SoVote

Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 93

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
June 21, 2022 10:00AM
Context: House Hansard - 93 - Jun/21/22
The Speaker
  • Jun/21/22 2:54:54 p.m.
  • Watch
I am going to have to stop the minister. I am having a hard time hearing, and I am about 20 feet away from the minister, so I am going to ask everyone to be quiet and ask the minister to take it from the top, because I missed most of that. The hon. minister.
55 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Hon. Bill Blair
  • Jun/21/22 2:55:08 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to have the opportunity to advise this House that this matter was dealt with a number of months ago. The commissioner of the RCMP has confirmed for the Mass Casualty Commission that no such direction or pressure was ever exerted by me or any other member of this government. Among the important work of the Mass Casualty Commission is to examine the important communication challenges that were evident during this tragic event. We look forward to fact-based findings and recommendations for improvement.
89 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Mr. John Brassard (Barrie—Innisfil, CPC)
  • Jun/21/22 2:55:42 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, this is critical, because, according to the commander's notes in the Mass Casualty Commission report, Commissioner Lucki promised the Prime Minister's Office and the public safety minister's office that they would release the information in an active investigation that she was discussing. It would appear that somebody from the Prime Minister's Office and the public safety minister's office was directing Commissioner Lucki to interfere in an active police investigation, when the investigators on the ground said they did not want to. Who in the PMO and the public safety minister's office directed Commissioner Lucki?
102 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Hon. Bill Blair (President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Emergency Preparedness, Lib.)
  • Jun/21/22 2:56:25 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to confirm that no one in the Prime Minister's Office or in the public safety office exerted any pressure or direction on the commissioner of the RCMP. The commissioner of the RCMP engaged with our officials, and she has already confirmed for the Mass Casualty Commission that no such direction or pressure was ever given by any member of this government.
68 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Mr. John Brassard (Barrie—Innisfil, CPC)
  • Jun/21/22 2:56:53 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, that is contradictory evidence, according to the commission's report. According to the commanders on the ground, Commissioner Lucki became extremely upset that the commissioners were not releasing the information in an active investigation, despite the fact that the commanders on the ground said they were not willing to do it because it would compromise the investigation. Again, I ask this: Somebody in the Prime Minister's Office and somebody in the public safety minister's office directed Commissioner Lucki to get that information. Who was it?
89 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Hon. Bill Blair (President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Emergency Preparedness, Lib.)
  • Jun/21/22 2:57:35 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, the commissioner of the RCMP, in the operations of her police service, is entirely independent of government. I can confirm for the House, as the commissioner has also confirmed, that no such direction or pressure was exerted by any member of this government to influence the commissioner's exercise of her authorities over her police service.
58 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Mr. Jean-Denis Garon (Mirabel, BQ)
  • Jun/21/22 2:58:03 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, if someone owes the Canada Revenue Agency $20, the CRA will hunt them down to the ends of the earth, but not so for companies like KPMG, which helps millionaires hide their income in the Isle of Man tax haven. Today we learned that KPMG has been cleared by the Canada Revenue Agency. In contrast, in 2005, the United States fined KPMG for the same financial arrangement and filed criminal charges against nine of its executives. In Canada, it did not get so much as a slap on the wrist. Why is the minister giving a free pass to executives and companies that promote the use of tax havens?
112 words
All Topics
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Hon. Diane Lebouthillier (Minister of National Revenue, Lib.)
  • Jun/21/22 2:58:40 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, I will say it again to my colleague opposite. Since 2015, we have invested over $2 billion to fight tax evasion. If my colleague wants to contribute directly to the outcome of the investigations, I would be pleased to write him a letter of recommendation and send him to work for the RCMP as an investigator.
60 words
All Topics
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Mr. Jean-Denis Garon (Mirabel, BQ)
  • Jun/21/22 2:59:08 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, in 2017, when the minister was asked if charges would be brought against KPMG, she said: “Yes, because setting up schemes is criminal too.” Today, the Canada Revenue Agency is letting them slip through the net. After clearing the fraudsters, the minister is clearing KPMG. It is unacceptable. Under the law, the minister can order a new investigation and require a third party to direct this investigation to get to the bottom of the matter. Will she personally order this investigation, or does she plan to accept the tax avoidance scheme orchestrated by KPMG?
98 words
All Topics
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Hon. Diane Lebouthillier (Minister of National Revenue, Lib.)
  • Jun/21/22 2:59:53 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, fighting tax evasion and tax avoidance has always been a priority for our government. For the information of my colleague across the way, who is new, the Canada Revenue Agency is independent, and I do not manage or direct investigations.
42 words
All Topics
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Mr. John Nater (Perth—Wellington, CPC)
  • Jun/21/22 3:00:18 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, yesterday at heritage committee it was revealed that in June 2018, a senior official at Heritage Canada was made aware of the allegations of sexual assault at Hockey Canada, yet for four years the government continued to give Hockey Canada millions of taxpayer dollars while no action was taken to hold anyone accountable or address the dangerous culture that enabled harassment and assault. For four years, Hockey Canada continued to receive millions. Why?
75 words
All Topics
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Hon. Pascale St-Onge (Minister of Sport and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, Lib.)
  • Jun/21/22 3:00:55 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, when Hockey Canada reported one case in 2018, it told Sport Canada that the investigation had been handed over to the London police. Now that we are aware of these allegations and there has been an out-of-court settlement, I have commissioned a financial audit to ensure that no public funds were used to cover up this story. It is a appalling story, and this is not the end.
72 words
All Topics
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Mrs. Rachael Thomas (Lethbridge, CPC)
  • Jun/21/22 3:01:27 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, yesterday at the heritage committee, when they were asked questions about the cover-up culture that is so a part of their institution, a Hockey Canada official said, “we're on a journey”. Specifically, they were being asked questions about an alleged sexual assault case involving a gang rape by eight players. The response, “we're on a journey” seemed trite and altogether inappropriate. I simply would like to know this from the minister: Are you happy with the response that was received yesterday? If not, what tangible actions will be taken immediately?
99 words
All Topics
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
The Speaker
  • Jun/21/22 3:01:59 p.m.
  • Watch
Before I go to the hon. minister, I would like to remind everyone in the House to put their questions through the Chair and not directly to each other. The hon. minister.
32 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Hon. Pascale St-Onge (Minister of Sport and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, Lib.)
  • Jun/21/22 3:02:09 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, like all Canadians, I am disgusted and horrified by this situation, and I am not satisfied with the explanation from Hockey Canada yesterday. This is why we will conduct a financial audit to make sure that no public funds were used. I am looking at all the options to move forward in this case.
56 words
All Topics
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Mr. Kevin Waugh (Saskatoon—Grasswood, CPC)
  • Jun/21/22 3:02:36 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, yesterday, we heard damaging testimony from Hockey Canada in relation to the horrendous allegations of an alleged sexual assault that happened some four years ago. Hockey Canada needs to own this. My fear is that someday some of these players will become coaches. The department was notified some four years ago of these allegations. Why did the minister continue to issue funding to Hockey Canada for the last four years?
72 words
All Topics
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Hon. Pascale St-Onge (Minister of Sport and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, Lib.)
  • Jun/21/22 3:03:18 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, as I said recently, there will be a financial audit to ensure that no public funds were used to cover up this story. Like all Canadians and like my colleague, I am horrified by what we heard yesterday, and we are going to ensure that Hockey Canada is held accountable for what happened.
55 words
All Topics
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Mr. Fayçal El-Khoury (Laval—Les Îles, Lib.)
  • Jun/21/22 3:03:43 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, this weekend, the G7 culture ministers concluded their first meeting to discuss issues and challenges related to culture and media— Some hon. members: Oh, oh!
28 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
The Speaker
  • Jun/21/22 3:03:55 p.m.
  • Watch
I must briefly interrupt the hon. member. There is a shouting match going back and forth between a couple of MPs. I do not want to point them out, but I do want to ask them to control their emotions or, for lack of a better word, their anger. I will ask the hon. member for Laval—Les Îles to ask his question again.
66 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Mr. Fayçal El-Khoury
  • Jun/21/22 3:04:16 p.m.
  • Watch
  • Re: Bill C-18 
Mr. Speaker, this weekend, the G7 culture ministers concluded their first meeting to discuss issues and challenges related to culture and media. This was a very important meeting, allowing the G7 countries to work together to protect and promote our cultures and democracies. Could the Minister of Canadian Heritage tell us how Canada is a world leader on these issues?
60 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border