Debates of Dec. 4th, 2024

Question No.3075—

[Bob Zimmer, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC]

With regard to Northern Affairs Canada: (a) what is the organizational chart of departments within Northern Affairs Canada; (b) what are the details of each department for the last three fiscal years, broken down by (i) department, (ii) year, (iii) number of full-time equivalent employees, (iv) budget; (c) what is the purpose of each department; (d) how many employees work remotely or from home one or more days a week; and (e) how many employees currently have a salary (i) of less than $100,000, (ii) between $100,000 and $200,000, (iii) of more than $200,000?

[Dan Vandal, Liberal, Minister of Northern Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, the Northern Affairs organization is part of the department of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada.

With regard to part (a), all information regarding the department’s organization can be found at https://www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1706208647247/1706208665767

With regard to parts (b) to (d), there are no departments under Northern Affairs Canada.

Question No.3078—

[James Bezan, Conservative, Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB]

With regard to Canadians detained or incarcerated abroad: (a) how many Canadians are currently detained or incarcerated in Hong Kong; and (b) what is the breakdown of (a) by length of incarceration and type of charge or accusation that resulted in the detainment or incarceration?

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

Mr. Speaker, the following reflects a consolidated response approved on behalf of Global Affairs Canada ministers.

With regard to part (a), as of October 7, 2024, Global Affairs Canada is aware of 13 Canadians in custody in Hong Kong. This data was extracted from Global Affairs Canada's consular case management system and may be updated on a daily basis. As such, caution should be exercised when analyzing data in relation to previously disclosed data. These are cases of Canadians detained abroad with a specific detention status: "in detention" or "in a medical facility".

It should be noted that Canadians may choose not to advise Global Affairs Canada of a situation of detention; moreover, in countries where dual citizenship is not recognized, dual Canadians who entered on non-Canadian documentation would not necessarily result in a detention notification from the host government. It is important, therefore, to underline that these numbers may not represent a complete picture when it comes to detention figures.

With regard to part (b), the Government of Canada’s first priority is always the safety and security of its citizens. For this reason, in addition to privacy considerations, we will not comment on or release any information on specific cases. Doing so may compromise ongoing efforts or endanger the safety of Canadians.

Question No.3079—

[John Nater, Conservative, Perth—Wellington, ON]

With regard to ministers' and government entities' compliance with paragraphs 74(d) and 88(c) of the Access to Information Act: (a) has each minister or government entity subject to those provisions of the Act prepared or had access to "back pocket" briefing materials for parliamentary committee appearances; (b) if the answer to (a) is affirmative, what is the distinction between regular and "back pocket" briefing materials; and (c) are the "back pocket" briefing materials also disclosed proactively and, if not, why not?

[Anthony Housefather, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board]

Mr. Speaker, the Access to Information Act requires that the package of briefing materials prepared for a minister or deputy head for the purpose of an appearance before a committee of Parliament be proactively published within 120 days after the appearance. The act does not make any distinction regarding the type or format of the information that comprises the package of briefing materials.

Ministers and deputy heads receive information from departments on a regular basis that may be used for a variety of purposes. This material would not be subject to proactive disclosure requirements 74(d) and 88(c) of the act unless it was part of the package of briefing materials prepared specifically for a parliamentary appearance.

Information published through proactive publication should mirror what would be released if information were released in response to an access to information request. In other words, if an institution received a request for the briefing materials prepared for a minister or deputy head for a parliamentary committee appearance, that institution would apply exemptions and exclusions in accordance with the act. The same exemptions and exclusions should apply when briefing materials are proactively published.

Each minister and government entity is responsible for compliance with these requirements.

Question No.3080—

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Grande Prairie—Mackenzie, AB]

With regard to subsection 63(2) of the Access to Information Act: (a) how many reports has the Attorney General of Canada received from the Information Commissioner since January 1, 2024, concerning potential offences under federal or provincial laws; (b) of the reports in (a), how many has the Attorney General passed along to the appropriate police of jurisdiction; and (c) of the reports in (a) that the Attorney General has not passed along to the appropriate police of jurisdiction, what are the details, including (i) the date on which the report was received from the Information Commissioner, (ii) which government institutions the report concerned, (iii) the nature of the potential offence or offences, (iv) the reason for which they were not passed along, (v) the date on which the Attorney General reached that decision?

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

Mr. Speaker, the Department of Justice, including the Attorney General of Canada, did not receive any reports concerning potential offences under federal or provincial laws under subsection 63(2) of the Access to Information Act from the Information Commissioner between January 1, 2024, and October 17, 2024.

Question No.3082—

[Lianne Rood, Conservative, Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON]

With regard to Health Canada’s advertising of the COVID-19 vaccine: (a) how much was spent on advertisements encouraging the use of vaccines; (b) how much was spent on advertisements related to the safety of the vaccine; (c) how much was spent on publicists; and (d) how much was spent on social media influencers?

[Yasir Naqvi, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker,with regard to part (a), $45,477,174.55 was spent. All advertising costs reported include agency of record, AOR, and ad tech fees. Costs do not include HST, to align with the advertising costs reported in the Annual Report on Government of Canada Advertising Activities. Total costs reported include media placement costs that were submitted for the Government of Canada annual advertising reports, and taken from the advertising management information system, AdMIS. Costs do not include planning or production costs.

With regard to part (b), the safety of the vaccine was a key message in the broader campaign to encourage vaccine use. Costs for safety-specific ads cannot be separated, as these were integrated with other campaign messaging. The total advertisements cost is provided in response to question (a).

With regard to part (c), there was no spending on publicists.

With regard to part (d), $132,168 was spent in 2021-22 to plan and deliver a social media influencer campaign to help people in Canada make an informed decision about COVID-19 vaccines. Expenditures are related to planning, material development, influencer outreach and liaison, updates, content monitoring, evaluation and payments to influencers.

Question No.3084—

[Lianne Rood, Conservative, Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON]

With regard to Canada Carbon Rebate payments made in the last fiscal year: (a) how many rebates were sent to temporary foreign workers, and what was the total dollar amount; (b) how many rebates were sent to international students, and what was the total dollar amount; (c) how many rebates were sent to permanent residents, and what was the total dollar amount; and (d) how many rebates were sent to citizens, and what was the total dollar amount?

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

Mr. Speaker, the CRA does not collect the information in the manner requested regarding Canada carbon rebate payments made in the last fiscal year to temporary foreign workers, international students, permanent residents, and citizens. The CRA does not require taxpayers to provide this type of residency information when they file a tax return.

Question No.3085—

[Lianne Rood, Conservative, Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON]

With regard to geoengineering projects in Canada since 2016: what are the details of the projects that Environment and Climate Change Canada has been involved with, including the (i) name of the project, (ii) names of the project partners, (iii) total financial commitment, (iv) goals of each project, (v) project completion status, (vi) evidence supporting the project goals?

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

Mr. Speaker, ECCC does not have any projects related to Q-3085.

Question No.3088—

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

With regard to the 2 Billion Trees program and the municipalities of Port Moody, Coquitlam, Anmore and Belcarra: (a) how much funding has been delivered through each funding stream; and (b) what is the total number of trees planted through each funding stream?

[Jonathan Wilkinson, Liberal, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, the two billion trees, 2BT, program committed to partnering with provinces and territories to support the Government of Canada’s target of planting two billion trees. The government is actively negotiating multi-year agreements with provinces and territories, indigenous governments and organizations, municipalities, and other organizations.

As of October 2024, there are no announced projects or tree-planting sites funded by the 2BT program found in the municipalities of Port Moody, Coquitlam, Anmore and Belcarra. All 2BT funded projects can be found on Open Government at: https://search.open.canada.ca/grants/.

More information on the program can be found at the following links.

General information about the two billion trees program can be found here: https://www.canada.ca/en/campaign/2-billion-trees.html

Information on the two billion trees program progress can be found here: https://www.canada.ca/en/campaign/2-billion-trees/our-action.html

Information on the two billion trees program’s collaboration with provinces and territories can be found here: https://www.canada.ca/en/campaign/2-billion-trees/2-billion-trees-partnerships-with-provinces-and-territories.html

Questions Passed as Orders for Returns

[Chris Bittle, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Housing]

Furthermore, Mr. Speaker, if the government's responses to Questions Nos. 3073, 3074, 3076, 3077, 3081, 3083, 3086, 3087 and 3089 could be made orders for return, these returns would be tabled in an electronic format immediately.

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Chris d'Entremont]

Is that agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

Question No.3073—

[Alistair MacGregor, NDP, Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC]

With regard to the government’s refocused spending initiative, broken down by department or agency, program and year: how much funding has been refocused away from policing-based initiatives, broken down by (i) crime prevention, (ii) crime response, (iii) community outreach?

(Return tabled)

Question No.3074—

[Alistair MacGregor, NDP, Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC]

With regard to the government’s refocused spending initiative, broken down by department or agency, program and year: how much funding has been refocused away from initiatives that support Canada’s domestic fishing industry, broken down by (i) commercial fishing and aquaculture, (ii) fish processing and distribution, (iii) Indigenous fisheries?

(Return tabled)

Question No.3076—

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

With regard to Microsoft licenses paid for by the government, in total and broken down by department or agency: (a) how much was spent on Microsoft licenses in the last fiscal year; (b) how many licenses does the government pay for and how many users are able to access Microsoft products through those licenses; (c) how many licenses are currently unused; and (d) how many licenses are not currently assigned to an employee or full-time equivalent?

(Return tabled)