Debates of May 6th, 2019

Justice

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

Mr. Speaker, I can report to the hon. member that the Department of Justice has co-operated and given all appropriate documents to the trial in question. We continue to collaborate on an ongoing basis in order to make sure that all sides in the trial have the information they are entitled to.

[Candice Bergen, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

Mr. Speaker, that is completely false. The Liberals have refused to hand over documents to Mr. Norman's defence. Interestingly enough, though, when Gerry Butts needed access to emails and documents when he was trying to discredit the former attorney general in the SNC-Lavalin affair, he had no problem at all getting those documents.

It is clear, yet again, that there is one set of rules for friends of the Liberals and a different set for those who are in the Prime Minister's crosshairs. Why is the Prime Minister refusing to hand over critical documents and evidence to Mr. Norman's defence team?

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

Mr. Speaker, the prosecution's case in question is being undertaken by the Public Prosecution Service of Canada. Counsel to the Attorney General is fulfilling all its obligations in that instance before the court with respect to third party records applications. It is improper for me to say anything more than that, but we are fulfilling our obligations—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Order. The hon. opposition House leader.

[Candice Bergen, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

Mr. Speaker, between the SNC-Lavalin affair, breaking ethics laws and foreign affairs disasters, the Prime Minister and his train-wreck government have been in constant scandal mode. Now that the Norman trial is closing in, the Liberal member for Orléans is planning to testify against his own government. Talk about a dumpster fire.

The Prime Minister does not want the truth coming out, and again he is interfering in a criminal case. Will the Prime Minister admit that he is intentionally trying to delay Mark Norman's trial until after the election?

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

Mr. Speaker, once again, the trial is being handled by the Public Prosecution Service of Canada. That agency runs independently of the government and makes its own decisions. As a government, we are fulfilling all our third party obligations for records.

[Alain Rayes, Conservative, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister was found guilty of violating four sections of the Conflict of Interest Act, then this Prime Minister and his senior staff interfered in our justice system in the SNC-Lavalin case, and now there is the trial of Vice-Admiral Norman, another story about interference by the Prime Minister's office. This case directly affects the Quebec workers at Davie shipyard.

Why did the Prime Minister interfere and block this contract—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

The hon. Minister of Public Services and Procurement.

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

Mr. Speaker, on this issue, I can assure my colleague that we have full confidence in the workers of Davie shipyard. We have awarded them many contracts, including part of a $7-billion contract for the Halifax-class frigates, and another worth $70 million for an icebreaker.

We have full confidence in the workers.

[Alain Rayes, Conservative, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Scott Brison, the former president of the Treasury Board, has resigned, and now the former parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs is going to testify against his own Liberal government in defence of Vice-Admiral Norman, a man with a flawless record. He is one of the Royal Canadian Navy's most decorated members.

I will repeat my question. Why is the Prime Minister interfering and trying to hold up the trial as well as the contract that should have been awarded to the Davie workers?

[David Lametti, Liberal, Minister 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, from my office and from our government.

Counsel for the Attorney General of Canada is fulfilling all of its obligations before the court regarding applications for the records in question.

The Environment

[Jagmeet Singh, NDP, Burnaby South, BC]

Mr. Speaker, 10 years ago, Canada joined G20 countries and promised to fight climate change by eliminating fossil fuel subsidies. The Conservatives signed on, but predictably failed to act. The Prime Minister promised Canadians that he would do better. Instead, the Liberals have dithered over semantics, delayed action and continue to give billions of dollars in subsidies to fossil fuel corporations. When will the Liberals finally stop handing out billions in fossil fuel subsidies and instead invest that money into helping Canadians build a new clean economy?

[Jonathan Wilkinson, Liberal, Minister of Fisheries]

Mr. Speaker, by taking action to fight climate change, we certainly will protect the health of our economy and create good jobs for the future. We stand by our commitment with our international partners to phase out inefficient non-tax fossil fuel subsidies by 2025. We have done much of the work in that regard. We continue to do that going forward. We have opened up a consultation with Canadians to move that forward and we intend to meet our international obligations.

[Jagmeet Singh, NDP, Burnaby South, BC]

Mr. Speaker, climate change is the greatest crisis facing us, yet the Liberals continue to hand out billions of dollars in subsidies to the fossil fuel industry.

We can reduce emissions and support our workers and our communities. All that is needed is the courage to do things differently.

When will this government stand up for Canadians and stop subsidizing the oil industry?

[Jonathan Wilkinson, Liberal, Minister of Fisheries]

Mr. Speaker, by taking action to fight climate change, we can protect our health and create good jobs in a clean economy.

We stand by our commitment with our international partners to phase out inefficient non-tax fossil fuel subsidies by 2025. We have conducted a preliminary analysis to help us meet that commitment. That is why we have begun consultations to hear from Canadians on this matter.

[Jagmeet Singh, NDP, Burnaby South, BC]

Mr. Speaker, action is urgently needed. People are really trying to reduce their ecological footprint, but the government here in Ottawa continues to make poor choices.

We are proposing a plan to lower emissions, help families save money and create good jobs in our communities.

Instead of giving $12 million to a wealthy company, why does the government not implement a real plan to help Canadians create a green economy?

[Jonathan Wilkinson, Liberal, Minister of Fisheries]

Mr. Speaker, we have a plan to combat climate change and make the economy clean and affordable for everyone. Our plan includes more than 50 measures, such as investing in renewable energy to ensure that 90% of our electricity is clean, helping schools, hospitals and businesses save money and energy through the low carbon economy fund, and phasing out coal.

We will continue to work with Canadians to build a cleaner, more prosperous future for our children and grandchildren.

Housing

[Jagmeet Singh, NDP, Burnaby South, BC]

Mr. Speaker, while the Liberals cozy up to powerful lobbyists and rich corporations, they are leaving behind Canadians who are struggling to make ends meet. Nowhere is this felt more than by people who are looking for an affordable place to live and families who are looking for their first home. New Democrats have listened and proposed bold solutions to help. As a practical first step, will the Liberals encourage the building of more affordable homes through targeted GST breaks for construction and help young families enter the housing market by re-establishing 30-year mortgages?

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

Mr. Speaker, our government introduced and implemented Canada's first-ever national housing strategy, because we know that everyone deserves a safe, affordable place to call home. That is why we have invested more than $7 billion and, to date, we have helped more than one million Canadians find a home. We recognize that there is still more work to do. However, we are investing in Canada's first-ever national housing strategy, which will invest over $55 billion in the housing sector.

Justice

[Leona Alleslev, Conservative, Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is another day and another resignation for the Liberal government. A former three-star army general and parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs has lost confidence in the Prime Minister and will not run again. To help right a wrong, he plans to testify in Admiral Norman's defence against the government. What will the former parliamentary secretary to foreign affairs say that is so damaging to the Liberals that he had to resign to say it?

[Bardish Chagger, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, first of all, that is absolutely ridiculous. That is not what has taken place. When it comes to our process, we know that the process is unfolding.

The government is going to continue focusing on Canadians, as the Conservatives will continue to mislead Canadians. That is really unfortunate, because that is not what we are here to do.

This is the government. We are the government that lowered taxes on middle-class Canadians by increasing them on the wealthiest 1% of Canadians. We are the government that introduced the tax-free Canada child benefit, and today we have 300,000 children lifted out of poverty, over 800,000 Canadians. The Conservatives want to take that measure away.

[Leona Alleslev, Conservative, Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the former parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs is going to testify against the government in the case of Vice-Admiral Mark Norman. This is the latest blow to a Prime Minister who continues to hide documents in the Norman case because he is afraid of what will come to light.

When will the Prime Minister do the right thing, meet his obligations and provide all requested documents, unredacted, to ensure that Mark Norman gets the fair trial he deserves?

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

Mr. Speaker, once again, I can assure the hon. member, this House and all Canadians that the Public Prosecution Service is an independent service in Canada. It is managing the prosecution of this case. We do not interfere with such prosecutions as a government.

The ministry of the Attorney General is in fact fulfilling all of its obligations with respect to documents made under third party applications.

[Richard Martel, Conservative, Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC]

Mr. Speaker, on Friday, we learned that a Liberal MP from Orléans and former lieutenant-general in the Canadian Armed Forces is going to testify against the government in the trial of Vice-Admiral Mark Norman. The Vice-Admiral was defending the Royal Canadian Navy from political interference by the Liberal government, particularly by Scott Brison, who favoured Halifax over the Davie shipyard. Quebec deserves better.

Why did the Liberal government try to deny Davie shipyard that contract?

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

Mr. Speaker, as I said many times, the prosecution in question is being handled by the Public Prosecution Service of Canada, which operates independently from my department and our government.

Counsel for the Attorney General of Canada is fulfilling all of its obligations to the court with respect to third party records applications.