House of Commons Hansard #314 of the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was cannabis.

Topics

2 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan

It being Wednesday, we will now have the singing of the national anthem led by the hon. member for Edmonton Centre.

[Members sang the national anthem]

MarijuanaStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Bloc

Mario Beaulieu Bloc La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC

Mr. Speaker, this morning, the Minister of Health announced her decision to fight the Senate amendments to the cannabis legalization bill. The Government of Canada is rejecting the amendment confirming Quebec's power to prohibit home cannabis cultivation.

One would think the federal government would have shown a modicum of respect. According to Jean-Marc Fournier, the Attorney General of Quebec, this is a bitter disappointment. I agree.

Today, the Government of Canada is once again sending the message that it could not care less about Quebec. Once again, the 40 curiously silent Liberal members and the Prime Minister are disrespecting Quebec. Once again, the Liberals are being inflexible. Once again, they are giving us a reason to seek independence.

This is an insult to Quebec. It is unacceptable to the Bloc Québécois—

MarijuanaStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan

Order. The hon. member for Brampton West.

Mount Pleasant Village MarketStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Liberal

Kamal Khera Liberal Brampton West, ON

Mr. Speaker, summer is just around the corner, and in Brampton West that means it is time for the Mount Pleasant Village Market.

This farmers' market is now in its fourth year and is an opportunity for our community to come together to support local producers, vendors, and budding small businesses. I had the opportunity to visit the market in its first year, and the amount it has grown since then is remarkable.

The farmers' market will run in Mount Pleasant Square every Thursday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. throughout the summer, starting June 21, until October 4. I am sure there will be many delicious, locally sourced options at the market to help families in Brampton West make healthier choices.

I encourage all Bramptonians to stop by, meet their neighbours, spend some time with their families, but most importantly, try some tasty treats.

Men's Mental HealthStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

Conservative

Matt Jeneroux Conservative Edmonton Riverbend, AB

Mr. Speaker, about six years ago, I stood in the Alberta legislature for the first time to share my story of undergoing a significant level of anxiety and depression, which many young men and young fathers often face.

As part of my story, I shared the feelings of being nervous, anxious, depressed, and scared of the prospect of being a new father. Like me, many young men and young dads have this sense of fear, and it is important that men across the country realize that they are not immune to these diagnoses simply because they are men.

We are told to be tough, to be strong, not to cry, and to toughen up. We are told not to share our feelings and that it is not normal to have feelings of depression. I want young men, young fathers to know that today, we can have these feelings. We can talk to someone about them, and we can stamp out the stigma.

Mental health issues in young men happen, but it is okay. Each conversation gets us closer to a world where we can rely on each other. Today, our event Father's Day on the Hill was another step to give men more courage so that no one suffers in silence.

Men's Mental HealthStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

Liberal

Majid Jowhari Liberal Richmond Hill, ON

Mr. Speaker, today my colleague from across the aisle, the representative from Edmonton Riverbend, as well as the Mental Health Commission of Canada and I, hosted an event commemorating Men's Health Week and Father's Day, highlighting the mental health crisis facing men in our country.

In Canada, 80% of those who take their own life are men, real men in a real crisis, who are unable to recognize their own struggle, to speak to and confide in those who love them, and to seek the support and treatment they need.

When diagnosing mental illness, we are better equipped and more comfortable identifying the signifiers more commonly presented by women than the signifiers of internal struggle by men. Men are more likely to lose their social circle as they age, and less likely to speak to their family about their own mental health issues.

Together, we heard the stories of those who struggle, connected with experts, and created a strong dialogue on the issue of mental health for men. I thank all those members who joined us at this reception.

Youth ChallengesStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

NDP

Niki Ashton NDP Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, MB

Mr. Speaker, a few weeks ago the Prime Minister spoke at the NYU graduation in the U.S.

While he philosophized in the U.S., here at home our grads are facing a challenging time. l want to invite him to attend any one of the graduations in our north, here in Canada, to hear their stories: Thompson, faced with the loss of the smelter and refinery; first nations facing continuing high unemployment and underfunding of education; Churchill, still faced with the shutdown of the port and the rail line.

He could attend a graduation in virtually any community across Canada to hear what young people are facing in terms of sky-high tuition fees and precarious employment, but I doubt he will.

I believe he does not want to listen to young people who are concerned about the environment, growing inequality, and their economic future. When it comes to the Prime Minister and his policies, young people are increasingly saying that the Liberal government not only is not part of the solution, but it is increasingly part of the problem.

120th Anniversary of YukonStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

Liberal

Larry Bagnell Liberal Yukon, YT

Mr. Speaker, in the summer of 1896, three men, Skookum Jim, George Carmack, and Tagish Charlie, found large gold nuggets in the gravel bottom of Bonanza Creek. Their cry of joy started the world's greatest gold rush. Approximately 200,000 men and women from all over the world converged on the Klondike in search of gold. More than 40,000 of them found it.

In 1898, Dawson City was the largest Canadian city west of Winnipeg, and Yukon, for so long the proud home of first nations people, was created from the western area of the Northwest Territories.

On today's date, June 13, 1898, assent was given for the Yukon Act, and four years later, in 1902, we sent our first member to Parliament, James H. Ross, a Liberal.

I stand to commemorate the 120th anniversary of the founding of Yukon territory. I invite all members and their families to come north this summer to visit the most beautiful riding in the country, enjoy Yukon hospitality, and bask in the glow of the midnight sun.

2018 GraduatesStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Conservative

Randy Hoback Conservative Prince Albert, SK

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all of the 2018 graduates, who have worked tirelessly to achieve this important milestone. As they embark on their new journeys, I would like to wish them the very best that life has to offer. May their efforts be rewarded with happiness and success.

Unfortunately, Justin Trudeau's mismanagement of the economy will cost these bright graduates. The harsh reality of high taxes will make the beginning of their new lives—

2018 GraduatesStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan

Order. I have to remind the member that he cannot use the names of members in the House, but should refer to them by their title or their riding name.

The hon. member for Prince Albert.

2018 GraduatesStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Conservative

Randy Hoback Conservative Prince Albert, SK

The reality of high taxes will make life harsher for these individuals as they progress to their new futures.

However, youth is the hope of the future, and these bright graduates have it within their power to make the world a better place. They are the building blocks of our country. I am confident that Canada will continue to prosper due to the strong foundation that these future leaders will provide.

To all the 2018 graduates, the future of Canada lies in their hands, and I am so excited to witness all the wonderful things they will accomplish. I congratulate them, and may success be theirs.

Plastic-free July ChallengeStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Liberal

Julie Dabrusin Liberal Toronto—Danforth, ON

Mr. Speaker, I am challenging you, people in our communities, and people across our country to take the plastics challenge in July.

It is estimated that as much as eight million tonnes of plastic ends up in our oceans each year.

This year, we banned microbeads, and Canada championed and endorsed a plastics charter at the G7 summit, but there is a personal element to the solution, too. Knowing that only about 10% of plastics get recycled in Canada, we need to reduce, reuse, and recycle.

On my website and Facebook page, there is a plastic-free July challenge sign-up. I invite people and businesses in my community and across the country to either sign up or start their own plastic-free July challenge.

This July, use a reusable shopping bag, refuse the plastic straw, or use a reusable bottle. Together, we can end plastics pollution.

National Blood Donor WeekStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Liberal

Francis Drouin Liberal Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in the House today to highlight National Blood Donor Week, which runs until June 17. This year marks the 10th anniversary of this special week.

It cannot be overemphasized how blood donation is a vital gesture and how important it is to educate citizens about this issue. To meet the needs of patients this summer, Canadian Blood Services needs 44,000 donors by Canada Day.

I would like to congratulate the 406,000 people who have donated blood over the past year. Half of all Canadians will one day need blood themselves or know someone who will.

I would therefore like to thank all past, present, and future donors. They have saved, and will continue to save, thousands of lives. I urge all Canadians and all members here today to donate blood if they can.

Government PerformanceStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Conservative

Pat Kelly Conservative Calgary Rocky Ridge, AB

Mr. Speaker, as we prepare to rise for the summer, I thought I would take a moment to review the government's 2018 performance to date.

The year began with the government's odious summer jobs attestation, and quickly proceeded to its refusal to recognize the coming Trans Mountain crisis. Then the Prime Minister went to India with a convicted terrorist and tried to blame the Indian government. The environment minister tabled a regulatory bill that industry says will kill all future resource development. The finance minister tabled a budget, which continues to rack up promise breaking deficits, implement a carbon tax, and refused to answer any questions about either.

Throw in a couple of new ethics investigations, an electoral reform bill designed to help third party proxies for the Liberals, capital flight, the Trans Mountain buyout debacle, chaos at our borders, more red tape for gun owners, a justice bill that helps criminals, and a $7-billion dollar slush fund, and I am sure those on the government side are ready for a summer break. However, with a session like this, so are Canadians.

Centre for Ocean Ventures & EntrepreneurshipStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Liberal

Darren Fisher Liberal Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS

Mr. Speaker, our government believes in Atlantic Canada. We are 32 members strong, working together for our region.

Just last week, the Centre for Ocean Ventures & Entrepreneurship, known as COVE, officially launched in my riding of Dartmouth—Cole Harbour. COVE is an incredible facility for applied innovation in the oceans sector. It is the only hub like it in the entire world: start-ups, small and medium-sized enterprises, larger firms, and post-secondary expertise all under one roof in Dartmouth developing ocean technology.

There is nowhere in Nova Scotia more than 67 kilometres away from the ocean, making this the perfect location to strengthen our ocean economy from coat to coast to coast.

I am proud that our government invested $7.2 million in COVE, partnering with the Province of Nova Scotia and Irving Shipbuilding. When we work together, we always achieve more.

I congratulate everyone who made COVE possible. Atlantic Canada has a bright future.

World Cup of SoccerStatements By Members

2:15 p.m.

Liberal

Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC

Mr. Speaker, the FIFA World Cup kicks off tomorrow in Russia. Over the next few weeks, we will get to see our favourite players in action, including Neymar, Ronaldo, Iniesta, Salah, and, of course, Messi.

In 2026, all the action will be happening right here in Canada, as well as in the United States and Mexico.

With this major event, our country continues to build a strong history of hosting FIFA events, including the U-20 World Cup in 2007, the U-20 Women's World Cup in 2014, and most recently, the 2015 Women's World Cup.

With games in Edmonton, Toronto, and in my hometown of Montreal, we look forward to welcoming soccer fans from around the world back to Canada in 2026.

That is when the world will discover the next generation of players, the Maradonas, Pelés, Ronaldos, and Messis of tomorrow.

We will continue to invest in our athletes, and maybe the next star will be one of our own, a young person from Ottawa, Quebec City, or Moncton.

The eyes of the world will be on us in 2026, and we will not disappoint.

Democratic ReformStatements By Members

2:15 p.m.

Conservative

Blaine Calkins Conservative Red Deer—Lacombe, AB

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal elections bill, Bill C-76, would do nothing to modernize our democratic process. In fact, this dangerous bill would encourage foreign entities to interfere in our elections and undermine our democracy.

Other countries have seen the consequences of foreign interference in elections. It would be naive to presume Canada is immune. In fact, reports indicate that foreign third parties spent millions of dollars in the 2015 federal election. The American Tides Foundation alone donated $1.5 million to influence its outcome.

We should not allow our elections to be decided by foreign organizations or individuals with deep pockets.

I have tabled Bill C-406 to address this very issue. Bill C-406 would amend the Canada Elections Act to ban foreign contributions to third parties for election advertising purposes.

Canadians, and Canadians only, should be determining the results of our next election. It is the right thing to do; it is the patriotic thing to do.

I look forward to the debate on this bill and seeing where the other parties in the House will put their interests, either with Canada or their own. Any member who votes against the bill is voting in favour of foreign interference in our elections. I guess we will see.

House of Commons Page ProgramStatements By Members

2:15 p.m.

Liberal

Nick Whalen Liberal St. John's East, NL

Mr. Speaker, I wish I could say that the final score does not reflect how close the match was or that, this time, no pages were injured by the member for St. John's East. Sadly, I cannot.

Last night, in their final tune-up game before the World Cup, the pages, led by Ariana Coleman, Brandon Gertz, Sebastien Arsenault, Sylvan Lutz, and Michael Donaghy, thrashed the MPs on the all-party FC Commoners soccer team in our annual match.

It was all tied up at the half when the pages' goalie, Zachary Robichaud, went down hard on a save. We hope Zack is okay. After halftime, the MPs had an uphill battle both literally and figuratively. The final score: pages 5, MPs 1.

A victory that happens once every 40 years is a good way to round off the 40th anniversary of the parliamentary page program.

I ask all members to rise with me to thank and congratulate our pages. Long live the pages.

Women's SheltersStatements By Members

2:15 p.m.

NDP

Linda Duncan NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB

Mr. Speaker, violence against women and children is recognized nationally and internationally as a significant barrier to gender equality and to women's human rights and fundamental freedoms. I wish today to recognize the dedication of those serving in Canada's shelters for women and children.

In 2017, Alberta shelters provided refuge and support for over 10,000 women and children fleeing violence. A key barrier to effective action against domestic violence has been failed coordination and consistent responses by community, police, and government.

I was honoured to attend the launch of a positive new initiative for the Alberta Council of Women's Shelters, targeting this very problem. The program, jointly financed by federal and provincial governments, brings together RCMP, police, shelters, government agencies, and communities to offer coherent, coordinated, longer-term support. This evidence-based program is women-centred, addresses gender inequalities, holds perpetrators accountable, enables better collaboration, ensures healing for violence related to trauma, and better serves the diversities of communities needing support and escape from violence.

I invite all MPs to join me in saluting Shelters Canada—

Women's SheltersStatements By Members

2:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan

The hon. member for Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock.

Carbon PricingStatements By Members

2:20 p.m.

Conservative

Jamie Schmale Conservative Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON

Mr. Speaker, last week the Wynne Liberals were fired by Ontarians for wasting billions of taxpayer dollars and refusing to come clean with the cost of an unrealistic energy plan and a poorly considered carbon-tax scheme.

The Prime Minister has had six days now to consider the ramifications of not owning up to Canadians about the true cost of his carbon tax on the average family. He knows his scheme will increase the cost of living for every single Canadian. The PBO confirmed it, saying that it would cost $10 billion. Other estimates pegged the true cost as high as $35 billion per year, sounding the death knell for future investment in Canada.

A significant investment exodus to the U.S. is under way in real time for a more favourable investment climate buoyed by lower corporate taxes. Canadians understand we cannot tax our way to a cleaner environment, and they are making their voices heard at the ballot box.

Conservatives will fight for lower taxes, and we will keep calling for the Liberals to end their carbon tax cover-up.

National Public Service WeekStatements By Members

2:20 p.m.

Liberal

Steven MacKinnon Liberal Gatineau, QC

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in the House today in honour of National Public Service Week.

As the member for Gatineau, I have the good fortune to represent many public servants. This week, as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Services and Procurement Canada, I attended several activities to thank public servants for the important work they do every day.

With their knowledge and outstanding expertise, public servants play a vital role in running the day-to-day operations of every department and agency in the Government of Canada.

The reason we are celebrating National Public Service Week is that we on this side of the House believe in government and respect the work our public servants do. We see the commitment and dedication they put into their work every day to make a positive impact on the lives of all Canadians.

Happy National Public Service Week!

Carbon PricingOral Questions

2:20 p.m.

Regina—Qu'Appelle Saskatchewan

Conservative

Andrew Scheer ConservativeLeader of the Opposition

Mr. Speaker, more and more Canadians understand that the Prime Minister's carbon tax will not make a significant difference to global emissions. What it will do is increase the cost of living, making everything more expensive, especially the cost to fuel their cars.

I think even the Prime Minister understands this, because he is going to great lengths to hide the information from Canadians. He still, after weeks and months, refuses to tell Canadians the true cost of his carbon tax.

Will the Prime Minister finally do the right thing today, end the carbon tax cover-up, and tell Canadians how much it will cost?

Carbon PricingOral Questions

2:20 p.m.

Papineau Québec

Liberal

Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister

Mr. Speaker, I look forward to answering that question, and subsequent questions.

I do want to take a moment right now to personally thank the Leader of the Opposition, indeed all opposition MPs, and indeed all Canadians for standing together in this moment of difficulties in our relationship with the United States. How we will continue to work together on standing up for Canadian workers and for Canadian interests is something beyond partisanship.

I thank the member opposite, all members in the House, and Canadians across Canada for their solidarity on this issue.

Carbon PricingOral Questions

2:20 p.m.

Regina—Qu'Appelle Saskatchewan

Conservative

Andrew Scheer ConservativeLeader of the Opposition

Mr. Speaker, I thank the Prime Minister for his sentiments. I can commit to him that the Conservatives will always support efforts to keep markets open, keep borders open, and protect Canadian jobs and the Canadian economy.

Now, there are a lot of things we cannot control. As the Government of Canada knows, it cannot control all the external factors. However, what it can control is how it manages Canada's economy.

More and more people in Canada are rejecting the idea of a carbon tax, knowing that it will devastate jobs and opportunities here in Canada. Ontario has now joined the group of provinces that opposes a carbon tax.

The Prime Minister's coalition for his carbon tax is unravelling. Will he finally come clean on how much the costs will be for Canadian families?