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.
Andrew Leslie LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Canada-U.S. Relations)
Mr. Speaker, in March, the minister spoke with the chair of the OECD working group and confirmed to him that we were fully committed to fully co-operating with the work at the OECD and that we fully supported its good work.
Canada is a strong supporter of the OECD and the rules-based international order.
Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON
Mr. Speaker, my mom calls me and asks, “Did the Prime Minister really give $12 million to Galen Weston to fix his fridges instead of to seniors. Did the Liberals give it to a company that cheats families out of bread?” That is my mom. She is a miner's daughter. She grew up in a different middle class than the Prime Minister did. I said to her, “Mom, it's is about lobbying; it's about people you know in the PMO.”
Will the Prime Minister explain why two lobbyists from Loblaws attended an exclusive cash for access event with him and senior staff of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change? Could he explain that to my mom?
The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan
Order. please. We are not going to hear the answer unless we have a chance to do so. I am sure the hon. member who asked the question wants to hear the answer. I trust other members will let that happen.
The hon. Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment.
Sean Fraser LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change
Mr. Speaker, any serious climate plan is going to involve investments in energy efficiency. The project in question involves a $36 million investment from the company. It is going to allow it to replace fridges in over 370 stores, which will have the equivalent impact of taking 50,000 cars off the road. This decision was based on science, facts and evidence and on the advice of our department.
With respect to the hon. member's mother, I would be happy to point him to the investments in budget 2019 that will help make homes more efficient, will save her money and do the right thing by the environment.
Leona Alleslev Conservative Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON
Mr. Speaker, we now know the Department of National Defence used code names to avoid providing evidence in Vice-Admiral Mark Norman's trial. Since October, the Prime Minister has failed to comply with a court order to provide all documents, emails, memos, texts from Gerald Butts, Michael Wernick, Katie Telford and Zita Astravas.
Will the Prime Minister release all documents today and ensure Mark Norman gets a fair trial?
David Lametti LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, the prosecution in question is being handled by the Public Prosecution Service of Canada, which operates independently from the Department of Justice and from my office.
Counsel for the Attorney General of Canada is fulfilling all of its obligations to the court with respect to third party records applications. We are co-operating, but it would be improper for me to comment on anything further as it is before the courts.
Leona Alleslev Conservative Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister continues to do everything to politically interfere and frustrate Mark Norman's ability to get a fair trial. He will not comply with court orders to provide documents and when he does, they are completely redacted. Even worse, he will not pay Mark Norman's legal fees, hindering his ability to mount an effective defence.
Did the Prime Minister, or any current or former cabinet minister or any PMO staff discuss influencing the timing of Mark Norman's trial?
David Lametti LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, as I just stated, the government is meeting all of its obligations with respect to third party records applications. All documents requested from the priority individuals identified by the defence in February have already been provided to the court.
When it comes to the reimbursement of legal expenses, the Treasury Board policy on legal assistance and indemnification is being followed appropriately throughout.
Steven Blaney Conservative Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC
That is not so, Mr. Speaker.
We now know the Liberals tried to prevent the Davie shipyard from getting the contract for the Asterix. When that scandal broke, they backed down. We also know that no explanation was given for why Vice-Admiral Norman was fired in January 2017. The government has paid no legal fees since then.
How can the Minister of National Defence justify not covering the legal fees of a respectable officer even as taxpayers pick up the tab for the Prime Minister's shenanigans?
David Lametti LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, as I just said, the Treasury Board policy is being followed to the letter, and that is what we are doing.
John Brassard Conservative Barrie—Innisfil, ON
Mr. Speaker, Vice-Admiral Mark Norman is a 38-year, highly decorated member of the Canadian Forces, and was vice-chair of the defence staff. He served this country with honour and dignity.
The least those Liberals could do is give him a shot at a fair trial, but they will not release the documents to his lawyers so he can mount a proper defence. They are hoping he runs out of money before the end of the trial.
The Prime Minister has no problem undermining the rule of law. When will the Prime Minister quit manipulating these court proceedings and allow the vice-admiral a fair trial?
David Lametti LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, as I have stated, counsel to the Attorney General of Canada is fulfilling all its obligations before the court with respect to third party applications for records. All the documents that had been requested by the so-called priority individuals identified by the defence in February have been provided to the court.
With respect to the reimbursement of legal expenses, the Treasury Board policy on legal assistance and indemnification has been applied rigorously.
Brian Masse NDP Windsor West, ON
Mr. Speaker, we learned that the finance minister and the big banks worked together to skew a report that proved banks had predatory practices and abused their own customers. Banks misled consumers by lying about credit card fees, mortgage rates and banking fees, to name a few.
Instead of protecting consumers, the Liberals decided to protect the banks by editing the report and trying to cover up the truth. This is shameful. Canadians are tired of the Liberal government being an apologist for consumer abuse, manipulation and exploitation.
The Minister of Public Safety bragged about fines and penalties. Does he actually have the courage to act on them?
Joël Lightbound LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, to the contrary, nothing the member just said could be further from the truth.
We took the report very seriously and went forward with measures to prohibit banks from providing misleading information to customers to prohibit banks from exerting undue pressure on consumers to buy products or services; to require banks to have policies in place to ensure consumers receive products that are appropriate for them; and increase penalties for banks from $500,000 to $10 million, something the Conservatives failed to do for 10 years.
May I remind the New Democrats that they voted against these measures.
Pierre-Luc Dusseault NDP Sherbrooke, QC
Mr. Speaker, that was not the question. The fact is that the banks and the Minister of Finance influenced the agency that is supposed to be monitoring them.
Is anyone really surprised? This independent agency is actually funded by the banks themselves. Do we really think the banks' watchdog will bite the hand that feeds it? Canadians are sick of seeing the Liberal government side with the banks over the public. The government is letting banks rip off consumers, and the Prime Minister is turning a blind eye to the whole business.
When will the Prime Minister grow a spine and stand up to the big banks by creating a genuinely independent watchdog with teeth?
Joël Lightbound LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, quite the opposite. I wonder where the opposition member has been for the past three years, when we were taking steps to protect Canadian consumers of financial products. For 10 years, under Stephen Harper, consumer protection and strong, robust bank regulation were not so much as an afterthought.
I will remind him of the same thing I just said to his colleague. Over the past few years, we went forward with measures to prohibit banks from providing misleading information to customers and from exerting undue pressure on consumers. We also increased penalties for banks from $500,000 to $10 million.
Majid Jowhari Liberal Richmond Hill, ON
Mr. Speaker, I was particularly shocked yesterday when I heard that the Conservatives chose to mislead their constituents in their partisan taxpayer-funded tax guide. This partisan guide left out information on important elements such as the Canada child benefit and the climate action incentive rebate. It left out information on money to which their constituents are entitled.
Does the Minister of National Revenue agree that—
The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan
Order, please.
The hon. member used the phrase “chose to mislead”. This is very close to “deliberately mislead”. I would like him to withdraw that phrase and apologize for that phrase.
Majid Jowhari Liberal Richmond Hill, ON
Mr. Speaker, does the Minister of National Revenue agree that purposely hiding important—
The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan
Order, please.
I heard the member apologize. His microphone was not on at the time. I am going to give him another opportunity, and then we will go to the minister.
The hon. member for Richmond Hill.
Majid Jowhari Liberal Richmond Hill, ON
Mr. Speaker, I would like to apologize. I withdraw “purposely”.
Diane Lebouthillier LiberalMinister of National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for raising this concerning issue. It is unacceptable that Conservatives choose to mislead Canadians on how to access their—
The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan
Order. It is not unparliamentary to mislead the House, but it is unparliamentary to say someone acted deliberately. Saying someone chose to mislead the House is unparliamentary. I would therefore ask the hon. minister to withdraw her comments and apologize.