Debates of Oct. 5th, 2020

Foreign Affairs

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, I am very happy that the member allows me to talk about the leadership we have done around the world when it comes to the Chinese issue.

The member knows very well when I was referring to that, and Canadians at home understand, that the beacon of stability, predictability and rule of law is Canada. Everyone in Canada and around the world understands. That is why we can take a stance in the world, talk for human rights, defend the people of Hong Kong, speak with the Uighurs and speak for the Tibetans.

We will continue to do that at every opportunity.

Federal-Provincial Relations

[Glen Motz, Conservative, Medicine Hat—Cardston—Warner, AB]

Mr. Speaker, all western Canadians, including our premiers, want to be equal partners in Confederation. Canada's economic recovery plan must be inclusive by considering and respecting the wealth of all provinces, including their natural resources.

At a time when our country so desperately needs to come together, the divisive attitude and actions of the Prime Minister and his government are very disturbing.

When will the Prime Minister stop his childish mocking of the concerns of western Canada and finally begin to address our needs?

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, our government has for many months worked collaboratively with western premiers and, indeed, premiers across the country to meet the economic and public health needs of their citizens. I had a conversation with the Premier of Alberta, for example, a few days ago. It was a very constructive and positive conversation about what we could do together to support the people of Alberta and to work together to help Canadians in the economic crisis and public health crisis that all Canadians face.

Indigenous Affairs

[Ruby Sahota, Liberal, Brampton North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, throughout the pandemic the government has made it a priority to support indigenous communities, which has helped contain the spread of COVID-19 and has kept people safe. Our government has committed to walking the path of reconciliation with indigenous peoples and has been focused on implementing commitments made in 2019.

Could the Minister of Justice please update the House on our commitment to introduce the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples?

[David Lametti, Liberal, Minister of Justice]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for Brampton North for her tireless efforts on behalf of indigenous peoples and the reconciliation process.

Our government is committed to advancing the rights of first nations, Inuit and Métis across the country as we walk the path of reconciliation together. As part of that work, we have committed to introducing legislation to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples by the end of 2020. We have been working closely with national indigenous organizations on a path forward that is adapted to the new circumstances imposed by the pandemic, while collaborating with indigenous partners and rights holders on the development of the legislation.

We look forward to having more to share soon.

[Rachel Blaney, NDP, North Island—Powell River, BC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, vigils were held across the country to honour, remember and demand justice for missing and murdered indigenous women and girls.

Indigenous women in my riding, frustrated by the inaction of the government, started the lil' red dress project to raise money to put up billboards with names and faces of missing indigenous women and girls across Vancouver Island.

Is this what it has come to: fundraising to save lives? What will it take for the Liberal government to move past empty words and actually help to save the lives of indigenous women and girls in our country?

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations]

Mr. Speaker, I share the concern of the member. I too participated yesterday, October 4, as we honoured the lives of those who had gone missing and supported the families of the MMIWG, two-spirited and gender-diverse people across the country.

Our government is determined to work with all provinces and territories in responding to the first-ever national inquiry to make sure that the families can seek justice and receive support. We will put in the concrete actions to stop this national tragedy.

[Jody Wilson-Raybould, Independent, Vancouver Granville, BC]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians are horrified by the racism witnessed during the tragic death of Joyce Echaquan. Of course, racism is not new. Indigenous peoples, even those in this chamber, including myself, have experienced racism throughout the history of Canada. Racism occurs in all sectors of society, including governments and political parties. This must change.

Does the minister agree that not nearly enough has been done by his government to combat indigenous-specific racism? Assuming he does, what new concrete and specific actions will he take to combat it? Will he call it out always and not only when it reaches the front pages?

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Minister of Indigenous Services]

Mr. Speaker, this traumatizing and dehumanizing event that occurred in the death of Joyce Echaquan was an expression of the absolute worst face of racism.

Systemic racism in our health care system is a national problem and we must face the reality that our institutions continue to fail indigenous peoples. It is essential that there be a timely and transparent investigation and we welcome Quebec's decision to act swiftly on the inquest.

We know that this is not limited to the health care system and expresses itself across all institutions of government. While much has been done in the last five years, much more remains and we will continue to work on it diligently and call it out wherever it occurs.

Criminal Code

[David Lametti, Liberal, Minister of Justice]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-7, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying).

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

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

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-247, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (controlling or coercive conduct).

Mr. Speaker, today I have a private members' bill that would help address domestic violence in Canada by making controlling or coercive conduct in an intimate relationship a criminal offence. Right now police often lack the ability to intervene in domestic violence cases before physical violence takes place, even though significant harm may have already been inflicted on one of the partners. People living in fear of violence should not have to wait to experience violence before receiving help and protection. This bill acknowledges that victims of controlling or coercive conduct suffer serious harms that are not overtly violent. Harms resulting from fear of violence often include declining mental and physical health, and limitations on the partner's ability to carry on an independent and autonomous life.

During this pandemic, governments have told Canadians to stay home to stay safe, but unfortunately not every home is a safe place. In fact, I know in my riding, as in most communities, police have seen a spike in domestic violence calls during the pandemic. Creating a new offence for controlling or coercive conduct will not only help stop the serious harm already being suffered, but also facilitate earlier intervention by police, which may avert physical violence later on.

If this bill had already been enforced, it might have been possible to prevent the shootings in Portapique, Nova Scotia, earlier this year. The shootings began with an incident of domestic violence between individuals whose problematic relationships had been brought to the attention of the police by neighbours and friends numerous times, though without ever rising to the level of physical violence that would have allowed police to act. This bill will fill that gap. The federal ombudsman for victims of crime has recently called for adding this kind of provision to our Criminal Code, and a similar bill has been enacted in the U.K.

I hope the government will support this private members' bill and help facilitate its early passage through the House.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

[The Speaker, Anthony Rota]

Before continuing, I want to remind all members that the explanation given should be succinct.

Foreign Affairs

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

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions to present today.

The first petition is from a group of constituents in my riding who are concerned about the situation in Kashmir. They are concerned that there are human rights violations going on and are calling on the Canadian government to lift the curfew that has been going on for four months, withdraw the 900,000-plus armed troops, return the 13,000 Kashmiri boys abducted and demand Mr. Modi give freedom back to the Kashmiri people.

Small Business

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

Mr. Speaker, the second petition is about small business owners. They are calling on the government to take the lead on implementing policies that will help businesses succeed, including reducing EI and CPP premiums, repealing the federal carbon tax, making it as easy to sell a business to a family member as it is to a stranger, cutting red tape in policies and guidelines, and balancing the budget within the next five years.

Agriculture

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

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour for me to present to the House a petition put forward by Tina Smith Brooks, a member of my community who lives in Rigaud. She is a business owner and a very active member of the community.

She has put forward a petition calling upon the Government of Canada to implement quantifiable targets to transition to organics; offer education and financial support to Canadians to increase organic agriculture and food processing, giving all Canadians better access; and require government buildings to purchase organics and protect Canadians' health from the dangers of conventional farming processes, while healing the environment.

Physician-Assisted Dying

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure for me to be presenting five petitions in the House today.

The first petition is with respect to Bill C-7. It is timely, as it is the same bill number that the justice minister just tabled, although maybe we see some differences in the text.

This petition refers to some changes that were in the last version of the bill, which removed vital safeguards associated with the euthanasia regime. The petitioners are concerned that the bill sought to eliminate the 10-day reflection period and eliminate requirements regarding witnesses. They believe those safeguards should remain in place.

Afghan Minority Communities

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition deals with the challenges experienced by the Sikh and Hindu minority in Afghanistan. The petitioners highlight various instances of violence that have targeted this community and call for a response from the Government of Canada. In particular, they would like to see the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship use the powers granted to him to create a special program to help persecuted minorities in Afghanistan.

I note there was a recent letter on this issue, which was signed by members of the Conservatives, as well the New Democratic Party and the Green Party caucuses.

Human Organ Trafficking

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the third petition I present is with respect to organ harvesting and trafficking. The petitioners are supportive of various legislative initiatives that have sought to make it a criminal offence for a Canadian to go abroad to receive an organ taken without consent.

Firearms

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Mr. Speaker, petition number four is with respect to the rights of firearms owners. The petitioners note that the vast majority of gun crime involves illegal guns, often smuggled into Canada. They point out that the order in council brought in by the government on May 1 is really an act of misdirection that does not focus on the real problem. The petition proposes that the order in council be reversed and that instead the government bring forward necessary measures to address the real cause of gun crime, which is illegal guns, and in particular smuggled guns.

Human Rights

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the fifth and final petition draws attention to the horrific abuses facing Uighur Muslims in China. It calls for a meaningful response from the government, or, in other words, more than just words.

The petitioners ask the government to formally recognize that Uighurs in China have been subject to genocide and ask the government to use the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act, the Magnitsky act, to sanction those responsible for the heinous crimes being committed against Uighur people.

Herbicides

[Rachel Blaney, NDP, North Island—Powell River, BC]

Mr. Speaker, today I will be tabling two petitions in the House.

The first one is on herbicides in the forestry industry. This is specifically for the Minister of Health. It talks about the impacts of herbicides in the forestry industry. This is from the citizens of qathet Regional District and Powell River.

The petitioners are concerned about the use of herbicides and the impacts they have on biodiversity. They harm local water sources, accelerate climate change and worsen forest fires. The petitioners call for a ban on the use of herbicides in the forestry industry in all of Canada, with the exception of addressing invasive species.

The Environment

[Rachel Blaney, NDP, North Island—Powell River, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition I am tabling today is in support of Motion No. 1, a green new deal. This was signed by numerous citizens across Canada. It is in support of the member for New Westminster—Burnaby and calls for a green new deal in Canada to prevent catastrophic climate change and ensure a just transition and an economy that works for everyone.

Rights of the Unborn

[Ted Falk, Conservative, Provencher, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present two petitions.

The first represents the voices of 35,255 Canadians who are calling on the government to protect human life. These signatories call on this chamber to enact legislation granting full legal protection to a child not yet born, starting from the beginning of his or her biological development as a human being. The petitioners also urge the House of Commons to show leadership in fostering a life-sustaining society.

I hope we heed their voices in this chamber. When we fail to protect the right to life of some, we undermine the right to life for all.

Sex Selection

[Ted Falk, Conservative, Provencher, MB]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition is on sex-selective abortion.

The petitioners note that sex selection is antithetical to our commitment to equality between men and women, and that 84% of Canadians agree that it should be illegal to have an abortion simply because a family does not want a child to be a certain sex. The petitioners call on this chamber to pass a Criminal Code prohibition of sex-selective abortion.

Members of the House will have the opportunity to pass Bill C-233 to address this inequality, and I encourage all members to do exactly that.

Human Rights

[Paul Manly, Green, Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC]

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour and privilege to present e-petition 2759. It has 2,278 signatures and has been put forward by Annamie Paul, from Toronto, who is the new leader of the Green Party.

The petition calls for the Government of Canada to proclaim August 1 as emancipation day, and to celebrate it on that day each year. It notes that the transatlantic slave trade brought people of African descent to Canada in the early 1600s and that the practice of slavery was also inflicted on indigenous peoples, continuing until it was abolished in the British Empire on August 1, 1834.

Canada’s history of enslavement, racial segregation and marginalization has had a devastating impact on people of African descent. The existence of systemic anti-Black racism in education, housing, employment, health, criminal justice, politics and other areas can be directly traced to the history of slavery in Canada. Canada has neither recognized nor educated the public adequately about the historical facts related to slavery and the anti-Black racism it has produced. Black Canadians have made outstanding contributions to Canada in every field, which is all the more remarkable given the legacy of slavery. It is necessary to recognize the history of Black Canadians in order to build a more just society, free from discrimination.

I am hoping that we can pronounce August 1 as emancipation day in Canada, each and every year.