Debates of Nov. 23rd, 2023

Public Services and Procurement

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians want these questions asked of the ethically and morally challenged government. Public officials were caught lying and insiders who became millionaires through the arrive scam app were caught lying. It is time for honesty and clarity in this House. For weeks, we have heard the same talking points from the minister and no action. No one has been charged and no one has been fired.

Once again, will the minister responsible for this fiasco that the RCMP is investigating please stand up?

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, my hon. friend knows very well that when any irregularity with respect to contracting practices comes to light, the responsible thing for senior public servants who administer these rules to do is to refer it to the appropriate authorities and to establish the facts from external audits. That is exactly what the Canada Border Services Agency did. If committees want to look into this matter, we welcome that exercise as well.

My hon. friend should know very well that it is not elected ministers who decide who faces criminal charges. It is the police and prosecutors, and I have every confidence they will do their job.

Health

[Len Webber, Conservative, Calgary Confederation, AB]

Mr. Speaker, a couple of years ago, this House unanimously passed my private member's bill that allowed for the annual tax form to be used to ask a simple question on organ and tissue donation. Both Ontario and Nunavut opted to have this question included in their tax forms last year, and I am hoping that other provinces will participate in the future.

Can the minister tell us how many taxpayers in Ontario and Nunavut indicated through their tax returns their intent to become life-saving organ and tissue donors?

[Marie-Claude Bibeau, Liberal, Minister of National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, the member for Calgary Confederation has worked hard to help Canadians waiting for transplants. I was happy, along with members from all parties, to support his bill. It shows we can do great things when we work together.

The impact of this change is significant, and I am pleased to say it has been very successful already. The most recent numbers we have indicate that 2.45 million people used their tax returns to indicate they want to be donors. This is very promising.

International Trade

[Peter Fonseca, Liberal, Mississauga East—Cooksville, ON]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of International Trade and is regarding the important Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement and Conservatives' concerns of our government's unequivocal support for Ukraine. They were right about one thing, that support for Ukraine on this side of the House is unequivocal. Clearly, the same cannot be said for the Conservative Party of Canada as the Conservatives made the shameful decision to appease their far-right, anti-Ukraine extreme base.

Can the minister tell us what the Ukrainians, our friends, have said about this agreement?

[Mary Ng, Liberal, Minister of Export Promotion]

Mr. Speaker, President Zelenskyy himself asked for Canada to negotiate a progressive, strong, excellent free trade agreement. We have modernized it, and we have done that. The only party in this House that voted against Ukraine is the Conservative Party of Canada.

On this side of the House, we stand with Ukraine in what we say, in what we do and certainly in how we vote. This side has voted for Ukraine.

Indigenous Affairs

[Niki Ashton, NDP, Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, MB]

Mr. Speaker, we now have an accurate picture of the infrastructure gap facing first nations, and the numbers are truly vile: $350 billion.

This is first nations like Shamattawa facing a housing crisis. It is the long-term boil water advisory in Pukatawagan and 27 other first nations. It is crumbling schools, like the one in Tataskweyak Cree Nation. It is the forced isolation of communities, like Wasagamack and Pauingassi, that desperately need an airport.

It is unacceptable, but what is the government's solution? It is cuts to Indigenous Services. Why are the Liberals punishing first nations for Liberal failures?

[Jenica Atwin, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indigenous Services]

Mr. Speaker, I really appreciate my hon. colleague's passion in this matter.

I am proud to be part of a government that has done more than any other to close the infrastructure gap. We are investing in and working with first nations, Métis and Inuit to build healthy, resilient and prosperous communities for the long term. That is why we are supporting over 9,000 infrastructure projects, including indigenous-led Watay Power, which is connecting 17 diesel-dependent first nations communities to the Ontario power grid.

We are going to continue following indigenous leadership to address the infrastructure priorities from coast to coast to coast. We know there is more work that needs to be done. We are committed to building this work with first nations, Inuit and Métis partners.

Foreign Affairs

[Mike Morrice, Green, Kitchener Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, while a four-day pause is delayed by a day, Israel has only intensified its bombing of the Gaza Strip. For six weeks now, the government has been unequivocal in demanding hostages be returned, as the government should be, and yet the government cannot even seem to bring itself to say the word “ceasefire”.

An estimated 5,500 children have now died in the Gaza Strip alone in recent weeks. Therefore, I ask again: How many children need to die before the government calls for a ceasefire?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, of course, we condemn the October 7 terrorist attack by Hamas. We are extremely preoccupied with what is happening in Gaza. I have said it many times. It is one of the worst places, if not the worst place, to live in the world, and too many women and children have died. That is why we welcome the humanitarian pause that will be happening, starting tomorrow, that has been agreed to between Israel and Hamas and brokered by Qatar.

We will continue to support the fact that Canadians need to get out of Gaza. Civilians must be protected. Humanitarian aid must go. Hostages need to be released.

Presence in Gallery

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

I would like draw to members' attention the presence in the gallery of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada 2023 Impact Awards winners.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear!

Oral Questions

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

I see a number of points of order on the floor.

I will recognize the hon. member for Edmonton Strathcona.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Mr. Speaker, today during question period, the member for Miramichi—Grand Lake used extraordinarily unparliamentary language. It was slanderous. I bring this to your attention, because it is not the first time the member has spoken in that manner. The member used hateful language throughout question period multiple times this week.

Today, he said a very slanderous thing, which I can say with all certainty is a slander because it was directed at me. The idea that the New Democratic Party and I would not condemn in the strongest possible terms the terrorist attack by Hamas is absolutely slanderous. The fact that we have called for a ceasefire and the Conservatives refused to call for that is something very—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

I see the member for St. Catharines rising on the same point of order. I would ask the member to be very brief and to the point.

The hon. member.

[Chris Bittle, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Housing]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to confirm that I did hear that from the member for Miramichi—Grand Lake. When questioned on it by a member on that side, he said he was here for the facts.

I think in this place we can be parliamentary. However, accusing another member of supporting a terrorist organization in this country is way out of line, and I hope, Mr. Speaker, that you will look into this.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

I thank the hon. member for St. Catharines for his comments.

I see that the member for Miramichi—Grand Lake would like to get up. I do hope the member will be brief and succinct.

The hon. member for Miramichi—Grand Lake.

[Jake Stewart, Conservative, Miramichi—Grand Lake, NB]

Mr. Speaker, can I ask what the exact thing is that I am being accused of? It is unclear to me. I need to know the exact words, and then I will talk.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

I will ask members for their patience for a second.

Colleagues, I am not inclined to repeat unparliamentary language in this House. I will review the tapes.

If the hon. member for Miramichi—Grand Lake would like to get up, I would be happy to recognize him.

The hon. member for Miramichi—Grand Lake.

[Jake Stewart, Conservative, Miramichi—Grand Lake, NB]

Mr. Speaker, I will gladly rise. I still have not been told completely what—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

Order. I ask all members to please allow the hon. member for Miramichi—Grand Lake to respond.

The hon. member for Miramichi—Grand Lake.

[Jake Stewart, Conservative, Miramichi—Grand Lake, NB]

Mr. Speaker, number one, I directed nothing at the member who is over here in the corner. My exact words, and I know the NDP is not going to like it, are I said that they were Hamas supporters, and they are.