House of Commons Hansard #371 of the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was elections.

Topics

Elections Modernization ActGovernment Orders

1:55 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan

Sorry. The time is up.

The hon. parliamentary secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons has said a word or two in this place, and I suspect he might in the next location.

1:55 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan

Order, please. I have the honour to inform the House that a communication has been received as follows:

Rideau Hall

Ottawa

December 13, 2018

Mr. Speaker:

I have the honour to inform you that the Right Honourable Julie Payette, Governor General of Canada, will proceed to the Senate Chamber today, the 13th day of December, 2018, at 4:30 p.m., for the purpose of giving Royal Assent to certain bills of law.

Yours sincerely,

Assunta Di Lorenzo

Secretary to the Governor General and Herald Chancellor

Centre BlockStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Liberal

Bill Casey Liberal Cumberland—Colchester, NS

Mr. Speaker, as the House may know, a couple of weeks ago I celebrated the 30th anniversary of my first election to this chamber.

I have been thrown in. I have been thrown out. I have been recycled. I have changed parties a few times. But I have had an incredible experience in this chamber and to think that this is the last day is really hard to take.

My first seat was over here. My seatmate was Kim Campbell. She ended up being one of the six prime ministers I have served under. I have sat over there. I have sat in the seat of the member for Saanich—Gulf Islands. I have sat everywhere. There is not a bad seat in the House.

In my last seat, when I was an independent, I sat directly between the NDP and the Liberals in the very back row and I got to know the very distinguished member for Papineau. That resulted in my sitting in this seat.

I have seen members of Parliament from all parties do great things in this chamber and I am very proud to have been a part of all of that. No doubt I will not be back in this Chamber again, so I would like to thank everyone for the experience.

Merry Christmas to everybody. Have a good one.

House of CommonsStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Conservative

Pierre Paul-Hus Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC

Mr. Speaker, in 2015, the people of Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles gave me the opportunity to represent them in the House of Commons.

I rise almost every single day on behalf of the 95,000 constituents of my riding to question the government or to vote, as Richard Marceau, Daniel Petit and Anne-Marie Day did before me.

For more than 100 years, men and women from across Canada, of different political stripes, have debated long hours in this place to give a voice to millions of Canadians. Votes took us into the First and Second World Wars. Others have ushered in major free trade agreements, and so on.

Indeed, the House may be just a building, but this building has a soul, the soul of the many great Canadians who have marked our history. I am extremely humbled and honoured to be part of a long line of MPs for Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, who each represented their constituents in their own way.

For this last member's statement in this building, I cannot emphasize enough my respect for the institution of the House of Commons. My voice will soon resonate in the new building for the benefit of Canadians and especially the people of Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles.

EMD Construction—BatimoStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Liberal

Linda Lapointe Liberal Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour for me to rise today. We have come to the last members' statements, so it is a pleasure to be here in the House.

In November, a very exciting company in my riding called EMD Construction—Batimo received two prizes at the most recent gala for the prestigious U.S.A. & Americas Property Awards. These awards are part of the renowned International Property Awards, which recognize outstanding architecture and design in real estate projects and highlight the success of property management companies around the world.

EMD—Batimo was awarded best Canadian residential development for the Chartwell L'Envol project in Cap-Rouge, in the Quebec City area. It is the first Canadian developer to receive a prestigious honour for a retirement residence. These are people from my riding of Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, so I am incredibly proud. Congratulations to the team at EMD Construction—Batimo. It is a thriving company.

I also want to take a moment to wish all my colleagues in the House and everyone patiently watching us on TV a merry Christmas and a very happy new year. I wish everyone peace and good health, and I hope everyone gets to spend some quality time with their family and friends.

Byelection in OutremontStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

NDP

Hélène Laverdière NDP Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC

Mr. Speaker, with the holidays approaching, lots of people are expecting a gift from the Prime Minister, a byelection in Outremont.

In October, the Prime Minister decided that over 300,000 Canadians, including the citizens of Outremont, did not need a voice in Parliament. All people have the right to an elected representative to defend their interests. We have an outstanding candidate in Outremont, a friend of mine, Julia Sanchez. She is an extraordinary woman whose involvement internationally and on environmental issues I know well. Knowing what she has accomplished in those arenas, I know she will do an exceptional job of representing the people of Outremont and defending their interests.

This holiday season, the Prime Minister should give the people of Outremont the gift of a byelection so that Julia Sanchez can join the NDP caucus in Ottawa.

VenezuelaStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

Liberal

Julie Dzerowicz Liberal Davenport, ON

Mr. Speaker, it is an absolute pleasure for me to rise on our last day in Centre Block to make a statement.

On behalf of the Latin American community in my riding of Davenport and right across the country, I would like to put a spotlight on the continuing deterioration of the state of affairs in Venezuela

Almost 3 million Venezuelans have fled to surrounding countries, causing one of the largest migrations in the history of Latin America and putting an enormous strain on local services in countries such as Peru, Colombia, Brazil, Chile, Mexico and Argentina.

There is a humanitarian crisis, with millions of Venezuelans lacking access to food, medicines, and other basic necessities of life. Then there are the human rights abuses, the extrajudicial killings, the violent crackdowns on protesters, activists and journalists.

Canada has condemned the role of the current regime in the ongoing political and economic crisis and has imposed economic sanctions on officials, and we were one of the first countries in the Americas to denounce the human rights situation.

We will continue to be vigilant to what is happening in Venezuela.

Yazidi CommunityStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

Conservative

Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB

The Yazidi community is currently observing the Three Day Fast of December. Fasting occurs from dawn until sunset, and in the evening family and friends hold feasts and engage in prayer. This is a time when Yazidis connect with the divine, celebrate blessings, and pray for peace. Tomorrow, Yazidis will hold the Feast of Ezi. Who knows when we next meet in here, 10 years hence. Maybe we will see Canada's first Yazidi member of Parliament.

The resilience of this community and their traditions is nothing short of a miracle. When evil tried to stamp out this people, they have persevered. Despite so many threats to their existence, Yazidis continue to celebrate their respect for peace and universal well-being for all of humanity.

I would like to say to all Yazidis on behalf of all of us in this place, “Eida Wa Piroz Be”.

To all Canadians Merry Christmas, happy holidays, peace and good health.

Chronic Fatigue SyndromeStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

Liberal

Anita Vandenbeld Liberal Ottawa West—Nepean, ON

M. Speaker, I rise today to shed light on a medical condition that affects over 800,000 Canadians. Myalgic encephalomyelitis, commonly referred to as “chronic fatigue syndrome” and fibromyalgia, or ME/FM, is a debilitating physical condition that can severely limit a person's ability to carry out ordinary daily activities. Unlike other conditions, those suffering very real physical symptoms, including incapacitating pain, are frequently stigmatized, told that it is in their head and denied basic supports that others with disabilities are entitled to. Poverty and social isolation often follow.

Global research on the causes, diagnostics and possible treatment of this condition are nearing potential breakthroughs, and yet there is no funding for research here in Canada.

I want to thank my constituent, Margaret Parlor, and the National ME/FM Action Network for their tireless advocacy in raising awareness of this issue.

ChristmasStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

Liberal

Francesco Sorbara Liberal Vaughan—Woodbridge, ON

Mr. Speaker, family, faith, traditions, time spent among friends, togetherness and celebrating the gift of life are all aspects of the holiday season that we cherish. I feel so blessed to have amazing colleagues on all sides of the House representing this beautiful country, and the hard-working Canadians from coast to coast to coast.

It is an honour for me to serve all Canadians. This holiday season, let's take the time to reflect on everything we have accomplished this year and show our love to everyone around us.

Let us embrace the spirit of giving and always look out for opportunities to help those who are less fortunate in our society.

From my family and I, our warm wishes to everyone here and to all Canadians for a very merry Christmas and happy new year.

Merry Christmas, everyone.

[Member spoke in Italian]

Automotive IndustryStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Conservative

Colin Carrie Conservative Oshawa, ON

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government has now voted down motions to study the impact on the Canadian automotive industry and economy of the GM plant closure in Oshawa not once, not twice, but three times. First at the industry committee, the Liberals failed us. Then, at the international trade committee, the Liberals failed us again. Finally, yesterday in the House, the Liberals failed Canadians by not supporting our motion calling on the industry committee to study the GM plant closure with stakeholders as soon as possible.

I have asked repeatedly in the House about when the Prime Minister will release his plan to help the affected workers. Again, we have heard nothing. Colleagues can understand the confusion among Canadians when the Prime Minister says he wants to work to find a solution, and yet the Liberals will not let parliamentarians take action to keep jobs in Oshawa and Canada, to work with stakeholders and to provide recommendations to the government. The Liberals continue to fail the people of Oshawa and all Canadians.

Saint John—RothesayStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Liberal

Wayne Long Liberal Saint John—Rothesay, NB

Mr. Speaker, the holiday season is a time to reflect upon the year that has passed and give a hand to those most in need in our communities. Today, I rise to reflect upon two ways our government is giving a hand to those most in need in Saint John—Rothesay.

This fall, I was thrilled to make an announcement of something that had been three years in the making: nearly $2.7 million in federal funding for the Saint John Human Development Council's UYES! project. This funding will help give 183 at-risk youth in our community the opportunity to acquire the job skills they need to find gainful employment.

I am also thrilled to announce that over 7,000 families in Saint John—Rothesay are benefiting from an average Canada child benefit payment of $670 a month. These investments in progressive social programs will help lift thousands of my constituents out of poverty and ensure that more families in our community have roofs over their heads and food on their tables at every passing Christmas.

Horizon HousingStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Liberal

Kent Hehr Liberal Calgary Centre, AB

Mr. Speaker, I have some good news to share with everyone. Because of our national housing strategy, kids with disabilities are finding places to live in their communities to build their lives. As members are aware, one in seven Canadians has a disability. However, many of these Canadian kids are growing up in hospitals because they do not have the supports they need. We are dealing with that. In fact, at the Horizon Housing Society's Glamorgan project in Calgary, there is a supportive living area that allows these kids to grow up in a home environment with the nursing care and support they need. Clearly, this is some good news for the holiday season, kids with disabilities being able to build their lives outside of a hospital. I am certain that everyone will agree that this is a game changer for kids with disabilities in this country.

I wish everyone a very merry Christmas and a happy new year.

High-speed InternetStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Conservative

Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC

Mr. Speaker, the session is coming to an end, it is 2018 and thousands of Canadians still do not have access to broadband Internet.

In 2016, the CRTC stated that access to broadband Internet services is vital to Canada's economic, social, democratic and cultural fabric. All Canadians must have access to high-speed Internet.

The Auditor General reported that this Liberal government launched the connect to innovate program in 2016 to expand Internet access but forgot to implement the program. Oops. They once again spent taxpayers' money. Rural residents have the same rights as urban residents.

This holiday season, I would ask this government to commit to providing high-speed Internet to rural residents. This is no longer the Green Acres era. Our rural areas deserve better.

In closing, I would like to wish the citizens of the most beautiful riding in Canada, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, much happiness and health. I look forward to serving you in 2019.

House of CommonsStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Liberal

Andrew Leslie Liberal Orléans, ON

Mr. Speaker, with the time in this magnificent place counting down from months to weeks to days and now hours, I want to take this moment to thank the residents of Orléans for entrusting me to be their voice on the Hill. I also most especially want to thank those who serve our country, both in and out of uniform, and your staff, Mr. Speaker, the clerks, the pages, the translators, the RCMP, the Parliamentary Protective Service, the people who work in the restaurant, and those who make our lives so much easier and focused on getting the job done.

Let us continue to reflect the values that define Canadians and to be generous and kind to our fellow citizens and to visitors from around the world.

With that, I wish my friends on both sides of the aisle a merry Christmas and best wishes for a great new year.

Leader of the New Democratic PartyStatements By Members

2:15 p.m.

NDP

Peter Julian NDP New Westminster—Burnaby, BC

Mr. Speaker, over this holiday season, Jagmeet Singh will be knocking on doors throughout Burnaby South. I hope the Prime Minister will stop playing games with the by-election and allow voters to choose their representative.

Jagmeet Singh has a very compelling family story. He had to make his own way in the world and took care of his family when his father fell ill. Because of his experiences at a time of record inequality and a profound family debt crisis, Jagmeet Singh believes in investing in people, families and communities. He represents a change from the same old, same old story we see in Ottawa.

Jagmeet Singh has shown courage throughout his life. He grew up facing racism and turned that challenge into strength and compassion. He fundamentally believes that we need to build a better Canada, a Canada where everyone matters and where no one is left behind.

I look forward to the day when voters can choose to have Jagmeet Singh speak up on behalf of Burnaby South and all Canadians here in Ottawa on the floor of the House of Commons.

OpioidsStatements By Members

2:15 p.m.

Conservative

John Brassard Conservative Barrie—Innisfil, ON

Mr. Speaker, the opioid crisis in Canada is killing more people than homicide, suicide and traffic accidents combined. The statistics are alarming: 8,000 Canadians have died from this crisis, and 11 Canadians are dying each day.

At the take-note debate on Monday evening, my colleague from Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte spoke about the tragic impact the opioid crisis is having on our city of Barrie, Ontario. He spoke about the 38 deaths in 2017 alone, the 38 lives that have been lost and the families that have been decimated. Our community is reeling trying to solve this crisis. It is all hands on deck.

Unbelievably, during the debate, while the member was referring to the 38 deaths, a microphone clearly picked up the Liberal government House leader saying, “Oh that's it? That's not so bad, is it? ” One death in this national crisis is too many, and for the Liberal government House leader to dismiss the deaths of 38 people in Barrie as, “Oh that's it? That's not so bad, is it?”, is unacceptable, repugnant and morally reprehensible.

House of CommonsStatements By Members

2:15 p.m.

Liberal

Greg Fergus Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC

Mr. Speaker, on August 15, 1988, I came to Ottawa to serve as a parliamentary page. It was the first time I had the privilege of setting foot on the green carpet of the House of Commons.

Little did I know that 27 years later, I would have the privilege of representing my constituents in the House of Commons as the member for Hull—Aylmer.

I must admit that I was a huge politics nerd from a very early age. I was a Hansard subscriber at age 14. Who does that?

At the time, I was reading the great debates that were happening in the House. I came to know these people I never met but came to know through Hansard, the Joe Clarks, the Nelson Riises and the George Bakers, their wit and intelligence coming through.

Aside from having the great privilege of being a page, what I will take from this chamber is an emotional time that happened here, and that was when Mauril Bélanger took the Speaker's chair.

We are not owners of this House. We are just stewards. We are just passing through. Let us take care of it while workers take care of this building over the next 10 years.

HealthOral Questions

2:15 p.m.

Conservative

Candice Bergen Conservative Portage—Lisgar, MB

Mr. Speaker, the opioid crisis is heartbreaking and tragic. In the first half of this year, more than 2,000 Canadians died as a result of this epidemic. Opioid deaths affect Canadians of all backgrounds; rich, poor, people from rural or urban areas, all are affected. This is a national crisis, and the government needs to take action immediately, before the situation gets even worse.

Does the government realize how urgent this situation is, and does it take the opioid crisis seriously?

HealthOral Questions

2:20 p.m.

Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe New Brunswick

Liberal

Ginette Petitpas Taylor LiberalMinister of Health

Mr. Speaker, we are in a national public health crisis when it comes to the opioid epidemic, and our government is taking it extremely seriously. We are treating this as a public health issue and not a criminal one. Unlike the Harper Conservatives, we have restored harm reduction as a key pillar of our strategy. We believe in supervised consumption sites and overdose prevention sites, because we recognize that they save lives. We continue to work with the provinces and territories, and we will do all we can to turn the tide on this national public health crisis.

HealthOral Questions

December 13th, 2018 / 2:20 p.m.

Conservative

Candice Bergen Conservative Portage—Lisgar, MB

Mr. Speaker, earlier this week, when we were debating about the crisis, we heard some heart-wrenching stories of lives lost, including the loss of 38 lives in Barrie, Ontario. Unbelievably, when the Liberals responded to hearing of these 38 deaths, the Liberal House leader could be heard saying, “Oh, that's it? That's not so bad, is it?” These heartless and cruel comments were incredibly hurtful to the thousands who have suffered because of this crisis.

Why in the world would the Liberal House leader say this, and will she stand in this House and apologize?

HealthOral Questions

2:20 p.m.

Waterloo Ontario

Liberal

Bardish Chagger LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons

Mr. Speaker, this is a very serious issue for me. It is for my community. I know it is for all members in this place. My comments were not intended to diminish the seriousness of this. In the Waterloo region, we have seen 85 people lose their lives. On this issue, if I have offended anyone, I can promise I have no problem apologizing. I apologize.

HealthOral Questions

2:20 p.m.

Conservative

Candice Bergen Conservative Portage—Lisgar, MB

Mr. Speaker, I do thank the House leader for that apology, but unfortunately, it cannot erase the damage and the hurt that has been done.

HealthOral Questions

2:20 p.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh!

HealthOral Questions

2:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan

Order.

The hon. opposition House leader has the floor.