Debates of Nov. 3rd, 2020

Canadian Heritage

[Steven Guilbeault, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, first, who would want to work for Facebook when they can work for the wonderful ministry of Canadian Heritage?

Second, we are doing today what no government has done before. We are forcing web giants to do their fair share when it comes to Canadian stories, Canadian artists and Canadian musicians, which only a handful of countries in the world have done. This will lead to close to close $1 billion of more investment in our Canadian stories and in our Canadian artists.

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

Mr. Speaker, when the Liberals introduce a bill, we can expect to be disappointed, but damn it, there must be a limit.

The Broadcasting Act was supposed to be modernized, and the Minister of Canadian Heritage had the opportunity to have all stakeholders contribute to the production of Quebec and Canadian cultural content. The minister blew it. Not only are Internet service providers not included, but the advertising revenue of Facebook and Google is also protected.

How can the Liberals give them a present like that? Would it have anything to do with the 104 meetings that these web giants have had with the Liberal government?

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Before I recognize the minister, I would like to remind members to use a little judgment in choosing their words. I would like them to use words that are considered parliamentary.

The Minister of Canadian Heritage has the floor.

[Steven Guilbeault, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, today, the Fédération culturelle canadienne-française applauded the introduction of Bill C-10 to modernize broadcasting. ADISQ called it a historic day. We will be forcing web giants to invest almost $1 billion in Canadian culture, in our artists and in our stories. Special attention is being paid to the francophonie all across Canada, to first nations, to indigenous productions and to racialized groups wherever they may be in the country.

COVID-19 Emergency Response

[Angelo Iacono, Liberal, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

Mr. Speaker, our government has put measures in place to support our business owners during the pandemic. One of these measures, the Canada emergency business account, has helped nearly 775,000 businesses benefit from an interest-free loan of up to $40,000. Last week, the minister announced new changes that will support many more businesses that need this important assistance.

Can the minister tell business owners in Laval and across Canada how the new changes will support them in these difficult times?

[Mary Ng, Liberal, Minister of Small Business]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for Alfred-Pellan for his question, which is important for Laval business owners.

I am pleased to announce that the program is now open to businesses that operate with a personal bank account. This will help more businesses in Laval and across Canada with their fixed costs. Our government will always be there for SMEs in Quebec and across the country.

Justice

[Rob Moore, Conservative, Fundy Royal, NB]

Mr. Speaker, it was recently reported that a former staff member to the Minister of Justice wrote to his chief of staff stating, “Need to talk about what PMO requires us to do prior to a judicial appointment. It raises some concerns.”

Why is the Prime Minister's Office maintaining such partisan-controlled involvement of judicial appointments and why will the minister not raise the same alarm bells on this as his former staff member did?

[David Lametti, Liberal, Minister of Justice]

Mr. Speaker, after 10 years of Conservative appointments, we put into place a system that would rebuild confidence in the judicial appointment process. It is clear and it is transparent. It is based on the quality of the candidates and promotes diversity.

Judicial appointment committees across the country do their work choosing candidates, recommending them highly or simply recommending them. We take those recommended candidates and we consult widely and deeply across the legal community in order to get the very best candidates and the most diverse bench which represents Canada. I am proud of the results.

[Rob Moore, Conservative, Fundy Royal, NB]

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate that the minister may simply be trying to do his job and may in fact be frustrated by the constant partisan meddling of the Prime Minister's Office in the judicial appointments process, but this meddling is having serious impacts on the backlog in the courts across the country, something raised just recently in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Rather than the focus being on trying to help Liberal insiders, will the minister tell the PMO to back off so the backlog in Canada's courts can be addressed?

[David Lametti, Liberal, Minister of Justice]

Mr. Speaker, I have worked diligently to make appointments at a regular pace in order to reduce any backlog, and we are succeeding.

The judicial appointments committee in Newfoundland and Labrador has been reconstituted after its normal time period after it expired. It is now evaluating files and will be moving to those appointments in the very near future.

I am proud of the process we have put into place. It is transparent, clear and focuses on quality, all the while maintaining diversity in our judiciary.

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

Mr. Speaker, unfortunately for Canada, Radio-Canada and La Presse are reporting that during the judicial nomination process, Liberal supporters, Liberal MPs, members of the Prime Minister's staff and even the justice minister's chief of staff had partisan influence on the list of nominees.

The Minister of Justice is an honourable man, a distinguished academic and a man who has steered clear of partisan shenanigans throughout his career.

Can he tell us, although he might not be aware of it, if his staff meddled in the judicial appointment process, yes or no?

[David Lametti, Liberal, Minister of Justice]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague for his compliments.

I can assure my colleague and Canadians that I am the one who recommends judges to cabinet. I have not been pressured by anyone, and my appointments have never been blocked by anyone.

I have appointed people of all political stripes, and from time to time, even members of the Conservative Party approach me to promote certain judicial candidates and ask questions about this.

Official Languages

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

Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, the Minister of Justice did not respond directly to my question. However, there is a subject that unites all Canadians, and that is the way we should defend and honour our veterans.

Soon we will commemorate Remembrance Day. Soon, hundreds of events will take place across the country to honour the memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

The Department of Veterans Affairs posted a tweet about receiving a reminder on November 11 to take a moment to remember those who served and sacrificed for our freedom. The French version of the tweet contained many spelling and grammar errors.

Why use such mediocre French for such an important event?

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate my hon. colleague bringing this to me. I will evaluate the situation and make sure that responses are handled properly in the right language.

Terrorism

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Montarville, QC]

Mr. Speaker, a week ago, the House unanimously adopted a Bloc Québécois motion condemning the terrorist attack on teacher Samuel Paty and freedom of expression.

This motion called on the federal government “to fly Canada's flag at half-mast”. Even the Prime Minister agreed to adopt this motion, even though he claims today that he did not realize it. A week later, this still has not been done. There is no trace of the memory of Samuel Paty in the flag of Canada half-masting notices.

Who refused to comply and why?

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague for his question.

As I said yesterday, I think we should avoid politicizing this issue. We were all absolutely horrified by the terrorist acts that were committed in France. We stand in solidarity with the French people. The Prime Minister said that and so did I.

The day after the attacks, I expressed our solidarity with the French people on behalf of the Government of Canada.

We will always be there to fight against terror and intolerance.

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Montarville, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I heard his response yesterday, and it is the same today.

It is not the answer to the right question. I will repeat my question. The House voted unanimously to lower the flags to half-mast in memory of Samuel Paty. The Liberal government chose not to do so. The Prime Minister took 11 days to condemn the beheading of this French professor, killed in reaction to a lecture on freedom of expression.

Three days later, the Prime Minister put this tragedy into perspective. Why this disrespect for the memory of Samuel Paty? Why have the flags not yet been lowered to half-mast, as the House unanimously ordered a week ago?

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague for his question.

As he knows, all parliamentarians have expressed their horror at this tragedy. We take note of his question.

I want to assure the House and all Canadians that we have expressed our solidarity with the French people and that Canada will always be there to defend freedom of expression around the world.

Agriculture and Agri-Food

[Dave Epp, Conservative, Chatham-Kent—Leamington, ON]

Mr. Speaker, consumers continue to struggle with rising food costs, while farmers and processors are receiving less. Five retailers now control over 80% of the grocery trade in Canada. This diminished competition leads to abuses in the industry while sticking consumers with the bill. Independent grocers are the lifeline of many towns across Canada where big retail will not go.

Since the Prime Minister has the Westons' back, can or will the minister stand up for independent grocers and consumers, and update the Competition Act to reflect today's concentrated reality?

[Marie-Claude Bibeau, Liberal, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, I want to assure my colleague, and the producers and grocers across Canada, that we are following the situation closely. We are looking at the different opportunities we may have, but we have to work with the provinces in this regard. I can assure members it will be a topic discussed at our federal-provincial-territorial meeting this month.

The Environment

[Brad Redekopp, Conservative, Saskatoon West, SK]

Mr. Speaker, at the environment committee, I asked officials from four different government departments on our progress to reduce carbon from Canada's heavy trucking sector. Specifically, I asked if the government has been consulting industry players such as the Canadian Trucking Alliance. The answer was, “Not that I'm aware of.”

Why does the minister continue to ignore Canada's trucking industry?

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, I am very proud of what we have been doing with the trucking industry, particularly during this pandemic. We have reached out to the trucking industry on a number of fronts to ensure their job, which is a difficult one in these circumstances, can be as easy as possible with respect to such items as truck stops so they can eat food and have the opportunity to use the washroom. We are working with the trucking industry because we realize the sacrifice they are making for Canadians, particularly those who travel on a frequent basis to the United States.

Foreign Affairs

[Michael Cooper, Conservative, St. Albert—Edmonton, AB]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, Communist China, as part of its systematic campaign to dismantle democracy in Hong Kong, arrested eight pro-democracy politicians. Meanwhile, Communist China continues to escalate threats against democratic Taiwan by sending sorties into Taiwanese aerospace on 25 of the past 31 days of October. Enough is enough.

When will the government impose sanctions on Chinese Communist officials?

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

Mr. Speaker, we have been standing up at every step of the way. If we look at the case of Hong Kong, Canada was the very first country in the world to suspend the extradition treaty between Canada and Hong Kong. We then suspended the export of equipment and we adopted our travel advisory. At every step of the way, we have been standing up for values and principles with our allies around the world. We will continue to stand up for the values and principles and we will always continue to fight for democracy around the world.

Veterans Affairs

[Mike Kelloway, Liberal, Cape Breton—Canso, NS]

Mr. Speaker, November 5-11 marks Veterans' Week, 2020. In Cape Breton—Canso we have 16 legions and countless veterans who depend on their support. Like businesses, legions have struggled to make ends meet during this pandemic. For the Minister of Veterans Affairs, what support can our government provide to legion branches and other organizations that support veterans across Canada to ensure that they can keep up their important work?