House of Commons Hansard #419 of the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was cbsa.

Topics

HousingOral Questions

11:55 a.m.

Conservative

The Deputy Speaker Conservative Bruce Stanton

The hon. member for Rivière-des-Mille-Îles.

ScienceOral Questions

11:55 a.m.

Liberal

Linda Lapointe Liberal Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC

Mr. Speaker, earlier this week, Ontario's Ford government announced it will cut funding to the Ontario Institute for Regenerative Medicine. The institute has funded research on many debilitating and fatal diseases, and its mission is to advance important stem cell research.

The Ford government has taken over Stephen Harper's anti-science crusade, but our government is taking action.

Would the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Science and Sport tell the House about our commitment to science and research?

ScienceOral Questions

11:55 a.m.

London West Ontario

Liberal

Kate Young LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Science and Sport and to the Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Accessibility (Accessibility)

Mr. Speaker, once again a Conservative politician is trying to shut down discovery that has long-term benefits.

We have seen this before. Ten years of cuts, the muzzling of scientists and overall mismanagement by the Harper Conservatives had researchers protesting on Parliament Hill. Our government, unlike the previous government and the Ford government, actually believes in science, research and evidence-based decision-making.

We are the government that has invested over $10 billion into research, and we will continue to support our researchers.

Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipOral Questions

11:55 a.m.

Conservative

Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON

Mr. Speaker, under the Liberal government, many Canadian families who are adopting children abroad face long delays and zero transparency on their case. For example, after initially being told by the Liberals that the process would take two weeks, the Moran family have been separated for nine months. They were just told it could be as long as another year before a decision is made, with no reason given as to why.

Will the minister agree to meet with the Morans and explain to them why they cannot get a straight answer?

Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipOral Questions

Noon

Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs Québec

Liberal

Marc Miller LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations

Mr. Speaker, this government has taken historic measures to reunite families, and it is a little rich for the member opposite, whose party had two options when dealing with files: pressing the delete button or the alt-right button. It is a disgrace for the member opposite to stand up and talk about family reunification.

It is this government that has made historic investments in budgets 2019, 2018, 2017 and 2016 to make sure that people are welcome in Canada and that immigration files are processed in a systematic fashion.

Of course there are extremely complex files, and the element that the member mentioned is a very particular file. We are glad to take it—

Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipOral Questions

Noon

Conservative

The Deputy Speaker Conservative Bruce Stanton

The hon. member for Terrebonne.

Intergovernmental RelationsOral Questions

Noon

Bloc

Michel Boudrias Bloc Terrebonne, QC

Mr. Speaker, this week, Quebec got to witness a road show, a piece of political theatre in bad taste about extending Highway 19. The people of Terrebonne are pleased, because this is the good news they have been waiting for for years.

However, it is Quebec that builds highways, not Ottawa. Not one centimetre of road is built in Quebec without the authority and approval of the Government of Quebec.

Why did the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities organize a press conference in our backyard, without Quebec, when there is no real announcement to be made because Quebec has the final say?

Does it have something to do with the election?

Intergovernmental RelationsOral Questions

Noon

Saint-Maurice—Champlain Québec

Liberal

François-Philippe Champagne LiberalMinister of Infrastructure and Communities

Mr. Speaker, I have a great deal of respect for my colleague. However, I have none for the Bloc Québécois' hypocrisy.

How can someone claim to work on behalf of Quebeckers and be against an historic investment to reduce congestion in the suburbs north of Montreal? Only a Bloc Québécois MP could be against Quebeckers who want to reduce congestion on Montreal's roads. The people of Terrebonne have been waiting for that since 1970.

We are proud of our investment in Highway 19. We are working with the Government of Quebec and we are funding that road with our colleagues from Quebec. All the mayors were there. The people were pleased that, for once, a government is keeping its word and investing in reducing congestion in the suburbs north of Montreal.

Intergovernmental RelationsOral Questions

Noon

Bloc

Michel Boudrias Bloc Terrebonne, QC

Mr. Speaker, working for Quebec and in Quebec's best interests means complying with the agreements between this government and Quebec. The agreement on infrastructure makes it clear that Canada's role is limited to contributing financially, period. It will not be involved in the implementation stages. Essentially, according to the agreements, the only two things Ottawa can do with regard to Quebec are sign a cheque and get out of the way. Quebec wants Ottawa to transfer this infrastructure funding as a lump sum, with no strings attached, in accordance with the agreement.

Could the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities stop stirring up artificial quarrels and just cut a cheque instead of putting on a show for the cameras?

Intergovernmental RelationsOral Questions

Noon

Saint-Maurice—Champlain Québec

Liberal

François-Philippe Champagne LiberalMinister of Infrastructure and Communities

Mr. Speaker, this is all a show for the cameras. Respecting Quebeckers means more than asking two questions a week in the House. It means taking action for Quebeckers. The people watching us at home are seeing a Bloc Québécois member objecting to reducing congestion in the suburbs north of Montreal.

We are proud to be investing $345 million for the residents of the suburbs north of Montreal in partnership with the Government of Quebec and in partnership with the municipalities, while creating jobs. We will continue to invest in Quebec because that is part of what it means to respect Quebeckers.

JusticeOral Questions

Noon

Bloc

Michel Boudrias Bloc Terrebonne, QC

Mr. Speaker, that is just a sham and a gong show.

I want to move on to something else. Vice-Admiral Norman is the victim of both the Conservatives' pettiness and the Liberal government's incompetence. The Conservatives hid the fact that they mandated Admiral Norman to talk to Davie about the Asterix so that they could continue their partisan attacks at his expense—and at the expense of Davie, in particular. The Liberals are no better. They referred this matter to the RCMP, as if it were no big deal, without checking and validating the facts, which is what led to this shameful investigation. The entire Canadian establishment is now implicated.

Will the government launch a public inquiry to get to the bottom of the situation regarding Admiral Norman and the contracts—

JusticeOral Questions

Noon

Conservative

The Deputy Speaker Conservative Bruce Stanton

JusticeOral Questions

Noon

LaSalle—Émard—Verdun Québec

Liberal

David Lametti LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

Mr. Speaker, as the member knows, the RCMP conducts its own investigations.

The decision to collect evidence and to go see the Public Prosecution Service was made completely independently from the government. The PPSC is another institution that is completely independent from government.

If the opposition members had any relevant information, they should have given it to the RCMP long before this.

The EnvironmentOral Questions

12:05 p.m.

Green

Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Environment. We are part of a very important agreement—and full credit to the federal government and the government of B.C.—as well as an indigenous partnership to protect an iconic species, the southern mountain caribou.

I am afraid. I am hearing reports that the consultations of the B.C. government seem to be stirring up opposition to protecting the species instead of solidifying what is a groundbreaking model agreement.

I wonder if the federal government is concerned, as I am, that we not let this deal get unstuck.

The EnvironmentOral Questions

12:05 p.m.

Central Nova Nova Scotia

Liberal

Sean Fraser LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change

Mr. Speaker, I would like to remind this House that it is Endangered Species Day and that our world is facing a global crisis when it comes to the protection of our wildlife. Since the 1970s, we have seen 60% of our wildlife disappear, including iconic species in Canada.

With respect to the southern mountain caribou, we have seen local population units that have been around for thousands of years wiped off the face of the planet forever. We have achieved a groundbreaking conservation agreement with the Province of British Columbia and the Saulteaux and West Moberly First Nations. We intend to keep the commitments that we made, but we want to work with communities to ensure that we do so in a way that respects their way of life and local economies. However, we simply cannot let this iconic species disappear from our great country.

Interparliamentary DelegationsRoutine Proceedings

12:05 p.m.

Liberal

Bob Nault Liberal Kenora, ON

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, two reports of the Canadian Section of ParlAmericas, one respecting its participation in a bilateral visit to Mexico held in Mexico City from February 10 to 12, 2019, and the other respecting the 47th board of directors meeting and the fourth gathering of the ParlAmericas Open Parliament Network held in Quito, Ecuador, from March 11 to 14, 2019.

Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with DisabilitiesCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

12:05 p.m.

Liberal

Bryan May Liberal Cambridge, ON

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 17th report of the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities, entitled “Labour Shortages and Solutions in the GTHA Construction Industry”.

Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report.

While I am on my feet, I have a second report. I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 18th report of the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities, entitled “Main Estimates 2019-20”.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank our clerk, Stephanie Feldman, whom we lost yesterday. She is moving to Journals. On behalf of the entire committee, I would like to wish her all the best in her future endeavours.

Income Tax ActRoutine Proceedings

12:05 p.m.

Conservative

Dan Albas Conservative Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-452, An Act to amend the Income Tax Act (gift in virtual currency).

Mr. Speaker, again it is an honour to stand up on behalf of the good people of Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola.

We all know that Canadians are a kind and generous people, and the government should and can encourage charitable giving any way that it can.

Current tax law in Canada exempts the sale of assets from capital gains taxes if those gains are given to charity. This bill would extend that exemption to the sale of virtual currencies, such as Bitcoin. Virtual currencies should not be treated differently from any other asset, and this bill would help address that divide. It would also allow the minister to declare a certain virtual currency ineligible from the exemption if there is a public interest in doing so.

We know how generous Canadians can be when it comes to charitable giving. We want to ensure that prohibitively high taxes do not get in the way of the next generation of charitable giving. This is a simple and positive legislative change, and I hope that all parties will support it.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

Autism and Special NeedsPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:10 p.m.

Liberal

Chandra Arya Liberal Nepean, ON

Mr. Speaker, I would like to present a petition signed by 5,000 parents. It calls for a national autism and special needs strategy in the presence of many of the parents today.

Across Canada, services for about 500,000 people with autism spectrum disorder and other disabilities remain inconsistent, depending on the provincial or territorial jurisdiction. Supporting an individual with ASD is beyond the financial means of most Canadians, and our school systems provide little assistance for those currently in schools and those transitioning into adulthood. Hence, we need a national autism and special needs strategy.

FirearmsPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:10 p.m.

Conservative

Cheryl Gallant Conservative Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition signed by Canadians from the ridings of Kitchener Centre, Cambridge, Waterloo, Cloverdale—Langley City, Burnaby South, Fleetwood—Port Kells, Lethbridge, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, Edmonton Mill Woods, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing and Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke.

Petitioners call on the House of Commons to respect the rights of law-abiding firearms owners and reject the Prime Minister's plan to waste taxpayers' dollars on banning firearms that are already banned.

Medical InterpretersPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:10 p.m.

NDP

Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC

Mr. Speaker, I rise to table two petitions.

The first petition is an e-petition signed by 631 petitioners. The petitioners note that other countries, such as the United Kingdom, the U.S. and Australia, use trained interpreters and that this is strictly enforced by law. They do this, particularly in the health care system, to ensure that proper interpreters are available so that there is no misunderstanding or miscommunication with respect to someone's health care.

The petitioners call upon the Government of Canada to create an action plan for training and recruiting qualified medical interpreters, institute a federal-level policy enforcing the use of trained interpreters in health care settings and ensure mandatory training for health care providers on how to effectively work with interpreters.

Eye HealthPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:10 p.m.

NDP

Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC

Mr. Speaker, my second petition is on eye health.

The petitioners note that the number of Canadians with vision loss is expected to double in the next 20 years, and that the emerging crisis in eye health and vision care affects all segments of the Canadian population, with Canada's most vulnerable populations, which include children, seniors and indigenous people, at particular risk. It also notes that just 1% of the total expenditures on vision loss is invested in post-vision-loss rehabilitation therapy.

Petitioners call on the government to commit to acknowledging eye health and vision care as a growing public health issue and respond to it particularly regarding Canada's vulnerable populations, which include children, seniors, diabetics and indigenous peoples, through the development of a national framework for action to promote eye health and vision care, which will benefit all Canadians.

MigrationPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:10 p.m.

Green

Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC

Mr. Speaker, petitioners within my riding of Saanich—Gulf Islands, one of whom has extensive personal experience on the ground with the refugee crisis on Samos Island, Greece, where thousands of people without adequate shelter and care have taken refuge and are in need of help and basic services, ask the Government of Canada to intercede and engage directly with the Government of Greece and offer concrete aid and assistance in all the ways Canada can help this humanitarian crisis.

Human Organ TraffickingPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:15 p.m.

Conservative

Kelly McCauley Conservative Edmonton West, AB

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition on behalf of several hundred people from my riding that calls on the government to amend the Criminal Code to prohibit Canadians from travelling abroad to acquire human organs, removed without consent, as a result of a financial transaction.

Questions Passed as Orders for ReturnRoutine Proceedings

12:15 p.m.

Winnipeg North Manitoba

Liberal

Kevin Lamoureux LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

Mr. Speaker, if Questions Nos. 2362-2370 could be made orders for return, these returns would be tabled immediately.