Debates of Oct. 6th, 2020

Health

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians are experiencing the worst public health crisis in a century, one that will only end with an effective treatment or vaccine. Yet, without a public pharmacare system, they have no assurance that they will have universal access to these life-saving medications.

Yesterday, the NDP government in British Columbia announced that any COVID-19 vaccine will be provided at no cost to British Columbians. Will the Government of Canada ensure that all Canadians receive free vaccinations against COVID-19 once they are developed?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, it is important that all Canadians have access to a vaccine when the vaccine is available. I will be working with my colleagues at the provincial and territorial level to ensure that vaccines are available to Canadians to help combat the pandemic.

[Matthew Green, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, while the Liberal government's own COVID vaccine task force appears to be riddled with conflicts of interest from the pharmaceutical industry, Canadians continue to languish at the prospect of an even more severe second wave. In British Columbia, Premier John Horgan has committed to providing free vaccines once approved and available.

Instead of helping its friends in big pharma, will the Liberal government finally take the profits out of the pandemic and utilize publicly owned agencies, such as the National Research Council's facility in Montreal where it just put $44 million, and immediately begin the development of a publicly available COVID-19 vaccine?

[Navdeep Bains, Liberal, Minister of Innovation]

Mr. Speaker, we have been very clear about investing and supporting made-in-Canada solutions. The member opposite highlights the important investment that we made at the NRC Royalmount facility. This will enable us to produce up to 24 million doses annually.

We will make sure that we continue to work with the provinces and territories and determine the best path forward to ensure Canadians have access to safe and effective vaccines when they are available.

[Majid Jowhari, Liberal, Richmond Hill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, in the Speech from the Throne, our government announced increasing access to mental health resources and a distinction-based mental health strategy. As the chair of the all-parliamentary mental health caucus, our priority is to explore funding models for community-based initiatives, while addressing the intersectionality of mental health wellness applications.

My question is for the Minister of Health. Could the minister kindly expand on the specific distinction of this funding and how will she ensure there is an intersectional approach to the funding, so marginalized communities like the indigenous community and Black community cab be supported?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for his hard work on the issue of mental health.

We know that there are significant and unique challenges faced by Black Canadians and other racialized populations, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through the mental health for Black Canadians initiative, we are investing $10 million to support 16 community-based projects across Canada. However, within this fund, we are actively looking for projects related to addressing the unique needs of Black LGBTQI+ Canadians.

Through these projects we hope to help improve culturally focused mental health supports for Black Canadian communities throughout the pandemic and well into the recovery.

Public Safety

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

Mr. Speaker, it has been nearly a month since Mohamed-Aslim Zafis was murdered in front of the IMO mosque in Toronto by an individual with apparent links to neo-Nazi groups.

Studies have shown that since the government took power, the number of white supremacist groups in Canada has increased by over 300%. A letter to the Prime Minister from dozens of multi-faith and anti-hate groups has called for much more action to combat white supremacist organizations in Canada.

When can these groups and all Canadians expect further actions from the government to prevent attacks like this from happening again?

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

Mr. Speaker, I want to advise the hon. member that I have had the opportunity to speak with the leadership at IMO to express not only our condolences, but to discuss appropriate actions.

All Canadians have an expectation that their government will keep them safe. We are all concerned about growing right-wing extremism, hatred and purveyors of hatred and violence online in particular. That is why we have quadrupled the funding for security infrastructure programs and have reached out to the IMO to make sure they know that it is available. We have invested in research and support programs to—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

The hon. member for Kildonan—St. Paul.

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

Mr. Speaker, the anti-racism action plan was announced to much fanfare over one year ago. Since then the minister has not provided a single community group with promised funding and Black, indigenous and other cultural groups are still waiting. Now dozens of anti-hate and multi-faith groups are calling on the Liberal government to deliver results in combatting hate groups that are putting Canadian lives at risk.

The Liberals are dragging their heels when it comes to getting funds to racialized community groups. This is another example of talking a good game, yet failing to deliver. What is the holdup?

[Bardish Chagger, Liberal, Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth]

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to answer this question and to provide the House and all Canadians more information. It was our government that brought back an anti-racism strategy, the strategy that was actually forgotten about and let go by the previous government.

We recognize that diversity is our strength in Canada and we have to have a plan forward. Yes, we set up the anti-racism secretariat and we are grateful to have the leadership of Peter Flegel on that file. He is working with community groups from coast to coast to coast.

Since 2018, we have officially recognized the International Decade for People of African Descent. We have also provided $25 million—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

The hon. member for Chicoutimi—Le Fjord.

International Trade

[Richard Martel, Conservative, Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC]

Mr. Speaker, as I already mentioned, U.S. protectionism continues to knock at the door. It makes no difference whether the Democrats or the Republicans are in power.

Today, we learned that a U.S. trade representative is calling for an investigation into whether their farmers are affected by imports of Canadian blueberries.

I would like to know if the government will protect our workers in the blueberry industry or leave them in the lurch.

[Mary Ng, Liberal, Minister of Small Business]

Mr. Speaker, our government will always stand up for Canadian producers, farmers and the agri-food industry.

Canada is concerned by the U.S. decision to launch a global safeguard investigation on fresh and frozen blueberries that could eventually lead to tariffs on imports from Canada. Canadian agricultural exports of fresh and frozen blueberries are not contributing and are not harming the U.S. market, and Canada expects that the U.S. will respect the CUSMA safeguard provisions. Canada will actively participate in the safeguard investigation.

Indigenous Affairs

[Cathy McLeod, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC]

Mr. Speaker, this past weekend, Sisters in Spirit vigils were held across Canada to honour murdered and missing indigenous women and girls. This is an ongoing and devastating tragedy.

It has been 16 months now and the government has been sitting on the results from the national inquiry's final report. The Native Women's Association gave it a resounding fail and stated that we did not have an action plan; we had a lack of an action plan.

When can we expect a plan or is this just another failure to deliver?

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations]

Mr. Speaker, our hearts are with the survivors and the families of the missing and murdered indigenous women, girls, two-spirit and gender-diverse people.

In response to the first-ever national public inquiry on the ongoing national tragedy, our government is working with all provincial and territorial governments in order to ensure we have consultations with indigenous leaders, survivors and families to develop a national action plan that sets a clear road map to ensure indigenous women, girls, two-spirited and gender-diverse people are safe.

Seniors

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Mr. Speaker, this evening we will be voting against the throne speech because we see that seniors are unfortunately not included in the government's plans. It is negligent to not agree to increase old age security starting at age 65 to support their buying power when we want to get the economy going again. It is negligent to not give Quebec the health transfers needed to protect and care for seniors during the second wave. The throne speech is supposed to reflect the government's vision for the future.

Does it believe that those who built Quebec no longer matter?

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, what is negligent is wanting to send Canadians to the polls. Last week, the Bloc leader said he had lost confidence in the government, that he wanted an election immediately or next spring at the latest. Meanwhile, cases are on the rise, people are losing their jobs, everyone is worried.

The government is focused on helping all Quebeckers and Canadians and the Bloc should do the same instead of thinking about an election.

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the member answered my question on seniors by talking about an election. This is nonsense. The real question is, why?

Why refuse to help Quebec's health system provide the best possible care to seniors by increasing transfers? Why deny seniors between the ages of 65 and 75 an old age security increase that they deserve? Why create two classes of seniors? Why refuse to commit to raising the pension by $110 a month?

Their purchasing power has been steadily declining for 45 years. That is 45 years!

Right in the middle of a pandemic, which affects mostly those 65 and over, why is the government abandoning seniors and keeping them waiting until age 75?

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, the government is not abandoning seniors, quite the contrary. We have been there for them all along, through various programs, providing direct assistance and providing support to the Government of Quebec. If there is one group that has abandoned seniors, it is the Bloc Québécois.

Last week it swore that it would trigger an election this week, if the others agreed, or else in April, if it could be done—essentially as soon as possible.

We, on the other hand, want to help our seniors, help all Quebeckers and help all Canadians.

Natural Resources

[Erin O'Toole, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, earlier today, I asked the government what it was going to do for energy workers in Newfoundland and Labrador, and Alberta who were worried about losing their jobs. The Deputy Prime Minister responded with the number of people who had collected CERB in those provinces. That is not a plan. These Canadian workers want hope. They want a plan. They do not want more CERB.

My question is for the Minister of Natural Resources. I would like him to come off mute in this session and come off mute in the federal cabinet. I would like him to start standing up for workers in the Burin Peninsula, in Argentia, in Alberta and in Saskatchewan. They need a plan, not more talk.

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, let me repeat what I said when the Leader of the Opposition asked about our support for the energy workers of Newfoundland and Labrador. I pointed out that our government was very proud, thanks very much to the hard work of our Minister of Natural Resources, to have supported Newfoundland and Labrador with $320 million. When it comes to Alberta and our energy sector, let me just point out that it was our government that bought TMX and our government will get it built.

[John Williamson, Conservative, New Brunswick Southwest, NB]

Mr. Speaker, I am really not sure why a minister from Ontario has to take questions from a minister from Newfoundland and Labrador about an industry in his own home province. Last week, the Minister of Natural Resources showed up in his home province with an announcement that included no details, no timeline and nothing that would support the offshore oil industry in Newfoundland and Labrador. Last night we learned the Come By Chance Refinery may soon be on its last legs, potentially devastating 500 families in eastern Newfoundland.

When is the Minister of Natural Resources going to realize that those 500 families need a jobs plan, not silence from him and not another IOU from Ottawa?

[Seamus O'Regan, Liberal, Minister of Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, every one of us is thinking about the workers in Come By Chance and the uncertainty that they are facing. As for the offshore, let me remind members opposite that this side continues to clean up the mess that the Conservatives made for Newfoundland and Labrador's offshore. I am proud of the fact that one of the things that we have done is to make sure that environmental assessments conducted here are down to 90 days, which allows us to compete with Norway and the U.K. That side of the House, when they were in government, increased it to 900 days through sheer neglect. We will not fall down on our job to look out for workers in Newfoundland and Labrador.

The Economy

[Alain Rayes, Conservative, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Canada has the highest unemployment rate and the highest per capita spending in the G7. Canada is the only major country in the world that does not have an economic recovery plan. Stores across the country are closing. Restaurant owners are at the end of their rope and businesses are having trouble finding workers. According to the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal, hundreds of businesses will not survive and tens of thousands of jobs are in jeopardy in Quebec.

When will the government table a real plan to manage these job losses in Quebec and across the country?