SoVote

Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 204

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
June 1, 2023 10:00AM
  • Jun/1/23 2:24:19 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the problem is that the Liberals cannot get out of the way to let people get things done. It is not just oil and gas. The fisheries department blocked a tidal wave power project in Nova Scotia for so long that the private company that was going to build it left to build it somewhere else. By the government's own admission, it takes as long as 25 years to get a mine approved. It is no wonder we do not actually produce any lithium here in Canada. We have to import it from abroad. Yesterday, the resources minister tweeted a bunch of projects that are not even started. Why will the Liberals not get out of the way so Canadians can get things done?
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  • Jun/1/23 2:25:00 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we are getting good projects done. I would like to highlight that, just earlier this year, we approved two mines. James Bay lithium and Marathon palladium were both approved under the government. More than that, if we are looking at LNG projects, let us look at Cedar LNG. It is a first nation-owned business, and it is something that has been pointed out by that first nation as being economic reconciliation in progress. We are supporting good energy projects in our country.
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  • Jun/1/23 2:25:31 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the House voted again yesterday in favour of a public inquiry into Chinese interference. The three opposition parties stood up for our constituents, who are demanding an inquiry. However, there is no inquiry because, as David Johnston explained yesterday, his mandate comes neither from the House nor from the people. His mandate comes from the Prime Minister himself. The Prime Minister said, no, over my dead body, the people will not get an inquiry. I know the Liberal members. They are democrats. Are they not embarrassed that their leader is the only one fighting this inquiry, but more importantly, the only one going against the entire population?
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  • Jun/1/23 2:26:14 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I must say, as a relatively new parliamentarian, I am extremely disappointed to see that some elected officials here do not understand the importance of protecting Canadian intelligence, as well as the people who work on gathering this intelligence. Protecting our democracy and protecting our institutions is the responsibility of all of us. The responsible thing for the leaders of the opposition parties to do is to get their security clearances, receive their briefings and work with us to strengthen our democracy.
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  • Jun/1/23 2:26:51 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, it is not inconsequential: A foreign power is attacking our democracy. Most Canadians are concerned and are calling for a public inquiry. Most of the people elected by these Canadians are calling for a public inquiry. Only one man, the Prime Minister, is going against the will of the people. The Prime Minister's only supporter, David Johnston, is an unelected individual who, by his own admission, reports only to the Prime Minister, and certainly not to Canadians or their elected officials. If we want to defend our democracy, we must start by respecting our democracy. What does the Prime Minister not understand about that?
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  • Jun/1/23 2:27:33 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we must not forget that by obtaining their security clearance, the leaders of the parties will have access to the secret information used by David Johnston. The responsible thing to do is to debate the facts, and not just opinions, get the security clearance, attend the briefings and then work with the rest of the House to propose solutions to better protect our democracy and our institutions, because foreign interference is everyone's business.
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  • Jun/1/23 2:28:05 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, wildfires are raging across the country. We are seeing forest fires like we have never seen before so early in the season. Regions in the Atlantic are hard hit. The Prairies are hard hit, as well as northern communities and the west. Communities are hard hit and impacted. What is the government going to do to deal with what might be a record-breaking year for forest fires and damage to communities?
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  • Jun/1/23 2:28:37 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we have seen a very significant number of fires in this country. In fact, 2.7 million hectares of forest have been lost to fires so far this season. We are working very closely with provincial and territorial partners, and we are making significant investments. I will also acknowledge that there is a great deal more work to do.
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  • Jun/1/23 2:29:02 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we are facing an opioid crisis that has killed a record number of people across the country. I have met mothers who have lost a child to this opioid crisis. They requested a meeting with the leader of the Conservative Party, but he refused to meet with them. That is disrespectful. When will this government finally take action to save lives?
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  • Jun/1/23 2:29:32 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, it is shameful that the opposition leader is so committed to an outdated, discredited and illogical bumper-sticker drug policy. His fearmongering will increase stigma and cost lives. The supervised consumption sites he wants to close have prevented over 46,000 overdoses since 2017. We cannot return to the failed Conservative ideology of the past.
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  • Jun/1/23 2:30:11 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, in response to yesterday's vote, in which members of Parliament, representing a clear majority of Canadian voters, demanded that he step down, phony rapporteur David Johnston said he is not going anywhere. In fact, he said—
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  • Jun/1/23 2:30:24 p.m.
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There are some words that have a meaning that is just not really parliamentary. I am going to ask the member to keep going, but remember that. Please start from the top, with nice language.
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  • Jun/1/23 2:30:40 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, in response to yesterday's vote, where MPs, representing a clear majority of Canadians, voted for him to step aside, rapporteur David Johnston said he is not going anywhere. In fact, he said he does not work for Parliament or Canadians; he said he works for the government. That is the problem. He works for the same Liberal government that benefited from Beijing's election interference. He personally serves the Prime Minister, who chose to do nothing while Chinese Canadians were bullied into voting for his Liberal Party. Nobody is fooled by this sham of a process. When will the Prime Minister fire his ski buddy and call a public inquiry?
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  • Jun/1/23 2:31:20 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I am reminded once again that it is not only unfair but also deeply offensive to listen to the member opposite question Mr. Johnston's allegiance to this country. His 50-year career in public service has made it clear to everyone that his loyalty is to Canada. As I also said, and to quote former prime minister Harper, “[David Johnston] represents hard work, dedication, public service and humility.” Canada is blessed to have a man so dedicated to public service, persevering through this type of abuse.
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  • Jun/1/23 2:31:56 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, Canada is cursed by a Prime Minister who tarnished that man's reputation by involving him in this scandal. The Prime Minister cannot be the one to decide how to investigate this scandal, because he benefited from it. David Johnston cannot decide either, because he is a family friend and a long-time member of the Trudeau Foundation. Frank Iacobucci cannot be the one to sign off on David Johnston's role, because he is part of the Trudeau Foundation as well. Those are conflicts of interest. Why is it that whenever the best interests of Canadians conflict with the political interests of the Prime Minister, the Prime Minister always chooses himself?
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  • Jun/1/23 2:32:43 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, protecting Canada from the nefarious, hostile activities of foreign-state actors is a priority for our government. We have taken very significant action to protect Canadian institutions and, in particular, our democracy. We recognize that there is more work—
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  • Jun/1/23 2:32:59 p.m.
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Order. I am going to interrupt for a second. I am going to ask for everyone to respect each other so that one side does not see the other one is screaming. It goes both ways, and that is the way we are going to enforce it. The hon. minister, from the top please. Hopefully, we have some peace and quiet and some respect in this chamber.
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  • Jun/1/23 2:33:29 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, protecting Canada from nefarious hostile activities of such foreign-state actors as China is a priority for our government. We have taken significant action to protect the integrity of Canadian institutions and, in particular, our democracy. We recognize that there is more work to do, and we all have a responsibility to stand up and protect our democracy. I would invite all members to cease their attacks on some of the finest Canadians I know and to unite in this important work.
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  • Jun/1/23 2:34:00 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, yesterday, after this House voted non-confidence in the so-called special rapporteur, the rapporteur issued a statement in which he said that he does not answer to this House; instead, he answers to the Prime Minister. Now that the Prime Minister's so-called rapporteur has finally admitted that he is not independent, will the Prime Minister end the charade, fire him and call an independent public inquiry?
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  • Jun/1/23 2:34:30 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, as I already explained, Mr. Johnston's 50-year career in public service, culminating in his role as the governor general of this country, has made it crystal clear to all Canadians that his loyalty is to Canada—
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