Debates of Feb. 5th, 2020

News Media Industry

[Andrew Scheer, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, this is not just a question of the independence of the press. This report goes far beyond requiring licences for news organizations. This is from the same Liberal government that rigged election advertising rules to prevent opposition parties from advertising, while they were running around the country making government announcements. This is from the same government that put Jerry Dias in charge of a fund to bail out media companies.

These new recommendations would be the biggest threat to freedom of speech in a generation. This report calls for the CRTC to “impose codes of conduct...regarding all media content undertakings”, not just news organizations.

Will the Prime Minister reject this report in its entirety?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the third party report we received proposes to exempt news media from licensing requirements, but allow me to be absolutely unequivocal: We will not impose a licensing requirement on news organizations, nor will we regulate news content.

Our focus is on ensuring that Canadians have access to diverse, credible and high-quality news.

Justice

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

Mr. Speaker, some Quebeckers may disagree with Bill 21, and they are perfectly free to challenge it in court, but they must not receive money from the federal government, money that includes taxes collected from Quebeckers, to challenge a bill that has broad support in Quebec. The government has just given $125,000 to the English Montreal School Board to challenge Bill 21.

Yesterday, the Bloc Québécois clearly demonstrated that the government's love for the Premier of Quebec is highly selective.

How can the government claim that the Premier of Quebec—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

The right hon. Prime Minister.

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, let me be perfectly clear. The court challenges program makes its decisions entirely independently. These decisions are not made by the government, ministers or politicians. This is an agency, a program, that is there to help Canadians defend their rights in court. It fulfills that responsibility completely at arm's length from the government.

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

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Minister of Justice said that Bill 21 must be contested. Today, the Prime Minister is saying that the organization is completely independent.

Mr. Parizeau used to say that governments are made to govern, which means to take responsibility. The English Montreal School Board operates under the Government of Quebec's exclusive jurisdiction. We have spoken to the office of the Premier, who is very displeased. I would not recommend that the government claim François Legault's support today.

Will the government backtrack and withdraw this illegitimate funding?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the court challenges program operates entirely independently of the government. We cannot call for funding or withdraw it. The purpose of the program is to help Canadians defend their fundamental rights in court.

I know the Bloc Québécois leader would rather talk about anything other than his opposition to NAFTA, an agreement that will be good for Quebeckers and for businesses and that will help Quebeckers. The member's opposition to the new NAFTA is misguided.

Indigenous Affairs

[Jagmeet Singh, NDP, Burnaby South, BC]

Mr. Speaker, in 2017, the Liberals changed the law to end discrimination against indigenous women, but the lack of resources means that it can take up to two years for their status to be recognized.

Two years of delay to recognize a woman's status means that gender discrimination continues. This is another example of pretty words by the Liberals, but a lack of concrete action.

When will the Prime Minister step up and properly fund the department to finally end discrimination against indigenous women?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, as Canadians well know, we have invested historic amounts in reconciliation, in new programs, in new funding and in making sure we are creating opportunities to move forward in partnership and respect. Part of that means it does take a little longer to do, because we are working with indigenous communities to drive those solutions, not determining solutions from Ottawa.

Now, from their corner of the House, the NDP can tell us exactly what we need to do. We prefer to listen to indigenous communities themselves and get it done the right way for them, with them.

[Jagmeet Singh, NDP, Burnaby South, BC]

Mr. Speaker, last year when referring to the RCMP raids on the Wet'suwet'en people, the Prime Minister said it was “not handled the way it should have been.” Now the situation again is very serious. The Prime Minister has a role to play. The chiefs have asked to meet with the Prime Minister, but he has refused. Police action is not the solution. Dialogue is.

The Prime Minister claims that nation-to-nation relationships are the most important, so when will the Prime Minister meet with the Wet'suwet'en chiefs?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, our government continues to be committed to reconciliation, which means partnership, respect and engagement. This is an issue that is entirely under provincial jurisdiction. The RCMP's operations there were directed by the provincial government.

On this side of the House, we respect Premier Horgan and the work he is doing to advance reconciliation, and I recommend that the members opposite do the same. He is doing good work on reconciliation and we continue to support him through a difficult situation.

Foreign Affairs

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

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister's failures with respect to our relationship with China have been numerous. Later today, the Prime Minister's point man on Canada-China relations will appear at the Canada-China parliamentary committee. Canadians are hoping that he will shed some light on the situation on the ground, what progress has been made since he arrived and how the government is addressing the many problems with this relationship.

Can the Prime Minister confirm whether any political staff have been involved in preparing Ambassador Barton for his committee appearance this evening?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, Ambassador Dominic Barton is an exceptional individual with great depth of understanding of the situation in China over many, many years. He has also been an extremely active member, working with me and with the Government of Canada in terms of moving forward constructively on the sometimes difficult relationship with China right now, particularly around the return of the two Michaels who have been unfairly detained.

We have full confidence in Ambassador Barton's ability to do this job and his ability to present himself to committee very well tonight.

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

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Foreign Affairs stated that the government had secured an aircraft that could bring those Canadians who wished to leave China back to Canada. Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig have been wrongfully imprisoned in China for 422 days.

Will both Mr. Spavor and Mr. Kovrig be joining their fellow Canadians on this flight and returning home where they belong?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians right across the country are concerned about the coronavirus. We are doing everything we can to reduce the fear and the anxiety by saying that the risk level is low and that we are keeping Canadians safe.

The way the members opposite are choosing to make light of this and play politics with it, with clever little games, is quite frankly unworthy of the House of Commons. I hope the member opposite withdraws that question and the silliness involved. Really, we deserve better, even from the Conservatives.

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

Mr. Speaker, we have learned that the flight that was scheduled for this evening to bring Canadians home from China has been delayed, apparently because of the weather.

However, other airlines are landing in China right now, and we know that the U.S., Japan, South Korea, Jordan, Great Britain and Portugal have all managed to get their citizens out.

Can the Prime Minister tell us whether the real reason for this delay is Canada's strained relationship with the Chinese government, or was it really the weather?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, it really was because of the weather.

Perhaps if the Conservatives were in power, they would have ordered the pilot to fly in dangerous conditions, but we respect pilots' professionalism and the decisions they make to keep Canadians safe.

What the member is suggesting really does not bear repeating here in the House.

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

Mr. Speaker, if the Conservatives were in power, these people would already be back in Canada.

The Chinese are trying to expand their influence throughout the world with their belt and road initiative. According to many experts, this initiative is another way for China to aggressively expand its global influence and to trap developing countries by not only making them financially dependent but also politically dependent on China.

Can the Prime Minister clarify the role of the Canadian government in promoting Canadian businesses in the belt and road initiative?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, as part of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, Canada joins many countries in promoting inclusive global economic growth. Trade tensions are on the rise in Canada and the Conservative leader is suggesting that we close our doors to international co-operation. This bank supports clean and green investments in infrastructure across Asia and in some of the poorest countries in the world.

It is misleading of them to suggest that it would be in Canada's advantage to withhold funds earmarked for landslide mitigation in Sri Lanka, flood management in the Philippines, and the modernization of Indonesia's immigration system.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister should know that the AIIB is part of a colonial project to expand Chinese control and influence throughout Asia, and many people are concerned about it.

Four years ago, the Prime Minister announced the beginnings of extradition discussions with China. Imagine Canada extraditing people to China. Yesterday, at the Canada-China committee, it was confirmed by officials that these conversations have actually taken place informally.

I would like the Prime Minister to clarify for the House whether he will close the door on an extradition treaty with China, or does he intend to leave that door open?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, over the course of many years, we have had many different discussions on many different topics. However, our values, our criteria and our expectations on extradition treaties are very clear. China would not qualify now, or any time soon, for an extradition treaty with Canada.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I hope that marks a real change of heart. However, I am very concerned about the government's commitment to our values.

Ambassador Dominic Barton led a corporate retreat in Kashgar, four miles from a Uighur concentration camp. While leading McKinsey, he also worked to improve the image of pro-Kremlin Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, and he prepared a report for the Saudi government that it used to crack down on critics.

Given Dominic Barton's record at McKinsey, does the Prime Minister really have confidence in his commitment to defending Canadian values on the world stage?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I have tremendous confidence in Mr. Barton. He is an excellent public servant, an excellent ambassador to Canada and he, as the members opposite will see tonight, is a deep expert in how we are going to move forward on improving the situation for Canadians in China right now.

Justice

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

Mr. Speaker, I am polite guy, so I cannot turn down an invitation. Let's talk about aluminum.

The Premier of Quebec is not a political tool for the Canadian government. There is one similarity between Bill 21 and aluminum, and it is quite telling. The government is clearly not working in the best interests of Quebec. The government works against the best interests of Quebec whenever it suits its own needs.

Will the Prime Minister admit that he is the one who wants to fund the challenge against Bill 21?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, no, the court challenges program is administered completely independently from the government.

As for aluminum, I must point out that aluminum sector jobs were very important to us during negotiations with the United States. We defended ourselves against the United States' punitive tariffs and got them withdrawn. NAFTA is good for aluminum workers and for the aluminum industry. The Bloc Québécois should stand up for workers and support the free trade agreement with the United States.