Debates of Oct. 30th, 2020

Financial Literacy Month

[Francesco Sorbara, Liberal, Vaughan—Woodbridge, ON]

Madam Speaker, the month of November will mark the 10th anniversary of Financial Literacy Month, with this year's focus aimed at helping Canadians learn how to manage their finances in challenging times.

During Financial Literacy Month, virtual events will be ongoing to encourage Canadians to better educate themselves in areas such as emphasizing the 10 things to know in times of financial uncertainty, including protecting oneself from financial fraud, building good financial habits and having a plan to repay borrowed funds.

In my riding of Vaughan—Woodbridge, IC Savings credit union is an outstanding, long-time community partner, which is assisting its clients in learning how to budget, educating them on new products and assessing their financial goals. Since the onset of the pandemic, it has helped its clients access many of the federal relief programs, such as CEBA for their business and CERB, if they lost their job due to COVID-19.

As we celebrate the 10th anniversary of Financial Literacy Month, I encourage all Canadians to go to Canada.ca and access fantastic resources by searching for “Financial Literacy Month”.

Okanagan Nation Alliance

[Dan Albas, Conservative, Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC]

Madam Speaker, last week a truly remarkable thing occurred. For the first time in roughly 50 years, sockeye salmon have returned to Okanagan Lake. In the 1950s and 1960s, flood control work, which included dams, the channelling of rivers and other irrigation water system infrastructure, destroyed the natural salmon habitat. It has taken over a decade of hard work by the Okanagan Nation Alliance to rebuild and restore this precious river system so it can again be navigated by sockeye salmon. These are very important first steps to restoring indigenous fisheries in our region.

The Okanagan Nation Alliance was created in 1981 and includes the Okanagan Indian band, Upper Nicola Indian band, Westbank First Nation, Penticton Indian band, Osoyoos Indian band, the Lower and Upper Similkameen Indian bands, and the Colville confederated tribes with respect to areas of common concern.

I would ask all members of this place to join me in recognizing the hard work and success of the Okanagan Nation Alliance in reaching this historic milestone.

Winnipeg North

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

Madam Speaker, since day one this government has been working very aggressively with different types of organizations and levels of government to fight the coronavirus pandemic. I think it is time we recognize some of those partners that have been working along with government.

Today, I would like to tell members of some of those organizations that are working in Winnipeg North, where we have Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre; Mount Carmel Clinic, and its Ann Ross Day Nursery; The Day Nursery Centre; Turtle Island Neighbourhood Centre; the Bear Clan Patrol; CEDA, the Community Education Development Association; David Livingstone School; North End Women's Resource Centre; Tina's Safe Haven; Little Stars PLAYhouse; and Access NorWest.

Organizations throughout our great country have really stepped up to help the federal government work with different levels of government to make sure the health and well-being of Canadians is that much better off.

First Responders

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

Madam Speaker, I rise today to thank the countless number of first responders, who sacrifice so much, not just in my riding of Courtenay—Alberni, but across Canada. October 20 marked the 10-year anniversary of the tragic loss of ambulance paramedics Ivan Polivka and Jo-Ann Fuller. Ivan and Jo-Ann were both from the Tofino station. They were returning from the hospital in Port Alberni when their ambulance was involved in a single-vehicle accident. This week community members gathered online and in person to honour their memory and pay tribute to their compassion and courage, and the care they provided for their fellow citizens.

While Ivan and Jo-Ann were special, and they are still greatly missed after 10 years, they were not unique. Thousands of first responders answer our calls for help in emergencies throughout Canada on a daily basis, often at risk to their own safety and well-being.

Madam Speaker, I ask that you and all members in the House join me in remembering Ivan and Jo-Ann, and in thanking every first responder, past and present, for their service to their communities across our nation.

Beatrice Moreira-Laidlow

[Sven Spengemann, Liberal, Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON]

Madam Speaker, I take the floor with a heavy heart as our community has lost a dear friend and leader Beatrice Moreira-Laidlow.

Affectionately known as “Queen Bea”, Beatrice had recently been appointed general manager of the Port Credit BIA, but she was central to our community for years in so many other ways. Whether she was offering young people their first opportunity to volunteer at local events, championing local businesses or simply greeting neighbours with a smile from her signature go-cart, Beatrice brought inspiration and kindness to everyone she met. She was so fundamental in creating the Port Credit we know and love today, the lighthouse landing was fittingly named “The Queen Bea Lookout”.

Beyond all she did for us, she was a proud mother to her son Josh. Her family meant everything to her.

Beatrice will be profoundly missed, and our community will never be the same. We will honour her by ensuring that Port Credit remains resilient, vibrant and full of life. Her vision and legacy will live on.

The Economy

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

Madam Speaker, great leaders are revealed in times of great crisis. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 crisis has exposed the Liberal Prime Minister's great shortcomings.

People undoubtedly remember his 2015 campaign promise to run small deficits. He said it was not a big deal because budgets can balance themselves. As a result, the Prime Minister ran record deficits when things were going well. We must not forget all of the Liberals' ethical violations.

Then the pandemic hit. The Prime Minister was too slow to close the borders, to provide Canadians with rapid tests and to sign contracts to supply vaccines to Canadians.

The WE scandal broke and, instead of being transparent, he prorogued Parliament because the Liberals absolutely did not want us to find out the truth.

Then this week, he told us that he thinks the sky is the limit when it comes to spending. He has no fiscal anchor and no respect for the middle-class workers who are paying for his out-of-control spending.

Current and future generations of Canadians, even Canadians who have not yet been born, will have to pay the price for a Prime Minister who does not know how to count and who cannot be counted on.

Seniors

[Lyne Bessette, Liberal, Brome—Missisquoi, QC]

Madam Speaker, as we all know, seniors have been hit hard by the pandemic, and especially by the lockdown measures. After speaking with a few seniors from Brome—Missisquoi, I realized that, for many of them, isolation and loneliness are having as much of an impact as the virus.

The current context has brought new meaning to the use of digital devices, which allow them to stay in touch with their friends and family. This is why I was so pleased to be able to distribute new tablet computers to a number of seniors in Bedford and Stanbridge East over the past few weeks. Thanks to this donation, a few hundred seniors will be able to participate virtually in their favourite activities and maintain that important contact with their loved ones. This project was made possible by the new horizons for seniors program, which provides valuable assistance to our organizations every year.

I want to thank everyone who participated in the 2020 program and benefited from our government's support.

I want seniors in Brome—Missisquoi and all across Canada to know that we are here for them. Together, we will get through this crisis.

The Salvation Army

[Adam van Koeverden, Liberal, Milton, ON]

Madam Speaker, the Salvation Army, Khi Community, which serves families in Milton, believes in supporting those who need it most. This pandemic has affected families across Canada. When parents were worried about putting food on the table or affording diapers and formula, our Salvation Army doubled its efforts to get families in Milton the help they need.

It was not always easy. In the early months of the pandemic, collecting donations and raising funds was very challenging. That is why our government committed to supporting the work of community-serving organizations such as the Salvation Army. That is why we launched the emergency fund for food security, committing $100 million to tackle food insecurity during these difficult times, a piece of which, through Feed Ontario, went to support the great work our local Salvation Army does.

This means that Ruth Hickman, captain the SAKC, and her team can deliver more fresh food boxes and ensure they meet the diverse needs of our community. It means families will be able to purchase Christmas presents for their kids through the Khi Community gift card program. To the Salvation Army, Khi Community in Milton, and to Salvation Armies across Canada, I send my thanks for all the amazing work done every day.

Government Policies

[Marilyn Gladu, Conservative, Sarnia—Lambton, ON]

Madam Speaker, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues its second wave, so too continues the second wave of job losses. The Liberals say they are going to create a million jobs, but they are on the way to destroying thousands of jobs in my riding due to increased carbon taxes, the clean fuel standard and their upcoming single-use plastic ban.

Now is absolutely not the time for measures that will force the closures of plants and factories that employ thousands of hard-working Canadians and are making products to help keep us safe during this pandemic. This includes takeout containers used by restaurants across the country, and plastic knives, forks and stir sticks, such as those used right here in the House of Commons.

The Liberals’ abysmal response to this pandemic will only be made worse by these measures, and I implore them to reconsider, knowing the thousands of lives and livelihoods that are at stake if they proceed as planned.

Réginald Bélair

[Paul Lefebvre, Liberal, Sudbury, ON]

Madam Speaker, a former MP from the area of my hometown, Kapuskasing, passed away on March 3.

From 1988 to 2004, Réginald Bélair represented the riding of Cochrane—Superior and later Timmins—James Bay.

In his first speech to the House on December 3, 1988, this nature lover said that “this northern land is very welcoming; it is an ideal place to relax, to fish, to hunt, to go cross-country skiing or ice-fishing, etc. It has wide open spaces that ease the mind and challenge us to get to know nature better.” These words are still true today.

In 2004, as deputy speaker of the House of Commons, Mr. Bélair said to his colleagues, “Nevertheless, I would ask you to be generous with each other and cooperate a little in order to maintain some decorum in the House.” That still stands up as good advice today.

Mr. Bélair's passing is a painful loss to his family, his wife Jo-Anne and his two daughters Annie and Julie.

Farewell Mr. Bélair and thank you for serving Canada.

The Economy

[Tim Uppal, Conservative, Edmonton Mill Woods, AB]

Madam Speaker, yesterday, the Deputy Prime Minister provided the closest thing to a fiscal update that Canadians have seen in over a year. However, instead of announcing anything resembling a plan on getting our economy back on track, she was content on hammering home the same Liberal message as always: more spending. Canadians are left wondering what their return on investment is going to be.

Canada's unemployment rate is the highest in the G7, with nearly 12% in Alberta. Millions of Canadians are still out of work. Businesses across Canada are on the brink of bankruptcy. Canadians need a plan to deal with this pandemic and improve the economy. For Alberta, there are energy projects awaiting this government's approval that would bring thousands of jobs to an industry that the Liberals have decimated in the last five years.

We need a results-based plan. We need a government focused on jobs. We need a government that cuts red tape to help businesses grow their business instead of punishing them with barriers.

COVID-19 Testing

[Rosemarie Falk, Conservative, Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK]

Madam Speaker, the self-proclaimed feminist Prime Minister talks a lot about applying a gender lens to every policy decision. The reality is that a quick application reveals that his failure to prioritize rapid tests is failing women.

Women make up the majority of residents in long-term care and the vast majority of staff. These care homes have been the epicentre of this pandemic. Experts have been clear that access to rapid testing is key to mitigating outbreaks and fatalities in long-term care. We are now well into the second wave with numbers surging, yet our highly vulnerable senior population still has no readily available access to rapid testing. In fact, Canada is months behind other countries when it comes to procuring and approving rapid tests.

Women living and working in long-term care do not need feminist lip service. They need immediate supports to ensure their health and safety.

Fanshawe College's Centre for Research and Innovation

[Lindsay Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Madam Speaker, I rise today to highlight the incredible work being done in my riding by Fanshawe College's Centre for Research and Innovation.

Dr. Abdulla Mahboob and his team have worked on a research project that involves custom-made peptide inhibitors that can halt the spread of the coronavirus within infected patients. As with many viruses, COVID-19 has mutations that increase resistance to treatments. The Fanshawe team's technology is a non-infectious replicon of the virus that can be easily modified to test the effectiveness of new treatments against COVID-19 and other viral outbreaks in the future, and this technology is faster and safer than ever before.

The applied research and high quality of work produced in our Canadian college research centres sometimes go unnoticed by the government. Dr. Mahboob and his team are now ready to take this development beyond a college lab and need help to make it more accessible for treatment testing centres around the world. I call on everyone to share this development and help spread the word of this talented team. We are extremely proud.

Quebec

[Christine Normandin, Bloc, Saint-Jean, QC]

Madam Speaker, 25 years ago Quebec came within a hair's breadth of becoming independent in the 1995 referendum. It will not take another 25 years for Quebec to make the obvious decision to take total control of its destiny.

Let us seize the opportunity to point out that what our adversaries would like to see die is tenacious, whether it is the very idea of independence that continues to inspire one third of youth, or political vehicles like the Bloc Québécois, which many thought was dead and buried, not so long ago.

Let us seize the opportunity to again start the conversation about the Quebec of tomorrow, a Quebec with a green and innovative economy, especially in the regions, and a generation that is ready to hear about this vision for the first time.

Let us seize the opportunity to promote and also defend our language, our culture and our identity, which, more than ever before, are in conflict with Canadian culture. That is why we do not have to wait another 25 years.

Status of Women

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Madam Speaker, this weekend we will see many images of deformed, warty, greenish women, and I am, of course, referring to the modern imagery of witches.

Throughout the course of history, women have been burned at the stake and tortured for being witches. In reality, they were herbalists, midwives or just too independent for the patriarchy's liking. I am sure after being shut away, beaten and left to sit in their own filth, these women did look misshapen, and purple and green with the marks of violence.

Today we might not literally burn women at the stake, but we still do not believe them when they are abused. We still punish them when they speak truth to power, a shout-out to the member for Vancouver Granville, and we tacitly shun women who own and use the power that is innate to all of us.

On the occasion of this rare blue moon Samhain, let us push aside those who cause us to doubt our magic and celebrate those who, with humility and strength, manifest great things for the world. To all the witches out there, keep rocking it, blessed Samhain and happy Halloween.

Movember

[Majid Jowhari, Liberal, Richmond Hill, ON]

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to stand in the House today to speak to a cause that is very close to my heart. On November 1, we begin the annual Movember campaign to spread awareness on men's health specifically related to prostate and testicular cancer, men's mental health and suicide prevention. These issues affect us all.

In Canada, 75% of people who die by suicide are men, and one in 10 men will suffer from serious depression in his lifetime. Seeking help is a sign of strength, and having open conversations is critical. The mental health of young men needs more attention, and I applaud the good work that organizations like Home on the Hill, Krasman Centre and CCSYR are doing in my riding of Richmond Hill to increase awareness.

I invite all of my colleagues to take part in Movember. I challenge my male colleagues to grow a mo and save a bro. If they cannot grow a mo, I ask them to spread awareness, share resources and continue the conversation on men's mental health.

Foreign Affairs

[Michael Chong, Conservative, Wellington—Halton Hills, ON]

Madam Speaker, it is clear Canadian drone systems were diverted to the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan in violation of the Arms Trade Treaty, the Wassenaar Arrangement and Canadian law. There is lots of reputable photographic and video evidence.

Here is what we know: On April 23, the Prime Minister spoke with Turkish President Erdogan. In that conversation, did he agree to President Erdogan's request to approve the export of these drone systems from Canada to Turkey, yes or no?

[Rob Oliphant, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Madam Speaker, as I think everyone in the House knows, our government is committed to a strong and rigorous arms export system. That is why we acceded to the Arms Trade Treaty. Human rights considerations are now at the centre of our exports regime. When we became aware of possible uses of military equipment that had been exported to Turkey, the minister immediately ceased export permits, suspended them, and they are under review at this time.

[Michael Chong, Conservative, Wellington—Halton Hills, ON]

Madam Speaker, the government did not answer my question. Exporting these drone systems contributes to the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh.

My question is simple and I will ask it again: Did the government agree to President Erdogan's request and bypass officials to approve the export of these drone systems, yes or no?

[Rob Oliphant, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Madam Speaker, with all due respect, I believe I did answer the question. We are committed to a rigorous arms export regime. We follow all our international commitments and even more through legislation passed by this House of Commons. Everything we do with respect to our arms exports follows international law, and we are subject to no undue pressure from any external forces.

Ukraine International Flight 725

[Michael Chong, Conservative, Wellington—Halton Hills, ON]

Madam Speaker, it has been nearly 10 months since Ukraine International flight 752 was shot down. The victims' loved ones want justice for the 85 Canadian citizens and residents who perished.

When will the government listen to these families and impose sanctions on those responsible? When will it follow the democratic will of this House and impose sanctions on the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran?

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness]

Madam Speaker, I want to acknowledge to the member opposite and to the House that we are very concerned with the activities of various hostile state actors as it pertains to their activities around human rights and their impact on Canadians. We are vigorously reviewing, constantly, the criminal legislation that allows for the listing of certain organizations.

With respect to the particular regime he refers to, we have in fact listed a number of its proxies as terrorist organizations. We will continue to act in the best interests of the safety of Canadians.

[Michael Chong, Conservative, Wellington—Halton Hills, ON]

Madam Speaker, not only has the government failed to impose sanctions in regard to the downing of the Ukrainian airliner that killed so many Canadians, but the families are now being revictimized. People like Hamed Esmaeilion of Richmond Hill are being threatened, bullied and harassed by the Iranian regime right here in Canada.

When will the government take seriously the threat of foreign influence operations run here in this country by Iran, by China and by Russia? When will it get serious and use the full power of the Government of Canada to shut these operations down?

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness]

Madam Speaker, I agree completely that any activity directed toward the families of the victims of that terrible tragedy of the downing of that airliner is outrageous and unacceptable.

I want to assure the member opposite that the national security establishment and our law enforcement agencies are vigorously engaged on that issue. We will do what is necessary to protect those individuals, and we share in the member's denunciation of that activity on Canadian soil.

Foreign Affairs

[Michael Chong, Conservative, Wellington—Halton Hills, ON]

Madam Speaker, two months ago, Russia used the chemical weapon Novichok to poison opposition leader, Alexei Navalny. Two years ago, Russia used that same chemical weapon to poison people in the U.K., one of whom died. Two weeks ago, Europe and Britain imposed sanctions on Russian officials for the poisoning of Navalny.

The government says that it believes in multilateralism, but when given the opportunity often does not act accordingly. When will the government join our allies and impose Magnitsky sanctions on the Russian officials responsible for the poisoning of opposition leader Navalny?