House of Commons Hansard #13 of the 43rd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was nafta.
Mel Arnold Conservative North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC
Mr. Speaker, Canadian lobster and snow crab fishermen are being blindsided by regulations forced on them by the U.S. A full-time U.S. ambassador might be able to intervene, but one has not been appointed.
Is the fisheries minister going to continue the practice of regulating lobster and snow crab fisheries under duress from the U.S., or will she work with stakeholders and the U.S. to come up with regulations that will work for all?
Bernadette Jordan LiberalMinister of Fisheries
Mr. Speaker, we recognize the importance of seafood exports across this country. That is why we are working with our harvesters, our communities and our partners in the U.S. to address these issues. We will continue to do that as we go forward.
John Brassard Conservative Barrie—Innisfil, ON
Mr. Speaker, violence is escalating and mayors are pleading for help.
Mayor John Tory said recently:
...sentences...must fit the extreme gravity of...gun crimes. And right now, they often don’t.
Even Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders said that his community is deflated, and front-line officers are frustrated, with repeat gun offenders being granted bail.
The mayors have also called for decisive action on guns coming across the Canada-U.S. border.
Why can the Liberals not see that their soft-on-crime approach is doing the opposite of what leaders are calling for, and work on solving the real causes of gun violence in Canada?
Bill Blair LiberalMinister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Mr. Speaker, we have been very clear that, across the country, we have heard a strong consensus to strengthen gun control laws, and to make investments in policing and in our communities to reduce gun violence.
Based on the member opposite's question, I am looking forward to his support for the initiatives that we will bring forward to give the police new tools, new authorities and new resources to deal with the issue of guns coming across our borders, being diverted from legitimate owners and being stolen.
We will take the steps necessary to keep our communities safe.
Annie Koutrakis Liberal Vimy, QC
Mr. Speaker, Quebec's aluminum workers are envied throughout the world for their know-how, talent and expertise. They play a very important role in our economy, in Quebec and across the country.
Could the minister please tell Canadians what our government is doing to ensure a cleaner, more sustainable future for Canada's aluminum sector and to guarantee good, middle-class jobs in this important sector?
Navdeep Bains LiberalMinister of Innovation
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for Vimy for her question.
Our government has always been there for Quebec's aluminum workers and, since 2018, we have been investing in our aluminum smelters, thereby supporting nearly 2,500 good jobs in Saguenay—Lac-Saint-Jean, in Deschambault and in Sept-Îles.
This will help guarantee good, long-term jobs in an industry that is innovative and more sustainable.
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Mr. Speaker, the government revealed that 38 departments and agencies mishandled sensitive information more than 5,000 times last year. Clearly this is not a one-off. This is a pattern across the Liberal government. Information was mismanaged and misplaced. It is clear the Liberals do not care about the privacy of Canadians.
When will the Prime Minister hold his ministers to account and demand that they protect the privacy of Canadians?
Greg Fergus LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board and to the Minister of Digital Government
Mr. Speaker, our government is committed to safeguarding sensitive government information and maintaining the highest standards of document security, as prescribed in our policies. Each employee receives proper training on this and a minimum of safeguards for protected and classified documents are outlined in the directive on security management.
We will continue to monitor and ensure the privacy of Canadians are protected.
Jamie Schmale Conservative Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON
Mr. Speaker, last year the government had over 5,000 security breaches related to classified documents. That is 20 for everyday work, with no one fired and no one's security clearance revoked.
If that was not bad enough, one ministry felt it was above the will of Canadians. In an affront to Parliament, Global Affairs Canada did not even bother to disclose its breaches: So much for an open and accountable government.
Will the Prime Minister protect democracy now and demand that Global Affairs Canada release its breaches?
Greg Fergus LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board and to the Minister of Digital Government
Mr. Speaker, as I just said, the security of Canadians' personal information is very important to our government. Our government is determined to safeguard the personal information of Canadians, as well as government information. Every employee receives training on security measures. We will certainly continue our good work on this issue.
Chris Warkentin Conservative Grande Prairie—Mackenzie, AB
Mr. Speaker, last week trade officials confirmed at committee that the government had a policy of promoting the active involvement of Canadian companies in China's belt and road initiative. This expansionist foreign policy initiative is infamous for ensnaring developing countries into a debt trap, leaving them forever indebted to Beijing.
Could the minister confirm that it is in fact the Liberals' policy to promote the active participation of Canadian businesses in China's belt and road initiative?
Rachel Bendayan LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Small Business
Mr. Speaker, Canada has a deep and long-standing relationship with China based on mutual economic prosperity, strengthened by our people-to-people ties. These ties are rooted in tradition, history and mutual respect.
Since the arrests of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, our government has made it our absolute priority to secure their immediate release. We remain focused on that goal.
Our trade policy will always be motivated by what is in the interests of Canadians.
Emmanuel Dubourg Liberal Bourassa, QC
Mr. Speaker, Saturday was the first day of Black History Month 2020. I look forward to participating in events that celebrate and honour the legacy of black Canadians in Canada.
This year's theme is “Canadians of African Descent: Going Forward, Guided by the Past”. Let us learn more about the important role of black Canadians.
Could the Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth please update the House on the efforts our government has taken to invest in black communities?
Bardish Chagger LiberalMinister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for Bourassa for his leadership and for giving me the opportunity to speak about the work we are doing at the request of the black Canadian community.
We recognize the U.N. International Decade for People of African Descent, invested $9 million to enhance support for black Canadian youth, $10 million for focused mental health programs, $25 million to build capacity in black Canadian communities and $45 million for the anti-racism strategy and the anti-racism secretariat.
I encourage all Canadians to take part in Black History Month and to learn the rich history of black Canadians.
Leah Gazan NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
Mr. Speaker, the government's record on the treatment of first nations children is getting worse by the day. We have learned that the government has actually spent not $5 million but over $9 million on legal fees to fight first nations children in courts. This is shameful for a government that was found guilty for willfully and recklessly discriminating against first nations children on reserve.
What price is the Prime Minister willing to spend on lawyers to continue violating the human rights of first nations children?
Arif Virani LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, the member opposite's question underscores a very important point of the historic tragedy that has faced first nations kids in the country and the discrimination they have endured, discrimination that we are committed to correct.
With respect to the issue of legal costs that she has raised, we are working very closely with the legal officials involved and lawyers on both sides. Certain matters are covered by solicitor-client privilege that cannot be disclosed, but we are working carefully with the lawyers to ensure that their legal fees are paid and that justice is rendered for these children.
Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the hon. Prime Minister.
The B.C. salmon season of 2019 was a complete disaster. It constituted an emergency situation for many indigenous peoples for whom salmon is a staple food of deep cultural and spiritual significance.
For the fishermen, tendermen and shore-workers, it is an economic disaster. These groups wrote and asked the government before the election for emergency salmon relief. The United Fishermen and Allied Workers' Union and The Native Brotherhood of British Columbia have still had no answer.
When will salmon relief come for these communities?
Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, we are committed to protecting wild Pacific salmon stocks. Many runs are in steep decline and we sympathize with first nations, workers and their families that indeed have had a difficult year.
The ministers are working with indigenous communities and stakeholders to ensure the salmon stocks are protected. We have invested over $142 million to fund projects, supporting research, conservation and innovation for the fishing industry on the west coast.
Kelly McCauley Conservative Edmonton West, AB
Mr. Speaker, I have a point of order arising out of question period. I would like to comment on the Minister of Veterans Affairs's comments about cuts in the previous government.
With the permission of the House, I would like to table a report from the Library of Parliament, showing that the Liberal government actually slashed 14% of full-time equivalents from Veterans Affairs since coming to power. According to department plans for the next three years, it is cutting another 10%.
The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota
Does the hon. member have the unanimous consent of the House to table the report?
Bill Blair LiberalMinister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2) I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the 2018 annual report on the RCMP's use of law enforcement justification provisions. This report addresses the RCMP's use of specified provisions within the law enforcement justification regime, which is set out in sections 25(1) and 25(4) of the Criminal Code. This report also documents the nature of the investigations in which these provisions were used.
Procedure and House AffairsCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings
Winnipeg North Manitoba
Liberal
Kevin Lamoureux LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, there have been discussions among the parties and if you seek it, I think you will find consent to adopt the following motion.
That the membership of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs be amended as follows: Member for Whitby for member for Bonavista—Burin—Trinity; and Member for Mississauga Centre for member for Winnipeg North.
The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota
Does the member have the unanimous consent of the House to move the motion?
Procedure and House AffairsCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings
Some hon. members
Agreed.