation in the United States very closely. We will continue to work with the Americans on border protection and the agreements we have with them, while protecting our values and the way we do things in Canada. We will be loud and clear about that. We obviously do not do things the same way.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the fact is that over 2,000 migrant children are already in baby jails. The parents do not know where they are or when they will see them again.

The head of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirmed parents' worst fears. He expects hundreds of separated children will never see their parents again. They will be lost in the system forever.

Does the Prime Minister recognize that as long as Trump is in power, the U.S. will never be a safe country for asylum seekers?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, as I have said, what is happening is wrong. None of us can imagine what these families are going through and I know all Canadians have the well-being of children first and foremost in their minds. As I have said numerous times both at home and abroad, I will always stand up for the values that Canadians hold dear. This is something that I will continue to do.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Mr. Speaker, while Trump closed the doors to those fleeing gang violence and domestic violence, yet many fleeing from Central America cite gang violence as the main reason to seek asylum. Trump's policy is in violation of the UN convention for gender-related persecution. As long as Trump is in power, the U.S. will never be a safe country for asylum seekers.

Will the Prime Minister show the moral leadership by suspending the safe third country agreement?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians across the country are very concerned with the stories and images that we have witnessed. As I have said, what is happening in the United States is wrong. I cannot imagine what these families are going through.

As I have said many times, the safe third country agreement is over 10 years old. We will continually look for ways to modernize it and be in conversation with the Americans on this. We will continue as well to closely monitor developments in the United States.

Government Spending

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

Mr. Speaker, more information about the cost of the Prime Minister's disastrous trip to India is coming to light: $17,000 for one single Canadian chef who prepared one single meal; $60,000 to rent chauffeured vehicles; and hundreds of thousands of dollars to feed and house the 77-member delegation that included 21 MPs, most of whom did not attend any working meetings during the trip.

The tab is now at $1.5 million and climbing.

How can the Prime Minister justify that kind of spending to Canadians?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians want us to be effective on the world stage.

During our trip to India, we announced bilateral investments totalling over $1 billion that will help create 5,800 jobs in Canada. We also announced $11.5 million for the right start initiative to empower the world's poorest women and girls. These commitments will benefit the middle class and those working hard to join it.

I would point out that this nine-day trip cost much less than Stephen Harper's six-day trip to India a few years ago.

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

Mr. Speaker, the problem with the Prime Minister's reckless spending is that he is doing it on the taxpayers' dime and with no end in sight. We have just learned how much the Prime Minister is spending on his summer home: $3,000 on sun umbrellas—I am not sure where he finds them—; $7,500 on a swing set; $12,000 to replace a dock; and $5,000 on a golf cart.

Meanwhile, 80% of Canadians and Canadian families are paying more taxes under this government.

How can the Prime Minister justify that kind of spending while hard-working Canadians are just trying to make a living—

[The Speaker, Geoff Regan]

Order. The right hon. Prime Minister.

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, perhaps the Conservatives have forgotten why Stephen Harper's trip to India was so expensive for taxpayers. It was because he wanted to bring his own limousines with him, at a cost of $1.5 million. That is the Conservative approach to such matters.

With respect to Harrington Lake, the National Capital Commission is responsible for ensuring the appropriate and timely maintenance of all official residences. The National Capital Commission is conducting much-needed rehabilitation work at Harrington Lake in order to preserve this federally-designated heritage building.

[Lisa Raitt, Conservative, Milton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I find the indignation with which the Prime Minister emotes very troubling when it comes to his discussing his expenses on the India trip. Primarily the Prime Minister is not above scrutiny when it comes to expenses that he incurs, and in fact, he signs off on these. For the India trip alone, they flew in $5,000 worth of wine, charged $5,000 on cellphone costs, and $60,000 for personal chauffeurs.

Did the Prime Minister sign off on all of these expenses?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservative government spent over $1.5 million bringing Stephen Harper's limos from Ottawa to India for his trip because he wanted to travel around in the style to which he was accustomed. That is completely irresponsible.

We were proud that our trip to India, which covered nine days and secured one billion dollars' worth of bilateral investment, cost significantly less than his six-day trip.

[Lisa Raitt, Conservative, Milton, ON]

Once again, Mr. Speaker, we are confronted with anger from the Prime Minister that we have the audacity to ask questions about his spending habits. In the private sector, they say that the tone is set at the top. The tone of the Liberal government is a culture of spending in excess. That is all this is.

Maybe the Prime Minister can tell me why, at his personal retreat at Harrington Lake, he thinks it is okay to spend $10,000 for a new patio, $12,000 for deck and dock upgrades, and $60,000 in total on these upgrades when Canadians are worried about paying for his carbon tax.

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I would not want to make an error in the House of Commons. I need to point out that the armoured limos only cost $1 million to bring to India. I am sorry; I got the number wrong, previously.

We remain focused on investing and growing the economy and supporting Canadians. That is why we lowered taxes on the middle class and raised them on the wealthiest 1%. The Conservatives voted against that. That is why we are delivering a Canada child benefit that delivers more money to nine out of 10 Canadian families and is lifting hundreds of thousands of kids out of poverty. Again, the Conservatives voted—