Most toxic speeches
Mr. Speaker, today we learned that Canadian special forces recently came under fire in a battle near Mosul in Iraq. This directly contradicts the Prime Minister's claims that Canada is only doing training. On this side of the House, we have been clear that Canada should be taking the fight to ISIS, but it was the Liberals who, for purely political reasons, claimed that all we would be doing is training, insinuating that this would be much safer. How can the Prime Minister claim this is just a training mission when our troops are under fire?
Mr. Speaker, when the Liberals promised an increase in benefits for permanently injured veterans, they failed to mention that their plan would benefit higher ranking officials the most, while rank-and-file veterans would see minimal increases. New Democrats believe that veterans, all veterans regardless of rank, deserve to be treated with dignity. The government is humiliating veterans. Why are the Liberals leaving behind those with the least? Why are they treating our nation's most vulnerable veterans so disgracefully?
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister continues to ram through his change to our voting system without giving Canadians a voice. He has rigged the process to get the results that he wants. Canadians know that this entire thing is a sham and it shows a complete lack of respect for our democracy.When is the Prime Minister going to climb down from this mess he has created and give Canadians what they want, which is a referendum?
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for her question.Every year, tobacco kills more than 37,000 Canadians, and 87,000 Canadians become daily smokers. We can and must do better, and we are launching public consultations to regulate the appearance, size, and shape of packaging for tobacco products and adopting plain packaging measures to make tobacco less attractive. The government is committed to Canadians' health.
Mr. Speaker, our troops are doing extraordinary work in the fight against ISIS, but the Liberals have put them into a more dangerous mission, tried to call it training, and have withdrawn our CF-18s that are a key pillar to degrade the enemy. Make no mistake, if our troops come under fire, they should always respond with overwhelming force, but what the government should not do is mislead Canadians about the nature of this mission. It is more dangerous and it is combat.Is the Prime Minister finally prepared to admit that Canada's mission in Iraq is combat?
Mr. Speaker, this week, the Government of Quebec announced more significant investments in the aerospace industry. Meanwhile, here in Ottawa, the government is asleep at the switch. It has not announced anything for Bombardier and we have heard no word of an aerospace policy. The only thing on the Liberal government's record so far has been the loss of 2,600 jobs at Air Canada.Why was the Prime Minister in such a rush to hand Air Canada a blank cheque, even though the company never obeyed the law? There were never any consequences. Why is he so naive to believe that Air Canada will keep its word this time?
Mr. Speaker, the Liberals promised to treat our veterans with respect. However, today we learned that only high-ranking veterans will really be able to take advantage of the benefit increases promised in the budget for veterans who are unable to work because of injuries. It makes no sense. The government's plan even goes so far as to demote veterans.Does the government realize that one of the worst possible insults in the military community is to be demoted? When will the minister fix this?
Mr. Speaker, in 2007, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police illegally spied on two Canadian journalists for nine days.The commissioner of the RCMP said that he never authorized the illegal surveillance. This is serious. Freedom of the press, one of the fundamental tenets of our democracy, is under attack.Will the Prime Minister agree to hold a public inquiry into the RCMP's illegal actions, as called for by our party and journalists?
Mr. Speaker, no, it is not a mistake. It is an illegal act.The RCMP spied on journalists. That is serious. This requires something other than more rhetoric, clichés, and platitudes.The RCMP has been caught breaching the rights of Canadians by gathering data on people who simply ask for government information. Worse, it is not even the first time that this has happened. It is a troubling trend when it comes to the government spying on Canadians. As we know, they also spied on journalists at the RCMP.Bill C-51 was the Conservative attack on our rights and freedoms. Why has the Prime Minister done nothing to get rid of Bill C-51?
Mr. Speaker, if the Minister of Democratic Institutions is actually interested in having a conversation on electoral reform, she cannot just keep repeating random verbs and nouns. She actually has to listen. Consultation, conversation, and listening are all great nouns and verbs. However, I have a noun for the Liberals: referendum. The Canadian people deserve one. Will the Liberals finally commit to one?
Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, millions of Canadians do not have enough savings to retire in dignity. This is a national crisis requiring national leadership. However, after making big promises to boost the CPP, Liberals are now playing down expectations. They are refusing even to say what they are proposing to the provinces. New Democrats believe all Canadians deserve to retire in dignity and security. Do Liberals believe in the goal of doubling CPP benefits, and what exactly is the minister planning to propose to the provinces?
Mr. Speaker, time is running out on a new softwood lumber deal, yet the Minister of Trade sees the 100-day deadline for a new deal as more of a checking-in period. No progress is being made, and the U.S. election is coming up. The government continues to tell Canadians to hang in there, which is unacceptable.What do the Liberals have to say to the hundreds of thousands of Canadians employed in the forestry sector whose jobs are on the line, aside from to hang in there?
Mr. Speaker, their system was created by the Liberals and is being run by a Liberal-dominated committee to ensure that the Liberal Party is re-elected. We are against it. This is very important. It is about changing the way Canadians choose their representatives to make decisions for Canada. We must listen to the public and have a referendum on this.
Mr. Speaker, as a former dairy farmer myself, I would like to wish all farmers a happy World Milk Day. Unlike the opposition members, our government supports supply management and our dairy industry. We think it is appalling that the members opposite want to eliminate supply management, which is a model of stability that supports our farmers, their families, and rural communities. Our party fought to set up supply management and we will continue to defend it against anyone who wants
Mr. Speaker, let us go back to the real issue. The minister can try to explain his lavish spending all he wants, but the point is he spent 250,000 taxpayers' dollars on couches and coffee machines.This side of the House knows that his spending does nothing for Canadians. When will the minister admit that the only infrastructure plan he has is to beautify his own office?
Mr. Speaker, today is World Milk Day, an opportunity to recognize that the dairy industry contributes nearly $19 billion to our economy.The Liberal government, which claims to be protecting supply management, is abandoning our dairy producers by refusing to address the diafiltered milk issue as promised.Producers have had enough of the Liberals' failure to take action. They are marching to Ottawa to demonstrate in front of Parliament tomorrow.Will the Liberals finally wake up and do something for our producers and our regions by keeping their promise to deal with the diafiltered milk problem?
Mr. Speaker, Canadians expect their rights to be protected by their Prime Minister.Today the Liberals plan to force through their bill to strip protections for thousands of aerospace workers here in Canada by using closure and shutting down debate at third reading.The Prime Minister once stood shoulder to shoulder, chanting solidarity with the very workers he is now abandoning. While other governments are making investments in our aerospace sector, will the Prime Minister provide one single reason why he is in such a rush to sell out Canadian aerospace jobs?
Mr. Speaker, that is an extremely serious situation and, as I have said many times, it is completely unacceptable for this to happen in Canada. The RCMP took action. Public safety took action. If the journalists involved or anyone else has questions, the commissioner of the RCMP will be pleased to respond.It was a mistake, it was fixed, and we learned from the situation.
Mr. Speaker, we had a great minister of infrastructure. Now we know what a poor minister of infrastructure looks like.We know Liberals like to help themselves to taxpayers' money and the facts are clear. The minister, obviously entitled to his entitlements, decided to spend nearly a million dollars on his shiny new digs, but $250,000 on couches and TVs?Why is the only infrastructure money spent in Canada so far spent on posh offices for Liberal ministers?
Mr. Speaker, after all three parties agreed during the campaign, small business owners were counting on legislated tax cuts to help grow their businesses and create jobs in our communities.The Liberals broke their word, and their omnibus bill gets rid of this important help for small businesses. Just yesterday, Liberals voted down NDP amendments to fix the bill. Why did the Liberals vote against their own election promise, and why did they vote down relief for Canada's best job creators?
Mr. Speaker, I reject the premise of the member's question, and I would like to reassure him that what we committed to, and the only outcome that we have arrived at to this point, is bringing together parliamentarians in this place to review the options available to us. I know this is a difficult concept for the member opposite to grasp. I know there is lingering cynicism from the Conservatives' practices over the last decade. That is not the way we do things, and I am looking forward to us realizing that, all of us together
Mr. Speaker, the minister is mistaken that the role of the Privy Council and the role of the public service is to be non-biased. It is, however, to represent what the government wants. What the government wants, apparently, is to have a single member district preferential ballot system. I will ask the question again. Why did the Liberals hire an individual to communicate on behalf of ranked ballots? What possible reason could the Liberals have, unless they have already predetermined the outcome of this entire process. Is that why they do not want to allow Canadians to engage in a referendum?
Mr. Speaker, on the contrary, the Garratts have not been abandoned by this government. We continue to be engaged on this file. We have expressed our concern for the well-being of the Garratts, and we have repeatedly raised the issue with Chinese officials at the highest levels. We will continue to persist in our call for their return home safely.
Mr. Speaker, he needs a new travel agent.As each day passes, Canadians learn the Liberal family reunion in Washington cost more and more money. Initially, the Liberals claimed the whole trip was $25,000. Now they are saying it is at least a quarter of a million. This is about priorities. How can the Liberals justify this runaway bill to taxpayers when they brought along their director of advertising, but actually left the natural resources minister at home?
Mr. Speaker, again, the member is talking about listening to the public when it comes to something as important as voting. I find that a bit odd because it was his party that eliminated and limited the right to vote for many people, all without consultation. That party made it more difficult for minority groups to vote. Despite that, Canadians made themselves heard and chose a party that is going to replace our electoral system.
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is making plenty of time today to meet with China's minister of foreign affairs, Mr. Wang Yi, but can he tell us, did he stand up for our interests and condemn China's aggressive activities in the South China Sea, activities that are seriously upsetting stability in the region? Will the Liberals stand by our allies and keep their word, or are they playing diplomatic games just to please the Chinese government?
Mr. Speaker, the minister is lecturing us about partisanship in the House; this is the same minister who thinks that her tweets count as consultation and who set up a committee that is under the complete control of the Liberal party, without consultation.After all that, the minister has the audacity to tell us here in the House that the opposition is being partisan. Seriously, will the minister finally listen to Canadians? Will she commit to holding a referendum so that all Canadians can express their views?
Mr. Speaker, the member opposite knows quite well that this individual was hired by the Privy Council to work as a communications advisor as a member of Canada's non-partisan public service. We are proud of the professional, non-partisan public service whose members come to work day in and day out with the sole purpose of serving Canadians. I encourage the member opposite to consider doing the same.
Mr. Speaker, the Liberals had a March madness to remember: $27 towel bars, TVs for everyone, and a $2,500 desk for the defence minister. But the leader of the spending pack is the infrastructure minister. He racked up a whopping $835,000 for his shiny new office, including an amazing $243,000 on furniture alone. At a time when Albertans are struggling to find work, why does this Edmonton minister think it is appropriate to spend almost $1 million on sky palace 2.0?
Mr. Speaker, while Albertans are reeling from job losses and devastating forest fires, the finance minister is charging taxpayers $4,000 per flight for his staff to see New York. Economy flights to New York are $600. Even business class is $1,200.Canadians control their spending. The government should control its spending, too. How did the finance minister manage to spend $4,000 a person to go on a lavish trip to New York?
Mr. Speaker, small businesses are the backbone of the economy. They are our job creators. For small business owners to succeed, they need a robust economy. They want increased revenue. Our middle-class tax cuts put money in the pockets of Canadians who need it most. Middle-class Canadians are also our customers. They buy the products and services that our small businesses provide.Money in the pockets of Canadians is good for the economy. It is good for growing the economy, and we will grow this economy as we promised Canadians.
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the minister justified the government's hiring of a communications advisor who is a professional advocate for a ranked ballot system, on the irrelevant basis that he was not hired for being a Liberal. That, of course, is not the issue. He was hired because he is an advocate of the ranked ballot system.Why, when the different proposals have not even been submitted and the committee has not even been struck, is the Liberal Party already hiring someone who has a position? Why are the Liberals putting in the fix before the process is even started? Why will they not allow a referendum?
Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the minister told the House that I had a hard time with the concept of listening, so just for the fun of it I spent a few minutes Googling quotes from reputable political analysts across Canada.Here is what I found: [The minister] has so far succeeded in burning bridges where she should have been building some. It is an unsustainable proposition. The Liberals were responsible for reassuring their political opponents. The Prime Minister did exactly the opposite.Clearly, I am not the only one who has a listening problem.I invite the minister to hold a referendum and consult Canadians. We will see which side of the House has a real listening problem.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. member for his question and say that we join him in wanting to ensure that Canadians have a fair and real shot at retiring in dignity. We want to help them to save so that they can have the appropriate opportunity that generations before have had.We are working in a collaborative fashion with provinces across the country, as we know is necessary, in order to get to a conclusion that will actually make a better situation for Canadians through an enhanced Canada pension plan. That is our goal and we look forward, hopefully, to being able to announce more on that in the coming months.
Mr. Speaker, the mission in Iraq is support and assist, and that is exactly what it is. It is focused on training. It is not a direct combat mission. It is not a combat mission, it is focused on empowering local troops to counter ISIL, but, of course, Canadian troops will always be allowed to defend themselves while they support local troops taking the fight to ISIL.
Mr. Speaker, the people struggling with the pyrrhotite problem in the Mauricie region are victims of a human and economic tragedy. The Conservative government ignored them for 10 years.I am proud to say that during the election campaign, the Prime Minister and those of us on this side of the House made a promise to help pyrrhotite victims. The budget provides for $30 million to help them. We kept our promise.The Prime Minister himself went to meet with the victims to express his support. We made a promise and we kept it. The money is there for victims.
Mr. Speaker, when Liberals promised an increase in benefits for permanently injured veterans, they failed to mention that their plan would benefit higher ranking officials the most
Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Minister of Finance was quite evasive about the $12,000 in travel expenses claimed by three of his employees to go to New York. Considering that it is possible to get a commercial flight for a few hundred dollars, those numbers seem off.The minister needs to be up front and tell us how his employees got to New York. Did they travel in economy class or business? Did they travel in a government plane?
Mr. Speaker, by limiting the debate to the House of Commons alone, the Liberals are making it impossible for all Canadians to have their say on this. Considering that 73% of Canadians want a referendum, I think that the Liberal Party needs to listen to them.The Prime Minister mentioned how people voted on October 19. Why, then, will he not let them vote in a referendum?
Mr. Speaker, at last week's G7 meeting in Japan, the Prime Minister showed real indifference to Prime Minister Abe's push to seek early ratification of the TPP. The Prime Minister, however, seems much more inclined to push for an early deal with China. While that is a very important market for us, the Prime Minister has also said, Its important that people know that when they sign a deal with Canada, a change of government isnt going to lead to the contract being ripped up. Why will the Prime Minister not prioritize ratifying the TPP before holding trade talks with China?
Mr. Speaker, need I remind the government that construction season is already well under way in Quebec and does not last very long?Despite the meagre sums that have been promised to pyrrhotite victims, they are still being made to wait. Homeowners are worried, and with good reason, because they could completely miss the 2016 season. What is more, the delay is unfairly penalizing these families, who are having difficulty making ends meet.Will the federal government commit to transferring the $10 million set out in the budget this week?
Mr. Speaker, we now know that the government was withholding information when it claimed that the price tag for the state visit to Washington was $25,000, because we have learned that it was 10 times greater, $257,000. Even worse, the Prime Minister was accompanied by 21 of his office staff. Twenty-one. Even his director of advertising was there. How can this government claim that it is a good manager of taxpayers' money when it spends money hand over fist on a trip abroad?
What we have said from the beginning, Mr. Speaker, is that Canada has an important role to play as part of the coalition against ISIL. Indeed, training on the ground, advising and assisting local troops, and being able to bring the fight effectively to ISIL and reclaim their lands and territories is exactly what we have committed to do.On top of that, we are adding extra intelligence and medical support to ensure that Canada has the best impact in empowering local troops to defeat ISIL. That is what we committed to do and that is exactly what we are doing.
Mr. Speaker, I answered the question on expenditures, and I do not know which part of my answer the hon. member does not understand. This is a stand-alone ministry that did not exist before. We did not have a dedicated DM. We did not have a dedicated minister to deliver the commitments that we made to Canadians.In the past, the previous government wasted two construction seasons not making a single investment in communities. We want to do things differently. That is why we are delivering on the commitments we made to Canadians.
Mr. Speaker, in budget 2016 we fulfilled our mandate commitment to increase earnings loss benefit to 90% of a veteran's pre-release salary, up from 75%. We committed $5.6 billion in financial security to veterans in budget 2016. No veteran will receive less as a result of these changes, and I am looking forward to many, many more veterans having more money in their pocket to build their lives.
Mr. Speaker, I realize that my colleague opposite may not be used to an appropriate Canadian delegation for a state visit to the United States. Our Prime Minister's visit marked the first time that the United States had bestowed this honour on Canada since 1997. As I have repeatedly stated, all appropriate expenses were proactively disclosed as promised by our government.What matters just as much to us is the progress made on files and issues that are important to Canadians. We are proud of this visit.
Mr. Speaker, today is World Milk Day, so it is important to point out that supply management helps sustain the dairy industry in Canada. That industry comprises 12,000 farms and families, employs over 200,000 Canadians, and contributes some $20 billion to our economy. Given that some people, including certain candidates to the leadership of the Conservative Party, want to eliminate supply management, can the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food inform the House of our government's position?
Mr. Speaker, it seems that the minister is confused about how conversations work. Both parties get to participate; the Liberals cannot just dictate the result. The only person who is taking away from the conversation is the minister, by following the Prime Minister's preconceived notion of where he wants the consultations to arrive. If the Liberals truly wanted to listen, they would let each and every Canadian have a say through a referendum. Will the Liberals drop the act already? Referendum, yes or no?
Mr. Speaker, many residents in northern B.C. are still awaiting the Liberals' final decision on Pacific NorthWest LNG. In fact, a group of these residents, who have travelled all the way across Canada promoting LNG, are with us here today: MLA Pat Pimm, Alan Yu, Kristi Leer, Ramona McDonald, Chris Lafratta, Jason Dabrule, and Dion DaSilva.We are looking for answers. When will the Liberals stop the delays and approve B.C. LNG so my residents can get back to work?
Mr. Speaker, for months Liberals have been asking for ideas about how best to change our democracy, yet every time I, my friend from RosemontLa Petite-Patrie, and New Democrats have offered solutions, the Liberals have rejected them.Canadians are growing concerned and expect that when Parliament passes any new voting system, it must have the support of other parties in this place.Today, will the minister take a first and important step and agree to change the Liberal-dominated committee to one that is fair to all members of Parliament and the millions of Canadians we represent?
Mr. Speaker, I understand there was a little noise in the chamber toward the end of question period, and you may not have heard the question by the member for SaanichGulf Islands. I think if you do check the blues on it, you may find that it does not fall under the administration of government. The position of the Conservative Party is not something the Prime Minister has to answer for.We are about to enter into tabling of documents, and during question period, the Prime Minister said that our party a éliminé...le droit de vote. I wonder if the government can table any evidence of anyone in Canada being disenfranchised.
On the contrary, Mr. Speaker, we have engaged in significant consultations with stakeholders. We are going to continue those. We have made clear commitments about improving Bill C-51. We have made commitments to bringing in an oversight committee of parliamentarians in which all parties will be able to participate, to ensure that our national security agencies and security services are behaving both within respect of the law and the charter, and also doing everything they can to protect Canadians. That is what Canadians expect.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for Niagara Centre for his question and for his efforts as a former mayor and now a member of Parliament, in promoting economic development.From day one, our government has been focused on attracting job-creating investments to this country. Today, our commitment is paying off with GE Canada selecting Welland, Ontario, as the location for its new brilliant factory.This facility will create 150 jobs in phase one and begin production in 2018.We are working with Export Development Canada, and this initiative speaks to our commitment to growing the economy and creating jobs.
Mr. Speaker, the fact of the matter is that electoral reform is an issue that matters to a number of Canadians, but few more so than those of us in the House who will be affected by it. That is why we have committed to working with Canadians and with members of the House.We are committed to fulfilling our commitment to Canadians to ensure that the next election, in 2019, will not be done under first past the post.
Mr. Speaker, this government clearly supports free trade as a way to create growth and create good jobs for the middle class. Witness our success with getting the CETA back on track after it had fallen completely off the rails.When it comes to the TPP, none of the other 12 countries have ratified the TPP, and that includes Japan. We have promised to consult Canadians from coast to coast to coast, and that is precisely what we are doing.
Mr. Speaker, we are aware of the industry's concerns about the use of diafiltered milk in cheese production. We have spent the past few weeks listening to the industry. We have had a number of very productive discussions that will help us develop a sustainable long-term strategy for the whole sector.Our government fully supports supply management.
Mr. Speaker, we have no intention of limiting the debate to the House of Commons, although I do encourage a good, full debate here in the House and in committee. That said, we have also committed to consulting Canadians directly on how to improve our electoral system, and we plan to work very hard to ensure that Canadians play an important role in choosing how we improve and replace our electoral system.
Mr. Speaker, we are working very hard to get a good deal for all of Canada on the softwood lumber file. The government recognizes the importance of the industry across Canada. Officials from the USTR met with the Canadian team here in Ottawa last week. There is a subsequent meeting planned. The minister is engaged. The ambassador is engaged. We are going to get a deal that ensures stable access to the American market.
Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order relating to statements we just heard during question period.I am sure that if we ask
Mr. Speaker, on the first issue that the hon. member brought up, Canadians expect two things. They expect their government to protect their physical security and defend their rights. We are the only party that indicated, time and time again, in the last election and since, that we knew we needed to do both of those things together.On the question of an aerospace industry and the strong jobs that go with it, this government has been working tirelessly to ensure that Canadians have good jobs in the aerospace industry, and that we have an aerospace industry that is good in the short term, medium term, and long term. That is what we are working on. That is what Canadians expect of us.
Mr. Speaker, we believe in engaging with China in a comprehensive way. It is the most effective way forward. Having regular high-level interactions with China on a range of issues will allow us to continue to have frank and honest conversations to find common ground on difficult issues, including of course human rights. We consistently raise human rights concerns with the Chinese government. The minister is busy doing that today.
Mr. Speaker, I have a great deal of respect for the media. I believe nothing is more important to democracy than a well-informed electorate. I also believe we need to listen to those whose voices have not been included in this conversation, like those with disabilities and exceptionalities, representatives of which groups we met with earlier. What we are hearing from people with disabilities is that the path to voting is an obstacle course. Let us listen to these voices and improve our electoral system and the way people vote.
Mr. Speaker, referendum is indeed a noun and like all nouns it has a definition. This one is found in the Referendum Act of 1992, which makes it clear that we can only hold a referendum in Canadaunless we go through the process of changing that acton a constitutional matter. Changing our voting system is not a constitutional question.I want to ask the Prime Minister if he agrees with me that it appears that our friends in the Conservative Party are not interested in a referendum or they would have looked at the act. They are interested in stopping Canadians from getting what we voted for as a majority, a fair voting system.
Mr. Speaker, may I start again?
Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I apologize for my outburst during question period. However, as the father of an intellectually disabled adult son, I find it reprehensible that the Minister of Democratic Institutions would use the disabled, insinuating
Mr. Speaker, we continue to believe that listening to Canadians is our priority as members, but also my priority as Minister of Democratic Institutions. It is our responsibility, as a House, to ensure that the voices of our constituents are heard. I am looking forward to this conversation happening in this House in a meaningful and respectful way beginning tomorrow.
Actually, Mr. Speaker, on October 19 of last year, Canadians indicated what they wanted. The majority voted for parties that were committed to ending first past the post. That is exactly the commitment we made and that is what we are moving forward with.Of course, as is our custom and as is our responsibility, unlike the opposition, when it was in government, we will be consulting, working with opposition parties, working with experts, ensuring that we have the best possible electoral system going forward.
Mr. Speaker, we are proud that we have committed to invest $120 billion to support public transit, to support investment in affordable housing, to support investment in cultural and recreational facilities, to make our infrastructure more resilient to climate change.Unlike the previous government, we are delivering on those commitments right away, instead of waiting for two years and missing two construction seasons and leaving Canadian communities behind.
Mr. Speaker, Kevin Garratt, a Canadian citizen who for years has assisted humanitarian programs into North Korea from his café in Dandong, China, has been imprisoned in China since 2014, indicted on phoney and unsubstantiated charges of spying.While our previous Conservative government spoke out strongly on Mr. Garratt's behalf, protesting the lack of evidence, the Liberals have only expressed concern.Why is an innocent Canadian being abandoned so the Prime Minister can pursue his fresh start with China?
Mr. Speaker, the expenditures the member is referring to are to provide office space for the minister, for the DM, as well as for the staff members to support the minister and the DM.We are focused on delivering on the commitments that we made to Canadians. That is why we are consolidating on one floor the entire ministry: to create efficiencies and live up to the expectations of Canadians in order to deliver on our commitments for infrastructure.
Mr. Speaker, we have committed to bringing together a committee made up of all parties to review the various options available to us. The purpose of this committee coming together is to hear from Canadians first-hand, and, yes, using 21st century tools like social media is smart and necessary for us to ensure that all voices, as many voices as possible, are included in this conversation. I am looking forward to a respectful and meaningful dialogue with all parties.
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities has a mandate. That mandate is supposed to involve investment in public transit, green infrastructure, and social infrastructure like affordable housing. His objective should be to encourage economic growth.Could the minister explain how spending $250,000 on furniture for himself achieves that mandate? Does the minister truly believe that this is a good use of taxpayers' dollars?
Mr. Speaker, prior to this government taking charge, we did not have a solely dedicated ministry for infrastructure. We did not have a solely dedicated deputy minister for infrastructure. We did not have any staff to support the minister and the deputy minister. The expenditures that the hon. member is talking about are to provide support staff, office space, minister's office space, and the DM's office space. We have followed the guidelines from the Treasury Board, and we are here to create efficiencies
Mr. Speaker, I will explain exactly how we will justify that important visit. It is because of what was accomplished for Canadians. On that trip, a historic visit, significant progress was made on issues as important to Canadians as climate change, the environment, international security, defence co-operation, the global coalition against ISIL, trade, and transborder security. We are proud of that trip, we are proud of what was accomplished, and all of the costs, as the member well knows, were proactively disclosed by a government that is committed to openness and transparency.
Mr. Speaker, like the finance ministers before me, I know that it is very important to communicate about Canada with Canadians and investors around the world.Our budget is very important for Canadians, and it is also important for international investors. That is why I travelled extensively to promote our level of growth to new investors in Canada.
Mr. Speaker, our government is working tirelessly to create jobs in the aerospace industry in the short term, medium term, and long term.That is why we are working with partners like Bombardier and Air Canada across the country to secure investments in innovation and good-quality jobs in this valuable industry, and we will continue to support and encourage investments in the aerospace industry across Canada.It is important for Canadians, important for jobs, and important for our economy.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his work on this file and for proposing the motion for us to talk about tomorrow.I welcome all members of this House to engage in this conversation. I know there is a lot of passion in this House. I know there are a lot of good ideas in this House. I look forward to receiving all of them beginning tomorrow.
Mr. Speaker, colourful, appealing packaging for tobacco products plays a key role in brand recognition and brand loyalty among customers. Studies have highlighted the impact this packaging has on children and young people. Our government was elected in October with a mandate to introduce plain packaging for tobacco products.Can the Minister of Health update the House on this initiative?
Mr. Speaker, in light of the statements made during question period, I am sure that if you were to ask all parties in the House about membership of the electoral reform committee, people would give the Green Party and the Bloc Québécois the right to participate and vote.I would like to move the following motion: That the participation of the Bloc Québécois and the Green Party be governed by the same provisions governing all other members and include the right to vote.
Mr. Speaker, as finance ministers before me have done, I have taken the opportunity, after presenting my budget, not only to travel across Canada to tell Canadians about the measures we are putting in place for them, but to travel internationally to talk to investors, economists and others who will actually make investments into our country to help us grow the economy to make Canada better for this generation and for the next generation. We are proud of what we are doing, and we look forward to continuing to do it in the years to come.
Mr. Speaker, as per my letter to you, pursuant to Standing Order 52, I request leave to make a motion to discuss actions the government can take to address the human rights situation facing Uighur Muslims in China, specifically in light of threats to religious liberty that this community may face during Ramadan, starting June 6.The Uighur Muslim community living in the People's Republic of China faces significant human rights abuses. During Ramadan these abuses have included forcible prevention of people from engaging in this deeply important Muslim fast.In 2015, the Chinese government banned civil servants, students, and teachers in the Xinjiang region, where most Uighurs live, from fasting during Ramadan. It also ordered restaurants to stay open. On January 1, new Enforcement of Religious Affairs Regulations" came into effect in the region, with the professed goal of limiting the role of religion in marriage, funerals, culture, the arts, and sports". Again this year, counties have posted notices forbidding students and Communist Party members from participating in the Ramadan fast. The Chinese government is paying attention to what we in Canada say and do not say on these issues. We in this House, the government, and you, Mr. Speaker, can make a difference for these suffering people by using this opportunity to discuss the role we can play in response to this situation.
Mr. Speaker, we committed to treating veterans with care, compassion, respect, and delivering on financial services. We did that in budget 2016. I would ask the member to go back to my mandate letter, which said that we would raise veterans earnings loss benefit to 90% of their pre-release salary. That is exactly what we did, delivering $5.6 billion in financial security to veterans and their families.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for this conversation. We listened to Canadians. Over 60% said that we need to review other options and we need to move beyond the status quo. We committed to bringing forward a committee made up of all parties of this House to review the options available, including online voting, including mandatory voting. I am looking forward to continuing a meaningful and respectful dialogue among all parties.
Mr. Speaker, we are engaged in a fair and thorough review process. I met the individuals in question today. We hear from all stakeholders. There are significant concerns around the project, but we are working with the proponent. Once we have sufficient information, we will make a decision within 90 days.
Mr. Speaker, the manufacturing sector is a cornerstone of Canada's economy, but countries are becoming increasingly competitive when it comes to attracting high-tech investment. With nearly one in eight jobs here in Canada linked to foreign investment, could the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development update the House on the government's efforts to attract high-quality jobs within our country?
Mr. Speaker, today we learned that Canadian special forces recently came under fire in a battle near Mosul in Iraq. This directly contradicts the Prime Minister's claims that Canada is only doing training. On this side of the House, we have been clear that Canada should be taking the fight to ISIS, but it was the Liberals who, for purely political reasons, claimed that all we would be doing is training, insinuating that this would be much safer. How can the Prime Minister claim this is just a training mission when our troops are under fire?
Mr. Speaker, when the Liberals promised an increase in benefits for permanently injured veterans, they failed to mention that their plan would benefit higher ranking officials the most, while rank-and-file veterans would see minimal increases. New Democrats believe that veterans, all veterans regardless of rank, deserve to be treated with dignity. The government is humiliating veterans. Why are the Liberals leaving behind those with the least? Why are they treating our nation's most vulnerable veterans so disgracefully?
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister continues to ram through his change to our voting system without giving Canadians a voice. He has rigged the process to get the results that he wants. Canadians know that this entire thing is a sham and it shows a complete lack of respect for our democracy.When is the Prime Minister going to climb down from this mess he has created and give Canadians what they want, which is a referendum?
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for her question.Every year, tobacco kills more than 37,000 Canadians, and 87,000 Canadians become daily smokers. We can and must do better, and we are launching public consultations to regulate the appearance, size, and shape of packaging for tobacco products and adopting plain packaging measures to make tobacco less attractive. The government is committed to Canadians' health.
Mr. Speaker, our troops are doing extraordinary work in the fight against ISIS, but the Liberals have put them into a more dangerous mission, tried to call it training, and have withdrawn our CF-18s that are a key pillar to degrade the enemy. Make no mistake, if our troops come under fire, they should always respond with overwhelming force, but what the government should not do is mislead Canadians about the nature of this mission. It is more dangerous and it is combat.Is the Prime Minister finally prepared to admit that Canada's mission in Iraq is combat?
Mr. Speaker, this week, the Government of Quebec announced more significant investments in the aerospace industry. Meanwhile, here in Ottawa, the government is asleep at the switch. It has not announced anything for Bombardier and we have heard no word of an aerospace policy. The only thing on the Liberal government's record so far has been the loss of 2,600 jobs at Air Canada.Why was the Prime Minister in such a rush to hand Air Canada a blank cheque, even though the company never obeyed the law? There were never any consequences. Why is he so naive to believe that Air Canada will keep its word this time?
Mr. Speaker, the Liberals promised to treat our veterans with respect. However, today we learned that only high-ranking veterans will really be able to take advantage of the benefit increases promised in the budget for veterans who are unable to work because of injuries. It makes no sense. The government's plan even goes so far as to demote veterans.Does the government realize that one of the worst possible insults in the military community is to be demoted? When will the minister fix this?
Mr. Speaker, in 2007, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police illegally spied on two Canadian journalists for nine days.The commissioner of the RCMP said that he never authorized the illegal surveillance. This is serious. Freedom of the press, one of the fundamental tenets of our democracy, is under attack.Will the Prime Minister agree to hold a public inquiry into the RCMP's illegal actions, as called for by our party and journalists?
Mr. Speaker, no, it is not a mistake. It is an illegal act.The RCMP spied on journalists. That is serious. This requires something other than more rhetoric, clichés, and platitudes.The RCMP has been caught breaching the rights of Canadians by gathering data on people who simply ask for government information. Worse, it is not even the first time that this has happened. It is a troubling trend when it comes to the government spying on Canadians. As we know, they also spied on journalists at the RCMP.Bill C-51 was the Conservative attack on our rights and freedoms. Why has the Prime Minister done nothing to get rid of Bill C-51?
Mr. Speaker, if the Minister of Democratic Institutions is actually interested in having a conversation on electoral reform, she cannot just keep repeating random verbs and nouns. She actually has to listen. Consultation, conversation, and listening are all great nouns and verbs. However, I have a noun for the Liberals: referendum. The Canadian people deserve one. Will the Liberals finally commit to one?
Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, millions of Canadians do not have enough savings to retire in dignity. This is a national crisis requiring national leadership. However, after making big promises to boost the CPP, Liberals are now playing down expectations. They are refusing even to say what they are proposing to the provinces. New Democrats believe all Canadians deserve to retire in dignity and security. Do Liberals believe in the goal of doubling CPP benefits, and what exactly is the minister planning to propose to the provinces?
Mr. Speaker, time is running out on a new softwood lumber deal, yet the Minister of Trade sees the 100-day deadline for a new deal as more of a checking-in period. No progress is being made, and the U.S. election is coming up. The government continues to tell Canadians to hang in there, which is unacceptable.What do the Liberals have to say to the hundreds of thousands of Canadians employed in the forestry sector whose jobs are on the line, aside from to hang in there?
Mr. Speaker, their system was created by the Liberals and is being run by a Liberal-dominated committee to ensure that the Liberal Party is re-elected. We are against it. This is very important. It is about changing the way Canadians choose their representatives to make decisions for Canada. We must listen to the public and have a referendum on this.
Mr. Speaker, as a former dairy farmer myself, I would like to wish all farmers a happy World Milk Day. Unlike the opposition members, our government supports supply management and our dairy industry. We think it is appalling that the members opposite want to eliminate supply management, which is a model of stability that supports our farmers, their families, and rural communities. Our party fought to set up supply management and we will continue to defend it against anyone who wants
Mr. Speaker, let us go back to the real issue. The minister can try to explain his lavish spending all he wants, but the point is he spent 250,000 taxpayers' dollars on couches and coffee machines.This side of the House knows that his spending does nothing for Canadians. When will the minister admit that the only infrastructure plan he has is to beautify his own office?
Mr. Speaker, today is World Milk Day, an opportunity to recognize that the dairy industry contributes nearly $19 billion to our economy.The Liberal government, which claims to be protecting supply management, is abandoning our dairy producers by refusing to address the diafiltered milk issue as promised.Producers have had enough of the Liberals' failure to take action. They are marching to Ottawa to demonstrate in front of Parliament tomorrow.Will the Liberals finally wake up and do something for our producers and our regions by keeping their promise to deal with the diafiltered milk problem?
Mr. Speaker, Canadians expect their rights to be protected by their Prime Minister.Today the Liberals plan to force through their bill to strip protections for thousands of aerospace workers here in Canada by using closure and shutting down debate at third reading.The Prime Minister once stood shoulder to shoulder, chanting solidarity with the very workers he is now abandoning. While other governments are making investments in our aerospace sector, will the Prime Minister provide one single reason why he is in such a rush to sell out Canadian aerospace jobs?
Mr. Speaker, that is an extremely serious situation and, as I have said many times, it is completely unacceptable for this to happen in Canada. The RCMP took action. Public safety took action. If the journalists involved or anyone else has questions, the commissioner of the RCMP will be pleased to respond.It was a mistake, it was fixed, and we learned from the situation.
Mr. Speaker, we had a great minister of infrastructure. Now we know what a poor minister of infrastructure looks like.We know Liberals like to help themselves to taxpayers' money and the facts are clear. The minister, obviously entitled to his entitlements, decided to spend nearly a million dollars on his shiny new digs, but $250,000 on couches and TVs?Why is the only infrastructure money spent in Canada so far spent on posh offices for Liberal ministers?
Mr. Speaker, after all three parties agreed during the campaign, small business owners were counting on legislated tax cuts to help grow their businesses and create jobs in our communities.The Liberals broke their word, and their omnibus bill gets rid of this important help for small businesses. Just yesterday, Liberals voted down NDP amendments to fix the bill. Why did the Liberals vote against their own election promise, and why did they vote down relief for Canada's best job creators?
Mr. Speaker, I reject the premise of the member's question, and I would like to reassure him that what we committed to, and the only outcome that we have arrived at to this point, is bringing together parliamentarians in this place to review the options available to us. I know this is a difficult concept for the member opposite to grasp. I know there is lingering cynicism from the Conservatives' practices over the last decade. That is not the way we do things, and I am looking forward to us realizing that, all of us together
Mr. Speaker, the minister is mistaken that the role of the Privy Council and the role of the public service is to be non-biased. It is, however, to represent what the government wants. What the government wants, apparently, is to have a single member district preferential ballot system. I will ask the question again. Why did the Liberals hire an individual to communicate on behalf of ranked ballots? What possible reason could the Liberals have, unless they have already predetermined the outcome of this entire process. Is that why they do not want to allow Canadians to engage in a referendum?
Mr. Speaker, on the contrary, the Garratts have not been abandoned by this government. We continue to be engaged on this file. We have expressed our concern for the well-being of the Garratts, and we have repeatedly raised the issue with Chinese officials at the highest levels. We will continue to persist in our call for their return home safely.
Mr. Speaker, he needs a new travel agent.As each day passes, Canadians learn the Liberal family reunion in Washington cost more and more money. Initially, the Liberals claimed the whole trip was $25,000. Now they are saying it is at least a quarter of a million. This is about priorities. How can the Liberals justify this runaway bill to taxpayers when they brought along their director of advertising, but actually left the natural resources minister at home?
Mr. Speaker, again, the member is talking about listening to the public when it comes to something as important as voting. I find that a bit odd because it was his party that eliminated and limited the right to vote for many people, all without consultation. That party made it more difficult for minority groups to vote. Despite that, Canadians made themselves heard and chose a party that is going to replace our electoral system.
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is making plenty of time today to meet with China's minister of foreign affairs, Mr. Wang Yi, but can he tell us, did he stand up for our interests and condemn China's aggressive activities in the South China Sea, activities that are seriously upsetting stability in the region? Will the Liberals stand by our allies and keep their word, or are they playing diplomatic games just to please the Chinese government?
Mr. Speaker, the minister is lecturing us about partisanship in the House; this is the same minister who thinks that her tweets count as consultation and who set up a committee that is under the complete control of the Liberal party, without consultation.After all that, the minister has the audacity to tell us here in the House that the opposition is being partisan. Seriously, will the minister finally listen to Canadians? Will she commit to holding a referendum so that all Canadians can express their views?
Mr. Speaker, the member opposite knows quite well that this individual was hired by the Privy Council to work as a communications advisor as a member of Canada's non-partisan public service. We are proud of the professional, non-partisan public service whose members come to work day in and day out with the sole purpose of serving Canadians. I encourage the member opposite to consider doing the same.
Mr. Speaker, the Liberals had a March madness to remember: $27 towel bars, TVs for everyone, and a $2,500 desk for the defence minister. But the leader of the spending pack is the infrastructure minister. He racked up a whopping $835,000 for his shiny new office, including an amazing $243,000 on furniture alone. At a time when Albertans are struggling to find work, why does this Edmonton minister think it is appropriate to spend almost $1 million on sky palace 2.0?
Mr. Speaker, while Albertans are reeling from job losses and devastating forest fires, the finance minister is charging taxpayers $4,000 per flight for his staff to see New York. Economy flights to New York are $600. Even business class is $1,200.Canadians control their spending. The government should control its spending, too. How did the finance minister manage to spend $4,000 a person to go on a lavish trip to New York?
Mr. Speaker, small businesses are the backbone of the economy. They are our job creators. For small business owners to succeed, they need a robust economy. They want increased revenue. Our middle-class tax cuts put money in the pockets of Canadians who need it most. Middle-class Canadians are also our customers. They buy the products and services that our small businesses provide.Money in the pockets of Canadians is good for the economy. It is good for growing the economy, and we will grow this economy as we promised Canadians.
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the minister justified the government's hiring of a communications advisor who is a professional advocate for a ranked ballot system, on the irrelevant basis that he was not hired for being a Liberal. That, of course, is not the issue. He was hired because he is an advocate of the ranked ballot system.Why, when the different proposals have not even been submitted and the committee has not even been struck, is the Liberal Party already hiring someone who has a position? Why are the Liberals putting in the fix before the process is even started? Why will they not allow a referendum?
Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the minister told the House that I had a hard time with the concept of listening, so just for the fun of it I spent a few minutes Googling quotes from reputable political analysts across Canada.Here is what I found: [The minister] has so far succeeded in burning bridges where she should have been building some. It is an unsustainable proposition. The Liberals were responsible for reassuring their political opponents. The Prime Minister did exactly the opposite.Clearly, I am not the only one who has a listening problem.I invite the minister to hold a referendum and consult Canadians. We will see which side of the House has a real listening problem.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. member for his question and say that we join him in wanting to ensure that Canadians have a fair and real shot at retiring in dignity. We want to help them to save so that they can have the appropriate opportunity that generations before have had.We are working in a collaborative fashion with provinces across the country, as we know is necessary, in order to get to a conclusion that will actually make a better situation for Canadians through an enhanced Canada pension plan. That is our goal and we look forward, hopefully, to being able to announce more on that in the coming months.
Mr. Speaker, the mission in Iraq is support and assist, and that is exactly what it is. It is focused on training. It is not a direct combat mission. It is not a combat mission, it is focused on empowering local troops to counter ISIL, but, of course, Canadian troops will always be allowed to defend themselves while they support local troops taking the fight to ISIL.
Mr. Speaker, the people struggling with the pyrrhotite problem in the Mauricie region are victims of a human and economic tragedy. The Conservative government ignored them for 10 years.I am proud to say that during the election campaign, the Prime Minister and those of us on this side of the House made a promise to help pyrrhotite victims. The budget provides for $30 million to help them. We kept our promise.The Prime Minister himself went to meet with the victims to express his support. We made a promise and we kept it. The money is there for victims.
Mr. Speaker, when Liberals promised an increase in benefits for permanently injured veterans, they failed to mention that their plan would benefit higher ranking officials the most
Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Minister of Finance was quite evasive about the $12,000 in travel expenses claimed by three of his employees to go to New York. Considering that it is possible to get a commercial flight for a few hundred dollars, those numbers seem off.The minister needs to be up front and tell us how his employees got to New York. Did they travel in economy class or business? Did they travel in a government plane?
Mr. Speaker, by limiting the debate to the House of Commons alone, the Liberals are making it impossible for all Canadians to have their say on this. Considering that 73% of Canadians want a referendum, I think that the Liberal Party needs to listen to them.The Prime Minister mentioned how people voted on October 19. Why, then, will he not let them vote in a referendum?
Mr. Speaker, at last week's G7 meeting in Japan, the Prime Minister showed real indifference to Prime Minister Abe's push to seek early ratification of the TPP. The Prime Minister, however, seems much more inclined to push for an early deal with China. While that is a very important market for us, the Prime Minister has also said, Its important that people know that when they sign a deal with Canada, a change of government isnt going to lead to the contract being ripped up. Why will the Prime Minister not prioritize ratifying the TPP before holding trade talks with China?
Mr. Speaker, need I remind the government that construction season is already well under way in Quebec and does not last very long?Despite the meagre sums that have been promised to pyrrhotite victims, they are still being made to wait. Homeowners are worried, and with good reason, because they could completely miss the 2016 season. What is more, the delay is unfairly penalizing these families, who are having difficulty making ends meet.Will the federal government commit to transferring the $10 million set out in the budget this week?
Mr. Speaker, we now know that the government was withholding information when it claimed that the price tag for the state visit to Washington was $25,000, because we have learned that it was 10 times greater, $257,000. Even worse, the Prime Minister was accompanied by 21 of his office staff. Twenty-one. Even his director of advertising was there. How can this government claim that it is a good manager of taxpayers' money when it spends money hand over fist on a trip abroad?
What we have said from the beginning, Mr. Speaker, is that Canada has an important role to play as part of the coalition against ISIL. Indeed, training on the ground, advising and assisting local troops, and being able to bring the fight effectively to ISIL and reclaim their lands and territories is exactly what we have committed to do.On top of that, we are adding extra intelligence and medical support to ensure that Canada has the best impact in empowering local troops to defeat ISIL. That is what we committed to do and that is exactly what we are doing.
Mr. Speaker, I answered the question on expenditures, and I do not know which part of my answer the hon. member does not understand. This is a stand-alone ministry that did not exist before. We did not have a dedicated DM. We did not have a dedicated minister to deliver the commitments that we made to Canadians.In the past, the previous government wasted two construction seasons not making a single investment in communities. We want to do things differently. That is why we are delivering on the commitments we made to Canadians.
Mr. Speaker, in budget 2016 we fulfilled our mandate commitment to increase earnings loss benefit to 90% of a veteran's pre-release salary, up from 75%. We committed $5.6 billion in financial security to veterans in budget 2016. No veteran will receive less as a result of these changes, and I am looking forward to many, many more veterans having more money in their pocket to build their lives.
Mr. Speaker, I realize that my colleague opposite may not be used to an appropriate Canadian delegation for a state visit to the United States. Our Prime Minister's visit marked the first time that the United States had bestowed this honour on Canada since 1997. As I have repeatedly stated, all appropriate expenses were proactively disclosed as promised by our government.What matters just as much to us is the progress made on files and issues that are important to Canadians. We are proud of this visit.
Mr. Speaker, today is World Milk Day, so it is important to point out that supply management helps sustain the dairy industry in Canada. That industry comprises 12,000 farms and families, employs over 200,000 Canadians, and contributes some $20 billion to our economy. Given that some people, including certain candidates to the leadership of the Conservative Party, want to eliminate supply management, can the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food inform the House of our government's position?
Mr. Speaker, it seems that the minister is confused about how conversations work. Both parties get to participate; the Liberals cannot just dictate the result. The only person who is taking away from the conversation is the minister, by following the Prime Minister's preconceived notion of where he wants the consultations to arrive. If the Liberals truly wanted to listen, they would let each and every Canadian have a say through a referendum. Will the Liberals drop the act already? Referendum, yes or no?
Mr. Speaker, many residents in northern B.C. are still awaiting the Liberals' final decision on Pacific NorthWest LNG. In fact, a group of these residents, who have travelled all the way across Canada promoting LNG, are with us here today: MLA Pat Pimm, Alan Yu, Kristi Leer, Ramona McDonald, Chris Lafratta, Jason Dabrule, and Dion DaSilva.We are looking for answers. When will the Liberals stop the delays and approve B.C. LNG so my residents can get back to work?
Mr. Speaker, for months Liberals have been asking for ideas about how best to change our democracy, yet every time I, my friend from RosemontLa Petite-Patrie, and New Democrats have offered solutions, the Liberals have rejected them.Canadians are growing concerned and expect that when Parliament passes any new voting system, it must have the support of other parties in this place.Today, will the minister take a first and important step and agree to change the Liberal-dominated committee to one that is fair to all members of Parliament and the millions of Canadians we represent?
Mr. Speaker, I understand there was a little noise in the chamber toward the end of question period, and you may not have heard the question by the member for SaanichGulf Islands. I think if you do check the blues on it, you may find that it does not fall under the administration of government. The position of the Conservative Party is not something the Prime Minister has to answer for.We are about to enter into tabling of documents, and during question period, the Prime Minister said that our party a éliminé...le droit de vote. I wonder if the government can table any evidence of anyone in Canada being disenfranchised.
On the contrary, Mr. Speaker, we have engaged in significant consultations with stakeholders. We are going to continue those. We have made clear commitments about improving Bill C-51. We have made commitments to bringing in an oversight committee of parliamentarians in which all parties will be able to participate, to ensure that our national security agencies and security services are behaving both within respect of the law and the charter, and also doing everything they can to protect Canadians. That is what Canadians expect.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for Niagara Centre for his question and for his efforts as a former mayor and now a member of Parliament, in promoting economic development.From day one, our government has been focused on attracting job-creating investments to this country. Today, our commitment is paying off with GE Canada selecting Welland, Ontario, as the location for its new brilliant factory.This facility will create 150 jobs in phase one and begin production in 2018.We are working with Export Development Canada, and this initiative speaks to our commitment to growing the economy and creating jobs.
Mr. Speaker, the fact of the matter is that electoral reform is an issue that matters to a number of Canadians, but few more so than those of us in the House who will be affected by it. That is why we have committed to working with Canadians and with members of the House.We are committed to fulfilling our commitment to Canadians to ensure that the next election, in 2019, will not be done under first past the post.
Mr. Speaker, this government clearly supports free trade as a way to create growth and create good jobs for the middle class. Witness our success with getting the CETA back on track after it had fallen completely off the rails.When it comes to the TPP, none of the other 12 countries have ratified the TPP, and that includes Japan. We have promised to consult Canadians from coast to coast to coast, and that is precisely what we are doing.
Mr. Speaker, we are aware of the industry's concerns about the use of diafiltered milk in cheese production. We have spent the past few weeks listening to the industry. We have had a number of very productive discussions that will help us develop a sustainable long-term strategy for the whole sector.Our government fully supports supply management.
Mr. Speaker, we have no intention of limiting the debate to the House of Commons, although I do encourage a good, full debate here in the House and in committee. That said, we have also committed to consulting Canadians directly on how to improve our electoral system, and we plan to work very hard to ensure that Canadians play an important role in choosing how we improve and replace our electoral system.
Mr. Speaker, we are working very hard to get a good deal for all of Canada on the softwood lumber file. The government recognizes the importance of the industry across Canada. Officials from the USTR met with the Canadian team here in Ottawa last week. There is a subsequent meeting planned. The minister is engaged. The ambassador is engaged. We are going to get a deal that ensures stable access to the American market.
Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order relating to statements we just heard during question period.I am sure that if we ask
Mr. Speaker, on the first issue that the hon. member brought up, Canadians expect two things. They expect their government to protect their physical security and defend their rights. We are the only party that indicated, time and time again, in the last election and since, that we knew we needed to do both of those things together.On the question of an aerospace industry and the strong jobs that go with it, this government has been working tirelessly to ensure that Canadians have good jobs in the aerospace industry, and that we have an aerospace industry that is good in the short term, medium term, and long term. That is what we are working on. That is what Canadians expect of us.
Mr. Speaker, we believe in engaging with China in a comprehensive way. It is the most effective way forward. Having regular high-level interactions with China on a range of issues will allow us to continue to have frank and honest conversations to find common ground on difficult issues, including of course human rights. We consistently raise human rights concerns with the Chinese government. The minister is busy doing that today.
Mr. Speaker, I have a great deal of respect for the media. I believe nothing is more important to democracy than a well-informed electorate. I also believe we need to listen to those whose voices have not been included in this conversation, like those with disabilities and exceptionalities, representatives of which groups we met with earlier. What we are hearing from people with disabilities is that the path to voting is an obstacle course. Let us listen to these voices and improve our electoral system and the way people vote.
Mr. Speaker, referendum is indeed a noun and like all nouns it has a definition. This one is found in the Referendum Act of 1992, which makes it clear that we can only hold a referendum in Canadaunless we go through the process of changing that acton a constitutional matter. Changing our voting system is not a constitutional question.I want to ask the Prime Minister if he agrees with me that it appears that our friends in the Conservative Party are not interested in a referendum or they would have looked at the act. They are interested in stopping Canadians from getting what we voted for as a majority, a fair voting system.
Mr. Speaker, may I start again?
Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I apologize for my outburst during question period. However, as the father of an intellectually disabled adult son, I find it reprehensible that the Minister of Democratic Institutions would use the disabled, insinuating
Mr. Speaker, we continue to believe that listening to Canadians is our priority as members, but also my priority as Minister of Democratic Institutions. It is our responsibility, as a House, to ensure that the voices of our constituents are heard. I am looking forward to this conversation happening in this House in a meaningful and respectful way beginning tomorrow.
Actually, Mr. Speaker, on October 19 of last year, Canadians indicated what they wanted. The majority voted for parties that were committed to ending first past the post. That is exactly the commitment we made and that is what we are moving forward with.Of course, as is our custom and as is our responsibility, unlike the opposition, when it was in government, we will be consulting, working with opposition parties, working with experts, ensuring that we have the best possible electoral system going forward.
Mr. Speaker, we are proud that we have committed to invest $120 billion to support public transit, to support investment in affordable housing, to support investment in cultural and recreational facilities, to make our infrastructure more resilient to climate change.Unlike the previous government, we are delivering on those commitments right away, instead of waiting for two years and missing two construction seasons and leaving Canadian communities behind.
Mr. Speaker, Kevin Garratt, a Canadian citizen who for years has assisted humanitarian programs into North Korea from his café in Dandong, China, has been imprisoned in China since 2014, indicted on phoney and unsubstantiated charges of spying.While our previous Conservative government spoke out strongly on Mr. Garratt's behalf, protesting the lack of evidence, the Liberals have only expressed concern.Why is an innocent Canadian being abandoned so the Prime Minister can pursue his fresh start with China?
Mr. Speaker, the expenditures the member is referring to are to provide office space for the minister, for the DM, as well as for the staff members to support the minister and the DM.We are focused on delivering on the commitments that we made to Canadians. That is why we are consolidating on one floor the entire ministry: to create efficiencies and live up to the expectations of Canadians in order to deliver on our commitments for infrastructure.
Mr. Speaker, we have committed to bringing together a committee made up of all parties to review the various options available to us. The purpose of this committee coming together is to hear from Canadians first-hand, and, yes, using 21st century tools like social media is smart and necessary for us to ensure that all voices, as many voices as possible, are included in this conversation. I am looking forward to a respectful and meaningful dialogue with all parties.
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities has a mandate. That mandate is supposed to involve investment in public transit, green infrastructure, and social infrastructure like affordable housing. His objective should be to encourage economic growth.Could the minister explain how spending $250,000 on furniture for himself achieves that mandate? Does the minister truly believe that this is a good use of taxpayers' dollars?
Mr. Speaker, prior to this government taking charge, we did not have a solely dedicated ministry for infrastructure. We did not have a solely dedicated deputy minister for infrastructure. We did not have any staff to support the minister and the deputy minister. The expenditures that the hon. member is talking about are to provide support staff, office space, minister's office space, and the DM's office space. We have followed the guidelines from the Treasury Board, and we are here to create efficiencies
Mr. Speaker, I will explain exactly how we will justify that important visit. It is because of what was accomplished for Canadians. On that trip, a historic visit, significant progress was made on issues as important to Canadians as climate change, the environment, international security, defence co-operation, the global coalition against ISIL, trade, and transborder security. We are proud of that trip, we are proud of what was accomplished, and all of the costs, as the member well knows, were proactively disclosed by a government that is committed to openness and transparency.
Mr. Speaker, like the finance ministers before me, I know that it is very important to communicate about Canada with Canadians and investors around the world.Our budget is very important for Canadians, and it is also important for international investors. That is why I travelled extensively to promote our level of growth to new investors in Canada.
Mr. Speaker, our government is working tirelessly to create jobs in the aerospace industry in the short term, medium term, and long term.That is why we are working with partners like Bombardier and Air Canada across the country to secure investments in innovation and good-quality jobs in this valuable industry, and we will continue to support and encourage investments in the aerospace industry across Canada.It is important for Canadians, important for jobs, and important for our economy.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his work on this file and for proposing the motion for us to talk about tomorrow.I welcome all members of this House to engage in this conversation. I know there is a lot of passion in this House. I know there are a lot of good ideas in this House. I look forward to receiving all of them beginning tomorrow.
Mr. Speaker, colourful, appealing packaging for tobacco products plays a key role in brand recognition and brand loyalty among customers. Studies have highlighted the impact this packaging has on children and young people. Our government was elected in October with a mandate to introduce plain packaging for tobacco products.Can the Minister of Health update the House on this initiative?
Mr. Speaker, in light of the statements made during question period, I am sure that if you were to ask all parties in the House about membership of the electoral reform committee, people would give the Green Party and the Bloc Québécois the right to participate and vote.I would like to move the following motion: That the participation of the Bloc Québécois and the Green Party be governed by the same provisions governing all other members and include the right to vote.
Mr. Speaker, as finance ministers before me have done, I have taken the opportunity, after presenting my budget, not only to travel across Canada to tell Canadians about the measures we are putting in place for them, but to travel internationally to talk to investors, economists and others who will actually make investments into our country to help us grow the economy to make Canada better for this generation and for the next generation. We are proud of what we are doing, and we look forward to continuing to do it in the years to come.
Mr. Speaker, as per my letter to you, pursuant to Standing Order 52, I request leave to make a motion to discuss actions the government can take to address the human rights situation facing Uighur Muslims in China, specifically in light of threats to religious liberty that this community may face during Ramadan, starting June 6.The Uighur Muslim community living in the People's Republic of China faces significant human rights abuses. During Ramadan these abuses have included forcible prevention of people from engaging in this deeply important Muslim fast.In 2015, the Chinese government banned civil servants, students, and teachers in the Xinjiang region, where most Uighurs live, from fasting during Ramadan. It also ordered restaurants to stay open. On January 1, new Enforcement of Religious Affairs Regulations" came into effect in the region, with the professed goal of limiting the role of religion in marriage, funerals, culture, the arts, and sports". Again this year, counties have posted notices forbidding students and Communist Party members from participating in the Ramadan fast. The Chinese government is paying attention to what we in Canada say and do not say on these issues. We in this House, the government, and you, Mr. Speaker, can make a difference for these suffering people by using this opportunity to discuss the role we can play in response to this situation.
Mr. Speaker, we committed to treating veterans with care, compassion, respect, and delivering on financial services. We did that in budget 2016. I would ask the member to go back to my mandate letter, which said that we would raise veterans earnings loss benefit to 90% of their pre-release salary. That is exactly what we did, delivering $5.6 billion in financial security to veterans and their families.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for this conversation. We listened to Canadians. Over 60% said that we need to review other options and we need to move beyond the status quo. We committed to bringing forward a committee made up of all parties of this House to review the options available, including online voting, including mandatory voting. I am looking forward to continuing a meaningful and respectful dialogue among all parties.
Mr. Speaker, we are engaged in a fair and thorough review process. I met the individuals in question today. We hear from all stakeholders. There are significant concerns around the project, but we are working with the proponent. Once we have sufficient information, we will make a decision within 90 days.
Mr. Speaker, the manufacturing sector is a cornerstone of Canada's economy, but countries are becoming increasingly competitive when it comes to attracting high-tech investment. With nearly one in eight jobs here in Canada linked to foreign investment, could the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development update the House on the government's efforts to attract high-quality jobs within our country?
Most negative speeches
Mr. Speaker, by limiting the debate to the House of Commons alone, the Liberals are making it impossible for all Canadians to have their say on this. Considering that 73% of Canadians want a referendum, I think that the Liberal Party needs to listen to them.The Prime Minister mentioned how people voted on October 19. Why, then, will he not let them vote in a referendum?
Mr. Speaker, in 2007, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police illegally spied on two Canadian journalists for nine days.The commissioner of the RCMP said that he never authorized the illegal surveillance. This is serious. Freedom of the press, one of the fundamental tenets of our democracy, is under attack.Will the Prime Minister agree to hold a public inquiry into the RCMP's illegal actions, as called for by our party and journalists?
Mr. Speaker, I understand there was a little noise in the chamber toward the end of question period, and you may not have heard the question by the member for SaanichGulf Islands. I think if you do check the blues on it, you may find that it does not fall under the administration of government. The position of the Conservative Party is not something the Prime Minister has to answer for.We are about to enter into tabling of documents, and during question period, the Prime Minister said that our party a éliminé...le droit de vote. I wonder if the government can table any evidence of anyone in Canada being disenfranchised.
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is making plenty of time today to meet with China's minister of foreign affairs, Mr. Wang Yi, but can he tell us, did he stand up for our interests and condemn China's aggressive activities in the South China Sea, activities that are seriously upsetting stability in the region? Will the Liberals stand by our allies and keep their word, or are they playing diplomatic games just to please the Chinese government?
Mr. Speaker, while Albertans are reeling from job losses and devastating forest fires, the finance minister is charging taxpayers $4,000 per flight for his staff to see New York. Economy flights to New York are $600. Even business class is $1,200.Canadians control their spending. The government should control its spending, too. How did the finance minister manage to spend $4,000 a person to go on a lavish trip to New York?
Mr. Speaker, the Liberals promised to treat our veterans with respect. However, today we learned that only high-ranking veterans will really be able to take advantage of the benefit increases promised in the budget for veterans who are unable to work because of injuries. It makes no sense. The government's plan even goes so far as to demote veterans.Does the government realize that one of the worst possible insults in the military community is to be demoted? When will the minister fix this?
Mr. Speaker, I answered the question on expenditures, and I do not know which part of my answer the hon. member does not understand. This is a stand-alone ministry that did not exist before. We did not have a dedicated DM. We did not have a dedicated minister to deliver the commitments that we made to Canadians.In the past, the previous government wasted two construction seasons not making a single investment in communities. We want to do things differently. That is why we are delivering on the commitments we made to Canadians.
Mr. Speaker, when Liberals promised an increase in benefits for permanently injured veterans, they failed to mention that their plan would benefit higher ranking officials the most
Mr. Speaker, when the Liberals promised an increase in benefits for permanently injured veterans, they failed to mention that their plan would benefit higher ranking officials the most, while rank-and-file veterans would see minimal increases. New Democrats believe that veterans, all veterans regardless of rank, deserve to be treated with dignity. The government is humiliating veterans. Why are the Liberals leaving behind those with the least? Why are they treating our nation's most vulnerable veterans so disgracefully?
Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I apologize for my outburst during question period. However, as the father of an intellectually disabled adult son, I find it reprehensible that the Minister of Democratic Institutions would use the disabled, insinuating
Mr. Speaker, no, it is not a mistake. It is an illegal act.The RCMP spied on journalists. That is serious. This requires something other than more rhetoric, clichés, and platitudes.The RCMP has been caught breaching the rights of Canadians by gathering data on people who simply ask for government information. Worse, it is not even the first time that this has happened. It is a troubling trend when it comes to the government spying on Canadians. As we know, they also spied on journalists at the RCMP.Bill C-51 was the Conservative attack on our rights and freedoms. Why has the Prime Minister done nothing to get rid of Bill C-51?
Mr. Speaker, the minister is lecturing us about partisanship in the House; this is the same minister who thinks that her tweets count as consultation and who set up a committee that is under the complete control of the Liberal party, without consultation.After all that, the minister has the audacity to tell us here in the House that the opposition is being partisan. Seriously, will the minister finally listen to Canadians? Will she commit to holding a referendum so that all Canadians can express their views?
Mr. Speaker, it seems that the minister is confused about how conversations work. Both parties get to participate; the Liberals cannot just dictate the result. The only person who is taking away from the conversation is the minister, by following the Prime Minister's preconceived notion of where he wants the consultations to arrive. If the Liberals truly wanted to listen, they would let each and every Canadian have a say through a referendum. Will the Liberals drop the act already? Referendum, yes or no?
Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, millions of Canadians do not have enough savings to retire in dignity. This is a national crisis requiring national leadership. However, after making big promises to boost the CPP, Liberals are now playing down expectations. They are refusing even to say what they are proposing to the provinces. New Democrats believe all Canadians deserve to retire in dignity and security. Do Liberals believe in the goal of doubling CPP benefits, and what exactly is the minister planning to propose to the provinces?
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister continues to ram through his change to our voting system without giving Canadians a voice. He has rigged the process to get the results that he wants. Canadians know that this entire thing is a sham and it shows a complete lack of respect for our democracy.When is the Prime Minister going to climb down from this mess he has created and give Canadians what they want, which is a referendum?
Mr. Speaker, Canadians expect their rights to be protected by their Prime Minister.Today the Liberals plan to force through their bill to strip protections for thousands of aerospace workers here in Canada by using closure and shutting down debate at third reading.The Prime Minister once stood shoulder to shoulder, chanting solidarity with the very workers he is now abandoning. While other governments are making investments in our aerospace sector, will the Prime Minister provide one single reason why he is in such a rush to sell out Canadian aerospace jobs?
Mr. Speaker, today is World Milk Day, an opportunity to recognize that the dairy industry contributes nearly $19 billion to our economy.The Liberal government, which claims to be protecting supply management, is abandoning our dairy producers by refusing to address the diafiltered milk issue as promised.Producers have had enough of the Liberals' failure to take action. They are marching to Ottawa to demonstrate in front of Parliament tomorrow.Will the Liberals finally wake up and do something for our producers and our regions by keeping their promise to deal with the diafiltered milk problem?
Mr. Speaker, I reject the premise of the member's question, and I would like to reassure him that what we committed to, and the only outcome that we have arrived at to this point, is bringing together parliamentarians in this place to review the options available to us. I know this is a difficult concept for the member opposite to grasp. I know there is lingering cynicism from the Conservatives' practices over the last decade. That is not the way we do things, and I am looking forward to us realizing that, all of us together
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the minister justified the government's hiring of a communications advisor who is a professional advocate for a ranked ballot system, on the irrelevant basis that he was not hired for being a Liberal. That, of course, is not the issue. He was hired because he is an advocate of the ranked ballot system.Why, when the different proposals have not even been submitted and the committee has not even been struck, is the Liberal Party already hiring someone who has a position? Why are the Liberals putting in the fix before the process is even started? Why will they not allow a referendum?
Mr. Speaker, may I start again?
Mr. Speaker, prior to this government taking charge, we did not have a solely dedicated ministry for infrastructure. We did not have a solely dedicated deputy minister for infrastructure. We did not have any staff to support the minister and the deputy minister. The expenditures that the hon. member is talking about are to provide support staff, office space, minister's office space, and the DM's office space. We have followed the guidelines from the Treasury Board, and we are here to create efficiencies
Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Minister of Finance was quite evasive about the $12,000 in travel expenses claimed by three of his employees to go to New York. Considering that it is possible to get a commercial flight for a few hundred dollars, those numbers seem off.The minister needs to be up front and tell us how his employees got to New York. Did they travel in economy class or business? Did they travel in a government plane?
Mr. Speaker, we are aware of the industry's concerns about the use of diafiltered milk in cheese production. We have spent the past few weeks listening to the industry. We have had a number of very productive discussions that will help us develop a sustainable long-term strategy for the whole sector.Our government fully supports supply management.
Mr. Speaker, the minister is mistaken that the role of the Privy Council and the role of the public service is to be non-biased. It is, however, to represent what the government wants. What the government wants, apparently, is to have a single member district preferential ballot system. I will ask the question again. Why did the Liberals hire an individual to communicate on behalf of ranked ballots? What possible reason could the Liberals have, unless they have already predetermined the outcome of this entire process. Is that why they do not want to allow Canadians to engage in a referendum?
Mr. Speaker, the mission in Iraq is support and assist, and that is exactly what it is. It is focused on training. It is not a direct combat mission. It is not a combat mission, it is focused on empowering local troops to counter ISIL, but, of course, Canadian troops will always be allowed to defend themselves while they support local troops taking the fight to ISIL.
Mr. Speaker, the fact of the matter is that electoral reform is an issue that matters to a number of Canadians, but few more so than those of us in the House who will be affected by it. That is why we have committed to working with Canadians and with members of the House.We are committed to fulfilling our commitment to Canadians to ensure that the next election, in 2019, will not be done under first past the post.
Mr. Speaker, we committed to treating veterans with care, compassion, respect, and delivering on financial services. We did that in budget 2016. I would ask the member to go back to my mandate letter, which said that we would raise veterans earnings loss benefit to 90% of their pre-release salary. That is exactly what we did, delivering $5.6 billion in financial security to veterans and their families.
Mr. Speaker, we had a great minister of infrastructure. Now we know what a poor minister of infrastructure looks like.We know Liberals like to help themselves to taxpayers' money and the facts are clear. The minister, obviously entitled to his entitlements, decided to spend nearly a million dollars on his shiny new digs, but $250,000 on couches and TVs?Why is the only infrastructure money spent in Canada so far spent on posh offices for Liberal ministers?
Mr. Speaker, we are working very hard to get a good deal for all of Canada on the softwood lumber file. The government recognizes the importance of the industry across Canada. Officials from the USTR met with the Canadian team here in Ottawa last week. There is a subsequent meeting planned. The minister is engaged. The ambassador is engaged. We are going to get a deal that ensures stable access to the American market.
Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the minister told the House that I had a hard time with the concept of listening, so just for the fun of it I spent a few minutes Googling quotes from reputable political analysts across Canada.Here is what I found: [The minister] has so far succeeded in burning bridges where she should have been building some. It is an unsustainable proposition. The Liberals were responsible for reassuring their political opponents. The Prime Minister did exactly the opposite.Clearly, I am not the only one who has a listening problem.I invite the minister to hold a referendum and consult Canadians. We will see which side of the House has a real listening problem.
Mr. Speaker, the expenditures the member is referring to are to provide office space for the minister, for the DM, as well as for the staff members to support the minister and the DM.We are focused on delivering on the commitments that we made to Canadians. That is why we are consolidating on one floor the entire ministry: to create efficiencies and live up to the expectations of Canadians in order to deliver on our commitments for infrastructure.
Mr. Speaker, our troops are doing extraordinary work in the fight against ISIS, but the Liberals have put them into a more dangerous mission, tried to call it training, and have withdrawn our CF-18s that are a key pillar to degrade the enemy. Make no mistake, if our troops come under fire, they should always respond with overwhelming force, but what the government should not do is mislead Canadians about the nature of this mission. It is more dangerous and it is combat.Is the Prime Minister finally prepared to admit that Canada's mission in Iraq is combat?
Mr. Speaker, as a former dairy farmer myself, I would like to wish all farmers a happy World Milk Day. Unlike the opposition members, our government supports supply management and our dairy industry. We think it is appalling that the members opposite want to eliminate supply management, which is a model of stability that supports our farmers, their families, and rural communities. Our party fought to set up supply management and we will continue to defend it against anyone who wants
Mr. Speaker, this week, the Government of Quebec announced more significant investments in the aerospace industry. Meanwhile, here in Ottawa, the government is asleep at the switch. It has not announced anything for Bombardier and we have heard no word of an aerospace policy. The only thing on the Liberal government's record so far has been the loss of 2,600 jobs at Air Canada.Why was the Prime Minister in such a rush to hand Air Canada a blank cheque, even though the company never obeyed the law? There were never any consequences. Why is he so naive to believe that Air Canada will keep its word this time?
Mr. Speaker, colourful, appealing packaging for tobacco products plays a key role in brand recognition and brand loyalty among customers. Studies have highlighted the impact this packaging has on children and young people. Our government was elected in October with a mandate to introduce plain packaging for tobacco products.Can the Minister of Health update the House on this initiative?
Mr. Speaker, the member opposite knows quite well that this individual was hired by the Privy Council to work as a communications advisor as a member of Canada's non-partisan public service. We are proud of the professional, non-partisan public service whose members come to work day in and day out with the sole purpose of serving Canadians. I encourage the member opposite to consider doing the same.
Mr. Speaker, in light of the statements made during question period, I am sure that if you were to ask all parties in the House about membership of the electoral reform committee, people would give the Green Party and the Bloc Québécois the right to participate and vote.I would like to move the following motion: That the participation of the Bloc Québécois and the Green Party be governed by the same provisions governing all other members and include the right to vote.
Mr. Speaker, today we learned that Canadian special forces recently came under fire in a battle near Mosul in Iraq. This directly contradicts the Prime Minister's claims that Canada is only doing training. On this side of the House, we have been clear that Canada should be taking the fight to ISIS, but it was the Liberals who, for purely political reasons, claimed that all we would be doing is training, insinuating that this would be much safer. How can the Prime Minister claim this is just a training mission when our troops are under fire?
Mr. Speaker, if the Minister of Democratic Institutions is actually interested in having a conversation on electoral reform, she cannot just keep repeating random verbs and nouns. She actually has to listen. Consultation, conversation, and listening are all great nouns and verbs. However, I have a noun for the Liberals: referendum. The Canadian people deserve one. Will the Liberals finally commit to one?
Mr. Speaker, we are proud that we have committed to invest $120 billion to support public transit, to support investment in affordable housing, to support investment in cultural and recreational facilities, to make our infrastructure more resilient to climate change.Unlike the previous government, we are delivering on those commitments right away, instead of waiting for two years and missing two construction seasons and leaving Canadian communities behind.
Mr. Speaker, again, the member is talking about listening to the public when it comes to something as important as voting. I find that a bit odd because it was his party that eliminated and limited the right to vote for many people, all without consultation. That party made it more difficult for minority groups to vote. Despite that, Canadians made themselves heard and chose a party that is going to replace our electoral system.
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities has a mandate. That mandate is supposed to involve investment in public transit, green infrastructure, and social infrastructure like affordable housing. His objective should be to encourage economic growth.Could the minister explain how spending $250,000 on furniture for himself achieves that mandate? Does the minister truly believe that this is a good use of taxpayers' dollars?
Mr. Speaker, that is an extremely serious situation and, as I have said many times, it is completely unacceptable for this to happen in Canada. The RCMP took action. Public safety took action. If the journalists involved or anyone else has questions, the commissioner of the RCMP will be pleased to respond.It was a mistake, it was fixed, and we learned from the situation.
Mr. Speaker, we believe in engaging with China in a comprehensive way. It is the most effective way forward. Having regular high-level interactions with China on a range of issues will allow us to continue to have frank and honest conversations to find common ground on difficult issues, including of course human rights. We consistently raise human rights concerns with the Chinese government. The minister is busy doing that today.
Mr. Speaker, he needs a new travel agent.As each day passes, Canadians learn the Liberal family reunion in Washington cost more and more money. Initially, the Liberals claimed the whole trip was $25,000. Now they are saying it is at least a quarter of a million. This is about priorities. How can the Liberals justify this runaway bill to taxpayers when they brought along their director of advertising, but actually left the natural resources minister at home?
Mr. Speaker, let us go back to the real issue. The minister can try to explain his lavish spending all he wants, but the point is he spent 250,000 taxpayers' dollars on couches and coffee machines.This side of the House knows that his spending does nothing for Canadians. When will the minister admit that the only infrastructure plan he has is to beautify his own office?
Mr. Speaker, the manufacturing sector is a cornerstone of Canada's economy, but countries are becoming increasingly competitive when it comes to attracting high-tech investment. With nearly one in eight jobs here in Canada linked to foreign investment, could the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development update the House on the government's efforts to attract high-quality jobs within our country?
Mr. Speaker, many residents in northern B.C. are still awaiting the Liberals' final decision on Pacific NorthWest LNG. In fact, a group of these residents, who have travelled all the way across Canada promoting LNG, are with us here today: MLA Pat Pimm, Alan Yu, Kristi Leer, Ramona McDonald, Chris Lafratta, Jason Dabrule, and Dion DaSilva.We are looking for answers. When will the Liberals stop the delays and approve B.C. LNG so my residents can get back to work?
Mr. Speaker, need I remind the government that construction season is already well under way in Quebec and does not last very long?Despite the meagre sums that have been promised to pyrrhotite victims, they are still being made to wait. Homeowners are worried, and with good reason, because they could completely miss the 2016 season. What is more, the delay is unfairly penalizing these families, who are having difficulty making ends meet.Will the federal government commit to transferring the $10 million set out in the budget this week?
Mr. Speaker, after all three parties agreed during the campaign, small business owners were counting on legislated tax cuts to help grow their businesses and create jobs in our communities.The Liberals broke their word, and their omnibus bill gets rid of this important help for small businesses. Just yesterday, Liberals voted down NDP amendments to fix the bill. Why did the Liberals vote against their own election promise, and why did they vote down relief for Canada's best job creators?
Actually, Mr. Speaker, on October 19 of last year, Canadians indicated what they wanted. The majority voted for parties that were committed to ending first past the post. That is exactly the commitment we made and that is what we are moving forward with.Of course, as is our custom and as is our responsibility, unlike the opposition, when it was in government, we will be consulting, working with opposition parties, working with experts, ensuring that we have the best possible electoral system going forward.
Mr. Speaker, as per my letter to you, pursuant to Standing Order 52, I request leave to make a motion to discuss actions the government can take to address the human rights situation facing Uighur Muslims in China, specifically in light of threats to religious liberty that this community may face during Ramadan, starting June 6.The Uighur Muslim community living in the People's Republic of China faces significant human rights abuses. During Ramadan these abuses have included forcible prevention of people from engaging in this deeply important Muslim fast.In 2015, the Chinese government banned civil servants, students, and teachers in the Xinjiang region, where most Uighurs live, from fasting during Ramadan. It also ordered restaurants to stay open. On January 1, new Enforcement of Religious Affairs Regulations" came into effect in the region, with the professed goal of limiting the role of religion in marriage, funerals, culture, the arts, and sports". Again this year, counties have posted notices forbidding students and Communist Party members from participating in the Ramadan fast. The Chinese government is paying attention to what we in Canada say and do not say on these issues. We in this House, the government, and you, Mr. Speaker, can make a difference for these suffering people by using this opportunity to discuss the role we can play in response to this situation.
Mr. Speaker, referendum is indeed a noun and like all nouns it has a definition. This one is found in the Referendum Act of 1992, which makes it clear that we can only hold a referendum in Canadaunless we go through the process of changing that acton a constitutional matter. Changing our voting system is not a constitutional question.I want to ask the Prime Minister if he agrees with me that it appears that our friends in the Conservative Party are not interested in a referendum or they would have looked at the act. They are interested in stopping Canadians from getting what we voted for as a majority, a fair voting system.
Mr. Speaker, small businesses are the backbone of the economy. They are our job creators. For small business owners to succeed, they need a robust economy. They want increased revenue. Our middle-class tax cuts put money in the pockets of Canadians who need it most. Middle-class Canadians are also our customers. They buy the products and services that our small businesses provide.Money in the pockets of Canadians is good for the economy. It is good for growing the economy, and we will grow this economy as we promised Canadians.
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for her question.Every year, tobacco kills more than 37,000 Canadians, and 87,000 Canadians become daily smokers. We can and must do better, and we are launching public consultations to regulate the appearance, size, and shape of packaging for tobacco products and adopting plain packaging measures to make tobacco less attractive. The government is committed to Canadians' health.
Mr. Speaker, this government clearly supports free trade as a way to create growth and create good jobs for the middle class. Witness our success with getting the CETA back on track after it had fallen completely off the rails.When it comes to the TPP, none of the other 12 countries have ratified the TPP, and that includes Japan. We have promised to consult Canadians from coast to coast to coast, and that is precisely what we are doing.
Mr. Speaker, Kevin Garratt, a Canadian citizen who for years has assisted humanitarian programs into North Korea from his café in Dandong, China, has been imprisoned in China since 2014, indicted on phoney and unsubstantiated charges of spying.While our previous Conservative government spoke out strongly on Mr. Garratt's behalf, protesting the lack of evidence, the Liberals have only expressed concern.Why is an innocent Canadian being abandoned so the Prime Minister can pursue his fresh start with China?
Mr. Speaker, we have committed to bringing together a committee made up of all parties to review the various options available to us. The purpose of this committee coming together is to hear from Canadians first-hand, and, yes, using 21st century tools like social media is smart and necessary for us to ensure that all voices, as many voices as possible, are included in this conversation. I am looking forward to a respectful and meaningful dialogue with all parties.
Mr. Speaker, as finance ministers before me have done, I have taken the opportunity, after presenting my budget, not only to travel across Canada to tell Canadians about the measures we are putting in place for them, but to travel internationally to talk to investors, economists and others who will actually make investments into our country to help us grow the economy to make Canada better for this generation and for the next generation. We are proud of what we are doing, and we look forward to continuing to do it in the years to come.
Mr. Speaker, on the first issue that the hon. member brought up, Canadians expect two things. They expect their government to protect their physical security and defend their rights. We are the only party that indicated, time and time again, in the last election and since, that we knew we needed to do both of those things together.On the question of an aerospace industry and the strong jobs that go with it, this government has been working tirelessly to ensure that Canadians have good jobs in the aerospace industry, and that we have an aerospace industry that is good in the short term, medium term, and long term. That is what we are working on. That is what Canadians expect of us.
Mr. Speaker, in budget 2016 we fulfilled our mandate commitment to increase earnings loss benefit to 90% of a veteran's pre-release salary, up from 75%. We committed $5.6 billion in financial security to veterans in budget 2016. No veteran will receive less as a result of these changes, and I am looking forward to many, many more veterans having more money in their pocket to build their lives.
Mr. Speaker, we have no intention of limiting the debate to the House of Commons, although I do encourage a good, full debate here in the House and in committee. That said, we have also committed to consulting Canadians directly on how to improve our electoral system, and we plan to work very hard to ensure that Canadians play an important role in choosing how we improve and replace our electoral system.
Mr. Speaker, on the contrary, the Garratts have not been abandoned by this government. We continue to be engaged on this file. We have expressed our concern for the well-being of the Garratts, and we have repeatedly raised the issue with Chinese officials at the highest levels. We will continue to persist in our call for their return home safely.
Mr. Speaker, time is running out on a new softwood lumber deal, yet the Minister of Trade sees the 100-day deadline for a new deal as more of a checking-in period. No progress is being made, and the U.S. election is coming up. The government continues to tell Canadians to hang in there, which is unacceptable.What do the Liberals have to say to the hundreds of thousands of Canadians employed in the forestry sector whose jobs are on the line, aside from to hang in there?
Mr. Speaker, our government is working tirelessly to create jobs in the aerospace industry in the short term, medium term, and long term.That is why we are working with partners like Bombardier and Air Canada across the country to secure investments in innovation and good-quality jobs in this valuable industry, and we will continue to support and encourage investments in the aerospace industry across Canada.It is important for Canadians, important for jobs, and important for our economy.
Mr. Speaker, their system was created by the Liberals and is being run by a Liberal-dominated committee to ensure that the Liberal Party is re-elected. We are against it. This is very important. It is about changing the way Canadians choose their representatives to make decisions for Canada. We must listen to the public and have a referendum on this.
Mr. Speaker, at last week's G7 meeting in Japan, the Prime Minister showed real indifference to Prime Minister Abe's push to seek early ratification of the TPP. The Prime Minister, however, seems much more inclined to push for an early deal with China. While that is a very important market for us, the Prime Minister has also said, Its important that people know that when they sign a deal with Canada, a change of government isnt going to lead to the contract being ripped up. Why will the Prime Minister not prioritize ratifying the TPP before holding trade talks with China?
Mr. Speaker, like the finance ministers before me, I know that it is very important to communicate about Canada with Canadians and investors around the world.Our budget is very important for Canadians, and it is also important for international investors. That is why I travelled extensively to promote our level of growth to new investors in Canada.
Mr. Speaker, we now know that the government was withholding information when it claimed that the price tag for the state visit to Washington was $25,000, because we have learned that it was 10 times greater, $257,000. Even worse, the Prime Minister was accompanied by 21 of his office staff. Twenty-one. Even his director of advertising was there. How can this government claim that it is a good manager of taxpayers' money when it spends money hand over fist on a trip abroad?
Mr. Speaker, today is World Milk Day, so it is important to point out that supply management helps sustain the dairy industry in Canada. That industry comprises 12,000 farms and families, employs over 200,000 Canadians, and contributes some $20 billion to our economy. Given that some people, including certain candidates to the leadership of the Conservative Party, want to eliminate supply management, can the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food inform the House of our government's position?
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for Niagara Centre for his question and for his efforts as a former mayor and now a member of Parliament, in promoting economic development.From day one, our government has been focused on attracting job-creating investments to this country. Today, our commitment is paying off with GE Canada selecting Welland, Ontario, as the location for its new brilliant factory.This facility will create 150 jobs in phase one and begin production in 2018.We are working with Export Development Canada, and this initiative speaks to our commitment to growing the economy and creating jobs.
Mr. Speaker, I will explain exactly how we will justify that important visit. It is because of what was accomplished for Canadians. On that trip, a historic visit, significant progress was made on issues as important to Canadians as climate change, the environment, international security, defence co-operation, the global coalition against ISIL, trade, and transborder security. We are proud of that trip, we are proud of what was accomplished, and all of the costs, as the member well knows, were proactively disclosed by a government that is committed to openness and transparency.
What we have said from the beginning, Mr. Speaker, is that Canada has an important role to play as part of the coalition against ISIL. Indeed, training on the ground, advising and assisting local troops, and being able to bring the fight effectively to ISIL and reclaim their lands and territories is exactly what we have committed to do.On top of that, we are adding extra intelligence and medical support to ensure that Canada has the best impact in empowering local troops to defeat ISIL. That is what we committed to do and that is exactly what we are doing.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for this conversation. We listened to Canadians. Over 60% said that we need to review other options and we need to move beyond the status quo. We committed to bringing forward a committee made up of all parties of this House to review the options available, including online voting, including mandatory voting. I am looking forward to continuing a meaningful and respectful dialogue among all parties.
On the contrary, Mr. Speaker, we have engaged in significant consultations with stakeholders. We are going to continue those. We have made clear commitments about improving Bill C-51. We have made commitments to bringing in an oversight committee of parliamentarians in which all parties will be able to participate, to ensure that our national security agencies and security services are behaving both within respect of the law and the charter, and also doing everything they can to protect Canadians. That is what Canadians expect.
Mr. Speaker, the people struggling with the pyrrhotite problem in the Mauricie region are victims of a human and economic tragedy. The Conservative government ignored them for 10 years.I am proud to say that during the election campaign, the Prime Minister and those of us on this side of the House made a promise to help pyrrhotite victims. The budget provides for $30 million to help them. We kept our promise.The Prime Minister himself went to meet with the victims to express his support. We made a promise and we kept it. The money is there for victims.
Mr. Speaker, I realize that my colleague opposite may not be used to an appropriate Canadian delegation for a state visit to the United States. Our Prime Minister's visit marked the first time that the United States had bestowed this honour on Canada since 1997. As I have repeatedly stated, all appropriate expenses were proactively disclosed as promised by our government.What matters just as much to us is the progress made on files and issues that are important to Canadians. We are proud of this visit.
Mr. Speaker, for months Liberals have been asking for ideas about how best to change our democracy, yet every time I, my friend from RosemontLa Petite-Patrie, and New Democrats have offered solutions, the Liberals have rejected them.Canadians are growing concerned and expect that when Parliament passes any new voting system, it must have the support of other parties in this place.Today, will the minister take a first and important step and agree to change the Liberal-dominated committee to one that is fair to all members of Parliament and the millions of Canadians we represent?
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. member for his question and say that we join him in wanting to ensure that Canadians have a fair and real shot at retiring in dignity. We want to help them to save so that they can have the appropriate opportunity that generations before have had.We are working in a collaborative fashion with provinces across the country, as we know is necessary, in order to get to a conclusion that will actually make a better situation for Canadians through an enhanced Canada pension plan. That is our goal and we look forward, hopefully, to being able to announce more on that in the coming months.
Mr. Speaker, the Liberals had a March madness to remember: $27 towel bars, TVs for everyone, and a $2,500 desk for the defence minister. But the leader of the spending pack is the infrastructure minister. He racked up a whopping $835,000 for his shiny new office, including an amazing $243,000 on furniture alone. At a time when Albertans are struggling to find work, why does this Edmonton minister think it is appropriate to spend almost $1 million on sky palace 2.0?
Mr. Speaker, I have a great deal of respect for the media. I believe nothing is more important to democracy than a well-informed electorate. I also believe we need to listen to those whose voices have not been included in this conversation, like those with disabilities and exceptionalities, representatives of which groups we met with earlier. What we are hearing from people with disabilities is that the path to voting is an obstacle course. Let us listen to these voices and improve our electoral system and the way people vote.
Mr. Speaker, we continue to believe that listening to Canadians is our priority as members, but also my priority as Minister of Democratic Institutions. It is our responsibility, as a House, to ensure that the voices of our constituents are heard. I am looking forward to this conversation happening in this House in a meaningful and respectful way beginning tomorrow.
Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order relating to statements we just heard during question period.I am sure that if we ask
Mr. Speaker, we are engaged in a fair and thorough review process. I met the individuals in question today. We hear from all stakeholders. There are significant concerns around the project, but we are working with the proponent. Once we have sufficient information, we will make a decision within 90 days.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his work on this file and for proposing the motion for us to talk about tomorrow.I welcome all members of this House to engage in this conversation. I know there is a lot of passion in this House. I know there are a lot of good ideas in this House. I look forward to receiving all of them beginning tomorrow.
Mr. Speaker, by limiting the debate to the House of Commons alone, the Liberals are making it impossible for all Canadians to have their say on this. Considering that 73% of Canadians want a referendum, I think that the Liberal Party needs to listen to them.The Prime Minister mentioned how people voted on October 19. Why, then, will he not let them vote in a referendum?
Mr. Speaker, in 2007, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police illegally spied on two Canadian journalists for nine days.The commissioner of the RCMP said that he never authorized the illegal surveillance. This is serious. Freedom of the press, one of the fundamental tenets of our democracy, is under attack.Will the Prime Minister agree to hold a public inquiry into the RCMP's illegal actions, as called for by our party and journalists?
Mr. Speaker, I understand there was a little noise in the chamber toward the end of question period, and you may not have heard the question by the member for SaanichGulf Islands. I think if you do check the blues on it, you may find that it does not fall under the administration of government. The position of the Conservative Party is not something the Prime Minister has to answer for.We are about to enter into tabling of documents, and during question period, the Prime Minister said that our party a éliminé...le droit de vote. I wonder if the government can table any evidence of anyone in Canada being disenfranchised.
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is making plenty of time today to meet with China's minister of foreign affairs, Mr. Wang Yi, but can he tell us, did he stand up for our interests and condemn China's aggressive activities in the South China Sea, activities that are seriously upsetting stability in the region? Will the Liberals stand by our allies and keep their word, or are they playing diplomatic games just to please the Chinese government?
Mr. Speaker, while Albertans are reeling from job losses and devastating forest fires, the finance minister is charging taxpayers $4,000 per flight for his staff to see New York. Economy flights to New York are $600. Even business class is $1,200.Canadians control their spending. The government should control its spending, too. How did the finance minister manage to spend $4,000 a person to go on a lavish trip to New York?
Mr. Speaker, the Liberals promised to treat our veterans with respect. However, today we learned that only high-ranking veterans will really be able to take advantage of the benefit increases promised in the budget for veterans who are unable to work because of injuries. It makes no sense. The government's plan even goes so far as to demote veterans.Does the government realize that one of the worst possible insults in the military community is to be demoted? When will the minister fix this?
Mr. Speaker, I answered the question on expenditures, and I do not know which part of my answer the hon. member does not understand. This is a stand-alone ministry that did not exist before. We did not have a dedicated DM. We did not have a dedicated minister to deliver the commitments that we made to Canadians.In the past, the previous government wasted two construction seasons not making a single investment in communities. We want to do things differently. That is why we are delivering on the commitments we made to Canadians.
Mr. Speaker, when Liberals promised an increase in benefits for permanently injured veterans, they failed to mention that their plan would benefit higher ranking officials the most
Mr. Speaker, when the Liberals promised an increase in benefits for permanently injured veterans, they failed to mention that their plan would benefit higher ranking officials the most, while rank-and-file veterans would see minimal increases. New Democrats believe that veterans, all veterans regardless of rank, deserve to be treated with dignity. The government is humiliating veterans. Why are the Liberals leaving behind those with the least? Why are they treating our nation's most vulnerable veterans so disgracefully?
Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I apologize for my outburst during question period. However, as the father of an intellectually disabled adult son, I find it reprehensible that the Minister of Democratic Institutions would use the disabled, insinuating
Mr. Speaker, no, it is not a mistake. It is an illegal act.The RCMP spied on journalists. That is serious. This requires something other than more rhetoric, clichés, and platitudes.The RCMP has been caught breaching the rights of Canadians by gathering data on people who simply ask for government information. Worse, it is not even the first time that this has happened. It is a troubling trend when it comes to the government spying on Canadians. As we know, they also spied on journalists at the RCMP.Bill C-51 was the Conservative attack on our rights and freedoms. Why has the Prime Minister done nothing to get rid of Bill C-51?
Mr. Speaker, the minister is lecturing us about partisanship in the House; this is the same minister who thinks that her tweets count as consultation and who set up a committee that is under the complete control of the Liberal party, without consultation.After all that, the minister has the audacity to tell us here in the House that the opposition is being partisan. Seriously, will the minister finally listen to Canadians? Will she commit to holding a referendum so that all Canadians can express their views?
Mr. Speaker, it seems that the minister is confused about how conversations work. Both parties get to participate; the Liberals cannot just dictate the result. The only person who is taking away from the conversation is the minister, by following the Prime Minister's preconceived notion of where he wants the consultations to arrive. If the Liberals truly wanted to listen, they would let each and every Canadian have a say through a referendum. Will the Liberals drop the act already? Referendum, yes or no?
Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, millions of Canadians do not have enough savings to retire in dignity. This is a national crisis requiring national leadership. However, after making big promises to boost the CPP, Liberals are now playing down expectations. They are refusing even to say what they are proposing to the provinces. New Democrats believe all Canadians deserve to retire in dignity and security. Do Liberals believe in the goal of doubling CPP benefits, and what exactly is the minister planning to propose to the provinces?
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister continues to ram through his change to our voting system without giving Canadians a voice. He has rigged the process to get the results that he wants. Canadians know that this entire thing is a sham and it shows a complete lack of respect for our democracy.When is the Prime Minister going to climb down from this mess he has created and give Canadians what they want, which is a referendum?
Mr. Speaker, Canadians expect their rights to be protected by their Prime Minister.Today the Liberals plan to force through their bill to strip protections for thousands of aerospace workers here in Canada by using closure and shutting down debate at third reading.The Prime Minister once stood shoulder to shoulder, chanting solidarity with the very workers he is now abandoning. While other governments are making investments in our aerospace sector, will the Prime Minister provide one single reason why he is in such a rush to sell out Canadian aerospace jobs?
Mr. Speaker, today is World Milk Day, an opportunity to recognize that the dairy industry contributes nearly $19 billion to our economy.The Liberal government, which claims to be protecting supply management, is abandoning our dairy producers by refusing to address the diafiltered milk issue as promised.Producers have had enough of the Liberals' failure to take action. They are marching to Ottawa to demonstrate in front of Parliament tomorrow.Will the Liberals finally wake up and do something for our producers and our regions by keeping their promise to deal with the diafiltered milk problem?
Mr. Speaker, I reject the premise of the member's question, and I would like to reassure him that what we committed to, and the only outcome that we have arrived at to this point, is bringing together parliamentarians in this place to review the options available to us. I know this is a difficult concept for the member opposite to grasp. I know there is lingering cynicism from the Conservatives' practices over the last decade. That is not the way we do things, and I am looking forward to us realizing that, all of us together
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the minister justified the government's hiring of a communications advisor who is a professional advocate for a ranked ballot system, on the irrelevant basis that he was not hired for being a Liberal. That, of course, is not the issue. He was hired because he is an advocate of the ranked ballot system.Why, when the different proposals have not even been submitted and the committee has not even been struck, is the Liberal Party already hiring someone who has a position? Why are the Liberals putting in the fix before the process is even started? Why will they not allow a referendum?
Mr. Speaker, may I start again?
Mr. Speaker, prior to this government taking charge, we did not have a solely dedicated ministry for infrastructure. We did not have a solely dedicated deputy minister for infrastructure. We did not have any staff to support the minister and the deputy minister. The expenditures that the hon. member is talking about are to provide support staff, office space, minister's office space, and the DM's office space. We have followed the guidelines from the Treasury Board, and we are here to create efficiencies
Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Minister of Finance was quite evasive about the $12,000 in travel expenses claimed by three of his employees to go to New York. Considering that it is possible to get a commercial flight for a few hundred dollars, those numbers seem off.The minister needs to be up front and tell us how his employees got to New York. Did they travel in economy class or business? Did they travel in a government plane?
Mr. Speaker, we are aware of the industry's concerns about the use of diafiltered milk in cheese production. We have spent the past few weeks listening to the industry. We have had a number of very productive discussions that will help us develop a sustainable long-term strategy for the whole sector.Our government fully supports supply management.
Mr. Speaker, the minister is mistaken that the role of the Privy Council and the role of the public service is to be non-biased. It is, however, to represent what the government wants. What the government wants, apparently, is to have a single member district preferential ballot system. I will ask the question again. Why did the Liberals hire an individual to communicate on behalf of ranked ballots? What possible reason could the Liberals have, unless they have already predetermined the outcome of this entire process. Is that why they do not want to allow Canadians to engage in a referendum?
Mr. Speaker, the mission in Iraq is support and assist, and that is exactly what it is. It is focused on training. It is not a direct combat mission. It is not a combat mission, it is focused on empowering local troops to counter ISIL, but, of course, Canadian troops will always be allowed to defend themselves while they support local troops taking the fight to ISIL.
Mr. Speaker, the fact of the matter is that electoral reform is an issue that matters to a number of Canadians, but few more so than those of us in the House who will be affected by it. That is why we have committed to working with Canadians and with members of the House.We are committed to fulfilling our commitment to Canadians to ensure that the next election, in 2019, will not be done under first past the post.
Mr. Speaker, we committed to treating veterans with care, compassion, respect, and delivering on financial services. We did that in budget 2016. I would ask the member to go back to my mandate letter, which said that we would raise veterans earnings loss benefit to 90% of their pre-release salary. That is exactly what we did, delivering $5.6 billion in financial security to veterans and their families.
Mr. Speaker, we had a great minister of infrastructure. Now we know what a poor minister of infrastructure looks like.We know Liberals like to help themselves to taxpayers' money and the facts are clear. The minister, obviously entitled to his entitlements, decided to spend nearly a million dollars on his shiny new digs, but $250,000 on couches and TVs?Why is the only infrastructure money spent in Canada so far spent on posh offices for Liberal ministers?
Mr. Speaker, we are working very hard to get a good deal for all of Canada on the softwood lumber file. The government recognizes the importance of the industry across Canada. Officials from the USTR met with the Canadian team here in Ottawa last week. There is a subsequent meeting planned. The minister is engaged. The ambassador is engaged. We are going to get a deal that ensures stable access to the American market.
Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the minister told the House that I had a hard time with the concept of listening, so just for the fun of it I spent a few minutes Googling quotes from reputable political analysts across Canada.Here is what I found: [The minister] has so far succeeded in burning bridges where she should have been building some. It is an unsustainable proposition. The Liberals were responsible for reassuring their political opponents. The Prime Minister did exactly the opposite.Clearly, I am not the only one who has a listening problem.I invite the minister to hold a referendum and consult Canadians. We will see which side of the House has a real listening problem.
Mr. Speaker, the expenditures the member is referring to are to provide office space for the minister, for the DM, as well as for the staff members to support the minister and the DM.We are focused on delivering on the commitments that we made to Canadians. That is why we are consolidating on one floor the entire ministry: to create efficiencies and live up to the expectations of Canadians in order to deliver on our commitments for infrastructure.
Mr. Speaker, our troops are doing extraordinary work in the fight against ISIS, but the Liberals have put them into a more dangerous mission, tried to call it training, and have withdrawn our CF-18s that are a key pillar to degrade the enemy. Make no mistake, if our troops come under fire, they should always respond with overwhelming force, but what the government should not do is mislead Canadians about the nature of this mission. It is more dangerous and it is combat.Is the Prime Minister finally prepared to admit that Canada's mission in Iraq is combat?
Mr. Speaker, as a former dairy farmer myself, I would like to wish all farmers a happy World Milk Day. Unlike the opposition members, our government supports supply management and our dairy industry. We think it is appalling that the members opposite want to eliminate supply management, which is a model of stability that supports our farmers, their families, and rural communities. Our party fought to set up supply management and we will continue to defend it against anyone who wants
Mr. Speaker, this week, the Government of Quebec announced more significant investments in the aerospace industry. Meanwhile, here in Ottawa, the government is asleep at the switch. It has not announced anything for Bombardier and we have heard no word of an aerospace policy. The only thing on the Liberal government's record so far has been the loss of 2,600 jobs at Air Canada.Why was the Prime Minister in such a rush to hand Air Canada a blank cheque, even though the company never obeyed the law? There were never any consequences. Why is he so naive to believe that Air Canada will keep its word this time?
Mr. Speaker, colourful, appealing packaging for tobacco products plays a key role in brand recognition and brand loyalty among customers. Studies have highlighted the impact this packaging has on children and young people. Our government was elected in October with a mandate to introduce plain packaging for tobacco products.Can the Minister of Health update the House on this initiative?
Mr. Speaker, the member opposite knows quite well that this individual was hired by the Privy Council to work as a communications advisor as a member of Canada's non-partisan public service. We are proud of the professional, non-partisan public service whose members come to work day in and day out with the sole purpose of serving Canadians. I encourage the member opposite to consider doing the same.
Mr. Speaker, in light of the statements made during question period, I am sure that if you were to ask all parties in the House about membership of the electoral reform committee, people would give the Green Party and the Bloc Québécois the right to participate and vote.I would like to move the following motion: That the participation of the Bloc Québécois and the Green Party be governed by the same provisions governing all other members and include the right to vote.
Mr. Speaker, today we learned that Canadian special forces recently came under fire in a battle near Mosul in Iraq. This directly contradicts the Prime Minister's claims that Canada is only doing training. On this side of the House, we have been clear that Canada should be taking the fight to ISIS, but it was the Liberals who, for purely political reasons, claimed that all we would be doing is training, insinuating that this would be much safer. How can the Prime Minister claim this is just a training mission when our troops are under fire?
Mr. Speaker, if the Minister of Democratic Institutions is actually interested in having a conversation on electoral reform, she cannot just keep repeating random verbs and nouns. She actually has to listen. Consultation, conversation, and listening are all great nouns and verbs. However, I have a noun for the Liberals: referendum. The Canadian people deserve one. Will the Liberals finally commit to one?
Mr. Speaker, we are proud that we have committed to invest $120 billion to support public transit, to support investment in affordable housing, to support investment in cultural and recreational facilities, to make our infrastructure more resilient to climate change.Unlike the previous government, we are delivering on those commitments right away, instead of waiting for two years and missing two construction seasons and leaving Canadian communities behind.
Mr. Speaker, again, the member is talking about listening to the public when it comes to something as important as voting. I find that a bit odd because it was his party that eliminated and limited the right to vote for many people, all without consultation. That party made it more difficult for minority groups to vote. Despite that, Canadians made themselves heard and chose a party that is going to replace our electoral system.
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities has a mandate. That mandate is supposed to involve investment in public transit, green infrastructure, and social infrastructure like affordable housing. His objective should be to encourage economic growth.Could the minister explain how spending $250,000 on furniture for himself achieves that mandate? Does the minister truly believe that this is a good use of taxpayers' dollars?
Mr. Speaker, that is an extremely serious situation and, as I have said many times, it is completely unacceptable for this to happen in Canada. The RCMP took action. Public safety took action. If the journalists involved or anyone else has questions, the commissioner of the RCMP will be pleased to respond.It was a mistake, it was fixed, and we learned from the situation.
Mr. Speaker, we believe in engaging with China in a comprehensive way. It is the most effective way forward. Having regular high-level interactions with China on a range of issues will allow us to continue to have frank and honest conversations to find common ground on difficult issues, including of course human rights. We consistently raise human rights concerns with the Chinese government. The minister is busy doing that today.
Mr. Speaker, he needs a new travel agent.As each day passes, Canadians learn the Liberal family reunion in Washington cost more and more money. Initially, the Liberals claimed the whole trip was $25,000. Now they are saying it is at least a quarter of a million. This is about priorities. How can the Liberals justify this runaway bill to taxpayers when they brought along their director of advertising, but actually left the natural resources minister at home?
Mr. Speaker, let us go back to the real issue. The minister can try to explain his lavish spending all he wants, but the point is he spent 250,000 taxpayers' dollars on couches and coffee machines.This side of the House knows that his spending does nothing for Canadians. When will the minister admit that the only infrastructure plan he has is to beautify his own office?
Mr. Speaker, the manufacturing sector is a cornerstone of Canada's economy, but countries are becoming increasingly competitive when it comes to attracting high-tech investment. With nearly one in eight jobs here in Canada linked to foreign investment, could the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development update the House on the government's efforts to attract high-quality jobs within our country?
Mr. Speaker, many residents in northern B.C. are still awaiting the Liberals' final decision on Pacific NorthWest LNG. In fact, a group of these residents, who have travelled all the way across Canada promoting LNG, are with us here today: MLA Pat Pimm, Alan Yu, Kristi Leer, Ramona McDonald, Chris Lafratta, Jason Dabrule, and Dion DaSilva.We are looking for answers. When will the Liberals stop the delays and approve B.C. LNG so my residents can get back to work?
Mr. Speaker, need I remind the government that construction season is already well under way in Quebec and does not last very long?Despite the meagre sums that have been promised to pyrrhotite victims, they are still being made to wait. Homeowners are worried, and with good reason, because they could completely miss the 2016 season. What is more, the delay is unfairly penalizing these families, who are having difficulty making ends meet.Will the federal government commit to transferring the $10 million set out in the budget this week?
Mr. Speaker, after all three parties agreed during the campaign, small business owners were counting on legislated tax cuts to help grow their businesses and create jobs in our communities.The Liberals broke their word, and their omnibus bill gets rid of this important help for small businesses. Just yesterday, Liberals voted down NDP amendments to fix the bill. Why did the Liberals vote against their own election promise, and why did they vote down relief for Canada's best job creators?
Actually, Mr. Speaker, on October 19 of last year, Canadians indicated what they wanted. The majority voted for parties that were committed to ending first past the post. That is exactly the commitment we made and that is what we are moving forward with.Of course, as is our custom and as is our responsibility, unlike the opposition, when it was in government, we will be consulting, working with opposition parties, working with experts, ensuring that we have the best possible electoral system going forward.
Mr. Speaker, as per my letter to you, pursuant to Standing Order 52, I request leave to make a motion to discuss actions the government can take to address the human rights situation facing Uighur Muslims in China, specifically in light of threats to religious liberty that this community may face during Ramadan, starting June 6.The Uighur Muslim community living in the People's Republic of China faces significant human rights abuses. During Ramadan these abuses have included forcible prevention of people from engaging in this deeply important Muslim fast.In 2015, the Chinese government banned civil servants, students, and teachers in the Xinjiang region, where most Uighurs live, from fasting during Ramadan. It also ordered restaurants to stay open. On January 1, new Enforcement of Religious Affairs Regulations" came into effect in the region, with the professed goal of limiting the role of religion in marriage, funerals, culture, the arts, and sports". Again this year, counties have posted notices forbidding students and Communist Party members from participating in the Ramadan fast. The Chinese government is paying attention to what we in Canada say and do not say on these issues. We in this House, the government, and you, Mr. Speaker, can make a difference for these suffering people by using this opportunity to discuss the role we can play in response to this situation.
Mr. Speaker, referendum is indeed a noun and like all nouns it has a definition. This one is found in the Referendum Act of 1992, which makes it clear that we can only hold a referendum in Canadaunless we go through the process of changing that acton a constitutional matter. Changing our voting system is not a constitutional question.I want to ask the Prime Minister if he agrees with me that it appears that our friends in the Conservative Party are not interested in a referendum or they would have looked at the act. They are interested in stopping Canadians from getting what we voted for as a majority, a fair voting system.
Mr. Speaker, small businesses are the backbone of the economy. They are our job creators. For small business owners to succeed, they need a robust economy. They want increased revenue. Our middle-class tax cuts put money in the pockets of Canadians who need it most. Middle-class Canadians are also our customers. They buy the products and services that our small businesses provide.Money in the pockets of Canadians is good for the economy. It is good for growing the economy, and we will grow this economy as we promised Canadians.
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for her question.Every year, tobacco kills more than 37,000 Canadians, and 87,000 Canadians become daily smokers. We can and must do better, and we are launching public consultations to regulate the appearance, size, and shape of packaging for tobacco products and adopting plain packaging measures to make tobacco less attractive. The government is committed to Canadians' health.
Mr. Speaker, this government clearly supports free trade as a way to create growth and create good jobs for the middle class. Witness our success with getting the CETA back on track after it had fallen completely off the rails.When it comes to the TPP, none of the other 12 countries have ratified the TPP, and that includes Japan. We have promised to consult Canadians from coast to coast to coast, and that is precisely what we are doing.
Mr. Speaker, Kevin Garratt, a Canadian citizen who for years has assisted humanitarian programs into North Korea from his café in Dandong, China, has been imprisoned in China since 2014, indicted on phoney and unsubstantiated charges of spying.While our previous Conservative government spoke out strongly on Mr. Garratt's behalf, protesting the lack of evidence, the Liberals have only expressed concern.Why is an innocent Canadian being abandoned so the Prime Minister can pursue his fresh start with China?
Mr. Speaker, we have committed to bringing together a committee made up of all parties to review the various options available to us. The purpose of this committee coming together is to hear from Canadians first-hand, and, yes, using 21st century tools like social media is smart and necessary for us to ensure that all voices, as many voices as possible, are included in this conversation. I am looking forward to a respectful and meaningful dialogue with all parties.
Mr. Speaker, as finance ministers before me have done, I have taken the opportunity, after presenting my budget, not only to travel across Canada to tell Canadians about the measures we are putting in place for them, but to travel internationally to talk to investors, economists and others who will actually make investments into our country to help us grow the economy to make Canada better for this generation and for the next generation. We are proud of what we are doing, and we look forward to continuing to do it in the years to come.
Mr. Speaker, on the first issue that the hon. member brought up, Canadians expect two things. They expect their government to protect their physical security and defend their rights. We are the only party that indicated, time and time again, in the last election and since, that we knew we needed to do both of those things together.On the question of an aerospace industry and the strong jobs that go with it, this government has been working tirelessly to ensure that Canadians have good jobs in the aerospace industry, and that we have an aerospace industry that is good in the short term, medium term, and long term. That is what we are working on. That is what Canadians expect of us.
Mr. Speaker, in budget 2016 we fulfilled our mandate commitment to increase earnings loss benefit to 90% of a veteran's pre-release salary, up from 75%. We committed $5.6 billion in financial security to veterans in budget 2016. No veteran will receive less as a result of these changes, and I am looking forward to many, many more veterans having more money in their pocket to build their lives.
Mr. Speaker, we have no intention of limiting the debate to the House of Commons, although I do encourage a good, full debate here in the House and in committee. That said, we have also committed to consulting Canadians directly on how to improve our electoral system, and we plan to work very hard to ensure that Canadians play an important role in choosing how we improve and replace our electoral system.
Mr. Speaker, on the contrary, the Garratts have not been abandoned by this government. We continue to be engaged on this file. We have expressed our concern for the well-being of the Garratts, and we have repeatedly raised the issue with Chinese officials at the highest levels. We will continue to persist in our call for their return home safely.
Mr. Speaker, time is running out on a new softwood lumber deal, yet the Minister of Trade sees the 100-day deadline for a new deal as more of a checking-in period. No progress is being made, and the U.S. election is coming up. The government continues to tell Canadians to hang in there, which is unacceptable.What do the Liberals have to say to the hundreds of thousands of Canadians employed in the forestry sector whose jobs are on the line, aside from to hang in there?
Mr. Speaker, our government is working tirelessly to create jobs in the aerospace industry in the short term, medium term, and long term.That is why we are working with partners like Bombardier and Air Canada across the country to secure investments in innovation and good-quality jobs in this valuable industry, and we will continue to support and encourage investments in the aerospace industry across Canada.It is important for Canadians, important for jobs, and important for our economy.
Mr. Speaker, their system was created by the Liberals and is being run by a Liberal-dominated committee to ensure that the Liberal Party is re-elected. We are against it. This is very important. It is about changing the way Canadians choose their representatives to make decisions for Canada. We must listen to the public and have a referendum on this.
Mr. Speaker, at last week's G7 meeting in Japan, the Prime Minister showed real indifference to Prime Minister Abe's push to seek early ratification of the TPP. The Prime Minister, however, seems much more inclined to push for an early deal with China. While that is a very important market for us, the Prime Minister has also said, Its important that people know that when they sign a deal with Canada, a change of government isnt going to lead to the contract being ripped up. Why will the Prime Minister not prioritize ratifying the TPP before holding trade talks with China?
Mr. Speaker, like the finance ministers before me, I know that it is very important to communicate about Canada with Canadians and investors around the world.Our budget is very important for Canadians, and it is also important for international investors. That is why I travelled extensively to promote our level of growth to new investors in Canada.
Mr. Speaker, we now know that the government was withholding information when it claimed that the price tag for the state visit to Washington was $25,000, because we have learned that it was 10 times greater, $257,000. Even worse, the Prime Minister was accompanied by 21 of his office staff. Twenty-one. Even his director of advertising was there. How can this government claim that it is a good manager of taxpayers' money when it spends money hand over fist on a trip abroad?
Mr. Speaker, today is World Milk Day, so it is important to point out that supply management helps sustain the dairy industry in Canada. That industry comprises 12,000 farms and families, employs over 200,000 Canadians, and contributes some $20 billion to our economy. Given that some people, including certain candidates to the leadership of the Conservative Party, want to eliminate supply management, can the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food inform the House of our government's position?
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for Niagara Centre for his question and for his efforts as a former mayor and now a member of Parliament, in promoting economic development.From day one, our government has been focused on attracting job-creating investments to this country. Today, our commitment is paying off with GE Canada selecting Welland, Ontario, as the location for its new brilliant factory.This facility will create 150 jobs in phase one and begin production in 2018.We are working with Export Development Canada, and this initiative speaks to our commitment to growing the economy and creating jobs.
Mr. Speaker, I will explain exactly how we will justify that important visit. It is because of what was accomplished for Canadians. On that trip, a historic visit, significant progress was made on issues as important to Canadians as climate change, the environment, international security, defence co-operation, the global coalition against ISIL, trade, and transborder security. We are proud of that trip, we are proud of what was accomplished, and all of the costs, as the member well knows, were proactively disclosed by a government that is committed to openness and transparency.
What we have said from the beginning, Mr. Speaker, is that Canada has an important role to play as part of the coalition against ISIL. Indeed, training on the ground, advising and assisting local troops, and being able to bring the fight effectively to ISIL and reclaim their lands and territories is exactly what we have committed to do.On top of that, we are adding extra intelligence and medical support to ensure that Canada has the best impact in empowering local troops to defeat ISIL. That is what we committed to do and that is exactly what we are doing.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for this conversation. We listened to Canadians. Over 60% said that we need to review other options and we need to move beyond the status quo. We committed to bringing forward a committee made up of all parties of this House to review the options available, including online voting, including mandatory voting. I am looking forward to continuing a meaningful and respectful dialogue among all parties.
On the contrary, Mr. Speaker, we have engaged in significant consultations with stakeholders. We are going to continue those. We have made clear commitments about improving Bill C-51. We have made commitments to bringing in an oversight committee of parliamentarians in which all parties will be able to participate, to ensure that our national security agencies and security services are behaving both within respect of the law and the charter, and also doing everything they can to protect Canadians. That is what Canadians expect.
Mr. Speaker, the people struggling with the pyrrhotite problem in the Mauricie region are victims of a human and economic tragedy. The Conservative government ignored them for 10 years.I am proud to say that during the election campaign, the Prime Minister and those of us on this side of the House made a promise to help pyrrhotite victims. The budget provides for $30 million to help them. We kept our promise.The Prime Minister himself went to meet with the victims to express his support. We made a promise and we kept it. The money is there for victims.
Mr. Speaker, I realize that my colleague opposite may not be used to an appropriate Canadian delegation for a state visit to the United States. Our Prime Minister's visit marked the first time that the United States had bestowed this honour on Canada since 1997. As I have repeatedly stated, all appropriate expenses were proactively disclosed as promised by our government.What matters just as much to us is the progress made on files and issues that are important to Canadians. We are proud of this visit.
Mr. Speaker, for months Liberals have been asking for ideas about how best to change our democracy, yet every time I, my friend from RosemontLa Petite-Patrie, and New Democrats have offered solutions, the Liberals have rejected them.Canadians are growing concerned and expect that when Parliament passes any new voting system, it must have the support of other parties in this place.Today, will the minister take a first and important step and agree to change the Liberal-dominated committee to one that is fair to all members of Parliament and the millions of Canadians we represent?
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. member for his question and say that we join him in wanting to ensure that Canadians have a fair and real shot at retiring in dignity. We want to help them to save so that they can have the appropriate opportunity that generations before have had.We are working in a collaborative fashion with provinces across the country, as we know is necessary, in order to get to a conclusion that will actually make a better situation for Canadians through an enhanced Canada pension plan. That is our goal and we look forward, hopefully, to being able to announce more on that in the coming months.
Mr. Speaker, the Liberals had a March madness to remember: $27 towel bars, TVs for everyone, and a $2,500 desk for the defence minister. But the leader of the spending pack is the infrastructure minister. He racked up a whopping $835,000 for his shiny new office, including an amazing $243,000 on furniture alone. At a time when Albertans are struggling to find work, why does this Edmonton minister think it is appropriate to spend almost $1 million on sky palace 2.0?
Mr. Speaker, I have a great deal of respect for the media. I believe nothing is more important to democracy than a well-informed electorate. I also believe we need to listen to those whose voices have not been included in this conversation, like those with disabilities and exceptionalities, representatives of which groups we met with earlier. What we are hearing from people with disabilities is that the path to voting is an obstacle course. Let us listen to these voices and improve our electoral system and the way people vote.
Mr. Speaker, we continue to believe that listening to Canadians is our priority as members, but also my priority as Minister of Democratic Institutions. It is our responsibility, as a House, to ensure that the voices of our constituents are heard. I am looking forward to this conversation happening in this House in a meaningful and respectful way beginning tomorrow.
Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order relating to statements we just heard during question period.I am sure that if we ask
Mr. Speaker, we are engaged in a fair and thorough review process. I met the individuals in question today. We hear from all stakeholders. There are significant concerns around the project, but we are working with the proponent. Once we have sufficient information, we will make a decision within 90 days.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his work on this file and for proposing the motion for us to talk about tomorrow.I welcome all members of this House to engage in this conversation. I know there is a lot of passion in this House. I know there are a lot of good ideas in this House. I look forward to receiving all of them beginning tomorrow.
Most positive speeches
Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his work on this file and for proposing the motion for us to talk about tomorrow.I welcome all members of this House to engage in this conversation. I know there is a lot of passion in this House. I know there are a lot of good ideas in this House. I look forward to receiving all of them beginning tomorrow.
Mr. Speaker, we are engaged in a fair and thorough review process. I met the individuals in question today. We hear from all stakeholders. There are significant concerns around the project, but we are working with the proponent. Once we have sufficient information, we will make a decision within 90 days.
Mr. Speaker, we continue to believe that listening to Canadians is our priority as members, but also my priority as Minister of Democratic Institutions. It is our responsibility, as a House, to ensure that the voices of our constituents are heard. I am looking forward to this conversation happening in this House in a meaningful and respectful way beginning tomorrow.
Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order relating to statements we just heard during question period.I am sure that if we ask
Mr. Speaker, I have a great deal of respect for the media. I believe nothing is more important to democracy than a well-informed electorate. I also believe we need to listen to those whose voices have not been included in this conversation, like those with disabilities and exceptionalities, representatives of which groups we met with earlier. What we are hearing from people with disabilities is that the path to voting is an obstacle course. Let us listen to these voices and improve our electoral system and the way people vote.
Mr. Speaker, the Liberals had a March madness to remember: $27 towel bars, TVs for everyone, and a $2,500 desk for the defence minister. But the leader of the spending pack is the infrastructure minister. He racked up a whopping $835,000 for his shiny new office, including an amazing $243,000 on furniture alone. At a time when Albertans are struggling to find work, why does this Edmonton minister think it is appropriate to spend almost $1 million on sky palace 2.0?
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. member for his question and say that we join him in wanting to ensure that Canadians have a fair and real shot at retiring in dignity. We want to help them to save so that they can have the appropriate opportunity that generations before have had.We are working in a collaborative fashion with provinces across the country, as we know is necessary, in order to get to a conclusion that will actually make a better situation for Canadians through an enhanced Canada pension plan. That is our goal and we look forward, hopefully, to being able to announce more on that in the coming months.
Mr. Speaker, for months Liberals have been asking for ideas about how best to change our democracy, yet every time I, my friend from RosemontLa Petite-Patrie, and New Democrats have offered solutions, the Liberals have rejected them.Canadians are growing concerned and expect that when Parliament passes any new voting system, it must have the support of other parties in this place.Today, will the minister take a first and important step and agree to change the Liberal-dominated committee to one that is fair to all members of Parliament and the millions of Canadians we represent?
Mr. Speaker, I realize that my colleague opposite may not be used to an appropriate Canadian delegation for a state visit to the United States. Our Prime Minister's visit marked the first time that the United States had bestowed this honour on Canada since 1997. As I have repeatedly stated, all appropriate expenses were proactively disclosed as promised by our government.What matters just as much to us is the progress made on files and issues that are important to Canadians. We are proud of this visit.
Mr. Speaker, the people struggling with the pyrrhotite problem in the Mauricie region are victims of a human and economic tragedy. The Conservative government ignored them for 10 years.I am proud to say that during the election campaign, the Prime Minister and those of us on this side of the House made a promise to help pyrrhotite victims. The budget provides for $30 million to help them. We kept our promise.The Prime Minister himself went to meet with the victims to express his support. We made a promise and we kept it. The money is there for victims.
On the contrary, Mr. Speaker, we have engaged in significant consultations with stakeholders. We are going to continue those. We have made clear commitments about improving Bill C-51. We have made commitments to bringing in an oversight committee of parliamentarians in which all parties will be able to participate, to ensure that our national security agencies and security services are behaving both within respect of the law and the charter, and also doing everything they can to protect Canadians. That is what Canadians expect.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for this conversation. We listened to Canadians. Over 60% said that we need to review other options and we need to move beyond the status quo. We committed to bringing forward a committee made up of all parties of this House to review the options available, including online voting, including mandatory voting. I am looking forward to continuing a meaningful and respectful dialogue among all parties.
What we have said from the beginning, Mr. Speaker, is that Canada has an important role to play as part of the coalition against ISIL. Indeed, training on the ground, advising and assisting local troops, and being able to bring the fight effectively to ISIL and reclaim their lands and territories is exactly what we have committed to do.On top of that, we are adding extra intelligence and medical support to ensure that Canada has the best impact in empowering local troops to defeat ISIL. That is what we committed to do and that is exactly what we are doing.
Mr. Speaker, I will explain exactly how we will justify that important visit. It is because of what was accomplished for Canadians. On that trip, a historic visit, significant progress was made on issues as important to Canadians as climate change, the environment, international security, defence co-operation, the global coalition against ISIL, trade, and transborder security. We are proud of that trip, we are proud of what was accomplished, and all of the costs, as the member well knows, were proactively disclosed by a government that is committed to openness and transparency.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for Niagara Centre for his question and for his efforts as a former mayor and now a member of Parliament, in promoting economic development.From day one, our government has been focused on attracting job-creating investments to this country. Today, our commitment is paying off with GE Canada selecting Welland, Ontario, as the location for its new brilliant factory.This facility will create 150 jobs in phase one and begin production in 2018.We are working with Export Development Canada, and this initiative speaks to our commitment to growing the economy and creating jobs.
Mr. Speaker, today is World Milk Day, so it is important to point out that supply management helps sustain the dairy industry in Canada. That industry comprises 12,000 farms and families, employs over 200,000 Canadians, and contributes some $20 billion to our economy. Given that some people, including certain candidates to the leadership of the Conservative Party, want to eliminate supply management, can the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food inform the House of our government's position?
Mr. Speaker, we now know that the government was withholding information when it claimed that the price tag for the state visit to Washington was $25,000, because we have learned that it was 10 times greater, $257,000. Even worse, the Prime Minister was accompanied by 21 of his office staff. Twenty-one. Even his director of advertising was there. How can this government claim that it is a good manager of taxpayers' money when it spends money hand over fist on a trip abroad?
Mr. Speaker, like the finance ministers before me, I know that it is very important to communicate about Canada with Canadians and investors around the world.Our budget is very important for Canadians, and it is also important for international investors. That is why I travelled extensively to promote our level of growth to new investors in Canada.
Mr. Speaker, their system was created by the Liberals and is being run by a Liberal-dominated committee to ensure that the Liberal Party is re-elected. We are against it. This is very important. It is about changing the way Canadians choose their representatives to make decisions for Canada. We must listen to the public and have a referendum on this.
Mr. Speaker, at last week's G7 meeting in Japan, the Prime Minister showed real indifference to Prime Minister Abe's push to seek early ratification of the TPP. The Prime Minister, however, seems much more inclined to push for an early deal with China. While that is a very important market for us, the Prime Minister has also said, Its important that people know that when they sign a deal with Canada, a change of government isnt going to lead to the contract being ripped up. Why will the Prime Minister not prioritize ratifying the TPP before holding trade talks with China?
Mr. Speaker, our government is working tirelessly to create jobs in the aerospace industry in the short term, medium term, and long term.That is why we are working with partners like Bombardier and Air Canada across the country to secure investments in innovation and good-quality jobs in this valuable industry, and we will continue to support and encourage investments in the aerospace industry across Canada.It is important for Canadians, important for jobs, and important for our economy.
Mr. Speaker, time is running out on a new softwood lumber deal, yet the Minister of Trade sees the 100-day deadline for a new deal as more of a checking-in period. No progress is being made, and the U.S. election is coming up. The government continues to tell Canadians to hang in there, which is unacceptable.What do the Liberals have to say to the hundreds of thousands of Canadians employed in the forestry sector whose jobs are on the line, aside from to hang in there?
Mr. Speaker, on the contrary, the Garratts have not been abandoned by this government. We continue to be engaged on this file. We have expressed our concern for the well-being of the Garratts, and we have repeatedly raised the issue with Chinese officials at the highest levels. We will continue to persist in our call for their return home safely.
Mr. Speaker, we have no intention of limiting the debate to the House of Commons, although I do encourage a good, full debate here in the House and in committee. That said, we have also committed to consulting Canadians directly on how to improve our electoral system, and we plan to work very hard to ensure that Canadians play an important role in choosing how we improve and replace our electoral system.
Mr. Speaker, in budget 2016 we fulfilled our mandate commitment to increase earnings loss benefit to 90% of a veteran's pre-release salary, up from 75%. We committed $5.6 billion in financial security to veterans in budget 2016. No veteran will receive less as a result of these changes, and I am looking forward to many, many more veterans having more money in their pocket to build their lives.
Mr. Speaker, on the first issue that the hon. member brought up, Canadians expect two things. They expect their government to protect their physical security and defend their rights. We are the only party that indicated, time and time again, in the last election and since, that we knew we needed to do both of those things together.On the question of an aerospace industry and the strong jobs that go with it, this government has been working tirelessly to ensure that Canadians have good jobs in the aerospace industry, and that we have an aerospace industry that is good in the short term, medium term, and long term. That is what we are working on. That is what Canadians expect of us.
Mr. Speaker, as finance ministers before me have done, I have taken the opportunity, after presenting my budget, not only to travel across Canada to tell Canadians about the measures we are putting in place for them, but to travel internationally to talk to investors, economists and others who will actually make investments into our country to help us grow the economy to make Canada better for this generation and for the next generation. We are proud of what we are doing, and we look forward to continuing to do it in the years to come.
Mr. Speaker, we have committed to bringing together a committee made up of all parties to review the various options available to us. The purpose of this committee coming together is to hear from Canadians first-hand, and, yes, using 21st century tools like social media is smart and necessary for us to ensure that all voices, as many voices as possible, are included in this conversation. I am looking forward to a respectful and meaningful dialogue with all parties.
Mr. Speaker, Kevin Garratt, a Canadian citizen who for years has assisted humanitarian programs into North Korea from his café in Dandong, China, has been imprisoned in China since 2014, indicted on phoney and unsubstantiated charges of spying.While our previous Conservative government spoke out strongly on Mr. Garratt's behalf, protesting the lack of evidence, the Liberals have only expressed concern.Why is an innocent Canadian being abandoned so the Prime Minister can pursue his fresh start with China?
Mr. Speaker, this government clearly supports free trade as a way to create growth and create good jobs for the middle class. Witness our success with getting the CETA back on track after it had fallen completely off the rails.When it comes to the TPP, none of the other 12 countries have ratified the TPP, and that includes Japan. We have promised to consult Canadians from coast to coast to coast, and that is precisely what we are doing.
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for her question.Every year, tobacco kills more than 37,000 Canadians, and 87,000 Canadians become daily smokers. We can and must do better, and we are launching public consultations to regulate the appearance, size, and shape of packaging for tobacco products and adopting plain packaging measures to make tobacco less attractive. The government is committed to Canadians' health.
Mr. Speaker, small businesses are the backbone of the economy. They are our job creators. For small business owners to succeed, they need a robust economy. They want increased revenue. Our middle-class tax cuts put money in the pockets of Canadians who need it most. Middle-class Canadians are also our customers. They buy the products and services that our small businesses provide.Money in the pockets of Canadians is good for the economy. It is good for growing the economy, and we will grow this economy as we promised Canadians.
Mr. Speaker, referendum is indeed a noun and like all nouns it has a definition. This one is found in the Referendum Act of 1992, which makes it clear that we can only hold a referendum in Canadaunless we go through the process of changing that acton a constitutional matter. Changing our voting system is not a constitutional question.I want to ask the Prime Minister if he agrees with me that it appears that our friends in the Conservative Party are not interested in a referendum or they would have looked at the act. They are interested in stopping Canadians from getting what we voted for as a majority, a fair voting system.
Mr. Speaker, as per my letter to you, pursuant to Standing Order 52, I request leave to make a motion to discuss actions the government can take to address the human rights situation facing Uighur Muslims in China, specifically in light of threats to religious liberty that this community may face during Ramadan, starting June 6.The Uighur Muslim community living in the People's Republic of China faces significant human rights abuses. During Ramadan these abuses have included forcible prevention of people from engaging in this deeply important Muslim fast.In 2015, the Chinese government banned civil servants, students, and teachers in the Xinjiang region, where most Uighurs live, from fasting during Ramadan. It also ordered restaurants to stay open. On January 1, new Enforcement of Religious Affairs Regulations" came into effect in the region, with the professed goal of limiting the role of religion in marriage, funerals, culture, the arts, and sports". Again this year, counties have posted notices forbidding students and Communist Party members from participating in the Ramadan fast. The Chinese government is paying attention to what we in Canada say and do not say on these issues. We in this House, the government, and you, Mr. Speaker, can make a difference for these suffering people by using this opportunity to discuss the role we can play in response to this situation.
Actually, Mr. Speaker, on October 19 of last year, Canadians indicated what they wanted. The majority voted for parties that were committed to ending first past the post. That is exactly the commitment we made and that is what we are moving forward with.Of course, as is our custom and as is our responsibility, unlike the opposition, when it was in government, we will be consulting, working with opposition parties, working with experts, ensuring that we have the best possible electoral system going forward.
Mr. Speaker, after all three parties agreed during the campaign, small business owners were counting on legislated tax cuts to help grow their businesses and create jobs in our communities.The Liberals broke their word, and their omnibus bill gets rid of this important help for small businesses. Just yesterday, Liberals voted down NDP amendments to fix the bill. Why did the Liberals vote against their own election promise, and why did they vote down relief for Canada's best job creators?
Mr. Speaker, many residents in northern B.C. are still awaiting the Liberals' final decision on Pacific NorthWest LNG. In fact, a group of these residents, who have travelled all the way across Canada promoting LNG, are with us here today: MLA Pat Pimm, Alan Yu, Kristi Leer, Ramona McDonald, Chris Lafratta, Jason Dabrule, and Dion DaSilva.We are looking for answers. When will the Liberals stop the delays and approve B.C. LNG so my residents can get back to work?
Mr. Speaker, need I remind the government that construction season is already well under way in Quebec and does not last very long?Despite the meagre sums that have been promised to pyrrhotite victims, they are still being made to wait. Homeowners are worried, and with good reason, because they could completely miss the 2016 season. What is more, the delay is unfairly penalizing these families, who are having difficulty making ends meet.Will the federal government commit to transferring the $10 million set out in the budget this week?
Mr. Speaker, the manufacturing sector is a cornerstone of Canada's economy, but countries are becoming increasingly competitive when it comes to attracting high-tech investment. With nearly one in eight jobs here in Canada linked to foreign investment, could the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development update the House on the government's efforts to attract high-quality jobs within our country?
Mr. Speaker, let us go back to the real issue. The minister can try to explain his lavish spending all he wants, but the point is he spent 250,000 taxpayers' dollars on couches and coffee machines.This side of the House knows that his spending does nothing for Canadians. When will the minister admit that the only infrastructure plan he has is to beautify his own office?
Mr. Speaker, he needs a new travel agent.As each day passes, Canadians learn the Liberal family reunion in Washington cost more and more money. Initially, the Liberals claimed the whole trip was $25,000. Now they are saying it is at least a quarter of a million. This is about priorities. How can the Liberals justify this runaway bill to taxpayers when they brought along their director of advertising, but actually left the natural resources minister at home?
Mr. Speaker, we believe in engaging with China in a comprehensive way. It is the most effective way forward. Having regular high-level interactions with China on a range of issues will allow us to continue to have frank and honest conversations to find common ground on difficult issues, including of course human rights. We consistently raise human rights concerns with the Chinese government. The minister is busy doing that today.
Mr. Speaker, that is an extremely serious situation and, as I have said many times, it is completely unacceptable for this to happen in Canada. The RCMP took action. Public safety took action. If the journalists involved or anyone else has questions, the commissioner of the RCMP will be pleased to respond.It was a mistake, it was fixed, and we learned from the situation.
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities has a mandate. That mandate is supposed to involve investment in public transit, green infrastructure, and social infrastructure like affordable housing. His objective should be to encourage economic growth.Could the minister explain how spending $250,000 on furniture for himself achieves that mandate? Does the minister truly believe that this is a good use of taxpayers' dollars?
Mr. Speaker, again, the member is talking about listening to the public when it comes to something as important as voting. I find that a bit odd because it was his party that eliminated and limited the right to vote for many people, all without consultation. That party made it more difficult for minority groups to vote. Despite that, Canadians made themselves heard and chose a party that is going to replace our electoral system.
Mr. Speaker, we are proud that we have committed to invest $120 billion to support public transit, to support investment in affordable housing, to support investment in cultural and recreational facilities, to make our infrastructure more resilient to climate change.Unlike the previous government, we are delivering on those commitments right away, instead of waiting for two years and missing two construction seasons and leaving Canadian communities behind.
Mr. Speaker, if the Minister of Democratic Institutions is actually interested in having a conversation on electoral reform, she cannot just keep repeating random verbs and nouns. She actually has to listen. Consultation, conversation, and listening are all great nouns and verbs. However, I have a noun for the Liberals: referendum. The Canadian people deserve one. Will the Liberals finally commit to one?
Mr. Speaker, today we learned that Canadian special forces recently came under fire in a battle near Mosul in Iraq. This directly contradicts the Prime Minister's claims that Canada is only doing training. On this side of the House, we have been clear that Canada should be taking the fight to ISIS, but it was the Liberals who, for purely political reasons, claimed that all we would be doing is training, insinuating that this would be much safer. How can the Prime Minister claim this is just a training mission when our troops are under fire?
Mr. Speaker, in light of the statements made during question period, I am sure that if you were to ask all parties in the House about membership of the electoral reform committee, people would give the Green Party and the Bloc Québécois the right to participate and vote.I would like to move the following motion: That the participation of the Bloc Québécois and the Green Party be governed by the same provisions governing all other members and include the right to vote.
Mr. Speaker, the member opposite knows quite well that this individual was hired by the Privy Council to work as a communications advisor as a member of Canada's non-partisan public service. We are proud of the professional, non-partisan public service whose members come to work day in and day out with the sole purpose of serving Canadians. I encourage the member opposite to consider doing the same.
Mr. Speaker, this week, the Government of Quebec announced more significant investments in the aerospace industry. Meanwhile, here in Ottawa, the government is asleep at the switch. It has not announced anything for Bombardier and we have heard no word of an aerospace policy. The only thing on the Liberal government's record so far has been the loss of 2,600 jobs at Air Canada.Why was the Prime Minister in such a rush to hand Air Canada a blank cheque, even though the company never obeyed the law? There were never any consequences. Why is he so naive to believe that Air Canada will keep its word this time?
Mr. Speaker, colourful, appealing packaging for tobacco products plays a key role in brand recognition and brand loyalty among customers. Studies have highlighted the impact this packaging has on children and young people. Our government was elected in October with a mandate to introduce plain packaging for tobacco products.Can the Minister of Health update the House on this initiative?
Mr. Speaker, as a former dairy farmer myself, I would like to wish all farmers a happy World Milk Day. Unlike the opposition members, our government supports supply management and our dairy industry. We think it is appalling that the members opposite want to eliminate supply management, which is a model of stability that supports our farmers, their families, and rural communities. Our party fought to set up supply management and we will continue to defend it against anyone who wants
Mr. Speaker, our troops are doing extraordinary work in the fight against ISIS, but the Liberals have put them into a more dangerous mission, tried to call it training, and have withdrawn our CF-18s that are a key pillar to degrade the enemy. Make no mistake, if our troops come under fire, they should always respond with overwhelming force, but what the government should not do is mislead Canadians about the nature of this mission. It is more dangerous and it is combat.Is the Prime Minister finally prepared to admit that Canada's mission in Iraq is combat?
Mr. Speaker, the expenditures the member is referring to are to provide office space for the minister, for the DM, as well as for the staff members to support the minister and the DM.We are focused on delivering on the commitments that we made to Canadians. That is why we are consolidating on one floor the entire ministry: to create efficiencies and live up to the expectations of Canadians in order to deliver on our commitments for infrastructure.
Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the minister told the House that I had a hard time with the concept of listening, so just for the fun of it I spent a few minutes Googling quotes from reputable political analysts across Canada.Here is what I found: [The minister] has so far succeeded in burning bridges where she should have been building some. It is an unsustainable proposition. The Liberals were responsible for reassuring their political opponents. The Prime Minister did exactly the opposite.Clearly, I am not the only one who has a listening problem.I invite the minister to hold a referendum and consult Canadians. We will see which side of the House has a real listening problem.
Mr. Speaker, we are working very hard to get a good deal for all of Canada on the softwood lumber file. The government recognizes the importance of the industry across Canada. Officials from the USTR met with the Canadian team here in Ottawa last week. There is a subsequent meeting planned. The minister is engaged. The ambassador is engaged. We are going to get a deal that ensures stable access to the American market.
Mr. Speaker, we had a great minister of infrastructure. Now we know what a poor minister of infrastructure looks like.We know Liberals like to help themselves to taxpayers' money and the facts are clear. The minister, obviously entitled to his entitlements, decided to spend nearly a million dollars on his shiny new digs, but $250,000 on couches and TVs?Why is the only infrastructure money spent in Canada so far spent on posh offices for Liberal ministers?
Mr. Speaker, we committed to treating veterans with care, compassion, respect, and delivering on financial services. We did that in budget 2016. I would ask the member to go back to my mandate letter, which said that we would raise veterans earnings loss benefit to 90% of their pre-release salary. That is exactly what we did, delivering $5.6 billion in financial security to veterans and their families.
Mr. Speaker, the fact of the matter is that electoral reform is an issue that matters to a number of Canadians, but few more so than those of us in the House who will be affected by it. That is why we have committed to working with Canadians and with members of the House.We are committed to fulfilling our commitment to Canadians to ensure that the next election, in 2019, will not be done under first past the post.
Mr. Speaker, the mission in Iraq is support and assist, and that is exactly what it is. It is focused on training. It is not a direct combat mission. It is not a combat mission, it is focused on empowering local troops to counter ISIL, but, of course, Canadian troops will always be allowed to defend themselves while they support local troops taking the fight to ISIL.
Mr. Speaker, the minister is mistaken that the role of the Privy Council and the role of the public service is to be non-biased. It is, however, to represent what the government wants. What the government wants, apparently, is to have a single member district preferential ballot system. I will ask the question again. Why did the Liberals hire an individual to communicate on behalf of ranked ballots? What possible reason could the Liberals have, unless they have already predetermined the outcome of this entire process. Is that why they do not want to allow Canadians to engage in a referendum?
Mr. Speaker, we are aware of the industry's concerns about the use of diafiltered milk in cheese production. We have spent the past few weeks listening to the industry. We have had a number of very productive discussions that will help us develop a sustainable long-term strategy for the whole sector.Our government fully supports supply management.
Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Minister of Finance was quite evasive about the $12,000 in travel expenses claimed by three of his employees to go to New York. Considering that it is possible to get a commercial flight for a few hundred dollars, those numbers seem off.The minister needs to be up front and tell us how his employees got to New York. Did they travel in economy class or business? Did they travel in a government plane?
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the minister justified the government's hiring of a communications advisor who is a professional advocate for a ranked ballot system, on the irrelevant basis that he was not hired for being a Liberal. That, of course, is not the issue. He was hired because he is an advocate of the ranked ballot system.Why, when the different proposals have not even been submitted and the committee has not even been struck, is the Liberal Party already hiring someone who has a position? Why are the Liberals putting in the fix before the process is even started? Why will they not allow a referendum?
Mr. Speaker, may I start again?
Mr. Speaker, prior to this government taking charge, we did not have a solely dedicated ministry for infrastructure. We did not have a solely dedicated deputy minister for infrastructure. We did not have any staff to support the minister and the deputy minister. The expenditures that the hon. member is talking about are to provide support staff, office space, minister's office space, and the DM's office space. We have followed the guidelines from the Treasury Board, and we are here to create efficiencies
Mr. Speaker, I reject the premise of the member's question, and I would like to reassure him that what we committed to, and the only outcome that we have arrived at to this point, is bringing together parliamentarians in this place to review the options available to us. I know this is a difficult concept for the member opposite to grasp. I know there is lingering cynicism from the Conservatives' practices over the last decade. That is not the way we do things, and I am looking forward to us realizing that, all of us together
Mr. Speaker, today is World Milk Day, an opportunity to recognize that the dairy industry contributes nearly $19 billion to our economy.The Liberal government, which claims to be protecting supply management, is abandoning our dairy producers by refusing to address the diafiltered milk issue as promised.Producers have had enough of the Liberals' failure to take action. They are marching to Ottawa to demonstrate in front of Parliament tomorrow.Will the Liberals finally wake up and do something for our producers and our regions by keeping their promise to deal with the diafiltered milk problem?
Mr. Speaker, Canadians expect their rights to be protected by their Prime Minister.Today the Liberals plan to force through their bill to strip protections for thousands of aerospace workers here in Canada by using closure and shutting down debate at third reading.The Prime Minister once stood shoulder to shoulder, chanting solidarity with the very workers he is now abandoning. While other governments are making investments in our aerospace sector, will the Prime Minister provide one single reason why he is in such a rush to sell out Canadian aerospace jobs?
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister continues to ram through his change to our voting system without giving Canadians a voice. He has rigged the process to get the results that he wants. Canadians know that this entire thing is a sham and it shows a complete lack of respect for our democracy.When is the Prime Minister going to climb down from this mess he has created and give Canadians what they want, which is a referendum?
Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, millions of Canadians do not have enough savings to retire in dignity. This is a national crisis requiring national leadership. However, after making big promises to boost the CPP, Liberals are now playing down expectations. They are refusing even to say what they are proposing to the provinces. New Democrats believe all Canadians deserve to retire in dignity and security. Do Liberals believe in the goal of doubling CPP benefits, and what exactly is the minister planning to propose to the provinces?
Mr. Speaker, it seems that the minister is confused about how conversations work. Both parties get to participate; the Liberals cannot just dictate the result. The only person who is taking away from the conversation is the minister, by following the Prime Minister's preconceived notion of where he wants the consultations to arrive. If the Liberals truly wanted to listen, they would let each and every Canadian have a say through a referendum. Will the Liberals drop the act already? Referendum, yes or no?
Mr. Speaker, the minister is lecturing us about partisanship in the House; this is the same minister who thinks that her tweets count as consultation and who set up a committee that is under the complete control of the Liberal party, without consultation.After all that, the minister has the audacity to tell us here in the House that the opposition is being partisan. Seriously, will the minister finally listen to Canadians? Will she commit to holding a referendum so that all Canadians can express their views?
Mr. Speaker, no, it is not a mistake. It is an illegal act.The RCMP spied on journalists. That is serious. This requires something other than more rhetoric, clichés, and platitudes.The RCMP has been caught breaching the rights of Canadians by gathering data on people who simply ask for government information. Worse, it is not even the first time that this has happened. It is a troubling trend when it comes to the government spying on Canadians. As we know, they also spied on journalists at the RCMP.Bill C-51 was the Conservative attack on our rights and freedoms. Why has the Prime Minister done nothing to get rid of Bill C-51?
Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I apologize for my outburst during question period. However, as the father of an intellectually disabled adult son, I find it reprehensible that the Minister of Democratic Institutions would use the disabled, insinuating
Mr. Speaker, when the Liberals promised an increase in benefits for permanently injured veterans, they failed to mention that their plan would benefit higher ranking officials the most, while rank-and-file veterans would see minimal increases. New Democrats believe that veterans, all veterans regardless of rank, deserve to be treated with dignity. The government is humiliating veterans. Why are the Liberals leaving behind those with the least? Why are they treating our nation's most vulnerable veterans so disgracefully?
Mr. Speaker, when Liberals promised an increase in benefits for permanently injured veterans, they failed to mention that their plan would benefit higher ranking officials the most
Mr. Speaker, I answered the question on expenditures, and I do not know which part of my answer the hon. member does not understand. This is a stand-alone ministry that did not exist before. We did not have a dedicated DM. We did not have a dedicated minister to deliver the commitments that we made to Canadians.In the past, the previous government wasted two construction seasons not making a single investment in communities. We want to do things differently. That is why we are delivering on the commitments we made to Canadians.
Mr. Speaker, the Liberals promised to treat our veterans with respect. However, today we learned that only high-ranking veterans will really be able to take advantage of the benefit increases promised in the budget for veterans who are unable to work because of injuries. It makes no sense. The government's plan even goes so far as to demote veterans.Does the government realize that one of the worst possible insults in the military community is to be demoted? When will the minister fix this?
Mr. Speaker, while Albertans are reeling from job losses and devastating forest fires, the finance minister is charging taxpayers $4,000 per flight for his staff to see New York. Economy flights to New York are $600. Even business class is $1,200.Canadians control their spending. The government should control its spending, too. How did the finance minister manage to spend $4,000 a person to go on a lavish trip to New York?
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is making plenty of time today to meet with China's minister of foreign affairs, Mr. Wang Yi, but can he tell us, did he stand up for our interests and condemn China's aggressive activities in the South China Sea, activities that are seriously upsetting stability in the region? Will the Liberals stand by our allies and keep their word, or are they playing diplomatic games just to please the Chinese government?
Mr. Speaker, I understand there was a little noise in the chamber toward the end of question period, and you may not have heard the question by the member for SaanichGulf Islands. I think if you do check the blues on it, you may find that it does not fall under the administration of government. The position of the Conservative Party is not something the Prime Minister has to answer for.We are about to enter into tabling of documents, and during question period, the Prime Minister said that our party a éliminé...le droit de vote. I wonder if the government can table any evidence of anyone in Canada being disenfranchised.
Mr. Speaker, in 2007, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police illegally spied on two Canadian journalists for nine days.The commissioner of the RCMP said that he never authorized the illegal surveillance. This is serious. Freedom of the press, one of the fundamental tenets of our democracy, is under attack.Will the Prime Minister agree to hold a public inquiry into the RCMP's illegal actions, as called for by our party and journalists?
Mr. Speaker, by limiting the debate to the House of Commons alone, the Liberals are making it impossible for all Canadians to have their say on this. Considering that 73% of Canadians want a referendum, I think that the Liberal Party needs to listen to them.The Prime Minister mentioned how people voted on October 19. Why, then, will he not let them vote in a referendum?
Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his work on this file and for proposing the motion for us to talk about tomorrow.I welcome all members of this House to engage in this conversation. I know there is a lot of passion in this House. I know there are a lot of good ideas in this House. I look forward to receiving all of them beginning tomorrow.
Mr. Speaker, we are engaged in a fair and thorough review process. I met the individuals in question today. We hear from all stakeholders. There are significant concerns around the project, but we are working with the proponent. Once we have sufficient information, we will make a decision within 90 days.
Mr. Speaker, we continue to believe that listening to Canadians is our priority as members, but also my priority as Minister of Democratic Institutions. It is our responsibility, as a House, to ensure that the voices of our constituents are heard. I am looking forward to this conversation happening in this House in a meaningful and respectful way beginning tomorrow.
Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order relating to statements we just heard during question period.I am sure that if we ask
Mr. Speaker, I have a great deal of respect for the media. I believe nothing is more important to democracy than a well-informed electorate. I also believe we need to listen to those whose voices have not been included in this conversation, like those with disabilities and exceptionalities, representatives of which groups we met with earlier. What we are hearing from people with disabilities is that the path to voting is an obstacle course. Let us listen to these voices and improve our electoral system and the way people vote.
Mr. Speaker, the Liberals had a March madness to remember: $27 towel bars, TVs for everyone, and a $2,500 desk for the defence minister. But the leader of the spending pack is the infrastructure minister. He racked up a whopping $835,000 for his shiny new office, including an amazing $243,000 on furniture alone. At a time when Albertans are struggling to find work, why does this Edmonton minister think it is appropriate to spend almost $1 million on sky palace 2.0?
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. member for his question and say that we join him in wanting to ensure that Canadians have a fair and real shot at retiring in dignity. We want to help them to save so that they can have the appropriate opportunity that generations before have had.We are working in a collaborative fashion with provinces across the country, as we know is necessary, in order to get to a conclusion that will actually make a better situation for Canadians through an enhanced Canada pension plan. That is our goal and we look forward, hopefully, to being able to announce more on that in the coming months.
Mr. Speaker, for months Liberals have been asking for ideas about how best to change our democracy, yet every time I, my friend from RosemontLa Petite-Patrie, and New Democrats have offered solutions, the Liberals have rejected them.Canadians are growing concerned and expect that when Parliament passes any new voting system, it must have the support of other parties in this place.Today, will the minister take a first and important step and agree to change the Liberal-dominated committee to one that is fair to all members of Parliament and the millions of Canadians we represent?
Mr. Speaker, I realize that my colleague opposite may not be used to an appropriate Canadian delegation for a state visit to the United States. Our Prime Minister's visit marked the first time that the United States had bestowed this honour on Canada since 1997. As I have repeatedly stated, all appropriate expenses were proactively disclosed as promised by our government.What matters just as much to us is the progress made on files and issues that are important to Canadians. We are proud of this visit.
Mr. Speaker, the people struggling with the pyrrhotite problem in the Mauricie region are victims of a human and economic tragedy. The Conservative government ignored them for 10 years.I am proud to say that during the election campaign, the Prime Minister and those of us on this side of the House made a promise to help pyrrhotite victims. The budget provides for $30 million to help them. We kept our promise.The Prime Minister himself went to meet with the victims to express his support. We made a promise and we kept it. The money is there for victims.
On the contrary, Mr. Speaker, we have engaged in significant consultations with stakeholders. We are going to continue those. We have made clear commitments about improving Bill C-51. We have made commitments to bringing in an oversight committee of parliamentarians in which all parties will be able to participate, to ensure that our national security agencies and security services are behaving both within respect of the law and the charter, and also doing everything they can to protect Canadians. That is what Canadians expect.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for this conversation. We listened to Canadians. Over 60% said that we need to review other options and we need to move beyond the status quo. We committed to bringing forward a committee made up of all parties of this House to review the options available, including online voting, including mandatory voting. I am looking forward to continuing a meaningful and respectful dialogue among all parties.
What we have said from the beginning, Mr. Speaker, is that Canada has an important role to play as part of the coalition against ISIL. Indeed, training on the ground, advising and assisting local troops, and being able to bring the fight effectively to ISIL and reclaim their lands and territories is exactly what we have committed to do.On top of that, we are adding extra intelligence and medical support to ensure that Canada has the best impact in empowering local troops to defeat ISIL. That is what we committed to do and that is exactly what we are doing.
Mr. Speaker, I will explain exactly how we will justify that important visit. It is because of what was accomplished for Canadians. On that trip, a historic visit, significant progress was made on issues as important to Canadians as climate change, the environment, international security, defence co-operation, the global coalition against ISIL, trade, and transborder security. We are proud of that trip, we are proud of what was accomplished, and all of the costs, as the member well knows, were proactively disclosed by a government that is committed to openness and transparency.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for Niagara Centre for his question and for his efforts as a former mayor and now a member of Parliament, in promoting economic development.From day one, our government has been focused on attracting job-creating investments to this country. Today, our commitment is paying off with GE Canada selecting Welland, Ontario, as the location for its new brilliant factory.This facility will create 150 jobs in phase one and begin production in 2018.We are working with Export Development Canada, and this initiative speaks to our commitment to growing the economy and creating jobs.
Mr. Speaker, today is World Milk Day, so it is important to point out that supply management helps sustain the dairy industry in Canada. That industry comprises 12,000 farms and families, employs over 200,000 Canadians, and contributes some $20 billion to our economy. Given that some people, including certain candidates to the leadership of the Conservative Party, want to eliminate supply management, can the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food inform the House of our government's position?
Mr. Speaker, we now know that the government was withholding information when it claimed that the price tag for the state visit to Washington was $25,000, because we have learned that it was 10 times greater, $257,000. Even worse, the Prime Minister was accompanied by 21 of his office staff. Twenty-one. Even his director of advertising was there. How can this government claim that it is a good manager of taxpayers' money when it spends money hand over fist on a trip abroad?
Mr. Speaker, like the finance ministers before me, I know that it is very important to communicate about Canada with Canadians and investors around the world.Our budget is very important for Canadians, and it is also important for international investors. That is why I travelled extensively to promote our level of growth to new investors in Canada.
Mr. Speaker, their system was created by the Liberals and is being run by a Liberal-dominated committee to ensure that the Liberal Party is re-elected. We are against it. This is very important. It is about changing the way Canadians choose their representatives to make decisions for Canada. We must listen to the public and have a referendum on this.
Mr. Speaker, at last week's G7 meeting in Japan, the Prime Minister showed real indifference to Prime Minister Abe's push to seek early ratification of the TPP. The Prime Minister, however, seems much more inclined to push for an early deal with China. While that is a very important market for us, the Prime Minister has also said, Its important that people know that when they sign a deal with Canada, a change of government isnt going to lead to the contract being ripped up. Why will the Prime Minister not prioritize ratifying the TPP before holding trade talks with China?
Mr. Speaker, our government is working tirelessly to create jobs in the aerospace industry in the short term, medium term, and long term.That is why we are working with partners like Bombardier and Air Canada across the country to secure investments in innovation and good-quality jobs in this valuable industry, and we will continue to support and encourage investments in the aerospace industry across Canada.It is important for Canadians, important for jobs, and important for our economy.
Mr. Speaker, time is running out on a new softwood lumber deal, yet the Minister of Trade sees the 100-day deadline for a new deal as more of a checking-in period. No progress is being made, and the U.S. election is coming up. The government continues to tell Canadians to hang in there, which is unacceptable.What do the Liberals have to say to the hundreds of thousands of Canadians employed in the forestry sector whose jobs are on the line, aside from to hang in there?
Mr. Speaker, on the contrary, the Garratts have not been abandoned by this government. We continue to be engaged on this file. We have expressed our concern for the well-being of the Garratts, and we have repeatedly raised the issue with Chinese officials at the highest levels. We will continue to persist in our call for their return home safely.
Mr. Speaker, we have no intention of limiting the debate to the House of Commons, although I do encourage a good, full debate here in the House and in committee. That said, we have also committed to consulting Canadians directly on how to improve our electoral system, and we plan to work very hard to ensure that Canadians play an important role in choosing how we improve and replace our electoral system.
Mr. Speaker, in budget 2016 we fulfilled our mandate commitment to increase earnings loss benefit to 90% of a veteran's pre-release salary, up from 75%. We committed $5.6 billion in financial security to veterans in budget 2016. No veteran will receive less as a result of these changes, and I am looking forward to many, many more veterans having more money in their pocket to build their lives.
Mr. Speaker, on the first issue that the hon. member brought up, Canadians expect two things. They expect their government to protect their physical security and defend their rights. We are the only party that indicated, time and time again, in the last election and since, that we knew we needed to do both of those things together.On the question of an aerospace industry and the strong jobs that go with it, this government has been working tirelessly to ensure that Canadians have good jobs in the aerospace industry, and that we have an aerospace industry that is good in the short term, medium term, and long term. That is what we are working on. That is what Canadians expect of us.
Mr. Speaker, as finance ministers before me have done, I have taken the opportunity, after presenting my budget, not only to travel across Canada to tell Canadians about the measures we are putting in place for them, but to travel internationally to talk to investors, economists and others who will actually make investments into our country to help us grow the economy to make Canada better for this generation and for the next generation. We are proud of what we are doing, and we look forward to continuing to do it in the years to come.
Mr. Speaker, we have committed to bringing together a committee made up of all parties to review the various options available to us. The purpose of this committee coming together is to hear from Canadians first-hand, and, yes, using 21st century tools like social media is smart and necessary for us to ensure that all voices, as many voices as possible, are included in this conversation. I am looking forward to a respectful and meaningful dialogue with all parties.
Mr. Speaker, Kevin Garratt, a Canadian citizen who for years has assisted humanitarian programs into North Korea from his café in Dandong, China, has been imprisoned in China since 2014, indicted on phoney and unsubstantiated charges of spying.While our previous Conservative government spoke out strongly on Mr. Garratt's behalf, protesting the lack of evidence, the Liberals have only expressed concern.Why is an innocent Canadian being abandoned so the Prime Minister can pursue his fresh start with China?
Mr. Speaker, this government clearly supports free trade as a way to create growth and create good jobs for the middle class. Witness our success with getting the CETA back on track after it had fallen completely off the rails.When it comes to the TPP, none of the other 12 countries have ratified the TPP, and that includes Japan. We have promised to consult Canadians from coast to coast to coast, and that is precisely what we are doing.
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for her question.Every year, tobacco kills more than 37,000 Canadians, and 87,000 Canadians become daily smokers. We can and must do better, and we are launching public consultations to regulate the appearance, size, and shape of packaging for tobacco products and adopting plain packaging measures to make tobacco less attractive. The government is committed to Canadians' health.
Mr. Speaker, small businesses are the backbone of the economy. They are our job creators. For small business owners to succeed, they need a robust economy. They want increased revenue. Our middle-class tax cuts put money in the pockets of Canadians who need it most. Middle-class Canadians are also our customers. They buy the products and services that our small businesses provide.Money in the pockets of Canadians is good for the economy. It is good for growing the economy, and we will grow this economy as we promised Canadians.
Mr. Speaker, referendum is indeed a noun and like all nouns it has a definition. This one is found in the Referendum Act of 1992, which makes it clear that we can only hold a referendum in Canadaunless we go through the process of changing that acton a constitutional matter. Changing our voting system is not a constitutional question.I want to ask the Prime Minister if he agrees with me that it appears that our friends in the Conservative Party are not interested in a referendum or they would have looked at the act. They are interested in stopping Canadians from getting what we voted for as a majority, a fair voting system.
Mr. Speaker, as per my letter to you, pursuant to Standing Order 52, I request leave to make a motion to discuss actions the government can take to address the human rights situation facing Uighur Muslims in China, specifically in light of threats to religious liberty that this community may face during Ramadan, starting June 6.The Uighur Muslim community living in the People's Republic of China faces significant human rights abuses. During Ramadan these abuses have included forcible prevention of people from engaging in this deeply important Muslim fast.In 2015, the Chinese government banned civil servants, students, and teachers in the Xinjiang region, where most Uighurs live, from fasting during Ramadan. It also ordered restaurants to stay open. On January 1, new Enforcement of Religious Affairs Regulations" came into effect in the region, with the professed goal of limiting the role of religion in marriage, funerals, culture, the arts, and sports". Again this year, counties have posted notices forbidding students and Communist Party members from participating in the Ramadan fast. The Chinese government is paying attention to what we in Canada say and do not say on these issues. We in this House, the government, and you, Mr. Speaker, can make a difference for these suffering people by using this opportunity to discuss the role we can play in response to this situation.
Actually, Mr. Speaker, on October 19 of last year, Canadians indicated what they wanted. The majority voted for parties that were committed to ending first past the post. That is exactly the commitment we made and that is what we are moving forward with.Of course, as is our custom and as is our responsibility, unlike the opposition, when it was in government, we will be consulting, working with opposition parties, working with experts, ensuring that we have the best possible electoral system going forward.
Mr. Speaker, after all three parties agreed during the campaign, small business owners were counting on legislated tax cuts to help grow their businesses and create jobs in our communities.The Liberals broke their word, and their omnibus bill gets rid of this important help for small businesses. Just yesterday, Liberals voted down NDP amendments to fix the bill. Why did the Liberals vote against their own election promise, and why did they vote down relief for Canada's best job creators?
Mr. Speaker, many residents in northern B.C. are still awaiting the Liberals' final decision on Pacific NorthWest LNG. In fact, a group of these residents, who have travelled all the way across Canada promoting LNG, are with us here today: MLA Pat Pimm, Alan Yu, Kristi Leer, Ramona McDonald, Chris Lafratta, Jason Dabrule, and Dion DaSilva.We are looking for answers. When will the Liberals stop the delays and approve B.C. LNG so my residents can get back to work?
Mr. Speaker, need I remind the government that construction season is already well under way in Quebec and does not last very long?Despite the meagre sums that have been promised to pyrrhotite victims, they are still being made to wait. Homeowners are worried, and with good reason, because they could completely miss the 2016 season. What is more, the delay is unfairly penalizing these families, who are having difficulty making ends meet.Will the federal government commit to transferring the $10 million set out in the budget this week?
Mr. Speaker, the manufacturing sector is a cornerstone of Canada's economy, but countries are becoming increasingly competitive when it comes to attracting high-tech investment. With nearly one in eight jobs here in Canada linked to foreign investment, could the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development update the House on the government's efforts to attract high-quality jobs within our country?
Mr. Speaker, let us go back to the real issue. The minister can try to explain his lavish spending all he wants, but the point is he spent 250,000 taxpayers' dollars on couches and coffee machines.This side of the House knows that his spending does nothing for Canadians. When will the minister admit that the only infrastructure plan he has is to beautify his own office?
Mr. Speaker, he needs a new travel agent.As each day passes, Canadians learn the Liberal family reunion in Washington cost more and more money. Initially, the Liberals claimed the whole trip was $25,000. Now they are saying it is at least a quarter of a million. This is about priorities. How can the Liberals justify this runaway bill to taxpayers when they brought along their director of advertising, but actually left the natural resources minister at home?
Mr. Speaker, we believe in engaging with China in a comprehensive way. It is the most effective way forward. Having regular high-level interactions with China on a range of issues will allow us to continue to have frank and honest conversations to find common ground on difficult issues, including of course human rights. We consistently raise human rights concerns with the Chinese government. The minister is busy doing that today.
Mr. Speaker, that is an extremely serious situation and, as I have said many times, it is completely unacceptable for this to happen in Canada. The RCMP took action. Public safety took action. If the journalists involved or anyone else has questions, the commissioner of the RCMP will be pleased to respond.It was a mistake, it was fixed, and we learned from the situation.
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities has a mandate. That mandate is supposed to involve investment in public transit, green infrastructure, and social infrastructure like affordable housing. His objective should be to encourage economic growth.Could the minister explain how spending $250,000 on furniture for himself achieves that mandate? Does the minister truly believe that this is a good use of taxpayers' dollars?
Mr. Speaker, again, the member is talking about listening to the public when it comes to something as important as voting. I find that a bit odd because it was his party that eliminated and limited the right to vote for many people, all without consultation. That party made it more difficult for minority groups to vote. Despite that, Canadians made themselves heard and chose a party that is going to replace our electoral system.
Mr. Speaker, we are proud that we have committed to invest $120 billion to support public transit, to support investment in affordable housing, to support investment in cultural and recreational facilities, to make our infrastructure more resilient to climate change.Unlike the previous government, we are delivering on those commitments right away, instead of waiting for two years and missing two construction seasons and leaving Canadian communities behind.
Mr. Speaker, if the Minister of Democratic Institutions is actually interested in having a conversation on electoral reform, she cannot just keep repeating random verbs and nouns. She actually has to listen. Consultation, conversation, and listening are all great nouns and verbs. However, I have a noun for the Liberals: referendum. The Canadian people deserve one. Will the Liberals finally commit to one?
Mr. Speaker, today we learned that Canadian special forces recently came under fire in a battle near Mosul in Iraq. This directly contradicts the Prime Minister's claims that Canada is only doing training. On this side of the House, we have been clear that Canada should be taking the fight to ISIS, but it was the Liberals who, for purely political reasons, claimed that all we would be doing is training, insinuating that this would be much safer. How can the Prime Minister claim this is just a training mission when our troops are under fire?
Mr. Speaker, in light of the statements made during question period, I am sure that if you were to ask all parties in the House about membership of the electoral reform committee, people would give the Green Party and the Bloc Québécois the right to participate and vote.I would like to move the following motion: That the participation of the Bloc Québécois and the Green Party be governed by the same provisions governing all other members and include the right to vote.
Mr. Speaker, the member opposite knows quite well that this individual was hired by the Privy Council to work as a communications advisor as a member of Canada's non-partisan public service. We are proud of the professional, non-partisan public service whose members come to work day in and day out with the sole purpose of serving Canadians. I encourage the member opposite to consider doing the same.
Mr. Speaker, this week, the Government of Quebec announced more significant investments in the aerospace industry. Meanwhile, here in Ottawa, the government is asleep at the switch. It has not announced anything for Bombardier and we have heard no word of an aerospace policy. The only thing on the Liberal government's record so far has been the loss of 2,600 jobs at Air Canada.Why was the Prime Minister in such a rush to hand Air Canada a blank cheque, even though the company never obeyed the law? There were never any consequences. Why is he so naive to believe that Air Canada will keep its word this time?
Mr. Speaker, colourful, appealing packaging for tobacco products plays a key role in brand recognition and brand loyalty among customers. Studies have highlighted the impact this packaging has on children and young people. Our government was elected in October with a mandate to introduce plain packaging for tobacco products.Can the Minister of Health update the House on this initiative?
Mr. Speaker, as a former dairy farmer myself, I would like to wish all farmers a happy World Milk Day. Unlike the opposition members, our government supports supply management and our dairy industry. We think it is appalling that the members opposite want to eliminate supply management, which is a model of stability that supports our farmers, their families, and rural communities. Our party fought to set up supply management and we will continue to defend it against anyone who wants
Mr. Speaker, our troops are doing extraordinary work in the fight against ISIS, but the Liberals have put them into a more dangerous mission, tried to call it training, and have withdrawn our CF-18s that are a key pillar to degrade the enemy. Make no mistake, if our troops come under fire, they should always respond with overwhelming force, but what the government should not do is mislead Canadians about the nature of this mission. It is more dangerous and it is combat.Is the Prime Minister finally prepared to admit that Canada's mission in Iraq is combat?
Mr. Speaker, the expenditures the member is referring to are to provide office space for the minister, for the DM, as well as for the staff members to support the minister and the DM.We are focused on delivering on the commitments that we made to Canadians. That is why we are consolidating on one floor the entire ministry: to create efficiencies and live up to the expectations of Canadians in order to deliver on our commitments for infrastructure.
Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the minister told the House that I had a hard time with the concept of listening, so just for the fun of it I spent a few minutes Googling quotes from reputable political analysts across Canada.Here is what I found: [The minister] has so far succeeded in burning bridges where she should have been building some. It is an unsustainable proposition. The Liberals were responsible for reassuring their political opponents. The Prime Minister did exactly the opposite.Clearly, I am not the only one who has a listening problem.I invite the minister to hold a referendum and consult Canadians. We will see which side of the House has a real listening problem.
Mr. Speaker, we are working very hard to get a good deal for all of Canada on the softwood lumber file. The government recognizes the importance of the industry across Canada. Officials from the USTR met with the Canadian team here in Ottawa last week. There is a subsequent meeting planned. The minister is engaged. The ambassador is engaged. We are going to get a deal that ensures stable access to the American market.
Mr. Speaker, we had a great minister of infrastructure. Now we know what a poor minister of infrastructure looks like.We know Liberals like to help themselves to taxpayers' money and the facts are clear. The minister, obviously entitled to his entitlements, decided to spend nearly a million dollars on his shiny new digs, but $250,000 on couches and TVs?Why is the only infrastructure money spent in Canada so far spent on posh offices for Liberal ministers?
Mr. Speaker, we committed to treating veterans with care, compassion, respect, and delivering on financial services. We did that in budget 2016. I would ask the member to go back to my mandate letter, which said that we would raise veterans earnings loss benefit to 90% of their pre-release salary. That is exactly what we did, delivering $5.6 billion in financial security to veterans and their families.
Mr. Speaker, the fact of the matter is that electoral reform is an issue that matters to a number of Canadians, but few more so than those of us in the House who will be affected by it. That is why we have committed to working with Canadians and with members of the House.We are committed to fulfilling our commitment to Canadians to ensure that the next election, in 2019, will not be done under first past the post.
Mr. Speaker, the mission in Iraq is support and assist, and that is exactly what it is. It is focused on training. It is not a direct combat mission. It is not a combat mission, it is focused on empowering local troops to counter ISIL, but, of course, Canadian troops will always be allowed to defend themselves while they support local troops taking the fight to ISIL.
Mr. Speaker, the minister is mistaken that the role of the Privy Council and the role of the public service is to be non-biased. It is, however, to represent what the government wants. What the government wants, apparently, is to have a single member district preferential ballot system. I will ask the question again. Why did the Liberals hire an individual to communicate on behalf of ranked ballots? What possible reason could the Liberals have, unless they have already predetermined the outcome of this entire process. Is that why they do not want to allow Canadians to engage in a referendum?
Mr. Speaker, we are aware of the industry's concerns about the use of diafiltered milk in cheese production. We have spent the past few weeks listening to the industry. We have had a number of very productive discussions that will help us develop a sustainable long-term strategy for the whole sector.Our government fully supports supply management.
Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Minister of Finance was quite evasive about the $12,000 in travel expenses claimed by three of his employees to go to New York. Considering that it is possible to get a commercial flight for a few hundred dollars, those numbers seem off.The minister needs to be up front and tell us how his employees got to New York. Did they travel in economy class or business? Did they travel in a government plane?
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the minister justified the government's hiring of a communications advisor who is a professional advocate for a ranked ballot system, on the irrelevant basis that he was not hired for being a Liberal. That, of course, is not the issue. He was hired because he is an advocate of the ranked ballot system.Why, when the different proposals have not even been submitted and the committee has not even been struck, is the Liberal Party already hiring someone who has a position? Why are the Liberals putting in the fix before the process is even started? Why will they not allow a referendum?
Mr. Speaker, may I start again?
Mr. Speaker, prior to this government taking charge, we did not have a solely dedicated ministry for infrastructure. We did not have a solely dedicated deputy minister for infrastructure. We did not have any staff to support the minister and the deputy minister. The expenditures that the hon. member is talking about are to provide support staff, office space, minister's office space, and the DM's office space. We have followed the guidelines from the Treasury Board, and we are here to create efficiencies
Mr. Speaker, I reject the premise of the member's question, and I would like to reassure him that what we committed to, and the only outcome that we have arrived at to this point, is bringing together parliamentarians in this place to review the options available to us. I know this is a difficult concept for the member opposite to grasp. I know there is lingering cynicism from the Conservatives' practices over the last decade. That is not the way we do things, and I am looking forward to us realizing that, all of us together
Mr. Speaker, today is World Milk Day, an opportunity to recognize that the dairy industry contributes nearly $19 billion to our economy.The Liberal government, which claims to be protecting supply management, is abandoning our dairy producers by refusing to address the diafiltered milk issue as promised.Producers have had enough of the Liberals' failure to take action. They are marching to Ottawa to demonstrate in front of Parliament tomorrow.Will the Liberals finally wake up and do something for our producers and our regions by keeping their promise to deal with the diafiltered milk problem?
Mr. Speaker, Canadians expect their rights to be protected by their Prime Minister.Today the Liberals plan to force through their bill to strip protections for thousands of aerospace workers here in Canada by using closure and shutting down debate at third reading.The Prime Minister once stood shoulder to shoulder, chanting solidarity with the very workers he is now abandoning. While other governments are making investments in our aerospace sector, will the Prime Minister provide one single reason why he is in such a rush to sell out Canadian aerospace jobs?
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister continues to ram through his change to our voting system without giving Canadians a voice. He has rigged the process to get the results that he wants. Canadians know that this entire thing is a sham and it shows a complete lack of respect for our democracy.When is the Prime Minister going to climb down from this mess he has created and give Canadians what they want, which is a referendum?
Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, millions of Canadians do not have enough savings to retire in dignity. This is a national crisis requiring national leadership. However, after making big promises to boost the CPP, Liberals are now playing down expectations. They are refusing even to say what they are proposing to the provinces. New Democrats believe all Canadians deserve to retire in dignity and security. Do Liberals believe in the goal of doubling CPP benefits, and what exactly is the minister planning to propose to the provinces?
Mr. Speaker, it seems that the minister is confused about how conversations work. Both parties get to participate; the Liberals cannot just dictate the result. The only person who is taking away from the conversation is the minister, by following the Prime Minister's preconceived notion of where he wants the consultations to arrive. If the Liberals truly wanted to listen, they would let each and every Canadian have a say through a referendum. Will the Liberals drop the act already? Referendum, yes or no?
Mr. Speaker, the minister is lecturing us about partisanship in the House; this is the same minister who thinks that her tweets count as consultation and who set up a committee that is under the complete control of the Liberal party, without consultation.After all that, the minister has the audacity to tell us here in the House that the opposition is being partisan. Seriously, will the minister finally listen to Canadians? Will she commit to holding a referendum so that all Canadians can express their views?
Mr. Speaker, no, it is not a mistake. It is an illegal act.The RCMP spied on journalists. That is serious. This requires something other than more rhetoric, clichés, and platitudes.The RCMP has been caught breaching the rights of Canadians by gathering data on people who simply ask for government information. Worse, it is not even the first time that this has happened. It is a troubling trend when it comes to the government spying on Canadians. As we know, they also spied on journalists at the RCMP.Bill C-51 was the Conservative attack on our rights and freedoms. Why has the Prime Minister done nothing to get rid of Bill C-51?
Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I apologize for my outburst during question period. However, as the father of an intellectually disabled adult son, I find it reprehensible that the Minister of Democratic Institutions would use the disabled, insinuating
Mr. Speaker, when the Liberals promised an increase in benefits for permanently injured veterans, they failed to mention that their plan would benefit higher ranking officials the most, while rank-and-file veterans would see minimal increases. New Democrats believe that veterans, all veterans regardless of rank, deserve to be treated with dignity. The government is humiliating veterans. Why are the Liberals leaving behind those with the least? Why are they treating our nation's most vulnerable veterans so disgracefully?
Mr. Speaker, when Liberals promised an increase in benefits for permanently injured veterans, they failed to mention that their plan would benefit higher ranking officials the most
Mr. Speaker, I answered the question on expenditures, and I do not know which part of my answer the hon. member does not understand. This is a stand-alone ministry that did not exist before. We did not have a dedicated DM. We did not have a dedicated minister to deliver the commitments that we made to Canadians.In the past, the previous government wasted two construction seasons not making a single investment in communities. We want to do things differently. That is why we are delivering on the commitments we made to Canadians.
Mr. Speaker, the Liberals promised to treat our veterans with respect. However, today we learned that only high-ranking veterans will really be able to take advantage of the benefit increases promised in the budget for veterans who are unable to work because of injuries. It makes no sense. The government's plan even goes so far as to demote veterans.Does the government realize that one of the worst possible insults in the military community is to be demoted? When will the minister fix this?
Mr. Speaker, while Albertans are reeling from job losses and devastating forest fires, the finance minister is charging taxpayers $4,000 per flight for his staff to see New York. Economy flights to New York are $600. Even business class is $1,200.Canadians control their spending. The government should control its spending, too. How did the finance minister manage to spend $4,000 a person to go on a lavish trip to New York?
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is making plenty of time today to meet with China's minister of foreign affairs, Mr. Wang Yi, but can he tell us, did he stand up for our interests and condemn China's aggressive activities in the South China Sea, activities that are seriously upsetting stability in the region? Will the Liberals stand by our allies and keep their word, or are they playing diplomatic games just to please the Chinese government?
Mr. Speaker, I understand there was a little noise in the chamber toward the end of question period, and you may not have heard the question by the member for SaanichGulf Islands. I think if you do check the blues on it, you may find that it does not fall under the administration of government. The position of the Conservative Party is not something the Prime Minister has to answer for.We are about to enter into tabling of documents, and during question period, the Prime Minister said that our party a éliminé...le droit de vote. I wonder if the government can table any evidence of anyone in Canada being disenfranchised.
Mr. Speaker, in 2007, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police illegally spied on two Canadian journalists for nine days.The commissioner of the RCMP said that he never authorized the illegal surveillance. This is serious. Freedom of the press, one of the fundamental tenets of our democracy, is under attack.Will the Prime Minister agree to hold a public inquiry into the RCMP's illegal actions, as called for by our party and journalists?
Mr. Speaker, by limiting the debate to the House of Commons alone, the Liberals are making it impossible for all Canadians to have their say on this. Considering that 73% of Canadians want a referendum, I think that the Liberal Party needs to listen to them.The Prime Minister mentioned how people voted on October 19. Why, then, will he not let them vote in a referendum?