Debates of Nov. 2nd, 2020

Airport Industry

[Michael Kram, Conservative, Regina—Wascana, SK]

Mr. Speaker, three weeks ago, Westjet announced it was cancelling flights to Atlantic Canada and Quebec City. Officials at airports in Regina, Saskatoon and other mid-size airports across the country are asking themselves whether they are next. We are eight months into the pandemic and the nation's airports remain in the dark about a relief plan.

When is the minister going to stop procrastinating and deliver a real plan to save Canada's airports?

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, it is not just the airlines that are having difficulty at the moment because there are very few passengers. That also has a knock-on effect for the airports as well. If there are not people flying, there are not people going to the airports.

We are aware of this. As I have said many times before, we are working on trying to find solutions that will ensure that those air sector services, such as airports and airlines, are there for Canadians to be able to rely on after this pandemic.

COVID-19 Emergency Response

[Annie Koutrakis, Liberal, Vimy, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we have all seen the disproportionate economic impact that COVID-19 has had on women and their businesses. We quite simply cannot allow the wealth gap between men and women to grow during this pandemic.

What measures is the federal government taking to ensure that Canadian women will not bear the economic burden of this pandemic?

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Vimy for her work on behalf of businesswomen in her community.

Our government has taken concrete action to support businesswomen. We recently invested an additional $15 million to help businesswomen get through the pandemic. I am referring to the women entrepreneurship strategy, which is a $5-billion investment.

Supporting businesswomen in Quebec and across Canada is a priority for our government.

Veterans Affairs

[Colin Carrie, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

Mr. Speaker, in Oshawa, the Canadian Corps, the navy club, the 420 wing, the Polish Veterans' Association and other military service clubs support our local veterans, our local heroes, every single day. These service clubs play a critical role in life after service for many of our great veterans and the future of these clubs will remain uncertain without support.

With all that the service clubs do for our service members and veterans, can they expect direct support from the government so they can continue their great work, yes or no?

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate my hon. colleague's concern. It has always been my priority to provide support for organizations that do so much for veterans, and that is exactly why we included $20 million in Bill C-4 to do just that.

I have worked for some of these groups over the years, but I also want to encourage Canadians to support the poppy programs, legions and other veterans organizations across the country. They are having difficulty throughout COVID. We all need to help, and our government will too.

[Martin Shields, Conservative, Bow River, AB]

Mr. Speaker, last week I met virtually with Royal Canadian Legion branches in my riding like Brooks, Strathmore, Taber and Standard. They told me they were in a desperate situation. They have lost their usual sources of funding and they may have to close permanently. They feel like they have been left twisting in the wind by the government's promises.

The minister has mentioned $20 million. When will it be allocated, when will it be available and when will it be distributed to these desperate legions in Canada and in my riding?

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate my colleague's concern too. Of course that is why it has always been a priority for me personally to make sure the organizations that work hard for veterans are helped. As I indicated previously, that is why we included the $20 million in Bill C-4.

I have worked with these organizations. All I can do is make sure all my colleagues and Canadians across the country support these vitally important organizations that help the people who stood for our democracy around the world.

Marijuana

[Kyle Seeback, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

Mr. Speaker, there is an issue in my riding, and it is all across the country. Licences are being granted to grow marijuana in places that are not municipally zoned to grow. I have written the Minister of Health six times over the last nine months on this issue, as has the Town of Caledon. As a response, we have heard crickets: absolutely nothing.

There is a reasonable and simple fix for this: Do not approve applicants unless they have the appropriate municipal zoning. It could be a box on the form. When will the minister take this reasonable, simple fix and implement it?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, in fact, Health Canada works very closely with applicants and with the jurisdictions in which they apply to make sure that we understand that they will be upholding their responsibilities as applicants. As the member opposite knows, I communicate on a regular basis with many of our colleagues about applicants who are applying to Health Canada, and will continue to do so.

If the member opposite would like to forward me the name of the particular company in question, I would be happy to take a look at it.

Housing

[Peter Fragiskatos, Liberal, London North Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, for those experiencing homelessness, COVID-19 presents a particular danger. Can the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development update the House about the rapid housing initiative and how it can help cities such as London? Would the minister also give specific examples of the types of projects that can be funded under the RHI?

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, Minister of Families]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for London North Centre for his tireless advocacy on behalf of his community.

Last week, we announced the $1 billion rapid housing initiative, which will create 3,000 new affordable homes across the country. I am pleased to announce that, through the major cities stream, we will be sending $7.5 million directly to the City of London to create new affordable homes for those in the greatest need. We will also fund excellent projects in communities like London and other parts of our great country for those in need. This is the national housing strategy at work.

Post-Secondary Education

[Lindsay Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Mr. Speaker, when the government only temporarily suspended student loan payments at the start of the pandemic, all pre-authorized payments were cancelled without any notice. This, in turn, caused thousands of loan payments to be marked as past due when payments resumed in October, resulting in unfair additional charges for interest in an already difficult time for Canadians.

How can the government justify taking money from students and graduates as a result of its mistake, causing even more mental and financial stress?

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

Mr. Speaker, when the pandemic hit, one of the first approaches our government took was to make sure we were responding to all Canadians, including students. That is why we put forward a $9 billion program to help students.

When it comes to this specific matter, I will be working closely with my colleague to ensure that we look into it and we will be able to respond to the member directly with any details. We want to ensure that students and youth have the resources and supports they need.

We are a government that will continue to focus on the health and safety of all Canadians because we know that, when it comes to COVID-19, we are not out of the woods yet. We will continue working hard on behalf of all Canadians.

Official Languages

[Jenica Atwin, Green, Fredericton, NB]

Mr. Speaker, we know that strengthening the bilingual nature of our country depends on the vitality of communities where French is the minority language.

French gives Canada a competitive edge. The immigration strategy provides that 4.4% of French-speaking immigrants will be admitted to Canada outside Quebec as permanent residents by 2023.

Will the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship tell us whether that target will indeed ensure the vitality of an official language?

Is he confident that his government will meet this target despite the pandemic?

[Marco Mendicino, Liberal, Minister of Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for the question.

I am very proud of the work that our government has done to attract more immigration and French-speaking immigrants. Last week, I announced that the government would be awarding additional points to French-speaking and bilingual immigration candidates. That is progress, and this is good news not just for us, but for everyone.

The House resumed from October 29 consideration of the motion.

Opposition Motion—Prime Minister's Official Apology

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

It being 3:10 p.m., pursuant to order made on Wednesday, September 23, the House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion of the member for Beloeil—Chambly relating to the business of supply.

Call in the members.

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

Vote #17

Business of Supply

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I declare the motion lost.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Before proceeding to the next vote, we will suspend this sitting briefing in order to allow employees who provide support for the sitting to substitute each other safely.

Bills of Exchange Act

[Steven Guilbeault, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage]

moved that Bill C-5, An Act to amend the Bills of Exchange Act, the Interpretation Act and the Canada Labour Code (National Day for Truth and Reconciliation), be read the second time and referred to a committee.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Pursuant to order made on Wednesday, September 23, the House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion at the second reading stage of Bill C-5.

[Mark Holland, Liberal, Ajax, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I think you will find enthusiasm and unanimity to apply the result of the previous vote to this vote with Liberal members voting in favour.

[Blake Richards, Conservative, Banff—Airdrie, AB]

Mr. Speaker, Conservatives agree to apply the vote and will be voting yes.