Debates of April 30th, 2019

Mental Health

[Randall Garrison, NDP, Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke, BC]

Mr. Speaker, each month, on average, the Canadian Armed Forces continue to lose one serving member to death by suicide. This is an epidemic that continues, despite some positive steps toward addressing mental health issues in the forces.

The House had a historic opportunity to address this issue directly earlier this year when we passed Bill C-77, the military justice reform bill. In committee, I proposed an amendment to remove subsection 98(c) from the National Defence Act, the section which makes self-harm a disciplinary offence under the military code of conduct. Unfortunately, the Liberals defeated my amendment on procedural grounds.

I have reintroduced my proposal to remove subsection 98(c) as Bill C-426. Soon I will be asking for unanimous consent for passing the bill at all stages in order to make self-harm in the Canadian Forces a health issue instead of a disciplinary matter.

The mere existence of subsection 98(c) continues to be a barrier for Canadian Forces members seeking the mental health assistance they need and the House has only one more opportunity to fix this. I hope when the time comes, the bill will have the support of all members.

Vincent Vaudrin, Isaël Vallée and Alexis Boivin

[Sherry Romanado, Liberal, Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne, QC]

Mr. Speaker, on April 18, the École secondaire Monseigneur-A.-M.-Parent in Saint-Hubert became a certified “blue school” through the Communautés bleues project. This school in my riding is the first high school in the world to make this commitment to water issues.

This certification is a dream come true for three students who succeeded in getting the school administration on board with their great idea.

Thanks to their initiative, the school has committed to gradually eliminating the sale of plastic water bottles in its environment and at all of its events.

I want to commend the three students who were in charge of this project, Vincent Vaudrin, Isaël Vallée and Alexis Boivin, as well as the entire student council and the youth environmental committee at the École secondaire Monseigneur-A.-M.-Parent for this terrific initiative.

Kudos to everyone involved.

Communities with Brooms

[Colin Carrie, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to thank over 100 Oshawa residents, community representatives, business people, students and, yes, even a few politicians who joined me for Oshawa's 11th annual Communities with Brooms downtown cleanup on April 25.

As members of the House are aware, the past few months have not been easy times for my community. However, even in these uncertain economic times, Oshawa continues to prove that ours is a city filled with heart, spirit, hope and unstoppable civic pride.

Through their efforts, these volunteers, supported by our mayor and city, city councillors, Regional Chair Henry, MPP French, two rotary clubs, the John Howard Society, the downtown BIA, KX96 FM and my office, have made real contributions to beautifying our city's downtown.

On behalf of all members of the House, I offer my sincere appreciation to each of the volunteers and organizations that work so hard to improve and beautify our beloved city of Oshawa.

Civic Leaders

[Chandra Arya, Liberal, Nepean, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I regularly visit the beautiful Jami Omar Mosque in Bells Corners in my riding of Nepean.

One of the key persons of the mosque is Imam Anver Malam, who was involved in all phases of the mosque's development, from conceptualizing the idea of building a mosque to making it a reality. Today, Jami Omar is an anchor for many community-related activities.

On Friday, April 19, Imam Malam addressed hundreds of worshippers, who spilled over the huge prayer hall, on the importance of civic engagement. He emphasized the need for the community to get actively involved in the democratic process of our country. He explained the importance and the impacts of the decision-making process of the policy-makers.

I take this opportunity to recognize and thank civic leaders like Imam Anver Malam.

Vietnamese Canadians

[Judy Sgro, Liberal, Humber River—Black Creek, ON]

Mr. Speaker, today I stand to recognize the significant number of Vietnamese Canadians who have chosen to make our great country of Canada their home.

Vietnamese Canadians have contributed to the Canadian mosaic with pride and admiration, and I want to recognize their contributions on this special day of celebration and remembrance.

Canada is home to a vibrant community of close to 300,000 Vietnamese Canadians, many of whom reside in my riding of Humber River—Black Creek. The Vietnamese Canadian community has made a substantial contribution to our cultural, religious, political and business life, and I am tremendously proud to know many as friends, colleagues and supporters.

Today I am delighted to wish the Vietnamese community great success as it celebrates April 30, an occasion in history, as freedom flag day.

Prime Minister of Canada

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

Mr. Speaker, what can we say about our Prime Minister's four years of failure?

From broken promises to incompetence, there seems to be a new scandal every day, each one crazier than the last. Who could forget his trip to India? It made headlines around the world and embarrassed Canadians. He also failed when he let more than 40,000 illegal migrants slip into Canada and spent over $1 billion accommodating them. He did not prosecute the Islamic State terrorists who came back to Canada and who now brag about the crimes they committed. He also crippled our security agencies' ability to disrupt terrorist threats. He watered down sentences for gang crimes and then chose to go after law-abiding gun owners instead of criminals. Let us not forget all the countries he has offended, the disrespect he shows towards our biggest trade partner, his bungling of the NAFTA negotiations, the breakdown of our trade relationships with Australia and Japan, and his eagerness to kowtow to China.

Canada's security and sovereignty are at stake. I know it, we know it, and Canadians know it.

Boundary Waters Treaty

[Denis Paradis, Liberal, Brome—Missisquoi, QC]

Mr. Speaker, on April 22, Canada highlighted the importance of protecting our planet by celebrating Earth Day.

In Canada, it is vital to protect our natural resources, especially our lakes and rivers. A large number of these bodies of water are located along the Canada-U.S. border. Many of them are sources of drinking water for thousands of people in both countries.

For that reason, tomorrow, May 1, I will be tabling a bill to amend the Boundary Waters Treaty, which was signed by the United States and Canada back in 1909. It is important that we amend the treaty to include new environmental standards for water quality.

This bill will be instrumental in protecting our transboundary waters across Canada for today's Canadian citizens and for future generations.

Flooding in the Outaouais

[Greg Fergus, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Mr. Speaker, once again, I am rising to recognize the resilience of those living in the Outaouais region, and especially those living in the areas affected by spring floods.

So many people have been evacuated and many houses are affected, but I would like to take the time to recognize the community spirit I have seen. Across Gatineau, many people have pitched in by filling sandbags, helping prepare meals or simply taking public transit or teleworking to reduce the number of cars on the road.

I would also like to recognize the efforts of the Canadian Armed Forces, paramedics, firefighters, public safety officials and the provincial and federal governments for all of their support for our region.

I encourage you to support your community and volunteer to fill sandbags at the Frank-Robinson arena, the Parc du Tourbillon, the Parc des Cèdres and the Parc Kenneth-Lloyd. The people of Gatineau are and will remain united.

Government Priorities

[Blaine Calkins, Conservative, Red Deer—Lacombe, AB]

Mr. Speaker, recently the transport minister tried to show us all how smart he was by tweeting a picture of himself trying to plug in an electric car that was already plugged in. “Am I doing it right?”, he quipped.

Trying to make life more affordable for millionaires to purchase a new electric Tesla or Audi, yes, he is doing that right. Trying to make life more affordable for soccer moms, suburban commuters, rural Canadians and anyone living on medium income, he is showing his disdain for them. He must be taking cues from the leader of the Liberal Party who jetted to the west coast for another luxury vacation. Once again, the Liberals are asking Canadians to do as they say and not do as they do.

His policy, like his tweet, fizzled, short-circuited and died on the side of the road. Therefore, I proffer this limerick for the minister's failed gimmick:

While holding his charge cord by the knob,
His carbon tax its Canadians he robs,
Tweeting at us his grin,
The car's already plugged in,
Was fuelling the space shuttle his job?

Status of Women

[Mona Fortier, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Mr. Speaker, from June 3 to 6, 7,000 youth, leaders, parliamentarians, activists and journalists from around the world will come together in Vancouver to attend the Women Deliver conference. In anticipation of this event, May is the month of gender equality action.

Canada is a leader in gender equality, but there is still much work to do.

That is why, as part of the Women Deliver 2019 Mobilization Canada campaign, more than 300 organizations, unions, businesses, academic institutions and cities, representing millions of Canadians, are stepping up to move the dial on gender equality.

During this month of action, Canadian women and men of all ages will participate in various events, discussions and activities across the country.

I challenge everyone to join in on this important initiative.

National Day of Mourning

[Cheryl Hardcastle, NDP, Windsor—Tecumseh, ON]

Mr. Speaker, imagine getting the call that a crane tipped over and your son was under it, or kissing your mother before she left for work and never being able to do so again. With each worker tragedy, lives are changed forever.

April 28 was National Day of Mourning to pray for the injured and remember those who died at work. Our labour family in Windsor—Tecumseh held a solemn ceremony at St. Augustine's church. Together we honoured and consoled. We strengthened our resolve to establish safe and healthy workplaces and prevent further injuries, illnesses and deaths.

The Day of Mourning has spread to more than 100 countries. Canada must work collectively for the living with these other countries. Canada must push harder to ensure employers are held to account, invest in training to investigate and enforce workplace safety, recognize the PTSD that first responders face and put workers' protection at the forefront of trade agreements.

Indeed, as much as this is a day to mourn—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

The hon. member for Calgary Shepard.

Natural Resources

[Tom Kmiec, Conservative, Calgary Shepard, AB]

Mr. Speaker, when the Liberals nationalized the Trans Mountain pipeline, Canadians were told that their $4.5 billion would allow construction to begin immediately. Little did they know that the Liberals meant that Kinder Morgan would start building pipeline in Texas immediately.

Political dithering by the Liberal government has ensured that not one inch of pipe has been built and that two construction seasons have been lost. While the Liberals abandon Canadian middle-class energy workers here at home, they are happy to create middle-class energy jobs in Asia with Canadian taxpayer dollars.

In 2017, the Liberals gifted over half a billion dollars to China's new Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, which is building three new pipeline projects in Asia. The Liberal government's pipeline priorities are to finance a pipeline in the suburbs of Beijing instead of right here in Canada.

It is time for the government to get to work, stop dithering, set a construction date and build that pipe.

International Day of Mourning

[Marc Serré, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

Mr. Speaker, on April 28, I participated in the International Day of Mourning ceremony. It remembers workers who were killed, injured and suffered illness due to workplace-related hazards and incidents.

The International Day of Mourning began 35 years ago in Sudbury in co-operation with the Canadian Labour Congress and the United Steelworkers of Sudbury, local 6500, including the USW international president, Mr. Leo Girard.

To have workers return home to their families without suffering illness, injury or death should be a priority for all governments. Last year, 250 people died on the job in Ontario. Thousands of people were injured or contracted preventable illnesses. That is unacceptable.

All levels of government must work together to improve occupational health and safety.

One is too many. No one should die on the job.

Foreign Affairs

[Andrew Scheer, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the ongoing diplomatic crisis between Canada and China continues. Now it is Canadian canola producers who are paying for the Prime Minister's weakness on the world stage.

It is clear that China has no respect for the Prime Minister, and why would it? After the Prime Minister clowned around in India and backed down to Donald Trump time and time again, China believes it can walk all over him.

China has unfairly jailed two Canadians, and now it is blocking canola exports. When will the Prime Minister finally stand up for Canadian interests?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we understand how these hardships are affecting our canola farmers and producers out west. That is why we have been on this issue for the past number of weeks, including in many meetings with various producers, while we keep up our diplomatic efforts to resolve this difference with China.

We are going to continue to stand up for Canadian producers and continue to stand up for Canadian farmers. We will have good news to announce in the next few days.

[Andrew Scheer, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, we are finally making some progress. After the events of this weekend, the Prime Minister at least knows which country in Asia we are talking about.

However, not only is he not standing up for Canadian interests, he is actually bankrolling Chinese foreign policy by supporting the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. That is $256 million of taxpayers' money to curry favour with a government that has jailed Canadians for political reasons and is in violation of international trade rules.

Why is the Prime Minister using Canadian tax dollars to bankroll the foreign policy of the Government of China?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, as part of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, Canada joins countries such as Australia, France, Germany, India, Italy, South Korea and the U.K. in promoting inclusive global economic growth.

At a time of global trade tension, the Conservative leader suggests that we close our doors to international co-operation, but we know that the bank can support lean, clean, green infrastructure investments throughout Asia.

To date, the only AIIB investment in China has been to reduce air pollution from the use of coal. We believe in Canadian leadership around the world.

[Andrew Scheer, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, what I am suggesting is that the Prime Minister show some backbone and stand up for Canadians in jail in China.

To add insult to injury, the Prime Minister has spent billions of taxpayer dollars on a pipeline he cannot get built in Canada but is funding the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, directed by China, to build pipelines in other countries.

When will the Prime Minister show the Government of China that there are consequences for treating Canadians this way, and pull the funding from the infrastructure bank?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we have consistently stood up for Canadian jobs and for Canadians at home and around the world, and we will continue to do so.

On the issue of getting pipelines built, for 10 years the Conservatives were unable to get pipelines to tidewater because they did not understand that the way to get this done is by working with indigenous communities and working with environmental concerns.

These are the kinds of things we need to do. That is exactly what we are focused on in getting things done the right way after 10 years of neglect by the Conservatives.

[Andrew Scheer, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, China is now investing an estimated $8.4 billion in its space program, more than than Russia or Japan. China is the second-biggest military spender.

Nevertheless, the Prime Minister insists on giving $256 million to China for its infrastructure bank.

What will it take for the Prime Minister to finally stand up to China and defend Canadian interests?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, together with many other countries, Canada is promoting inclusive global economic growth. Trade tensions are rising around the world, and the Conservative leader is suggesting that we close the door on international co-operation.

The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, or AIIB, supports lean, clean and green investments in infrastructure across Asia, including in some of the poorest countries in the world. To date, the only AIIB investment in China was made to reduce air pollution caused by the use of coal.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Order. I heard from the hon. member for Cypress Hills—Grasslands four times during that answer, and obviously he did not have the floor. I think he is aware of the standing orders that prohibit interruptions. I invite him not to interrupt in the future.

The hon. Leader of the Opposition.

Ethics

[Andrew Scheer, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, whenever the Liberals are in power, they love to rewrite the rules to benefit themselves. Today we have learned the names of individuals from SNC-Lavalin who gave over $110,000 in illegal campaign contributions to the Liberal Party.

When Conservatives were asked for this information, we released it immediately, but the Liberals refused. In fact, they sat on this information for three years. It took investigative reporting to uncover it.

Why did the Prime Minister's recent election financing changes not take action to expose this cover-up?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, these improper donations to two political parties were made over a decade ago. Under my leadership, we have raised the bar on openness and transparency.

We were the first party to proactively disclose MP expenses. We opened up the Board of Internal Economy. We ensure that information regarding fundraisers with the Prime Minister, ministers, party leaders or candidates for leadership is made publicly available and we fully comply with all fundraising and donation rules. Anyone making any political donation is expected to do the same.