Debates of May 26th, 2021

Public Safety

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we have always taken this threat seriously. Public safety officials have met with more than 34 universities to help them keep their research safe. In 2020, CSIS engaged more than 225 different organizations, including universities, to ensure they were aware of foreign threats. The Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, in March, requested the development of specific guidelines that incorporate national security into the evaluation of any research partnerships.

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

Mr. Speaker, Canada's security services have been warning the government and universities about the risks of cooperating with communist China for years. This government only took the threat seriously when it had to escort two scientists out of our high-security lab.

Will the Prime Minister end the partnership with China's Academy of Military Medical Science, yes or no?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, espionage and foreign interference pose real threats to the security of research. Our government has always taken this threat seriously.

In March, the minister requested the development of specific rules that integrate national security considerations into research partnerships. Public safety and CSIS are leading outreach to universities to help them protect their research. Canadian universities and research organizations must remain vigilant, and we will always be there to support them.

Intergovernmental Relations

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

Mr. Speaker, I am sure that this morning, Quebeckers and the Prime Minister saw the motion that the Bloc Québécois will be presenting shortly. The Prime Minister has surely seen that we have attempted to get a consensus and not present anything that was not legally and constitutionally sound or that could be controversial.

When the Bloc Québécois's motion is presented, can we expect a positive response from the Liberal Party to the affirmation of the French-speaking Quebec nation?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we look forward to seeing this motion in the House in an hour, but I remind the member for Beloeil—Chambly that the House declared in 2006: “That this House recognize that the Québécois form a nation within a united Canada.”

That remains our position.

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

Mr. Speaker, I deliberately made the motion public this morning, but I acknowledge the Liberal Prime Minister's references and the Conservative Party's actions.

As the Prime Minister has seen, the Bloc Québécois was very open and careful about the wording of its motion. It includes the words that were chosen and submitted to the Quebec National Assembly. It repeats the wording used in the Constitution of 1982 because there is a very broad consensus in Quebec, across party lines, with regard to the strong and legitimate affirmation of the Quebec nation, whose only official language is French and whose only common language is French.

Can Quebec really count on the voice of the Prime Minister?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, Quebeckers and all French-speaking Canadians can count on this government to protect their rights, their culture, the Quebec identity and the Canadian identity. We will always be there.

We will recognize the Quebec nation within a united Canada, as we have done before. We will always work to protect French across the country, including in Quebec, while ensuring respect for linguistic minorities, particularly Quebec's anglophone linguistic minority.

COVID-19 Emergency Response

[Jagmeet Singh, NDP, Burnaby South, BC]

Mr. Speaker, we are still in the midst of a pandemic. Many sectors are still shut down, and there are many workers who cannot go back to work. There are nearly two million Canadians who are relying on the CRB to put food on the table and to pay their bills. Despite this, the Prime Minister is cutting the help these families need by $800 a month in July and August.

Will the Prime Minister commit today to reversing this decision to cut the help for families who are still in need of support?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, from the beginning of this pandemic, we have made a straightforward promise to Canadians to have their backs, whatever it took, for as long as it took, and that will absolutely continue.

Our income supports have helped buffer the worst economic impacts and helped Canadians put food on the table. To get Canadians through the pandemic, budget 2021 proposes to extend the Canada recovery benefit up to 50 weeks and the Canada recovery caregiving benefit up to 42 weeks.

At the same time, we are helping Canadians get back into the labour market through the Canada recovery hiring program and by creating almost 500,000 new job and training opportunities. We will have Canadians' backs as we recover this economy.

[Jagmeet Singh, NDP, Burnaby South, BC]

Mr. Speaker, cutting the help that people need by $800 a month is not having their backs.

While we know that this pandemic has been difficult for people, it has not been hard on banks. Banks took public money from the government and then turned around and made billions of dollars in profits. Now, on top of that, they are increasing their service fees, in a pandemic. That is outrageous.

Even worse, the Prime Minister is letting the banks do that. The Prime Minister and the federal government have the power to limit the fees banks charge. They have the power to stop them. Why is the Prime Minister allowing banks to gouge Canadians in a pandemic?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, while financial institutions make decisions on bank fees independently from the government, we have been clear in our discussions with these institutions that Canadians are going through a difficult time and that we must all have their backs.

Our government's top priority is supporting Canadians during this pandemic. That is why we put in place new income support programs, including the CERB and the recovery benefits, and expanded EI. We are focused on making life more affordable for Canadians and making sure that the wealthiest pay their fair share.

Public Safety

[Pierre Paul-Hus, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, everything this government does is shrouded in secrecy. The Prime Minister refuses to inform Canadians about allegations of sexual abuse in the military, about contracts signed with Liberal friends and, now, about a threat to national security.

The Prime Minister has given the Chinese military access to research information that includes deadly virus samples. The Prime Minister has created a very dangerous situation for Canada's national security. Can he tell us how many scientists with ties to the Chinese government are working in our Canadian laboratories?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, for reasons of confidentiality and privacy, we cannot provide any further information or comments.

The National Microbiology Laboratory continues to play a critical role in protecting the health and safety of Canadians. We remain committed to supporting open and collaborative research, while protecting our research, national security and economic interests.

In March, we announced that we would be taking further steps to better integrate national security considerations into the evaluation of federally funded research projects.

[Pierre Paul-Hus, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister promised an open and transparent government, but here is yet another example of how he never intended to keep that promise. Canadians need answers about this national security threat.

Two scientists with ties to the Chinese Communist regime shared top secret research information from the lab in Winnipeg with the Chinese People's Liberation Army. The two scientists were then fired. If the Prime Minister agrees with their dismissal, can he also admit that such sharing of information with the Chinese Communist regime is unacceptable?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we have always and will always take this threat seriously.

Public safety officials have met with more than 34 universities to help them keep their research safe. In 2020, CSIS engaged more than 225 different organizations, including universities, to ensure that they were aware of foreign threats.

I also want to mention that we are seeing a disturbing rise in anti-Asian racism. I hope that my Conservative Party colleagues are not raising fears about Asian Canadians.

[Pierre Paul-Hus, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, for the Liberals, the easiest defence is to label us as racist. However, we are talking about the Chinese Communist regime, which has nothing to do with the people of China.

We know that CSIS advised the National Microbiology Laboratory that something had to be done. However, we want to know whether there are still Chinese scientists working on behalf of the Chinese Communist regime in Canadian laboratories.

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the international scientific community collaborates extensively with researchers from various countries and backgrounds. We have long known that diversity is our strength as a country, especially in scientific research.

We will always strive to do more to protect the integrity of our research institutions and their data. However, we will never play into the hands of intolerance towards people from other countries, simply because they look different. We will always stand up for diversity.

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

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister says that he takes these threats seriously, but he is not giving serious answers. He should be able to say that scientists who are sponsored by the Chinese military and the Chinese government will not be allowed in these facilities.

Will the Prime Minister ditch the script and the woke talking points and answer yes or no? Will he bar scientists who are sent here from the Chinese government and the Chinese military from accessing sensitive Canadian research facilities?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, over the past number of years we have taken significant steps to strengthen security around our sensitive institutions, particularly our universities and research facilities. We will continue to ensure the work that is done there is protecting Canada's interests and Canadians in general.

We will always ensure we are working with our security agencies to keep Canadians safe, and we will not give in to pandering to anti-Asian racism. We have seen enough of a rise in intolerance across the country these past months. We need to continue to stand strong in supporting diversity.

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

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister says he is working with our security agencies, but it was CSIS that called for the security clearances of these scientists to be revoked. This is not anything other than the government's failure to do its due diligence to protect Canadians from the real threat of viruses that could wipe out an entire population.

Will the Prime Minister tell Canadians why these scientists, who represent the highest risk to our national security, were given clearance to work in these labs? What is he covering up? Why is he protecting them now?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the two scientists in question are no longer employed by the Public Health Agency of Canada, and of course, we cannot disclose additional information nor comment further for privacy reasons and confidentiality.

We will continue to ensure that we are welcoming of the international scientific community in advancing the knowledge that will help us to understand not just this pandemic but also how to build a better future for everyone in Canada and around the world. At the same time, we are working with CSIS and our security agencies to keep Canadians safe, all while standing strongly against intolerance.

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

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister told us the Liberals were partnering with the universities. These are the same universities that are partnering with Huawei. The same Huawei all the other Five Eyes nations have banned, unlike the Prime Minister.

What is with the Prime Minister's admiration for the Chinese Communist Party, for its basic dictatorship, and for its interest in our intellectual property? What is the Prime Minister trying to hide? Is it his connections with the Chinese Communist Party that have him protecting these individuals again?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we will continue to ensure that our institutions and our networks are kept safe and secure. An examination of 5G technologies and a review of the security and economic considerations are ongoing. We will carefully weigh these matters with our allies and partners.

We will make the best decisions for Canadians. We will move forward, and at the same time, stand against anti-Asian racism, stand up for diversity and stand against intolerance.

Canadian Heritage

[Martin Champoux, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the cultural community and the media have been waiting for decades for Ottawa to reform the CRTC and compel web giants to co-operate. Quebec culture has waited long enough. Bill C-10 must be passed before the end of the session, here and in the Senate.

The leader of the Bloc Québécois offered the government its highest possible level of co-operation. The House leader of the Bloc Québécois offered the same kind of co-operation to his counterpart. The Bloc has held out its hand. Will the Prime Minister finally take that hand so we can pass Bill C-10?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we are very pleased with the co-operation we have received from several parties to improve protection for our artists and cultural communities. We must, of course, hold debates in the House and we must also act to protect Canadian content and content creators in a world that is increasingly digital.

We gladly welcome and are grateful for the goodwill of the members of the House who want to work together to protect our artists and continue to ensure a strong cultural sector for our economy.