Nick Whalen

[Canada's Contribution to the Effort to Combat ISIL, February 22nd, 2016]

Madam Speaker, I will be sharing my time with the member for Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne.

I am extremely thankful for the opportunity to take part in this debate around Canada's future involvement in the coalition efforts to defeat ISIL in Iraq and Syria. There has been a great deal of debate in this chamber on how we should move forward. One thing we can all agree on is that it is imperative that ISIL be defeated.

It has also become increasingly clear that in order to overcome this challenge, we require a whole-of-government response that plays to Canada's strengths within the coalition. This involves the refocusing of our military contribution by increasing intelligence capabilities, by deploying CAF medical personnel, and by enhancing capacity-building efforts.

The new Canadian mission would also seek to improve the living conditions of conflict-affected populations and build the foundations for long-term regional stability. We will also invest significantly in humanitarian assistance, reinforce our diplomatic presence, and strengthen dialogue with local and international partners on the ground. Canada is already welcoming more Syrian refugees and will continue to do so.

As members can see, this is not strictly a military issue. This is exactly why the Prime Minister has announced a refocused approach, one that will involve the work of several departments.

The only way to bring stability to the region is through a long-term, multi-pronged approach. This refocused mission will better target humanitarian assistance, stabilization, security, and development programming. As I mentioned earlier, it will also boost diplomatic efforts to the support of a political solution in this conflict.

This change is not, as some have implied, a reduction from our previous contribution; it is a step forward. Canada fully intends to remain at the forefront of the international efforts to combat this grave threat. Over time, this refocused and sustained effort will set the conditions necessary to bring stability to the region. We must be mindful of the fact that this will be a long-term effort.

As the Minister of National Defence said, recounting an observation made by an Iraqi commander, “We are fighting the son of al Qaeda. We must ensure we aren't fighting the grandson of al Qaeda as well.” I contend that the best way to stop this cycle of terrorism is through a meaningful, collective, and holistic intervention that is effective now and over the long term.

One of the ways in which we are refocusing our approach is through increased intelligence capabilities. This is an important development. Defence intelligence is an integral part of military operations and activities. It enables effective and informed decision-making by providing awareness and the ability to adjust to the security environment. If we know our adversaries are planning to do something before they do it, we stand a better chance of being able to stop them. This is why we have made enhanced intelligence capability part of Canada's refocused military contribution.

We have come to understand that accurate intelligence allows for better situational awareness. Without that intelligence piece, the chances of success in this mission are limited. Whether it is information taken from the sensors of our CP-140 Auroras or from other sources, the more intelligence we have on ISIL's assets and its movements, the better off the coalition forces, including our own men and women in uniform, will be.

Quality intelligence is needed on the ground, not only to inform the coalition where the next strike needs to happen but also to identify where we should not go. It helps us to find and prioritize targets. It helps us to minimize civilian casualties. It allows us to track the enemy, know the situation, and anticipate and prevent the next move. This is particularly important now, given the current state of the campaign.

After more than a year of coalition air strikes, ISIL has lost most of its freedom of movement. It cannot hold positions or move equipment and fighters as openly as it once did. Instead, it has to disguise its movements, move over shorter distances, or under cover of night. This means that windows of opportunity may be brief and the coalition will have to move quickly to capitalize on them.

Since ISIL has been hiding among the civilian population to mask its presence, we must be prudent in our operations to minimize the risk of unintended civilian casualties and other collateral damage. This is why better intelligence capabilities are so critical. The cost of being wrong can be extremely high in lives, time, and tactical consequences.

As a complement to our contribution, we are deploying additional Canadian Armed Forces officers to coalition headquarters to assist in targeting and intelligence. This is a complex and important process and the Canadian Armed Forces is among the best in the world in this field.

The targeting process is extremely important to us and to coalition partners, as it helps reduce the harm to civilians and critical infrastructure, and maximizes the coalition's ability to degrade ISIL's fighting capability.

The coalition process works as follows. It targets personnel needed to: (a) identify the objective, for example, to prevent the movement of ISIL fighters to a city; (b) select and prioritize potential targets that will achieve that effect; (c) match the appropriate response to each target; (d) act on the targets that have been identified; and (e) finally, assess if the desired objective has been achieved.

This system, the joint targeting cycle, is a robust and well-developed process, and our CAF personnel are well trained and experienced in this process. With this enhanced contribution to the targeting function, we will continue to support the coalition in its efforts to degrade ISIL's fighting capability.

The contribution of the Canadian Armed Forces to peace and stability is well established, and Canada continues to be prepared to answer the call. However, we need to keep in mind that there are many different elements involved in degrading and defeating ISIL.

We need to remember that we are not alone in this fight. We are part of an international coalition, and that the real key to success is a complementary approach between all coalition partners.

Canada has much to offer when it comes to overcoming the threat posed by ISIL. This combination of better intelligence and robust targeting will help the coalition quickly take advantage of fleeting opportunities. Because agility and adaptation are paramount in modern warfare, particularly against a determined enemy, it is a combination that is valued by our allies.

Like our train, advise and assist contribution, this is another way in which particular Canadian strengths can be used to help defeat ISIL. We want to put the best of Canada forward. This plan not only brings to the fight some of the core strengths of the Canadian Armed Forces; it meets the expectations of Canadians.

[Canada's Contribution to the Effort to Combat ISIL, February 17th, 2016]

Madam Speaker, the people of St. John's East to whom I have spoken have a lot of concerns about the complexity of the conflict in that region and that there are so many different conflicts being engaged there, not merely against ISIL but also among the various parties involved.

My question for the minister is this. How are the efforts in this new Operation Impact going to allow our partners to target ISIL as part of the combat and not inadvertently step on the toes of our allies or intervene in improper conflicts that are also going on in the same area?

[Canada Labour Code, February 5th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, members can think back to April and May of last year when the Liberal Party of Canada came out with its strong policy position on how best to rebalance the rights of workers and employers in Canada, certainly at the federal level, which was long before the real rigour of the campaign had started. It was a clear policy, and it earned the support of Canadians. It was a policy that got to the heart of what Canadians wanted vis-à-vis the balance of workers and employer rights at the federal level, and people swarmed to it. It was not a situation where the Liberal Party of Canada was cowing to the desires of unions. The Liberals put forward a policy that spoke to what Canadians wanted, desired, and had earned.

I would like the member to answer this question: why does he think that Canadians made a mistake? Canadians voted in the Liberal Party, and now we are implementing our platform.

[Hon. T. Alex Hickman, February 2nd, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate the life of the Hon. T. Alex Hickman, who died last month at the age of 90.

A proud native of Grand Bank, he served his province and his country with great distinction. First elected to the Newfoundland House of Assembly in 1966, he served as a minister in both the Smallwood and Morris cabinets. In 1979 he was appointed chief justice of the Newfoundland trial division, where he professionalized the system by which magistrates were selected and trained.

He chaired two royal commissions. The Ocean Ranger commission uncovered and changed forever a culture of lax safety procedures aboard Canada's oil rigs, and the Marshall commission recommended ways to ensure more equitable treatment of black and indigenous Canadians in the criminal justice system.

Mr. Hickman was named an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2003.

Canada is stronger because of his contributions. He was exceptional and will be greatly missed.

[Business of Supply, February 2nd, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, in the spirit of what the President of the Treasury Board was saying this morning, regarding having a less biased and all-party approach to this problem, I wonder if the member would consider putting to our colleagues in the NDP the question of whether we could delete the words “which was eliminated by the previous Conservative government in 2009;” from part (c) of the motion? I do not see what it adds necessarily. The remainder of part (c) is clear, and I do not think there is any need to call out other parties with which we want to get involved in furthering the rights of all people.

[National Defence, January 29th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, transnational criminal organizations cause enormous harm around the world. Canada has a tradition of participating in international efforts to stem the tide against organized crime whether at home or abroad.

Could the Minister of National Defence inform the House of the government's latest initiative to help disrupt illicit trafficking operations at sea?

[Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply, January 26th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for her comments and I congratulate her on her election.

She talked about what is not in the throne speech. However, does she support what is in it? Will she vote in favour of the Speech from the Throne?

[Resumption of debate on Address in Reply, January 25th, 2016]

Madam Speaker, obviously everyone is concerned when the cultural heritage of the country is threatened, as it has been for the past 10 years. Restoring funding to the CBC is important for it to carry out its core mandate, in which it has been hampered in providing local news coverage for places from coast to coast to coast. It has been unable to do it and has seen a loss of employment and loss of functioning facilities over the course of the last 10 years.

We would love to see a growth in the private sector newspaper and news media as well. It is important for them to make their own personal decisions regarding how best to staff their enterprises.

However, in terms of the government's support for the CBC and for arts funding, it is very important to encourage the type of non-partisan high-quality public broadcasting from coast to coast, and the support I talked about was also for primary arts funding. These are the creators, producers, directors, and actors who go on to help staff and provide support to the commercial enterprises that we all hope to protect as well.

[Resumption of debate on Address in Reply, January 25th, 2016]

Madam Speaker, my hon. colleague's question is very important and is something I heard a lot during the campaign, during the recent break, and during my consultations. Seniors' poverty is a real issue throughout the country and also in St. John's East.

In respect to home care, hospital care, renewed facilities, and 200,000 seniors living in poverty, I am pleased to announce that during the election our party committed to increasing the GIS for single seniors living in poverty, so that they would have 10% more funds available to help them deal with the rising cost of food and medications.

Our government is committed to negotiating, discussing, and involving aboriginal communities, municipalities, and provinces in the discussions needed to move forward with an agenda that includes better health care and better support for seniors. We cannot do it alone. We have to do it with consultations, and we need the social licence.

[Resumption of debate on Address in Reply, January 25th, 2016]

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the Speech from the Throne. However, I would first like to thank the people of St. John's East for placing their trust in me. The election was closely contested and so I also thank the former member, Mr. Jack Harris, including for his years of public service. He was a member of the 33rd, 40th, and the 41st Parliaments. He was a long-time member of the Newfoundland House of Assembly and, of course, he was also the long-time leader of the New Democratic Party of Newfoundland and Labrador.

I would also like to thank all of my incredible volunteers and supporters throughout the historically long campaign.

In particular, I would like to thank my wife, Dr. Sarah Noble, for her steadfast support and wise counsel, not only during the campaign but also in our life together; my children, for their understanding, love, and homemade campaign signs; and my parents for being exemplary role models.

My mother is an environmentalist who has fought for tougher environmental assessment standards and against the importation of foreign garbage for incineration in Newfoundland and Labrador.

My father practised law for 39 years, taking on many cases in support of human rights and the impoverished and presented himself as a candidate for the Liberal Party of Canada in 1974, when I was only a one-year old. Although he inspired me to run, he never pushed me toward it and actively discouraged me a couple of years ago when he learned that I was interested. However, when he found out that he could not dissuade me from my lifelong dream of representing the people of St. John's East, he jumped in with both feet and was my biggest supporter. I thank him.

I would also like to thank all the people of St. John's East, including the 24,000 people who voted for the other candidates.

I will work hare to ensure that St. John's East is able to fully benefit from the ambitious platform outlined in the Speech from the Throne, upon which the Liberal Party of Canada campaigned and won the election.

During January, I participated in many public and private sessions as part of pre-budget consultations. I can assure the House that the people of Canada are optimistic that the Speech from the Throne and the ministerial mandate letters incorporated therein by reference chart the right course for Canada. These will also benefit the people of St. John's East.

I would like to highlight for the House how St. John's East participates in Confederation and highlight its hopes in the government's priorities in the following areas: infrastructure to help the middle class; putting climate change and environmental science at the heart of resource development; research and innovation; and support for our cultural institutions.

The electoral district of St. John's East has existed in one form or another since Newfoundland and Labrador joined Confederation.

As urbanization has pulled a greater concentration of citizens into St. John's and the surrounding municipalities, we have compressed geographically, but we are still very economically diverse. Our over 80,000 constituents live in both 19th century mansions and public housing or on the streets. New subdivisions like Kenmount Terrace have public transit needs, while the former mining town of Bell Island has an aging population, very serious ferry troubles, and food security issues. We host the provincial seat of government, the main campus of Memorial University of Newfoundland, and the St. John's International Airport.

While we face serious challenges, we also have great opportunities, especially in infrastructure. The timing has never been better to invest in Canada's infrastructure. Although we inherited a recession, a $3-billion deficit, and a mounting infrastructure deficit, we campaigned and won on a platform of being honest with Canadians about the state of our economy and on investing in public infrastructure as a means to spur economic growth and improve Canada's lagging productivity.

Our government has committed to increasing planned infrastructure investment from $65 billion to $125 billion over the next decade. This historic investment in our nation could not have come at a better time. With $20 billion in three areas—public transit, green infrastructure, and social infrastructure—it will be the largest infrastructure investment in Canada's history.

The attendees at our public consultations have identified many projects to drive economic growth now.

In respect of public transit, the suburban municipal regions around St. John's are already investigating the expansion of their public transit service so that people can get into St. John's more easily. They have had successful pilot projects completed. Transit hubs in those areas, feeding into St. John's, would get people moving again.

In respect of green infrastructure, Newfoundland and Labrador is already undertaking a megaproject at Muskrat Falls in Labrador, with financial backing from Canada. The continued federal support for and completion of Muskrat Falls will mean that renewable energy can power 100 percent of Newfoundland and Labrador's on-grid electricity needs. This project will replace electricity in St. John's East, currently serviced by the oil-fired Holyrood generating facility. The Gull Island area of the same river has an opportunity to provide an additional 2,250 megawatts of clean energy to the North American distribution system.

Federal government participation in ways to get clean energy resources to market would be appreciated by all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, and indeed all Canadians.

In respect of public infrastructure, housing, especially senior housing and affordable housing for young families, is a constant concern. It is an issue my constituency office discusses on a weekly if not daily basis. Our party has heard their pleas and I am proud to say that our Prime Minister announced that the government will build 500 new affordable housing units in St. John's. This is a good start towards addressing the social ills inadequate housing has been shown to cause, and we welcome the support to those in my riding struggling with housing needs.

Responding to climate change is of importance to the people of St. John's East. After almost a decade of being forgotten, the environment will again be at the core of natural resource development. The Speech from the Throne helps chart a course to restoring Canada's international reputation on environmental matters and helping us earn back lost market share in green technology research, development, and commercialization.

The fishery, mining, and energy sectors in my province are keen to participate in projects and to see new and innovative ideas developed in collaboration with universities and government. Here I had the good fortune to meet with C-Core, a leading-edge ice and geotechnical engineering research institution at Memorial University of Newfoundland. It is interested in the applied research needed to understand how oil spilled from increased ship traffic or offshore development in the north will interact with sea ice, and how such spills can be contained and remediated.

Newfoundland and Labrador is an ideal place to carry on such research. My community is excited by the promised investment by the government in research an innovation, and in university, incubator, industry collaborations. These will be at the heart of answering the sea-ice oil dynamics questions that will determine whether and how we can safely pursue shipping in the Northwest Passage.

From January 7 to 9, I participated in the 69th Canadian Conference for Fisheries Research, which was held in my riding. Canadian experts on oceans, fresh water, and fisheries are working hard to help us find ways to manage these resources sustainably, and I salute their efforts. I am looking forward to seeing many of them again at the International Marine Conservation Congress in St. John's in July.

In the department's mandate letter, the government promised that Canada would restore and strengthen the environmental laws that protect Canada's waterways, land, and air so that this generation and future generations can have a healthy environment.

The people of St. John's East are very keen to be part of this work.

Research and innovation is not limited to climate change. Commercialization of research drives productivity. Research and development are crucial in our plan for a more competitive Canadian economy.

Also of particular concern to St. John's East is support for the arts. Our vibrant arts and culture scene rivals any in Canada. Theatre, live music, public art, arts festivals and radio, and movie and television production are a prominent part of daily life for many in my home town.

After a decade of cuts to the arts, my constituents are pleased that the government will increase funding for the Canada Council for the Arts by $90 million per year for the next two years from $180 million to $360 million.

As part of our government's ambitious infrastructure spending, there will be renewed investment in cultural infrastructure to build the spaces and places artists and communities will use to promote our culture.

By our increasing CBC funding by $150 million over the next two years, the CBC will be able to better perform a mandate it has been hampered in doing over the past decade, promoting Canadian culture, identity, bilingualism, and heritage.

I am very grateful to have the support of the people of St. John's East and the privilege to serve them in this august chamber. I promise to work diligently with my colleagues in all the seats of the House to help see the Speech from the Throne fulfilled and to usher in a new era for Canada, where no one is left behind.