House of Commons Hansard #413 of the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was peoples.

Topics

Indigenous Languages ActGovernment Orders

1:45 p.m.

Conservative

Shannon Stubbs Conservative Lakeland, AB

Mr. Speaker, I certainly would support the ability for future governments to review the legislation every five years. I think that will be critical to measure the outcomes of this legislation. The outcomes, after all, will be the most important thing in the long term—not just the words, the rhetoric, the promises and the spending announcements, but whether the aspiration of this legislation can actually be delivered, which I think my colleague from Bow River was talking about earlier.

I certainly support that concept of future governments reviewing this legislation every five years.

Indigenous Languages ActGovernment Orders

1:45 p.m.

Liberal

The Assistant Deputy Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

Before I recognize the hon. member for Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, I must inform her that I will have to interrupt her in 10 minutes for question period. Afterwards, she will have 10 minutes remaining.

The hon. member for Rivière-des-Mille-Îles.

Indigenous Languages ActGovernment Orders

1:45 p.m.

Liberal

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

Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask you if I can share my time with the member for Saint-Boniface—Saint-Vital. I am sure he would like to speak to this bill.

Bill C-91, an act respecting indigenous languages, is very important to our government. This bill was studied by the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, of which I am a member.

I would like to start by acknowledging that we are gathered today on the traditional territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabe people. I am probably not saying that right, so I apologize. I am francophone, and I am sure everyone can hear it.

I am happy to express my support for Bill C-91, an act respecting indigenous languages. This initiative is incredibly important, and it is urgent to take action, especially with regard to the role of elders in the revitalization of indigenous languages. Needless to say, the reason this situation is so urgent is that the number of indigenous elders who speak these languages as their mother tongue keeps shrinking.

With their considerable life experience, elders are held in high regard as wise keepers of language and traditional knowledge. The participants and keepers of indigenous language who contributed to the engagement sessions on indigenous languages legislation last summer emphasized the importance of taking action. In many communities, the situation is critical because the number of people who can speak these languages fluently is shrinking as elders pass away. Hope that the languages can be passed on via oral tradition is fading.

In 2005, the message that emerged from consultations by the Task Force on Aboriginal Languages and Cultures was that taking immediate measures to stem language loss was crucial. That was 14 years ago, and the situation has only become more urgent since. Participants noted that first nations, Inuit and Métis languages had been under attack for at least a century. It goes without saying that revitalizing these languages may take time. Nevertheless, we must set short-term goals and get projects going immediately. Urgent action is needed, but the process is likely to take quite some time.

It goes without saying that there is a need to provide support to indigenous communities and governments to help them act immediately. For example, in the first nations context, one in three seniors reported having an indigenous mother tongue in 2016. By comparison, about one in 10 first nations children aged 10 to 14 had an indigenous mother tongue. That is a huge difference.

Some languages have few remaining speakers of the grandparents' and great-grandparents' generation. While no indigenous languages in Canada are considered safe, it is important to state that language vitality across first nations, Inuit and Métis varies broadly. For example, among the Inuit, a higher percentage of seniors also reported having lnuktitut as their mother tongue, compared to younger generations. However, the Inuit have the highest percentage of mother tongue speakers across all age groups, compared to first nations and Métis.

Less than 2% of the Métis population reported the ability to speak an indigenous language. A higher percentage of Métis seniors reported an aboriginal mother tongue and the ability to speak an aboriginal language, compared with their younger counterparts. Appropriate solutions to support the reclamation, revitalization, strengthening and maintenance of indigenous languages will be determined on the basis of the vitality of a given language, and will be in keeping with the communities' language strategy.

Indigenous elders must play an active role, because they are the ones with the knowledge. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission's final report stated that communities and educational institutions should be prepared to draw on valuable resources from indigenous communities to facilitate the teaching and transmission of indigenous languages.

This is not to say that indigenous languages are completely gone when there are no speakers left. Languages can be revived through the efforts of documentation and archiving. In such cases, elders are the most valuable asset to help build resources for their languages for generations to come.

Take, for example, Peter White, an elder from Naotkamegwanning, who used his expertise and resources to record stories and songs from his elders to preserve them for years to come. People like him are making a valuable contribution to revitalizing these languages.

There is also Bert Crowfoot, from the Aboriginal Multi-Media Society, who saw the importance of preserving language 36 years ago, when he made the decision to safeguard audio and film content on old reel-to-reel tapes, VCR cassettes, old 16-millimetre film and floppy discs that contain storytelling, interviews and music in the Cree language. Today he is helping to direct a project called Digitizing the Ancestors to create a searchable digitized archive. It will be a resource to help future generations learn Cree by hearing voices from the past.

Elders, the carriers of indigenous languages, are also the keepers of the traditional knowledge written into those languages. It is widely recognized that the wisdom of elders is vital to transmitting an authentic interpretation of languages. Elders are known to be the true language experts.

The First Nations Confederacy of Cultural Education Centres reiterated the importance of elders in its report on indigenous languages legislation engagement, stating that elders guide our work and act as language advocates and experts within their communities and on a national scale.

During the engagement sessions that led to this bill, participants often reiterated the importance of engaging elders in any language revitalization efforts.

This legislation provides the flexibility needed to support various levels of linguistic vitality. ln certain situations, this could mean encouraging elders to take part in planning, in activities and in programs. In other situations, it might be just as important to give elders an opportunity to learn their language within their community.

This approach is based on the premise that language revitalization is multifaceted. Several different approaches might be needed to meet the needs of the various segments of the community, ranging from early childhood learning to adult immersion programs.

I will close by simply adding that, sadly, indigenous communities are losing elders every year. We must take action. I call on all hon. members to work together to pass this bill.

Indigenous Languages ActGovernment Orders

1:55 p.m.

Liberal

The Assistant Deputy Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

I wish to inform the hon. member that there will be a five-minute period of questions and comments after oral question period.

Official LanguagesStatements By Members

1:55 p.m.

Bloc

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

Mr. Speaker, for the 50th anniversary of the Official Languages Act, the commissioner wants a modernized OLA. It is going to take a lot more than a mere modernization because the OLA is based on an ineffective minority language protection model and a gross distortion of reality, which perpetuates the assimilation of francophones.

The OLA supposedly puts French and English on equal footing, but bilingualism is not at risk in Canada, French is. For 50 years, instead of changing the criteria in order to make more French-language services available in Canada, the government has been changing the linguistic indicators to conceal the decline of French.

Instead of making French the common language in the regions where there is a critical mass of francophones, the government reinforces English in Quebec and is stingy about providing services in French in the rest of Canada.

Short of a complete overhaul, the only way forward for French is to make Quebec a country that can better support francophones and Acadians.

Retirement CongratulationsStatements By Members

1:55 p.m.

Liberal

Larry Bagnell Liberal Yukon, YT

Mr. Speaker, I want to add my heartfelt thanks to the afternoon of great tributes in the Yukon legislature, dedicated to the retiring Dr. Floyd McCormick who served as a clerk of the Yukon Legislative Assembly for more than 18 years.

Clerks in this chamber, who send their best wishes, appreciate that Dr. McCormick was president of the Association of Clerks-at-the-Table in Canada. He represented Canada at the Australia and New Zealand Association of Clerks-at-the-Table Conferences. Clerks from around the Commonwealth value Floyd's significant national and international contributions to the profession.

Yukoners of all stripes applaud Floyd's devotion to and safeguarding of our parliamentary democracy. However, what is not emphasized enough is Dr. McCormick's tremendous contributions to those in our community who are less fortunate. He and his wife, Sheila, would spend countless weeks preparing food for soup kitchens. This is one of the many examples I could give on Floyd's selfless character.

I wish my witty, wise, professional, thoughtful, endearing and compassionate friend a wonderful retirement.

Regional MediaStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Conservative

Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the immense contribution of local and regional journalists, columnists, and television and radio hosts in my region who are vigilant about protecting diversity of viewpoint and opinion.

In the age of social media, where instantaneous communication is king, they produce well-researched, top-notch content. They provide coverage of regional news that is of critical importance to individuals, business owners, and merchants.

These bulwarks of democracy include St-Pierre, Fortin, Lévesque, Simard, Boucher, Gendron, Beaulé, Larouche, Tremblay, Lebel, Drouin, Montminy, Soucy, Bernard, Chassé, Harvey, Charest, Deschênes, Nadeau, Pellerin, Bergeron, and countless others who have worked in the field. It is imperative that we acknowledge their work.

In closing, I want to pay tribute to Richard Bossinotte, who for nearly 25 years has started his program En toute liberté, broadcast Saturday evenings on CHOX-FM in La Pocatière, with the national anthem, O Canada. Thank you, Richard.

Water QualityStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Liberal

Denis Paradis Liberal Brome—Missisquoi, QC

Mr. Speaker, on May 1, I tabled a bill to amend the International Boundary Waters Treaty Act between Canada and the United States to incorporate water quality.

I was inspired by members of my community who advocate day in, day out, for the protection of our waterways. It is important to highlight the hard work of Jacques Landry, president of Actions Lac Champlain and mayor of Venise-en-Québec. I will soon be awarding him a medal in recognition of his outstanding efforts.

I want to thank each and every resident for always defending our water quality so passionately. We all need to keep up the fight.

Soon I will get to award an honorary medal to the people of my riding. Brome—Missisquoi is extremely lucky to have such earnest advocates defending the environment and the liberal values that make us proud.

Ojibway ShoresStatements By Members

2 p.m.

NDP

Brian Masse NDP Windsor West, ON

Mr. Speaker, Ojibway Shores is the last remaining stretch of undeveloped natural shoreline in Windsor, home to over 160 rare species. It is part of a complex that includes Ojibway Park, the Spring Garden Natural Area, Black Oak Heritage Park and the Tallgrass Prairie Park. This area could become one of North America's ecological treasures.

Unfortunately, this publicly owned property is controlled by the publicly owned Windsor Port Authority, which has a history of trying to destroy it. For more than a decade, the community has battled to preserve Ojibway Shores by stopping the port from clear-cutting the trees and using it as a dumping ground. Now the Port Authority wants the city of Windsor taxpayers to pay again for Ojibway Shores, property the public already owns. Is this the Liberal policy for Canadians, to buy their environment from themselves?

I have asked the environment minister to protect Ojibway Shores. She has the power and authority to do it. All it takes is mere minutes and the minister's pen.

With the climate change and UN report outlining species extinction, why has the environment minister been missing in action? Now is the time to act and secure Ojibway Shores and begin the process of establishing a national urban park.

Surrey CentreStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Liberal

Randeep Sarai Liberal Surrey Centre, BC

Mr. Speaker, when I was elected in 2015, my good friend, Andrew Petter, president of SFU came to me with an idea to expand the Surrey campus.

On November 8, 2016, the Prime Minister and I announced Simon Fraser University's $125-million sustainable energy environmental engineering building with $45 million from the federal government. Less than three years later, the facility is officially open, and 440 students are now ready to learn skills that will make them leaders in the clean tech sector.

I am proud to work with a government that prioritizes education and understands the importance of our youth.

I would also like to extend my congratulations to Surrey's Top 25 Under 25, SBOT recipients, namely: Khayla, Anjali, Gurjevan, Summin, Donya, Adelaide, Ravneet, Karanvir, Aruba, Hajira, Shilpa, Tawanda, Chetanya, Shawna, Arpit, Haleena, Gaganjit, Ravneet, Abhayjeet, Brahmroop, Tanraj, Branden, Harjot, Richard, and Peyton.

Congratulations to Surrey's best and brightest.

Iran Accountability WeekStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

Conservative

Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB

Mr. Speaker, whose life matters?

At different times in history, the idea of universal human dignity and value has been challenged from different sources and for different reasons.

Some societies have sought to deny recognition to some human beings because that denial was economically convenient. If your society relies on slave labour, then recognizing the humanity of enslaved persons is inconvenient, even though it is morally right.

Other societies have used dehumanization to justify the expropriation of property from minorities or other forms of exploitation.

Sometimes it is inconvenient to recognize the vulnerable as human because it is costly to help and support them.

Our assessment of who is human should not depend on convenience; it should reflect objective reality.

Important events are taking place on Parliament Hill today, where people gather to speak out about the mass killing of innocents by the Iranian regime, as part of Iran Accountability Week.

It may not always be convenient for us to take a stand against that regime, but it is something we must do. We must stand against the dehumanization efforts of that regime, and ensure that universal immutable human dignity is recognized in every situation.

Respect Human Rights OrganizationStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

Liberal

Anju Dhillon Liberal Dorval—Lachine—LaSalle, QC

Mr. Speaker, I met with the founders of the Dorval-based organization Respect Human Rights.

The organization's mission is to ensure respect for and application of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and to promote companies that respect those rights. According to the organization, our companies and institutions still have a lot of work to do. Thanks to initiatives like these, Canadians will be treated with dignity at work.

As Nelson Mandela said, “Any man or institution that tries to rob me of my dignity will lose.”

In the eyes of the law, and in a free and democratic society, we are all equal. Human rights are universal because they belong to all people. They are inalienable because they cannot be taken away, and are non-discriminatory because they must be respected without prejudice.

Wine FestivalStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

Liberal

Richard Hébert Liberal Lac-Saint-Jean, QC

Mr. Speaker, last week, as a lead up to the Cépages en fête wine festival, Dolbeau-Mistassini held its 13th annual Gaspé dinner hosted by Hermel Bujold, a proud entrepreneur from the Gaspé who has been living in Lac-Saint-Jean for over 10 years. The event was an opportunity to discover the delicacies of the Gaspé region and attend a concert by our musical ambassador, Mario Pelchat, who was born in Dolbeau-Mistassini.

The second annual Cépages en fête will take place from June 13 to 15 in downtown Dolbeau-Mistassini. The festival's mission is to help people discover local wines from Lac-Saint-Jean and Quebec. Our region has an abundance of outstanding, high-quality products that are worth promoting.

I urge everyone from Lac-Saint-Jean to attend this festival marking the beginning of summer.

Government PoliciesStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

Conservative

Dan Albas Conservative Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC

Mr. Speaker, in 2015, Canadians were promised a Prime Minister who would be open by default, who would make decisions that would be based on science and not politics, who would not use omnibus budget bills, who would not gag civil servants, and what did they get?

We have a Prime Minister who has used multiple omnibus budget bills. He wants a northern B.C. tanker ban that is based entirely on politics and not on science. In 2016, the Prime Minister signed off on 235 civil servants being gagged for a lifetime over the so-called capability gap of the fighter jet replacement program. Today we still have many unanswered questions over SNC-Lavalin as well as Vice-Admiral Mark Norman's trial. In other words, Canadians got precisely the opposite of what they were promised by the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister is not as advertised.

Child Tax BenefitStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

Liberal

Yvonne Jones Liberal Labrador, NL

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the positive impact of the child tax benefit that was introduced by our government and the tremendous impact that it is having on families and communities across Labrador.

As of January 2019, more than 4,700 children and their families in Labrador communities have received the child tax benefit. This has meant over $1.5 million in payments to these families.

Families in Labrador, like all families across Canada, are using this money to help pay for child care, after-school programs and improvements to housing. This money is helping them address food insecurity. Most importantly, it is lifting children in Canada out of poverty. Since 2013, child poverty in Canada has been reduced by 40% in part due to the child tax benefit.

We know there is more to do and we have acknowledged that. We will continue to work towards—

Child Tax BenefitStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan

The hon. member for Alfred-Pelan.

Mother's DayStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Liberal

Angelo Iacono Liberal Alfred-Pellan, QC

Mr. Speaker, on Sunday, we will celebrate and thank mothers. Day after day, these women give their all unconditionally. I want to wish an early happy Mother's Day to all all mothers, especially my wife Rana and mia mamma Providenza.

Cara mamma, I owe everything I am and hope to become to you. Grazie!

I would also like to send my best wishes to the many wonderful women who bestow maternal love on all those around them, although life did not bless them with children of their own.

I wish a happy Mother's Day to every woman who spreads motherly love. I thank them for shaping the leaders of yesterday, today and tomorrow.

Thank you for all of the visible and invisible acts of love you do each day.

Buona festa della mamma!

Public Services and ProcurementStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Conservative

Steven Blaney Conservative Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC

Mr. Speaker, under the Conservatives, the Davie shipyard got the contract to convert the Asterix supply ship, which is now the pride of the Royal Canadian Navy. The ship was delivered on time. The Liberals, in contrast, dragged a vice-admiral with an impeccable career through the mud.

The Liberals have not awarded a contract for the Obelix, which our navy desperately needs. The Liberals' naval strategy does even not include plans to deliver a ship. The Davie shipyard had over 1,200 workers while the Conservatives were in office. Now all that is left are famine, crumbs and shady dealings.

In October, Quebeckers will have an opportunity to put an end to interference, cronyism and arrogance by booting the Liberals from office. Davie workers deserve better. Quebec deserves better. Canada deserves better.

Members-Pages Soccer MatchStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Liberal

Nick Whalen Liberal St. John's East, NL

Mr. Speaker, yesterday evening MPs faced off against the pages in a soccer match. It was so nice out that neither team could use the weather as an excuse except when Matteo Le Clair and Damien Pilon scored the pages' first two goals.

Then the Conservative member for Edmonton—Wetaskiwin passed the ball to the NDP member for Skeena—Bulkley Valley, who scored a goal.

In a novel display of non-partisanship, Liberals rejoiced this co-operation by the opposition.

The MPs pressed for an equalizer, but Quinten Beelik was a wall in the net for the pages. Jonah Sider-Echenberg forced me into some difficult saves, but even our gender-balanced cabinet featuring the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and the Minister of National Defence could not save us from ourselves: two own goals by the Liberals. Sometimes sport does imitate life.

In the end, it was four to one for the pages. We have immense respect for them.

Congratulations to the pages.

Members-Pages Soccer MatchStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan

Congratulations to the pages.

The hon. member for Vancouver Kingsway.

The EnvironmentStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

NDP

Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC

Mr. Speaker, I join with millions of Canadians who believe that global warming is the defining political issue of our times. Climate scientists have explained how critical the current situation is. If we do not take immediate and effective action, we will face environmental catastrophe of immense scale. We could melt our polar ice caps, lose the planet's coral reefs and see the extinction of a million species. Floods and wildfires are already here.

Thankfully, the movement for change is growing, and it is being led by young people all over the world. In Vancouver last week we saw thousands of students walk out of classes to march for action. In Vancouver Kingsway, I witnessed the energy and creativity of students from Windermere Secondary School, who organized Earth Day events and a mini WE Day to inspire youth-led change for a better future.

Let us follow the example of these young people and take the steps necessary to make sure they inherit a planet that is sustainable for all generations to come. I stand with them.

Government PoliciesStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Conservative

Rosemarie Falk Conservative Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK

Mr. Speaker, in 2015, the Prime Minister sold himself to Canadians as something that he simply is not. Now, after broken promise after broken promise, failure after failure and scandal after scandal, buyer's remorse has set in.

The Prime Minister proudly announced to the world that Canada was back, but that was followed by a disastrous trip to India, a worse NAFTA deal, a blunder with the Chinese—I mean Japanese—prime minister and a collapsed relationship with China. The Prime Minister also claimed that he would usher in a new era of co-operative federalism, but when provincial governments did not simply agree with his carbon tax scheme, he imposed it against their will anyway.

Despite promising to be open and transparent, he has been caught multiple times politically interfering, and those who dared to speak truth to power had their reputations smeared.

The list of disappointments goes on, but one thing is certain: The Prime Minister is simply not as advertised.

ManitobaStatements By Members

2:15 p.m.

Liberal

Terry Duguid Liberal Winnipeg South, MB

Mr. Speaker, this Sunday, May 12, marks the 149th birthday of Manitoba, Canada's keystone province. Next year, the province will celebrate its 150th anniversary since being founded by Louis Riel's provisional government in 1870.

Manitoba is the traditional territory of over 60 first nations, and it is the heartland of the Métis nation.

We are proud to be the home of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights and the world-renowned national microbiology lab, where the ebola vaccine was developed.

Undeniably, Winnipeg, Manitoba, is the curling capital of the world, and Churchill, Manitoba, is the polar bear capital of the world. The province is also the home of the mighty Winnipeg Jets and of Folklorama, Canada's largest and longest-running multicultural festival.

Manitoba has an incredibly rich history of welcoming people from around the world.

I would like to wish all of our vibrant and diverse Manitoba communities a very happy Manitoba Day and a happy Mother's Day, too.

JusticeOral Questions

2:15 p.m.

Conservative

Mark Strahl Conservative Chilliwack—Hope, BC

Mr. Speaker, on Wednesday, Vice-Admiral Mark Norman's lawyer said, “No person should walk into a courtroom fighting their elected government or any sort of political factors.” Unfortunately, this is exactly what happened in the Mark Norman trial.

The Prime Minister interfered in the judicial process. He withheld documents from the defence. The Liberals denied Mark Norman access to his own emails.

Why did the Prime Minister so clearly have his finger on the scales of justice in the Mark Norman case?

JusticeOral Questions

2:15 p.m.

Scarborough Southwest Ontario

Liberal

Bill Blair LiberalMinister of Border Security and Organized Crime Reduction

Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, almost everything the member opposite just said is not correct. In fact, as the director of public prosecutions stated yesterday, there was no contact or influence from outside the Public Prosecution Service either in the initial decision with respect to the laying of this charge or the decision to stay the charge.

The member opposite should know that all of the procedures conducted by the office of the public prosecutor and the RCMP are totally independent of the Government of Canada.