Debates of May 6th, 2019

Public Safety

[Rémi Massé, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Innovation]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for his question.

I am delighted to tell this House that the World Police and Fire Games are coming to Winnipeg in 2023. Our government will provide $2 million to support the games, which bring together world-leading emergency service experts.

I want to thank all my colleagues from Winnipeg for their passion and advocacy for the games. We all look forward to seeing Winnipeg host this event in 2023 and to welcoming firefighters and police officers from around the world.

Foreign Affairs

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Mr. Speaker, a year ago, the Liberals voted in favour of our motion to hold Iran accountable for its domestic and international crimes by immediately listing the IRGC as a terrorist entity. However, the Liberals have failed to act. The last time I raised this issue, the public safety minister claimed that a decision would be published in due course. That was seven months ago. Does the government still intend to list the IRGC, or has it changed its position on Iran yet again?

[Karen McCrimmon, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness]

Mr. Speaker, the Criminal Code listing regime is an important tool for countering terrorism and is part of the government's commitment to keep Canadians safe.

The update to the listings is an important step to fight terrorism globally and to ensure that Canada remains a safe and peaceful country. The assessments for new terrorist entity listings are an ongoing process. New entities are listed once it has been determined that they meet the legal threshold.

We will continue to take appropriate action to counter terrorist threats to Canada, our citizens and our interests around the world.

Ethics

[Rhéal Fortin, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

Mr. Speaker, last week, I asked the Minister of Justice why he checks to see if candidates for the judiciary are in his Liberal database. He replied, “We implemented a transparent, merit-based process for appointing judges.”

Sure, it is transparent because the media reported on it, but the only merit involved is the merit of being Liberal.

Seriously though, can the Minister of Justice explain how being a good Liberal is a sign of having good judgment?

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

Mr. Speaker, my answer has not changed. After taking office, we implemented a transparent, merit-based judicial appointment process. We have since appointed over 300 judges of the very highest calibre, half of whom are women. As a group, they represent this country's diversity. We are very proud of our record on this.

[Rhéal Fortin, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

Mr. Speaker, before appointing judges, the government is checking to see whether they have ever made any donations to the Liberal Party. Giving party friends preferential treatment is the same old Liberal way.

I said it last week and I will say it again. That approach is working. They raised over $300,000 just by appointing judges.

For the Bloc Québécois, what counts is merit, not political affiliation.

How can the minister seriously justify the use of the Liberalist database in selecting judges?

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

Mr. Speaker, all Canadians, including lawyers, have the right to make donations under the Canadian system. Once again, the system is transparent. What is more, they have to fulfill their obligations to the system. It is a transparent process that all Canadians have the right to participate in. With regard to appointments, donations do not put candidates for the judiciary at an advantage or a disadvantage.

Intergovernmental Relations

[Maxime Bernier, Independent, Beauce, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Canada's equalization program is creating more and more division in our country. The Premiers of Alberta and Saskatchewan said that they might call a referendum on that topic. The Premier of New Brunswick agrees that the program is not helping his province to prosper.

Will the government admit that it made a mistake by renewing the equalization formula without change last year and that this unfair and inefficient program needs to be downsized and reformed?

[Jennifer O'Connell, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance (Youth Economic Opportunity)]

Mr. Speaker, it is interesting, coming from the member opposite, because he was, in fact, part of the government when the equalization payment formula was created, and I do not recall him speaking out then in opposition to it.

However, that being said, we will always work with provinces and territories to find the best way to work with our counterparts. This is an equalization that was renewed again for four years, and the provinces and territories will continue to be consulted as we move forward.

Presence in Gallery

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

I would like to draw to the attention of hon. members the presence in the gallery of the 2019 Gerhard Herzberg Canada Gold Medal for Science and Engineering prize winner, Dr. Barbara Sherwood Lollar, and the 2019 John C. Polanyi Award winner, Dr. Douglas Stephan.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Also with us are the winners of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council's Brockhouse Canada Prize for Interdisciplinary Research in Science and Engineering, Synergy Awards for Innovation, E.W.R. Steacie Memorial Fellowships and the Gilles Brassard Doctoral Prize for Interdisciplinary Research.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Thank you for your excellent work.

The hon. member for Louis-Saint-Laurent on a point of order.

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I believe you will find the unanimous consent of the House for me to table the Liberal Party's election platform, which contains, on page 49, a photograph of the Liberal leader and the current member for Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, who today sits with the official opposition. There is also a photo of the member for Orléans—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

I am sorry, but it is already clear that there is no unanimous consent in the House. That is how it works. Obviously, I have already heard the nays.

Government Response to Petitions

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's responses to three petitions.

Environment and Sustainable Development

[John Aldag, Liberal, Cloverdale—Langley City, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 20th report of the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development, entitled “Main Estimates 2019-20”.

Palliative Care

[Marilyn Gladu, Conservative, Sarnia—Lambton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is with a very heavy heart that I rise today to present a number of petitions on behalf of the member for Langley—Aldergrove. As my colleagues may know, he has been struggling with some health issues, and I would ask all members and those listening to pray for him.

These are petitions with thousands of signatures from across the country. The first series is on palliative care, of which the member is a great advocate. The petitioners call on the government to ensure that everyone across the country has access to palliative care.

Sex Selection

[Marilyn Gladu, Conservative, Sarnia—Lambton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am also presenting petitions that have to do with the sex selection of unborn children. The petitioners recognize that 92% of Canadians believe that sex-selective pregnancy termination should be illegal and call on the government to address that issue.

Impaired Driving

[Marilyn Gladu, Conservative, Sarnia—Lambton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, finally, these petitions call on the government to stiffen the penalties for impaired driving. As we know, the member for Langley—Aldergrove is a passionate advocate of public safety and the tragedies that occur from impaired driving, so I present these petitions on his behalf.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

I am sure the prayers and thoughts of all of us are with our dear friend, the hon. member for Langley—Aldergrove. I hope he is watching. We want him to know that.

The hon. member for Cowichan—Malahat—Langford.

Pensions

[Alistair MacGregor, NDP, Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition here recognizing that before the 2015 election, Canadians were clearly promised in writing that defined benefit plans, which have already been paid for by employees, employers and pensioners, should not be retroactively changed to target benefit plans.

Therefore, the petitioners are clearly calling on the Government of Canada to withdraw Bill C-27, which was tabled by the Minister of Finance in this place.

Palliative Care

[Dave MacKenzie, Conservative, Oxford, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present a petition from a number of constituents in my riding. They are requesting that palliative and hospice care be considered under the Canada Health Act.

Natural Resources

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

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition today on behalf of members of my community who are very frustrated with the government's punitive policies toward the energy sector with Bill C-69, the tanker ban, the carbon tax, the political vetoing of major energy infrastructure projects and the delay on the Trans Mountain pipeline.

The petitioners feel that these policies have changed the social contract for equalization in Canada and are calling on the government to immediately cancel Bill C-69; launch a study into the economic impact of equalization, including an examination of the formula and an examination of how renewable and non-renewable resources, including energy resources, both developed and underdeveloped, are treated in the formula; and issue a report to Canadians on the fairness, effectiveness and outcomes of the equalization program.