Most toxic speeches
Mr. Speaker, that is not what we would call clarifying. That is what we would call sacrificing. The Liberals are giving Air Canada carte blanche. Just yesterday they were saying that the Conservatives should have upheld the law. Even the Prime Minister shouted through his megaphone, So-so-so solidarity! Today, it is even worse. They are in the process of legalizing the job losses that were illegal just yesterday. It is outrageous and disgusting. I have never seen such spineless people before.Are the Liberals not ashamed of sacrificing the lives and work of 2,600 families?
Mr. Speaker, again, the hon. member keeps repeating these silly phrases like pay-to-play. He is confusing his Saturday night at the arcade with a very legitimate fundraising activity
Mr. Speaker, Canada's dairy producers are totally distraught because the Liberal government is dragging its feet on the issue of diafiltered milk. Canadian dairy producers are losing millions of dollars every week because of an injustice, a scheme orchestrated by processing industries that do not care about behaving ethically toward their business partners.Our dairy producers have been tormented long enough. The Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food must act immediately in the collective interest of the entire dairy industry. Will he take action now, or is he going to put it off indefinitely?
Mr. Speaker, the government has once again dismissed the unanimous will of Quebec. I will give it a second chanceThis morning, the Quebec National Assembly unanimously adopted another motion. It calls on the federal government to work with Quebec to implement the motion I will be moving this evening, which will put an end to the shameful use of tax havens in Barbados. Quebeckers are sick and tired of seeing Canadian law encourage profiteers.Will the Prime Minister make a formal commitment to honour Quebec's unanimous request by supporting the Bloc Québécois's Motion No. 42, yes or no?
Mr. Speaker, divisive personal attacks are not going to distract from the government's misleading of Canadians. Trying to pit the jobs of workers against human rights is a cynical distraction, but it does not hide government failure to open up new responsible markets and support long-term sustainable manufacturing jobs in our region. Instead, the Liberals have gambled the jobs of workers on a deal with an oppressive state, giving our city an unfair black eye.Where is the government's plan for long-term sustainable jobs for the workers at General Dynamics and throughout London?
Mr. Speaker, with the government responding to the crisis in Attawapiskat, we are hearing from indigenous youth in other regions who are saying Where are the resources for our community? The crisis is extreme across this country, and band-aids will not work. The youth want action now, yet there were zero dollars in this budget to deal with the suicide crisis and zero new dollars to deal with indigenous mental health. The current government has the power to act. The only thing missing is political will. Will it commit today to augment the funds to ensure that we can end the mental health crisis in all of the communities across this country?
Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government continues to dig itself a deeper hole in the Saudi Arabia arms deal. The minister claims that his hands were tied and that the contract was a done deal by the former government, but that is not true. He authorized the export permits, the most crucial, essential step.Why does the minister continue to mislead Canadians? Will he finally step up and confirm that this decision was made by his government?
Mr. Speaker, I think my colleague is well aware that she is the one who is confusing the matter. I want to share a quote from a news story: At the end of March, Minister Dion said that he and government officials would examine whether the armoured vehicles exported to Saudi Arabia comply with international laws, human rights and our national interests. If a journalist understood, why did my colleague not understand?
Mr. Speaker, Canadians are concerned about the suicide crisis in Attawapiskat and many other indigenous communities. We cannot continue to neglect our youth this way.The government says that it is taking this problem seriously, but in reality, the budget does not provide for any investments in mental health care services for indigenous youth. The government needs to invest in prevention.Will the government immediately make recurrent funding available for mental health care services for first nations youth?
Mr. Speaker, that is completely false. All we are asking is whether the government will respect the result of its own process. Canadians know that pipelines are the safest, most effective way to get our oil and gas to market. Canadian oil and gas is the cleanest and most ethical energy in the world, and creates high-paying jobs here at home. Without pipelines, eastern Canada is forced to import foreign oil. The Prime Minister's principal secretary and top advisor said that oil and gas development is as bad as hooking kids on cigarettes. Can the government explain why oil shipped by ocean tanker from Saudi Arabia is somehow better than western Canadian oil and gas?
Mr. Speaker, indigenous communities in my riding will be directly impacted by today's legislation on assisted suicide. I am concerned that the Liberals have ignored these communities. Dr. Alika Lafontaine, president of the Indigenous Physicians Association, highlighted the absence of major indigenous organizations during the joint committee hearings and stated, I believe there has not been meaningful consultations with indigenous peoples. Why did the Liberals not undertake consultations with indigenous communities on assisted suicide?
Mr. Speaker, the Liberals promised investments in mental health and suicide prevention for our veterans. The Liberal budget completely failed to deliver.Building two new centres for research and treatment will not address these issues. Many veterans need to travel often and over long distances to receive even basic face-to-face treatment.How will the minister ensure that mental health support and suicide prevention initiatives will be provided to all veterans close to home, no matter where they live in Canada?
Mr. Speaker, the government appears to agree with the Conservatives' dissenting report on the sensitive issue of physician-assisted dying, since the bill does not deal with minors or people suffering from mental illness. Good. It is clear
Mr. Speaker, I am sorry, but my hon. colleague is blowing smoke here. We have met with a number of groups ever since I put out that report. As I said, I put it out on February 25, because I wanted to hear back from western grain farmers, from the shippers, and from the railroads. I wanted to hear from everybody. Believe me, my schedule shows that I am meeting a whole bunch of them. I encourage my hon. colleague to relax. I am doing my work.
Mr. Speaker, 84% of Canadians know it is possible to transport our energy resources while protecting the environment, and 70% of Canadians believe pipelines are the most appropriate method of transporting oil and gas. Canada's oil and gas is the most socially and environmentally responsible in the world. When will the Liberals finally get on board and proudly support Canada's world-leading, internationally renowned energy sector?
Mr. Speaker, if the Liberals were serious about doing anything on this, the Liberal MPs yesterday would not have refused to agree to hear from prairie grain farmers who were concerned about these provisions not having yet been extended. In fact, I then took the opportunity this morning to meet with these farmers. They said that while the Liberals refused to listen to them, they know that this side of the House would stand up for them. Will the minister extend these provisions that the farm families desperately need?
Mr. Speaker, the government appears to agree with the Conservatives' dissenting report on the sensitive issue of physician-assisted dying, since the bill does not deal with minors or people suffering from mental illness. Good. It is also clear that the government will finally allow its members to vote freely, which we support. Good. Now, we must take action.On this side of the House, we think it is important that all members who want to speak to this sensitive issue be allowed to do so. However, we are running out of time. We want the government to know that it has our full co-operation.Is the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons prepared to review our parliamentary sitting hours?
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is making pipeline projects more difficult to get approved by adding more hurdles and red tape. He keeps moving the goalposts and giving special interest groups undue influence on the process. Now he claims that this more difficult process will ensure Canadians have more confidence in the process, that making it harder will somehow make it easier, and yet he refuses to commit to actually approving any project that makes it through his new onerous process. Very simply, if an application makes it through the new process that he himself has designed, will the Prime Minister approve it, or does he not have confidence in his own process?
Mr. Speaker, we can say it is wonderful, but we are all wondering when, just like the workers.Canada can be a major global competitor for long-term, high-reward LNG contracts with Asian markets. These projects will provide thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in investment and revenue to benefit communities all across Canada. Exporting LNG will help the world lower GHG emissions. The Liberals will be responsible if Canadian LNG is shut out.Will the Liberal government stop blocking Canadian companies from getting LNG to global markets?
Mr. Speaker, I have good news. I have no documents to table, and thus there is no need to worry. This afternoon will conclude the fourth and final day of the budget debate. Tomorrow we will commence second reading of Bill C-10, the Air Canada legislation, and continue that debate on Monday.Next week, we will have opposition days on Tuesday and Thursday. On Wednesday, we will begin debate on Bill C-14 on medical assistance in dying, introduced this morning by my colleague, the Minister of Justice.Mr. Speaker, after discussions with all parties I think you will find unanimous consent for the following motion: That, pursuant to Section 20 of the Freezing Assets of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act, the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development be designated for the statutory review of the Freezing Assets of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act and the Special Economic Measures Act.
Mr. Speaker, in the last election, the Liberal leader said, Raising corporate taxes, like the NDP want to do, strangles growth. The current immigration minister also said that the NDP's proposed corporate tax hikes would cost 150,000 jobs.It stands to reason therefore that raising the corporate tax rate on small business would have a similar job-killing effect on our economy.Would the Minister of Finance tell us whether his department did a calculation of the number of jobs that would be lost based upon the tax increases the budget imposes on our small business job creators?
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question.It is too bad that his parliamentary leader is not in the House, since he could have sent
Mr. Speaker, after years of pretending to be champions for Air Canada workers, the Liberals tabled legislation that gives Air Canada free rein to ship the good-paying jobs of 2,600 workers and their families right out of Canada.The Prime Minister once stood alongside protesting maintenance workers. He was chatting about solidarity and probably throwing in the odd Kumbaya for good measure, but where is that solidarity when it could actually do something for workers?Will the Prime Minister stand up, apologize for his cynicism, and withdraw Bill C-10?
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Transport claims rail safety is his top priority, yet this week rail inspectors told our committee, despite a projected tenfold increase in dangerous cargo, that the rail safety budget was being slashed 21%. Yesterday it was revealed that Transport Canada had withheld information on the 500 most dangerous level crossings, two of the most dangerous in my riding of Edmonton Strathcona. Cuts, inaction, secrecy will not improve rail safety. When will the minister take real action on rail safety?
Mr. Speaker, we did not just get to this crisis by accident. The children have been dying on a daily basis across this country, dying in nurses stations from strep throat and asthma because government will not pay for the medication, dying by suicide because government will routinely turn down their pleas for mental health counselling. The current government has no new money for mental health or for health services. It has to stop. Where is the political will to invest in resources, in what is truly our greatest resource, our children? Where is that will to move today?
Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Quebec National Assembly passed a second motion asking the government to resolve the diafiltered milk issue once and for all. In less than two days, 4,500 people signed a petition calling on the government to take concrete action. Our producers are losing $220 million a year as a result of this government's inaction. Our regions' economies are suffering as a direct result.The government either needs to take action or compensate our producers. What is the government waiting for? When will it finally resolve the diafiltered milk issue once and for all?
Mr. Speaker, my hon. colleague knows full well the minister did no such thing. He keeps referring to this supposed secret fundraiser. Just because he repeats these exaggerated lines does not make them true. A fundraiser where every donation is disclosed on the Internet is hardly a secret fundraiser. It is something that members opposite have done many times over.We will continue to respect all of the provisions of the Prime Minister's open and accountable government code, as well as the Conflict of Interest Act and any other related provisions.
Mr. Speaker, I said that the hon. member should look at my agenda. If she wants to come over to my office, I will show it to her.
Mr. Speaker, the reviews are in for the Liberal budget with a resounding fail for transparency.The parliamentary budget officer called it the least transparent budget in 15 years. A former deputy finance minister said that it failed the Liberals' own campaign commitments. Even the CBC called it a shell game.The Prime Minister thinks that the budget will balance itself, but how can the Liberals have any credibility on the economy when they keep fudging the numbers?
Mr. Speaker, I want to remind my hon. colleague that we did reduce taxes for small businesses and we did reduce taxes for nine million Canadians. I would invite my hon. colleague to read the entire budget. He will see that this government is working for Canadians.
Mr. Speaker, my colleague, the Minister of Justice, has answered that question a number of times. My colleague across the aisle knows very well that members in the House attend fundraising events from time to time, done entirely according to law. All of the donations are disclosed publicly, as is required by law. The Minister of Justice did absolutely nothing different than the ministers in the previous government used to do. Every member on this side of the House respects the Elections Act and the Prime Minister's code of conduct, and will always continue to do so. That is something the Conservatives had considerable trouble doing when they were in government.
Mr. Speaker, our government has been clear about the fact that we will increase access to mental health services across the country. In particular, of course, we will be focusing on the indigenous communities, the first nations, the Inuit, and the Métis nation to ensure that they have access to the mental health services they need. I am very pleased that in the case of Attawapiskat, there are now 18 mental health workers on the ground who were not there previous to the time that this crisis began. We will continue working to introduce the resources that are required.
Mr. Speaker, when it comes to palliative care services, there is a crying need for help across the country.The government itself acknowledged that this is an important issue in the bill it introduced today, but there was nothing for palliative care in the budget. The Liberals had promised $3 billion over four years for home care. There is yet another broken promise.Will the government finally acknowledge that this is urgent and invest in palliative care?
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member just said that the parliamentary budget officer was not telling the truth. That is unbelievable.The parliamentary budget officer said that he did not have all of the information, but my colleague is saying that his government gave it all to him. We should not be surprised, since, yesterday, when we asked the Prime Minister about his four companies, he did not want to give us any details. He was very evasive about the whole thing.What does the Prime Minister have to hide in that regard?
Mr. Speaker, for the past few days, the Prime Minister has wrapped himself in the immaculate cloak of transparency, stating that his government is transparent and comparing our former government to his.Let us hear from a third party, an independent party. With respect to transparency, the parliamentary budget officer said that he was unable to provide all the data because the government did not give him all the data. He is an independent person.How can the Prime Minister claim to be transparent?
Mr. Speaker, I was pleased this morning to introduce, along with my colleague the Minister of Justice, new legislation that will support Canadians and provide medical assistance in dying. At the same time, this has triggered a conversation, a very important one, about the need to make sure that Canadians have access to the palliative care services they require in end of life. I have said repeatedly that it is important that Canadians should be able to have a good and peaceful death. However, just as much, it is important that Canadians will have a good, peaceful, and dignified life until the very end. For that purpose, we will make sure that Canadians have access to the palliative care services they need. We will do so in participation with our colleagues in the provinces and territories.
Mr. Speaker, my colleague opposite knows full well that we have absolutely nothing to hide.The Prime Minister was very clear yesterday. It has never happened before, but he proactively disclosed information about his personal finances when he decided to run for the leadership of our party. The companies in question always paid all of the necessary taxes.Obviously, when he became Prime Minister, his assets were placed in a trust, which is the appropriate thing to do.
Mr. Speaker, while the member is chopping, it was only our government that cut taxes for small business.As the law currently stands, the rate will fall down to 9% within three years. The government proposes legislation that will raise it up back to 10.5%. That is an increase in taxes on 622,000 small businesses that pay $150 billion in wages.The budget contains a bunch of inflated numbers for job creation. Has the finance department done any calculation on job losses with this tax hike?
Mr. Speaker, this veteran is expecting more than just administrative procedures. He is expecting a visit, or at least a call, from the minister.The 2016 budget provides for a retroactive increase in the maximum disability award. Can the Minister of Veterans Affairs share with us today how much will be paid for loss of hearing, which many veterans suffer from?
Mr. Speaker, we did not ask whether the government is aware of the issues; we want to know if it is going to enforce the regulations.For the parliamentary secretary's benefit, I repeat that the National Assembly called on the government to ensure that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency enforces its own regulation on cheese composition, using the same definition of diafiltered milk that the Canada Border Services Agency uses, namely, a protein concentrate.Will the government commit to respecting the unanimous will of the National Assembly and dairy producers, yes or no?
Mr. Speaker, just two days ago, there was a question from a member of the Bloc Québécois. He said that the government was about to impose the energy east pipeline on the people of Quebec.The day before that, there was a member from the Conservative Party who said that the budget should announce its approval of a pipeline, which application has not yet been received by the regulator and without a single community having yet been consulted.We are going to follow a more rational process, a more principled one, that has a better chance of carrying the confidence of Canadians.
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister's guidelines outline that ministers and parliamentary secretaries must avoid a conflict of interest or the appearance of one at all times. The guideline states: There should be no preferential access to government, or appearance of preferential access, accorded to individuals or organizations because they have made financial contributions to politicians and political parties. Does the Minister of Justice not see that by attending a pay-to-play private event with high priced Bay Street lawyers who might be considered for a Governor in Council appointment she is actually granting preferential access?
Mr. Speaker, we do support the wonderful energy sector in Canada. I have had the pleasure of having conversations with people around the world about Canada's energy sector and they feel very confident that we will get over this dip in prices and emerge stronger. In part, we will emerge stronger because they will know that our regulatory system carries the confidence of Canadians and they will know that in 2016 we must move responsibly to market, and that is what we intend to do.
Mr. Speaker, Quebeckers and Canadians certainly understand that rail safety is important. The minister says he understands it is important. Maybe he should tell that to the Minister of Finance because the rail safety budget was cut by 21%.Tragic incidents like the one in Lac-Mégantic and other accidents happen across Canada. The Lac-Mégantic tragedy is very fresh in people's memory.We recently learned that Transport Canada sat on information about the 500 most dangerous rail crossings. It is time to stop talking and start taking action.When will the minister and the government start taking action?
Mr. Speaker, I would remind my hon. colleague to read the entire budget, because this is the government that reduced taxes on nine million Canadians. We did that in December. The taxes on small business have been reduced. This is a government that works for Canadians, Canadian families, and small business. We will continue to do exactly that.
Mr. Speaker, the end of the dispute between Air Canada and the provinces of Quebec and Manitoba now allows us to clarify the Air Canada Public Participation Act. That is precisely what we are doing.I would remind my colleague, who is all worked up, that the amendment we are proposing requires Air Canada to keep jobs in Quebec, Manitoba, and Ontario.I cannot elaborate further because this matter is before the courts.
Mr. Speaker, it is our objective, as the Prime Minister has said many times, to move our natural resources to market sustainably.The previous government, in spite of $100-a-barrel oil, in spite of all of that representation from western Canada, did not build a single pipeline to tidewater during its majority government from 2011.I do not think Canadians would advise the government to follow that process. We are following a different one. We think we will have a better chance to do the right thing, which is to move that product
Mr. Speaker, Canada's business owners, farmers, and manufacturers deserve to be on a level playing field with their global competitors. However, the Liberal inaction and comments are confusing Canadians. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce has said that we should and must ratify the TPP because being left behind would be catastrophic for Canadians. How will the Liberals help out our exporters to do business with Japan and Asian markets if they do not ratify the trans-Pacific partnership?
Mr. Speaker, Prairie farmers and farm families are waiting for the Liberals to extend the grain freight provisions, including inter-switching, that have helped them get their grain to market. The minister could have made this decision last year, but will spend the rest of the year consulting, unnecessarily, By the time he is done dithering, these provisions will have ended, leaving producers without reliable access to market.Why is the minister deliberately delaying this extension?
Mr. Speaker, every single large organization within the persons with disabilities community shares the same opinion on assisted dying: they want a prior review process of non-medical social vulnerabilities for every patient. This request comes from their shared experience. Poverty, isolation, and temporary depression often accompany a person's adaptation to a new disability.What I would like to know is this: will the Liberals respect those with disabilities by ensuring a robust prior review of social vulnerabilities is provided, and if so, what will that look like?
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague from Gatineau for his question.The Syrian refugees on the Hill today will be pleased to hear that Canadians have donated nearly $32 million to the Syria Emergency Relief Fund. As promised, our government is matching that contribution, and even topping it up for a total of $100 million.Of the 29 projects that will receive funding, the largest is the UNICEF project that will help 84 education centres in Jordan, provide school supplies in Syria, and support a national vaccination campaign.
Mr. Speaker, the end of litigation between Air Canada and the Province of Quebec and the Province of Manitoba has allowed us to clarify the Air Canada Public Participation Act. That is exactly what we are doing.This is an important adjustment that needs to be made, and I would say this: there are jobs being created. The amendment actually says that there must be jobs in the provinces of Quebec, Manitoba, and Ontario.I cannot say any more than that at the moment, because it is before the tribunals.
Mr. Speaker, I hope that it is abundantly clear that our government is absolutely committed to addressing the gaps in terms of the realities of the day-to-day life of indigenous people in this country. In our recent budget, we have invested $8.4 million to address those gaps. Much of that will go to addressing educational resources, which these communities need. I am pleased that within that there is $270 million that will go to improving health centres and nursing stations in indigenous communities. This will encourage health human resources to stay in these communities. We are firm in our commitment to ensure that the health care services are out there.
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister's own ethics code states that ministers shall not raise funds from department stakeholders and lobbyists. Yet last week the Minister of Justice attended a pay-to-play fundraiser at a law firm with extensive dealings with the minister's department and a lobbyist who was registered to lobby, guess who, the minister. Therefore, will the minister stand in the House and advise which other lobbyists were at the fundraiser?
I am sorry, Mr. Speaker, I should not have said that.It is too bad that my colleague opposite does not know that I made that offer yesterday at the House leaders meeting. We completely agree that we should ensure that as many members as possible have a chance to rise in this House to speak to this important issue. I would be happy to work with
Mr. Speaker, the Syrian crisis sparked an outpouring of sympathy on the part of Canadians, who responded with tremendous generosity.Our communities have welcomed over 25,000 refugees and continue to do so. People have donated a great deal to help those who are settling in their regions.Can the Minister of International Development and La Francophonie tell the House about the kind of support the government is still providing?
Mr. Speaker, Robin Brentnall, a veteran and advocate from Newfoundland and Labrador, has been denied his claim to a disability award by Veterans Affairs and the Veterans Review and Appeal Board. He so strongly believes that he qualifies that he is protesting through a hunger strike until the minister assures him verbally that his file will be reviewed. On April 11, in The Gander Beacon, Robin said, All it takes is a phone call.After all their promises to veterans during the campaign, why are the Liberals abandoning this veteran now?
Mr. Speaker, we are aware of the resolution adopted by the National Assembly of Quebec. We are also aware of the issues all across the country. We have committed to finding a solution, and that is exactly what we will do.
Mr. Speaker, we are looking at this matter very seriously. It comes at a time when the Canada Transportation Act review has been submitted, something which I tabled in the House on February 25, a very serious document with a large number of recommendations, some of which touch upon grain transportation.I can assure my colleague that we are looking at this matter very seriously.
Mr. Speaker, I am rising on an important point of order seeking unanimous consent of the House, and I will tell the House why. It is to confirm our collective intention that no RCMP member be prevented from communicating with his or her member of Parliament on Bill C-7, and that no discipline be enforced upon a member who has responded to the call of the public safety committee to appear before it as a witness. I am sure it is the intention of all of us to make sure that members affected by laws in front of this place have the right to communicate in a responsible way with their elected representatives and to respond to give testimony before the committee considering that bill.Why is unanimous consent required? It is because a letter was shared today that would suggest that some members could not appear and that some members may be disciplined for giving testimony this morning at committee.I would ask for unanimous consent so that, as a collective, we can exercise our right to call witnesses on important matters affecting this country.
Mr. Speaker, as the member opposite well knows, the response to the needs in indigenous communities is a collaborative response. This is a response that needs to take into consideration, of course, the leadership of indigenous leaders across this country. In terms of Attawapiskat and other communities, we have done just that. We are in regular communication with the national chief, the regional chief, the grand chief, and the local chief in this community. We are also working with the provincial government, which has recently invested $2 million to support health care services in Attawapiskat. We will be there working in partnership with all of these jurisdictions to make sure that people have the services they require.
Mr. Speaker, I can tell the member that budget 2016 was a great day for our veterans. We delivered on many different aspects of our mandate items, including increasing the earnings loss benefit, increasing access to the impairment allowance, and increasing the disability award. We will continue to work with our veterans with care, compassion, and respect to get them the services they need when they need them and where they live. Part of that budget is for opening up nine new offices and hiring more staff to allow veterans' issues to be handled in a timely and effective manner.
Mr. Speaker, Toronto Community Housing provides affordable housing to 58,000 households, of which there are 68 buildings in my riding of Don Valley East, encompassing thousands of residents. With a repair backlog of $2.6 billion, thousands of homes are affected. Could the minister please update the House on how he is working with the City to alleviate this problem?
Mr. Speaker, let me be clear: rail safety is my top priority. I do not know which budget my colleague was looking at, but in our budget, the Government of Canada allocated $143 million to rail safety in this country over the next three years.I was very clear about the information on grade crossings. We will certainly share that information with the municipalities if they want. I am meeting with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities in two weeks to talk about it.
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister states that the definition of a stakeholder is an individual employed in, contacted by, or who otherwise represents corporations or organizations that have current or anticipated official dealings with ministers. The Minister of Justice had a secret and private pay-to-play fundraiser in Toronto with high-priced lawyers who have a history of lobbying the justice department. Why did the minister contravene the Prime Minister's guideline, which is far above what the House leader is currently saying in defence of her, and why did she put the integrity of her office in so much jeopardy?
Mr. Speaker, I was proud to join my colleague recently at McGill's Macdonald Campus to announce our government's investment of $27 million to the agricultural greenhouse gases program. This program funds vital research in practices and technology that can be adopted on farms across the country. This is a great example of our government's commitment to research and innovation and to ensuring that the Canadian agricultural sector is more innovative and sustainable than ever.
Mr. Speaker, we have said on a number of times in the House, the minister contacted the Ethics Commissioner proactively to ask whether it was appropriate for her to attend that fundraising activity, as every member in the House of Commons does from time to time and as did ministers in the previous Conservative government from time to time. She received a confirmation that it was entirely appropriate for her to do so. In fact, the Ethics Commissioner, in a three-page letter, confirmed that to my hon. colleague who asked the Ethics Commissioner that exact question. We consider this matter closed. The member is obviously having a struggle ending the matter.
Mr. Speaker, it is clear that our government is completely open and transparent. That is why we gave all the numbers to the parliamentary budget officer. We will continue to co-operate with his office because we have a great deal of respect for the work he does.
Mr. Speaker, of course rail safety is my top priority. It is in my mandate letter. I was very glad that the Minister of Finance announced in this last budget $143 million additional dollars dedicated toward safety. That is a very serious commitment. With respect to grade crossings, I have made it very clear that this information, which is a tool that Transport Canada uses, can be made accessible to the municipalities if they wish it. In fact, I will be meeting with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities in two weeks to make that offer to them.
Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to answer my colleague's question.First of all, I would remind members that the protection of personal information is one of our priorities. When the Canada Revenue Agency shares information with other countries, personal information is protected.My colleague has seen that the budget includes an unprecedented investment of $444 million. This shows that the government is determined to put an end to these schemes in order to benefit Canadians.
Mr. Speaker, I wonder if the government House leader could provide us with information about the agenda for the remainder of this week and for next week.
Mr. Speaker, budget 2016 goes a long way to addressing some of those issues that have been brought up.We are opening up nine new offices. In fact, there will be more outreach in Surrey, B.C., and the north for veterans to have points of contact.We are hiring staff to replace the 800 members that the Conservatives cut from our front-line services. This will allow veterans to get care, compassion, and respect and have their issues dealt with in a timely fashion.I can also say to the member, my goodness, I have been the minister for 162 days. We have accomplished a lot. We will continue to work on the mental health file and get these centres of excellence up and running to get the veterans the care, compassion
Mr. Speaker, as the minister has often pointed out to the House, we inherited this problem from the previous government.We are working on the problem. We are aware of the issues and we know how important this is to the industry in Quebec and all across the country. We are working on coming up with a long-term solution.
Mr. Speaker, I can assure my hon. colleague that Veterans Affairs has an excellent process to review veterans' claims. To reiterate, when a veteran has a claim, it goes through to my department. If that claim is rejected, a member can go to the Veterans Review and Appeal Board not once but twice.We also have the opportunity to provide them with legal counsel to assist them in any and all processes along the way. I also point out that these are de novo application processes whereby they can present new evidence at all points along the process.
Mr. Speaker, I too would like to see the minister's agenda. In the spirit of equity, I will show him mine if he will show me his.
Mr. Speaker, McGill University's Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences is located in my riding. The faculty does world-class research on the relationship between environment, including water supply and climate change, and agriculture. Could the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food tell the House what our government is doing to support and encourage research in this area, both at McGill's Macdonald Campus in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue and across the country?
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Veterans Affairs keeps repeating the words care, respect, and compassion when talking about our veterans. One veteran, Robin Brentnall, recently went on a hunger strike to protest the bad decisions made in his case by the department. Can the minister confirm that he has been in contact with this veteran, that he has gone to visit him in order to save him before it is too late?
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Transport, in reply to a question from my colleague, offered to provide his agenda of meetings to this place. In keeping with the mandate letter issued to the minister wherein he is required to be open and transparent, I am asking that he make available that agenda of meetings, including with communities that are concerned about rail safety.
Mr. Speaker, everybody is waiting with bated breath for the Thursday question, but before we turn to that, I wonder if I could seek unanimous consent of the House to table the January Fiscal Monitor which shows that the current government received a $4.1 billion surplus for
Mr. Speaker, we are very committed to the manufacturing sector. We understand the importance of this sector in London in particular. I was there just a few days ago, making an announcement with respect to the automotive innovation fund and extending this fund for the next three years. This would allow further investments to allow job creation. Above and beyond that, just a few days ago I was in Kitchener with my colleagues to announced the automotive supplier innovation fund initiative, which again invests in a supplier base. We are investing in manufacturing. We are investing in jobs. We are growing the economy. That is good for the country.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my hon. colleague for her question. We are aware of issues with enforcement of our rules surrounding supply management. As the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food has often said in the House, our government supports supply management. We are working with the industry to find a long-term solution.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his question as well as for his hard work and leadership on the trade committee.We have committed to studying the TPP before taking a decision. We are doing precisely that. The trade committee is doing that, so we are gathering the appropriate information before taking a decision on ratifying.In the meantime, I would assure the hon. member that we are looking at every avenue for increasing Canada's trade and attracting job-creating investment to Canada.
Mr. Speaker, what I can say is that Veterans Affairs takes all applications to review veterans' issues seriously. There is a process whereby it comes into the department, and then our veterans also have a chance to appeal at the Veterans Review and Appeal Board at two separate levels. We also provide legal assistance to veterans who are looking to get their benefits, allowing those claims to go forward.I thank the member for his question, and we will continue to monitor the situation going forward.
Mr. Speaker, as the House knows, there were a number of consultations that were undertaken, which led to the legislation that was introduced today. We were informed by the external panel, which provided a report to us not many months ago. We were informed by a very interesting report from the provinces and territories and by an excellent report of the special joint committee of the House.All of those bodies have in turn reached out to a number of other organizations, including indigenous organizations across this country. We intend to continue consultation and a rigorous debate in the House. We are pleased with this legislation. We believe
Mr. Speaker, in fact, the reviews are in from economic experts, people like David Dodge, Kevin Lynch, and Larry Summers, former secretary of the treasury in the U.S., who have called for this kind of important investment in jobs and growth for some time.Their calls were ignored by the previous government. We have listened.We have also heard from the Governor of the Bank of Canada, who said that we have a better mix of policies today than we would have had without that fiscal change.The reviews are in, and we are doing the right thing.
Mr. Speaker, the minister made that same offer to me during question period as well, so I wonder if he will offer me the same opportunity to look through his schedule.
Mr. Speaker, major resource projects play a vital role in our economy, and we clearly recognize the importance of creating jobs and economic growth. We have been very clear that the focus is on moving the environment and the economy forward hand in hand. In fact, that is a requirement in the modern age.With respect to LNG projects, they will go through an appropriate environmental assessments and decisions will be made on science and data, not on politics as perhaps they have in the past. This is the responsible approach. This is the modern approach. It is obviously not the Conservative approach, but this is how we plan to move forward.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to have been able to introduce legislation and to encourage robust discussions. We have had substantive feedback reports, including the special committee report that spoke to the fundamental need to ensure that we present the best approach that balances personal autonomy with the protection of vulnerable people. We have employed in the legislation the safeguards that were recommended by the joint committee, and we are going to ensure that we maintain this discussion and make the report available
Mr. Speaker, we have been asking the same questions for four days, with no answers. The House leader continues to stand on behalf of the justice minister. We are talking about her Prime Minister's guidelines, clearly outlined instructions to ministers. She was not only told to avoid conflicts of interest, but to avoid the appearance of one as well. Was the Prime Minister consulted when his justice minister decided to ignore his rules?
Mr. Speaker, I would first like to congratulate and thank my colleague for this very important question.Budget 2016 would provide the largest federal investment in housing in over 25 years. This investment of $2.3 billion includes, among other things, $200 million for seniors housing, doubling the federal investment in affordable housing, as well as close to $600 million for retrofits and renovations. I very much look forward to working with my colleague from Don Valley East, Toronto Community Housing, and the Ontario government to make those funds quickly and easily available.
Mr. Speaker, that is not what we would call clarifying. That is what we would call sacrificing. The Liberals are giving Air Canada carte blanche. Just yesterday they were saying that the Conservatives should have upheld the law. Even the Prime Minister shouted through his megaphone, So-so-so solidarity! Today, it is even worse. They are in the process of legalizing the job losses that were illegal just yesterday. It is outrageous and disgusting. I have never seen such spineless people before.Are the Liberals not ashamed of sacrificing the lives and work of 2,600 families?
Mr. Speaker, again, the hon. member keeps repeating these silly phrases like pay-to-play. He is confusing his Saturday night at the arcade with a very legitimate fundraising activity
Mr. Speaker, Canada's dairy producers are totally distraught because the Liberal government is dragging its feet on the issue of diafiltered milk. Canadian dairy producers are losing millions of dollars every week because of an injustice, a scheme orchestrated by processing industries that do not care about behaving ethically toward their business partners.Our dairy producers have been tormented long enough. The Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food must act immediately in the collective interest of the entire dairy industry. Will he take action now, or is he going to put it off indefinitely?
Mr. Speaker, the government has once again dismissed the unanimous will of Quebec. I will give it a second chanceThis morning, the Quebec National Assembly unanimously adopted another motion. It calls on the federal government to work with Quebec to implement the motion I will be moving this evening, which will put an end to the shameful use of tax havens in Barbados. Quebeckers are sick and tired of seeing Canadian law encourage profiteers.Will the Prime Minister make a formal commitment to honour Quebec's unanimous request by supporting the Bloc Québécois's Motion No. 42, yes or no?
Mr. Speaker, divisive personal attacks are not going to distract from the government's misleading of Canadians. Trying to pit the jobs of workers against human rights is a cynical distraction, but it does not hide government failure to open up new responsible markets and support long-term sustainable manufacturing jobs in our region. Instead, the Liberals have gambled the jobs of workers on a deal with an oppressive state, giving our city an unfair black eye.Where is the government's plan for long-term sustainable jobs for the workers at General Dynamics and throughout London?
Mr. Speaker, with the government responding to the crisis in Attawapiskat, we are hearing from indigenous youth in other regions who are saying Where are the resources for our community? The crisis is extreme across this country, and band-aids will not work. The youth want action now, yet there were zero dollars in this budget to deal with the suicide crisis and zero new dollars to deal with indigenous mental health. The current government has the power to act. The only thing missing is political will. Will it commit today to augment the funds to ensure that we can end the mental health crisis in all of the communities across this country?
Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government continues to dig itself a deeper hole in the Saudi Arabia arms deal. The minister claims that his hands were tied and that the contract was a done deal by the former government, but that is not true. He authorized the export permits, the most crucial, essential step.Why does the minister continue to mislead Canadians? Will he finally step up and confirm that this decision was made by his government?
Mr. Speaker, I think my colleague is well aware that she is the one who is confusing the matter. I want to share a quote from a news story: At the end of March, Minister Dion said that he and government officials would examine whether the armoured vehicles exported to Saudi Arabia comply with international laws, human rights and our national interests. If a journalist understood, why did my colleague not understand?
Mr. Speaker, Canadians are concerned about the suicide crisis in Attawapiskat and many other indigenous communities. We cannot continue to neglect our youth this way.The government says that it is taking this problem seriously, but in reality, the budget does not provide for any investments in mental health care services for indigenous youth. The government needs to invest in prevention.Will the government immediately make recurrent funding available for mental health care services for first nations youth?
Mr. Speaker, that is completely false. All we are asking is whether the government will respect the result of its own process. Canadians know that pipelines are the safest, most effective way to get our oil and gas to market. Canadian oil and gas is the cleanest and most ethical energy in the world, and creates high-paying jobs here at home. Without pipelines, eastern Canada is forced to import foreign oil. The Prime Minister's principal secretary and top advisor said that oil and gas development is as bad as hooking kids on cigarettes. Can the government explain why oil shipped by ocean tanker from Saudi Arabia is somehow better than western Canadian oil and gas?
Mr. Speaker, indigenous communities in my riding will be directly impacted by today's legislation on assisted suicide. I am concerned that the Liberals have ignored these communities. Dr. Alika Lafontaine, president of the Indigenous Physicians Association, highlighted the absence of major indigenous organizations during the joint committee hearings and stated, I believe there has not been meaningful consultations with indigenous peoples. Why did the Liberals not undertake consultations with indigenous communities on assisted suicide?
Mr. Speaker, the Liberals promised investments in mental health and suicide prevention for our veterans. The Liberal budget completely failed to deliver.Building two new centres for research and treatment will not address these issues. Many veterans need to travel often and over long distances to receive even basic face-to-face treatment.How will the minister ensure that mental health support and suicide prevention initiatives will be provided to all veterans close to home, no matter where they live in Canada?
Mr. Speaker, the government appears to agree with the Conservatives' dissenting report on the sensitive issue of physician-assisted dying, since the bill does not deal with minors or people suffering from mental illness. Good. It is clear
Mr. Speaker, I am sorry, but my hon. colleague is blowing smoke here. We have met with a number of groups ever since I put out that report. As I said, I put it out on February 25, because I wanted to hear back from western grain farmers, from the shippers, and from the railroads. I wanted to hear from everybody. Believe me, my schedule shows that I am meeting a whole bunch of them. I encourage my hon. colleague to relax. I am doing my work.
Mr. Speaker, 84% of Canadians know it is possible to transport our energy resources while protecting the environment, and 70% of Canadians believe pipelines are the most appropriate method of transporting oil and gas. Canada's oil and gas is the most socially and environmentally responsible in the world. When will the Liberals finally get on board and proudly support Canada's world-leading, internationally renowned energy sector?
Mr. Speaker, if the Liberals were serious about doing anything on this, the Liberal MPs yesterday would not have refused to agree to hear from prairie grain farmers who were concerned about these provisions not having yet been extended. In fact, I then took the opportunity this morning to meet with these farmers. They said that while the Liberals refused to listen to them, they know that this side of the House would stand up for them. Will the minister extend these provisions that the farm families desperately need?
Mr. Speaker, the government appears to agree with the Conservatives' dissenting report on the sensitive issue of physician-assisted dying, since the bill does not deal with minors or people suffering from mental illness. Good. It is also clear that the government will finally allow its members to vote freely, which we support. Good. Now, we must take action.On this side of the House, we think it is important that all members who want to speak to this sensitive issue be allowed to do so. However, we are running out of time. We want the government to know that it has our full co-operation.Is the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons prepared to review our parliamentary sitting hours?
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is making pipeline projects more difficult to get approved by adding more hurdles and red tape. He keeps moving the goalposts and giving special interest groups undue influence on the process. Now he claims that this more difficult process will ensure Canadians have more confidence in the process, that making it harder will somehow make it easier, and yet he refuses to commit to actually approving any project that makes it through his new onerous process. Very simply, if an application makes it through the new process that he himself has designed, will the Prime Minister approve it, or does he not have confidence in his own process?
Mr. Speaker, we can say it is wonderful, but we are all wondering when, just like the workers.Canada can be a major global competitor for long-term, high-reward LNG contracts with Asian markets. These projects will provide thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in investment and revenue to benefit communities all across Canada. Exporting LNG will help the world lower GHG emissions. The Liberals will be responsible if Canadian LNG is shut out.Will the Liberal government stop blocking Canadian companies from getting LNG to global markets?
Mr. Speaker, I have good news. I have no documents to table, and thus there is no need to worry. This afternoon will conclude the fourth and final day of the budget debate. Tomorrow we will commence second reading of Bill C-10, the Air Canada legislation, and continue that debate on Monday.Next week, we will have opposition days on Tuesday and Thursday. On Wednesday, we will begin debate on Bill C-14 on medical assistance in dying, introduced this morning by my colleague, the Minister of Justice.Mr. Speaker, after discussions with all parties I think you will find unanimous consent for the following motion: That, pursuant to Section 20 of the Freezing Assets of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act, the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development be designated for the statutory review of the Freezing Assets of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act and the Special Economic Measures Act.
Mr. Speaker, in the last election, the Liberal leader said, Raising corporate taxes, like the NDP want to do, strangles growth. The current immigration minister also said that the NDP's proposed corporate tax hikes would cost 150,000 jobs.It stands to reason therefore that raising the corporate tax rate on small business would have a similar job-killing effect on our economy.Would the Minister of Finance tell us whether his department did a calculation of the number of jobs that would be lost based upon the tax increases the budget imposes on our small business job creators?
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question.It is too bad that his parliamentary leader is not in the House, since he could have sent
Mr. Speaker, after years of pretending to be champions for Air Canada workers, the Liberals tabled legislation that gives Air Canada free rein to ship the good-paying jobs of 2,600 workers and their families right out of Canada.The Prime Minister once stood alongside protesting maintenance workers. He was chatting about solidarity and probably throwing in the odd Kumbaya for good measure, but where is that solidarity when it could actually do something for workers?Will the Prime Minister stand up, apologize for his cynicism, and withdraw Bill C-10?
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Transport claims rail safety is his top priority, yet this week rail inspectors told our committee, despite a projected tenfold increase in dangerous cargo, that the rail safety budget was being slashed 21%. Yesterday it was revealed that Transport Canada had withheld information on the 500 most dangerous level crossings, two of the most dangerous in my riding of Edmonton Strathcona. Cuts, inaction, secrecy will not improve rail safety. When will the minister take real action on rail safety?
Mr. Speaker, we did not just get to this crisis by accident. The children have been dying on a daily basis across this country, dying in nurses stations from strep throat and asthma because government will not pay for the medication, dying by suicide because government will routinely turn down their pleas for mental health counselling. The current government has no new money for mental health or for health services. It has to stop. Where is the political will to invest in resources, in what is truly our greatest resource, our children? Where is that will to move today?
Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Quebec National Assembly passed a second motion asking the government to resolve the diafiltered milk issue once and for all. In less than two days, 4,500 people signed a petition calling on the government to take concrete action. Our producers are losing $220 million a year as a result of this government's inaction. Our regions' economies are suffering as a direct result.The government either needs to take action or compensate our producers. What is the government waiting for? When will it finally resolve the diafiltered milk issue once and for all?
Mr. Speaker, my hon. colleague knows full well the minister did no such thing. He keeps referring to this supposed secret fundraiser. Just because he repeats these exaggerated lines does not make them true. A fundraiser where every donation is disclosed on the Internet is hardly a secret fundraiser. It is something that members opposite have done many times over.We will continue to respect all of the provisions of the Prime Minister's open and accountable government code, as well as the Conflict of Interest Act and any other related provisions.
Mr. Speaker, I said that the hon. member should look at my agenda. If she wants to come over to my office, I will show it to her.
Mr. Speaker, the reviews are in for the Liberal budget with a resounding fail for transparency.The parliamentary budget officer called it the least transparent budget in 15 years. A former deputy finance minister said that it failed the Liberals' own campaign commitments. Even the CBC called it a shell game.The Prime Minister thinks that the budget will balance itself, but how can the Liberals have any credibility on the economy when they keep fudging the numbers?
Mr. Speaker, I want to remind my hon. colleague that we did reduce taxes for small businesses and we did reduce taxes for nine million Canadians. I would invite my hon. colleague to read the entire budget. He will see that this government is working for Canadians.
Mr. Speaker, my colleague, the Minister of Justice, has answered that question a number of times. My colleague across the aisle knows very well that members in the House attend fundraising events from time to time, done entirely according to law. All of the donations are disclosed publicly, as is required by law. The Minister of Justice did absolutely nothing different than the ministers in the previous government used to do. Every member on this side of the House respects the Elections Act and the Prime Minister's code of conduct, and will always continue to do so. That is something the Conservatives had considerable trouble doing when they were in government.
Mr. Speaker, our government has been clear about the fact that we will increase access to mental health services across the country. In particular, of course, we will be focusing on the indigenous communities, the first nations, the Inuit, and the Métis nation to ensure that they have access to the mental health services they need. I am very pleased that in the case of Attawapiskat, there are now 18 mental health workers on the ground who were not there previous to the time that this crisis began. We will continue working to introduce the resources that are required.
Mr. Speaker, when it comes to palliative care services, there is a crying need for help across the country.The government itself acknowledged that this is an important issue in the bill it introduced today, but there was nothing for palliative care in the budget. The Liberals had promised $3 billion over four years for home care. There is yet another broken promise.Will the government finally acknowledge that this is urgent and invest in palliative care?
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member just said that the parliamentary budget officer was not telling the truth. That is unbelievable.The parliamentary budget officer said that he did not have all of the information, but my colleague is saying that his government gave it all to him. We should not be surprised, since, yesterday, when we asked the Prime Minister about his four companies, he did not want to give us any details. He was very evasive about the whole thing.What does the Prime Minister have to hide in that regard?
Mr. Speaker, for the past few days, the Prime Minister has wrapped himself in the immaculate cloak of transparency, stating that his government is transparent and comparing our former government to his.Let us hear from a third party, an independent party. With respect to transparency, the parliamentary budget officer said that he was unable to provide all the data because the government did not give him all the data. He is an independent person.How can the Prime Minister claim to be transparent?
Mr. Speaker, I was pleased this morning to introduce, along with my colleague the Minister of Justice, new legislation that will support Canadians and provide medical assistance in dying. At the same time, this has triggered a conversation, a very important one, about the need to make sure that Canadians have access to the palliative care services they require in end of life. I have said repeatedly that it is important that Canadians should be able to have a good and peaceful death. However, just as much, it is important that Canadians will have a good, peaceful, and dignified life until the very end. For that purpose, we will make sure that Canadians have access to the palliative care services they need. We will do so in participation with our colleagues in the provinces and territories.
Mr. Speaker, my colleague opposite knows full well that we have absolutely nothing to hide.The Prime Minister was very clear yesterday. It has never happened before, but he proactively disclosed information about his personal finances when he decided to run for the leadership of our party. The companies in question always paid all of the necessary taxes.Obviously, when he became Prime Minister, his assets were placed in a trust, which is the appropriate thing to do.
Mr. Speaker, while the member is chopping, it was only our government that cut taxes for small business.As the law currently stands, the rate will fall down to 9% within three years. The government proposes legislation that will raise it up back to 10.5%. That is an increase in taxes on 622,000 small businesses that pay $150 billion in wages.The budget contains a bunch of inflated numbers for job creation. Has the finance department done any calculation on job losses with this tax hike?
Mr. Speaker, this veteran is expecting more than just administrative procedures. He is expecting a visit, or at least a call, from the minister.The 2016 budget provides for a retroactive increase in the maximum disability award. Can the Minister of Veterans Affairs share with us today how much will be paid for loss of hearing, which many veterans suffer from?
Mr. Speaker, we did not ask whether the government is aware of the issues; we want to know if it is going to enforce the regulations.For the parliamentary secretary's benefit, I repeat that the National Assembly called on the government to ensure that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency enforces its own regulation on cheese composition, using the same definition of diafiltered milk that the Canada Border Services Agency uses, namely, a protein concentrate.Will the government commit to respecting the unanimous will of the National Assembly and dairy producers, yes or no?
Mr. Speaker, just two days ago, there was a question from a member of the Bloc Québécois. He said that the government was about to impose the energy east pipeline on the people of Quebec.The day before that, there was a member from the Conservative Party who said that the budget should announce its approval of a pipeline, which application has not yet been received by the regulator and without a single community having yet been consulted.We are going to follow a more rational process, a more principled one, that has a better chance of carrying the confidence of Canadians.
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister's guidelines outline that ministers and parliamentary secretaries must avoid a conflict of interest or the appearance of one at all times. The guideline states: There should be no preferential access to government, or appearance of preferential access, accorded to individuals or organizations because they have made financial contributions to politicians and political parties. Does the Minister of Justice not see that by attending a pay-to-play private event with high priced Bay Street lawyers who might be considered for a Governor in Council appointment she is actually granting preferential access?
Mr. Speaker, we do support the wonderful energy sector in Canada. I have had the pleasure of having conversations with people around the world about Canada's energy sector and they feel very confident that we will get over this dip in prices and emerge stronger. In part, we will emerge stronger because they will know that our regulatory system carries the confidence of Canadians and they will know that in 2016 we must move responsibly to market, and that is what we intend to do.
Mr. Speaker, Quebeckers and Canadians certainly understand that rail safety is important. The minister says he understands it is important. Maybe he should tell that to the Minister of Finance because the rail safety budget was cut by 21%.Tragic incidents like the one in Lac-Mégantic and other accidents happen across Canada. The Lac-Mégantic tragedy is very fresh in people's memory.We recently learned that Transport Canada sat on information about the 500 most dangerous rail crossings. It is time to stop talking and start taking action.When will the minister and the government start taking action?
Mr. Speaker, I would remind my hon. colleague to read the entire budget, because this is the government that reduced taxes on nine million Canadians. We did that in December. The taxes on small business have been reduced. This is a government that works for Canadians, Canadian families, and small business. We will continue to do exactly that.
Mr. Speaker, the end of the dispute between Air Canada and the provinces of Quebec and Manitoba now allows us to clarify the Air Canada Public Participation Act. That is precisely what we are doing.I would remind my colleague, who is all worked up, that the amendment we are proposing requires Air Canada to keep jobs in Quebec, Manitoba, and Ontario.I cannot elaborate further because this matter is before the courts.
Mr. Speaker, it is our objective, as the Prime Minister has said many times, to move our natural resources to market sustainably.The previous government, in spite of $100-a-barrel oil, in spite of all of that representation from western Canada, did not build a single pipeline to tidewater during its majority government from 2011.I do not think Canadians would advise the government to follow that process. We are following a different one. We think we will have a better chance to do the right thing, which is to move that product
Mr. Speaker, Canada's business owners, farmers, and manufacturers deserve to be on a level playing field with their global competitors. However, the Liberal inaction and comments are confusing Canadians. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce has said that we should and must ratify the TPP because being left behind would be catastrophic for Canadians. How will the Liberals help out our exporters to do business with Japan and Asian markets if they do not ratify the trans-Pacific partnership?
Mr. Speaker, Prairie farmers and farm families are waiting for the Liberals to extend the grain freight provisions, including inter-switching, that have helped them get their grain to market. The minister could have made this decision last year, but will spend the rest of the year consulting, unnecessarily, By the time he is done dithering, these provisions will have ended, leaving producers without reliable access to market.Why is the minister deliberately delaying this extension?
Mr. Speaker, every single large organization within the persons with disabilities community shares the same opinion on assisted dying: they want a prior review process of non-medical social vulnerabilities for every patient. This request comes from their shared experience. Poverty, isolation, and temporary depression often accompany a person's adaptation to a new disability.What I would like to know is this: will the Liberals respect those with disabilities by ensuring a robust prior review of social vulnerabilities is provided, and if so, what will that look like?
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague from Gatineau for his question.The Syrian refugees on the Hill today will be pleased to hear that Canadians have donated nearly $32 million to the Syria Emergency Relief Fund. As promised, our government is matching that contribution, and even topping it up for a total of $100 million.Of the 29 projects that will receive funding, the largest is the UNICEF project that will help 84 education centres in Jordan, provide school supplies in Syria, and support a national vaccination campaign.
Mr. Speaker, the end of litigation between Air Canada and the Province of Quebec and the Province of Manitoba has allowed us to clarify the Air Canada Public Participation Act. That is exactly what we are doing.This is an important adjustment that needs to be made, and I would say this: there are jobs being created. The amendment actually says that there must be jobs in the provinces of Quebec, Manitoba, and Ontario.I cannot say any more than that at the moment, because it is before the tribunals.
Mr. Speaker, I hope that it is abundantly clear that our government is absolutely committed to addressing the gaps in terms of the realities of the day-to-day life of indigenous people in this country. In our recent budget, we have invested $8.4 million to address those gaps. Much of that will go to addressing educational resources, which these communities need. I am pleased that within that there is $270 million that will go to improving health centres and nursing stations in indigenous communities. This will encourage health human resources to stay in these communities. We are firm in our commitment to ensure that the health care services are out there.
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister's own ethics code states that ministers shall not raise funds from department stakeholders and lobbyists. Yet last week the Minister of Justice attended a pay-to-play fundraiser at a law firm with extensive dealings with the minister's department and a lobbyist who was registered to lobby, guess who, the minister. Therefore, will the minister stand in the House and advise which other lobbyists were at the fundraiser?
I am sorry, Mr. Speaker, I should not have said that.It is too bad that my colleague opposite does not know that I made that offer yesterday at the House leaders meeting. We completely agree that we should ensure that as many members as possible have a chance to rise in this House to speak to this important issue. I would be happy to work with
Mr. Speaker, the Syrian crisis sparked an outpouring of sympathy on the part of Canadians, who responded with tremendous generosity.Our communities have welcomed over 25,000 refugees and continue to do so. People have donated a great deal to help those who are settling in their regions.Can the Minister of International Development and La Francophonie tell the House about the kind of support the government is still providing?
Mr. Speaker, Robin Brentnall, a veteran and advocate from Newfoundland and Labrador, has been denied his claim to a disability award by Veterans Affairs and the Veterans Review and Appeal Board. He so strongly believes that he qualifies that he is protesting through a hunger strike until the minister assures him verbally that his file will be reviewed. On April 11, in The Gander Beacon, Robin said, All it takes is a phone call.After all their promises to veterans during the campaign, why are the Liberals abandoning this veteran now?
Mr. Speaker, we are aware of the resolution adopted by the National Assembly of Quebec. We are also aware of the issues all across the country. We have committed to finding a solution, and that is exactly what we will do.
Mr. Speaker, we are looking at this matter very seriously. It comes at a time when the Canada Transportation Act review has been submitted, something which I tabled in the House on February 25, a very serious document with a large number of recommendations, some of which touch upon grain transportation.I can assure my colleague that we are looking at this matter very seriously.
Mr. Speaker, I am rising on an important point of order seeking unanimous consent of the House, and I will tell the House why. It is to confirm our collective intention that no RCMP member be prevented from communicating with his or her member of Parliament on Bill C-7, and that no discipline be enforced upon a member who has responded to the call of the public safety committee to appear before it as a witness. I am sure it is the intention of all of us to make sure that members affected by laws in front of this place have the right to communicate in a responsible way with their elected representatives and to respond to give testimony before the committee considering that bill.Why is unanimous consent required? It is because a letter was shared today that would suggest that some members could not appear and that some members may be disciplined for giving testimony this morning at committee.I would ask for unanimous consent so that, as a collective, we can exercise our right to call witnesses on important matters affecting this country.
Mr. Speaker, as the member opposite well knows, the response to the needs in indigenous communities is a collaborative response. This is a response that needs to take into consideration, of course, the leadership of indigenous leaders across this country. In terms of Attawapiskat and other communities, we have done just that. We are in regular communication with the national chief, the regional chief, the grand chief, and the local chief in this community. We are also working with the provincial government, which has recently invested $2 million to support health care services in Attawapiskat. We will be there working in partnership with all of these jurisdictions to make sure that people have the services they require.
Mr. Speaker, I can tell the member that budget 2016 was a great day for our veterans. We delivered on many different aspects of our mandate items, including increasing the earnings loss benefit, increasing access to the impairment allowance, and increasing the disability award. We will continue to work with our veterans with care, compassion, and respect to get them the services they need when they need them and where they live. Part of that budget is for opening up nine new offices and hiring more staff to allow veterans' issues to be handled in a timely and effective manner.
Mr. Speaker, Toronto Community Housing provides affordable housing to 58,000 households, of which there are 68 buildings in my riding of Don Valley East, encompassing thousands of residents. With a repair backlog of $2.6 billion, thousands of homes are affected. Could the minister please update the House on how he is working with the City to alleviate this problem?
Mr. Speaker, let me be clear: rail safety is my top priority. I do not know which budget my colleague was looking at, but in our budget, the Government of Canada allocated $143 million to rail safety in this country over the next three years.I was very clear about the information on grade crossings. We will certainly share that information with the municipalities if they want. I am meeting with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities in two weeks to talk about it.
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister states that the definition of a stakeholder is an individual employed in, contacted by, or who otherwise represents corporations or organizations that have current or anticipated official dealings with ministers. The Minister of Justice had a secret and private pay-to-play fundraiser in Toronto with high-priced lawyers who have a history of lobbying the justice department. Why did the minister contravene the Prime Minister's guideline, which is far above what the House leader is currently saying in defence of her, and why did she put the integrity of her office in so much jeopardy?
Mr. Speaker, I was proud to join my colleague recently at McGill's Macdonald Campus to announce our government's investment of $27 million to the agricultural greenhouse gases program. This program funds vital research in practices and technology that can be adopted on farms across the country. This is a great example of our government's commitment to research and innovation and to ensuring that the Canadian agricultural sector is more innovative and sustainable than ever.
Mr. Speaker, we have said on a number of times in the House, the minister contacted the Ethics Commissioner proactively to ask whether it was appropriate for her to attend that fundraising activity, as every member in the House of Commons does from time to time and as did ministers in the previous Conservative government from time to time. She received a confirmation that it was entirely appropriate for her to do so. In fact, the Ethics Commissioner, in a three-page letter, confirmed that to my hon. colleague who asked the Ethics Commissioner that exact question. We consider this matter closed. The member is obviously having a struggle ending the matter.
Mr. Speaker, it is clear that our government is completely open and transparent. That is why we gave all the numbers to the parliamentary budget officer. We will continue to co-operate with his office because we have a great deal of respect for the work he does.
Mr. Speaker, of course rail safety is my top priority. It is in my mandate letter. I was very glad that the Minister of Finance announced in this last budget $143 million additional dollars dedicated toward safety. That is a very serious commitment. With respect to grade crossings, I have made it very clear that this information, which is a tool that Transport Canada uses, can be made accessible to the municipalities if they wish it. In fact, I will be meeting with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities in two weeks to make that offer to them.
Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to answer my colleague's question.First of all, I would remind members that the protection of personal information is one of our priorities. When the Canada Revenue Agency shares information with other countries, personal information is protected.My colleague has seen that the budget includes an unprecedented investment of $444 million. This shows that the government is determined to put an end to these schemes in order to benefit Canadians.
Mr. Speaker, I wonder if the government House leader could provide us with information about the agenda for the remainder of this week and for next week.
Mr. Speaker, budget 2016 goes a long way to addressing some of those issues that have been brought up.We are opening up nine new offices. In fact, there will be more outreach in Surrey, B.C., and the north for veterans to have points of contact.We are hiring staff to replace the 800 members that the Conservatives cut from our front-line services. This will allow veterans to get care, compassion, and respect and have their issues dealt with in a timely fashion.I can also say to the member, my goodness, I have been the minister for 162 days. We have accomplished a lot. We will continue to work on the mental health file and get these centres of excellence up and running to get the veterans the care, compassion
Mr. Speaker, as the minister has often pointed out to the House, we inherited this problem from the previous government.We are working on the problem. We are aware of the issues and we know how important this is to the industry in Quebec and all across the country. We are working on coming up with a long-term solution.
Mr. Speaker, I can assure my hon. colleague that Veterans Affairs has an excellent process to review veterans' claims. To reiterate, when a veteran has a claim, it goes through to my department. If that claim is rejected, a member can go to the Veterans Review and Appeal Board not once but twice.We also have the opportunity to provide them with legal counsel to assist them in any and all processes along the way. I also point out that these are de novo application processes whereby they can present new evidence at all points along the process.
Mr. Speaker, I too would like to see the minister's agenda. In the spirit of equity, I will show him mine if he will show me his.
Mr. Speaker, McGill University's Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences is located in my riding. The faculty does world-class research on the relationship between environment, including water supply and climate change, and agriculture. Could the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food tell the House what our government is doing to support and encourage research in this area, both at McGill's Macdonald Campus in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue and across the country?
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Veterans Affairs keeps repeating the words care, respect, and compassion when talking about our veterans. One veteran, Robin Brentnall, recently went on a hunger strike to protest the bad decisions made in his case by the department. Can the minister confirm that he has been in contact with this veteran, that he has gone to visit him in order to save him before it is too late?
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Transport, in reply to a question from my colleague, offered to provide his agenda of meetings to this place. In keeping with the mandate letter issued to the minister wherein he is required to be open and transparent, I am asking that he make available that agenda of meetings, including with communities that are concerned about rail safety.
Mr. Speaker, everybody is waiting with bated breath for the Thursday question, but before we turn to that, I wonder if I could seek unanimous consent of the House to table the January Fiscal Monitor which shows that the current government received a $4.1 billion surplus for
Mr. Speaker, we are very committed to the manufacturing sector. We understand the importance of this sector in London in particular. I was there just a few days ago, making an announcement with respect to the automotive innovation fund and extending this fund for the next three years. This would allow further investments to allow job creation. Above and beyond that, just a few days ago I was in Kitchener with my colleagues to announced the automotive supplier innovation fund initiative, which again invests in a supplier base. We are investing in manufacturing. We are investing in jobs. We are growing the economy. That is good for the country.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my hon. colleague for her question. We are aware of issues with enforcement of our rules surrounding supply management. As the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food has often said in the House, our government supports supply management. We are working with the industry to find a long-term solution.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his question as well as for his hard work and leadership on the trade committee.We have committed to studying the TPP before taking a decision. We are doing precisely that. The trade committee is doing that, so we are gathering the appropriate information before taking a decision on ratifying.In the meantime, I would assure the hon. member that we are looking at every avenue for increasing Canada's trade and attracting job-creating investment to Canada.
Mr. Speaker, what I can say is that Veterans Affairs takes all applications to review veterans' issues seriously. There is a process whereby it comes into the department, and then our veterans also have a chance to appeal at the Veterans Review and Appeal Board at two separate levels. We also provide legal assistance to veterans who are looking to get their benefits, allowing those claims to go forward.I thank the member for his question, and we will continue to monitor the situation going forward.
Mr. Speaker, as the House knows, there were a number of consultations that were undertaken, which led to the legislation that was introduced today. We were informed by the external panel, which provided a report to us not many months ago. We were informed by a very interesting report from the provinces and territories and by an excellent report of the special joint committee of the House.All of those bodies have in turn reached out to a number of other organizations, including indigenous organizations across this country. We intend to continue consultation and a rigorous debate in the House. We are pleased with this legislation. We believe
Mr. Speaker, in fact, the reviews are in from economic experts, people like David Dodge, Kevin Lynch, and Larry Summers, former secretary of the treasury in the U.S., who have called for this kind of important investment in jobs and growth for some time.Their calls were ignored by the previous government. We have listened.We have also heard from the Governor of the Bank of Canada, who said that we have a better mix of policies today than we would have had without that fiscal change.The reviews are in, and we are doing the right thing.
Mr. Speaker, the minister made that same offer to me during question period as well, so I wonder if he will offer me the same opportunity to look through his schedule.
Mr. Speaker, major resource projects play a vital role in our economy, and we clearly recognize the importance of creating jobs and economic growth. We have been very clear that the focus is on moving the environment and the economy forward hand in hand. In fact, that is a requirement in the modern age.With respect to LNG projects, they will go through an appropriate environmental assessments and decisions will be made on science and data, not on politics as perhaps they have in the past. This is the responsible approach. This is the modern approach. It is obviously not the Conservative approach, but this is how we plan to move forward.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to have been able to introduce legislation and to encourage robust discussions. We have had substantive feedback reports, including the special committee report that spoke to the fundamental need to ensure that we present the best approach that balances personal autonomy with the protection of vulnerable people. We have employed in the legislation the safeguards that were recommended by the joint committee, and we are going to ensure that we maintain this discussion and make the report available
Mr. Speaker, we have been asking the same questions for four days, with no answers. The House leader continues to stand on behalf of the justice minister. We are talking about her Prime Minister's guidelines, clearly outlined instructions to ministers. She was not only told to avoid conflicts of interest, but to avoid the appearance of one as well. Was the Prime Minister consulted when his justice minister decided to ignore his rules?
Mr. Speaker, I would first like to congratulate and thank my colleague for this very important question.Budget 2016 would provide the largest federal investment in housing in over 25 years. This investment of $2.3 billion includes, among other things, $200 million for seniors housing, doubling the federal investment in affordable housing, as well as close to $600 million for retrofits and renovations. I very much look forward to working with my colleague from Don Valley East, Toronto Community Housing, and the Ontario government to make those funds quickly and easily available.
Most negative speeches
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question.It is too bad that his parliamentary leader is not in the House, since he could have sent
Mr. Speaker, that is not what we would call clarifying. That is what we would call sacrificing. The Liberals are giving Air Canada carte blanche. Just yesterday they were saying that the Conservatives should have upheld the law. Even the Prime Minister shouted through his megaphone, So-so-so solidarity! Today, it is even worse. They are in the process of legalizing the job losses that were illegal just yesterday. It is outrageous and disgusting. I have never seen such spineless people before.Are the Liberals not ashamed of sacrificing the lives and work of 2,600 families?
Mr. Speaker, if the Liberals were serious about doing anything on this, the Liberal MPs yesterday would not have refused to agree to hear from prairie grain farmers who were concerned about these provisions not having yet been extended. In fact, I then took the opportunity this morning to meet with these farmers. They said that while the Liberals refused to listen to them, they know that this side of the House would stand up for them. Will the minister extend these provisions that the farm families desperately need?
Mr. Speaker, we are looking at this matter very seriously. It comes at a time when the Canada Transportation Act review has been submitted, something which I tabled in the House on February 25, a very serious document with a large number of recommendations, some of which touch upon grain transportation.I can assure my colleague that we are looking at this matter very seriously.
Mr. Speaker, the government has once again dismissed the unanimous will of Quebec. I will give it a second chanceThis morning, the Quebec National Assembly unanimously adopted another motion. It calls on the federal government to work with Quebec to implement the motion I will be moving this evening, which will put an end to the shameful use of tax havens in Barbados. Quebeckers are sick and tired of seeing Canadian law encourage profiteers.Will the Prime Minister make a formal commitment to honour Quebec's unanimous request by supporting the Bloc Québécois's Motion No. 42, yes or no?
Mr. Speaker, Prairie farmers and farm families are waiting for the Liberals to extend the grain freight provisions, including inter-switching, that have helped them get their grain to market. The minister could have made this decision last year, but will spend the rest of the year consulting, unnecessarily, By the time he is done dithering, these provisions will have ended, leaving producers without reliable access to market.Why is the minister deliberately delaying this extension?
Mr. Speaker, again, the hon. member keeps repeating these silly phrases like pay-to-play. He is confusing his Saturday night at the arcade with a very legitimate fundraising activity
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Veterans Affairs keeps repeating the words care, respect, and compassion when talking about our veterans. One veteran, Robin Brentnall, recently went on a hunger strike to protest the bad decisions made in his case by the department. Can the minister confirm that he has been in contact with this veteran, that he has gone to visit him in order to save him before it is too late?
Mr. Speaker, the reviews are in for the Liberal budget with a resounding fail for transparency.The parliamentary budget officer called it the least transparent budget in 15 years. A former deputy finance minister said that it failed the Liberals' own campaign commitments. Even the CBC called it a shell game.The Prime Minister thinks that the budget will balance itself, but how can the Liberals have any credibility on the economy when they keep fudging the numbers?
Mr. Speaker, Canada's business owners, farmers, and manufacturers deserve to be on a level playing field with their global competitors. However, the Liberal inaction and comments are confusing Canadians. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce has said that we should and must ratify the TPP because being left behind would be catastrophic for Canadians. How will the Liberals help out our exporters to do business with Japan and Asian markets if they do not ratify the trans-Pacific partnership?
Mr. Speaker, for the past few days, the Prime Minister has wrapped himself in the immaculate cloak of transparency, stating that his government is transparent and comparing our former government to his.Let us hear from a third party, an independent party. With respect to transparency, the parliamentary budget officer said that he was unable to provide all the data because the government did not give him all the data. He is an independent person.How can the Prime Minister claim to be transparent?
Mr. Speaker, I want to remind my hon. colleague that we did reduce taxes for small businesses and we did reduce taxes for nine million Canadians. I would invite my hon. colleague to read the entire budget. He will see that this government is working for Canadians.
Mr. Speaker, divisive personal attacks are not going to distract from the government's misleading of Canadians. Trying to pit the jobs of workers against human rights is a cynical distraction, but it does not hide government failure to open up new responsible markets and support long-term sustainable manufacturing jobs in our region. Instead, the Liberals have gambled the jobs of workers on a deal with an oppressive state, giving our city an unfair black eye.Where is the government's plan for long-term sustainable jobs for the workers at General Dynamics and throughout London?
Mr. Speaker, while the member is chopping, it was only our government that cut taxes for small business.As the law currently stands, the rate will fall down to 9% within three years. The government proposes legislation that will raise it up back to 10.5%. That is an increase in taxes on 622,000 small businesses that pay $150 billion in wages.The budget contains a bunch of inflated numbers for job creation. Has the finance department done any calculation on job losses with this tax hike?
Mr. Speaker, I am sorry, but my hon. colleague is blowing smoke here. We have met with a number of groups ever since I put out that report. As I said, I put it out on February 25, because I wanted to hear back from western grain farmers, from the shippers, and from the railroads. I wanted to hear from everybody. Believe me, my schedule shows that I am meeting a whole bunch of them. I encourage my hon. colleague to relax. I am doing my work.
Mr. Speaker, what I can say is that Veterans Affairs takes all applications to review veterans' issues seriously. There is a process whereby it comes into the department, and then our veterans also have a chance to appeal at the Veterans Review and Appeal Board at two separate levels. We also provide legal assistance to veterans who are looking to get their benefits, allowing those claims to go forward.I thank the member for his question, and we will continue to monitor the situation going forward.
Mr. Speaker, in the last election, the Liberal leader said, Raising corporate taxes, like the NDP want to do, strangles growth. The current immigration minister also said that the NDP's proposed corporate tax hikes would cost 150,000 jobs.It stands to reason therefore that raising the corporate tax rate on small business would have a similar job-killing effect on our economy.Would the Minister of Finance tell us whether his department did a calculation of the number of jobs that would be lost based upon the tax increases the budget imposes on our small business job creators?
Mr. Speaker, I would remind my hon. colleague to read the entire budget, because this is the government that reduced taxes on nine million Canadians. We did that in December. The taxes on small business have been reduced. This is a government that works for Canadians, Canadian families, and small business. We will continue to do exactly that.
Mr. Speaker, Canada's dairy producers are totally distraught because the Liberal government is dragging its feet on the issue of diafiltered milk. Canadian dairy producers are losing millions of dollars every week because of an injustice, a scheme orchestrated by processing industries that do not care about behaving ethically toward their business partners.Our dairy producers have been tormented long enough. The Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food must act immediately in the collective interest of the entire dairy industry. Will he take action now, or is he going to put it off indefinitely?
Mr. Speaker, when it comes to palliative care services, there is a crying need for help across the country.The government itself acknowledged that this is an important issue in the bill it introduced today, but there was nothing for palliative care in the budget. The Liberals had promised $3 billion over four years for home care. There is yet another broken promise.Will the government finally acknowledge that this is urgent and invest in palliative care?
Mr. Speaker, with the government responding to the crisis in Attawapiskat, we are hearing from indigenous youth in other regions who are saying Where are the resources for our community? The crisis is extreme across this country, and band-aids will not work. The youth want action now, yet there were zero dollars in this budget to deal with the suicide crisis and zero new dollars to deal with indigenous mental health. The current government has the power to act. The only thing missing is political will. Will it commit today to augment the funds to ensure that we can end the mental health crisis in all of the communities across this country?
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Transport claims rail safety is his top priority, yet this week rail inspectors told our committee, despite a projected tenfold increase in dangerous cargo, that the rail safety budget was being slashed 21%. Yesterday it was revealed that Transport Canada had withheld information on the 500 most dangerous level crossings, two of the most dangerous in my riding of Edmonton Strathcona. Cuts, inaction, secrecy will not improve rail safety. When will the minister take real action on rail safety?
Mr. Speaker, my hon. colleague knows full well the minister did no such thing. He keeps referring to this supposed secret fundraiser. Just because he repeats these exaggerated lines does not make them true. A fundraiser where every donation is disclosed on the Internet is hardly a secret fundraiser. It is something that members opposite have done many times over.We will continue to respect all of the provisions of the Prime Minister's open and accountable government code, as well as the Conflict of Interest Act and any other related provisions.
Mr. Speaker, we are very committed to the manufacturing sector. We understand the importance of this sector in London in particular. I was there just a few days ago, making an announcement with respect to the automotive innovation fund and extending this fund for the next three years. This would allow further investments to allow job creation. Above and beyond that, just a few days ago I was in Kitchener with my colleagues to announced the automotive supplier innovation fund initiative, which again invests in a supplier base. We are investing in manufacturing. We are investing in jobs. We are growing the economy. That is good for the country.
Mr. Speaker, I think my colleague is well aware that she is the one who is confusing the matter. I want to share a quote from a news story: At the end of March, Minister Dion said that he and government officials would examine whether the armoured vehicles exported to Saudi Arabia comply with international laws, human rights and our national interests. If a journalist understood, why did my colleague not understand?
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister states that the definition of a stakeholder is an individual employed in, contacted by, or who otherwise represents corporations or organizations that have current or anticipated official dealings with ministers. The Minister of Justice had a secret and private pay-to-play fundraiser in Toronto with high-priced lawyers who have a history of lobbying the justice department. Why did the minister contravene the Prime Minister's guideline, which is far above what the House leader is currently saying in defence of her, and why did she put the integrity of her office in so much jeopardy?
Mr. Speaker, I have good news. I have no documents to table, and thus there is no need to worry. This afternoon will conclude the fourth and final day of the budget debate. Tomorrow we will commence second reading of Bill C-10, the Air Canada legislation, and continue that debate on Monday.Next week, we will have opposition days on Tuesday and Thursday. On Wednesday, we will begin debate on Bill C-14 on medical assistance in dying, introduced this morning by my colleague, the Minister of Justice.Mr. Speaker, after discussions with all parties I think you will find unanimous consent for the following motion: That, pursuant to Section 20 of the Freezing Assets of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act, the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development be designated for the statutory review of the Freezing Assets of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act and the Special Economic Measures Act.
Mr. Speaker, McGill University's Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences is located in my riding. The faculty does world-class research on the relationship between environment, including water supply and climate change, and agriculture. Could the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food tell the House what our government is doing to support and encourage research in this area, both at McGill's Macdonald Campus in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue and across the country?
Mr. Speaker, Toronto Community Housing provides affordable housing to 58,000 households, of which there are 68 buildings in my riding of Don Valley East, encompassing thousands of residents. With a repair backlog of $2.6 billion, thousands of homes are affected. Could the minister please update the House on how he is working with the City to alleviate this problem?
Mr. Speaker, the minister made that same offer to me during question period as well, so I wonder if he will offer me the same opportunity to look through his schedule.
Mr. Speaker, I too would like to see the minister's agenda. In the spirit of equity, I will show him mine if he will show me his.
Mr. Speaker, everybody is waiting with bated breath for the Thursday question, but before we turn to that, I wonder if I could seek unanimous consent of the House to table the January Fiscal Monitor which shows that the current government received a $4.1 billion surplus for
Mr. Speaker, I wonder if the government House leader could provide us with information about the agenda for the remainder of this week and for next week.
Mr. Speaker, the Liberals promised investments in mental health and suicide prevention for our veterans. The Liberal budget completely failed to deliver.Building two new centres for research and treatment will not address these issues. Many veterans need to travel often and over long distances to receive even basic face-to-face treatment.How will the minister ensure that mental health support and suicide prevention initiatives will be provided to all veterans close to home, no matter where they live in Canada?
Mr. Speaker, my colleague, the Minister of Justice, has answered that question a number of times. My colleague across the aisle knows very well that members in the House attend fundraising events from time to time, done entirely according to law. All of the donations are disclosed publicly, as is required by law. The Minister of Justice did absolutely nothing different than the ministers in the previous government used to do. Every member on this side of the House respects the Elections Act and the Prime Minister's code of conduct, and will always continue to do so. That is something the Conservatives had considerable trouble doing when they were in government.
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister's guidelines outline that ministers and parliamentary secretaries must avoid a conflict of interest or the appearance of one at all times. The guideline states: There should be no preferential access to government, or appearance of preferential access, accorded to individuals or organizations because they have made financial contributions to politicians and political parties. Does the Minister of Justice not see that by attending a pay-to-play private event with high priced Bay Street lawyers who might be considered for a Governor in Council appointment she is actually granting preferential access?
Mr. Speaker, we have been asking the same questions for four days, with no answers. The House leader continues to stand on behalf of the justice minister. We are talking about her Prime Minister's guidelines, clearly outlined instructions to ministers. She was not only told to avoid conflicts of interest, but to avoid the appearance of one as well. Was the Prime Minister consulted when his justice minister decided to ignore his rules?
Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Quebec National Assembly passed a second motion asking the government to resolve the diafiltered milk issue once and for all. In less than two days, 4,500 people signed a petition calling on the government to take concrete action. Our producers are losing $220 million a year as a result of this government's inaction. Our regions' economies are suffering as a direct result.The government either needs to take action or compensate our producers. What is the government waiting for? When will it finally resolve the diafiltered milk issue once and for all?
Mr. Speaker, every single large organization within the persons with disabilities community shares the same opinion on assisted dying: they want a prior review process of non-medical social vulnerabilities for every patient. This request comes from their shared experience. Poverty, isolation, and temporary depression often accompany a person's adaptation to a new disability.What I would like to know is this: will the Liberals respect those with disabilities by ensuring a robust prior review of social vulnerabilities is provided, and if so, what will that look like?
Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government continues to dig itself a deeper hole in the Saudi Arabia arms deal. The minister claims that his hands were tied and that the contract was a done deal by the former government, but that is not true. He authorized the export permits, the most crucial, essential step.Why does the minister continue to mislead Canadians? Will he finally step up and confirm that this decision was made by his government?
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister's own ethics code states that ministers shall not raise funds from department stakeholders and lobbyists. Yet last week the Minister of Justice attended a pay-to-play fundraiser at a law firm with extensive dealings with the minister's department and a lobbyist who was registered to lobby, guess who, the minister. Therefore, will the minister stand in the House and advise which other lobbyists were at the fundraiser?
Mr. Speaker, Canadians are concerned about the suicide crisis in Attawapiskat and many other indigenous communities. We cannot continue to neglect our youth this way.The government says that it is taking this problem seriously, but in reality, the budget does not provide for any investments in mental health care services for indigenous youth. The government needs to invest in prevention.Will the government immediately make recurrent funding available for mental health care services for first nations youth?
Mr. Speaker, we did not just get to this crisis by accident. The children have been dying on a daily basis across this country, dying in nurses stations from strep throat and asthma because government will not pay for the medication, dying by suicide because government will routinely turn down their pleas for mental health counselling. The current government has no new money for mental health or for health services. It has to stop. Where is the political will to invest in resources, in what is truly our greatest resource, our children? Where is that will to move today?
I am sorry, Mr. Speaker, I should not have said that.It is too bad that my colleague opposite does not know that I made that offer yesterday at the House leaders meeting. We completely agree that we should ensure that as many members as possible have a chance to rise in this House to speak to this important issue. I would be happy to work with
Mr. Speaker, our government has been clear about the fact that we will increase access to mental health services across the country. In particular, of course, we will be focusing on the indigenous communities, the first nations, the Inuit, and the Métis nation to ensure that they have access to the mental health services they need. I am very pleased that in the case of Attawapiskat, there are now 18 mental health workers on the ground who were not there previous to the time that this crisis began. We will continue working to introduce the resources that are required.
Mr. Speaker, it is our objective, as the Prime Minister has said many times, to move our natural resources to market sustainably.The previous government, in spite of $100-a-barrel oil, in spite of all of that representation from western Canada, did not build a single pipeline to tidewater during its majority government from 2011.I do not think Canadians would advise the government to follow that process. We are following a different one. We think we will have a better chance to do the right thing, which is to move that product
Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to answer my colleague's question.First of all, I would remind members that the protection of personal information is one of our priorities. When the Canada Revenue Agency shares information with other countries, personal information is protected.My colleague has seen that the budget includes an unprecedented investment of $444 million. This shows that the government is determined to put an end to these schemes in order to benefit Canadians.
Mr. Speaker, as the member opposite well knows, the response to the needs in indigenous communities is a collaborative response. This is a response that needs to take into consideration, of course, the leadership of indigenous leaders across this country. In terms of Attawapiskat and other communities, we have done just that. We are in regular communication with the national chief, the regional chief, the grand chief, and the local chief in this community. We are also working with the provincial government, which has recently invested $2 million to support health care services in Attawapiskat. We will be there working in partnership with all of these jurisdictions to make sure that people have the services they require.
Mr. Speaker, major resource projects play a vital role in our economy, and we clearly recognize the importance of creating jobs and economic growth. We have been very clear that the focus is on moving the environment and the economy forward hand in hand. In fact, that is a requirement in the modern age.With respect to LNG projects, they will go through an appropriate environmental assessments and decisions will be made on science and data, not on politics as perhaps they have in the past. This is the responsible approach. This is the modern approach. It is obviously not the Conservative approach, but this is how we plan to move forward.
Mr. Speaker, I hope that it is abundantly clear that our government is absolutely committed to addressing the gaps in terms of the realities of the day-to-day life of indigenous people in this country. In our recent budget, we have invested $8.4 million to address those gaps. Much of that will go to addressing educational resources, which these communities need. I am pleased that within that there is $270 million that will go to improving health centres and nursing stations in indigenous communities. This will encourage health human resources to stay in these communities. We are firm in our commitment to ensure that the health care services are out there.
Mr. Speaker, budget 2016 goes a long way to addressing some of those issues that have been brought up.We are opening up nine new offices. In fact, there will be more outreach in Surrey, B.C., and the north for veterans to have points of contact.We are hiring staff to replace the 800 members that the Conservatives cut from our front-line services. This will allow veterans to get care, compassion, and respect and have their issues dealt with in a timely fashion.I can also say to the member, my goodness, I have been the minister for 162 days. We have accomplished a lot. We will continue to work on the mental health file and get these centres of excellence up and running to get the veterans the care, compassion
Mr. Speaker, Quebeckers and Canadians certainly understand that rail safety is important. The minister says he understands it is important. Maybe he should tell that to the Minister of Finance because the rail safety budget was cut by 21%.Tragic incidents like the one in Lac-Mégantic and other accidents happen across Canada. The Lac-Mégantic tragedy is very fresh in people's memory.We recently learned that Transport Canada sat on information about the 500 most dangerous rail crossings. It is time to stop talking and start taking action.When will the minister and the government start taking action?
Mr. Speaker, Robin Brentnall, a veteran and advocate from Newfoundland and Labrador, has been denied his claim to a disability award by Veterans Affairs and the Veterans Review and Appeal Board. He so strongly believes that he qualifies that he is protesting through a hunger strike until the minister assures him verbally that his file will be reviewed. On April 11, in The Gander Beacon, Robin said, All it takes is a phone call.After all their promises to veterans during the campaign, why are the Liberals abandoning this veteran now?
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is making pipeline projects more difficult to get approved by adding more hurdles and red tape. He keeps moving the goalposts and giving special interest groups undue influence on the process. Now he claims that this more difficult process will ensure Canadians have more confidence in the process, that making it harder will somehow make it easier, and yet he refuses to commit to actually approving any project that makes it through his new onerous process. Very simply, if an application makes it through the new process that he himself has designed, will the Prime Minister approve it, or does he not have confidence in his own process?
Mr. Speaker, that is completely false. All we are asking is whether the government will respect the result of its own process. Canadians know that pipelines are the safest, most effective way to get our oil and gas to market. Canadian oil and gas is the cleanest and most ethical energy in the world, and creates high-paying jobs here at home. Without pipelines, eastern Canada is forced to import foreign oil. The Prime Minister's principal secretary and top advisor said that oil and gas development is as bad as hooking kids on cigarettes. Can the government explain why oil shipped by ocean tanker from Saudi Arabia is somehow better than western Canadian oil and gas?
Mr. Speaker, as the minister has often pointed out to the House, we inherited this problem from the previous government.We are working on the problem. We are aware of the issues and we know how important this is to the industry in Quebec and all across the country. We are working on coming up with a long-term solution.
Mr. Speaker, indigenous communities in my riding will be directly impacted by today's legislation on assisted suicide. I am concerned that the Liberals have ignored these communities. Dr. Alika Lafontaine, president of the Indigenous Physicians Association, highlighted the absence of major indigenous organizations during the joint committee hearings and stated, I believe there has not been meaningful consultations with indigenous peoples. Why did the Liberals not undertake consultations with indigenous communities on assisted suicide?
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member just said that the parliamentary budget officer was not telling the truth. That is unbelievable.The parliamentary budget officer said that he did not have all of the information, but my colleague is saying that his government gave it all to him. We should not be surprised, since, yesterday, when we asked the Prime Minister about his four companies, he did not want to give us any details. He was very evasive about the whole thing.What does the Prime Minister have to hide in that regard?
Mr. Speaker, my colleague opposite knows full well that we have absolutely nothing to hide.The Prime Minister was very clear yesterday. It has never happened before, but he proactively disclosed information about his personal finances when he decided to run for the leadership of our party. The companies in question always paid all of the necessary taxes.Obviously, when he became Prime Minister, his assets were placed in a trust, which is the appropriate thing to do.
Mr. Speaker, this veteran is expecting more than just administrative procedures. He is expecting a visit, or at least a call, from the minister.The 2016 budget provides for a retroactive increase in the maximum disability award. Can the Minister of Veterans Affairs share with us today how much will be paid for loss of hearing, which many veterans suffer from?
Mr. Speaker, let me be clear: rail safety is my top priority. I do not know which budget my colleague was looking at, but in our budget, the Government of Canada allocated $143 million to rail safety in this country over the next three years.I was very clear about the information on grade crossings. We will certainly share that information with the municipalities if they want. I am meeting with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities in two weeks to talk about it.
Mr. Speaker, we have said on a number of times in the House, the minister contacted the Ethics Commissioner proactively to ask whether it was appropriate for her to attend that fundraising activity, as every member in the House of Commons does from time to time and as did ministers in the previous Conservative government from time to time. She received a confirmation that it was entirely appropriate for her to do so. In fact, the Ethics Commissioner, in a three-page letter, confirmed that to my hon. colleague who asked the Ethics Commissioner that exact question. We consider this matter closed. The member is obviously having a struggle ending the matter.
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague from Gatineau for his question.The Syrian refugees on the Hill today will be pleased to hear that Canadians have donated nearly $32 million to the Syria Emergency Relief Fund. As promised, our government is matching that contribution, and even topping it up for a total of $100 million.Of the 29 projects that will receive funding, the largest is the UNICEF project that will help 84 education centres in Jordan, provide school supplies in Syria, and support a national vaccination campaign.
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Transport, in reply to a question from my colleague, offered to provide his agenda of meetings to this place. In keeping with the mandate letter issued to the minister wherein he is required to be open and transparent, I am asking that he make available that agenda of meetings, including with communities that are concerned about rail safety.
Mr. Speaker, I said that the hon. member should look at my agenda. If she wants to come over to my office, I will show it to her.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his question as well as for his hard work and leadership on the trade committee.We have committed to studying the TPP before taking a decision. We are doing precisely that. The trade committee is doing that, so we are gathering the appropriate information before taking a decision on ratifying.In the meantime, I would assure the hon. member that we are looking at every avenue for increasing Canada's trade and attracting job-creating investment to Canada.
Mr. Speaker, of course rail safety is my top priority. It is in my mandate letter. I was very glad that the Minister of Finance announced in this last budget $143 million additional dollars dedicated toward safety. That is a very serious commitment. With respect to grade crossings, I have made it very clear that this information, which is a tool that Transport Canada uses, can be made accessible to the municipalities if they wish it. In fact, I will be meeting with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities in two weeks to make that offer to them.
Mr. Speaker, we can say it is wonderful, but we are all wondering when, just like the workers.Canada can be a major global competitor for long-term, high-reward LNG contracts with Asian markets. These projects will provide thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in investment and revenue to benefit communities all across Canada. Exporting LNG will help the world lower GHG emissions. The Liberals will be responsible if Canadian LNG is shut out.Will the Liberal government stop blocking Canadian companies from getting LNG to global markets?
Mr. Speaker, the end of the dispute between Air Canada and the provinces of Quebec and Manitoba now allows us to clarify the Air Canada Public Participation Act. That is precisely what we are doing.I would remind my colleague, who is all worked up, that the amendment we are proposing requires Air Canada to keep jobs in Quebec, Manitoba, and Ontario.I cannot elaborate further because this matter is before the courts.
Mr. Speaker, the end of litigation between Air Canada and the Province of Quebec and the Province of Manitoba has allowed us to clarify the Air Canada Public Participation Act. That is exactly what we are doing.This is an important adjustment that needs to be made, and I would say this: there are jobs being created. The amendment actually says that there must be jobs in the provinces of Quebec, Manitoba, and Ontario.I cannot say any more than that at the moment, because it is before the tribunals.
Mr. Speaker, the government appears to agree with the Conservatives' dissenting report on the sensitive issue of physician-assisted dying, since the bill does not deal with minors or people suffering from mental illness. Good. It is clear
Mr. Speaker, after years of pretending to be champions for Air Canada workers, the Liberals tabled legislation that gives Air Canada free rein to ship the good-paying jobs of 2,600 workers and their families right out of Canada.The Prime Minister once stood alongside protesting maintenance workers. He was chatting about solidarity and probably throwing in the odd Kumbaya for good measure, but where is that solidarity when it could actually do something for workers?Will the Prime Minister stand up, apologize for his cynicism, and withdraw Bill C-10?
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my hon. colleague for her question. We are aware of issues with enforcement of our rules surrounding supply management. As the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food has often said in the House, our government supports supply management. We are working with the industry to find a long-term solution.
Mr. Speaker, we are aware of the resolution adopted by the National Assembly of Quebec. We are also aware of the issues all across the country. We have committed to finding a solution, and that is exactly what we will do.
Mr. Speaker, in fact, the reviews are in from economic experts, people like David Dodge, Kevin Lynch, and Larry Summers, former secretary of the treasury in the U.S., who have called for this kind of important investment in jobs and growth for some time.Their calls were ignored by the previous government. We have listened.We have also heard from the Governor of the Bank of Canada, who said that we have a better mix of policies today than we would have had without that fiscal change.The reviews are in, and we are doing the right thing.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to have been able to introduce legislation and to encourage robust discussions. We have had substantive feedback reports, including the special committee report that spoke to the fundamental need to ensure that we present the best approach that balances personal autonomy with the protection of vulnerable people. We have employed in the legislation the safeguards that were recommended by the joint committee, and we are going to ensure that we maintain this discussion and make the report available
Mr. Speaker, I can assure my hon. colleague that Veterans Affairs has an excellent process to review veterans' claims. To reiterate, when a veteran has a claim, it goes through to my department. If that claim is rejected, a member can go to the Veterans Review and Appeal Board not once but twice.We also have the opportunity to provide them with legal counsel to assist them in any and all processes along the way. I also point out that these are de novo application processes whereby they can present new evidence at all points along the process.
Mr. Speaker, I would first like to congratulate and thank my colleague for this very important question.Budget 2016 would provide the largest federal investment in housing in over 25 years. This investment of $2.3 billion includes, among other things, $200 million for seniors housing, doubling the federal investment in affordable housing, as well as close to $600 million for retrofits and renovations. I very much look forward to working with my colleague from Don Valley East, Toronto Community Housing, and the Ontario government to make those funds quickly and easily available.
Mr. Speaker, the government appears to agree with the Conservatives' dissenting report on the sensitive issue of physician-assisted dying, since the bill does not deal with minors or people suffering from mental illness. Good. It is also clear that the government will finally allow its members to vote freely, which we support. Good. Now, we must take action.On this side of the House, we think it is important that all members who want to speak to this sensitive issue be allowed to do so. However, we are running out of time. We want the government to know that it has our full co-operation.Is the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons prepared to review our parliamentary sitting hours?
Mr. Speaker, 84% of Canadians know it is possible to transport our energy resources while protecting the environment, and 70% of Canadians believe pipelines are the most appropriate method of transporting oil and gas. Canada's oil and gas is the most socially and environmentally responsible in the world. When will the Liberals finally get on board and proudly support Canada's world-leading, internationally renowned energy sector?
Mr. Speaker, we did not ask whether the government is aware of the issues; we want to know if it is going to enforce the regulations.For the parliamentary secretary's benefit, I repeat that the National Assembly called on the government to ensure that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency enforces its own regulation on cheese composition, using the same definition of diafiltered milk that the Canada Border Services Agency uses, namely, a protein concentrate.Will the government commit to respecting the unanimous will of the National Assembly and dairy producers, yes or no?
Mr. Speaker, it is clear that our government is completely open and transparent. That is why we gave all the numbers to the parliamentary budget officer. We will continue to co-operate with his office because we have a great deal of respect for the work he does.
Mr. Speaker, as the House knows, there were a number of consultations that were undertaken, which led to the legislation that was introduced today. We were informed by the external panel, which provided a report to us not many months ago. We were informed by a very interesting report from the provinces and territories and by an excellent report of the special joint committee of the House.All of those bodies have in turn reached out to a number of other organizations, including indigenous organizations across this country. We intend to continue consultation and a rigorous debate in the House. We are pleased with this legislation. We believe
Mr. Speaker, I am rising on an important point of order seeking unanimous consent of the House, and I will tell the House why. It is to confirm our collective intention that no RCMP member be prevented from communicating with his or her member of Parliament on Bill C-7, and that no discipline be enforced upon a member who has responded to the call of the public safety committee to appear before it as a witness. I am sure it is the intention of all of us to make sure that members affected by laws in front of this place have the right to communicate in a responsible way with their elected representatives and to respond to give testimony before the committee considering that bill.Why is unanimous consent required? It is because a letter was shared today that would suggest that some members could not appear and that some members may be disciplined for giving testimony this morning at committee.I would ask for unanimous consent so that, as a collective, we can exercise our right to call witnesses on important matters affecting this country.
Mr. Speaker, just two days ago, there was a question from a member of the Bloc Québécois. He said that the government was about to impose the energy east pipeline on the people of Quebec.The day before that, there was a member from the Conservative Party who said that the budget should announce its approval of a pipeline, which application has not yet been received by the regulator and without a single community having yet been consulted.We are going to follow a more rational process, a more principled one, that has a better chance of carrying the confidence of Canadians.
Mr. Speaker, I was pleased this morning to introduce, along with my colleague the Minister of Justice, new legislation that will support Canadians and provide medical assistance in dying. At the same time, this has triggered a conversation, a very important one, about the need to make sure that Canadians have access to the palliative care services they require in end of life. I have said repeatedly that it is important that Canadians should be able to have a good and peaceful death. However, just as much, it is important that Canadians will have a good, peaceful, and dignified life until the very end. For that purpose, we will make sure that Canadians have access to the palliative care services they need. We will do so in participation with our colleagues in the provinces and territories.
Mr. Speaker, I can tell the member that budget 2016 was a great day for our veterans. We delivered on many different aspects of our mandate items, including increasing the earnings loss benefit, increasing access to the impairment allowance, and increasing the disability award. We will continue to work with our veterans with care, compassion, and respect to get them the services they need when they need them and where they live. Part of that budget is for opening up nine new offices and hiring more staff to allow veterans' issues to be handled in a timely and effective manner.
Mr. Speaker, the Syrian crisis sparked an outpouring of sympathy on the part of Canadians, who responded with tremendous generosity.Our communities have welcomed over 25,000 refugees and continue to do so. People have donated a great deal to help those who are settling in their regions.Can the Minister of International Development and La Francophonie tell the House about the kind of support the government is still providing?
Mr. Speaker, I was proud to join my colleague recently at McGill's Macdonald Campus to announce our government's investment of $27 million to the agricultural greenhouse gases program. This program funds vital research in practices and technology that can be adopted on farms across the country. This is a great example of our government's commitment to research and innovation and to ensuring that the Canadian agricultural sector is more innovative and sustainable than ever.
Mr. Speaker, we do support the wonderful energy sector in Canada. I have had the pleasure of having conversations with people around the world about Canada's energy sector and they feel very confident that we will get over this dip in prices and emerge stronger. In part, we will emerge stronger because they will know that our regulatory system carries the confidence of Canadians and they will know that in 2016 we must move responsibly to market, and that is what we intend to do.
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question.It is too bad that his parliamentary leader is not in the House, since he could have sent
Mr. Speaker, that is not what we would call clarifying. That is what we would call sacrificing. The Liberals are giving Air Canada carte blanche. Just yesterday they were saying that the Conservatives should have upheld the law. Even the Prime Minister shouted through his megaphone, So-so-so solidarity! Today, it is even worse. They are in the process of legalizing the job losses that were illegal just yesterday. It is outrageous and disgusting. I have never seen such spineless people before.Are the Liberals not ashamed of sacrificing the lives and work of 2,600 families?
Mr. Speaker, if the Liberals were serious about doing anything on this, the Liberal MPs yesterday would not have refused to agree to hear from prairie grain farmers who were concerned about these provisions not having yet been extended. In fact, I then took the opportunity this morning to meet with these farmers. They said that while the Liberals refused to listen to them, they know that this side of the House would stand up for them. Will the minister extend these provisions that the farm families desperately need?
Mr. Speaker, we are looking at this matter very seriously. It comes at a time when the Canada Transportation Act review has been submitted, something which I tabled in the House on February 25, a very serious document with a large number of recommendations, some of which touch upon grain transportation.I can assure my colleague that we are looking at this matter very seriously.
Mr. Speaker, the government has once again dismissed the unanimous will of Quebec. I will give it a second chanceThis morning, the Quebec National Assembly unanimously adopted another motion. It calls on the federal government to work with Quebec to implement the motion I will be moving this evening, which will put an end to the shameful use of tax havens in Barbados. Quebeckers are sick and tired of seeing Canadian law encourage profiteers.Will the Prime Minister make a formal commitment to honour Quebec's unanimous request by supporting the Bloc Québécois's Motion No. 42, yes or no?
Mr. Speaker, Prairie farmers and farm families are waiting for the Liberals to extend the grain freight provisions, including inter-switching, that have helped them get their grain to market. The minister could have made this decision last year, but will spend the rest of the year consulting, unnecessarily, By the time he is done dithering, these provisions will have ended, leaving producers without reliable access to market.Why is the minister deliberately delaying this extension?
Mr. Speaker, again, the hon. member keeps repeating these silly phrases like pay-to-play. He is confusing his Saturday night at the arcade with a very legitimate fundraising activity
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Veterans Affairs keeps repeating the words care, respect, and compassion when talking about our veterans. One veteran, Robin Brentnall, recently went on a hunger strike to protest the bad decisions made in his case by the department. Can the minister confirm that he has been in contact with this veteran, that he has gone to visit him in order to save him before it is too late?
Mr. Speaker, the reviews are in for the Liberal budget with a resounding fail for transparency.The parliamentary budget officer called it the least transparent budget in 15 years. A former deputy finance minister said that it failed the Liberals' own campaign commitments. Even the CBC called it a shell game.The Prime Minister thinks that the budget will balance itself, but how can the Liberals have any credibility on the economy when they keep fudging the numbers?
Mr. Speaker, Canada's business owners, farmers, and manufacturers deserve to be on a level playing field with their global competitors. However, the Liberal inaction and comments are confusing Canadians. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce has said that we should and must ratify the TPP because being left behind would be catastrophic for Canadians. How will the Liberals help out our exporters to do business with Japan and Asian markets if they do not ratify the trans-Pacific partnership?
Mr. Speaker, for the past few days, the Prime Minister has wrapped himself in the immaculate cloak of transparency, stating that his government is transparent and comparing our former government to his.Let us hear from a third party, an independent party. With respect to transparency, the parliamentary budget officer said that he was unable to provide all the data because the government did not give him all the data. He is an independent person.How can the Prime Minister claim to be transparent?
Mr. Speaker, I want to remind my hon. colleague that we did reduce taxes for small businesses and we did reduce taxes for nine million Canadians. I would invite my hon. colleague to read the entire budget. He will see that this government is working for Canadians.
Mr. Speaker, divisive personal attacks are not going to distract from the government's misleading of Canadians. Trying to pit the jobs of workers against human rights is a cynical distraction, but it does not hide government failure to open up new responsible markets and support long-term sustainable manufacturing jobs in our region. Instead, the Liberals have gambled the jobs of workers on a deal with an oppressive state, giving our city an unfair black eye.Where is the government's plan for long-term sustainable jobs for the workers at General Dynamics and throughout London?
Mr. Speaker, while the member is chopping, it was only our government that cut taxes for small business.As the law currently stands, the rate will fall down to 9% within three years. The government proposes legislation that will raise it up back to 10.5%. That is an increase in taxes on 622,000 small businesses that pay $150 billion in wages.The budget contains a bunch of inflated numbers for job creation. Has the finance department done any calculation on job losses with this tax hike?
Mr. Speaker, I am sorry, but my hon. colleague is blowing smoke here. We have met with a number of groups ever since I put out that report. As I said, I put it out on February 25, because I wanted to hear back from western grain farmers, from the shippers, and from the railroads. I wanted to hear from everybody. Believe me, my schedule shows that I am meeting a whole bunch of them. I encourage my hon. colleague to relax. I am doing my work.
Mr. Speaker, what I can say is that Veterans Affairs takes all applications to review veterans' issues seriously. There is a process whereby it comes into the department, and then our veterans also have a chance to appeal at the Veterans Review and Appeal Board at two separate levels. We also provide legal assistance to veterans who are looking to get their benefits, allowing those claims to go forward.I thank the member for his question, and we will continue to monitor the situation going forward.
Mr. Speaker, in the last election, the Liberal leader said, Raising corporate taxes, like the NDP want to do, strangles growth. The current immigration minister also said that the NDP's proposed corporate tax hikes would cost 150,000 jobs.It stands to reason therefore that raising the corporate tax rate on small business would have a similar job-killing effect on our economy.Would the Minister of Finance tell us whether his department did a calculation of the number of jobs that would be lost based upon the tax increases the budget imposes on our small business job creators?
Mr. Speaker, I would remind my hon. colleague to read the entire budget, because this is the government that reduced taxes on nine million Canadians. We did that in December. The taxes on small business have been reduced. This is a government that works for Canadians, Canadian families, and small business. We will continue to do exactly that.
Mr. Speaker, Canada's dairy producers are totally distraught because the Liberal government is dragging its feet on the issue of diafiltered milk. Canadian dairy producers are losing millions of dollars every week because of an injustice, a scheme orchestrated by processing industries that do not care about behaving ethically toward their business partners.Our dairy producers have been tormented long enough. The Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food must act immediately in the collective interest of the entire dairy industry. Will he take action now, or is he going to put it off indefinitely?
Mr. Speaker, when it comes to palliative care services, there is a crying need for help across the country.The government itself acknowledged that this is an important issue in the bill it introduced today, but there was nothing for palliative care in the budget. The Liberals had promised $3 billion over four years for home care. There is yet another broken promise.Will the government finally acknowledge that this is urgent and invest in palliative care?
Mr. Speaker, with the government responding to the crisis in Attawapiskat, we are hearing from indigenous youth in other regions who are saying Where are the resources for our community? The crisis is extreme across this country, and band-aids will not work. The youth want action now, yet there were zero dollars in this budget to deal with the suicide crisis and zero new dollars to deal with indigenous mental health. The current government has the power to act. The only thing missing is political will. Will it commit today to augment the funds to ensure that we can end the mental health crisis in all of the communities across this country?
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Transport claims rail safety is his top priority, yet this week rail inspectors told our committee, despite a projected tenfold increase in dangerous cargo, that the rail safety budget was being slashed 21%. Yesterday it was revealed that Transport Canada had withheld information on the 500 most dangerous level crossings, two of the most dangerous in my riding of Edmonton Strathcona. Cuts, inaction, secrecy will not improve rail safety. When will the minister take real action on rail safety?
Mr. Speaker, my hon. colleague knows full well the minister did no such thing. He keeps referring to this supposed secret fundraiser. Just because he repeats these exaggerated lines does not make them true. A fundraiser where every donation is disclosed on the Internet is hardly a secret fundraiser. It is something that members opposite have done many times over.We will continue to respect all of the provisions of the Prime Minister's open and accountable government code, as well as the Conflict of Interest Act and any other related provisions.
Mr. Speaker, we are very committed to the manufacturing sector. We understand the importance of this sector in London in particular. I was there just a few days ago, making an announcement with respect to the automotive innovation fund and extending this fund for the next three years. This would allow further investments to allow job creation. Above and beyond that, just a few days ago I was in Kitchener with my colleagues to announced the automotive supplier innovation fund initiative, which again invests in a supplier base. We are investing in manufacturing. We are investing in jobs. We are growing the economy. That is good for the country.
Mr. Speaker, I think my colleague is well aware that she is the one who is confusing the matter. I want to share a quote from a news story: At the end of March, Minister Dion said that he and government officials would examine whether the armoured vehicles exported to Saudi Arabia comply with international laws, human rights and our national interests. If a journalist understood, why did my colleague not understand?
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister states that the definition of a stakeholder is an individual employed in, contacted by, or who otherwise represents corporations or organizations that have current or anticipated official dealings with ministers. The Minister of Justice had a secret and private pay-to-play fundraiser in Toronto with high-priced lawyers who have a history of lobbying the justice department. Why did the minister contravene the Prime Minister's guideline, which is far above what the House leader is currently saying in defence of her, and why did she put the integrity of her office in so much jeopardy?
Mr. Speaker, I have good news. I have no documents to table, and thus there is no need to worry. This afternoon will conclude the fourth and final day of the budget debate. Tomorrow we will commence second reading of Bill C-10, the Air Canada legislation, and continue that debate on Monday.Next week, we will have opposition days on Tuesday and Thursday. On Wednesday, we will begin debate on Bill C-14 on medical assistance in dying, introduced this morning by my colleague, the Minister of Justice.Mr. Speaker, after discussions with all parties I think you will find unanimous consent for the following motion: That, pursuant to Section 20 of the Freezing Assets of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act, the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development be designated for the statutory review of the Freezing Assets of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act and the Special Economic Measures Act.
Mr. Speaker, McGill University's Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences is located in my riding. The faculty does world-class research on the relationship between environment, including water supply and climate change, and agriculture. Could the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food tell the House what our government is doing to support and encourage research in this area, both at McGill's Macdonald Campus in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue and across the country?
Mr. Speaker, Toronto Community Housing provides affordable housing to 58,000 households, of which there are 68 buildings in my riding of Don Valley East, encompassing thousands of residents. With a repair backlog of $2.6 billion, thousands of homes are affected. Could the minister please update the House on how he is working with the City to alleviate this problem?
Mr. Speaker, the minister made that same offer to me during question period as well, so I wonder if he will offer me the same opportunity to look through his schedule.
Mr. Speaker, I too would like to see the minister's agenda. In the spirit of equity, I will show him mine if he will show me his.
Mr. Speaker, everybody is waiting with bated breath for the Thursday question, but before we turn to that, I wonder if I could seek unanimous consent of the House to table the January Fiscal Monitor which shows that the current government received a $4.1 billion surplus for
Mr. Speaker, I wonder if the government House leader could provide us with information about the agenda for the remainder of this week and for next week.
Mr. Speaker, the Liberals promised investments in mental health and suicide prevention for our veterans. The Liberal budget completely failed to deliver.Building two new centres for research and treatment will not address these issues. Many veterans need to travel often and over long distances to receive even basic face-to-face treatment.How will the minister ensure that mental health support and suicide prevention initiatives will be provided to all veterans close to home, no matter where they live in Canada?
Mr. Speaker, my colleague, the Minister of Justice, has answered that question a number of times. My colleague across the aisle knows very well that members in the House attend fundraising events from time to time, done entirely according to law. All of the donations are disclosed publicly, as is required by law. The Minister of Justice did absolutely nothing different than the ministers in the previous government used to do. Every member on this side of the House respects the Elections Act and the Prime Minister's code of conduct, and will always continue to do so. That is something the Conservatives had considerable trouble doing when they were in government.
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister's guidelines outline that ministers and parliamentary secretaries must avoid a conflict of interest or the appearance of one at all times. The guideline states: There should be no preferential access to government, or appearance of preferential access, accorded to individuals or organizations because they have made financial contributions to politicians and political parties. Does the Minister of Justice not see that by attending a pay-to-play private event with high priced Bay Street lawyers who might be considered for a Governor in Council appointment she is actually granting preferential access?
Mr. Speaker, we have been asking the same questions for four days, with no answers. The House leader continues to stand on behalf of the justice minister. We are talking about her Prime Minister's guidelines, clearly outlined instructions to ministers. She was not only told to avoid conflicts of interest, but to avoid the appearance of one as well. Was the Prime Minister consulted when his justice minister decided to ignore his rules?
Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Quebec National Assembly passed a second motion asking the government to resolve the diafiltered milk issue once and for all. In less than two days, 4,500 people signed a petition calling on the government to take concrete action. Our producers are losing $220 million a year as a result of this government's inaction. Our regions' economies are suffering as a direct result.The government either needs to take action or compensate our producers. What is the government waiting for? When will it finally resolve the diafiltered milk issue once and for all?
Mr. Speaker, every single large organization within the persons with disabilities community shares the same opinion on assisted dying: they want a prior review process of non-medical social vulnerabilities for every patient. This request comes from their shared experience. Poverty, isolation, and temporary depression often accompany a person's adaptation to a new disability.What I would like to know is this: will the Liberals respect those with disabilities by ensuring a robust prior review of social vulnerabilities is provided, and if so, what will that look like?
Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government continues to dig itself a deeper hole in the Saudi Arabia arms deal. The minister claims that his hands were tied and that the contract was a done deal by the former government, but that is not true. He authorized the export permits, the most crucial, essential step.Why does the minister continue to mislead Canadians? Will he finally step up and confirm that this decision was made by his government?
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister's own ethics code states that ministers shall not raise funds from department stakeholders and lobbyists. Yet last week the Minister of Justice attended a pay-to-play fundraiser at a law firm with extensive dealings with the minister's department and a lobbyist who was registered to lobby, guess who, the minister. Therefore, will the minister stand in the House and advise which other lobbyists were at the fundraiser?
Mr. Speaker, Canadians are concerned about the suicide crisis in Attawapiskat and many other indigenous communities. We cannot continue to neglect our youth this way.The government says that it is taking this problem seriously, but in reality, the budget does not provide for any investments in mental health care services for indigenous youth. The government needs to invest in prevention.Will the government immediately make recurrent funding available for mental health care services for first nations youth?
Mr. Speaker, we did not just get to this crisis by accident. The children have been dying on a daily basis across this country, dying in nurses stations from strep throat and asthma because government will not pay for the medication, dying by suicide because government will routinely turn down their pleas for mental health counselling. The current government has no new money for mental health or for health services. It has to stop. Where is the political will to invest in resources, in what is truly our greatest resource, our children? Where is that will to move today?
I am sorry, Mr. Speaker, I should not have said that.It is too bad that my colleague opposite does not know that I made that offer yesterday at the House leaders meeting. We completely agree that we should ensure that as many members as possible have a chance to rise in this House to speak to this important issue. I would be happy to work with
Mr. Speaker, our government has been clear about the fact that we will increase access to mental health services across the country. In particular, of course, we will be focusing on the indigenous communities, the first nations, the Inuit, and the Métis nation to ensure that they have access to the mental health services they need. I am very pleased that in the case of Attawapiskat, there are now 18 mental health workers on the ground who were not there previous to the time that this crisis began. We will continue working to introduce the resources that are required.
Mr. Speaker, it is our objective, as the Prime Minister has said many times, to move our natural resources to market sustainably.The previous government, in spite of $100-a-barrel oil, in spite of all of that representation from western Canada, did not build a single pipeline to tidewater during its majority government from 2011.I do not think Canadians would advise the government to follow that process. We are following a different one. We think we will have a better chance to do the right thing, which is to move that product
Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to answer my colleague's question.First of all, I would remind members that the protection of personal information is one of our priorities. When the Canada Revenue Agency shares information with other countries, personal information is protected.My colleague has seen that the budget includes an unprecedented investment of $444 million. This shows that the government is determined to put an end to these schemes in order to benefit Canadians.
Mr. Speaker, as the member opposite well knows, the response to the needs in indigenous communities is a collaborative response. This is a response that needs to take into consideration, of course, the leadership of indigenous leaders across this country. In terms of Attawapiskat and other communities, we have done just that. We are in regular communication with the national chief, the regional chief, the grand chief, and the local chief in this community. We are also working with the provincial government, which has recently invested $2 million to support health care services in Attawapiskat. We will be there working in partnership with all of these jurisdictions to make sure that people have the services they require.
Mr. Speaker, major resource projects play a vital role in our economy, and we clearly recognize the importance of creating jobs and economic growth. We have been very clear that the focus is on moving the environment and the economy forward hand in hand. In fact, that is a requirement in the modern age.With respect to LNG projects, they will go through an appropriate environmental assessments and decisions will be made on science and data, not on politics as perhaps they have in the past. This is the responsible approach. This is the modern approach. It is obviously not the Conservative approach, but this is how we plan to move forward.
Mr. Speaker, I hope that it is abundantly clear that our government is absolutely committed to addressing the gaps in terms of the realities of the day-to-day life of indigenous people in this country. In our recent budget, we have invested $8.4 million to address those gaps. Much of that will go to addressing educational resources, which these communities need. I am pleased that within that there is $270 million that will go to improving health centres and nursing stations in indigenous communities. This will encourage health human resources to stay in these communities. We are firm in our commitment to ensure that the health care services are out there.
Mr. Speaker, budget 2016 goes a long way to addressing some of those issues that have been brought up.We are opening up nine new offices. In fact, there will be more outreach in Surrey, B.C., and the north for veterans to have points of contact.We are hiring staff to replace the 800 members that the Conservatives cut from our front-line services. This will allow veterans to get care, compassion, and respect and have their issues dealt with in a timely fashion.I can also say to the member, my goodness, I have been the minister for 162 days. We have accomplished a lot. We will continue to work on the mental health file and get these centres of excellence up and running to get the veterans the care, compassion
Mr. Speaker, Quebeckers and Canadians certainly understand that rail safety is important. The minister says he understands it is important. Maybe he should tell that to the Minister of Finance because the rail safety budget was cut by 21%.Tragic incidents like the one in Lac-Mégantic and other accidents happen across Canada. The Lac-Mégantic tragedy is very fresh in people's memory.We recently learned that Transport Canada sat on information about the 500 most dangerous rail crossings. It is time to stop talking and start taking action.When will the minister and the government start taking action?
Mr. Speaker, Robin Brentnall, a veteran and advocate from Newfoundland and Labrador, has been denied his claim to a disability award by Veterans Affairs and the Veterans Review and Appeal Board. He so strongly believes that he qualifies that he is protesting through a hunger strike until the minister assures him verbally that his file will be reviewed. On April 11, in The Gander Beacon, Robin said, All it takes is a phone call.After all their promises to veterans during the campaign, why are the Liberals abandoning this veteran now?
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is making pipeline projects more difficult to get approved by adding more hurdles and red tape. He keeps moving the goalposts and giving special interest groups undue influence on the process. Now he claims that this more difficult process will ensure Canadians have more confidence in the process, that making it harder will somehow make it easier, and yet he refuses to commit to actually approving any project that makes it through his new onerous process. Very simply, if an application makes it through the new process that he himself has designed, will the Prime Minister approve it, or does he not have confidence in his own process?
Mr. Speaker, that is completely false. All we are asking is whether the government will respect the result of its own process. Canadians know that pipelines are the safest, most effective way to get our oil and gas to market. Canadian oil and gas is the cleanest and most ethical energy in the world, and creates high-paying jobs here at home. Without pipelines, eastern Canada is forced to import foreign oil. The Prime Minister's principal secretary and top advisor said that oil and gas development is as bad as hooking kids on cigarettes. Can the government explain why oil shipped by ocean tanker from Saudi Arabia is somehow better than western Canadian oil and gas?
Mr. Speaker, as the minister has often pointed out to the House, we inherited this problem from the previous government.We are working on the problem. We are aware of the issues and we know how important this is to the industry in Quebec and all across the country. We are working on coming up with a long-term solution.
Mr. Speaker, indigenous communities in my riding will be directly impacted by today's legislation on assisted suicide. I am concerned that the Liberals have ignored these communities. Dr. Alika Lafontaine, president of the Indigenous Physicians Association, highlighted the absence of major indigenous organizations during the joint committee hearings and stated, I believe there has not been meaningful consultations with indigenous peoples. Why did the Liberals not undertake consultations with indigenous communities on assisted suicide?
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member just said that the parliamentary budget officer was not telling the truth. That is unbelievable.The parliamentary budget officer said that he did not have all of the information, but my colleague is saying that his government gave it all to him. We should not be surprised, since, yesterday, when we asked the Prime Minister about his four companies, he did not want to give us any details. He was very evasive about the whole thing.What does the Prime Minister have to hide in that regard?
Mr. Speaker, my colleague opposite knows full well that we have absolutely nothing to hide.The Prime Minister was very clear yesterday. It has never happened before, but he proactively disclosed information about his personal finances when he decided to run for the leadership of our party. The companies in question always paid all of the necessary taxes.Obviously, when he became Prime Minister, his assets were placed in a trust, which is the appropriate thing to do.
Mr. Speaker, this veteran is expecting more than just administrative procedures. He is expecting a visit, or at least a call, from the minister.The 2016 budget provides for a retroactive increase in the maximum disability award. Can the Minister of Veterans Affairs share with us today how much will be paid for loss of hearing, which many veterans suffer from?
Mr. Speaker, let me be clear: rail safety is my top priority. I do not know which budget my colleague was looking at, but in our budget, the Government of Canada allocated $143 million to rail safety in this country over the next three years.I was very clear about the information on grade crossings. We will certainly share that information with the municipalities if they want. I am meeting with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities in two weeks to talk about it.
Mr. Speaker, we have said on a number of times in the House, the minister contacted the Ethics Commissioner proactively to ask whether it was appropriate for her to attend that fundraising activity, as every member in the House of Commons does from time to time and as did ministers in the previous Conservative government from time to time. She received a confirmation that it was entirely appropriate for her to do so. In fact, the Ethics Commissioner, in a three-page letter, confirmed that to my hon. colleague who asked the Ethics Commissioner that exact question. We consider this matter closed. The member is obviously having a struggle ending the matter.
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague from Gatineau for his question.The Syrian refugees on the Hill today will be pleased to hear that Canadians have donated nearly $32 million to the Syria Emergency Relief Fund. As promised, our government is matching that contribution, and even topping it up for a total of $100 million.Of the 29 projects that will receive funding, the largest is the UNICEF project that will help 84 education centres in Jordan, provide school supplies in Syria, and support a national vaccination campaign.
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Transport, in reply to a question from my colleague, offered to provide his agenda of meetings to this place. In keeping with the mandate letter issued to the minister wherein he is required to be open and transparent, I am asking that he make available that agenda of meetings, including with communities that are concerned about rail safety.
Mr. Speaker, I said that the hon. member should look at my agenda. If she wants to come over to my office, I will show it to her.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his question as well as for his hard work and leadership on the trade committee.We have committed to studying the TPP before taking a decision. We are doing precisely that. The trade committee is doing that, so we are gathering the appropriate information before taking a decision on ratifying.In the meantime, I would assure the hon. member that we are looking at every avenue for increasing Canada's trade and attracting job-creating investment to Canada.
Mr. Speaker, of course rail safety is my top priority. It is in my mandate letter. I was very glad that the Minister of Finance announced in this last budget $143 million additional dollars dedicated toward safety. That is a very serious commitment. With respect to grade crossings, I have made it very clear that this information, which is a tool that Transport Canada uses, can be made accessible to the municipalities if they wish it. In fact, I will be meeting with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities in two weeks to make that offer to them.
Mr. Speaker, we can say it is wonderful, but we are all wondering when, just like the workers.Canada can be a major global competitor for long-term, high-reward LNG contracts with Asian markets. These projects will provide thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in investment and revenue to benefit communities all across Canada. Exporting LNG will help the world lower GHG emissions. The Liberals will be responsible if Canadian LNG is shut out.Will the Liberal government stop blocking Canadian companies from getting LNG to global markets?
Mr. Speaker, the end of the dispute between Air Canada and the provinces of Quebec and Manitoba now allows us to clarify the Air Canada Public Participation Act. That is precisely what we are doing.I would remind my colleague, who is all worked up, that the amendment we are proposing requires Air Canada to keep jobs in Quebec, Manitoba, and Ontario.I cannot elaborate further because this matter is before the courts.
Mr. Speaker, the end of litigation between Air Canada and the Province of Quebec and the Province of Manitoba has allowed us to clarify the Air Canada Public Participation Act. That is exactly what we are doing.This is an important adjustment that needs to be made, and I would say this: there are jobs being created. The amendment actually says that there must be jobs in the provinces of Quebec, Manitoba, and Ontario.I cannot say any more than that at the moment, because it is before the tribunals.
Mr. Speaker, the government appears to agree with the Conservatives' dissenting report on the sensitive issue of physician-assisted dying, since the bill does not deal with minors or people suffering from mental illness. Good. It is clear
Mr. Speaker, after years of pretending to be champions for Air Canada workers, the Liberals tabled legislation that gives Air Canada free rein to ship the good-paying jobs of 2,600 workers and their families right out of Canada.The Prime Minister once stood alongside protesting maintenance workers. He was chatting about solidarity and probably throwing in the odd Kumbaya for good measure, but where is that solidarity when it could actually do something for workers?Will the Prime Minister stand up, apologize for his cynicism, and withdraw Bill C-10?
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my hon. colleague for her question. We are aware of issues with enforcement of our rules surrounding supply management. As the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food has often said in the House, our government supports supply management. We are working with the industry to find a long-term solution.
Mr. Speaker, we are aware of the resolution adopted by the National Assembly of Quebec. We are also aware of the issues all across the country. We have committed to finding a solution, and that is exactly what we will do.
Mr. Speaker, in fact, the reviews are in from economic experts, people like David Dodge, Kevin Lynch, and Larry Summers, former secretary of the treasury in the U.S., who have called for this kind of important investment in jobs and growth for some time.Their calls were ignored by the previous government. We have listened.We have also heard from the Governor of the Bank of Canada, who said that we have a better mix of policies today than we would have had without that fiscal change.The reviews are in, and we are doing the right thing.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to have been able to introduce legislation and to encourage robust discussions. We have had substantive feedback reports, including the special committee report that spoke to the fundamental need to ensure that we present the best approach that balances personal autonomy with the protection of vulnerable people. We have employed in the legislation the safeguards that were recommended by the joint committee, and we are going to ensure that we maintain this discussion and make the report available
Mr. Speaker, I can assure my hon. colleague that Veterans Affairs has an excellent process to review veterans' claims. To reiterate, when a veteran has a claim, it goes through to my department. If that claim is rejected, a member can go to the Veterans Review and Appeal Board not once but twice.We also have the opportunity to provide them with legal counsel to assist them in any and all processes along the way. I also point out that these are de novo application processes whereby they can present new evidence at all points along the process.
Mr. Speaker, I would first like to congratulate and thank my colleague for this very important question.Budget 2016 would provide the largest federal investment in housing in over 25 years. This investment of $2.3 billion includes, among other things, $200 million for seniors housing, doubling the federal investment in affordable housing, as well as close to $600 million for retrofits and renovations. I very much look forward to working with my colleague from Don Valley East, Toronto Community Housing, and the Ontario government to make those funds quickly and easily available.
Mr. Speaker, the government appears to agree with the Conservatives' dissenting report on the sensitive issue of physician-assisted dying, since the bill does not deal with minors or people suffering from mental illness. Good. It is also clear that the government will finally allow its members to vote freely, which we support. Good. Now, we must take action.On this side of the House, we think it is important that all members who want to speak to this sensitive issue be allowed to do so. However, we are running out of time. We want the government to know that it has our full co-operation.Is the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons prepared to review our parliamentary sitting hours?
Mr. Speaker, 84% of Canadians know it is possible to transport our energy resources while protecting the environment, and 70% of Canadians believe pipelines are the most appropriate method of transporting oil and gas. Canada's oil and gas is the most socially and environmentally responsible in the world. When will the Liberals finally get on board and proudly support Canada's world-leading, internationally renowned energy sector?
Mr. Speaker, we did not ask whether the government is aware of the issues; we want to know if it is going to enforce the regulations.For the parliamentary secretary's benefit, I repeat that the National Assembly called on the government to ensure that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency enforces its own regulation on cheese composition, using the same definition of diafiltered milk that the Canada Border Services Agency uses, namely, a protein concentrate.Will the government commit to respecting the unanimous will of the National Assembly and dairy producers, yes or no?
Mr. Speaker, it is clear that our government is completely open and transparent. That is why we gave all the numbers to the parliamentary budget officer. We will continue to co-operate with his office because we have a great deal of respect for the work he does.
Mr. Speaker, as the House knows, there were a number of consultations that were undertaken, which led to the legislation that was introduced today. We were informed by the external panel, which provided a report to us not many months ago. We were informed by a very interesting report from the provinces and territories and by an excellent report of the special joint committee of the House.All of those bodies have in turn reached out to a number of other organizations, including indigenous organizations across this country. We intend to continue consultation and a rigorous debate in the House. We are pleased with this legislation. We believe
Mr. Speaker, I am rising on an important point of order seeking unanimous consent of the House, and I will tell the House why. It is to confirm our collective intention that no RCMP member be prevented from communicating with his or her member of Parliament on Bill C-7, and that no discipline be enforced upon a member who has responded to the call of the public safety committee to appear before it as a witness. I am sure it is the intention of all of us to make sure that members affected by laws in front of this place have the right to communicate in a responsible way with their elected representatives and to respond to give testimony before the committee considering that bill.Why is unanimous consent required? It is because a letter was shared today that would suggest that some members could not appear and that some members may be disciplined for giving testimony this morning at committee.I would ask for unanimous consent so that, as a collective, we can exercise our right to call witnesses on important matters affecting this country.
Mr. Speaker, just two days ago, there was a question from a member of the Bloc Québécois. He said that the government was about to impose the energy east pipeline on the people of Quebec.The day before that, there was a member from the Conservative Party who said that the budget should announce its approval of a pipeline, which application has not yet been received by the regulator and without a single community having yet been consulted.We are going to follow a more rational process, a more principled one, that has a better chance of carrying the confidence of Canadians.
Mr. Speaker, I was pleased this morning to introduce, along with my colleague the Minister of Justice, new legislation that will support Canadians and provide medical assistance in dying. At the same time, this has triggered a conversation, a very important one, about the need to make sure that Canadians have access to the palliative care services they require in end of life. I have said repeatedly that it is important that Canadians should be able to have a good and peaceful death. However, just as much, it is important that Canadians will have a good, peaceful, and dignified life until the very end. For that purpose, we will make sure that Canadians have access to the palliative care services they need. We will do so in participation with our colleagues in the provinces and territories.
Mr. Speaker, I can tell the member that budget 2016 was a great day for our veterans. We delivered on many different aspects of our mandate items, including increasing the earnings loss benefit, increasing access to the impairment allowance, and increasing the disability award. We will continue to work with our veterans with care, compassion, and respect to get them the services they need when they need them and where they live. Part of that budget is for opening up nine new offices and hiring more staff to allow veterans' issues to be handled in a timely and effective manner.
Mr. Speaker, the Syrian crisis sparked an outpouring of sympathy on the part of Canadians, who responded with tremendous generosity.Our communities have welcomed over 25,000 refugees and continue to do so. People have donated a great deal to help those who are settling in their regions.Can the Minister of International Development and La Francophonie tell the House about the kind of support the government is still providing?
Mr. Speaker, I was proud to join my colleague recently at McGill's Macdonald Campus to announce our government's investment of $27 million to the agricultural greenhouse gases program. This program funds vital research in practices and technology that can be adopted on farms across the country. This is a great example of our government's commitment to research and innovation and to ensuring that the Canadian agricultural sector is more innovative and sustainable than ever.
Mr. Speaker, we do support the wonderful energy sector in Canada. I have had the pleasure of having conversations with people around the world about Canada's energy sector and they feel very confident that we will get over this dip in prices and emerge stronger. In part, we will emerge stronger because they will know that our regulatory system carries the confidence of Canadians and they will know that in 2016 we must move responsibly to market, and that is what we intend to do.
Most positive speeches
Mr. Speaker, we do support the wonderful energy sector in Canada. I have had the pleasure of having conversations with people around the world about Canada's energy sector and they feel very confident that we will get over this dip in prices and emerge stronger. In part, we will emerge stronger because they will know that our regulatory system carries the confidence of Canadians and they will know that in 2016 we must move responsibly to market, and that is what we intend to do.
Mr. Speaker, I was proud to join my colleague recently at McGill's Macdonald Campus to announce our government's investment of $27 million to the agricultural greenhouse gases program. This program funds vital research in practices and technology that can be adopted on farms across the country. This is a great example of our government's commitment to research and innovation and to ensuring that the Canadian agricultural sector is more innovative and sustainable than ever.
Mr. Speaker, the Syrian crisis sparked an outpouring of sympathy on the part of Canadians, who responded with tremendous generosity.Our communities have welcomed over 25,000 refugees and continue to do so. People have donated a great deal to help those who are settling in their regions.Can the Minister of International Development and La Francophonie tell the House about the kind of support the government is still providing?
Mr. Speaker, I can tell the member that budget 2016 was a great day for our veterans. We delivered on many different aspects of our mandate items, including increasing the earnings loss benefit, increasing access to the impairment allowance, and increasing the disability award. We will continue to work with our veterans with care, compassion, and respect to get them the services they need when they need them and where they live. Part of that budget is for opening up nine new offices and hiring more staff to allow veterans' issues to be handled in a timely and effective manner.
Mr. Speaker, I was pleased this morning to introduce, along with my colleague the Minister of Justice, new legislation that will support Canadians and provide medical assistance in dying. At the same time, this has triggered a conversation, a very important one, about the need to make sure that Canadians have access to the palliative care services they require in end of life. I have said repeatedly that it is important that Canadians should be able to have a good and peaceful death. However, just as much, it is important that Canadians will have a good, peaceful, and dignified life until the very end. For that purpose, we will make sure that Canadians have access to the palliative care services they need. We will do so in participation with our colleagues in the provinces and territories.
Mr. Speaker, just two days ago, there was a question from a member of the Bloc Québécois. He said that the government was about to impose the energy east pipeline on the people of Quebec.The day before that, there was a member from the Conservative Party who said that the budget should announce its approval of a pipeline, which application has not yet been received by the regulator and without a single community having yet been consulted.We are going to follow a more rational process, a more principled one, that has a better chance of carrying the confidence of Canadians.
Mr. Speaker, I am rising on an important point of order seeking unanimous consent of the House, and I will tell the House why. It is to confirm our collective intention that no RCMP member be prevented from communicating with his or her member of Parliament on Bill C-7, and that no discipline be enforced upon a member who has responded to the call of the public safety committee to appear before it as a witness. I am sure it is the intention of all of us to make sure that members affected by laws in front of this place have the right to communicate in a responsible way with their elected representatives and to respond to give testimony before the committee considering that bill.Why is unanimous consent required? It is because a letter was shared today that would suggest that some members could not appear and that some members may be disciplined for giving testimony this morning at committee.I would ask for unanimous consent so that, as a collective, we can exercise our right to call witnesses on important matters affecting this country.
Mr. Speaker, as the House knows, there were a number of consultations that were undertaken, which led to the legislation that was introduced today. We were informed by the external panel, which provided a report to us not many months ago. We were informed by a very interesting report from the provinces and territories and by an excellent report of the special joint committee of the House.All of those bodies have in turn reached out to a number of other organizations, including indigenous organizations across this country. We intend to continue consultation and a rigorous debate in the House. We are pleased with this legislation. We believe
Mr. Speaker, it is clear that our government is completely open and transparent. That is why we gave all the numbers to the parliamentary budget officer. We will continue to co-operate with his office because we have a great deal of respect for the work he does.
Mr. Speaker, we did not ask whether the government is aware of the issues; we want to know if it is going to enforce the regulations.For the parliamentary secretary's benefit, I repeat that the National Assembly called on the government to ensure that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency enforces its own regulation on cheese composition, using the same definition of diafiltered milk that the Canada Border Services Agency uses, namely, a protein concentrate.Will the government commit to respecting the unanimous will of the National Assembly and dairy producers, yes or no?
Mr. Speaker, 84% of Canadians know it is possible to transport our energy resources while protecting the environment, and 70% of Canadians believe pipelines are the most appropriate method of transporting oil and gas. Canada's oil and gas is the most socially and environmentally responsible in the world. When will the Liberals finally get on board and proudly support Canada's world-leading, internationally renowned energy sector?
Mr. Speaker, the government appears to agree with the Conservatives' dissenting report on the sensitive issue of physician-assisted dying, since the bill does not deal with minors or people suffering from mental illness. Good. It is also clear that the government will finally allow its members to vote freely, which we support. Good. Now, we must take action.On this side of the House, we think it is important that all members who want to speak to this sensitive issue be allowed to do so. However, we are running out of time. We want the government to know that it has our full co-operation.Is the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons prepared to review our parliamentary sitting hours?
Mr. Speaker, I would first like to congratulate and thank my colleague for this very important question.Budget 2016 would provide the largest federal investment in housing in over 25 years. This investment of $2.3 billion includes, among other things, $200 million for seniors housing, doubling the federal investment in affordable housing, as well as close to $600 million for retrofits and renovations. I very much look forward to working with my colleague from Don Valley East, Toronto Community Housing, and the Ontario government to make those funds quickly and easily available.
Mr. Speaker, I can assure my hon. colleague that Veterans Affairs has an excellent process to review veterans' claims. To reiterate, when a veteran has a claim, it goes through to my department. If that claim is rejected, a member can go to the Veterans Review and Appeal Board not once but twice.We also have the opportunity to provide them with legal counsel to assist them in any and all processes along the way. I also point out that these are de novo application processes whereby they can present new evidence at all points along the process.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to have been able to introduce legislation and to encourage robust discussions. We have had substantive feedback reports, including the special committee report that spoke to the fundamental need to ensure that we present the best approach that balances personal autonomy with the protection of vulnerable people. We have employed in the legislation the safeguards that were recommended by the joint committee, and we are going to ensure that we maintain this discussion and make the report available
Mr. Speaker, in fact, the reviews are in from economic experts, people like David Dodge, Kevin Lynch, and Larry Summers, former secretary of the treasury in the U.S., who have called for this kind of important investment in jobs and growth for some time.Their calls were ignored by the previous government. We have listened.We have also heard from the Governor of the Bank of Canada, who said that we have a better mix of policies today than we would have had without that fiscal change.The reviews are in, and we are doing the right thing.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my hon. colleague for her question. We are aware of issues with enforcement of our rules surrounding supply management. As the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food has often said in the House, our government supports supply management. We are working with the industry to find a long-term solution.
Mr. Speaker, we are aware of the resolution adopted by the National Assembly of Quebec. We are also aware of the issues all across the country. We have committed to finding a solution, and that is exactly what we will do.
Mr. Speaker, after years of pretending to be champions for Air Canada workers, the Liberals tabled legislation that gives Air Canada free rein to ship the good-paying jobs of 2,600 workers and their families right out of Canada.The Prime Minister once stood alongside protesting maintenance workers. He was chatting about solidarity and probably throwing in the odd Kumbaya for good measure, but where is that solidarity when it could actually do something for workers?Will the Prime Minister stand up, apologize for his cynicism, and withdraw Bill C-10?
Mr. Speaker, the government appears to agree with the Conservatives' dissenting report on the sensitive issue of physician-assisted dying, since the bill does not deal with minors or people suffering from mental illness. Good. It is clear
Mr. Speaker, the end of litigation between Air Canada and the Province of Quebec and the Province of Manitoba has allowed us to clarify the Air Canada Public Participation Act. That is exactly what we are doing.This is an important adjustment that needs to be made, and I would say this: there are jobs being created. The amendment actually says that there must be jobs in the provinces of Quebec, Manitoba, and Ontario.I cannot say any more than that at the moment, because it is before the tribunals.
Mr. Speaker, the end of the dispute between Air Canada and the provinces of Quebec and Manitoba now allows us to clarify the Air Canada Public Participation Act. That is precisely what we are doing.I would remind my colleague, who is all worked up, that the amendment we are proposing requires Air Canada to keep jobs in Quebec, Manitoba, and Ontario.I cannot elaborate further because this matter is before the courts.
Mr. Speaker, we can say it is wonderful, but we are all wondering when, just like the workers.Canada can be a major global competitor for long-term, high-reward LNG contracts with Asian markets. These projects will provide thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in investment and revenue to benefit communities all across Canada. Exporting LNG will help the world lower GHG emissions. The Liberals will be responsible if Canadian LNG is shut out.Will the Liberal government stop blocking Canadian companies from getting LNG to global markets?
Mr. Speaker, of course rail safety is my top priority. It is in my mandate letter. I was very glad that the Minister of Finance announced in this last budget $143 million additional dollars dedicated toward safety. That is a very serious commitment. With respect to grade crossings, I have made it very clear that this information, which is a tool that Transport Canada uses, can be made accessible to the municipalities if they wish it. In fact, I will be meeting with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities in two weeks to make that offer to them.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his question as well as for his hard work and leadership on the trade committee.We have committed to studying the TPP before taking a decision. We are doing precisely that. The trade committee is doing that, so we are gathering the appropriate information before taking a decision on ratifying.In the meantime, I would assure the hon. member that we are looking at every avenue for increasing Canada's trade and attracting job-creating investment to Canada.
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague from Gatineau for his question.The Syrian refugees on the Hill today will be pleased to hear that Canadians have donated nearly $32 million to the Syria Emergency Relief Fund. As promised, our government is matching that contribution, and even topping it up for a total of $100 million.Of the 29 projects that will receive funding, the largest is the UNICEF project that will help 84 education centres in Jordan, provide school supplies in Syria, and support a national vaccination campaign.
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Transport, in reply to a question from my colleague, offered to provide his agenda of meetings to this place. In keeping with the mandate letter issued to the minister wherein he is required to be open and transparent, I am asking that he make available that agenda of meetings, including with communities that are concerned about rail safety.
Mr. Speaker, I said that the hon. member should look at my agenda. If she wants to come over to my office, I will show it to her.
Mr. Speaker, we have said on a number of times in the House, the minister contacted the Ethics Commissioner proactively to ask whether it was appropriate for her to attend that fundraising activity, as every member in the House of Commons does from time to time and as did ministers in the previous Conservative government from time to time. She received a confirmation that it was entirely appropriate for her to do so. In fact, the Ethics Commissioner, in a three-page letter, confirmed that to my hon. colleague who asked the Ethics Commissioner that exact question. We consider this matter closed. The member is obviously having a struggle ending the matter.
Mr. Speaker, let me be clear: rail safety is my top priority. I do not know which budget my colleague was looking at, but in our budget, the Government of Canada allocated $143 million to rail safety in this country over the next three years.I was very clear about the information on grade crossings. We will certainly share that information with the municipalities if they want. I am meeting with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities in two weeks to talk about it.
Mr. Speaker, this veteran is expecting more than just administrative procedures. He is expecting a visit, or at least a call, from the minister.The 2016 budget provides for a retroactive increase in the maximum disability award. Can the Minister of Veterans Affairs share with us today how much will be paid for loss of hearing, which many veterans suffer from?
Mr. Speaker, my colleague opposite knows full well that we have absolutely nothing to hide.The Prime Minister was very clear yesterday. It has never happened before, but he proactively disclosed information about his personal finances when he decided to run for the leadership of our party. The companies in question always paid all of the necessary taxes.Obviously, when he became Prime Minister, his assets were placed in a trust, which is the appropriate thing to do.
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member just said that the parliamentary budget officer was not telling the truth. That is unbelievable.The parliamentary budget officer said that he did not have all of the information, but my colleague is saying that his government gave it all to him. We should not be surprised, since, yesterday, when we asked the Prime Minister about his four companies, he did not want to give us any details. He was very evasive about the whole thing.What does the Prime Minister have to hide in that regard?
Mr. Speaker, indigenous communities in my riding will be directly impacted by today's legislation on assisted suicide. I am concerned that the Liberals have ignored these communities. Dr. Alika Lafontaine, president of the Indigenous Physicians Association, highlighted the absence of major indigenous organizations during the joint committee hearings and stated, I believe there has not been meaningful consultations with indigenous peoples. Why did the Liberals not undertake consultations with indigenous communities on assisted suicide?
Mr. Speaker, as the minister has often pointed out to the House, we inherited this problem from the previous government.We are working on the problem. We are aware of the issues and we know how important this is to the industry in Quebec and all across the country. We are working on coming up with a long-term solution.
Mr. Speaker, that is completely false. All we are asking is whether the government will respect the result of its own process. Canadians know that pipelines are the safest, most effective way to get our oil and gas to market. Canadian oil and gas is the cleanest and most ethical energy in the world, and creates high-paying jobs here at home. Without pipelines, eastern Canada is forced to import foreign oil. The Prime Minister's principal secretary and top advisor said that oil and gas development is as bad as hooking kids on cigarettes. Can the government explain why oil shipped by ocean tanker from Saudi Arabia is somehow better than western Canadian oil and gas?
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is making pipeline projects more difficult to get approved by adding more hurdles and red tape. He keeps moving the goalposts and giving special interest groups undue influence on the process. Now he claims that this more difficult process will ensure Canadians have more confidence in the process, that making it harder will somehow make it easier, and yet he refuses to commit to actually approving any project that makes it through his new onerous process. Very simply, if an application makes it through the new process that he himself has designed, will the Prime Minister approve it, or does he not have confidence in his own process?
Mr. Speaker, Robin Brentnall, a veteran and advocate from Newfoundland and Labrador, has been denied his claim to a disability award by Veterans Affairs and the Veterans Review and Appeal Board. He so strongly believes that he qualifies that he is protesting through a hunger strike until the minister assures him verbally that his file will be reviewed. On April 11, in The Gander Beacon, Robin said, All it takes is a phone call.After all their promises to veterans during the campaign, why are the Liberals abandoning this veteran now?
Mr. Speaker, Quebeckers and Canadians certainly understand that rail safety is important. The minister says he understands it is important. Maybe he should tell that to the Minister of Finance because the rail safety budget was cut by 21%.Tragic incidents like the one in Lac-Mégantic and other accidents happen across Canada. The Lac-Mégantic tragedy is very fresh in people's memory.We recently learned that Transport Canada sat on information about the 500 most dangerous rail crossings. It is time to stop talking and start taking action.When will the minister and the government start taking action?
Mr. Speaker, budget 2016 goes a long way to addressing some of those issues that have been brought up.We are opening up nine new offices. In fact, there will be more outreach in Surrey, B.C., and the north for veterans to have points of contact.We are hiring staff to replace the 800 members that the Conservatives cut from our front-line services. This will allow veterans to get care, compassion, and respect and have their issues dealt with in a timely fashion.I can also say to the member, my goodness, I have been the minister for 162 days. We have accomplished a lot. We will continue to work on the mental health file and get these centres of excellence up and running to get the veterans the care, compassion
Mr. Speaker, I hope that it is abundantly clear that our government is absolutely committed to addressing the gaps in terms of the realities of the day-to-day life of indigenous people in this country. In our recent budget, we have invested $8.4 million to address those gaps. Much of that will go to addressing educational resources, which these communities need. I am pleased that within that there is $270 million that will go to improving health centres and nursing stations in indigenous communities. This will encourage health human resources to stay in these communities. We are firm in our commitment to ensure that the health care services are out there.
Mr. Speaker, major resource projects play a vital role in our economy, and we clearly recognize the importance of creating jobs and economic growth. We have been very clear that the focus is on moving the environment and the economy forward hand in hand. In fact, that is a requirement in the modern age.With respect to LNG projects, they will go through an appropriate environmental assessments and decisions will be made on science and data, not on politics as perhaps they have in the past. This is the responsible approach. This is the modern approach. It is obviously not the Conservative approach, but this is how we plan to move forward.
Mr. Speaker, as the member opposite well knows, the response to the needs in indigenous communities is a collaborative response. This is a response that needs to take into consideration, of course, the leadership of indigenous leaders across this country. In terms of Attawapiskat and other communities, we have done just that. We are in regular communication with the national chief, the regional chief, the grand chief, and the local chief in this community. We are also working with the provincial government, which has recently invested $2 million to support health care services in Attawapiskat. We will be there working in partnership with all of these jurisdictions to make sure that people have the services they require.
Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to answer my colleague's question.First of all, I would remind members that the protection of personal information is one of our priorities. When the Canada Revenue Agency shares information with other countries, personal information is protected.My colleague has seen that the budget includes an unprecedented investment of $444 million. This shows that the government is determined to put an end to these schemes in order to benefit Canadians.
Mr. Speaker, it is our objective, as the Prime Minister has said many times, to move our natural resources to market sustainably.The previous government, in spite of $100-a-barrel oil, in spite of all of that representation from western Canada, did not build a single pipeline to tidewater during its majority government from 2011.I do not think Canadians would advise the government to follow that process. We are following a different one. We think we will have a better chance to do the right thing, which is to move that product
Mr. Speaker, our government has been clear about the fact that we will increase access to mental health services across the country. In particular, of course, we will be focusing on the indigenous communities, the first nations, the Inuit, and the Métis nation to ensure that they have access to the mental health services they need. I am very pleased that in the case of Attawapiskat, there are now 18 mental health workers on the ground who were not there previous to the time that this crisis began. We will continue working to introduce the resources that are required.
I am sorry, Mr. Speaker, I should not have said that.It is too bad that my colleague opposite does not know that I made that offer yesterday at the House leaders meeting. We completely agree that we should ensure that as many members as possible have a chance to rise in this House to speak to this important issue. I would be happy to work with
Mr. Speaker, we did not just get to this crisis by accident. The children have been dying on a daily basis across this country, dying in nurses stations from strep throat and asthma because government will not pay for the medication, dying by suicide because government will routinely turn down their pleas for mental health counselling. The current government has no new money for mental health or for health services. It has to stop. Where is the political will to invest in resources, in what is truly our greatest resource, our children? Where is that will to move today?
Mr. Speaker, Canadians are concerned about the suicide crisis in Attawapiskat and many other indigenous communities. We cannot continue to neglect our youth this way.The government says that it is taking this problem seriously, but in reality, the budget does not provide for any investments in mental health care services for indigenous youth. The government needs to invest in prevention.Will the government immediately make recurrent funding available for mental health care services for first nations youth?
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister's own ethics code states that ministers shall not raise funds from department stakeholders and lobbyists. Yet last week the Minister of Justice attended a pay-to-play fundraiser at a law firm with extensive dealings with the minister's department and a lobbyist who was registered to lobby, guess who, the minister. Therefore, will the minister stand in the House and advise which other lobbyists were at the fundraiser?
Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government continues to dig itself a deeper hole in the Saudi Arabia arms deal. The minister claims that his hands were tied and that the contract was a done deal by the former government, but that is not true. He authorized the export permits, the most crucial, essential step.Why does the minister continue to mislead Canadians? Will he finally step up and confirm that this decision was made by his government?
Mr. Speaker, every single large organization within the persons with disabilities community shares the same opinion on assisted dying: they want a prior review process of non-medical social vulnerabilities for every patient. This request comes from their shared experience. Poverty, isolation, and temporary depression often accompany a person's adaptation to a new disability.What I would like to know is this: will the Liberals respect those with disabilities by ensuring a robust prior review of social vulnerabilities is provided, and if so, what will that look like?
Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Quebec National Assembly passed a second motion asking the government to resolve the diafiltered milk issue once and for all. In less than two days, 4,500 people signed a petition calling on the government to take concrete action. Our producers are losing $220 million a year as a result of this government's inaction. Our regions' economies are suffering as a direct result.The government either needs to take action or compensate our producers. What is the government waiting for? When will it finally resolve the diafiltered milk issue once and for all?
Mr. Speaker, we have been asking the same questions for four days, with no answers. The House leader continues to stand on behalf of the justice minister. We are talking about her Prime Minister's guidelines, clearly outlined instructions to ministers. She was not only told to avoid conflicts of interest, but to avoid the appearance of one as well. Was the Prime Minister consulted when his justice minister decided to ignore his rules?
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister's guidelines outline that ministers and parliamentary secretaries must avoid a conflict of interest or the appearance of one at all times. The guideline states: There should be no preferential access to government, or appearance of preferential access, accorded to individuals or organizations because they have made financial contributions to politicians and political parties. Does the Minister of Justice not see that by attending a pay-to-play private event with high priced Bay Street lawyers who might be considered for a Governor in Council appointment she is actually granting preferential access?
Mr. Speaker, my colleague, the Minister of Justice, has answered that question a number of times. My colleague across the aisle knows very well that members in the House attend fundraising events from time to time, done entirely according to law. All of the donations are disclosed publicly, as is required by law. The Minister of Justice did absolutely nothing different than the ministers in the previous government used to do. Every member on this side of the House respects the Elections Act and the Prime Minister's code of conduct, and will always continue to do so. That is something the Conservatives had considerable trouble doing when they were in government.
Mr. Speaker, the Liberals promised investments in mental health and suicide prevention for our veterans. The Liberal budget completely failed to deliver.Building two new centres for research and treatment will not address these issues. Many veterans need to travel often and over long distances to receive even basic face-to-face treatment.How will the minister ensure that mental health support and suicide prevention initiatives will be provided to all veterans close to home, no matter where they live in Canada?
Mr. Speaker, McGill University's Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences is located in my riding. The faculty does world-class research on the relationship between environment, including water supply and climate change, and agriculture. Could the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food tell the House what our government is doing to support and encourage research in this area, both at McGill's Macdonald Campus in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue and across the country?
Mr. Speaker, Toronto Community Housing provides affordable housing to 58,000 households, of which there are 68 buildings in my riding of Don Valley East, encompassing thousands of residents. With a repair backlog of $2.6 billion, thousands of homes are affected. Could the minister please update the House on how he is working with the City to alleviate this problem?
Mr. Speaker, the minister made that same offer to me during question period as well, so I wonder if he will offer me the same opportunity to look through his schedule.
Mr. Speaker, I too would like to see the minister's agenda. In the spirit of equity, I will show him mine if he will show me his.
Mr. Speaker, everybody is waiting with bated breath for the Thursday question, but before we turn to that, I wonder if I could seek unanimous consent of the House to table the January Fiscal Monitor which shows that the current government received a $4.1 billion surplus for
Mr. Speaker, I wonder if the government House leader could provide us with information about the agenda for the remainder of this week and for next week.
Mr. Speaker, I have good news. I have no documents to table, and thus there is no need to worry. This afternoon will conclude the fourth and final day of the budget debate. Tomorrow we will commence second reading of Bill C-10, the Air Canada legislation, and continue that debate on Monday.Next week, we will have opposition days on Tuesday and Thursday. On Wednesday, we will begin debate on Bill C-14 on medical assistance in dying, introduced this morning by my colleague, the Minister of Justice.Mr. Speaker, after discussions with all parties I think you will find unanimous consent for the following motion: That, pursuant to Section 20 of the Freezing Assets of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act, the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development be designated for the statutory review of the Freezing Assets of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act and the Special Economic Measures Act.
Mr. Speaker, I think my colleague is well aware that she is the one who is confusing the matter. I want to share a quote from a news story: At the end of March, Minister Dion said that he and government officials would examine whether the armoured vehicles exported to Saudi Arabia comply with international laws, human rights and our national interests. If a journalist understood, why did my colleague not understand?
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister states that the definition of a stakeholder is an individual employed in, contacted by, or who otherwise represents corporations or organizations that have current or anticipated official dealings with ministers. The Minister of Justice had a secret and private pay-to-play fundraiser in Toronto with high-priced lawyers who have a history of lobbying the justice department. Why did the minister contravene the Prime Minister's guideline, which is far above what the House leader is currently saying in defence of her, and why did she put the integrity of her office in so much jeopardy?
Mr. Speaker, we are very committed to the manufacturing sector. We understand the importance of this sector in London in particular. I was there just a few days ago, making an announcement with respect to the automotive innovation fund and extending this fund for the next three years. This would allow further investments to allow job creation. Above and beyond that, just a few days ago I was in Kitchener with my colleagues to announced the automotive supplier innovation fund initiative, which again invests in a supplier base. We are investing in manufacturing. We are investing in jobs. We are growing the economy. That is good for the country.
Mr. Speaker, my hon. colleague knows full well the minister did no such thing. He keeps referring to this supposed secret fundraiser. Just because he repeats these exaggerated lines does not make them true. A fundraiser where every donation is disclosed on the Internet is hardly a secret fundraiser. It is something that members opposite have done many times over.We will continue to respect all of the provisions of the Prime Minister's open and accountable government code, as well as the Conflict of Interest Act and any other related provisions.
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Transport claims rail safety is his top priority, yet this week rail inspectors told our committee, despite a projected tenfold increase in dangerous cargo, that the rail safety budget was being slashed 21%. Yesterday it was revealed that Transport Canada had withheld information on the 500 most dangerous level crossings, two of the most dangerous in my riding of Edmonton Strathcona. Cuts, inaction, secrecy will not improve rail safety. When will the minister take real action on rail safety?
Mr. Speaker, with the government responding to the crisis in Attawapiskat, we are hearing from indigenous youth in other regions who are saying Where are the resources for our community? The crisis is extreme across this country, and band-aids will not work. The youth want action now, yet there were zero dollars in this budget to deal with the suicide crisis and zero new dollars to deal with indigenous mental health. The current government has the power to act. The only thing missing is political will. Will it commit today to augment the funds to ensure that we can end the mental health crisis in all of the communities across this country?
Mr. Speaker, when it comes to palliative care services, there is a crying need for help across the country.The government itself acknowledged that this is an important issue in the bill it introduced today, but there was nothing for palliative care in the budget. The Liberals had promised $3 billion over four years for home care. There is yet another broken promise.Will the government finally acknowledge that this is urgent and invest in palliative care?
Mr. Speaker, Canada's dairy producers are totally distraught because the Liberal government is dragging its feet on the issue of diafiltered milk. Canadian dairy producers are losing millions of dollars every week because of an injustice, a scheme orchestrated by processing industries that do not care about behaving ethically toward their business partners.Our dairy producers have been tormented long enough. The Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food must act immediately in the collective interest of the entire dairy industry. Will he take action now, or is he going to put it off indefinitely?
Mr. Speaker, in the last election, the Liberal leader said, Raising corporate taxes, like the NDP want to do, strangles growth. The current immigration minister also said that the NDP's proposed corporate tax hikes would cost 150,000 jobs.It stands to reason therefore that raising the corporate tax rate on small business would have a similar job-killing effect on our economy.Would the Minister of Finance tell us whether his department did a calculation of the number of jobs that would be lost based upon the tax increases the budget imposes on our small business job creators?
Mr. Speaker, I would remind my hon. colleague to read the entire budget, because this is the government that reduced taxes on nine million Canadians. We did that in December. The taxes on small business have been reduced. This is a government that works for Canadians, Canadian families, and small business. We will continue to do exactly that.
Mr. Speaker, what I can say is that Veterans Affairs takes all applications to review veterans' issues seriously. There is a process whereby it comes into the department, and then our veterans also have a chance to appeal at the Veterans Review and Appeal Board at two separate levels. We also provide legal assistance to veterans who are looking to get their benefits, allowing those claims to go forward.I thank the member for his question, and we will continue to monitor the situation going forward.
Mr. Speaker, I am sorry, but my hon. colleague is blowing smoke here. We have met with a number of groups ever since I put out that report. As I said, I put it out on February 25, because I wanted to hear back from western grain farmers, from the shippers, and from the railroads. I wanted to hear from everybody. Believe me, my schedule shows that I am meeting a whole bunch of them. I encourage my hon. colleague to relax. I am doing my work.
Mr. Speaker, while the member is chopping, it was only our government that cut taxes for small business.As the law currently stands, the rate will fall down to 9% within three years. The government proposes legislation that will raise it up back to 10.5%. That is an increase in taxes on 622,000 small businesses that pay $150 billion in wages.The budget contains a bunch of inflated numbers for job creation. Has the finance department done any calculation on job losses with this tax hike?
Mr. Speaker, divisive personal attacks are not going to distract from the government's misleading of Canadians. Trying to pit the jobs of workers against human rights is a cynical distraction, but it does not hide government failure to open up new responsible markets and support long-term sustainable manufacturing jobs in our region. Instead, the Liberals have gambled the jobs of workers on a deal with an oppressive state, giving our city an unfair black eye.Where is the government's plan for long-term sustainable jobs for the workers at General Dynamics and throughout London?
Mr. Speaker, I want to remind my hon. colleague that we did reduce taxes for small businesses and we did reduce taxes for nine million Canadians. I would invite my hon. colleague to read the entire budget. He will see that this government is working for Canadians.
Mr. Speaker, for the past few days, the Prime Minister has wrapped himself in the immaculate cloak of transparency, stating that his government is transparent and comparing our former government to his.Let us hear from a third party, an independent party. With respect to transparency, the parliamentary budget officer said that he was unable to provide all the data because the government did not give him all the data. He is an independent person.How can the Prime Minister claim to be transparent?
Mr. Speaker, Canada's business owners, farmers, and manufacturers deserve to be on a level playing field with their global competitors. However, the Liberal inaction and comments are confusing Canadians. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce has said that we should and must ratify the TPP because being left behind would be catastrophic for Canadians. How will the Liberals help out our exporters to do business with Japan and Asian markets if they do not ratify the trans-Pacific partnership?
Mr. Speaker, the reviews are in for the Liberal budget with a resounding fail for transparency.The parliamentary budget officer called it the least transparent budget in 15 years. A former deputy finance minister said that it failed the Liberals' own campaign commitments. Even the CBC called it a shell game.The Prime Minister thinks that the budget will balance itself, but how can the Liberals have any credibility on the economy when they keep fudging the numbers?
Mr. Speaker, Prairie farmers and farm families are waiting for the Liberals to extend the grain freight provisions, including inter-switching, that have helped them get their grain to market. The minister could have made this decision last year, but will spend the rest of the year consulting, unnecessarily, By the time he is done dithering, these provisions will have ended, leaving producers without reliable access to market.Why is the minister deliberately delaying this extension?
Mr. Speaker, again, the hon. member keeps repeating these silly phrases like pay-to-play. He is confusing his Saturday night at the arcade with a very legitimate fundraising activity
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Veterans Affairs keeps repeating the words care, respect, and compassion when talking about our veterans. One veteran, Robin Brentnall, recently went on a hunger strike to protest the bad decisions made in his case by the department. Can the minister confirm that he has been in contact with this veteran, that he has gone to visit him in order to save him before it is too late?
Mr. Speaker, the government has once again dismissed the unanimous will of Quebec. I will give it a second chanceThis morning, the Quebec National Assembly unanimously adopted another motion. It calls on the federal government to work with Quebec to implement the motion I will be moving this evening, which will put an end to the shameful use of tax havens in Barbados. Quebeckers are sick and tired of seeing Canadian law encourage profiteers.Will the Prime Minister make a formal commitment to honour Quebec's unanimous request by supporting the Bloc Québécois's Motion No. 42, yes or no?
Mr. Speaker, we are looking at this matter very seriously. It comes at a time when the Canada Transportation Act review has been submitted, something which I tabled in the House on February 25, a very serious document with a large number of recommendations, some of which touch upon grain transportation.I can assure my colleague that we are looking at this matter very seriously.
Mr. Speaker, if the Liberals were serious about doing anything on this, the Liberal MPs yesterday would not have refused to agree to hear from prairie grain farmers who were concerned about these provisions not having yet been extended. In fact, I then took the opportunity this morning to meet with these farmers. They said that while the Liberals refused to listen to them, they know that this side of the House would stand up for them. Will the minister extend these provisions that the farm families desperately need?
Mr. Speaker, that is not what we would call clarifying. That is what we would call sacrificing. The Liberals are giving Air Canada carte blanche. Just yesterday they were saying that the Conservatives should have upheld the law. Even the Prime Minister shouted through his megaphone, So-so-so solidarity! Today, it is even worse. They are in the process of legalizing the job losses that were illegal just yesterday. It is outrageous and disgusting. I have never seen such spineless people before.Are the Liberals not ashamed of sacrificing the lives and work of 2,600 families?
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question.It is too bad that his parliamentary leader is not in the House, since he could have sent
Mr. Speaker, we do support the wonderful energy sector in Canada. I have had the pleasure of having conversations with people around the world about Canada's energy sector and they feel very confident that we will get over this dip in prices and emerge stronger. In part, we will emerge stronger because they will know that our regulatory system carries the confidence of Canadians and they will know that in 2016 we must move responsibly to market, and that is what we intend to do.
Mr. Speaker, I was proud to join my colleague recently at McGill's Macdonald Campus to announce our government's investment of $27 million to the agricultural greenhouse gases program. This program funds vital research in practices and technology that can be adopted on farms across the country. This is a great example of our government's commitment to research and innovation and to ensuring that the Canadian agricultural sector is more innovative and sustainable than ever.
Mr. Speaker, the Syrian crisis sparked an outpouring of sympathy on the part of Canadians, who responded with tremendous generosity.Our communities have welcomed over 25,000 refugees and continue to do so. People have donated a great deal to help those who are settling in their regions.Can the Minister of International Development and La Francophonie tell the House about the kind of support the government is still providing?
Mr. Speaker, I can tell the member that budget 2016 was a great day for our veterans. We delivered on many different aspects of our mandate items, including increasing the earnings loss benefit, increasing access to the impairment allowance, and increasing the disability award. We will continue to work with our veterans with care, compassion, and respect to get them the services they need when they need them and where they live. Part of that budget is for opening up nine new offices and hiring more staff to allow veterans' issues to be handled in a timely and effective manner.
Mr. Speaker, I was pleased this morning to introduce, along with my colleague the Minister of Justice, new legislation that will support Canadians and provide medical assistance in dying. At the same time, this has triggered a conversation, a very important one, about the need to make sure that Canadians have access to the palliative care services they require in end of life. I have said repeatedly that it is important that Canadians should be able to have a good and peaceful death. However, just as much, it is important that Canadians will have a good, peaceful, and dignified life until the very end. For that purpose, we will make sure that Canadians have access to the palliative care services they need. We will do so in participation with our colleagues in the provinces and territories.
Mr. Speaker, just two days ago, there was a question from a member of the Bloc Québécois. He said that the government was about to impose the energy east pipeline on the people of Quebec.The day before that, there was a member from the Conservative Party who said that the budget should announce its approval of a pipeline, which application has not yet been received by the regulator and without a single community having yet been consulted.We are going to follow a more rational process, a more principled one, that has a better chance of carrying the confidence of Canadians.
Mr. Speaker, I am rising on an important point of order seeking unanimous consent of the House, and I will tell the House why. It is to confirm our collective intention that no RCMP member be prevented from communicating with his or her member of Parliament on Bill C-7, and that no discipline be enforced upon a member who has responded to the call of the public safety committee to appear before it as a witness. I am sure it is the intention of all of us to make sure that members affected by laws in front of this place have the right to communicate in a responsible way with their elected representatives and to respond to give testimony before the committee considering that bill.Why is unanimous consent required? It is because a letter was shared today that would suggest that some members could not appear and that some members may be disciplined for giving testimony this morning at committee.I would ask for unanimous consent so that, as a collective, we can exercise our right to call witnesses on important matters affecting this country.
Mr. Speaker, as the House knows, there were a number of consultations that were undertaken, which led to the legislation that was introduced today. We were informed by the external panel, which provided a report to us not many months ago. We were informed by a very interesting report from the provinces and territories and by an excellent report of the special joint committee of the House.All of those bodies have in turn reached out to a number of other organizations, including indigenous organizations across this country. We intend to continue consultation and a rigorous debate in the House. We are pleased with this legislation. We believe
Mr. Speaker, it is clear that our government is completely open and transparent. That is why we gave all the numbers to the parliamentary budget officer. We will continue to co-operate with his office because we have a great deal of respect for the work he does.
Mr. Speaker, we did not ask whether the government is aware of the issues; we want to know if it is going to enforce the regulations.For the parliamentary secretary's benefit, I repeat that the National Assembly called on the government to ensure that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency enforces its own regulation on cheese composition, using the same definition of diafiltered milk that the Canada Border Services Agency uses, namely, a protein concentrate.Will the government commit to respecting the unanimous will of the National Assembly and dairy producers, yes or no?
Mr. Speaker, 84% of Canadians know it is possible to transport our energy resources while protecting the environment, and 70% of Canadians believe pipelines are the most appropriate method of transporting oil and gas. Canada's oil and gas is the most socially and environmentally responsible in the world. When will the Liberals finally get on board and proudly support Canada's world-leading, internationally renowned energy sector?
Mr. Speaker, the government appears to agree with the Conservatives' dissenting report on the sensitive issue of physician-assisted dying, since the bill does not deal with minors or people suffering from mental illness. Good. It is also clear that the government will finally allow its members to vote freely, which we support. Good. Now, we must take action.On this side of the House, we think it is important that all members who want to speak to this sensitive issue be allowed to do so. However, we are running out of time. We want the government to know that it has our full co-operation.Is the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons prepared to review our parliamentary sitting hours?
Mr. Speaker, I would first like to congratulate and thank my colleague for this very important question.Budget 2016 would provide the largest federal investment in housing in over 25 years. This investment of $2.3 billion includes, among other things, $200 million for seniors housing, doubling the federal investment in affordable housing, as well as close to $600 million for retrofits and renovations. I very much look forward to working with my colleague from Don Valley East, Toronto Community Housing, and the Ontario government to make those funds quickly and easily available.
Mr. Speaker, I can assure my hon. colleague that Veterans Affairs has an excellent process to review veterans' claims. To reiterate, when a veteran has a claim, it goes through to my department. If that claim is rejected, a member can go to the Veterans Review and Appeal Board not once but twice.We also have the opportunity to provide them with legal counsel to assist them in any and all processes along the way. I also point out that these are de novo application processes whereby they can present new evidence at all points along the process.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to have been able to introduce legislation and to encourage robust discussions. We have had substantive feedback reports, including the special committee report that spoke to the fundamental need to ensure that we present the best approach that balances personal autonomy with the protection of vulnerable people. We have employed in the legislation the safeguards that were recommended by the joint committee, and we are going to ensure that we maintain this discussion and make the report available
Mr. Speaker, in fact, the reviews are in from economic experts, people like David Dodge, Kevin Lynch, and Larry Summers, former secretary of the treasury in the U.S., who have called for this kind of important investment in jobs and growth for some time.Their calls were ignored by the previous government. We have listened.We have also heard from the Governor of the Bank of Canada, who said that we have a better mix of policies today than we would have had without that fiscal change.The reviews are in, and we are doing the right thing.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my hon. colleague for her question. We are aware of issues with enforcement of our rules surrounding supply management. As the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food has often said in the House, our government supports supply management. We are working with the industry to find a long-term solution.
Mr. Speaker, we are aware of the resolution adopted by the National Assembly of Quebec. We are also aware of the issues all across the country. We have committed to finding a solution, and that is exactly what we will do.
Mr. Speaker, after years of pretending to be champions for Air Canada workers, the Liberals tabled legislation that gives Air Canada free rein to ship the good-paying jobs of 2,600 workers and their families right out of Canada.The Prime Minister once stood alongside protesting maintenance workers. He was chatting about solidarity and probably throwing in the odd Kumbaya for good measure, but where is that solidarity when it could actually do something for workers?Will the Prime Minister stand up, apologize for his cynicism, and withdraw Bill C-10?
Mr. Speaker, the government appears to agree with the Conservatives' dissenting report on the sensitive issue of physician-assisted dying, since the bill does not deal with minors or people suffering from mental illness. Good. It is clear
Mr. Speaker, the end of litigation between Air Canada and the Province of Quebec and the Province of Manitoba has allowed us to clarify the Air Canada Public Participation Act. That is exactly what we are doing.This is an important adjustment that needs to be made, and I would say this: there are jobs being created. The amendment actually says that there must be jobs in the provinces of Quebec, Manitoba, and Ontario.I cannot say any more than that at the moment, because it is before the tribunals.
Mr. Speaker, the end of the dispute between Air Canada and the provinces of Quebec and Manitoba now allows us to clarify the Air Canada Public Participation Act. That is precisely what we are doing.I would remind my colleague, who is all worked up, that the amendment we are proposing requires Air Canada to keep jobs in Quebec, Manitoba, and Ontario.I cannot elaborate further because this matter is before the courts.
Mr. Speaker, we can say it is wonderful, but we are all wondering when, just like the workers.Canada can be a major global competitor for long-term, high-reward LNG contracts with Asian markets. These projects will provide thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in investment and revenue to benefit communities all across Canada. Exporting LNG will help the world lower GHG emissions. The Liberals will be responsible if Canadian LNG is shut out.Will the Liberal government stop blocking Canadian companies from getting LNG to global markets?
Mr. Speaker, of course rail safety is my top priority. It is in my mandate letter. I was very glad that the Minister of Finance announced in this last budget $143 million additional dollars dedicated toward safety. That is a very serious commitment. With respect to grade crossings, I have made it very clear that this information, which is a tool that Transport Canada uses, can be made accessible to the municipalities if they wish it. In fact, I will be meeting with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities in two weeks to make that offer to them.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his question as well as for his hard work and leadership on the trade committee.We have committed to studying the TPP before taking a decision. We are doing precisely that. The trade committee is doing that, so we are gathering the appropriate information before taking a decision on ratifying.In the meantime, I would assure the hon. member that we are looking at every avenue for increasing Canada's trade and attracting job-creating investment to Canada.
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague from Gatineau for his question.The Syrian refugees on the Hill today will be pleased to hear that Canadians have donated nearly $32 million to the Syria Emergency Relief Fund. As promised, our government is matching that contribution, and even topping it up for a total of $100 million.Of the 29 projects that will receive funding, the largest is the UNICEF project that will help 84 education centres in Jordan, provide school supplies in Syria, and support a national vaccination campaign.
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Transport, in reply to a question from my colleague, offered to provide his agenda of meetings to this place. In keeping with the mandate letter issued to the minister wherein he is required to be open and transparent, I am asking that he make available that agenda of meetings, including with communities that are concerned about rail safety.
Mr. Speaker, I said that the hon. member should look at my agenda. If she wants to come over to my office, I will show it to her.
Mr. Speaker, we have said on a number of times in the House, the minister contacted the Ethics Commissioner proactively to ask whether it was appropriate for her to attend that fundraising activity, as every member in the House of Commons does from time to time and as did ministers in the previous Conservative government from time to time. She received a confirmation that it was entirely appropriate for her to do so. In fact, the Ethics Commissioner, in a three-page letter, confirmed that to my hon. colleague who asked the Ethics Commissioner that exact question. We consider this matter closed. The member is obviously having a struggle ending the matter.
Mr. Speaker, let me be clear: rail safety is my top priority. I do not know which budget my colleague was looking at, but in our budget, the Government of Canada allocated $143 million to rail safety in this country over the next three years.I was very clear about the information on grade crossings. We will certainly share that information with the municipalities if they want. I am meeting with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities in two weeks to talk about it.
Mr. Speaker, this veteran is expecting more than just administrative procedures. He is expecting a visit, or at least a call, from the minister.The 2016 budget provides for a retroactive increase in the maximum disability award. Can the Minister of Veterans Affairs share with us today how much will be paid for loss of hearing, which many veterans suffer from?
Mr. Speaker, my colleague opposite knows full well that we have absolutely nothing to hide.The Prime Minister was very clear yesterday. It has never happened before, but he proactively disclosed information about his personal finances when he decided to run for the leadership of our party. The companies in question always paid all of the necessary taxes.Obviously, when he became Prime Minister, his assets were placed in a trust, which is the appropriate thing to do.
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member just said that the parliamentary budget officer was not telling the truth. That is unbelievable.The parliamentary budget officer said that he did not have all of the information, but my colleague is saying that his government gave it all to him. We should not be surprised, since, yesterday, when we asked the Prime Minister about his four companies, he did not want to give us any details. He was very evasive about the whole thing.What does the Prime Minister have to hide in that regard?
Mr. Speaker, indigenous communities in my riding will be directly impacted by today's legislation on assisted suicide. I am concerned that the Liberals have ignored these communities. Dr. Alika Lafontaine, president of the Indigenous Physicians Association, highlighted the absence of major indigenous organizations during the joint committee hearings and stated, I believe there has not been meaningful consultations with indigenous peoples. Why did the Liberals not undertake consultations with indigenous communities on assisted suicide?
Mr. Speaker, as the minister has often pointed out to the House, we inherited this problem from the previous government.We are working on the problem. We are aware of the issues and we know how important this is to the industry in Quebec and all across the country. We are working on coming up with a long-term solution.
Mr. Speaker, that is completely false. All we are asking is whether the government will respect the result of its own process. Canadians know that pipelines are the safest, most effective way to get our oil and gas to market. Canadian oil and gas is the cleanest and most ethical energy in the world, and creates high-paying jobs here at home. Without pipelines, eastern Canada is forced to import foreign oil. The Prime Minister's principal secretary and top advisor said that oil and gas development is as bad as hooking kids on cigarettes. Can the government explain why oil shipped by ocean tanker from Saudi Arabia is somehow better than western Canadian oil and gas?
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is making pipeline projects more difficult to get approved by adding more hurdles and red tape. He keeps moving the goalposts and giving special interest groups undue influence on the process. Now he claims that this more difficult process will ensure Canadians have more confidence in the process, that making it harder will somehow make it easier, and yet he refuses to commit to actually approving any project that makes it through his new onerous process. Very simply, if an application makes it through the new process that he himself has designed, will the Prime Minister approve it, or does he not have confidence in his own process?
Mr. Speaker, Robin Brentnall, a veteran and advocate from Newfoundland and Labrador, has been denied his claim to a disability award by Veterans Affairs and the Veterans Review and Appeal Board. He so strongly believes that he qualifies that he is protesting through a hunger strike until the minister assures him verbally that his file will be reviewed. On April 11, in The Gander Beacon, Robin said, All it takes is a phone call.After all their promises to veterans during the campaign, why are the Liberals abandoning this veteran now?
Mr. Speaker, Quebeckers and Canadians certainly understand that rail safety is important. The minister says he understands it is important. Maybe he should tell that to the Minister of Finance because the rail safety budget was cut by 21%.Tragic incidents like the one in Lac-Mégantic and other accidents happen across Canada. The Lac-Mégantic tragedy is very fresh in people's memory.We recently learned that Transport Canada sat on information about the 500 most dangerous rail crossings. It is time to stop talking and start taking action.When will the minister and the government start taking action?
Mr. Speaker, budget 2016 goes a long way to addressing some of those issues that have been brought up.We are opening up nine new offices. In fact, there will be more outreach in Surrey, B.C., and the north for veterans to have points of contact.We are hiring staff to replace the 800 members that the Conservatives cut from our front-line services. This will allow veterans to get care, compassion, and respect and have their issues dealt with in a timely fashion.I can also say to the member, my goodness, I have been the minister for 162 days. We have accomplished a lot. We will continue to work on the mental health file and get these centres of excellence up and running to get the veterans the care, compassion
Mr. Speaker, I hope that it is abundantly clear that our government is absolutely committed to addressing the gaps in terms of the realities of the day-to-day life of indigenous people in this country. In our recent budget, we have invested $8.4 million to address those gaps. Much of that will go to addressing educational resources, which these communities need. I am pleased that within that there is $270 million that will go to improving health centres and nursing stations in indigenous communities. This will encourage health human resources to stay in these communities. We are firm in our commitment to ensure that the health care services are out there.
Mr. Speaker, major resource projects play a vital role in our economy, and we clearly recognize the importance of creating jobs and economic growth. We have been very clear that the focus is on moving the environment and the economy forward hand in hand. In fact, that is a requirement in the modern age.With respect to LNG projects, they will go through an appropriate environmental assessments and decisions will be made on science and data, not on politics as perhaps they have in the past. This is the responsible approach. This is the modern approach. It is obviously not the Conservative approach, but this is how we plan to move forward.
Mr. Speaker, as the member opposite well knows, the response to the needs in indigenous communities is a collaborative response. This is a response that needs to take into consideration, of course, the leadership of indigenous leaders across this country. In terms of Attawapiskat and other communities, we have done just that. We are in regular communication with the national chief, the regional chief, the grand chief, and the local chief in this community. We are also working with the provincial government, which has recently invested $2 million to support health care services in Attawapiskat. We will be there working in partnership with all of these jurisdictions to make sure that people have the services they require.
Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to answer my colleague's question.First of all, I would remind members that the protection of personal information is one of our priorities. When the Canada Revenue Agency shares information with other countries, personal information is protected.My colleague has seen that the budget includes an unprecedented investment of $444 million. This shows that the government is determined to put an end to these schemes in order to benefit Canadians.
Mr. Speaker, it is our objective, as the Prime Minister has said many times, to move our natural resources to market sustainably.The previous government, in spite of $100-a-barrel oil, in spite of all of that representation from western Canada, did not build a single pipeline to tidewater during its majority government from 2011.I do not think Canadians would advise the government to follow that process. We are following a different one. We think we will have a better chance to do the right thing, which is to move that product
Mr. Speaker, our government has been clear about the fact that we will increase access to mental health services across the country. In particular, of course, we will be focusing on the indigenous communities, the first nations, the Inuit, and the Métis nation to ensure that they have access to the mental health services they need. I am very pleased that in the case of Attawapiskat, there are now 18 mental health workers on the ground who were not there previous to the time that this crisis began. We will continue working to introduce the resources that are required.
I am sorry, Mr. Speaker, I should not have said that.It is too bad that my colleague opposite does not know that I made that offer yesterday at the House leaders meeting. We completely agree that we should ensure that as many members as possible have a chance to rise in this House to speak to this important issue. I would be happy to work with
Mr. Speaker, we did not just get to this crisis by accident. The children have been dying on a daily basis across this country, dying in nurses stations from strep throat and asthma because government will not pay for the medication, dying by suicide because government will routinely turn down their pleas for mental health counselling. The current government has no new money for mental health or for health services. It has to stop. Where is the political will to invest in resources, in what is truly our greatest resource, our children? Where is that will to move today?
Mr. Speaker, Canadians are concerned about the suicide crisis in Attawapiskat and many other indigenous communities. We cannot continue to neglect our youth this way.The government says that it is taking this problem seriously, but in reality, the budget does not provide for any investments in mental health care services for indigenous youth. The government needs to invest in prevention.Will the government immediately make recurrent funding available for mental health care services for first nations youth?
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister's own ethics code states that ministers shall not raise funds from department stakeholders and lobbyists. Yet last week the Minister of Justice attended a pay-to-play fundraiser at a law firm with extensive dealings with the minister's department and a lobbyist who was registered to lobby, guess who, the minister. Therefore, will the minister stand in the House and advise which other lobbyists were at the fundraiser?
Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government continues to dig itself a deeper hole in the Saudi Arabia arms deal. The minister claims that his hands were tied and that the contract was a done deal by the former government, but that is not true. He authorized the export permits, the most crucial, essential step.Why does the minister continue to mislead Canadians? Will he finally step up and confirm that this decision was made by his government?
Mr. Speaker, every single large organization within the persons with disabilities community shares the same opinion on assisted dying: they want a prior review process of non-medical social vulnerabilities for every patient. This request comes from their shared experience. Poverty, isolation, and temporary depression often accompany a person's adaptation to a new disability.What I would like to know is this: will the Liberals respect those with disabilities by ensuring a robust prior review of social vulnerabilities is provided, and if so, what will that look like?
Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Quebec National Assembly passed a second motion asking the government to resolve the diafiltered milk issue once and for all. In less than two days, 4,500 people signed a petition calling on the government to take concrete action. Our producers are losing $220 million a year as a result of this government's inaction. Our regions' economies are suffering as a direct result.The government either needs to take action or compensate our producers. What is the government waiting for? When will it finally resolve the diafiltered milk issue once and for all?
Mr. Speaker, we have been asking the same questions for four days, with no answers. The House leader continues to stand on behalf of the justice minister. We are talking about her Prime Minister's guidelines, clearly outlined instructions to ministers. She was not only told to avoid conflicts of interest, but to avoid the appearance of one as well. Was the Prime Minister consulted when his justice minister decided to ignore his rules?
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister's guidelines outline that ministers and parliamentary secretaries must avoid a conflict of interest or the appearance of one at all times. The guideline states: There should be no preferential access to government, or appearance of preferential access, accorded to individuals or organizations because they have made financial contributions to politicians and political parties. Does the Minister of Justice not see that by attending a pay-to-play private event with high priced Bay Street lawyers who might be considered for a Governor in Council appointment she is actually granting preferential access?
Mr. Speaker, my colleague, the Minister of Justice, has answered that question a number of times. My colleague across the aisle knows very well that members in the House attend fundraising events from time to time, done entirely according to law. All of the donations are disclosed publicly, as is required by law. The Minister of Justice did absolutely nothing different than the ministers in the previous government used to do. Every member on this side of the House respects the Elections Act and the Prime Minister's code of conduct, and will always continue to do so. That is something the Conservatives had considerable trouble doing when they were in government.
Mr. Speaker, the Liberals promised investments in mental health and suicide prevention for our veterans. The Liberal budget completely failed to deliver.Building two new centres for research and treatment will not address these issues. Many veterans need to travel often and over long distances to receive even basic face-to-face treatment.How will the minister ensure that mental health support and suicide prevention initiatives will be provided to all veterans close to home, no matter where they live in Canada?
Mr. Speaker, McGill University's Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences is located in my riding. The faculty does world-class research on the relationship between environment, including water supply and climate change, and agriculture. Could the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food tell the House what our government is doing to support and encourage research in this area, both at McGill's Macdonald Campus in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue and across the country?
Mr. Speaker, Toronto Community Housing provides affordable housing to 58,000 households, of which there are 68 buildings in my riding of Don Valley East, encompassing thousands of residents. With a repair backlog of $2.6 billion, thousands of homes are affected. Could the minister please update the House on how he is working with the City to alleviate this problem?
Mr. Speaker, the minister made that same offer to me during question period as well, so I wonder if he will offer me the same opportunity to look through his schedule.
Mr. Speaker, I too would like to see the minister's agenda. In the spirit of equity, I will show him mine if he will show me his.
Mr. Speaker, everybody is waiting with bated breath for the Thursday question, but before we turn to that, I wonder if I could seek unanimous consent of the House to table the January Fiscal Monitor which shows that the current government received a $4.1 billion surplus for
Mr. Speaker, I wonder if the government House leader could provide us with information about the agenda for the remainder of this week and for next week.
Mr. Speaker, I have good news. I have no documents to table, and thus there is no need to worry. This afternoon will conclude the fourth and final day of the budget debate. Tomorrow we will commence second reading of Bill C-10, the Air Canada legislation, and continue that debate on Monday.Next week, we will have opposition days on Tuesday and Thursday. On Wednesday, we will begin debate on Bill C-14 on medical assistance in dying, introduced this morning by my colleague, the Minister of Justice.Mr. Speaker, after discussions with all parties I think you will find unanimous consent for the following motion: That, pursuant to Section 20 of the Freezing Assets of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act, the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development be designated for the statutory review of the Freezing Assets of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act and the Special Economic Measures Act.
Mr. Speaker, I think my colleague is well aware that she is the one who is confusing the matter. I want to share a quote from a news story: At the end of March, Minister Dion said that he and government officials would examine whether the armoured vehicles exported to Saudi Arabia comply with international laws, human rights and our national interests. If a journalist understood, why did my colleague not understand?
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister states that the definition of a stakeholder is an individual employed in, contacted by, or who otherwise represents corporations or organizations that have current or anticipated official dealings with ministers. The Minister of Justice had a secret and private pay-to-play fundraiser in Toronto with high-priced lawyers who have a history of lobbying the justice department. Why did the minister contravene the Prime Minister's guideline, which is far above what the House leader is currently saying in defence of her, and why did she put the integrity of her office in so much jeopardy?
Mr. Speaker, we are very committed to the manufacturing sector. We understand the importance of this sector in London in particular. I was there just a few days ago, making an announcement with respect to the automotive innovation fund and extending this fund for the next three years. This would allow further investments to allow job creation. Above and beyond that, just a few days ago I was in Kitchener with my colleagues to announced the automotive supplier innovation fund initiative, which again invests in a supplier base. We are investing in manufacturing. We are investing in jobs. We are growing the economy. That is good for the country.
Mr. Speaker, my hon. colleague knows full well the minister did no such thing. He keeps referring to this supposed secret fundraiser. Just because he repeats these exaggerated lines does not make them true. A fundraiser where every donation is disclosed on the Internet is hardly a secret fundraiser. It is something that members opposite have done many times over.We will continue to respect all of the provisions of the Prime Minister's open and accountable government code, as well as the Conflict of Interest Act and any other related provisions.
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Transport claims rail safety is his top priority, yet this week rail inspectors told our committee, despite a projected tenfold increase in dangerous cargo, that the rail safety budget was being slashed 21%. Yesterday it was revealed that Transport Canada had withheld information on the 500 most dangerous level crossings, two of the most dangerous in my riding of Edmonton Strathcona. Cuts, inaction, secrecy will not improve rail safety. When will the minister take real action on rail safety?
Mr. Speaker, with the government responding to the crisis in Attawapiskat, we are hearing from indigenous youth in other regions who are saying Where are the resources for our community? The crisis is extreme across this country, and band-aids will not work. The youth want action now, yet there were zero dollars in this budget to deal with the suicide crisis and zero new dollars to deal with indigenous mental health. The current government has the power to act. The only thing missing is political will. Will it commit today to augment the funds to ensure that we can end the mental health crisis in all of the communities across this country?
Mr. Speaker, when it comes to palliative care services, there is a crying need for help across the country.The government itself acknowledged that this is an important issue in the bill it introduced today, but there was nothing for palliative care in the budget. The Liberals had promised $3 billion over four years for home care. There is yet another broken promise.Will the government finally acknowledge that this is urgent and invest in palliative care?
Mr. Speaker, Canada's dairy producers are totally distraught because the Liberal government is dragging its feet on the issue of diafiltered milk. Canadian dairy producers are losing millions of dollars every week because of an injustice, a scheme orchestrated by processing industries that do not care about behaving ethically toward their business partners.Our dairy producers have been tormented long enough. The Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food must act immediately in the collective interest of the entire dairy industry. Will he take action now, or is he going to put it off indefinitely?
Mr. Speaker, in the last election, the Liberal leader said, Raising corporate taxes, like the NDP want to do, strangles growth. The current immigration minister also said that the NDP's proposed corporate tax hikes would cost 150,000 jobs.It stands to reason therefore that raising the corporate tax rate on small business would have a similar job-killing effect on our economy.Would the Minister of Finance tell us whether his department did a calculation of the number of jobs that would be lost based upon the tax increases the budget imposes on our small business job creators?
Mr. Speaker, I would remind my hon. colleague to read the entire budget, because this is the government that reduced taxes on nine million Canadians. We did that in December. The taxes on small business have been reduced. This is a government that works for Canadians, Canadian families, and small business. We will continue to do exactly that.
Mr. Speaker, what I can say is that Veterans Affairs takes all applications to review veterans' issues seriously. There is a process whereby it comes into the department, and then our veterans also have a chance to appeal at the Veterans Review and Appeal Board at two separate levels. We also provide legal assistance to veterans who are looking to get their benefits, allowing those claims to go forward.I thank the member for his question, and we will continue to monitor the situation going forward.
Mr. Speaker, I am sorry, but my hon. colleague is blowing smoke here. We have met with a number of groups ever since I put out that report. As I said, I put it out on February 25, because I wanted to hear back from western grain farmers, from the shippers, and from the railroads. I wanted to hear from everybody. Believe me, my schedule shows that I am meeting a whole bunch of them. I encourage my hon. colleague to relax. I am doing my work.
Mr. Speaker, while the member is chopping, it was only our government that cut taxes for small business.As the law currently stands, the rate will fall down to 9% within three years. The government proposes legislation that will raise it up back to 10.5%. That is an increase in taxes on 622,000 small businesses that pay $150 billion in wages.The budget contains a bunch of inflated numbers for job creation. Has the finance department done any calculation on job losses with this tax hike?
Mr. Speaker, divisive personal attacks are not going to distract from the government's misleading of Canadians. Trying to pit the jobs of workers against human rights is a cynical distraction, but it does not hide government failure to open up new responsible markets and support long-term sustainable manufacturing jobs in our region. Instead, the Liberals have gambled the jobs of workers on a deal with an oppressive state, giving our city an unfair black eye.Where is the government's plan for long-term sustainable jobs for the workers at General Dynamics and throughout London?
Mr. Speaker, I want to remind my hon. colleague that we did reduce taxes for small businesses and we did reduce taxes for nine million Canadians. I would invite my hon. colleague to read the entire budget. He will see that this government is working for Canadians.
Mr. Speaker, for the past few days, the Prime Minister has wrapped himself in the immaculate cloak of transparency, stating that his government is transparent and comparing our former government to his.Let us hear from a third party, an independent party. With respect to transparency, the parliamentary budget officer said that he was unable to provide all the data because the government did not give him all the data. He is an independent person.How can the Prime Minister claim to be transparent?
Mr. Speaker, Canada's business owners, farmers, and manufacturers deserve to be on a level playing field with their global competitors. However, the Liberal inaction and comments are confusing Canadians. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce has said that we should and must ratify the TPP because being left behind would be catastrophic for Canadians. How will the Liberals help out our exporters to do business with Japan and Asian markets if they do not ratify the trans-Pacific partnership?
Mr. Speaker, the reviews are in for the Liberal budget with a resounding fail for transparency.The parliamentary budget officer called it the least transparent budget in 15 years. A former deputy finance minister said that it failed the Liberals' own campaign commitments. Even the CBC called it a shell game.The Prime Minister thinks that the budget will balance itself, but how can the Liberals have any credibility on the economy when they keep fudging the numbers?
Mr. Speaker, Prairie farmers and farm families are waiting for the Liberals to extend the grain freight provisions, including inter-switching, that have helped them get their grain to market. The minister could have made this decision last year, but will spend the rest of the year consulting, unnecessarily, By the time he is done dithering, these provisions will have ended, leaving producers without reliable access to market.Why is the minister deliberately delaying this extension?
Mr. Speaker, again, the hon. member keeps repeating these silly phrases like pay-to-play. He is confusing his Saturday night at the arcade with a very legitimate fundraising activity
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Veterans Affairs keeps repeating the words care, respect, and compassion when talking about our veterans. One veteran, Robin Brentnall, recently went on a hunger strike to protest the bad decisions made in his case by the department. Can the minister confirm that he has been in contact with this veteran, that he has gone to visit him in order to save him before it is too late?
Mr. Speaker, the government has once again dismissed the unanimous will of Quebec. I will give it a second chanceThis morning, the Quebec National Assembly unanimously adopted another motion. It calls on the federal government to work with Quebec to implement the motion I will be moving this evening, which will put an end to the shameful use of tax havens in Barbados. Quebeckers are sick and tired of seeing Canadian law encourage profiteers.Will the Prime Minister make a formal commitment to honour Quebec's unanimous request by supporting the Bloc Québécois's Motion No. 42, yes or no?
Mr. Speaker, we are looking at this matter very seriously. It comes at a time when the Canada Transportation Act review has been submitted, something which I tabled in the House on February 25, a very serious document with a large number of recommendations, some of which touch upon grain transportation.I can assure my colleague that we are looking at this matter very seriously.
Mr. Speaker, if the Liberals were serious about doing anything on this, the Liberal MPs yesterday would not have refused to agree to hear from prairie grain farmers who were concerned about these provisions not having yet been extended. In fact, I then took the opportunity this morning to meet with these farmers. They said that while the Liberals refused to listen to them, they know that this side of the House would stand up for them. Will the minister extend these provisions that the farm families desperately need?
Mr. Speaker, that is not what we would call clarifying. That is what we would call sacrificing. The Liberals are giving Air Canada carte blanche. Just yesterday they were saying that the Conservatives should have upheld the law. Even the Prime Minister shouted through his megaphone, So-so-so solidarity! Today, it is even worse. They are in the process of legalizing the job losses that were illegal just yesterday. It is outrageous and disgusting. I have never seen such spineless people before.Are the Liberals not ashamed of sacrificing the lives and work of 2,600 families?
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question.It is too bad that his parliamentary leader is not in the House, since he could have sent