Debates of Jan. 30th, 2024

Public Services and Procurement

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

Order, please.

I ask colleagues to please keep it down so I can hear the answer from the hon. member.

The hon. parliamentary secretary, from the top, please.

[Jennifer O'Connell, Liberal, Pickering—Uxbridge, ON]

Mr. Speaker, when our government released government policies during the global pandemic to help save Canadian lives, we expected the public service to implement these contracts following the procurement policies and rules set out by the government.

We are concerned with some of the initial findings, as is the CBSA president. That is why she has already implemented measures, including calling in the police when necessary and conducting more internal audits. There will be consequences for anyone who did not follow the procurement processes.

Ethics

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

Mr. Speaker, after eight years of the NDP-Liberal government, we have a Prime Minister who has been caught misleading Canadians multiple times. Most recently, it is his $84,000 gifted vacation to a luxurious Jamaican villa. What he told Canadians was that he was paying for it, but we do not know what he told the Ethics Commissioner. Now we do know that in fact it was a gift. He did not pay anything. He took an $84,000 gift.

The Ethics Commissioner said that, unlike what the government House leader said, the trip was not pre-cleared, so when will the House leader and the Prime Minister start telling Canadians the truth?

[Steven MacKinnon, Liberal, Gatineau, QC]

Mr. Speaker, of course the member was able to hear this directly from the Ethics Commissioner this morning when he appeared at committee. He was very clear on this matter. He confirmed that the office had been consulted by the Prime Minister's Office before the Prime Minister and his family went on their vacation. He also confirmed that his office provided advice on this matter and that the Prime Minister took that advice and went on a Christmas holiday with his family. The commissioner told committee members that, as far as he concerned, there is nothing further on this matter.

Labour

[Chad Collins, Liberal, Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, ON]

Mr. Speaker, our government believes workplaces should be safe, respectful, and free from harassment and violence. The Canada Labour Code includes numerous provisions to that effect, and Canada has international obligations that outline that same commitment. One year ago today, Canada ratified convention 190 of the International Labour Organization on violence and harassment.

Can the Minister of Labour provide insight on this convention and the important role Canada plays in international organizations like the ILO?

[Seamus O'Regan, Liberal, Minister of Labour and Seniors]

Mr. Speaker, one year ago today Canada signed convention 190 of the International Labour Organization, which is a part of the United Nations. Convention 190 aims to eliminate violence and harassment in workplaces across the globe because no one should face violence or harassment on the job, not in Canada, not anywhere. Today this becomes a protected right for every worker in Canada. Canada is proud to be a founding member of the ILO, and let me add that on this side of the House, we are proud to be a founding member of the United Nations.

[Lindsay Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Mr. Speaker, today I joined the hundreds of workers on strike at the Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services. Their key demands are fair wages, better job security and respect, but the Liberal government refuses to even sit down to negotiate a fair deal. These are workers who support our military with critical wellness services. When they wrote to local Liberal MPs asking for support, they were told the minister did not know that these 4,000 workers were his responsibility.

Will the Minister of National Defence finally accept his obligation to these workers and get back to the bargaining table?

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, this is an important question because the services provided by those non-public employees are important to the Canadian Armed Forces, and those workers deserve a decent contract. We support a resolution of this labour dispute at the table, and we will continue to support both sides coming back to the table. That is the right place to find the solution.

Indigenous Affairs

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

Mr. Speaker, it is another winter, and another tragic fire in Treaty 9. Children at Eabametoong First Nation have no school because it burned in a fire, and there was no fire service. Last winter, Peawanuck lost a beautiful 10-year-old child to a fire, and the government's response was, “We'll buy you a truck, but we're not going to pay for the fire hall.” How does one do fire safety at -45°C without a fire hall?

Will the minister stop nickel-and-diming the people of Treaty 9 and commit to, for all the communities, properly funded fire halls and vehicles, and for the children of Eabametoong, a new school? Every child deserves safety and a comfy school.

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

Mr. Speaker, I think all Canadians were so sad to hear about the fire that destroyed the school in Eabametoong. I spoke with Chief Atlookan on Friday night to reiterate to the chief that we will work with the community, not only on fire prevention, with the truck waiting for the ice roads so it can be delivered, but also on making sure that those students have a plan to complete their year of study. I will be meeting with the chief, and indeed the CEO of Matawa First Nations tribal council, to be very clear about the support our government will continue to provide to Eabametoong.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I believe if you seek it, you would find unanimous consent for the following motion. I move that this House call for the immediate release of Vladimir—

[Some hon. members]

No.

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Chris d'Entremont]

I am already hearing a number of noes.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Mr. Speaker, on a point of order, I wonder if you could clarify the cases in which an individual is expected to apologize for a violation of the rules and when an individual is not expected to apologize for a violation of the rules.

During question period, a member used unparliamentary language and was not expected to apologize. Meanwhile, earlier today, a member of the Conservative caucus was forced to—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Chris d'Entremont]

The member is right next to me, but I cannot hear anything.

I would ask the hon. member for Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan to give us the substance of his point of order.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I wonder if you could clarify the rules with respect to the cases in which members are expected to apologize for a violation of the rules and the cases in which members are not required to apologize.

I note the difference between the treatment of a member of the NDP caucus during question period and that of a member of the Conservative caucus this morning, even though the violation by the member from the NDP caucus was evidently much more egregious.

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Chris d'Entremont]

I know the Chair is seized with the issue that transpired this morning. The Speaker will be returning with a ruling on that as soon as is practicable.

The House resumed from January 29 consideration of the motion, and of the amendment.

Procedure and House Affairs

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Chris d'Entremont]

It being 3:18 p.m., the House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the amendment to the motion to concur in the 55th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs.

Call in the members.

(The House divided on the amendment, which was negatived on the following division:)

Vote #613

Committees of the House

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Chris d'Entremont]

I declare the amendment defeated.

The next question is on the main motion.

If a member participating in person wishes that the motion be carried or carried on division, or if a member of a recognized party participating in person wishes to request a recorded division, I would invite them to rise and indicate it to the Chair.

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I would request a recorded vote, please.

Before the Clerk announced the results of the vote:

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

Mr. Speaker, as you know, the member for Beloeil—Chambly, leader of the Bloc Québécois, was unable to open his app because it failed. He was unable to open Zoom.

I seek unanimous consent for his vote to be recorded as no for the last vote.