House of Commons photoWon her last election, in 2021, with 47% of the vote.
Infrastructure February 14th, 2023
Mr. Speaker, on the contrary, the Canada Infrastructure Bank is an innovative way to deal with infrastructure gaps that our country faces. For example, the Manitoba fibre project has created over 400 jobs, and 49,000 households will be connected to broadband. Would the member opposite like to tell those residents, those people who are employed, that the Infrastructure Bank is doing nothing for them?
We are going to continue to invest in good infrastructure right across this country.
Foreign Affairs February 13th, 2023
Mr. Speaker, foreign interference is a persistent, ongoing threat that we take extremely seriously. Since day one of being elected, we have implemented several measures to help national security and protect our institutions through things such as creating the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians, the critical election task force, and the SITE committee, which provided national security training for campaigns.
There is more to do, but on this side of the House, we have always taken national security seriously and we have implemented measures to strengthen our democracy.
Democratic Institutions February 9th, 2023
Mr. Speaker, our government has taken the threat of foreign interference very seriously since the beginning when we took office. We heard just this week that a former ambassador to Stephen Harper was concerned about these things. However, if members note, none of the recommendations, nor the implementation of protecting our democracy and protecting our institutions, began until we took office.
We will continue to work with all parties and all parliamentarians to ensure that our institutions remain strong against the ongoing threat of foreign interference.
Health February 6th, 2023
Mr. Speaker, our government is disappointed to learn of Mitsubishi's decision. Recognizing the impacts that this decision will have on its employees, we continue to be in discussion and we want to work with the Government of Quebec to assess next steps.
Medicago is still an important player in Canada's biomanufacturing and life sciences ecosystem. We expect collaboration from all parties involved to ensure Canadian interests are protected. We are going to continue to work hard to ensure employees are protected. Our vaccine procurement is incredibly important in this country.
Foreign Affairs February 6th, 2023
Mr. Speaker, we have established research security guidelines and are very clear with universities: If they partner with the federal government on research, their projects will be reviewed on national security grounds. Once again, the Conservatives are just waking up to national security issues.
We are working with universities to fill gaps where they exist. We take the national security issues of this country very seriously. We continue to work with universities, but we did establish a process with universities for research under security guidelines.
Questions on the Order Paper January 30th, 2023
Mr. Speaker, the following is with regard to the Canada Infrastructure Bank, or CIB, and the five-year review of the Canada Infrastructure Bank Act.
With respect to part (a), the first legislative review of the Canada Infrastructure Bank Act, or CIB Act, was started in June 2022 and is being led by Infrastructure Canada. The review will culminate in a report tabled in Parliament by the designated minister in June 2023.
With respect to part (b), as per the legislation, the legislative review will examine the provisions and operations of the CIB Act and is an opportunity to recognize the progress made to date and the evolution of the bank over the last five years. The review will look to assess whether the policy premises and context that underpinned the creation of the CIB are still sound and pertinent, whether the CIB’s legislated mandate and authorities to support its operations remain relevant in the context of the evolving policy and infrastructure landscape and whether any changes or clarifications are warranted to position the CIB for the future.
Additional records requested would be subject to the provisions of the Access to Information Act, namely subsection 21(1) on advice, recommendations, deliberations and/or plans; subsection 20(1) on third party information; and potentially section 69 on cabinet confidences. This is because the legislative review is in process and includes developing advice and recommendations for the designated minister and could contain confidences of the King’s Privy Council for Canada that are not releasable at this time.
With respect to part (c), Infrastructure Canada officials are conducting targeted engagement with key stakeholders to inform the review. These include provincial, territorial, municipal and indigenous partners; key market participants; and other relevant organizations. As per the act, a report on the findings of the review must be tabled by the designated minister before each House of Parliament in June 2023.
With respect to part (d), the government’s response to the third report of the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities was tabled on September 15, 2022. The government disagreed with the committee’s recommendation to abolish the CIB. The response can be found on the House of Commons website. The government response highlights the progress made by the Canada Infrastructure Bank to date in getting more infrastructure financed and built for Canadians, and notes its importance as a key tool in the government’s tool kit to close Canada’s infrastructure gap and support the transition to a low-carbon economy.
Questions on the Order Paper January 30th, 2023
Mr. Speaker, with regard to the Canada Infrastructure Bank, or CIB, and part (a) of the question, the CIB incurred costs in the amount of $875,332.62 in professional fees to conduct due diligence on the Lake Erie connector project. These costs are comprised of legal expenses and technical advisory expenses. Total due diligence costs incurred represent less than 0.1% of the CIB’s previously announced investment commitment in the Lake Erie connector project and are aligned with reasonable costs and expenses incurred by other private sector and institutional investors to support technical and legal due diligence activities related to financial transactions in infrastructure projects.
With respect to part (b), commercial negotiations relating to the Lake Erie connector project have been suspended at this time. The CIB did not conclude a definitive project agreement with ITC Holding Corporation, the project proponent of the Lake Erie connector project, for the project to reach the financial close milestone, and no CIB financing has been provided in respect of the project. The CIB had previously announced an investment commitment in the amount of up to $650 million to the Lake Erie connector project. The CIB makes investment commitments to support proponents advancing their projects toward a final investment decision and to secure additional financing to enable the project to achieve financial close.
With respect to part (c), as reported in Fortis Inc.’s press release regarding its second-quarter earnings dated July 28, 2022, ITC Holding Corporation suspended development activities and commercial negotiations due to recent macroeconomic conditions that have impacted the proponent’s ability to secure a viable transmission service agreement within the required timeline. As such, the CIB has removed this project from its total of CIB investment commitments, given that the conditions that are required for an investment commitment are not presently being met. The CIB remains committed to the project’s positive outcomes in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving the reliability and security of Ontario’s electricity grid. The CIB remains available to the project proponent as necessary to continue discussions should project development activities resume.
With respect to part (d), representatives from ITC Holding Corporation notified the CIB after the close of business on Wednesday, July 27, 2022, that a press release would be issued the next day to provide an update on the Lake Erie connector project and inform market participants that ITC Holding Corporation suspended all project development activities and commercial negotiations on the project due to recent macroeconomic conditions.
With respect to part (e), a press release announcing the Lake Erie connector project’s suspension was issued on July 28, 2022. The CIB communicated this information to Infrastructure Canada officials in August as part of the CIB’s regular engagement with Infrastructure Canada officials to provide an update on the CIB’s results and information included in the CIB’s quarterly financial reporting. The CIB’s quarterly financial report for Q1 fiscal 2022-23, which was published on the CIB’s website on August 29, 2022, includes subsequent events note disclosure regarding the announcement of the suspension of the Lake Erie connector project in late July 2022.
Points of Order December 2nd, 2022
Madam Speaker, nothing could be further from the truth. That is not what happened. The members opposite were screaming, as they are screaming at me now, when I simply raised the point that yesterday, when I stood in this place, the member for St. Albert—Edmonton was screaming for me to sit down, and they were trying to deny that it happened.
There are lots of witnesses on this side, and the member has to account for her denial of a member on her side telling another woman to sit down.
Democratic Institutions December 2nd, 2022
—they might want to start by respecting the women who have been democratically elected in this place.
Democratic Institutions December 2nd, 2022
Madam Speaker, as I said, the protection of our democracy is paramount, but with that, protecting our democracy also means respecting it.
Yesterday, the member opposite, when I rose in this place, continually screamed for me to sit down, yet he did not have that same emotional outburst when the Minister of Public Safety was answering that question. I have some advice for the members opposite. If they support the protection of democracy—