House of Commons Hansard #372 of the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was regard.
Harjit S. Sajjan LiberalMinister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, first, our government is committed to making sure that the Canadian Armed Forces have all the tools necessary to do their job. That is what our defence policy is committed to.
I want to thank the workers at Davie for the Asterix. They are playing a vital role. We have started steel cutting on the early blocks of the two permanent joint supply ships and look forward to having those in the water.
Xavier Barsalou-Duval Bloc Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Government of Quebec is calling for a single tax return. The Prime Minister replied, “A unanimous motion from the National Assembly? Good Lord, that never happens!”
After ridiculing Quebec, now the entire machinery of government is engaged in a campaign of fear. To listen to the Liberals, we would think that the 10 plagues of Egypt were upon us. The worst part is that this strategy is working, because the NDP has already caved.
Why is the government so bent on having two tax returns? What is it afraid of? Is it afraid that Quebec will perform better?
Diane Lebouthillier LiberalMinister of National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, the CRA employs more than 5,500 people throughout Quebec and is a major economic driver in towns such as Shawinigan and Jonquière.
Unlike the Bloc Québécois and the Conservatives, we are not jeopardizing those jobs. That said, we remain open to working with Revenu Québec to make it easier for Quebeckers to file their tax returns.
Rhéal Fortin Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
Mr. Speaker, an Angus Reid poll released last week clearly shows that meeting Quebec's demands, such as the single tax return, does not pay off in English Canada. In fact, we have every reason to believe that meeting any of Quebec's demands would cost points in the rest of Canada.
This means that the Liberals are going to deny Quebeckers the opportunity of filing a single tax return just to win votes in English Canada.
Are we to understand that the Liberals have picked a side and are obviously not siding with Quebeckers?
Diane Lebouthillier LiberalMinister of National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, combatting international tax evasion is a priority for our government, as it is for Quebeckers.
Information exchange agreements with our international partners remain essential to tackling international tax evasion. A single revenue administration managed by Quebec would make it harder for Canada to respect its international legal obligations. It could also cause problems when it comes to ratifying international agreements. Quebec is simply not properly equipped to combat international tax evasion.
Erin Weir Independent Regina—Lewvan, SK
Mr. Speaker, it has been an interesting week for Canadian foreign policy. The government recognized an opposition MP declaring himself President of Venezuela. I wish I had thought of that. I am going to resist the temptation to declare myself Prime Minister of Canada. Unfortunately, there are many governments around the world whose democratic legitimacy is questionable.
Is Canadian government policy now to endorse coups against all of them?
Chrystia Freeland LiberalMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the member to talk to his former colleagues in the NDP. Canadians need an apology from the member for Churchill—Keewatinook Aski and the NDP candidate in York—Simcoe for their defence of a dictatorship that has killed hundreds and injured thousands of peaceful protesters. If the NDP members cannot take a firm and clear stance on the fight of the people of Venezuela for democracy, I do not know what they can take a clear position on.
The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan
I would like to draw to the attention of hon. members the presence in the gallery of an illustrious Canadian.
Although three members, during Statements by Members, have already stolen my thunder a little in relation to our mystery guest, I am pleased they covered important aspects of his career.
Thirty-four seconds was how much time was left in the third period on September 28, 1972. Schools had stopped, my class was watching television and learning how to play hockey, which is good. However, that was how much time was remaining in the 1972 Canada-Russia series when this gentleman scored the winning goal and gave Canada a victory for the ages: Mr. Paul Henderson.
The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan
I invite all members to drop into Room 233-S behind the chamber to meet this great Canadian.
Pierre Nantel NDP Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, QC
Mr. Speaker, given that Netflix has rejected the request made by the Quebec government, on behalf of the people of Lac-Mégantic and all Quebeckers, that it stop using images of the Lac-Mégantic disaster, I wish to seek consent for the following motion: That the House of Commons call on Netflix Inc. to withdraw from its catalogue all images of the Lac-Mégantic disaster, which took the lives of 47 people, and that Netflix Inc. provide financial compensation to the Lac-Mégantic community for having used these images for entertainment purposes without regard for the trauma experienced by the residents, survivors and friends and families of the victims.
The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan
Does the hon. member have the unanimous consent of the House to move the motion?
James Maloney Liberal Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON
Mr. Speaker, there have been discussions among the parties and if you seek it, I think you will find unanimous consent for the following motion:
That, given the enormous cultural significance of hockey in Canada, the House encourages the Hockey Hall of Fame to induct Paul Henderson in recognition of his incredible contribution to Canadian hockey and its history.
The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan
Does the hon. member have the unanimous consent of the House to move the motion?
The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan
The House has heard the terms of the motion. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?
Louis Plamondon Bloc Bécancour—Nicolet—Saurel, QC
Mr. Speaker, you invited members to an official smudging ceremony in the House this morning. This was a wonderful idea, but I am disappointed that 99% of this ceremony was in English and that there was no interpretation.
I have been a member in this House for 35 years, and interpretation has always been available for important events or official ceremonies, or else the ceremony has been conducted in both official languages. There are francophone indigenous communities, like the Abenaki community, that could have participated in this ceremony along with the Algonquin people. This smudging ceremony could have then been in both official languages.
In the future, I hope everyone remembers that there are two official languages here. In this country's history, the indigenous peoples were here first, then francophones were here for 200 years, and after that the anglophones arrived. Clearly, there is every reason to include French in our official ceremonies.
The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan
I thank the hon. member for Bécancour—Nicolet—Saurel for raising this very important matter. I agree that French should be a part of all ceremonies in the House of Commons.
Luc Thériault Bloc Montcalm, QC
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent for the following motion: That the House request that the results of the secret ballot on Bill C-421, an act to amend the Citizenship Act with respect to adequate knowledge of French in Quebec, to be held January 29 and 30, 2019, be disclosed at the same time as the voting results.
The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan
Does the member have the unanimous consent of the House to move the motion?
The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan
Pursuant to section 79.2(2) of the Parliament of Canada Act, it is my duty to present the House two reports from the Parliamentary Budget Officer.
The first is entitled, “PBO and Finance Canada Long-term Projection Comparison”. The second is entitled, “Costing 2018 Fall Economic Statement and Off-Cycle Measures”.