Debates of Oct. 6th, 2020

Oral Questions

[Carla Qualtrough, Liberal, Minister of Employment]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order today to address a question raised yesterday in Question Period around a comment I made last week with respect to time overseeing the Phoenix file. As someone who has dedicated her life to dispelling myths and championing the rights of individuals with all forms of disabilities, including mental illness, I regret and apologize for my poor choice of words.

I know how important and powerful language can be in the elimination and creation of barriers and stigma. I take responsibility for my words and commit to doing better.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I thank the hon. minister.

Petitions

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I want to remind hon. members when presenting petitions to be precise, concise and as short as possible. Get the idea across without going on for unlimited time. We only have so much time for petitions. I am not pointing fingers at anyone, but merely pointing out what should be done.

The hon. member for Courtenay—Alberni.

Chinook Salmon

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

Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege to table a petition on behalf of residents from Port Alberni, Qualicum and Parksville.

The petitioners cite that 2020 marked the second consecutive year that widespread restrictions on chinook retention around southern B.C. negatively impacted the recreation fishery and associated industries. The residents of Vancouver Island and the Pacific coast are already experiencing economic hardship.

There is a mark-selective fishery in place for coho on the southern B.C. coast. The states of Washington and Oregon have instituted a mass adipose fin clipping at their hatcheries and a mark-selective fishery. They believe that the current chinook hatchery production is enough to implement a successful chinook mark-selective fishery.

The petitioners call upon the government to begin operations of adipose fin clipping machinery for the existing production of chinook hatcheries in the Pacific region and that these new hatchery-marked chinook may be retained as soon as they reach minimum legal retention size.

Sex Selection

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

Mr. Speaker, I am going to be tabling a mere three petitions today.

The first petition deals with the issue of sex-selective abortion. Petitioners note that this is an issue on which there could be wide consensus in Parliament. Certainly there is among Canadians. It calls for measures by the House of Commons that would address and seek to stop the practice of sex-selective abortion.

Human Organ Trafficking

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

Mr. Speaker, the second petition is with respect to legislative initiatives dealing with forced organ harvesting and trafficking. Petitioners would like to see it made a criminal offence for a Canadian to go abroad to receive an organ that was taken without consent. We know that this is an issue in China and in other places where organs are taken forcibly, sometimes from political prisoners, sometimes through exploitation. Petitioners want to see Canada stand up and be counted with respect to combatting organ harvesting and trafficking.

Human Rights

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

Mr. Speaker, the third petition deals with the human rights situation of Uighur Muslims in China who face horrific abuses in modern-day concentration camps. Petitioners call on the government to recognize that Uighurs in China have been and are being subject to genocide.

Recognizing the responsibility to protect that flows from the recognition of genocide, the petition also calls on the government to use the Magnitsky Act to sanction and hold accountable those who have been responsible and are responsible in an ongoing way for these horrific crimes being perpetuated against the Uighur people.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Before we continue, I want to thank the hon. member for being concise and precise.

The hon. member for Nickel Belt.

Carbon Pricing

[Marc Serré, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table petition e-2542 initiated by the Citizens' Climate Lobby, which seeks to improve the federal carbon pricing policy.

These Canadian citizens are calling upon the Government of Canada to continue a price on pollution and to continue distribution of carbon pricing revenues to Canadians as a cheque or bank deposit instead of a tax credit.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I want to remind the hon. members when presenting petitions to please bring their petitions to the table.

This will help protect the health of the pages.

The hon. member for Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman.

Falun Gong

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

Mr. Speaker, I want to present petition e-2814 on behalf of more than 1,800 Canadians who signed this petition.

As colleagues know, Falun Gong practitioners have been outlawed in China. They have been targeted by China’s Communist Party for organ harvesting and are being persecuted because of their religious beliefs. We know that the Falun Gong discipline is very peaceful, disciplined and is centred on the principles of truth, compassion and tolerance.

As well, I sponsored the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act (Sergei Magnitsky Law) that provides the government with the tools to sanction individuals. There are 14 specific Chinese officials who are named in this petition that the petitioners would like to see targeted with Magnitsky sanctions by the Government of Canada for the detention, persecution, execution and organ harvesting of Falun Gong practitioners for the past 21 years.

Equalization

[Tom Kmiec, Conservative, Calgary Shepard, AB]

Mr. Speaker, my constituents have reminded me that an unkept promise leads to a bad life, which is a Yiddish proverb. I have three petitions to table on behalf of my constituents today.

The first petition is on equalization. Petitioners in my riding are drawing the attention of the Government of Canada to the unfairness inherent in the equalization system. Fifty-four petitioners have signed it.

Sex Selection

[Tom Kmiec, Conservative, Calgary Shepard, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition I am tabling is by 53 petitioners in my riding, who are calling on the Government of Canada, the citizens of Canada and the House of Commons to pass a Criminal Code prohibition on sex-selective abortions. They are drawing attention to the House that sex-selective abortion is legal, as Canada has no legal restrictions on abortion. They are also drawing attention to the House that Canada's health care profession recognizes sex-selective abortion as a problem.

Sergeant Tommy Prince

[Tom Kmiec, Conservative, Calgary Shepard, AB]

Mr. Speaker, in this third petition that I am tabling, 36 petitioners are asking that the Government of Canada honour Sergeant Tommy Prince and put his image on the $5 currency bill that the Bank of Canada is currently reviewing, thus honouring a very important indigenous war veteran.

Sex Selection

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on behalf of my constituents and Canadians from coast to coast who put forward this petition calling on the government to prohibit sex-selective abortion. They do so on the basis that this is antithetical to Canada's commitment to equality between men and women, and that there are organizations around the world, including the World Health Organization, United Nations Women and United Nations Children's Fund, that have identified unequal sex ratios at birth as a growing problem. Petitioners are calling for action from the current government.

Gaza Strip

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

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to present petition e-2565, which has 2,686 signatures. It calls upon the Government of Canada to request that Israel immediately lift the blockade on Gaza, in order to enable medical and humanitarian aid during the COVID-19 pandemic; insist that Israel permanently end its blockade of Gaza; and vote at the UN General Assembly in alignment with the majority of the international community taking a stance in line with international law and human rights for Palestinians.

Ferry Service

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

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today and present e-petition 2652, signed by over 700 Canadians in support of Campobello and its island residents. I would be remiss if I did not mention and thank Justin Tinker and his advocacy committee for this proposal.

Petitioners point out the economic and personal losses owing to accessibility issues in recent years for residents travelling to and from their homes on this New Brunswick island in the Bay of Fundy. The only way to access Campobello Island most of the year is by exiting Canada, driving through Maine for almost an hour and crossing back into Canada on a bridge to Campobello. Each time a family or business do this, they pass and are inspected at U.S. customs and again at Canadian customs.

This petition calls on the federal government to adopt a team Canada approach and facilitate a permanent solution that allows Campobello residents to access the rest of New Brunswick without having to travel through the United States, something every other Canadian from coast to coast takes for granted every single day, whether they are travelling within their provinces or across this magnificent country.

The federal government can do this by working with the province to secure a ferry vessel that provides year-round service. Campobello residents are not asking for special treatment. My riding has three other beautiful islands, Deer Island, White Head Island and Grand Manan, which all have ferry service within New Brunswick. It is time similar treatment was extended to the great people of Campobello.

Questions on the Order Paper

[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 ask that all remaining questions be allowed to stand.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Is that agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

The House resumed from October 5 consideration of the motion for an address to Her Excellency the Governor General in reply to her speech at the opening of the session.

Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

There are five minutes remaining for questions and comments.

The hon. member for Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan.

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

Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask this member about fiscal anchors in terms of the government's plans and its proposal with respect to spending. Does the member think at some point the government should balance the budget, and if so, when? Is there a limit to the amount of money the government should be spending? How much is too much? If the government was spending $600 billion or $700 billion in deficit, at what point would this member say that it is too much?

[Rachel Bendayan, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Small Business]

Madam Speaker, on this side of the House, we are committed to spending responsibly. The reality is that, at the moment, we have historically low interest rates. The alternative, to not spend to support Canadians, small businesses and families, would be far more expensive in the long term. Standing idly by is not an option for this government. We need to continue to be there for our entrepreneurs. We need to continue to be there in order to create jobs and make sure that our economy rebounds. We will continue to keep the House apprised of our spending and to act in the interests of all Canadians.

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

Madam Speaker, I have a concern. The parliamentary secretary said the government has not been standing idly by, but start-ups have not been getting any support. Most of them have not been able to apply for CECRA, the Canada emergency wage subsidy or most of the benefits. In fact, my colleague from Cowichan—Malahat—Langford has a really important business: V2V Black Hops, a social enterprise brewery built by veterans, has not been eligible for the wage subsidy because of a technicality.

These are important. We have not heard the government respond to that or the CECRA, because we know it is broken. We want to hear the government address these issues.