House of Commons Hansard #92 of the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was trans.
Kelly Block Conservative Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek, SK
Mr. Speaker, inexplicably, Canadian catering companies are being denied access to the Vancouver International Airport. Only two foreign caterers have been granted operating licences. It just does not make sense that a Canadian airport is not allowing Canadian businesses to operate within its space. The Competition Bureau agrees, but the airport refuses to budge.
Will the Minister of Transport back the bureau and support the Canadian companies that are being shut out of Vancouver airport?
Marc Garneau LiberalMinister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for her question, and I will look into the matter.
Romeo Saganash NDP Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC
Mr. Speaker, Inuit and their Innu supporters in Labrador are raising serious concerns about the impacts of flooding at Muskrat Falls. The failure to clear vegetation threatens to poison their waters, and the situation is escalating. Yesterday, nine people were arrested, including elders, and two are on hunger strikes. The Liberals said they would bring renewed respect to relations with indigenous peoples. They need to walk the talk.
What is the government doing to address the situation at Muskrat Falls?
Catherine McKenna LiberalMinister of Environment and Climate Change
Mr. Speaker, I understand that the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is working with the proponent indigenous peoples and stakeholders with respect to this project. We expect the province to assume its responsibilities to ensure the health and safety of communities.
Denis Paradis Liberal Brome—Missisquoi, QC
Mr. Speaker, people in my riding, Brome—Missisquoi, are concerned about rail safety, particularly in the Montreal-Sherbrooke corridor.
Can the Minister of Transport tell us what progress he has made toward fulfilling his mandate to improve rail safety?
Marc Garneau LiberalMinister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Brome—Missisquoi for that important question.
As he knows, rail safety is my priority. That is why I was pleased to make an announcement last week about $55 million in funding over three years for rail safety to support safety improvements at grade crossings and a rail safety awareness program because 46 people were killed on our railroads last year.
Rail safety is this government's top priority.
Len Webber Conservative Calgary Confederation, AB
Mr. Speaker, the fentanyl crisis is getting worse, and the Liberals are ignoring the obvious. China is the primary source of illicit fentanyl in Canada. The Liberals would rather deal with deadly street drugs after they are in the hands of Canadians, instead of targeting the source. This morning, we attempted to have the Chinese ambassador appear before committee to explain what his government is doing to help Canada tackle this deadly drug epidemic.
Why is pleasing the Chinese government more important to the Liberals than saving the lives of Canadians?
Kamal Khera LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health
Mr. Speaker, our government is deeply concerned about the growing number of overdoses and deaths caused by opioids. We launched a five-point action plan to address opioid misuse, and in November the Minister of Health will be hosting a summit on opioids, bringing together experts, patient groups, governments, and regulators to discuss the current crisis and identify actions moving forward. We will continue to work with our partners to implement the action plan and to combat this problematic substance abuse all across Canada.
Rhéal Fortin Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
Mr. Speaker, how many times do we have to say it? Health care is not a federal responsibility. That should not be hard to understand.
It took the Liberals less than a year to start squabbling with Quebec over jurisdiction again. This time, it is at the expense of Quebec patients. That is appalling.
Will the Liberal government stop its arrogant power-tripping immediately and let Quebec run the health system for which it alone is responsible?
Kamal Khera LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health
Mr. Speaker, Canadians expect that their governments will work together and that the increased investments for health care will actually go straight to health care. That is exactly why the Minister of Health is sitting down with her provincial and territorial counterparts as we speak and collaborating with all our partners on health innovation, improved accessibility, and making prescription drugs more affordable for all Canadians.
Gabriel Ste-Marie Bloc Joliette, QC
Mr. Speaker, by what authority does the Prime Minister claim the right to lecture Quebec on managing health care? How many Ottawa hospitals does he run? Which government do CLSCs, clinics, and hospitals answer to? Who pays the doctors and nurses who care for the sick?
Ottawa is acting like an armchair quarterback. It does not know what it is talking about or how to play the game.
Will the Prime Minister stop power tripping, transfer the money that Quebec is asking for, and start minding its own business once and for all?
Kamal Khera LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health
Mr. Speaker, Canadians expect us to ensure that investments for health care go straight to health care. The federal government's planned increases to health care transfers are greater than the provincial governments' own projected spending growth.
The Minister of Health is meeting with health ministers from across the country as we speak and reiterating our government's commitment to stable and predictable health funding.
We will continue working with the provinces and territories to build a health care system that all Canadians can be proud of.
The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan
I would like to draw to the attention of hon. members the presence in the gallery of the Honourable Tom Osborne, Speaker of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly.
The House resumed from October 7 consideration of the motion that Bill C-4, An Act to amend the Canada Labour Code, the Parliamentary Employment and Staff Relations Act, the Public Service Labour Relations Act and the Income Tax Act, be read the third time and passed, and of the amendment.
The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan
It being 3:07 p.m., pursuant to order made on Friday, October 7, 2016, the House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the amendment of the member for Lévis—Lotbinière to the motion for third reading of Bill C-4.
Call in the members.
[And the bells having rung:]
The question is on the amendment.
The House resumed from October 17 consideration of the motion.
The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan
Pursuant to order made on Monday, October 17, 2016, the House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion relating to business of supply.
The House resumed consideration of the motion that Bill C-16, An Act to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Criminal Code, be read the second time and referred to a committee.
The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan
The House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion at second reading stage of Bill C-16.
The question is as follows. Shall I dispense?