Debates of Feb. 5th, 2020

Public Safety

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Sorry, but I am having a hard time hearing the answer. Maybe it is just me, but I hear some noise. I would ask everyone to take a deep breath.

The right hon. Prime Minister can continue.

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Papineau, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the police currently have the ability to remove firearms from someone who presents a threat to themselves or others, but they cannot suspend the licence and prevent that person from acquiring new firearms. That is what the red-flag law is all about.

Housing

[Denis Trudel, Bloc, Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Quebec is currently experiencing the worst housing crisis in 15 years. The money to build social housing is lying dormant in the government's coffers in Ottawa because the government is fuelling the umpteenth dispute over Quebec's jurisdictions, despite the fact that the National Assembly of Quebec has unanimously asked it to step back.

On behalf of the half million Quebeckers who are struggling to get housing, will the government respond positively to Quebec's request?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, after many long years of federal disengagement on housing, we have invested heavily over the past five years to combat the housing crisis across the country with a national housing strategy that has a real impact on communities throughout Canada.

We have signed agreements with every province except one and with all the territories. We hope that Quebec will soon sign this agreement, which will allow us to invest heavily in housing for Quebeckers. We encourage the provincial government of Quebec to sign this agreement with us.

[Denis Trudel, Bloc, Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the housing crisis in Quebec is actually two-pronged. Available housing is rare and rents are expensive. Currently in Quebec, more than 82,000 households spend more than 80% of their income on housing. Back home we call that dire poverty.

Will the government listen to the community groups and families across Quebec who are calling on the government to transfer money for housing with no strings attached?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, in my riding, Papineau, Quebeckers often tell me how very real the housing crisis is for them.

I have been working with community organizations for many years, since becoming an MP. We recognized that it was a real shame that the federal government was no longer playing a role in housing. However, for the past five years, we have resumed that role. We are investing heavily across the country, and I hope that Quebec will soon sign the agreement so that together we can invest in housing in Quebec.

Infrastructure

[Peter Kent, Conservative, Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister and his downtown Toronto Liberal MPs cold-shouldered Ontario last year when the premier submitted a plan to build the urgently needed Ontario line subway to ease capacity pressure on existing lines—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I am having a hard time hearing the question because some noise is starting. I want to make sure that everybody understands that whether it is the answer or the question, everybody wants to hear it equally.

The hon. member for Thornhill, please continue.

[Peter Kent, Conservative, Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, members may remember that on the eve of the election, weeks after a commitment from the Conservative leader, the Prime Minister reluctantly matched the province.

Shovels are ready. Ontario is ready. Toronto is ready. When will the PM deliver?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, over the past years I have had many excellent conversations with the mayor of Toronto about the ambitious investments that he wants to make in public transit. Every step of the way the federal government has been there to be a partner. I am pleased that things are now moving with the province.

I look forward to moving forward on concrete plans to invest in public transit for Canadians. I certainly hope that Mr. Ford will move forward enthusiastically with us. The money is there. We want to invest it. We just need the plans to be concrete so we can do it.

Housing

[Stephanie Kusie, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

Mr. Speaker, when it comes to young families looking for housing, the government gets an F.

First it created the dream-killing stress test and now we learn that its first-time home buyer incentive is a flop, with mortgage value caps set too low for families in Toronto and Vancouver to buy into the market.

When will the Liberals stop building barriers and start providing solutions to Canadians just trying to buy their first home?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the first-time home buyer incentive reduces the cost for first-time home buyers in a significant way and has helped families right across the country.

Yes, we recognize that in certain areas, such as the GTA, the Lower Mainland and Victoria, the cap is too low, which is why we committed to raising it in the last election. Now that we have formed government, we will be able to do exactly that to ensure that more Canadians can afford their first home.

That is what this government is doing for Canadians.

Transportation

[Michael Chong, Conservative, Wellington—Halton Hills, ON]

Mr. Speaker, last week a review panel released its environmental assessment of CN's proposed truck-rail hub in Milton. The panel said this project will likely have a significant adverse impact on human health and air quality. It is now up to cabinet.

Halton Region opposes this project. Regional chair and former Liberal MP Gary Carr opposes this project. The people of Halton oppose this project.

Will the Liberal government, including the two Liberal cabinet ministers from Halton, tell the people of Halton its position on this project?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, as always, we will move forward in a responsible way and pay very close attention to the concerns of people on the ground. Indeed, we have heard the environmental preoccupations. I can highlight that our very own new, outstanding member for Milton has been very clear on his concerns around this project, both to caucus and to cabinet. We will move forward in a responsible way, as Canadians expect.

International Trade

[Vance Badawey, Liberal, Niagara Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the new NAFTA safeguards more than $2 billion a day in cross-border trade and tariff-free access. Prime Minister, how will the new NAFTA encourage economic diversification and contribute to strengthening our nation's international trade performance, including for my constituents in the region of Niagara?

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Order. I want to remind hon. members to place their questions through the Chair, not directly to the person they are addressing it to.

The right hon. Prime Minister.

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Through you, Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for Niagara Centre for all the work he does for his region.

The new NAFTA safeguards over $2 billion a day in cross-border trade. That means businesses in Niagara and across the country have virtually tariff-free access to the U.S. market, supporting hundreds of thousands of Canadian jobs. This means good news for workers, employers and the economy everywhere throughout the country, including the beautiful Niagara region.

Let us all in this House do our part and ratify this agreement.

Government Priorities

[Kelly Block, Conservative, Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek, SK]

Mr. Speaker, in a memo to the Prime Minister, officials warned that aging government technology systems are at risk of failing. These systems, which provide EI benefits, old age security and child support, are critical to many Canadians and are at further risk due to upgrades being delayed because of procurement problems.

Will the Prime Minister correct an omission in the minister's mandate letter and instruct her to make the maintenance and replacement of these systems a priority?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, as a government, we have been able to invest in new ways of helping Canadians, from the Canada child benefit, which gives hundreds of dollars more every month to nine out of 10 Canadian families, to the increase in the guaranteed income supplement for our most vulnerable single seniors. We recognize that our positive changes to EI have made a real difference in the lives of people as well.

We will continue to ensure that the infrastructure that allows us to deliver these programs to Canadians remains solid and upgraded.

Agriculture and Agri-Food

[Rosemarie Falk, Conservative, Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK]

Mr. Speaker, in 2019 Canadian farmers faced another difficult harvest made worse by the Liberal government adding an additional tax burden. From grain drying to rail transportation, heating and electricity, farmers are being gouged by the Liberal carbon tax. Saskatchewan farmers are expecting to lose 8% of their total net income to the carbon tax this year and that number is set to rise.

Will the Prime Minister please finally acknowledge that his carbon tax is unfairly punishing agriculture producers and finally fully exempt farmers from the carbon tax?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, there were a number of times today when the members opposite brought up the work of the PBO and his report and it is exciting to see them actually give credence to the Parliamentary Budget Officer now. Maybe they could pay attention to the fact that the Parliamentary Budget Officer has clearly stated that the price on pollution both cuts pollution and puts money back into the pockets of families in Alberta, in Saskatchewan and right across the country.

Our plan also ensures that 100% of the direct proceeds from the price on pollution go back into that province or territory. People are better off with our price on pollution as we move forward to fight climate change.

Indigenous Affairs

[Gary Vidal, Conservative, Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK]

Mr. Speaker, on January 24, Onion Lake Cree Nation in Saskatchewan declared a state of emergency as a result of a significant increase in drug and gang-related activities. Last week, the leadership of Onion Lake and the surrounding first nation communities signed a western chiefs declaration, with the support of the City of Lloydminster, to take on these serious problems.

When will the Prime Minister take gang and rural crime seriously? What is his plan to keep the people of the first nations, the surrounding communities and the rural municipalities safe?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the road to reconciliation means walking in partnership with indigenous communities and indigenous peoples and respecting and reflecting their priorities. We will work with communities across the country on challenges related to violence and mental health. We will work with them on ensuring that there is greater security for Canadians right across the country, including for indigenous peoples.

I am very pleased to see members on all sides of this House taking this issue seriously. We will work together to make sure that reconciliation is real in this country.

The Environment

[Jaime Battiste, Liberal, Sydney—Victoria, NS]

Mr. Speaker, in order to help address the challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss, the Indigenous Leadership Initiative hosted the Land Needs Guardians conference in Ottawa. They shared that indigenous nations are at the forefront of a growing movement to create indigenous protection in conserved areas.

Can the Prime Minister update the House on our efforts to ensure the protection of these conserved areas and the role that indigenous peoples play in protecting and conserving lands?