Debates of June 8th, 2023

Questions Passed as Orders for Returns

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

Question No.1283—

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

With regard to federal contracts awarded since fiscal year 2015-16, broken down by fiscal year: what is the total value of contracts awarded to (i) McKinsey & Company, (ii) Deloitte, (iii) PricewaterhouseCoopers, (iv) Accenture, (v) KPMG, (vi) Ernst and Young?

(Return tabled)

Question No.1423—

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

With regard to legal fees and expenses incurred by the Canada Revenue Agency in relation to court cases involving registered charities, since January 1, 2016: what are the details of all cases with legal fees exceeding $25,000, including, for each case, the (i) name of the case, (ii) total legal fees and expenses, (iii) internal legal fees, (iv) external legal fees, (v) current status, (vi) outcome, if applicable?

(Return tabled)

Question No.1424—

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

With regard to Old Age Security (OAS) payments: (a) how many OAS recipients have a gross income of over $60,000 in total, broken down by $5,000 salary increment levels between $60,000 and $150,000; (b) what was the amount paid out for each of the salary increments in (a) during the last fiscal year; and (c) for each part of (a) and (b), what is the breakdown by age 65 to 74, and those over 75?

(Return tabled)

Question No.1425—

[Dan Albas, Conservative, Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC]

With regard to government requests to censor information, since January 1, 2016: (a) how many requests has the government made to social media companies to censor information, including any article, post or reply; (b) what is the breakdown of (a) by social media platform, year, department, agency, Crown corporation or other government entity that made the request; (c) what are the details of each request to a social media company, including, for each (i) the date, (ii) the platform, (iii) the description of the post or reply, (iv) the reason for the request, (v) whether the information was censored and how it was censored; (d) how many requests has the government made to traditional media companies to censor information; (e) what is the breakdown of (d) by media outlet, year, department, agency, Crown corporation, or other government entity that made the request; and (f) what are the details of each request in (d), including, for each, (i) the date, (ii) the media outlet, (iii) the title of the individual who made the request, (iv) the description of the content subject to the censorship request, (v) whether the content was censored and how it was censored?

(Return tabled)

Question No.1428—

[Colin Carrie, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

With regard to the procurement of COVID-19 rapid test kits: how many kits were procured during the 2022-23 fiscal year, and what is the value of those kits, in total, broken down by (i) month acquired, (ii) supplier from which they were acquired, (iii) provincial or territorial government, federal department or other entity to which they were provided?

(Return tabled)

Question No.1429—

[Scot Davidson, Conservative, York—Simcoe, ON]

With regard to reports of "March madness expenditures" where the government makes purchases before the end of the fiscal year so that departmental funds do not go unspent, broken down by department, agency or other government entity: (a) what were the total expenditures during February and March of 2023 on (i) materials and supplies (standard object 07), (ii) acquisition of machinery and equipment, including parts and consumable tools (standard object 09); and (b) what are the details of each such expenditure, including the (i) vendor, (ii) amount, (iii) date of the expenditure, (iv) description of the goods or services provided, (v) delivery date, (vi) file number?

(Return tabled)

Question No.1431—

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

With regard to Prairies Economic Development Canada, and its precursor Western Economic Diversification Canada, between December 2015 and December 2022 inclusive: (a) how many recipients were still in business (i) one year, (ii) three years, (iii) five years, after receiving funding, broken down by funding stream; (b) how many of the positions created by recipients continued to exist (i) one year, (ii) three years, (iii) five years, after receiving funding; and (c) how many new inventions, discoveries, or innovative processes have been brought to market by recipients?

(Return tabled)

Question No.1433—

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

With regard to the procurement commitments, in “Strong, Secure, Engaged” (SSE): (a) how many full time equivalent employees at Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) and the Department of National Defence (DND) are tasked with work to complete each of the following tasks as their primary responsibility, using SSE's internal numbering system, 29. Recapitalize the surface fleet through investments in 15 Canadian Surface Combatants and two Joint Support Ships, 30. Acquire five to six Arctic Offshore Patrol Ships, 31. Operate and modernize the four Victoria-class submarines, 32. Acquire new or enhanced naval intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems, upgraded armament, and additional systems for current and future platforms allowing for more effective offensive and defensive naval capabilities, 33. Upgrade lightweight torpedoes carried by surface ships, maritime helicopters and maritime patrol aircraft, 34. Acquire ground-based air defence systems and associated munitions capable of protecting all land-based force elements from enemy airborne weapons, 35. Modernize weapons effects simulation to better prepare soldiers for combat operations, 36. Replace the family of armoured combat support vehicles, which includes command vehicles, ambulances and mobile repair teams, 37. Modernize the fleet of Improvised Explosive Device Detection and Defeat capabilities, 38. Acquire communications, sustainment, and survivability equipment for the Army light forces, including improved light weight radios and soldier equipment, 39. Upgrade the light armoured vehicle fleet to improve mobility and survivability, 40. Modernize logistics vehicles, heavy engineer equipment and light utility vehicles, 41. Improve the Army’s ability to operate in remote regions by investing in modernized communications, shelters, power generation, advanced water purification systems, and equipment for austere environments, 42. Modernize land-based command and control, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems, 43. Acquire all-terrain vehicles, snowmobiles and larger tracked semi-amphibious utility vehicles optimized for use in the Arctic environment, 44. Replace the CF-18 fleet with 88 advanced fighter aircraft to improve Canadian Armed Forces air control and air attack capability, 45. Acquire space capabilities meant to improve situational awareness and targeting, including: replacement of the current RADARSAT system to improve the identification and tracking of threats and improve situational awareness of routine traffic in and through Canadian territory; sensors capable of identifying and tracking debris in space that threatens Canadian and allied space-based systems (surveillance of space); and, space-based systems that will enhance and improve tactical narrow- and wide-band communications globally, including throughout Canada’s Arctic region, 46. Acquire new Tactical Integrated Command, Control, and Communications, radio cryptography, and other necessary communications systems, 47. Recapitalize next generation strategic air-to-air tanker-transport capability (CC-150 Polaris replacement), 48. Replace utility transport aircraft (CC-138 Twin Otter replacement), 49. Acquire next generation multi-mission aircraft (CP-140 Aurora maritime patrol aircraft replacement), 50. Invest in medium altitude remotely piloted systems, 51. Modernize short-range air-to-air missiles (fighter aircraft armament), 52. Upgrade air navigation, management, and control systems, 53. Acquire aircrew training systems, 54. Recapitalize or life-extend existing capabilities in advance of the arrival of next generation platforms, 55. Sustain domestic search and rescue capability, to include life extension of existing systems, acquisition of new platforms, and greater integration with internal and external partners, 56. Operationalize the newly acquired Fixed-Wing Search and Rescue aircraft fleet; (b) for each task in (a), how many person hours did employees of PSP and DND devote to the respective procurement projects in (i) 2019, (ii) 2020, (iii) 2021, (iv) 2022; and (c) for each task in (a), when was the task completed or when is the estimated date of completion?

(Return tabled)

Question No.1434—

[Bob Zimmer, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC]

With regard to the Translation Bureau: (a) how many translators are assigned to (i) reports and other documents for committees of the House of Commons, (ii) other parliamentary assignments, (iii) other assignments; (b) what turnaround times are required and estimated for translating the items referred to in (a)(i), (i) in each fiscal year since 2016-17, (ii) for the remainder of the current fiscal year, (iii) for the 2024-25 fiscal year; (c) when did the backlogs begin; (d) is the Minister of Public Services and Procurement supplying additional resources or re-assigning translators working on assignments referred to in (a)(iii) to reduce the current turnaround times, and, if so, what are the details; (e) if the answer to (d) is negative, why are additional resources not being added or re-assigned; (f) what is the government’s explanation for the current turnaround times; (g) has the Minister of Public Services and Procurement addressed the backlogs with the Chief Executive Officer of the Translation Bureau, and, if so, on what dates did this occur and what commitment, if any, did the minister receive; (h) what is the Translation Bureau’s policy on working from home and how has it changed, since 2016-17; and (i) what percentage and how many translators were working from home as of April 21, 2023, broken down by the assignments referred to in (a)?

(Return tabled)

Questions Passed as Orders for Returns

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I request that all remaining questions be allowed to stand.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Is that agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

Opposition Motion—Climate Change

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

moved:

That the House:

(a) stand in solidarity with and express its support for all those affected by the current forest fires;

(b) acknowledge that climate change is having a direct impact on people’s quality of life, and that it is exacerbating the frequency and scale of extreme weather and climate events (floods, tornadoes, forest fires, heat waves, etc.);

(c) recognize that the federal government must do more to combat climate change, prevent its impacts and support communities affected by natural disasters;

(d) call on the federal government to invest more in the fight against climate change, which is at risk of becoming increasingly expensive for both the public and the environment; and

(e) demand that the federal government stop investing in fossil fuels and develop incentives, while respecting the jurisdictions of Quebec and the provinces, to promote the use of renewable energy and public transit.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

The hon. member for Salaberry—Suroît is rising on a point of order.

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

Mr. Speaker, I would like to indicate that, pursuant to Standing Order 43(2)(a), all of the Bloc Québécois's speaking slots for today's debate on the business of supply will be divided in two.