Debates of March 18th, 2019

4-H Clubs

[Shannon Stubbs, Conservative, Lakeland, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to champion Lakeland's agricultural sector, from small and generational grain, beef and dairy farms, to large-scale processors and agri-food companies, and all the local 4-H clubs from Bruderheim to Wandering River to Lloydminster to Paradise Valley, and everywhere in between.

I was active in 4-H growing up on a farm near the village of Chipman.

“Learn to do by doing”, “make the best better” and using head, heart, hands and health in the service of community and country, those are more than a century of 4-H principles. They really embody the ethics and way of life of rural Canadians and Canada's world-class farmers and producers.

The more than 25,000 4-H youth members and 7,700 volunteers are participating in public speaking competitions across the country and at home in Lakeland. The 4-H Canadian Citizenship Congress is on May 2. I know of at least two young women from Lakeland who will be attending.

I give my best wishes to all 4-H members. They are developing the responsible, caring and contributing life, leadership and communications skills that will help them shape the future of Canada.

Retirement Congratulations

[Peter Fragiskatos, Liberal, London North Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, this afternoon I stand to congratulate London Police Chief John Pare on an outstanding career with the London Police Service.

Last month, Chief Pare announced he would be retiring this June after more than 30 years of exemplary service with the force. John joined the London Police Service in 1989 as a cadet and climbed the ranks before being named the city's 19th police chief in May 2015. John has been described as level-headed, approachable, forward thinking, calm, and has had the necessary patience to lead in such a pivotal role.

The London Police Service is made up of approximately 600 officers, 200 civilians and 22 cadets who serve our diverse community. I witnessed first-hand their incredible dedication when I went on a ride-along in late 2017 with Sergeant Sean Travis.

To Chief Pare, the senior executive, all the officers, civilians and cadets within the LPS and all first responders for that matter, I say “thank you” for their selfless service to London and to Canada.

Sustainability

[Randall Garrison, NDP, Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke, BC]

Mr. Speaker, just after the darkness of the terror attack on Muslims in Christchurch, it was heartening to see literally millions of young people around the world, and from my riding, striking to demand that governments take action to save our planet and their future. While governments fail to act, these students and others are busy charting paths to a more sustainable future.

Last week I visited the T'Sou-ke First Nation again, a small first nation that already has a solar farm in place that meets their own power needs and sells surplus power back to the grid. They have now launched a second phase of projects aimed at sustainability, including food security, with sustainable oyster farming and greenhouses to expand local food production. Soon the T'Sou-ke Nation will have created more jobs than they have members to fill them, proving that it is actually a sustainable future and jobs that go hand in hand.

Unfortunately the government is so anchored in the past that it thinks it is okay to tweet congratulations to the striking students, while continuing to promote fossil fuels. Instead New Democrats will join hands with climate leaders to build a sustainable future, starting now.

Working Women's Association

[Yves Robillard, Liberal, Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC]

Mr. Speaker, this March we are celebrating the contribution of women in Canada and around the world. At a time when women and girls are speaking out, we cannot treat this occasion just like any other. As we know, the cause of women is the challenge of our time.

This cause really hit home for me when I met with the people at Femmes en emploi, the working women's association in Laval. The commitment and dedication of the association's members perfectly mirror the changes that are transforming our society. By helping women from all backgrounds gain employment, this association gives women the momentum they need to finally break the glass ceiling that is keeping us from achieving equality.

I thank them all.

Veterans

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

Mr. Speaker, on the 25th anniversary of the Somalia affair, Australia, not Canada, has responded to the wrong done to its own. The Australian minister for veterans affairs announced that there will be $2.1 million to support concerned veterans who have taken mefloquine or tafenoquine.

Why is Canada missing in action for our veterans? The Australian initiative responds to testimony heard from veterans during a senate inquiry and consultation forums across Australia. In response to the difficult sharing of their testimony, Australia is also providing veterans 24-7 free, confidential, nationwide counselling.

Australian veterans and their words matter. Why is the testimony of Canadian veterans being ignored? Opposition members of the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs; Dr. Nevin, executive director of the Quinism Foundation; and our Royal Canadian Legion continue to call on Canada's Prime Minister to support research on mefloquine poisoning among Canadian veterans and to reopen an inquiry that would clear the names of Canadian soldiers and the Canadian Airborne Regiment.

Shootings in Christchurch

[Gagan Sikand, Liberal, Mississauga—Streetsville, ON]

Mr. Speaker, on Thursday night, Canada watched a terrorist attack unfold in Christchurch, New Zealand. The mass shooting of innocent Muslims shocked people around the world.

As Canadians, we will not back down in the face of Islamophobia. We are making it clear that terrorism and hate will not be met with indifference. Peaceful coexistence between religious communities is an important part of diversity. We are strong, not in spite of our differences but because of them. Both our Prime Minister and our government have been leaders on this since day one.

However, we have political parties that want to divide us. We have political leaders right here in this very House who will not acknowledge Islamophobia. These people have no place representing Canada and Canadians. It does not matter if individuals pray in a church, synagogue, gurdwara temple or mosque, they should feel free in their place of worship.

Housing

[Adam Vaughan, Liberal, Spadina—Fort York, ON]

Mr. Speaker, homelessness can be ended. In fact, communities right across Canada are doing it now. I am proud to be part of a government that has made historic housing investments in support of these efforts. However, clearly more can be done and more must be done.

The Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness is leading the way on this issue. Last week, its 20,000 homes campaign reached its target. The organization has moved 21,254 people from streets and shelters into safe, affordable housing. Its new campaign, Built for Zero, aims to eliminate homelessness, person by person and community by community.

Our government knows the best way to end homelessness is to prevent it. When that does not work, the best way to solve it is to build housing and fund the supports that people need to stay housed. We know that people with lived experience and front-line workers are the best experts in this field.

Our government is committed to ending homelessness. We look forward to working with the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness, not just on Building for Zero but on getting to zero on this issue. Together, we can and we must end homelessness.

The Economy

[Blake Richards, Conservative, Banff—Airdrie, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the current Liberal government and Prime Minister continually put themselves and their cronies ahead of Canadian families. Canadians are struggling, and Liberal failures are making it increasingly difficult for them to be able to succeed. Half of Canadians are only $200 away from not being able to pay their bills, and all Canadians are now afraid of what is ahead. While Canadians struggle, the government is making life harder and more expensive.

If Liberals cared about or respected Canadians, they would put in place policies for Canadians to be able to succeed. They would build pipelines. They would cut red tape instead of increasing it. They would cut taxes instead of raising them. They would create the opportunity for the private sector be able to create jobs, and they would cancel the carbon tax.

Canadians know that the current Liberal government is doing nothing to make life more affordable and everything to make life harder. Times are tough and are getting tougher. One in three Canadians feels that his or her current standard of living has gotten worse. That is the sign of a Liberal government that puts its political interests ahead of Canadians. It is time for the Prime Minister to show Canadians some respect and start putting them first.

Commonwealth Day

[Alexandra Mendes, Liberal, Brossard—Saint-Lambert, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I believe we can all unite today in celebrating, with a week's delay, Commonwealth Day, an occasion to recognize the aspirational and inspirational objectives of this family of nations.

As a very active member of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, I firmly believe in this organization’s raison d'être, namely to promote democracy, human rights, international peace and security, as well as the rule of law and good governance.

Once again, allow me to rejoice in the commemoration of this special day and to offer special thanks to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for such committed dedication to the Commonwealth family.

Cancer Prevention and Treatment

[Peter Schiefke, Liberal, Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today to acknowledge the importance of cancer awareness and activism. As I celebrate seven years in remission this month, I know perfectly well that awareness, early detection, and new treatments save lives.

We still have a lot of work to do and we must continue that work until we find a cure.

On behalf of the House, I want to thank every Canadian who has spoken up about cancer; every Canadian who has donated; every organization leading the charge; every researcher who has worked tirelessly to find that new breakthrough; every nurse and doctor who has diligently treated and cared for a fighter; and every spouse, friend and family member who has been there for their loved one when they needed them most. That love and care made all the difference for me, and I could not have done it without having my wife and best friend Paula by my side.

We are all in this together. We all have a role to play, and that is why I am confident that together one day we will beat cancer.

Conservative Party of Canada

[Len Webber, Conservative, Calgary Confederation, AB]

Mr. Speaker, life is getting more expensive for Canadians every day. Taxes are going up and we have little to show for it. A middle-class family with at least one child should brace for an average increase of over $2,200 a year. It is an alarming amount, and the situation is made worse when you consider the cost of child care, rising interest rates and mortgage payments.

The Liberals promised Canadians that they would borrow just $10 billion per year to create jobs and grow the economy, but now the deficit is three times as large and there is no plan to balance Canada's budget until after I am dead. We are in for decades of red ink. My city of Calgary, once the economic engine of Canada, now has the highest unemployment rate in the country.

Canadians deserve better. They deserve strong leadership to get pipelines built and strong leadership to put our economy on sound footing. This fall, Canadians will have the chance to build a better Canada with a new, strong Conservative leadership. It cannot come soon enough.

Professional Tennis

[Peter Fonseca, Liberal, Mississauga East—Cooksville, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am happy to rise today to celebrate something historic in the world of professional tennis. As an athlete and former Olympian, it is always amazing to see our country rally behind an athlete. It is one of the reasons that sport is so important in bringing together a whole country.

We saw that this past weekend when Mississauga's own Bianca Andreescu took the tennis world by storm. She made history by becoming the first wild card player to win a master's tournament, the Indian Wells championship.

From all of us parliamentarians, we would like to congratulate her. We look forward to the amazing career that she has ahead of her.

This goes to show how strong Canadian tennis is right now. It started years ago, and then more recently, with Milos, then Denis and Genie. Now we have Bianca. We cannot wait to cheer her on and see everything that she accomplishes.

Love, game, set, match, Bianca.

Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302

[Linda Duncan, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Mr. Speaker, when Ethiopian Airlines flight 302 crashed last week, Yusuf Abdullahi lost his sister, Amina Ibrahim Odowa, and her five-year-old daughter, Sofia Abdulkadir, both Edmontonians.

Yesterday, Abdullahi attended a candlelight vigil alongside dozens of Edmontonians to honour his family and the other 155 passengers aboard the Ethiopian Airlines flight. The same vigil commemorated the victims of Friday's mosque shootings in Christchurch, New Zealand. Fifty people were killed in the attacks and dozens more were injured.

Mr. Adbdullahi remarked that “Every family is going through pain. The families of those people who were killed in the mosque, they are going through the same pain I went through, my family went through.”

Also lost in the crash was former Edmonton resident, Darcy Belanger, and other Canadians headed to the UN Environment Assembly in Nairobi, to aid projects or to go to family reunions.

On behalf of the NDP, I offer our deepest condolences to all those who have lost family, friends and loved ones as a result of this tragedy.

Shootings in Christchurch

[Ziad Aboultaif, Conservative, Edmonton Manning, AB]

Mr. Speaker, last week the world was shocked by the brutal massacre of 50 Muslims in Christchurch, New Zealand, as they gathered in their mosques for Friday prayers. This terror attack was a cowardly and hateful assault on the Muslim community, our shared values, and on the freedoms that we as Canadians hold so dear. Houses of worship must be places where people can meet and worship freely without fear.

Canada's Conservatives are united with Christchurch and the Muslim community across the world in their grief over this devastating loss.

Last week's events reaffirm that now more than ever, we must all stand shoulder to shoulder against those who would try to divide us in their mission to sow hatred and destruction. Freedom, love and peaceful understanding will persevere. Canadians will ensure it.

[Mark Eyking, Liberal, Sydney—Victoria, NS]

Mr. Speaker, Canada's heart is broken for New Zealand and the international Muslim community. On Friday, in Christchurch, 50 worshippers and bystanders were killed and many others wounded at the two mosques, in a senseless act of hate.

Every human being should be able to practise his or her faith without fear. We have a responsibility to stand against hate in every form it takes. We remember far too well the attack on the worshippers at the Islamic Cultural Centre of Quebec City two years ago.

Canada is very like-minded to New Zealand in our social and environmental policies, our trade deals like the CPTPP, and our historic alliances through two world wars and many other international conflicts.

My wife Pam and I, and our son Josh, had the wonderful pleasure of visiting New Zealand to experience the beautiful country it is.

As chair of the Canada-New Zealand-Australia friendship group, I would like to extend my deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives in this vicious attack. Canada stands in solidarity with New Zealand and the Muslim countries around the world.

New Member

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

I have the honour to inform the House that the Clerk of the House has received from the Chief Electoral Officer a certificate of the election and return of Ms. Rachel Bendayan, member for the electoral district of Outremont.

Ms. Rachel Bendayan, member for the electoral district of Outremont, introduced by the Right Hon. Justin Trudeau and the Hon. Marc Garneau.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

I have the honour to inform the House that the Clerk of the House has received from the Chief Electoral Officer a certificate of the election and return of Mr. Davidson, member for the electoral district of York—Simcoe.

Scot Davidson, member for the electoral district of York—Simcoe, introduced by the Hon. Andrew Scheer and the Hon. Diane Finley.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

I have the honour to inform the House that the Clerk of the House has received from the Chief Electoral Officer a certificate of the election and return of Mr. Singh, member of Parliament for the electoral district of Burnaby South.

Jagmeet Singh, member for the electoral district of Burnaby South, introduced by Mr. Peter Julian and Ms. Ruth Ellen Brosseau.

Shootings in New Zealand

[Andrew Scheer, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, I know I speak for all members when I say that we are all shocked and saddened by news of the terrorist attack on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. I know that the Prime Minister and I, along with other opposition leaders, will be making statements after question period, but I wanted to give the Prime Minister the opportunity to join with me now, and indeed all members, in expressing our profound sorrow for the victims and their families, while standing in solidarity with Muslims all over the world and condemning the hateful ideologies that promote violence and intolerance.

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians across the country were appalled to learn of the terrorist attack on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. We extend our deepest condolences to the families and friends who lost loved ones in this terrible attack.

To the people of New Zealand and Muslim communities in Canada and around the world, they are in our hearts and minds and we stand with them.

I spoke with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern over the weekend to convey Canada's support through this difficult time, both as a government, as political institutions, and also from people to people.

I also want to highlight that in regard to the Netherlands, our thoughts are with the residents as we learn more on the possible terrorist attack they have gone through this morning. We will be reaching out to counterparts to offer our support.

Justice

[Andrew Scheer, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the Prime Minister.

The former attorney general of Canada confirmed that the Prime Minister and his staff subjected her to consistent and sustained political pressure to end criminal prosecution of SNC-Lavalin. The Prime Minister has retained the services of a lawyer to defend him against potential criminal charges. If he really wants to get to the bottom of what happened, he can waive solicitor-client privilege and allow the former attorney general to say everything she wants to say.

When will he do that?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians deserve to have faith in their institutions and the people who serve in them. The events of the last few weeks have raised important questions about the relationship between the federal government and the Minister of Justice and Attorney General.

Today I am announcing that the Hon. Anne McLellan will serve as special adviser to examine these question and make independent recommendations. As a former minister of justice and attorney general and deputy prime minister, she has a unique understanding of these roles. Her work will help—