Debates of Feb. 14th, 2024

Sitting Resumed

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, during the pandemic we were there to invest, to protect Canadians and to keep their lives safe. Despite the objections and the conspiracy theories of the Conservative Party, we stepped up in many different ways.

Even as we did, we expected and we continue to expect that the rules around procurement will be followed by the public service. It is obvious that this was not the case here. That is why there are ongoing investigations. There will be consequences, and there will be changes made to the public service's systems.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister said that the ArriveCAN app would cost $80,000. According to the Auditor General, it cost at least $60 million. That is 750 times more expensive. We do not know everything yet because some documents are missing. The Prime Minister has the power to request all documents from his government.

How much did the app cost?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, as I said, investigations are ongoing to find out exactly how this happened, who benefited and what the consequences will be. That is very important. At the same time, we must remember that everything we did at that time was to protect Canadians. Even during that terrible crisis, we expected the rules to be followed. Obviously, it appears that they were not followed. That is why investigations are ongoing to get to the bottom of this.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, how much did it cost?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, as I said, investigations are under way to find out exactly who is responsible, what rules were broken and what the consequences will be for the people involved.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the people involved are the taxpayers who are struggling to pay their bills. He leads the government. He has access to all the documents.

Does he expect us to believe that he does not know how much the arrive scam app cost?

Does he really expect us to believe that he does not know how much his own app cost? He has the power to call for any document he wants from the government. Either he is covering it up, or he is incompetent, or worse.

Which is it?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, there are ongoing investigations, both internal and external, that are following up on exactly how this unacceptable situation happened. We received the Auditor General's report last week.

We are following up and we have been following up on this for months already. We are going to continue to make sure that anyone who broke the rules faces consequences and that systems and structures surrounding the public service and procurement are changed. This is something we are taking very seriously, as we must.

[Yves-François Blanchet, Bloc, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the pandemic is a convenient excuse for a lot of things, but it does not relieve the government of its obligations of sound management and accountability. We now know that the Prime Minister is responsible, and we know that he did not launch a specific investigation into the ArriveCAN app and the $60 million.

Has the Prime Minister taken any steps to recover the money that was spent inappropriately and that must be returned to the public coffers, regardless of whose hands it ended up in?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, in answer to a previous question, I mentioned that internal processes and investigations began months ago to look into this contract, which was improperly awarded and for which the rules were not followed.

This has been under way for several months and we have been taking this situation seriously. Although there was a pandemic and we had to react quickly and creatively, that does not excuse the fact that contracts were improperly awarded or the fact that the rules were not followed. That is why we are conducting investigations, and there will be consequences.

[Yves-François Blanchet, Bloc, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

Mr. Speaker, in a cagey and roundabout way, the Prime Minister is admitting that there was misappropriation and misuse of public funds at the Canada Border Services Agency.

Has he at least considered relieving the current administration of their duties and temporarily placing the agency under third-party management?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, as a result of internal investigations, there have already been consequences for some of the people involved. I am not going to say anything else because there are processes and investigations under way. However, I can reassure people by telling them that, yes, we have taken concrete action and there have been consequences, but there will be even more consequences as the authorities involved continue their work.

Infrastructure

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, while the common-sense Conservative Party is focused on cutting taxes, building housing, fixing the budget and stopping crime, this Prime Minister's radical Minister of Environment is launching a war on cars. He said that their government has decided to stop investing in new road infrastructure.

How does he think people in the regions are going to get to work? By bike?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the minister has clarified his remarks. The reality is that our approach to infrastructure has not changed. Since 2015, we have invested billions of dollars in infrastructure, be it bridges, ports or roads. We are going to continue to be there to invest in infrastructure across the country. Our approach has not changed.

It has to be said that the Conservative Party's approach has not changed either. The Conservatives vote against our investments in infrastructure, against our investments in bridges, in roads, in help for rural communities, as well as big cities. They consistently vote against it all.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the radical Minister of Environment did not clarify his remarks, he went even further, adding that the Liberal government is going to block projects such as the third link for the people in the greater Quebec City region. The people need a third link. People in the regions need their cars. This Prime Minister wants to prevent them from using them.

Why is he waging a war against cars instead of helping people get to work?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I am sure that Quebeckers will be pleased to hear that the Conservative Party is still in favour of this third link, which is no longer happening.

The reality is that our government's approach to investing in transportation systems and roads has not changed since 2015. There have been projects such as the new Samuel de Champlain Bridge or the Gordie Howe international bridge that is being built.

We will always be there to invest in infrastructure and, apparently, the Conservative Party will always be there to vote against our investments in infrastructure.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the crazy, carbon tax minister has done it again. This time he is saying that the federal government is not going to support any new road construction. I quote: “our government has made the decision to stop investing in new road infrastructure”. He believes that people in Yukon, rural Alberta or rural Newfoundland will have to get to work riding a bicycle.

Why should those people have to pay taxes for infrastructure when they cannot possibly use the tramways and the bicycles he is funding?

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

A couple of months ago, the Chair made it clear to all members that we should not be using certain adjectives in regard to individual members of Parliament. The word “crazy” is not one that we should be using. It is one thing I have given direction to members on. I am going to ask members to please work within the boundaries of parliamentary language.

The Right Hon. Prime Minister.

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the minister has already clarified his remarks.

Our government's approach to investing in trade corridors and roads that Canadians rely on has not changed since 2015. We will continue to step up. We got projects like the Samuel de Champlain Bridge in Montreal across the finish line, and we are going to get others like the Gordie Howe bridge built. We are going to continue to invest in infrastructure.

What also has not changed is the Conservative Party's opposition to investments in roads, communities, bridges and ports right across the country, as we grow the economy, because all the Conservative leader is offering is cuts, cuts, cuts.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, first, the radical minister is bringing in a 61¢-a-litre carbon tax on people who are committing the crime of driving to work or operating their farms. Then, he wants to ban people from using vehicles that are necessary in our climate. Now, he says he is going to ban all federal funding for future roads: “Our government has made the decision to stop investing in new road infrastructure”.

Will the Prime Minister condemn those crazy comments?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, once again, the minister has clarified his remarks.

Our approach to infrastructure continues to be one of investing in the future for Canadians. Through the national trade corridors fund alone, we are building projects like a new bridge over the Yukon River in Dawson City, new interchanges on Highways 101 and 103 in Nova Scotia, and twinning the Trans-Canada Highway in parts of Newfoundland. We are also working with municipalities through the community building fund. Just in Ontario, this means almost 2,900 projects for local roads and bridges.

What has not changed, as well, is the Conservative Party's opposition to investing in the future and investing in—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

The hon. member for Burnaby South.

Foreign Affairs

[Jagmeet Singh, NDP, Burnaby South, BC]

Mr. Speaker, Netanyahu's bombing of Rafah and potential ground incursion will be a slaughter. Thousands of innocent Palestinians will die. The Liberals act as if they are concerned, but authorized $28.5 million in new military exports to Netanyahu. The Prime Minister has the power and the responsibility to protect civilians.

When will he stop selling arms to Netanyahu?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, a military operation in Rafah would have catastrophic consequences. Over half of Gaza's population is taking refuge in the area, including many Canadians and their families. There is simply nowhere else for civilians to go. Protecting civilians is paramount. A sustainable ceasefire is urgently needed. Hamas must lay down its arms and release all hostages immediately.

The only possible path forward toward peace is a two-state solution. We have told this directly to Prime Minister Netanyahu and other regional partners. We have not permitted any new export permits since October 7.

Public Safety

[Jagmeet Singh, NDP, Burnaby South, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has an obligation to back up his words with actions.

With kids going online, we know they risk being exposed to harmful content, sexual extortion and harassment. In the last election, the Prime Minister promised legislation to hold those platforms accountable and to protect kids within 100 days of being in office. It has been 814 days and, still, nothing has happened. Children are being hurt as the Prime Minister sits by.

When will he stop protecting web giants and start protecting kids?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the leader opposite knows well that we have been working very closely with communities, individuals and experts to move forward on online harms legislation that is going to do the right job of protecting our kids from all the range of harms they face online. This is something we have taken very seriously. It is also something we have listened to and have heard, particularly from minority or marginalized communities, that we need to get it exactly right. That is why we have taken the time. This is something that the leader knows full well.

We are going to continue to do the right work to protect our kids.