Most toxic speeches
Madam Speaker, southeast Saskatchewan is in the midst of a jobs crisis and thousands of my constituents are out of work. The Liberals are making things worse by forcing a carbon tax on families that are already struggling to put food on the table. A carbon tax will increase costs for our farmers and ranchers. Middle-class Canadians will have to pay significantly more now just to keep operating. Why will the Liberals not stand up for hard-working Canadians and abandon their foolish carbon tax?
Madam Speaker, the Justice Department has launched an initiative called Transparency for the 21st Century. Canadians are interested to see how that goes, since there has been a total lack of transparency from the Minister of Justice.She will not tell Canadians which mandatory minimum sentences she will get rid of . She will not tell Canadians why over half of the judicial positions she was supposed to fill are still empty, leading to murderers and sex offenders going free. When will she tell Canadians which mandatory sentences will be eliminated and why she has not filled the judicial vacancies?
Madam Speaker, small and medium-sized businesses are the backbone of our economy, but the Liberals want to shut them out at every turn. Small businesses in HaldimandNorfolk are struggling to survive under Liberal governments. With hydro prices skyrocketing out of control, small businesses are forced to pay Ontario Liberals out of one pocket while these Liberals reach into the other to grab money for the carbon tax and CPP hikes.Why will the Liberals not get their hands out of small businesses' pockets and start showing them the respect they deserve?
Madam Speaker, when Canada signs free trade agreements, it is supposedly in the best interests of Canadians, and not the interests of the elite who travel to private islands by helicopter.Signing agreements that will have devastating consequences for Quebec's dairy producers is unacceptable, especially when they are made to believe that there will be compensation and the government does not keep its promises. What kind of surprises can Canadians expect when the free trade agreement with the U.S. is renegotiated?
Madam Speaker, under our government, CO2 emissions actually went down.Under the failed Liberal policies of the Kathleen Wynne Liberals, life in rural Ontario is becoming more expensive. In fact, high energy costs are especially hard on seniors living on fixed incomes, on farmers, on farm families, and on small businesses. Now the federal Liberals are taking lessons from the failed playbook of the Kathleen Wynne Liberals. Why is the Prime Minister forcing a carbon tax on rural Canadians who can least afford it?
Madam Speaker, Canadians are not buying this Liberal deception about supporting the middle class. Thanks to the failed energy policies of the Wynne Liberals, the Millbrook arena in Cavan Monaghan was recently hit with a monthly hydro bill of over $11,000. The Liberals have cancelled the children's fitness tax credit and have introduced a new carbon tax, making the cost of everything, from renting ice at the arena to fuel to get children to the rink, substantially more expensive. When are the Liberals going to help families instead of burying them in taxes?
Madam Speaker, that is not what the Liberal Party election platform said. Only 2% of public infrastructure is federal. The rest, the government does not have a stake in, which is why it takes so long to release the money.By interfering in other people's business, Ottawa is holding up projects, paralyzing cities, and preventing Quebec from moving forward. Only the Canada 150 propaganda infrastructure seems to be getting money. The government knows all about propaganda.In the next budget, will the government commit to paying a lump sum for infrastructure, money that remains frozen in Ottawa, and will it stop dilly-dallying?
Madam Speaker, the carbon tax cover-up is growing. Today, through access to information, we obtained a government memo that purports to contain the potential economic impact of carbon policies. All the key data, of course, is blacked out. Earlier this year, the government blacked out data on the financial burden on poor and middle-class families as a result of the federally mandated carbon taxes.Are the Liberals covering up this information because it will show that they broke their election promise not to raise taxes on the middle class and those working to join it?
Madam Speaker, we have heard some disturbing messages from the White House this week on the Israeli-Palestinian issue. Many European nations reacted immediately, and so did the United Nations. My question is simple: does Canada still support a two-state solution? If so, what exactly is this government doing to convince the Israeli government to put an end to its settlement policy, which is currently jeopardizing the two-state solution?
Madam Speaker, yesterday, along with other indigenous MPs, we sent a letter to the minister calling on her government to rename the building that houses the Prime Minister's Office. It is named after the creator of the Indian residential schools, a system that continues to negatively impact indigenous people today.In the spirit of reconciliation, we have asked the minister to rename the building to reflect the government's commitment to indigenous people. Will the government commit today in the House to change the name?
Madam Speaker, we always stand up for hard-working Canadians. That is why we reduced taxes for middle-class Canadians and raised them on the 1%. That is why we introduced the Canada child benefit, where nine out of 10 families will get more for their children.We will also take action on the environment because it actually makes economic sense. We are moving forward for a cleaner future for our kids. We will support the middle class. We will create good jobs, because that is what Canadians expect us to do.
Madam Speaker, Newfoundland and Labrador has taken Hydro-Québec to court 17 times since 1976 over the Churchill Falls accord, and Newfoundland and Labrador has failed 17 times. This vexatious behaviour, and it is vexatious behaviour, has cost Quebeckers $50 million in lawyers' fees. Now we are being asked to fork over our tax dollars for a Muskrat Falls loan guarantee.Can the government understand Quebeckers' anger? How can anyone expect them to sit back while the government uses their tax dollars to fund Newfoundland and Labrador's unfair competition against Hydro-Québec?
Madam Speaker, I do agree, but the problem is what the U.S. wants to do and the deafening silence we heard from the Prime Minister when he met the U.S. President.While Canadians are being turned away at the border, the minister continues to downplay concerns about Bill C-23, which has far-reaching consequences and could lead to even more Canadians being treated unfairly at the border. Bill C-23 would grant worrisome powers to U.S. border agents on Canadian soil, such as permission to carry firearms and without the appropriate criminal liability framework.I ask again. What will it take for the government to finally stand up and protect Canadians' rights both here and at the border?
Madam Speaker, my friend, Neil Bantleman, faces 11 years behind bars in Indonesia. Indonesia's justice system has accused him of a crime that is unfounded and unwarranted. A year ago, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs claimed that he was deeply concerned and dismayed by the court's decision. Since then nothing, and Neil continues to languish in prison.Why will the minister not give Neil, his family and friends, hope, and outline what action she is taking to bring Neil home?
Madam Speaker, I want to begin by saying that we all acknowledge that child sexual assault crimes are wrong, and we are doing everything in our power to prevent them from occurring again.Our government firmly believes that mandatory minimum sentences are appropriate for the most serious offences. It is also clear that the last government introduced a number of mandatory minimums which have been systematically struck down by the Supreme Court of Canada, and that is why we must take a careful look at mandatory minimums going forward.Our government is committed to doing that so that we have an efficient, fair, accessible criminal justice system.
Madam Speaker, last week, the latest job numbers were released, and the picture remains bleak in Alberta. Unemployment keeps rising, yet the Liberals simply do not care. Clearly, their reckless spending plan is doing nothing to support Albertans and nothing to create jobs. How many more Albertans need to lose their jobs? How many more families need to lose their homes? How many more businesses need to close their doors before the Liberals get their heads out of the sand and present a plan that will actually create one job in Alberta?
Madam Speaker, let me be clear. The best way to help those who create wealth, those who create jobsour Canadian entrepreneursis by not creating new taxes and new charges. This is exactly what the government has done for the last 15 months, and this is exactly what the government will do for the next year if it does not change its mind. Why create a new Liberal carbon tax? Maybe one day the government will understand.Why is the government so opposed to those who create wealth in Canada? Why is the government so opposed to creators of wealth? Why is the government so opposed to entrepreneurial Canadians?
Madam Speaker, our kids and grandkids should not have to foot the bill, this from a party that is piling up $100 billion in national debt. Sometimes the Liberals make it a little bit too easy. If this were really about the environment, the minister would be able to stand up and show that the levies they are imposing on carbon are in fact offset 100% by other tax reductions elsewhere, but not only are they failing to do that, they are covering up data on the real cost for the poor and the middle class. Why?
Madam Speaker, for months, there has been talk of the Liberals wanting to privatize Canadian airports. They asked Credit Suisse, an investment firm, to analyze the financial implications for Ottawa, and yesterday, the president and CEO of the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec indicated that he would be delighted to invest in airports. Do the Liberals really have a plan to privatize airports, or is this just another attempt to pay for their out-of-control spending and deficits?
Madam Speaker, yesterday's Fraser Institute report confirmed what many taxpayers suspected all along. Of all the provinces that have carbon taxes, not a single one of them is revenue neutral. In all cases, taxpayers keep less so governments can get more. Trusting Liberals with money is like trusting a bear with honey. Once they get it, they ain't giving it back.Is the government covering up the calculations on its carbon tax so that the middle class and those working to join it will be kept in the dark about the new costs the government is imposing on them?
Madam Speaker, our government believes in the charter. That is why our government is committed to protecting Canadians from the possible misuse of genetic information. The Senate public bill is a step toward helping prevent genetic discrimination and protecting the privacy of Canadians. Preventing discrimination and other forms of misuse of genetic information is an important goal. That is why our government believes in the amendments, which we introduced earlier in the House. It is about striking the right balance between the roles that should be played by the federal government and the provincial governments. We look forward to further debate in the House so we can achieve the goals of that bill.
Madam Speaker, never before has a Canadian prime minister been the subject of two ethics investigations, one of which could lead to sanctions.Either the Prime Minister does not understand that he is supposed to be above suspicion or he does not care. Will the Prime Minister finally admit that he broke the law when he rode in his friend's private helicopter during his personal vacation?
Madam Speaker, Canadians expect all taxpayers to pay what they owe. They do not want anyone to give them preferential treatment. Could the Minister of National Revenue explain why, after allocating $444 million to combat offshore tax evasion, we are told that her department is failing to collect $50 billion each year. Wow, $50 billion would be enough for the Liberal budget to balance itself.
Madam Speaker, it would be nice if the government stopped talking about sustainable development and actually did something about it. As the NDP critic for the electrification of transportation, I can say that I look forward to the next budget. I look forward to it because I was deeply disappointed to see that this Liberal government's great contribution to the electrification of transportation in the previous budget was to give Quebec a grand total of four charging stations. Wow. In the meantime, the Quebec government was contributing to installing 800 stations all around Quebec.Can the Minister of Natural Resources tell us how many charging stations Quebec will get in the next budget? One, five, or six more?
Madam Speaker, the Liberals claimed they had a 100-day fix 300 days ago. That did not work out.President Trump has made his intentions clear that he will tweak NAFTA. The Americans have already insisted that supply management, dispute mechanism settlements, and even COOL are back on the table.What will the Liberals put on the table during NAFTA negotiations? Nobody really knows. Jobs are at risk, and Canadians deserve to know. What will it be?
Madam Speaker, I would hope the member opposite would understand that polluting is not free, that we want to leave a cleaner future to our kids, that we want to grow our economy, and that we want to create good jobs, so we want to foster innovation. That is why we are working with the provinces and territories, developing a plan that will reduce emissions and will produce a more sustainable world for our kids and grandkids, because they deserve that.
Madam Speaker, last fall, Travis Vader's conviction of two counts of second degree murder of Lyle and Marie McCann was vacated after the trial judge based his conviction on a zombie section of the Criminal Code.Zombie laws are booby traps for the unwitting, with the potential for costs, delays, mistrials, appeals, and like what happened to the McCann family, miscarriages of justice.The Minister of Justice can easily introduce legislation to repeal these sections. When will she?
Madam Speaker, the government was very pleased, in the budget of 2016, to announce a program of establishing electric vehicle charging stations, $62.5 million over two years. We are also very pleased that it was the Province of Quebec that was the most enthusiastic of all the provinces.I know it is absolutely consistent with the government's commitment to move to a lower carbon economy while creating good, clean jobs for Canadians, and I am glad the member is on side.
Madam Speaker, I want to begin by reiterating that our government extends deepest sympathies to the family of the deceased.The reference to a zombie provision, as my colleague puts it, is a stark reminder about the importance of conducting a broad, comprehensive review of the criminal justice system. Our government is undertaking that process. We look forward to working with my hon. colleague across the way to ensure that we have a fair, relevant, and accessible criminal justice system.
Madam Speaker, I would like to remind the member opposite that our government has made a commitment to help the middle class and those working hard to join it. Also, I would like to remind the member opposite that it is this party that has actually lowered taxes for middle-income Canadians. We are also the government that has put in place the Canada child benefit program that has helped hundreds of thousands of children get out of poverty.Our government is here to help the middle class, and that is exactly what we are going to continue to do.
Madam Speaker, as we speak, more and more people in my riding are losing their homes because of the current Liberal economy. Now the charitable agencies providing support for these individuals and families have to cut programs as a direct result of the Prime Minister's ill-conceived carbon tax scheme. When will the Prime Minister admit that by charging a carbon tax on charities, he is actually taxing the most vulnerable?
Madam Speaker, the risk that Canadians will be stopped at the U.S. border and asked for their social media passwords is growing. These invasions of privacy are intimidating, and there are serious consequences for refusing to co-operate: interrogation, detention, and refusal of entry. Searching people's computers or cell phones is much more intrusive than searching their luggage.Will the minister finally stand up to protect Canadians' rights here and at the border?
Madam Speaker, we are fully implementing our promise to show that the environment and the economy go together. Surely the member opposite does not believe that pollution should be free and that people can dump pollution anywhere they want. That is why we are putting a price on pollution.We are also working with the provinces and territories to invest where it counts: public transit, green infrastructure, more energy-efficient homes, and cleaner power. This will help middle-class Canadians save more money every day in their homes, in their workplaces, in their communities.
Madam Speaker, I want to give the colleague a lesson in history. During 10 years, the previous government announced in 2007, with great fanfare, its sectorial policy to improve the environment. The Conservatives had 10 years to put it in place. It was announced in 2007. Over 10 years, they implemented two out of the six sectors. That is their terrible record with respect to the environment. The Conservatives have nothing to tell us.
Madam Speaker, I might want to explain why emissions went down under the previous Conservative government. It was nothing to do with the Conservatives. It was because the Liberal government in Ontario closed coal-fired plants and also because the economy was not doing well. We understand we need to put a price on what we do not want, which is pollution, and foster what we do want, which is clean innovation and jobs. That is why, unlike the previous government, we will be doing that. We will be reducing pollution, reducing emissions, and growing our economy.
Madam Speaker, when Ottawa insists on approving infrastructure projects one at a time, everything grinds to a halt and we never get a single penny. The parliamentary budget officer has confirmed that, of the $13.6 billion announced in the budget, only one-third has been spent. In Quebec, things are twice as bad. Will the government keep its election promise to transfer all uncommitted funds to the gas tax fund to make sure, according to its platform, that our communities are not shortchanged?
Madam Speaker, we have demanded answers about the Prime Minister's illegal use of private aircraft. The government House leader keeps telling us that he will answer the Ethics Commissioner's questions. Well, he did answer her preliminary questions, and she must not have liked his answers, because she escalated the matter to an unprecedented full investigation.When will the Prime Minister admit to Canadians that his conduct was unethical and illegal? Will he do it now or does he really want to wait for the Ethics Commissioner to do it for him later?
Madam Speaker, after the justice committee reported Bill S-201 back to the House, the Liberal government made an astonishing move. The government is trying to gut this important bill by deleting the majority of the clauses at report stage. This would send a green light to companies to discriminate based on genetic conditions. At the eleventh hour, the Liberals caved to pressure from the insurance industry. Why is the government more interested in protecting the profits of insurance companies than in protecting Canadians?
Madam Speaker, the Liberal government remains out of touch with the realities of the forestry industry and the regions of Quebec.It is urgent that the government negotiate a softwood lumber agreement and put an end to the uncertainty surrounding the woodland caribou. Unfortunately, the government does not have enough information to make informed decisions on this issue.The Minister of Environment likes to claim that her decisions are based on science. Will she make sure that her department learns more about the woodland caribou so that an informed decision can be made without giving in to the blackmail of activists?
Madam Speaker, there is no relationship more important to our government than the one we have with indigenous peoples. Our government is fully committed to implementing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's calls to action. This includes developing a reconciliation framework for Canadian heritage and commemoration. Any decision will be made in full partnership with indigenous people.
Madam Speaker, the Minister of Finance is fine tuning his upcoming budget, and the Minister of Transport is endlessly studying studies, but the train may have left the station. In Trois-Rivières, like anywhere else in the Québec City-Windsor corridor, the return of passenger rail service is vital to stimulating the regional economy.Can the minister confirm that he will finish his homework on time for budget 2017 to include the necessary funds for VIA Rail's high-frequency rail?
Madam Speaker, I think maybe the member forgets that climate change is real, and it is happening right now, from floods to winter storms. Prince Edward Island is shrinking at 43 centimetres per year. Canadian families are already at risk from climate change. Canadian insurance claims from severe storm damage now average $1 billion a year, up from $300 million at the turn of the century. Our kids and grandkids should not have to foot the bill. That is why we are taking action now.
Madam Speaker, the Liberals' new mortgage rules have denied thousands of young Canadians the opportunity to purchase their first homes. The new rules smack of a government that thinks it knows better than the taxpayer.This week at committee, the president of the CMHC said, It's like you're at a party, and the party has gotten too strong, and you remove the punch bowl.Does the finance minister agree with the president of CMHC, who compared Canada's young working class, struggling to buy a first home, to a punch bowl party that has gotten out of control?
Madam Speaker, Bill S-201 is legislation designed to protect the rights of Canadians to the privacy of their own genetic information. Currently, Canadians who receive genetic testing on a variety of medical issues are at risk of being denied insurance coverage if they fail to turn this information over. Could the chair or the vice-chair of the justice committee update the House on how many expert witnesses testified and how many meetings were devoted to the study of Bill S-201 before the bill was reported back to the House?
Madam Speaker, unequivocally we support Canadians' right to privacy and security, and we make sure that those rights are protected each and every day. That is why the protocol governing the use of passwords is so clear. It is publicly available, but I will read the most relevant section: The CBSA's current policy is that such examinations should not be conducted as a matter of routine; they may only be conducted if there is a multiplicity of indicators that evidence of contraventions may be found on the digital device or media. I am sure the member opposite would agree with me that this is a prudent policy.
Madam Speaker, the Prime Minister has said time and time again that he will answer any questions the commissioner has. On this side of the House, we are taking an unprecedented level of consultations with Canadians. We are here to work to respond to their questions. I am not surprised that the member opposite has problems when people have more questions. We are okay with it, because we are responding to the real challenges that Canadians are facing. We are here to do the good work they expect us to do, and we will continue to do that.
Qujannamiik uqaqti. Thank you, Madam Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Health.Adequate health care funding continues to be a serious issue in Nunavut. The Canada health transfer only covers 11% of Nunavut's health care costs. This is in stark contrast to the Canadian provincial average of approximately 21%. The $35-million territorial health investment fund, which includes vital funding for medical travel, is insufficient. This disparity in health care funding between Nunavut and southern Canada is unacceptable. Does the minister plan to address this inequity in the upcoming territorial health investment fund renewal? Qujannamiik
Madam Speaker, NAFTA will be under renegotiation. The President has made that very clear. The outcome, of course, will be unknown.It is more imperative than ever that Canada pursue other trade opportunities, like the TPP. The Conservatives have been saying for over a year that regardless of what the U.S. does, we should continue to move forward with like-minded countries.Will the minister commit to completing an Asia-Pacific deal before any bilateral with China begins?
Madam Speaker, the member got one thing right. Small businesses are the backbone of the Canadian economy. Small businesses are job creators. That is why this government is committed to working with them wholeheartedly. That is why we are making investments so that small businesses can sell their products and services to Canadians. The middle-class tax cut actually puts more money into the pockets of consumers. We are engaging with small businesses. Those stakeholders will be well represented. We will continue to work very hard for them.
Madam Speaker, our government believes that all Canadians deserve safe and affordable housing. That is why we have invested more than $2.3 billion over the next three years to do just that.We also increased the down payment requirements in December to address pockets of risk, in particular in Toronto and Vancouver.In budget 2016, our government has also allocated $500,000 to Statistics Canada to study the phenomena that were causing some of the housing prices to spike, and we will be looking at policies and opportunities to make sure that we sustain affordability in the private market. We will continue to keep our focus on that issue, because it matters to Canadians.
Madam Speaker, I have tremendous regard for the member opposite, but his question, frankly, is just inaccurate in the way it has posed the information. The reality is that pre-clearance already happens for 12 million Canadians every year at eight locations. Everybody who crosses the border is protected by the Canadian charter and Canadian law. The result of not having pre-clearance would mean that these individuals would be on U.S. soil, where they would not have the protection of the charter and they would not have the protection of Canadian law. This is the right way to proceed.
Madam Speaker, Canada's middle class and those working hard to join it pay their taxes and fund programs for all Canadians, but they have had enough of those taxpayers who do not pay their fair share. We have invested $444 million in order to prevent tax evasion and tax avoidance. We are working very hard. Before long, I will have the great pleasure to give my colleague opposite some good news.
Madam Speaker, my constituents often tell me how important it is to have access to arts facilities in our communities. This allows families to take part in the arts and better understand our stories as Canadians. Will the government please share with us how it plans on supporting these important staples of our communities?
Madam Speaker, I appreciate my colleague from Nickel Belt's commitment to gender equality. It is an absolute honour to serve as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Status of Women. We know how important it is to engage men and boys in the advancement of gender equality to help create cultural change. Gender equality is not only a women's issue; it is a societal issue. As our Prime Minister has said, feminists come in all genders. Again, I am honoured to have the opportunity to be part of this important work.
Madam Speaker, we know that in a few days or weeks the government is going to table its budget. Yesterday, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, which represents 200,000 employers, 200,000 job creators, 200,000 creators of wealth, made 10 recommendations. The most important thing it had to say to the government was that, if we want to improve productivity, we need to cut the cost of doing business in Canada. Simply put, that means that the government should not impose new taxes and new charges on our businesses.Why does the government not do as the Chamber of Commerce says?
Madam Speaker, as I have said many times, our priority is service to passengers.That is why we are trying to reduce costs for passengers to ensure they can have more options and to reduce wait times at security and customs. We are even planning to create an air passenger rights regime.Service to passengers will remain our priority as we explore the options.
Madam Speaker, it is more than unsavoury that after John McCallum is bumped, the PMO's director of appointments appoints herself to replace him. It certainly smells like the fix was in.Yesterday, the government House leader said I have no reason to doubt that the rules have been respected. Respecting the rules, how has that been working out for the Liberals?Again, what promises were made by the Prime Minister to Mary Ng if she pushed John McCallum out the door?
Madam Speaker, I believe the member is mistaken. He knows very well that the Prime Minister makes decisions of who to appoint as ambassadors. As the Prime Minister has also said, the Hon. John McCallum has a distinguished career in public service. As Canada's new ambassador to China, our Canada-China relationship will be well served, and Canadian interests strongly promoted. There are huge opportunities for the two countries to work better together to create opportunities for Canadians, the people for whom we are here to work hard.
Madam Speaker, our government had a very productive and important meeting with the President last Monday.Let me remind the House that the President assured Canada and the world that We have a very outstanding trade relationship with Canada.As for NAFTA, it is important for all of us to continue to realize that the principal actors in the U.S. cabinet have not yet been appointed. Even more important, the United States has not formally initiated a NAFTA negotiation process. If and when that happens, we will be ready.
Madam Speaker, I would first like to thank the member for his hard work on behalf of his constituents.Our government is committed to working with the Government of Nunavut to address the health care needs of its residents. As part of the health accord, Nunavut will receive $11.2 million over 10 years in targeted federal funding to improve access to home care and mental health services. This is in addition to federal health funding provided through the Canada health transfer, which will reach $37 million in 2016-17 and will continue to grow year after year.We also support the delivery of public services in Nunavut, including health care, through the territorial formula financing, valued at close to $1.5 billion in 2016-17.
Madam Speaker, it is the same old song and dance. When the Prime Minister met the U.S. President this week, there were no reassurances about advancing the softwood lumber file. This climate of uncertainty is already causing softwood lumber prices to fluctuate.Industry stakeholders are expecting a surtax and producers are limiting their exports because they are afraid that the surtax will be retroactive.When will the government finally reassure the forestry industry by moving ahead with negotiations, and especially by announcing a plan B?
Madam Speaker, the government is interested in promoting electricity ties throughout the country. We realize that there will be a reduced reliance on fossil fuels in the future. We are in a transition period, and as part of that transition, we think it is very important to encourage the development of hydroelectric power, wherever it occurs in Canada. That is of fundamental value. We believe it is the best possible example of the environment and the economy working hand in hand throughout every region of Canada.
Madam Speaker, why is the party opposite so opposed to taking action to protect our environment, to grow a clean economy, to create jobs, to foster innovation, and to ensure a more sustainable future for our children?We understand that this is a real opportunity. We are putting a price on pollution because we want less pollution and we want more innovation. This is a huge opportunity, and we are going to take advantage of it.
Madam Speaker, the softwood lumber agreement expired when the previous government was in power. Our government is vigorously defending the interests of the softwood lumber sector, as did the minister last week and as did the Prime Minister on Monday in Washington during his excellent visit.We again strongly defended our softwood lumber producers. We will continue to work closely with softwood lumber workers and producers, the provinces, and the territories. We are looking for a good agreement for Canada, and not just any agreement.
Madam Speaker, I would like to ask myself a question through you. The Liberals family and friends deal event is in full swing in Ottawa. Mary Ng, another Kathleen Wynne staffer who followed Gerry and her good friend Katie to Ottawa to become the Ottawa PMO director of appointments, is now appointing herself to be the Liberal candidate to replace John McCallum.She announced her candidacy days after John McCallum was pushed out the door to become the ambassador to China. The thing is that she would have been the one that worked on the appointment of McCallum.Could the Prime Minister tell the House what role he played in this backroom deal.
Madam Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague from Oakville NorthBurlington for her question.Our government is committed to ensuring better accessibility for Canadians with disabilities and better opportunities in their communities and their workplaces from coast to coast to coast. Many Canadians have already participated in one of the 19 public consultation sessions, in addition to the consultations held by their MPs. The public portion of the consultation is now complete. I encourage all those who have not yet participated to do so online at Canada.ca/Accessible-Canada by February 28.Better is always possible.
Madam Speaker, as my colleague knows very well, we have a historic plan to invest $180 billion in infrastructure. With regard to the reallocation of funds, these funds are allocated to specific projects. I assume that he does not want to take money away from specific projects, which are not yet paid for.With respect to Quebec, monies are paid once projects are finished. Funds are assigned to projects and it would not be appropriate to reallocate them to the gas tax fund.Funds that were to be redistributed were allocated to the gas tax fund.
Madam Speaker, CETA is the most progressive trade agreement ever negotiated by Canada or the EU. It will create jobs, bolster our prosperity, and help grow the middle class.As the Prime Minister said in his address to the European Parliament, This forward-looking agreement reflects a truly progressive trade agendaone that protects the ability of societies to promote the public good. It is one that focuses on small and medium-sized enterprises. We have put the interests of workers and consumers at the heart of our trade negotiations. We are giving Canadian businesses unprecedented access to 500 million affluent Europeans.
Madam Speaker, with respect to our interest in exploring talks with regard to the Asia-Pacific market, it is very important that we begin cautiously. We know that this is very important to Canadians. We are very pleased so far.
Madam Speaker, our government has been very clear about our commitment to gender equality, and our Prime Minister has demonstrated a commitment at home and abroad.As a member of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women, I have heard a number of witnesses talk about the role we all must play in achieving equality.Can the Parliamentary Secretary for Status of Women explain to the House why it is so important to include men and boys in the discussion on gender equality?
Madam Speaker, I want to thank my hon. colleague for his question and his ongoing work on behalf of Neil Bantleman. It is our government's priority to see Neil Bantleman back home in Canada as a free man. Our government has reiterated that concern with the Indonesian government at the highest level. Our officials and myself have been engaged with this family. We have been working with his legal team and his family throughout this judicial review process. I want to take a moment to recognize the strength of his family and his friends, and particularly his wife Tracy, for her courage and her strength.
Madam Speaker, the concept of high-frequency rail is one that we are looking into and have already invested $3.3 million in. That speaks to how much we value this study on the Québec City-Windsor corridor. Studying the viability of such a project is complex work. We are in the process of doing so. We are doing our homework and when we are finished, we will make an announcement.
Madam Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to answer the question, which we have answered several times already. The member has asked the same question several times, so she will get the same answer.The Prime Minister said that he will answer all of the commissioner's questions.
Madam Speaker, my colleague will be delighted to know that we have announced 61 projects in Quebec. The total eligible cost is $1.6 billion. These are projects that were chosen with the approval of Quebec. We are working very closely with our provincial partner and the municipalities. They are pleased with this collaboration. These are projects that take time to develop. We are going to move them forward for the good of Canadians.
Madam Speaker, I am very pleased to inform my colleague that I will be meeting with my provincial counterparts, including my Quebec counterpart, on Tuesday. We are going to talk about the woodland caribou, science, and how we can protect this species. We are also aware of the employment issue.
Madam Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to rise and answer that question. The member well knows that it is the prime minister who makes decisions on who to appoint as ambassadors. As our Prime Minister said, the Hon. John McCallum has a distinguished career in public service, and as Canada's new ambassador to China, our Canada-China relationship will be well served, and Canadian interests strongly promoted. As we work toward a strong, more stable, and long-term relationship with China, we will have more opportunities to share a culture, increase our people-to-people ties, and hold frank dialogue on issues of importance to Canadians.
Madam Speaker, nothing could be further from the truth. We are working hard to create jobs across the country, including Alberta. We have approved pipelines. We have invested $240 million in post-secondary education, $78 million to the University of Calgary, and $20.7 million to the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology. We are supporting economic development in Fort McMurray. We are doing what we need to do to help the Alberta economy move forward.
Madam Speaker, I once again thank my colleague for his question.Canada has a very competitive business environment. Compared to other areas in other OECD countries, we have a competitive corporate tax rate. Businesses that invest in Canada also benefit from a highly skilled and highly educated workforce. We will continue to focus on ensuring that our Canadian economy is competitive, providing good jobs for middle-class Canadians and a good future for our country.
Madam Speaker, our government firmly believes in investing in our cultural sector, as it drives innovation and growth and allows for unique Canadian stories to be shared with the world.In budget 2016, we invested nearly $170 million over two years in cultural infrastructure. That is a historic amount for arts and culture.In fact, just this morning, we announced over $6.5 million in funding for Arts Court and the Ottawa Art Gallery right here in Ottawa. This will help to provide a home for 26 not-for-profit organizations to allow them to continue to support our Canadian creators.
Madam Speaker, recently I held a round table in my riding of Oakville NorthBurlington about the challenges faced by people living with disabilities. I commend them for their courage and determination.The challenges related to accessibility and inclusion in workplaces and in our community are many. We have to change our perceptions and make Canada more inclusive.Could the Parliamentary Secretary for Sport and Persons with Disabilities tell us about our government's efforts to ensure better inclusion?
Madam Speaker, as the vice-chair of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights, I would like to thank the member for Hamilton Centre for his continuous work in bringing transparency and accountability to the House.He is correct. Bill S-201 is an important bill, intended to protect Canadians against unfair treatment by insurance companies based on their genetic information. To answer his question, the justice committee held five meetings and heard from 28 witnesses. The overwhelming testimony was in support of the current draft of the legislation, and the committee itself reported the bill back without amendment.
Madam Speaker, I appreciate my colleague's question.As a determined peace builder, Canada supports efforts to advance a two-state solution and create the conditions that will help the two states resume direct negotiations in order to achieve comprehensive, just, and lasting peace. That has always been Canada's policy.
Madam Speaker, southeast Saskatchewan is in the midst of a jobs crisis and thousands of my constituents are out of work. The Liberals are making things worse by forcing a carbon tax on families that are already struggling to put food on the table. A carbon tax will increase costs for our farmers and ranchers. Middle-class Canadians will have to pay significantly more now just to keep operating. Why will the Liberals not stand up for hard-working Canadians and abandon their foolish carbon tax?
Madam Speaker, the Justice Department has launched an initiative called Transparency for the 21st Century. Canadians are interested to see how that goes, since there has been a total lack of transparency from the Minister of Justice.She will not tell Canadians which mandatory minimum sentences she will get rid of . She will not tell Canadians why over half of the judicial positions she was supposed to fill are still empty, leading to murderers and sex offenders going free. When will she tell Canadians which mandatory sentences will be eliminated and why she has not filled the judicial vacancies?
Madam Speaker, small and medium-sized businesses are the backbone of our economy, but the Liberals want to shut them out at every turn. Small businesses in HaldimandNorfolk are struggling to survive under Liberal governments. With hydro prices skyrocketing out of control, small businesses are forced to pay Ontario Liberals out of one pocket while these Liberals reach into the other to grab money for the carbon tax and CPP hikes.Why will the Liberals not get their hands out of small businesses' pockets and start showing them the respect they deserve?
Madam Speaker, when Canada signs free trade agreements, it is supposedly in the best interests of Canadians, and not the interests of the elite who travel to private islands by helicopter.Signing agreements that will have devastating consequences for Quebec's dairy producers is unacceptable, especially when they are made to believe that there will be compensation and the government does not keep its promises. What kind of surprises can Canadians expect when the free trade agreement with the U.S. is renegotiated?
Madam Speaker, under our government, CO2 emissions actually went down.Under the failed Liberal policies of the Kathleen Wynne Liberals, life in rural Ontario is becoming more expensive. In fact, high energy costs are especially hard on seniors living on fixed incomes, on farmers, on farm families, and on small businesses. Now the federal Liberals are taking lessons from the failed playbook of the Kathleen Wynne Liberals. Why is the Prime Minister forcing a carbon tax on rural Canadians who can least afford it?
Madam Speaker, Canadians are not buying this Liberal deception about supporting the middle class. Thanks to the failed energy policies of the Wynne Liberals, the Millbrook arena in Cavan Monaghan was recently hit with a monthly hydro bill of over $11,000. The Liberals have cancelled the children's fitness tax credit and have introduced a new carbon tax, making the cost of everything, from renting ice at the arena to fuel to get children to the rink, substantially more expensive. When are the Liberals going to help families instead of burying them in taxes?
Madam Speaker, that is not what the Liberal Party election platform said. Only 2% of public infrastructure is federal. The rest, the government does not have a stake in, which is why it takes so long to release the money.By interfering in other people's business, Ottawa is holding up projects, paralyzing cities, and preventing Quebec from moving forward. Only the Canada 150 propaganda infrastructure seems to be getting money. The government knows all about propaganda.In the next budget, will the government commit to paying a lump sum for infrastructure, money that remains frozen in Ottawa, and will it stop dilly-dallying?
Madam Speaker, the carbon tax cover-up is growing. Today, through access to information, we obtained a government memo that purports to contain the potential economic impact of carbon policies. All the key data, of course, is blacked out. Earlier this year, the government blacked out data on the financial burden on poor and middle-class families as a result of the federally mandated carbon taxes.Are the Liberals covering up this information because it will show that they broke their election promise not to raise taxes on the middle class and those working to join it?
Madam Speaker, we have heard some disturbing messages from the White House this week on the Israeli-Palestinian issue. Many European nations reacted immediately, and so did the United Nations. My question is simple: does Canada still support a two-state solution? If so, what exactly is this government doing to convince the Israeli government to put an end to its settlement policy, which is currently jeopardizing the two-state solution?
Madam Speaker, yesterday, along with other indigenous MPs, we sent a letter to the minister calling on her government to rename the building that houses the Prime Minister's Office. It is named after the creator of the Indian residential schools, a system that continues to negatively impact indigenous people today.In the spirit of reconciliation, we have asked the minister to rename the building to reflect the government's commitment to indigenous people. Will the government commit today in the House to change the name?
Madam Speaker, we always stand up for hard-working Canadians. That is why we reduced taxes for middle-class Canadians and raised them on the 1%. That is why we introduced the Canada child benefit, where nine out of 10 families will get more for their children.We will also take action on the environment because it actually makes economic sense. We are moving forward for a cleaner future for our kids. We will support the middle class. We will create good jobs, because that is what Canadians expect us to do.
Madam Speaker, Newfoundland and Labrador has taken Hydro-Québec to court 17 times since 1976 over the Churchill Falls accord, and Newfoundland and Labrador has failed 17 times. This vexatious behaviour, and it is vexatious behaviour, has cost Quebeckers $50 million in lawyers' fees. Now we are being asked to fork over our tax dollars for a Muskrat Falls loan guarantee.Can the government understand Quebeckers' anger? How can anyone expect them to sit back while the government uses their tax dollars to fund Newfoundland and Labrador's unfair competition against Hydro-Québec?
Madam Speaker, I do agree, but the problem is what the U.S. wants to do and the deafening silence we heard from the Prime Minister when he met the U.S. President.While Canadians are being turned away at the border, the minister continues to downplay concerns about Bill C-23, which has far-reaching consequences and could lead to even more Canadians being treated unfairly at the border. Bill C-23 would grant worrisome powers to U.S. border agents on Canadian soil, such as permission to carry firearms and without the appropriate criminal liability framework.I ask again. What will it take for the government to finally stand up and protect Canadians' rights both here and at the border?
Madam Speaker, my friend, Neil Bantleman, faces 11 years behind bars in Indonesia. Indonesia's justice system has accused him of a crime that is unfounded and unwarranted. A year ago, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs claimed that he was deeply concerned and dismayed by the court's decision. Since then nothing, and Neil continues to languish in prison.Why will the minister not give Neil, his family and friends, hope, and outline what action she is taking to bring Neil home?
Madam Speaker, I want to begin by saying that we all acknowledge that child sexual assault crimes are wrong, and we are doing everything in our power to prevent them from occurring again.Our government firmly believes that mandatory minimum sentences are appropriate for the most serious offences. It is also clear that the last government introduced a number of mandatory minimums which have been systematically struck down by the Supreme Court of Canada, and that is why we must take a careful look at mandatory minimums going forward.Our government is committed to doing that so that we have an efficient, fair, accessible criminal justice system.
Madam Speaker, last week, the latest job numbers were released, and the picture remains bleak in Alberta. Unemployment keeps rising, yet the Liberals simply do not care. Clearly, their reckless spending plan is doing nothing to support Albertans and nothing to create jobs. How many more Albertans need to lose their jobs? How many more families need to lose their homes? How many more businesses need to close their doors before the Liberals get their heads out of the sand and present a plan that will actually create one job in Alberta?
Madam Speaker, let me be clear. The best way to help those who create wealth, those who create jobsour Canadian entrepreneursis by not creating new taxes and new charges. This is exactly what the government has done for the last 15 months, and this is exactly what the government will do for the next year if it does not change its mind. Why create a new Liberal carbon tax? Maybe one day the government will understand.Why is the government so opposed to those who create wealth in Canada? Why is the government so opposed to creators of wealth? Why is the government so opposed to entrepreneurial Canadians?
Madam Speaker, our kids and grandkids should not have to foot the bill, this from a party that is piling up $100 billion in national debt. Sometimes the Liberals make it a little bit too easy. If this were really about the environment, the minister would be able to stand up and show that the levies they are imposing on carbon are in fact offset 100% by other tax reductions elsewhere, but not only are they failing to do that, they are covering up data on the real cost for the poor and the middle class. Why?
Madam Speaker, for months, there has been talk of the Liberals wanting to privatize Canadian airports. They asked Credit Suisse, an investment firm, to analyze the financial implications for Ottawa, and yesterday, the president and CEO of the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec indicated that he would be delighted to invest in airports. Do the Liberals really have a plan to privatize airports, or is this just another attempt to pay for their out-of-control spending and deficits?
Madam Speaker, yesterday's Fraser Institute report confirmed what many taxpayers suspected all along. Of all the provinces that have carbon taxes, not a single one of them is revenue neutral. In all cases, taxpayers keep less so governments can get more. Trusting Liberals with money is like trusting a bear with honey. Once they get it, they ain't giving it back.Is the government covering up the calculations on its carbon tax so that the middle class and those working to join it will be kept in the dark about the new costs the government is imposing on them?
Madam Speaker, our government believes in the charter. That is why our government is committed to protecting Canadians from the possible misuse of genetic information. The Senate public bill is a step toward helping prevent genetic discrimination and protecting the privacy of Canadians. Preventing discrimination and other forms of misuse of genetic information is an important goal. That is why our government believes in the amendments, which we introduced earlier in the House. It is about striking the right balance between the roles that should be played by the federal government and the provincial governments. We look forward to further debate in the House so we can achieve the goals of that bill.
Madam Speaker, never before has a Canadian prime minister been the subject of two ethics investigations, one of which could lead to sanctions.Either the Prime Minister does not understand that he is supposed to be above suspicion or he does not care. Will the Prime Minister finally admit that he broke the law when he rode in his friend's private helicopter during his personal vacation?
Madam Speaker, Canadians expect all taxpayers to pay what they owe. They do not want anyone to give them preferential treatment. Could the Minister of National Revenue explain why, after allocating $444 million to combat offshore tax evasion, we are told that her department is failing to collect $50 billion each year. Wow, $50 billion would be enough for the Liberal budget to balance itself.
Madam Speaker, it would be nice if the government stopped talking about sustainable development and actually did something about it. As the NDP critic for the electrification of transportation, I can say that I look forward to the next budget. I look forward to it because I was deeply disappointed to see that this Liberal government's great contribution to the electrification of transportation in the previous budget was to give Quebec a grand total of four charging stations. Wow. In the meantime, the Quebec government was contributing to installing 800 stations all around Quebec.Can the Minister of Natural Resources tell us how many charging stations Quebec will get in the next budget? One, five, or six more?
Madam Speaker, the Liberals claimed they had a 100-day fix 300 days ago. That did not work out.President Trump has made his intentions clear that he will tweak NAFTA. The Americans have already insisted that supply management, dispute mechanism settlements, and even COOL are back on the table.What will the Liberals put on the table during NAFTA negotiations? Nobody really knows. Jobs are at risk, and Canadians deserve to know. What will it be?
Madam Speaker, I would hope the member opposite would understand that polluting is not free, that we want to leave a cleaner future to our kids, that we want to grow our economy, and that we want to create good jobs, so we want to foster innovation. That is why we are working with the provinces and territories, developing a plan that will reduce emissions and will produce a more sustainable world for our kids and grandkids, because they deserve that.
Madam Speaker, last fall, Travis Vader's conviction of two counts of second degree murder of Lyle and Marie McCann was vacated after the trial judge based his conviction on a zombie section of the Criminal Code.Zombie laws are booby traps for the unwitting, with the potential for costs, delays, mistrials, appeals, and like what happened to the McCann family, miscarriages of justice.The Minister of Justice can easily introduce legislation to repeal these sections. When will she?
Madam Speaker, the government was very pleased, in the budget of 2016, to announce a program of establishing electric vehicle charging stations, $62.5 million over two years. We are also very pleased that it was the Province of Quebec that was the most enthusiastic of all the provinces.I know it is absolutely consistent with the government's commitment to move to a lower carbon economy while creating good, clean jobs for Canadians, and I am glad the member is on side.
Madam Speaker, I want to begin by reiterating that our government extends deepest sympathies to the family of the deceased.The reference to a zombie provision, as my colleague puts it, is a stark reminder about the importance of conducting a broad, comprehensive review of the criminal justice system. Our government is undertaking that process. We look forward to working with my hon. colleague across the way to ensure that we have a fair, relevant, and accessible criminal justice system.
Madam Speaker, I would like to remind the member opposite that our government has made a commitment to help the middle class and those working hard to join it. Also, I would like to remind the member opposite that it is this party that has actually lowered taxes for middle-income Canadians. We are also the government that has put in place the Canada child benefit program that has helped hundreds of thousands of children get out of poverty.Our government is here to help the middle class, and that is exactly what we are going to continue to do.
Madam Speaker, as we speak, more and more people in my riding are losing their homes because of the current Liberal economy. Now the charitable agencies providing support for these individuals and families have to cut programs as a direct result of the Prime Minister's ill-conceived carbon tax scheme. When will the Prime Minister admit that by charging a carbon tax on charities, he is actually taxing the most vulnerable?
Madam Speaker, the risk that Canadians will be stopped at the U.S. border and asked for their social media passwords is growing. These invasions of privacy are intimidating, and there are serious consequences for refusing to co-operate: interrogation, detention, and refusal of entry. Searching people's computers or cell phones is much more intrusive than searching their luggage.Will the minister finally stand up to protect Canadians' rights here and at the border?
Madam Speaker, we are fully implementing our promise to show that the environment and the economy go together. Surely the member opposite does not believe that pollution should be free and that people can dump pollution anywhere they want. That is why we are putting a price on pollution.We are also working with the provinces and territories to invest where it counts: public transit, green infrastructure, more energy-efficient homes, and cleaner power. This will help middle-class Canadians save more money every day in their homes, in their workplaces, in their communities.
Madam Speaker, I want to give the colleague a lesson in history. During 10 years, the previous government announced in 2007, with great fanfare, its sectorial policy to improve the environment. The Conservatives had 10 years to put it in place. It was announced in 2007. Over 10 years, they implemented two out of the six sectors. That is their terrible record with respect to the environment. The Conservatives have nothing to tell us.
Madam Speaker, I might want to explain why emissions went down under the previous Conservative government. It was nothing to do with the Conservatives. It was because the Liberal government in Ontario closed coal-fired plants and also because the economy was not doing well. We understand we need to put a price on what we do not want, which is pollution, and foster what we do want, which is clean innovation and jobs. That is why, unlike the previous government, we will be doing that. We will be reducing pollution, reducing emissions, and growing our economy.
Madam Speaker, when Ottawa insists on approving infrastructure projects one at a time, everything grinds to a halt and we never get a single penny. The parliamentary budget officer has confirmed that, of the $13.6 billion announced in the budget, only one-third has been spent. In Quebec, things are twice as bad. Will the government keep its election promise to transfer all uncommitted funds to the gas tax fund to make sure, according to its platform, that our communities are not shortchanged?
Madam Speaker, we have demanded answers about the Prime Minister's illegal use of private aircraft. The government House leader keeps telling us that he will answer the Ethics Commissioner's questions. Well, he did answer her preliminary questions, and she must not have liked his answers, because she escalated the matter to an unprecedented full investigation.When will the Prime Minister admit to Canadians that his conduct was unethical and illegal? Will he do it now or does he really want to wait for the Ethics Commissioner to do it for him later?
Madam Speaker, after the justice committee reported Bill S-201 back to the House, the Liberal government made an astonishing move. The government is trying to gut this important bill by deleting the majority of the clauses at report stage. This would send a green light to companies to discriminate based on genetic conditions. At the eleventh hour, the Liberals caved to pressure from the insurance industry. Why is the government more interested in protecting the profits of insurance companies than in protecting Canadians?
Madam Speaker, the Liberal government remains out of touch with the realities of the forestry industry and the regions of Quebec.It is urgent that the government negotiate a softwood lumber agreement and put an end to the uncertainty surrounding the woodland caribou. Unfortunately, the government does not have enough information to make informed decisions on this issue.The Minister of Environment likes to claim that her decisions are based on science. Will she make sure that her department learns more about the woodland caribou so that an informed decision can be made without giving in to the blackmail of activists?
Madam Speaker, there is no relationship more important to our government than the one we have with indigenous peoples. Our government is fully committed to implementing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's calls to action. This includes developing a reconciliation framework for Canadian heritage and commemoration. Any decision will be made in full partnership with indigenous people.
Madam Speaker, the Minister of Finance is fine tuning his upcoming budget, and the Minister of Transport is endlessly studying studies, but the train may have left the station. In Trois-Rivières, like anywhere else in the Québec City-Windsor corridor, the return of passenger rail service is vital to stimulating the regional economy.Can the minister confirm that he will finish his homework on time for budget 2017 to include the necessary funds for VIA Rail's high-frequency rail?
Madam Speaker, I think maybe the member forgets that climate change is real, and it is happening right now, from floods to winter storms. Prince Edward Island is shrinking at 43 centimetres per year. Canadian families are already at risk from climate change. Canadian insurance claims from severe storm damage now average $1 billion a year, up from $300 million at the turn of the century. Our kids and grandkids should not have to foot the bill. That is why we are taking action now.
Madam Speaker, the Liberals' new mortgage rules have denied thousands of young Canadians the opportunity to purchase their first homes. The new rules smack of a government that thinks it knows better than the taxpayer.This week at committee, the president of the CMHC said, It's like you're at a party, and the party has gotten too strong, and you remove the punch bowl.Does the finance minister agree with the president of CMHC, who compared Canada's young working class, struggling to buy a first home, to a punch bowl party that has gotten out of control?
Madam Speaker, Bill S-201 is legislation designed to protect the rights of Canadians to the privacy of their own genetic information. Currently, Canadians who receive genetic testing on a variety of medical issues are at risk of being denied insurance coverage if they fail to turn this information over. Could the chair or the vice-chair of the justice committee update the House on how many expert witnesses testified and how many meetings were devoted to the study of Bill S-201 before the bill was reported back to the House?
Madam Speaker, unequivocally we support Canadians' right to privacy and security, and we make sure that those rights are protected each and every day. That is why the protocol governing the use of passwords is so clear. It is publicly available, but I will read the most relevant section: The CBSA's current policy is that such examinations should not be conducted as a matter of routine; they may only be conducted if there is a multiplicity of indicators that evidence of contraventions may be found on the digital device or media. I am sure the member opposite would agree with me that this is a prudent policy.
Madam Speaker, the Prime Minister has said time and time again that he will answer any questions the commissioner has. On this side of the House, we are taking an unprecedented level of consultations with Canadians. We are here to work to respond to their questions. I am not surprised that the member opposite has problems when people have more questions. We are okay with it, because we are responding to the real challenges that Canadians are facing. We are here to do the good work they expect us to do, and we will continue to do that.
Qujannamiik uqaqti. Thank you, Madam Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Health.Adequate health care funding continues to be a serious issue in Nunavut. The Canada health transfer only covers 11% of Nunavut's health care costs. This is in stark contrast to the Canadian provincial average of approximately 21%. The $35-million territorial health investment fund, which includes vital funding for medical travel, is insufficient. This disparity in health care funding between Nunavut and southern Canada is unacceptable. Does the minister plan to address this inequity in the upcoming territorial health investment fund renewal? Qujannamiik
Madam Speaker, NAFTA will be under renegotiation. The President has made that very clear. The outcome, of course, will be unknown.It is more imperative than ever that Canada pursue other trade opportunities, like the TPP. The Conservatives have been saying for over a year that regardless of what the U.S. does, we should continue to move forward with like-minded countries.Will the minister commit to completing an Asia-Pacific deal before any bilateral with China begins?
Madam Speaker, the member got one thing right. Small businesses are the backbone of the Canadian economy. Small businesses are job creators. That is why this government is committed to working with them wholeheartedly. That is why we are making investments so that small businesses can sell their products and services to Canadians. The middle-class tax cut actually puts more money into the pockets of consumers. We are engaging with small businesses. Those stakeholders will be well represented. We will continue to work very hard for them.
Madam Speaker, our government believes that all Canadians deserve safe and affordable housing. That is why we have invested more than $2.3 billion over the next three years to do just that.We also increased the down payment requirements in December to address pockets of risk, in particular in Toronto and Vancouver.In budget 2016, our government has also allocated $500,000 to Statistics Canada to study the phenomena that were causing some of the housing prices to spike, and we will be looking at policies and opportunities to make sure that we sustain affordability in the private market. We will continue to keep our focus on that issue, because it matters to Canadians.
Madam Speaker, I have tremendous regard for the member opposite, but his question, frankly, is just inaccurate in the way it has posed the information. The reality is that pre-clearance already happens for 12 million Canadians every year at eight locations. Everybody who crosses the border is protected by the Canadian charter and Canadian law. The result of not having pre-clearance would mean that these individuals would be on U.S. soil, where they would not have the protection of the charter and they would not have the protection of Canadian law. This is the right way to proceed.
Madam Speaker, Canada's middle class and those working hard to join it pay their taxes and fund programs for all Canadians, but they have had enough of those taxpayers who do not pay their fair share. We have invested $444 million in order to prevent tax evasion and tax avoidance. We are working very hard. Before long, I will have the great pleasure to give my colleague opposite some good news.
Madam Speaker, my constituents often tell me how important it is to have access to arts facilities in our communities. This allows families to take part in the arts and better understand our stories as Canadians. Will the government please share with us how it plans on supporting these important staples of our communities?
Madam Speaker, I appreciate my colleague from Nickel Belt's commitment to gender equality. It is an absolute honour to serve as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Status of Women. We know how important it is to engage men and boys in the advancement of gender equality to help create cultural change. Gender equality is not only a women's issue; it is a societal issue. As our Prime Minister has said, feminists come in all genders. Again, I am honoured to have the opportunity to be part of this important work.
Madam Speaker, we know that in a few days or weeks the government is going to table its budget. Yesterday, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, which represents 200,000 employers, 200,000 job creators, 200,000 creators of wealth, made 10 recommendations. The most important thing it had to say to the government was that, if we want to improve productivity, we need to cut the cost of doing business in Canada. Simply put, that means that the government should not impose new taxes and new charges on our businesses.Why does the government not do as the Chamber of Commerce says?
Madam Speaker, as I have said many times, our priority is service to passengers.That is why we are trying to reduce costs for passengers to ensure they can have more options and to reduce wait times at security and customs. We are even planning to create an air passenger rights regime.Service to passengers will remain our priority as we explore the options.
Madam Speaker, it is more than unsavoury that after John McCallum is bumped, the PMO's director of appointments appoints herself to replace him. It certainly smells like the fix was in.Yesterday, the government House leader said I have no reason to doubt that the rules have been respected. Respecting the rules, how has that been working out for the Liberals?Again, what promises were made by the Prime Minister to Mary Ng if she pushed John McCallum out the door?
Madam Speaker, I believe the member is mistaken. He knows very well that the Prime Minister makes decisions of who to appoint as ambassadors. As the Prime Minister has also said, the Hon. John McCallum has a distinguished career in public service. As Canada's new ambassador to China, our Canada-China relationship will be well served, and Canadian interests strongly promoted. There are huge opportunities for the two countries to work better together to create opportunities for Canadians, the people for whom we are here to work hard.
Madam Speaker, our government had a very productive and important meeting with the President last Monday.Let me remind the House that the President assured Canada and the world that We have a very outstanding trade relationship with Canada.As for NAFTA, it is important for all of us to continue to realize that the principal actors in the U.S. cabinet have not yet been appointed. Even more important, the United States has not formally initiated a NAFTA negotiation process. If and when that happens, we will be ready.
Madam Speaker, I would first like to thank the member for his hard work on behalf of his constituents.Our government is committed to working with the Government of Nunavut to address the health care needs of its residents. As part of the health accord, Nunavut will receive $11.2 million over 10 years in targeted federal funding to improve access to home care and mental health services. This is in addition to federal health funding provided through the Canada health transfer, which will reach $37 million in 2016-17 and will continue to grow year after year.We also support the delivery of public services in Nunavut, including health care, through the territorial formula financing, valued at close to $1.5 billion in 2016-17.
Madam Speaker, it is the same old song and dance. When the Prime Minister met the U.S. President this week, there were no reassurances about advancing the softwood lumber file. This climate of uncertainty is already causing softwood lumber prices to fluctuate.Industry stakeholders are expecting a surtax and producers are limiting their exports because they are afraid that the surtax will be retroactive.When will the government finally reassure the forestry industry by moving ahead with negotiations, and especially by announcing a plan B?
Madam Speaker, the government is interested in promoting electricity ties throughout the country. We realize that there will be a reduced reliance on fossil fuels in the future. We are in a transition period, and as part of that transition, we think it is very important to encourage the development of hydroelectric power, wherever it occurs in Canada. That is of fundamental value. We believe it is the best possible example of the environment and the economy working hand in hand throughout every region of Canada.
Madam Speaker, why is the party opposite so opposed to taking action to protect our environment, to grow a clean economy, to create jobs, to foster innovation, and to ensure a more sustainable future for our children?We understand that this is a real opportunity. We are putting a price on pollution because we want less pollution and we want more innovation. This is a huge opportunity, and we are going to take advantage of it.
Madam Speaker, the softwood lumber agreement expired when the previous government was in power. Our government is vigorously defending the interests of the softwood lumber sector, as did the minister last week and as did the Prime Minister on Monday in Washington during his excellent visit.We again strongly defended our softwood lumber producers. We will continue to work closely with softwood lumber workers and producers, the provinces, and the territories. We are looking for a good agreement for Canada, and not just any agreement.
Madam Speaker, I would like to ask myself a question through you. The Liberals family and friends deal event is in full swing in Ottawa. Mary Ng, another Kathleen Wynne staffer who followed Gerry and her good friend Katie to Ottawa to become the Ottawa PMO director of appointments, is now appointing herself to be the Liberal candidate to replace John McCallum.She announced her candidacy days after John McCallum was pushed out the door to become the ambassador to China. The thing is that she would have been the one that worked on the appointment of McCallum.Could the Prime Minister tell the House what role he played in this backroom deal.
Madam Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague from Oakville NorthBurlington for her question.Our government is committed to ensuring better accessibility for Canadians with disabilities and better opportunities in their communities and their workplaces from coast to coast to coast. Many Canadians have already participated in one of the 19 public consultation sessions, in addition to the consultations held by their MPs. The public portion of the consultation is now complete. I encourage all those who have not yet participated to do so online at Canada.ca/Accessible-Canada by February 28.Better is always possible.
Madam Speaker, as my colleague knows very well, we have a historic plan to invest $180 billion in infrastructure. With regard to the reallocation of funds, these funds are allocated to specific projects. I assume that he does not want to take money away from specific projects, which are not yet paid for.With respect to Quebec, monies are paid once projects are finished. Funds are assigned to projects and it would not be appropriate to reallocate them to the gas tax fund.Funds that were to be redistributed were allocated to the gas tax fund.
Madam Speaker, CETA is the most progressive trade agreement ever negotiated by Canada or the EU. It will create jobs, bolster our prosperity, and help grow the middle class.As the Prime Minister said in his address to the European Parliament, This forward-looking agreement reflects a truly progressive trade agendaone that protects the ability of societies to promote the public good. It is one that focuses on small and medium-sized enterprises. We have put the interests of workers and consumers at the heart of our trade negotiations. We are giving Canadian businesses unprecedented access to 500 million affluent Europeans.
Madam Speaker, with respect to our interest in exploring talks with regard to the Asia-Pacific market, it is very important that we begin cautiously. We know that this is very important to Canadians. We are very pleased so far.
Madam Speaker, our government has been very clear about our commitment to gender equality, and our Prime Minister has demonstrated a commitment at home and abroad.As a member of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women, I have heard a number of witnesses talk about the role we all must play in achieving equality.Can the Parliamentary Secretary for Status of Women explain to the House why it is so important to include men and boys in the discussion on gender equality?
Madam Speaker, I want to thank my hon. colleague for his question and his ongoing work on behalf of Neil Bantleman. It is our government's priority to see Neil Bantleman back home in Canada as a free man. Our government has reiterated that concern with the Indonesian government at the highest level. Our officials and myself have been engaged with this family. We have been working with his legal team and his family throughout this judicial review process. I want to take a moment to recognize the strength of his family and his friends, and particularly his wife Tracy, for her courage and her strength.
Madam Speaker, the concept of high-frequency rail is one that we are looking into and have already invested $3.3 million in. That speaks to how much we value this study on the Québec City-Windsor corridor. Studying the viability of such a project is complex work. We are in the process of doing so. We are doing our homework and when we are finished, we will make an announcement.
Madam Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to answer the question, which we have answered several times already. The member has asked the same question several times, so she will get the same answer.The Prime Minister said that he will answer all of the commissioner's questions.
Madam Speaker, my colleague will be delighted to know that we have announced 61 projects in Quebec. The total eligible cost is $1.6 billion. These are projects that were chosen with the approval of Quebec. We are working very closely with our provincial partner and the municipalities. They are pleased with this collaboration. These are projects that take time to develop. We are going to move them forward for the good of Canadians.
Madam Speaker, I am very pleased to inform my colleague that I will be meeting with my provincial counterparts, including my Quebec counterpart, on Tuesday. We are going to talk about the woodland caribou, science, and how we can protect this species. We are also aware of the employment issue.
Madam Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to rise and answer that question. The member well knows that it is the prime minister who makes decisions on who to appoint as ambassadors. As our Prime Minister said, the Hon. John McCallum has a distinguished career in public service, and as Canada's new ambassador to China, our Canada-China relationship will be well served, and Canadian interests strongly promoted. As we work toward a strong, more stable, and long-term relationship with China, we will have more opportunities to share a culture, increase our people-to-people ties, and hold frank dialogue on issues of importance to Canadians.
Madam Speaker, nothing could be further from the truth. We are working hard to create jobs across the country, including Alberta. We have approved pipelines. We have invested $240 million in post-secondary education, $78 million to the University of Calgary, and $20.7 million to the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology. We are supporting economic development in Fort McMurray. We are doing what we need to do to help the Alberta economy move forward.
Madam Speaker, I once again thank my colleague for his question.Canada has a very competitive business environment. Compared to other areas in other OECD countries, we have a competitive corporate tax rate. Businesses that invest in Canada also benefit from a highly skilled and highly educated workforce. We will continue to focus on ensuring that our Canadian economy is competitive, providing good jobs for middle-class Canadians and a good future for our country.
Madam Speaker, our government firmly believes in investing in our cultural sector, as it drives innovation and growth and allows for unique Canadian stories to be shared with the world.In budget 2016, we invested nearly $170 million over two years in cultural infrastructure. That is a historic amount for arts and culture.In fact, just this morning, we announced over $6.5 million in funding for Arts Court and the Ottawa Art Gallery right here in Ottawa. This will help to provide a home for 26 not-for-profit organizations to allow them to continue to support our Canadian creators.
Madam Speaker, recently I held a round table in my riding of Oakville NorthBurlington about the challenges faced by people living with disabilities. I commend them for their courage and determination.The challenges related to accessibility and inclusion in workplaces and in our community are many. We have to change our perceptions and make Canada more inclusive.Could the Parliamentary Secretary for Sport and Persons with Disabilities tell us about our government's efforts to ensure better inclusion?
Madam Speaker, as the vice-chair of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights, I would like to thank the member for Hamilton Centre for his continuous work in bringing transparency and accountability to the House.He is correct. Bill S-201 is an important bill, intended to protect Canadians against unfair treatment by insurance companies based on their genetic information. To answer his question, the justice committee held five meetings and heard from 28 witnesses. The overwhelming testimony was in support of the current draft of the legislation, and the committee itself reported the bill back without amendment.
Madam Speaker, I appreciate my colleague's question.As a determined peace builder, Canada supports efforts to advance a two-state solution and create the conditions that will help the two states resume direct negotiations in order to achieve comprehensive, just, and lasting peace. That has always been Canada's policy.
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Madam Speaker, Newfoundland and Labrador has taken Hydro-Québec to court 17 times since 1976 over the Churchill Falls accord, and Newfoundland and Labrador has failed 17 times. This vexatious behaviour, and it is vexatious behaviour, has cost Quebeckers $50 million in lawyers' fees. Now we are being asked to fork over our tax dollars for a Muskrat Falls loan guarantee.Can the government understand Quebeckers' anger? How can anyone expect them to sit back while the government uses their tax dollars to fund Newfoundland and Labrador's unfair competition against Hydro-Québec?
Madam Speaker, small and medium-sized businesses are the backbone of our economy, but the Liberals want to shut them out at every turn. Small businesses in HaldimandNorfolk are struggling to survive under Liberal governments. With hydro prices skyrocketing out of control, small businesses are forced to pay Ontario Liberals out of one pocket while these Liberals reach into the other to grab money for the carbon tax and CPP hikes.Why will the Liberals not get their hands out of small businesses' pockets and start showing them the respect they deserve?
Madam Speaker, yesterday, along with other indigenous MPs, we sent a letter to the minister calling on her government to rename the building that houses the Prime Minister's Office. It is named after the creator of the Indian residential schools, a system that continues to negatively impact indigenous people today.In the spirit of reconciliation, we have asked the minister to rename the building to reflect the government's commitment to indigenous people. Will the government commit today in the House to change the name?
Qujannamiik uqaqti. Thank you, Madam Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Health.Adequate health care funding continues to be a serious issue in Nunavut. The Canada health transfer only covers 11% of Nunavut's health care costs. This is in stark contrast to the Canadian provincial average of approximately 21%. The $35-million territorial health investment fund, which includes vital funding for medical travel, is insufficient. This disparity in health care funding between Nunavut and southern Canada is unacceptable. Does the minister plan to address this inequity in the upcoming territorial health investment fund renewal? Qujannamiik
Madam Speaker, I want to give the colleague a lesson in history. During 10 years, the previous government announced in 2007, with great fanfare, its sectorial policy to improve the environment. The Conservatives had 10 years to put it in place. It was announced in 2007. Over 10 years, they implemented two out of the six sectors. That is their terrible record with respect to the environment. The Conservatives have nothing to tell us.
Madam Speaker, under our government, CO2 emissions actually went down.Under the failed Liberal policies of the Kathleen Wynne Liberals, life in rural Ontario is becoming more expensive. In fact, high energy costs are especially hard on seniors living on fixed incomes, on farmers, on farm families, and on small businesses. Now the federal Liberals are taking lessons from the failed playbook of the Kathleen Wynne Liberals. Why is the Prime Minister forcing a carbon tax on rural Canadians who can least afford it?
Madam Speaker, my friend, Neil Bantleman, faces 11 years behind bars in Indonesia. Indonesia's justice system has accused him of a crime that is unfounded and unwarranted. A year ago, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs claimed that he was deeply concerned and dismayed by the court's decision. Since then nothing, and Neil continues to languish in prison.Why will the minister not give Neil, his family and friends, hope, and outline what action she is taking to bring Neil home?
Madam Speaker, it is the same old song and dance. When the Prime Minister met the U.S. President this week, there were no reassurances about advancing the softwood lumber file. This climate of uncertainty is already causing softwood lumber prices to fluctuate.Industry stakeholders are expecting a surtax and producers are limiting their exports because they are afraid that the surtax will be retroactive.When will the government finally reassure the forestry industry by moving ahead with negotiations, and especially by announcing a plan B?
Madam Speaker, I might want to explain why emissions went down under the previous Conservative government. It was nothing to do with the Conservatives. It was because the Liberal government in Ontario closed coal-fired plants and also because the economy was not doing well. We understand we need to put a price on what we do not want, which is pollution, and foster what we do want, which is clean innovation and jobs. That is why, unlike the previous government, we will be doing that. We will be reducing pollution, reducing emissions, and growing our economy.
Madam Speaker, that is not what the Liberal Party election platform said. Only 2% of public infrastructure is federal. The rest, the government does not have a stake in, which is why it takes so long to release the money.By interfering in other people's business, Ottawa is holding up projects, paralyzing cities, and preventing Quebec from moving forward. Only the Canada 150 propaganda infrastructure seems to be getting money. The government knows all about propaganda.In the next budget, will the government commit to paying a lump sum for infrastructure, money that remains frozen in Ottawa, and will it stop dilly-dallying?
Madam Speaker, I would first like to thank the member for his hard work on behalf of his constituents.Our government is committed to working with the Government of Nunavut to address the health care needs of its residents. As part of the health accord, Nunavut will receive $11.2 million over 10 years in targeted federal funding to improve access to home care and mental health services. This is in addition to federal health funding provided through the Canada health transfer, which will reach $37 million in 2016-17 and will continue to grow year after year.We also support the delivery of public services in Nunavut, including health care, through the territorial formula financing, valued at close to $1.5 billion in 2016-17.
Madam Speaker, never before has a Canadian prime minister been the subject of two ethics investigations, one of which could lead to sanctions.Either the Prime Minister does not understand that he is supposed to be above suspicion or he does not care. Will the Prime Minister finally admit that he broke the law when he rode in his friend's private helicopter during his personal vacation?
Madam Speaker, the concept of high-frequency rail is one that we are looking into and have already invested $3.3 million in. That speaks to how much we value this study on the Québec City-Windsor corridor. Studying the viability of such a project is complex work. We are in the process of doing so. We are doing our homework and when we are finished, we will make an announcement.
Madam Speaker, the carbon tax cover-up is growing. Today, through access to information, we obtained a government memo that purports to contain the potential economic impact of carbon policies. All the key data, of course, is blacked out. Earlier this year, the government blacked out data on the financial burden on poor and middle-class families as a result of the federally mandated carbon taxes.Are the Liberals covering up this information because it will show that they broke their election promise not to raise taxes on the middle class and those working to join it?
Madam Speaker, the member got one thing right. Small businesses are the backbone of the Canadian economy. Small businesses are job creators. That is why this government is committed to working with them wholeheartedly. That is why we are making investments so that small businesses can sell their products and services to Canadians. The middle-class tax cut actually puts more money into the pockets of consumers. We are engaging with small businesses. Those stakeholders will be well represented. We will continue to work very hard for them.
Madam Speaker, I would like to remind the member opposite that our government has made a commitment to help the middle class and those working hard to join it. Also, I would like to remind the member opposite that it is this party that has actually lowered taxes for middle-income Canadians. We are also the government that has put in place the Canada child benefit program that has helped hundreds of thousands of children get out of poverty.Our government is here to help the middle class, and that is exactly what we are going to continue to do.
Madam Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to answer the question, which we have answered several times already. The member has asked the same question several times, so she will get the same answer.The Prime Minister said that he will answer all of the commissioner's questions.
Madam Speaker, when Ottawa insists on approving infrastructure projects one at a time, everything grinds to a halt and we never get a single penny. The parliamentary budget officer has confirmed that, of the $13.6 billion announced in the budget, only one-third has been spent. In Quebec, things are twice as bad. Will the government keep its election promise to transfer all uncommitted funds to the gas tax fund to make sure, according to its platform, that our communities are not shortchanged?
Madam Speaker, last fall, Travis Vader's conviction of two counts of second degree murder of Lyle and Marie McCann was vacated after the trial judge based his conviction on a zombie section of the Criminal Code.Zombie laws are booby traps for the unwitting, with the potential for costs, delays, mistrials, appeals, and like what happened to the McCann family, miscarriages of justice.The Minister of Justice can easily introduce legislation to repeal these sections. When will she?
Madam Speaker, Canadians are not buying this Liberal deception about supporting the middle class. Thanks to the failed energy policies of the Wynne Liberals, the Millbrook arena in Cavan Monaghan was recently hit with a monthly hydro bill of over $11,000. The Liberals have cancelled the children's fitness tax credit and have introduced a new carbon tax, making the cost of everything, from renting ice at the arena to fuel to get children to the rink, substantially more expensive. When are the Liberals going to help families instead of burying them in taxes?
Madam Speaker, the Justice Department has launched an initiative called Transparency for the 21st Century. Canadians are interested to see how that goes, since there has been a total lack of transparency from the Minister of Justice.She will not tell Canadians which mandatory minimum sentences she will get rid of . She will not tell Canadians why over half of the judicial positions she was supposed to fill are still empty, leading to murderers and sex offenders going free. When will she tell Canadians which mandatory sentences will be eliminated and why she has not filled the judicial vacancies?
Madam Speaker, nothing could be further from the truth. We are working hard to create jobs across the country, including Alberta. We have approved pipelines. We have invested $240 million in post-secondary education, $78 million to the University of Calgary, and $20.7 million to the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology. We are supporting economic development in Fort McMurray. We are doing what we need to do to help the Alberta economy move forward.
Madam Speaker, we have heard some disturbing messages from the White House this week on the Israeli-Palestinian issue. Many European nations reacted immediately, and so did the United Nations. My question is simple: does Canada still support a two-state solution? If so, what exactly is this government doing to convince the Israeli government to put an end to its settlement policy, which is currently jeopardizing the two-state solution?
Madam Speaker, I do agree, but the problem is what the U.S. wants to do and the deafening silence we heard from the Prime Minister when he met the U.S. President.While Canadians are being turned away at the border, the minister continues to downplay concerns about Bill C-23, which has far-reaching consequences and could lead to even more Canadians being treated unfairly at the border. Bill C-23 would grant worrisome powers to U.S. border agents on Canadian soil, such as permission to carry firearms and without the appropriate criminal liability framework.I ask again. What will it take for the government to finally stand up and protect Canadians' rights both here and at the border?
Madam Speaker, the risk that Canadians will be stopped at the U.S. border and asked for their social media passwords is growing. These invasions of privacy are intimidating, and there are serious consequences for refusing to co-operate: interrogation, detention, and refusal of entry. Searching people's computers or cell phones is much more intrusive than searching their luggage.Will the minister finally stand up to protect Canadians' rights here and at the border?
Madam Speaker, I appreciate my colleague's question.As a determined peace builder, Canada supports efforts to advance a two-state solution and create the conditions that will help the two states resume direct negotiations in order to achieve comprehensive, just, and lasting peace. That has always been Canada's policy.
Madam Speaker, southeast Saskatchewan is in the midst of a jobs crisis and thousands of my constituents are out of work. The Liberals are making things worse by forcing a carbon tax on families that are already struggling to put food on the table. A carbon tax will increase costs for our farmers and ranchers. Middle-class Canadians will have to pay significantly more now just to keep operating. Why will the Liberals not stand up for hard-working Canadians and abandon their foolish carbon tax?
Madam Speaker, Canadians expect all taxpayers to pay what they owe. They do not want anyone to give them preferential treatment. Could the Minister of National Revenue explain why, after allocating $444 million to combat offshore tax evasion, we are told that her department is failing to collect $50 billion each year. Wow, $50 billion would be enough for the Liberal budget to balance itself.
Madam Speaker, as the vice-chair of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights, I would like to thank the member for Hamilton Centre for his continuous work in bringing transparency and accountability to the House.He is correct. Bill S-201 is an important bill, intended to protect Canadians against unfair treatment by insurance companies based on their genetic information. To answer his question, the justice committee held five meetings and heard from 28 witnesses. The overwhelming testimony was in support of the current draft of the legislation, and the committee itself reported the bill back without amendment.
Madam Speaker, our kids and grandkids should not have to foot the bill, this from a party that is piling up $100 billion in national debt. Sometimes the Liberals make it a little bit too easy. If this were really about the environment, the minister would be able to stand up and show that the levies they are imposing on carbon are in fact offset 100% by other tax reductions elsewhere, but not only are they failing to do that, they are covering up data on the real cost for the poor and the middle class. Why?
Madam Speaker, I want to begin by saying that we all acknowledge that child sexual assault crimes are wrong, and we are doing everything in our power to prevent them from occurring again.Our government firmly believes that mandatory minimum sentences are appropriate for the most serious offences. It is also clear that the last government introduced a number of mandatory minimums which have been systematically struck down by the Supreme Court of Canada, and that is why we must take a careful look at mandatory minimums going forward.Our government is committed to doing that so that we have an efficient, fair, accessible criminal justice system.
Madam Speaker, I have tremendous regard for the member opposite, but his question, frankly, is just inaccurate in the way it has posed the information. The reality is that pre-clearance already happens for 12 million Canadians every year at eight locations. Everybody who crosses the border is protected by the Canadian charter and Canadian law. The result of not having pre-clearance would mean that these individuals would be on U.S. soil, where they would not have the protection of the charter and they would not have the protection of Canadian law. This is the right way to proceed.
Madam Speaker, I want to begin by reiterating that our government extends deepest sympathies to the family of the deceased.The reference to a zombie provision, as my colleague puts it, is a stark reminder about the importance of conducting a broad, comprehensive review of the criminal justice system. Our government is undertaking that process. We look forward to working with my hon. colleague across the way to ensure that we have a fair, relevant, and accessible criminal justice system.
Madam Speaker, the Minister of Finance is fine tuning his upcoming budget, and the Minister of Transport is endlessly studying studies, but the train may have left the station. In Trois-Rivières, like anywhere else in the Québec City-Windsor corridor, the return of passenger rail service is vital to stimulating the regional economy.Can the minister confirm that he will finish his homework on time for budget 2017 to include the necessary funds for VIA Rail's high-frequency rail?
Madam Speaker, we have demanded answers about the Prime Minister's illegal use of private aircraft. The government House leader keeps telling us that he will answer the Ethics Commissioner's questions. Well, he did answer her preliminary questions, and she must not have liked his answers, because she escalated the matter to an unprecedented full investigation.When will the Prime Minister admit to Canadians that his conduct was unethical and illegal? Will he do it now or does he really want to wait for the Ethics Commissioner to do it for him later?
Madam Speaker, our government firmly believes in investing in our cultural sector, as it drives innovation and growth and allows for unique Canadian stories to be shared with the world.In budget 2016, we invested nearly $170 million over two years in cultural infrastructure. That is a historic amount for arts and culture.In fact, just this morning, we announced over $6.5 million in funding for Arts Court and the Ottawa Art Gallery right here in Ottawa. This will help to provide a home for 26 not-for-profit organizations to allow them to continue to support our Canadian creators.
Madam Speaker, I think maybe the member forgets that climate change is real, and it is happening right now, from floods to winter storms. Prince Edward Island is shrinking at 43 centimetres per year. Canadian families are already at risk from climate change. Canadian insurance claims from severe storm damage now average $1 billion a year, up from $300 million at the turn of the century. Our kids and grandkids should not have to foot the bill. That is why we are taking action now.
Madam Speaker, the Liberal government remains out of touch with the realities of the forestry industry and the regions of Quebec.It is urgent that the government negotiate a softwood lumber agreement and put an end to the uncertainty surrounding the woodland caribou. Unfortunately, the government does not have enough information to make informed decisions on this issue.The Minister of Environment likes to claim that her decisions are based on science. Will she make sure that her department learns more about the woodland caribou so that an informed decision can be made without giving in to the blackmail of activists?
Madam Speaker, our government believes in the charter. That is why our government is committed to protecting Canadians from the possible misuse of genetic information. The Senate public bill is a step toward helping prevent genetic discrimination and protecting the privacy of Canadians. Preventing discrimination and other forms of misuse of genetic information is an important goal. That is why our government believes in the amendments, which we introduced earlier in the House. It is about striking the right balance between the roles that should be played by the federal government and the provincial governments. We look forward to further debate in the House so we can achieve the goals of that bill.
Madam Speaker, yesterday's Fraser Institute report confirmed what many taxpayers suspected all along. Of all the provinces that have carbon taxes, not a single one of them is revenue neutral. In all cases, taxpayers keep less so governments can get more. Trusting Liberals with money is like trusting a bear with honey. Once they get it, they ain't giving it back.Is the government covering up the calculations on its carbon tax so that the middle class and those working to join it will be kept in the dark about the new costs the government is imposing on them?
Madam Speaker, as my colleague knows very well, we have a historic plan to invest $180 billion in infrastructure. With regard to the reallocation of funds, these funds are allocated to specific projects. I assume that he does not want to take money away from specific projects, which are not yet paid for.With respect to Quebec, monies are paid once projects are finished. Funds are assigned to projects and it would not be appropriate to reallocate them to the gas tax fund.Funds that were to be redistributed were allocated to the gas tax fund.
Madam Speaker, Bill S-201 is legislation designed to protect the rights of Canadians to the privacy of their own genetic information. Currently, Canadians who receive genetic testing on a variety of medical issues are at risk of being denied insurance coverage if they fail to turn this information over. Could the chair or the vice-chair of the justice committee update the House on how many expert witnesses testified and how many meetings were devoted to the study of Bill S-201 before the bill was reported back to the House?
Madam Speaker, we know that in a few days or weeks the government is going to table its budget. Yesterday, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, which represents 200,000 employers, 200,000 job creators, 200,000 creators of wealth, made 10 recommendations. The most important thing it had to say to the government was that, if we want to improve productivity, we need to cut the cost of doing business in Canada. Simply put, that means that the government should not impose new taxes and new charges on our businesses.Why does the government not do as the Chamber of Commerce says?
Madam Speaker, the Liberals claimed they had a 100-day fix 300 days ago. That did not work out.President Trump has made his intentions clear that he will tweak NAFTA. The Americans have already insisted that supply management, dispute mechanism settlements, and even COOL are back on the table.What will the Liberals put on the table during NAFTA negotiations? Nobody really knows. Jobs are at risk, and Canadians deserve to know. What will it be?
Madam Speaker, Canada's middle class and those working hard to join it pay their taxes and fund programs for all Canadians, but they have had enough of those taxpayers who do not pay their fair share. We have invested $444 million in order to prevent tax evasion and tax avoidance. We are working very hard. Before long, I will have the great pleasure to give my colleague opposite some good news.
Madam Speaker, it would be nice if the government stopped talking about sustainable development and actually did something about it. As the NDP critic for the electrification of transportation, I can say that I look forward to the next budget. I look forward to it because I was deeply disappointed to see that this Liberal government's great contribution to the electrification of transportation in the previous budget was to give Quebec a grand total of four charging stations. Wow. In the meantime, the Quebec government was contributing to installing 800 stations all around Quebec.Can the Minister of Natural Resources tell us how many charging stations Quebec will get in the next budget? One, five, or six more?
Madam Speaker, NAFTA will be under renegotiation. The President has made that very clear. The outcome, of course, will be unknown.It is more imperative than ever that Canada pursue other trade opportunities, like the TPP. The Conservatives have been saying for over a year that regardless of what the U.S. does, we should continue to move forward with like-minded countries.Will the minister commit to completing an Asia-Pacific deal before any bilateral with China begins?
Madam Speaker, for months, there has been talk of the Liberals wanting to privatize Canadian airports. They asked Credit Suisse, an investment firm, to analyze the financial implications for Ottawa, and yesterday, the president and CEO of the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec indicated that he would be delighted to invest in airports. Do the Liberals really have a plan to privatize airports, or is this just another attempt to pay for their out-of-control spending and deficits?
Madam Speaker, I want to thank my hon. colleague for his question and his ongoing work on behalf of Neil Bantleman. It is our government's priority to see Neil Bantleman back home in Canada as a free man. Our government has reiterated that concern with the Indonesian government at the highest level. Our officials and myself have been engaged with this family. We have been working with his legal team and his family throughout this judicial review process. I want to take a moment to recognize the strength of his family and his friends, and particularly his wife Tracy, for her courage and her strength.
Madam Speaker, I believe the member is mistaken. He knows very well that the Prime Minister makes decisions of who to appoint as ambassadors. As the Prime Minister has also said, the Hon. John McCallum has a distinguished career in public service. As Canada's new ambassador to China, our Canada-China relationship will be well served, and Canadian interests strongly promoted. There are huge opportunities for the two countries to work better together to create opportunities for Canadians, the people for whom we are here to work hard.
Madam Speaker, when Canada signs free trade agreements, it is supposedly in the best interests of Canadians, and not the interests of the elite who travel to private islands by helicopter.Signing agreements that will have devastating consequences for Quebec's dairy producers is unacceptable, especially when they are made to believe that there will be compensation and the government does not keep its promises. What kind of surprises can Canadians expect when the free trade agreement with the U.S. is renegotiated?
Madam Speaker, last week, the latest job numbers were released, and the picture remains bleak in Alberta. Unemployment keeps rising, yet the Liberals simply do not care. Clearly, their reckless spending plan is doing nothing to support Albertans and nothing to create jobs. How many more Albertans need to lose their jobs? How many more families need to lose their homes? How many more businesses need to close their doors before the Liberals get their heads out of the sand and present a plan that will actually create one job in Alberta?
Madam Speaker, I would hope the member opposite would understand that polluting is not free, that we want to leave a cleaner future to our kids, that we want to grow our economy, and that we want to create good jobs, so we want to foster innovation. That is why we are working with the provinces and territories, developing a plan that will reduce emissions and will produce a more sustainable world for our kids and grandkids, because they deserve that.
Madam Speaker, why is the party opposite so opposed to taking action to protect our environment, to grow a clean economy, to create jobs, to foster innovation, and to ensure a more sustainable future for our children?We understand that this is a real opportunity. We are putting a price on pollution because we want less pollution and we want more innovation. This is a huge opportunity, and we are going to take advantage of it.
Madam Speaker, as we speak, more and more people in my riding are losing their homes because of the current Liberal economy. Now the charitable agencies providing support for these individuals and families have to cut programs as a direct result of the Prime Minister's ill-conceived carbon tax scheme. When will the Prime Minister admit that by charging a carbon tax on charities, he is actually taxing the most vulnerable?
Madam Speaker, we always stand up for hard-working Canadians. That is why we reduced taxes for middle-class Canadians and raised them on the 1%. That is why we introduced the Canada child benefit, where nine out of 10 families will get more for their children.We will also take action on the environment because it actually makes economic sense. We are moving forward for a cleaner future for our kids. We will support the middle class. We will create good jobs, because that is what Canadians expect us to do.
Madam Speaker, our government believes that all Canadians deserve safe and affordable housing. That is why we have invested more than $2.3 billion over the next three years to do just that.We also increased the down payment requirements in December to address pockets of risk, in particular in Toronto and Vancouver.In budget 2016, our government has also allocated $500,000 to Statistics Canada to study the phenomena that were causing some of the housing prices to spike, and we will be looking at policies and opportunities to make sure that we sustain affordability in the private market. We will continue to keep our focus on that issue, because it matters to Canadians.
Madam Speaker, recently I held a round table in my riding of Oakville NorthBurlington about the challenges faced by people living with disabilities. I commend them for their courage and determination.The challenges related to accessibility and inclusion in workplaces and in our community are many. We have to change our perceptions and make Canada more inclusive.Could the Parliamentary Secretary for Sport and Persons with Disabilities tell us about our government's efforts to ensure better inclusion?
Madam Speaker, I appreciate my colleague from Nickel Belt's commitment to gender equality. It is an absolute honour to serve as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Status of Women. We know how important it is to engage men and boys in the advancement of gender equality to help create cultural change. Gender equality is not only a women's issue; it is a societal issue. As our Prime Minister has said, feminists come in all genders. Again, I am honoured to have the opportunity to be part of this important work.
Madam Speaker, let me be clear. The best way to help those who create wealth, those who create jobsour Canadian entrepreneursis by not creating new taxes and new charges. This is exactly what the government has done for the last 15 months, and this is exactly what the government will do for the next year if it does not change its mind. Why create a new Liberal carbon tax? Maybe one day the government will understand.Why is the government so opposed to those who create wealth in Canada? Why is the government so opposed to creators of wealth? Why is the government so opposed to entrepreneurial Canadians?
Madam Speaker, I once again thank my colleague for his question.Canada has a very competitive business environment. Compared to other areas in other OECD countries, we have a competitive corporate tax rate. Businesses that invest in Canada also benefit from a highly skilled and highly educated workforce. We will continue to focus on ensuring that our Canadian economy is competitive, providing good jobs for middle-class Canadians and a good future for our country.
Madam Speaker, unequivocally we support Canadians' right to privacy and security, and we make sure that those rights are protected each and every day. That is why the protocol governing the use of passwords is so clear. It is publicly available, but I will read the most relevant section: The CBSA's current policy is that such examinations should not be conducted as a matter of routine; they may only be conducted if there is a multiplicity of indicators that evidence of contraventions may be found on the digital device or media. I am sure the member opposite would agree with me that this is a prudent policy.
Madam Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague from Oakville NorthBurlington for her question.Our government is committed to ensuring better accessibility for Canadians with disabilities and better opportunities in their communities and their workplaces from coast to coast to coast. Many Canadians have already participated in one of the 19 public consultation sessions, in addition to the consultations held by their MPs. The public portion of the consultation is now complete. I encourage all those who have not yet participated to do so online at Canada.ca/Accessible-Canada by February 28.Better is always possible.
Madam Speaker, the Liberals' new mortgage rules have denied thousands of young Canadians the opportunity to purchase their first homes. The new rules smack of a government that thinks it knows better than the taxpayer.This week at committee, the president of the CMHC said, It's like you're at a party, and the party has gotten too strong, and you remove the punch bowl.Does the finance minister agree with the president of CMHC, who compared Canada's young working class, struggling to buy a first home, to a punch bowl party that has gotten out of control?
Madam Speaker, we are fully implementing our promise to show that the environment and the economy go together. Surely the member opposite does not believe that pollution should be free and that people can dump pollution anywhere they want. That is why we are putting a price on pollution.We are also working with the provinces and territories to invest where it counts: public transit, green infrastructure, more energy-efficient homes, and cleaner power. This will help middle-class Canadians save more money every day in their homes, in their workplaces, in their communities.
Madam Speaker, after the justice committee reported Bill S-201 back to the House, the Liberal government made an astonishing move. The government is trying to gut this important bill by deleting the majority of the clauses at report stage. This would send a green light to companies to discriminate based on genetic conditions. At the eleventh hour, the Liberals caved to pressure from the insurance industry. Why is the government more interested in protecting the profits of insurance companies than in protecting Canadians?
Madam Speaker, our government has been very clear about our commitment to gender equality, and our Prime Minister has demonstrated a commitment at home and abroad.As a member of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women, I have heard a number of witnesses talk about the role we all must play in achieving equality.Can the Parliamentary Secretary for Status of Women explain to the House why it is so important to include men and boys in the discussion on gender equality?
Madam Speaker, CETA is the most progressive trade agreement ever negotiated by Canada or the EU. It will create jobs, bolster our prosperity, and help grow the middle class.As the Prime Minister said in his address to the European Parliament, This forward-looking agreement reflects a truly progressive trade agendaone that protects the ability of societies to promote the public good. It is one that focuses on small and medium-sized enterprises. We have put the interests of workers and consumers at the heart of our trade negotiations. We are giving Canadian businesses unprecedented access to 500 million affluent Europeans.
Madam Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to rise and answer that question. The member well knows that it is the prime minister who makes decisions on who to appoint as ambassadors. As our Prime Minister said, the Hon. John McCallum has a distinguished career in public service, and as Canada's new ambassador to China, our Canada-China relationship will be well served, and Canadian interests strongly promoted. As we work toward a strong, more stable, and long-term relationship with China, we will have more opportunities to share a culture, increase our people-to-people ties, and hold frank dialogue on issues of importance to Canadians.
Madam Speaker, there is no relationship more important to our government than the one we have with indigenous peoples. Our government is fully committed to implementing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's calls to action. This includes developing a reconciliation framework for Canadian heritage and commemoration. Any decision will be made in full partnership with indigenous people.
Madam Speaker, our government had a very productive and important meeting with the President last Monday.Let me remind the House that the President assured Canada and the world that We have a very outstanding trade relationship with Canada.As for NAFTA, it is important for all of us to continue to realize that the principal actors in the U.S. cabinet have not yet been appointed. Even more important, the United States has not formally initiated a NAFTA negotiation process. If and when that happens, we will be ready.
Madam Speaker, the Prime Minister has said time and time again that he will answer any questions the commissioner has. On this side of the House, we are taking an unprecedented level of consultations with Canadians. We are here to work to respond to their questions. I am not surprised that the member opposite has problems when people have more questions. We are okay with it, because we are responding to the real challenges that Canadians are facing. We are here to do the good work they expect us to do, and we will continue to do that.
Madam Speaker, the government is interested in promoting electricity ties throughout the country. We realize that there will be a reduced reliance on fossil fuels in the future. We are in a transition period, and as part of that transition, we think it is very important to encourage the development of hydroelectric power, wherever it occurs in Canada. That is of fundamental value. We believe it is the best possible example of the environment and the economy working hand in hand throughout every region of Canada.
Madam Speaker, it is more than unsavoury that after John McCallum is bumped, the PMO's director of appointments appoints herself to replace him. It certainly smells like the fix was in.Yesterday, the government House leader said I have no reason to doubt that the rules have been respected. Respecting the rules, how has that been working out for the Liberals?Again, what promises were made by the Prime Minister to Mary Ng if she pushed John McCallum out the door?
Madam Speaker, my constituents often tell me how important it is to have access to arts facilities in our communities. This allows families to take part in the arts and better understand our stories as Canadians. Will the government please share with us how it plans on supporting these important staples of our communities?
Madam Speaker, the softwood lumber agreement expired when the previous government was in power. Our government is vigorously defending the interests of the softwood lumber sector, as did the minister last week and as did the Prime Minister on Monday in Washington during his excellent visit.We again strongly defended our softwood lumber producers. We will continue to work closely with softwood lumber workers and producers, the provinces, and the territories. We are looking for a good agreement for Canada, and not just any agreement.
Madam Speaker, my colleague will be delighted to know that we have announced 61 projects in Quebec. The total eligible cost is $1.6 billion. These are projects that were chosen with the approval of Quebec. We are working very closely with our provincial partner and the municipalities. They are pleased with this collaboration. These are projects that take time to develop. We are going to move them forward for the good of Canadians.
Madam Speaker, with respect to our interest in exploring talks with regard to the Asia-Pacific market, it is very important that we begin cautiously. We know that this is very important to Canadians. We are very pleased so far.
Madam Speaker, I am very pleased to inform my colleague that I will be meeting with my provincial counterparts, including my Quebec counterpart, on Tuesday. We are going to talk about the woodland caribou, science, and how we can protect this species. We are also aware of the employment issue.
Madam Speaker, as I have said many times, our priority is service to passengers.That is why we are trying to reduce costs for passengers to ensure they can have more options and to reduce wait times at security and customs. We are even planning to create an air passenger rights regime.Service to passengers will remain our priority as we explore the options.
Madam Speaker, I would like to ask myself a question through you. The Liberals family and friends deal event is in full swing in Ottawa. Mary Ng, another Kathleen Wynne staffer who followed Gerry and her good friend Katie to Ottawa to become the Ottawa PMO director of appointments, is now appointing herself to be the Liberal candidate to replace John McCallum.She announced her candidacy days after John McCallum was pushed out the door to become the ambassador to China. The thing is that she would have been the one that worked on the appointment of McCallum.Could the Prime Minister tell the House what role he played in this backroom deal.
Madam Speaker, the government was very pleased, in the budget of 2016, to announce a program of establishing electric vehicle charging stations, $62.5 million over two years. We are also very pleased that it was the Province of Quebec that was the most enthusiastic of all the provinces.I know it is absolutely consistent with the government's commitment to move to a lower carbon economy while creating good, clean jobs for Canadians, and I am glad the member is on side.
Madam Speaker, Newfoundland and Labrador has taken Hydro-Québec to court 17 times since 1976 over the Churchill Falls accord, and Newfoundland and Labrador has failed 17 times. This vexatious behaviour, and it is vexatious behaviour, has cost Quebeckers $50 million in lawyers' fees. Now we are being asked to fork over our tax dollars for a Muskrat Falls loan guarantee.Can the government understand Quebeckers' anger? How can anyone expect them to sit back while the government uses their tax dollars to fund Newfoundland and Labrador's unfair competition against Hydro-Québec?
Madam Speaker, small and medium-sized businesses are the backbone of our economy, but the Liberals want to shut them out at every turn. Small businesses in HaldimandNorfolk are struggling to survive under Liberal governments. With hydro prices skyrocketing out of control, small businesses are forced to pay Ontario Liberals out of one pocket while these Liberals reach into the other to grab money for the carbon tax and CPP hikes.Why will the Liberals not get their hands out of small businesses' pockets and start showing them the respect they deserve?
Madam Speaker, yesterday, along with other indigenous MPs, we sent a letter to the minister calling on her government to rename the building that houses the Prime Minister's Office. It is named after the creator of the Indian residential schools, a system that continues to negatively impact indigenous people today.In the spirit of reconciliation, we have asked the minister to rename the building to reflect the government's commitment to indigenous people. Will the government commit today in the House to change the name?
Qujannamiik uqaqti. Thank you, Madam Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Health.Adequate health care funding continues to be a serious issue in Nunavut. The Canada health transfer only covers 11% of Nunavut's health care costs. This is in stark contrast to the Canadian provincial average of approximately 21%. The $35-million territorial health investment fund, which includes vital funding for medical travel, is insufficient. This disparity in health care funding between Nunavut and southern Canada is unacceptable. Does the minister plan to address this inequity in the upcoming territorial health investment fund renewal? Qujannamiik
Madam Speaker, I want to give the colleague a lesson in history. During 10 years, the previous government announced in 2007, with great fanfare, its sectorial policy to improve the environment. The Conservatives had 10 years to put it in place. It was announced in 2007. Over 10 years, they implemented two out of the six sectors. That is their terrible record with respect to the environment. The Conservatives have nothing to tell us.
Madam Speaker, under our government, CO2 emissions actually went down.Under the failed Liberal policies of the Kathleen Wynne Liberals, life in rural Ontario is becoming more expensive. In fact, high energy costs are especially hard on seniors living on fixed incomes, on farmers, on farm families, and on small businesses. Now the federal Liberals are taking lessons from the failed playbook of the Kathleen Wynne Liberals. Why is the Prime Minister forcing a carbon tax on rural Canadians who can least afford it?
Madam Speaker, my friend, Neil Bantleman, faces 11 years behind bars in Indonesia. Indonesia's justice system has accused him of a crime that is unfounded and unwarranted. A year ago, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs claimed that he was deeply concerned and dismayed by the court's decision. Since then nothing, and Neil continues to languish in prison.Why will the minister not give Neil, his family and friends, hope, and outline what action she is taking to bring Neil home?
Madam Speaker, it is the same old song and dance. When the Prime Minister met the U.S. President this week, there were no reassurances about advancing the softwood lumber file. This climate of uncertainty is already causing softwood lumber prices to fluctuate.Industry stakeholders are expecting a surtax and producers are limiting their exports because they are afraid that the surtax will be retroactive.When will the government finally reassure the forestry industry by moving ahead with negotiations, and especially by announcing a plan B?
Madam Speaker, I might want to explain why emissions went down under the previous Conservative government. It was nothing to do with the Conservatives. It was because the Liberal government in Ontario closed coal-fired plants and also because the economy was not doing well. We understand we need to put a price on what we do not want, which is pollution, and foster what we do want, which is clean innovation and jobs. That is why, unlike the previous government, we will be doing that. We will be reducing pollution, reducing emissions, and growing our economy.
Madam Speaker, that is not what the Liberal Party election platform said. Only 2% of public infrastructure is federal. The rest, the government does not have a stake in, which is why it takes so long to release the money.By interfering in other people's business, Ottawa is holding up projects, paralyzing cities, and preventing Quebec from moving forward. Only the Canada 150 propaganda infrastructure seems to be getting money. The government knows all about propaganda.In the next budget, will the government commit to paying a lump sum for infrastructure, money that remains frozen in Ottawa, and will it stop dilly-dallying?
Madam Speaker, I would first like to thank the member for his hard work on behalf of his constituents.Our government is committed to working with the Government of Nunavut to address the health care needs of its residents. As part of the health accord, Nunavut will receive $11.2 million over 10 years in targeted federal funding to improve access to home care and mental health services. This is in addition to federal health funding provided through the Canada health transfer, which will reach $37 million in 2016-17 and will continue to grow year after year.We also support the delivery of public services in Nunavut, including health care, through the territorial formula financing, valued at close to $1.5 billion in 2016-17.
Madam Speaker, never before has a Canadian prime minister been the subject of two ethics investigations, one of which could lead to sanctions.Either the Prime Minister does not understand that he is supposed to be above suspicion or he does not care. Will the Prime Minister finally admit that he broke the law when he rode in his friend's private helicopter during his personal vacation?
Madam Speaker, the concept of high-frequency rail is one that we are looking into and have already invested $3.3 million in. That speaks to how much we value this study on the Québec City-Windsor corridor. Studying the viability of such a project is complex work. We are in the process of doing so. We are doing our homework and when we are finished, we will make an announcement.
Madam Speaker, the carbon tax cover-up is growing. Today, through access to information, we obtained a government memo that purports to contain the potential economic impact of carbon policies. All the key data, of course, is blacked out. Earlier this year, the government blacked out data on the financial burden on poor and middle-class families as a result of the federally mandated carbon taxes.Are the Liberals covering up this information because it will show that they broke their election promise not to raise taxes on the middle class and those working to join it?
Madam Speaker, the member got one thing right. Small businesses are the backbone of the Canadian economy. Small businesses are job creators. That is why this government is committed to working with them wholeheartedly. That is why we are making investments so that small businesses can sell their products and services to Canadians. The middle-class tax cut actually puts more money into the pockets of consumers. We are engaging with small businesses. Those stakeholders will be well represented. We will continue to work very hard for them.
Madam Speaker, I would like to remind the member opposite that our government has made a commitment to help the middle class and those working hard to join it. Also, I would like to remind the member opposite that it is this party that has actually lowered taxes for middle-income Canadians. We are also the government that has put in place the Canada child benefit program that has helped hundreds of thousands of children get out of poverty.Our government is here to help the middle class, and that is exactly what we are going to continue to do.
Madam Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to answer the question, which we have answered several times already. The member has asked the same question several times, so she will get the same answer.The Prime Minister said that he will answer all of the commissioner's questions.
Madam Speaker, when Ottawa insists on approving infrastructure projects one at a time, everything grinds to a halt and we never get a single penny. The parliamentary budget officer has confirmed that, of the $13.6 billion announced in the budget, only one-third has been spent. In Quebec, things are twice as bad. Will the government keep its election promise to transfer all uncommitted funds to the gas tax fund to make sure, according to its platform, that our communities are not shortchanged?
Madam Speaker, last fall, Travis Vader's conviction of two counts of second degree murder of Lyle and Marie McCann was vacated after the trial judge based his conviction on a zombie section of the Criminal Code.Zombie laws are booby traps for the unwitting, with the potential for costs, delays, mistrials, appeals, and like what happened to the McCann family, miscarriages of justice.The Minister of Justice can easily introduce legislation to repeal these sections. When will she?
Madam Speaker, Canadians are not buying this Liberal deception about supporting the middle class. Thanks to the failed energy policies of the Wynne Liberals, the Millbrook arena in Cavan Monaghan was recently hit with a monthly hydro bill of over $11,000. The Liberals have cancelled the children's fitness tax credit and have introduced a new carbon tax, making the cost of everything, from renting ice at the arena to fuel to get children to the rink, substantially more expensive. When are the Liberals going to help families instead of burying them in taxes?
Madam Speaker, the Justice Department has launched an initiative called Transparency for the 21st Century. Canadians are interested to see how that goes, since there has been a total lack of transparency from the Minister of Justice.She will not tell Canadians which mandatory minimum sentences she will get rid of . She will not tell Canadians why over half of the judicial positions she was supposed to fill are still empty, leading to murderers and sex offenders going free. When will she tell Canadians which mandatory sentences will be eliminated and why she has not filled the judicial vacancies?
Madam Speaker, nothing could be further from the truth. We are working hard to create jobs across the country, including Alberta. We have approved pipelines. We have invested $240 million in post-secondary education, $78 million to the University of Calgary, and $20.7 million to the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology. We are supporting economic development in Fort McMurray. We are doing what we need to do to help the Alberta economy move forward.
Madam Speaker, we have heard some disturbing messages from the White House this week on the Israeli-Palestinian issue. Many European nations reacted immediately, and so did the United Nations. My question is simple: does Canada still support a two-state solution? If so, what exactly is this government doing to convince the Israeli government to put an end to its settlement policy, which is currently jeopardizing the two-state solution?
Madam Speaker, I do agree, but the problem is what the U.S. wants to do and the deafening silence we heard from the Prime Minister when he met the U.S. President.While Canadians are being turned away at the border, the minister continues to downplay concerns about Bill C-23, which has far-reaching consequences and could lead to even more Canadians being treated unfairly at the border. Bill C-23 would grant worrisome powers to U.S. border agents on Canadian soil, such as permission to carry firearms and without the appropriate criminal liability framework.I ask again. What will it take for the government to finally stand up and protect Canadians' rights both here and at the border?
Madam Speaker, the risk that Canadians will be stopped at the U.S. border and asked for their social media passwords is growing. These invasions of privacy are intimidating, and there are serious consequences for refusing to co-operate: interrogation, detention, and refusal of entry. Searching people's computers or cell phones is much more intrusive than searching their luggage.Will the minister finally stand up to protect Canadians' rights here and at the border?
Madam Speaker, I appreciate my colleague's question.As a determined peace builder, Canada supports efforts to advance a two-state solution and create the conditions that will help the two states resume direct negotiations in order to achieve comprehensive, just, and lasting peace. That has always been Canada's policy.
Madam Speaker, southeast Saskatchewan is in the midst of a jobs crisis and thousands of my constituents are out of work. The Liberals are making things worse by forcing a carbon tax on families that are already struggling to put food on the table. A carbon tax will increase costs for our farmers and ranchers. Middle-class Canadians will have to pay significantly more now just to keep operating. Why will the Liberals not stand up for hard-working Canadians and abandon their foolish carbon tax?
Madam Speaker, Canadians expect all taxpayers to pay what they owe. They do not want anyone to give them preferential treatment. Could the Minister of National Revenue explain why, after allocating $444 million to combat offshore tax evasion, we are told that her department is failing to collect $50 billion each year. Wow, $50 billion would be enough for the Liberal budget to balance itself.
Madam Speaker, as the vice-chair of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights, I would like to thank the member for Hamilton Centre for his continuous work in bringing transparency and accountability to the House.He is correct. Bill S-201 is an important bill, intended to protect Canadians against unfair treatment by insurance companies based on their genetic information. To answer his question, the justice committee held five meetings and heard from 28 witnesses. The overwhelming testimony was in support of the current draft of the legislation, and the committee itself reported the bill back without amendment.
Madam Speaker, our kids and grandkids should not have to foot the bill, this from a party that is piling up $100 billion in national debt. Sometimes the Liberals make it a little bit too easy. If this were really about the environment, the minister would be able to stand up and show that the levies they are imposing on carbon are in fact offset 100% by other tax reductions elsewhere, but not only are they failing to do that, they are covering up data on the real cost for the poor and the middle class. Why?
Madam Speaker, I want to begin by saying that we all acknowledge that child sexual assault crimes are wrong, and we are doing everything in our power to prevent them from occurring again.Our government firmly believes that mandatory minimum sentences are appropriate for the most serious offences. It is also clear that the last government introduced a number of mandatory minimums which have been systematically struck down by the Supreme Court of Canada, and that is why we must take a careful look at mandatory minimums going forward.Our government is committed to doing that so that we have an efficient, fair, accessible criminal justice system.
Madam Speaker, I have tremendous regard for the member opposite, but his question, frankly, is just inaccurate in the way it has posed the information. The reality is that pre-clearance already happens for 12 million Canadians every year at eight locations. Everybody who crosses the border is protected by the Canadian charter and Canadian law. The result of not having pre-clearance would mean that these individuals would be on U.S. soil, where they would not have the protection of the charter and they would not have the protection of Canadian law. This is the right way to proceed.
Madam Speaker, I want to begin by reiterating that our government extends deepest sympathies to the family of the deceased.The reference to a zombie provision, as my colleague puts it, is a stark reminder about the importance of conducting a broad, comprehensive review of the criminal justice system. Our government is undertaking that process. We look forward to working with my hon. colleague across the way to ensure that we have a fair, relevant, and accessible criminal justice system.
Madam Speaker, the Minister of Finance is fine tuning his upcoming budget, and the Minister of Transport is endlessly studying studies, but the train may have left the station. In Trois-Rivières, like anywhere else in the Québec City-Windsor corridor, the return of passenger rail service is vital to stimulating the regional economy.Can the minister confirm that he will finish his homework on time for budget 2017 to include the necessary funds for VIA Rail's high-frequency rail?
Madam Speaker, we have demanded answers about the Prime Minister's illegal use of private aircraft. The government House leader keeps telling us that he will answer the Ethics Commissioner's questions. Well, he did answer her preliminary questions, and she must not have liked his answers, because she escalated the matter to an unprecedented full investigation.When will the Prime Minister admit to Canadians that his conduct was unethical and illegal? Will he do it now or does he really want to wait for the Ethics Commissioner to do it for him later?
Madam Speaker, our government firmly believes in investing in our cultural sector, as it drives innovation and growth and allows for unique Canadian stories to be shared with the world.In budget 2016, we invested nearly $170 million over two years in cultural infrastructure. That is a historic amount for arts and culture.In fact, just this morning, we announced over $6.5 million in funding for Arts Court and the Ottawa Art Gallery right here in Ottawa. This will help to provide a home for 26 not-for-profit organizations to allow them to continue to support our Canadian creators.
Madam Speaker, I think maybe the member forgets that climate change is real, and it is happening right now, from floods to winter storms. Prince Edward Island is shrinking at 43 centimetres per year. Canadian families are already at risk from climate change. Canadian insurance claims from severe storm damage now average $1 billion a year, up from $300 million at the turn of the century. Our kids and grandkids should not have to foot the bill. That is why we are taking action now.
Madam Speaker, the Liberal government remains out of touch with the realities of the forestry industry and the regions of Quebec.It is urgent that the government negotiate a softwood lumber agreement and put an end to the uncertainty surrounding the woodland caribou. Unfortunately, the government does not have enough information to make informed decisions on this issue.The Minister of Environment likes to claim that her decisions are based on science. Will she make sure that her department learns more about the woodland caribou so that an informed decision can be made without giving in to the blackmail of activists?
Madam Speaker, our government believes in the charter. That is why our government is committed to protecting Canadians from the possible misuse of genetic information. The Senate public bill is a step toward helping prevent genetic discrimination and protecting the privacy of Canadians. Preventing discrimination and other forms of misuse of genetic information is an important goal. That is why our government believes in the amendments, which we introduced earlier in the House. It is about striking the right balance between the roles that should be played by the federal government and the provincial governments. We look forward to further debate in the House so we can achieve the goals of that bill.
Madam Speaker, yesterday's Fraser Institute report confirmed what many taxpayers suspected all along. Of all the provinces that have carbon taxes, not a single one of them is revenue neutral. In all cases, taxpayers keep less so governments can get more. Trusting Liberals with money is like trusting a bear with honey. Once they get it, they ain't giving it back.Is the government covering up the calculations on its carbon tax so that the middle class and those working to join it will be kept in the dark about the new costs the government is imposing on them?
Madam Speaker, as my colleague knows very well, we have a historic plan to invest $180 billion in infrastructure. With regard to the reallocation of funds, these funds are allocated to specific projects. I assume that he does not want to take money away from specific projects, which are not yet paid for.With respect to Quebec, monies are paid once projects are finished. Funds are assigned to projects and it would not be appropriate to reallocate them to the gas tax fund.Funds that were to be redistributed were allocated to the gas tax fund.
Madam Speaker, Bill S-201 is legislation designed to protect the rights of Canadians to the privacy of their own genetic information. Currently, Canadians who receive genetic testing on a variety of medical issues are at risk of being denied insurance coverage if they fail to turn this information over. Could the chair or the vice-chair of the justice committee update the House on how many expert witnesses testified and how many meetings were devoted to the study of Bill S-201 before the bill was reported back to the House?
Madam Speaker, we know that in a few days or weeks the government is going to table its budget. Yesterday, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, which represents 200,000 employers, 200,000 job creators, 200,000 creators of wealth, made 10 recommendations. The most important thing it had to say to the government was that, if we want to improve productivity, we need to cut the cost of doing business in Canada. Simply put, that means that the government should not impose new taxes and new charges on our businesses.Why does the government not do as the Chamber of Commerce says?
Madam Speaker, the Liberals claimed they had a 100-day fix 300 days ago. That did not work out.President Trump has made his intentions clear that he will tweak NAFTA. The Americans have already insisted that supply management, dispute mechanism settlements, and even COOL are back on the table.What will the Liberals put on the table during NAFTA negotiations? Nobody really knows. Jobs are at risk, and Canadians deserve to know. What will it be?
Madam Speaker, Canada's middle class and those working hard to join it pay their taxes and fund programs for all Canadians, but they have had enough of those taxpayers who do not pay their fair share. We have invested $444 million in order to prevent tax evasion and tax avoidance. We are working very hard. Before long, I will have the great pleasure to give my colleague opposite some good news.
Madam Speaker, it would be nice if the government stopped talking about sustainable development and actually did something about it. As the NDP critic for the electrification of transportation, I can say that I look forward to the next budget. I look forward to it because I was deeply disappointed to see that this Liberal government's great contribution to the electrification of transportation in the previous budget was to give Quebec a grand total of four charging stations. Wow. In the meantime, the Quebec government was contributing to installing 800 stations all around Quebec.Can the Minister of Natural Resources tell us how many charging stations Quebec will get in the next budget? One, five, or six more?
Madam Speaker, NAFTA will be under renegotiation. The President has made that very clear. The outcome, of course, will be unknown.It is more imperative than ever that Canada pursue other trade opportunities, like the TPP. The Conservatives have been saying for over a year that regardless of what the U.S. does, we should continue to move forward with like-minded countries.Will the minister commit to completing an Asia-Pacific deal before any bilateral with China begins?
Madam Speaker, for months, there has been talk of the Liberals wanting to privatize Canadian airports. They asked Credit Suisse, an investment firm, to analyze the financial implications for Ottawa, and yesterday, the president and CEO of the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec indicated that he would be delighted to invest in airports. Do the Liberals really have a plan to privatize airports, or is this just another attempt to pay for their out-of-control spending and deficits?
Madam Speaker, I want to thank my hon. colleague for his question and his ongoing work on behalf of Neil Bantleman. It is our government's priority to see Neil Bantleman back home in Canada as a free man. Our government has reiterated that concern with the Indonesian government at the highest level. Our officials and myself have been engaged with this family. We have been working with his legal team and his family throughout this judicial review process. I want to take a moment to recognize the strength of his family and his friends, and particularly his wife Tracy, for her courage and her strength.
Madam Speaker, I believe the member is mistaken. He knows very well that the Prime Minister makes decisions of who to appoint as ambassadors. As the Prime Minister has also said, the Hon. John McCallum has a distinguished career in public service. As Canada's new ambassador to China, our Canada-China relationship will be well served, and Canadian interests strongly promoted. There are huge opportunities for the two countries to work better together to create opportunities for Canadians, the people for whom we are here to work hard.
Madam Speaker, when Canada signs free trade agreements, it is supposedly in the best interests of Canadians, and not the interests of the elite who travel to private islands by helicopter.Signing agreements that will have devastating consequences for Quebec's dairy producers is unacceptable, especially when they are made to believe that there will be compensation and the government does not keep its promises. What kind of surprises can Canadians expect when the free trade agreement with the U.S. is renegotiated?
Madam Speaker, last week, the latest job numbers were released, and the picture remains bleak in Alberta. Unemployment keeps rising, yet the Liberals simply do not care. Clearly, their reckless spending plan is doing nothing to support Albertans and nothing to create jobs. How many more Albertans need to lose their jobs? How many more families need to lose their homes? How many more businesses need to close their doors before the Liberals get their heads out of the sand and present a plan that will actually create one job in Alberta?
Madam Speaker, I would hope the member opposite would understand that polluting is not free, that we want to leave a cleaner future to our kids, that we want to grow our economy, and that we want to create good jobs, so we want to foster innovation. That is why we are working with the provinces and territories, developing a plan that will reduce emissions and will produce a more sustainable world for our kids and grandkids, because they deserve that.
Madam Speaker, why is the party opposite so opposed to taking action to protect our environment, to grow a clean economy, to create jobs, to foster innovation, and to ensure a more sustainable future for our children?We understand that this is a real opportunity. We are putting a price on pollution because we want less pollution and we want more innovation. This is a huge opportunity, and we are going to take advantage of it.
Madam Speaker, as we speak, more and more people in my riding are losing their homes because of the current Liberal economy. Now the charitable agencies providing support for these individuals and families have to cut programs as a direct result of the Prime Minister's ill-conceived carbon tax scheme. When will the Prime Minister admit that by charging a carbon tax on charities, he is actually taxing the most vulnerable?
Madam Speaker, we always stand up for hard-working Canadians. That is why we reduced taxes for middle-class Canadians and raised them on the 1%. That is why we introduced the Canada child benefit, where nine out of 10 families will get more for their children.We will also take action on the environment because it actually makes economic sense. We are moving forward for a cleaner future for our kids. We will support the middle class. We will create good jobs, because that is what Canadians expect us to do.
Madam Speaker, our government believes that all Canadians deserve safe and affordable housing. That is why we have invested more than $2.3 billion over the next three years to do just that.We also increased the down payment requirements in December to address pockets of risk, in particular in Toronto and Vancouver.In budget 2016, our government has also allocated $500,000 to Statistics Canada to study the phenomena that were causing some of the housing prices to spike, and we will be looking at policies and opportunities to make sure that we sustain affordability in the private market. We will continue to keep our focus on that issue, because it matters to Canadians.
Madam Speaker, recently I held a round table in my riding of Oakville NorthBurlington about the challenges faced by people living with disabilities. I commend them for their courage and determination.The challenges related to accessibility and inclusion in workplaces and in our community are many. We have to change our perceptions and make Canada more inclusive.Could the Parliamentary Secretary for Sport and Persons with Disabilities tell us about our government's efforts to ensure better inclusion?
Madam Speaker, I appreciate my colleague from Nickel Belt's commitment to gender equality. It is an absolute honour to serve as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Status of Women. We know how important it is to engage men and boys in the advancement of gender equality to help create cultural change. Gender equality is not only a women's issue; it is a societal issue. As our Prime Minister has said, feminists come in all genders. Again, I am honoured to have the opportunity to be part of this important work.
Madam Speaker, let me be clear. The best way to help those who create wealth, those who create jobsour Canadian entrepreneursis by not creating new taxes and new charges. This is exactly what the government has done for the last 15 months, and this is exactly what the government will do for the next year if it does not change its mind. Why create a new Liberal carbon tax? Maybe one day the government will understand.Why is the government so opposed to those who create wealth in Canada? Why is the government so opposed to creators of wealth? Why is the government so opposed to entrepreneurial Canadians?
Madam Speaker, I once again thank my colleague for his question.Canada has a very competitive business environment. Compared to other areas in other OECD countries, we have a competitive corporate tax rate. Businesses that invest in Canada also benefit from a highly skilled and highly educated workforce. We will continue to focus on ensuring that our Canadian economy is competitive, providing good jobs for middle-class Canadians and a good future for our country.
Madam Speaker, unequivocally we support Canadians' right to privacy and security, and we make sure that those rights are protected each and every day. That is why the protocol governing the use of passwords is so clear. It is publicly available, but I will read the most relevant section: The CBSA's current policy is that such examinations should not be conducted as a matter of routine; they may only be conducted if there is a multiplicity of indicators that evidence of contraventions may be found on the digital device or media. I am sure the member opposite would agree with me that this is a prudent policy.
Madam Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague from Oakville NorthBurlington for her question.Our government is committed to ensuring better accessibility for Canadians with disabilities and better opportunities in their communities and their workplaces from coast to coast to coast. Many Canadians have already participated in one of the 19 public consultation sessions, in addition to the consultations held by their MPs. The public portion of the consultation is now complete. I encourage all those who have not yet participated to do so online at Canada.ca/Accessible-Canada by February 28.Better is always possible.
Madam Speaker, the Liberals' new mortgage rules have denied thousands of young Canadians the opportunity to purchase their first homes. The new rules smack of a government that thinks it knows better than the taxpayer.This week at committee, the president of the CMHC said, It's like you're at a party, and the party has gotten too strong, and you remove the punch bowl.Does the finance minister agree with the president of CMHC, who compared Canada's young working class, struggling to buy a first home, to a punch bowl party that has gotten out of control?
Madam Speaker, we are fully implementing our promise to show that the environment and the economy go together. Surely the member opposite does not believe that pollution should be free and that people can dump pollution anywhere they want. That is why we are putting a price on pollution.We are also working with the provinces and territories to invest where it counts: public transit, green infrastructure, more energy-efficient homes, and cleaner power. This will help middle-class Canadians save more money every day in their homes, in their workplaces, in their communities.
Madam Speaker, after the justice committee reported Bill S-201 back to the House, the Liberal government made an astonishing move. The government is trying to gut this important bill by deleting the majority of the clauses at report stage. This would send a green light to companies to discriminate based on genetic conditions. At the eleventh hour, the Liberals caved to pressure from the insurance industry. Why is the government more interested in protecting the profits of insurance companies than in protecting Canadians?
Madam Speaker, our government has been very clear about our commitment to gender equality, and our Prime Minister has demonstrated a commitment at home and abroad.As a member of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women, I have heard a number of witnesses talk about the role we all must play in achieving equality.Can the Parliamentary Secretary for Status of Women explain to the House why it is so important to include men and boys in the discussion on gender equality?
Madam Speaker, CETA is the most progressive trade agreement ever negotiated by Canada or the EU. It will create jobs, bolster our prosperity, and help grow the middle class.As the Prime Minister said in his address to the European Parliament, This forward-looking agreement reflects a truly progressive trade agendaone that protects the ability of societies to promote the public good. It is one that focuses on small and medium-sized enterprises. We have put the interests of workers and consumers at the heart of our trade negotiations. We are giving Canadian businesses unprecedented access to 500 million affluent Europeans.
Madam Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to rise and answer that question. The member well knows that it is the prime minister who makes decisions on who to appoint as ambassadors. As our Prime Minister said, the Hon. John McCallum has a distinguished career in public service, and as Canada's new ambassador to China, our Canada-China relationship will be well served, and Canadian interests strongly promoted. As we work toward a strong, more stable, and long-term relationship with China, we will have more opportunities to share a culture, increase our people-to-people ties, and hold frank dialogue on issues of importance to Canadians.
Madam Speaker, there is no relationship more important to our government than the one we have with indigenous peoples. Our government is fully committed to implementing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's calls to action. This includes developing a reconciliation framework for Canadian heritage and commemoration. Any decision will be made in full partnership with indigenous people.
Madam Speaker, our government had a very productive and important meeting with the President last Monday.Let me remind the House that the President assured Canada and the world that We have a very outstanding trade relationship with Canada.As for NAFTA, it is important for all of us to continue to realize that the principal actors in the U.S. cabinet have not yet been appointed. Even more important, the United States has not formally initiated a NAFTA negotiation process. If and when that happens, we will be ready.
Madam Speaker, the Prime Minister has said time and time again that he will answer any questions the commissioner has. On this side of the House, we are taking an unprecedented level of consultations with Canadians. We are here to work to respond to their questions. I am not surprised that the member opposite has problems when people have more questions. We are okay with it, because we are responding to the real challenges that Canadians are facing. We are here to do the good work they expect us to do, and we will continue to do that.
Madam Speaker, the government is interested in promoting electricity ties throughout the country. We realize that there will be a reduced reliance on fossil fuels in the future. We are in a transition period, and as part of that transition, we think it is very important to encourage the development of hydroelectric power, wherever it occurs in Canada. That is of fundamental value. We believe it is the best possible example of the environment and the economy working hand in hand throughout every region of Canada.
Madam Speaker, it is more than unsavoury that after John McCallum is bumped, the PMO's director of appointments appoints herself to replace him. It certainly smells like the fix was in.Yesterday, the government House leader said I have no reason to doubt that the rules have been respected. Respecting the rules, how has that been working out for the Liberals?Again, what promises were made by the Prime Minister to Mary Ng if she pushed John McCallum out the door?
Madam Speaker, my constituents often tell me how important it is to have access to arts facilities in our communities. This allows families to take part in the arts and better understand our stories as Canadians. Will the government please share with us how it plans on supporting these important staples of our communities?
Madam Speaker, the softwood lumber agreement expired when the previous government was in power. Our government is vigorously defending the interests of the softwood lumber sector, as did the minister last week and as did the Prime Minister on Monday in Washington during his excellent visit.We again strongly defended our softwood lumber producers. We will continue to work closely with softwood lumber workers and producers, the provinces, and the territories. We are looking for a good agreement for Canada, and not just any agreement.
Madam Speaker, my colleague will be delighted to know that we have announced 61 projects in Quebec. The total eligible cost is $1.6 billion. These are projects that were chosen with the approval of Quebec. We are working very closely with our provincial partner and the municipalities. They are pleased with this collaboration. These are projects that take time to develop. We are going to move them forward for the good of Canadians.
Madam Speaker, with respect to our interest in exploring talks with regard to the Asia-Pacific market, it is very important that we begin cautiously. We know that this is very important to Canadians. We are very pleased so far.
Madam Speaker, I am very pleased to inform my colleague that I will be meeting with my provincial counterparts, including my Quebec counterpart, on Tuesday. We are going to talk about the woodland caribou, science, and how we can protect this species. We are also aware of the employment issue.
Madam Speaker, as I have said many times, our priority is service to passengers.That is why we are trying to reduce costs for passengers to ensure they can have more options and to reduce wait times at security and customs. We are even planning to create an air passenger rights regime.Service to passengers will remain our priority as we explore the options.
Madam Speaker, I would like to ask myself a question through you. The Liberals family and friends deal event is in full swing in Ottawa. Mary Ng, another Kathleen Wynne staffer who followed Gerry and her good friend Katie to Ottawa to become the Ottawa PMO director of appointments, is now appointing herself to be the Liberal candidate to replace John McCallum.She announced her candidacy days after John McCallum was pushed out the door to become the ambassador to China. The thing is that she would have been the one that worked on the appointment of McCallum.Could the Prime Minister tell the House what role he played in this backroom deal.
Madam Speaker, the government was very pleased, in the budget of 2016, to announce a program of establishing electric vehicle charging stations, $62.5 million over two years. We are also very pleased that it was the Province of Quebec that was the most enthusiastic of all the provinces.I know it is absolutely consistent with the government's commitment to move to a lower carbon economy while creating good, clean jobs for Canadians, and I am glad the member is on side.
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Madam Speaker, the government was very pleased, in the budget of 2016, to announce a program of establishing electric vehicle charging stations, $62.5 million over two years. We are also very pleased that it was the Province of Quebec that was the most enthusiastic of all the provinces.I know it is absolutely consistent with the government's commitment to move to a lower carbon economy while creating good, clean jobs for Canadians, and I am glad the member is on side.
Madam Speaker, I would like to ask myself a question through you. The Liberals family and friends deal event is in full swing in Ottawa. Mary Ng, another Kathleen Wynne staffer who followed Gerry and her good friend Katie to Ottawa to become the Ottawa PMO director of appointments, is now appointing herself to be the Liberal candidate to replace John McCallum.She announced her candidacy days after John McCallum was pushed out the door to become the ambassador to China. The thing is that she would have been the one that worked on the appointment of McCallum.Could the Prime Minister tell the House what role he played in this backroom deal.
Madam Speaker, as I have said many times, our priority is service to passengers.That is why we are trying to reduce costs for passengers to ensure they can have more options and to reduce wait times at security and customs. We are even planning to create an air passenger rights regime.Service to passengers will remain our priority as we explore the options.
Madam Speaker, I am very pleased to inform my colleague that I will be meeting with my provincial counterparts, including my Quebec counterpart, on Tuesday. We are going to talk about the woodland caribou, science, and how we can protect this species. We are also aware of the employment issue.
Madam Speaker, with respect to our interest in exploring talks with regard to the Asia-Pacific market, it is very important that we begin cautiously. We know that this is very important to Canadians. We are very pleased so far.
Madam Speaker, my colleague will be delighted to know that we have announced 61 projects in Quebec. The total eligible cost is $1.6 billion. These are projects that were chosen with the approval of Quebec. We are working very closely with our provincial partner and the municipalities. They are pleased with this collaboration. These are projects that take time to develop. We are going to move them forward for the good of Canadians.
Madam Speaker, the softwood lumber agreement expired when the previous government was in power. Our government is vigorously defending the interests of the softwood lumber sector, as did the minister last week and as did the Prime Minister on Monday in Washington during his excellent visit.We again strongly defended our softwood lumber producers. We will continue to work closely with softwood lumber workers and producers, the provinces, and the territories. We are looking for a good agreement for Canada, and not just any agreement.
Madam Speaker, my constituents often tell me how important it is to have access to arts facilities in our communities. This allows families to take part in the arts and better understand our stories as Canadians. Will the government please share with us how it plans on supporting these important staples of our communities?
Madam Speaker, it is more than unsavoury that after John McCallum is bumped, the PMO's director of appointments appoints herself to replace him. It certainly smells like the fix was in.Yesterday, the government House leader said I have no reason to doubt that the rules have been respected. Respecting the rules, how has that been working out for the Liberals?Again, what promises were made by the Prime Minister to Mary Ng if she pushed John McCallum out the door?
Madam Speaker, the government is interested in promoting electricity ties throughout the country. We realize that there will be a reduced reliance on fossil fuels in the future. We are in a transition period, and as part of that transition, we think it is very important to encourage the development of hydroelectric power, wherever it occurs in Canada. That is of fundamental value. We believe it is the best possible example of the environment and the economy working hand in hand throughout every region of Canada.
Madam Speaker, the Prime Minister has said time and time again that he will answer any questions the commissioner has. On this side of the House, we are taking an unprecedented level of consultations with Canadians. We are here to work to respond to their questions. I am not surprised that the member opposite has problems when people have more questions. We are okay with it, because we are responding to the real challenges that Canadians are facing. We are here to do the good work they expect us to do, and we will continue to do that.
Madam Speaker, our government had a very productive and important meeting with the President last Monday.Let me remind the House that the President assured Canada and the world that We have a very outstanding trade relationship with Canada.As for NAFTA, it is important for all of us to continue to realize that the principal actors in the U.S. cabinet have not yet been appointed. Even more important, the United States has not formally initiated a NAFTA negotiation process. If and when that happens, we will be ready.
Madam Speaker, there is no relationship more important to our government than the one we have with indigenous peoples. Our government is fully committed to implementing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's calls to action. This includes developing a reconciliation framework for Canadian heritage and commemoration. Any decision will be made in full partnership with indigenous people.
Madam Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to rise and answer that question. The member well knows that it is the prime minister who makes decisions on who to appoint as ambassadors. As our Prime Minister said, the Hon. John McCallum has a distinguished career in public service, and as Canada's new ambassador to China, our Canada-China relationship will be well served, and Canadian interests strongly promoted. As we work toward a strong, more stable, and long-term relationship with China, we will have more opportunities to share a culture, increase our people-to-people ties, and hold frank dialogue on issues of importance to Canadians.
Madam Speaker, CETA is the most progressive trade agreement ever negotiated by Canada or the EU. It will create jobs, bolster our prosperity, and help grow the middle class.As the Prime Minister said in his address to the European Parliament, This forward-looking agreement reflects a truly progressive trade agendaone that protects the ability of societies to promote the public good. It is one that focuses on small and medium-sized enterprises. We have put the interests of workers and consumers at the heart of our trade negotiations. We are giving Canadian businesses unprecedented access to 500 million affluent Europeans.
Madam Speaker, our government has been very clear about our commitment to gender equality, and our Prime Minister has demonstrated a commitment at home and abroad.As a member of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women, I have heard a number of witnesses talk about the role we all must play in achieving equality.Can the Parliamentary Secretary for Status of Women explain to the House why it is so important to include men and boys in the discussion on gender equality?
Madam Speaker, after the justice committee reported Bill S-201 back to the House, the Liberal government made an astonishing move. The government is trying to gut this important bill by deleting the majority of the clauses at report stage. This would send a green light to companies to discriminate based on genetic conditions. At the eleventh hour, the Liberals caved to pressure from the insurance industry. Why is the government more interested in protecting the profits of insurance companies than in protecting Canadians?
Madam Speaker, we are fully implementing our promise to show that the environment and the economy go together. Surely the member opposite does not believe that pollution should be free and that people can dump pollution anywhere they want. That is why we are putting a price on pollution.We are also working with the provinces and territories to invest where it counts: public transit, green infrastructure, more energy-efficient homes, and cleaner power. This will help middle-class Canadians save more money every day in their homes, in their workplaces, in their communities.
Madam Speaker, the Liberals' new mortgage rules have denied thousands of young Canadians the opportunity to purchase their first homes. The new rules smack of a government that thinks it knows better than the taxpayer.This week at committee, the president of the CMHC said, It's like you're at a party, and the party has gotten too strong, and you remove the punch bowl.Does the finance minister agree with the president of CMHC, who compared Canada's young working class, struggling to buy a first home, to a punch bowl party that has gotten out of control?
Madam Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague from Oakville NorthBurlington for her question.Our government is committed to ensuring better accessibility for Canadians with disabilities and better opportunities in their communities and their workplaces from coast to coast to coast. Many Canadians have already participated in one of the 19 public consultation sessions, in addition to the consultations held by their MPs. The public portion of the consultation is now complete. I encourage all those who have not yet participated to do so online at Canada.ca/Accessible-Canada by February 28.Better is always possible.
Madam Speaker, unequivocally we support Canadians' right to privacy and security, and we make sure that those rights are protected each and every day. That is why the protocol governing the use of passwords is so clear. It is publicly available, but I will read the most relevant section: The CBSA's current policy is that such examinations should not be conducted as a matter of routine; they may only be conducted if there is a multiplicity of indicators that evidence of contraventions may be found on the digital device or media. I am sure the member opposite would agree with me that this is a prudent policy.
Madam Speaker, I once again thank my colleague for his question.Canada has a very competitive business environment. Compared to other areas in other OECD countries, we have a competitive corporate tax rate. Businesses that invest in Canada also benefit from a highly skilled and highly educated workforce. We will continue to focus on ensuring that our Canadian economy is competitive, providing good jobs for middle-class Canadians and a good future for our country.
Madam Speaker, let me be clear. The best way to help those who create wealth, those who create jobsour Canadian entrepreneursis by not creating new taxes and new charges. This is exactly what the government has done for the last 15 months, and this is exactly what the government will do for the next year if it does not change its mind. Why create a new Liberal carbon tax? Maybe one day the government will understand.Why is the government so opposed to those who create wealth in Canada? Why is the government so opposed to creators of wealth? Why is the government so opposed to entrepreneurial Canadians?
Madam Speaker, I appreciate my colleague from Nickel Belt's commitment to gender equality. It is an absolute honour to serve as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Status of Women. We know how important it is to engage men and boys in the advancement of gender equality to help create cultural change. Gender equality is not only a women's issue; it is a societal issue. As our Prime Minister has said, feminists come in all genders. Again, I am honoured to have the opportunity to be part of this important work.
Madam Speaker, recently I held a round table in my riding of Oakville NorthBurlington about the challenges faced by people living with disabilities. I commend them for their courage and determination.The challenges related to accessibility and inclusion in workplaces and in our community are many. We have to change our perceptions and make Canada more inclusive.Could the Parliamentary Secretary for Sport and Persons with Disabilities tell us about our government's efforts to ensure better inclusion?
Madam Speaker, our government believes that all Canadians deserve safe and affordable housing. That is why we have invested more than $2.3 billion over the next three years to do just that.We also increased the down payment requirements in December to address pockets of risk, in particular in Toronto and Vancouver.In budget 2016, our government has also allocated $500,000 to Statistics Canada to study the phenomena that were causing some of the housing prices to spike, and we will be looking at policies and opportunities to make sure that we sustain affordability in the private market. We will continue to keep our focus on that issue, because it matters to Canadians.
Madam Speaker, we always stand up for hard-working Canadians. That is why we reduced taxes for middle-class Canadians and raised them on the 1%. That is why we introduced the Canada child benefit, where nine out of 10 families will get more for their children.We will also take action on the environment because it actually makes economic sense. We are moving forward for a cleaner future for our kids. We will support the middle class. We will create good jobs, because that is what Canadians expect us to do.
Madam Speaker, as we speak, more and more people in my riding are losing their homes because of the current Liberal economy. Now the charitable agencies providing support for these individuals and families have to cut programs as a direct result of the Prime Minister's ill-conceived carbon tax scheme. When will the Prime Minister admit that by charging a carbon tax on charities, he is actually taxing the most vulnerable?
Madam Speaker, why is the party opposite so opposed to taking action to protect our environment, to grow a clean economy, to create jobs, to foster innovation, and to ensure a more sustainable future for our children?We understand that this is a real opportunity. We are putting a price on pollution because we want less pollution and we want more innovation. This is a huge opportunity, and we are going to take advantage of it.
Madam Speaker, when Canada signs free trade agreements, it is supposedly in the best interests of Canadians, and not the interests of the elite who travel to private islands by helicopter.Signing agreements that will have devastating consequences for Quebec's dairy producers is unacceptable, especially when they are made to believe that there will be compensation and the government does not keep its promises. What kind of surprises can Canadians expect when the free trade agreement with the U.S. is renegotiated?
Madam Speaker, last week, the latest job numbers were released, and the picture remains bleak in Alberta. Unemployment keeps rising, yet the Liberals simply do not care. Clearly, their reckless spending plan is doing nothing to support Albertans and nothing to create jobs. How many more Albertans need to lose their jobs? How many more families need to lose their homes? How many more businesses need to close their doors before the Liberals get their heads out of the sand and present a plan that will actually create one job in Alberta?
Madam Speaker, I would hope the member opposite would understand that polluting is not free, that we want to leave a cleaner future to our kids, that we want to grow our economy, and that we want to create good jobs, so we want to foster innovation. That is why we are working with the provinces and territories, developing a plan that will reduce emissions and will produce a more sustainable world for our kids and grandkids, because they deserve that.
Madam Speaker, I believe the member is mistaken. He knows very well that the Prime Minister makes decisions of who to appoint as ambassadors. As the Prime Minister has also said, the Hon. John McCallum has a distinguished career in public service. As Canada's new ambassador to China, our Canada-China relationship will be well served, and Canadian interests strongly promoted. There are huge opportunities for the two countries to work better together to create opportunities for Canadians, the people for whom we are here to work hard.
Madam Speaker, I want to thank my hon. colleague for his question and his ongoing work on behalf of Neil Bantleman. It is our government's priority to see Neil Bantleman back home in Canada as a free man. Our government has reiterated that concern with the Indonesian government at the highest level. Our officials and myself have been engaged with this family. We have been working with his legal team and his family throughout this judicial review process. I want to take a moment to recognize the strength of his family and his friends, and particularly his wife Tracy, for her courage and her strength.
Madam Speaker, for months, there has been talk of the Liberals wanting to privatize Canadian airports. They asked Credit Suisse, an investment firm, to analyze the financial implications for Ottawa, and yesterday, the president and CEO of the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec indicated that he would be delighted to invest in airports. Do the Liberals really have a plan to privatize airports, or is this just another attempt to pay for their out-of-control spending and deficits?
Madam Speaker, NAFTA will be under renegotiation. The President has made that very clear. The outcome, of course, will be unknown.It is more imperative than ever that Canada pursue other trade opportunities, like the TPP. The Conservatives have been saying for over a year that regardless of what the U.S. does, we should continue to move forward with like-minded countries.Will the minister commit to completing an Asia-Pacific deal before any bilateral with China begins?
Madam Speaker, it would be nice if the government stopped talking about sustainable development and actually did something about it. As the NDP critic for the electrification of transportation, I can say that I look forward to the next budget. I look forward to it because I was deeply disappointed to see that this Liberal government's great contribution to the electrification of transportation in the previous budget was to give Quebec a grand total of four charging stations. Wow. In the meantime, the Quebec government was contributing to installing 800 stations all around Quebec.Can the Minister of Natural Resources tell us how many charging stations Quebec will get in the next budget? One, five, or six more?
Madam Speaker, Canada's middle class and those working hard to join it pay their taxes and fund programs for all Canadians, but they have had enough of those taxpayers who do not pay their fair share. We have invested $444 million in order to prevent tax evasion and tax avoidance. We are working very hard. Before long, I will have the great pleasure to give my colleague opposite some good news.
Madam Speaker, the Liberals claimed they had a 100-day fix 300 days ago. That did not work out.President Trump has made his intentions clear that he will tweak NAFTA. The Americans have already insisted that supply management, dispute mechanism settlements, and even COOL are back on the table.What will the Liberals put on the table during NAFTA negotiations? Nobody really knows. Jobs are at risk, and Canadians deserve to know. What will it be?
Madam Speaker, we know that in a few days or weeks the government is going to table its budget. Yesterday, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, which represents 200,000 employers, 200,000 job creators, 200,000 creators of wealth, made 10 recommendations. The most important thing it had to say to the government was that, if we want to improve productivity, we need to cut the cost of doing business in Canada. Simply put, that means that the government should not impose new taxes and new charges on our businesses.Why does the government not do as the Chamber of Commerce says?
Madam Speaker, Bill S-201 is legislation designed to protect the rights of Canadians to the privacy of their own genetic information. Currently, Canadians who receive genetic testing on a variety of medical issues are at risk of being denied insurance coverage if they fail to turn this information over. Could the chair or the vice-chair of the justice committee update the House on how many expert witnesses testified and how many meetings were devoted to the study of Bill S-201 before the bill was reported back to the House?
Madam Speaker, as my colleague knows very well, we have a historic plan to invest $180 billion in infrastructure. With regard to the reallocation of funds, these funds are allocated to specific projects. I assume that he does not want to take money away from specific projects, which are not yet paid for.With respect to Quebec, monies are paid once projects are finished. Funds are assigned to projects and it would not be appropriate to reallocate them to the gas tax fund.Funds that were to be redistributed were allocated to the gas tax fund.
Madam Speaker, yesterday's Fraser Institute report confirmed what many taxpayers suspected all along. Of all the provinces that have carbon taxes, not a single one of them is revenue neutral. In all cases, taxpayers keep less so governments can get more. Trusting Liberals with money is like trusting a bear with honey. Once they get it, they ain't giving it back.Is the government covering up the calculations on its carbon tax so that the middle class and those working to join it will be kept in the dark about the new costs the government is imposing on them?
Madam Speaker, our government believes in the charter. That is why our government is committed to protecting Canadians from the possible misuse of genetic information. The Senate public bill is a step toward helping prevent genetic discrimination and protecting the privacy of Canadians. Preventing discrimination and other forms of misuse of genetic information is an important goal. That is why our government believes in the amendments, which we introduced earlier in the House. It is about striking the right balance between the roles that should be played by the federal government and the provincial governments. We look forward to further debate in the House so we can achieve the goals of that bill.
Madam Speaker, the Liberal government remains out of touch with the realities of the forestry industry and the regions of Quebec.It is urgent that the government negotiate a softwood lumber agreement and put an end to the uncertainty surrounding the woodland caribou. Unfortunately, the government does not have enough information to make informed decisions on this issue.The Minister of Environment likes to claim that her decisions are based on science. Will she make sure that her department learns more about the woodland caribou so that an informed decision can be made without giving in to the blackmail of activists?
Madam Speaker, I think maybe the member forgets that climate change is real, and it is happening right now, from floods to winter storms. Prince Edward Island is shrinking at 43 centimetres per year. Canadian families are already at risk from climate change. Canadian insurance claims from severe storm damage now average $1 billion a year, up from $300 million at the turn of the century. Our kids and grandkids should not have to foot the bill. That is why we are taking action now.
Madam Speaker, our government firmly believes in investing in our cultural sector, as it drives innovation and growth and allows for unique Canadian stories to be shared with the world.In budget 2016, we invested nearly $170 million over two years in cultural infrastructure. That is a historic amount for arts and culture.In fact, just this morning, we announced over $6.5 million in funding for Arts Court and the Ottawa Art Gallery right here in Ottawa. This will help to provide a home for 26 not-for-profit organizations to allow them to continue to support our Canadian creators.
Madam Speaker, we have demanded answers about the Prime Minister's illegal use of private aircraft. The government House leader keeps telling us that he will answer the Ethics Commissioner's questions. Well, he did answer her preliminary questions, and she must not have liked his answers, because she escalated the matter to an unprecedented full investigation.When will the Prime Minister admit to Canadians that his conduct was unethical and illegal? Will he do it now or does he really want to wait for the Ethics Commissioner to do it for him later?
Madam Speaker, the Minister of Finance is fine tuning his upcoming budget, and the Minister of Transport is endlessly studying studies, but the train may have left the station. In Trois-Rivières, like anywhere else in the Québec City-Windsor corridor, the return of passenger rail service is vital to stimulating the regional economy.Can the minister confirm that he will finish his homework on time for budget 2017 to include the necessary funds for VIA Rail's high-frequency rail?
Madam Speaker, I want to begin by reiterating that our government extends deepest sympathies to the family of the deceased.The reference to a zombie provision, as my colleague puts it, is a stark reminder about the importance of conducting a broad, comprehensive review of the criminal justice system. Our government is undertaking that process. We look forward to working with my hon. colleague across the way to ensure that we have a fair, relevant, and accessible criminal justice system.
Madam Speaker, I have tremendous regard for the member opposite, but his question, frankly, is just inaccurate in the way it has posed the information. The reality is that pre-clearance already happens for 12 million Canadians every year at eight locations. Everybody who crosses the border is protected by the Canadian charter and Canadian law. The result of not having pre-clearance would mean that these individuals would be on U.S. soil, where they would not have the protection of the charter and they would not have the protection of Canadian law. This is the right way to proceed.
Madam Speaker, I want to begin by saying that we all acknowledge that child sexual assault crimes are wrong, and we are doing everything in our power to prevent them from occurring again.Our government firmly believes that mandatory minimum sentences are appropriate for the most serious offences. It is also clear that the last government introduced a number of mandatory minimums which have been systematically struck down by the Supreme Court of Canada, and that is why we must take a careful look at mandatory minimums going forward.Our government is committed to doing that so that we have an efficient, fair, accessible criminal justice system.
Madam Speaker, our kids and grandkids should not have to foot the bill, this from a party that is piling up $100 billion in national debt. Sometimes the Liberals make it a little bit too easy. If this were really about the environment, the minister would be able to stand up and show that the levies they are imposing on carbon are in fact offset 100% by other tax reductions elsewhere, but not only are they failing to do that, they are covering up data on the real cost for the poor and the middle class. Why?
Madam Speaker, as the vice-chair of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights, I would like to thank the member for Hamilton Centre for his continuous work in bringing transparency and accountability to the House.He is correct. Bill S-201 is an important bill, intended to protect Canadians against unfair treatment by insurance companies based on their genetic information. To answer his question, the justice committee held five meetings and heard from 28 witnesses. The overwhelming testimony was in support of the current draft of the legislation, and the committee itself reported the bill back without amendment.
Madam Speaker, the risk that Canadians will be stopped at the U.S. border and asked for their social media passwords is growing. These invasions of privacy are intimidating, and there are serious consequences for refusing to co-operate: interrogation, detention, and refusal of entry. Searching people's computers or cell phones is much more intrusive than searching their luggage.Will the minister finally stand up to protect Canadians' rights here and at the border?
Madam Speaker, I appreciate my colleague's question.As a determined peace builder, Canada supports efforts to advance a two-state solution and create the conditions that will help the two states resume direct negotiations in order to achieve comprehensive, just, and lasting peace. That has always been Canada's policy.
Madam Speaker, southeast Saskatchewan is in the midst of a jobs crisis and thousands of my constituents are out of work. The Liberals are making things worse by forcing a carbon tax on families that are already struggling to put food on the table. A carbon tax will increase costs for our farmers and ranchers. Middle-class Canadians will have to pay significantly more now just to keep operating. Why will the Liberals not stand up for hard-working Canadians and abandon their foolish carbon tax?
Madam Speaker, Canadians expect all taxpayers to pay what they owe. They do not want anyone to give them preferential treatment. Could the Minister of National Revenue explain why, after allocating $444 million to combat offshore tax evasion, we are told that her department is failing to collect $50 billion each year. Wow, $50 billion would be enough for the Liberal budget to balance itself.
Madam Speaker, I do agree, but the problem is what the U.S. wants to do and the deafening silence we heard from the Prime Minister when he met the U.S. President.While Canadians are being turned away at the border, the minister continues to downplay concerns about Bill C-23, which has far-reaching consequences and could lead to even more Canadians being treated unfairly at the border. Bill C-23 would grant worrisome powers to U.S. border agents on Canadian soil, such as permission to carry firearms and without the appropriate criminal liability framework.I ask again. What will it take for the government to finally stand up and protect Canadians' rights both here and at the border?
Madam Speaker, we have heard some disturbing messages from the White House this week on the Israeli-Palestinian issue. Many European nations reacted immediately, and so did the United Nations. My question is simple: does Canada still support a two-state solution? If so, what exactly is this government doing to convince the Israeli government to put an end to its settlement policy, which is currently jeopardizing the two-state solution?
Madam Speaker, nothing could be further from the truth. We are working hard to create jobs across the country, including Alberta. We have approved pipelines. We have invested $240 million in post-secondary education, $78 million to the University of Calgary, and $20.7 million to the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology. We are supporting economic development in Fort McMurray. We are doing what we need to do to help the Alberta economy move forward.
Madam Speaker, the Justice Department has launched an initiative called Transparency for the 21st Century. Canadians are interested to see how that goes, since there has been a total lack of transparency from the Minister of Justice.She will not tell Canadians which mandatory minimum sentences she will get rid of . She will not tell Canadians why over half of the judicial positions she was supposed to fill are still empty, leading to murderers and sex offenders going free. When will she tell Canadians which mandatory sentences will be eliminated and why she has not filled the judicial vacancies?
Madam Speaker, Canadians are not buying this Liberal deception about supporting the middle class. Thanks to the failed energy policies of the Wynne Liberals, the Millbrook arena in Cavan Monaghan was recently hit with a monthly hydro bill of over $11,000. The Liberals have cancelled the children's fitness tax credit and have introduced a new carbon tax, making the cost of everything, from renting ice at the arena to fuel to get children to the rink, substantially more expensive. When are the Liberals going to help families instead of burying them in taxes?
Madam Speaker, last fall, Travis Vader's conviction of two counts of second degree murder of Lyle and Marie McCann was vacated after the trial judge based his conviction on a zombie section of the Criminal Code.Zombie laws are booby traps for the unwitting, with the potential for costs, delays, mistrials, appeals, and like what happened to the McCann family, miscarriages of justice.The Minister of Justice can easily introduce legislation to repeal these sections. When will she?
Madam Speaker, when Ottawa insists on approving infrastructure projects one at a time, everything grinds to a halt and we never get a single penny. The parliamentary budget officer has confirmed that, of the $13.6 billion announced in the budget, only one-third has been spent. In Quebec, things are twice as bad. Will the government keep its election promise to transfer all uncommitted funds to the gas tax fund to make sure, according to its platform, that our communities are not shortchanged?
Madam Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to answer the question, which we have answered several times already. The member has asked the same question several times, so she will get the same answer.The Prime Minister said that he will answer all of the commissioner's questions.
Madam Speaker, I would like to remind the member opposite that our government has made a commitment to help the middle class and those working hard to join it. Also, I would like to remind the member opposite that it is this party that has actually lowered taxes for middle-income Canadians. We are also the government that has put in place the Canada child benefit program that has helped hundreds of thousands of children get out of poverty.Our government is here to help the middle class, and that is exactly what we are going to continue to do.
Madam Speaker, the member got one thing right. Small businesses are the backbone of the Canadian economy. Small businesses are job creators. That is why this government is committed to working with them wholeheartedly. That is why we are making investments so that small businesses can sell their products and services to Canadians. The middle-class tax cut actually puts more money into the pockets of consumers. We are engaging with small businesses. Those stakeholders will be well represented. We will continue to work very hard for them.
Madam Speaker, the carbon tax cover-up is growing. Today, through access to information, we obtained a government memo that purports to contain the potential economic impact of carbon policies. All the key data, of course, is blacked out. Earlier this year, the government blacked out data on the financial burden on poor and middle-class families as a result of the federally mandated carbon taxes.Are the Liberals covering up this information because it will show that they broke their election promise not to raise taxes on the middle class and those working to join it?
Madam Speaker, never before has a Canadian prime minister been the subject of two ethics investigations, one of which could lead to sanctions.Either the Prime Minister does not understand that he is supposed to be above suspicion or he does not care. Will the Prime Minister finally admit that he broke the law when he rode in his friend's private helicopter during his personal vacation?
Madam Speaker, the concept of high-frequency rail is one that we are looking into and have already invested $3.3 million in. That speaks to how much we value this study on the Québec City-Windsor corridor. Studying the viability of such a project is complex work. We are in the process of doing so. We are doing our homework and when we are finished, we will make an announcement.
Madam Speaker, I would first like to thank the member for his hard work on behalf of his constituents.Our government is committed to working with the Government of Nunavut to address the health care needs of its residents. As part of the health accord, Nunavut will receive $11.2 million over 10 years in targeted federal funding to improve access to home care and mental health services. This is in addition to federal health funding provided through the Canada health transfer, which will reach $37 million in 2016-17 and will continue to grow year after year.We also support the delivery of public services in Nunavut, including health care, through the territorial formula financing, valued at close to $1.5 billion in 2016-17.
Madam Speaker, that is not what the Liberal Party election platform said. Only 2% of public infrastructure is federal. The rest, the government does not have a stake in, which is why it takes so long to release the money.By interfering in other people's business, Ottawa is holding up projects, paralyzing cities, and preventing Quebec from moving forward. Only the Canada 150 propaganda infrastructure seems to be getting money. The government knows all about propaganda.In the next budget, will the government commit to paying a lump sum for infrastructure, money that remains frozen in Ottawa, and will it stop dilly-dallying?
Madam Speaker, I might want to explain why emissions went down under the previous Conservative government. It was nothing to do with the Conservatives. It was because the Liberal government in Ontario closed coal-fired plants and also because the economy was not doing well. We understand we need to put a price on what we do not want, which is pollution, and foster what we do want, which is clean innovation and jobs. That is why, unlike the previous government, we will be doing that. We will be reducing pollution, reducing emissions, and growing our economy.
Madam Speaker, it is the same old song and dance. When the Prime Minister met the U.S. President this week, there were no reassurances about advancing the softwood lumber file. This climate of uncertainty is already causing softwood lumber prices to fluctuate.Industry stakeholders are expecting a surtax and producers are limiting their exports because they are afraid that the surtax will be retroactive.When will the government finally reassure the forestry industry by moving ahead with negotiations, and especially by announcing a plan B?
Madam Speaker, my friend, Neil Bantleman, faces 11 years behind bars in Indonesia. Indonesia's justice system has accused him of a crime that is unfounded and unwarranted. A year ago, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs claimed that he was deeply concerned and dismayed by the court's decision. Since then nothing, and Neil continues to languish in prison.Why will the minister not give Neil, his family and friends, hope, and outline what action she is taking to bring Neil home?
Madam Speaker, under our government, CO2 emissions actually went down.Under the failed Liberal policies of the Kathleen Wynne Liberals, life in rural Ontario is becoming more expensive. In fact, high energy costs are especially hard on seniors living on fixed incomes, on farmers, on farm families, and on small businesses. Now the federal Liberals are taking lessons from the failed playbook of the Kathleen Wynne Liberals. Why is the Prime Minister forcing a carbon tax on rural Canadians who can least afford it?
Madam Speaker, I want to give the colleague a lesson in history. During 10 years, the previous government announced in 2007, with great fanfare, its sectorial policy to improve the environment. The Conservatives had 10 years to put it in place. It was announced in 2007. Over 10 years, they implemented two out of the six sectors. That is their terrible record with respect to the environment. The Conservatives have nothing to tell us.
Qujannamiik uqaqti. Thank you, Madam Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Health.Adequate health care funding continues to be a serious issue in Nunavut. The Canada health transfer only covers 11% of Nunavut's health care costs. This is in stark contrast to the Canadian provincial average of approximately 21%. The $35-million territorial health investment fund, which includes vital funding for medical travel, is insufficient. This disparity in health care funding between Nunavut and southern Canada is unacceptable. Does the minister plan to address this inequity in the upcoming territorial health investment fund renewal? Qujannamiik
Madam Speaker, yesterday, along with other indigenous MPs, we sent a letter to the minister calling on her government to rename the building that houses the Prime Minister's Office. It is named after the creator of the Indian residential schools, a system that continues to negatively impact indigenous people today.In the spirit of reconciliation, we have asked the minister to rename the building to reflect the government's commitment to indigenous people. Will the government commit today in the House to change the name?
Madam Speaker, small and medium-sized businesses are the backbone of our economy, but the Liberals want to shut them out at every turn. Small businesses in HaldimandNorfolk are struggling to survive under Liberal governments. With hydro prices skyrocketing out of control, small businesses are forced to pay Ontario Liberals out of one pocket while these Liberals reach into the other to grab money for the carbon tax and CPP hikes.Why will the Liberals not get their hands out of small businesses' pockets and start showing them the respect they deserve?
Madam Speaker, Newfoundland and Labrador has taken Hydro-Québec to court 17 times since 1976 over the Churchill Falls accord, and Newfoundland and Labrador has failed 17 times. This vexatious behaviour, and it is vexatious behaviour, has cost Quebeckers $50 million in lawyers' fees. Now we are being asked to fork over our tax dollars for a Muskrat Falls loan guarantee.Can the government understand Quebeckers' anger? How can anyone expect them to sit back while the government uses their tax dollars to fund Newfoundland and Labrador's unfair competition against Hydro-Québec?
Madam Speaker, the government was very pleased, in the budget of 2016, to announce a program of establishing electric vehicle charging stations, $62.5 million over two years. We are also very pleased that it was the Province of Quebec that was the most enthusiastic of all the provinces.I know it is absolutely consistent with the government's commitment to move to a lower carbon economy while creating good, clean jobs for Canadians, and I am glad the member is on side.
Madam Speaker, I would like to ask myself a question through you. The Liberals family and friends deal event is in full swing in Ottawa. Mary Ng, another Kathleen Wynne staffer who followed Gerry and her good friend Katie to Ottawa to become the Ottawa PMO director of appointments, is now appointing herself to be the Liberal candidate to replace John McCallum.She announced her candidacy days after John McCallum was pushed out the door to become the ambassador to China. The thing is that she would have been the one that worked on the appointment of McCallum.Could the Prime Minister tell the House what role he played in this backroom deal.
Madam Speaker, as I have said many times, our priority is service to passengers.That is why we are trying to reduce costs for passengers to ensure they can have more options and to reduce wait times at security and customs. We are even planning to create an air passenger rights regime.Service to passengers will remain our priority as we explore the options.
Madam Speaker, I am very pleased to inform my colleague that I will be meeting with my provincial counterparts, including my Quebec counterpart, on Tuesday. We are going to talk about the woodland caribou, science, and how we can protect this species. We are also aware of the employment issue.
Madam Speaker, with respect to our interest in exploring talks with regard to the Asia-Pacific market, it is very important that we begin cautiously. We know that this is very important to Canadians. We are very pleased so far.
Madam Speaker, my colleague will be delighted to know that we have announced 61 projects in Quebec. The total eligible cost is $1.6 billion. These are projects that were chosen with the approval of Quebec. We are working very closely with our provincial partner and the municipalities. They are pleased with this collaboration. These are projects that take time to develop. We are going to move them forward for the good of Canadians.
Madam Speaker, the softwood lumber agreement expired when the previous government was in power. Our government is vigorously defending the interests of the softwood lumber sector, as did the minister last week and as did the Prime Minister on Monday in Washington during his excellent visit.We again strongly defended our softwood lumber producers. We will continue to work closely with softwood lumber workers and producers, the provinces, and the territories. We are looking for a good agreement for Canada, and not just any agreement.
Madam Speaker, my constituents often tell me how important it is to have access to arts facilities in our communities. This allows families to take part in the arts and better understand our stories as Canadians. Will the government please share with us how it plans on supporting these important staples of our communities?
Madam Speaker, it is more than unsavoury that after John McCallum is bumped, the PMO's director of appointments appoints herself to replace him. It certainly smells like the fix was in.Yesterday, the government House leader said I have no reason to doubt that the rules have been respected. Respecting the rules, how has that been working out for the Liberals?Again, what promises were made by the Prime Minister to Mary Ng if she pushed John McCallum out the door?
Madam Speaker, the government is interested in promoting electricity ties throughout the country. We realize that there will be a reduced reliance on fossil fuels in the future. We are in a transition period, and as part of that transition, we think it is very important to encourage the development of hydroelectric power, wherever it occurs in Canada. That is of fundamental value. We believe it is the best possible example of the environment and the economy working hand in hand throughout every region of Canada.
Madam Speaker, the Prime Minister has said time and time again that he will answer any questions the commissioner has. On this side of the House, we are taking an unprecedented level of consultations with Canadians. We are here to work to respond to their questions. I am not surprised that the member opposite has problems when people have more questions. We are okay with it, because we are responding to the real challenges that Canadians are facing. We are here to do the good work they expect us to do, and we will continue to do that.
Madam Speaker, our government had a very productive and important meeting with the President last Monday.Let me remind the House that the President assured Canada and the world that We have a very outstanding trade relationship with Canada.As for NAFTA, it is important for all of us to continue to realize that the principal actors in the U.S. cabinet have not yet been appointed. Even more important, the United States has not formally initiated a NAFTA negotiation process. If and when that happens, we will be ready.
Madam Speaker, there is no relationship more important to our government than the one we have with indigenous peoples. Our government is fully committed to implementing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's calls to action. This includes developing a reconciliation framework for Canadian heritage and commemoration. Any decision will be made in full partnership with indigenous people.
Madam Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to rise and answer that question. The member well knows that it is the prime minister who makes decisions on who to appoint as ambassadors. As our Prime Minister said, the Hon. John McCallum has a distinguished career in public service, and as Canada's new ambassador to China, our Canada-China relationship will be well served, and Canadian interests strongly promoted. As we work toward a strong, more stable, and long-term relationship with China, we will have more opportunities to share a culture, increase our people-to-people ties, and hold frank dialogue on issues of importance to Canadians.
Madam Speaker, CETA is the most progressive trade agreement ever negotiated by Canada or the EU. It will create jobs, bolster our prosperity, and help grow the middle class.As the Prime Minister said in his address to the European Parliament, This forward-looking agreement reflects a truly progressive trade agendaone that protects the ability of societies to promote the public good. It is one that focuses on small and medium-sized enterprises. We have put the interests of workers and consumers at the heart of our trade negotiations. We are giving Canadian businesses unprecedented access to 500 million affluent Europeans.
Madam Speaker, our government has been very clear about our commitment to gender equality, and our Prime Minister has demonstrated a commitment at home and abroad.As a member of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women, I have heard a number of witnesses talk about the role we all must play in achieving equality.Can the Parliamentary Secretary for Status of Women explain to the House why it is so important to include men and boys in the discussion on gender equality?
Madam Speaker, after the justice committee reported Bill S-201 back to the House, the Liberal government made an astonishing move. The government is trying to gut this important bill by deleting the majority of the clauses at report stage. This would send a green light to companies to discriminate based on genetic conditions. At the eleventh hour, the Liberals caved to pressure from the insurance industry. Why is the government more interested in protecting the profits of insurance companies than in protecting Canadians?
Madam Speaker, we are fully implementing our promise to show that the environment and the economy go together. Surely the member opposite does not believe that pollution should be free and that people can dump pollution anywhere they want. That is why we are putting a price on pollution.We are also working with the provinces and territories to invest where it counts: public transit, green infrastructure, more energy-efficient homes, and cleaner power. This will help middle-class Canadians save more money every day in their homes, in their workplaces, in their communities.
Madam Speaker, the Liberals' new mortgage rules have denied thousands of young Canadians the opportunity to purchase their first homes. The new rules smack of a government that thinks it knows better than the taxpayer.This week at committee, the president of the CMHC said, It's like you're at a party, and the party has gotten too strong, and you remove the punch bowl.Does the finance minister agree with the president of CMHC, who compared Canada's young working class, struggling to buy a first home, to a punch bowl party that has gotten out of control?
Madam Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague from Oakville NorthBurlington for her question.Our government is committed to ensuring better accessibility for Canadians with disabilities and better opportunities in their communities and their workplaces from coast to coast to coast. Many Canadians have already participated in one of the 19 public consultation sessions, in addition to the consultations held by their MPs. The public portion of the consultation is now complete. I encourage all those who have not yet participated to do so online at Canada.ca/Accessible-Canada by February 28.Better is always possible.
Madam Speaker, unequivocally we support Canadians' right to privacy and security, and we make sure that those rights are protected each and every day. That is why the protocol governing the use of passwords is so clear. It is publicly available, but I will read the most relevant section: The CBSA's current policy is that such examinations should not be conducted as a matter of routine; they may only be conducted if there is a multiplicity of indicators that evidence of contraventions may be found on the digital device or media. I am sure the member opposite would agree with me that this is a prudent policy.
Madam Speaker, I once again thank my colleague for his question.Canada has a very competitive business environment. Compared to other areas in other OECD countries, we have a competitive corporate tax rate. Businesses that invest in Canada also benefit from a highly skilled and highly educated workforce. We will continue to focus on ensuring that our Canadian economy is competitive, providing good jobs for middle-class Canadians and a good future for our country.
Madam Speaker, let me be clear. The best way to help those who create wealth, those who create jobsour Canadian entrepreneursis by not creating new taxes and new charges. This is exactly what the government has done for the last 15 months, and this is exactly what the government will do for the next year if it does not change its mind. Why create a new Liberal carbon tax? Maybe one day the government will understand.Why is the government so opposed to those who create wealth in Canada? Why is the government so opposed to creators of wealth? Why is the government so opposed to entrepreneurial Canadians?
Madam Speaker, I appreciate my colleague from Nickel Belt's commitment to gender equality. It is an absolute honour to serve as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Status of Women. We know how important it is to engage men and boys in the advancement of gender equality to help create cultural change. Gender equality is not only a women's issue; it is a societal issue. As our Prime Minister has said, feminists come in all genders. Again, I am honoured to have the opportunity to be part of this important work.
Madam Speaker, recently I held a round table in my riding of Oakville NorthBurlington about the challenges faced by people living with disabilities. I commend them for their courage and determination.The challenges related to accessibility and inclusion in workplaces and in our community are many. We have to change our perceptions and make Canada more inclusive.Could the Parliamentary Secretary for Sport and Persons with Disabilities tell us about our government's efforts to ensure better inclusion?
Madam Speaker, our government believes that all Canadians deserve safe and affordable housing. That is why we have invested more than $2.3 billion over the next three years to do just that.We also increased the down payment requirements in December to address pockets of risk, in particular in Toronto and Vancouver.In budget 2016, our government has also allocated $500,000 to Statistics Canada to study the phenomena that were causing some of the housing prices to spike, and we will be looking at policies and opportunities to make sure that we sustain affordability in the private market. We will continue to keep our focus on that issue, because it matters to Canadians.
Madam Speaker, we always stand up for hard-working Canadians. That is why we reduced taxes for middle-class Canadians and raised them on the 1%. That is why we introduced the Canada child benefit, where nine out of 10 families will get more for their children.We will also take action on the environment because it actually makes economic sense. We are moving forward for a cleaner future for our kids. We will support the middle class. We will create good jobs, because that is what Canadians expect us to do.
Madam Speaker, as we speak, more and more people in my riding are losing their homes because of the current Liberal economy. Now the charitable agencies providing support for these individuals and families have to cut programs as a direct result of the Prime Minister's ill-conceived carbon tax scheme. When will the Prime Minister admit that by charging a carbon tax on charities, he is actually taxing the most vulnerable?
Madam Speaker, why is the party opposite so opposed to taking action to protect our environment, to grow a clean economy, to create jobs, to foster innovation, and to ensure a more sustainable future for our children?We understand that this is a real opportunity. We are putting a price on pollution because we want less pollution and we want more innovation. This is a huge opportunity, and we are going to take advantage of it.
Madam Speaker, when Canada signs free trade agreements, it is supposedly in the best interests of Canadians, and not the interests of the elite who travel to private islands by helicopter.Signing agreements that will have devastating consequences for Quebec's dairy producers is unacceptable, especially when they are made to believe that there will be compensation and the government does not keep its promises. What kind of surprises can Canadians expect when the free trade agreement with the U.S. is renegotiated?
Madam Speaker, last week, the latest job numbers were released, and the picture remains bleak in Alberta. Unemployment keeps rising, yet the Liberals simply do not care. Clearly, their reckless spending plan is doing nothing to support Albertans and nothing to create jobs. How many more Albertans need to lose their jobs? How many more families need to lose their homes? How many more businesses need to close their doors before the Liberals get their heads out of the sand and present a plan that will actually create one job in Alberta?
Madam Speaker, I would hope the member opposite would understand that polluting is not free, that we want to leave a cleaner future to our kids, that we want to grow our economy, and that we want to create good jobs, so we want to foster innovation. That is why we are working with the provinces and territories, developing a plan that will reduce emissions and will produce a more sustainable world for our kids and grandkids, because they deserve that.
Madam Speaker, I believe the member is mistaken. He knows very well that the Prime Minister makes decisions of who to appoint as ambassadors. As the Prime Minister has also said, the Hon. John McCallum has a distinguished career in public service. As Canada's new ambassador to China, our Canada-China relationship will be well served, and Canadian interests strongly promoted. There are huge opportunities for the two countries to work better together to create opportunities for Canadians, the people for whom we are here to work hard.
Madam Speaker, I want to thank my hon. colleague for his question and his ongoing work on behalf of Neil Bantleman. It is our government's priority to see Neil Bantleman back home in Canada as a free man. Our government has reiterated that concern with the Indonesian government at the highest level. Our officials and myself have been engaged with this family. We have been working with his legal team and his family throughout this judicial review process. I want to take a moment to recognize the strength of his family and his friends, and particularly his wife Tracy, for her courage and her strength.
Madam Speaker, for months, there has been talk of the Liberals wanting to privatize Canadian airports. They asked Credit Suisse, an investment firm, to analyze the financial implications for Ottawa, and yesterday, the president and CEO of the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec indicated that he would be delighted to invest in airports. Do the Liberals really have a plan to privatize airports, or is this just another attempt to pay for their out-of-control spending and deficits?
Madam Speaker, NAFTA will be under renegotiation. The President has made that very clear. The outcome, of course, will be unknown.It is more imperative than ever that Canada pursue other trade opportunities, like the TPP. The Conservatives have been saying for over a year that regardless of what the U.S. does, we should continue to move forward with like-minded countries.Will the minister commit to completing an Asia-Pacific deal before any bilateral with China begins?
Madam Speaker, it would be nice if the government stopped talking about sustainable development and actually did something about it. As the NDP critic for the electrification of transportation, I can say that I look forward to the next budget. I look forward to it because I was deeply disappointed to see that this Liberal government's great contribution to the electrification of transportation in the previous budget was to give Quebec a grand total of four charging stations. Wow. In the meantime, the Quebec government was contributing to installing 800 stations all around Quebec.Can the Minister of Natural Resources tell us how many charging stations Quebec will get in the next budget? One, five, or six more?
Madam Speaker, Canada's middle class and those working hard to join it pay their taxes and fund programs for all Canadians, but they have had enough of those taxpayers who do not pay their fair share. We have invested $444 million in order to prevent tax evasion and tax avoidance. We are working very hard. Before long, I will have the great pleasure to give my colleague opposite some good news.
Madam Speaker, the Liberals claimed they had a 100-day fix 300 days ago. That did not work out.President Trump has made his intentions clear that he will tweak NAFTA. The Americans have already insisted that supply management, dispute mechanism settlements, and even COOL are back on the table.What will the Liberals put on the table during NAFTA negotiations? Nobody really knows. Jobs are at risk, and Canadians deserve to know. What will it be?
Madam Speaker, we know that in a few days or weeks the government is going to table its budget. Yesterday, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, which represents 200,000 employers, 200,000 job creators, 200,000 creators of wealth, made 10 recommendations. The most important thing it had to say to the government was that, if we want to improve productivity, we need to cut the cost of doing business in Canada. Simply put, that means that the government should not impose new taxes and new charges on our businesses.Why does the government not do as the Chamber of Commerce says?
Madam Speaker, Bill S-201 is legislation designed to protect the rights of Canadians to the privacy of their own genetic information. Currently, Canadians who receive genetic testing on a variety of medical issues are at risk of being denied insurance coverage if they fail to turn this information over. Could the chair or the vice-chair of the justice committee update the House on how many expert witnesses testified and how many meetings were devoted to the study of Bill S-201 before the bill was reported back to the House?
Madam Speaker, as my colleague knows very well, we have a historic plan to invest $180 billion in infrastructure. With regard to the reallocation of funds, these funds are allocated to specific projects. I assume that he does not want to take money away from specific projects, which are not yet paid for.With respect to Quebec, monies are paid once projects are finished. Funds are assigned to projects and it would not be appropriate to reallocate them to the gas tax fund.Funds that were to be redistributed were allocated to the gas tax fund.
Madam Speaker, yesterday's Fraser Institute report confirmed what many taxpayers suspected all along. Of all the provinces that have carbon taxes, not a single one of them is revenue neutral. In all cases, taxpayers keep less so governments can get more. Trusting Liberals with money is like trusting a bear with honey. Once they get it, they ain't giving it back.Is the government covering up the calculations on its carbon tax so that the middle class and those working to join it will be kept in the dark about the new costs the government is imposing on them?
Madam Speaker, our government believes in the charter. That is why our government is committed to protecting Canadians from the possible misuse of genetic information. The Senate public bill is a step toward helping prevent genetic discrimination and protecting the privacy of Canadians. Preventing discrimination and other forms of misuse of genetic information is an important goal. That is why our government believes in the amendments, which we introduced earlier in the House. It is about striking the right balance between the roles that should be played by the federal government and the provincial governments. We look forward to further debate in the House so we can achieve the goals of that bill.
Madam Speaker, the Liberal government remains out of touch with the realities of the forestry industry and the regions of Quebec.It is urgent that the government negotiate a softwood lumber agreement and put an end to the uncertainty surrounding the woodland caribou. Unfortunately, the government does not have enough information to make informed decisions on this issue.The Minister of Environment likes to claim that her decisions are based on science. Will she make sure that her department learns more about the woodland caribou so that an informed decision can be made without giving in to the blackmail of activists?
Madam Speaker, I think maybe the member forgets that climate change is real, and it is happening right now, from floods to winter storms. Prince Edward Island is shrinking at 43 centimetres per year. Canadian families are already at risk from climate change. Canadian insurance claims from severe storm damage now average $1 billion a year, up from $300 million at the turn of the century. Our kids and grandkids should not have to foot the bill. That is why we are taking action now.
Madam Speaker, our government firmly believes in investing in our cultural sector, as it drives innovation and growth and allows for unique Canadian stories to be shared with the world.In budget 2016, we invested nearly $170 million over two years in cultural infrastructure. That is a historic amount for arts and culture.In fact, just this morning, we announced over $6.5 million in funding for Arts Court and the Ottawa Art Gallery right here in Ottawa. This will help to provide a home for 26 not-for-profit organizations to allow them to continue to support our Canadian creators.
Madam Speaker, we have demanded answers about the Prime Minister's illegal use of private aircraft. The government House leader keeps telling us that he will answer the Ethics Commissioner's questions. Well, he did answer her preliminary questions, and she must not have liked his answers, because she escalated the matter to an unprecedented full investigation.When will the Prime Minister admit to Canadians that his conduct was unethical and illegal? Will he do it now or does he really want to wait for the Ethics Commissioner to do it for him later?
Madam Speaker, the Minister of Finance is fine tuning his upcoming budget, and the Minister of Transport is endlessly studying studies, but the train may have left the station. In Trois-Rivières, like anywhere else in the Québec City-Windsor corridor, the return of passenger rail service is vital to stimulating the regional economy.Can the minister confirm that he will finish his homework on time for budget 2017 to include the necessary funds for VIA Rail's high-frequency rail?
Madam Speaker, I want to begin by reiterating that our government extends deepest sympathies to the family of the deceased.The reference to a zombie provision, as my colleague puts it, is a stark reminder about the importance of conducting a broad, comprehensive review of the criminal justice system. Our government is undertaking that process. We look forward to working with my hon. colleague across the way to ensure that we have a fair, relevant, and accessible criminal justice system.
Madam Speaker, I have tremendous regard for the member opposite, but his question, frankly, is just inaccurate in the way it has posed the information. The reality is that pre-clearance already happens for 12 million Canadians every year at eight locations. Everybody who crosses the border is protected by the Canadian charter and Canadian law. The result of not having pre-clearance would mean that these individuals would be on U.S. soil, where they would not have the protection of the charter and they would not have the protection of Canadian law. This is the right way to proceed.
Madam Speaker, I want to begin by saying that we all acknowledge that child sexual assault crimes are wrong, and we are doing everything in our power to prevent them from occurring again.Our government firmly believes that mandatory minimum sentences are appropriate for the most serious offences. It is also clear that the last government introduced a number of mandatory minimums which have been systematically struck down by the Supreme Court of Canada, and that is why we must take a careful look at mandatory minimums going forward.Our government is committed to doing that so that we have an efficient, fair, accessible criminal justice system.
Madam Speaker, our kids and grandkids should not have to foot the bill, this from a party that is piling up $100 billion in national debt. Sometimes the Liberals make it a little bit too easy. If this were really about the environment, the minister would be able to stand up and show that the levies they are imposing on carbon are in fact offset 100% by other tax reductions elsewhere, but not only are they failing to do that, they are covering up data on the real cost for the poor and the middle class. Why?
Madam Speaker, as the vice-chair of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights, I would like to thank the member for Hamilton Centre for his continuous work in bringing transparency and accountability to the House.He is correct. Bill S-201 is an important bill, intended to protect Canadians against unfair treatment by insurance companies based on their genetic information. To answer his question, the justice committee held five meetings and heard from 28 witnesses. The overwhelming testimony was in support of the current draft of the legislation, and the committee itself reported the bill back without amendment.
Madam Speaker, the risk that Canadians will be stopped at the U.S. border and asked for their social media passwords is growing. These invasions of privacy are intimidating, and there are serious consequences for refusing to co-operate: interrogation, detention, and refusal of entry. Searching people's computers or cell phones is much more intrusive than searching their luggage.Will the minister finally stand up to protect Canadians' rights here and at the border?
Madam Speaker, I appreciate my colleague's question.As a determined peace builder, Canada supports efforts to advance a two-state solution and create the conditions that will help the two states resume direct negotiations in order to achieve comprehensive, just, and lasting peace. That has always been Canada's policy.
Madam Speaker, southeast Saskatchewan is in the midst of a jobs crisis and thousands of my constituents are out of work. The Liberals are making things worse by forcing a carbon tax on families that are already struggling to put food on the table. A carbon tax will increase costs for our farmers and ranchers. Middle-class Canadians will have to pay significantly more now just to keep operating. Why will the Liberals not stand up for hard-working Canadians and abandon their foolish carbon tax?
Madam Speaker, Canadians expect all taxpayers to pay what they owe. They do not want anyone to give them preferential treatment. Could the Minister of National Revenue explain why, after allocating $444 million to combat offshore tax evasion, we are told that her department is failing to collect $50 billion each year. Wow, $50 billion would be enough for the Liberal budget to balance itself.
Madam Speaker, I do agree, but the problem is what the U.S. wants to do and the deafening silence we heard from the Prime Minister when he met the U.S. President.While Canadians are being turned away at the border, the minister continues to downplay concerns about Bill C-23, which has far-reaching consequences and could lead to even more Canadians being treated unfairly at the border. Bill C-23 would grant worrisome powers to U.S. border agents on Canadian soil, such as permission to carry firearms and without the appropriate criminal liability framework.I ask again. What will it take for the government to finally stand up and protect Canadians' rights both here and at the border?
Madam Speaker, we have heard some disturbing messages from the White House this week on the Israeli-Palestinian issue. Many European nations reacted immediately, and so did the United Nations. My question is simple: does Canada still support a two-state solution? If so, what exactly is this government doing to convince the Israeli government to put an end to its settlement policy, which is currently jeopardizing the two-state solution?
Madam Speaker, nothing could be further from the truth. We are working hard to create jobs across the country, including Alberta. We have approved pipelines. We have invested $240 million in post-secondary education, $78 million to the University of Calgary, and $20.7 million to the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology. We are supporting economic development in Fort McMurray. We are doing what we need to do to help the Alberta economy move forward.
Madam Speaker, the Justice Department has launched an initiative called Transparency for the 21st Century. Canadians are interested to see how that goes, since there has been a total lack of transparency from the Minister of Justice.She will not tell Canadians which mandatory minimum sentences she will get rid of . She will not tell Canadians why over half of the judicial positions she was supposed to fill are still empty, leading to murderers and sex offenders going free. When will she tell Canadians which mandatory sentences will be eliminated and why she has not filled the judicial vacancies?
Madam Speaker, Canadians are not buying this Liberal deception about supporting the middle class. Thanks to the failed energy policies of the Wynne Liberals, the Millbrook arena in Cavan Monaghan was recently hit with a monthly hydro bill of over $11,000. The Liberals have cancelled the children's fitness tax credit and have introduced a new carbon tax, making the cost of everything, from renting ice at the arena to fuel to get children to the rink, substantially more expensive. When are the Liberals going to help families instead of burying them in taxes?
Madam Speaker, last fall, Travis Vader's conviction of two counts of second degree murder of Lyle and Marie McCann was vacated after the trial judge based his conviction on a zombie section of the Criminal Code.Zombie laws are booby traps for the unwitting, with the potential for costs, delays, mistrials, appeals, and like what happened to the McCann family, miscarriages of justice.The Minister of Justice can easily introduce legislation to repeal these sections. When will she?
Madam Speaker, when Ottawa insists on approving infrastructure projects one at a time, everything grinds to a halt and we never get a single penny. The parliamentary budget officer has confirmed that, of the $13.6 billion announced in the budget, only one-third has been spent. In Quebec, things are twice as bad. Will the government keep its election promise to transfer all uncommitted funds to the gas tax fund to make sure, according to its platform, that our communities are not shortchanged?
Madam Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to answer the question, which we have answered several times already. The member has asked the same question several times, so she will get the same answer.The Prime Minister said that he will answer all of the commissioner's questions.
Madam Speaker, I would like to remind the member opposite that our government has made a commitment to help the middle class and those working hard to join it. Also, I would like to remind the member opposite that it is this party that has actually lowered taxes for middle-income Canadians. We are also the government that has put in place the Canada child benefit program that has helped hundreds of thousands of children get out of poverty.Our government is here to help the middle class, and that is exactly what we are going to continue to do.
Madam Speaker, the member got one thing right. Small businesses are the backbone of the Canadian economy. Small businesses are job creators. That is why this government is committed to working with them wholeheartedly. That is why we are making investments so that small businesses can sell their products and services to Canadians. The middle-class tax cut actually puts more money into the pockets of consumers. We are engaging with small businesses. Those stakeholders will be well represented. We will continue to work very hard for them.
Madam Speaker, the carbon tax cover-up is growing. Today, through access to information, we obtained a government memo that purports to contain the potential economic impact of carbon policies. All the key data, of course, is blacked out. Earlier this year, the government blacked out data on the financial burden on poor and middle-class families as a result of the federally mandated carbon taxes.Are the Liberals covering up this information because it will show that they broke their election promise not to raise taxes on the middle class and those working to join it?
Madam Speaker, never before has a Canadian prime minister been the subject of two ethics investigations, one of which could lead to sanctions.Either the Prime Minister does not understand that he is supposed to be above suspicion or he does not care. Will the Prime Minister finally admit that he broke the law when he rode in his friend's private helicopter during his personal vacation?
Madam Speaker, the concept of high-frequency rail is one that we are looking into and have already invested $3.3 million in. That speaks to how much we value this study on the Québec City-Windsor corridor. Studying the viability of such a project is complex work. We are in the process of doing so. We are doing our homework and when we are finished, we will make an announcement.
Madam Speaker, I would first like to thank the member for his hard work on behalf of his constituents.Our government is committed to working with the Government of Nunavut to address the health care needs of its residents. As part of the health accord, Nunavut will receive $11.2 million over 10 years in targeted federal funding to improve access to home care and mental health services. This is in addition to federal health funding provided through the Canada health transfer, which will reach $37 million in 2016-17 and will continue to grow year after year.We also support the delivery of public services in Nunavut, including health care, through the territorial formula financing, valued at close to $1.5 billion in 2016-17.
Madam Speaker, that is not what the Liberal Party election platform said. Only 2% of public infrastructure is federal. The rest, the government does not have a stake in, which is why it takes so long to release the money.By interfering in other people's business, Ottawa is holding up projects, paralyzing cities, and preventing Quebec from moving forward. Only the Canada 150 propaganda infrastructure seems to be getting money. The government knows all about propaganda.In the next budget, will the government commit to paying a lump sum for infrastructure, money that remains frozen in Ottawa, and will it stop dilly-dallying?
Madam Speaker, I might want to explain why emissions went down under the previous Conservative government. It was nothing to do with the Conservatives. It was because the Liberal government in Ontario closed coal-fired plants and also because the economy was not doing well. We understand we need to put a price on what we do not want, which is pollution, and foster what we do want, which is clean innovation and jobs. That is why, unlike the previous government, we will be doing that. We will be reducing pollution, reducing emissions, and growing our economy.
Madam Speaker, it is the same old song and dance. When the Prime Minister met the U.S. President this week, there were no reassurances about advancing the softwood lumber file. This climate of uncertainty is already causing softwood lumber prices to fluctuate.Industry stakeholders are expecting a surtax and producers are limiting their exports because they are afraid that the surtax will be retroactive.When will the government finally reassure the forestry industry by moving ahead with negotiations, and especially by announcing a plan B?
Madam Speaker, my friend, Neil Bantleman, faces 11 years behind bars in Indonesia. Indonesia's justice system has accused him of a crime that is unfounded and unwarranted. A year ago, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs claimed that he was deeply concerned and dismayed by the court's decision. Since then nothing, and Neil continues to languish in prison.Why will the minister not give Neil, his family and friends, hope, and outline what action she is taking to bring Neil home?
Madam Speaker, under our government, CO2 emissions actually went down.Under the failed Liberal policies of the Kathleen Wynne Liberals, life in rural Ontario is becoming more expensive. In fact, high energy costs are especially hard on seniors living on fixed incomes, on farmers, on farm families, and on small businesses. Now the federal Liberals are taking lessons from the failed playbook of the Kathleen Wynne Liberals. Why is the Prime Minister forcing a carbon tax on rural Canadians who can least afford it?
Madam Speaker, I want to give the colleague a lesson in history. During 10 years, the previous government announced in 2007, with great fanfare, its sectorial policy to improve the environment. The Conservatives had 10 years to put it in place. It was announced in 2007. Over 10 years, they implemented two out of the six sectors. That is their terrible record with respect to the environment. The Conservatives have nothing to tell us.
Qujannamiik uqaqti. Thank you, Madam Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Health.Adequate health care funding continues to be a serious issue in Nunavut. The Canada health transfer only covers 11% of Nunavut's health care costs. This is in stark contrast to the Canadian provincial average of approximately 21%. The $35-million territorial health investment fund, which includes vital funding for medical travel, is insufficient. This disparity in health care funding between Nunavut and southern Canada is unacceptable. Does the minister plan to address this inequity in the upcoming territorial health investment fund renewal? Qujannamiik
Madam Speaker, yesterday, along with other indigenous MPs, we sent a letter to the minister calling on her government to rename the building that houses the Prime Minister's Office. It is named after the creator of the Indian residential schools, a system that continues to negatively impact indigenous people today.In the spirit of reconciliation, we have asked the minister to rename the building to reflect the government's commitment to indigenous people. Will the government commit today in the House to change the name?
Madam Speaker, small and medium-sized businesses are the backbone of our economy, but the Liberals want to shut them out at every turn. Small businesses in HaldimandNorfolk are struggling to survive under Liberal governments. With hydro prices skyrocketing out of control, small businesses are forced to pay Ontario Liberals out of one pocket while these Liberals reach into the other to grab money for the carbon tax and CPP hikes.Why will the Liberals not get their hands out of small businesses' pockets and start showing them the respect they deserve?
Madam Speaker, Newfoundland and Labrador has taken Hydro-Québec to court 17 times since 1976 over the Churchill Falls accord, and Newfoundland and Labrador has failed 17 times. This vexatious behaviour, and it is vexatious behaviour, has cost Quebeckers $50 million in lawyers' fees. Now we are being asked to fork over our tax dollars for a Muskrat Falls loan guarantee.Can the government understand Quebeckers' anger? How can anyone expect them to sit back while the government uses their tax dollars to fund Newfoundland and Labrador's unfair competition against Hydro-Québec?