Debates of Nov. 27th, 2020

Tourism Industry

[Terry Sheehan, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages (FedNor)]

Madam Speaker, we have been there from the get-go for the tourism industry through our wage subsidy, which has been extended into next year; our relief as it relates to rent; and the regional relief and recovery fund, a $1.5-billion fund for the tourism industry that thousands of workers and thousands of businesses across Canada are accessing.

We are going to continue to be there as long as we need and continue to support our very important tourism industry from coast to coast to coast.

Agriculture and Agri-Food

[Gary Vidal, Conservative, Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK]

Madam Speaker, Canadian farmers produce the highest-quality canola in the world. Health Canada recently announced it will make a decision on banning neonic insecticides in the next six months. The government, if it had consulted with canola producers, would know that neonics are strictly used as a seed treatment, are an essential tool in the production of canola and allow for a reduction in their reliance on foliar insecticides.

Will the minister commit to making decisions based on real science and consulting with Canadian canola producers?

[Neil Ellis, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Madam Speaker, since the start, we have been working with provincial and territorial counterparts to get through this crisis. We are listening to Canadians and have taken many measures to support them.

We launched the emergency processing fund of $77.5 million to help producers. We added an additional $200 million in borrowing capacity for the Canadian Dairy Commission. We made a $35-million investment to boost production for temporary foreign workers and address COVID outbreaks on farms, and a $50-million investment to help with mandatory isolation periods of temporary foreign workers.

Persons with Disabilities

[Tamara Jansen, Conservative, Cloverdale—Langley City, BC]

Madam Speaker, during the justice committee hearings on Bill C-7, Minister Qualtrough admitted that it is easier to get—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès), Liberal, Alexandra Mendes]

The hon. member cannot use names in the House.

[Tamara Jansen, Conservative, Cloverdale—Langley City, BC]

Madam Speaker, Liberal committee members voted against improving access to medical services for disabled Canadians while rushing to making euthanasia a standard of care. On this side of the House we listened to the disability community when they told us that the bill is their worst nightmare.

Why will the government not listen?

[Arif Virani, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Madam Speaker, the issue of sensitivity toward persons with disabilities is central for all parliamentarians in the House. We are crafting a piece of legislation that ensures the autonomy, dignity and competence of individuals who choose this path, while all the time ensuring that there are safeguards in place to protect those who are vulnerable. Ensuring the competence and dignity of Canadians is critical.

This is a delicate issue. It is a moral issue. It is a profound issue. It is one we are deeply concerned about, and we are taking all necessary steps.

[Michael Cooper, Conservative, St. Albert—Edmonton, AB]

Madam Speaker, this week at the justice committee, Liberal MPs, incredibly, rejected all amendments to Bill C-7 to protect the vulnerable.

In its reckless rush to ram through this shoddy bill, why is the government ignoring the pleas of virtually every national disabilities rights organization, more than 1,000 physicians and other important voices for vulnerable and marginalized Canadians?

[Arif Virani, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Madam Speaker, I would point out for the member's edification, and for members of the House, that two amendments were accepted: one by the NDP and one by the Green Party.

The second important piece to conceptualize here is that much has been made about the competence and autonomy of individuals choosing the path of MAID.

Madame Gladu and Mr. Truchon were persons with a disability. What the court said in that important case is that denying people with disabilities the same access to MAID that is provided to persons with abilities renders their autonomy, their competence and their dignity in question. That is what we are seeking to address, that particular void. That is what the bill—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès), Liberal, Alexandra Mendes]

The hon. member for Alfred-Pellan.

Social Development

[Angelo Iacono, Liberal, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

Madam Speaker, Black communities in Laval are active in the business world and community life. Their involvement helps to enhance Laval's prosperity and vitality, but they are still facing many obstacles in 2020.

Could the minister explain to Black communities in Laval what our government is doing to support our Black business owners and community leaders?

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

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for his important question and his work with Laval business owners.

Our government knows that, when everyone participates in the economy, everyone benefits. That is why, earlier this week, we announced the launch of two of the three pillars of the Black entrepreneurship program, the first program of its kind in Canada.

We know that systemic racism exists. It exists everywhere, including in the business community, and to fight it, we need to take concrete action like we are doing with this innovative program.

Justice

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

Madam Speaker, for months, the Liberals left my private member's bill to legalize single-event sports betting in limbo while they shut down Parliament. At that time, it simply was not a priority. Now the government has brought forward its own legislation on this matter. The fact is that tourism, gaming and sport sectors need the help right now.

Will the government commit today to bringing the bill for debate and a vote without further delay?

[Arif Virani, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Madam Speaker, our government is committed to ensuring that those who engage in gambling can do so in a safe and regulated way. The current laws prohibiting single-event sports betting allow organized crime to profit and create economic disparities for our communities.

That is why we are proposing changes to the legislation that has been tabled to allow the provinces and territories to regulate this and for Canadian communities to benefit from the revenues. These changes will also bring about additional transparency to support responsible gambling and provide assistance to those in need of support.

Employment Insurance

[Joël Godin, Conservative, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

Madam Speaker, a father in my riding who meets all the employment insurance criteria is being forced to fight the system. Why? It is because he is a Quebecker who took parental leave and applied for the CERB. The system cannot handle his situation. Only parents in Quebec are suffering such discrimination. This Liberal government has once again forgotten about Quebeckers.

When will the Minister of Employment fix this glitch in the system, and more importantly, when will this Liberal government respect Quebeckers?

[Carla Qualtrough, Liberal, Minister of Employment]

Madam Speaker, I can assure my colleague that we have made changes to the EI system for all Canadians, including Quebeckers. I will absolutely look into the case raised by my colleague, and I will get back to him as soon as possible.

Health

[Colin Carrie, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

Madam Speaker, the holidays are less than a month away, and like many Canadians across the country, I am concerned that I may not be able to visit my mom in her long-term care home because of a lacking rapid testing capacity at nursing homes. For months, while other developed nations offered rapid testing to their populations, the government dithered and refused to approve rapid tests until only recently.

Can the government promise Canadians that nursing homes will have enough rapid tests to reunite families in time for Christmas across this country?

[Darren Fisher, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health]

Madam Speaker, we know that holiday celebrations are going to be different this year. We are asking that folks check with their local public health officials before they make any plans.

On rapid tests, I have some current numbers. Ontario has received over 2,076,000 rapid tests already and is starting to use them. Quebec has 1.3 million tests. B.C. has 627,000 tests. Nova Scotia has 70,992 tests. There are also pop-up rapid testing sites popping up all over my community today and tomorrow. Rapid tests are out there and they are being used.

The Environment

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Whitby, ON]

Madam Speaker, last week our government tabled an important bill on our pathway to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. My constituents and all Canadians want to see how our industries will produce the cleanest, greenest and most cutting-edge products in the world. They want to know they will have access to new jobs and careers in a competitive economy that will last to 2030 and beyond.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change please update the House on how we can get to a cleaner future and stronger economy at the same time?

[Terry Duguid, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages (Western Economic Diversification Canada) and to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change (Canada Water Agency)]

Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. member for Whitby for his commitment to delivering a better future.

We know that around the world countries, industry and businesses are moving to a cleaner, innovative low-carbon future. Last week, we saw the same here in Canada as industry, labour, environmentalists, boards of trade and major energy companies all said that the Canadian net-zero emissions accountability act is an important step toward achieving a net-zero future by 2050.

We agree with him that good environmental policy is good business.

[Richard Cannings, NDP, South Okanagan—West Kootenay, BC]

Madam Speaker, the Canada Energy Regulator's latest report shows that if the government honours its climate commitments and its new climate accountability bill, it will be pushing pipeline expansions in a world where Canada's energy sector does not even need them.

The Liberals are not on track to meeting our 2030 climate targets, and without a significant change of course we will not reach net zero by 2050. They have a chance to show they are serious about tackling climate change, so will the Liberals stop pushing TMX and Keystone XL for a world where they will not be needed?

[Terry Duguid, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages (Western Economic Diversification Canada) and to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change (Canada Water Agency)]

Madam Speaker, the Canadian net-zero emissions accountability act will hold the federal government to a commitment of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

Countries around the world are accelerating their transition to a net-zero economy and Canada simply cannot fall behind. We must seize the economic opportunity that climate action presents. Net zero is not just a plan for a healthier environment, it is a plan to build a cleaner, more innovative and more competitive economy.

Foreign Affairs

[Marwan Tabbara, Liberal, Kitchener South—Hespeler, ON]

Madam Speaker, previous Liberal governments have had a strong track record supporting Palestinians at the United Nations. Soon after Harper was elected, the country's support for Palestine took a sharp nosedive. Canada's anti-Palestinian voting pattern has put us out of step with the vast majority of countries.

Can the minister please explain when Canada will rejoin the international community and support the legitimate aspirations of Palestinian people?

[Rob Oliphant, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize the member for his hard work as Chair of the Canada-Palestine parliamentary friendship group.

Let me state very clearly Canada is a steadfast friend and ally of Israel. Canada is also a steadfast friend of the Palestinian people, and we are committed to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East, including the creation of a Palestinian state living side by side in peace and security with Israel.

That principle guides all actions in this regard: a two-state solution. Our position remains that this can only be achieved through direct negotiations between the parties. We urge them to create those conditions to come back to the table.