House of Commons Hansard #41 of the 43rd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was chair.
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Mr. Speaker, does the Prime Minister see a conflict of interest in taking part in the cabinet decision to award this $900-million sole-sourced contract to his friends at the WE Charity?
Bardish Chagger LiberalMinister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth
Mr. Speaker, the non-partisan public service made the clear recommendation that this was the organization able to provide this service in the timeline needed. We accepted its recommendation.
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Mr. Speaker, one of the charity's co-founders made a donation to the Prime Minister's electoral campaign. Does the Prime Minister see the conflict of interest in taking part in the decision to award this sole-sourced contract worth $900 million to his donors?
Bardish Chagger Liberal Waterloo, ON
Mr. Speaker, first of all, our focus is going to be on delivering for Canadians, including those most vulnerable and impacted disproportionately, which includes students. Yesterday, the parliamentary finance committee passed a motion, supported by all parties, for this information to be made available. We will work to ensure that information is available.
When it comes to the recommendation of WE, it was made by the public service. We accepted the recommendation of the public service. When it comes to the ethics investigation—
The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota
The hon. member for Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes.
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Mr. Speaker, during the last Ethic Commissioner's investigation into the Prime Minister, bearing his name with the number “II” beside it due to there having been multiple ethics investigations into the Prime Minister, the commissioner found that nine individuals identified themselves as having information that would further the investigation. They were not able to testify as witnesses because they were shielded when the Prime Minister invoked cabinet confidence.
Will he commit to the House that he will not invoke cabinet confidence during the third investigation into his failure to follow the act?
Bardish Chagger Liberal Waterloo, ON
Mr. Speaker, as we have always done since taking office, we work with independent officers of Parliament. When it comes to the Ethics Commissioner, we have always complied and made ourselves available. That was a clear difference between our government and the previous government under Stephen Harper. It continuously undermined independent officers of Parliament. Clearly, that is taking place now.
We will work with the Ethics Commissioner to ensure the information is available and we will continue to ensure that we are here to support Canadians. That is our priority and remains our focus.
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Mr. Speaker, the minister's statement is not true. I will quote the report, which states, “During this examination, nine witnesses informed our Office that they had information they believed to be relevant, but that could not be disclosed because, according to them, this information would reveal a confidence of the Queen's Privy Council”.
Will the Liberals waive the confidence in this case, unlike the last time?
Bardish Chagger Liberal Waterloo, ON
Mr. Speaker, once again, it should be noted that when it comes to what the member is referring to, the Prime Minister actually waived solicitor-client privilege for the period in question, including cabinet confidence. This has never taken place, and surely would not have happened under the Conservatives. It surely would not have happened under Stephen Harper.
We will always work with our independent officers. That is what we do on this side of the House.
David Sweet Conservative Flamborough—Glanbrook, ON
Mr. Speaker, I will be splitting my time with the hon. member for Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan.
The CCP, Chinese Communist Party, has bought up most of the cobalt mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo in its quest to dominate the lithium battery industry. UNICEF estimates that 40,000 children are labourers in the DRC. What measures has the government taken to protect the human rights of the children who are forced to extract this cobalt?
COVID-19 Pandemic and Other MattersGovernment Orders
Saint-Maurice—Champlain Québec
Liberal
François-Philippe Champagne LiberalMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, as the member and the House well know, human rights are a core pillar of our foreign policy. Everywhere around the world, where we can stand up and speak up for people who have been victims of human rights violations, we will stand up and we will speak up for them.
David Sweet Conservative Flamborough—Glanbrook, ON
Mr. Speaker, on two previous occasions, I have questioned the government in regard to human rights violations by the Chinese Communist Party in China and Hong Kong, and I have only received expressions of varying degrees of concern.
I am thankful that the government actually rescinded the extradition treaty with Hong Kong. Could the government tell us what other steps it is taking to assist the 300,000 Canadians in Hong Kong and open the door to Hong Kong refugees?
François-Philippe Champagne Liberal Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC
Mr. Speaker, not only did we suspend the extradition treaty, but we stopped the export of sensitive items to Hong Kong. We updated our travel advisory, and tonight I will have a call with Five Eyes colleagues to explore with colleagues in the international community the additional steps we can take.
The Prime Minister has been clear that we will be looking at other measures, including immigration, and we will come back to the House in due course.
David Sweet Conservative Flamborough—Glanbrook, ON
Mr. Speaker, I am sure that those who are refugees would like that exploration to be done expeditiously.
What measures are being taken to reassess our relationship with the People's Republic of China, given new evidence from the Associated Press of forceful population limitations being imposed on Uighurs by the CCP, especially given that these kinds of acts are indicators of genocide?
François-Philippe Champagne Liberal Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC
Mr. Speaker, to go back to the member's previous question, I can point to Chris Patten, the former Governor of Hong Kong, who has expressed support for the measures taken by Canada, and the leadership by Canada when it comes to Hong Kong.
When it comes to the Uighur question, we are deeply disturbed. We should all be disturbed in the House by these allegations and the reports that we have seen. We will continue to work with the international community—
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Mr. Speaker, I am also deeply disturbed, but we should be clear that our thoughts and our prayers are not enough.
Is the government prepared to recognize that Muslims in China are facing an ongoing genocide?
COVID-19 Pandemic and Other MattersGovernment Orders
Saint-Maurice—Champlain Québec
Liberal
François-Philippe Champagne LiberalMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, I would say that we went well beyond words. We took action, and the world noticed.
When it came to Taiwan, when it comes to Hong Kong, Canada not only spoke up, but was front and centre in taking action to stand up and speak—
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Mr. Speaker, regarding Uighurs specifically, is the government prepared to recognize that Uighur Muslims in China face an ongoing genocide?
François-Philippe Champagne Liberal Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC
Mr. Speaker, let me be very clear with Canadians and the House. We are deeply disturbed by the reports that we have seen. We are consulting with the international community. Canada will continue, as it always has, to speak up and stand up for human rights around the world, and that will be the case when it comes to the Uighurs. I have raised this issue, both privately and in public, with the Chinese authorities.
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Mr. Speaker, if the minister is not prepared to use the word “genocide”, will he recognize that what we are reading about constitutes crimes against humanity under international law?
François-Philippe Champagne Liberal Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC
Mr. Speaker, let me be clear again. I will answer very clearly for the member.
As I said, we are deeply disturbed by the reports, as everyone in the House should be. We are consulting with the international community. We will speak up. We will stand up for human rights with the Uighurs and with all the ethnic minorities in China, which are—
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Mr. Speaker, we all feel those feelings, but feeling disturbed is not enough. I asked about genocide. I asked about crimes against humanity. Let me ask one more important question.
Yes or no, Minister: Is the government prepared to impose Magnitsky sanctions on those involved in gross violations of human rights in Xinjiang, in Hong Kong or elsewhere in the Republic of China?