Debates of Feb. 20th, 2020

The Economy

[Yves Perron, Bloc, Berthier—Maskinongé, QC]

Mr. Speaker, our farmers have had an extremely difficult year. First, they were left high and dry with free trade. They faced unpredictable weather. They lost crops during this fall's propane crisis. We are now on the verge of a new propane shortage, this time because the government will not take action on the rail blockades. Farmers will not be able to heat their buildings.

What is the government doing to fix this crisis before farmers lose even more?

If they do experience losses, will they receive adequate compensation?

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, we are very aware that the protests have caused shortages of some products that are important to Canadians, in particular the propane that farmers use to dry their grain. We are well aware of the propane shortage.

We are working hard to resolve this problem as quickly as possible to get our railways back in service, so that the products Canadians need can be delivered.

[Blake Richards, Conservative, Banff—Airdrie, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the blockades are now into their second week and the Liberals continue to sit on their hands. VIA Rail announced it is laying off 1,000 people and has cancelled service again this week. In fact, its chief executive said this is the first time in 42 years of existence it had to interrupt most of its service across Canada. The tourism industry is being directly impacted and people are cancelling their planned trips. Can the tourism minister tell the House exactly how much this is costing our tourism industry?

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, as a person who uses VIA Rail on a weekly basis, I am certainly very aware of the situation. It is a regrettable situation. However, at the moment, because of blockading, it is not possible to achieve all the services VIA Rail would like to give. However, the good news is that certain VIA trains are operating, among others, between Toronto and Windsor, as well as between Montreal and Ottawa. Some services have resumed and we hope to get them all resuming as soon as possible.

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lévis—Lotbinière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Cynthia Garneau, the president and CEO of VIA Rail, said that in 42 years of existence, this is the first time that VIA Rail, a public intercity passenger rail service, has had to interrupt most of its services across the country.

More than 1,500 jobs have been cut at VIA Rail and CN. All sectors of Canada's economy, especially the tourism industry, are feeling other effects from the rail blockades.

Can the Minister of Tourism tell us what economic impact the blockades are having on this industry?

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, I—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Order. I have all day.

The hon. minister may now answer the question.

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Westmount, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we are well aware of the impact of having some VIA Rail trains out of service.

The good news is that some trains are currently running between Montreal and Ottawa and between Toronto and Windsor. There are two that have been running non-stop between The Pas and Churchill, Manitoba, as well as between White River and Sudbury, in northern Ontario.

We would like to have them all running full time. That is our goal, and we are working very hard to make this happen as soon as possible.

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lévis—Lotbinière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I asked the Minister of Tourism a very simple question. I think she just did not hear me.

Can the minister tell us how the blockade is affecting the tourism industry?

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, again, perhaps my colleague did not quite understand the answer.

We are well aware that VIA Rail's passenger train service is very important, not only for tourism, but also for travellers, like me, who travel every week to work and then back home at the end of the week.

We want to resolve this issue as soon as possible. The good news is that some trains are running right now. We are working very hard to restore all rail service, not just in the corridor, but across the country.

Indigenous Affairs

[Leah Gazan, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

Mr. Speaker, the government committed to implementing all 94 calls to action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is referenced 16 times as the framework for reconciliation. There is no reconciliation in the absence of justice.

Now the government is stalling on presenting its UNDRIP bill by using the current events with the Wet'suwet'en people. Is this the Prime Minister's way to punish indigenous people who are standing up for their rights, or was he never going to follow through in the first place?

[David Lametti, Liberal, Minister of Justice]

Mr. Speaker, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples has always been a priority for our government. Our commitment was included in both our platform and our Speech from the Throne. It is in my mandate letter to implement by the end of the year 2020. We remain committed to doing just that.

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

Mr. Speaker, indigenous youth are marching in streets across this country with signs that say “reconciliation is dead”. That is on the Prime Minister. They do not believe him anymore, and the trains are stopped across this country. To get them started, the Prime Minister needs to put a credible plan on the table, yet he continues to fail the test of leadership.

The Prime Minister can fly to Africa and he can go to Barbados, yet he cannot pick up the phone to talk to the hereditary chiefs in our own country. When is he going to show up, put his boots on, go to Wet'suwet'en territory and de-escalate this crisis? When is he going to show up?

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Minister of Indigenous Services]

Mr. Speaker, I would remind the member that Wet'suwet'en hereditary leadership are on their way to Tyendinaga to discuss these important issues in the next few days. There is a clear plan of action for de-escalation, but that involves dialogue.

To all Canadians out there suffering, we understand that this is a very difficult period and we are working diligently. Indeed, the whole cabinet is seized of this, and we will work hour by hour, minute by minute to resolve this situation peacefully.

The Environment

[Sonia Sidhu, Liberal, Brampton South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, this past summer, I was joined by the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and my colleagues in Brampton to highlight how this government is fighting climate change by investing in clean transportation solutions that reduce our emissions while growing the economy.

Could the Minister of Environment and Climate Change explain to the House about how our government is supporting innovative projects that will pave the way for zero emission transportation in Brampton and across Canada?

[Peter Schiefke, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change]

Mr. Speaker, this past summer our government invested over $11 million to support the world's largest fleet of interoperable battery-electric buses and overhead bus charging stations for Brampton's public transit system.

We know that cleaner vehicles are good for our communities, our economy and the environment. This critical investment in breakthrough electric bus technology will help support the Canadian clean-tech sector while keeping our air healthy and leading the fight against climate change.

The Economy

[Kevin Waugh, Conservative, Saskatoon—Grasswood, SK]

Mr. Speaker, the ongoing rail blockades across this land are crippling our country and holding our economy hostage.

CN and VIA Rail have been forced to lay off hundreds of workers as a result of the Prime Minister's weakness. Canadian industry is warning of empty shelves, and production shutdowns will soon follow.

Can the Prime Minister tell this House exactly what these blockades are costing the Canadian economy each day they go on?

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, we are very fully conscious of the impact of these blockades on the country. Yes, they are costing us quite a bit. There is no question about it. Because of the slowdowns and certain products not getting to their destinations, because certain people have had to be laid off, and because certain materials are in critical shortage at this point, we are aware of the fact that there is a significant impact due to the blockages.

That is why we are working very hard to resolve this peacefully through dialogue as soon as possible.

[Richard Lehoux, Conservative, Beauce, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the numerous rail blockades have already had serious repercussions on our agriculture sector. Grain from the west is not moving. Farmers in Quebec and the Atlantic provinces are having to ration propane. Mills in my riding, including Agri-Marché, are facing shortages as early as next week. Farmers want supplies to start flowing, but they do not want temporary measures.

Does the minister have a tangible plan for getting things back to normal?

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, we are well aware of how important the railway is for transporting grain, especially grain from certain provinces in the country, to our ports for export.

We understand our farmers' anxiety over this serious problem. That is why we are working very hard to resolve this problem as quickly as possible in a peaceful and long-term way.

[Pat Kelly, Conservative, Calgary Rocky Ridge, AB]

Mr. Speaker, layoffs from the illegal blockades are rising every day while the government does nothing.

Does the Prime Minister know how many jobs have already been lost and how many Canadians will now have to struggle to rejoin the middle class because the government's failure to uphold the rule of law?

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, we are following, extremely closely, the impact that this is having not only on the Canadian economy but also as it is touching individual Canadians. In some cases, there have been layoffs in certain locations with certain companies because of the fact that the trains are not moving.

That is why we are working even harder to bring this to a resolution as quickly as possible, but to do it the right way, to do it through dialogue, peacefully and as quickly as possible.

The Environment

[Kerry-Lynne Findlay, Conservative, South Surrey—White Rock, BC]

Mr. Speaker, we all know that Coastal GasLink is good for the environment. It will replace dirty coal plants in Asia with clean, lower-emitting natural gas facilities and reduce global emissions.

Trains are not moving because of the Prime Minister's weak leadership and inability to handle illegal blockades. What he permits, he promotes. More trucks must be put on the road to transport goods and services.

Can the Prime Minister tell this House what the environmental impact is of the emissions from these trucks?

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

Mr. Speaker, let me be very clear. As I have already said a number of times, I believe the time has come for the barricades to come down.

However, when the member suggests that it is our government that is somehow stopping the police from enforcing the injunctions, that is simply not correct. It is the responsibility of the police of jurisdiction, under their respective—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I am sure the hon. minister appreciates the coaching he is getting from the other side, but it is not necessary and it is not within the rules of the House. I want to ask everyone to take a deep breath, and we will listen to the questions and we will listen to the answers.

The hon. minister.