House of Commons Hansard #403 of the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was records.
Ed Fast Conservative Abbotsford, BC
Mr. Speaker, Loblaws is a billion-dollar company that is owned by the second-richest family in the country. This is the same company that rigged bread prices for 16 years. It really does not need handouts from a tax and spend Liberal government. Now the Prime Minister, our reverse Robin Hood, is giving the company $12 million to buy new fridges while raising taxes on struggling Canadian families.
Why is it always with the Liberals that they are giving to the rich and robbing ordinary Canadians?
Sean Fraser LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change
Mr. Speaker, I have answered this question a number of times. The fact is that every step of the way the Conservatives are opposed to meaningful action on climate change. Our plan includes putting a price on pollution. It is going to put more money in the pockets of Canadian families. It includes phasing out coal by 2030. It includes having 90% of our electricity generated from green resources by 2030 and, yes, it includes investing in energy efficiency.
In my province of Nova Scotia in October, I personally made an announcement through the low-carbon economy fund that would help homeowners make themselves more efficient and bring down their power bills, including by implementing a rebate on fridges for personal use. We are taking climate change seriously.
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
Mr. Speaker, Liberals called out the Conservatives for cozying up to white nationalist Faith Goldy, but now the Prime Minister wants to close our border to asylum seekers who are fleeing persecution and violence with a law that prevents them from being able to apply for protection in Canada.
When Faith Goldy supports the Liberal immigration policy, we know we are on the wrong side of the issue. By hiding it in a 392-page omnibus bill and refusing to refer it to the immigration committee, the Prime Minister is trying to sneak through this shameful law. Will the Prime Minister stop talking out of both sides of his mouth and withdraw this legislation?
Bill Blair LiberalMinister of Border Security and Organized Crime Reduction
Mr. Speaker, our government remains committed to a fair refugee system that provides protection to those who need it most, protects the safety of all Canadians and keeps our border secure. On the well-established international principle of asylum primacy, we wish to encourage all those who truly need protection to seek asylum at the first possible opportunity.
The measures that we are proposing are part of a broader package included in budget 2019 that is aimed at ensuring that people who genuinely need asylum receive it quickly and efficiently. I wish to assure the member that every claimant will have access—
The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan
The hon. member for Vancouver East and the hon. member for New Westminster—Burnaby know that after a question is asked, they should listen to the answer. They may not like it. I cannot promise them that. That is not for the Speaker to rule or to comment on, but I would ask them to remember to listen and wait their turn before they speak.
The hon. member for Don Valley North.
Geng Tan Liberal Don Valley North, ON
Mr. Speaker, from pioneering satellite communications technologies to building a Canadarm and space-based radar systems, Canada has been making key contributions to space science and technology for over six decades.
Could the minister update the House on our efforts to foster our future astronauts, engineers and scientists so that Canada continues to benefit from opportunities in the space economy?
Rémi Massé LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Innovation
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Don Valley North for his question. Our government has launched a new space strategy based on exploration, imagination and innovation. The strategy aims to leverage Canadian strengths, while advancing science and innovation in exciting areas. Our space strategy will also capitalize on the inspirational power of space to engage youth in science, technology and engineering.
Our government is ensuring that Canadians are ready to take on the jobs of tomorrow.
Karen Vecchio Conservative Elgin—Middlesex—London, ON
Mr. Speaker, an illegal vacation to a billionaire island, inviting a convicted terrorist in India, destroying relations with our most important trading partners, attempting to politically interfere with a criminal prosecution, countless ethics violations and an attitude that the rules and the law do not apply to him. Like so many Liberals before him, the Prime Minister's record is scandal and failure with serious consequences for Canadians.
How come when it comes to the Prime Minister and his friends, they are taken care of, but ordinary Canadians are not?
Bardish Chagger LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, the member just demonstrated once again that the last people the Conservatives seem to care about are all Canadians.
Let us speak about our record. Almost 300,000 children have been lifted out of poverty. Over 800,000 Canadians have been lifted out of poverty. There were 900,500 jobs created by Canadians. We have trading relationships with each of the seven G7 countries, trading deals that we have today. We have lowered taxes on middle-class Canadians by raising them on the wealthiest 1% of Canadians. We have a climate plan that is showing results—
Marilène Gill Bloc Manicouagan, QC
Mr. Speaker, in response to my question yesterday, the Prime Minister said that there is no place for discrimination against our citizens, as though the bill on secularism introduced by the state of Quebec were discriminatory.
The bill sets rules for everyone. It is not discriminatory. The same rules will apply to everyone.
Is the Prime Minister accusing the Government of Quebec and the millions of Quebeckers who support this bill of discrimination? Have the Liberals really sunk that low?
David Lametti LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, we have always defended the fundamental rights of each and every Canadian, and we always will.
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms protects the rights of all citizens. We cannot choose which to protect and which to limit. Our position is clear. The state must not dictate what people can or cannot wear, regardless of their beliefs.
Marilène Gill Bloc Manicouagan, QC
Mr. Speaker, whether the minister likes it or not, it is up to Quebeckers to decide what works for them.
The secularism of the state of Quebec will be decided by Quebec, not by Ottawa and not by the House, which even refuses to condemn the shameful remarks of the mayor of Hampstead, who has compared the secularism bill to ethnic cleansing.
Will the Minister of Justice respect the will of Quebec and undertake not to challenge Bill 21 or support any legal challenges?
David Lametti LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, I am a Quebecker, and so it is my duty to express my opinion on the issue.
We strongly condemn the use of inflammatory remarks, such as those of the mayor of Hampstead. They are hurtful to those who have suffered atrocities and they distract us from the real issues. As the Prime Minister has already said, we do not need to go to extremes. As Quebeckers and Canadians, we can debate the bill respectfully and without pushing too far.
Jane Philpott Independent Markham—Stouffville, ON
Mr. Speaker, earlier this week, I received a call from Chief Leo Friday of Kashechewan First Nation. Ten days from now, more than 2,000 people from this community will be forced to leave their homes in the annual evacuation process. The chief is concerned about the resilience of the dike and there are legitimate fears of severe flooding.
Our country spends millions of dollars annually for evacuations and for repairing flood damage in homes. When can we expect a serious commitment to funding the relocation that, for years, the community has been asking for?
Dan Vandal LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indigenous Services
Mr. Speaker, our commitment to a long-term relocation plan has not changed. The member would know very well from her work as the former minister of indigenous services and president of the Treasury Board the work that is under way to deliver on this commitment.
We have made significant progress on priorities, such as the new modular school that will be built in the community in September. We are currently working with the first nation members to monitor the threat of flooding, conduct preliminary mitigation and support them in a smooth transition to host communities.
Patty Hajdu LiberalMinister of Employment
Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I rarely rise on a point of order but I felt compelled to do so today because I am very disappointed in the mocking my colleague received as she tried to answer in English.
I am especially disappointed in the member for Timmins—James Bay, who is supposedly the critic for ethics. He joined many of his colleagues across the aisle in mocking her, and in fact said, “What is she going to do? There is no one to write down her—
The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan
I thank the hon. member, although that does, unfortunately, sound more like debate to me. Also, it is hard to interpret what people react to and how they react.
The hon. government House leader is rising on a point of order.
Bardish Chagger LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, today, one of our colleagues in the House needed a helping hand. I want to take a minute to thank every single member of Parliament, and namely the member of Parliament for Peace River—Westlock, the member of Parliament for Oshawa, the member of Parliament for Kitchener—Conestoga, the member of Parliament for Markham—Stouffville, the member of Parliament for Brampton West, the member of Parliament for Toronto—St. Paul's and the member of Parliament for Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley.
This demonstrates that we are all human beings and that we care for each other. I want to give a wholehearted thanks from our side to across the aisle.
The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan
I thank the hon. government House leader. I think Canadians, who often see the strong feelings exhibited on both sides and the vigorous arguments that occur here, would be gratified with the way that all members responded when a member was in medical distress. I share the hon. government House leader's comment and thank all members for their accommodation of that situation.
The member for Longueuil—Saint-Hubert on a point of order.
Pierre Nantel NDP Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, QC
Mr. Speaker, I hope we will hear some good news about the member for Oakville North—Burlington.
I will shortly be seeking the unanimous consent of the House for a motion. On Tuesday, Quebec's National Assembly unanimously adopted a motion moved by the MNA for Marie-Victorin, Catherine Fournier. This unanimous motion recognizes the work that creators do to promote Quebec culture and asks the Canadian government to modernize CRTC and broadcasting rules to defend Quebec culture.
We want to respect the consensus of the National Assembly. I therefore seek the consent of the House to move the following motion: That the House of Commons receive the motion adopted unanimously by the National Assembly on April 9, 2019, and relay its request that the CRTC and broadcasting rules be adapted to the new challenges of our era.
The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan
Does the hon. member have the unanimous consent of the House to move the motion?
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order.
I move, given that, (a) Canadians expect that changes to our laws should be democratically and rigorously debated in the House of Commons; (b) all parties in the House have spoken against the use of omnibus bills to hide changes in initiatives from scrutiny; (c) the world is experiencing a global refugee crisis; and (d) Lloyd Axworthy is condemning proposed changes contained in the omnibus budget bill to the asylum system, while Faith Goldy is cheering them on, that in the opinion of the House, (a) Canada is at serious risk of being on the wrong side of history and (b) the government must immediately withdraw division 16 of part 4 of Bill C-97 and table it as a stand-alone piece of legislation to ensure that Canada continues to live up to its obligations under international law.