House of Commons Hansard #20 of the 43rd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was wet'suwet'en.
Bill Blair Liberal Scarborough Southwest, ON
Mr. Speaker, I am not sure why the members opposite are afraid to hear the truth.
The reality is that the police are committed to resolving this situation peacefully, and through our efforts, to bring about a reconciliation to address the issues that gave rise to these blockades in the first place. We are providing every assistance to them in achieving that peaceful resolution.
Luc Desilets Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
Mr. Speaker, the consequences of the rail blockades will soon cost every family in Quebec quite dearly, and I mean financially. This weekend, there is a good chance that grocery store shelves will start to empty out, simply because we will not have enough stock. Hon. members across the way mentioned this earlier. What is more, all signs point to an increase in food prices as supplies dwindle. The Liberal government's lack of leadership will cost everyone dearly.
What is the Prime Minister's game plan for ensuring that the blockades are removed, because—
Marc Garneau LiberalMinister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, I want to reassure my colleague and his constituents that we fully understand the impact of these blockades. It is hitting some people hard, particularly those who have been laid off, but also those who are experiencing shortages of important commodities because the railways are not operating. That is precisely why we are working very hard and as quickly as we can to resolve this issue so that the trains can start running again as soon as possible.
Claude DeBellefeuille Bloc Salaberry—Suroît, QC
Mr. Speaker, everyone is affected by the rail blockades. Companies across Quebec are laying off workers. Montreal's south shore is paralyzed by the commuter train shutdown. Our farmers are facing their second propane shortage in three months. Even grocery stores are running out of stock. At this point, more than two and a half weeks into the crisis, it is not complicated. Just about everyone in Quebec is affected.
Will the government finally take responsibility?
Marc Garneau LiberalMinister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, I want to assure my colleague that we take our responsibilities very seriously. We know that we have to address this issue, because we are aware of the economic impact on Canadians, on the people who live in her riding, in the south shore and across Canada. That is why we are working very hard to resolve the issue the right way, through dialogue, so that we can find a long-term, lasting way to solve this problem.
Gérard Deltell Conservative Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC
Mr. Speaker, in a country governed by the rule of law, all laws are enforceable. Unfortunately, the problem needs to be named. Finally, after 14 days of absolute inaction, to put it mildly, the Prime Minister correctly named the problem. Barricades are illegal. That is a step in the right direction, but naming the problem is just the beginning. Now we need action.
Can the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs tell us when our laws will be enforced and when the barricades will be removed?
Bill Blair LiberalMinister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Mr. Speaker, I think it is a very important question, and I ask the member opposite, because it is a great opportunity to clarify, who is responsible for enforcing the laws in those jurisdictions? It is the police of local jurisdiction. It is their responsibility, but they fulfill that responsibility by working diligently to resolve this as peacefully as possible.
Our role and responsibility is to work with the impacted communities to seek and determine a peaceful resolution, but the responsibility for enforcing the law is the responsibility of the police of jurisdiction under their respective provincial authorities.
Corey Tochor Conservative Saskatoon—University, SK
Mr. Speaker, Canada is facing a crisis, and the Prime Minister is too weak to act.
Yesterday the Prime Minister finally admitted that these blockades were illegal. The preamble to the Constitution Act, championed by Pierre Trudeau himself, states that Canada is founded upon principles that recognize the rule of law, yet when the Prime Minister is faced with a situation which he now admits is illegal, his reaction so far has been to do nothing.
When will this weak Prime Minister recognize the founding principle and start enforcing the rule of law?
Bill Blair LiberalMinister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Mr. Speaker, I think it is always useful when someone invokes the rule of law, because it gives us an opportunity to explain to people what that means. The Supreme Court of Canada has said that police independence underpins the rule of law and is necessary for the maintenance of public order and the preservation of the peace. Police independence is crucial to public trust in our institutions and of primary concern to the RCMP in its preservation of public and officer safety. We are not, in any way, obstructing or interfering with the lawful decisions of the RCMP.
The previous government once said that it trusts the RCMP. Mr. Speaker, so do I.
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Mr. Speaker, that is interesting, because in 2010 the now Minister of Public Safety had zero qualms about his role as Toronto police chief with his approach to protesters at the G20 Summit.
However, today he cannot find it in himself to defend the rule of law in a situation where the law is clearly being broken, as admitted by the Prime Minister himself.
What is it about the Prime Minister's fecklessness that just seems to rub off on everybody else? This is not a laughing matter. When is the rule of law going to be enforced?
Bill Blair LiberalMinister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Mr. Speaker, I can share with the House that in the 39 years I was a police officer and 10 years as the chief of police in Toronto, I never submitted to any political interference in any decision I made.
I will take the opportunity to once again remind the members of the House that police independence underpins the rule of law. Operational decisions on the enforcement of that law are made independently by our police services. We trust their judgment.
Ramesh Sangha Liberal Brampton Centre, ON
Mr. Speaker, the President of the Treasury Board tabled supplementary estimates (B) in this place on Tuesday.
Could the President of the Treasury Board update the House on new budgetary spending plans found within the supplementary estimates (B)?
Jean-Yves Duclos LiberalPresident of the Treasury Board
Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for Brampton Centre for his hard work for his community.
The supplementary estimates I tabled just a few days ago will fund important investments in support of our armed forces, in support of indigenous communities and in support of our fight against climate change. These investments are the sorts of things that have created 1.1 million new jobs and have helped lift a million Canadians out of poverty in the last four years.
We will continue to grow the middle class, grow the economy, protect our environment, reduce poverty and give everyone a fair chance in life.
Ed Fast Conservative Abbotsford, BC
Mr. Speaker, illegal blockades are grinding our economy to a halt.
In Abbotsford, my chicken, egg and dairy farmers fear they will not be able to feed their animals because the feed mills are running out of grain. Businesses are shutting down, farmers are losing millions and Canadians are out of work. Why? Because of the Prime Minister's feckless and weak leadership. The truth is he would rather be in Barbados lobbying for a UN Security Council seat.
When will the blockades be removed? When will the Prime Minister put Canadians to work? When will he finally get up in the House and answer a question?
Marc Garneau LiberalMinister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, I want to assure my colleague from B.C. that we are very aware of the impact that this is having on egg farmers, on grain farmers and on chicken farmers. We certainly understand the impact that it is having, and it is a big impact. We recognize that and we are tracking it on a daily basis. That is why it is—
The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota
I want to remind everyone of what I said when I was elected as Speaker: to think of what the people back home are thinking of them members they open their mouths. Hopefully they are proud of what members are saying. I am looking around and I am seeing certain members whom I usually have respect for and who are usually very quiet, and even they are shouting. I want to remind everyone to calm down and listen.
The hon. Minister of Transport.
Marc Garneau Liberal Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Westmount, QC
Mr. Speaker, I just want to repeat that we are very conscious of the impact this is having on dairy farmers, on egg farmers, on chicken farmers, on all farmers, including grain farmers as well. We are tracking that on a daily basis so we have an accurate assessment of the impact, which is considerable. That is why we are working so hard to resolve this problem.
Chris d'Entremont Conservative West Nova, NS
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister's weak leadership has led Atlantic Container Lines to stop using the port of Halifax. Instead, it will now use American ports.
The CEO of the port of Halifax, Andy Abbott, said there are virtually no containers left in Ontario to even truck goods. Its Canadian operations have been shut down for almost two weeks. The port of Halifax is at risk of never seeing that container traffic again.
When will the Prime Minister show leadership and help lift the blockade?
Marc Garneau LiberalMinister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, my colleague raises a very important point. Even though at this point we are talking mainly about the stoppage of trains in the country, those trains typically do go to ports. There is no question that this is having an impact on the ports. That is why we are working so hard to find a durable solution, and a solution that goes through dialogue, so we can resolve this for the long term.
Robert Gordon Kitchen Conservative Souris—Moose Mountain, SK
Mr. Speaker, Canadian farmers depend on rail service to get their goods to market. They are now planning for the spring and need to sell their crops and pay the cash advancements following a poor harvest season.
With dramatically reduced rail speeds and blockades happening across Canada, it is clear that the Liberals do not care about the importance of rail for farmers based on their lack of action.
How will the Prime Minister ensure that grain gets to market in the face of these blockades?
Marc Garneau LiberalMinister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, once again, that is why we are working so hard.
However, I do want to make the point that there are trains moving in the west. There are trains that are picking up natural resources and moving them across the country. The challenge, of course, is that we want to get rid of all the blockades so we can get all the trains moving. That is why we are working so hard to find a long-term, peaceful, durable solution.
David McGuinty Liberal Ottawa South, ON
Mr. Speaker, by introducing the national housing strategy, our government is committed to addressing housing shortages and high housing costs.
I have heard from many families in Ottawa South that have expressed concern about their ability to find a safe and affordable place that they can call home.
Could the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development please update us on what our government is doing to ensure that Ottawa families can access high-quality and affordable housing options?
Ahmed Hussen LiberalMinister of Families
Mr. Speaker, we introduced the national housing strategy in order to restore federal leadership in housing. We have made unprecedented investments that have resulted in over a million Canadians finding a place to call home.
I am proud to update the House that just yesterday we announced an investment of over $150 million in Ottawa that would increase the supply of affordable housing for Ottawa families, resulting in the assistance of over 321 families to find a place to call home.