House of Commons Hansard #319 of the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was health.
Richard Martel Conservative Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC
Mr. Speaker, during the 2015 campaign, the Prime Minister said that no veteran should have to fight the government to get the support they need. However, just a few months ago, the Prime Minister told a veteran that he was asking for more than what the government could give him.
Today we learned that $372 million allocated to our veterans is gathering moss in the government's coffers.
Is this another broken promise? Why is the Prime Minister incapable of respecting veterans?
Seamus O'Regan LiberalMinister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, first of all, on behalf of this side of the House, let me congratulate the member on his first question during question period.
Let me also say that ensuring veterans receive all the benefits that they have earned is our top priority. Our benefits are demand driven, so whether it is 10 or 10,000 veterans, they will receive the benefits which they deserve. They are based on estimates. This process guarantees that whether a veteran comes forward this year or next year or the year after, the money is always there for them.
We know that because in three years this government has invested $10 billion in benefits and services for our veterans. Let me remind the member on that side of the House that in three years the Harper Conservatives did nothing but cut, cut benefits and cut—
Veterans AffairsOral Questions
The Speaker Geoff Regan
Order. I would remind the member for Durham that to ensure that all members can speak when it is their turn is the responsibility not only of the Speaker but of all of us.
The hon. member for Longueuil—Saint-Hubert.
Pierre Nantel NDP Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, QC
Mr. Speaker, Marianne Simard is dealing with an aggressive type of cancer. This active Longueuil mom has had her life turned completely upside down by the disease. However, the Liberal government gives her just 15 weeks of EI benefits to recover, despite repeated promises from the Prime Minister and the Minister of Families, and despite a petition signed by 600,000 people demanding that those promises be kept. It makes no sense.
Is there a minister here who can look Marianne in the eyes and admit that she is being let down, or is the government going to do the right thing and increase the meagre 15 weeks of benefits?
Jean-Yves Duclos LiberalMinister of Families
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question. He is well aware that the government was elected on a promise to help and support the middle class and all those working hard to join it, especially those who are having a harder time getting by for reasons beyond their control.
That is why we made major changes to the EI system in 2015 to make certain benefits more flexible and more generous. I would be happy to provide my colleague with details. That being said, I can assure him that we are going to continue to implement an EI system that works for everyone.
Marc Serré Liberal Nickel Belt, ON
Mr. Speaker, I had the pleasure of making a major announcement in Nickel Belt this summer. Our Liberal government will improve an important grade crossing in Capreol. This investment will not only enhance the safety of pedestrians and motorists, but it will also allow trains to get through the area faster and reduce wait times at the Young Street grade crossing. This is good news.
Could the hon. Minister of Transport tell the House about his commitment to rail safety?
Marc Garneau LiberalMinister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Nickel Belt for his question and for all his hard work in his riding. He is the one who approached me regarding this grade crossing.
We recognize quite clearly that rail safety is important to small communities like Capreol, and we are very pleased to be making improvements to this grade crossing. It is important to do so to minimize the risk of collisions and to help traffic move faster. Rail safety is my first priority.
Leona Alleslev Conservative Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON
Mr. Speaker, under the Prime Minister, Canada's position in the world has been diminished and our ability to deliver on our defence commitments has been undermined by politics. Purchasing used CF-18s from the Australians will not give us capability, will be cost prohibitive, and frankly, humiliating when we should be reassuring our allies in a time of unprecedented global instability.
Will the Prime Minister finally cancel this flawed purchase and equip our pilots with the aircraft they need to get the job done on the world stage?
Harjit S. Sajjan LiberalMinister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, while the previous Harper Conservatives cut billions from defence as part of their deficit reduction action plan, with our government's new defence policy we are increasing the defence budget by 70%. While the previous government closed Veterans Affairs offices, we reopened them.
Simon Marcil Bloc Mirabel, QC
Mr. Speaker, during the Lac-Saint-Jean by-election, the Prime Minister promised he would fully protect supply management in the TPP. We all know what happened next: he made huge concessions.
The same thing happened during the Chicoutimi—Le Fjord by-election. He promised to fully protect supply management in NAFTA negotiations. We all know what happened next: after the election, there was no more talk of fully protecting anything.
We have three by-elections coming up. Will the Prime Minister show some backbone and stand up to the U.S. government?
Lawrence MacAulay LiberalMinister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
Mr. Speaker, I can indicate clearly that this House, the Prime Minister, all cabinet ministers and I have indicated quite clearly that we will fully support supply management. It is important to realize that we are the party that fought to implement supply management, and we are the party that is going to implement supply management. We in this government understand the importance of the supply management system in this country.
Gabriel Ste-Marie Bloc Joliette, QC
Mr. Speaker, we want the government to vigorously defend supply management.
Last week, the populist member for Beauce called his former Conservative colleagues hypocrites. He said that, in private, Conservatives are against supply management but that they cannot or do not want to talk about it. That sure sounds like our Conservatives.
Given how much the government has compromised on supply management, we have to wonder if a code of silence reigns on that side too or if the government is truly standing up for our producers.
Lawrence MacAulay LiberalMinister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate my hon. colleague's question. I cannot respond for the opposition if they are split on the supply management system. If the Conservative Party is split on the supply management system, that is most unfortunate. However, I can assure the House that every member on this side of the House of Commons supports the supply management system. They fully understand how important it is to the agricultural sector. This party fought to implement supply management, and this government will preserve supply management.
Hunter Tootoo Independent Nunavut, NU
Mr. Speaker,
[Member spoke in Inuktitut]
[English]
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Intergovernmental and Northern Affairs and Internal Trade.
It is over a year now since the nutrition north report was issued and we are still waiting for action. On his recent visit to Iqaluit, the new minister discovered that this was an urgent issue. Five times I have raised this in the House, and the answer is always, “We're taking our time to get it right.” I just have to wonder how long it takes the current government to get something right.
The Prime Minister has given the minister a specific mandate to fix and expand the program. Will he share what his timeline is to do that?
Dominic LeBlanc LiberalMinister of Intergovernmental and Northern Affairs and Internal Trade
Mr. Speaker, as my colleague from Nunavut knows, when I visited Nunavut and the other two northern territories this was a subject of discussion that I had not only with the premiers of the territorial governments but also with indigenous leaders and business leaders.
I share my hon. colleague's sense of urgency. My colleague from Labrador, who is the parliamentary secretary, has been working on this. She and I have some specific ideas that will respond to innovative solutions that we have heard from northerners about a program important to northerners. I look forward to working with my colleague in this regard.
Parliamentary Budget OfficerRoutine Proceedings
The Speaker Geoff Regan
Pursuant to section 79.2(2) of the Parliament of Canada Act, it is my duty to present to the House a report from the Parliamentary Budget Officer entitled “Extended April 2018 Economic and Fiscal Outlook”.
Pursuant to subsection 79.2(2) of the Parliament of Canada Act, it is my duty to present to the House a report from the Parliamentary Budget Officer entitled “PBO's Approach to Measuring Potential GDP”.
Pursuant to section 79.2(2) of the Parliament of Canada Act, it is my duty to present to the House a report from the Parliamentary Budget Officer entitled “Status Report on Phase 1 of the Investing in Canada Plan ”.
Kevin Lamoureux LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to 48 petitions.
Rob Oliphant Liberal Don Valley West, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 20th report of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration.
The report is entitled “Responding to Public Complaints: A Review of the Appointment, Training and Complaint Processes of the Immigration and Refugee Board”.
Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report.
Salma Zahid Liberal Scarborough Centre, ON
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present petitions signed by my constituents to recognize the contributions that Filipino Canadians have made to Canadian society, the richness of the Filipino language and culture, and the importance of reflecting upon Filipino heritage for future generations by declaring June of every year Filipino heritage month by supporting Motion No. 155.
Larry Miller Conservative Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON
Mr. Speaker, welcome back after a good summer.
I rise in the House today to present e-petition 1560 in response to the Prime Minister's disastrous trip to India in February. The petitioners call on the government to conduct an open investigation into the PMO's failures related to national security and the international relations of Canada abroad. With close to 3,000 signatures, the petitioners express their concerns regarding the lack of security protocols to prevent the invitation of convicted terrorists to state dinners in other countries. The petition has signatories throughout Canada who express their concern at the PMO's failures related to national security.
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to table a petition on behalf of the constituents of Tofino, Ucluelet and Ahousaht who call on the government to work with the provinces, municipalities and indigenous communities to develop a national strategy to combat plastic pollution in and around aquatic environments, including regulations aimed at reducing plastic debris discharge from stormwater outfalls, industrial use of microplastics, consumer and industrial use of single-use plastics, and permanent dedicated and annual funding for the cleanup of derelict fishing gear, community-led projects to clean up plastics and debris on our shores, and education and outreach campaigns on the root causes and negative environmental effects of plastic pollution in and around all bodies of water. Furthermore, they call on the government to adopt my Motion No. 151 and establish a national strategy to combat plastic pollution.
Sheila Malcolmson NDP Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC
Mr. Speaker, because tens of thousands of British Columbia jobs depend on an oil-free coast, because the ecology and clean environment are at the foundation of our region of coastal British Columbia, I bring today the advice of petitioners from Nanaimo—Ladysmith who urge the government, rather than spending $4.5 billion to buy a leaky old pipeline, to instead cancel the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion on the basis of there not being a sufficient bitumen oil spill response, insufficient consultation with affected communities, and not enough assent from indigenous leadership, as has recently been affirmed by the courts. We particularly commend this advice from Nanaimo—Ladysmith residents to the government.
Doug Eyolfson Liberal Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB
Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to rise and present e-petition 1596 in the House of Commons.
This petition was developed by Josh Goldstein, an advocate for those with diabetes and a champion for changes that will benefit thousands of people who face economic hardships as a result of their necessary medications and medical devices.
Over 2,200 petitioners call upon the Minister of Health to work with her provincial and territorial colleagues to eliminate the age restriction on insurance for insulin pumps, and introduce a national pharmacare program that would include insulin and other essential medicines for diabetics in its formulary.
Mark Warawa Conservative Langley—Aldergrove, BC
Mr. Speaker, my first petition is from Families for Justice, a group of Canadians who have had a loved one killed by a drunk driver.
The petitioners believe that Canada's impaired driving laws are much too lenient, and want the crime to be called what it is, vehicular homicide. It is the number one cause of criminal death in Canada. Over 1,200 Canadians are killed by a drunk driver every year.
Canadians are calling for mandatory sentencing for vehicular homicide that would require mandatory prison terms.