Debates of Nov. 8th, 2024

Reference to Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs

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

Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I would like to ask if there is quorum in the House.

[Carol Hughes, NDP, The Assistant Deputy Speaker]

We will check.

And the count having been taken:

There is quorum.

The hon. member for Edmonton Strathcona.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

I would like to thank my colleague for the words he shared today in honour of Remembrance Day, which is coming up next week. I am a proud granddaughter of a veteran who fought in the Second World War. My grandfather Daniel Albert McCoy was a gunner, shot down over Belgium, and he actually lived in the underground for two years before he was able to get back to my mother and my grandmother.

I noticed that the member did not mention that today is Indigenous Veterans Day, and the stories we often do not hear are the stories of indigenous veterans: first nations, Métis and Inuit men and women who so bravely fought for our country and for our freedom. I think about people like Tommy George Prince, William Cleary, Tom Charles Longboat and so many others whose stories have not been told. Today of all days we need to acknowledge indigenous veterans.

[John Brassard, Conservative, Barrie—Innisfil, ON]

Madam Speaker, the hon. member has been in this place for quite a while. She understands how quickly time goes when we get on a roll and we are talking about the people who have served their nation. I actually had some notes on indigenous people who have served our nation. Over 12,000 indigenous men and women are estimated to have served in three wars, including 7,000 first nations members. They enlisted as soldiers, as nurses and in other roles, many serving with distinction, winning medals for bravery in every action.

The hon. member mentioned Tommy Prince. I would mention Mary Greyeyes as well. She joined the Canadian Women's Army Corps as the first indigenous woman to join the Canadian army. Noel Knockwood, a residential school survivor, enlisted in the Canadian army, served during the Korean War and went on to become the sergeant-at-arms in Nova Scotia.

We are very fortunate where I live in Barrie—Innisfil that we not only acknowledge the people who served and continue to serve our nation, but that there are also indigenous veterans as well who proudly wear the uniform and their medals and are honoured just as greatly as everyone else is honoured.

[Alex Ruff, Conservative, Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON]

Madam Speaker, I just want to thank my colleague for highlighting the incredible service that so many veterans rendered to Canada and for tying it to what we are here to do as a democracy. It is important.

I want to highlight his recognizing retired brigadier-general Hayter, a man who served in my regiment. One of my first tasks as a subaltern was to be his aide at a mess dinner. I cannot repeat some of the stories that occurred that night and the dance I had to do for him and another general I was the aide to at the same time.

I want to thank the member for recognizing indigenous veterans as well. I encourage and invite all parliamentarians, if they get the opportunity, to come to my riding of Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound and go to the town of Wiarton. There is a brand new mural there, done by Silvia Pecota, that pays incredible tribute to the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation, which I think had the highest percentage of any first nation in Canada serving in the First World War. I think something like over 60% of that first nation's members served in the First World War.

[John Brassard, Conservative, Barrie—Innisfil, ON]

Madam Speaker, as we get closer to Remembrance Day, and I know we are going through Remembrance Week, it is important for us to remember all those who have served and continue to serve and their families, who in many ways serve beyond the battlefield.

I was the critic for Veterans Affairs, and I still wear bracelets 24 hours a day and seven days a week, lest we forget. There is a tribute on my arm to the wounded warriors as well. Some people may think they are props, but they are not. They are not only a way for me to remember my obligation to our veterans every time they call my office for help, as anybody does, but also a tribute. It is the kind of tribute that I pay to remind me of my obligation every single day that I function as a member of Parliament. It is the same obligation I am going to have when my time is up here.

Because of the profound respect that I have for veterans and their families and the prices they paid to serve this nation, I wear them proudly and as a reminder of my obligation not just as a human being, but as a parliamentarian as well.

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

Madam Speaker, I want to start by thanking a member of the member's caucus, who was speaking moments ago, the hon. member for Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, for his service on behalf of this country in Afghanistan and for his work to help rescue women from Afghanistan. We can work together across party lines in this place.

My question for the parliamentary secretary might be taken from a Conservative point of view: Why does the government not just present the documents? As such, I want to ask the hon. member for Barrie—Innisfil, because I am truly baffled by this, why the leader of the Conservative Party will not get top secret security clearance. It would really clear the air about the line in the report from the committee of parliamentarians on foreign interference that mentions foreign interference in the Conservative Party leadership race.

I would appreciate it if the hon. leader of the official opposition would seek his top secret security clearance. Can the member for Barrie—Innisfil shed any light on why the leader of the official opposition still refuses to do so?

[John Brassard, Conservative, Barrie—Innisfil, ON]

Madam Speaker, I think the hon. Leader of the Opposition has stated very clearly and succinctly his reason. In fact, the former leader of the NDP, Tom Mulcair, agrees with the Leader of the Opposition.

It is baffling that the government was talking to the Washington Post about foreign interference a week before the announcement on Thanksgiving Day. If it is truly an issue of national security, why are the Liberals giving the information to an American newspaper? There are sections in the CSIS Act allowing the Prime Minister to inform the Leader of the Opposition, if he wanted to, about this. The same provisions that were afforded to the member for Wellington—Halton Hills, for example, could be afforded to the Leader of the Opposition, so this is completely a red herring. It is an issue to distract from the failed economic policies of the government, and the Liberals are going to continue to use it as a means to distract and divide.

Prayers by Military Chaplains

[Alex Ruff, Conservative, Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON]

Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. There have been consultations among the parties, and I believe if you were to seek it, you would find unanimous consent for the following motion.

I move:

That, considering the government has stated that there is no prayer ban, the House call on the government to confirm that military chaplains, ahead of Remembrance Day ceremonies, have the right to offer prayers in their denominations in public spaces and will never be restricted on Remembrance Day or any day nor will any military chaplain face any disciplinary or administrative actions for praying in public spaces.

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, NDP, Carol Hughes]

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.

The motion is carried.

(Motion agreed to)

The House resumed consideration of the motion, of the amendment and of the amendment to the amendment.

Reference to Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs

[Chris Lewis, Conservative, Essex, ON]

Madam Speaker, that is probably the greatest news I have heard all week. That was very well done by my colleague from Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound; I thank him so much. It puts a big smile on my face.

I also want to acknowledge my colleague, the member for Barrie—Innisfil, who just gave a very compassionate and passionate speech and did an excellent job. He stole a bunch of my thunder, so I guess I will be somewhat sticking to the reason we are really here today.

I am honoured to represent the people of Essex and to address the House today. I will discuss the ruling of the Speaker regarding the production of documents ordered by the House on the scandal involving Sustainable Development Technology Canada. The Liberal government refuses to comply with an order from the House to produce unredacted documents regarding the $400-million green slush fund scandal. This is truly a disheartening example of governance.

Again, I want to highlight the government's mishandling of the Sustainable Development Technology Canada fund, which is often called the green slush fund. The program was created in 2001 to support innovation and sustainable technologies, and it ran smoothly under both Liberal and Conservative governments until the current Prime Minister took office.

It is unacceptable that the Liberals refused to hand over all the documents related to the Prime Minister's green slush fund to the RCMP within the required 14 days. I, along with my colleagues, am frustrated by the lack of transparency, which only fuels distrust and frustration among Canadians.

The Prime Minister-appointed board began approving funding for companies where executives had clear conflicts of interest with SDTC members who were already receiving money from the board and were still appointed to it despite knowledge of the conflicts. This is truly unbelievable. Governance standards at the fund quickly collapsed under the leadership of the new chair, Annette Verschuren. Following whistle-blower allegations of financial mismanagement, the Auditor General and the Ethics Commissioner each launched separate investigations.

The government's sheer lack of attention to detail is staggering, leading to avoidable errors and costly oversights at every turn. The negligence not only wastes taxpayers' dollars but also undermines the public's trust in its ability to govern effectively.

After nine years of the NDP-Liberals, the situation is so bad that there are now 1,400 homeless encampments in Ontario alone. In my riding of Essex, I am constantly hearing about the struggles my constituents face regarding the cost of living. Last month, CBC reported on how homelessness is increasing in the Windsor—Essex area. According to Jeanie Diamond-Francis, manager of community services for County of Essex, the need for affordable housing in that county is “consistently” growing. The latest number of people experiencing homelessness in the region is over 900, and that is only capturing people who are experiencing such homelessness.

While many Canadians are struggling with rising housing and food costs, it is deeply disappointing that we are still talking about the Liberal government's $400-million slush fund scandal. The Liberals do not care about everyday Canadians; they care only about making their insider friends richer.

However, it is not just my constituents who are struggling; Canadians across the country are struggling more than ever. Food Banks Canada's 2024 poverty report card shows that almost 50% of Canadians feel financially worse off compared to last year, while 25% of Canadians are experiencing food insecurity. On top of this, Food Banks Canada reported that the cost of living has become so high that there has been a 50% increase in food bank visits since 2021. As a direct consequence of the Liberal government's inflationary spending and taxes, millions of Canadians are struggling to keep their head above water.

New research from the Salvation Army shows that nearly one-third of Canadians continue to feel pessimistic about the future of their personal finances, while 25% of Canadians continue to be extremely concerned about having enough income to cover their basic needs. The Salvation Army also reported that nearly 75% of Canadians face challenges managing limited financial resources, which has contributed to a wave of Canadians who, for financial reasons, continue to deprioritize seeking medical health. For this reason, Food Banks Canada downgraded the Liberal government's grade of B in 2023 to a D minus in 2024.

Whether it is the stress of an uncertain economy, increased living expenses or inflation, Canadians are in urgent need of assistance. Nevertheless, the Prime Minister appears more disconnected from the realities that ordinary Canadians face.

The Auditor General has made it clear that both the former and current Liberal industry ministers are responsible for this debacle as they failed to properly oversee contracts awarded to Liberal insiders. This lack of oversight has severely undermined public trust, particularly at a time when transparency and accountability are more important than ever.

A scandal involving the misappropriation and transfer of $400 million in public funds to political insiders has engulfed the Liberal government. The Liberals are focused on defending their own interests, while working Canadians bear the expense, rather than tackling these pressing challenges.

It is understandable that Canadians are beginning to recognize the NDP-Liberal administration for what it is: a government that rewards its allies while making life more difficult for families. Costs, taxes and corruption have all increased throughout the past nine years. In addition to mismanaging public funds and giving preference to their political supporters, the Liberals have burdened Canadians with policies like the carbon tax.

Canadians have to deal with the fact that they are paying more and receiving less. For example, after nine years of the NDP-Liberal government, the Canadian dream is lost. The dream of owning a home is slipping away from countless Canadians.

As I said earlier, I hear from my constituents every day about how they are grappling with the harsh reality of affording basic necessities. The Prime Minister promised to lower the price of housing, rents and mortgages, which have since then doubled. Middle-class Canadians are forced to live in tent encampments in nearly every city across Canada. Before the Liberal government in 2015, it took 25 years to pay off a mortgage. Now it takes 25 years just to save up for a down payment. Things have gotten so bad that some families have been forced into 90-year mortgages that they will never pay off.

A woman in my riding reached out to me in desperation this year. She had one very touching story. She is a mother who gets up, works, prepares dinner and then goes to bed, just to do the same thing all over again. She said there are a lot of bills, and she is having a hard time making ends meet. Despite her best efforts to shield her kids from the stress, she is forced to tell them that she cannot even keep the lights on because of the $2,000 monthly rent. She lives within her means, works hard and pays her taxes, yet the government that promised to support her is making things more difficult for her. She is not alone in feeling this way, and she is drowning. Many people in my riding and across Canada are having the same difficulties, and they are worthy of better.

The NDP-Liberal government's preference for rewarding its political allies over tackling the problems that ordinary Canadians face is becoming more and more obvious. Costs have increased, taxes have increased and corruption has spread unchecked over the last nine years.

The Liberals have not only mismanaged public funds, but also increased the cost of life for Canadians by enacting measures like the carbon tax. Canadians are getting less in exchange or paying more for everything including groceries, gas and heating. This is the unpleasant truth that many families, both in Essex and nationwide, must deal with.

A government that prioritizes the demands of its constituents before those of its wealthy friends is long overdue. The growing cost of living is a major issue for all Canadians, but things are just going to get worse. For already struggling families, the Prime Minister's proposal to double the carbon tax by 2030 will only make matters worse. Despite our repeated calls for a carbon tax election on this side of the House, we continue to be bogged down in document cover-ups rather than tackling the underlying problems. The idea that Canadians receive larger carbon refunds than they pay in taxes is one of the most common myths we encounter, and the carbon tax raises the cost of everything, particularly food.

In my riding of Essex, I have been deeply involved in the community for many years, even serving as a municipal councillor before coming here. Local government works because it operates with transparency by default. Every council meeting and committee session is open to the public, except in rare, exceptional cases. Everything else is accessible and transparent. Local governments would not survive long if they were as closed up as the Liberals have been with their green slush fund.

Trust in every political system, whether municipal, provincial or federal, is based on accountability and transparency. The people should not have to put up with being kept in the dark, particularly when taxpayer funds are being mismanaged. How harmful a lack of transparency can be is demonstrated by the Liberals' failure to be transparent about the $400-million slush fund scandal, which funnelled money to political insiders. In local politics, we are aware that leaders are promptly held responsible when the public loses faith in them. At the federal level, the same ought to hold true.

As I mentioned in my speech just over a week ago, the heart of the issue is the Auditor General's finding that Liberal appointees allocated $400 million in taxpayers' money to their own companies, resulting in 186 documented conflicts of interest. Transparency is desperately needed, and this is more than simply a scandal. It is a breach of the confidence that Canadians have in their government. This money could have gone back into the pockets of hard-working Canadians or toward beneficial programs that help our communities. This money could have been used to support neighbourhood projects, support the growth of small enterprises or lessen the financial strain on families dealing with growing expenses. It is a lost chance that may have had significant impact on the lives of regular people.

Again, we are talking about $400 million in taxpayer funds that may have been wasted or stolen while everyday Canadians struggle to afford food, heating and housing. This situation is unbearable, especially when so many are suffering due to the government's lack of accountability.

When discussing the Liberal green slush fund, in which $400 million from taxpayers has been spent, Conservatives focus on issues that actually affect Canadians. Rather than using taxpayers' dollars to enrich friends, my private member's bill, Bill C-241, focuses on hard-working Canadians, specifically tradespeople, and how they are struggling to make ends meet. The purpose of Bill C-241 is to amend Canada's Income Tax Act to permit eligible apprentices and tradespeople who travel to a job site 120 kilometres from their primary residence to claim a tax deduction for their temporary relocation and travel expenses.

Despite being the backbone of our economy, these men and women are expected to work all over the region, giving up valuable family time to ensure that their kids have access to necessities like food and medicine. What do they receive in exchange? They receive a meagre $4,000 tax deduction, which is insufficient to pay for living expenses and transportation when living far away from home. In comparison to the millions the government is wasting on questionable, unaccountable projects, it is an insult. This goes beyond oversight. It is about acknowledging the needs of Canadians who are putting in a lot of effort to grow our nation, while the Liberals are squandering funds on vanity projects that do not actually advance the common good.

Bill C-241 is more than simply a fair travelling tradesperson's bill. It is about justice for the workers who drive our economy, and I am honoured to support them, particularly in light of the green slush fund incident and other instances where our tax dollars are being misspent. My Conservative colleagues and I are aware of the true issues, and I am determined to see that they are addressed.

The NDP-Liberals must put an end to their cover-up and hand over the evidence to the police. Only then can Parliament get back to its critical work of serving the interests of Canadians. Their continued obstruction is unacceptable. The division between those in government and regular Canadians who must deal with the fallout from such carelessness is only widened by this incident.

If the Liberal government would only produce the records it has been required to release, Parliament could return to addressing the problems that are most important to Canadians, such as family and affordability. It is really that easy. The government could resume its task of addressing the growing cost of living that families in Essex and throughout the nation face if it put an end to this cover-up and turned over the proof to the authorities. Rather, the Liberals keep blocking progress, putting their personal interests ahead of the pressing needs of Canadians.

Helping Canadians make ends meet is what really matters. Therefore, it is time to end the secrecy. Why will NDP-Liberals not stop hiding behind the green slush fund and release the required documentation so Canadians can have the openness and accountability they deserve?

We hear from dozens of people every day, regular Canadians, who are having a hard time making ends meet. Whether they are workers in Canada dealing with the rapidly rising cost of living or families in the Essex neighbourhood, they are battling insane food costs, expensive housing and a government that appears to be losing touch with reality.

The Liberals, however, are still committed to supporting their political friends and allocating public funds to special interests and insiders, while abandoning regular Canadians to fend for themselves. It is now painfully obvious the government would rather enrich its own elite and the wealthy than deal with the problems hard-working Canadians face.

The people of Essex and in communities across this country deserve better than a government that only looks out for itself. For over a month, the Liberals have offered shifting excuses for not complying with the House's clear demand for documents, despite knowing the House has full authority to require the release.

Only our sensible Conservative colleagues will put an end to the turmoil and corruption, figure out what happened to the $400 million and provide some justice and clarity to the people of our nation. As we return to the privilege motion before us, it is not just about the production of documents. More importantly, it is about the message the government is sending to the entire country that corruption is acceptable and the mismanagement of public funds would be tolerated.

Lastly, I want to note this is not a partisan issue. Weeks ago, the Speaker ruled on a question of privilege raised by the House leader of the official opposition. His ruling confirmed what Conservatives have said all along, that the government violated the extensive powers of the House by failing to surrender crucial records related to SDTC.

In his ruling, the Speaker referenced page 985 of the House of Commons Procedure and Practice, third edition, affirming, “No statute or practice diminishes the fullness of that power rooted in House privileges unless there is an explicit legal provision to that effect”. This clearly establishes that the House has the inherent authority to compel the production of the documents vital to our oversight functions. We must ensure the House retains the authority to demand accountability from the government.

Ultimately, the Speaker of the House, the highest authority in Parliament, ruled that the government, specifically the Prime Minister, was required to hand over the documents to Parliament. Even though the Speaker is a member of the Liberal Party, he upheld Parliament's authority. What action did the Prime Minister take? He acted as though he were above the law and Parliament. He disregarded the order and simply produced censored documents rather than following it.

As I close, I just want to echo the comments of so many of my colleagues today and thank every single veteran who has served and continues to serve. They have given me the opportunity to serve our great country of Canada. Without them, quite frankly, I would not be here and I would not have the opportunity to leave the world a better place than we found it.

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

Madam Speaker, to be clear, when the government first found out about what was taking place, immediate action was taken. Thousands of pages of documents have been provided. Yes, a number of them are in fact redacted. The Conservative Party is saying it does not want the government to listen to the RCMP or the Auditor General, who are saying it should not be providing the information directly to the RCMP. The Conservatives disagree with the RCMP, the Auditor General and others.

We are listening to the experts. The Conservatives are listening to their leader, and their leader is listening to his own personal self-interest. This has, unfortunately, caused the situation we are in today. There was an individual, and yes, she was an adviser to Stephen Harper, Brian Mulroney and Jim Flaherty. She donated thousands of dollars to the Conservative Party, and yes, she was the chair of this organization that Conservatives are referring to.

Having said that, why does the Conservative Party continue to not want to vote on its own motion, which would deal with the issue by sending it over to PROC?

[Chris Lewis, Conservative, Essex, ON]

Madam Speaker, what is really mind-boggling to me is that this could have all been done right away. Give over the documents. The Prime Minister was told by the Speaker himself to hand them over unredacted. If the hon. member is that excited about the thousands of pages, some of which were redacted, what is being hidden?

Let us move on with this. Let us get the documents and look over the 400 million Canadian taxpayers' dollars, which could be feeding children, making houses more affordable and getting people out of lineups at the food banks. Let us just get them and move on with business.

[Marilyn Gladu, Conservative, Sarnia—Lambton, ON]

Madam Speaker, I have been hearing a lot of outrage in my riding about the green slush fund. Normally, a lot of people do not pay attention to politics. These scandals come and go, and people do not always know about them. However, I am hearing outrage, and the government, as this has gone on longer and longer, is not doing anything to produce the papers.

What is the member hearing in his riding?

[Chris Lewis, Conservative, Essex, ON]

Madam Speaker, I am hearing the exact same thing, and not once or twice, but over and over again. This is the resounding message: “If we are allowed to have green slush funds, why is my family suffering and I have to work more overtime and my wife has to work more overtime?”

When is the next election? When are we going to have a carbon tax election so we can get this train back on the tracks and make life more affordable for Canadians?

[Matthew Green, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

Madam Speaker, I rise with a bit of confusion. Perhaps the member has a different collective agreement than the rest of us, but did he just state that he gets overtime? If so, how do the rest of us apply for it?

[Chris Lewis, Conservative, Essex, ON]

Madam Speaker, I did not suggest for a moment that I get overtime. If there is a private member's bill the member wants to bring forward, we can discuss it, but I never said that at all. I mentioned the folks in my riding of Essex who have to work overtime to make ends meet. Certainly, the great member for Hamilton Centre understands exactly what I was saying.

[Doug Shipley, Conservative, Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte, ON]

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for his great 20-minute speech on this issue. We heard some questions earlier about how we got here. We got here because there is a lack of producing documents. That is why we have been here for almost a month now.

Why does the member think we are here? What are the Liberals so afraid of with respect to these documents and why are they not producing them? Maybe he can expand on that for me.

[Chris Lewis, Conservative, Essex, ON]

Madam Speaker, I do not know that I can answer the question of why we are here. Obviously, if there are redactions in the documents that have been sent forward, there is something to hide. If I go to the bank, ask for a mortgage and redact my pay stub when asked to show it, I am probably not going to get a mortgage.

Why are the documents redacted? What is the reason behind it? The most honest answer I can give my hon. colleague is there is something brewing. Where there is smoke, there is fire. This is not the first time we have seen this with the NDP-Liberal government. We know of the WE scandal and all the other scandals. There is definitely smoke and there is more than likely fire.

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

Madam Speaker, I will take a stab at answering the question of why we are here. We are here because the Conservative leader wants to play a multi-million dollar game, believing he has a right to filibuster to the extent that all other things are pushed to the side. At the end of the day, I would suggest he believes it is okay to abuse the authority of the House of Commons. He believes that as a Parliament, we can ask for anything we want of society, whether we agree or disagree with the RCMP. In this case, the Conservative leader disagrees with the RCMP and wants to override it and claim otherwise.

Does the member believe, as his leader believes, that we can completely disregard the RCMP commissioner's opinion on the political game the Conservatives are playing? The RCMP has said it does not want to receive the documents the Conservatives are forcing through by a rule in the House of Commons.

[Chris Lewis, Conservative, Essex, ON]

Madam Speaker, what I believe is if the documents were handed over we could to get on to certainly taking care of Canadians, feeding the families of little ones, putting diapers on little ones, making small businesses just that much easier to run. What I also believe is the hon. member across the way could easily sit outside the Prime Minister's Office and ask the Prime Minister to move on with business, ask him to give over the unredacted documents so Canadians and businesses can get on with their lives.

[Dan Albas, Conservative, Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC]

Madam Speaker, I certainly appreciate the member's speech today. I wanted to talk about the ineligible companies that received monies from SDTC despite the Auditor General saying they were not even eligible to receive the monies in the first place. In my riding, there were constituents who either were paid too much CERB or were found to be ineligible, after the fact, for CERB. They had to pay it back to the CRA.

Does this member believe those companies should have to pay back the money they were ineligible to receive because the government trusted a group of people who were only thinking of themselves and their companies first?

[Chris Lewis, Conservative, Essex, ON]

Madam Speaker, one hundred per cent. We do not have to look too much further to realize that a lot of folks have been fired or reprimanded for receiving ineligible funds during COVID. Especially if it came from the government, surely somebody should know better. When we have so many folks and so many companies, especially small businesses, those storefronts and our small towns struggling, why are they getting a benefit? Why are some people getting a slush fund when other folks are suffering just to make ends meet?

[Shannon Stubbs, Conservative, Lakeland, AB]

Madam Speaker, Parliament is still at a standstill after six weeks because the Liberals refused to turn over documents related to their Sustainable Development Technology Canada fund, SDTC, or better known by Canadians now, more accurately, as the Liberal green slush fund. Common-sense Conservatives want transparency and accountability for Canadians about the Liberals' repeated pattern of entitled and immoral abuse of Canadian tax dollars.

None of the money belongs to government; it belongs to the people. Canadians are right to ask what the government is covering up as the Liberals continue to ignore an order from most MPs to provide unredacted documents related to their $400-million green slush fund scandal.

In June, my common-sense Conservative colleague from South Shore—St. Margarets uncovered it when he requested a breakdown of the approved funding by the Liberals' tax dollar slush fund. The information is crucial, too, for the RCMP to properly investigate alleged corruption among Liberal insiders at the slush fund, since the RCMP has said an investigation is ongoing.

Even the Prime Minister's Speaker has said, “The House has the undoubted right to order the production of any and all documents from any entity or individual it deems necessary to carry out its duties.”