Debates of Sept. 18th, 2018

Veterans Affairs

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

Mr. Speaker, I learned of a veteran who has been waiting for over a year for treatment of glaucoma, one of thousands of veterans waiting on claims just to be opened, processed and then to actually receive the benefits they deserve.

The Conservatives failed to spend over $1 billion in seven years allocated for veterans and now we know that the Liberals have left yet another $375 million unspent in just three years. That is enough money to clear the growing backlog of veterans who are tired of waiting.

How can the Liberals justify failing to spend this money on the veterans who need it the most?

[Seamus O'Regan, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, Lib.]

Mr. Speaker, we will ensure that veterans receive all the benefits they have earned. In fact, it is our top priority.

As I said yesterday, our benefits are demand-driven, and so whether it is 10 or 10,000, we will always make sure that eligible veterans come forward and they will receive the benefits to which they are entitled. They are based on estimates, and this process guarantees that whether a veteran comes forward this year, next year or the year after, we will always have the resources available for our veterans.

I would only ask and I would encourage the NDP to look inward at their plan for veterans or lack thereof.

Persons with Disabilities

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

Mr. Speaker, speaking of looking inward, people with disabilities have been waiting for far too long for a national accessibility act.

Canadians were disappointed when Liberal legislation was tabled with no timeline and no requirements. Services as important as VIA Rail could ask for an exemption from the act. For each member in the House, we have to face people living with disabilities, people who face barriers every single day, and we are with them—

[Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Accessibility, Lib.]

Mr. Speaker, I am so proud that tomorrow we are commencing debate on second reading of Bill C-81, the accessibility act.

I can tell members that, in my opinion, this will be the most significant piece for disability rights legislation since the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

I am excited to be working with the member opposite on this bill. I am excited that we can get it to committee tomorrow as soon as possible so that we can make it as substantively great as we possibly can to include the full participation and inclusion of every Canadian in our society.

Ethics

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

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has a serious ethics problem. He is the first prime minister in the history of our country to be found guilty of breaking ethics laws. His Minister of Finance is guilty of breaking ethics laws. Now, during his summer of failure, his most trusted cabinet minister and his close childhood friend was also found guilty of breaking ethics laws. Guilty. Guilty. Guilty.

Will the Prime Minister finally act and fire his close friend or does he truly believe his friends and all Liberals are above the law?

[Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental and Northern Affairs and Internal Trade, Lib.]

Mr. Speaker, as the Ethics Commissioner said, in this this case there was no preferential treatment given and there was no financial benefit derived.

My colleague manufactures great indignation. He talks about people who should in fact be found to have not followed the law. He does not mention a guy who was in this House called Dean Del Mastro, who in fact left in a sheriff's van with handcuffs and leg irons on for not following the law. Where was the manufactured outrage at that point?

[Peter Kent, Conservative, Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, this Liberal government is becoming notorious for its flagrant disregard of ethical practices and in its summer of failure for its failure to abide by the Prime Minister's promises of accountable government. The PM and his ministers are shameless in the face of accumulating conflict-of-interest violations and shameless now caught in breaking their own rules, allowing registered lobbyists to buy their way into exclusive Liberal fundraising events for access to government decision-makers that ordinary citizens do not have.

Why do Liberals think the law is for everyone else?

[Karina Gould, Liberal, Minister of Democratic Institutions]

Mr. Speaker, on this side of the House we are proud to have brought forward Bill C-50 and we are proud to be taking concrete action to disclose even more information than has ever been done before when it comes to fundraising.

However, what we do not know is who is attending Conservative fundraising events. For example, the $1,525 event that was held on July 28, 2016, or perhaps the $1,550 fundraiser that was held on June 21, 2017 or perhaps the $1,525 event that was held on April 21, 2016. Who was attending their events? What do they have to hide?

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lévis—Lotbinière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, this has been a disastrous summer for the Liberals, and their priority has not been to work for the economic well-being and prosperity of our country. Rather, they have once again been focusing on garden parties and private access to clubs that line the Liberal Party's pockets.

The Liberals have not shown the slightest bit of remorse after all the years that they have spent violating the ethics rules by allowing ministers to help party cronies.

There is a long list of examples of privileged access for Liberal cronies. When will the Liberals be fair, equitable and transparent when it comes to their fundraising?

[Karina Gould, Liberal, Minister of Democratic Institutions]

Mr. Speaker, I am very proud of the measures that we have taken on this side of the House, particularly in Bill C-50.

We, on this side of the House, are transparent about our fundraising activities. What we do not know is who is attending the Conservative Party fundraisers. What do the Conservatives have to hide?

On July 28, 2016, it cost $1,525 to get access to the Conservatives. On June 21, 2017, it cost $1,550.

What do the Conservatives have to hide? Why are they not being transparent?

Seniors

[Kim Rudd, Liberal, Northumberland—Peterborough South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, seniors in my riding of Northumberland—Peterborough South have told me they worry about their financial security. Whether they are retired or approaching retirement, they are concerned not only about their future finances, but also about the day-to-day costs they face right now. We owe Canadian seniors for their contributions to building this great country. We need to provide a quality of life we can be proud of.

Could the Minister of Seniors please tell the House more about our commitment to Canadian seniors and their quality of life?

[Filomena Tassi, Minister of Seniors, Lib.]

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour and a privilege to rise for the first time in the House as the Minister for Seniors.

Our government will continue to work hard for seniors. We have raised 100,000 seniors out of poverty by rolling back the age of entitlement for OAS and GIS from 67 to 65. We have increased the GIS for the most vulnerable single seniors. Those seniors are receiving up to $947 more a year. We have invested $40 billion into a national housing strategy—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

The hon. member for Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke.

Labour

[Cheryl Gallant, Conservative, Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON]

Mr. Speaker, in parts of rural Ontario, municipalities have planned mail-in ballots for their upcoming elections on October 22. Their chief administration officers have raised concerns over reports of a possible postal strike.

Could the Prime Minister tell the House what measures he has put into place to ensure that the elections proceed as planned?

[Rodger Cuzner, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Employment]

Mr. Speaker, our government respects and has faith in the collective bargaining process. Mediators from the federal mediation and conciliation service are working with both parties to assist them in reaching an agreement. We are closely monitoring this labour dispute and we encourage both sides to get down and get an agreement on this issue.

Health

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

Mr. Speaker, more and more people are being diagnosed with Lyme disease every year because of climate change.

Hundreds of Canadians like Simon Martin, a resident of my riding, are contracting this disease. Its victims include wildlife officers and children.

Why is the government leaving these people out in the cold by failing to implement the federal framework on Lyme disease? Where is the $4 million that was earmarked for research into better diagnostic testing and a broader range of treatments?

Why is the government forcing people with Lyme disease to wander in the medical wilderness instead of taking action now?

[Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, the government recognizes that Lyme disease is a growing health problem associated with climate change.

More and more cases are being reported each year. We are helping Canadians protect themselves from Lyme disease by teaching them how to prevent infection, and we are supporting organizations that teach health professionals how to identify the disease.

International Trade

[Karen Ludwig, Liberal, New Brunswick Southwest, NB]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday our government moved one step closer toward the ratification process of the comprehensive and progressive agreement for trans-Pacific partnership, the CPTPP. This is a very significant and important step in our national trade diversification strategy.

Could the Minister of International Trade Diversification update the House on the ratification process of this important trade deal for Canadians?

[Jim Carr, Minister of International Trade Diversification, Lib.]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague from New Brunswick Southwest for her excellent committee work.

We have made it clear that our government is committed to the implementation of the CPTPP. This trade agreement will open a market of 500 million consumers, which will result in growth and jobs for Canadians. We are working to diversify trade so the middle class can compete and win on the world stage. We look forward to working with all MPs to get this done.

Public Services and Procurement

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC]

Mr. Speaker, for the Citadel in Quebec City, the Liberals are using non-compliant, lesser-quality American stone, when the original stone is available across the river in Lévis. According to experts, the stone being used does not meet the technical, geological and heritage criteria to respect the integrity of the Citadel.

How can the Prime Minister live with this unacceptable situation, where jobs are at stake and the integrity and status of Quebec City as a world heritage city are in jeopardy?

[Harjit S. Sajjan, Liberal, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, our government values the rich heritage of the Quebec City Citadel. That is why we are taking steps to protect it. An open and transparent process awarded a Quebec bidder the contract to replace the damaged stone. This bidder is required to adhere to the federal guidelines to ensure that the citadel retains its UNESCO status. National Defence is doing its due diligence to ensure that the winning stone adheres to the heritage qualifications because we understand the importance of this to Quebec City.

[Marilène Gill, Bloc, Manicouagan, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the government awarded a contract for three icebreakers to Davie shipyard this summer. The part that the government is leaving out is that the contract was so small that Davie had to lay off 400 more people. That was a nice try to avoid responsibility, but we are not going to abandon our workers.

The Prime Minister ordered his new Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard to renew the fleet by acquiring new ships.

Will the minister follow that order by offering a real contract to Davie shipyard as early as this fall?

[Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Accessibility, Lib.]

Mr. Speaker, our government is getting results for Canadians by providing the Coast Guard with the ships it needs to serve the Canadian public. This summer, we gave the Davie shipyard a contract worth $610 million, which will create 200 good jobs, so that we can give the Coast Guard the equipment it needs.

[Louis Plamondon, Bloc, Bécancour—Nicolet—Saurel, QC]

Mr. Speaker, what we are asking for is merely a drop in the bucket compared to the historic misappropriation of funds. Under the Conservatives, the federal government awarded $100 billion in shipbuilding and maintenance contracts. Quebec was granted barely 1% of those contracts.

The vice-president of Davie shipyard said that if Quebec had been awarded its fair share of contracts, at least $20 billion, the shipyard would be at full employment for years, at least a decade.

Will the Liberals rise above the Conservatives and give Quebec its fair share of contracts?

[Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Accessibility, Lib.]

Mr. Speaker, we are very aware of the excellent work done by Davie's workers. This summer we gave the Davie shipyard a $610-million contract for three icebreakers and the conversion of a first vessel. This will create up to 200 good jobs for the middle class.