Debates of March 11th, 2020

Ethics

[Andrew Scheer, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Only a Liberal would think that losing $4 billion on one hand is somehow leaving us better off, Mr. Speaker.

We know that the Prime Minister is trying to cover up his interference in the legal system. He even fired his former attorney general to keep her quiet.

There was a time when the Bloc stood against Liberal corruption. When Gilles Duceppe was leader during the sponsorship scandal, the Bloc helped expose the Liberals' corruption.

What did the Prime Minister offer the Bloc in exchange for its help in burying his corruption?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians expect their prime minister to protect jobs, and that is exactly what I did and what I will continue to do. I will also continue to respect our legal system and protect Canadians' jobs across the country.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Before continuing, I just want to remind hon. members I have my bifocals on, so not only can I hear you, but I can see distance as well. I can see who is shouting.

The hon. member for Beloeil—Chambly.

Health

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

Mr. Speaker, allow me to say that the Bloc Québécois did not want to give the Conservatives an opportunity to keep shouting that all Quebeckers are corrupt.

This morning, the Prime Minister outlined a plan for containing what the WHO is now calling a pandemic. This announcement had some good points, particularly with respect to financial support and employment insurance. However, the government is still ignoring one of the most troubling issues, namely that border workers have neither the equipment nor the training to screen and deal with possible cases of the coronavirus.

Is the Prime Minister also going to announce a plan for managing the borders?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, ever since concerns were first raised about the coronavirus, we have been keeping the public informed and investing in our borders and in the Canada Border Services Agency to ensure that Canadian and foreign travellers entering this country are aware of the measures keeping them safe. We have always based our decisions on science and the advice of experts, and that will never change.

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

Mr. Speaker, it would be nice if the government would be proactive with its policy for once instead of playing catch-up and finishing three strokes behind. This is a serious and worrisome pandemic we are dealing with.

Will the government ensure better border control, hold a press conference every day and increase seniors' purchasing power as of the age of 65 in the next budget without imposing conditions?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we have invested and will continue to invest in our health care system to keep Canadians safe. We recognize that this crisis will have an economic impact on workers, Canadians, families and seniors. That is why we are going to invest to help them and to support the sectors of the economy that are facing challenges. We will always seek to help vulnerable people in this and every situation.

Employment Insurance

[Jagmeet Singh, NDP, Burnaby South, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the plan proposed by the Liberals today does nothing for the 60% of workers who do not have access to employment insurance. Those workers are faced with an impossible decision: Should they stay home from work or pay their bills?

Is the Prime Minister prepared to implement a program to help all workers stay home?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we completely understand the concerns of Canadians who are facing challenges, whether they pertain to their health, the safety of their family, their job or their financial security. That is why we are implementing measures to help workers and businesses continue to support families and communities. At the same time, we are always looking to do more to help those facing challenges. We recognize that there are segments of the population that will not have access to employment insurance. That is why we are working for them too.

[Jagmeet Singh, NDP, Burnaby South, BC]

Mr. Speaker, what the Prime Minister seems to not understand is that the vast majority of Canadians will not have access to his plan, as 60% of Canadian workers have no access to employment insurance. Imagine a service worker who is stuck with the impossible decision: Do they go to work so they can pay their bills or do they stay at home and prevent the spread of a disease but risk not being able to pay the rent?

Will the Prime Minister commit today to ensure that all workers have paid sick leave?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, this is what I talked about this morning, the fact that our government will be there for all Canadians who are facing important decisions in keeping Canada safe, keeping their fellow citizens safe and keeping their families safe.

We know that the decisions Canadians can and will take in the coming days and weeks will have an impact on delaying the spread of the coronavirus in Canada and keeping Canadians safer. That is why we are going to make sure that we are working hard to support Canadians right across the economy through EI but also through other systems.

Ethics

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

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Prime Minister burst out laughing at my simple but serious question, which I will now repeat.

What did the Prime Minister offer the leader of the Bloc Québécois to buy his vote and ensure that the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner will not testify about the “Trudeau II Report”, a report that clearly shows the Prime Minister interfered in our justice system?

Here is what his House leader told me: If you want to know, invite them out for a beer.

If a person has to go for a beer in order to talk to the government about national issues, that is totally irresponsible.

What did he offer the leader of the Bloc Québécois in exchange for his vote?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I know this will come as quite a surprise to the Conservatives, but there are people in the House from different parties who are focused on the well-being of Canadians and do not want to play political games at the expense of workers.

We will always stand up for workers from coast to coast to coast. We will always respect our institutions and the people who work for them. That is what Canadians expect. The Conservatives are the only ones constantly playing political games.

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

Mr. Speaker, the only job the Bloc Québécois and the Prime Minister are trying to save is the Prime Minister's job.

There is a scathing report called the “Trudeau II Report”. The Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner wants to appear and testify. All we want is to hear from the commissioner so he can answer questions on the report that found that this Prime Minister interfered in the justice system. This is not about jobs at SNC-Lavalin; this is about the Prime Minister's job.

What did he do to buy the Bloc Québécois's vote to keep the commissioner from coming to testify?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians are worried about the coronavirus outbreak. Canadians are worried about their opportunities in the knowledge economy, the economy of the future. Canadians are worried about what lies ahead in the next few weeks. Meanwhile, the Conservatives care only about playing political games and dredging up these old issues.

We, on the other hand, remain focused on the well-being of workers and all Canadians. That is what people expect, and that is what we will always do.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the quid pro quo between the Liberal-Bloc coalition is disgusting, and when Conservatives tried to invite the Ethics Commissioner to testify on the “Trudeau II Report” into the Prime Minister's corruption, a PMO enforcer spoke directly to the Bloc MP and bought her vote. Canadians deserve to know the full truth about the Prime Minister's interference in our judicial system.

What did the Prime Minister give to the Bloc to help him muzzle the Ethics Commissioner?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I gave the Bloc absolutely nothing.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is hoping this goes away, but we know an RCMP investigation is ongoing, as we heard from the lobbying commissioner. The full breadth of the interference in our judicial system must come to light, and the Bloc helping the Prime Minister cover up his corruption makes it complicit in his crime.

We know the leader of the Bloc met with the Prime Minister last week. Can the Prime Minister confirm that this is when he cut a deal to cover up his corruption?

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I want to remind the hon. members that accusing someone of a crime is rather extreme, and I want to warn them—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Being in contempt of the Speaker is not a good thing, so I would not shout while I am speaking. That is not a good thing.

What I am asking members to do is be a little more judicious when they are asking their questions or giving their answers, so please be careful. We want to make sure that this place is as respectful as possible.

The right hon. Prime Minister.

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, it is the responsibility of the Prime Minister to stand up for Canadians while upholding the law, and that is exactly what we have done.

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has some nerve to talk about political games. Let's talk about political games, then. The report of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner is entitled “Trudeau II Report”. The report of the Ethics Commissioner questions the Prime Minister's behaviour in the scandal: “[the Prime Minister] used his position of authority over [the Minister of Justice] to seek to influence...her decision”.

We wanted the Ethics Commissioner to testify in committee. However, the Bloc Québécois helped the Liberals muzzle him.

What did the Prime Minister give the Bloc in exchange for help in their attempt to muzzle the Ethics Commissioner?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we gave the Bloc nothing.

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the reprehensible behaviour of the Prime Minister and his accomplices in the Bloc Québécois is not nothing. They prevented the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner from testifying before Canadians about the “Trudeau II Report”. Bloc MPs are complicit in the immoral action of the Prime Minister, who was rebuked by the Ethics Commissioner. The Bloc and their Liberal allies prevented the Ethics Commissioner from testifying.

Where is the Prime Minister's honour in this situation?