Justin Trudeau

[Prime Minister's Trip to India, December 5th, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, like I said, an opposition's job is to oppose. However, the fact is that the Conservatives are not asking us about the economy and they are not asking us about the challenges faced by Alberta right now. They are simply choosing to make the same kinds of personal attacks and smear jobs that characterize 10 years of Stephen Harper's Conservative leadership.

We see that the Conservatives actually have no new approach to governing the country and no alternative proposal for economic growth. They are still stuck in the same old approach that Canadians rejected soundly in 2015.

[Prime Minister's Trip to India, December 5th, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, it is the opposition's responsibility to oppose, to challenge a government and to disagree on positions of policy. Unfortunately, the members opposite choose to make personal attacks and drive-by smears.

The fact is that for those at home who want to see whether there is any substance to these at all, they can simply watch whether the members opposite will repeat those allegations outside of the House where they are not protected by parliamentary immunity.

[Indigenous Affairs, December 5th, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, we launched a national public inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous women and girls because we saw there was a need for leadership. For too long it had not moved forward. We did that because we know we needed healing for the families, we needed justice for the victims and we needed to put an end to this ongoing national tragedy.

That is why we extended the time and mandate of the inquiry to ensure that all families could be heard. We gave it the extra funding it requested. We are looking forward to seeing the results of the important work it is doing. At the same time, we are not waiting for that result, to—

[Indigenous Affairs, December 5th, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, we are committed to ending the ongoing national tragedy of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls. The independent commission's mandate is clear that families must be at the centre of its work. We are committed to getting the answers, which have been about the systemic and institutional failures that have led to this tragedy.

In addition to our substantive response to the inquiry's interim report, we are also taking immediate action with investments in women's shelters, housing, education, reform of child welfare and safety on the Highway of Tears.

[Indigenous Affairs, December 5th, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, yes, and we can even say that we are in the process of following up on the interim report and implementing the recommendations.

We must not wait to combat violence against women and girls, especially in indigenous communities. We know that the national housing strategy helps women who would otherwise have to return to an abusive relationship or turn to the street.

Since 2015, we have created more than 4,800 shelter spaces. We know that there is a lot more work to do and we will keep at it.

[Indigenous Affairs, December 5th, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his question and his hard work.

We are determined to put an end to the national tragedy of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls. The mandate of the independent commission is clear: families must be at the centre of its work. We have committed to giving families the answers they have long been looking for about the institutional failures that resulted in this tragedy.

We are also taking immediate action with investments in women's shelters, housing, education, the reform of child services and safety on the Highway of Tears.

[Member for Brampton East, December 5th, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, again, for people watching Question Period, they notice that the opposition's job is to ask questions, to critique government policy, to make sure that what we do is exactly right for Canadians and to challenge us on it. That is the role of Her Majesty's loyal opposition.

Unfortunately, the current opposition tends to spend its time making innuendos, personal attacks and drive-by smear jobs that seem to consist of political debate. We are happy to exchange on ideas and to argue rigorously why our plan is right.

[Member for Brampton East, December 5th, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, for folks watching question period, let me explain parliamentary privilege. It allows members of Parliament to say things in this House without fear of prosecution or legal consequences. It is a foundation of an important element of what we do in this House.

One of the ways people at home who are keeping score can note whether something is serious or not is whether members opposite will repeat what they say in the House outside the House.

[Prime Minister’s Trip to India, December 5th, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, we have always shown our commitment to openness and transparency on the international stage.

I want to once again congratulate the members of the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians for the incredible work they have done. We accept their recommendations and we will continue to respect the great work they do.

[Natural Resources, December 5th, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, once again, a zero per cent increase in pipeline capacity to new markets under 10 years of Conservative government for the very simple reason that they did not understand that the way to build big projects is to work with indigenous peoples in full respect and partnership, to work with environmental scientists and concerned citizens to demonstrate it is being done in the right way. They failed for 10 years and now they double down on an approach that failed the oil industry and failed Canadians.