44th Parl. 1st Sess.
June 2, 2023 10:00AM
- Jun/2/23 11:17:34 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, the devastation wrought by wildfires surrounding the Halifax area is absolutely heartbreaking, and the Nova Scotians who have had to flee their homes are still reeling. However, despite the toll this latest tragedy is having on our province, we continue to be there for one another.
We thank the professional and volunteer firefighters who have battled blazes for days on end. So much has been lost, but so much more, including lives, has been saved because of their courage.
We also thank the emergency responders, including the Canadian Coast Guard and the Canadian Armed Forces; those working in comfort centres; mental health counsellors; those in the charitable sector, who have once again stepped forward to help; and the many local businesses that have done their part. It is neighbours helping neighbours.
My message to Nova Scotians who are hurting is this: For as long as it takes, the federal government will be there to support them and help them. After all, that is the Nova Scotian way. We are there for one another through the hard time and through the rebuilding, the way it has always been.
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- Jun/2/23 11:18:47 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, David Johnston is in a clear conflict of interest. He was a member of the Trudeau Foundation, and he is the Prime Minister's friend. He released a report meant to whitewash Beijing's influence with the Liberal government and Beijing's interference in our elections. However, this whitewashing is what he was always going to do, is it not? After all, he is there as a special adviser exclusively for the Prime Minister.
Canadians have rejected Johnston's cover-up, and they want the facts from the Prime Minister. Will he call a public inquiry today?
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- Jun/2/23 11:19:29 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, foreign-state actors are trying to undermine our democracy. However, the members of the Conservative Party are actually assisting in this. They stand there and make personal attacks on those who are serving our country to bring forward reports on how we can move forward with better measures to improve our democratic institutions.
The member opposite talked about facts. If they care about facts, their leader should get the briefing and learn the facts about the foreign interference in this country.
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- Jun/2/23 11:20:16 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, the parliamentary secretary wants facts. Here is a fact: The majority of members of this House, representing a majority of Canadians, voted to have a public inquiry and to fire David Johnston. However, the Prime Minister continues to ignore that in favour of his cover-up man, his ski buddy, his friend and his Beijing-funded Trudeau Foundation board member. Canadians saw straight through the sham and they want information.
That is why this House voted for a public inquiry. The Prime Minister might not like it, but that is what this House called for. Will he call one today?
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- Jun/2/23 11:20:55 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, when it comes to matters of national security, Canadians can see that the Conservatives are just not fit to lead. They are immature when it comes to these matters. Rather than talking about the actual measures and recommendations in the Right Hon. David Johnston's report, instead, when listening to that member's question, it was nothing but personal political attacks. It was not about the interests of Canadians or protecting our democratic institutions. It was about partisan games for the Conservatives.
On this side of the House, we are going to focus on protecting Canadian democracy.
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- Jun/2/23 11:21:36 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, if the parliamentary secretary wants to protect Canadian democracy, she would have her Prime Minister call a full, independent public inquiry. That is what this House has twice voted to do. The special rapporteur declined to do so, saying that he does not work for Parliament, that he is not accountable to Parliament and that he works only for the Prime Minister.
Everyone agrees that we need a public inquiry, except for those who work for the Liberal government or the Trudeau Foundation. Canadians want a public inquiry. This House has twice voted for one. Will the Liberals do the right thing and call a full public inquiry?
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- Jun/2/23 11:22:10 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, how could we take lessons from the party opposite when the members will not even take the basic minimum national security briefing on this very matter? The Conservatives would rather operate under a veil of ignorance. We expect all members of this House to come forward. Opposition parties may criticize our government, but Canadians expect them to at least do so with information and the facts.
While Conservatives ignore briefings on national security, we cannot take them very seriously.
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- Jun/2/23 11:23:07 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, the Prime Minister and the special rapporteur have many things in common: the Trudeau Foundation, an old friendship, skiing, respect for the regime in Beijing, and, above all, contempt for the House of Commons.
Prime Minister Trudeau and David Johnston are the only ones who do not see how their close relationship is undermining the credibility of our democratic institutions.
Will the Prime Minister put national security before Liberal security and fire the special rapporteur?
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- Jun/2/23 11:23:35 a.m.
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The hon. member knows very well that he cannot refer to the Prime Minister by name. I expect him to check his questions before asking them.
The hon. minister.
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- Jun/2/23 11:23:51 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, the recommendations in Mr. Johnston's report may not be popular, but they are courageous. Members elected to the House of Commons have a responsibility to treat national security information seriously, to ensure the safety of the people who collect that information and to maintain a good relationship with our allies, who trust us with the information they share. The responsible thing for the opposition Bloc and Conservative Party leaders to do is to get their briefings and come back here to debate the facts.
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- Jun/2/23 11:24:31 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, I have seen the facts. David Johnston is a former governor general. He was granted the “Right Honourable” title for the role he played on behalf of Canada. All governors general are well aware that Parliament, especially the House of Commons, is the people's House. There is nothing very honourable about seeing the Prime Minister use a former governor general like his puppet to protect himself from a public inquiry that has been demanded twice now by a majority of members who represent Canadian citizens.
The Prime Minister is the one who got David Johnston into this mess. When is he going to get him out of it by firing him?
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- Jun/2/23 11:25:08 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, Mr. Johnston was honourable, reliable and credible enough for the Harper government to appoint him as governor general and for the Mulroney government to appoint him to conduct inquiries. Suddenly, when the Conservatives are unhappy with Mr. Johnston's findings, they attack the credibility of a Canadian who spent his life serving Canadians and Canada. It is totally dishonourable and irresponsible.
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- Jun/2/23 11:25:39 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, forest fires have triggered a state of emergency in Sept‑Îles, where 10,000 people are currently being evacuated. Another thousand people are being evacuated in Chapais. The Bloc Québécois obviously offers its full support and solidarity to these people and these communities. Citizens need to know that all governments are behind them to help them through this crisis.
Is the federal government committed to fully supporting the efforts being made by Quebec and local authorities to fight the raging forest fires?
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- Jun/2/23 11:26:26 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for her speech. We are co-operating fully with the Province of Quebec. Our hearts go out to the people of Sept-Îles and other communities affected by forest fires. We had an update from officials just this morning. Over the past few days, more than 100 wildfires have broken out in Quebec, 20 of which are out of control. We are on the lookout and are still waiting for an official request from the province to help. We know that the Province of Quebec has a very good response team that can come to the aid of Quebeckers.
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- Jun/2/23 11:26:54 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, let us get back to the basics when it comes to Chinese interference. The problem is China's actions and the fact that the Johnston report prevents us from dealing with them because, as a result of that report, there will be no inquiry into the Chinese police stations, the election candidates supported by China, the intimidation of the Chinese diaspora or the threats against elected officials. In the years I spent working as an ethicist, I lived by this adage: “Any action that needs darkness to succeed is probably more unethical than an action that can stand the light.” In this case, there is a lot of darkness. Let us shine a light on what is happening by holding an independent public inquiry.
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- Jun/2/23 11:27:31 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, when I see the leader of the Bloc Québécois taking exactly the same position as the Conservative leader, namely, choosing wilful blindness over getting the necessary security clearance to receive briefings that would provide him with information on all the points my colleague raised, then I can only assume that the Bloc Québécois has truly become a pale imitation of the Conservatives, the “Conservatives lite”.
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- Jun/2/23 11:28:04 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, across Canada, forest fires are burning. This may be the worst season yet.
In my riding, there is a forest fire near Sayward village. I want to thank all the firefighters who have stepped up across our region to help, as well as Mayor Baker, who has shared updates with me. The leadership in the community is working hard to keep everyone safe.
Climate change is impacting small communities in particular. With their limited resources and funds, the challenges will only grow. How will the Liberal government support small communities as climate change creates these new realities?
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- Jun/2/23 11:28:42 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for the question. We know that climate change is having a direct impact on what we are experiencing right now with the forest fires. Our government is very closely monitoring all the fires burning in Canada during forest fire season. We are working closely with our provincial and territorial counterparts to ensure that they have all the necessary support measures in place. We are also getting help from other countries such as Australia, the United States and others. I would like to offer him our full collaboration so that we can get through this forest fire crisis.
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- Jun/2/23 11:29:24 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, when Canada had an auto policy, being the auto pact, we were second in the world in manufacturing and the hub of investment, research and development. When the Conservatives and Liberals signed NAFTA, they allowed us to get bullied by Japan and the WTO. Without a fight, they gave up our trade agreement, the best trade agreement we had in history. The result is that we have dropped to 15th in the world, behind Indonesia, and we are now tied with the Czech Republic and Slovakia for auto assembly.
The Windsor Stellantis plant's future, as well as the investment in it, has played out in all the media headlines, as the Deputy Prime Minister and the premier negotiate. Will the government show real leadership, ditch the drama and public headline approach, sign a deal with Stellantis, and bring in a real auto policy that does not embarrass us and puts workers first?
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- Jun/2/23 11:30:34 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, I want to thank my friend and colleague from the industry committee for his advocacy for the Canadian automobile industry and his hard work on the committee.
He knows very well that our auto industry is crucial to the Canadian economy and to the hundreds of thousands of Canadians who work in that sector. This is why the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry has worked tirelessly to secure a future for Canada's auto industry. We continue to negotiate in good faith with our partners. That includes Stellantis and the Government of Ontario. Through it all, our top priority is going to be getting the best possible deal for Canadians.
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