Debates of Oct. 8th, 2024

Homelessness Awareness Night

[Denis Trudel, Bloc, Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, QC]

Mr. Speaker, October 18 is homelessness awareness night, when we will once again gather to shine a light on a reality that is affecting far too many people.

This year's theme, the 100 faces of homelessness, draws attention to the fact that behind the often misunderstood word “homeless” are people with diverse backgrounds and stories, in other words, human beings. Homelessness does not have just one face. A young man who ran away from an unstable home, an isolated senior who has been forgotten by society, a worker in a precarious financial situation who is unable to make ends meet or an individual who is suffering from mental health problems or addiction can all be homeless. No matter how they may appear to us, they are all human beings with hopes and dreams and a desire to find meaning in their life.

Homelessness awareness night is more than just an event. It is a reminder of our collective responsibility, because behind every face there is a person with a story, who deserves to be heard, respected and supported.

Public Safety

[Michael Chong, Conservative, Wellington—Halton Hills, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the evidence is clear. Samidoun, also known as the Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network, is knowingly acting on behalf of, at the direction of or in association with at least one terrorist entity listed under the Criminal Code: the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.

Samidoun is based in Canada and incorporated as a not-for-profit under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act. Other jurisdictions have taken action. Germany and Israel have listed Samidoun as a terrorist entity, and the European Union has banned this group from entry. The Liberal government needs to take terrorism and anti-Semitism seriously; it needs to take the evidence seriously and list Samidoun as a terrorist entity under the Criminal Code of Canada.

Leaders of Northwest Territories

[Michael McLeod, Liberal, Northwest Territories, NT]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to welcome the members of the Northwest Territories Council of Leaders to Ottawa this week. This collaboration of both the territorial and indigenous governments is a forum for co-operation and collaboration on shared priorities.

While these leaders represent different levels of government and different regions, they are coming together for the same reason: to build a better future for northern communities. This council is meeting with federal ministers and officials in Ottawa to highlight and advocate for the interests of those from NWT. These include advancing reconciliation and modern treaties, protecting our environment while sustainably developing our economy and building necessary infrastructure, such as the Mackenzie Valley Highway.

I welcome the council leaders, and I look forward to the continued progress in advancing northern priorities.

Innovation, Science and Industry

[Melissa Lantsman, Conservative, Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, a $400-million Liberal scandal has paralyzed Parliament for a week. The Speaker himself ruled that the NDP-Liberals have violated a House order to turn over evidence to the police for a criminal investigation into their corruption. They are defying his ruling and they have ground this place to a halt. The auditor said that there are 400 million tax dollars and 186 conflicts of interest in question. Canadians could get accountability today if they would hand over the documents to the police.

What is in those documents and how bad is it?

[Arif Virani, Liberal, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, I want to start by noting the events in Vancouver yesterday at a protest. We unequivocally condemn those events and those actions. It is absolutely unacceptable to burn the Canadian flag and to chant “death to Canada”. It is also unacceptable to deny and celebrate the events of October 7 and to champion the acts of a terrorist group.

[Melissa Lantsman, Conservative, Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am glad that they finally found the courage to condemn something in the House, but, getting back to the matter at hand that I asked about, whatever is in those documents must be really bad if they are willing to hide the corruption. Months ago, the Auditor General found that the Liberal appointees gave nearly 400 million tax dollars to their own companies and that there were 186 conflicts of interest.

I will ask this again for the seventh day in a row: Will the NDP-Liberals end the cover-up and give proof to the police so that we can get accountability for the corruption and get Parliament back to work?

[Karina Gould, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, I think it is important that I read the Speaker's ruling into the record because the Conservatives did not hear it the first time:

...the Chair is of the view that it would be valuable to afford an opportunity for the concerns expressed by the RCMP, as well as by the Auditor General, to be addressed fully and, I would hope, for a mutually satisfactory solution to be arrived at.

I believe the best way for this to be achieved would be to follow the usual course for a prima facie question of privilege, that is, a referral to the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs.

We are ready to send this matter to a committee. When will the Conservatives do that?

[Melissa Lantsman, Conservative, Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the House leader missed the part where the Speaker told them that they were holding the House in contempt. If there is nothing to hide in those documents, then they should be able to hand them over.

There was $400 million given to Liberal friends and 186 conflicts of interest, from a government that knows really well what a conflict of interest is, all while a record number of Canadians cannot afford to eat.

How bad are these documents that the government would hold this place up for seven days, defying the Speaker's order, to hide the $400 million it gave to its friends?

[Karina Gould, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, we are ready for this matter to move on to the procedure and House affairs committee, just as the Speaker ruled. The only party that does not want that to happen is the Conservative Party. They are trying to spin out their own obstruction because they do not want this to go to committee.

What they will hear is expert after expert talking about the egregious abuse of power the Conservatives are trying to do in this place, to override the rights of Canadians. We are ready to move forward. It is only the Conservatives who are afraid of a vote.

Public Safety

[Pierre Paul-Hus, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, in La Presse this morning, Sergeant Vincent Moore of the Montreal police Éclipse squad was condemning the fact that gang members use firearms without fear of consequences. He said, “Everything's gone completely crazy. I've never seen anything like it in my 18-year career....These days, it's not uncommon for someone to be arrested and then say, ‘No big deal, you're going to give me a piece of paper and let me go, and I'm going to do it again.’ They're no longer afraid of being arrested by the police. They know there won't be any consequences.”

Why are the Prime Minister and the Bloc Québécois letting criminals call the shots in our communities?

[Arif Virani, Liberal, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member opposite for asking this question. It gives me the opportunity to highlight what we have done. As far as firearms are concerned, we have invested about $400 million to fight guns and gangs. The Conservatives and the member opposite voted against these measures.

In terms of the administration of justice, yes, there is a problem with the bail system. When we look at the bail system, we have to check whether enough Crown prosecutors are challenging bail applications and whether enough space is available in detention centres. That would be a good question to ask Premier Legault.

[Pierre Paul-Hus, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, that is twice now that the Minister of Justice of Canada has blamed the Legault government for the administration of justice, which this government changed.

The Criminal Code is a federal responsibility. That is why Bill C-5 and Bill C-75 have caused so many problems on the streets of Montreal and now everywhere else in Quebec. Sergeant Giguère of the Éclipse squad in Montreal even reportedly said that prior to this decision, people on the street would tell police they did not want to be locked up for long, but now, people are being arrested for using firearms and they are out again soon after. Is that normal?

Why does the government refuse to amend the laws that have destroyed Canada's entire justice system?

[Arif Virani, Liberal, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, first of all, the legislation my colleague just mentioned, the act resulting from Bill C-75, increased penalties for auto theft. He voted against it.

Second, the people who grant bail are the judges appointed by Mr. Legault, so if there is a question or a problem with the administration of justice, the member should talk to Mr. Legault about the number of lawyers, court backlogs, space in detention centres and the fact that there may be some problems with the decisions being made.

International Trade

[Alain Therrien, Bloc, La Prairie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, enough with dragging things out at the expense of our farmers.

Every party voted in favour of Bill C‑282 on June 21, 2023. It was sent to the Senate over a year ago. The bill has one clause. The Senate has been studying one clause for over a year. How can that be? It is because two senators who are not elected by the people, Peter Boehm and Peter Harder, disagree, so they are dragging their feet. Two unelected senators want to undo the vote of elected members from all parties. They were appointed by the Liberals.

Who in the Liberal Party is going to explain to the cronies in the Senate how democracy works?

[Marie-Claude Bibeau, Liberal, Minister of National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, we completely agree with the Bloc Québécois on this.

Supply management is very important in our country. It is especially important for our land use. We want to be there to support and protect the system and help our farmers.

Yes, we expect the Senate to work diligently on this issue and to ensure our bill comes back as soon as possible.

[Alain Therrien, Bloc, La Prairie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, all parties voted in favour of Bill C‑282.

This is the second time we have introduced this bill, which all parties voted for. It has been analyzed six ways from Sunday since 2020. It has one single clause. Not even the Bible has been analyzed that thoroughly.

Two senators, who must think we are a bunch of chumps, say they want to overrule how 338 elected representatives voted. Unacceptable.

Will the Liberals ask their two friends to stop thwarting democracy?

[Marie-Claude Bibeau, Liberal, Minister of National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, our government made a big decision together with our leader. We made the Senate independent.

Since coming to power nine years ago, we have appointed senators who are independent. I feel the Bloc Québécois should understand that concept.

Housing

[Peter Julian, NDP, New Westminster—Burnaby, BC]

Mr. Speaker, finding affordable housing is harder than ever for people across the country.

We have just learned that big property owners may be using artificial intelligence software to secretly collude and hike rents. The NDP moved a motion to get to the bottom of this, but the Liberals and the Conservatives blocked it. That is shameful. Canadians cannot find affordable housing.

Why are the Liberals and Conservatives protecting big landlords' profits instead of protecting people?

[Sean Fraser, Liberal, Minister of Housing]

Mr. Speaker, as my colleague well knows, making investments is essential. It is not enough to just identify problems.

On this side of the House, investing in the construction of affordable housing is important. It is vital for supporting communities that also build housing.

The government is going to continue to make investments to actually get homes built, not simply point fingers and try to identify problems with no solutions coming forward.

[Bonita Zarrillo, NDP, Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the housing minister needs to tell his members to stop blocking the presence of these CEOs in committee. For Canadians who rent, finding a home they can afford is nearly impossible, and these rich corporate landlords are using artificial intelligence software to potentially collude and jack up rents. The NDP proposed a study to expose rent gouging, but the Liberals and Conservatives teamed up and blocked it.

[Some hon. members]

Shame.

[Bonita Zarrillo, NDP, Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians deserve a government that protects them, so why are the Liberals, along with the Conservatives, continuing to protect the profits of corporate landlords over renters struggling to find a home?

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

Once again, I am going to encourage all members not to take the floor unless they are recognized, and that includes the hon. member for New Westminster—Burnaby.

[Sean Fraser, Liberal, Minister of Housing]

Mr. Speaker, my NDP colleague has suggested it is for the minister to tell my colleagues what to do at committee.

On this side of the House, I can tell the members that it is my colleagues who tell me to increase investments to build more affordable housing. The NDP members have made a point of pointing out where there may be some challenges, which I actually agree that we need to address. The difference on our side of the House is we are advancing solutions to address them. We are putting billions of dollars on the table to build more affordable housing, to build more co-operative housing and to help non-profits buy up that low-cost housing on the market to keep it affordable forever.

If the New Democrats want to turn their minds to solutions, I will listen. Until then, I am going to continue acting.

Innovation, Science and Industry

[Andrew Scheer, Conservative, Regina—Qu'Appelle, SK]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government is violating a parliamentary order to hand over evidence to the RCMP.

At issue is the Auditor General's finding that officials at SDTC broke conflict of interest laws 186 times and funnelled $400 million of taxpayers' money into their own companies, all this at a time when Canadians can barely afford to eat or heat and house themselves.

Now, by refusing to accept the Speaker's ruling, the Liberals have effectively paralyzed Parliament, pushing aside all other work to address the housing crisis, the inflation crisis and the crime crisis the government unleashed.

Why not end the cover-up, hold the lawbreakers to account and let Parliament get back to work?