Debates of Feb. 19th, 2020

Public Safety

[Andrew Scheer, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, only to the Prime Minister is standing up for the rule of law somehow aggressive behaviour from a government. It is the bare minimum that Canadians expect from their elected officials.

Yesterday there were suggestions that some of the blockades might come down if the RCMP withdrew from certain sites. When asked about this, the minister said that they were considering that.

Why is the government considering directing the RCMP not to uphold the law, but ruling out asking them to enforce the rule of law?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians understand that this is a very serious situation, one that holds the path of reconciliation, of partnerships on one hand and the other side—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I hate to interrupt the right hon. Prime Minister, but I am having a hard time hearing his answer.

I think we are ready. Please proceed. The right hon. Prime Minister.

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Papineau, QC]

Mr. Speaker, of course this is the situation facing many Canadians who are dealing with shortages or dealing with challenges to their own disrupted lives, but also possible layoffs. That is why we are focused on real issues that will matter to Canadians, a real solution forward, not rhetorical games or playing short-term politics, as the members of the opposition continue to do.

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

Mr. Speaker, the number of job losses is starting to snowball. In my riding, Beloeil—Chambly, business owners are contacting me to say that this is getting serious and we are heading for shortages.

I invite those who want to understand the economic consequences to talk to the Premier of Quebec. The premier knows better than anyone that empty words do not change anything. He has expertise in the matter.

Each first nation has a leader. They want to know if Canada has one.

If the Prime Minister says he has opened a dialogue, then what is the nature of the open discussion forum?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we continue to have direct discussions with the different leaders of the different indigenous groups. We acknowledge that there are several groups within the different indigenous groups and we are having as much discussion as possible. We recognize the complexity of the situation. It is a very difficult situation for business owners, for Canadians, for people who are dealing with layoffs. We will continue to work on resolving this situation as peacefully as possible.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am not sure that clarified anything.

If the government were to implement a solution, that is the first possibility that should be considered. We talked about the merits of having the RCMP withdraw from Wet'sutwet'en territory, but obviously we cannot have a complete lack of police presence.

Has the government considered the possibility of asking the Wet'sutwet'en to replace the RCMP, whose presence is seen as an act of aggression for obvious reasons, with an indigenous police force of their choice?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, that is a very good question. That is one of the many options that we are currently thinking about and discussing with British Columbia. Obviously, that will be up to the police and the province, where the RCMP works as a provincial police force. That is exactly the type of thinking and discussion we are engaging in to peacefully resolve this situation.

[Jagmeet Singh, NDP, Burnaby South, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is demonstrating a lack of leadership in this national crisis.

Instead of photo ops, people need concrete proposals to solve and de-escalate the situation. We have three proposals to help de-escalate the situation. First, the Prime Minister must meet with the Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs. Second, the Prime Minister should appoint a special mediator to facilitate the conversation. Third, the RCMP need to stand down to allow these conversations and dialogues to happen.

Will the Prime Minister meet with the hereditary chiefs and appoint a special mediator?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations has been engaged closely with the Wet'suwet'en hereditary leadership and has indicated many times that she would be willing to meet with them at any given moment. The Wet'suwet'en are continuing to reflect on this, but we are impressing upon them the urgency with which they really need to engage in finding a path forward for the benefit of Canadians, indigenous and non-indigenous, who are being sorely affected by the shortages, the disruptions and indeed the layoffs.

Natural Resources

[Jagmeet Singh, NDP, Burnaby South, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government has already spent $4.5 billion to buy a pipeline, and expanding it could cost over $13 billion.

A recent poll found that as costs rise, support plummets. That is because Canadians understand there are better ways to spend this public money.

Does the Prime Minister agree that there are better ways to invest this public money to create high-quality jobs and lower emissions?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we approved the Trans Mountain expansion project because it is in the public interest. We recognize that our society and our world depend on petroleum products. That is why we need to develop these resources responsibly and transport them in a safe and sustainable way. We also know that taking the profits from this extremely profitable pipeline and pouring them into the clean energy transition is a positive way to keep fighting climate change.

Public Safety

[Leona Alleslev, Conservative, Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the illegal blockades have been in place for over two weeks. This is a national crisis. Commuters cannot get to work, producers cannot get their goods to market and people are losing their jobs.

The Prime Minister's weak leadership has forced Premier Moe to convene a special meeting of all the provincial premiers to discuss a way forward.

Why is the Prime Minister abdicating his job to the premiers?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

On the contrary, Mr. Speaker. I was pleased to speak with Premier Moe just minutes ago to talk about the work that we are doing all together at the federal and provincial levels to engage with a solution, to recognize that this is a challenge that has its origins in B.C. but has issues and repercussions right across the country upon which we must work together.

Every premier understands the need to resolve this quickly but peacefully, and that is what we are working on together.

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

Mr. Speaker, Canadians were hoping the Prime Minister would present a plan yesterday to bring down the illegal blockades that are costing jobs, causing Canadians real hardship and also making a mockery of our laws. Instead they received weak and ineffective words.

Even the premiers are unimpressed with the Prime Minister's pathetic response. In fact, Premier Scott Moe has initiated an emergency call with other premiers to address the crisis.

When will the Prime Minister step up, do his job and put an end to these dangerous and illegal barricades?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, as I just said, I was pleased to speak just minutes ago with Premier Moe to discuss the concerted approach by the federal and provincial governments to ensure that this national challenge is responded to both at regional levels and at the federal level.

We will continue to work to resolve this situation, which is extremely difficult for Canadians right across the country. We are all, premiers and Prime Minister, united in the fact that we need to resolve this quickly and peacefully.

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

Mr. Speaker, since the beginning of the rail blockade crisis, the Prime Minister has demonstrated a lack of leadership that is frustrating Canadians and Quebec Premier François Legault. Mr. Legault said that the federal Liberal government is losing control and that we are on the verge of having serious problems.

The Prime Minister does not seem to understand the urgent need to act.

Will he do his job, show a little leadership and tell us when he will table his plan with a timeframe?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians expect us to find a lasting solution to this situation, not just a short-term one. That is why we are working hard to resolve this situation peacefully. The solutions proposed by the Conservatives will only cause tensions to rise and jeopardize our economy in the coming months. We know that the way to support Canadians who are concerned about their jobs and their daily lives is to do everything in our power to try to resolve this situation peacefully.

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

Mr. Speaker, if we have a propane shortage in the middle of winter, Canada will have some serious problems.

The government is doing nothing to reassure the 1,000 VIA Rail workers, the 450 CN workers and the 325 workers in Lac-Mégantic. It is doing nothing for the farmers and restaurant owners who are facing propane rationing.

Unlike the Liberal Prime Minister, who is choosing to ignore the disastrous impact of the blockades, the Quebec premier has responded, saying that an ultimatum is needed. He says we need to take action, and it must be in coordination with every province at the same time.

After such weak leadership yesterday, when will the Prime Minister acknowledge that his lack of leadership could cause thousands of job losses in Canada?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, it is precisely to avoid future instability, which could last months or even years, that we want to resolve this situation peacefully. The Conservatives want to elevate the temperature and go in forcefully. That is not a solution. We will work with the premiers, including Premier Legault, to resolve this situation peacefully. That is what Canadians expect.

[John Barlow, Conservative, Foothills, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the illegal rail blockades are yet another blockade and another barrier for Canadian grain farmers, and the situation is a crisis. There are 19 ships off Prince Rupert and another 50 ships off the port of Vancouver, many of them waiting to be loaded with grain. Every week that the rails are blockaded with illegal blockades costs Canadian farmers $50 million. We are more than four weeks in, and Canadian farmers already hit with the Liberal carbon tax are seeing their bills mounting.

When will the Prime Minister safely remove these illegal blockades and get our commodities moving again?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, our priority is resolving this situation peacefully, because we know that is the long-term solution that is needed for this country. It is essential that we work together across provinces to bring down the temperature and to bring down these barricades, but to do it in a way that is peaceful. That means concrete actions that are going to resolve this situation. That is what we are doing. The raising of the rhetoric and temperature by the members of the official opposition is not serving to help any of the Canadians who are facing layoffs or disruptions in their daily lives.

[Mark Strahl, Conservative, Chilliwack—Hope, BC]

Mr. Speaker, protesters continue to shut down our railways, blockade our ports and target our border crossings. There have already been 1,500 workers laid off, and thousands more are at risk of losing their jobs. Reserve supplies of home-heating oil, propane and chlorine for water treatment are running critically low, putting the health and safety of Canadians at risk.

Will the Prime Minister finally show some leadership and demand that the court injunctions against these illegal blockades be enforced, or will he continue to embolden the mob that is giving the courts the Trudeau salute?

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I got up to point something out, but I realize that it was a historical reference. I will leave it at that; everyone knows why I got up.

The right hon. Prime Minister.

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we are focused on helping the tens of thousands of Canadians who have had their lives disrupted, who are facing shortages and are facing layoffs. We will continue to work to help them both in the short term and in the long term by resolving this situation peacefully. We will continue to work to exhaust every option to resolve it peacefully, because we know this is a situation deeply concerning to Canadians right across the country.