Debates of Dec. 3rd, 2020

Official Languages

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

Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the Conservatives for their late-breaking interest in the French language. For the first time in history, we talked about the importance of supporting French in Quebec. This is historic. All members of the Liberal Party of Canada, not just those from Quebec, agree that we need to strengthen French in Quebec through our institutions and through all the work that we are going to do with the Minister of Official Languages to make French stronger in Quebec today, tomorrow and always.

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I did not hear the member say that the Liberals are going to apply Bill 101 to federally regulated businesses. I did not hear him say that the Official Languages Act will be modernized by Christmas.

What is more, the Liberals are not even able to get their own government to comply with the Official Languages Act. Given the message that Quebec sent us today, how can the President of the Treasury Board explain the fact that COVID Alert messages are being sent in English, that Zoom meetings are being held in English and that he did not require an official languages impact analysis to be conducted for the WE Charity contract?

I am asking the Prime Minister to reprimand the President of the Treasury Board and ensure that his own government complies with the Official Languages Act.

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages]

Mr. Speaker, I certainly have a great deal of sympathy and affection for my colleague.

I would like to remind him, however, that he once told our unilingual francophone Minister of National Revenue that it is unfathomable that she cannot speak English in the House of Commons. That is my first point. My second point is that I want to reassure the hon. member that the Official Languages Act is important and must be enforced, not only in spirit but also in letter. That is why it also needs to be modernized. We must strengthen our linguistic obligations. We recognize that the French language is facing a decline.

We will protect it, and we will modernize the legislation.

Indigenous Affairs

[Niki Ashton, NDP, Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, MB]

Mr. Speaker, Shamattawa First Nation now has a COVID test positivity rate of 50%, 106 confirmed COVID cases, a TB spread, overcrowded housing and isolation. This is an unfolding nightmare. I appreciate that the Minister of National Defence is aware and responding, but this situation is getting worse by the hour.

Will the government ensure that every possible step is taken to save the lives of the people of Shamattawa First Nation?

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Minister of Indigenous Services]

Mr. Speaker, I will be absolutely speaking to Chief Redhead later today to help support and be on hand to combat and prevent further spread of COVID-19. A rapid response team has been deployed, along with BLU-MED shelters that have been in operation since last week. We will remain in active communication with the community and stand ready to provide additional support, including CAF, as needed. We will be there for them and the community of Shamattawa.

Health

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Mr. Speaker, patients in ICUs in Alberta are being forced to share rooms, the use of oxygen is being limited and now the Red Cross has been called in and field hospitals are being set up: field hospitals in Edmonton, in Canada. Yesterday, the Ontario health minister defended the Ford government by saying, at least it is not as bad as Jason Kenney.

Conservatives are failing Canadians, but so are Liberals. Canadians are depending on the federal government to show leadership and share a plan with the provinces. When will it?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, every step of the way we have been there for provinces and territories to deliver on their health care responsibilities, and it will be no different with Alberta. I spoke with Minister Shandro last night and offered him a variety of supports in addition to the field hospitals that he is asking for.

However, let us be clear. This demonstrates how deadly of a disease this is and how we all have to work together and adhere to the public health measures that keep us safe.

Public Safety

[Marci Ien, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, gun and gang violence is a lived reality for far too many people in Canada, including residents in my riding of Toronto Centre. I have heard concerns from constituents, many of them parents mourning their own children, that we need to provide essential resources for prevention, diversion and exit programs.

Can the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness please update the House as to what additional measures our government will be providing to cities and marginalized communities to keep them safe from this violence?

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague from Toronto Centre for this very important question, and welcome her voice to this very important discussion.

Far too many Canadians and communities across Canada have been traumatized by gun violence, and we are taking action. As we announced just this week, our government will be investing $250 million in municipalities and marginalized communities to support community-based programs aimed at prevention, diversion and supports for those seeking to exit gangs. This will complement the $327 million that has been provided to provinces to support law enforcement, the significant investments we have made at the border and our ongoing efforts to strengthen gun control.

We welcome the support of mayors such as John Tory and Naheed Nenshi for this essential funding, as we work together to keep our communities safe.

Finance

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Carleton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, brave whistleblowers in the public service alerted the media to some literally terrifying spending. Other public servants told the media that they were ordered to send cheques even if fraud was suspected.

Then, the deputy minister of finance suddenly resigned the day after an economic statement.

Did the deputy minister of finance suddenly resign because he too was terrified by this government's out-of-control spending?

[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, first let me thank Deputy Minister Rochon for his years of service across different governments.

I want to turn my attention to the argument the hon. member has made. This morning, he distastefully compared our government's emergency measures to a rich kid smoking drugs on his parents' money. The reality is that the programs we have advanced have been to protect the lives of Canadians and to ensure that households and businesses could survive this pandemic. The fact is that we have to do everything, as long as it takes and as much as it takes, to get Canadians through this pandemic.

If that member takes an opposite view and disagrees with that fundamental tenet of our approach, I look forward to seeing a Liberal MP representing the good people of Carleton after the next election.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Carleton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, they have tried that six times in a row, and six times in a row they have failed. Apparently the people of Carleton do not agree with the member.

I was talking about the current government being like a spoiled brat inheriting a great fortune from the earlier government, which left it a great balance sheet, one that it has worked hard to blow as time has gone by.

Since that time, we have public servants saying they are literally terrified of the government's spending. Now we have the sudden resignation of the deputy minister of finance the day after the economic update. Is he, too, terrified of the out-of-control spending of his own government?

[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, seventh time may be the charm. Canadians do not want to have politicians who have been on taxpayer-funded salaries for six election cycles tell them that the government has been spending too much to make sure their kids can eat and they keep a roof over their heads.

If the hon. member is concerned with the cost of doing too much, I would ask him to consider the cost of doing too little. If we had failed to extend the supports Canadians needed during this emergency, we would have seen more of our family members perish, we would have seen more Canadians lose their jobs and we would have seen more businesses close permanently. That is not an outcome our government will accept, and I would encourage the hon. member to give his head a shake and get on board with the program.

Employment

[Warren Steinley, Conservative, Regina—Lewvan, SK]

Mr Speaker, the Prime Minister made a campaign photo op stop at Evraz steel just last year. He looked members of USW 5890 square in the eyes and told them he had their backs.

Now 591 of those workers will lose their jobs on December 17, just a week before Christmas. They will be looking through the help wanted ads instead of enjoying Christmas with their families.

What does the Prime Minister have to say to these 591 families he has turned his back on?

[Filomena Tassi, Liberal, Minister of Labour]

Mr. Speaker, we have been there for workers and families from the very beginning in 2015, but since the pandemic let us look at some of the measures we have put in place. There is the emergency response benefit. Nine million Canadians have accessed this benefit. The wage subsidy helps keep the relationship between workers and employers strong. For federally regulated employees, there is unprotected leave because we know it is not only the financial support but it is also ensuring jobs are there. We have made it easier to access by waiving the medical certificates, and we are keeping workers safe with investments in health and safety. We are always going to be there for Canadian workers' families.

[Warren Steinley, Conservative, Regina—Lewvan, SK]

Mr. Speaker, the 591 families do not want CERB, they want jobs. Four jobs are created in Regina for every one job at Evraz. This is devastating for Regina’s local economy and is a direct result of anti-energy bills, Bill C-48 and Bill C-69, and the Liberals’ ever-increasing carbon tax.

These layoffs are not an unintended consequence. They are a desired outcome. The Prime Minister promised to phase out our energy sector, and apparently this is the one promise he intends to keep.

When will the government stop attacking western Canadian families?

[Seamus O'Regan, Liberal, Minister of Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, one in every three workers in mining and oil and gas is how many workers were able to stay in their jobs thanks to the Canada emergency wage subsidy. That is tens of thousands of families in Alberta, in Saskatchewan and in Newfoundland and Labrador who continue to be able to go to work and put food on the table, thanks to the Liberal government.

In the fall economic statement, we announced we would maintain and expand this crucial program to keep Canadians working. The question for the opposition is this: Will they support oil and gas workers and will they vote in favour of our fall economic statement?

Health

[Sébastien Lemire, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

Mr. Speaker, last week Quebeckers learned that the government is unable to tell us when vaccinations will begin.

We know millions of doses are reserved, but we do not know where Canada is on the list or how many countries are on it. How many doses will we be getting between now and March?

Will there be enough doses in early March for health professionals and vulnerable people?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, we have the best vaccine portfolio in the world, with more doses per capita than any other country in the world. We have been working closely with experts, researchers and scientists, and listening to the advice of the National Advisory Committee on Immunization. It has provided general guidelines for the country. Of course, the provinces and territories will take those guidelines and refine them in their own jurisdictions.

When a vaccine is safe for use in Canada, we will be ready to deploy.

[Sébastien Lemire, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we are asking simple questions, questions that everyone is asking. We need answers. The only thing we are getting is ridiculous political spin. That is not reassuring. I am simply asking for an answer.

Can the government assure us that there will be enough doses of vaccine in early March to be able to vaccinate seniors, health care workers, workers in essential services, and members of the most vulnerable communities, such as indigenous peoples, as stated and urged by Canada's chief public health officer, Theresa Tam?

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

Mr. Speaker, I agree with my colleague on one thing, and that is that the Bloc asks questions. Does it ever ask questions. It is the only party that campaigns on a promise to ask questions. That is the key plank in its platform.

In the meantime, we are signing agreements with vaccine companies. We are signing agreements with a bunch of them, and we are working with the provinces so we will be able to distribute these vaccines to as many people as possible as quickly as possible. When a vaccine is ready, we will be ready.

[Corey Tochor, Conservative, Saskatoon—University, SK]

Mr. Speaker, we keep seeing the results of short-term thinking from the government. Every announcement seems designed for a photo op, with no real plan for actual follow-through. It is an A for announcement, F for actual follow-through.

Liberal MPs are now sharing a graphic that brags about their vaccine plan. It is really simple: We will get the vaccine when it is ready.

Canadians want details, and eight months into this, there is no reason why they should not have them. Where is our detailed plan?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, every step of the way, we have been transparent with Canadians, sharing information and helping them get through this pandemic, whether it is with resources, with information or, now, with plans for the vaccination plan.

As the member opposite knows, vaccinations are delivered by the provinces and territories. The federal government is supporting them in their health care obligations by ensuring that we supply the logistics to get vaccines in place in the provinces and territories, and that we have a plan. Yesterday, we stress-tested that plan with the provinces and territories.

Canadians can be optimistic that when a vaccine is ready, we will be ready to deploy.

[Jamie Schmale, Conservative, Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Oscar Wilde once said, “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness.” We, I must say, are quite flattered that the Liberals adopted the Conservative leader's proposal to increase the child care benefit. Perhaps the Liberals can embrace another novel idea: getting Canadians access to a COVID vaccine.

While Canadian families make plans, unfortunately, to spend Christmas away from their love ones, can the Prime Minister tell the House on what date Canadians will have access to the COVID vaccine?

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

Mr. Speaker, we are working hard to make sure that Canadians will be able to get a vaccine when the time comes. Work is already under way with the provinces and territories and the military to create a distribution plan so that Canadians can get vaccinated. Our approach has always been informed by science and evidence, and this is no different. Working with experts like the National Advisory Committee on Immunization and other public health experts, we will make sure that Canadians are safe from COVID-19.