Debates of Oct. 4th, 2024

Ethics

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Madam Speaker, I have already answered that question.

At the end of the day, what is it going to take for the Conservative Party and the leader of that far-right Conservative Party to understand that there is an obligation to be responsible here, in Ottawa, on the floor of the House of Commons? That means allowing debates to occur on the important issues that Canadians are facing today. Instead of focusing their attention on the Conservative Party, they should be focusing their attention on Canadians.

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

Madam Speaker, the member dodged the question the first two times, so let us give him a third time. The Minister of Employment and his business partner, Stephen Anderson, have refused to co-operate with an investigation into their fraud-ridden company. For months, this minister claimed that he had no communication, that he was not the one referenced in the text, and that he had nothing to do with his former business partner. Finally, after relentless pressure, the minister admitted he did text his business partner and he even called him to discuss their business, which is something he is prohibited from doing by law. Why did the minister, who claimed he had nothing to hide for months, hide this damning evidence?

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Madam Speaker, I have indicated very clearly that the Ethics Commissioner, an independent officer of the House of Commons, has, not once but twice, cleared the minister.

Having said that, my challenge to the Conservative Party across the way is to understand that the Conservative members actually have a responsibility to Canadians that goes beyond serving the Conservative Party of Canada. I would suggest that they are doing a great disservice to Canadians in every region of the country by their behaviour, day in and day out, on the floor of the House of Commons.

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

Madam Speaker, I would say that the Liberal government has a responsibility to tell Canadians the truth. The minister, only after turning over his phone to the Ethics Commissioner and only after months of relentless pressure, finally admitted that he did indeed talk to his business partner, which is something he is not allowed to do under law. The minister admits that they discussed business. This was after his business partner lied to a parliamentary committee by ridiculously claiming that the nine references to the minister were just an autocorrect. If the minister cannot be trusted to disclose what he called “just an innocent conversation”, how can he be trusted to be truthful?

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Madam Speaker, not once but twice, the Ethics Commissioner has cleared the minister. That is the truth. The member makes reference to the truth. This comes from a Conservative member and a Conservative Party that spreads so much misinformation, false facts and fake news, name it, through social media. When are the Conservatives going to start to be honest with Canadians and tell Canadians what their hidden agenda is all about?

International Trade

[Gabriel Ste-Marie, Bloc, Joliette, QC]

Madam Speaker, the Senate is thumbing its nose at farmers. Here is the proof. Bill C‑282, which contains only one provision and which was supported by all parties in the House, has been stuck in the Senate for over a year. The Senate has taken over a year to examine a single provision that seeks to protect supply management. By way of comparison, do members know how long the Senate took to pass Bill C‑76, which was passed yesterday? It took three days.

Peter Boehm and Peter Harder, two senators appointed by the Liberals, are blocking Bill C‑282. They are thumbing their noses at farmers and at all of us here, the elected officials. Will the Liberals ask them to stop?

[Francis Drouin, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Madam Speaker, our party has always supported supply management. Our party supported Bill C‑282, which is at issue here. We are waiting for the other chamber to pass Bill C‑282.

However, we have not heard much from the party opposite. The members of the official opposition have been fairly quiet on this issue. I hope that they, too, will make some calls to their Conservative colleagues on the other side.

[Gabriel Ste-Marie, Bloc, Joliette, QC]

Madam Speaker, what we want is for the Liberals to talk to the senators, because the senators' priority should be to approve bills passed by the elected members. Everything else comes second. Democracy comes first.

Two senators whom no one knows and no one voted for are blocking the will of all the parties to pass Bill C‑282. I would remind the House that if the bill does not pass by October 29, the Liberals will have to answer to Canadians. It is therefore in their best interest to rouse the Senate, whether to protect our farmers or their own posteriors. Will they get on with it?

[Francis Drouin, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Madam Speaker, as I have said before, our party has always supported supply management and will continue to do so. We expect that the other place will pass Bill C‑282.

I know that my Bloc Québécois colleagues are doing their job when it comes to the Senate. We are doing our job when it comes to the Senate too. We are making calls, but once again, I have not heard the official opposition party making many calls about this bill from the other side of the House.

Government Accountability

[Tracy Gray, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Madam Speaker, after nine years, the Prime Minister is not worth the cost or the corruption. We now know the Prime Minister's friend and media buddy, Tom Clark, was instrumental when it came to purchasing his new $9-million luxury condo on Billionaires' Row in New York: a condo that includes Italian marble, a $5,000 coffee machine and a golf simulator. This comes as Canadians continue to struggle with an unprecedented cost of living crisis. Will the Liberal government admit there is no justification for Canadian taxpayers' having to foot the bill for this lavish condo?

[Rob Oliphant, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Madam Speaker, the truth is simple. The fact is that the new residence that has been purchased will cut costs and save money. On this side of the House, we will always stand up for Canada and the best interests of Canadians. We will engage with international leaders. We will continue to do the work that we need to do internationally, diplomatically, while saving taxpayers' money.

Public Services and Procurement

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

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

The Liberals' $60-million arrive scam exposed contracting fraud on taxpayers, called “bait and switch”. High-priced consultants overbilled, under-delivered and sometimes did not even do the work. High-priced consultants lined their pockets while taxpayers were paying the bills.

Canada's contracting watchdog is launching a review. How much contracting fraud will taxpayers be on the hook for, and will the Liberals get Canadians their money back?

[Jennifer O'Connell, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety]

Madam Speaker, we have said time and time again that we expect our procurement process to follow all the rules and regulations. Any misconduct will come with severe consequences.

The CBSA has already implemented a number of measures to strengthen the transparency around procurement processes. It is working with the various commissioners to find additional ways to ensure that Canadians can have trust in our procurement process with CBSA, and we are supportive of the CBSA's work in this area.

The Environment

[Philip Lawrence, Conservative, Northumberland—Peterborough South, ON]

Madam Speaker, according to media reports, the Liberal government has covered up the contamination of a Transport Canada dock operated in northern Albertan indigenous communities. “The big dock”, as it is referred to, is known as a community hub. It is where couples go for a walk, where people fish and where kids go to play and swim. Did the government really cover up the contamination of this dock, yes or no?

[Anita Anand, Liberal, President of the Treasury Board and Minister of Transport]

Madam Speaker, I want to say that safety is my top priority as Minister of Transport. I hear and understand the concerns from the first nations communities. It is absolutely crucial for remote, northern and indigenous communities to have access to the safe and reliable connectivity that they need. I will work with them to ensure that the operations at the facility are being carried out safely. The work is ahead of us, and we will make sure that we are on top of it.

Indigenous Affairs

[Mona Fortier, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Madam Speaker, wildfires are becoming more and more unpredictable. As keepers of the land, indigenous communities have long held deep local knowledge to mitigate their impacts. Earlier this week, the Leader of the Opposition tokenized indigenous cultural practices when it comes to protecting the environment.

To the Minister of Indigenous Services, why is it important that first nations take the lead when protecting communities, lands and waters?

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

Madam Speaker, as the member knows, there is a direct link between climate change and the extreme wildfires that we have been seeing across the country, worsening for first nation members. We have changed the way that the Government of Canada supports first nations so that they have the supports financially and from a self-determination place to be able to protect their communities. The good news is that, during the last wildfire season, half as many people evacuated from first nations communities.

We are going to continue to work with the real experts in this country: first nations and their partners.

Public Safety

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

Madam Speaker, it is another day with another shooter on our streets. This time, it was a 21-year-old dirtbag or, as described by a veteran detective, a “muppet”. Having a record of 21 failures to comply with court orders and, not surprisingly, being out on bail, he sent a young cop to the emergency ward with a bullet in his gut. The NDP-Liberal government's hug-a-thug mentality is putting cops and the public in emergency rooms and in morgues.

When will the government prioritize safety rather than empathy for cop shooters?

[James Maloney, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Madam Speaker, that last statement is just outrageous.

I live in the city of Toronto, where this police officer worked. My family, my neighbours and I rely on the police every single day, and we are grateful for the work they do.

This member is a former Crown prosecutor, as he likes to remind us time and time again. It is provincial responsibility to deal with the enforcement of bail laws. The Crown prosecutors are appointed by the Province of Ontario. The Justices of the Peace who administer the laws are appointed and paid for by the Province of Ontario. He is asking the wrong people.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

Madam Speaker, almost everyone they arrest is out on bail. No one stays in jail where they belong.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

Madam Speaker, they laugh. This is the president of the Toronto Police Association; they should wake up. Every day, Canadians are waking up to more news of shootings and murders. The minister bragged that his bail reform bill would make our streets safer, but the truth is, more criminals are out on bail and Canadians are more frightened than ever. The bill is a complete failure.

How many more lost lives is it going to take for the government to finally embrace jail, not bail, for serious violent offenders?

[James Maloney, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Madam Speaker, once again, he is pointing in the wrong direction—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès), Liberal, Alexandra Mendes]

Order. There was a question; we allow the parliamentary secretary to answer.

From the top, the hon. parliamentary secretary.

[James Maloney, Liberal, Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON]

Madam Speaker, every single day in the province of Ontario, there are Justices of the Peace, appointed by the provincial government, who are letting people out on bail. This is because the conditions inside provincially built, provincially funded and provincially operated prisons are inhumane and not okay for people, even prisoners, to be in. There are judicial decisions by Justices of the Peace, who have considered this fact regularly. They said that, until those conditions change, that is going to be a major consideration when they are listening to bail applications.