Debates of Feb. 8th, 2017

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

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

[Members sang the national anthem]

Bombardier

[Gabriel Ste-Marie, Bloc, Joliette, QC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the government announced an investment to keep Bombardier's Toronto facility up and running. Ottawa found a way to use one of the jewels in Quebec's manufacturing crown to help Toronto more than Montreal. That takes the cake.

Ottawa's contribution to the C Series, Quebec's biggest technological undertaking ever, amounts to peanuts. We designed and developed it on our own, and the federal government did not lift a finger when it was in trouble.

Bombardier was on the brink of bankruptcy. Ottawa did nothing. Quebec injected over $1 billion to take on part of the risk.

Because of the federal government's could-not-care-less attitude, the company had to outsource operations and cut 15,000 jobs. The Bloc Québécois's thoughts go out to those 15,000 people today.

As Jacques Parizeau used to say, we must never underestimate Canada's ability to disappoint us. That is exactly what it did yesterday.

Black History Month

[John Oliver, Liberal, Oakville, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I was honoured this past Thursday to attend the Black History Month kickoff celebration hosted by the Canadian Caribbean Association of Halton, in partnership with the Oakville Museum and Sheridan College in my riding of Oakville.

The event featured traditional and contemporary Black art forms, commemorating the rich cultural heritage of Black Canadians. We saw exhibitions of Oakville's early Black history, African-Canadian art, and a poster exhibit by Sheridan College students.

The CCAH celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. Veronica Tyrrell, long-time president, believes in actively promoting unity and diversity, unbiased inclusion, and the capacity to value differences.

I was delighted to have been part of the kickoff celebration of Black history and arts activities in my community of Oakville. I look forward to the various celebrations and activities that will take place throughout the month.

Congratulations to Veronica and the CCAH.

Charles Mann

[Ben Lobb, Conservative, Huron—Bruce, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honour a true Canadian hero. Charles Mann, a veteran of World War II, passed away this January.

Charles joined the military in 1940 at the age of 18, and two years later volunteered for the Devil's Brigade. He fought bravely in Italy and in southern France, and a few years ago was awarded the U.S. Congressional Gold Medal.

Charles was also one of Canada's first nuclear operators. Charles served the community of Kincardine with distinction for over 20 years on municipal council and 13 of those years as mayor.

He was named the Kincardine citizen of the year and a recipient of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee medal. He was a passionate advocate for veterans, serving on the National Council of Veterans Affairs and his local Kincardine Legion.

Charles was a true gentleman. He loved his family, his two dogs, and his community.

We thank Charles for his lifetime of service to this country. We will miss him. God bless.

Statistics Canada

[David Lametti, Liberal, LaSalle—Émard—Verdun, QC]

Mr. Speaker, today Statistics Canada provided Canadians with a first glimpse of the latest national statistical portrait with the results of the 2016 census count on population and dwellings.

I am proud to be part of a government whose first action was to restore the mandatory long form census.

We made a commitment to bring back the long form census, and we kept that promise. This means that Canadians once again have access to reliable and accurate data.

Without this data, our communities could not plan ahead. Everything from transit planning to housing strategies, to support for new Canadians was made more difficult.

Results of today's release show that over 35 million people now call Canada home. This is 10 times greater than in 1871, when the first census after Confederation recorded 3.5 million people in Canada.

The information gathered through the census is central to our evidence-based—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

The hon. member for Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing.

Eating Disorders

[Carol Hughes, NDP, Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, ON]

Mr. Speaker, last week I hosted an event in support of the national initiative for eating disorders. This not-for-profit coalition works to increase awareness and education for the chronic situation facing sufferers of eating disorders and their families.

Misunderstood, inadequately treated, and underfunded, eating disorders are considered the deadliest of mental illnesses since they are 12 times more likely to lead to death than any other mental illness.

Recovery starts with understanding. Seeking help is a courageous step, and there is a big role for parents, families, and significant others to play.

It is important for parliamentarians to contribute to the fight against negative body image and improve awareness, research, and best practices for the treatment of eating disorders.

For these reasons, I was happy to reintroduce the motion that calls on Parliament to work with the provinces, territories, and indigenous communities to develop a coordinated Canadian strategy on eating disorders. It is my hope that Motion No. 117 will receive broad support from all sides of the House.

Homelessness

[Hedy Fry, Liberal, Vancouver Centre, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I stand today to pay tribute to an organization called Raising the Roof which is providing national leadership on long-term solutions to homelessness in Canada.

Homelessness is not a choice. Safe shelter is a human right. The homeless are often women fleeing abuse, immigrants and refugees with nowhere to go, youth at risk, and individuals suffering from mental illness and addiction. Once homeless, people find themselves trapped on the streets in a vicious cycle.

Yesterday, Tuesday, February 7, marked the 20th anniversary of Raising the Roof's toque campaign. Fifty communities across the country will be selling toques as a fundraiser to support at-risk people in their time of need.

I encourage everyone to take part in this national initiative. Buy a toque, wear a toque, raise a roof.

Calgary Signal Hill

[Ron Liepert, Conservative, Calgary Signal Hill, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I stand today to recognize two outstanding Calgarians who were both members of my board, and unfortunately passed away all too soon recently.

Hugh Fergusson was a businessman, a volunteer in the community of Bowness, and unfortunately died in his sleep while on a cycling vacation in Greece.

Bev Reynolds was a public relations icon in the city of Calgary. She recently died peacefully, after a long struggle with cancer. While her PR career spanned more than 30 years, working with the homeless through the Knox United Church was probably one of her most satisfying accomplishments.

Both will be missed.

As members of Parliament, we make decisions which hopefully result in a better life for Canadians, almost every day. But Bev also wanted each of us to know that in this place, on occasion, we also make decisions which make facing death much more dignified.

Carleton-sur-Mer

[Rémi Massé, Liberal, Avignon—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Carleton-sur-Mer, a community in my riding, is hitting a special milestone in 2017.

Carleton-sur-Mer is celebrating its 250th anniversary this year. Two hundred and fifty years ago, Acadian families settled in this magnificent area of eastern Quebec nestled between the ocean and the mountains. Over the years, those men and women, along with other newcomers, built and shaped this community, which has always been known for its vitality.

With its beautiful landscapes, high quality of life, and residents and businesses that care about their town’s development, Carleton-sur-Mer serves as an example for any community that wants to grow and develop while protecting its natural assets. I want to take this opportunity in the House to wish all Carleton-sur-Mer residents and visitors a wonderful year filled with joy, happiness, pride, and community-building activities.

Happy anniversary, Carleton-sur-Mer.

Hospitals

[Sonia Sidhu, Liberal, Brampton South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, today is great day for my riding of Brampton South. Until today, we only had one hospital for the ninth largest city in Canada. My downtown riding serves as the new home for the Peel Memorial Centre for Integrated Health and Wellness campus.

It will have state-of-the-art care, including mental health, addiction services, dialysis and senior care units, and a family health focus. This facility is a great example of innovation in our health care sector, and a sign of good things in Brampton.

Congratulations to the William Osler team, including Joanne Flewwelling, Dr. Naveed Mohammad, Dr. Frank Martino, Dr. Ron Heslegrave, Marlon Rhoden, Ann Ford, and all those involved, especially in supporting this through fundraising and community organizing.

I look forward to working with them.

Co-operative Movement

[Kevin Waugh, Conservative, Saskatoon—Grasswood, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honour Mr. Harold Chapman. Harold is the author of Sharing My Life: Building the Co-operative Movement. Harold will be recognized with the Order of Canada in May 2017.

Harold is only 99 years young. He has been a leader of this co-operative movement for seven decades. He established the Co-operative College of Canada, where he was principal for 18 years. The college is a national centre for co-operative education and research.

Harold was also involved in the development of the Saskatoon Community Clinic. It was my honour to present Harold Chapman with the Saskatoon—Grasswood Canada 150 citizen pin at McClure Place, where he currently lives.

The pin is in recognition of his contributions to Saskatoon—Grasswood, to the province of Saskatchewan, and the country of Canada.

Black History Month

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Scarborough—Rouge Park, ON]

Mr. Speaker, 21 years ago, the hon. Jean Augustine moved a motion in the House recognizing each February as Black History Month.

I stand here on the shoulders of great political leaders who have represented my riding, leaders like the hon. Alvin Curling, who was the first black speaker in a House in Canada; the hon. Mary Anne Chambers, former provincial minister of education and colleges; the hon. Margarett Best, former Ontario minister of consumer affairs; and the hon. Mitzie Hunter, the current provincial Minister of Education.

I am also very proud of the work undertaken by many black-focused organizations, such as the TAIBU Community Health Centre, Tropicana Community Services, the Jamaican Canadian Association, the Jamaican Canadian Association of Nurses, and the Ontario Black History Society. I want to thank these individuals and organizations that have worked so hard to open doors for people like me and that continue to serve our country.

Seniors

[Marc Serré, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

Mr. Speaker, we are facing a dramatic aging of our population. Seniors in Nickel Belt, Greater Sudbury, and across the country expect us to improve their quality of life.

Today, Canadians 65 and older represent 15% of the population and account for nearly 45% of health care costs.

I rise today to call attention to the seniors, caregivers, and medical practitioners I have visited at places like Au Château, in Sturgeon Falls; Capreol Seniors' Assisted Living Complex; St. Gabriel's Villa, in Chelmsford; Finlandia Village, in Sudbury; and the Elizabeth Centre, in Val Caron.

I am proud to have tabled my private member's motion to develop a pan-Canadian national strategy for seniors.

I encourage my colleagues to take part in this important debate for our seniors by going to www.demandaplan.ca.

I encourage all Canadians to participate in this important seniors debate by visiting and engaging at demandaplan.ca.

Thank you, Meegwetch.

Oil and Gas Industry

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

Mr. Speaker, this evening we will be debating the jobs crisis taking place in the oil and gas sector right now. On the same day we learned that the Prime Minister will give Bombardier a $400-million bailout, we will also be debating the 100,000 jobs lost across this country because of where the oil and gas industry is today.

From Newfoundland to British Columbia, I have talked to hundreds of youth across this country who are very concerned about the jobs that are disappearing from coast to coast to coast. Whether it be geology, engineering, math, or any of the skilled trades, the oil and gas sector has provided good-paying, full-time jobs for Canada's young workers.

The Prime Minister promised to create 40,000 new jobs for youth in 2016, but this month, Statistics Canada came out with its numbers and says that only 9,000 net new jobs were created for young people this past year. Because of Liberal inaction, Canada's youth have lost the best-paying jobs available in this country.

Honourable Lincoln Alexander

[Bob Bratina, Liberal, Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is appropriate that this month we acknowledge the first black man to sit in this Parliament, a man I was proud to call a friend, the Honourable Lincoln Alexander.

I was a radio reporter covering the 1968 federal election in Linc's campaign office the night he won the seat in Hamilton West. At his victory party, the music was provided by none other than Oscar Peterson. His life was a series of achievements: an RCAF war veteran; a successful lawyer; the first black member of Parliament; a cabinet minister; the Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario; chancellor of the University of Guelph; and, let us not forget, the recipient of the famous Canadian phrase, “fuddle duddle”.

When Linc passed at age 90, I stood beside him, as mayor, as he lay in repose in Hamilton City Hall. For three days, an endless line of citizens, young and old, rich and poor, of every race, colour, and creed, came to share their respects and share personal stories that reflected the incredible man he was.

It is an honour to pay tribute to Lincoln Alexander today, a Hamilton hero, a Canadian hero, and a legacy to remember during Black History Month.

Violence Against Women

[Irene Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is critical that women who have been sexually assaulted are protected, believed, and have confidence in the justice system. I am very concerned to learn that in London, 30% of sexual assault cases have been considered unfounded, a rate significantly higher than for any other serious crime.

In response, the London Police Service has announced that it will review more than 690 sexual assault cases going back to 2010. I appreciate that it has recognized that the unfounded rates are much too high.

The London Police Service has shown leadership over the past 30 years in addressing woman abuse, and I have every confidence that the police force will again show that leadership by changing how it addresses sexual assault complaints.

I call on our justice minister to take immediate action and ensure that all our police forces have the resources to appropriately handle sexual assault complaints. We need a national action plan to end violence against women that addresses the needs of survivors and provides training and support for those working in the justice system. Without federal leadership, women are tragically being re-victimized and dismissed.

International Legislator of the Year

[Blaine Calkins, Conservative, Red Deer—Lacombe, AB]

Mr. Speaker, it is my honour to rise today to recognize an outstanding member of this House. The member for Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa was recently recognized as the International Legislator of the Year by Safari Club International. SCI is an organization composed of hunters dedicated to promoting wildlife conservation worldwide and to protecting the freedom to hunt.

My friend and mentor is a lifelong hunter, angler, and avid outdoorsman. He works tirelessly for his constituents and all Canadian hunters, anglers, and trappers. He was instrumental in establishing the recreational fisheries conservation partnership program, helped end the useless long gun registry, and has fought valiantly against every attack on the hunting, fishing, and trapping community. His unflinching devotion to protecting our way of life is not just respectable, it is admirable. He is a conservationist, first and foremost, and a common-sense environmentalist.

In summing up this man in a few words, I have this to say: his mind belongs to his work, his heart belongs to his family, and his soul belongs in the woods.

Congratulations to my friend. May his line always be tight and his aim always true.

Lynn Legault

[Greg Fergus, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Mr. Speaker, did you know that I came to Ottawa 29 years ago to attend university? I was not nervous about my first day at university, but I was nervous about my first day as a parliamentary page.

Fortunately for me and all the other parliamentary pages who have served here during her 32-year tenure, Lynn Legault, the page supervisor, was there to welcome us, train us, and guide us. I rise today to point out that Lynn Legault will be retiring very soon.

On behalf of all members, I sincerely thank Lynn for her remarkable and tireless service to the House of Commons over the course of more than 10 Parliaments and to about 1,333 different members. Since arriving here, she has supervised more than 1,240 pages in the House of Commons.

If you will permit me, Mr. Speaker, I would like to say directly to Lynn, Lynn, you have conducted yourself with great dignity, discretion, and the highest sense of professionalism. You did more than mentor a generation of pages. You made this place a better place, and that is no mean feat. Thank you, Lynn, for your service to Parliament. On behalf of all members of Parliament, enjoy your well-deserved retirement.

Aerospace Industry

[Rona Ambrose, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, in March 2016, the vice-president of Bombardier's C series program said that any federal support would be just an extra bonus that would be helpful but is not required.

Can the Prime Minister tell us why his government is going ahead with this loan when the company has said that it is not necessary?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, on the contrary, we have been working with Bombardier for several months to talk about how the government could help Canada's aerospace industry, create jobs, and increase research and development.

That is why we decided to lend the company approximately $400 million in order to create jobs in the aerospace industry across Canada and improve the competitiveness of this market, which is important to the world.

[Rona Ambrose, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, has the Prime Minister thought through the message he is sending to Canadians across the country when one favoured business, Bombardier, receives hundreds of millions of dollars in taxpayer handouts while he is punishing others with higher taxes and a carbon tax?

My question is very simple. Does he plan to also bail out the dry cleaning shop in Fort McMurray, or a diner in Stratford that has gone out of business because of his bad decisions?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we were elected on a commitment to create good middle-class jobs across the country and help those working hard to join the middle class. That is why we are pleased that this loan of almost $400 million to Bombardier is going to create thousands of good quality, middle-class jobs across the country.

We are also pleased that by approving the Line 3 replacement, we are creating 7,000 full-time middle-class jobs. By approving the Trans Mountain expansion, we are creating over 15,000 new middle-class jobs. We are working right across the country, including investing $1.3 billion in Alberta infrastructure alone, because we know creating good jobs and growth matters.

[Rona Ambrose, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister said he would borrow $10 billion a year to pay for his promises. Now that total is close to $25 billion, and last night we learned he is borrowing another $370 million to send to one single company, Bombardier. His current plan is not creating any jobs, so my question is this: Exactly have many jobs will this $370 million create?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the aeronautics industry across the country is responsible for thousands of strong middle-class jobs, and multiple small businesses right across the country earn spinoffs from the high quality manufacturing that goes on as Canada is a leader within aeronautics in the world.

We will continue to believe in a strong future for our research and development in aeronautics, but also in a broad range of industries. That is why we are being thoughtful about how to create good middle-class jobs across the country in many different industries.