Debates of Feb. 26th, 2019

Natural Resources

[Paul Lefebvre, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources, Lib.]

Mr. Speaker, the court provided us with a clear path to move this project forward in the right way, and that is what we are delivering.

The member for Skeena—Bulkley Valley, a supporter of the LNG Canada project that will go through his riding and create 10,000 good jobs, seems to pick and choose the pipelines he supports. The members of the NDP caucus seem to think they can pick and choose which court rulings they listen to.

We know how important this process is to Canadians. We are working each day to get it right.

Transport

[Bob Nault, Liberal, Kenora, ON]

Mr. Speaker, constant snow and ice buildup on runways can sometimes present a challenge for pilots in landing safely at regional airports. As you know, Mr. Speaker, in the Kenora riding, there are 22 airports of this kind. My constituents rely on Red Lake Municipal Airport to support our local economy and to maintain social well-being within our community. Can the minister please inform my constituents about what is being done to help local airports address their safety concerns?

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for Kenora for his tireless work on behalf of his constituents. He knows that for this government, safety is our top priority. That is why I was delighted to join him at the airport in the community of Red Lake to highlight the new de-icing equipment and the new, improved runway lighting that is going to make the airport even safer. It is important for local residents, for tourists and for the local businesses that we will always put safety in front of everything at our regional airports.

Justice

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Mr. Speaker, at the beginning of the year, when the Prime Minister fired the former attorney general of Canada, she wrote a letter that spoke volumes. She wrote that it was vital to maintain a separation between the criminal justice system and politics. However, that is the exact problem at the heart of the Liberal scandal that has been rattling our country for the past three weeks.

We know that, on September 4, the director of public prosecutions said that she would be moving forward with the case against SNC-Lavalin.

I have a perfectly simple question. Did cabinet discuss this matter, yes or no?

[Bardish Chagger, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, the director of public prosecutions has confirmed that prosecutors in every case exercise their discretion independently.

On this side of the House, the government has done its job properly and has followed all the rules and laws. We stand up for the principles of judicial independence and the rule of law.

We know that this case was extensively discussed by the Premier of Quebec and many other individuals, including MPs. The case is currently before the Ethics Commissioner and the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights.

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Mr. Speaker, following the decision of the director of public prosecutions, there were three separate attempts to pressure the former attorney general. That pressure did not come from mere lackeys.

First it was the Prime Minister, then his principal secretary, and finally Canada's top public servant. Those three individuals, the most powerful people in the Canadian government, put direct pressure on the former attorney general. The question is very simple, since we still have not had an answer.

Was this matter discussed at cabinet, yes or no?

[Bardish Chagger, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, the Clerk of the Privy Council confirmed that, at every opportunity, the Prime Minister made it clear that this was a decision for the minister of justice to take.

The director of the Public Prosecution Service confirmed that, in each and every case, prosecutors exercise their discretion independently.

The deputy minister of justice confirmed that there was no direct communication in any specific case between the Prime Minister's Office and the DPP.

What is clear is that the Conservatives are saying one thing in French and something else in English. They should stop doing that.

[Mark Strahl, Conservative, Chilliwack—Hope, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the problem with the Liberals' cover-up on this SNC-Lavalin scandal is that they are having trouble keeping their stories straight.

The Clerk of the Privy Council testified last week that there was no discussion of the special deal for SNC-Lavalin at cabinet, but the Minister of National Revenue went on the radio and said that the SNC-Lavalin deal was discussed at cabinet.

Only one of these people can be telling the truth. Which one of them is it?

[Bardish Chagger, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, once again I will reassure Canadians that they can trust their institutions. We will share, once again, what happened at the justice committee last week.

When it was asked if it would be appropriate for the Prime Minister and officials to discuss the matter with the Attorney General, the Attorney General confirmed that those kinds of conversations would be appropriate.

When asked about conversations about cabinet colleagues in his role as Minister of Justice and Attorney General and whether they were appropriate, the Attorney General answered, “Absolutely.”

We have always and we will always have confidence in our institutions, and Canadians can as well.

[Mark Strahl, Conservative, Chilliwack—Hope, BC]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians have confidence in their institutions. They have lost confidence in the Liberal government.

It was the Clerk of the Privy Council who made it very clear that the SNC-Lavalin special deal was never discussed at cabinet, yet the Prime Minister refused to answer direct questions on this matter, citing cabinet confidence.

Either the Prime Minister was misleading Canadians, or the Clerk of the Privy Council was misleading Canadians. Which one of them was misleading Canadians?

[Bardish Chagger, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives will continue to speculate. We know that is their approach. It was their approach for 10 years under Stephen Harper, and unfortunately that remains the case today.

Canadians are paying attention. They have not forgotten the rule book that the Conservatives released so that they could undermine and destroy committees. We on this side increased resources to committees, so that committees could do their important work.

What was confirmed by the justice committee is that when the Clerk of the Privy Council appeared at committee to answer questions, he said, “At every opportunity verbally and in writing in December, the Prime Minister made it clear that this was the decision for the Minister of Justice to take.”

Housing

[Sheri Benson, NDP, Saskatoon West, SK]

Mr. Speaker, everyone in Canada deserves a safe, affordable place to call home, but the housing crisis is leaving many of us out in the cold. People need solutions now, not years from now. That is why Burnaby South elected Jagmeet Singh, a leader who understands the urgency of the housing crisis, unlike the Liberals, who fail to act.

Canadians cannot wait any longer. Why are the Liberals so quick on their feet when their rich corporate friends need something, yet refuse to ensure safe, affordable housing for those who desperately need it now?

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, Minister of Families]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to start by thanking the member opposite for raising this very important question of the housing crisis that exists in many parts of Canada.

That is because for too many years the federal government was not a leader and was not a partner in housing. That has changed. Since 2016 we have invested an additional $5.7 billion and have helped a million families. Last year, we launched the historic, first-ever national housing strategy, which is going to transform housing. We look forward to working with provinces and territories.

Seniors

[Scott Duvall, NDP, Hamilton Mountain, ON]

Mr. Speaker, over 350 delegates from the Canadian Labour Congress are in Ottawa today to talk about pension security and pharmacare. They echoed similar concerns brought by the coalition of retiree organizations last week in Ottawa.

It is clear that workers and retirees want the Liberals to finally take action to provide real pension security for seniors and to introduce a fully universal pharmacare program. Canadians are no longer buying the empty promises. They want solutions now. Are the Liberals listening?

When will they finally take action?

[Filomena Tassi, Minister of Seniors, Lib.]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. member for his work on the pension security file.

Our government takes pension security for seniors very seriously. It is our government that, after decades, has invested the time, energy and effort to get this right. That was included in the budget as well as my mandate letter. As a result of that, we have had consultations. We have had over 4,000 submissions. We want to have an evidence-based solution and ensure pensioners do not suffer unintended consequences.

We are working hard and we are going to get this right.

Justice

[Michael Barrett, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, CPC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday at the justice committee, a former judge testified that the RCMP integrity unit should thoroughly examine the Prime Minister's alleged interference with SNC-Lavalin's criminal trial.

I have a simple question. Has the Prime Minister or anyone in the PMO been contacted by the RCMP?

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness]

Mr. Speaker, as members of the House should know, the RCMP is totally independent. It never consults the Minister of Public Safety with respect to whether to launch or pursue an investigation, and that is exactly how it should be in a free and open democracy like ours.

[Michael Barrett, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, CPC]

Mr. Speaker, that was not the question that was asked. Canadians deserve an answer to this very simple question.

Has the RCMP contacted the PMO or the Prime Minister about this alleged interference in the criminal prosecution of SNC-Lavalin?

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. gentleman is pursuing what is an absolutely improper line of questioning.

The fact of the matter is that the RCMP is independent and should not be dragged into controversies on the floor of the House of Commons. It enforces the laws of Canada and does it at its own volition and discretion, and that is the way it should be in a free and open democracy.

[Leona Alleslev, Conservative, Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, again it certainly feels like the Liberals are not in the business of answering the question. The question is quite simple and Canadians deserve to know. There is a crisis in the rule of law. This is not politics as usual. This is serious and Canadians know there is a deeper scandal.

Again, has any current or former cabinet minister or Liberal staffer been contacted by the RCMP over the SNC-Lavalin affair or anything else pertaining to the former attorney general's portfolio, yes or no?

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness]

Mr. Speaker, we are absolutely not aware of any activity in relation to the RCMP, neither should we be. The RCMP is completely independent and it will pursue whatever matters it deems appropriate to pursue. For the opposition to attempt to politicize the situation is absolutely improper and contrary to the best interests of law enforcement in this country.

Telecommunications Industry

[Peter Fonseca, Liberal, Mississauga East—Cooksville, ON]

Mr. Speaker, our government is focused on improving the quality, the coverage, and most importantly, the price of telecommunication services for Canadians no matter where they live.

Can the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development speak to the latest step our government is taking to ensure Canadian consumers have the quality services they deserve at affordable prices?

[Navdeep Bains, Liberal, Minister of Innovation]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for Mississauga East—Cooksville for championing affordability issues.

As he has highlighted, our government has recently announced a policy directive requiring the CRTC to look at competition, affordability, consumer interests and innovation, because wireless data plans are up to 32% cheaper than the national average in regions with strong competition. We are promoting more competition and more choice so that Canadians can have more affordable plans.

Justice

[John Brassard, Conservative, Barrie—Innisfil, ON]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Public Safety and it is a very direct question.

Has any staff member or any minister been contacted by the RCMP with respect to the SNC-Lavalin investigation? The answer is simple: yes or no.

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness]

Mr. Speaker, as I replied in my last answer, we are not aware of any such activity in relation to the RCMP and neither should we be, because the RCMP is completely independent.