House of Commons Hansard #351 of the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was documents.
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
Mr. Speaker, the latest $400-million scandal of the Liberal government has paralyzed Parliament. The Auditor General found 186 conflicts of interest, with close to $400 million handed out to corrupt Liberal insiders, all at a time when Canadians cannot afford to eat, heat or house themselves.
It begs question: How damning is the evidence that the government has grounded Parliament to a halt simply to hide the truth from Canadians?
Arif Virani LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, I enjoy the interventions from the member opposite, but I also appreciate his experience as a former Crown prosecutor. He used to work closely with the police. What he would recollect from his past career is that the police operate independently, independently from him as a former Crown and certainly independently from politicians. Why do they do that? So we can have confidence in our institutions in the country. Who does not have confidence? People who live under authoritarian regimes.
Instead of emulating authoritarianism, how about the member joins this side and learns how to fight against it?
The Speaker Liberal Greg Fergus
I would ask the hon. member for Wellington—Halton Hills to please not raise his voice when he is not recognized by the Chair.
The hon. member for Brantford—Brant.
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
Mr. Speaker, you ruled that the NDP-Liberals violated a House order by withholding evidence regarding their $400-million scandal, effectively obstructing justice, to which the Minister of Justice should be aware. Their refusal to respect your ruling has paralyzed Parliament, pushing aside all our work to address the doubling of housing costs, food inflation and the rise in crime and chaos. The time to end the cover-up is now.
When will the government hand over the documents so that we can get accountability for corruption and get Parliament back to work?
Karina Gould LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, your ruling was clear to send this matter to committee for further study. The Conservatives do not like that because they will hear from experts like the former law clerk, who says, “[In my humble opinion] it is an abuse of its powers for the House to use it's power to demand and get documents from the Government in order to transfer them to a third party...that wouldn't otherwise receive them or to compel the Government to give documents to the third party.” Expert after expert will tell them this is wrong.
We are here to stand up for the rights of Canadians every single day.
Lori Idlout NDP Nunavut, NU
Uqaqtittiji, the Liberals are actively refusing reconciliation and evading their obligations required in the honour the Crown.
The government knew for seven years that “the big dock” in Fort Chipewyan is contaminated with cancer-causing substances, and for seven years it covered it up. Rightfully, families are now worried about their children's health and whether they will lose them to cancer.
When will the government uphold the honour of the Crown and work with first nations to ensure their health and safety?
Anita Anand LiberalPresident of the Treasury Board and Minister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for raising this important point. Safety is my top priority as Minister of Transport. I hear and understand the concerns from first nations communities. It is crucial that remote northern and indigenous communities have access to the safe and reliable connectivity that they need.
I will continue to work with the Minister of Indigenous Services on this very important matter.
Niki Ashton NDP Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, MB
Mr. Speaker, we are now over 1,300 days since the Liberals promised to end long-term boil water advisories, but instead of doing that, they are fighting first nations in court as we speak. Doing their best Stephen Harper impression, they are carrying on years of colonialism and denying first nations the right to clean drinking water.
Shamattawa, the lead plaintiff, is taking on Canada, one of the richest countries in the world, whose Prime Minister travels the world pretending to be a leader in human rights, all the while denying Shamattawa clean water.
When will the government stop fighting Shamattawa, Tataskweyak and 58 first nations and deliver clean drinking water?
Patty Hajdu LiberalMinister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario
Mr. Speaker, since 2015, we have lifted 145 long-term boiled water advisories together with first nations. We are going to continue until we get the job done. As a matter of fact, that member opposite has an opportunity to help make sure we never return to the situation that we found ourselves in 2015.
With Bill C-61 at committee, nearing study, I hope we will see a safe passage of that legislation through the House so that no first nations person ever lives without clean water again.
Churence Rogers Liberal Bonavista—Burin—Trinity, NL
Mr. Speaker, in the 1980s, the Government of Canada and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador came together to sign the historic Atlantic accord. This agreement created an offshore energy sector in our province, delivering economic opportunity and prosperity for generations of families and communities.
Now this government and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador have come together again to strengthen this accord and kick-start a new offshore renewable energy industry. Bill C-49 has now become law, ensuring that Newfoundland and Labradorians can lead the world in offshore wind and clean energy.
Regional Economic DevelopmentOral Questions
Long Range Mountains Newfoundland & Labrador
Liberal
Gudie Hutchings LiberalMinister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Mr. Speaker, with a strengthened Atlantic accord, Atlantic Canada is set to become a global leader in wind hydrogen. There are trillions of dollars on the table, and we should all be excited about the good jobs that will create in our region. We can think about the kids who will now get to see their folks work at home.
However, the Conservatives spent months blocking Bill C-49. How could the member for Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame fight against the best interests of his community? Because Conservatives try to stand in the way of progress, but we get it done. Atlantic Canada will produce the clean energy that the world wants.
Tim Uppal Conservative Edmonton Mill Woods, AB
Mr. Speaker, after nine years of the NDP-Liberals, taxes are up, costs are up, crime is up and time is up. Now we are dealing with yet another Liberal corruption scandal.
The Liberal minister from Edmonton misled a parliamentary committee when he claimed to have had no contact with his business partner around the time of an alleged half-a-million dollar fraud, involving someone named Randy. However, when phone records proved otherwise, he changed his story.
Why will he not just come clean about this corruption?
Karina Gould LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, as I have stated many times, if a witness goes to committee, we expect that they provide the information that the committee asks of them.
Tim Uppal Conservative Edmonton Mill Woods, AB
Mr. Speaker, it is clear from that answer that the corruption cover-up continues.
The Liberal minister from Edmonton first said that he did not text with his business partner, but now there is clear evidence that he did. It is no coincidence that after months of looking into this matter, there is no other Randy who can be identified other than the Liberal minister from Edmonton. In fact, the minister's own business partner even admitted that the only other Randy ever connected to the company is that minister.
When will the minister finally stand up in this place and admit that he broke the law?
Karina Gould LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, as I stated, if a witness goes to committee and the committee asks them for information, we believe that the witness should provide the information as requested of them, and we expect as much.
Michael Kram Conservative Regina—Wascana, SK
Mr. Speaker, after nine years of the NDP-Liberals, taxes are up, costs are up, crime is up and time is up. In order to get around the Conflict of Interest Act, the Liberal minister from Edmonton seems to have hired someone known as the other Randy to manage his fraud-ridden medical supply company. Well, just like the other Randy, there should be another prime minister to run the government.
When will the Prime Minister call a carbon tax election so Canadians can finally have another prime minister?
Karina Gould LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, all of us come to this place because we want to serve Canadians. The Liberals on this side of the House want to be able to deliver important measures for them, but we know that we need to earn their trust every single day. What we see from Conservative members of Parliament is that they think they have already won the next election, but that is not how elections work.
We all have to have humility in this place to work hard for Canadians. It is up to the Conservatives now to determine whether they want to do that work or whether they do not. Let us get to work. We are ready to do that.
Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
Mr. Speaker, you yourself decided that this Liberal government had violated an order of the House that called on the government to hand over evidence to the police as part of the investigation into the latest $400-million Liberal scandal. Liberal corruption has brought Parliament to an absolute standstill. Canadians are counting on us to do something about the high cost of living, crime and the budget chaos that has been making them poorer for nine years.
When will this Liberal government stop obstructing justice so that we can finally get back to doing the work that will help Canadians put food on the table, put a roof over their heads and live in dignity?
François-Philippe Champagne LiberalMinister of Innovation
Mr. Speaker, Canadians watching at home have a question. Why are the Conservatives still going on about an organization that has ceased operations?
The CEO has resigned. The board of directors has resigned. The issue before us today is that the Conservatives do not like the order that the Speaker gave to send this matter to committee. Why? Perhaps it is because they may learn some things in committee.
We, on this side of the House, believe in rights. We believe in natural justice. We will always stand up for democracy.
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
Mr. Speaker, these days we are hearing a lot of things about asylum seekers, and not very thoughtful things. It makes people lose sight of what is important. There are too many asylum seekers in Quebec for our capacity to accommodate them. We are incapable of providing services to these people, who are living in misery.
There are some provinces that can help them but are refusing to do so. The only humane way to handle the record influx of asylum seekers is for everyone to do their part. The provinces are not budging. The federal government needs to step in. This falls under federal jurisdiction.
What is the minister doing to get things moving?
Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipOral Questions
Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs Québec
Liberal
Marc Miller LiberalMinister of Immigration
Mr. Speaker, the member is right. This is a shared responsibility with the federal government. We must do our work in collaboration with the provinces that are on side for welcoming asylum seekers. We are asking all the provinces to do their part. I am prepared to work with the provinces that are willing. We will continue to do that because it is very important to continue to work with compassion, without bashing asylum seekers.
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
Mr. Speaker, while the government does nothing, in Quebec, we no longer have classes available for the children of asylum seekers. We no longer have teachers to assign to the classes we do not have. We are no longer able to supply food banks. We are in the midst of a housing crisis. As we speak, new people are arriving at Montreal's Trudeau airport to claim asylum. They will join the ranks of the victims of this crisis. The provinces are doing nothing. The federal government is doing nothing. The Conservatives are hiding.
What will it take for Canada to do something?
Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipOral Questions
Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs Québec
Liberal
Marc Miller LiberalMinister of Immigration
Mr. Speaker, the shortage of teachers in Quebec and across Canada is nothing new. Although the member opposite wants to blame asylum seekers, they are not the reason why there is a shortage of teachers in Quebec.
It is clear that we have more work to do, but it seems to me that the member missed the past six months. If he had read the letter that I sent to the Premier of Quebec and to Jean-François Roberge, he would have seen that progress has been made. There is no denying it.
Gerald Soroka Conservative Yellowhead, AB
Mr. Speaker, after nine years of NDP-Liberals, taxes are up, costs are up, crime is up and time is up. The radical environment minister ignored experts who warned Jasper faced a devastating wildfire if nothing was done. His officials discussed cancelling prescribed burns for political optics, and now we have learned 50 firefighters and 20 fire trucks were turned away as a third of Jasper burned. Thousands are homeless and nearly a billion dollars in damage.
Will the Minister of Environment stand up and apologize to the people of Jasper for his failure?
Steven Guilbeault LiberalMinister of Environment and Climate Change
Mr. Speaker, the member opposite knows that the discussion between those Parks Canada employees was to determine whether they would do prescribed burns or mechanical removals. He knows that; Conservatives know that. To try to insinuate that because they did not want to do prescribed burns we did nothing is simply false. In fact, we invested 40 times more in forest fighting capacities around Jasper than the Conservatives did when they were in power.
The company he talks about has no relationship with Parks Canada. It is a company that works for the Alberta government. I am happy to give him the number of the premier in Alberta, if he needs it.