House of Commons Hansard #10 of the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was pandemic.

Topics

Resumption of Debate on Address in ReplySpeech from the Throne

5:50 p.m.

Conservative

Todd Doherty Conservative Cariboo—Prince George, BC

Madam Speaker, I am deeply passionate about mental health, as is our leader, which is why he appointed me as special adviser to him and created this position.

I am not sure how many funerals my colleagues have attended due to suicide, whether of a teenager, a loved one, first responder or veteran, and I am not sure how many families they have sat with who were struggling to pick up the pieces, but we need to do more. We need to make sure that mental health is on parity with physical health. It is not enough to be just physically healthy anymore. We have to be mentally healthy as well.

Leadership starts at the top. It starts with the federal government and, sadly, we did not see that in the Speech from the Throne.

Resumption of Debate on Address in ReplySpeech from the Throne

5:50 p.m.

Bloc

Yves Perron Bloc Berthier—Maskinongé, QC

Madam Speaker, I share the same feelings and concerns as my colleague.

He talked about the mental health of seniors. I would like him to talk about those aged 65 to 75. Have they not been isolated and hard hit by the crisis? Do they not need a bit of breathing room, in other words an increase in their pension?

He talked about mental health services. He said that mental health should be as important as physical health. He is absolutely right, but sometimes in public systems there are emergencies. There is also a major lack of resources. Sadly we sometimes tend to take care of physical health before taking care of mental health. The idea is to have more resources. He very clearly mentioned that this is a responsibility of Quebec and the provinces.

Does he not believe that health transfers should be increased?

Resumption of Debate on Address in ReplySpeech from the Throne

5:50 p.m.

Conservative

Todd Doherty Conservative Cariboo—Prince George, BC

Madam Speaker, I think we need to make sure we have leadership from the top. We need to get together with our provincial colleagues to make sure we have a plan that spans from coast to coast to coast, and to make sure no one falls through the cracks regardless of their age or socioeconomic background. We need to do better. That starts with us: the 338 members of Parliament. Mental health should not be a partisan issue, and we can work together collaboratively to find a solution as we move forward. Sadly, the Speech from the Throne fell short in this area.

Resumption of Debate on Address in ReplySpeech from the Throne

5:55 p.m.

Liberal

Randeep Sarai Liberal Surrey Centre, BC

Madam Speaker, before I begin I want to let you know that I will be sharing my time with the member for Winnipeg North.

It is a pleasure to be here today, virtually from Surrey, B.C., during these extraordinary times. I am honoured to have this opportunity to speak on the Speech from the Throne.

The coronavirus pandemic has changed the world as we know it. We find ourselves with the remarkable opportunity to make our country, and our world, a better place than it was before. We have the opportunity to build back better, to make sure Canadians have the support and resources they need to feel safe and to get through anything that may arise in the coming months and years. By making sure we support Canadians today and tomorrow, we are ensuring the success of our great country. The four pillars of the Speech from the Throne lay a roadmap for just that.

The last few months have been an incredible challenge in so many ways, but we have come far since the beginning of the pandemic. As we begin to see signs of the second wave in parts of the country, we need to remain vigilant. We must all continue to do our part by listening to the expert advice of our public health officials, keeping our social circles small, physically distancing from each other, wearing masks when keeping a two-metre distance from others is not possible, and practising good hand hygiene.

Canada fared well in the first wave. Our hospitals did not become overwhelmed, and individuals did their part by staying home. We were able to keep our case numbers manageable compared with many other countries around the world. We know so much more about the spread of the virus now than we did in the early days of the pandemic. We know how important testing and contact tracing are. My incredibly hard-working and dedicated colleagues and their teams have been working around the clock to make sure that Canadians have access to PPE, testing kits and, in the future, vaccines.

So far we have approved 36 tests, including two that are point-of-care, to help with rapid testing in specific populations, such as rural and remote communities. The Vaccine Task Force is helping the government with the procurement of new vaccine candidates. Just last week, Health Canada announced that it had received its first submission for authorization of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Half of our country's PPE needs are now being manufactured domestically, compared with nearly none a few months ago. We saw incredible resourcefulness and innovation across the country. Breweries and distilleries have restructured to make hand sanitizer, clothing companies are making gowns and face masks, and sporting goods companies are making face shields. In my own community, Surrey-based Central City Brewers and Distillers began producing hand sanitizer.

We have been working closely with the provinces and territories from the outset to acquire PPE, making sure Canadians and businesses had the support they needed to weather the storm. Over the summer, our government announced the $19 billion safe restart agreement with the provinces, and an additional $2 billion for the safe return to class fund.

We are working hard to restore employment levels to what they were pre-pandemic. We created one million new jobs before, and we will do it again. However, we know that, even with the continued positive news from recent labour force surveys and the return of many jobs, there are still a lot of Canadians without work who continue to struggle. Nearly nine million Canadians received support from the Canada emergency response benefit and 3.5 million were supported by the Canada emergency wage subsidy. I know from speaking with many of my constituents in Surrey Centre that these benefits, and the measures introduced earlier on, were vital to them.

To help Canadians return to the workforce, we will create direct investments in the social sector and infrastructure, immediate training to quickly skill up workers, and incentives for employers to retain workers. This will be vital to our energy sector workers as we transition to a greener and more sustainable economy so we are able to meet our environmental goals and slow climate change.

We also know that youth across the country have had a particularly challenging time, facing the loss of job prospects. We will scale up the youth employment strategy to create more jobs for young people.

While we work to return these jobs to address the continued needs of Canadians, we have begun transitioning many Canadians back to an expanded EI and have created the new Canada recovery benefit, Canada recovery caregiver benefit and Canada recovery sickness benefit.

We have also extended the wage subsidy until next summer so employers can keep their employees on the payroll. My community has many small and medium-sized businesses that have been relying on the wage subsidy, the Canada emergency business account and the business credit availability program to keep afloat.

To further assist small and medium-sized businesses, we recently announced $600 million in addition to the $962 million in funding already allocated for the regional relief and recovery fund. This funding will especially help industries related to events and tourism, including banquet halls, caterers and hotels in Surrey.

We continue to work with local organizations that know the needs of their communities best. Recently, the Surrey Board of Trade received $50,000 in funding for business economic recovery services, and SurreyCares Community Foundation has been distributing thousands of dollars in grants to local organizations through the federal emergency community support fund.

The pandemic has shone a spotlight on the inequalities in our country. Women, especially low-income women and women of colour, have been hit hard by job losses. They have left jobs to care for their children or relatives, or are more likely to be working on the front lines in low-wage positions. We will be creating the action plan for women in the economy to make sure that the gains women have fought so hard for, socially and politically, do no reverse. We know the importance and benefits of having equal representation in our workforce.

Throughout the course of the pandemic, we have been assisting parents with child care support, including the additional $300-per-child payment as part of the Canada child benefit. We will continue to give parents access to affordable, high-quality and inclusive child care. We know this is needed in order to make sure that women have the opportunity to get back to work.

We can no longer say we did not know. We know the struggles faced by Canadians. There has been grief and worry, and our government will continue to address the needs of our most vulnerable. These gaps in our social system need to be closed. In 2020, it is unacceptable that we continue to have members of our communities being left behind.

We will build our communities back stronger and more resilient than before by investing in infrastructure like public transit, energy efficient retrofits, clean energy, rural broadband and affordable housing, particularly for indigenous peoples and northern communities.

For seniors, we will continue to work with the provinces and territories to set new national standards for long-term care so seniors get the best support possible. We will also ensure those who mistreat and neglect seniors will be penalized, by working with Parliament to change the Criminal Code.

The disability inclusion plan will include a new benefit modelled around the GIS and create a better process to determine eligibility for government disability programs and benefits. Our government has been committed to achieving national, universal pharmacare and we will be working with the provinces and territories to ensure we move quickly to create it.

We also know the inequalities we are seeing in our society are not only a result of the coronavirus pandemic. They have much deeper roots in systemic racism and discrimination. Visible minorities in Canada are hurting, and have been hurting for years.

We are committed to walking the shared path of reconciliation with indigenous peoples by accelerating work on the national action plan and on the implementation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s calls to action, as well as continuing to close the infrastructure gap in indigenous communities and working on a distinctions basis with first nations, Inuit and the Métis nation to accelerate the government’s 10-year commitment.

We will continue to support racialized Canadians. The Parliamentary Black Caucus has championed these rights, and their advocacy is reflected in the Speech from the Throne. The Black entrepreneurship program will ensure that those who face systemic racism and discrimination have access to tools for economic empowerment and increase the diversity in procurement. There is still a lot work to do, but we are moving in the right direction.

We have seen how coming together in the House and in our communities has benefited Canadians. We are still very much in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic, and now is not the time to let our guard down. Cynicism and fear did not get us through the first wave and it will not get us through the second. The only way forward is through working together.

Most encouraging, though, is all the organizations that have contributed to a team Canada style support for their neighbours. Here in Surrey, Kiran Saluja and her volunteers at the Sewing Army, an organization of 18 seniors, made over 15,000 masks from their homes and and gave them to non-profits and those in need.

From—

Resumption of Debate on Address in ReplySpeech from the Throne

6:05 p.m.

NDP

The Assistant Deputy Speaker NDP Carol Hughes

The member's time is up. I am sure he can add more during questions and comments.

Questions and comments, the hon. member for Carleton.

Resumption of Debate on Address in ReplySpeech from the Throne

6:05 p.m.

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON

Madam Speaker, I want to talk about the incredible resilience and courage of our entrepreneurs in this difficult time.

I was in Stittsville the other day, an Ottawa area community, where I met with a couple that just opened a brand new pharmacy and another group that opened a bar that employs local residents and serves local customers. One lady suffered through cancer and survived it, started a business and lost that business because of COVID-19. Just last week, she started yet another business. This is the kind of courage and relentless risk-taking that will bring back our country, stronger. It kind of reminds of the saying, “Good timber does not grow with ease; the stronger wind, the stronger trees.”

Would the member share with me his view on the role that our courageous and daring entrepreneurs will play in bringing our economy back?

Resumption of Debate on Address in ReplySpeech from the Throne

6:05 p.m.

Liberal

Randeep Sarai Liberal Surrey Centre, BC

Madam Speaker, it is the entrepreneurial spirit of Canadians that has built Canada. It is the entrepreneurs in small and medium-sized businesses and Canadians who have stepped up in this pandemic, whether it was to make PPE, to help neighbours or to help those who were quarantined by getting them necessary supplies, medicine and food. Seniors who wanted to help took out their old sewing machines and made masks for non-profits that could not afford them or avail themselves of them. Distilleries, as I said, stopped production to make sure that Canada had enough hand sanitizer.

The resilience of Canadian entrepreneurs is world renowned, and during this pandemic it was shown in flying colours. I want to thank all of them today.

Resumption of Debate on Address in ReplySpeech from the Throne

6:05 p.m.

Bloc

Sylvie Bérubé Bloc Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC

Madam Speaker, since my colleague talked about racism, I will talk about indigenous communities. It is good to talk, but there also needs to be action.

Can we acknowledge the clear link between the spread of COVID-19 and the sanitary conditions of first nations? Can we pass a bill to give effect to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples? Can we adopt framework legislation to replace the first nations policing policy? Can we deploy resources to ensure this is carried on in the daily practice, languages, culture and traditions of indigenous peoples? Can we fix the way indigenous schools operate to address the education crisis?

Resumption of Debate on Address in ReplySpeech from the Throne

6:05 p.m.

Liberal

Randeep Sarai Liberal Surrey Centre, BC

Madam Speaker, there is a lot of work to be done on the indigenous file. We have done a lot in the last five years, whether it was for language or water advisories. I think there are only five or so water advisories remaining, and over 140 have been taken away. However, there is a lot more work to do.

I live in a riding with one of the largest urban indigenous populations in the Lower Mainland, and I continue to see the challenges they face, including the residential school system's intergenerational trauma. There is a lot of work to be done there. We recently saw what happened to an indigenous person who was in a hospital awaiting treatment and how the individual was treated. This is unacceptable, and I will support any legislation and efforts we can make to improve their health, well-being, way of life and standard of living.

Resumption of Debate on Address in ReplySpeech from the Throne

6:10 p.m.

NDP

The Assistant Deputy Speaker NDP Carol Hughes

We have time for a very brief question.

The hon. member for Hamilton Centre.

Resumption of Debate on Address in ReplySpeech from the Throne

6:10 p.m.

NDP

Matthew Green NDP Hamilton Centre, ON

Madam Speaker, we heard good words about reconciliation, yet 45 minutes from my house, on Six Nations territory, Haudenosaunee land defenders are being criminalized by both the OPP and crown prosecutors.

Does the member believe that indigenous land defenders who are peacefully protecting their land claims are terrorists, as defined under Bill C-51?

Resumption of Debate on Address in ReplySpeech from the Throne

6:10 p.m.

Liberal

Randeep Sarai Liberal Surrey Centre, BC

Madam Speaker, I will be frank. I have not looked at the legislation as it pertains to that or that situation in particular. I thank the member for raising it. I will definitely look into that in greater depth and detail.

However, I am sure our Minister of Justice and others are looking into that and ensuring their actions are taken as they are and not out of context.

Resumption of Debate on Address in ReplySpeech from the Throne

6:10 p.m.

NDP

The Assistant Deputy Speaker NDP Carol Hughes

I want to remind the hon. member that I will have to unfortunately interrupt him at some point.

Resuming debate, the hon. parliamentary secretary to the government House leader.

Resumption of Debate on Address in ReplySpeech from the Throne

6:10 p.m.

Winnipeg North Manitoba

Liberal

Kevin Lamoureux LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

Madam Speaker, from day one, the Prime Minister and the government have been very clear in terms of what the priority is. We understand and appreciate the significance of the pandemic, and we have been there in a very real and tangible way for Canadians from coast to coast to coast, whether it is protecting the health and well-being of Canadians, or looking at ways to ensure the damage of the pandemic is minimized. That has been a top priority from this government.

We recognize that the Government of Canada cannot do it alone, and it has been really encouraging to see virtually all sectors of society recognize the importance of what needed to be done and coming together in order to get that job done.

I want to start by reading a couple of specifics from a letter written by Brian Pallister, the Progressive Conservative Premier of Manitoba. This came after Ottawa invested $19 billion into the safe restart agreement with the provinces and the territories. I will quote specifically from the letter from the premier:

This federal funding will help support work already undertaken by the Government of Manitoba to increase daily testing capacity from a baseline of 1,000 tests to more than 3,000 tests per day.

Another point states:

The Government of Canada will provide $700 million to support health care system capacity to respond to the potential future wave of COVID-19. A further $500 million will address immediate needs and gaps in the support and protection of people experiencing challenges related to mental health, substance use or homelessness. This investment will help keep Canadians safe and healthy with the health care supports they need.

The throne speech highlights many of the initiatives that the Government of Canada has taken with co-operation from a wide spectrum of society. Literally dozens of programs were created from absolutely nothing. We have some of the best civil servants in the world making sure that those programs were being administered, so we could get the necessary funds and supports into the pockets of Canadians in all regions of our country. It has been quite encouraging to see provinces, territories, indigenous leaders, municipalities, non-profit organizations and entrepreneurs came together.

We recognized the feedback provided by individual members of Parliament. Members of Parliament have worked day in and day out through these last eight months assisting their constituents through a wide variety of issues. They took some of those issues and brought them to cabinet, whether directly through a minister or indirectly through the deputy House leader, and there are many other ways which that was achieved.

That direct input was requested by the Prime Minister, who wanted to see members of Parliament, not only from Liberal benches, but also from all sides of the House, talk to their constituents and find out where the Government of Canada could continue to build the consensus necessary to deal with COVID-19. We are here today voting on a throne speech that encapsulates many of those initiatives, and puts a detailed plan on paper. I encourage all members to support and vote for this—

Resumption of Debate on Address in ReplySpeech from the Throne

6:15 p.m.

NDP

The Assistant Deputy Speaker NDP Carol Hughes

No doubt we would have enjoyed the rest of the member's speech. However, it being 6:15, it is my duty to interrupt the proceedings and put forth every question necessary to dispose of the motion now before the House.

Pursuant to order made on Wednesday, September 23, 2020, we will not call for the yeas and nays. As a result, if a member of a recognized party present in the House wants to request a recorded vote or request that the motion be passed on division, I invite them to rise and so indicate to the Chair.

Resumption of Debate on Address in ReplySpeech from the Throne

6:15 p.m.

Liberal

Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB

Madam Speaker, I request a vote.

Resumption of Debate on Address in ReplySpeech from the Throne

6:15 p.m.

NDP

The Assistant Deputy Speaker NDP Carol Hughes

The question is on the motion.

And one or more members having risen:

Call in the members.

Resumption of Debate on Address in ReplySpeech from the Throne

6:45 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

The list of members voting by video conference has now been established for use by the table.

(The House divided on the motion, which was agreed to on the following division:)

Vote #8

Resumption of Debate on Address in ReplySpeech from the Throne

7:35 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

I declare the motion carried.

Resumption of Debate on Address in ReplySpeech from the Throne

7:35 p.m.

Honoré-Mercier Québec

Liberal

Pablo Rodriguez LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons

moved:

That the address be engrossed and presented to Her Excellency the Governor General by the Speaker.

(Motion agreed to)

A motion to adjourn the House under Standing Order 38 deemed to have been moved.

Foreign AffairsAdjournment Proceedings

7:35 p.m.

Conservative

Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB

Mr. Speaker, the Inter-Parliamentary Union, or the IPU, is a critically important international organization. It has been described as the United Nations of parliaments. Essentially, it is an organization of legislators that brings together parliamentarians from around the world. It plays an important role in helping to advance democracy and human rights through dialogue among different parliamentarians.

I am very pleased to share with the House something I think members already know, in large part, which is that Senator Salma Ataullahjan, who has been involved in the IPU for a very long time and has used the IPU as a forum for advancing important human rights issues, is running for the presidency of that organization. I am very pleased that all members of our Conservative caucus are supporting her bid to lead the IPU. I know she has a great deal of support in other parties, including, for instance, within the government caucus.

The member for Beaches—East York told The Globe and Mail, “While we represent different parties, I’ve seen firsthand Salma’s thoughtful diplomacy at IPU conferences, and our Parliament would be lucky to have her represent Canada on the world stage”.

The Liberal member for Hull—Aylmer concurred. He told The Globe and Mail, “Salma would be a great leader of the IPU. It is good for Canada and for what our country represents.”

Senator Ataullahjan was encouraged to run for the leadership of the IPU by delegates from Britain and New Zealand. I know she has substantial support around the world for this bid. It would be good for Canada to have this prominent Canadian senator, a strong advocate of human rights, representing Canadian values on the world stage, bringing together and strengthening the work of the IPU, and continuing to use that as a forum to advance important issues of justice and human rights.

Independent senator, Mohamed-Iqbal Ravalia said that Ms. Ataullahjan is a “beacon of human rights and inclusive values…and as a Muslim woman, she will raise the profile of Canada’s place in the IPU.”

I would just say as well that Senator Ataullahjan has an extensive background in volunteering in various communities. She served on the executive board of the Canadian branch of the Citizens Foundation, an international organization that has built over 700 schools for Pakistan's poorest children. Senator Ataullahjan was appointed to the Senate by former prime minister Stephen Harper and was the first Canadian senator of Pakistani origin appointed.

Senator Ataullahjan and I have had an opportunity to collaborate specifically on the issue of forced organ harvesting and trafficking. She put forward Bill S-240 in the last Parliament, which almost got passed but did not quite make it, and has since put forward Bill S-204 in this Parliament, another critically important human rights issue that just adds to a long list of the work of Senator Ataullahjan.

This is a great opportunity for Canada to have a strong Canadian senator representing us at the Inter-Parliamentary Union in this important leadership role. It is important, therefore, for the government to get behind this bid and show its support because I know countries around the world are looking for that signal of support from the government, from our diplomatic representatives.

It is very clear that the government has put the resources of government at the disposal of former finance minister Bill Morneau in his bid for a position within the OECD, and it is only right that Senator Ataullahjan have the support of government.

We disagree in this place on issues from time to time, of course, but we should be able to work together on the world stage to advance our national interests. Conservatives were supportive, as supportive as we could be, of the government's bid to get on the UN Security Council. We try to work together in these international fora, yet the government has been strangely silent around the bid of Senator Ataullahjan. The minister said he is going to wait, he is going to meet with future candidates later on, and so on and so forth.

It is important for the Minister of Foreign Affairs to send a clear signal of support for Senator Ataullahjan's bid for that strong Canadian voice on the Inter-Parliamentary Union. The minister and the parliamentary secretary have an opportunity right now to express that support, and I think it is very important that they do so.

Foreign AffairsAdjournment Proceedings

7:40 p.m.

Don Valley West Ontario

Liberal

Rob Oliphant LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs

Madam Speaker, it is very important that we start out by getting some facts on the table here.

We are standing in the House, or speaking remotely as the case may be, as parliamentarians to discuss the Inter-Parliamentary Union: an international organization made up of parliamentarians like us, like you Madam Speaker, and all the members from 179 countries.

The IPU is an important international organization that I joined when I became a member in 2008. I am very disappointed that the member for Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan is not a member of the IPU. I checked the membership today and was very disappointed that he does not have the confidence in the IPU that 85 people, senators and members of Parliament, have expressed by joining it.

The IPU is an interparliamentary association. It is not an inter-governmental association. It is very important to understand this is not a governmental organization. It is a long-standing practice that government does not interfere or intervene in our 12 parliamentary associations. This is very important to keep the independence of our parliamentary organizations.

I was the co-chair of one of our 12 associations for five years, and I appreciated our independence from government. I appreciated it, and in fact would expect or demand it.

This does not mean that the government does not wish the senator well in her campaign: in fact we do. The Minister of Foreign Affairs has spoken to her about her candidacy already, and will be doing so again. I have known Senator Ataullahjan for many years. I respect her greatly, both her work here in Ottawa and in the Greater Toronto Area, where we both come from.

I respect the work that she does and the issues she raises on human rights, equality, gender equity and anti-racism. However, the accusation that there is anything related to gender in the government following a long-standing practice on inter-parliamentary organizations is without any basis whatsoever. It is irrelevant.

What I would hope is that the member for Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan would actually join the IPU, would recognize the importance of it, and also cherish the independence of it. Our government is proud of our inter-parliamentary associations and the work they contribute internationally and domestically. We will continue to do that while we continue to support gender equity, making sure that our cabinet and organizations are always treated with the utmost respect and ensuring that we have equality and justice.

Foreign AffairsAdjournment Proceedings

7:45 p.m.

Conservative

Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB

Madam Speaker, there might be something fair in that reproof in that I have been so busy critiquing the disastrous policy record of the government over the last five years that I just have not had time to fully engage in all of the parliamentary associations I might well have wished to.

If the government stops keeping me busy with all these flaws and problems in its legislative agenda, I might find time to get more engaged in some of these other areas, but that is really sort of beside the point.

The important point here is that it is very legitimate, and I think it is important, for our foreign affairs minister to send a clear signal. Without a doubt it is a signal that the government has been prepared to send in other cases, such as that involving the former finance minister.

I hope this is not about partisanship or about looking for excuses. It would not take much for the foreign affairs minister to send that signal and to work with our diplomatic representatives to say that we want to ensure strong Canadian representation, and a strong Canadian voice on the world stage.

Is that really so much to ask?