Debates of June 19th, 2023

Public Services and Procurement

[Helena Jaczek, Liberal, Minister of Public Services and Procurement]

Mr. Speaker, I as a physician, with my colleague, the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, know first-hand the harm caused by opioid addiction. While the leader of the official opposition continues to oppose safe supply, our government is focused on saving lives and improving our policies to better serve Canadians.

For Public Services and Procurement Canada, that means working to improve Canada's integrity regime brought in by the previous government so that we can better safeguard procurement policies and practices.

Justice

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

Mr. Speaker, recent media reports confirm that there is an active, ongoing RCMP investigation in relation to prosecutorial interference on the 2019 SNC-Lavalin scandal.

My question to the government is a simple yes-or-no question. Is the Prime Minister, any member of cabinet or any member of their staff currently under investigation by the RCMP, yes or no?

[Mark Holland, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

No, Mr. Speaker.

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Mr. Speaker, four years after the appalling SNC‑Lavalin scandal, when the Prime Minister of Canada fired minister Jody Wilson‑Raybould because she refused to politically meddle in a legal matter, this dreadful business is now back in the news.

Will the Prime Minister rise in the House today and confirm whether he or any member of his cabinet has met with or is currently under investigation by the RCMP?

[Mark Holland, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, I have already answered these questions. The Conservative Party is obviously bringing up a situation that happened years ago for partisan reasons. I have already answered the question.

Government Accountability

[René Villemure, Bloc, Trois-Rivières, QC]

Mr. Speaker, ministers do not know anything about anything. That may seem like an odd statement, but it is nevertheless a major part of this government's record.

The Minister for Public Safety was out of the loop on Paul Bernardo's transfer, even though his employees knew about it. The Prime Minister was also out of the loop, just as he was out of the loop on China's threats against the MP for Wellington—Halton Hills. The Minister of Public Safety was unaware of that, too. None of the ministers knew anything about anything. The public no longer accepts this response.

When will the government stop pleading ignorance?

[Marco Mendicino, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, that is exactly what I did as Minister of Public Safety. I have strengthened the briefing protocol to ensure that I and the entire government team have all the information we need to protect our communities.

In addition, we have a very strong track record with new powers and new transparency mechanisms. We are always ready to work together, not only with the Bloc Québécois, but with all members in the House.

[René Villemure, Bloc, Trois-Rivières, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the government's response may be worse than the situation itself.

It says that it has given instructions to inform ministers from now on about hot issues that concern them, such as the transfer of prisoners of interest or threats against elected members. This government has been in power since 2015 and it is telling us it is now requiring its ministers to be made aware of their portfolios. That raises an ethical question.

Which is worse: Ministers who do not know anything about anything or ministers who wait until the eighth year of government to require being informed of their portfolios?

[Marco Mendicino, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, I think that everyone is in a good mood this afternoon. I am always ready to work with members from the Bloc Québécois despite their jokes.

This is very important work. We have a lot of files to focus on and we want to continue working with the Bloc Québécois.

[Claude DeBellefeuille, Bloc, Salaberry—Suroît, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the government has abandoned any notion of ministerial responsibility during this session. The Liberals are happy to be accountable when things are going well and are always there for good news. However, when things go sideways, they do not know anything about anything. They avoid hot topics. In the case of Chinese interference, they even blamed the media for publishing fake news. That is completely irresponsible.

To govern is to be accountable when things go well and when they do not, and to be responsible at all times. They are going to have to prove that they are ready to govern over the next few months. Is that still something they want to do?

[Marco Mendicino, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, to take responsibility means to implement measures where there are issues and challenges. That is exactly what I did when there were challenges with information sharing. I strengthened the protocol for foreign interference and for transfers of offenders in federal institutions.

Yes, we must always work with all members, including Bloc Québécois members. It is very important work.

Finance

[Pat Kelly, Conservative, Calgary Rocky Ridge, AB]

Mr. Speaker, massive Liberal deficits cause inflation, which cause interest rate hikes, which lead to mortgage defaults. The IMF warns that Canada is at the greatest risk for mortgage defaults of any country that it tracks. The solution is to stop the deficits, which stops inflation, which stops interest rate hikes, which will stop defaults.

The finance minister knows this, and she said as much last fall, so when will she table her plan to rein in her deficits?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, in our Article IV consultation with IMF, the IMF actually said that Canada has the strongest fiscal position in the G7. It said we have the lowest deficit in the G7 and the lowest debt-to-GDP ratio. The IMF commended our investments in the green economy and our early learning and child care plan. Canada is doing very well relative to its peers in a complicated global economy.

[Pat Kelly, Conservative, Calgary Rocky Ridge, AB]

Mr. Speaker, that is cold comfort to families who do not know what they are going to do when their mortgage comes up for renewal. Inflation caused by Liberal deficits means that Canadians cannot afford groceries. Canadians are increasingly buying food on credit and struggling to pay their bills. Equifax Canada reports that Canadians are going deeper into debt, and defaults are rising.

When will the Liberal government get control of its spending so Canadians can take back control of theirs?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, it is not just the IMF that confirms the strength of Canada's fiscal position. After we tabled the budget, S&P reiterated our AAA rating.

Let us talk about what the Conservatives would do. The Conservatives would eviscerate pensions for Canadian seniors. The Conservatives would destroy and impoverish the EI system that so many Canadians depend on. The Conservatives would starve our health care system of essential investment. Of course, the Conservatives would make pollution free again. That would be devastating for Canadians and Canadian families.

[Terry Dowdall, Conservative, Simcoe—Grey, ON]

Mr. Speaker, rate hikes are on the rise again. The Liberals' record debt level has led to 40-year-high inflation and the highest interest rate in 22 years.

Higher Liberal taxes were already making Canadians poor. Interest rates will now make owning and renting more expensive. Conservatives have been asking for a plan to balance the budget, but the NDP-Liberal coalition just laughs and spends more. The IMF now warns that Canada is at the highest risk of mortgage defaults among advanced economies.

How many Canadians need to lose their homes before the government presents a plan to balance the budget?

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, it is a very timely question. In fact, timing is important here because part of the budget is to support dental care for children in this country. It has been 19 days since we wrote to the Leader of the Opposition, the Conservative leader, and asked him what he thought about the over 1,000 children in his riding and the 1,000 children in the MP's riding. We asked why these children do not deserve the dental care that members of this House have enjoyed for many months and in some cases for two decades. We are curious to hear the answer.

Indigenous Affairs

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Attawapiskat is in a humanitarian crisis that has become worse year by year under the Liberal government. With overcrowded homes and unsafe drinking water, no matter what Attiwapiskat does to try to get ahead, it cannot, because it does not even have a proper land base to build houses.

The government calls the land of the Mushkegowuk Cree Crown land. It is treaty land, and the people of Attiwapiskat have a right to develop the land for their people.

What steps will the indigenous affairs minister take to work with Attiwapiskat on building a livable community that offers hope to the young?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario]

Mr. Speaker, it was a privilege to meet with the community members and the chief of Attiwapiskat this morning, where the member was also present. Together we talked about a road map to make sure that Attiwapiskat has the tools it needs and the financial support of the federal government to move forward.

I agree with the member. Every person in this country must feel that they can reach their full potential and that there is hope for their children. Together with the leadership of Attiwapiskat, we are going to do exactly that.

Public Safety

[Lori Idlout, NDP, Nunavut, NU]

Uqaqtittiji, last week, the Indigenous Police Chiefs of Ontario came to Ottawa to demand that the government reinstate its core funding to help keep its communities safe. The minister promised to provide three months of funding as quickly as possible. People are dying as they wait for him to fulfill that promise.

The minister needs to stop playing games with the safety of 45 first nations. When will the funding be reinstated with the terms and conditions that respect the rights of indigenous peoples?

[Marco Mendicino, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, as I said when I updated the House last week, I want to assure my colleague that we are working very closely with the community, including leadership representatives like Chief Kai Liu, to ensure we can get funding flowing back to the community to ensure there is public safety on the ground. We want to have these discussions in a way that is constructive. We obviously want to solve the longer-term challenges around first nations policing, which at its core must involve the empowerment of first nations communities.

That is precisely what I am dedicated to doing and I will work closely with my colleague across the way to achieve that goal.

Regional Economic Development

[Viviane LaPointe, Liberal, Sudbury, ON]

Mr. Speaker, advancing reconciliation means investing in indigenous-led businesses and ensuring we build a resilient economy that is inclusive and looks forward toward the future.

Can the Minister of Indigenous Services update the House on what this government has done recently to strengthen and advance the economic development of first nations in northern Ontario?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for Sudbury for understanding and advocating an inclusive economy in which indigenous entrepreneurs and indigenous communities have all the tools of economic success. Indeed, that is exactly how FedNor has been transitioning to support indigenous economies and support economic reconciliation.

Today, FedNor is investing over $8.2 million in new, targeted investments to indigenous-led initiatives across northern Ontario. It is going to support indigenous business leaders, communities, and organizations, and foster the incredible talent of our communities all across northern Ontario.

Finance

[Shelby Kramp-Neuman, Conservative, Hastings—Lennox and Addington, ON]

Mr. Speaker, experts across Canada and the world are sounding the alarm bells. The Liberal government deficits are causing mortgage defaults because of inflation driving interest rate hikes. One mortgage broker in Ontario said that it may be the last straw. Washington and Paris are taking note as well. The IMF and the OECD have singled out Canada as the nation with the highest risk of mortgage defaults.

Will the Prime Minister listen to domestic and international experts and end his inflationary deficit spending?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, in fact both the IMF and the OECD have forecast that Canada will have the strongest economic growth in the G7 this year and next year.

The IMF has further commended Canada for our very strong fiscal position and has pointed out that Canada continues to have not only the lowest deficit in the G7 but also the lowest debt-to-GDP ratio.

Let me remind the members opposite that notwithstanding their efforts to talk Canada down, we enjoy an AAA credit rating, reaffirmed after we—