QUESTION PERIOD — Intergovernmental Affairs
Provincial and Territorial Concerns on Government Legislation
June 11, 2019
Honourable senators, my question is for the Leader of the Government in the Senate. It concerns an open letter to the Prime Minister regarding Bill C-48 and Bill C-69 from the premiers of New Brunswick, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and the Northwest Territories. The letter reads in part:
Our governments are deeply concerned with the federal government’s disregard, so far, of the concerns raised by our provinces [and territories] related to these bills. As it stands, the federal government appears indifferent to the economic hardships faced by provinces [and territories]. Immediate action to refine or eliminate these bills is needed to avoid further alienating provinces [and territories] and their citizens and focus on uniting the country in support of Canada’s economic prosperity.
Senator Harder, what is the Government of Canada’s response to the letter from the premiers? Does your government understand that its approach on these bills is both damaging to our economy and to our national unity?
I thank the honourable senator for the question. He will note, as I’m sure all senators do, that the premiers represent a certain political persuasion and their policy position is one with which we’re not unfamiliar.
We have before Parliament the two bills that are described. At various times some, if not all, of the premiers have indicated that the bills should either be defeated or, in some cases, that the bills be amended or supported. This is part of a policy process that is under way both with respect to this chamber and the other chamber.
The Government of Canada is always welcoming of views expressed by first ministers, but the Government of Canada’s first obligation is the interest of the nation.
I would suggest that this also represents Canadians, no matter what their political stripe.
The Liberal Party platform of the 2015 federal election made repeated mention of working with the provinces and territories. It spoke of respecting provincial jurisdiction, partnering with the provinces and territories and consulting with them. Instead, there has been a top-down, Ottawa-knows-best approach taken by this government on a number of issues.
On Bill C-69, in recent days, we’ve seen representatives from the government claim that the Senate amendments to this bill were made only on behalf of the oil and gas sector, when it’s clear that nine out of ten provinces asked the Senate for significant amendments.
Senator Harder, these provinces are looking for some genuine respect from your government. Why does your government continue to be so dismissive of their concerns? Where is the open and collaborative relationship with the provinces that was promised in the last election?
Again, I thank the honourable senator for the question. He’ll know from the practices of this government for now almost four years that the Prime Minister and his government have sought collaborative relations with the provinces on a number of serious and significant issues. Whether that was climate change and having the framework agreement, or whether that was with respect to Criminal Code amendments or a wide range of infrastructure programs, the job of the Government of Canada is to knit together the federation and to provide that leadership.
There, of course, are times presently and there have been times in the past when the Prime Minister and the Government of Canada have had to move forward without the unanimous support of premiers, but they do that in the national interest.
With respect to the premiers, I suspect a number of them will want to be campaigning in the fall because that’s what they said they would do.
