Debates of Dec. 9th, 2019

Homelessness

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, Minister of Families]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the hon. member for his hard work in the fight against homelessness. When any member of our society ends up on the street, we are all diminished. That is why our redesign strategy has doubled funding in the fight against homelessness by 2021, and we are making more communities eligible for this important funding.

While there is still work to do, “Reaching Home”, Canada's first-ever national housing strategy, will enable us to not only meet but hopefully exceed our already ambitious homelessness reduction targets.

Foreign Affairs

[David Sweet, Conservative, Flamborough—Glanbrook, ON]

Mr. Speaker, on November 17, the Liberals broke faith with our friends in Israel and the Jewish community and took part in the annual Israel bashing at the UN.

The foreign affairs minister is quoted as saying that everyone knows why Canada voted the way it did on Israel at the UN. However, the Jewish community and our friends in Israel cannot figure it out. They obviously did not get the memo.

Could the minister please explain why he decided to vote against the only democracy in the Middle East and our friends?

[Karina Gould, Liberal, Minister of International Development]

Mr. Speaker, as this is the first time I am rising in the House this session, I would like to thank the people of Burlington for re-electing me.

I am incredibly proud that Canada is one of Israel's strongest allies at the UN and many other international organizations. We are opposed to efforts that unfairly single out Israel for criticism and seek to isolate it internationally. We agree that there are too many resolutions related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. We have called on the international community to channel its efforts toward helping both sides to resume direct negotiations and work toward achieving a lasting peace for both peoples.

Indigenous Affairs

[Eric Melillo, Conservative, Kenora, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the people of Grassy Narrows First Nation in my riding of Kenora have been suffering with the effects of mercury contamination for decades. In 2017, the government promised a treatment centre to support the community. It is now nearly 2020 and we have still seen no action.

Could the Minister of Indigenous Services please tell the House when the government will finally deliver on its promise and deliver support for this community?

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Minister of Indigenous Services]

Mr. Speaker, I first want to congratulate the member opposite on his election and, importantly, his advocacy in this matter.

I am glad to have had the opportunity to have met with Chief Turtle last week. We had a good, productive conversation. In the meeting, I reiterated my commitment and that of the Prime Minister's to building a mercury treatment facility, and that funding is not an obstacle.

We share a will to move forward, and I look forward to working with Chief Turtle and the community to get this facility built. I will have an update for the House in short order.

Small Business

[Tracy Gray, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Mr. Speaker, since this is the first time I am rising in the House, I would like to thank the constituents of Kelowna—Lake Country and to have earned their trust.

Small business is the backbone of our economy, and it certainly is in my riding of Kelowna—Lake Country. I have personally spoken to thousands of business owners who have been affected by the Liberals' failed tax policies.

Families are paying more in taxes and are struggling just to get by. In B.C. alone, my province, 18,000 jobs were lost last month. Businesses are paying more taxes to invest due to the passive investment changes.

Will the Liberals' economic update include tax cuts for small business?

[Bill Morneau, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to welcome the member to the House and let her know that in the last Parliament we did reduce taxes on middle-class Canadians. We also reduced taxes on small businesses.

We were so pleased today to move forward with the next tax break for 20 million Canadians, which we know is important. People are dealing with economic anxieties and we are trying to ensure they have more money to raise their families and to lead their lives.

Veterans

[Marie-France Lalonde, Liberal, Orléans, ON]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Veterans Affairs.

Many veterans in my riding have told me how disappointed they were when the previous government cancelled the veteran's service card. The card is a way to recognize our brave men and women for their sacrifices and their service to our country.

Thanks to their advocacy, our government reintroduced the veteran's service card last year. Could the minister please update the House on the status of the card?

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, I would first like to thank the people of Cardigan for electing me for the 10th consecutive time. It is a great honour indeed to serve the people of Cardigan. I also want to congratulate my colleague for Orléans for being elected.

I can assure the member that the veteran's card is now available for every Canadian Forces member who has been honourably released and to anyone who has completed basic training.

I encourage all veterans to apply for theirs today so they continue to link with veteran communities and be recognized for their valuable service.

Forestry Industry

[Taylor Bachrach, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, in my riding and across B.C., the forestry industry supports over 140,000 jobs. However, this year, sawmill shut-downs have created uncertainty for many families. Now thousands more workers will be without work over Christmas, and the federal government is missing in action.

At the very least, will the minister commit to come to B.C. and meet with local leaders? Will he work with us to ensure greater flexibility in the EI system so we can bring support and certainty to B.C. families?

[Seamus O'Regan, Liberal, Minister of Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, indeed, I already have had the pleasure of sitting down just last week with the B.C. minister of forestry. We will continue to work together on programs like the indigenous forestry initiative, which supported 15 indigenous forest-based economic developments just last year. These investments are supporting diversification and innovation, while boosting the long-term competitiveness of the industry. Most important, they are creating and maintaining jobs for hard-working Canadians in our forestry sector and the families that rely on those jobs.

Infrastructure

[Jenica Atwin, Green, Fredericton, NB]

Mr. Speaker, in a recent speech to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities said that infrastructure must be more resilient to climate change.

I was glad to hear this. At home, in my riding of Fredericton, we have faced the dreadful consequences of some of the worst flooding of the Wolastoq river, known as the Saint John, in recent memory. We have certainly not seen the last of this seasonal flooding. We need to effectively adapt to the effects of the climate crisis.

My question for the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities is this. How is she planning to use the green municipal fund in New Brunswick to ensure that my constituents will stop suffering from the effects of these now recurring and predictable floods?

[Catherine McKenna, Liberal, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities]

Mr. Speaker, it is really important, as we build infrastructure for the next 50 to 100 years, that we consider the impacts of climate change. We know what the science is. We need resilient infrastructure. We need to be protecting communities. We need to also build in a way that reduces emissions.

I look forward to working with the member opposite. Through the green infrastructure fund, there is also the disaster mitigation and adaptation fund to help support efforts to keep the residents of Fredericton safe.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

That brings us to the end of question period.

The hon. member for Mirabel on a point of order.

[Simon Marcil, Bloc, Mirabel, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I do not want there to be any confusion. I respect your position. I even put on a tie for you today.

When I asked a question earlier, I was talking about the government not doing its job, not you.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I thank the hon. member for Mirabel for the apology. I appreciate it. I know that members can get emotional in the House and directly address someone. This was a good lesson for everyone in the House, and we all learned something.

Presence in Gallery

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I would like to draw to the attention of hon. members to the presence in the gallery of the Hon. Ranj Pillai, Deputy Premier for Yukon, Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources, Minister of Economic Development, and Minister responsible for the Yukon Development Corporation and the Yukon Energy Corporation.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear!

Appointment of Deputy Speaker

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Following my election as Speaker, I have consulted with the leaders of the recognized parties regarding the nomination of the other Chair occupants. I am prepared to propose, for the ratification of the House, a candidate for the position of Deputy Speaker and chair of committee of the whole.

Pursuant to Standing Order 7, I propose Mr. Stanton for the position of Deputy Speaker and chair of committee of the whole.

Motion deemed moved and seconded.

Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

(Motion agreed to)

Judicial Compensation and Benefits Commission

[David Lametti, Liberal, Minister of Justice]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, “Report and recommendations” from the Judicial Compensation and Benefits Commission.

Federal Ombudsman for Victims of Crime

[David Lametti, Liberal, Minister of Justice]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the 2017-18 annual report of the office of the federal ombudsman for victims of crime.

Human Organ Trafficking

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I have an opportunity today to table four petitions. The first petition is in support of bills that were in the last Parliament, Bills C-350 and S-240. These bills deal with the scourge of forced organ trafficking. The petitioners are no doubt disappointed that those bills did not pass in the last Parliament, despite having a lot of support, and are hopeful that similar bills will be able to move forward and finally become law in this Parliament.

Falun Gong

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition is from those who are concerned about the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China. It asks Parliament and the government to establish measures to stop the regime's mass murder of innocent people for their organs. It also calls for the government to use every opportunity to raise the issue of the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners.