Debates of Dec. 6th, 2024

Access to Parliamentary Precinct

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

Is it agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[An hon. member]

Nay.

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

The hon. member for New Westminster—Burnaby.

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

Mr. Speaker, can the member—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

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

I cannot hear.

[An hon. member]

I would like to finish my last two sentences—

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

If the hon. member for Battlefords—Lloydminster can wait for one second.

The hon. member for New Westminster—Burnaby has the floor.

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

Mr. Speaker, because of the chaos caused by Conservatives, I did not hear the member and I said no because of that, so I would appreciate it if the member could repeat.

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

Okay, we will do that again.

[Sherry Romanado, Liberal, Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to table the Order Paper questions.

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

Is that agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

Questions on the Order Paper

[Sherry Romanado, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Emergency Preparedness]

Mr. Speaker, the following questions will be answered today: Nos. 3090, 3091 and 3093 to 3095.

Question No.3090—

[Colin Carrie, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

With regard to Health Canada’s review of the manufacturing data, quality control and safety of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs): (a) was the purity of the starting materials for the lipids, such as residual halogenated solvents and elements, including metals, assessed for mutagenic risk in accordance with established norms and guidelines, and, if so, what were the results, and, if not, why not; (b) was the total amount of observed impurities assessed for mutagenic risk, and, if so, what were the results, and, if not, why not; (c) were any individual element impurities considered mutagenic; (d) if the answer to (c) is affirmative, was this assessed with respect to multiple doses and with respect to the nature of transfection of the LNPs; (e) was any assessment of the LNP as a nanoparticle performed; (f) if the answer to (e) is affirmative, did this include an assessment of the PEG moiety; (g) was an assessment of the risk of complement activation-related pseudoallergy due to the PEG moiety performed, and, if so, what were the results, and, if not, why not; and (h) were any complement-related assays requested from the manufacturer, and, if not, why not?

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

Mr. Speaker, Health Canada undertook a preliminary search in order to determine the amount of information that would fall within the scope of the question. Health Canada concluded that without a list of products that contain lipid nanoparticles, or LNPs, Health Canada is unable to search and validate the information requested.

Question No.3091—

[Branden Leslie, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

With regard to the government’s announcement in Prince Edward Island that it would partner with the provincial government to provide up to $20 million to connect rural households to high-speed internet in Prince Edward Island: (a) what are the details of all projects approved through this funding, including, for each, the (i) recipient, (ii) location, (iii) project description, (iv) amount of funding, (v) original projected completion date, (vi) actual completion date or current projected completion date, (vii) reason for the delay, if applicable, (viii) status of the project; (b) what is the total amount of funding provided to projects to date under the funding; (c) how many households have been connected to high-speed internet to date specifically as a result of this project; (d) how many households have received upgraded broadband service to date specifically as a result of this project; (e) what were the penalties for funding recipients that did not meet (i) the performance metrics, (ii) the timeline, (iii) all other requirements, outlined in the funding agreement; (f) what is the current funding breakdown between federal and provincial governments to date in relation to these projects; and (g) what are the details of all funding transfers to vendors to date as part of these projects, including, for each, the (i) recipient, (ii) amount, (iii) transfer date, (iv) description of the goods and services?

[Darrell Samson, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency]

Mr. Speaker, since 2015, the Government of Canada has committed over $46 million towards connectivity initiatives in Prince Edward Island. The $20-million partnership with the Government of Prince Edward Island is being allocated to projects that provide coverage to areas not serviced by other ongoing connectivity initiatives.

With regard to parts (a), (b), (d), (f) and (g) of the question, details of projects approved under the $20-million partnership will be available once negotiations with Prince Edward Island and the recipients are complete.

With regard to part (c), details of projects approved under the $20-million partnership will be available once negotiations with Prince Edward Island and the recipients are complete. It is expected that approximately 2,000 homes will be connected as a result of this funding partnership.

With regard to part (e), the minister may declare a default under the agreement in the event of a recipient not meeting the performance metrics, the timeline or any requirements outlined in the funding agreement. The minister may, at their discretion, notify the recipient of the issue and allow 15 business days to resolve it or prove corrective action. If not addressed, the minister may declare an event of default. If the minister declares that an event of default has occurred, the minister may exercise any one or more of the following remedies: suspend any further payments to the recipient under the agreement, including payments in respect of claims that may have been received by the minister prior to the date of the minister’s declaration of default; terminate the agreement, including any obligation to make further payments to the recipient under the agreement; require the recipient to repay all or part of the contribution that has been paid to the recipient, together with interest from the date of demand for repayment; and/or any other remedy available to the minister under the law.

Question No.3093—

[Blaine Calkins, Conservative, Red Deer—Lacombe, AB]

With regard to the executive committee or EXCOM meeting held by the Correctional Service of Canada in Banff, Alberta, from October 8 to 10, 2024: (a) how many people attended the meeting; (b) what were the costs incurred by the government related to the meeting, including any travel costs, in total and broken down by type of expenditure; and (c) what are the details of each expenditure related to the meeting, including the (i) date, (ii) vendor, (iii) amount, (iv) description of the goods or services?

[Jennifer O'Connell, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, in October 2024, Correctional Service Canada participated in the 39th Canadian Criminal Justice Association Congress, as it has done for well over a decade now through a long-standing partnership. This year's conference was on reconciliation, and the theme was “Moving Forward Together: Exploring Pathways to Reconciliation, Healing and Public Safety”. Given one of CSC’s priorities is addressing the overrepresentation of indigenous offenders, CSC deemed it was important it be actively involved to further its commitments under the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

CSC leveraged this opportunity to have executive committee members, 18 in total, attend the congress as well as hold their in-person executive committee meeting, which took place the day after the conference ended, at no additional cost for a meeting room. Participants stayed in campus-like accommodations at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity and, during the conference, meals were included and not claimed by participants. Considering that the event took place less than a month ago, total costs are not yet available and disclosure of information at this time could lead to incorrect information being provided.

In accordance with the Access to Information Act, CSC proactively discloses travel and hospitality expenses for senior officers. The travel and hospitality expenses related to this event will be proactively disclosed on the Open Government portal within the timelines prescribed by the act.

Question No.3094—

[Blaine Calkins, Conservative, Red Deer—Lacombe, AB]

With regard to prescribed fires in Jasper National Park between January 1 and July 22, 2024: what were the dates, locations, and sizes of each such prescribed fire?

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

Mr. Speaker, due to Alberta's unusually early wildfire season, which began on February 20, 2024, and was fueled by widespread drought conditions in 2024, there was not a period in which the prescriptions required for controlled ignition could take place. The elevated fire risk associated with these conditions made it unsafe and contrary to prescriptions required to carry out such operations. Prescriptions for fires have the following science-based considerations: wind speed, fuel moisture, drought code, landscape topography, barriers to fire spread and fuel type that is present, that is, what you are planning to burn and what is in the area.

Parks Canada utilizes a variety of wildfire management tools and strategies, including prescribed fires, forest thinning and the creation of community fire guards, to mitigate the impacts of wildfires and protect public safety, local communities and critical infrastructure.

A prescribed fire is a carefully planned and controlled fire ignited by trained fire management professionals. It mimics the low- to medium-intensity fires that naturally occur in ecosystems adapted to fire, helping to restore and maintain ecological health and biodiversity. Parks Canada employs prescribed fires as a vital tool to promote ecosystem conservation, reduce wildfire risks to surrounding communities and protect cultural heritage sites.

Question No.3095—

[Marc Dalton, Conservative, Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge, BC]

With regard to the Canadian National Security Council, since its creation was announced in 2023: how many times has the council met, broken down by year and by quarter?

[Terry Duguid, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and Special Advisor for Water]

Mr. Speaker, the national security council convened its first meeting in October 2023 and has usually been meeting monthly while Parliament is sitting.