House of Commons Hansard #6 of the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was build.
This summary is computer-generated. Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.
Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply Members debate the Speech from the Throne and proposed amendments. Discussions cover the government's plan to build a stronger economy, address affordability and housing, reduce trade barriers, and invest in resource sectors. Members raise concerns about fiscal discipline without a budget, the government's approach to climate change and oil and gas, and public safety issues like crime and the drug crisis. Other topics include dental care, reconciliation, and skilled trades. 50600 words, 7 hours in 2 segments: 1 2.
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant South—Six Nations, ON
Mr. Speaker, it is not just the energy sector under threat. It is public safety too. While the Prime Minister's new chief of staff is hell-bent on shutting down oil and gas, he has also brought back David Lametti as principal secretary, the same failed justice minister—
Public SafetyOral Questions
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant South—Six Nations, ON
Mr. Speaker, they are clapping for incompetence. This is the same minister they fired. This is the same minister who gutted bail and pushed soft-on-crime bills like Bill C-5 and C-75, which they all voted for, laws that helped unleash chaos on our streets and drive violent crime up 50%.
Is the Prime Minister really doubling down on the same Trudeau insiders who always put criminals over community safety?
Steven MacKinnon LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, there seems to be a very odd fixation on the personnel decisions in the Prime Minister's Office. The obvious accountability is done in the House, as the member well knows, and he can ask any question he wants of any minister of the House without impugning people who are not here.
Mr. Lametti, for his part, is a great former parliamentarian, a great Italian Canadian and a distinguished person who is entering public service. These people should be celebrating that great Canadians are prepared to step up and enrol in public service and serve Canadians.
David McKenzie Conservative Calgary Signal Hill, AB
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister yesterday announced his new chief of staff and principal secretary. These are two of the top officials, some of the most powerful people in Ottawa, directing policy. The new chief of staff wants to kill oil and gas and says it needs to be done through Brookfield. David Lametti, who was Trudeau's justice minister, oversaw our broken bail system and kept Bill C-5's and Bill C-75's laws on the books.
Why is the Prime Minister surrounding himself with former Trudeau officials who want to keep oil and gas in the ground and keep soft-on-crime laws on the books?
Steven MacKinnon LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, I do not understand this odd fixation with personnel decisions. What we have in this House are a number of public servants who are quite willing to answer questions about the public policies of this government and to be held accountable for those.
We, obviously, celebrate when distinguished, capable and talented people join the Government of Canada. That is certainly the case, as we heard over the weekend. I suggest members move on to asking about the issues that Canadians are concerned about.
Corey Hogan Liberal Calgary Confederation, AB
Mr. Speaker, in the face of repeated threats by the United States to our economic sovereignty, Canadians chose to give our government a strong mandate to build a strong Canada. As we have heard, today the Prime Minister and premiers are meeting in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, one of the economic engines of this great country, and strengthening Canada's economy is on the agenda.
Now, members opposite have imagined a lot of outcomes from a meeting they were not invited to. In an effort to get back to facts, can the Minister of Finance and National Revenue inform the House on details of this work and its importance to Canada?
François-Philippe Champagne LiberalMinister of Finance and National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, I welcome my colleague from Calgary Confederation to this House and thank him for the excellent work he is doing for the people of Calgary, as well as Alberta.
Indeed, the first ministers meeting is happening today in Saskatoon. It is an important opportunity for the Prime Minister to bring the premiers together around the table with one common agenda, focusing on building a stronger and united Canada. It is time to build one Canadian economy and accelerate the approval of nation-building projects.
Together we are going to build Canada strong. That is what we are doing.
John Brassard Conservative Barrie South—Innisfil, ON
Mr. Speaker, for seven months, parliamentary committees have sat idle while, according to the Prime Minister, the country is facing an existential threat. It appears that he is in no rush to have them constituted.
The committees are an important function of our democracy. Committees are where bills are scrutinized; where witnesses tell MPs about the impacts these bills and threats are having on their businesses, their lives and their communities; and where the government is held to account. We do not have a budget, and without committees, there will be no oversight or accountability. Maybe that is what the Prime Minister wants.
Will the Prime Minister commit to ensuring that committees are in place before his summer vacation starts?
Steven MacKinnon LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, I have taken careful note. Of course, standing committees will be constituted in this House, as they always are. I wonder where that member was last fall, when his party spent three straight months refusing to hear one single government proposal with respect to improving the lives of Canadians, with respect to improving our environment and with respect to moving forward on projects.
Where was that member? He should be ashamed of asking that question right now.
Alexandre Boulerice NDP Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC
Mr. Speaker, for the past 20 months, the Netanyahu regime has been ruthlessly bombing Palestinians in Gaza. The result is that 54,000 are dead, including 15,000 children, thousands have been injured, starvation is being used as a weapon of war, hospitals are being bombed and families are being burned alive. Humanity said "never again", but now this is happening again right before our very eyes. The Prime Minister joined France and England in saying that if this did not stop, they would not stand idly by.
Are the Liberals preparing sanctions against Netanyahu and his cabinet on behalf of all the children who have been injured and killed in Gaza?
Randeep Sarai LiberalSecretary of State (International Development)
Mr. Speaker, Canada is deeply concerned about the renewed escalation in Gaza. These attacks put the lives of countless civilians in danger. We urge both parties to remain committed to ceasefires and stop the preventable loss of countless lives. Essentials like food, electricity, fuel and medical supplies must never be used as political tools. We call for their immediate and unimpeded flow into the strip and for the release of all remaining hostages.
Greg McLean Conservative Calgary Centre, AB
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present a petition on behalf of Canadians who are lamenting the fact that the government is going to go right into its summer holidays without presenting a budget to Canadians about how Liberals are spending their hard-earned tax dollars. This is the first time this has happened in Canadian history, especially with a legacy government.
Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker, this is obviously not a petition. It is more of a member's statement that is being made. If the member is presenting a petition, he should be talking about the essence of the petition only.
The BudgetPetitionsRoutine Proceedings
The Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia
The hon. member can proceed, focusing on the petition, and I would ask that he start over. We will see where it goes.
Greg McLean Conservative Calgary Centre, AB
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present a petition on behalf of Canadians who are lamenting the fact that there is no budget going into the summer holiday the government plans to take without presenting to Canadians how it is going to be spending their hard-earned tax dollars. The petitioners talk about this being the first time in Canadian history that a legacy government has not presented a spring budget and is going to put it off until the fall. They talk about the creation of uncertainty and lack of public trust that comes from this.
Therefore, the petitioners call on the federal government to immediately table a budget and extend the House sitting so we can get some clarity on what the government is spending money on beyond the $60 billion plus that it presented in its policies during the election campaign.
I table this on behalf of Canadians across the country.
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
Mr. Speaker, I rise to table a petition on behalf of Vancouver East constituents who took part in the peace train journey to Ottawa to promote a culture of peace and resist the culture of war.
The petitioners note that Canada is a signatory to the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and Canada's adoption of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples further reflects our commitment to the principles of justice, equality and freedom. They note that these principles are essential to peace, to preventing conflict and war, and for Canada's own security and stability. They also note that a lack of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms is a chief underlying cause of violent conflict.
In the face of ever-increasing violent wars, nuclear threat, climate disruption and humanitarian crises, the signatories call upon the House of Commons in Parliament assembled to establish and fund a centre of excellence for peace and justice focused on research, education and training in conflict resolution, diplomacy and peace operations for Canadian civilians, police, military personnel and the international community.
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
Mr. Speaker, I am also tabling a petition on behalf of the peace trainers from my riding, from Parksville, Denman Island, Courtenay, Port Alberni and Bamfield.
The petitioners cite that the lack of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms is the underlying cause of violent conflict. They highlight that an open society and an informed public and Parliament are essential for the understanding of complex issues of violent conflict and for the achievement of lasting peace and disarmament. With the closing of the Pearson Peacekeeping Centre, Canada lost an important civilian-led, independent institutional structure that supported effective research policy and training in peace operations and conflict resolution.
The petitioners are calling on the House of Commons to establish and fund a centre of excellence for peace and justice focused on research, education and training in conflict resolution, diplomacy and peace operations for Canadian civilians, police, military personnel and the international community.
Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC
Mr. Speaker, the petitioners call upon this House to consider the urgent crisis in the collapsing numbers of the population of southern resident killer whales. They have been identified as an endangered population under Canada's Species at Risk Act. There have been numerous programs and promises put in place, but the southern resident killer whale population continues to lack adequate protection and would be far better protected when they swim across the border and are in the waters of Washington state, where the rules are more rigid, the regulations are enforced immediately and boaters and large marine craft are aware that they can be fined and ticketed as opposed to ignored when they violate whale protections on our side of the border.
The petitioners urgently ask the Minister of Transport to impose mandatory vessel distance regulations, just as is the case south of the border in Washington state.
Questions on the Order PaperRoutine Proceedings
Burlington North—Milton West Ontario
Liberal
Adam van Koeverden LiberalSecretary of State (Sport)
Mr. Speaker, I would first like to congratulate you on your election.
At this time, I would ask that all questions be allowed to stand.
Questions on the Order PaperRoutine Proceedings
Wildfires in Manitoba and SaskatchewanRequest for Emergency DebateRoutine Proceedings
The Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia
I wish to inform the House that I have received notice of a request for an emergency debate. I invite the hon. member for Winnipeg Centre to rise and make a brief intervention.
Leah Gazan NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
Mr. Speaker, I rise to request an emergency debate regarding the devastating wildfires currently having an impact on Manitoba and surrounding regions.
As of last week, more than 17,000 people have been forced to evacuate their homes in northern Manitoba, many from remote and northern first nations communities. Thick smoke from these fires has spread across the country and into the United States, creating serious public health concerns.
Both Manitoba and Saskatchewan have declared a state of emergency and are now appealing for international assistance. However, Canada's emergency response system is once again failing those most in need, particularly indigenous communities. The response has been slow, bureaucratic and disconnected from the realities on the ground. First nations leadership and evacuees are sounding the alarm. The system is broken, and the people are paying the price.
In a country like Canada, no community should be left behind during a climate disaster. It is our duty as parliamentarians to act. Therefore, I respectfully request an emergency debate to deliberate on immediate actions to protect affected communities and ensure a just and effective response to this worsening crisis.