Debates of May 11th, 2021

Parkland County Wildfire

[Dane Lloyd, Conservative, Sturgeon River—Parkland, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the unseasonably dry weather in northern Alberta has wreaked havoc on our local communities. Today, I am thinking of the folks out in Parkland County, where at least 300 people had to evacuate their homes in the face of a wildfire that broke out last Thursday night, covering over 2,200 hectares.

I am incredibly proud of the leadership at Parkland County, including Parkland fire chief Brian Cornforth, and the over 60 firefighters who came from across Alberta, some as far as High Level, to help battle this blaze. Mayor Rod Shaigec of Parkland County also wanted me to particularly thank the staff at the emergency operations centre, the towns of Drayton Valley and Stony Plain, and the counties of Clearwater and Brazeau for their considerable assistance to our communities.

The fire is not out yet, but it has stopped growing and we will defeat it. This is the spirit of Alberta. We have made it through floods and fires, and now we are getting through this pandemic. One thing I know for sure is that nothing will keep Albertans down. We will always come back up: Alberta strong.

New Brunswick Municipal Councillors

[René Arseneault, Liberal, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday was election day for most municipalities of beautiful New Brunswick. The results will be known in a few days.

Before the results come out, I want to congratulate the 15 mayors and municipal councils in my beautiful riding of Madawaska—Restigouche for their hard work and dedication. Their terms were extended by one year because of COVID-19.

They have been hard at work during these years working on infrastructure projects, for instance festivals, cultural events, etc. Being on a municipal council takes a lot of time, and I thank all of these people for generously giving their time for the best interest of their respective communities.

To the outgoing mayors and councillors who will be retiring, I want to say thank you so much for your work, and I wish you luck in your future endeavours.

To the ones re-offering a new mandate and to all the new candidates, I wish the best of luck.

I look forward to working with the new municipal councillors. Together, we will accomplish great things for Madawaska—Restigouche.

Natural Resources

[Ron Liepert, Conservative, Calgary Signal Hill, AB]

Mr. Speaker, it is now less than 24 hours before Enbridge's Line 5, carrying important petroleum products through Ontario and Quebec, is due to be shut down. If the Michigan governor follows through on her promise, thousands of jobs in western Canada will be in jeopardy. More important, the impact will be felt by Canadians east of the Great Lakes.

When we wake up in the morning, the Minister of Canadian Heritage, who has spent much of his adult life hanging from the sides of buildings protesting pipelines, will have to explain to his constituents why they do not have propane to heat their homes. Liberal MPs from Toronto who want to phase out fossil fuels will have to explain to their constituents why planes carrying vaccines can no longer land at Pearson airport because there is a shortage of jet fuel.

On second thought, maybe Conservative MPs should allow the Michigan governor to shut down this pipeline, because she may be able to drive home a point to political parties in this place that no amount of debate to date could accomplish.

The Economy

[James Cumming, Conservative, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Mr. Speaker, as we watch other countries begin to open up and reduce their pandemic restrictions, the world witnesses Canada trailing far behind due to a lack of leadership from the Prime Minister.

I was recently asked by a constituent if there was any hope. Canadians are desperate for leadership and clarity on when they will see an end in sight and how we will navigate through the coming months. They have been asking for transparency and a strategic plan to open the economy.

I rise today to say yes, there is hope with the Conservative Party. We are ready to lead where the Prime Minister has failed. We have a plan to secure the future, which includes the growth of jobs, renewed investment and ample opportunity inclusive to every sector and every person in this country. This means taking full advantage of the abundance of natural resources, highly skilled and educated workforce, and expanded access to global markets.

Together, coast to coast to coast, we will foster a prosperous future for all, ensuring that no demographic and no region is left behind.

Newfoundland and Labrador

[Jack Harris, NDP, St. John's East, NL]

Mr. Speaker, Newfoundland and Labrador's fiscal situation is not sustainable. A bad situation has been made worse by the pandemic, and major changes are recommended. There are revenue, debt and other issues to be addressed by the province, but the Government of Canada has a role to play, too.

We support four measures proposed by the Greene report that can help greater federal-provincial fairness. Significant improvements need to be made to the fiscal stabilization program, including removal of the per capita tax. Health transfers must increase. Health care costs now dominate provincial budgets, and Ottawa pays only 22% instead of the 50% at the outset of medicare. We need to fix the equalization formula to remove non-renewable natural resource revenue, and provinces need access to Canada's credit standing and borrowing rates through a new bond program. The federal government has a vital role in helping ensure there is a sustainable financial path forward for Newfoundland and Labrador.

So far, the Liberal government has simply not done enough to hold up its side of the bargain.

Serge Bouchard

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

Mr. Speaker, Serge Bouchard has passed away, leaving us with the memory of his wisdom, his distinctive voice, and his fondness for our heritage, for the first peoples and for what we have in common.

Serge Bouchard was a host, an author and an anthropologist whose talent I could never hope to match. He provided a reassuring and necessary voice advocating for the right to nationhood for all nations, especially the first nations.

He was known for his curiosity and his honesty, and for looking upon Quebec, Quebeckers and indigenous peoples in Quebec, in particular the Innu, with a gaze that was always compassionate, never condescending.

On behalf of the Bloc Québécois, I offer my sincerest condolences to his family, friends, colleagues, readers and listeners.

We will miss the man, we will miss the voice, we will miss the unassuming wisdom. I already miss the anthropologist.

The first words in the story of the great beyond are being penned today.

Bill C-10

[Tracy Gray, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I have heard from hundreds of constituents in Kelowna—Lake Country expressing their concerns about the Liberal government’s attempted overreach to regulate individual Canadian Internet users through Bill C-10.

The Macdonald-Laurier Institute stated Bill C-10, “constitutes a full-blown assault” on free expression.

University of Ottawa Professor Michael Geist, Canada's Research Chair in Internet and E-commerce Law, said that Bill C-10 represents, “an exceptionally heavy-handed regulatory approach where a government-appointed regulator decides what individual user generated content is prioritized”.

The CBC reported, “free speech is at risk”.

However, the Prime Minister says that those in Parliament who question him on this topic wear tinfoil hats.

Now the Liberal Minister of Canadian Heritage has been trying to undo the confusing pretzel of information he has twisted, but Canadians in this free and democratic country are smarter than he thinks they are.

Conservatives will persist in standing for the freedoms of Canadians who post their content online.

Canadian Live Music Association

[Tim Louis, Liberal, Kitchener—Conestoga, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to recognize a campaign launched by the Canadian Live Music Association and one that holds a special place in my heart. I have been a professional musician my entire adult life and understand that making a living as an artist is challenging at the best of times. The pandemic has had a devastating impact on live events, with every stage in the world going dark.

The Canadian Live Music Association launched the awareness campaign #ForTheLoveOfLive, which is focused on the impacts felt by our artists, festival and concert employees, venues, promoters, talent agencies, production crews and many others.

Everyone associated with the live events industry has our support and respect for the resilience they are demonstrating. We all have cherished memories connected with live music and events. Let us show our support by posting messages with #ForTheLoveOfLive. We look forward to the day when live performances return and all the world is a stage once again.

Natural Resources

[Erin O'Toole, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, tomorrow the Governor of Michigan wants to shut down the Line 5 pipeline that is critical to the Canadian economy. After many months of inaction, this morning, mere hours before the deadline, the Liberal government filed an objection with the court.

Is this last-minute legal action an admission that the Prime Minister's outreach to President Biden has failed?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, Line 5 is a critical piece of infrastructure for both Canada and the United States. It is vital for energy workers and families on both sides of the border. Today, the Government of Canada filed a submission in U.S. court in support of the continued safe operation of Line 5 and in support of continued mediation between Michigan and the company.

As we have for many months, Ambassador Hillman and government officials will continue to engage with our counterparts on this important issue.

[Erin O'Toole, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, tomorrow the Governor of Michigan wants to shut down the Enbridge Line 5 pipeline. This closure will affect every worker from Montreal to Lévis. After many months of inaction, this morning, mere hours before the deadline, the Liberal government filed an objection with the court.

Is the Liberal government too late once again to protect Canadian jobs?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, quite the opposite. Line 5 is a critical piece of infrastructure both for Canada and the United States and that is why we have been working on this issue for months. It is vital for energy workers and families on both sides of the border. Today, the Government of Canada filed a submission in U.S. court in support of the continued safe operation of Line 5 and in support of continued mediation between Michigan and Enbridge.

As we have for many months, Ambassador Hillman and government officials will continue to engage with the American authorities on this important issue.

National Defence

[Erin O'Toole, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister's Office and the Privy Council Office used the term “sexual harassment” five times in emails regarding General Vance.

Why did the Prime Minister personally sign off on General Vance's pay raise while his office was investigating the allegations of sexual harassment?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, as the Leader of the Opposition well knows, it was not my office that looked into these allegations because it would be inappropriate for a politician's office to follow up on and investigate allegations.

That is precisely why my office made sure that this file was handed over to the appropriate authorities for independent follow-up. Our government has always taken the responsibility of protecting the women and men who serve in the armed forces seriously, and we will always be there to support survivors.

[Erin O'Toole, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, five different times the Prime Minister's Office, the Privy Council Office and the minister's office all used the phrase “sexual harassment” in emails regarding General Vance. A senior Liberal told the Toronto Star this weekend that the PMO and PCO both knew it was of a sexual nature.

Why did the Prime Minister personally sign off on General Vance's pay raise while his office was actively covering up allegations of sexual harassment?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, that is simply not the truth. When allegations were brought forward from the ombudsperson to the Minister of National Defence, he knew that it would be inappropriate for politicians to engage in such an investigation. That is why he forwarded it to the appropriate authorities at the PCO, so they could follow up on it. That, by the way, was exactly the same process followed when the leader of the opposition was in government and received allegations concerning General Vance.

We followed the right process on this and we know we have much more to do to ensure the protection of anyone who wants to come forward.

[Erin O'Toole, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

The right process, Mr. Speaker? The Prime Minister just contradicted his chief of staff. Katie Telford did investigate the nature of the allegations because she told committee that she knew the complaint was not “a safety issue”. If she knew it was not a safety issue, she would have had to know the underlying elements of the allegation made against General Vance.

It sounds like Ms. Telford was conducting an investigation and spoke to someone about the nature of the complaint. Who was it?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, as a government, from the very beginning we have taken extraordinarily seriously the responsibility of standing up for survivors, and of making sure that women and men who serve in our armed forces and in our institutions across this country have the right kinds of support and recourse. What is very clear is that, despite all the significant actions that we have taken as a government, all the significant progress that we have had, women and men who are survivors of sexual assault or harassment are still not getting the right support. That is why we are doing more. We will always take this seriously and put survivors' interests first.

Elections Canada

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

Mr. Speaker, at the beginning of the pandemic, we all agreed that we did not want an election during a pandemic.

The government has consulted on what could be changed in the Canada Elections Act in this context, but it did not finish the job. It has introduced a bill but has not allowed anyone to study it. Now it has to impose a gag order, with help from the NDP, to allow an election during the pandemic.

Does the Prime Minister want an election during the pandemic?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the answer is no.

With the bill that we are now referring to committee, parliamentarians will be able to study ways to hold an election safely during a pandemic. However, we do not want an election.

It was the Bloc Québécois and the Conservative Party that voted against a confidence motion that could have made the government fall. They are the ones who seem to want an election.

We on this side of the House are working to support Canadians and get them through this pandemic.

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

Mr. Speaker, there is a slight difference. I am not afraid of an election; we just do not want one during the pandemic.

Elections are not normally held during pandemics. If there is no pandemic, there is no need for legislation to manage an election during a pandemic. The only logical conclusion is that the government wants an election during the pandemic.

What is the Prime Minister's priority?

Is his priority the health, lives and safety of the people, or does he want to take advantage of the Conservatives' weakness to call an election immediately?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, that logic is a little far-fetched, unfortunately.

This pandemic has taught us that it is important to be ready for anything. When we are in a minority government situation, we know an election could be triggered at any time. The Bloc Québécois and the Conservatives actually voted for an election just a few weeks ago.

We will make sure we are prepared if there is an election, but we do not want an election. The opposition parties are the only ones talking about an election.

We, in contrast, are working for Canadians.

Diversity and Inclusion

[Jagmeet Singh, NDP, Burnaby South, BC]

Mr. Speaker, let me get this straight, the Prime Minister takes a knee at a Black Lives Matter protest, and then turns around and sends the military to spy on those protesters.

We just learned that the military spied on protesters to learn how protesters organize, who the major actors were and what the core narratives were all the while using the pandemic and the crisis in long-term care as an excuse, which makes no sense.

These are people who are concerned about systemic racism killing Black people. Why did the Prime Minister send the military to spy on concerned people who are raising their voices about systemic racism and how it kills Black people?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I agree with the leader of the NDP that these reports are extremely concerning. People have a right to gather and protest, and we are looking into this matter. These reports are very disturbing.

We know that there are systemic challenges that the military is facing that must be addressed. It is a priority for this government that we promote equality, equity and inclusion in all of our activities, including in the Canadian Armed Forces, and we will be following up on those troubling reports.

[Jagmeet Singh, NDP, Burnaby South, BC]

Mr. Speaker, today we learned that the Prime Minister sent the Canadian Forces to spy on Black Lives Matter protestors and that he used the pandemic and the health care crisis as an excuse. That makes no sense, because there is no connection. The BLM movement is about racial justice.

Did the Prime Minister send the Canadian Forces to spy on other protestors demanding racial justice in other provinces, such as Quebec?