Debates of Nov. 30th, 2020

Intergovernmental Relations

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, we will always applaud the Quebec government's environmental efforts. Similarly, the federal government is also working extremely hard for our environment and for this planet, which we want to leave to our children and grandchildren. We can achieve this if we work in collaboration.

This may come as a surprise to the Bloc Québécois, but we can work together. There is no need to fight. Of course we respect one another's areas of jurisdiction, but this all means that we must work together for the well-being of all our constituents.

Seniors

[Marilène Gill, Bloc, Manicouagan, QC]

Mr. Speaker, today is the deadline for seniors to submit their income information. Anyone who misses this deadline will stop receiving the guaranteed income supplement in January. We are talking about 12,000 of the poorest Quebeckers. We are talking about people who need help and cannot get help because of COVID-19. In-person services are limited, and we all know that it is nearly impossible to get through to the CRA on the phone.

Can the government assure us that no low-income seniors will lose their guaranteed income supplement in the middle of a pandemic?

[Deb Schulte, Liberal, Minister of Seniors]

Mr. Speaker, we are ensuring that the most vulnerable seniors continue to receive their benefits when they need them the most. Because of our temporary extension, over 200,000 seniors continue receive their GIS and allowance payments, even though they have not been able to submit their 2019 tax information. GIS recipients who have not already filed their tax information should file their taxes as soon as possible. We have sent letters to these seniors, and we have made calls to remind them to do so. We are making sure seniors do get their benefits.

Health

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

Mr. Speaker, our allies like the United States have been planning since May to deliver vaccines to Americans and will start vaccinating next week, but the Prime Minister has left it to the last minute and now has to call in the Canadian Armed Forces to actually clean up his mess. Our armed forces will get the job done. Of that I have no doubt, but the Liberal government will still have to answer for its incompetence.

When will the Prime Minister table a plan to make vaccinations available to all Canadians?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, I share the optimism in the ability of our armed forces to be part of our vaccination strategy which, I have to say, has been integrated very early on. We are so grateful to Major-General Dany Fortin for being embedded in the Public Health Agency of Canada to help with the logistics of deploying vaccines across the country, working closely with provinces and territories. This is a team Canada approach and an integrated approach at that, across all departments of government.

I want to thank the Canadian Armed Forces for their assistance.

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

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister promised Canadians 250,000 doses of vaccines would be made by now, but he has not delivered one single dose. He put all his hope in the CanSino vaccine, but of course that deal fell through and there was no plan B. He has literally had to call in the army to fix all the problems caused by the Liberals dithering and delays. Now the Prime Minister says that vaccines will not make it into the arms of Canadians until September. September is not good enough.

Why should Canadians believe the Prime Minister now when he has misled them so many times already?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, clearly the member opposite does not want to listen to me, but maybe he will listen to the CEO of Moderna who said Canada's early orders meant it was well positioned to receive early doses. This is the reality that the member opposite and his colleagues do not want to face. In fact, we were prepared and we have the best portfolio: seven promising candidates, four of them under regulatory review.

When the vaccines are safe we will be delivering them to Canadians.

[Rosemarie Falk, Conservative, Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK]

Mr. Speaker, we know that seniors have sacrificed a lot this year. Many have faced isolation from their loved ones and those living in long-term care have been particularly hit hard by COVID-19. They deserve certainty and clarity from their government, yet there is still no clear plan on testing or vaccines. While other countries have indicated that mass vaccine distribution will begin in the coming months, the Prime Minister is talking about September for Canadians.

Are seniors going to have to wait until September 2021 to see their grandchildren?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, now who is misrepresenting information to Canadians? It would be the member opposite because, in fact, she knows that that is not what the Prime Minister said. He said that, by September, 70% of Canadians will be vaccinated. He did not say that it will be until September. In fact, we know that we are very close. Canadians can be assured that when a vaccine is approved for safety here in Canada, we will be deploying it.

Canadians are well positioned to receive vaccines and we are thrilled with the ability to be able to provide them to Canadians.

Canada Revenue Agency

[Matthew Green, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals have watched $450 billion be sent offshore without a single CRA investigation resulting in a conviction. This is on top of the 900 Canadians named in the Panama papers, who have also evaded prosecution by hiding their wealth offshore, but when the New Democrats proposed closing tax loopholes and bringing in a wealth tax, the Liberals voted it down.

Why does the government insist on protecting the ultra wealthy from paying their fair share, while leaving thousands of Canadians and small businesses on the brink of financial ruin from COVID?

[Diane Lebouthillier, Liberal, Minister of National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, our government has made it a priority to combat tax fraud in Canada and abroad.

Our investments in the CRA have been successful in combatting tax evasion. Last year, the CRA performed 1,463 audits related to international tax evasion, which represents 1,679 taxpayers, compared to the 43 audits conducted in 2013-14.

Our government's historic investments of over $1 billion have given the CRA the tools it needs to do its job, and we are starting to see the results.

Taxation

[Alexandre Boulerice, NDP, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, this afternoon, the government will give an economic update with a significant deficit.

Historically, the Liberals' and the Conservatives' solution was to cut services to the public. That always hurts the same people, meaning workers, families and the most vulnerable.

There is another possibility, and that is to make the wealthiest members of our society pay. The NDP is proposing a tax on wealth over $20 million and an excess profit tax on certain corporations during the pandemic.

Will the Liberals adopt these progressive measures instead of burdening people with austerity measures?

[Sean Fraser, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance and to the Minister of Middle Class Prosperity and Associate Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, I have great respect for the hon. member, and I can assure him with no uncertainty that we will do whatever it takes to continue to offer support to Canadian households and businesses and do what it takes to get them through this pandemic.

On the issue of taxing the wealthy, if it is such a passion of the hon. member, I would return the question to him as to why he and his NDP colleagues opposed the Canada child benefit, which stops any child care cheques to millionaires and puts more money in the pockets of nine out of 10 Canadian families. I would also ask him why his party opposed the very first measure we took when we formed government in 2015, which was to raise taxes on Canada's wealthiest 1% so we could cut them for nine million Canadian households.

Foreign Affairs

[Maninder Sidhu, Liberal, Brampton East, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Canada and India share very strong people-to-people ties. Many Indo-Canadians, particularly the 600,000 of Punjabi descent, are watching closely as hundreds of thousands of farmers are marching to Delhi in a peaceful protest. However, many of the farmers from Punjab have been met with violence from police and blocked from entry to Delhi. It is essential that people in a democratic society be allowed to protest peacefully without fear of violence in response.

Can the Minister of Foreign Affairs please advise us as to how Canada is expressing its concerns over this issue?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, I also want to acknowledge the strong people-to-people ties that unite India and Canada, which are both strong democracies.

As the member rightfully mentioned, the freedom to protest peacefully is a fundamental right that must be respected. Canada is concerned by reports of violence that some farmers have been met with as they march peacefully in protest.

As we believe in strong dialogue, we have made diplomatic representations at senior levels both here in Ottawa and in Delhi to express our concerns.

Justice

[Rob Moore, Conservative, Fundy Royal, NB]

Mr. Speaker, when the Minister of Justice introduced the assisted-dying bill, he said that “this bill reflects a consensus among Canadians”, yet there is not even consensus in the Liberal cabinet. The minister responsible for disability inclusion has said that assisted dying providers should not raise assisted death with persons with disabilities. Yet, Liberals rejected this amendment Conservatives brought forward to committee.

Will the Minister of Justice listen to his colleague and listen to persons with disabilities and make this amendment?

[David Lametti, Liberal, Minister of Justice]

Mr. Speaker, medical assistance in dying, or MAID, is a complex issue. It is deeply personal. Canadians have diverse and evolving views, and we did our best to consult them quite intensively across Canada in round tables from coast to coast to coast, as well as in an online survey in which over 300,000 Canadians gave us their views on medical assistance in dying.

We reintroduced this legislation because it does represent a consensus in Canadian society. We need to move forward through this step to respond to the Quebec Superior Court's decision in Truchon, and we are doing just that.

[Rob Moore, Conservative, Fundy Royal, NB]

Mr. Speaker, there is a consensus that the government's latest MAID bill lacks safeguards and puts persons with disabilities at risk. Witness after witness said this at justice committee. We heard from disability advocates who say this bill is unfair to persons with disabilities. Krista Carr, of Inclusion Canada, described it as “our worst nightmare.” I am sure many Liberal members are also concerned about the gaps in Bill C-7.

Will the government allow a free vote among Liberal MPs so they may vote against this flawed bill?

[David Lametti, Liberal, Minister of Justice]

Mr. Speaker, during those consultations we took great pains to listen carefully to the disability community and their advocacy, and they had a direct impact on the structure of the bill. The safeguards that are in place in the non-end-of-life scenario are precisely a result of the consultations that took place with representatives of groups living with disabilities.

We will continue to listen, and we are very proud of the legislation and the compromises it effects.

Foreign Affairs

[Jag Sahota, Conservative, Calgary Skyview, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the right to peacefully protest is a fundamental right in a democracy. Thousands of farmers from across India, including Punjab and Haryana, have been protesting recent changes in agricultural policy. Canadians here at home with ties to Indian farmers are concerned about reports of the use of tear gas, water cannons and batons by the authorities against the protestors.

Will the Minister of Foreign Affairs comment on the issue my constituents and Canadians have been raising?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for a very important question that many members of the House and many Canadians are concerned about.

We are concerned about the violence that we have seen over the weekend as farmers march peacefully to Delhi. Freedom to protest peacefully is a fundamental right that must be respected. We believe in strong dialogue with India. That is why we made representations at senior levels over the weekend both here in Ottawa and in Delhi.

[Jasraj Singh Hallan, Conservative, Calgary Forest Lawn, AB]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians are concerned by the recent escalation of tensions in India between farmers and Indian authorities. Freedom of speech is fundamental to a healthy democracy, including peaceful protests. Farmers feed cities. Their hard labour is crucial to the function of any country: no farmers, no food.

Authorities are using tear gas, water cannons and baton charges to shut down the peaceful protest. People all across the globe are standing in solidarity with the farmers' right to peacefully protest.

Why will the Liberal government not stand up for freedom and democracy and comment on the ongoing situation in India?

Chalo Delhi. I stand with farmers.

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, as I answered before, we are concerned, as not only he and his constituents but other members have expressed in the House, about the reports of violence that farmers have been met with as they march peacefully to Delhi.

We believe in the freedom of protest. This is a fundamental right in a democracy. That is why, as I said to the member previous, we have expressed our concerns at senior levels both here in Ottawa and in Delhi. We believe in the fundamental right of protest.

International Trade

[Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay, Bloc, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC]

Mr. Speaker, this is the theatre of the absurd. Right now, the Standing Committee on International Trade is examining the free trade agreement with the United Kingdom. It is even hearing from witnesses. Earlier, it heard from the Minister of International Trade.

The problem is that no one has seen the text of the agreement. The committee is analyzing a deal that no one has even read. The government is asking us to approve this deal before December 31 because of Brexit. That is absolutely ridiculous.

When will the government give us the text of the agreement?

[Mary Ng, Liberal, Minister of Small Business]

Mr. Speaker, it was really good to be at the trade committee today. As I said, our officials are working very hard to get the legal text finalized so we can indeed share it.

I will respect our processes and the work of my colleagues on all sides of the House, and will endeavour to get this information to them as soon as it is available and ready. I think the continuity agreement is really great for Canadian businesses, because it provides the continuity and predictability that our businesses are looking for in trading with the United Kingdom.