Debates of Nov. 23rd, 2020

CBC/Radio-Canada

[Kevin Waugh, Conservative, Saskatoon—Grasswood, SK]

Mr. Speaker, over the last few weeks, several big-name, former CBC journalists, like Peter Mansbridge and Adrienne Clarkson, have publicly expressed grave concern over the CBC's new Tandem project, which seeks to sell the credibility of the CBC to the highest bidder and pass it off as news.

Why was a program from our public broadcaster to sell branded content as news ever allowed to get off the ground?

[Steven Guilbeault, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to remind the member opposite that the CBC is an autonomous Crown corporation responsible for managing its own operation while offering Canadians accurate and quality information without political interference.

The Conservatives would like to tell the CBC and journalists what to cover and how, but that is not how democracy works. Some might say that the Conservatives are delusional because they seem to find conspiracy theories wherever they look.

We need to respect journalists' independence, and we will always do so.

Taxation

[Scot Davidson, Conservative, York—Simcoe, ON]

Mr. Speaker, during this pandemic, the Liberal government should be supporting Canadian industries, not punishing them.

However, that is exactly what it is doing. Every year the government is automatically jacking up taxes on Canadian wine, beer and spirits. This escalator tax on alcohol is killing jobs, reducing our competitive trade and punishing consumers. It is drastically impacting the livelihoods of farmers, producers, and restaurant and bar owners right across this great country.

When will the Liberals get rid of their ever-increasing excise tax on Canadian alcohol?

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

Mr. Speaker, the Canadian wine industry is, of course, something that we are all very proud of, and we are proud of the remarkable advances that that industry has made.

The Government of Canada works very hard to support that industry in regions across the country, including working very hard on some of the trade issues that the member has been asking questions about.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

[Maninder Sidhu, Liberal, Brampton East, ON]

Mr. Speaker, today Canadians commemorate the loss of Manmeet Singh Bhullar, who gave so much to his community here in Canada and particularly vulnerable Sikh and Hindu communities abroad.

As Mr. Bhullar once said:

The greatness of humanity, the greatness instilled in every human being, the greatness of serving is to be realized and developed. That is my hope, that is my dream.

As we reflect on his contributions and his memory, could the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship tell us what the government is doing to carry on his important work?

[Marco Mendicino, Liberal, Minister of Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, the Manmeet Singh Bhullar Foundation is a fitting tribute to a leader who gave so much to Canada and the world. His legacy continues through the foundation's advocacy, which is an irreplaceable conduit of Canadian compassion in support of vulnerable Sikh and Hindu populations abroad.

I look forward to further strengthening our partnership, and building on our efforts to provide refuge for those fleeing conflict and persecution.

Indigenous Affairs

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

Mr. Speaker, in the Alberni Valley, over two-thirds of the people living on the street are indigenous. The Liberals' promise of additional beds is not nearly enough. Last night, Martha Martin, the mother of Chantel Moore, who was shot by police in New Brunswick, told me her son Mike had become homeless, and a few days ago died by suicide. I believe Mike could be alive today if all the Truth and Reconciliation Commission calls to action were implemented and the Liberals had an indigenous-led housing strategy.

Will the minister explain to Martha, who has now lost two children, why they have delayed on acting on the truth and reconciliation calls to action and continue to fail indigenous families?

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, Minister of Families]

Mr. Speaker, no relationship is more important to our government than the nation-to-nation relationship with indigenous peoples. We have committed significant new funds to support indigenous housing across Canada. This includes $1.5 billion for a distinctions-based approach for housing for first nations and for Inuit-led and Métis nation housing strategies. Also, under our $13.2-billion national housing co-investment fund we have prioritized projects to serve indigenous peoples.

There is more work to be done, but we have also made a lot of progress.

Justice

[Jody Wilson-Raybould, Independent, Vancouver Granville, BC]

Mr. Speaker, why is Bill C-7, medical assistance in dying, abolishing the safeguard of a 10-day reflection period and reconfirmation of consent, thereby introducing advance requests for MAID?

Nothing in the Truchon decision of the Quebec Court of Appeal, which the government chose not to appeal, requires this, and the Supreme Court of Canada, in Carter, insisted on the requirement of clear consent. Palliative care physicians, disability advocates and other experts insist that this is an important safeguard, and, like other legislated MAID reports on mature minors and mental disorder, advance requests also raise significant challenges.

There is no clear—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

The hon. minister.

[David Lametti, Liberal, Minister of Justice]

Mr. Speaker, what we heard going coast to coast, when we consulted with Canadians intensively, people who worked in the field as well as families and others, was that the 10-day waiting period only increased suffering. People who have made the decision, who have gone through with their doctors and with the families to decide to access MAID in an end-of-life scenario, have made up their mind. The 10-day waiting period only added suffering. We heard stories of people not taking their pain medication for the last 10 days in order to be in a position to make that final decision.

We heard again and again that it only added to the suffering that people had, and we have, therefore, eliminated it in only the end-of-life scenarios.

Oral Questions

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

Mr. Speaker, I believe it is a courtesy in this place that when someone is speaking, especially about a mother who has lost a second child in the last six months, that members in the House would show respect and let them have their question so that the government can answer, and so that the family can get answers and the respect they deserve.

I urge you, Mr. Speaker, to call on all members to show respect and decorum in this place so that those families who have had such a serious injustice happen in their lives get the respect that they deserve.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I thank the hon. member for that point of order.

I want to remind all members in the House that while someone is speaking, they are likely telling a story that is very close to their heart and something that means a lot to them. I have noticed that there are people talking among themselves, not listening and not being aware of what is being said. Sometimes, it is nice to see members have a good time and a chuckle, but when there is something serious going on, please, I ask all members to pay attention to what is being said in the chamber when they are talking among themselves. I am sure it is inadvertent and not done on purpose, but it can be seen as being insensitive, and I would ask hon. members to just pay attention to what is being said.

The hon. member for Nanaimo—Ladysmith has a point of order.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am actually rising on a question of personal privilege.

The member for Kildonan—St. Paul used her S.O. 31 to misrepresent and malign me and the Green Party of Canada. Her facts are wrong, and I would like to correct the record.

I am taking part in an event to discuss and debate whether Meng Wanzhou should be free—

[Some hon. members]

Debate.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I believe we are getting into debate. I understand that sometime things are said in the House. I am not sure if the hon. member for Kildonan—St. Paul wants to reply. No, the member does not.

Again, I want to remind hon. members that when they do say something and refer to someone else in the chamber to be very mindful of what is being said and what the repercussions may be.

The House resumed from November 20 consideration of the motion that Bill C-3, An Act to amend the Judges Act and the Criminal Code, be read the third time and passed.

Judges Act

[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 at third reading stage of Bill C-3.

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

Vote #24

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I declare the motion carried.

(Bill read the third time and passed)

Government Response to Petitions

[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, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8)(a), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to 25 petitions. These returns will be tabled in electronic format.

Official Languages

[Emmanuel Dubourg, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the first report of the Standing Committee on Official Languages, in accordance with the orders of reference of Monday, April 20, 2020, and Wednesday, September 30, 2020, concerning the main estimates 2020-21.

Health

[Ron McKinnon, Liberal, Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the first report of the Standing Committee on Health, in relation to its study of the supplementary estimates (B) for the fiscal year 2020-21.

The committee has considered the estimates referred by the House and reports the same.

Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act

[Marilène Gill, Bloc, Manicouagan, QC]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-253, An Act to amend the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act and the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (pension plans and group insurance plans).

Mr. Speaker, I am honoured and proud to introduce today in the House, seconded by the hon. member for Thérèse-De Blainville, a private member's bill that seeks to amend the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act and the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act.

This bill reaffirms my unwavering commitment to workers and retirees, a commitment that is shared by my colleague and the Bloc Québécois. It is a commitment that I made in the House on October 17, 2017, by introducing Bill C-372 to defend the rights of workers, which I feel should be inalienable.

Under the existing legislation, when a company is restructured or goes bankrupt, the workers' pension funds and insurance are not properly protected, even though they belong to the workers. It is part of their salary that they negotiated and agreed to defer. My bill seeks to correct that injustice.

When we think about former workers at Cliffs Natural Resources, Mabe, La Pointe-de-l'Île or even Sears stores all across Quebec, my bill is there to protect what belongs to workers. I urge all my colleagues to support my bill.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

Human Rights

[Arnold Viersen, Conservative, Peace River—Westlock, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I have several petitions to present today.

First, this is a petition on the Uighur situation. I do not know if members of the House have seen the pictures of the people lined up on the train station platforms being taken off to concentration camps. We have said “never again”, and it appears this is happening again. The people who have signed this petition are calling on the Government of Canada to recognize the genocide of the Uighur people in China and to use the Magnitsky act to bring sanctions against the Chinese officials who are participating in this genocide.