House of Commons Hansard #22 of the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was c-2.
This summary is computer-generated. Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.
Sergei Magnitsky International Anti-Corruption and Human Rights Act First reading of Bill C-219. The bill, titled the Sergei Magnitsky international anti-corruption and human rights act, strengthens Canada's sanctions regime, amends acts to combat transnational repression, and revokes broadcasting licences from sanctioned regimes and those committing genocide. 600 words.
Charitable Organizations Members present petitions opposing finance committee recommendations to revoke charitable status for pro-life organizations and remove "advancement of religion" as a charitable purpose, citing concerns about free speech and religious freedom. 500 words.
Strong Borders Act Second reading of Bill C-2. The bill aims to strengthen border security, combat organized crime, fentanyl trafficking, and auto theft, and protect the immigration system. It proposes expanding law enforcement powers, including accessing private information and inspecting mail, and limiting cash transactions. Liberals defend these measures as necessary and Charter-compliant. Conservatives and NDP/Green members criticize the bill as government overreach, an attack on civil liberties, and for lacking essential bail reform. The Bloc cautiously supports it, emphasizing the need for more border staff and fair asylum seeker distribution. 56200 words, 7 hours in 2 segments: 1 2.
François-Philippe Champagne LiberalMinister of Finance and National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague for his excellent question.
We will be presenting an excellent budget to the House on November 4. It will be a generational investment in our future. It will be a budget to build our country. It will be a budget to protect our communities. It will be a budget to build our economy. We will build the most resilient economy in the G7. We will build the Canada of the 21st century.
Long live Canada.
Mark Strahl Conservative Chilliwack—Hope, BC
Mr. Speaker, our expectations for the Prime Minister were low, but holy smokes. He has been Prime Minister for six months, and we still have not seen a budget.
The Prime Minister said that he would spend less than Trudeau, but his deficit is projected to be almost double the number that forced the former finance minister to resign the first time around. This is another broken Liberal promise. It is a Liberal bait and switch. This massive deficit spending is driving up inflation and sending the price of groceries sky-high.
When will the Prime Minister admit that his broken promises are breaking the bank for Canadians?
François-Philippe Champagne LiberalMinister of Finance and National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, now that our Conservative colleagues know the date of the budget, I hope they are prepared to go back to their ridings to explain to Canadians this generational investment in our collective future. I am sure they will be proud to go back to their ridings to say, “We're building this country,” that this budget is going to protect their community, that this budget is going to empower Canadians and that this budget is going to build the strongest economy in the G7.
I hope all Conservatives and all members of the House will go out and tell Canadians that together we will make it. We are the true north strong and free.
Mark Strahl Conservative Chilliwack—Hope, BC
Mr. Speaker, the latest food inflation numbers are out, and it is more sticker shock for Canadians. Groceries are up a whopping 70% above the Liberal inflation target. Since the Liberals took office, food costs have risen by 40%, driving millions more Canadians to the food bank every single month. The Prime Minister said that he would be judged by prices at the grocery store. Well, the verdict is in: It is another Liberal broken promise, another Liberal bait and switch.
When will the Prime Minister admit that doubling the Liberal deficit is just going to send these record-high food prices even higher?
Adam van Koeverden LiberalSecretary of State (Sport)
Mr. Speaker, the hypocrisy from the Conservative side today is just astonishing. They have not listened to any of the recommendations from the Food Banks report.
What gets me going even worse is that earlier this year when the leader of the Conservative Party lost his job, he did not lose his house. That is because he lives in government-subsidized, non-market housing, but every time he has the chance to vote for government-subsidized, non-market housing, he votes against it. Worse still, he stigmatizes it, calling it “Soviet-style” housing. Get a grip.
Blake Richards Conservative Airdrie—Cochrane, AB
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is just another bait-and-switch Liberal. He has broken promise after promise after promise, and it is hurting Canadians. His massive Liberal deficits are leading to an even worse cost of living crisis than we had under Justin Trudeau. Canadians can barely afford even a can of soup, especially because inflation has driven the cost of a can of soup up 26%, or a can of tuna, which is up 19%.
Is it not true that the Prime Minister is just another Liberal who is only good at one thing: breaking promises?
Wayne Long LiberalSecretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions)
Mr. Speaker, Canadians do not want to take advice on the economy from a party whose leader has never worked in it.
We have cut taxes for 22 million Canadians. We have cut the consumer carbon tax. We have cut taxes for first-time homebuyers. We are going to build homes at a scale not seen since World War II.
We are going to build the strongest economy in the G7. I ask the Conservatives to get on board.
Guillaume Deschênes-Thériault Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB
Mr. Speaker, access to safe and affordable housing is a basic need and a shared responsibility. Canadians expect real progress to accelerate housing construction and lower costs so that young people, families, vulnerable people and those at all stages of life can access housing that meets their needs.
Can the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure update the House on the government's recently announced plan to improve housing affordability and access across the country?
Gregor Robertson LiberalMinister of Housing and Infrastructure and Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member for Madawaska—Restigouche for his question.
Our government recently launched “build Canada homes”, a new agency to address the housing crisis. This new agency will focus on the rapid construction of affordable housing on a large scale across the country.
It is time to build.
Bernard Généreux Conservative Côte-du-Sud—Rivière-du-Loup—Kataskomiq—Témiscouata, QC
Mr. Speaker, it has been six months and the Prime Minister has still not presented a budget. As a result, the projected deficit is more than double what the Liberals themselves predicted.
The Bank of Canada just announced that core inflation is 50% higher than what it had targeted. These deficits are driving inflation, and Canadian families are paying the price at the grocery store every week. The Liberals are breaking their promises, and meanwhile, Canadian families are going into debt to put food on the table.
When will the Liberal Prime Minister stop running deficits and finally give Canadian families a break?
François-Philippe Champagne LiberalMinister of Finance and National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, as I said earlier, the government will present its budget on November 4. That is when we will see the Conservatives' true colours. Will they support a plan to make generational investments in the Canadian economy? Will they be there to support Canadian families? Will they be there to support the Canadian economy? Will they be there to support Canadian workers?
The last time we introduced measures to help Canadians, they voted no. This time, Canadians will be watching. People expect every member of the House to support the budget to move Canada forward.
Alexandre Boulerice NDP Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC
Mr. Speaker, on August 17, Air Canada flight attendants went on strike so they could get paid for the work they do prior to a flight. That same day, only a few hours later, the Minister of Jobs used section 107 of the Canada Labour Code to end the job action. This is a major assault on workers' rights. It is an attack on free collective bargaining. This is a handout to a company that was expecting the government to do just that. The Liberals have used this section eight times in the past two years.
Will the Liberals support workers and get rid of section 107?
Patty Hajdu LiberalMinister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario
Mr. Speaker, we are trying to strike a balance in the relationship with labour unions.
It is very important that the government work with both parties, unions and employers, to find a balance to make sure that we uphold the collective rights for labour action, but that we also maintain industrial peace. Canadians expect us to get this balance right, and that is exactly what we have done.
Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC
Mr. Speaker, it seems that “elbows up” has been replaced with “chequebooks out”.
The Canadian Nuclear Laboratories partnership is primarily U.S. corporations, the private sector, and is involved with the nuclear weapons industry. It has now done a deal with our old friend at SNC-Lavalin, now called AtkinsRéalis, which operates Canadian Nuclear Laboratories.
Canada is giving them the biggest federal contract we have ever issued, at $24 billion. The deal is being reviewed by the Competition Bureau. When will it go to national security for a review, or do we just write cheques to Trump now?
Tim Hodgson LiberalMinister of Energy and Natural Resources
Mr. Speaker, Canada's nuclear expertise is a significant part of what will enable us to become an energy superpower.
The process to select the new contractor to manage Canadian Nuclear Laboratories was done independently of the government by AECL. More than 95% of the funding will be spent in Canada, employing Canadians at Canadian facilities. All of the senior management will be based in Canada. We have looked after this.
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order.
I know you have talked about decorum in this place. I may not agree with his policies, but the member for Chilliwack—Hope asked a straight question of the government. My friend, the Secretary of State for Sport, whom I call a friend because I consider him that, responded with “Get a grip”. I think there is a point to be made here. There has to be respect on both sides of this place, and I hope the secretary of state will take this point and maybe refrain from that in the future.
Natural ResourcesOral Questions
The Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia
I did not hear that comment, but obviously we want to keep the language respectful in this place.
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order.
Standing Order 158 speaks to the conduct of visitors in our galleries. I received a notice during question period that Air Canada flight attendants who were in the gallery were wearing red T-shirts that said “Unpaid Work Won't Fly”. They advised that they sent a picture of their shirts to the Sergeant-at-Arms or whoever controls admission to the gallery and received explicit permission to be in the gallery with those shirts. Twenty minutes into question period, they were asked to leave, and they were advised that some member on the government side expressed that they were uncomfortable with the T-shirts.
I am just wondering, Mr. Speaker, if you could rule on whether members of the government are allowed to kick out Canadians who are watching the people's business in their House of Commons when they are wearing T-shirts that were approved by the House of Commons.
Oral QuestionsPoints of OrderOral Questions
The Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia
I was not aware of the backstory here, but I will look into it and get back to the House.
Tamara Jansen Conservative Cloverdale—Langley City, BC
Mr. Speaker, I am here to speak to the question of privilege that was raised yesterday by my colleague, the member for Kamloops—Thompson—Nicola and shadow minister for public safety.
It is my responsibility to ensure the well-being of Canadians, including those behind prison walls, so why was I stymied from entering the Fraser Valley women's prison freely this past summer? What are they hiding behind those walls?
As their representative in Parliament, it is my duty, not a courtesy or a request, to verify first-hand that incarcerated women, many of whom are dealing with mental illness, abuse and trauma, are being treated humanely and with dignity. Parliament gave me this responsibility because oversight matters. It is one of the few safeguards we have for ensuring the state does not abuse its power behind locked doors.
When I am blocked from fulfilling my role, it is not just an inconvenience; it is an abuse of power. It strips vulnerable women of their voice and strips the public of their right to know what is being done in their name with their tax dollars under the banner of justice. Denying elected officials access to see how inmates are treated without the filter of management is a serious breach of trust. If I can be shut out, then so can accountability, and when transparency dies, abuse thrives.
I rise today to bring to the attention of the House this very serious breach of privilege by Corrections Canada.
On July 28, I attended the Fraser Valley Institution, a women's prison in the Abbotsford region, with the intention of fulfilling what I feel is my most important duty as a member of Parliament: to ensure that all Canadians, including those in federal custody, are treated with dignity, care and humanity. Unfortunately, that oversight was aggressively and intentionally obstructed.
When I arrived with my colleague, the shadow minister for public safety, we were told that our tour would be accompanied by Mr. Chris Szafron, the assistant warden of management services. My colleague and I clearly explained that we wished to tour with only uniformed correctional officers so that inmates and staff would feel free to speak openly with us. We made it clear that the presence of senior management would inhibit transparency and hinder trust. However, Mr. Szafron refused. He insisted on joining the tour, dismissing our concerns by saying, “No one will know who I am. I'm just a guy in a polo shirt.” I disagreed. Inmates and staff definitely know who the assistant warden is.
We asked who had instructed him to impose this condition, and he claimed that it came from the warden directly. We then asked to speak with the warden ourselves, but we were told that she was unavailable. We asked for a phone call. We were refused. We asked if our safety was at risk, and he said no. We asked again if we could proceed with the uniformed officers already present. Again, he said no, and all the while his tone was aggressive, his posture was intimidating and his behaviour was wholly inappropriate.
The correctional officers who accompanied us appeared shocked, and I do not blame them, because what occurred that day was an intentional act to prevent members of Parliament from doing their job. The message from Mr. Szafron, and by extension his superiors, was chillingly clear: “You are not welcome to conduct oversight here.”
I left that day with deep concern not only for the staff and inmates, who may be subjected to this kind of culture of intimidation, but also for the integrity of our role as parliamentarians. When management closes ranks and bars elected officials from seeing behind those doors, the natural question is, what are they trying to hide?
As a woman, I was particularly taken aback by the condescension and lack of respect shown to me throughout this encounter. However, more than that, I was outraged on behalf of the women inside that facility, who may not have anyone else to speak for them and who are now being denied even that.
In summary, the assistant warden of the Fraser Valley Institution, under direct instruction from the warden, obstructed and interfered with my ability to carry out my duty as a parliamentarian. That amounts to a breach of the established privilege to be free from obstruction, interference and intimidation.
My colleague, who explained yesterday how this behaviour interfered with his parliamentary work in the House and at committee this autumn, has already proposed a motion to refer this to the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs. I add my voice to that call.
Our duty as members of Parliament is clear. We do not turn a blind eye. We do not look the other way. We show up, and we insist on accountability, even behind prison walls.
Members' Access to Federal PenitentiaryPrivilegeOral Questions
The Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia
I thank the hon. member for her intervention. Obviously, her input will be taken into consideration, along with that of the member for Kamloops—Thompson—Nicola.
Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB
Mr. Speaker, on a point of order, to be clear, I would like to reserve the opportunity to come back and address this after reviewing the comments.
Members' Access to Federal PenitentiaryPrivilegeOral Questions
The House resumed consideration of the motion that Bill C-2, An Act respecting certain measures relating to the security of the border between Canada and the United States and respecting other related security measures, be read the second time and referred to a committee.
Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC
Mr. Speaker, as I was saying, Bill C-2 is an omnibus bill that would change multiple pieces of legislation, and it really would not address the issue of strong borders. When we are addressing as many different bills as this bill does, to repeat what I mentioned earlier, we attract the attention of 300 different non-governmental organizations across Canada in a coalition. Groups with very different interests are looking at our positions on the civil society protection of charter rights.
I have looked at the government's tabling, through the Minister of Justice, of the charter statement to see whether this bill is charter-compliant, and it really comes down to a series of statements of analysis saying that, while this bill could attract challenges under section 8 of the charter and involves intrusions of privacy, it is all going to be okay because “trust us”.
At this point, we are looking at intrusions of our civil liberties, which other members of Parliament have mentioned, with a very low threshold for opening our mail. It is true, as I know a parliamentary secretary said, that a small envelope with a small amount of fentanyl can kill many people, but this bill does not try to categorize in any way or create any kind of threshold for reasonable suspicion that mail is conveying drugs. This is a very different way of approaching the protection of Canadians. What it is really about when we look at it in the current political context is what we can do to convince Donald Trump that we are going to sacrifice the civil liberties of Canadians to meet the talking points of a deranged U.S. President. It is just not acceptable.
I urge all members of Parliament in this place, all parties, to take the time it takes. This bill will get to second reading. I think it is unlikely we can stop it, although that would be great. The Liberals do not have a majority in this place. Maybe we can stop it from going to second reading. In the meantime, it is likely to go to second reading, and it needs thorough study at committee, particularly from experts, on the charter compliance questions. There is no point in passing a law that would be very soon struck down by the courts as violating our charter rights.
I know I have very little time left, but I hope I will have time in questions and comments to expand on some of these points. Bill C-2 should be rejected. It would be much easier to start over and have a bill that starts from the premise that it is about borders, not about trying to appease the White House.