Debates of Oct. 21st, 2024

Reference to Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

Mr. Speaker, my colleague has done an incredible job over the last nine years, since I have been a member of Parliament, of exposing the government's corruption and scandal. For those in the gallery who perhaps missed what we were talking about, and those in TV land who are watching, we are talking about over $400 million in taxpayer funds. The Auditor General found 186 conflicts of interest in which Liberal insiders funnelled $480 million to their own pockets and to their own companies.

I have asked colleagues this before: If somebody steals from us, do we go to a committee or do we go to the RCMP?

[Blaine Calkins, Conservative, Red Deer—Lacombe, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I said in my remarks that, if this were a private sector company and if over $400 million of suspected fraudulent activity had gone on in the company, that company would have a responsibility to take that information to the police for an investigation as soon as possible. The responsibility would be to its shareholders, if it was publicly traded, or to its board and ownership, if it was privately held.

As a matter of fact, if they had that information in the private sector and did not proceed with charges, one could assume they were negligent or even compromised themselves. I think my answer speaks for itself.

[Matthew Green, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, we are now three weeks into this debate, and we still have Conservative members being purposefully obtuse about what is actually before us. They wrote the motion to go to committee, but they are pretending that, somehow, everybody else is obstructing.

They talk about Liberal insiders. Will the hon. member finally be clear with Canadians and note that, on March 24, 2022, the same person in question, Annette Verschuren, donated to the Conservative Party as well? In fact, they have a long history of donating to the Conservative Party.

Will they come clean and just admit that Liberal, Tory, same old story?

[Blaine Calkins, Conservative, Red Deer—Lacombe, AB]

Mr. Speaker, my colleague has tried to put on a brave face, but a basic civics course would let them know who the actual government is. The government is across the way, both from me and my colleague who just asked the question. At least, that used to be the way it was, until he and his leader signed on to a supply and confidence agreement; by the way, that agreement enabled this kind of behaviour for the last two-plus years.

It is a bit rich to hear my colleague talking about this. I am a member of the procedure and House affairs committee, and he has said at procedure and House affairs while I have been there that, if this issue goes towards the committee, it will get buried; it will get mired down in the committee. He knows this full well.

This is the appropriate place to be having this debate. This is the stage of the business of the nation. We need to have that discussion and have it out right here in front of all Canadians, not buried away in some obscure committee in the basement of this place.

[Bardish Chagger, Liberal, Waterloo, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I will just ask the member the same question I asked earlier in regard to this question of privilege. It appears, based on what I am hearing, that all parties, all members are in support of this question of privilege and making sure we are able to do the important work.

[An hon. member]

Oh, oh!

[Bardish Chagger, Liberal, Waterloo, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I see a member who wants to chirp at me because he has a different question; he should wait his turn as I just patiently waited my turn.

Can the member share if there is any member of Parliament, or any political party, who is opposed to this question of privilege? Does the member agree that we should perhaps call the question so that we can do the important work that this question of privilege is requesting the House and this place to do?

[Blaine Calkins, Conservative, Red Deer—Lacombe, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I will remind my colleague that, even though this debate has been going on for quite some time, this has been my first opportunity to speak on behalf of my constituents on this particular issue. I was very much looking forward to that. As I also said in my remarks, although I do not know if my friend who asked the question was here, the Speaker tabled more documents in reference to the motion just this morning. The documents, from the various government agencies from which they were requested, continue to be redacted, either in part or in full.

Conservatives believe in transparency and accountability. We know the only way to get the full documents and to uphold the intent of the original motion that was passed is to make sure those documents are deposited in the chamber before we dispose of the motion.

Pharmacare

[Joanne Thompson, Liberal, St. John's East, NL]

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to celebrate the passing of the Pharmacare Act, which will have an immense impact on the lives of Canadians and Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.

Every Conservative member of the House voted against the historic pharmacare legislation at every step. They voted against legislation that will help nine million women and gender-diverse Canadians access universal, single-pay contraceptives. Canadians have made it clear they do not want slogans; they want a government that will put their health first, including their reproductive rights, and make lasting impacts to the Canadian health care system. It is our Liberal government that is delivering just that.

Canadian Farmers

[Ted Falk, Conservative, Provencher, MB]

Mr. Speaker, it is harvest, a time of thanksgiving for tens of thousands of farmers across Canada, including in my home province of Manitoba. Despite the Liberal-NDP plan to quadruple the carbon tax on these hard-working individuals, Conservatives wish to express our gratitude to farmers.

Manitoba's 20,000 farmers are renowned worldwide as consistent and reliable suppliers of safe, high-quality grains, oilseeds, livestock and agri-food products. This reputation will continue to thrive despite the Liberal-NDP effort to make them less competitive globally by quadrupling the carbon tax. In 2023, Manitoba's crop sector achieved a record $6.6 billion in revenue, with this year anticipated to be higher. Across Canada, the agriculture and agri-food system employs 2.3 million people and contributes $150 billion to GDP.

It is harvest time and Thanksgiving time, so when we enjoy another meal with family and friends, we should remember the farmer who made it possible. I thank our Canadian farmers.

Pharmacare

[Darren Fisher, Liberal, Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS]

Mr. Speaker, pharmacare matters to my constituents in Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, and I will never stop advocating for national pharmacare. I do not believe that anyone should have to choose between paying their rent and paying for the prescription drugs they need. That is why we have laid a strong framework and launched the first phase of our plan.

Cost is one of the biggest barriers for women to access contraceptives, but under our new pharmacare plan, women will get the access they need without having to empty their wallet. No Nova Scotian with diabetes should ever feel the need to stretch their insulin doses or other medication just to try to make it last longer. Our pharmacare plan will be there to support folks living with diabetes so they no longer need to worry about the costs; they can focus on their health and well-being.

Canada is the only country in the world with universal health care that does not provide universal coverage for prescription drugs, and our Liberal government is working to fix that.

International Day of the Girl Child

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Mr. Speaker, on October 11, we celebrated the International Day of the Girl Child. This year's theme was “Girls' vision for the future”, which conveys the need for urgent action and for hope, driven by the power of girls' voices and their vision for the future.

In 2011, the United Nations General Assembly declared October 11 as the International Day of the Girl Child to recognize girls' rights and the unique challenges girls face. Future generations will be disproportionately affected by global crises related to climate change, international conflict and poverty, as well as by push-back on hard-won gains for gender equality.

However, girls cannot realize this vision alone. They need allies, because the potential of the world's more than 1.1 billion girls is limitless. Girls are breaking boundaries and barriers posed by stereotypes and exclusion, including those directed at children with disabilities and those living in marginalized communities. They are doing so as entrepreneurs, innovators and initiators of global movements for future generations.

Let's go, girls.

British Columbia Provincial Election

[Patrick Weiler, Liberal, West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, BC]

Mr. Speaker, this past Saturday, British Columbians braved an atmospheric river to vote for their next government. While a clear majority of British Columbians voted for candidates who believe in the science behind climate change and vaccines and rejected the conspiracy theories that defined the Conservative Party, the final make-up of the legislative assembly is still too close to call.

We do know that West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country will have three first-time MLAs, all from different parties. I congratulate Randene Neill and Lynne Block for their incredible campaigns and hard work, but I want to give a special shout-out to Jeremy Valeriote, who, after being ahead on election day four years ago by 60 votes unfortunately did not win. However, this Saturday, he was officially declared the winner and the first-ever Green Party MLA for the mainland of British Columbia.

All members of the House know that the long days of door knocking, making phone calls and connecting with voters is physically and emotionally demanding, so I want to congratulate Karin Kirkpatrick, Sara Eftekhar, Archie Kaario, Jen Ford, Yuri Fulmer, Chris Moore, Chris Hergesheimer and Greg Reid for putting their name forward to be in the spotlight to represent our communities. Our province and democracy are better for it.

Finance

[Michelle Ferreri, Conservative, Peterborough—Kawartha, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the finance minister has missed the 2024 deficit target by 17%, making debt-servicing charges the fastest-growing budget item. It is Small Business Week. Can members imagine if the CFO of a business spent the majority of the budget on paying debt? They would be replaced or the company would go bankrupt.

I recently did a post on my Facebook page asking for stories about my community of Peterborough—Kawartha, and I received hundreds of comments about businesses donating time and money to affordable housing, organizations and volunteers helping with the homelessness and opioid crises. A comment from Alan Clark really jumped off the page; he said that the community has done more than the government to help the people. That is so true. The most compassionate thing a leader can do is make life more affordable.

It is time for a government and a leader who know that budgets do not balance themselves. It is time for a leader who empowers small businesses, cuts the taxes and allows them to flourish and give to our community. Together, Conservatives will build a Canada that works for the people who do the work.

Foreign Interference

[Randeep Sarai, Liberal, Surrey Centre, BC]

Mr. Speaker, last week the RCMP revealed to Canadians allegations of transnational aggression by the Indian government. This includes tying murders of Canadian citizens on Canadian soil to agents of the Government of India, the use of organized crime to target the Sikh community in Canada and foreign interference in our democratic processes.

This very serious evidence has sent shock waves through the community. Since then, our allies in the United States, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Australia have come to support us in our investigation and have urged the Indian government to co-operate.

I want to remind the Indian government that Canadians will not be intimidated by the acts of foreign interference and violence. We will not tolerate any form of intimidation, harassment or harmful targeting of communities in Canada.

[Iqwinder Gaheer, Liberal, Mississauga—Malton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, in the wake of the RCMP's alarming statement revealing it has gathered credible evidence that agents of the Indian government are involved in serious criminal activity in Canada, including coercion, extortion and homicides, many Canadians are understandably shaken and concerned for their safety. Trust in our institutions is being tested, and the sense of security that Canadians should feel has been deeply affected, particularly within the Sikh and South Asian communities.

Despite this unsettling news, we must recognize and thank our law enforcement agencies for their tireless work in uncovering these serious threats and taking decisive action to protect our communities. Their work is critical to ensuring the safety of every Canadian, and we stand firmly behind them as they continue these investigations. Together we will hold those responsible to account.

Public Service of Canada

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lévis—Lotbinière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, after nine years of this Liberal government supported by the Bloc Québécois, we already knew that the size of the federal government had reached unprecedented proportions.

This week, however, we learned that the total number of federal public servants has increased by 42%, with more than 108,000 new employees added to the payroll. Costs have gone up 68% since 2016, with public service spending reaching an all-time high of $67.4 billion. That is huge.

According to data from the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, federal departments are struggling to meet 50% of their target every year. Furthermore, consultants' fees cost $21.6 billion during the 2023‑24 fiscal year. That is a new record for our country: more public servants, more consultants and fewer services to the public.

What a disgrace.

Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

Mr. Speaker, do members know that Stephen Harper has been the only prime minister in history to date who has been in contempt of Parliament? Interestingly enough, the leader of the Conservative Party today, the Conservative Reform Party, was his parliamentary secretary at the time. Is it any surprise that he would not want to get the security clearance necessary in order to understand what is happening on foreign interference. It begs this question: What is the history of the leader of the Conservative Party? Does he believe that he is not going to be able to get the security clearance? Is that the reason he does not want it?

Canadians have the right to know the leader of the Conservative Party's past. What is he hiding? I want to know, and Canadians want to know, why he will not step up and do something about it. Why will he not do the honourable thing and apply for the security clearance?

Food Security

[Brad Vis, Conservative, Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon, BC]

Mr. Speaker, after nine years of the NDP-Liberals, taxes are up, costs are up, crime is up and time is up.

This weekend in Surrey, over 15,000 people attended Ugly Potato Day, an initiative that invites residents to get imperfect produce for free from farmers. Over 250,000 pounds of produce was donated. Food insecurity is so harsh that residents were willing to wait in line, in one of the worst storms we have seen, for hours just for the chance to get some potatoes and carrots for their families.

Food Banks Canada reports that the cost of living has become so high that food bank use has increased by 50% since 2021. British Columbians have the second-highest poverty rate in the country, impacting over 382,000 individuals.

It is clear that things are broken. Canadians need relief, but the Liberal-NDP government is not listening. Only common-sense Conservatives will reduce spending, eliminate the carbon tax, boost paycheques and give families some much-needed relief.

Indigenous Procurement

[Jamie Schmale, Conservative, Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON]

Mr. Speaker, after nine years of the NDP-Liberals, taxes are up, costs are up, crime is up and time is up.

The Liberals once again find themselves mired in corruption and controversy, as witness after witness has testified that the Prime Minister and his ministers stood idly by while billions were stolen by businesses falsely claiming to be indigenous-owned. The Assembly of First Nations has testified that the vast majority of companies taking advantage of the Liberal government's indigenous contracting program are actually shell companies. However, rather than helping Conservatives uncover the truth and solve this problem, Liberal MPs held up committee and failed to address the issue of billions being misspent. While Liberal MPs stall and deflect, common-sense Conservatives will continue to investigate the contracting abuse and theft taking place under the Liberal government.

With WE Charity, SNC-Lavalin, the green slush fund, ArriveCAN, foreign interference and now indigenous procurement, when will the Prime Minister do the right thing and call an election?

Foreign Interference

[Mark Gerretsen, Liberal, Kingston and the Islands, ON]

Mr. Speaker, last Monday, the RCMP took the unprecedented step of informing Canadians that agents of the Government of India are involved in serious criminal activity on Canadian soil. These crimes represent a grave threat to our national security, yet the leader of the Conservative Party is displaying a concerning lack of seriousness in response to the RCMP's alarming announcement. His failure to acknowledge the severity of these actions undermines public confidence in our institutions and Canada's commitment to upholding justice. As Shachi Kurl, president of Angus Reid, said, “I think that's folly, and frankly, I think he should grow up, get the security clearance and find out what he needs to find out.”

At a time when a unified response is required, the Leader of the Opposition's dismissal sends the wrong message both domestically and internationally. Canadians expect their leaders to prioritize national security and the rule of law above partisan politics.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

Colleagues, declarations by members, or S. O. 31s, are an important opportunity for all members to express themselves freely. The hon. member for Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo knows that very well and caught my eye. I would ask him not to take the floor unless recognized by the Speaker.

The hon. member for Skeena—Bulkley Valley.

Kirsten Patrick

[Taylor Bachrach, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to mark the passing of Kirsten Patrick, a young 34-year-old resident of Smithers whose life ended last Monday at the Smithers District Hospital. I had known Kirsten for most of the time that I have lived in Smithers. I remember her broad smile. I remember the way that she greeted everyone on Main Street, including our mayor.

Kirsten lived an unimaginably difficult life, one marked by trauma, addiction, violence, homelessness and loss. For the past several years, she lived in a tent. She was a fighter, a survivor, a neighbour and a friend.

My heart today goes out to her mom Marina, to her kids, to her partner Casey and to everyone who knew and loved her. Kirsten's life mattered and she will be deeply missed.

Women Farmers of Montérégie‑Ouest

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with pride to congratulate Mélissa Bourdon on being named woman farmer of the year in the Montérégie‑Ouest region. From farmwork and fieldwork to financial management and direct sales, Ms. Bourdon is always finding ways to innovate on the farm she manages alongside her father, François. With the strong support of those close to her, and on top of her endless plans and projects, she even finds the time to work as a part-time firefighter in Saint‑Étienne‑de‑Beauharnois and to advocate for the Union des producteurs agricoles. Ms. Bourdon is a smart woman whose passion and commitment will undoubtedly keep her at the forefront of agriculture for many years to come.

Likewise, we applaud Ange‑Marie Delforge for winning the special tribute award. She is known for her straight-talking ways and, above all, her unwavering determination to fight for our agriculture. Long live women's involvement in trade unionism and agriculture, and many thanks to the women farmers of Montérégie‑Ouest.