Debates of May 10th, 2019

Justice

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Madam Speaker, our former Conservative government made the decision to retrofit a ship in order to get much-needed equipment to our navy. Then leaked documents show that the Liberals tried to stop this after a company that is friendly to the party was cheesed off that they did not get the contract.

After this leak prevented the Liberals from taking this unwise course of action, they attempted to destroy the career of one of Canada's most senior military officers, whose only crime was wanting to get a ship for our navy.

Why?

[David Lametti, Liberal, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Madam Speaker, as I have said a number of times in this House and outside this House, it is the RCMP that investigates in such matters. The RCMP investigated and turned evidence over to the prosecution service. It is the prosecution service of Canada, which operates independently of government, that evaluated the evidence and decided to lay charges, proceeded with the trial and ultimately decided to stay charges.

All of this was undertaken independently of the government. There was no political interference, as the member herself said.

Social Development

[Darren Fisher, Liberal, Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS]

Madam Speaker, this week the Leader of the Opposition miraculously claimed that he now supports our Canada child benefit. However, actions speak louder than words. The Conservative Party has voted against the Canada child benefit at every opportunity.

The Conservatives put out a tax guide that did not acknowledge the existence of the Canada child benefit but included their proposed tax credits for millionaires. Conservative MPs have called the Canada child benefit communistic and have said that CCB investments would be better spent on something else.

Could the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development please remind this House and please remind Conservative MPs just how much the Canada child benefit—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, NDP, Carol Hughes]

The hon. Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development.

[Adam Vaughan, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Families]

Madam Speaker, parents and children in Canada have a very simple message for the Conservatives: Keep your hands off the Canada child benefit.

The Conservative leader has voted against doubling it. The Conservative leader voted against indexing it. The Conservative leader voted against making it tax free.

If people want to know what the Conservatives' plan for children is, let them look at Doug Ford's war on children in Ontario. It is what happens when a Conservative government tries to campaign without a platform.

The Ontario Conservatives have cut teachers for kids. They have cut libraries for kids. They have cut school lunch programs for kids. They have cut the child advocate. They have even cut giving out vaccines for kids.

When it comes to the Conservatives, Ford's cuts hurt kids, and they are shear stupidity.

Natural Resources

[Cathy McLeod, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC]

Madam Speaker, residents in B.C. continue to flock across the border to fill their tanks with gasoline. They are saving $25 per tank, and that matters. It matters to Canadian families, it matters to small business, it matters to tourism operators and it matters to so many more.

This minister does not seem to understand what a difference that makes in people's lives. Increasing the carbon tax without a deadline on getting Trans Mountain started is a problem.

When will they get the pipeline built, and when will they get rid of this carbon tax that is hurting so many?

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

Madam Speaker, there are a few things in that question. As I said before, we are focused on getting the TMX pipeline project done in the right way, something that the Conservatives completely ignored. For 10 years, they got no pipelines built.

We want to make sure people have confidence in the process. The process we are going to follow is having full consultations and at the same time respecting our environmental obligations. That is what we are focused on. That is what Canadians have to have respect for and have to have confidence in for us to get it done in the right way.

Science and Technology

[Jean Yip, Liberal, Scarborough—Agincourt, ON]

Madam Speaker, removing barriers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, STEM, is fundamental to ensuring equity for researchers across out country. Our government recognizes that we must always strive to tear down these barriers and ensure under-represented groups can succeed and thrive in the STEM fields.

Can the Minister of Science and Sport please tell this House how our government's made-in-Canada Athena SWAN program will help us achieve this?

[Kirsty Duncan, Liberal, Minister of Science and Sport]

Madam Speaker, that is an excellent question. While the Harper Conservatives ignored diversity in research, we understand that we cannot afford to leave any talent on the sidelines.

Yesterday I announced new grants and launched Dimensions, a made-in-Canada version of the internationally renowned Athena SWAN program. This will create more opportunities for women and other under-represented groups and institutions across Canada.

This has been a long-standing problem. The Harper Conservatives did nothing to improve diversity. We are taking action.

Fisheries and Oceans

[Mel Arnold, Conservative, North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC]

Madam Speaker, Liberal fisheries ministers continue to fail Pacific salmon and the Canadians who rely on them. Evidence of this failure is another layer of fishing restrictions that will put hundreds of British Columbians out of work. Instead of working against fishermen and coastal communities, the government should work with them to restore Pacific salmon stocks.

B.C. fishers and conservationists know how to put more salmon back in our streams and oceans, so when will the fisheries minister start working with the fishermen instead of just shutting them out of their fisheries?

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries]

Madam Speaker, in actual fact this minister and this government have never stopped working with fishers and have never stopped working with conservationists.

The B.C. salmon conservation and innovation fund is a prime example. There have been over 100 million federal dollars coupled with provincial dollars to address the challenges facing B.C. salmon. That work will continue. The consultation will continue. We are very committed to the restoration of Pacific salmon.

International Trade

[Luc Thériault, Bloc, Montcalm, QC]

Madam Speaker, not a single penny in compensation will be going to supply-managed producers before the election. The Parliamentary Budget Officer confirmed it.

Farmers are already suffering the consequences of being sacrificed in the free trade agreements. To them, compensation is not an election issue, but an urgent need. The farmers say they want to see concrete action before the election, and that would include a cheque.

When will they get their cheque?

[Jean-Claude Poissant, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Madam Speaker, our government has always been very clear. We are the party that brought in supply management and we will protect and promote it.

We committed to supporting our supply-managed producers fully and fairly by giving them $3.9 billion in compensation for the repercussions of CETA and CPTPP. The working groups continue to discuss the best way to distribute the money, and the minister hopes to finalize everything by the end of June.

[Luc Thériault, Bloc, Montcalm, QC]

Madam Speaker, a cheque is exactly what people want. They have had it up to here with reassuring words. The Parliamentary Budget Officer says that if he were a farmer, he would be worried. There are only so many ways to reassure people.

Rather than tell supply-managed farmers to vote Liberal if they want their cheque, will the government get those cheques in the mail before the end of the session?

[Jean-Claude Poissant, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Madam Speaker, let me repeat that we are committed to fully and fairly supporting supply-managed farmers by giving them $3.9 billion in compensation for any negative repercussions of CETA and the CPTPP. We are also looking at the impact on processors and the potential impact of CUSMA. Working groups continue to discuss the best way to distribute the money.

I would also like to remind the House that all opposition members voted against the budget, which includes compensation for farmers.

Public Services and Procurement

[Luc Thériault, Bloc, Montcalm, QC]

Madam Speaker, the Conservatives' $100-billion naval strategy sought to ensure the survival of two of Canada's shipyards, even if it meant destroying Davie and all of its suppliers, mostly in Saguenay. When the Liberals took office, they wanted to finish the job the Conservatives started, finish off Davie and deprive it of contracts. That is what we learned from the Vice-Admiral Norman case.

Now that the government has stayed proceedings against the vice-admiral, does it also intend to abandon the Conservatives' naval strategy and finally treat Davie fairly?

[Carla Qualtrough, Liberal, Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Accessibility]

Madam Speaker, we are very pleased with the Davie workers' productivity and the excellent work they did on the Asterix. We are working closely with all Quebec businesses. We awarded $1.6 billion in contracts to Quebec companies. We gave Davie a contract that was part of a $7-billion investment. We gave Davie $700 million for icebreakers. We certainly do recognize the work and professionalism of the Davie shipyard and its workers.

Indigenous Affairs

[Hunter Tootoo, Independent, Nunavut, NU]

Madam Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Indigenous Services.

When it comes to health care, Nunavummiut do not get the same level of support from the federal government as other Canadians. The national average for federal support is 20%. Nunavut receives less than 10%. As a consequence, the Government of Nunavut is forced to pick up the tab for programs for which the federal government is responsible. The GN spends in excess of $50 million a year above what it is funded to administer the non-insured health benefits program.

Does the Minister of Indigenous Services think this fair and will he work with the Government of Nunavut to fully fund the administration of this program?

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations]

Madam Speaker, our government is working in support of the Government of Nunavut in the provision of health services to its residents.

Last week, the Minister of Indigenous Services met with the minister of health and finance for the Government of Nunavut to discuss health care and a number of other shared priorities. We continue to stay in close communication to ensure that Nunavummiut have access to the quality health services they need.

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

Madam Speaker, with permission of the House, I would like to table the recent Parliamentary Budget Officer's economic and fiscal update. We heard the parliamentary secretary from Global Affairs say that the $2 billion from steel and aluminum tariffs were being used to help out companies in Canada. This report shows that the huge majority of this money has disappeared into government coffers and has not extended to our industries.

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, NDP, Carol Hughes]

Does the hon. member have the unanimous consent of the House to table the document?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

No.

Interparliamentary Delegations

[Wayne Easter, Liberal, Malpeque, PE]

Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1) I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, three reports of the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group.

The first report concerns the Pacific NorthWest Economic Region's, PNWER, 28th annual summit, held in Spokane, Washington, United States of America, from July 23 to July 26, 2018.

The second report concerns the 58th annual meeting and regional policy forum of the Council of State Governments Eastern Regional Conference, held in Rye Brook, New York, U.S.A., from August 5 to August 8, 2018.

The third report concerns the annual National Conference of the Council of State Governments, held in Covington, Kentucky, U.S.A., from December 6 to December 8, 2018.

Equalization

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition from many people across the country who call on the government to immediately cancel Bill C-69 and launch a study into the economic impact of equalization, including an examination of the formula.

The petitioners are really tired of the government telling them that they cannot work and that their jobs are dirty. They feel that the context for equalization has changed, after the Prime Minister has gone after jobs in the energy sector with great vigour.

Animal Welfare

[Stephanie Kusie, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

Madam Speaker, I rise today to table a petition submitted by constituents in my riding of Calgary Midnapore.

The petitioners clearly care deeply about the welfare of animals. They ask that the sale and/or manufacturing of animal-tested cosmetics and their ingredients be banned in Canada moving forward.