House of Commons Hansard #20 of the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was sexual.
Shannon Stubbs Conservative Lakeland, AB
Mr. Speaker, after last April's tragic mass murder in Nova Scotia, families of the victims and most Canadians asked for a public inquiry. The public safety minister refused. Only after months of pleas and pressure did he begrudgingly agree. Now victims' families want all the reasons for that delay to be included in the inquiry's mandate. The inquiry has been announced but it has not started yet.
Will the minister honour their request, or will he make them keep fighting for answers?
Bill Blair LiberalMinister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Mr. Speaker, let me be very clear. In the days and hours immediately following this terrible tragedy that took place in April, we immediately began working with the Nova Scotia government to get the answers that families desperately need.
When the families said they wanted a full national public inquiry, we listened. We have taken the steps necessary to put resources in place and appoint commissioners. I am absolutely delighted with the appointment of Dr. Kim Stanton, who I understand will do an outstanding job in getting those answers for Canadians.
The terms of reference have now been articulated, and it is up to the commissioners to determine the questions they will ask—
Shannon Stubbs Conservative Lakeland, AB
Mr. Speaker, it is actually half a year later, and it will be a while before testimony is heard.
The loved ones of victims are not asking for very much. They have been through losses and anguish that very few of us could ever imagine. They just want answers. They want to know why governments delayed, why they made them wait and why they put them through even more months of pain and suffering. The government does have the power to set the mandate of the inquiry. It should honour this very simple request of the families.
Will the minister ensure that the panel can independently determine the reasons why the Liberals initially refused to call a public inquiry?
Bill Blair LiberalMinister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Mr. Speaker, I understand the member opposite's interest in whatever political advantage she feels that level of inquiry may get. However, to be frank, our responsibility to the families in this terrible tragedy of a mass shooting is to get answers about that shooting and about that tragedy, and to also make recommendations to the Canadian government, the Government of Nova Scotia, the RCMP and every other impacted institution, to make sure we take the steps necessary to ensure that this tragedy never occurs again.
We have now empanelled a national inquiry, and we will get the answers the families seek.
Mario Beaulieu Bloc La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC
Mr. Speaker, the pandemic is a convenient scapegoat for the declining use of French in the federal public service. The shift to remote meetings was all it took for French to disappear from both meetings and documents. Public servants are sounding the alarm because their work environment is going downhill.
Francophones are not second-class citizens. How will the government ensure that francophones in the federal public service can work in French?
Jean-Yves Duclos LiberalPresident of the Treasury Board
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for giving me the opportunity to speak about the importance of French, not only in the public service, but in Canada. We are strong and proud because we have a bilingual country where everyone has the right to thrive in English or French. We also have that responsibility when it comes to the public service.
Let me assure my colleague that, as a francophone and a Quebecker, that is my objective and I am determined to fulfill it every day.
Mario Beaulieu Bloc La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC
Mr. Speaker, when it comes to the French language, the Liberals are buying time. Meanwhile, we are going backwards. The pandemic must not be used as an excuse to eliminate French in the public service. French at work is not a favour English Canada is doing for francophones, it is a fundamental right.
Will the government recognize that what complicates telework meetings is not the presence of French, but the presence of too many supposedly bilingual people who do not speak a word of French?
Jean-Yves Duclos LiberalPresident of the Treasury Board
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question because it allows me to go a little further and highlight how proud we are of the work that we have done in recent years to strengthen the position of French all over the country. We have done this through an official languages plan of $2.7 billion, through the appointment of three bilingual judges to the Supreme Court and through the renewal of the Official Languages Act, which will happen soon. We have also created the Université de l'Ontario français.
We are very proud, but we also know that a lot of work remains to be done as we continue to strengthen linguistic diversity in Canada.
Marc Dalton Conservative Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge, BC
Mr. Speaker, the government constantly tries to distract Canadians from its failures and scandals by saying it is focused on COVID and services for people.
This is not true in Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge. Our Service Canada office has been closed for months. City Hall is open, businesses and schools are open, the Service BC office is open safely, but Service Canada remains closed. Not everyone can access a website or stay on hold all day praying that someone picks up.
Would the minister responsible for ignoring the needs of my constituents apologize and commit to reopening our office immediately?
Ahmed Hussen LiberalMinister of Families
Mr. Speaker, I disagree with the member's assertion. In fact, our government is committed to ensuring that Canadians have access to the benefits provided by Service Canada. We have already safely reopened more than 260 Service Canada centres right across the country.
Decisions about reopening are being guided by our world-class public health officials and with a priority that as many Canadians as possible will get the benefits they deserve. We have introduced new services to ensure that Canadians can continue to access the benefits they need, such as the e-services Canada portal, and have provided over 4,000 community liaison officers.
Richard Lehoux Conservative Beauce, QC
Mr. Speaker, seniors come with memories: they are history books. In July, the government made a one-time payment to seniors of $300 or $500, depending on their situation. Many seniors are wondering what other support measures are in the works in order to help them through this pandemic. The Liberals recycled some promises in their Speech from the Throne, but they provided no clear plan on how they propose to keep them. As I said, seniors come with memories. They will remember.
What specifically is the government going to do to help this segment of the population? More importantly, when is it going to do so?
Deb Schulte LiberalMinister of Seniors
Mr. Speaker, while the government remains committed to implementing the policies that we have reaffirmed in the throne speech, as we have said we are focused on managing the COVID-19 public health crisis. This year we invested over twice as much on financial assistance for seniors as we committed to in our platform. We provided financial support to seniors 65 and above sooner and with greater support for the most vulnerable. Our support provided over $1,500 for couples receiving GIS. We will be there for our seniors, and we will continue to work hard to deliver for them.
Nelly Shin Conservative Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC
Mr. Speaker, seniors in my riding are trying to plan their budgets with the withdrawal rates of RRIFs in mind. Back in April, the government announced that it would reduce minimum withdrawals from RRIFs for 2020 by 25%. Today, COVID-19 is still hurting investments and many seniors are wondering how this will affect their RRIF withdrawals in the future.
Will the government be transparent with our seniors and let them know what its plan is for RRIF withdrawals after 2020?
Deb Schulte LiberalMinister of Seniors
Mr. Speaker, I want seniors to know that they are not alone. We responded quickly with direct financial tax-free payments, and supported over 2,000 local community projects helping seniors. We responded quickly to help preserve registered retirement income funds. We reduced the minimum withdrawals from RRIFs by 25% for 2020, and as the market is volatile during this difficult time, we will continue to look at ways we can best serve our seniors.
Bryan May Liberal Cambridge, ON
Mr. Speaker, COVID-19 has impacted many Canadians with disabilities who have borne additional costs and challenges. Our government introduced and passed legislation to support Canadians with disabilities. Last week we announced that the deadline to apply for the disability tax credit has been extended to December 31, so that more Canadians could apply.
Can the minister please inform the House as to how many Canadians will benefit from this payment, and on what day these payments will commence?
Carla Qualtrough LiberalMinister of Employment
Mr. Speaker, since the beginning we have taken a disability-inclusive approach to this pandemic. I am pleased to announce that starting this Friday, three days from now, 1.7 million Canadians will begin to receive the $600 one-time payment in recognition of the extraordinary expenses being faced by Canadians with disabilities.
I will take this opportunity to thank our COVID-19 disability advisory group, who in the spirit of “nothing without us” has provided this government with invaluable advice. We thank them, and we will continue to support our citizens with disabilities moving forward.
Robert Gordon Kitchen Conservative Souris—Moose Mountain, SK
Mr. Speaker, carbon capture and storage technology has been extremely effective at reducing CO2 emissions from some of the largest emitters worldwide, including power plants and upgraders. Countries like Norway, Germany and Denmark have all invested in this green emissions-cutting technology. Canada is a world leader in CCS.
With energy investment leaving Canada in droves, why is the minister allowing us to fall behind our international counterparts when it comes to CCS investment?
Jonathan Wilkinson LiberalMinister of Environment and Climate Change
Mr. Speaker, it is an important question. CCS technology is an important part of addressing greenhouse gas emissions, not simply from the oil and gas sector but from many industrial sectors across this country. It is part of a broader suite of technology solutions, including hydrogen-related and biofuels-related technologies, that we are focused on as we work forward to ensure that we not only meet but exceed our 2030 targets, to ensure we drive forward with economic progress and jobs while protecting our planet.
Earl Dreeshen Conservative Red Deer—Mountain View, AB
Mr. Speaker, the expansion of the NOVA Gas transmission line should be good news, but there is a caveat. Consultations with indigenous groups ended February 19. The government then had 90 days to reach a decision. That was extended by 150 days. The decision to approve the project was made less than 15 minutes before midnight on the deadline day, October 19. The delay costs are astronomical.
How can Canadians have any faith in the regulatory process when it seems to function in such an arbitrary way and solely at the political whim of the minister?
Seamus O'Regan LiberalMinister of Natural Resources
Mr. Speaker, this government was proud to support the NOVA Gas pipeline project. Indeed, we think that it points toward the future for not only Alberta but the country with respect to natural gas and a potential for hydrogen, but we needed to make sure that consultations were done properly. We on this side of the House have learned our lessons from TMX. We need to make sure consultations are done well in order to make sure good projects go ahead in a good way, and that good projects get done.
Bob Zimmer Conservative Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC
Mr. Speaker, here in Canada we produce the most sustainable and environmentally responsible natural gas in the world. A company called West Coast Olefins wants to make value-added products right in northern B.C. with its very own northern B.C. natural gas. Its CEO, Ken James, is trying to create manufacturing jobs right here in Canada instead of another country.
Will the government support the West Coast Olefins project, which will benefit so many of our communities, workers and their families, or just put up more roadblocks?
Natural ResourcesOral Questions
October 27th, 2020 / 3:05 p.m.
St. John's South—Mount Pearl Newfoundland & Labrador
Liberal
Seamus O'Regan LiberalMinister of Natural Resources
Mr. Speaker, as I said earlier in speaking about NOVA Gas, we will continue to make sure that good projects get done in a good way. I am pleased to entertain any project and any proposal from any investor in the world, but we have learned, certainly, over the past number of years that we must make sure we adhere to certain rules, regulations and guidelines. We must make sure we consult properly with first nations, with Inuit and with Métis, and we must make sure that we take our environmental responsibilities seriously. When we do those things, good projects get done. We have proven that. There are 5,600 people working on TMX as we speak.
Julie Dzerowicz Liberal Davenport, ON
Mr. Speaker, as our federal government has made clear, there is no relationship more important than our relationship with indigenous peoples. Since we were first elected, we have made enormous progress on advancing a renewed relationship, but we know there is much more to be done. It is also important to educate Canadians on the treaty rights of indigenous peoples and the need to observe them as part of our laws.
Can the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship tell the House how the government will demonstrate the importance of this relationship to newcomers to Canada?
Marco Mendicino LiberalMinister of Immigration
Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for her excellent advocacy. From day one, reconciliation has been one of our government's key priorities. To build on these efforts, last week we reintroduced our legislation to amend the citizenship oath. The new oath fulfills the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's call to action number 94, and ensures that every new Canadian, from day one, will have a greater awareness and understanding of the importance of aboriginal rights and treaties of first nations, Inuit and Métis peoples to everyone living in Canada. Bill C-8 is another step forward on our path to reconciliation.
