QUESTION PERIOD — Employment, Workforce Development and Labour
Canada Summer Jobs Program
June 4, 2019
Honourable senators, my question is for the Government Representative in the Senate and concerns the Canada Summer Jobs program.
Honourable senators may remember that this government provided Canada Summer Jobs funding in 2018 to Dogwood of B.C. to pay for a student to “help our organizing network to stop Kinder Morgan pipeline and tanker projects.” Once again, this year, groups that advocate against our energy sector and are funded by foreign foundations have been approved as employers under the Canada Summer Jobs program, including Dogwood of B.C.
Senator Harder, could you tell us whether any Canadian Summer Jobs program funding this year will go to specific jobs advocating against Canada’s energy sector, as was the case last year with Dogwood of B.C.?
I thank the honourable senator for his question. He’ll know the importance that Canadian young people, in particular, place on the Canada Summer Jobs program. I know that his question doesn’t diminish his interest in ensuring that program is running appropriately.
I’ll make inquiries with respect to the question asked. I’d be happy to report back.
Thank you.
As I mentioned recently, the foreign-funded interference into Canada’s resource sector is a serious and long-standing issue. The so-called anti-tar sands campaign supporters for the past dozen years or more have been large American foundations, such as the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. The top recipient of funding from that foundation is Tides Canada, which is approved to receive funding from taxpayers under a Canada Summer Jobs program this year.
Senator Harder, last month, you told us: “The record of this government with respect to the energy sector is well known and one to be proud of.” How can the government be proud to financially support groups that advocate against our energy sector and the thousands of good, well-paying jobs it provides for workers across Canada?
I thank the honourable senator for his question. It gives me an opportunity to remind him and all senators that this government has a deep and abiding interest in ensuring that we actually build a pipeline to tidewater so that we can benefit from the global markets for Alberta oil. That is an important statement of the government’s intent, and one that I hope all senators can be proud of.
It is not unusual, of course, that we, as a government, over the years, have supported advocacy for various positions on matters of public policy. There ought to be no test for whether the advocacy is in accord with the government’s interest.
Honourable senators, I’m actually following up on our leader’s questions, just focusing on the contradiction that we see.
Two weeks from today, the government is expected to make a final decision on whether to proceed with the Trans Mountain Expansion Project. Canadian taxpayers own Trans Mountain through the $4.5 billion this government spent to buy it from Kinder Morgan last year.
I have raised with you before, senator, about a lack of pipeline capacity being one of the main factors in the high gas prices we are seeing in British Columbia. It’s really frustrating to listen to the question about the government approving groups directly opposed to Trans Mountain as employers under the Canada Summer Jobs program.
Senator, do you acknowledge the contradiction here — using taxpayers’ money to buy Trans Mountain and then using taxpayer money to advocate against it?
I thank the honourable senator for her question.
The assumed position of the honourable senator is that advocacy dollars should only go for programs the government supports.
I don’t think that was what he was saying. However, the Trans Mountain expansion is in Canada’s national interest. It should receive final approval from your government on June the 18. However, simply giving the project approval is not the final step in that process. The government also needs to present a plan to Canadians as to how it will get the expansion built as soon as possible.
Senator, how does giving taxpayer dollars through the Canada Summer Jobs program to groups that oppose Trans Mountain fit into the government’s plan to get the Trans Mountain Expansion Project built? That is a very important question.
Again, the commitment of this government to the completion of TMX is obvious in the sense that the government has not only advocated for but has purchased the pipeline and is pursuing the process of ensuring that pipeline goes forward.
It would be, I think, highly objectionable if a government were then to put a lens of support or otherwise for government projects to summer employment jobs.