Debates of June 21st, 2022

Ethics

[Marco Mendicino, Liberal, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank you for creating some pause in this chamber as I express, I hope on behalf of all members, our condolences and our sympathies to the families of the victims, some of whom I have had an opportunity to meet. This continues to be a very difficult moment for them.

In the interim, we know the public commission is doing its important work independently of government. There needs to be due process; there needs to be a trauma-informed process to this, and at the end of the day, we will do whatever we can to support that process, so that there can be justice for the families. They deserve it.

[Stephen Ellis, Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester, NS]

Mr. Speaker, it is very clear from recent news reports that the Mass Casualty Commission confirms that the Prime Minister and the then public safety minister interfered with the release of numbers of casualties. We know that what the quote says is that, in reference to victim numbers, it was 100% Minister Blair and the Prime Minister.

Is that not true?

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I just want to remind the hon. members, when referring to someone else in the chamber, to refer to them using their title, not by their name.

[Bill Blair, Liberal, President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Emergency Preparedness]

Mr. Speaker, I am very happy to advise this House that this issue has already been dealt with by the Mass Casualty Commission. The commissioner of the RCMP has confirmed for the commission that no such direction or pressure was ever exerted by me or by any other member of this government. Among the important work of the Mass Casualty Commission is examining a number of the significant communication challenges that that event involved—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I am going to have to stop the minister. I am having a hard time hearing, and I am about 20 feet away from the minister, so I am going to ask everyone to be quiet and ask the minister to take it from the top, because I missed most of that.

The hon. minister.

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to have the opportunity to advise this House that this matter was dealt with a number of months ago. The commissioner of the RCMP has confirmed for the Mass Casualty Commission that no such direction or pressure was ever exerted by me or any other member of this government. Among the important work of the Mass Casualty Commission is to examine the important communication challenges that were evident during this tragic event.

We look forward to fact-based findings and recommendations for improvement.

[John Brassard, Conservative, Barrie—Innisfil, ON]

Mr. Speaker, this is critical, because, according to the commander's notes in the Mass Casualty Commission report, Commissioner Lucki promised the Prime Minister's Office and the public safety minister's office that they would release the information in an active investigation that she was discussing.

It would appear that somebody from the Prime Minister's Office and the public safety minister's office was directing Commissioner Lucki to interfere in an active police investigation, when the investigators on the ground said they did not want to.

Who in the PMO and the public safety minister's office directed Commissioner Lucki?

[Bill Blair, Liberal, President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Emergency Preparedness]

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to confirm that no one in the Prime Minister's Office or in the public safety office exerted any pressure or direction on the commissioner of the RCMP. The commissioner of the RCMP engaged with our officials, and she has already confirmed for the Mass Casualty Commission that no such direction or pressure was ever given by any member of this government.

[John Brassard, Conservative, Barrie—Innisfil, ON]

Mr. Speaker, that is contradictory evidence, according to the commission's report. According to the commanders on the ground, Commissioner Lucki became extremely upset that the commissioners were not releasing the information in an active investigation, despite the fact that the commanders on the ground said they were not willing to do it because it would compromise the investigation.

Again, I ask this: Somebody in the Prime Minister's Office and somebody in the public safety minister's office directed Commissioner Lucki to get that information. Who was it?

[Bill Blair, Liberal, President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Emergency Preparedness]

Mr. Speaker, the commissioner of the RCMP, in the operations of her police service, is entirely independent of government. I can confirm for the House, as the commissioner has also confirmed, that no such direction or pressure was exerted by any member of this government to influence the commissioner's exercise of her authorities over her police service.

Taxation

[Jean-Denis Garon, Bloc, Mirabel, QC]

Mr. Speaker, if someone owes the Canada Revenue Agency $20, the CRA will hunt them down to the ends of the earth, but not so for companies like KPMG, which helps millionaires hide their income in the Isle of Man tax haven. Today we learned that KPMG has been cleared by the Canada Revenue Agency. In contrast, in 2005, the United States fined KPMG for the same financial arrangement and filed criminal charges against nine of its executives. In Canada, it did not get so much as a slap on the wrist.

Why is the minister giving a free pass to executives and companies that promote the use of tax havens?

[Diane Lebouthillier, Liberal, Minister of National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, I will say it again to my colleague opposite. Since 2015, we have invested over $2 billion to fight tax evasion. If my colleague wants to contribute directly to the outcome of the investigations, I would be pleased to write him a letter of recommendation and send him to work for the RCMP as an investigator.

[Jean-Denis Garon, Bloc, Mirabel, QC]

Mr. Speaker, in 2017, when the minister was asked if charges would be brought against KPMG, she said: “Yes, because setting up schemes is criminal too.”

Today, the Canada Revenue Agency is letting them slip through the net. After clearing the fraudsters, the minister is clearing KPMG. It is unacceptable. Under the law, the minister can order a new investigation and require a third party to direct this investigation to get to the bottom of the matter.

Will she personally order this investigation, or does she plan to accept the tax avoidance scheme orchestrated by KPMG?

[Diane Lebouthillier, Liberal, Minister of National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, fighting tax evasion and tax avoidance has always been a priority for our government. For the information of my colleague across the way, who is new, the Canada Revenue Agency is independent, and I do not manage or direct investigations.

Sports

[John Nater, Conservative, Perth—Wellington, ON]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday at heritage committee it was revealed that in June 2018, a senior official at Heritage Canada was made aware of the allegations of sexual assault at Hockey Canada, yet for four years the government continued to give Hockey Canada millions of taxpayer dollars while no action was taken to hold anyone accountable or address the dangerous culture that enabled harassment and assault.

For four years, Hockey Canada continued to receive millions. Why?

[Pascale St-Onge, Liberal, Minister of Sport and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec]

Mr. Speaker, when Hockey Canada reported one case in 2018, it told Sport Canada that the investigation had been handed over to the London police. Now that we are aware of these allegations and there has been an out-of-court settlement, I have commissioned a financial audit to ensure that no public funds were used to cover up this story. It is a appalling story, and this is not the end.

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday at the heritage committee, when they were asked questions about the cover-up culture that is so a part of their institution, a Hockey Canada official said, “we're on a journey”. Specifically, they were being asked questions about an alleged sexual assault case involving a gang rape by eight players. The response, “we're on a journey” seemed trite and altogether inappropriate.

I simply would like to know this from the minister: Are you happy with the response that was received yesterday? If not, what tangible actions will be taken immediately?

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Before I go to the hon. minister, I would like to remind everyone in the House to put their questions through the Chair and not directly to each other.

The hon. minister.

[Pascale St-Onge, Liberal, Minister of Sport and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec]

Mr. Speaker, like all Canadians, I am disgusted and horrified by this situation, and I am not satisfied with the explanation from Hockey Canada yesterday. This is why we will conduct a financial audit to make sure that no public funds were used. I am looking at all the options to move forward in this case.

[Kevin Waugh, Conservative, Saskatoon—Grasswood, SK]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, we heard damaging testimony from Hockey Canada in relation to the horrendous allegations of an alleged sexual assault that happened some four years ago. Hockey Canada needs to own this. My fear is that someday some of these players will become coaches. The department was notified some four years ago of these allegations. Why did the minister continue to issue funding to Hockey Canada for the last four years?

[Pascale St-Onge, Liberal, Minister of Sport and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec]

Mr. Speaker, as I said recently, there will be a financial audit to ensure that no public funds were used to cover up this story. Like all Canadians and like my colleague, I am horrified by what we heard yesterday, and we are going to ensure that Hockey Canada is held accountable for what happened.

Canadian Heritage

[Fayçal El-Khoury, Liberal, Laval—Les Îles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, this weekend, the G7 culture ministers concluded their first meeting to discuss issues and challenges related to culture and media—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I must briefly interrupt the hon. member.

There is a shouting match going back and forth between a couple of MPs. I do not want to point them out, but I do want to ask them to control their emotions or, for lack of a better word, their anger.

I will ask the hon. member for Laval—Les Îles to ask his question again.