Debates of Dec. 3rd, 2020

Small Business

[Dean Allison, Conservative, Niagara West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, small businesses are defined as having fewer than 100 employees. Of all businesses in Canada, 98% are small businesses. Again, 98% of all businesses in Canada are small businesses.

Small businesses are responsible for the majority, or 57%, of net employment growth in the private sector. They employ 70% of the total private labour force in Canada. These are incredible statistics that show the tremendous contribution to our country.

It is clear that small businesses are the engine and the heart of our economy. Hopefully all governments across the country remember these statistics as they make policy decisions that impact small businesses, especially now during the pandemic. Let us help them get through this pandemic, not close them while multi-billion dollar chains stay open. At the end of the day, the success of small businesses is clearly vital to Canada's prosperity.

It is all about fairness.

International Day of Persons with Disabilities

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

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to draw members' attention to the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

Unfortunately, the society we live in is still rife with barriers for people with disabilities. Today, like every day, we need to be aware of the reality of people with disabilities and improve our infrastructure to meet their needs.

I would like to take a moment to acknowledge the work of all the organisations that help people with disabilities. I want to thank the Association des personnes handicapées de Portneuf, which provides services for people with disabilities and their families. The help that organization provides is invaluable.

I also want to recognize the perseverance of William Alain, a young man from Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier who was left quadriplegic as a result of an accident in 2015. Despite his physical limitations, he has continued to pursue his passion, which is hunting. I have good news. William killed his first deer. William, like many others, achieved one of his dreams. Keep believing in yourself, and I can assure you that we will always be there for you.

Taxation

[Daniel Blaikie, NDP, Elmwood—Transcona, MB]

Mr. Speaker, while the pandemic has hit so many Canadians really hard, there are some who have done quite well.

We should consider that while Winnipeg food banks have seen a 30% increase in demand since the pandemic began, Galen Weston of Loblaws has seen his personal wealth increase by $1.6 billion. Why does this matter? Because we need to ensure that Canada's recovery lifts everyone up. That means investing in health care, housing and a green economy. Working Canadians should not have to foot the bill for that, while billionaires and big corporations, which saw record profits during the pandemic, get off the hook.

We have already seen that some governments, like the Conservatives in Manitoba, are chomping at the bit to use the pandemic as cover to shut down important services, like the community IV Clinic in Transcona and the Cancer Care site at Concordia Hospital. We can stop those cuts by establishing a wealth tax for millionaires, shutting down tax havens and taxing the extra pandemic profits of big corporations. That is the way we will help working Canadians get their lives back, instead of helping the people at the top protect their fortunes.

The Environment

[Monique Pauzé, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Mr. Speaker, December 12 is the fifth anniversary of the Paris Agreement, a historic agreement to fight climate change.

I was there in 2015. People were very hopeful, but they were also cautious. Canada said it was back in the fight, and countries pledged not to let warming exceed 2°C , and ideally to cap it at 1.5°C. We now know that those promises, made not so long ago, and the vision for transition back then will not be good enough.

Countries need to reconsider their commitments. Today's health crisis should not distract us from the crucial issue of the environment. Instead, we should use it as a springboard for bigger, better solutions because small ones will not cut it. There are solutions, but we need to make a great leap forward, as Naomi Klein put it. As an oil-producing country, is Canada ready to make the leap?

Violence against Women

[Leona Alleslev, Conservative, Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, every year, as the holidays approach, we are reminded of a tragic incident.

On December 6, 1989, 14 young women were killed in cold blood for one single reason: because they were women. These 14 bright young women had their whole lives ahead of them, but instead they met a tragic end that day: Geneviève Bergeron, Hélène Colgan, Nathalie Croteau, Barbara Daigneault, Anne-Marie Edward, Maud Haviernick, Barbara Klucznik-Widajewicz, Maryse Laganière, Maryse Leclair, Anne-Marie Lemay, Sonia Pelletier, Michèle Richard, Annie St-Arneault, Annie Turcotte.

We have a duty to remember their names, not only today but every day. Every time a hateful remark is made, every time a violent act is committed against a woman, we must remember them and condemn it, so that this kind of tragedy never happens again.

We all have a duty to do this.

York Centre

[Ya'ara Saks, Liberal, York Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is my honour to join the House as the member of Parliament for York Centre.

Especially during a pandemic, I could not have done it without the support of the incredible community volunteers who stepped up, despite the circumstances. I am committed to returning their hard work and determination by serving the diverse community of York Centre.

My riding is home to a large and active seniors community and rooted in small businesses that have all been hit hard by the pandemic. As I called and knocked on doors, listening to constituents, the message was clear: People need our support. I will always work alongside the government to ensure that its support is there.

What has become clear during this pandemic is our ability to help one another and be there for each other, whether it is organizations like UJA's community food share program, supporting the most vulnerable or the Rhema Foundation, empowering seniors and newcomers to adapt to today's realities, that is the strength of our communities.

I thank the residents of York Centre. As their neighbour and member of the community, I am honoured to serve as their MP.

Health

[Erin O'Toole, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, leaked military documents reveal that only a small number of Canadians will be vaccinated by March. It is no wonder the Prime Minister is hiding this information, because 100 million Americans will be vaccinated over the same period. The secrecy of the government is adding to the uncertainty and stress on families.

I am asking a simple question: How many Canadians is the government planning to have vaccinated by the end of March?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians can be assured by the fact that Canada has been aggressive in putting together the most comprehensive vaccine portfolio in the world, with the most doses per capita in the world. Four of the manufacturers have submitted to Health Canada for regulatory approval. We are reviewing this as quickly as possible, using a rolling approach. Canadians can be sure that when we approve a vaccine for use in Canada, it will be safe.

[Erin O'Toole, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, she said “aggressive”. The American program is called “warp speed”. The best this could be called is “impulse power”.

Earlier this week, the health minister said multiple times that the provinces are able to handle the vaccines. The military report said that the provinces and indigenous communities are not prepared with the infrastructure required for vaccination.

Premiers and first nations leaders have been asking the government for a plan so they can prepare. Why is the government waiting until the very last minute to provide a plan for the provinces and first nations across this country?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, for months now we have been working hand in glove with the provinces and territories to prepare vaccinations for Canadians. As the member opposite knows, two of the seven vaccinations that potentially will be available here in Canada require significant logistical support. We are so grateful to the military for providing that support.

Rather than being a prop, as the member opposite mentioned in his news conference this morning, the military is an incredibly integral part of distributing vaccines to the provinces and territories, ensuring, through dry runs, that the provinces and territories are ready to receive them.

[Erin O'Toole, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, it is an integral part for six days now. The military's own documents say it does not have the information we have been asking for. They also say that vaccinations could end in the U.S. and France six months ahead of Canada.

The Prime Minister has said repeatedly it is not about when things start; it is about when they end. We now know that Canadians could face six extra months of lockdown, six extra months of seniors in isolation, six extra months before life can get back to normal.

Does the government not realize that if it does not have a plan to vaccinate, it does not have an economic plan?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, it is this government that has known that health and the economy are deeply intertwined. That is why we have been so aggressive to support people, businesses and communities through this pandemic, so they can make the decisions to protect each other and can protect their communities and the economy of Canada. That is also why we have worked aggressively on ensuring that we have the most robust vaccine portfolio, with options in case one vaccine is not successful or another one is indicated for different populations.

We are proud of the work we have done. Canadians can be assured they are well situated to get a vaccine.

[Erin O'Toole, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister promised that vaccines would arrive but without giving a specific date. The health minister is also giving us likely dates. There is a lot of uncertainty around the vaccines because we do not know when they will arrive, how they will be distributed, or who will have priority.

When will the Prime Minister decide to tell Canadians the truth to reassure them?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, I do not know if the member opposite had an opportunity to watch the tech brief today that happened for all Canadians. We provided even more details on the planning and preparation that is under way with the provinces and territories to deploy vaccines when they become available. On Health Canada's side, Dr. Sharma, who is the head of our regulatory body, said that it will be in a good position to provide a decision within eight to 10 days or so. These are all good, promising signs that vaccination is on the way.

I want to thank Canadians for their optimism and courage during this difficult time.

Official Languages

[Erin O'Toole, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, we have two national languages that are the foundation of our country's linguistic duality.

The use of French is declining. It is an alarm bell for Quebec and for francophone minorities across the country.

We want a clear answer on the modernization of the Official Languages Act and the application of Bill 101 to federally regulated businesses.

When will the Prime Minister protect the French language?

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

Mr. Speaker, first of all I want to tell the opposition leader that we have two “official” languages. I want to clarify our position on protecting the French language. It is one of our priorities. It is not just talk, we are taking action.

What have we done over the past five years to protect the French language and both official languages?

We have invested another $500 million in our organizations across the country. We saved the CBC/Radio-Canada. We doubled the contribution for the Canada Council for the Arts. We even appointed bilingual judges to the Supreme Court, which the Harper government always refused to—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

The hon. member for La Prairie.

[Alain Therrien, Bloc, La Prairie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Quebec National Assembly is unanimous. The Government of Quebec is calling for the Charter of the French Language to apply to federally regulated businesses in Quebec, and I think most members of the House agree with that. Today, civil society added its voice to the consensus.

What does the government not understand? Everyone agrees. Everyone understands that. What will it take for the government to wake up?

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

Mr. Speaker, it goes without saying that we need to protect the French language in Quebec and across the country. It also goes without saying that we recognize the legacy of Bill 101. As the member for Ahuntsic-Cartierville, I see it every day when I talk to children who come from around the world and who attend our elementary and high schools.

That being said, we are in discussions with the Government of Quebec. Just recently, I spoke with my counterpart in Quebec, Simon Jolin-Barrette—

[Kenny Chiu, Conservative, Steveston—Richmond East, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I would ask you to remind the hon. member that when she speaks in French, to switch to the French channel so the interpretation does not overlap with her speech. It is awfully difficult to hear the interpretation.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I would like to remind members that they must speak in the language they have selected in the system.

The hon. minister.

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

Mr. Speaker, as I was saying, we are there to protect the French fact in Quebec and across the country. We are in discussions with the Government of Quebec, and we are waiting to see its bill to reform the Charter of the French language.

[Alain Therrien, Bloc, La Prairie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, still no answers and no meaningful action.

Everyone wants this: the mayors of Quebec City, Gatineau, Lévis, Laval, Montreal and Longueuil, union leaders, the Union des artistes, farmers, elected representatives and former ministers, everyone. They stand united, a front uni as the Journal de Montréal put it. At this point, a no is a no to all Quebeckers.

Will the government finally stop hurting French and apply Bill 101 to federally regulated businesses?

It is simple. That is what people want.

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Minister of Economic Development]

Mr. Speaker, we stand with francophones, as we have shown ever since taking office.

There is opposition talk, and then there is our action, which proves we stand with francophones. Radio-Canada is crucial to the French language in Quebec and across Canada, and we saved it from budget cuts. To help artists produce and promote the French language, we doubled the Canada Council for the Arts' budget. To save the Royal Military College Saint-Jean, we give our soldiers the opportunity to train in French.

We will continue to stand with francophones.

Health

[Jagmeet Singh, NDP, Burnaby South, BC]

Mr. Speaker, Dr. Tam has said that the list of priority populations to receive the COVID-19 vaccine needs to be refined. She said this because the Liberal government dropped the ball. It is clear that we do not have enough vaccine doses to cover one of our hardest-hit populations, namely people over 70.

Will the Prime Minister admit that he dropped the ball? Why is he not protecting the most vulnerable populations?