House of Commons Hansard #18 of the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was school.

Topics

Public Services and ProcurementOral Questions

11:50 a.m.

Gatineau Québec

Liberal

Steven MacKinnon LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Services and Procurement

Speaking of confusion, Mr. Speaker, I do not confuse Quebec with the Bloc Québécois.

On this side of the House, we are focusing on ensuring that Canada meets the challenges around domestic supply, both in terms of PPE and other equipment. That is what we are doing. Canadians want us to be there to provide the necessary resources. That is what the Government of Canada is doing and will always do.

Public SafetyOral Questions

11:55 a.m.

Conservative

Colin Carrie Conservative Oshawa, ON

Mr. Speaker, those Liberals have greater consideration for violent criminals than victims. Victims' rights matter.

The Liberal government is allowing violent criminals to have in-person visitors, but will not allow victims and their families to give their victim impact statements in person or even by video conference during the Parole Board process.

If the Prime Minister believes it is safe for violent criminals to have in-person visits, why is government refusing victims the right to give their victim impact statements in front of their tormenter? Why the double standard?

Public SafetyOral Questions

11:55 a.m.

Scarborough Southwest Ontario

Liberal

Bill Blair LiberalMinister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness

Mr. Speaker, I share the concern of the member for Oshawa on our commitment to ensure that the rights of victims are respected and their voices can be heard.

During this unprecedented situation of COVID, we enhanced the protocols in order to allow victims to participate at parole hearings via telephone, but we heard from victims and the victims ombudsman that it was not good enough. Therefore, we have undertaken the necessary testing to ensure that secure video conferencing can be put in place.

I am pleased to advise the member opposite that we are launching video conferencing for victims at parole hearings in Ontario and Quebec on November 9 and for the rest of the country on November 23.

Public SafetyOral Questions

11:55 a.m.

Conservative

Dave Epp Conservative Chatham-Kent—Leamington, ON

Mr. Speaker, no one bid on the Department of Public Safety's first attempt at an invitation for a contract to design ways to pay off confiscation victims, referring to forced seizures as potential buy-backs of firearms. The deadline to apply for a second attempt to criminalize and confiscate is November 3. This new call for bids does not include a budget.

Is the minister contemplating the operation of this program in the same manner that the rest of the country is being governed, with no budget?

Public SafetyOral Questions

11:55 a.m.

Scarborough Southwest Ontario

Liberal

Bill Blair LiberalMinister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness

Mr. Speaker, first, I am proud our government has have taken the necessary steps to ensure public safety by prohibiting a significant number of weapons that, frankly, have no place in a civil society. That overwhelmingly is agreed to by the vast majority of Canadians and in most other sensible countries that have taken similar steps.

We are also examining, through the public service, the means by which we can most effectively and fairly deal with those individuals who currently possess those weapons now that they are prohibited. We will do the work necessary to ensure that all Canadians' interests are addressed properly.

Public SafetyOral Questions

11:55 a.m.

Conservative

Derek Sloan Conservative Hastings—Lennox and Addington, ON

Mr. Speaker, I recently met the reeve and CEO of Stone Mills, a beautiful community in my riding. Like many municipalities, it has been inundated by the presence of organized crime groups that are running illegal cannabis operations worth many millions of dollars.

Municipalities like Stone Mills are on the hook for tens of thousands of dollars in cleanup costs after police raids. All agree that the framework pertaining to legalization is broken.

Will the minister commit to hearing the concerns of these municipalities and addressing them during the upcoming review of the Cannabis Act?

Public SafetyOral Questions

11:55 a.m.

Scarborough Southwest Ontario

Liberal

Bill Blair LiberalMinister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness

Mr. Speaker, we did, and we continue to do, seek to meet with municipalities to hear local concerns.

I would point out for the member opposite that as a direct result of the new regulatory framework that we put in for Canada's production, consumption and retail in the country, over half of the profit has been taken away from organized crime. That is literally billions of dollars not going into the hands of organized crime.

We still rely very much on the excellent work done by our police services to ensure that those who operate outside the law are dealt with according to the law, because that activity remains a criminal offence in Canada.

Veterans AffairsOral Questions

11:55 a.m.

Liberal

Sherry Romanado Liberal Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne, QC

Mr. Speaker, the poppy campaign is how the Royal Canadian Legion raises essential funds to support our veterans across the country. That is the case for branches 94 and 159 in my riding, Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne. This year's campaign kicks off next Friday, but things are much different because of the pandemic.

Can the minister tell us how the government is helping the Legion do its important work?

Veterans AffairsOral Questions

Noon

Ottawa West—Nepean Ontario

Liberal

Anita Vandenbeld LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence

Mr. Speaker, we know that our veterans have served our country and we know that legions across the country do tremendous work. We will always support our legions and we will always support our veterans, especially at this time when we remember the sacrifice and the service.

Foreign AffairsOral Questions

Noon

Conservative

Michael Cooper Conservative St. Albert—Edmonton, AB

Mr. Speaker, last week, in what has been characterized as a black day in human rights, egregious human rights abusers, including communist China, communist Cuba and Russia, were elected to the so-called UN Human Rights Council. Maduro's Venezuela was elected last year.

With more than 60% of the council comprised of dictatorships and human rights abusers, does the government continue to have confidence in the so-called UN Human Rights Council?

Foreign AffairsOral Questions

Noon

Saint-Maurice—Champlain Québec

Liberal

François-Philippe Champagne LiberalMinister of Foreign Affairs

Mr. Speaker, as the member knows, Canada is one of the foremost supporters of human rights around the world. The protection and promotion of human rights is a core priority of our foreign policy and it will continue to be. Whether it is about Belarus, Xinjiang, Hong Kong or about the rights of religious minorities, Canada will always stand up and speak up around the world.

Obviously, we will continue to work with the UN bodies, making sure that human rights is always the first and foremost agenda item when it comes to defending the rights of people around the world.

Canada Revenue AgencyOral Questions

Noon

Conservative

Cheryl Gallant Conservative Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON

Mr. Speaker, in May, I called on the government to limit the amount that tax credit promoters could take from people's CERB payments. The House unanimously passed my private member's bill to limit the amount that tax credit promoters could charge, but it has been five years and the government still has not set the regulations.

Now these same companies are preying on the confusion created by the CERB transition. When will the government stop taking the side of these tax credit predators who charge up to 30% on people's CERB payments?

Canada Revenue AgencyOral Questions

Noon

Vaughan—Woodbridge Ontario

Liberal

Francesco Sorbara LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Revenue

Mr. Speaker, these are difficult times for Canadians and our government will do what it takes to support them. Throughout the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, helping people with disabilities maintain their health, safety and dignity has remained a priority for our government.

DTC to CERB delivery services were seen an essential from the onset of the crisis, so that Canadians who need them can receive the financial support they need. The agency continues to actively work to improve the services it provides to Canadians.

Natural ResourcesOral Questions

Noon

Conservative

Martin Shields Conservative Bow River, AB

Mr. Speaker, it is not just Alberta that is suffering under the government's anti-resource ideology. The natural resource minister's province of Newfoundland is seeing the $2 billion west White Rose project thrown into jeopardy. One Newfoundlander from Marystown echoed the feelings of energy workers across the country, saying, “It puts food on our tables, roofs over our head, clothes on our back and gas in our car.”

When will the government show real support for this pivotal sector of our economy all across Canada?

Natural ResourcesOral Questions

Noon

Sudbury Ontario

Liberal

Paul Lefebvre LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources

Mr. Speaker, we have been working with the sector since day one. I want to congratulate the Minister of Natural Resources for his hard work in his province of Newfoundland and Labrador and the funding of $320 million to support that sector and the struggles it is going through.

Obviously the member forgets the support for TMX. Right now, there are 5,600 jobs in Alberta and B.C. As well, we have just approved NGTL, which will be thousands of jobs in that area. We have approved Line 3. We support Keystone. We have actually funded $1.7 billion for orphaned gas wells.

We have been there for the people in the resource sector and we will continue to be there to support that sector.

Child CareOral Questions

12:05 p.m.

Liberal

Salma Zahid Liberal Scarborough Centre, ON

Mr. Speaker, as the economy has begun to recover from COVID-19, we have seen that women are not returning to the workforce at the same rate as their male colleagues. One major reason is child care.

Without access to safe and affordable child care, it will not be possible for both parents to choose to return to work, and most often it is the woman who will stay at home.

Could the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development tell us how the government is going to address this and finally make a Canada-wide early learning and child care system a reality?

Child CareOral Questions

12:05 p.m.

Spadina—Fort York Ontario

Liberal

Adam Vaughan LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Families

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for Scarborough Centre for her advocacy on behalf of working mothers and families that are looking for high-quality and affordable child care.

Our government understood that this was a significant challenge as far back as 2015 with a $7.5 billion investment to set the stage for an early learning child care strategy right across the country. This year we have invested a further $600 million to top up to $1 billion the investment in early learning and child care, the largest single investment in child care by any federal government in the history of the country. However, we know there is more to do, and that is why the throne speech projects a new early learning child care strategy with new funding later this year.

We are committed to making sure that women and families get back to work safely and that their children are cared for.

Public SafetyOral Questions

12:05 p.m.

NDP

Jack Harris NDP St. John's East, NL

Mr. Speaker, when asked about the grossly inadequate RCMP response to violence against Mi'kmaq fishers in Nova Scotia despite ample warning, the commissioner said that they were “managing this issue.” Most people watching what is happening would agree with Senator Murray Sinclair who said that this answer “flies in the face of the evidence.”

The Prime Minister has defended the commissioner. The Minister of Indigenous Services has been less than supportive. What does the minister in charge think? Is it time to look for a new commissioner or does he think she is “managing the issue?”

Public SafetyOral Questions

12:05 p.m.

Scarborough Southwest Ontario

Liberal

Bill Blair LiberalMinister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness

Mr. Speaker, it is important to recognize that the police have a very difficult job to do right across the country, in communities across the country, to uphold the law, maintain peace, prevent crime and serve and protect the people of this country.

In Nova Scotia, they are in a very difficult situation. We have taken the steps necessary to ensure they have the resources they need to maintain the peace and uphold the law. They have conducted investigations and laid charges where appropriate. They have a difficult job to do. We are making sure they have the resources to do it.

SeniorsOral Questions

12:05 p.m.

Green

Jenica Atwin Green Fredericton, NB

Mr. Speaker, we failed an entire generation of Canadians. It has been said time and time again that the pandemic has exposed the negligence that prevails in long-term care homes in each province and territory. Half of Canadian deaths from COVID-19 stem from cases in long-term care homes. We are talking about the lives, well-being and safety of Canadians who raised us and helped build the country we love.

A report issued by the New Brunswick Nurses Union revealed that the province requires only 2.89 hours of care time daily: significantly below the 4.1-hour, best-practice standard. It is unacceptable.

My question is not if quality of care norms will be harmonized and standardized across the country, but when?

SeniorsOral Questions

12:05 p.m.

Dartmouth—Cole Harbour Nova Scotia

Liberal

Darren Fisher LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member for her advocacy on this issue. I have seen from the time she was elected that she has been very, very serious about this issue and I appreciate that.

I share her concern about the outbreaks of COVID-19 in long-term care facilities. As I said earlier, we will continue to work with our provincial counterparts closely. The released guidance for facilities on how they can protect their residents from COVID-19 is out there. Also, our government has invested heavily through the safe restart agreement, with $740 million for measures to control and prevent infections. Going forward, we will work with the provinces and territories to continue setting new national standards for long-term care.

Oral QuestionsPoints of OrderOral Questions

12:05 p.m.

Liberal

Sherry Romanado Liberal Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne, QC

Mr. Speaker, on a point of order. During question period, the member for Red Deer—Lacombe used inappropriate, disrespectful hand gestures at the end of his question, counter to Standing Order 18, and I would ask him to apologize.

Oral QuestionsPoints of OrderOral Questions

12:05 p.m.

Conservative

The Deputy Speaker Conservative Bruce Stanton

I am not too sure if the hon. member for Red Deer—Lacombe is still online. I would ask him if he wishes to intervene or make comment.

Oral QuestionsPoints of OrderOral Questions

12:05 p.m.

Conservative

Blaine Calkins Conservative Red Deer—Lacombe, AB

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate my colleague's intervention. It is not uncommon for people to be able to wave or to use hand gestures in the House of Commons. If there is a particular hand gesture that I have used that has been offensive to someone, then I unreservedly withdraw that gesture.

Oral QuestionsPoints of OrderOral Questions

12:10 p.m.

Conservative

The Deputy Speaker Conservative Bruce Stanton

I thank the hon. member for Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne for raising the point and for the response by the hon. member for Red Deer—Lacombe.

I would just remind hon. members that, whether they are in the House or online by video conference, the standards of decorum for the Chamber apply. I would encourage all hon. members to observe that in each and every instance, especially when they are online.