Debates of Jan. 28th, 2020

The Environment

[Jonathan Wilkinson, Liberal, Minister of Environment and Climate Change]

Mr. Speaker, the oil and gas sector, like many other sectors, is very important to the Canadian economy. However, Canadians expect that when we are reviewing major projects of any type, we look at the environmental impacts in an environmental assessment process. That is what we are doing. We are following the process that was actually put in place by the previous government in 2012. We will review the project and we will be making a decision by the end of February.

Health

[Tamara Jansen, Conservative, Cloverdale—Langley City, BC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday Reg and Sherry Renner from Langley reached out for help. Their daughter Lauren, her husband and two-year-old child live and work in Wuhan, which is currently on lockdown. Lauren is eight months pregnant. Due to the ban on all public and private traffic in the city, she is unable to travel freely to the hospital should she go into labour. Being a grandmother myself, I understand the real urgency of the situation. What is the government's plan to ensure the safety of Lauren and her unborn child?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for bringing this matter to our attention. We take the safety and security of every Canadian abroad very seriously. Canadian officials in Ottawa and in China are working closely with their Chinese counterparts to address the situation in the affected area in light of the recent events.

Canada continues to liaise closely with our international partners to develop options. At four o'clock we will hold a press conference where we will explain to Canadians what measures we will be taking to care for and offer consular services to Canadians in China.

[Matt Jeneroux, Conservative, Edmonton Riverbend, AB]

Mr. Speaker, there is no excuse for the Liberals to not share that information right here in the House. We should not have to wait outside for the press conference to hear that information.

Just today we have heard that the health minister told Canadians that the first individual identified with the coronavirus did not self-identify when entering Canada. On Monday we learned that the individual did tell the CBSA officer he had been to Wuhan and did have a cough. There is no question that this raises concern between CBSA and health officials when China has seen a 65% increase in reported cases in just one day. How can Canadians be sure that the current screening measures are working?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, the individual the member opposite is referring to took exactly the appropriate precautions that he was given at the border. For example, he returned to his home. When he began to exhibit symptoms, he phoned for emergency help and let the emergency responders know that he had recently travelled to Wuhan. They arrived in protective gear and alerted the hospital to which he was being transported. The appropriate infection protections were taken and he was isolated.

This gives me confidence that the systems are working very well together.

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

Mr. Speaker, the coronavirus crisis is worsening. Several people are currently under observation. We also know that the virus is spreading more quickly than we thought and that the number of infected people has risen by 65%. We also know that the first two cases detected in Canada were on flight CZ311, which had more than one hundred passengers.

Does the government know the location of all passengers who were on that flight?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, because of the collaboration I mentioned earlier, my colleagues in Ontario and all across the provinces have been working extremely well to share information.

In the case the member references, we immediately provided the airplane manifest, which allowed the contact tracing to begin. In fact, Ontario has been contacting the passengers who may have been infected and has done so exceedingly well.

I have every confidence that my colleagues across the provinces and territories are taking their responsibilities as seriously as we are, and I want to thank them for doing so.

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

Mr. Speaker, more than 168 Canadians are currently confined in quarantined areas in China. The United States, France, South Korea, Germany and Morocco have already confirmed that they would be bringing home their citizens.

Can the Prime Minister tell us what concrete action he has taken to protect our Canadians in China and to provide the appropriate consular services?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question. Clearly, our priority is the health and safety of Canadians around the world. I can tell my colleague that, as of yesterday and according to the most recent data obtained, 250 Canadians are registered in that region, which enables us to provide them with the most up-to-date information. Furthermore, 126 Canadians have requested consular services. We are looking at the options together with our allies. We will provide all the consular assistance that Canadians may need in China.

International Trade

[Yves-François Blanchet, Bloc, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

Mr. Speaker, how can any of the regions of Quebec have faith in a government that is prepared to abandon Saguenay—Lac-Saint-Jean and Côte-Nord?

Everyone around the Prime Minister was nodding when he said that the industry was happy. Sure, since he has suggested that the industry outsource operations and rely on coal and lower salaries to produce the aluminum currently made in Quebec.

The minister sent a letter saying that the government was prepared to co-operate. Yesterday I told her that we had a suggestion and asked if the government would be open to it. She rose to talk about the Premier of Quebec and who knows what.

I repeat: If we put forward a suggestion, will the government be open to it?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, I am certainly always willing to listen to all members of the House.

[Marilène Gill, Bloc, Manicouagan, QC]

Mr. Speaker, aluminum is crucial to our regions and to Quebec. I am talking about Saguenay—Lac-Saint-Jean, Deschambault in Quebec's national capital region, Bécancour in central Quebec, and the North Shore, home to Alcoa and Alouette, the largest aluminum smelter not just in Canada but in North America. The aluminum sector is hugely important, but it is in jeopardy because of an agreement the Bloc Québécois is being asked to endorse without comment.

Considering what this means for the aluminum sector and the damage it will do to supply management, does the government understand the price it is making Quebec regions pay?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, the new NAFTA will benefit Quebec in big ways. It maintains $57.3 billion worth of exports from Quebec to the United States. It maintains the cultural exemption, which is very important to our government, and it maintains supply management even though the United States wanted to completely dismantle it. This is a good agreement for Quebec and for Canada.

Public Safety

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

Mr. Speaker, we know that in 2017 a number of board members sent a letter to the Prime Minister to warn him of the potential ramifications of changes to the process for appointing parole board members. They never got a reply. Experienced board members did not have their terms renewed, and instead they were replaced by new members with very little experience.

Why did no one follow up on that important letter?

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness]

Mr. Speaker, we worked very hard to implement a merit-based system for the appointment of people to these important board positions. Upon appointment, all board members complete an intensive five-week board member orientation session, wherein they receive training on relevant law, policy and risk assessment. This is followed up by ongoing mentoring and coaching by the regional vice-chair. No board members are assigned any decision-making responsibilities until they have fully completed their training and have the confidence of the regional vice-chair.

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

Mr. Speaker, we know that this is a sensitive case, but it is also a very serious situation and we want answers. The minister said yesterday that there would be an internal investigation, but that is not enough. Considering the current situation, other criminals could be on release with the same conditions. This is about women's safety. At present, bureaucrats are investigating bureaucrats, and that is clearly inadequate.

Will the government allow an external investigation?

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness]

Mr. Speaker, again I take the opportunity to express our collective condolences and sympathy to the families and friends of the deceased in this tragic case. In parole decisions, public safety is and always will be our main consideration. The Parole Board makes these decisions based on long-standing criteria established to promote safe and effective reintegration into society of all offenders. In this case, we share the concerns of Canadians, and we have asked the chair of the Parole Board and the commissioner of the Correctional Service to conduct a thorough investigation and review so that we can make decisions based on facts. That is what we will do.

[Eric Melillo, Conservative, Kenora, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the member for Thunder Bay—Rainy River raised concerns from his constituents on the proposed Liberal gun ban. These concerns include the following: so-called military-style assault rifles are already banned and have been for decades; the policy focuses on the style and not the function of firearms, and law-abiding hunters and sport shooters fear losing their guns arbitrarily; this program will be costly and have no impact on crime and; the entire process bypasses debate and democracy.

Will the minister listen to Canadians and the evidence and cancel this misguided policy?

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness]

Mr. Speaker, we have listened very clearly to Canadians. We are going to eliminate from our society the presence of weapons that were designed to kill people. However, that is not all we are going to do. We are going to strengthen the law with respect to securing our borders. We are going to strengthen our laws to prevent the theft of handguns that get into the hands of criminals. We are going to strengthen our laws to deter criminal diversion of handguns.

We are investing in law enforcement and giving them the tools they need to keep our communities safe, and we are investing in kids and communities so that they can make better decisions.

[Glen Motz, Conservative, Medicine Hat—Cardston—Warner, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I cannot believe the load we just heard. Canadians have been very clear. They want action on crime, action on gangs and action on illegal firearms, and they want it now. This was confirmed by the letter from the member for Thunder Bay—Rainy River to the Minister of Public Safety, wherein his constituents objected to the misguided Liberal plan to ban firearms, which focuses on law-abiding Canadians and not on criminals. The member urged the minister to take his constituents' advice and follow it.

Will the minister listen to constituents, to his own colleague, and stop this misguided Liberal confiscation?

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I want to remind hon. members that insinuating something does not really say a word we cannot say in the House, but I remind hon. members to use some caution and judgment.

The hon. Minister of Public Safety.

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness]

Mr. Speaker, for decades police chiefs in this country have been asking successive governments to take firm action to remove military-style weapons from our society. We have listened.

We also heard from law enforcement that it needed investment in tools and resources in order to deal effectively with the gangs, and we have undertaken to strengthen gun control laws. We have looked at the ways in which guns get into the hands of criminals. It is across the border, through theft and through diversion. We will strengthen our laws to keep our communities safe.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I am starting to have a hard time hearing the answers again. I want to remind hon. members that when an answer is being given, or a question is being asked, to please respect the other side, whichever side it is, and listen.

The hon. member for Winnipeg Centre.

Poverty

[Leah Gazan, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

Mr. Speaker, my riding has the third-highest poverty rate in the country. In Canada, over one million children live in poverty. The Liberals promise one thing but do the opposite. They could end child poverty today, but they choose not to. Instead of financing their corporate buddies and letting the ultra-rich off the hook, they could invest in pharmacare, child care and a $15 minimum wage. Campaign 2000 shows that these are the solutions.

Are the Liberals planning to act to end child poverty, yes or no?

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, Minister of Families]

Mr. Speaker, as a government we released the first-ever national anti-poverty strategy. We introduced the Canada child benefit that is delivering more money to nine out of 10 families. We have introduced the first-ever Canada housing benefit, which will make a real difference in the lives of families and enable families to take their rental supplement and make it portable and help children along the way.

We are dedicated to also meeting our commitment to introduce an additional 250,000 before and after school child care spaces.