Debates of Nov. 22nd, 2024

Carbon Pricing

[Rachel Bendayan, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, I can hardly believe that the Conservatives are talking about food insecurity, especially today. We just announced a deal with Ontario to bring the national food school program to thousands of children in Ontario, who will benefit. This is going to ensure that kids have a good start to their day. This is going to help vulnerable families. This is going to be a huge difference for Canadians, and the Conservatives are against helping vulnerable kids. I cannot believe it.

National Defence

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

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government is scrapping the iconic Royal Canadian Navy march Heart of Oak, the song of our navy for over 100 years. No one is asking for this change, except the out-of-touch Liberal elites. Meanwhile, after nine years of the NDP-Liberal government, the Canadian Forces lacks the subs, ships and sailors needed to fulfill its mission.

Instead of going woke, the government should keep our military from going broke. It is time for the Liberals to put their new “heart of woke” away and focus on the real priorities. When will they get our sailors the equipment they need to defend our country and our values?

[Charles Sousa, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Services and Procurement]

Mr. Speaker, Canada has the largest coastline in the world, and protecting that coastline is critical. Unlike what has happened with the Conservatives in the past, where they cut supports for our army and navy and supports for our servicemen on the front lines, we are increasing them. At the same time, we are looking at replacing the Victoria-class submarine, which is scheduled to depart in 2030.

Meanwhile, we continue to look at requests for information to seek a renewal of the fleet. We are continuing to support our forces. We are continuing to support Canadian security.

Foreign Affairs

[Lindsay Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Mr. Speaker, what is happening in Gaza is horrific. Canadians have watched in shock as death tolls mount. People have starved to death and hospitals are being bombed. They need justice now. The International Criminal Court recently issued warrants for Prime Minister Netanyahu, former minister Gallant, and Hamas leader Deif.

It is time for a government that is clear and unequivocal, because this one has let people down before on international justice and human rights. How can we trust that the Liberals will enforce the ICC rulings and arrest warrants?

[Pam Damoff, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Consular Affairs)]

Mr. Speaker, our government respects the independence of the International Criminal Court. There is no equivalency between Hamas and Israel. However, let me be clear: All parties must abide by international law.

We know that an immediate ceasefire is urgently needed. Hostages must be released. Hamas must lay down its arms. More aid must get into Gaza. The violence must stop.

I find it really disturbing that on an issue as important and serious as this, I am being heckled by the Conservative Party of Canada.

Fisheries and Oceans

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

Mr. Speaker, people who live near Union Bay on Vancouver Island have been telling the government for years to stop allowing the unsafe ship-breaking of massive ships. Now there is a hydraulic oil spill. What did the Liberals do? They issued a warning that does not stop anything. This jeopardizes this sensitive ecosystem, which includes half of all of B.C.'s shellfish.

The Liberals have let people down. First nations and local governments are frustrated at the lack of action and enforcement by the government. Warnings simply are not enough. Why are the Liberals refusing to do anything about this?

[Steven Guilbeault, Liberal, Minister of Environment and Climate Change]

Mr. Speaker, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans takes this issue very seriously. We are working with all involved parties to find a solution as rapidly as possible.

Taxation

[Churence Rogers, Liberal, Bonavista—Burin—Trinity, NL]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians just received good news to kick off the festive season. A tax break for Canadians will put more money in their pockets at a time when they need it most. Inflation and interest rates are coming down, but my constituents are not feeling that in their pocketbooks yet.

Can the minister please share with this House what this new tax break means for Canadians.

[Gudie Hutchings, Liberal, Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency]

Mr. Speaker, the past few years have been challenging for hard-working Canadians. They deserve a break and we are delivering on it. We are putting money back in Canadians' pockets with the GST/HST exemption for two months all across the country on groceries, kids' clothing, diapers, books and more.

We are helping folks with the cost of living while the Conservative leader opposes tax relief for workers and would cut services that folks rely on every day. The question is, will Conservative MPs stand up and support tax breaks for Canadians or will they stay muzzled by their leader?

Ethics

[Eric Duncan, Conservative, Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry, ON]

Mr. Speaker, we have millions of dollars in fraud, the other Randy still in hiding, numerous lawsuits, business addresses connected to cocaine trafficking and people being held in contempt of Parliament. What a few weeks it has been for the disgraced former minister from Edmonton Centre.

After he arrogantly lectured other members in the House about their morals and integrity when it comes to their identity, his resignation from cabinet this week is what I call karma. However, as the Liberals lectured others on reconciliation, it was Jody Wilson-Raybould who called their actions “shameful and extremely destructive”.

Do the Liberals have any integrity left? He should not only have resigned from cabinet. Why has he not been booted from the Liberal caucus?

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

Mr. Speaker, as the House leader indicated yesterday, we have been very clear in the House that the company was not on the list and that indigenous procurement is for indigenous groups.

What we see day after day is a gross amount of exaggeration coming from the Conservative ranks. If they really want to do something in Canadians' best interests, they need to look in the mirror and ask themselves this question, referring to the leader of the Conservative Party in particular: What is he hiding that is preventing him from getting a security clearance? Canadians have a right to know. He is hiding something. What is it?

[Eric Duncan, Conservative, Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry, ON]

Mr. Speaker, they are still defending the member for Edmonton Centre. How unethical does someone have to be to get the boot out of the Liberal Party of Canada these days? It is crazy.

He says he is indigenous. He is not. He says he is not the other Randy working at his company. He is. His company is not supposed to get contracts from the government. It did. Now his business is under multiple criminal investigations, and it shares a mailbox with a cocaine trafficker, yet the Prime Minister said on Tuesday that he is “happy that he is continuing to lead on issues”. He has issues all right.

He should not only not be in cabinet; he should not be in the Liberal caucus. Have some integrity and give him the boot.

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

Mr. Speaker, talking about unethical, how unethical is it for the leader of the Conservative Party of Canada to be the only leader not to get a security clearance? We know of allegations of foreign interference in his own leadership race. We know that there are issues the leader of the Conservative Party should be aware of, but he turns a blind eye to Canadians. Out of pure self-interest, he refuses to get a security clearance.

What is in his past? There is something there that he is not sharing with Canadians. What is it? Why will he not get a security clearance?

Public Services and Procurement

[Michael Cooper, Conservative, St. Albert—Edmonton, AB]

Mr. Speaker, mired in allegations of fraud and conflict and having faked an indigenous identity, this week the Liberal member for Edmonton Centre resigned from cabinet in disgrace. Also this week, the Edmonton police confirmed that they have launched a criminal investigation into the ex-minister's company for fraud.

In the face of an active police investigation, why is it that the ex-minister's company continues to be green-lighted by the Liberals to bid on federal contracts?

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

Mr. Speaker, that question has already been answered.

Interestingly enough, the Conservative caucus has guidelines and criteria if someone wants to be a summer intern: They have to get a security clearance. That is such an incredible thing to believe given that the leader of the Conservative Party believes he can put his self-interest ahead of the safety and concerns of Canadians.

It does beg this question, and I will repeat it for those who do not understand: What in the leader of the Conservative Party's background is preventing him from getting a security clearance?

[Michael Cooper, Conservative, St. Albert—Edmonton, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal member for Edmonton Centre's company is under police investigation. This is a company that has been ordered by Alberta courts to pay back $8 million to clients for ripping them off. This is a company that fraudulently represented itself as indigenous-owned in a disgusting attempt to steal government contracts from real indigenous businesses.

This is not complicated. All the Liberals need to do is put the company on a blacklist. Why will they not?

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

Mr. Speaker, I will share with members a Conservative tweet that went out. They should listen very closely: “Apply for the CPC Summer Internship today and be the future of the Conservative Party.” However, they have to get a security clearance. Maybe the leader of the Conservative Party should apply for the internship program, thereby obligating him to get a security clearance. That is how ridiculous this issue is.

Why will the leader of the Conservative Party not commit today to getting a security clearance? That would put Canadians ahead of himself.

Canada Revenue Agency

[Xavier Barsalou-Duval, Bloc, Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC]

Mr. Speaker, taxpayers have been robbed of over $100 million this year because of an epidemic of fraud at the Canada Revenue Agency, or CRA, but the last thing the Liberals want is for people to talk about it. On Wednesday, in committee, the Minister of National Revenue even threatened her own public servants with jail time if they continue to tell the media about the problems at the CRA. Her priority is not to go after tax cheats, but to go after journalists' sources.

Does the minister realize that the fraudsters are the ones who should be threatened with jail time, not journalists' sources or whistle-blowers?

[Iqra Khalid, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, the CRA takes the issue of fraud very seriously.

With respect to what the member has talked about, we have supported whistle-blower rights, as shown in our support of the member's caucus bill, Bill C-290, which aims to increase protections for whistle-blowers. However, we need to find the right balance when it comes to making sure that Canadians' data is protected while also ensuring rights for whistle-blowers.

The CRA has an internal process for reporting, and we look forward to continuing to work with all members in the House and the CRA to strengthen that process.

[Xavier Barsalou-Duval, Bloc, Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC]

Mr. Speaker, without whistle-blowers, we never would have known that the CRA had been robbed of $100 million. We never would have known that 62,000 taxpayers had had their personal information stolen or that the CRA has been aware of flaws in its security system for a year now. It was only when journalists began taking an interest in the problem that the minister took an interest in it too.

Instead of threatening the whistle-blowers, should she not be thanking them?

[Iqra Khalid, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, as I indicated earlier, we have the highest respect for whistle-blowers and support the private member's bill, Bill C-290, put forward by the member's caucus to protect whistle-blowers. Again, we also have to ensure that Canadians' data is protected. We have to make sure that tax avoidance and tax filings carry fairness within our country and within the system.

We look forward to continuing to work together to strengthen that, and I look forward to working with the member for his ideas as well.

Ethics

[Eric Melillo, Conservative, Kenora, ON]

It is another day and another Liberal scandal, Mr. Speaker, this time centred on the member for Edmonton Centre, including the member having falsely identified himself as indigenous to try to qualify his business for government funds. However, somehow, until the point of the member's resignation from cabinet, the Prime Minister maintained full support for him.

Jody Wilson-Raybould, who was removed from the Liberal benches for speaking the truth, described the Prime Minister's inaction as “shameful and...destructive”. This begs the question of why the government is so quick to remove an indigenous woman for speaking the truth and so quick to support a fake indigenous man who misled Canadians.

[Jaime Battiste, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations]

Mr. Speaker, it seems the only time Conservatives want to talk about indigenous issues in the House is when it fits their cut, cut, cut agenda. While they attack the indigenous procurement strategy, the fact is that under the Harper government, under 1% of procurement was going to indigenous business. Our government has raised that to more than 6%.

On this side of the House, we are going to stay committed to economic reconciliation moving forward.

[Eric Melillo, Conservative, Kenora, ON]

Mr. Speaker, with respect, none of that answers the question I raised.

Again, Jody Wilson-Raybould, a former Liberal minister, stated, “A Prime Minister committed to true reconciliation would have removed [the member for Edmonton Centre]...from Cabinet long ago”; instead, the Prime Minister chose to stand side by side with the member. As Wilson-Raybould put it, “[W]e get to watch white people play ancestry wheel of fortune.”

Again, why is government so quick to remove an indigenous woman for speaking the truth and so quick to protect a fake indigenous man who misled Canadians?

[Jaime Battiste, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations]

Mr. Speaker, indigenous communities have fought for decades to enshrine the ability to determine their own citizenship and membership. UNDRIP's article 33 is entrenched in law, and it confirms the right of indigenous people to determine who is a member of their community.

However, the Conservatives have a different idea. They want to tell indigenous people who is eligible and who is not. No first nations leader, no Métis leader, no Inuit leader is asking for the Conservative Party of Canada to determine who is eligible for indigenous identity moving forward.