Debates of Dec. 6th, 2019

The Economy

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, in the Speech from the Throne we recognized the challenges facing workers in our resource sector. With the lower prices on international commodities, there have been some very difficult times for workers, particularly in the Prairies. That is why, after many years of trying and failing by previous governments, we are moving forward on building the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion. There are shovels in the ground. There are thousands of Canadians newly hired to make sure that we can get our energy resources to new markets responsibly and sustainably.

[Andrew Scheer, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is going to spend the next few weeks and months trying to blame everything else, except his failure, for the challenges facing this economy. Other countries are increasing their investments in natural resource development. In fact, the United States has gone from being a net consumer to a net exporter of energy, so there are clearly countries around the world that are getting it right. The Prime Minister is getting it wrong.

The Montreal Economic Institute has stated that people are giving up on Canada as a safe place to invest in natural resources. It is seen as a very hostile environment now.

Why has the Prime Minister continued with this failed approach?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the failed approach is choosing to do less to fight climate, choosing to do less to listen to indigenous communities and work with other communities to get things done. That approach of blaming foreign activists did not get pipelines built during the Conservatives' time in office.

What we are doing is actually getting our resources to new markets with shovels in the ground right now. We also drew in the largest private sector investment in Canadian history with the $40-billion LNG Canada investment. We are going to keep working on bringing in investment to create good jobs for Canadians right across the country.

Natural Resources

[Andrew Scheer, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, deep cracks are showing in Confederation and the Prime Minister has divided this country like it has never been before. However, he has managed to unite provincial premiers around one thing: their opposition to his failed approach on Bill C-69. Will the Prime Minister listen to the voices of our premiers of all regions of this country and commit to overhauling his approach on Bill C-69?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, as we move forward on Bill C-69, we adopted many of the proposals put forward by industry and by various parties to improve and amend that proposition. We are looking forward to working with all concerned partners on ensuring its proper implementation and making improvements if necessary.

We recognize that the current approach of CEAA 2012 is not working. If we look at the Springbank dam in Calgary and the Lake Winnipeg outlet that are delayed under the previous process, Bill C-69 will help in moving forward concretely.

Foreign Affairs

[Andrew Scheer, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, recently, the Liberal government voted for an anti-Israel resolution at the United Nations. The Prime Minister's hand-picked ambassador to the UN even went so far as to brag that the vote showed Canada has found its voice by opposing the only democracy in the Middle East.

Could the Prime Minister tell the House what his ambassador meant by that?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians know we are a strong friend to Israel.

We maintain our opposition to the singling out of Israel, unfairly, at the United Nations, and have voted against the vast majority of the Israel-related votes.

Canada is committed to the goal of comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East, including the creation of a Palestinian state living side by side in peace and security with Israel.

In keeping with Canada's long-standing position, it is important at this time to restate our commitment to a two-state solution, and the equal rights and self-determination of peoples.

Intergovernmental Relations

[Yves-François Blanchet, Bloc, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Premier of Quebec and the premiers of Canada's provinces gathered at the Council of the Federation meeting on Monday. They unanimously called for a 5.2% increase in health transfers.

As they pointed out, it is not the Canadian government that hires doctors, nurses and orderlies; rather, is the Government of Quebec that does that. However, just a few days later, the throne speech once again reflected the federal government's firmly established practice of interfering in Quebec's jurisdictions.

Did the Prime Minister hear the premiers' unanimous call and will he heed that call?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we were very pleased to renegotiate the health transfer agreements with the provinces a few years ago. We signed an agreement with the provinces, including Quebec, to ensure a strong future for Canada's health care system.

In the last election, we proposed an additional investment of $6 billion in health care priorities, priorities that the Quebec government shares with us. We will work with the provinces to ensure that all Canadians have access to a family doctor, to ensure pharmacare across the country and to provide supports for mental health.

[Yves-François Blanchet, Bloc, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

Mr. Speaker, should respecting provincial jurisdictions not be the first consideration when working with them?

Similarly, on the environmental front, all the premiers, including Quebec's, asked that environmental assessments carried out by the provinces and by Quebec take precedence over those carried out by Ottawa, to ensure that the environmental protection measures are consistent and to implement measures requiring projects to respect the environmental priorities and issues of Quebec and the provinces.

Will the Prime Minister refuse to listen in this case, too?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, on the contrary, we have often heard about the concern that duplication of environmental assessments delays projects. That is why we introduced Bill C-69, which will help us improve our collaboration and ensure greater clarity for investors and more successful major projects. It will also ensure better partnerships on environmental matters and an understanding of the concerns of communities, including indigenous communities.

Pharmacare

[Jagmeet Singh, NDP, Burnaby South, BC]

Mr. Speaker, across Canada, people are making difficult choices every day about cutting their pills in half or going without the life-saving medication that they need.

Canadians deserve leaders who have the courage to stand up to big pharma and to fight for a pharmacare plan that will improve people's lives.

What is it going to take for the Prime Minister to keep his word and to deliver pharmacare that covers all Canadians?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, no Canadian should have to choose between putting food on the table or paying for essential medications.

That is why we have done more than any government in history to lower drug prices for Canadians. We recognize that now is the time to do more and to move forward toward national, universal pharmacare.

However, we recognize, as the Leader of the Bloc Québécois brought up, that there is an issue of provincial jurisdiction. That is why we are going to sit down with the provinces and work with them as we move forward on ensuring that Canadians can afford the medications they need. That is the future of health care, and it is something we will do.

Indigenous Affairs

[Jagmeet Singh, NDP, Burnaby South, BC]

Mr. Speaker, there is a difference between saying the right things and actually doing them.

The Human Rights Tribunal ruled that the government wilfully and recklessly discriminated against indigenous children.

You are still taking these kids to court. What kind of Prime Minister does that?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we agree that indigenous children who suffered through past government policies need to be compensated, and that is exactly what we will do. Just as we did with respect to the situation of the sixties scoop, TB and relocations, we will be compensating those children, now adults, for the harms they suffered.

We will be working with all parties and partners to ensure we are compensating them justly and adequately, as we have done in past situations.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I want to remind hon. members to place their questions through the Chair. I know some of us have had experiences in some provincial legislatures where one can speak directly across. However, I want to remind everyone that they are to go through the Chair to place any questions or statements.

The hon. member for Durham.

Foreign Affairs

[Erin O'Toole, Conservative, Durham, ON]

Mr. Speaker, my question is through you to the Prime Minister, and I would appreciate him answering on behalf of his government.

Next week we mark one year since Canadian citizens Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor were imprisoned by the Chinese state in an act of retaliation against a lawful arrest of a Chinese citizen: 12 months, two ministers, two ambassadors, zero progress.

What is the Prime Minister's plan to get our citizens home?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, our absolute priority is the well-being and safety of the Canadians who are detained in China. The Prime Minister raised these cases with President Xi and President Trump at the G20, and more recent at the NATO summit. On November 23, my third day as the foreign minister of Canada, I raised these cases directly with my Chinese counterpart.

We have rallied an unprecedented number of partners around the world in support of Canada's position and we will continue to raise these cases at every opportunity. We will always defend Canadians around the world.

[Pierre Paul-Hus, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, there is something else that the Minister of Foreign Affairs talked about during his trip to China. He told a Chinese media outlet that, and I quote, “In a world of uncertainty...China [stands] out as [a] beacon of stability, predictability, a rule-based system, a very inclusive society.”

We know that two Canadians are currently being detained by the communist regime in China. The Chinese ambassador even dared to suggest that our parliamentary work could constitute a violation of Chinese internal affairs.

Could the minister tell us whether the Chinese communist regime is still a source of inspiration for him?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question.

Canadians know that Canada is the one country on the world stage that stands for stability and predictability, that values the rule of law and that embodies an inclusive society. That is what people around the world recognize.

If my colleague misunderstood comments that I made in an interview many years ago, I want to remind him today that all Canadians know the answer to that question.

Canada is an inspiration in the international arena.

[Marty Morantz, Conservative, Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB]

Mr. Speaker, since 2006, Canada has stood on principle against the annual Israel-bashing at the UN. This year, the Liberal supported a hateful motion by North Korea, the PLO and others. Worse still, our ambassador bragged that Canada had “found its voice”. What exactly did the ambassador mean when he said that?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians know we are a strong friend of Israel. We have maintained our opposition against the unfair singling out of Israel at the UN and have voted against the vast majority of these Israel-related votes.

Canada is committed to the goal of comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East, including the creation of a Palestinian state living side by side in peace and security with Israel.

In keeping with Canada's long-standing position, which has been expressed by our government, it is important at this time to restate our commitment to a two-state solution. We will always stand for Israel.

[Peter Kent, Conservative, Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, this is not simply a matter of another Liberal foreign policy train wreck to be shrugged off. Canada has broken faith with the only democracy in the Middle East, given comfort to tyrants and hatemongers, and betrayed the Canadian Jewish community after offering election campaign promises of solidarity, as when the member for Mount Royal earnestly offered that the Liberal record spoke for itself. Yes, it does.

Is this faithlessness of Liberal Canadian foreign policy merely in reckless pursuit of tainted Security Council votes?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, indeed our record speaks for itself. Canadians in the Jewish community who are watching know that we are a strong friend of Israel and that we stand up for Israel. We maintain—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!