Debates of May 3rd, 2023

Health

[Adam van Koeverden, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health and to the Minister of Sport]

Mr. Speaker, our government and the Minister of Health appreciate the leadership and contributions of the PMPRB as an independent quasi-judicial body. The minister does not provide direction to the PMPRB and, as stated in section 96(5) of the Patent Act, the PMPRB must consult with various parties, which include the minister, before issuing any new guidelines.

In this context, on November 28, 2022, the Minister of Health sent a letter to the PMPRB, which is available online for everybody who would like to see it.

Democratic Institutions

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Whitby, ON]

Mr. Speaker, my question is to the chair of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs.

Yesterday, Conservative MPs in the finance committee held the committee hostage, blocking supports to countless middle-class Canadians. Not only is that shameful, but this obstruction caused our PROC committee meeting to be cancelled. It is at that same committee meeting that we were set to hear from high-level Conservative Party staffer, Jenni Byrne, as part of our study on foreign interference.

Does the chair not find this highly suspicious? Will the committee address these avoidance tactics by the Conservatives?

[Bardish Chagger, Liberal, Waterloo, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the member for Whitby is correct. It is very concerning that Conservative members are filibustering at finance committee to avoid Jenni Byrne's testimony.

It is essential that Canadians be able to have confidence in our democratic institutions, and that is why all parties agreed—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Order, order. There seems to be some confusion here. I just want to remind the hon. members to just get up when it is their turn to speak, just a few seconds before, maybe five or 10 seconds before. It just makes the job for the Speaker a lot easier, so that we do not have confusion.

Please, I know everybody is trying to help each other, but offering advice across the floor is not a good idea. Maybe just help yourselves out.

The hon. member for Waterloo, from the top, please.

[Bardish Chagger, Liberal, Waterloo, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the member for Whitby is correct. It is very concerning that Conservative members are filibustering at finance committee to avoid Jenni Byrne's testimony.

It is essential that Canadians be able to have confidence in our democratic institutions, and that is why all parties agreed to prioritize the study on foreign election interference. Canadians now know that the previous Conservative government knew of foreign interference in our elections. Jenni Byrne served in senior roles to both Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Conservative Party. She was to appear yesterday evening, yet the Conservatives chose, using dirty tricks, to avoid accountability.

They say this is a serious matter, but they sure—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I understand that there may have been something offensive said, but I have no idea what the hell it was, because I could not hear it.

I apologize for using unparliamentary language.

The hon. member for Brantford—Brant.

Public Safety

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

Mr. Speaker, once again, the public safety minister is misleading the House.

He claimed that the RCMP had taken decisive actions to shut down all Beijing-funded police stations, yet contrary to this claim, two Montreal community groups under investigation for holding secret Chinese government police stations say they continue to operate normally, with no closure requests from the RCMP.

Why is this minister misleading Canadians? Why would he not shut these stations down?

[Marco Mendicino, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, with respect, it is the quality of that question that betrays the member opposite's understanding of what we do in elected government and what our police agencies do, which is operationally independent.

It is astonishing to me that the member opposite does not understand that. The RCMP have been clear that when there have been activities associated with police stations they have taken concrete action. If more pop up, our expectation is that they will do so, backed by the record investments that the government has put into keeping our communities safe.

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

Mr. Speaker, our democracy is at stake.

The public safety minister looked Canadians in the eyes and claimed that decisive action had been taken to shut all of these stations down. This minister has a significant credibility deficit. He has misled Canadians in the past and continues to do so today.

When will the minister finally stand up, prioritize the safety of Canadians, stop mocking the Conservatives and shut these stations down?

[Marco Mendicino, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, we take this issue very seriously, which is why the RCMP have been on top of it, providing public updates to everyone around the actions they are taking to disrupt any foreign interference that may be affiliated with these so-called police stations.

Obviously if there are more threats along these lines, our expectation is that they will do so, but they will do so in a manner that is respectful of operational independence. It is quite shocking to me that at this stage in the member opposite's career he does not understand that important democratic principle.

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

Mr. Speaker, on our side, we are simply talking about the facts.

Fact one: Two months ago, the RCMP announced that there were two police stations being run by Beijing, one in Brossard and one in Montreal.

Fact two: The Prime Minister has already clearly stated that he would take any action possible to stop hostile operations in Canada.

Fact three: Last Thursday, the Minister of Public Safety stated in committee that the police stations run by Beijing were closed.

Why is the Minister of Public Safety misleading Canadians?

[Marco Mendicino, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, with respect, my colleague must read the RCMP's updates.

The RCMP indicated that it is taking concrete action on activities of the so-called police stations run by Beijing. With the help of our government's investments, it will remain vigilant on this issue.

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

That is the problem, Mr. Speaker.

The Minister of Public Safety is there to give an account of what is happening in terms of public safety in Canada. The RCMP is saying one thing and the minister is saying another. Then, the minister comes back and says that he is not the one in charge of RCMP operations. However, he is the minister responsible for public safety.

Canadians need to know the truth. Have the police stations run by Beijing in Canada really been shut down, yes or no? Are they still open, as we learned on Monday? What is the real answer?

[Marco Mendicino, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, as I already explained plenty of times, the RCMP has taken decisive action in connection with the activities of the so-called police stations run by Beijing.

We are seeking to address this issue with existing investments and resources and with investments and resources that are set out in budget 2023.

I hope that the Conservatives will support this budget. It is very important for protecting Canadians.

Democratic Institutions

[Christine Normandin, Bloc, Saint-Jean, QC]

Mr. Speaker, when the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, or CSIS, informed the Prime Minister in 2019 that a prospective Liberal MP was receiving support from China, he kept it secret and did nothing.

When CSIS informed him in 2021 that an opposition MP and his family were being threatened by China, he kept it secret and did nothing.

The Prime Minister keeps things secret when it serves the Liberals and when it does a disservice to the opposition. After all that, this same Prime Minister tells us to trust his investigation, to trust his rapporteur, whom he appointed and who reports to him.

When will there be an independent public inquiry?

[Marco Mendicino, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, the reason we have confidence in Mr. Johnston is that he is an individual with a remarkable track record. What is more, he served as governor general, having been appointed by a former Conservative prime minister.

This is not a partisan issue. We are always willing to work with Mr. Johnston. When the recommendations are made, the government will respect them.

[Rhéal Fortin, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we are two days away from the coronation of Charles III and the Liberal convention, and Liberal MPs are starting to be heard. They are telling us that the oath to the King is outdated and it is time to make it optional.

Members of the House should be loyal only to the public. There should not be two loyalties: one to the Crown and one to the citizens. There should be only one loyalty, and that is to the people.

People no longer want oaths to the King, nor God Save the King. The time has come for change. This is a good opportunity.

Why not finally cut ties with the British monarchy once and for all?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Minister of Innovation]

Mr. Speaker, I get the feeling from the other side of the House that there is a lot of enthusiasm for the response.

While Quebeckers and Canadians are concerned about affordability, health care, dental care, building the economy of tomorrow and talking about investments, the Bloc Québécois is talking to us about the monarchy.

That is quite something, in 2023, to be talking about the monarchy while Canadians' minds are on affordability.

[Kerry-Lynne Findlay, Conservative, South Surrey—White Rock, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister and the Minister of Public Safety knew two years ago that a foreign agent participated in threats to a member of Parliament's family because of his vote in this House. Aside from the member for Wellington—Halton Hills, any evidence of any threat against any member in this House should have resulted in expulsion of that agent.

Who was asleep at the switch two years ago, and who is still asleep this week?

[Marco Mendicino, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, by now, given the repeated nature of the questions we are receiving from Conservatives, they will know that we have taken decisive and concrete action in supporting the member for Wellington—Halton Hills.

It was the Conservatives who were asleep at the switch, respectfully. They were asleep at the switch for 10 years when they had the reins of government. They could have introduced new powers for CSIS; they did not do it. They could have introduced an NSICOP; they did not do it. They could have introduced NSIRA; they did not do it. It was their incompetence and their being asleep at the switch that allowed us the opportunity to do that work, and we will continue to build on it so we can protect the people in our institutions.

[Andrew Scheer, Conservative, Regina—Qu'Appelle, SK]

Mr. Speaker, the government is now trying to hide behind the Vienna Convention to explain its inaction with regard to an agent from Beijing harassing a member of Parliament's family. Let me read it. Article 9 states, “The receiving State may at any time and without having to explain its decision, notify the sending State that...any member of the diplomatic staff of the mission is persona non-grata.... In any such case, the sending State shall...either recall the person concerned or terminate his functions”.

Why is that agent from Beijing still in Canada?

[Rob Oliphant, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, it is increasingly clear, and it has been for several years, that China is a disruptive power. China is interfering in our society. We are very aware of that and we are fighting it every day. We are also very aware of the Vienna Convention. We are very aware of our abilities and our responsibilities.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!