House of Commons Hansard #355 of the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was leader.
Karina Gould LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, again, there the Conservatives go attacking private citizens. It just goes to show that anytime a Canadian citizen beats up against them, what do they do? They go on the personal attack.
I have a question for the Conservative leader. Why will he not get his security clearance? It is a question Canadians across this country are asking because they want to know what and whom he is trying to protect.
Ryan Williams Conservative Bay of Quinte, ON
Mr. Speaker, after nine years of the government, taxes are up, costs are up, time is up and credit card fees are up. The government announced that it lowered credit card fees, but this announcement flopped like a soggy pancake. Stripe, where Liberal leadership candidate Mark Carney sits on the board, said savings will not be passed on to consumers because of “other rising costs”. Even Liberal insiders tied to oligopolies know the government's announcements fall flat.
When will the government learn? It is not Carney that Canadians need, but competition, as well as a Prime Minister who will flip real results for Canadians and their families?
Karina Gould LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, the question on Canadians' minds this week is why the Leader of the Opposition will not get his security clearance. Every Canadian is wondering what he is trying to hide and what he is trying to protect. It is an easy thing to do. All the other leaders in this place have done it.
Why will the Leader of the Opposition not get his security clearance?
Sonia Sidhu Liberal Brampton South, ON
Mr. Speaker, the events of the past year and the announcement last week have shaken many Canadians, particularly those in Indo-Canadian and Sikh communities. Canada is a country rooted in the rule of law. The safety and security of our citizens is the top priority of our government.
Can the Minister of Foreign Affairs update the House on the additional steps our government has taken to protect Canadians?
Mélanie Joly LiberalMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, of course I will. As I mentioned, since the beginning, we have had three priorities: first, to seek the truth; second, to make sure we protect Canadians; and third, to defend Canada's sovereignty.
Based on information provided by the RCMP, we asked India to lift the diplomatic immunity on six of their diplomats. Unfortunately, India refused. Therefore, since Canadians' safety was at risk, I decided to expel them from Canada. I want to be clear: Canada does not seek diplomatic confrontation with India, but, of course, we will not sit idle with this information.
Pierre Paul-Hus Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC
Mr. Speaker, for three weeks the Minister of Justice has been saying that it is the Quebec premier's fault that criminals are always back on the street without facing consequences for their crimes.
The Canadian Police Association and both Montreal's and Quebec City's Fraternité des policiers et policières supported my Bill C‑325, which sought to correct the colossal mistake that was Bill C‑5. The Liberals voted against it.
With the spike in crime in Quebec's communities, will the minister finally stand with us or does he believe that the police associations are out to lunch?
Arif Virani LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, as I have mentioned several times to this member, we have to look at who is responsible for bail. When we made changes to the bail system, it was up to the provinces to implement those changes.
That being said, there needs to be enough space in the courts. There need to be enough Crown prosecutors to examine the files and make the submissions. There also needs to be enough room in the prisons for these people.
If the situations are not clear, then they will indeed have to, as I have said in three words, talk to Legault.
Pierre Paul-Hus Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC
Mr. Speaker, it is bizarre that Canada's justice minister continues to blame the Quebec government for a crisis he created.
It was the Liberal government that tabled Bills C-5 and C-75. What is happening in federal prisons right now is because of Bill C-83. Everyone is complaining. Last year, even victims' groups like the Fédération des maisons d'hébergement pour femmes, the Maison des guerrières and the Communauté de citoyens en action contre les criminels violents supported us. Everyone from police officers to victims' groups agreed.
Why will the government not listen to us and kill Bill C‑5?
Arif Virani LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, I beg to differ. On this side of the House, we have invested $390 million to fight guns and gangs. We have also increased penalties for certain crimes, such as auto theft. That member voted against that. We have also made it so that bail is not so readily available to people who repeatedly commit serious violent crimes.
These are the changes we have made. We now expect the Province of Quebec to do its share.
Richard Martel Conservative Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Petit Paris sawmill in Saint‑Ludger‑de‑Milot shut down a day earlier than planned, putting 100 workers out of a job.
After the Liberal government's incompetence in negotiating the softwood lumber agreement, now the Minister of Environment is adding insult to injury with his order, which will kill 1,400 jobs. As everyone knows, the Bloc Québécois is no longer a party that defends the regions, and it seems dead set on keeping this government in power.
Why do the Liberals insist on hurting the forestry sector, which is an economic driver for our regions?
Steven Guilbeault LiberalMinister of Environment and Climate Change
Mr. Speaker, I would like to remind my colleague that we are working in close collaboration with all forestry stakeholders, including workers, businesses, communities, environmental groups and first nations.
We are also working with the Quebec government to find long-term solutions for sustainable forestry in Quebec.
Sukh Dhaliwal Liberal Surrey—Newton, BC
Mr. Speaker, we have seen a rise in serious crimes targeting Sikh Canadians and the South Asian community, leaving many Canadians feeling anxious and unsafe. Last week, the RCMP confirmed that agents of the Government of India have been involved in these crimes.
Can the Minister of Public Safety please explain the steps the government is taking to ensure that all Canadians can feel safe in their communities?
Dominic LeBlanc LiberalMinister of Public Safety
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank our colleague from Surrey—Newton for that question. He is right. Last week, the RCMP took the unprecedented step of sharing with Canadians information about a significant public safety threat. The alleged actions are a grave violation of Canada's sovereignty and the rule of law. We stand with the Sikh and South Asian communities with respect to ensuring their safety.
I want to thank all those involved in this complex investigation. The RCMP and its partners in the provincial and municipal police have done terrific work. Our priority is always the safety of all Canadians. The RCMP will work with us to continue to ensure that.
Brian Masse NDP Windsor West, ON
Mr. Speaker, the multi-billion dollar telecom company Rogers said that its latest price hike is a result of the increasing cost of technology. Canadians are not buying it, but they are paying for it. They were misled. This is another ploy to get ripped off by Rogers, which just gouged out record profits.
The Conservatives will not stop Rogers from gouging Canadians. They will not risk losing the maximum donations they receive from the company's owner. The Liberals keep handing out millions of taxpayer dollars to Rogers, which is gouging those same taxpayers.
Why do the Liberals, like the Conservatives, ratchet up corporate greed at the expense of Canadians? Why will they not stand up to Rogers?
François-Philippe Champagne LiberalMinister of Innovation
Mr. Speaker, a lot of members here should take lessons from the NDP about standing up for what is right.
On this side of the House, we stand up for Canadians. We stood up to Rogers. We said no to its proposed merger. We imposed the harshest conditions in our nation's history on telecom.
We are always on the side of consumers. We want more competition in this country, more choices for consumers and lower prices for Canadians. Canadians know we will always stand up for them.
I think everyone should take a lesson from us in the House.
Mike Morrice Green Kitchener Centre, ON
Mr. Speaker, last week, an IDF missile strike burned Palestinians alive at a hospital tent camp. This escalation of what the University Network for Human Rights has called a “genocide” only emboldens Hamas and does nothing to return hostages.
Canada's focus must be on achieving peace, including a true arms embargo, by advocating for Israel to allow humanitarian relief in and for an end to the occupation of Palestinian territories. When will the government's actions align with its words when it says “never again”?
Mélanie Joly LiberalMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, the situation in Gaza is absolutely catastrophic. Too many innocent children, women and people have died. That is why we need the violence to stop. We need a ceasefire that is supported by the UN Security Council, including the U.S. We need hostages to come back home. Their families need to be able to see them and to love them. In the end, we need more humanitarian aid going into Gaza, and the government is working on this every single day.
Jagmeet Singh NDP Burnaby South, BC
Mr. Speaker, I rise to propose that a standing committee on Canada-India relations be created. Therefore, if you seek it, you should find unanimous consent for the following motion: That the House recognize: (1) Canada's Foreign Interference Commission has identified the Government of India as a possible foreign interference actor in Canada; (2) an October 2022 CSIS intelligence assessment stated that the Government of India proxy agents have provided electoral support to “a number of politicians at all levels of government”; (3) on October 14, 2014, the RCMP commissioner released findings indicating that agents of the Government of India were involved in serious criminal activity on Canadian soil, posing an ongoing and significant threat to safety; that the House appoint a special committee with a mandate to conduct hearings to examine and review all aspects of Canada-Government of India relationships, including, but not limited to, diplomatic, consular, legal, security, public safety, political and economic relations, provided that:
(a) the committee be composed of 12 members, of which six shall be from the government party, four shall be from the official opposition, one shall be from the Bloc Québécois and one shall be from the New Democratic Party; (b) the whips of the recognized parties shall deposit with the Clerk of the House the list of their members to serve on the committee within four calendar days after the adoption of this motion; (c) changes to the membership of the committee shall be effective immediately after notification by the relevant whips have been filed with the Clerk of the House;
(d) membership substitutions be permitted, if required, in the manner provided for in Standing Order 114(2); (e) the Clerk of the House shall convene an organizational meeting within one week after the adoption of this motion; (f) the chair of the committee shall be a member of the government party, the first vice-chair shall be a member of the official opposition, the second vice-chair shall be a member of the Bloc Québécois and the third vice-chair shall be a member of the New Democratic Party;
(g) the quorum of the committee be as provided for in Standing Order 118, provided that the chair be authorized to hold meetings to receive evidence and to have that evidence printed when at least four members are present, including one member of the opposition and one member of the government; (h) the committee be granted all the powers of a standing committee as provided in the standing orders, including the power to: (i) travel, accompanied by the necessary staff inside and outside of Canada; (ii) authorize video and audio broadcasting of any or all proceedings; (i) the provision of Standing Order 106(4) shall also extend to the committee;
(j) the committee shall have the first priority for the use of House resources for committee meetings; and, (k) any proceeding before the committee in relation to a motion to exercise the committee's power to send for persons, papers and records shall, if not previously disposed of, be interpreted upon the earlier of the completion of four hours of consideration or one sitting week after the motion was first moved and in turn every question necessary for the disposal of the motion shall be put forthwith and successively without further debate or amendment.
The Speaker Liberal Greg Fergus
All those opposed to the hon. member's moving the motion will please say nay.
Kevin Lamoureux LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Pursuant to subsection 4.1(3) of the Lobbying Act and Standing Order 111.1, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the certificate of nomination and biographical notes for the proposed reappointment of Nancy Bélanger as Commissioner of Lobbying for a term of seven years.
Pursuant to subsection 54(3) of the Access to Information Act and Standing Order 111.1, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the certificate of nomination and biographical notes for the proposed reappointment of Caroline Maynard as Information Commissioner for a term of seven years.
I request that these nominations and biographical notes be referred to the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics.
Ben Carr Liberal Winnipeg South Centre, MB
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 104 and Standing Order 114, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 70th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs regarding the membership of committees of the House. If the House gives its consent, I intend to move concurrence in the 70th report later this day.
Bonita Zarrillo NDP Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-415, An Act to amend the Canada Labour Code (flight attendants).
Mr. Speaker, I am introducing a bill to stop the exploitation of Canada's flight attendants. I want to thank the member for Hamilton Centre for seconding it.
Flight attendants have been exploited since the commercial aviation industry was launched because they were women. The exploitation continues today as billion-dollar airline companies profit off the backs of unpaid work. Successive Liberal and Conservative governments have let this happen.
Today, flight attendants who work in a federally regulated industry are expected to work for free up to 35 hours per month. This must end, and it can end with the adoption of this NDP bill. It would ensure that for every hour worked, flight attendants are paid their full wage, and that a long-standing discriminatory practice is rectified.
I thank the Canadian Union of Public Employees, whose workers took a stand with a very successful campaign called “Unpaid Work Won't Fly”. It has been an honour to work alongside them on this important legislation.
I call on the Liberal government to do what is right, adopt my bill as its own and take immediate action to make sure that unpaid work will not fly.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Ben Carr Liberal Winnipeg South Centre, MB
Mr. Speaker, if the House gives its consent, I move that the 70th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, presented to the House earlier this day, be concurred in.
The Speaker Liberal Greg Fergus
All those opposed to the hon. member's moving the motion will please say nay.
It is agreed.
The House has heard the terms of the motion. All those opposed to the motion will please say nay.
(Motion agreed to)