Debates of Oct. 5th, 2020

Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply

[Salma Zahid, Liberal, Scarborough Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. member for all the work she has done on gender equality.

I am proud to be part of a government that believes in gender-based violence and that for the economy to recover, it is important that we have a she-covery. Just last week, we announced $50 billion for an accelerated investment in shelters and transitional housing to ensure that anyone facing gender-based violence would have a safe place to turn. During the first wave of the pandemic, we also invested $50 million. From talking to constituents in my riding, I know that it really made a difference and many women were able to find a place at shelters when they faced gender-based violence.

[Rhéal Fortin, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we have heard a lot from the Liberals about how proud they are. They like patting themselves on the back. They are giving the throne speech rave reviews. Where does the truth lie though? This government has been in power for five years. What has it really accomplished?

Canada signed a greenhouse gas reduction contract in Paris, but it has not reduced greenhouse gases. The country is getting farther away from the Paris targets, yet the government is still investing in oil rather than in green energy.

What about health care? The Leader of the Government in the House of Commons says that he is the one who negotiates with the Premier of Quebec. He would like the Bloc Québécois to leave him alone. What is he actually negotiating though? The Premier of Quebec wants him to increase health transfers because we are in the midst of a pandemic and we need more money, but there has been no movement on this.

What about the government's special powers? Earlier, my colleague talked about a non-partisan agreement concerning these special powers. What did the Liberals do with their powers? They helped their WE Charity friends. Helping friends is the only thing this government has done successfully since taking office. This is scandalous.

Can we look forward to firm commitments from this government on health transfers, money for high-speed Internet and investments in electric transportation?

That is my question: Will the government be making firm commitments or will it be making the same enticing but empty promises it has been making for the past five years?

[Salma Zahid, Liberal, Scarborough Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am really proud to be part of a government that is committed to and believes in climate change. In the last mandate, we did a lot of work in that regard. We are still committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. As mentioned in the throne speech, we will legislate the targets that we can achieve by 2050.

A few weeks ago, I welcomed the Minister of Infrastructure in Scarborough to make the announcement on electric buses for in my riding. We have invested in Canadians. We have invested $19 billion for a safe restart agreement with the provinces and territories to ensure they have the PPE and money for health care and testing. We have invested heavily to ensure testing is done for more and more Canadians. We will continue investing in Canadians.

[Alistair MacGregor, NDP, Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I am glad the member has talked about the fact that so many people have died alone during COVID-19. However, people who have overdosed from a toxic drug supply are also dying alone. In British Columbia, we have had five times more deaths from overdoses than from COVID-19. In three of the last four years, over 1,000 people have died, but there is only a passing reference to the opioid epidemic.

Why has the Liberal government refused to call the opioid crisis a national health emergency? Why is it not heeding calls of organizations like the chiefs of police to decriminalize this? Why is it not providing the federal resources that so many communities across the country need to finally get a handle on this crisis?

[Salma Zahid, Liberal, Scarborough Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, safety and security of Canadians is the most important thing for us as a government. I am proud that in the last six months we have done our best to ensure Canadians are safe and have those tools available to fight this pandemic. We will continue investing in the health of Canadians to ensure we can get through this pandemic as team Canada.

[James Bezan, Conservative, Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB]

Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to join all my colleagues virtually, coming live from Teulon, Manitoba.

This is the 11th throne speech I have heard since I was elected in 2004 and this is by far the weakest throne speech I have had to listen to. I even reread it this morning and it is just filled with Liberal dogma. It is about social re-engineering. The only reason we had prorogation by the Prime Minister, since the throne speech is so uninspiring, is the WE scandal. It was not about resetting the agenda; it was about trying to do a cover-up and ensuring the opposition parties could not continue to litigate the government about its scandal and the almost billion dollars it was going to hand over to the WE Charity.

We are going to get around to dealing with that during this session of Parliament, but let us ensure we talk about all the problems the Liberals continue to have, especially with respect to its fiscal mismanagement and how it is building upon that during this COVID-19 crisis.

We have supported the government on ensuring we get timely payments out to Canadians where they are needed, but we have to ensure we take exception to the Prime Minister's comment in the throne speech, when he said, “Canadians should not...take on debt that their government can better shoulder.” Who does the Prime Minister think holds the debt of the Government of Canada? it is Canadians.

As we are now running right past $350 billion in deficit this fiscal year alone, that is the equivalent of $100,000 per man, woman and child in the entire country. I do not know anyone who has received $100,000 from the Government of Canada. Definitely people have received $2,000 a month through CERB and businesses have received up to $40,000 in CEBA loans that will be repayable. However, if we look at a family of four, nobody has received $400,000, and we are doing all of this without an actual budget in place for this fiscal year. Therefore, as we move forward, we will have to hold the government to account as to where this money has gone.

When I was part of the Harper government and we were running deficits, we had a plan as to how we dealt with it. It was called the three Ts. When we were dealing with deficits, they had to be timely, transparent and temporary. I am worried that some of the social re-engineering the government is looking at will make some of the benefits out there to help during these rough times become more than just temporary funding and turn into permanent programs. That will hurt our overall economic recovery as a nation and further indebt Canadians as the Government of Canada continues to pile up these mountains of debt, which is going to exceed $1 trillion for the first time in Canadian history. They have to be timely. So far a lot of Canadians have had to wait for months for benefits from the government, and these have to be transparent.

We do not have a budget. When this crisis first started and Parliament was not sitting, we know the government tried to get control of the entire public purse, without any oversight, to deal with the so-called recovery from COVID. We are not there yet, so we have to continue to drive forward. However, right now we see this ongoing use of non-disclosure agreements and national security designations as a way to hide any government contracts that have been sole-sourced, like the WE scandal, and as we have seen recently with PPE manufacturing, when it used national security as a way to hide a sole-sourced contract for face masks. That makes no sense at all. We have to continue to hold the government to account.

Nothing in the throne speech did anything to address western alienation. Here in Manitoba, as it is in Saskatchewan and Alberta, there is a real concern that Ottawa knows best and the rest of us in the west can just take a hike. We cannot allow that to happen. As a national Parliament, we have to address every region of our country.

The Conservative leader's first ask was how the Prime Minister would deal with national unity, with the rise of western alienation and the ongoing sovereignist movement within Quebec. There is no plan in the Speech from the Throne that even addresses that.

We do not see any action from the government on how it is going to deal with the COVID-19 health recovery. Months after this pandemic started, we are finally getting approval for rapid testing. All the G8 nations that we deal with, and our partners under NATO and the European Union, have been using rapid testing for months. We are only getting there now.

One of the greatest disappointments in the Speech from the Throne is that the government talks about having an economic recovery and job creation, but the only jobs it can create are the ones it adds to the civil service. It has not done anything to set in motion the economic objectives to build our current economy. Liberals do not even address the fundamentals of our economy, or having a fiscal anchor in how we deal with these ongoing deficits, and they have completely ignored the pillars of our economy.

When I re-read the Speech from the Throne on the computer this morning, I did a search for the word “farmers” and it only appears twice in the document. Once to talk about the Liberals finally paying supply managed farmers for any market losses that they are experiencing because of the free trade agreements we have signed, but we have heard that for five years from the government, and it has not done anything yet.

Then the Liberals talk about wanting to make sure farmers are given support to adapt to the new environmental regulations that are coming out. Farmers and ranchers are partners in the environment and they should be rewarded, not penalized, because they are carbon sinks, and they are securing our food supply. We need to help them, not penalize them.

There is nothing in the speech about fish harvesters. We waited in Manitoba for almost five months after the Prime Minister announced from Rideau Cottage in May that there was going to be support for fish harvesters. In my riding of Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, we have almost 1,000 commercial fishers. These are families in our communities and they waited for months before they could even apply. They have still have not received any cheques in the mail.

Energy workers were ignored. Forestry workers were ignored. Those who work in the natural resource sector were not even mentioned. These are the pillars of our economy, yet there is no support for how we create those jobs. There is nothing for manufacturers.

The real drivers of our economy are small business owners. Almost 90% of businesses in Canada are owned by small business owners, and they are the job creators. There was not much said to help them.

Aviation was completely forgotten about. How do we keep our airlines flying and our airports open? Nav Canada has laid off a pile of people, which is impacting Winnipeg and St. Andrews Airport in my riding. In Churchill, how do we use the gateway to the Arctic without having Nav Canada there to help with the safety and planning of those flights?

As the shadow minister for defence, I want to join with all members who have stood and thanked members of the Canadian Armed Forces, especially those tasked through Operation Lentus, which was the work done in long-term care. It was much appreciated. It was much needed, and I know they stand at the ready to do it again.

Again, there is almost nothing in the speech to deal with the military, or the use the defence industry as a way to drive economic recovery, as well as supply our Armed Forces. I know members of the Canadian Armed Forces are worried about these huge deficits. They remember the last time the Liberals had to start paying down deficits and address the national debt, which led to the decade of darkness. We cannot allow that to happen again.

We have to invest in our Arctic sovereignty. We have challenges from Russia and China, so we need to have an upgraded north warning system, make sure we are working in NORAD and use new capabilities. Speaking of China, I want to mention, as the Prime Minister did in the throne speech, that today is 665 days that Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor have been wrongfully incarcerated in China.

It is time to get them home. Let us deal with that head on, as we address all the problems we have in our relationship with Beijing.

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, I want to address a point the member made in terms of unity, and recognize that through this pandemic we have witnessed Canadians coming together from all regions. Whether it is individuals or the government, we have seen people and governments coming together in order to minimize the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. It has actually been very encouraging.

The member makes reference to the prorogation of the session. His good friend, and mine, Premier Brian Pallister has prorogued the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. I am sure that an annual contract with the WE organization is not why the premier prorogued. I suspect, much like in Ottawa, it is important to focus on the COVID-19 pandemic and what government can do to minimize the negative impact. Would the member agree?

[James Bezan, Conservative, Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB]

Mr. Speaker, as a former MLA, the member for Winnipeg North knows full well that the Province of Manitoba prorogues its legislature every fall. It is an annual occurrence, and it has an annual throne speech because of it. There is nothing new to report here.

What is new is that the Liberals had to cover up the WE scandal, and that is why they prorogued. They wanted to try to reset the agenda, filling the throne speech with more Liberal ideology, as we move forward into the session.

The member mentioned national unity and working alongside the provinces. If the Liberal government was working with the provinces, why did it not address the provinces' demands for more equalization? They asked for more health care transfers so that they could deliver health care during this pandemic in a timely manner and have the equipment required, especially as hospitalizations continue to increase. Ignored by—

[The Deputy Speaker, Bruce Stanton]

Continuing with questions and comments, the hon. member for Jonquière.

[Mario Simard, Bloc, Jonquière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, earlier I heard my colleague talking about Canadian unity and the challenges facing the oil and gas industry in the west. I would like to draw just a couple of figures to his attention. From 2017 to 2020, the federal government provided $827 million in support to the forestry industy, and 80% of that was in the form of loans. In the same period, the federal government provided $22 billion in support to the oil and gas industry. There is a big difference between $827 million and $22 billion.

Does my colleague not see the inequity in terms of the support provided to the forestry industry compared to that given to the oil and gas industry in western Canada?

[James Bezan, Conservative, Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB]

Mr. Speaker, we all know that the oil and gas sectors in Alberta and Saskatchewan in particular, and in British Columbia, have generated billions upon billions of dollars in equalization payments because of the success of the oil and gas industry. They have been left completely out of the loop under the current Liberal government, and that goes right back to its election five years ago, with its “no more pipelines” bill and banning of tankers on the west coast.

These antidevelopment and antiresource policies of the Liberals are hurting all of Canada, not just the workers and industries in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

We need to work with the sector to ensure that workers are fully employed and that everybody is benefiting from this great resource that we have locked in the ground. Leaving it there and using foreign oil is not the answer, but that is exactly what the Prime Minister wants to do.

Green Party of Canada

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

Mr. Speaker, it was an incredible weekend for the Greens in Canada. It marked the end of our party's leadership race.

We made history. I am so pleased with our members' choice.

Annamie Paul will soon, I hope, walk into this place as the first Black leader of a federal political party. I hope she will soon walk into this place as the first Black woman to head a federal political party.

Annamie Paul comes to us with great experience. She came to this city to get her law degree. She went to Princeton for her master's degree. She has worked at the International Criminal Court. She has worked at our embassies overseas. She has worked at the very grassroots level to help communities, to increase diversity and to fight the climate crisis. She is extraordinary, and I hope we all wish her the best of luck in winning the seat in Toronto Centre so that she can be here soon.

Al Gardner

[Francis Scarpaleggia, Liberal, Lac-Saint-Louis, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the City of Beaconsfield has lost a beloved and respected people's representative. Councillor Al Gardner left us suddenly and far too soon this past summer.

A loyal public servant, Al treated everything with the thoughtfulness and rigour of someone who always wanted to do the very best for his constituents and community. Always welcoming and kind, Al was a friend to everyone and a true gentleman.

Al Gardner exemplified an approach to politics that is fundamental to a healthy democracy. The political was never personal. He always looked at both sides of an issue, and this allowed him to find common ground.

Last, but by no means least, Al was a dog lover. He adopted many, and whenever he was out and about in the community, he was never without a treat in his pocket just in case.

We have lost a good man. I ask the House to join me in offering Al's son, Geoffrey, and his sister, Fern, our deepest condolences at this time of great loss.

World Teachers' Day

[Marc Dalton, Conservative, Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge, BC]

Mr. Speaker, today is World Teachers' Day. Teaching is an occupation I am quite familiar with, having taught at both the secondary and elementary levels since 1995 in Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge.

I want to thank all teachers across Canada for pouring out their hearts and souls to inspire and educate young people. It is not at all an easy task, but they have chosen this profession because they care. So often I have been amazed as I have watched colleagues engage and motivate their students with creative lessons in whatever subject matter or grade they may be teaching. Teachers have a powerful impact on the lives of our young people. We can all look back and remember a teacher who breathed life into us.

The year 2020 has been a very challenging one for so many of us, and that certainly has been true for teachers. I invite all members of the House to join with me in acknowledging our nation's teachers in this very challenging time.

Small Business

[Bobby Morrissey, Liberal, Egmont, PE]

Mr. Speaker, the month of October is a time to celebrate small businesses across the country and the valuable contributions they make to our communities. The face of small business in my riding of Egmont includes farmers, fishers, tourism operators, the service sector, manufacturers and food processors, all of whom have endured a challenging peak season due to COVID-19.

Small businesses are very important for my riding, Egmont.

Small business owners take risks to provide our community with local goods and services, and by taking these risks they are providing opportunities for others. Thanks to the hard work of local small business owners, Egmont is building a stronger economy that benefits everyone, and as a result, we all have the opportunity to share in our community's progress.

Supporting small business has and remains the best way forward for our national economic recovery. That is why our Liberal government continues to support small businesses.

World Teachers' Day

[Monique Pauzé, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Mr. Speaker, October 5 is World Teachers' Day.

I want to acknowledge the dedication of these men and women who, as the theme suggests, are not only shaping the future, but are true leaders in a time of crisis.

This year's back-to-school was historic. It was unprecedented. I will not soon forget the image of these young school children wearing a mask following their teacher into their elementary school. A little further, I saw teenagers also wearing masks, waiting for their school bus. I knew I would not be seeing the older kids because they are learning online, cut off from all social contact. It is unreal.

As a former teacher myself, I know that teachers are navigating unknown territory while trying to provide a semblance of normalcy to the students even as they fear for their own health, for their children and for their family. They are sure not to transfer their fear to their students.

Teachers in Quebec and elsewhere are used to juggling a lack of resources and working miracles with next to noting, but they will always make sure that the children are getting the best education possible. That is why the Bloc Québécois pays tribute to them today.

Hellenic Home for the Aged

[Salma Zahid, Liberal, Scarborough Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, today, I would like to recognize the residents and the hard-working staff of Hellenic Home for the Aged in my riding of Scarborough Centre. As a long-term care home, it has been on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. The first wave was difficult for it. Residents were unable to see their loved ones and, under difficult circumstances and spending much time away from their own families, the staff worked very hard to keep residents safe. I would like to extend my condolences to the Hellenic Home community for the lives lost during this pandemic.

We owe it to our seniors to do everything we can to keep them safe. We need to develop new national standards for long-term care. I look forward to working with organizations in my riding to bring their ideas and their voices to this discussion.

Mental Illness Awareness Week

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

Mr. Speaker, October 4 to 10 is Mental Illness Awareness Week. Mental Illness Awareness Week is about the need for dialogue and the need to allow anyone who is struggling the opportunity to express, without judgment, the pain, suffering and hurt that they feel as they struggle with various health problems. Those suffering in silence need to be able to come forward and know that they will be believed, and not seen as weak. They need to know that we are fighting for the services and support that they need. Until we recognize mental illness as a true health problem, we will not be able to move forward as a nation.

All of us here in the House have a responsibility to keep this issue at the forefront of the debate, not just today but every day. We can do more and we can do it together.

I am proud to sit on the all-party mental health caucus with colleagues from across this great country. In the coming weeks and months, members will be hearing from us as we work together to raise the profile of mental illness among Canadians. We have a responsibility to make sure those in need have the tools necessary to get better.

There is no health without mental health.

WISH Drop-In Centre

[Hedy Fry, Liberal, Vancouver Centre, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the first wave of COVID-19 exposed deep gaps in our social infrastructure and let us see the desperation of our most vulnerable, such as sex trade workers. Many cannot claim benefits like CERB because the work they do is criminal. They cannot pay rent. They face an increased amount of societal violence, are at risk in shelters and are stigmatized by many.

I shout out to an organization in Vancouver named WISH, which provides a safe, non-judgmental place for sex trade workers facing gender-based violence, giving them shelter, food and respite and helping them gain workforce skills if they wish to exit the trade. WISH recently opened the first overnight shelter in Canada for street workers. Last week, its executive director Mebrat Beyene won the YWCA Women of Distinction Award for non-profits.

Brava WISH. Keep defending the vulnerable and speaking out for the voiceless.

Gatineau's Local Economy

[Steven MacKinnon, Liberal, Gatineau, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Outaouais is fortunate to be able to count on extraordinary entrepreneurs who make our region vibrant and who contribute to its recovery and our prosperity every day. Gatineau businesses, especially those in the downtown area, were hit hard by the first wave of the pandemic. Thanks to the Government of Canada's aid measures and the vigilance of Gatineau residents, we managed to open up again this summer.

However, today we find ourselves at a crossroads with the arrival of the second wave. We must continue buying local and encouraging our local businesses while observing public health guidance. The business community has been able to adapt to ensure everyone's health and safety. Governments are supporting SMEs with additional measures. This all goes hand in hand with urging everyone to respect public health guidelines. I know that the people of Gatineau will heed this appeal, because the health of our local economy depends on it.

John Pritchard School

[Raquel Dancho, Conservative, Kildonan—St. Paul, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I am grateful for the opportunity to recognize the parents, students and staff at John Pritchard School in my riding. Last month, the school celebrated its 105th anniversary. Over the last century, John Pritchard students have lived through countless challenges, including two world wars and two global health pandemics.

The John Pritchard School family is facing adversity again, with 250 students now enrolled in remote learning following a recent COVID-19 outbreak at the school. My heart goes out to all those affected. I am praying for a speedy recovery for those battling COVID-19. I want to thank the teachers, support staff, administrative officials and parents for rising to the occasion and putting the education of our kids first by implementing at-home learning during this unprecedented time.

I also want to thank the Kildonan—St. Paul community for donating new items to my back-to-school supplies initiative, which will help provide lower-income students in our community with much-needed items, and for their support of their neighbours. This makes me proud to represent this community as their member of Parliament.

World Teachers' Day

[Darrell Samson, Liberal, Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS]

Mr. Speaker, today we celebrate World Teachers' Day in Canada and all around the world. This is a day to celebrate our teachers and express our appreciation for them.

As a former educator from a family of educators, I know all too well how hard teachers work every day to give students the best possible education.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a number of challenges for our education systems. Our teachers have shown unbelievable leadership as they responded to the crisis, offered online learning, supported vulnerable students and helped reopen our schools. I want all of our teachers to know that their passion, hard work and sacrifices do not go unnoticed. You have our respect and our gratitude.

Manitoba COVID-19 Response

[Marty Morantz, Conservative, Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB]

Mr. Speaker, scientists around the world have always said that easily accessible testing is the key to combatting the spread of COVID-19 while helping people live normal lives. That is why Conservatives have been calling for rapid and easily accessible tests since March.

The Liberal government is months behind our allies when it comes to approving and procuring COVID-19 testing devices. Now that a rapid testing device has finally been approved, the Manitoba government is being blocked from purchasing them.

Why are we being blocked? The Prime Minister has blocked the direct sale of these rapid-testing devices to provincial governments, leaving them unavailable for Canadians to access.

For months, Canadians have had to wait days in worry, wondering if they have COVID-19 because the government has dragged its feet. It is time for the Prime Minister to get out of the way and let provinces make these tests readily available.

Natural Resources

[Gerald Soroka, Conservative, Yellowhead, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today regarding the layoffs recently announced at Suncor Energy. A total of 15% of Suncor's workforce will be laid off in the coming weeks. This comes directly as a result of the government's anti-energy policies. Instead of exporting our oil, the government is exporting our jobs.

Two weeks ago, the government delivered the throne speech. The only thing mentioned about oil and gas in the throne speech is how they will play a role in getting to net zero emissions. I believe the Liberals' plan to get to net zero is to eliminate oil and gas in Canada. This is not a sound way to build back the economy while there is still a huge need for oil, gas and all the by-products it produces.

While the government does not support Canadian producers, it thinks nothing of bringing oil in from foreign countries, such as the United States, and instead support Donald Trump in making America great again. The Suncor layoffs are the most recent example.

When is the government going to stop exporting jobs and start exporting oil?

COVID-19 Emergency Response

[Matthew Green, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit earlier this year, the national emergency stockpile had already been grossly mismanaged, with three warehouses shut down and millions of pieces of PPE thrown into the trash.

Canadian companies have started producing PPE but over fears of being outbid again, the government refuses to make the names of these companies public to ensure that the supply remains available to Canada. If the government is admitting that free-market capitalism is putting us at risk, then we must commit to starting government production of PPE as a part of our just recovery for the manufacturing workers and to ensure that Canadians will always have access to safe, affordable and reliable PPE.

With close to 10,000 deaths and the second wave upon us, the Liberals must, at a minimum, confirm that the contracts signed with the Canadian PPE producers ensure that Canada will have first access to PPE indefinitely, or we risk being outbid once again.