House of Commons Hansard #28 of the 43rd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was deal.
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
Mr. Speaker, I invite my colleague to refer to the Standing Orders of the House for any questions regarding committee work and decisions. The Standing Orders clearly indicate that committees make their own decisions.
Alain Rayes Conservative Richmond—Arthabaska, QC
Mr. Speaker, last week the Liberal leader invited the leader of the Bloc Québécois to a private meeting to discuss the upcoming budget. Imagine meeting with a leader who wants to separate from Canada and who voted against a motion to question the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner on his devastating report on the Prime Minister. The Bloc was in favour of preventing the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner from testifying about the Prime Minister.
What did the Prime Minister offer the Leader of the Bloc to buy his vote this time?
Pablo Rodriguez LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, if my colleague is so interested in what Bloc MPs think, he can invite them out for a beer and talk it out. There is no shortage of pubs near the Hill. They can go have a chat over a beer.
The Prime Minister has discussions with all the parties in the House. Talking to the various leaders and parties is part of our responsibilities. It is the responsible way to work in Parliament.
Denis Trudel Bloc Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, QC
Mr. Speaker, I have a very serious question. We recently learned that $4.3 billion was spent under the national housing strategy. How much of that $4.3 billion was invested in Quebec? Zero, not one penny, zilch, nada, nothing.
There is still another $1.4 billion available, but that money is languishing in federal coffers while Quebec is going through its worst housing crisis in 15 years.
Will the government finally unconditionally transfer to Quebec the money it is owed, which is languishing in federal coffers?
Ahmed Hussen LiberalMinister of Families
Mr. Speaker, we want to make sure that Quebeckers get their fair share of our historic investment in housing. We hope to reach a bilateral agreement with the Government of Quebec, as we did with the other provinces and territories.
Denis Trudel Bloc Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, QC
Mr. Speaker, when someone cannot put a roof over their head, they wind up in the street, and this in a country with a government that goes on and on about how it has lifted thousands of people out of poverty. The government's current actions are forcing thousands of Quebeckers to either stay in or return to poverty. It spent $4.3 billion in Canada and not one cent went to Quebec, because Ottawa wants to impose conditions.
When will it transfer the $1.4 billion we need, which we paid for through our taxes?
Ahmed Hussen LiberalMinister of Families
Mr. Speaker, we know that it will be impossible for us to achieve our ambitious housing objectives without collaborating with our provincial and territorial partners, including Quebec. We will continue to work with all levels of government to serve Canadians and ensure that every Canadian has safe and affordable housing.
Philip Lawrence Conservative Northumberland—Peterborough South, ON
Mr. Speaker, normally spring is a time of rejuvenation and reinvigoration. However, for many residents on the Great Lakes shoreline it is a time of anxiety and worry. With record high water levels, they are concerned about flooding destroying their houses, which they have all worked so hard for.
Could the Prime Minister please inform the House what actions the government is taking to protect residents along the shorelines of the Great Lakes, the St. Lawrence River and the Ottawa River?
Jonathan Wilkinson LiberalMinister of Environment and Climate Change
Mr. Speaker, certainly the water levels in the Great Lakes are a cause for significant concern. The management of water is done through the IJC, which is a joint panel between Canada and the United States. The IJC is looking actively at measures it may take to address some of those levels.
We are in conversation with the IJC, and I believe that the IJC will be on the Hill to provide a briefing to members in the coming weeks.
Phil McColeman Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
Mr. Speaker, there is a backlog of over 44,000 veterans who are waiting for their disability benefits applications to be processed. Behind each one of these applications is a veteran trapped in a benefits backlog boondoggle of the government's own making.
Many veterans have been waiting for over two years. When will the backlog be cleared?
Lawrence MacAulay LiberalMinister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, I can assure my hon. colleague that we are working very hard on this backlog, and that we invested just under $700 million in the operating budget last year. What we are doing is digitizing the files. We are making sure that all veterans who should receive benefits, receive benefits.
Quite honestly, there is a 60% increase in total applications because our government has been more generous to the veterans, and a 90% increase in first applications. We have supported and will continue to support our veterans.
Phil McColeman Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
Mr. Speaker, it is sad, but not surprising, that the minister cannot answer since today at committee he told us that the department runs the department.
There seems to be no plan to clear the backlog, and it is questionable who is really in charge. Can the minister tell us when the backlog will be cleared, or should we check with his deputy?
Lawrence MacAulay LiberalMinister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, as I indicated in the committee today, the money spent on mental health was not distributed properly. I directed the department to make sure that it was spent fairly, to make sure that a review take place and to make sure that it was spent just like it was over the last number of years.
On the backlog, when my hon. colleague's government was in place, it fired 1,000 employees and cut the budget. That is part of the reason why we are in difficulty.
Judy Sgro Liberal Humber River—Black Creek, ON
Mr. Speaker, over the last few weeks, the international trade committee studied the Canada-U.S.-Mexico agreement, and we have heard from many businesses and stakeholders about various aspects of the agreement and the importance of its impact on our communities.
Can the Deputy Prime Minister tell us more about the next steps towards ratification and the importance of this agreement for all Canadians?
Chrystia Freeland LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank all the members of the international trade committee from all parties and their outstanding chair for their hard work in reviewing the new NAFTA.
This agreement safeguards more than $2 billion a day in cross-border trade and tariff-free access for 99.9% of our U.S.-bound exports.
At a time when our economy and the global economy are facing significant challenges from the coronavirus, one thing that we can all do together that is entirely within our power is to support our economy's—
Michael Chong Conservative Wellington—Halton Hills, ON
Mr. Speaker, Mayor Rick Bonnette of Halton Hills and Mayor Gord Krantz of Milton, as well as mayors and representatives from across Halton region, are in Ottawa today to voice their opposition to the proposed truck-rail hub in Milton, Ontario. A federal review panel said that this project will likely have a significant adverse impact on air quality and human health.
Can the Liberal government update the House on its position on this project?
Jonathan Wilkinson LiberalMinister of Environment and Climate Change
Mr. Speaker, Canadians expect their government to make thoughtful decisions that are based on science, evidence and traditional knowledge and that will uphold the government's commitment to protecting the environment while growing the economy.
The report that has been brought forward recently by the panel has now been submitted to the government. Our government has not made a decision. I will be thoroughly reviewing the panel's recommendations as we go through the process of making that determination in the legislation.
Tracy Gray Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC
Mr. Speaker, I attended the BC Tree Fruits annual general meeting recently, where I heard of the poor state of our apple growers. Many said that they are near bankruptcy because of increasing costs and decreasing prices and the flood of cheap apples coming across the border from the U.S. due to a trade dispute between the U.S. and China.
To make matters worse, our apple farmers' exports to China have now been reduced and inventories are starting to pile up.
What are the Liberals going to do to help our orchardists?
Marie-Claude Bibeau LiberalMinister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
Mr. Speaker, I know that the cold weather and trade, among other things, contributed to a very difficult 2019 for our farmers.
Our farmers have access to a wide range of risk management programs. I urge them to participate in these programs every year and to make use of them when needed.
Lianne Rood Conservative Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON
Mr. Speaker, Ontario cattle farmers are in crisis due to cancellations of federal processing and export licences. It has been months since Ryding-Regency closed, representing 10% of Ontario's beef processing industry. We have seen the government's inaction when it comes to helping our farmers. We have seen the carbon tax and the slow response to the rail blockades, and now trade disruptions mean Ontario's beef cannot get to market.
The Minister of Agriculture has done nothing to address this situation. When will the minister act to resolve these critical processing challenges?
Marie-Claude Bibeau LiberalMinister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
Mr. Speaker, accessing processing facilities is crucial for our farmers and ranchers to access the value chain. We understand that the closure of this meat processing plant in Ontario has a significant impact on our cattle producers, but we cannot compromise on food safety. Our government is working with the industry and the Province of Ontario to find short-term alternatives and to see how the meat processing capacity can be increased.
Ginette Petitpas Taylor Liberal Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe, NB
Mr. Speaker, as the member for Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe, I have had the privilege of interacting with many members of the LGBTQ2 community, yet nothing, and I stress nothing, has been more shocking to me than hearing accounts of anyone trying to change the core being of another person so that they cannot be their true self.
The evidence is clear: Conversion therapy is harmful and disruptive.
Could the Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth tell the House what we are doing to finally ban conversion therapy?
Bardish Chagger LiberalMinister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe for standing up for LGBTQ2 Canadians.
Yesterday our government tabled the most progressive legislation in the world when it comes to criminalizing conversion therapy. Conversion therapy is a harmful, disruptive practice that has no place in Canada.
I applaud the provinces and municipalities that have already chosen to ban this practice, and I hope to see more do so.
I call on all members to support this bill and to ensure that everyone everywhere in Canada can be who they truly are.
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
Mr. Speaker, after the worst wild Pacific salmon fishing season in recorded history, the government is simply not doing enough to support workers. Its failure to react to the crisis leaves commercial, recreational and indigenous fisheries in coastal B.C. desperate for support and action. Now the tourism industry in B.C. is seriously threatened by COVID-19.
Will the Liberals urgently invest in a wild Pacific salmon relief package focused on restoration, and help support fishers and workers in coastal communities?
