I want to go to the minister about elder abuse and its definition in the Criminal Code, but I first want to reiterate to the minister how concerned I am about the investment choices of the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and the Public Sector Pension Investment Board. I would ask the minister to work with his colleagues to review their ethics standards. Really, what are they investing in and how might that be hurting people?

In the mandate letter, Minister, there was a point about continuing “to work with the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada to strengthen Canada’s approach to elder abuse by finalizing the national definition”. I'm really interested in this. I have had a number of seniors come to my office who have been robbed of their retirement savings. They're being called “scams” in the media, but they're not scams. They're being robbed, and they have no recourse. There is no ability for them to regain their money.

I have a person in my community who came to see me recently. He has lost almost $600,000. That's all of his retirement savings. He's just retired and feels that he's going to have to go back to work.

Could you give us an update on what is happening with the finalization of the definition, and are financial crimes listed under elder abuse?

11:50 a.m.

Liberal

Steven MacKinnon Liberal Gatineau, QC

As my colleague knows, there's no official definition of “elder abuse” in the Criminal Code. For my part, that's something that needs to change. Indeed, my mandate letter describes a requirement for me to work with my colleague, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, on that very initiative.

What I can say is that we've all heard in our constituencies the kinds of heartbreaking stories the member describes. It is patently unacceptable. Indeed, the law requires further precision and we're going to continue working in that direction.

I do want to point to a couple of measures, though, outside of that specific initiative. The tenant protection fund and the blueprint for a renters' bill of rights will help seniors who face renoviction and sometimes the kinds of abuses that are perpetrated on them by landlords. That is a significant component of the kinds of elder abuse that you describe, Ms. Zarrillo.

I think that as a society, we're going to have to continue to come to grips with and confront elder abuse, make sure it's banned in all its forms, and continue to work for a future where seniors don't have to worry about these things.

11:50 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

Thank you, Madam Zarrillo.

Mr. Seeback.

11:50 a.m.

Conservative

Kyle Seeback Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Minister, you inherited the mandate letter of the Prime Minister to the previous minister.. In that letter, it says, “With the support of the Minister of Public Safety, the Minister of Public Services and Procurement and the Minister of International Trade...introduce legislation to eradicate forced labour from Canadian supply chains”. That's from 2021.

I asked the Minister of International Trade at committee in 2022 what's been accomplished. The answer was zero. You've seized absolutely zero goods made with forced labour from China.

Now, contrast that with $3.62 billion seized by the United States. This is an abysmal failure by you and by your government to crack down on forced labour, which has enabled China to continue to use forced labour.

You understand what forced labour is, right? They are abusing people and these goods are coming into Canada untouched.

What do you have to say to Uyghurs, whose labour is being forcibly use, about your complete and absolute catastrophic failure to do anything to stop these goods from coming into Canada?

11:50 a.m.

Liberal

Steven MacKinnon Liberal Gatineau, QC

Of course, this Parliament passed Bill S-211, which deals with this. The Minister of International Trade has carriage of the forced labour file. Canada intends to be a leader in this sector.

What I would say to you, Mr. Seeback, is to go back and talk to your House leader. End the filibuster, so that Canada—

11:50 a.m.

Conservative

Kyle Seeback Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON

No, I'm sorry.

The mandate letter says that you're responsible for introducing legislation. You're talking about a piece of legislation by a backbench MP, who made an optional reporting requirement.

Is this your robust action to crack down on force labour? That is an embarrassing answer.

The United States has seized $3.62 billion worth of goods. They're making a difference. This country has seized nothing and your answer to this very serious issue is some backbench member's bill.

11:50 a.m.

Liberal

Steven MacKinnon Liberal Gatineau, QC

No, it's the law of Canada and I dare you to talk to John McKay, who knows more about this issue than I dare say you do, about world practices and about his bill. I think I would enjoy a debate between you, Mr. Seeback, and John—

11:50 a.m.

Conservative

Kyle Seeback Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON

I suspect you know very little about the bill because here's what it does: It requires a new website to be created to track results of voluntary information.

Is this your robust action?

Look, Minister, this is an embarrassment. Your standing here trying to defend it is even more of an embarrassment. The United States has an entities list, where it has all of the companies that it knows use forced labour. Those companies cannot ship goods into the United States.

Does Canada have an entities list?

11:50 a.m.

Liberal

Steven MacKinnon Liberal Gatineau, QC

Canada intends to be a world leader on the issue of forced labour.

November 19th, 2024 / 11:50 a.m.

Conservative

Kyle Seeback Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON

Yes, and the cheque's in the mail.

This does nothing for Uyghurs suffering from forced labour.

11:55 a.m.

Liberal

Steven MacKinnon Liberal Gatineau, QC

Do you know what you need to do? You need to stop gaslighting Canadians by telling them—

11:55 a.m.

Conservative

Kyle Seeback Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON

No, you're gaslighting Canadians by pretending you've done something. You've done nothing.

11:55 a.m.

Liberal

Steven MacKinnon Liberal Gatineau, QC

My colleague, the Minister of International Trade—

11:55 a.m.

Conservative

Kyle Seeback Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON

You've created a voluntary website.

11:55 a.m.

Liberal

Steven MacKinnon Liberal Gatineau, QC

We are working on the issue of forced labour—

11:55 a.m.

Liberal

Irek Kusmierczyk Liberal Windsor—Tecumseh, ON

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

11:55 a.m.

Liberal

Steven MacKinnon Liberal Gatineau, QC

We intend to respect our commitment, but we walk into Parliament every day to hear you talking against your own motion. This is ridiculous. It's absurd.

Canadians expect that we act on issues—

11:55 a.m.

Conservative

Kyle Seeback Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON

Where's the bill? Where's the bill?

11:55 a.m.

Liberal

Steven MacKinnon Liberal Gatineau, QC

—with respect to labour in Canada, with respect to seniors in Canada, and we expect—

11:55 a.m.

Conservative

Kyle Seeback Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON