Debates of Feb. 18th, 2020

Indigenous Affairs

[Andrew Scheer, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, who is he talking about sitting down with in partnership? These people in Ontario are ignoring the demands of the Wet'suwet'en First Nation. They are using them as an excuse to protest and block projects that they have always been opposed to.

Once again, why is the Prime Minister elevating people, activists, who have no connection to the first nations that we are talking about, and elevating them on the same level as hard-working and well-meaning indigenous leaders who are actually interested in reconciliation in this country?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we have seen this approach from the Conservatives through 10 years of Stephen Harper that did not get projects built, because they believed in picking and choosing who spoke for whom. They believed in picking and choosing how to engage and characterized anyone who disagreed with them as their opposition or as enemies of the national interests.

That is not the approach we have. We will stay grounded in actions of respect and move forward constructively to help Canadians right across the country for the coming years.

[Andrew Scheer, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is talking about picking and choosing who speaks for first nations communities. Let us talk about who speaks for the Wet'suwet'en First Nation: the elected band councillors, the majority of the hereditary chiefs and the people living in these communities. They realize that the only way to have the same quality of life as every other Canadian is to have these kinds of partnerships with natural resource corporations and the jobs that they create.

Once again, who does the Prime Minister think he is going to sit across the table from? Is it the people who are breaking the law and who have no representation for the people who are affected by this project?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, five years ago, Canadians made a clear choice to support parties that were committed to reconciliation. Unfortunately—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Anthony Rota]

Can we proceed?

The right hon. Prime Minister.

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Papineau, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservative Party of Canada continues to demonstrate that it wilfully and deliberately tries to misunderstand the reality of reconciliation in this country. That is why they were excluded from a constructive conversation on how to move forward as a country on the path of reconciliation, to support all Canadians from coast to coast to coast in their economic livelihoods and in their sense of what this country is.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am concerned about the fact that, right now, Quebec and Canada are being seen by the world as pitting oil and indigenous people against each other, when the fundamental issue, for the good of everyone, involves finding a solution to end the blockades, which are an expression of something very real.

The Prime Minister invited a certain number of people to a meeting, and I do not think the tone is aggressive. However, I would ask the Prime Minister if he could give us an indication of the key times, the deadlines, the benchmarks, and the ways of measuring progress that will help people, such as members of the first nations, to see that we are moving toward putting an end to the blockades.

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the leader of the Bloc Québécois for his question and his co-operation.

We recognize that if we want to find solutions and develop the necessary process, the first step and next steps must involve constructive dialogue and concrete action with the Wet'suwet'en people.

We are ready to meet with the Wet'suwet'en people any time to talk about how we can address these issues, and that will be the key to ending these protests across the country.

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

Mr. Speaker, the first nations are nations, much like Quebeckers make up a nation and Canadians make up a nation. That is the kind of relationship that needs to be built and established. With that in mind, all party leaders who wish to participate respectfully should be invited.

Will the Prime Minister agree to hold more meetings like the one held this morning on a regular basis, because this Parliament as a whole must address the first nations as a whole?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for his question. Yes, I am very open to ensuring that all parties in the House who want to work constructively will be regularly informed of our approach and our strategies.

The meetings may not always be with the Prime Minister, but the ministers will engage with all interested members and parties to ensure that we can work together and set party differences aside to advance reconciliation and help all Canadians succeed.

[Jagmeet Singh, NDP, Burnaby South, BC]

Mr. Speaker, we have asked this question before and not received a response, but after today's speech, it seems that the Prime Minister recognizes there is a federal role to be played in rectifying and solving this crisis.

When will the Liberal government meet with the hereditary chiefs of the Wet'suwet'en nation?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, with regard to the Coastal GasLink pipeline project, this is certainly an issue of concern to British Columbia. Of course, the issue of indigenous rights and the rights of the Wet'suwet'en people heavily involves the federal government as well. That is why what we need to do is meet with the Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs as soon as they want to and as soon as they can. We would have liked to meet with them yesterday, if that had been possible.

We are here to engage in direct and constructive consultation with the Wet'suwet'en.

[Jagmeet Singh, NDP, Burnaby South, BC]

Mr. Speaker, what we need right now is real action.

We learned recently that the ministry of indigenous services does not keep accurate details. It does not know how many indigenous kids are being taken from their families or how many are in care. These are kids we are talking about, and the federal government is not keeping accurate records about where these kids are.

If the government is not keeping accurate records, it amounts to a systemic negligence of these kids. Will the Liberal government commit to protecting indigenous kids and keeping accurate records of where these kids are being cared for?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, as we well know, the question of child and family services is something that deeply involves the provinces across the country. We have moved forward on legislation that restores support to indigenous communities for their kids. That is something we have made historical movements on.

We will continue to work with indigenous communities. We will continue to hold certain provinces that are resistant to this to account. We will ensure that no children in Canada get raised far from their language, far from their community or far from their identity. Those are the building blocks for success that everyone deserves to have.

Public Safety

[Candice Bergen, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the transport minister issued a statement saying that “tampering with rail lines, railcars or signalling systems is illegal and extremely dangerous.” If rail lines are being tampered with, the consequences could be deadly. Canadians deserve to know what is happening and deserve to be protected.

If the minister is indeed aware of rail lines being tampered with, then why is he and his government doing absolutely nothing to stop this illegal activity and these illegal blockades?

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, indeed I am concerned by the fact that some people are going near rail lines, on rail lines or in rail yards and doing things that are potentially dangerous. In addition, we have had some indication of tampering on the rail lines, which is not only dangerous but criminal activity and can affect not only those people but those who might be affected by it.

We are trying to pursue this to find out where it comes from, and I would urge Canadians to be safe near railroads.

[Candice Bergen, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

Mr. Speaker, this is a serious situation. As the minister acknowledged, illegal activity is going on, so either the rule of law applies in Canada or it does not and we have anarchy.

I will ask the minister again. If he is aware illegal activity is going on, and tampering with rail lines is an illegal activity, why are the Liberals just giving Canadians words and word salad, as the Prime Minister is so good at delivering, instead of delivering real action to protect Canadians from these illegal blockades?

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, let me explain it to my colleague. When an activity of tampering occurs and we detect it, we try to follow up. Because it is a criminal activity, we need to have clues and evidence to find out who the perpetrator is. It is called detective work and that is what we are doing.

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

Mr. Speaker, it took 13 days for the Prime Minister to finally seem to grasp the extent of the crisis that is rocking this country. Protesters are illegally blockading rail lines across the country, which is having disastrous safety and economic consequences.

We know that the Minister of Public Safety has the authority to ask the RCMP to take action. When is he going to do it?

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

Mr. Speaker, the last thing this very difficult situation requires is politicians trying to score political points by pretending that governments can instruct the police on how to do their job.

[The Speaker, Anthony Rota]

I am having a hard time hearing the minister's answer. I am sure the person who asked the question is having an equally difficult time.

I will ask the hon. minister to continue.

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the concept of police independence requires that police officers be free from political direction or influence in carrying out law enforcement functions and making operational decisions. As the Supreme Court of Canada has said, police independence underpins the rule of law and is necessary for the maintenance of public order and the preservation of the peace.

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

Mr. Speaker, I can assure the minister that what Canadians are asking is for politicians to take action, not say words, like he is doing right now.

What we have here is a government of neglect. Last week the Prime Minister refused to say a word for two days, while his ministers would only say they could not do anything and that it was up to the provinces to enforce the law.

What we want today is for the government to enforce the law. However, it does not want to do so, and that is disappointing for Canadians. Canadians want a government that takes action in a positive way for the future of Canada.

Why does the government refuse to enforce the law?

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to correct my colleague. The federal government knows it has a role to play and that this role is extremely important.

To answer the question, when there is an injunction, we must respect the authority of the provincial police, which has the discretion to decide how to handle the matter.

That said, the federal government has an important role to play, and that is why we will work with our provincial counterparts to solve this problem.