Human Resources Committee on April 29th, 2024

[Kamal Khera, Liberal, Brampton West, ON]

Mr. Chair, I think it's really important that my honourable colleague and, I think, all individuals underscore the fact that, first and foremost, the $6 billion that we have put forward is going to support more than 600,000 individuals. The $2,400 tax-free per year for an individual with a disability is not insignificant—

[Michelle Ferreri, Conservative, Peterborough—Kawartha, ON]

Okay.

Mr. Chair, it's my time—

[Kamal Khera, Liberal, Brampton West, ON]

I think it's also important, Mr. Chair, that I get the same amount of time that the member was asking questions for.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Minister, it is the member's time.

[Michelle Ferreri, Conservative, Peterborough—Kawartha, ON]

I'm going to tell you the story that the two folks in my riding shared with me. It's how they describe what you have given them. I want you to answer what they said.

To them—and these are their words—the Liberal-NDP government is like a trust exercise. You told them you were going to catch them. It's the trust game that you play with somebody when you say “Fall back into my arms and I'll catch you.” You told the people in the disability community that you would catch them when they fell. You gave them these promises. Then, in their words, not only did you not catch them, but you stepped out of the way and didn't tell them.

That is how they feel. They are applying for medical assistance in dying because the homeless rate under this Prime Minister is astronomical. The highest record usage of food banks is happening under this Prime Minister.

To come in here and to tell people you have done this first-ever announcement and it's wonderful, you might as well go be the Maple Leafs' coach and tell them that their effort was great.

This is ridiculous. I think people deserve an answer.

I know you care. You have to care or you wouldn't be in this position, but people are genuinely applying for medical assistance in death because they cannot afford to live and you're sitting here telling them $6 a day is significant.

Do you think people with disabilities should be applying for medical assistance in dying, yes or no?

[Kamal Khera, Liberal, Brampton West, ON]

Mr. Chair, when it comes to medical assistance in dying, I think we all recognize that's a very personal choice for individuals. I think it's also important—

[Michelle Ferreri, Conservative, Peterborough—Kawartha, ON]

It's not personal. I will read to you what he wrote, Mr. Chair: I don't want to die but I don't want to be homeless more than I don't want to die.”

This isn't a choice. They don't want to.... It isn't that they are terminally ill. They have no money. They have no housing. They have no food.

Do you agree with that, as the minister for inclusion and diversity?

[Kamal Khera, Liberal, Brampton West, ON]

Mr. Chair, since I got elected in 2015, we as a government have put in place many progressive benefits to support Canadians, including persons with disabilities, whether it was the Canada child benefit, which has actually significantly reduced poverty by half—which the honourable member and the party opposite voted against—or whether it was bringing the age of retirement for seniors back to 65 from 67, which the Conservative government wanted to raise to 67—

[Michelle Ferreri, Conservative, Peterborough—Kawartha, ON]

Mr. Chair, do I have any time left?

[Kamal Khera, Liberal, Brampton West, ON]

It's really rich to hear from them, Mr. Chair, when they have voted against everything we have put forward to support Canadians.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Thank you, Madam Ferreri.

Thank you, Madam Minister.

The allotted time has gone well over. We will now move to Mr. Fragiskatos for five minutes.

[Peter Fragiskatos, Liberal, London North Centre, ON]

Thank you, Chair.

I yield my time to Mr. Gerretsen.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Go ahead, Mr. Gerretsen.

[Mark Gerretsen, Liberal, Kingston and the Islands, ON]

Thank you very much, Mr. Fragiskatos.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Minister, as we know, Canada is a wonderful country that is extremely diverse. That diversity is part of what makes Canada such a rich and prosperous place. It is my view—and I'm sure you will agree—that political leaders representing a country such as Canada have a responsibility to bring people together, to promote the diversity that makes us a stronger country based on shared values and to condemn any far-right extremist groups that threaten that social cohesion.

We know that the Conservative leader, Mr. Pierre Poilievre, has been hosting secret fundraisers with who knows who, but last week it came to light that the leader of the Conservative Party visited an encampment set up by individuals linked to Diagolon, a group that promotes violent rhetoric and hateful views and espouses white nationalist objectives.

In fact, over the weekend, the leader of Diagolon posted this message on his Telegram channel: “Conservatives need to wake up to [the] reality that they are in physical danger, that their families will be targeted and there is no way any version of peace can exist with these people freely roaming about. We cannot coexist, so someone has to go.” The message continues to call for a civil war in Canada, telling Diagolon followers to prepare for a civil war and stating, “War is coming, act accordingly.”

What is your reaction to Mr. Poilievre's affiliation with these extreme groups that do not believe Canadians of different faiths or ethnicities are able to coexist and that “someone has to go” or otherwise it would lead to war?

[Kamal Khera, Liberal, Brampton West, ON]

Thank you for that, Mr. Gerretsen.

To your question, I quite frankly think that it's not just disgusting or reckless; it's actually very dangerous. I think we all know of the rise in hate that we're seeing right across this country, which is deeply concerning and upsetting. I think that standing up to hate shouldn't just be.... It's the right thing to do, and as a leader, you should be standing up against hate.

As I mentioned earlier when I was talking about our action plan on combatting hate, we have put forward $273 million in this budget, quite frankly because of the rhetoric we're hearing across this country. The Leader of the Opposition should be ashamed of cozying up to the Diagolon supporters, a far-right terrorist organization, and I think he should also be held accountable for it. I think Canadians ought to ask him where he actually stands. He has not denounced it yet.

It's also very telling to Canadians that all he cares about is gaining political power and not the actual issues that are affecting Canadians right now. I think that being associated with such far-right extremist groups that incite violence and misinformation is reckless. It is dangerous and, quite frankly, Canadians ought to know where he actually stands.

[Mark Gerretsen, Liberal, Kingston and the Islands, ON]

Thank you.

With that, Mr. Chair, I have a motion I would like to move. It's seconded by Mr. Fragiskatos:

That the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities report to the House the following:

That, given that the Leader of the Opposition recently met with and toured the trailer of supporters of Diagolon, a group described by the House of Commons as a violent extremist organization, after having been photographed shaking hands with the leader of that organization, the committee strongly condemn

(a) the white supremacist group Diagolon, and

(b) any attempts by Conservative Party politicians to court far-right extremists.

I have it in both official languages, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Do we have that? We do not have it on the order.

Do you have it in both official languages?

[Mark Gerretsen, Liberal, Kingston and the Islands, ON]

It has just been emailed to the clerk.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Okay. I will allow the introduction.

Madam Clerk, does everyone—

Go ahead, Madame Chabot.

[Louise Chabot, Bloc, Thérèse-De Blainville, QC]

I believe the clerk wants to speak.

For my part, I ask that we adjourn debate on this motion so that we can get back to the agenda and hear from the ministers who were called today.

My request is to adjourn debate on this motion.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Okay. It's a dilatory motion.

Madame Chabot has made a motion to adjourn the debate.

Madame Chabot, are you moving a motion to adjourn debate? Did you make a motion there? It seemed to me that you moved to adjourn debate on this motion.

[Louise Chabot, Bloc, Thérèse-De Blainville, QC]

Yes, that's right.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

It's a dilatory motion. I will call a recorded vote on the motion of Madam Chabot.

(Motion negatived: nays 6; yeas 5 [See Minutes of Proceedings])

I have Mr. Gerretsen on the motion.

[Mark Gerretsen, Liberal, Kingston and the Islands, ON]

This is very simple, ladies and gentlemen. We can take this vote in a matter of 10 seconds and then return to asking the minister questions.

[Tracy Gray, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.