44th Parl. 1st Sess.
May 8, 2023 11:00AM
- May/8/23 2:24:58 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I am really glad to hear the Leader of the Opposition recognize the courage of the Liberal Party. Indeed, the Liberal Party showed itself to be courageous and optimistic this weekend. We showed we are the party that believes in Canada. We are the party that understands the importance of investing in Canadians. The economic results show that works.
Canada's AAA credit rating was reaffirmed by S&P after I tabled our budget. Our economy grew by 2.5% in the first quarter, and we have added 900,000 jobs—
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- May/8/23 2:25:39 p.m.
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The Leader of the Opposition.
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- May/8/23 2:25:41 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, if the Prime Minister was so courageous, he would not be afraid to stand up to answer a question, would he?
If the Prime Minister was so courageous, he might throw out Beijing's agent. A week after we found out as a nation that this agent had been threatening the family of a Canadian MP for a vote that he cast in the House, the Prime Minister has not thrown him out. In fact, he extends credentials to that agent, allowing him to operate with impunity from our laws here in our country.
Will the Prime Minister show some courage, answer the question and kick this agent out today?
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- May/8/23 2:26:23 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we are talking about serious issues, and I would like us to all be serious for a minute.
In the House, we disagree about many things. We disagree about child care. We disagree about a price on pollution, and we disagree about investing in Canadian industrial policy, but there is one thing that I know every single member of the House, in every party, agrees on, and that is the sanctity of democracy in Canada and around the world. It is simply wrong to suggest in any way any member of this House is not a faithful, patriotic, democratic Canadian.
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- May/8/23 2:27:05 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, if the Prime Minister believes that, he should stand up to say so and kick out this operative from Canada. So far, he has been hiding. He is hiding from answering my questions, but he is hiding from the regime in Beijing. The government is now saying that it cannot kick out this operative, even though he threatened the family of a Canadian MP, because it is afraid of the consequences that Beijing will impose on the Liberal government, which it has supported for so long.
Will the Prime Minister finally put this country first, bring home security to all MPs and kick this operative out, yes or no?
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- May/8/23 2:27:46 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition, if he were paying attention, would have heard that my colleague, the Minister of Global Affairs, convened last week with the Chinese ambassador to make it abundantly clear that we will never tolerate foreign interference. This is consistent with the strong position that Canada has taken when it comes to the conventions around what is legitimate diplomatic activity and what is not.
We will continue to put in place the authorities, the people, the resources and the transparency to defend our democratic institutions. I just wonder why it is the leader of the Conservative Party continues to politicize an issue that is a Canadian issue.
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- May/8/23 2:28:26 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, it is because we want to protect democracy here in Canada.
The Prime Minister was not courageous enough to answer the questions. His minister said that the government will never tolerate foreign interference, but that is exactly what the government is doing right now. If the government and the Prime Minister want to protect our democracy, then they need to throw out the agent responsible for the threats against a member of Parliament here in Canada.
Will the Prime Minister show some courage and kick this agent out today?
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- May/8/23 2:29:09 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, last week, the Minister of Foreign Affairs summoned the Chinese ambassador to make clear the parameters of legitimate foreign operations. Canada will always condemn any activities that go beyond what is set out in agreements and the law.
What is more, we have already put in place the required authorities and strengthened transparency to defend our democratic institutions, and we will continue to do so.
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- May/8/23 2:29:44 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, let us talk about the Century Initiative, the goal of which is to triple the population to 100 million by 2100 through immigration.
Even the initiative's creators admit that the initiative does not take into account the future of French or the political weight of Quebec or the first nations. It is strictly about economics. The Liberals never announced that they were espousing this idea, but their immigration targets for 2023 and 2025 already match the initiative's objectives.
If the government is going to use the Century Initiative as its immigration policy, will it at least announce it openly?
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- May/8/23 2:30:31 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, it is essential that every member of the House understand that it is possible to increase the number of newcomers in general while protecting the demographic weight of francophones across the country.
That is clear because, last year, for the first time in our country's history, our government met its target of 4.4% of francophone newcomers. That is very important. Last year, we also had the largest number of newcomers in Canada's history in general.
That is a good thing for our communities.
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- May/8/23 2:31:08 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the Century Initiative is strictly about economics. On February 1, its co-founder, Dominic Barton, a former director of McKinsey, was asked if he had considered the future of French. He replied, and I quote, “the focus...was just on economics. It wasn't thinking about the social context. It was on productivity.” There is not a single word about French in the 88 pages of the initiative.
Since it is not considering the future of French, what other studies on this topic did the government consult before adopting the initiative's immigration targets? Will it disclose those studies?
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- May/8/23 2:31:52 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I have good news for my colleague. Our government is the one making the decisions on our country's immigration policy. It is not Mr. Barton, and it is not the Century Initiative.
This is very important. Our government's perspective is economic, social and demographic. It is essential to consider these factors because when we use them, we make the right decisions for our country.
Last year, we protected the demographic weight of francophones across our country and supported the francophone minority community.
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- May/8/23 2:32:31 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, CSIS informed Canadians and the government that multiple members of this House have been targeted by foreign interference. All parliamentarians need assurance that their safety, their families' safety and their freedom of expression are not threatened. Canadians need to know that their vote counts and that our democratic process is free of foreign interference.
The government needs to assure Canadians that it is acting on these serious allegations. Let us start with some transparency. Have all MPs impacted by interference been fully notified by the government?
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- May/8/23 2:33:08 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I share the concerns of my colleague. That is why last week I tabled an annual report of CSIS, which illustrated that they have provided briefings to 49 federal parliamentarians. We will continue to provide the support that is needed for every member in this chamber to be able to do their job, secure in the knowledge that they are representing their communities in a way that is safe.
This is a government that will continue to do everything that is necessary to defend our democratic institutions, including the people who work in them.
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- May/8/23 2:33:44 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I imagine that just like everyone else you have a good appetite and enjoy a good meal. I also imagine that you like to know what is in your food. This will no longer be the case because of the Liberal government.
The Liberals gave in to the financial interests of the industry, which wants to secretly introduce new GMOs into our food. Voluntary transparency no longer exists. It is an illusion.
Will the Liberals have the courage to stand firm against the interests of the big companies and defend the rights of consumers?
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- May/8/23 2:34:22 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for his question.
Yes, we did establish new rules. Yes, there will be a review process to protect the organic sector across Canada. Yes, we will continue to work with the sector to ensure its growth.
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- May/8/23 2:34:45 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, when something happens once, it is a mistake. When something happens twice, it is a pattern. When something happens three or four or five times, it is a decision.
The Prime Minister and members of his party have all perpetuated the myth that the member for Wellington—Halton Hills knew about the threats against his family because he was briefed two years ago. It is false. At some point, someone made a conscious decision to gaslight Canadians.
Will someone on the other side have the courage to stand up and apologize for the disgusting attempt to discredit a member of this House?
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- May/8/23 2:35:21 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, as my colleague across the aisle knows full well, both the Prime Minister and I directly reached out to the member for Wellington—Halton Hills to share the concerns with regard to the reports around foreign interference and his family. We offered him a briefing, and we will continue to provide that support going forward.
What is also important is that while the Conservatives talk tough when it comes to national security, they never back it up. They cut nearly a billion dollars out of the national security apparatus. They stood in the way of the additional tools to our national security apparatus, which are there to defend the members of this chamber. If they are serious about uniting behind the cause of defending democracy, they will start doing it today.
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- May/8/23 2:36:01 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, he was not briefed two years ago on it. They know it and they are purposely victim blaming. They are gaslighting Canadians. This is about a member of this House serving his country and the safety of his family in the balance. It is appalling that the Liberals are tarnishing this MP, but it is even worse that the diplomat who perpetuated it is still here, with rights even Canadians do not have, given to him by that government.
If there are no consequences, it will just happen again. The diplomat needs to go back to Beijing, and it needs to happen now. Will they do it today?
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- May/8/23 2:36:40 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I first want to say that there was a lot of heat in the House last week about this issue and not a lot of light. I think what we all, on this side of the House, want to do is express our concern for the member for Wellington—Halton Hills and for every Canadian who could be the subject, the target, of any interference from China, from Russia or from any other country in the world.
We will continue to take the steps to ensure that MPs are informed, that Canadians are informed and that we have a safe and secure democracy.
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