Debates of June 19th, 2019

Justice

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Once again, Mr. Speaker, on this last day of Prime Minister's question period, the members opposed are choosing to make personal attacks and not talk about the things that actually deeply matter to Canadians.

I will highlight that during these Prime Minister question periods, I have taken over 3,200 questions from the members opposite, including 237 different MPs. Mr. Harper, during his last term as prime minister, took only 1,400 from about 34 MPs. We know that greater accountability, greater opportunity to participate in debate—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Order. There is far too much noise in the House when people are trying to answer questions. They may not like the questions or the answers, but it is important in a democracy to hear both and not to be speaking when someone else is speaking. The hon. member for Carleton will come to order.

The hon. member for Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie.

The Environment

[Alexandre Boulerice, NDP, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals have suddenly realized that green-lighting the expansion of Trans Mountain will not wash, especially after declaring a climate emergency the day before. Now they are trying to create a diversion by saying that any profits from the pipeline will go into a green fund.

They are spending $15 billion to create more pollution. That is what I would call trading four quarters for a dollar, especially when that dollar is the equivalent of three million cars' worth of pollution.

Why not immediately invest that $15 billion in renewable energy and the good jobs of tomorrow, as the NDP is proposing?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, during the last four years, we have done more for the environment than any other government in Canada's history. We have put a price on pollution. We are safeguarding our oceans. We are investing in public transit. We are reducing plastic pollution.

We have also listened to Canadians about their desire for a cleaner future. Every dollar from this project will be invested in Canada's clean energy transition. We are creating jobs and opening new markets. We are accelerating our clean energy transition and generating new avenues for indigenous economic prosperity.

[Peter Julian, NDP, New Westminster—Burnaby, BC]

Mr. Speaker, there are no profits. It is losing $150 million a year. What an empty gesture. That is just our point. The Prime Minister asks Canadians to wait for pharmacare, affordable housing and so much else and then he splurges $15 billion on Trans Mountain. He says he respects reconciliation and then runs roughshod over indigenous rights. He pushes a climate emergency motion and then, within hours, is trying to ram through a raw bitumen pipeline that trashes the Paris Agreement.

Why did the Prime Minister choose oil lobbyists over a future generation?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, there was plenty wrong with the statements made by the member opposite, but I will focus on one.

There is a strong economic case for getting access to new markets and for investing in the clean energy transition, but we will all understand that New Democrats have always had challenges with economic plans and approaches. They think there is a choice to be made between protecting the environment and growing the economy. They do not understand that the only way to build a stronger future for all Canadians is to do them both together.

Ethics

[Peter Kent, Conservative, Thornhill, ON]

The memory lane hits keep coming, Mr. Speaker. Who can forget the Prime Minister's disastrous India trip, the many days of answers from the PM, the public safety minister and others blaming the Liberal member for Surrey Centre for inviting a convicted terrorist on that bhangra-dancing, diplomatic train wreck. In the end, we will recall the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians report revealed it was the Prime Minister's Office that put the convicted terrorist on the guest list.

Can the Prime Minister tell us when he last spoke with Jaspal Atwal?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, once again, we see on this final day of the mandate—our final last days of this mandate that the Conservatives continue to not understand what Canadians—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Order, order. No singing. Members can sing outside. It is a bit more like the last day of school, it seems to me.

The right hon. Prime Minister has the floor.

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Papineau, QC]

Mr. Speaker, on these last days of this mandate, I will say the same thing that I will say in the first days of our next mandate. We are going to stay focused on Canadians, growing the economy, protecting the environment, reconciling with indigenous peoples, and creating opportunities for the middle class and people who are working hard to join it.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

The hon. member for Barrie—Innisfil has said quite a bit today, without having the floor. I would ask him not to do that and to show respect for other members.

The hon. member for Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis.

Public Safety

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Corporal Nathan Cirillo and Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent were killed in terrorist attacks inspired by radical Islamism here in Canada. Global News reported that the Liberals want to bring 30 ISIS terrorists to Canada and give them poetry and podcasts instead of throwing them in prison.

Why is the Prime Minister rolling out the red carpet for terrorists who fought against our values, our soldiers and Canadian values?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives are once again playing extremely dangerous games with public opinion and with the truth itself. We know that one of the fundamental responsibilities of any government is to keep Canadians safe. That is exactly what we are doing. The safety of Canadians and the choices and actions of our border and police services are essential to the work we are doing. We will not engage in petty politics and fearmongering because of that.

Veterans Affairs

[Mark Strahl, Conservative, Chilliwack—Hope, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister made a convicted terrorist a multi-millionaire when he paid the murderer of U.S. army medic Christopher Speer ten and a half million dollars. The Supreme Court did not order any monetary compensation for Omar Khadr, but the Prime Minister said that because of the actions of the previous Martin Liberal government, he just had to write the cheque. Why has the Prime Minister spent over $40 million to fight Canadian veterans in court, but decided to pay ten and a half million dollars to a convicted terrorist, without putting up a fight?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, here is something the Conservative politicians just do not understand. When we violate the rights of anyone in Canada, all of us end up having to pay. The Conservatives refuse to recognize that the Charter of Rights and Freedoms applies to everyone. Quite frankly, I am glad that Canadians are angry about that payment to Omar Khadr because I am too. No government should ever have violated any Canadian's fundamental rights.

[Phil McColeman, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister gave $10 million to Omar Khadr because he did not want to fight him in court.

However, he spent over $40 million fighting our veterans in court. He refused to revoke the veterans benefits going to convicted cop murderer, Christopher Garnier. When did the Prime Minister decide that veterans were asking for too much?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the member opposite well knows that he was part of a Conservative Party that nickel-and-dimed veterans and used them for photo ops, while shutting down their offices to balance the budget at all costs.

The reality is we invested $10 billion in our veterans over the past four years to give them more support, more help for them and for their families; and to reopen the veterans offices. We have done more to support those men and women who have served our country so valiantly than the Conservatives ever had done when they were in government.

Agriculture and Agri-Food

[Ruth Ellen Brosseau, NDP, Berthier—Maskinongé, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the dairy and cheese industries are losing $450 million a year. In 2014, my motion to compensate producers following the signing of the Comprehensive and Economic Trade Agreement was adopted unanimously by the House of Commons. Five years later nothing has been done. There is still no money in the budget for the compensation, and we are still waiting for measures and a program to support our farmers. Successive Conservative and Liberal governments have failed our Quebec farmers.

When will the government take action and announce a compensation plan for our farmers?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, unlike the NDP, which continues to oppose every free trade agreement that is good for Canadians, our workers and our farmers, we know that increasing trade and supporting our farmers is the right way to create prosperity for all Canadians.

That is why we are working with farmers and dairy producers to ensure that they receive proper compensation for losses incurred under trade agreements while we create growth and wealth for all Canadians. Unfortunately, the NDP does not understand that.

Health

[Rachel Blaney, NDP, North Island—Powell River, BC]

Mr. Speaker, a man living in Ottawa Centre has been denied OAS because of his rare form of dementia. The family is now owed $18,000, and the Liberal government is refusing it because he does not meet their criteria.

A one-size-fits-all approach to dementia patients is completely inappropriate.

Will the Liberal MP for Ottawa Centre stand up for her constituent or will the Liberals continue to make empty gestures, while abandoning Canadians in need of dementia care?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, this government has moved forward with a national strategy on dementia that includes support for caregivers and more research into prevention. We recognize that there is always more to do.

I am not familiar with the case that the member opposite brings up, but I will ensure that we follow up on that one. We need to ensure that everyone is getting the support he or she needs. That is a commitment made by this government.

Natural Resources

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Mr. Speaker, Canada's energy sector is a key driver of our economy and an important source of good, middle-class jobs in my community.

Edmontonians and all Albertans want to see good projects move forward in the right way. They know first-hand what happens when they do not.

For 10 years, the Conservatives cut corners and failed to get a single inch of new pipeline built to non-U.S. markets. We were elected on a plan to do things differently, and we have delivered.

Could the Prime Minister please update the House on our government's decision on the Trans Mountain expansion project?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, this project will create thousands of good, middle-class jobs, and includes economic opportunities for indigenous peoples.

We have a plan to fight climate change and protect our oceans and respond to the concerns we heard in consultation. Every dollar earned through this project will be invested in clean energy.

We were elected to deliver real change. That is exactly what we are doing by moving forward on this project in the right way.