Debates of April 14th, 2016

Veterans

[Kent Hehr, Liberal, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, what I can say is that Veterans Affairs takes all applications to review veterans' issues seriously. There is a process whereby it comes into the department, and then our veterans also have a chance to appeal at the Veterans Review and Appeal Board at two separate levels. We also provide legal assistance to veterans who are looking to get their benefits, allowing those claims to go forward.

I thank the member for his question, and we will continue to monitor the situation going forward.

[Alupa Clarke, Conservative, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

Mr. Speaker, this veteran is expecting more than just administrative procedures. He is expecting a visit, or at least a call, from the minister.

The 2016 budget provides for a retroactive increase in the maximum disability award.

Can the Minister of Veterans Affairs share with us today how much will be paid for loss of hearing, which many veterans suffer from?

[Kent Hehr, Liberal, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, I can tell the member that budget 2016 was a great day for our veterans. We delivered on many different aspects of our mandate items, including increasing the earnings loss benefit, increasing access to the impairment allowance, and increasing the disability award.

We will continue to work with our veterans with care, compassion, and respect to get them the services they need when they need them and where they live.

Part of that budget is for opening up nine new offices and hiring more staff to allow veterans' issues to be handled in a timely and effective manner.

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Mr. Speaker, Robin Brentnall, a veteran and advocate from Newfoundland and Labrador, has been denied his claim to a disability award by Veterans Affairs and the Veterans Review and Appeal Board. He so strongly believes that he qualifies that he is protesting through a hunger strike until the minister assures him verbally that his file will be reviewed. On April 11, in The Gander Beacon, Robin said, “All it takes is a phone call.”

After all their promises to veterans during the campaign, why are the Liberals abandoning this veteran now?

[Kent Hehr, Liberal, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, I can assure my hon. colleague that Veterans Affairs has an excellent process to review veterans' claims.

To reiterate, when a veteran has a claim, it goes through to my department. If that claim is rejected, a member can go to the Veterans Review and Appeal Board not once but twice.

We also have the opportunity to provide them with legal counsel to assist them in any and all processes along the way.

I also point out that these are de novo application processes whereby they can present new evidence at all points along the process.

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals promised investments in mental health and suicide prevention for our veterans. The Liberal budget completely failed to deliver.

Building two new centres for research and treatment will not address these issues. Many veterans need to travel often and over long distances to receive even basic face-to-face treatment.

How will the minister ensure that mental health support and suicide prevention initiatives will be provided to all veterans close to home, no matter where they live in Canada?

[Kent Hehr, Liberal, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, budget 2016 goes a long way to addressing some of those issues that have been brought up.

We are opening up nine new offices. In fact, there will be more outreach in Surrey, B.C., and the north for veterans to have points of contact.

We are hiring staff to replace the 800 members that the Conservatives cut from our front-line services. This will allow veterans to get care, compassion, and respect and have their issues dealt with in a timely fashion.

I can also say to the member, my goodness, I have been the minister for 162 days. We have accomplished a lot. We will continue to work on the mental health file and get these centres of excellence up and running to get the veterans the care, compassion—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

The hon. member for Elmwood—Transcona.

Air Canada

[Daniel Blaikie, NDP, Elmwood—Transcona, MB]

Mr. Speaker, after years of pretending to be champions for Air Canada workers, the Liberals tabled legislation that gives Air Canada free rein to ship the good-paying jobs of 2,600 workers and their families right out of Canada.

The Prime Minister once stood alongside protesting maintenance workers. He was chatting about solidarity and probably throwing in the odd Kumbaya for good measure, but where is that solidarity when it could actually do something for workers?

Will the Prime Minister stand up, apologize for his cynicism, and withdraw Bill C-10?

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, the end of litigation between Air Canada and the Province of Quebec and the Province of Manitoba has allowed us to clarify the Air Canada Public Participation Act. That is exactly what we are doing.

This is an important adjustment that needs to be made, and I would say this: there are jobs being created. The amendment actually says that there must be jobs in the provinces of Quebec, Manitoba, and Ontario.

I cannot say any more than that at the moment, because it is before the tribunals.

[Alexandre Boulerice, NDP, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, that is not what we would call “clarifying”. That is what we would call “sacrificing”. The Liberals are giving Air Canada carte blanche. Just yesterday they were saying that the Conservatives should have upheld the law. Even the Prime Minister shouted through his megaphone, “So-so-so solidarity!”

Today, it is even worse. They are in the process of legalizing the job losses that were illegal just yesterday. It is outrageous and disgusting. I have never seen such spineless people before.

Are the Liberals not ashamed of sacrificing the lives and work of 2,600 families?

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, the end of the dispute between Air Canada and the provinces of Quebec and Manitoba now allows us to clarify the Air Canada Public Participation Act. That is precisely what we are doing.

I would remind my colleague, who is all worked up, that the amendment we are proposing requires Air Canada to keep jobs in Quebec, Manitoba, and Ontario.

I cannot elaborate further because this matter is before the courts.

Democratic Reform

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the government appears to agree with the Conservatives' dissenting report on the sensitive issue of physician-assisted dying, since the bill does not deal with minors or people suffering from mental illness. Good. It is clear—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Order, please.

The interpretation does not seem to be working right now. Is it working?

It is working, so I will ask the hon. member for Louis-Saint-Laurent to start over.

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the government appears to agree with the Conservatives' dissenting report on the sensitive issue of physician-assisted dying, since the bill does not deal with minors or people suffering from mental illness. Good.

It is also clear that the government will finally allow its members to vote freely, which we support. Good. Now, we must take action.

On this side of the House, we think it is important that all members who want to speak to this sensitive issue be allowed to do so. However, we are running out of time. We want the government to know that it has our full co-operation.

Is the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons prepared to review our parliamentary sitting hours?

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question.

It is too bad that his parliamentary leader is not in the House, since he could have sent—

[Some hon members]

Oh, oh!

[Dominic Leblanc]

I am sorry, Mr. Speaker, I should not have said that.

It is too bad that my colleague opposite does not know that I made that offer yesterday at the House leaders meeting. We completely agree that we should ensure that as many members as possible have a chance to rise in this House to speak to this important issue.

I would be happy to work with—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

I thank the hon. minister for his apology.

The hon. member for Lethbridge.

Physician-Assisted Dying

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

Mr. Speaker, every single large organization within the persons with disabilities community shares the same opinion on assisted dying: they want a prior review process of non-medical social vulnerabilities for every patient.

This request comes from their shared experience. Poverty, isolation, and temporary depression often accompany a person's adaptation to a new disability.

What I would like to know is this: will the Liberals respect those with disabilities by ensuring a robust prior review of social vulnerabilities is provided, and if so, what will that look like?

[Jody Wilson-Raybould, Liberal, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to have been able to introduce legislation and to encourage robust discussions. We have had substantive feedback reports, including the special committee report that spoke to the fundamental need to ensure that we present the best approach that balances personal autonomy with the protection of vulnerable people.

We have employed in the legislation the safeguards that were recommended by the joint committee, and we are going to ensure that we maintain this discussion and make the report available—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

The hon. member for Peace River—Westlock.

[Arnold Viersen, Conservative, Peace River—Westlock, AB]

Mr. Speaker, indigenous communities in my riding will be directly impacted by today's legislation on assisted suicide. I am concerned that the Liberals have ignored these communities. Dr. Alika Lafontaine, president of the Indigenous Physicians Association, highlighted the absence of major indigenous organizations during the joint committee hearings and stated, “I believe there has not been meaningful consultations with indigenous peoples”.

Why did the Liberals not undertake consultations with indigenous communities on assisted suicide?

[Jane Philpott, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, as the House knows, there were a number of consultations that were undertaken, which led to the legislation that was introduced today. We were informed by the external panel, which provided a report to us not many months ago. We were informed by a very interesting report from the provinces and territories and by an excellent report of the special joint committee of the House.

All of those bodies have in turn reached out to a number of other organizations, including indigenous organizations across this country. We intend to continue consultation and a rigorous debate in the House. We are pleased with this legislation. We believe—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

The hon. member for Lac-Saint-Louis.