House of Commons Hansard #321 of the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was accessibility.
Andrew Scheer ConservativeLeader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, the Liberals bought it without building it. We will build it without having to buy it. That is the difference between us.
If the Liberals really wanted to develop Canada's energy sector and get our resources to market, they would invite energy east back to the table. They would scrap the carbon tax. They would scrap their plans for Bill C-69, the ban on pipelines bill.
Will the Prime Minister do any of those things to get our men and women in the country back to work?
Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives seem full of vim and vigour in what they want to talk about, but they do not actually have any plans. The closest we have seen is, “Well, you should bring in legislation to get that pipeline built”.
The fact that we would expect the private sector and investors to move forward on projects in Canada, knowing that any time they want to get something built we have to put legislation on it through the House of Commons is not the kind of predictable, clear path that our investors around the world or in Canada want.
We are going to get clarity to be able to build things responsibly.
Guy Caron NDP Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC
Mr. Speaker, dairy farmers are worried.
In Manitoba, David and his brother are third generation dairy farmers who are committed to providing the highest quality milk for Canadians. However, with each trade deal, Canadian dairy farmers like them are asked by Liberal and Conservative governments to give away a little bit, and a little bit more. Basically, they are being asked to accept death by 1,000 cuts.
Enough is enough. When will the Prime Minister do as he promised and commit to fully protect supply management?
Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, we have and are committed to protecting supply management.
Supply management is a system that works for our farmers and for consumers. It was a Liberal government that brought it in 40 years ago. We understand how important it is to continue to protect our agricultural industry and our dairy producers.
We continue to sign important trade deals around the world and ensure that we protect our supply-managed industry and, indeed, our family dairy farmers. That is what Canadians expect.
Guy Caron NDP Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC
Mr. Speaker, the key word is “fully”, and he still refuses to say it.
Canadian dairy farmers are here on the Hill today. They are worried that the government is still using them as a bargaining chip in the NAFTA negotiations. When I meet with dairy farmers in my riding, they tell me that the supply management system allows them to stabilize production costs on their farms. However, the government sacrifices our farmers at every turn. One concession, two concessions, three concessions and the system starts to fall apart.
Can the Prime Minister stand up right now and tell Canada's dairy farmers that he will protect supply management in its entirety?
Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, it has become quite clear to everyone that the New Democrats simply will not support international trade agreements. They do not grasp that this is good for the economy and good for workers. I want to reiterate our support for dairy farmers and for supply management. I commend the dairy farmers who came to Ottawa today to voice their concerns. We hear them. We will continue to protect supply management. I thank them for their work and for being here in Ottawa.
Ruth Ellen Brosseau NDP Berthier—Maskinongé, QC
Mr. Speaker, Trump unleashed a vigorous attack on our dairy producers. The Liberals are suggesting that they were flexible, which is no comfort to Ms. Chevalier, a farmer from Saint-Ignace-de-Loyola, who fears that our supply management system is again being undermined. She is not sure whether her farm will remain viable as the Liberals cede yet another part of our supply-managed market.
After the government let down producers with the Canada-Europe agreement and the TPP, how is Ms. Chevalier supposed to have faith that the Liberal government will protect our supply management system?
Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, Canadians know that the American administration has targeted our supply management system, but Canadians also know that I have repeatedly said that we will protect supply management because this system helps our farmers, helps our dairy producers, and helps consumers be confident in the dairy products they are buying. We will continue to stand up for not only our supply management system, but also the excellent work our dairy producers are doing across the country.
Alistair MacGregor NDP Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC
Mr. Speaker, yesterday I heard from Dave Taylor from Vancouver Island, who knows how important supply management is for his family farm and locally produced high quality dairy products.
The Liberals claim to agree with Dave, but two sources with direct knowledge of NAFTA negotiations have said that Canada is ready to make concessions in our dairy market.
The Dairy Farmers of Canada, representing nearly 12,000 family farms, is watching the government. Will the Prime Minister promise here and now that his government will make no concessions to our dairy market, yes or no?
Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, as I have said, I will not be negotiating in public. However, I will reassure Canadians, as I have throughout the summer and throughout this past year, we will not sign a bad deal for Canada or for Canadians.
I know the Conservatives are worried that we need to sign a deal, even if it is a bad deal. We will not be doing that. We will be ensuring that whatever deal we move forward with is the right one for Canadians. If there is not a good deal on the table, we will not sign.
Lisa Raitt Conservative Milton, ON
Mr. Speaker, on May 3, 2010, the following was said in the House:
...providing opportunities for buddies to further their private interests and giving preferential treatment to people based on the buddies who represent them, is illegal regardless of whether or not money changed hands.
The member demanded to know what the consequences were for this activity. I wonder who said that. Ironically, the Minister of Intergovernmental and Northern Affairs and Internal Trade said that.
I would like to know this from the Prime Minister. Does he agree with the 2010 opposition member for Beausejour that the current member for Beausejour should be sanctioned.
Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, Canadians know that we have a strong system and a commissioner who oversees on ethics and conflict of interest to ensure that all Canadians can have confidence in public office-holders and indeed every member of Parliament.
We ensure that we work with the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, that we follow the rules and that we make amends whenever the commissioner brings forward concerns. That is what we will continue to do.
We thank the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner for his hard work.
Lisa Raitt Conservative Milton, ON
Mr. Speaker, I am very glad the Prime Minister mentioned the Ethics Commissioner, because he said this last week:
I would really like to have the power to express a point of view as [to] the gravity of the contravention when we find a contravention, [and] what kind of sanctions should be taken.
It’s important to know that there will be consequences if you don’t respect something.
The Prime Minister has said that the Liberals will move forward in the ways the Ethics Commissioner recommends. I see what the Ethics Commissioner is recommending. Will the Prime Minister take the Ethics Commissioner's clear recommendation and determine sanctions against the minister?
Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, Canada has among the strongest ethics rules in the world as it applies to members of Parliament, and we are always looking forward to doing more. We know that the trust people have in our institutions and government is the foundation of democracy, one that is shaky in some places in the world, not one that is shaky in Canada. However, we are always willing to do more.
We look forward to working with all parties in the House to look at how we can continue to bolster the confidence of Canadians in the excellence of these institutions we serve.
Pierre Paul-Hus Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC
Mr. Speaker, the summer of Liberal failure continues. Between June 2017 and June 2018, the RCMP intercepted about 26,000 illegal migrants. Of these, 56% had a U.S. nonimmigrant visa and 65% had legal status in the United States. Almost 2,000 of these illegal migrants are Americans.
The Prime Minister and his team do not realize that under their governance our laws are being ignored outright. We have a plan; they have no plan.
What is the Prime Minister waiting for to resolve this situation?
Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, we recognize the challenge posed by the many irregular migrants that are crossing our border, especially over the past year and a half. I can assure Canadians that all security checks are being done, and that the immigration and refugee process is being applied in full to all newcomers, whether they are irregular migrants or not.
We know that we are fortunate to live in Canada, a country that is generally open to and positive about immigration. We will continue to defend this openness by ensuring that Canadians have a system that works.
Pierre Paul-Hus Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC
Mr. Speaker, may I suggest that the Prime Minister head over to the U.S. side of Roxham Road and then re-enter Canada from there? He will see a sign that clearly states it is illegal to cross the border there.
I would like to remind the Prime Minister that 2,000 people have crossed our border illegally even though they have U.S. citizenship. We also know that 16,000 illegal immigrants have legal status in the United States. We also know that some illegal immigrants get to Roxham Road by plane.
When will the Prime Minister realize he needs to do something about this situation, which has been a problem for Quebec ever since his infamous tweet of a year and a half ago?
Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, we are working with the U.S. government to move forward on issues that matter to Canadians, and that includes border security. It is important to understand, however, that our international obligations require us to review the claims of everyone seeking asylum in Canada. That is our responsibility. Over the generations, immigration has enriched Canada economically and culturally and helped build stronger communities. We are proud of our immigration system and will continue to invest in protecting it.
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Mr. Speaker, 65% of the people who have illegally crossed the border into Canada and claimed asylum already had legal status in the United States, one of the safest democratic places in the world. Let us think about that for a second.
Instead of prioritizing people who are languishing in UNHCR camps, instead of prioritizing genocide survivors being reunited with their families, the Prime Minister is doing this. How can he possibly think this is fair?
Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, we are responding in an appropriate and measured way, with extra investments, to ensure we continue to apply in its integrity our immigration and refugee system.
The Conservatives' enjoy criticizing and drumming up fear and anxiety, but they have no plans other than perhaps to militarize our entire border. These will not work.
We are applying our immigration system in a responsible way. We are ensuring that it remains fair. We are ensuring that Canadians remain confident in the strength of our immigration system, because they can and should be.
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Mr. Speaker, it is not fair to prioritize people who have legal status in upstate New York over the reunion of a family member of a genocide survivor. That is not fair. It is not fair to calm the fears of Canadians that our immigration system is no longer sustainable. That is not fair and that lays in the hands of the Prime Minister.
When will he close the loophole in the safe third country agreement?
Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, once again the Conservatives are putting forward criticisms without having any idea how they would actually fix this problem. We know how to fix this problem. We are working with stakeholders in the United States and around the world to remind them that there are no shortcuts to becoming a Canadian, that crossing irregularly or illegally does not get anyone into permanent status any quicker than any other way. This is something that is important to emphasize.
The Conservatives are striking out, trying to create division and fear, but they have no plan to handle things differently.
Anne Minh-Thu Quach NDP Salaberry—Suroît, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Finance's reply yesterday to my colleague from Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie completely missed the mark. The people of Vaudreuil-Soulanges have been demanding answers from the National Energy Board for two years now regarding Enbridge's line 9B.
Here is an excerpt from the letter they received: “The National Energy Board has a duty to put an end to the possibility of follow-up with the RCM". In other words, the board does not like their questions and will stop answering them. These people are entitled to answers.
Does the Prime Minister think it is okay for the NEB to put big oil ahead of people?
Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, there are still people in Canada, including in the NDP, who believe that we have to choose between job creation and environmental protection.
We know that the only way to build a strong country for years to come is to protect the environment while also creating economic growth. That is why we are holding consultations and working with indigenous peoples and communities. We are investing in environmental science to ensure that the decisions we make to develop our economy protect the environment at the same time. This is something we take very seriously and always will.
Alexandre Boulerice NDP Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC
Mr. Speaker, someone said that the environment is a priority to Quebeckers and there is a real sense of urgency in Quebec, but that here in Ottawa, the Liberals are talking out of both sides of their mouths. That someone is David Suzuki. Everyone from ordinary citizens to scientists can see how disingenuous the Liberals are being. Suzuki goes even further. He says that if the Minister of the Environment were being honest with herself, she would step down rather than defend the Liberal government.
Does the Prime Minister believe that using our money to buy a pipeline for $4.5 billion is any way to fight climate change? Is that what he thinks?