Debates of Sept. 17th, 2018

The Environment

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

Mr. Speaker, right now in the oceans protection plan there is no mention of plastic or ocean plastic. In fact, there is a regulatory void and the government still has not filled it. The Liberals talk about their international commitments but they are voluntary.

We have had a lot of consultation. We are asking the government to at least show it is serious about this issue and take some concrete steps. The mayor of Tofino, who was just at UBCM, said so eloquently, “Thx #UBCM2018 delegates for so strongly supporting this message to the federal government. Canada needs to move beyond a voluntary plastics charter to national strategy that methodically brings in the regulation Canadians want, to reduce plastic.”

A circular economy will not do it. A replacement economy will not do it. We need actual regulations that will limit and regulate single-use plastics. That is what we are calling for. In my question for the Prime Minister, we got the same rhetoric back; that he made a commitment to the oceans protection plan, but still no mention of ocean plastics or plastics.

[Sean Fraser, Liberal, Central Nova, NS]

Mr. Speaker, I can confirm the government is taking action. I mentioned in particular the $100 million investment in a marine litter mitigation fund. The fact is that this is a complex issue that is going to require a comprehensive response. This includes evaluating all available policy options. That is why we are working with our national and international partners to find solutions throughout the life of plastics. This is going to include making the design and production more sustainable; improving collection management systems and infrastructure; adopting a more sustainable lifestyle, including through public education; improving our understanding of the issue and solutions through research and innovation; and finally, taking action to remove plastic litter that is already covering the world's shorelines and waterways.

We look forward to continuing to mobilize international and national action on this issue, beginning with the G7 meeting in Halifax this week.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

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

Mr. Speaker, it is a great pleasure to be back in Ottawa standing up for my constituents and Canadians tonight on the issue of the illegal border crossing crisis.

I was dismayed during question period today to hear several ministers from the government who are on this file and have not even refreshed their talking points over the summer. This is not funny. Year after year the amount of people who continue to illegally enter the country from safe spaces like upstate New York and then abuse our asylum system by claiming asylum in Canada after already having reached that place of safety continues to increase. That is unacceptable.

Between January and August 2017, the number of people who entered Canada illegally through this method was 13,221. The same period this year it is 14,125. The talking points the government use, and that whomever has to stand up tonight and answer this question will use, are that it has spent a certain amount of money. It is true. The government under the Prime Minister is spending hundreds of millions of dollars on things like putting these people up in hotels in the Greater Toronto Area, in transporting them, in expediting their work permits and in social welfare programs.

To me and most Canadians, this is not fair. When the Prime Minister stands up in Edmonton and tells veterans that they are asking for more than the government can give and then we are seeing people essentially abuse the asylum system and the government's response is we are going to throw more money at it, what is going to happen? Exactly what I just showed. Those numbers increase. To me and most Canadians, that is offensive. Canada's asylum system was never designed to expedite or entice people who are in the United States of America to enter Canada illegally and then abuse our asylum system.

I have stood in this place. I have stood in front of the press gallery. I have stood in the parliamentary committee over the last two years to be very clear about the stance of my party on this. The Conservative Party, when we form government in 2019, will close the loophole in the agreement that we have with the United States and ensure that this abuse of our system stops, as the Liberal government in 2002 did. In fact, former deputy prime minister John Manley alluded to the fact that when the Liberal government signed the safe third country agreement in 2000, it was designed to prevent asylum claim shopping. How far to the left has this party gone to defend the abuse of our asylum claim system and to refuse to close the loophole in this agreement?

It is very clear that a change of government is needed to restore order and fairness back to our immigration system writ large. It is completely unfair for those who are trying to legally enter the country to have to wait for years, while people using the back door are abusing our asylum system.

That is the answer I know I am going to get tonight. The government is going to talk about how many millions of dollars it is spending to entice people to come into the country via this method. The Liberals will not stand up and say that they are closing a loophole on the safe third country agreement. They will not talk about the fact that they have a fiduciary responsibility to remove those who do not have a legal reason to be in Canada, as my party would do. That is very unfortunate. Canadians should not have to wait until the next election to see order restored to Canada's immigration system.

My question, probably vain hopes, for the government is very simple. Has it asked the American administration to close the loophole on the safe third country agreement since we had an emergency parliamentary hearing in Ottawa in July? Will it remove those in Canada who do not have a legal reason to be here? The Globe and Mail reported only 2% of those have been removed. Will it stop wasting taxpayer money on those who seek to circumvent the rules of Canada's immigration system?

[Peter Schiefke, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister (Youth) and to the Minister of Border Security and Organized Crime Reduction]

Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to be here, in Ottawa, and to have the opportunity to respond in detail to the question asked by my hon. colleague, the member for Calgary Nose Hill.

As the Prime Minister has indicated, Canada made a commitment to the international community to respect the rights of asylum seekers and refugees.

As my honourable colleague is aware, if someone claims asylum in Canada because that person is fleeing persecution, war or violence, we have a legal obligation to review that request according to international conventions. At the same time, we must protect the safety of Canadians and keep our borders safe.

It is important that this situation is approached through a rigorous but efficient and fast process.

Providing adequate resources for front-line operations is essential. That is why our government is strengthening our border security and speeding up the processing of asylum claims, through an investment of a further $173.2 million, including $74 million for the IRB.

We also continue to engage the United States and other countries to help deter irregular migration and to correct misinformation about Canada's asylum system. I am happy to report that our efforts are paying off. Over the summer we have seen a notable decrease in the number of arrivals when compared to the same period last year. This is a very positive development and something I am sure that my hon. colleague is happy to hear.

Our country adheres to a rules-based system. We treat claimants with respect, but we must determine if their claims are valid. Our message remains clear to those seeking asylum into Canada: entering Canada between ports of entry is not and never has been a free ticket. There are rigorous immigration and customs rules to be followed, and make no mistake: we enforce them to safeguard our communities against security risks.

The actions we continue to take are consistent with the balance that the federal government is seeking to achieve: that Canada remains a place for those who genuinely need protection, but that we continue to safeguard the integrity of our immigration system and the safety of our citizens.

As the hon. member is well aware, there is no guarantee that those individuals will be allowed to stay in Canada. Indeed, if officials from the independent Immigration and Refugee Board determine that they do not have a legitimate asylum claim, they will be removed from this country.

As government members here in the House have indicated time and time again, we have a solid six-point plan in place to remedy the situation and guide us towards the best course of action.

The Government of Canada is unwavering in its commitment to ensure the safety of Canadians, protect our well-managed immigration system and fulfill our international obligations to protect those in need.

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

Mr. Speaker, my next question relates to the screening process used to vet Mr. Ibrahim Ali prior to his admission to Canada, as he stands accused of committing first degree murder just three months after his arrival.

In 2017 the National Post published an article about a Canadian Border Services Agency internal audit that found that in some cases gaps occurred in security screening during the period of time Mr. Ali's admission was processed.

My question is very serious and simple. Is the Prime Minister satisfied that this individual received an appropriate amount of screening prior to being admitted into Canada? If yes, what process was used? If no, why and what will be done to correct the process?

[Peter Schiefke, Liberal, Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC]

Mr. Speaker, once again, I thank my hon. colleague for her question.

I cannot speak to specific cases, since the House is not the place for that. However, I can say that, as our Prime Minister has said many times, Canada has made an international commitment to respect the rights of asylum seekers and refugees. We must also keep Canadians safe and protect our borders. We take this job very seriously. This situation needs to be addressed carefully, effectively, and quickly, and this is exactly what we are doing. Our front-line personnel also need the right resources to do their job, which is why we are increasing investments in the existing system.

I would also say that we continue to engage. It is important for us not just to look at the situation in the short term and provide adequate resources, but also—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, Anthony Rota]

The hon. member for Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île d'Orléans—Charlevoix.

Justice

[Sylvie Boucher, Conservative, Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île d’Orléans—Charlevoix, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to be back in the House asking questions. I am not actually expecting answers, but I keep asking the same questions because, after all, dreams are free.

More than four months ago, I asked the Minister of Justice a question about notorious alleged gang leader Nick Chan, a notorious criminal. All charges against this dangerous man were stayed because of delays. Longer and longer delays have been a headline issue for the past year and ever since this government took office. In the wake of the Jordan decision, Quebec's Minister Vallée called for a resolution to this issue.

In 2016, the Supreme Court of Canada established a framework to determine whether a criminal trial had been unreasonably delayed. Wait times are too long and there are not enough judges. We asked a lot of questions to find out when new judges would be appointed, but we never got a clear answer. We are still waiting for this government to protect Canadians from serious criminals.

Today, in question period, the members opposite were repeating ad nauseam, in answer to all sorts of questions, that they are here to protect Canadians. The reality is that they never gave ordinary Canadians clear answers.

When major criminals who are brought up on serious charges are released because it took too long for them to be brought to trial, it jeopardizes the safety of Canadians. However, with everything that is happening on the other side of the House, I can understand why the Liberals may not want the justice system to work too well, since they, too, might have to face justice.

I would really like an answer to this question: When will the minister take her responsibilities seriously and appoint judges so that justice can finally prevail and Canadians can be protected?

[Arif Virani, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to speak on the issue of judicial appointments. I appreciate the question from my colleague opposite.

Since coming to power, our government has put important measures in place to ensure that the judicial appointment process is open and transparent for Canadians. These measures also seek to encourage greater diversity on the bench. At the same time, our government is aware of the challenges faced by the courts regarding the judicial delays pointed out by the member opposite, to which even more attention has been paid since the Supreme Court of Canada ruling in Jordan, which was already mentioned.

We proved that we are determined to meet these challenges when we introduced Bill C-75. This bill is now before the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights. It proposes a global reform that addresses the root causes of the delays while modernizing our criminal justice system.

Let me assure the member opposite that the minister is very mindful of the effect judicial vacancies can have on the effective operation of our courts in Canada. She has outlined a case in Alberta in particular and we have addressed the needs in Alberta, as well as in other parts of the country. The minister is absolutely committed to ensuring that the most meritorious candidates are appointed to the bench in order to meet the needs of all Canadians.

Since being elected, our government has appointed or elevated 212 judges to superior courts around this country, and today the diversity of our appointments is unprecedented. Allow me to underscore that diversity. Under our government, 56% of the appointed or elevated judges are women, compared to just 32% under the previous government.

Our government is committed to continuing to strengthen our judiciary.

Budget 2017 created funding for 28 new federally appointed judges. Using that great funding, the minister has appointed judges to new judicial positions in Alberta, 12 in particular, and I highlight Alberta because the case of Nick Chan stems from the province of Alberta. We have also appointed new positions in Ontario, Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador, with more such appointments to come. Through budget 2018, we are creating 46 new judicial positions. Under the current minister, there are now more federally appointed judges sitting in Alberta than under the previous government, a point that I think is very important to underscore.

Judicial advisory committees are fundamental to the judicial appointment process. They evaluate the applications of those who have put their names forward for judicial appointment and provide lists of highly recommended and recommended candidates to the Minister of Justice. As a result of the changes we introduced, the JACs are now more balanced and inclusive.

We also made changes to help achieve a more representative bench, with a broader diversity of backgrounds and experience, allowing candidates to speak to their own understanding and experience of Canada's diverse makeup. We likewise increased our ability to validate candidates' bilingual capacity, something the member opposite has been very strong and determined about, in raising again and again about the point about protecting bilingualism in this country and the French base throughout Canada. That is something she should take note of in terms of what we are doing to ensure that our courts can respond to the needs of Canada's minority official languages communities.

In addition to reforming the process and filling a large number of vacancies, 2017 was a record-breaking year. We made 100 appointments, more than any government in at least two decades, including more than the previous government in any one particular year. The minister is on pace to meet or exceed that very same number this year.

To conclude, we are very proud of what we have done to modernize our judicial appointments process, which is building a better judiciary that better reflects the country that it serves.

[Sylvie Boucher, Conservative, Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île d’Orléans—Charlevoix, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I am really fed up with the Liberals' empty rhetoric. I am tired of hearing party lines and talking points. We are not talking about petty thieves here. We are talking about people who have been charged more than once, but the court process took five years and so they are released.

Perhaps the government has appointed judges, but we are not seeing a difference on the ground. Quebec has been calling for judges. I am going to repeat the question and I want a real answer, not just ministerial talking points. I want the member to speak from the heart.

Does he think it is right that there are still delays for serious crimes, that criminals are being released back onto the streets, and that Canadians are not being protected?

That is the real question.

[Arif Virani, Liberal, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

Mr. Speaker, again, I appreciate the question and passion from the hon. member across the way.

I would like to underline that those who would accuse our government of inaction are incorrect. We can highlight the ways we have acted decisively on multiple fronts to ensure that the Canadian justice system is here for all Canadians.

To date, our government has appointed 212 superior court judges across the country.

The year 2017 was a record year. As I mentioned previously, we appointed 100 judges, more than any government in the past two decades.

In budget 2017, we announced 28 new judicial positions to address the marked increase in the caseloads of the courts, criminal courts included. That answers the hon. member's question directly. Budget 2018 creates an additional 46 new judicial positions to meet the current needs in criminal and civil matters and to establish new unified family courts in four provinces.

That is 74 new federally appointed judges across our country to respond to the needs of the courts and the needs of Canadians. The very needs underscored by the member opposite in terms of criminal law are being addressed by our efforts—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, Anthony Rota]

The motion to adjourn the House is deemed to have been adopted. Accordingly, the House stands adjourned until tomorrow at 10 a.m., pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).

(The House adjourned at 6:59 p.m.)