House of Commons Hansard #29 of the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was c-6.

Topics

2:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Acting Speaker Liberal Mauril Bélanger

It being Wednesday, we will now have the singing of the national anthem led by the hon. member for Abitibi—Témiscamingue.

[Members sang the national anthem]

Member for Ottawa—VanierStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

Bloc

Louis Plamondon Bloc Bécancour—Nicolet—Saurel, QC

Mr. Speaker, I am deeply honoured to call you “Mr. Speaker” in the House today. The title suits you so well.

I have seen a lot of people come and go in this place, but it has always been a pleasure to see you over the 21 years that you have served your Ottawa—Vanier constituents.

They knew they could count on you when the Montfort Hospital was in jeopardy, and you were still there a decade later when it was expanded instead of shut down. They counted on you to advocate for the rights of francophones at home and across Canada, and here you are again today spearheading the movement for an officially bilingual Ottawa.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Bloc Québécois MPs, I salute your steadfast dedication to your constituents, to francophones everywhere, and to the noble democratic values that the House must never lose sight of.

Steel IndustryStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

Liberal

Terry Sheehan Liberal Sault Ste. Marie, ON

Mr. Speaker, the Canadian steel industry is paramount to our ability to grow the economy. It directly employs over 20,000 Canadians, and further 100,000 Canadians have jobs indirectly because of steel.

The steel industry supplies essential materials to a variety of important sectors, including the automotive, manufacturing, mining, construction, and energy sectors, and it encourages innovation.

That said, Canada's steel industry faces a number of challenges. In my riding, Essar Steel Algoma and Tenaris Algoma Tubes are in crisis. They have seen substantial layoffs over the past few years, and if the situation does not improve, this could continue.

That is why I am working with the government, the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, and many others to elevate the conversation on steel. The government will not leave the Canadian steel industry behind.

Mr. Speaker, it is an extreme honour to raise this important issue before you on this day.

Outstanding Business Achievement AwardsStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

Conservative

David Sweet Conservative Flamborough—Glanbrook, ON

Mr. Speaker, last week the Flamborough Chamber of Commerce announced the winners of their 2016 Outstanding Business Achievement Awards. These top businesses will be recognized on April 1 and, I can assure members that they are not fooling.

The Flamborough chamber is a very active organization in our community and is truly a model for supporting the small and medium-sized enterprises that are the backbone of the Canadian economy.

While every winner is outstanding in their own right, there will be two special awards given out this year that I want to highlight.

First, the Lifetime Achievement Award will go to Jim Wilkinson of Wilkinson Heavy Precast. Jim is a past president of the Flamborough chamber and his business has been an innovative local manufacturer for over 60 years.

Second, the Town of Flamborough Award goes to Pat McNally for 40 years of service to the Rotary Club of Waterdown. What is truly amazing is that Pat is 101 years old, an incredible lifetime community service record.

On behalf of all the members of the House, I extend my thanks and congratulations to the Flamborough chamber and the thriving businesses within the Flamborough community.

Gender ParityStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

Liberal

Ramez Ayoub Liberal Thérèse-De Blainville, QC

Mr. Speaker, the town of Lorraine made history last Sunday when it elected a female mayor for the first time. I want to take a moment to congratulate the new mayor, Lynn Dionne.

I also want to note that the four towns in my riding currently have two female and two male mayors, which is also a first for Thérèse-De Blainville. It is especially fitting that this gender parity came about in the same week that we are celebrating International Women's Day.

This equal representation demonstrates that although we still have a ways to go to achieve equality in modern societies, progress is being made quite naturally and to nobody's surprise. I am proud to share this with the House, because in 2016, it is a reality that we can only hope to see replicated across the country and around the world.

Let us lead the way, Mr. Speaker, as you are doing.

Everyday Political CitizenStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

NDP

Carol Hughes NDP Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, ON

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a remarkable young woman from Hilton township on St. Joe's Island, Mackenzie Hulme, who was short-listed for Samara's Everyday Political Citizen contest.

Mackenzie is proof that age does not matter. This 16-year-old Central Algoma Secondary School student has earned every one of her accolades with a string of impressive accomplishments.

In the seventh grade at the age of 12, Mackenzie spent three weeks at Queen's Park in the Ontario legislative page program. She followed that up by participating in the inaugural year for Ontario's model parliament. She will be joining us here at Parliament next year as a participant in the forum for young Canadians program.

Mackenzie is also one of two student trustees in the Algoma District School Board.

On top of all this she still finds the time to volunteer both in her community and at political events.

As her nominator and friend Matthew Mansour says, “this young lady, of just 16-years-old, is magnificent”, an assessment that I concur with wholeheartedly.

I congratulate Mackenzie.

I also congratulate you, Mr. Speaker.

Audain Art MuseumStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Liberal

Pam Goldsmith-Jones Liberal West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, BC

Mr. Speaker, last Saturday night in beautiful Whistler, British Columbia, 750 people gathered in awe of the opening of the Audain Art Museum, an architecturally stunning building by renowned Canadian architects John and Patricia Patkau.

The Audain Art Museum is the vision, creation and gift to Canada of Michael Audain and Yoshiko Karasawa.

Their collection of Pacific Northwest First Nations art is unparalleled and offers an exceptional insight into the creative and culturally sophisticated minds of the Coast Salish, Gitxsan, Haida, Haisla, Heiltsuk, Kwakwaka'wakw, Nisga'a, Nuu-chah-nulth, Tlingit and Tsimshian artists of the past as well as the genius of today's contemporary artists both aboriginal and non-aboriginal.

The museum was established for the purpose of bringing the art and life of British Columbia from the earliest times to today for all, yet another very good reason to visit Whistler. Canadians will be surprised and moved, and everyone is invited.

Rolly FoxStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Conservative

Mark Strahl Conservative Chilliwack—Hope, BC

Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today to celebrate the life of a remarkable British Columbian, Rolly Fox.

For 36 years, Rolly was the “behind-the-scenes believer” in the mission his son Terry Fox set out on with his Marathon of Hope to raise money for cancer research . In recent years, he took a more public role with the Terry Fox Foundation, visiting local runs across the country and personally signing over 14,000 “thank you” letters every year.

Millions of people around the world will mourn the loss of a man whose never ceasing optimism inspired his son to set out on a journey that would bring hope to those facing the darkest chapter of their lives.

Rolly will be remembered by those who knew him best for enriching their lives with laughter and for his courage and grace as he faced his life's last challenge.

Terry, Betty and now Rolly Fox fought the good fight, finished the race, and kept the faith. Let us vow today to pick up the torch they have carried so well for so long.

TransportationStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Liberal

Vance Badawey Liberal Niagara Centre, ON

Mr. Speaker, throughout Canada's history, Parliament has strategically invested in a pan-Canadian transportation system that united the country and grew our economy: in the 1870s, a railway from coast to coast; in the 1940s, a network of airports. By the 1960s, the St. Lawrence Seaway was moving global cargo abroad, thereby completing multi-modal networks throughout our nation.

With the tabling of the Transportation Act review the stage is set for economically strategic, and sustainable federal infrastructure investments.

This Parliament is now in a position to establish a national transportation strategy to drive the next generation of transportation infrastructure investments that will strengthen our multi-modal networks and grow our nation's economy.

To quote David Emerson, “A recurring theme in the Report is the inseparable relationship between Canada’s international trade performance and the quality of the transportation and logistics systems.”

Natural ResourcesStatements By Members

2:15 p.m.

Conservative

Shannon Stubbs Conservative Lakeland, AB

Mr. Speaker, on Monday the Minister of Natural Resources spoke at the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada's convention. Mining contributes $57 billion to our GDP, but it is struggling in a long downturn. The minister acknowledged that uncertainty is bad for the business, but the government's transitional regulatory approach creates instability, deters investment, and causes job losses.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister was minutes away, naming two pandas, and did not stop in to the largest mining meeting in the world. I guess the Prime Minister figured pandas do not ask tough questions or need real answers.

Tomorrow he will be rubbing elbows at the Center for American Progress, which calls Canadian energy “dirty business”. LNG projects are at risk. There is no deal on softwood lumber.

We know making priorities is hard and maybe the government is just not ready yet, but it is a bad pattern. Canadians will start to have some joy when the Liberals give them hope that they have a real plan for the hundreds of thousands of workers whose jobs are on the line in our world-leading natural resources sector.

Affordable HousingStatements By Members

2:15 p.m.

Liberal

Adam Vaughan Liberal Spadina—Fort York, ON

Mr. Speaker, it is a particular honour to rise to speak in the House today.

Tonight in Toronto a memorial will be held as the names of close to 800 people who have died on city streets are read aloud and projected onto the side of a church—a church that is just literally a heartbeat away from Toronto City Hall.

Reviewing the names on the list is painful. These names represent a tragic loss that we all have to recognize. Too many of these names are on other lists, other lists that are just as shameful: the list of missing and murdered indigenous women, the list of residential school survivors, the list of close to 97,000 households in Toronto that are waiting for affordable housing. None of these are lists that any person should be on.

Housing can no longer be seen as a problem that needs to be solved; housing is the solution to so many of the challenges we face in this country.

As the names are read aloud tonight in Toronto, let us stand here united as a Parliament and as a country to make sure that these lists stop growing. Let us do it by building safe, affordable, and, most importantly, supportive housing in Canada.

Davenport Portuguese CommunityStatements By Members

2:15 p.m.

Liberal

Julie Dzerowicz Liberal Davenport, ON

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honour the Portuguese community in my downtown riding of Davenport. They are the largest ethnic group, representing approximately 30% of my riding.

The Portuguese culture is alive and well in Davenport and is being celebrated. Last month I had the honour of attending anniversary celebrations of two community organizations that exist to celebrate the distinct traditions in the Portuguese provinces of Beiras and Alentejo.

On February 13, Casa das Beiras hosted its 16th anniversary as a club, and on February 20, Casa do Alentejo celebrated its 30th anniversary.

My congratulations and deep gratitude go out to the leadership of these clubs, particularly to presidents Bernardino Nascimento and Carlos de Sousa.

These two ethnic clubs, along with Casa de Madeira, Casa dos Açores, Peniche, and Arsenal do Minho, have done tremendous work in Davenport in celebrating and promoting the cultural and social activities of the Portuguese community.

Their vibrant history and vital contributions to our cultural, economic, and social life are one of Canada’s great success stories.

[Member spoke in Portuguese as follows:]

Parabens Casa das Beiras et Casa do Alentejo!

Automobile Industry in Kitchener South—HespelerStatements By Members

March 9th, 2016 / 2:15 p.m.

Liberal

Marwan Tabbara Liberal Kitchener South—Hespeler, ON

Mr. Speaker, I rise to address the House for the first time. I want to thank my constituents in the new riding of Kitchener South—Hespeler for placing their trust in me. Service to my constituency will always be my first priority.

I also rise today to recognize the significant contributions of Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada to my constituency and the region. This year Toyota will celebrate 30 years in my riding. Toyota employs 8,000 people in Cambridge and nearby Woodstock. Within the next couple of months, Toyota Canada will have produced 7 million vehicles.

The multiplier effect in the auto parts industry and local businesses is enormous. Toyota is a responsible corporate citizen, participates in the community, and supports worthy local causes.

For my riding of Kitchener South—Hespeler, I cannot stress enough the importance of the automobile industry and of Toyota in particular.

Democratic ReformStatements By Members

2:15 p.m.

Conservative

Diane Finley Conservative Haldimand—Norfolk, ON

Mr. Speaker, if the Liberals want to make a fundamental change to our voting system, the process must not be dominated by one political party's interests. A committee composed of a select number of MPs is not, and never will be, a substitute for all Canadians having their voices heard. The Liberals have no legitimate case to claim that their House of Commons majority, delivered through a system that they claim is no longer valid, gives them a mandate to change our voting system.

As the member of Parliament for Haldimand—Norfolk, I will continue to stand up against this unilateral stance taken by the Liberal Party to deny Canadians a referendum on how they elect their MPs. The fact is that when they change the basic rules of democracy, everyone has to have a say. Otherwise, it is no longer a democracy.

Syrian Family in Châteauguay—LacolleStatements By Members

2:20 p.m.

Liberal

Brenda Shanahan Liberal Châteauguay—Lacolle, QC

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to publicly congratulate and thank the people of Châteauguay—Lacolle, especially Jean-François Lavallée, founder of the Comité d'accueil de réfugiés du Grand Châteauguay, and Anik Sauvé, president of Entraide Mercier, who set up a sponsorship group for a Syrian family, the first in our community.

The group was established last fall and has been very effective, as the Al Daas family, which has three children and another expected soon, arrived in Canada on February 18. The refugees recently moved into their own home in Châteauguay. This is the first time refugees have been welcomed to Grand Châteauguay, but based on how well they have been received by residents, it will not be the last.

I would also like to acknowledge the contribution of Claudette Lévesque, Catherine Hooper, and Father Clément Laffitte, and I would like to thank all those who have donated to this wonderful project.

Indigenous AffairsStatements By Members

2:20 p.m.

NDP

Rachel Blaney NDP North Island—Powell River, BC

Mr. Speaker, last week on March 4, the community of Powell River and Tla'amin First Nation celebrated a deeply respected elder named Dr. Elsie Paul. Members of both Tla'amin and Powell River joined in the spirit of reconciliation to recognize the work and commitment Elsie has shown in building a stronger community, both within her nation and in the communities surrounding it.

Raised by her grandparents, Elsie had limited interaction with residential schooling. This allowed her to be raised in her culture, to be fluent in her mother tongue, and to learn from the rich environment around her. Elsie is a beacon of traditional knowledge, feeding the roots of her people and seeing them flourish with her efforts. This leadership only grew across Canada and the world when she published a book on her life called Written as I Remember It.

I want to thank Elsie for being who she is, for holding the culture safe to pass on to another generation, and for being the graceful woman that she is.

Maple Syrup Festivals in Durham RegionStatements By Members

2:20 p.m.

Conservative

Erin O'Toole Conservative Durham, ON

Mr. Speaker, it is good to see you in the chair, my friend. As you know, I have always tried to be as sweet in this House of Commons as you have been.

However, today I am extra sweet because I am talking about the Purple Woods Maple Syrup Festival in the Durham region. Starting this Saturday and running through April, the most family-friendly event in our area is running. There are trail rides and horseback rides and a pioneer village, and children can watch sap transform into maple syrup. I would like to congratulate the Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority for this 41st festival.

The fun continues on May 7 in historic Bowmanville with Maple Fest, where we continue to celebrate our local maple syrup industry and farms such as Trails End in Bowmanville and Ashton in Port Perry.

I invite all members of this House, and you, Mr. Speaker, and all Canadians, to the Purple Woods Maple Syrup Festival and to Maple Fest in the Durham region. If you come on March 14, I will flip you a pancake myself.

Tamarack Ottawa Race WeekendStatements By Members

2:20 p.m.

Liberal

Greg Fergus Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC

Mr. Speaker, I am rising today on behalf of my colleague from Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock to issue a challenge to all of our colleagues in the House of Commons.

As members all know, we have a very busy work schedule. Being a politician and staying in shape do not necessarily go hand in hand. That is why we joined the Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend. Together, we are challenging members to participate in one of the six events that will take place on May 28 and 29.

By participating, members will call attention to the importance of health and physical activity. I would also like to point out that the race is a fundraiser for the ALS Society of Canada. I encourage as many members as possible to participate.

I also encourage them to join us twice a week to train. Together we can change things and, at the same time, support our dear colleague and friend, the hon. member for Ottawa—Vanier.

Amyotrophic Lateral SclerosisOral Questions

2:25 p.m.

Sturgeon River—Parkland Alberta

Conservative

Rona Ambrose ConservativeLeader of the Opposition

Mr. Speaker, I will begin by saying that you look great up there. I must remark that you have achieved in a very short period of time what many Speakers dream of, which is a well-behaved chamber.

In 2014, I took the ice bucket challenge, like many of my colleagues in the House. I still remember having that big ice bucket dumped on my head when I was health minister. Combined with government funding, that amazing challenge raised $20 million for research funding and $6 million for support programs, but we can do more.

I am asking the Prime Minister today to join me in asking Canadians from coast to coast to coast to support organizations that are fighting ALS and to find a cure for ALS.

Amyotrophic Lateral SclerosisOral Questions

2:25 p.m.

Papineau Québec

Liberal

Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister

Mr. Speaker, it is a tremendous pleasure to see you there today.

I thank my hon. colleague for her question and for her leadership both as an individual and as a former health minister on this issue.

I salute you, as the hon. member for Ottawa—Vanier and as Speaker, for the dignity and grace that you bring to the House every day as you battle this terrible disease.

Like many of us in this House, I was pleased to take part in a number of ice bucket challenges, both as dumpee and dumper. I was pleased to do my part to help raise money for research and awareness for ALS.

Canadians pride themselves on looking out for one another, and I join the Leader of the Opposition in urging everyone to give their time and financial support to organizations that are working so hard to find a cure for this terrible disease.

Official LanguagesOral Questions

2:25 p.m.

NDP

Thomas Mulcair NDP Outremont, QC

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of all of my colleagues, I would like to say that we are all so happy to see you in the Chair today.

Last week, the member for Ottawa—Vanier was congratulated for his work supporting francophone minority communities in Ottawa. The NDP shares his belief that we must protect and celebrate our official languages all across this country.

Nearly one out of seven francophones lives outside Quebec. We must do more to ensure that all Canadians have access to services in the official language of their choice, regardless of where they live.

How is the Prime Minister planning to continue and build on the excellent work done by the hon. member for Ottawa—Vanier? How will he improve services and support linguistic minority communities in Canada?

Official LanguagesOral Questions

2:30 p.m.

Papineau Québec

Liberal

Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague for his question, and I must say that no one in the House has done more to support francophone communities in Ottawa and Canada than you, as the hon. member for Ottawa—Vanier.

Since your election in 1995, you have fought tirelessly for linguistic duality in Canada, national unity, and a fair and just society for all. We will continue to support your incredible work, most notably with a new official languages plan that will support anglophone and francophone linguistic minorities across the country.

The House, linguistic minorities, and all of Canada thank you for your passion and your service.

Official LanguagesOral Questions

2:30 p.m.

Liberal

The Acting Speaker Liberal Mauril Bélanger

I would like to thank you all, dear colleagues of this House, for the great privilege you have bestowed upon me to serve as honorary speaker of the House of Commons today.

Thank you very much.

Official LanguagesOral Questions

2:30 p.m.

Members

Hear, hear!

Official LanguagesOral Questions

2:35 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan

The hon. Leader of the Opposition.