House of Commons Hansard #7 of the 43rd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was housing.

Topics

Veterans AffairsOral Questions

11:40 a.m.

Cardigan P.E.I.

Liberal

Lawrence MacAulay LiberalMinister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence

Mr. Speaker, I can confirm for my hon. colleague that my department has not changed its policy regarding mental health services for family members. If support to family members is required as part of a veteran's treatment plan, they will receive that support. However, if a family member is incarcerated, we will not duplicate services with those of Correctional Service of Canada.

EthicsOral Questions

11:40 a.m.

Conservative

Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON

Mr. Speaker, this week, lawyers for the government were in court trying to block a court order directing the Commissioner of Lobbying to reconsider an investigation into the possible breach of the Lobbying Act related to the Prime Minister's illegal trip to billionaire island.

The government has one hallmark and that is ethical breaches and then trying to cover them up. Why is the government trying to block the investigation into this scandal at every turn? What does the Prime Minister have to hide?

EthicsOral Questions

11:45 a.m.

Winnipeg North Manitoba

Liberal

Kevin Lamoureux LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

Mr. Speaker, if we look over the last few years, one of the things that stands out is that, whether it is the Ethics Commissioner or the independence of the elections officer, or any of the independent officers, this side of the House respects and listens to the decisions made and follows through on them, unlike the Conservatives.

EthicsOral Questions

11:45 a.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh!

EthicsOral Questions

11:45 a.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

I want to remind hon. members that when someone asks a question we want to hear it, just like we want to hear the answer. Shouting across the floor impedes that right that we have as members.

The hon. member for St. John's East.

HealthOral Questions

11:45 a.m.

NDP

Jack Harris NDP St. John's East, NL

Mr. Speaker, it is easy to be cynical about the budget speech. We heard fine words about the importance of pharmacare but only certain steps toward it. People need a full system now, not suggesting a study on universal dental care guaranteed to take years when we proposed a doable system that would benefit half the families in Newfoundland and Labrador right away. I have talked to many people who really need this.

Will the government amend its tax plan so that money goes to dental care for the millions who need it now, instead of a tax break for those wealthy enough not to need one?

HealthOral Questions

11:45 a.m.

Dartmouth—Cole Harbour Nova Scotia

Liberal

Darren Fisher LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health

Mr. Speaker, as we have said in the House before, we will listen, we will collaborate and we will work with the other parties in this House to see what is best for Canadians. We will consider all options for what is best under national pharmacare.

Unlike the NDP, we have done our homework. When it comes to something as big and as important as pharmacare, we want and we need to get this right. Canadians demand that we get this right.

Veterans AffairsOral Questions

11:45 a.m.

NDP

Rachel Blaney NDP North Island—Powell River, BC

Mr. Speaker, last spring, New Democrats worked with the Liberals and together presented a motion with a goal to end homelessness for veterans by 2025. Now, veterans deserve action. In Vancouver alone, over 100 veterans are living on the streets, and sadly, this is happening across this beautiful country.

Will the minister commit to working with us to provide this House a fully developed and funded plan to end veteran homelessness now?

Veterans AffairsOral Questions

11:45 a.m.

Cardigan P.E.I.

Liberal

Lawrence MacAulay LiberalMinister of Veterans Affairs

Mr. Speaker, I know my hon. colleague is fully sincere on this issue, and so is the government, and to making sure that even one homeless veteran is one veteran too many. I can assure members that in my mandate letter one of the things that the Prime Minister indicated to me is that we have to make sure that every veteran has a home. We will work to make sure that this takes place.

Indigenous AffairsOral Questions

11:45 a.m.

Liberal

Ron McKinnon Liberal Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam, BC

Mr. Speaker, as it is my first time rising in this Parliament, I would like to thank my family for their unfailing support, my team for its extraordinary hard work and the people of Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam for once again returning me to this distinguished place.

Indigenous peoples have a right of self-determination, yet there are many barriers remaining that prevent them from accessing this right.

Would the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations please inform us what the government is doing to change this in British Columbia?

Indigenous AffairsOral Questions

11:45 a.m.

Toronto—St. Paul's Ontario

Liberal

Carolyn Bennett LiberalMinister of Crown-Indigenous Relations

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for his advocacy on this really important topic. In August, the new recognition and reconciliation of rights policy for treaty negotiations in British Columbia was signed with the Government of British Columbia and the First Nations Summit.

Treaties, agreements and other constructive arrangements negotiated in B.C. will affirm indigenous rights without cede, surrender or extinguishment. This will revolutionize the negotiation process with B.C. first nations and accelerate self-determination. It reinforces our commitment to implement the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and outlines the new relationship.

Natural ResourcesOral Questions

11:45 a.m.

Conservative

Martin Shields Conservative Bow River, AB

Mr. Speaker, clean-burning liquefied natural gas is a fantastic Canadian product that we should be exporting around the world not tomorrow, but yesterday. We should be proudly championing this great industry, as Canada's provincial and territorial leaders recently agreed unanimously. However, our environmental minister's recent comments show he does not care about creating jobs or exporting clean energy or he would be the champion for it.

Why will this government not stand up for Canadian LNG?

Natural ResourcesOral Questions

11:50 a.m.

Sudbury Ontario

Liberal

Paul Lefebvre LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources

Mr. Speaker, as it is the first time that I rise in this 43rd Parliament, I want to thank the residents of Sudbury for having the confidence in me to represent them again in this beautiful House.

When it comes to LNG, Canada is well positioned to become a major player in the global LNG industry with proposed projects in the west and in the east. We have strong measures in place to attract investment while also reducing emissions. After securing the single largest private sector investment in Canadian history, it is clear our plan is working. We will continue to take action to ensure Canada is on track to become the world's cleanest producer of LNG and reach global markets.

Natural ResourcesOral Questions

11:50 a.m.

Conservative

Michael Kram Conservative Regina—Wascana, SK

Mr. Speaker, today is Friday the 13th, the namesake of one of the longest-running horror movie franchises in history. It cannot help but remind me of the Liberal no-more-pipelines bill and its effect on the western Canadian resource sector. Will the Liberal government amend Bill C-69 so pipeline projects stop disappearing like teenagers in a bad horror movie?

Natural ResourcesOral Questions

11:50 a.m.

Sudbury Ontario

Liberal

Paul Lefebvre LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources

Mr. Speaker, the legislation that was there before was called CEAA 2012 and everybody in the energy sector wanted it changed. Why? Because no projects were moving ahead and if they were there were duplications and delays.

With Bill C-69, the Impact Assessment Act, it is clear that there will be one review for one project. The mining industry is supportive of this act. We are discussing with the provinces to make sure that, as we implement it, we hear the concerns and we move forward in the right way.

Natural ResourcesOral Questions

11:50 a.m.

Conservative

Tim Uppal Conservative Edmonton Mill Woods, AB

Mr. Speaker, many people in my riding of Edmonton Mill Woods and right across Alberta are hurting. In fact, the unemployment rate among young men is approaching 20%, something that we have not seen in almost 40 years. We are in this crisis because of Liberal policies like Bill C-69, yet the Liberals have refused to make changes to their no-more-pipelines bill. When will the Liberals make changes to Bill C-69 that will help Albertans and all Canadians?

Natural ResourcesOral Questions

11:50 a.m.

Mississauga—Malton Ontario

Liberal

Navdeep Bains LiberalMinister of Innovation

Mr. Speaker, the member opposite well knows that, with respect to investments in Alberta, we have seen the production and advancement of the TMX file, which created 2,200 good, well-paying jobs that have already started. Also, I want to highlight the fact that we have made significant investments in Inter Pipeline and the CKPC, which is a $100-million investment that will help create 400 jobs and establish 4,000 new construction jobs as well. These are the types of investments we continue to make while the opposition talks down the economy.

Natural ResourcesOral Questions

11:50 a.m.

Conservative

Greg McLean Conservative Calgary Centre, AB

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has promised to listen really hard to western Canada. I am wondering if he has heard the resounding screams of 180,000 lost jobs, the squealing tires of $100 billion of investment leaving this country or the alarm bells ringing as resource producers are forced to accept a value for our resource far below world price, all because of the current government's inaction. Will the government take out its earplugs and recognize that its approach to building energy infrastructure in Canada embodied in Bill C-69 is fatally flawed and amend this dreadful bill?

Natural ResourcesOral Questions

11:50 a.m.

Sudbury Ontario

Liberal

Paul Lefebvre LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources

Mr. Speaker, under our government, we have secured the single largest private sector investment in Canadian history with LNG Canada, which is going to create 10,000 jobs. We did the hard work necessary on TMX. Again, the pipes are in the ground right now, creating over 4,000 jobs in Alberta alone. We unlocked over $8 billion in petrochemical investments in the greater Edmonton region, creating hundreds of jobs. We approved the Line 3 replacement project. It is online and in service here on the Canadian side. We will continue working hard for the energy sector and creating those great jobs.

The EnvironmentOral Questions

11:50 a.m.

Bloc

Kristina Michaud Bloc Avignon—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia, QC

Mr. Speaker, the Premier of Quebec, François Legault, will meet with the Prime Minister in a few hours.

I recall that during the election campaign, Mr. Legault made it clear that Quebec's environmental laws would apply at all times, including to federal projects.

In the first week of this Parliament, the Liberal government voted against the Bloc's subamendment on this legitimate and responsible request made by Quebec.

How will the Prime Minister explain this insult to Quebec to Mr. Legault, and why is he refusing to let the most rigorous environmental laws take precedence?

The EnvironmentOral Questions

11:50 a.m.

Vaudreuil—Soulanges Québec

Liberal

Peter Schiefke LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my hon. colleague for her question.

We are working in a constructive manner with all of Canada's provinces and territories. Environmental issues have a federal and a provincial component, and it is important that we work together on these issues.

We will continue to work with all members of the House and the Province of Quebec to protect the environment and fight climate change.

Intergovernmental RelationsOral Questions

11:55 a.m.

Bloc

Gabriel Ste-Marie Bloc Joliette, QC

Mr. Speaker, I would like to remind the Prime Minister of something before he meets with François Legault later.

During the election campaign, Mr. Legault asked that the federal government respect Quebec's jurisdiction. He wants the unconditional right to opt out with full financial compensation if, by some misfortune, the federal government interferes in Quebec's jurisdiction.

The throne speech is full of interferences. If you remove those from the speech, the rest of the text would fit on a Christmas card.

How will the Prime Minister justify to Mr. Legault that he wants to have full say when he does not have the necessary expertise?

Intergovernmental RelationsOral Questions

11:55 a.m.

Ahuntsic-Cartierville Québec

Liberal

Mélanie Joly LiberalMinister of Economic Development and Official Languages

Mr. Speaker, of course the Prime Minister and Premier Legault will have the opportunity to have good conversations throughout the day. One item on the agenda is certainly the importance of Quebec supporting ratification of NAFTA to ensure that we can keep our jobs across Quebec and across the country.

We will have the opportunity to work on several shared priorities.

Carbon PricingOral Questions

11:55 a.m.

Conservative

Chris Lewis Conservative Essex, ON

Mr. Speaker, this week I heard from Laura, who is a greenhouse grower in my riding. She said, “I was paying the farm gas bill today. I noticed the federal carbon tax was even more than the HST. Also, the HST is calculated after the carbon tax, so we are being taxed twice. Carbon tax should not be taxed on our HST.”

The Liberals have spent the last four years making life harder and more unaffordable for Canadians.

I have a simple question. Why are the Liberals making Canadians like Laura pay a tax on a tax?

Carbon PricingOral Questions

11:55 a.m.

Vaudreuil—Soulanges Québec

Liberal

Peter Schiefke LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change

Mr. Speaker, our government knows that Canadian farmers are part of the climate change solution. That is why our pollution pricing policy reflects the realities of Canada's agricultural industry. Both gasoline and diesel fuels for on-farm use will be exempted from pricing pollution under the federal backstop.

We will continue to work with our experts and stakeholders on the best ways to cut pollution and support farmers to ensure that we get this right.