Debates of June 5th, 2019

Tourism Industry

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

The hon. member for Beauport—Limoilou.

Official Languages

[Alupa Clarke, Conservative, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

Mr. Speaker, everyone remembers the huge mistake the Minister of Official Languages made two years ago when she concluded an agreement with Netflix that did not guarantee any French-language cultural production. Quebeckers and francophones across the country were so frustrated that the Prime Minister removed her from that position and she lost the heritage portfolio.

Here is what she is telling us today. She made a plan for tourism two weeks ago. It contains no guarantees, no investments for the francophone minority communities across Canada. She just made an announcement today and, once again, there is nothing for francophones.

Was this an oversight on the part of the minister or does this government just not take official languages seriously?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Minister of Tourism]

Mr. Speaker, francophones in Ontario and across the country know full well that our government is there for them. It was the Conservatives who let them down and decided to protect Doug Ford in Ontario, rather than protecting francophones across the country.

It goes without saying that we will always stand with our linguistic minorities. We invested $2.7 billion in linguistic minorities. This is the first time that so much money has been allocated to support official languages in Canada. We are proud of our track record and we will continue on that same path.

Telecommunications

[Matthew Dubé, NDP, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

Mr. Speaker, with hundreds of people taking to the streets and thousands of petitioners, public engagement in Otterburn Park is strong, for it is clear that the cell tower Telus wants to build in a sensitive woodland does not have social licence.

The minister offered to meet with city officials, but they are hesitating because the matter is currently before the courts. Will the minister opt for the simplest solution, which is to listen to local citizens and revoke the permit to build the tower, since it clearly does not have social licence?

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

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

Our government believes that communities should have a say in where these cellphone towers are located in their jurisdictions. Telecommunications companies must consult communities in an open and transparent manner regarding the location of towers. The government has processes in place to respond to every reasonable and relevant concern raised during the consultations. This process guarantees that Canadians can stay connected, without having to pit them against cell tower construction in their communities.

Boating Safety

[David Graham, Liberal, Laurentides—Labelle, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my riding, Laurentides—Labelle, has an estimated 10,800 lakes and bodies of water, and many of them are used recreationally during the summer. We are working on a number of issues concerning the management and protection of our lakes, but we hear less about boating safety.

According to the Red Cross, every year there are about 160 boating-related fatalities in Canada.

Can the Minister of Transport talk about what is being done to raise awareness about pleasure craft safety?

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Laurentides—Labelle for his excellent question.

As members know, we want to promote the best boating safety practices when Canadians take to the water. We want to reach as many people as possible. That is why we are very pleased to have announced additional funding for public awareness programs that will reach as many Canadians as possible and contribute to boating safety.

We want Canadians to enjoy water-related activities. We want them to know the rules and to have a chance to take to our beautiful waterways.

Privacy

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government has repeatedly broken laws by sharing reporters' private information and their questions on the multi-billion dollar Irving shipbuilding project. Now the government has refused to release a 200-page access to information request on the Liberals' sharing of this private information with Irving.

Why is the government continuing to break the law and what is it trying to hide?

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

Mr. Speaker, our goal is to provide Canadians, including media, with timely, factual information, while ensuring sensitive information remains protected. I directed my department to ensure that we provide accurate information regarding ongoing conduct with industry partners, while ensuring the privacy of all individuals who deal with my department is respected.

Rail Transportation

[Monique Pauzé, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the people of Lac-Mégantic called for a public inquiry into the 2013 rail disaster. The minister told them that they were spreading conspiracy theories. The fact that 47 people were burned alive in Lac-Mégantic is not a conspiracy. In February there were three deaths in a similar accident in British Columbia; that is not a conspiracy. The increase in rail accidents since the tragedy in Lac-Mégantic is not a conspiracy.

Will the minister retract his statements, stop insulting the people of Lac-Mégantic and order a public inquiry into rail safety?

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, the Bloc Québécois is the only one spreading this conspiracy. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada fully investigated the Lac-Mégantic tragedy.

I met with families who lost a son or daughter, a father or mother, a brother or sister. I can honestly say that the people of Lac-Mégantic want to look to the future, and that is what we will do.

Oral Questions

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

Mr. Speaker, as you have said often in this place, official opposition members ask questions and government members answer those questions, or at least give it their best shot. In that exchange, sometimes opinions are shared or questions are asked that maybe other members disagree with. You have asked us to be respectful toward one another, nevertheless.

I would like to bring to your attention an incident that took place earlier.

Mr. Speaker, actually, I would like to bring to your attention the incident taking place right now. I am being heckled by members opposite who want to shut my voice down at this moment. I will wait for you to bring them to order.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Order. The hon. member has not finished her point of order. I will need to hear the rest of her point of order. We all need to hear it.

The hon. member for Lethbridge.

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate that you are upholding the rules equally in this place.

During question period, my colleague, the member for Lakeland, asked a question. My colleague is a grown woman. She was elected by the constituents of Lakeland, who brought her here to represent them. She has been given the opportunity to carry a portfolio that has to do with energy and natural resources in Canada. She is very knowledgeable about that file.

During question period, she asked a question with regard to that file, which is her privilege in this place. After asking her question, she was heckled by a member opposite. It was the member for Shefford, who told my hon. colleague this.

I will wait for the members opposite to stop heckling me once again.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

The member for Shefford told my colleague, the member for Lakeland, to be quiet. He then said, “Sit down, kid.”

That is incredibly demeaning, it is incredibly degrading and it is incredibly sexist to tell my female colleague this. She is a grown woman who understands her file very well and was elected by the people of Lakeland to represent them in this place. To call her a kid and infantilize her in that way is absolutely inappropriate in this place. I would ask that the member opposite apologize to my colleague.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

I do not see the hon. member for Shefford rising.

I will review the recording of question period. I did not hear that comment or a comment like it, but I will certainly review it to determine, if I can, what was said. I thank the member for raising this point.

I would ask all members, as I appreciate the member mentioning, to show respect for each other and not to interrupt when someone else has the floor. This is a consistent problem.

The hon. member for Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie is rising on a point of order.

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

Mr. Speaker, after consultation with the other parties, I hope and believe that you will find unanimous consent for the following motion: That the House of Commons recognize the unanimous motion of the National Assembly stating that any project that may have an environmental impact on Quebec territory, especially those related to the transportation of oil and gas, must be subject to a Quebec environmental assessment process—

[Some hon. members]

No.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

I thank the hon. member. He knows that, according to procedure, he has to first request permission to move a motion for which he did not give notice. If permission is granted, he may proceed. Also, putting notice on the Order Paper is always an option. It is now clear that there is no unanimous consent for the motion.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. There has been talk among the parties, and I am very hopeful that if you seek it, you will find unanimous consent for the following motion:—

[Some hon. members]

No.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

That in light of the tabling of the final report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, the government recognize the genocide committed against indigenous women and girls—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Order. It is important that I hear the member who is asking for consent and it is important that we hear the topic, which we have heard, and it is clear that members have indicated that there is no unanimous consent.

The hon. member for Rivière-des-Mille-Îles on a point of order.