Debates of June 6th, 2019

The Environment

[Sean Fraser, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change]

Mr. Speaker, we see the NDP's strategy: When they have to deal with a difficult issue, they just give up.

The young people who have been protesting to demand climate action have been active in my community, and I want to thank them. It is going to take all of us pulling in the same direction, because we know that failure is not an option. We know that young people are going to disproportionately bear the consequences of climate change, because the consequences will only get worse with time.

We started this progress not six months ago but over three years ago, when we started campaigning to put a price on pollution and to ensure that we had the largest investment in public transit in the history of our country.

If the hon. members want to know about our investments in the energy sector, I would be curious what their leader's opinion is on the LNG facility, because he cannot make up his mind.

Finance

[Pierre Paul-Hus, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Auditor General asked for additional funding to fulfill his mandate, but the Prime Minister refused his request.

The Auditor General was therefore forced to abandon his audit of the government's performance on cybercrime and Arctic sovereignty. Once again, this Prime Minister does not care about anything that relates to security.

Can the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness call his boss to order and bring him to his senses?

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness]

Mr. Speaker, with respect to the important question on cybersecurity, the hon. gentleman will know that very early in our mandate we reviewed that whole field, a very important priority in national security. We announced a national cybersecurity strategy last year, and in the last two budgets we have invested very close to $1 billion in the cybersecurity of Canadians.

[Pat Kelly, Conservative, Calgary Rocky Ridge, AB]

Mr. Speaker, we will not have an Auditor General's report to look into it and see if the government has done its job or not.

For weeks, the President of the Treasury Board has said that they always consider funding requests from officers of Parliament—this while denying the Office of the Auditor General the money that it has repeatedly requested. The Auditor General needs another $10.8 million to do his job, including audits on cybersecurity and Arctic sovereignty. This is less than the money the government gave to Loblaws for refrigerators.

Why is giving money to their friends more important than transparency and accountability?

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness]

Mr. Speaker, on the very important question of support for the Auditor General, the President of the Treasury Board has pointed out repeatedly in this House that in fact it was the previous Conservative government that reduced the budget of the Auditor General. Our government has actually increased the budget and is always interested in looking for better ways to support that important work in the interests of transparency.

[Tom Kmiec, Conservative, Calgary Shepard, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board has over $48 million of Canadian pension dollars invested in Hangzhou Hikvision and Zhejiang Dahua tech companies, which are two firms working closely with China's military. These companies are playing a significant role in China's internment of over one million minority Uighurs. These growing labour camps are euphemistically referred to as “vocational schools”, but the Uighurs in these camps can expect a starvation diet, torture, forced labour, beatings and worse.

Will the government direct the board of the CPP to divest from these companies, yes or no?

[Joël Lightbound, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, I simply want to remind my colleague that the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board operates independently, at arms' length from the government, and we expect it to make wise investments in the interest of Canadians and Canadian pensioners.

International Trade

[Sukh Dhaliwal, Liberal, Surrey—Newton, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the removal of the unjustified steel and aluminum tariffs and the introduction of the NAFTA bill by the Prime Minister is great news for Canadians and great news for small business.

Could the Minister of Small Business and Export Promotion tell us what the ratification of the new NAFTA means for small business in Canada?

[Mary Ng, Liberal, Minister of Small Business and Export Promotion]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for that great question.

Canadian small businesses indeed are the backbone of the Canadian economy. They employ over eight million hard-working Canadians. While the Conservatives wanted us to just make any deal at any cost, we stood up for Canadians.

We have secured a new trade deal with the U.S. and Mexico. We have removed the unjustified tariffs on steel and aluminum. We have positioned our small businesses for success now and in the future.

Telecommunications

[Dan Albas, Conservative, Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC]

Mr. Speaker, time after time the Liberals have failed to address the lack of Internet connectivity for rural Canadians. Yesterday the Liberal government announced a spectrum clawback that may significantly affect Internet service for a huge number of rural customers. How many rural Canadians will be negatively impacted by the Liberal government's decision to claw back and repurpose the 3,500-megahertz spectrum band?

[Navdeep Bains, Liberal, Minister of Innovation]

Mr. Speaker, our government has been very clear in supporting our rural and remote communities when it comes to high-speed Internet access. We are the ones who introduced the Connect to Innovate program, which invested a billion dollars into our rural communities and allowed 900 communities to have strong backbone fibre infrastructure so families could have access to high-speed Internet connectivity.

In the last budget, we made a commitment of up to $6 billion worth of investments into high-speed Internet connectivity. With the 3,500-megahertz clawback and repurpose, we will continue to make sure communities have access to high-speed Internet connectivity.

[François Choquette, NDP, Drummond, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals missed the mark yesterday with their announcement about the 5G spectrum auction.

Their policy will cut service to tens of thousands of households in rural communities. Reducing capacity in the regions to make it available to cities is like robbing Peter to pay Paul. It makes no sense. The NDP raised concerns during the consultations. Even the Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development admitted the changes would hurt rural regions.

Why are the Liberals knowingly disconnecting our regions?

[Bernadette Jordan, Liberal, Minister of Rural Economic Development]

Mr. Speaker, broadband and cellphone connectivity are key to our economic prosperity. We know we are taking real action to make sure we connect all Canadians. For Canadians living in rural areas, service providers will be able to continue offering rural wireless services until much faster 5G networks are deployed in those areas.

Where they live in Canada should not limit people's access to the digital economy. We will make sure that we stand up for rural Canadians.

Infrastructure

[Michael McLeod, Liberal, Northwest Territories, NT]

Mr. Speaker, we know that northern communities face unique economic and environmental challenges as well as a lack of modern public infrastructure and that this government has plans to address these challenges. Investing in local green infrastructure projects helps grow the economy and improve the quality of life for those living and working in Canada's north.

Can the Minister of Rural Economic Development please update this House on recent investments this government has made to improve water quality for future generations in Canada's north?

[Bernadette Jordan, Liberal, Minister of Rural Economic Development]

Mr. Speaker, I was happy to visit Nunavut last month to announce our investment of up to $18.6 million in three green energy projects. Two of these projects will replace diesel-powered generators in six communities to improve energy efficiency and reliability as well as overall energy production capacity.

We are also investing in building a renewable solar energy and storage system that will provide more reliable wastewater treatment services. We will continue to make the investments that will create jobs and improve the quality of life for Canadians living in remote areas.

Human Rights

[David Sweet, Conservative, Flamborough—Glanbrook, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Irwin Cotler is a vocal defender of minorities around the world against tyrannical dictatorships. He has represented the likes of Nelson Mandela, Jacobo Timerman and Natan Sharansky. He serves several human rights organizations.

On Monday, Mr. Cotler was interrupted and berated during a speech at Concordia University in an attempt by a protestor to shut him down. Will the government condemn this attack on the free speech of one of Canada's top human rights defenders?

[Rob Oliphant, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege. Everyone in this House by their presence and by their applause represents the idea that we stand with Irwin Cotler, who has been a defender of human rights, civil rights and justice around the world. We send our support from this side of the House to Mr. Cotler and convey it from the other side of the House as well.

Labour

[Mario Beaulieu, Bloc, La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the same thing happens every year. Our businesses and farmers cannot get their temporary foreign workers in time because it takes Ottawa forever to process their applications. This is pretty easy to predict, though. Summer comes around at the same time each year, and so do the harvest, fishing season and landscaping season. These things do not wait for the federal government.

What is the government going to do today to make sure our businesses get their temporary foreign workers before it is too late?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Employment]

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to get up and answer the member's question because it is an indication of just how hot our economy is. With a million jobs added over the last three and a half years, we have a new problem now. Employers are saying they simply cannot find people in any way in any sector. We have seen, as a result of that, an increase in applications. Businesses are growing. They are able to sell more through trade agreements such as CETA and the CPTPP.

We have seen an increase in trade and a decrease in available population. That is why we have invested more money to get through the 40% increase in applications.

[Mario Beaulieu, Bloc, La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals are great at talking the talk but not so great at walking the walk. Every year, the demand for temporary foreign workers grows. There is a labour shortage. Everyone knows that, and it is even worse in the regions. Every year, the government apologizes for not being ready.

What is the government going to do today to fix the problem? What is it going to do to make sure we do not have the same problem next year?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Employment]

Mr. Speaker, we were taken a bit by surprise by the 40% increase in applications we received this year, an indication of just how fast our economy is growing. I am really happy that so many producers, agriculturalists, have the kind of prosperity that requires them to search for new talent and new labour. That is why we have invested an additional $1.7 million to specifically address the increase in Quebec: 34 new staff, 27 officers, seven clerks. This is really about making sure we can get through those applications as quickly as possible to deal with the growing industry's needs.

Infrastructure

[Celina Caesar-Chavannes, Independent, Whitby, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Peter LeBel, the commissioner of marketing and community services for the Town of Whitby, passed away on May 27 after a 27-year career.

When the member for Louis-Hébert, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance, visited Whitby last year, Peter's one ask was for the government to dedicate specific funds toward municipalities for community development and growth needs.

I am sure that Mr. LeBel's request had some impact as we saw the municipal infrastructure top-up fund announced in budget 2019. Would the minister give the House an update on the implementation of this fund?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities]

Mr. Speaker, first, I wish to extend my condolences to members of the LeBel family, their friends and the Whitby community as they mourn their loss.

Mr. LeBel was a true champion for his city and an advocate for greater funding for municipalities. We heard his call. Our government understands the importance of working with municipalities, which is why in budget 2019 we proposed a $2.2-billion top-up to address municipal priorities.

We will honour his legacy.

Oral Questions

[Pam Damoff, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, I am rising on a point of order to do with decorum during question period.

Yesterday, the member for Lethbridge stood and asked that the rules be upheld equally in this place and claimed that members on this side were heckling her. As we know, it is an issue during question period when members are heckled. The Minister of Democratic Institutions sits very close to me and every time she stands, she is heckled loudly. Today, I could not even hear her answer, and yet she sits two seats away from me.

I would ask that members show a little more respect for each other in this House and if we could have more decorum in the House.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

I am always grateful for the assistance of members in trying to improve decorum in the House and encouraging us to be kind to each other.