44th Parl. 1st Sess.
June 23, 2022 10:00AM
- Jun/23/22 2:25:15 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I have absolutely no doubt that Superintendent Campbell is an exemplary officer, and I do not question his integrity in any way. I would simply remind this House that the fact is that there was no interference in this matter and the commissioner of the RCMP herself issued a statement on Tuesday, in which she said very clearly that there was no interference and no pressure brought to bear. Those are the facts.
I would also remind the member opposite that we have initiated an independent public inquiry that is examining these very issues, and that work will be very important to the families of the victims of this tragedy.
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- Jun/23/22 2:25:50 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the federal government's management of passports is so incompetent.
The solution is not appointment tickets, as the minister is proposing, it is not fifty-fifty draws, and it is not a Hunger Games. The only solution is to open offices seven days a week. The people in line are there seven days a week.
Tomorrow is Quebec's national holiday. The minister has no right to let Canadians who do not get an appointment today sleep outside for another four nights until Monday. That is inhumane.
When will she understand that the offices must be open seven days a week and have longer hours?
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- Jun/23/22 2:26:28 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the situation in Montreal is truly unacceptable. That is why, since yesterday, teams of 10 managers have been going down the line to ensure that everyone gets a chance to have a conversation and get an appointment ticket.
Service Canada offices will be open until midnight today to serve people. We have a new strategy in place, and people lining up today who will not be travelling in the next 12 to 24 hours will receive an appointment for Friday or Saturday.
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- Jun/23/22 2:27:09 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the minister should go and ask the people who are waiting in line in Quebec if they are happy with the answer that this is unacceptable, that the government needs to do better and that it is working hard.
The government needs to open the offices seven days a week with extended hours until there is no one left in line. People are waiting day and night in the rain. They have been completely abandoned. Tensions are rising. People are getting angry. People are breaking down in tears. They are the victims of federal incompetence.
Seriously. Is the government finally going to start governing or do we need to call in the army?
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- Jun/23/22 2:27:44 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, Service Canada employees are already working 12, 14 or 16 hours a day. They are there first thing in the morning. They are serving Canadians. They are also working Saturdays to process passports.
They receive applications during the day. At night, they process them and print the passports. They are working extremely hard in this extraordinary situation that is happening in Montreal.
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- Jun/23/22 2:28:17 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the cost of living is hitting Canadians tremendously hard. New Democrats have shared stories about the Canadians who are suffering right now, who cannot afford groceries and cannot afford gas. On top of that, CMHC has put forward a report that we are three million homes short of ensuring that Canadians can find affordable homes, and in fact people will not be able to find a home they can afford.
Given how serious things are, the government is just waiting to see if it will go away. It is not going to go away on its own. The government must act to help people now. When will it act to support families who are in need of help?
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- Jun/23/22 2:28:59 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we are very aware of the need to build more housing supply in Canada. That is why we have introduced the housing accelerator fund. That is why we are investing $4 billion that will go directly into municipalities so that they can build more housing supply and so that they can do it faster. We are the only government in Canadian history that has taken the step of creating systemic change to produce more housing supply. In addition to that, we are also investing in more supply through the rapid housing initiative, more investments in co-op housing and more investments in the co-investment program.
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- Jun/23/22 2:29:40 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we know that the cost of living is on the rise and is hitting families hard. It is increasingly difficult, if not impossible, for many families across the country to make ends meet.
According to a recent report, if the government does not take action during these tough times, some people in Canada will not be able to find housing. Knowing all this, when will this government take swift action to help families weather this crisis?
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- Jun/23/22 2:30:13 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we understand that the cost of living is a very important and difficult issue for many Canadian families. We understand that housing is one of the biggest challenges, and that is why our budget targeted the very complicated housing issue.
We are going to invest in housing and build homes for Canadians. We are going to give those who are struggling the most an extra $500 for housing.
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- Jun/23/22 2:31:01 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the Nova Scotia inquiry revealed that RCMP Commissioner Lucki chastised the lead investigator: “The commissioner then said that we didn't understand, that this was tied to pending gun control legislation”. Also quoted in these documents was the RCMP communications officer, who said, “[I]t was all political pressure. That is 100 percent [the minister] and the Prime Minister.”
Why will the government not believe that investigating officers are telling the truth?
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- Jun/23/22 2:31:39 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I would remind the member that I have already stated unequivocally that there was no interference in this matter, and I would refer the member to the commissioner's statement, in which she also stated unequivocally that there was no interference or pressure.
Canadians, including those who were directly impacted by this terrible tragedy, have expressed concerns about when and how the RCMP shared information with the public, and that is precisely why the government specified in the order of reference that the Mass Casualty Commission examine the communications approach taken both during and after this event. The work of the Mass Casualty Commission is important.
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- Jun/23/22 2:32:21 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the minister opposed the creation of the inquiry, and it is shameful how the Liberals are trying to evade accountability for this outrageous political interference.
The minister continues to quote a supposedly independent statement from Commissioner Lucki, a statement that was likely cleared by the public safety minister's office before being issued. In essence, he is quoting himself and impugning the integrity of the investigators.
When did the Prime Minister's Office and the Minister of Public Safety's office approve the commissioner's statement that the minister is now using to defend himself?
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- Jun/23/22 2:33:04 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the member may not be aware, but the commissioner of the RCMP is independent of government and there cannot be, in law, any interference with her work.
I would remind the member that, on Tuesday, the commissioner issued her own statement, in which she stated unequivocally that—
Some hon. members: Oh, oh!
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- Jun/23/22 2:33:21 p.m.
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I am going to interrupt the hon. minister. I am about 20 feet away from him, and I am having a hard time hearing him.
I would ask the minister to continue, and if this continues, we will have to start from the top.
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- Jun/23/22 2:33:35 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I was referencing for this House the statement that the commissioner released on Tuesday, in which she said, “I take the principle of police independence extremely seriously, and it has been and will continue to be fully respected in all interactions.”
That is the truth, and there was no interference in this matter, as there has been no interference by this government in any police operation.
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- Jun/23/22 2:34:03 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, this is a very serious and appalling situation. Darren Campbell, a senior RCMP officer, has said that there was partisan political interference in the Nova Scotia tragedy. This is both appalling and disgusting.
A lot of people trust Mr. Campbell, including us. The Globe and Mail quoted former RCMP commissioner Bob Paulson, who said that Darren Campbell “is one of the best investigators in the force and a highly reliable officer with tremendous integrity”. Why does the minister not believe Mr. Campbell?
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- Jun/23/22 2:34:39 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, let me be very clear. I am not in any way questioning the integrity or the honesty of the superintendent. I know former commissioner Paulson very well, and I take him very much at his word when he commends the officer for his integrity. However, I will just simply remind the House that, in this case, there was no interference in this matter and, second, that the commissioner has issued a statement in which she also says that there has been no interference in this matter. Those are simply the facts.
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- Jun/23/22 2:35:17 p.m.
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Here are the facts, Mr. Speaker. A minister claims he did not interfere, but a senior RCMP officer, Mr. Campbell, says that there was in fact political interference. Who is telling the truth?
Some very serious people say that Mr. Campbell is telling the truth. Peter Lepine also told The Globe and Mail, “I've followed Darren Campbell since the day he was a recruit. He's an extremely competent police officer and extremely well trained in the world of major investigations.” If we have to choose between the minister and Mr. Campbell, the Conservative Party chooses Mr. Campbell.
Why does the minister refuse to acknowledge the truth?
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- Jun/23/22 2:35:53 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, again, as I understand it, Superintendent Campbell referred to a conversation, to which we were not party, that he had with his commissioner. I am not in any way questioning the man's integrity. My understanding is that he is an exemplary police officer.
Let me be very clear: There was no interference in this matter, and the commissioner has confirmed that in the statement she released on Tuesday.
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- Jun/23/22 2:36:21 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government has hit a new low to ram through legislation.
Superintendent Campbell noted that Commissioner Lucki told the RCMP that she had promised the Minister of Public Safety and the Prime Minister's Office that the force would disclose the types of firearms used in the mass shooting because it would advance the government's pending gun control legislation.
Will the Prime Minister admit that he used the suffering and death of Nova Scotians for personal political gain?
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