Debates of Dec. 7th, 2020

Women and Gender Equality

[Maryam Monsef, Liberal, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development]

Madam Speaker, the short answer is yes. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Angela MacDougall and the Feminists Deliver coalition in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver. We have been working with them since before Feminists Deliver, and we recognize that COVID has only exacerbated existing issues. We have increased funding by 70% to front-line organizations. We understand that investing in them is the best way to advance gender equality. We recognize we have unfinished business to do, and we will work with them every step of the way in the development of a national action plan.

[Leah Gazan, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

Madam Speaker, the national action plan for murdered and missing indigenous women and girls was due in June and the government used COVID as an excuse to delay it, but violence against indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA people has increased during the pandemic. It is 400 times higher in some places. What has the government announced in response? What former chief commissioner Buller said it “isn't a lot of money.”

When will the government release a national action plan and provide the resources necessary before more loved ones go missing or are murdered?

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations]

Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question and her ongoing advocacy. Our hearts are with all of the survivors and families of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls, and two-spirit and gender-diverse people. This national public inquiry is working with a core working group of over a hundred indigenous women and two-spirited people toward a national action plan that will be effective and accountable for its results. With last week's fall economic statement, $781.5 million has been put toward this. We know we still have to do more.

Health

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Madam Speaker, last week we found out that the entirety of the American population is scheduled to be vaccinated by June. By the end of December, that number is about 10%. Today, we found out that the number in Canada is 0.003%. Last week, the Prime Minister said that it did not matter the start, what mattered was the finish. Now we are getting this very dismal news for Canadians.

My question is for the Minister of Public Services and Procurement. Did the Prime Minister instruct her to negotiate the small dose amount to deflect from the fact that we have no date on when Canadians will be vaccinated?

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Minister of Public Services and Procurement]

Madam Speaker, on the contrary, we have the largest portfolio of vaccines in the world and the highest number of doses per capita in the world. What today signifies is that the arrival of those doses, millions of doses, is going to begin this month and continue in waves throughout 2021 so that all Canadians will have access to a vaccine when it is approved by Health Canada.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Madam Speaker, the reality is that our neighbours to the south have certainty and hope for when they can reopen their businesses and see their family members. May or June is when a vaccine will be available to every American. We do not have that information here in Canada. We do not have that certainty. What we have is 0.003%. That is ridiculous. We are a G7 country.

When is every Canadian going to have access to the vaccine, and will it be at the same time as the Americans?

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Minister of Public Services and Procurement]

Madam Speaker, as I said, Canadians have access to the most diverse portfolio of vaccines in the entire world and those vaccines are going to roll out to Canadians beginning this month and continuing into 2021. That is assurance. That is a good-news story for Canadians, and I am so proud to be part of a government that has allowed and enabled this to occur.

Agriculture

[Lianne Rood, Conservative, Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON]

Madam Speaker, in March at the agriculture committee, the minister suggested that farmers' carbon tax payments are less than 1% of their expenditures, but obviously that is not the case. It is far more than that. The Parliamentary Budget Officer released a report showing that farmers will pay $226 million over the next four fiscal years for using propane and natural gas on their farms.

Will the minister admit her mistake and ask the government to extend the on-farm carbon tax exemption for natural gas and propane?

[Marie-Claude Bibeau, Liberal, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Madam Speaker, I can reassure my colleague that we are very aware of what our farmers need. We also have very important environmental obligations.

When it comes to the price on pollution, we have granted exemptions for farm fuel. We have granted exemptions for greenhouses too, and we are monitoring this file closely together with our Environment Canada colleagues.

[Lianne Rood, Conservative, Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON]

Madam Speaker, make no mistake: Extending the carbon tax exemption to propane and natural gas could make a real difference on Canadian farms, and across Canada. Propane and natural gas are used not only to heat barns but, if there is no other option, also for grain drying.

Why are the minister and her cabinet colleagues dragging their feet to make a small change that could make such a big difference for Canadian farmers?

[Marie-Claude Bibeau, Liberal, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Madam Speaker, our pollution pricing policy is designed to grow a clean economy. To support the sector, we have put in place the following measures: emissions from livestock and crop production are not priced, farm fuels and fuels from cardlock facilities are exempt, and there is a partial rebate for propane and natural gas used in commercial greenhouses.

Public Safety

[Shannon Stubbs, Conservative, Lakeland, AB]

Madam Speaker, last month, respected former Supreme Court Justice Bastarache reported on sexual harassment in the RCMP. It is serious and urgent and requires immediate action from the public safety minister, but the justice said, “I haven't heard anything from him”, and “there should be a stronger reaction”. The scale is huge: it covers over 600 interviews in four years, and 2,300 victims of various criminal acts. The report makes 52 recommendations.

Does the minister think that the report at least deserves a real response and action from him?

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

Madam Speaker, first of all, I appreciate the importance of the question because the behaviours that were outlined in Justice Bastarache's report are deeply concerning and completely unacceptable. We know that, for far too long, women in the RCMP and members of the LGBTQ2S community have experienced unacceptable workplace harassment.

These issues are long-standing. They need to change, and that is precisely why the government has explicitly mandated the commissioner of the RCMP to ensure that all employees are protected from this type of harassment and violence. We have spoken with the commissioner and we remain committed to responding appropriately to Justice Bastarache's report.

[Shannon Stubbs, Conservative, Lakeland, AB]

Madam Speaker, this is the minister's job and that was not an answer. The Liberals always blame everyone else, except they have been in power for half a decade and as majorities for 18 of the last 30 years.

The justice says he has spoken to the commissioner and she is working on it. He also said if the minister actually “read the report, he would know what needs to be done and take action.” What is worse, the report is the 16th of its kind. Victims deserve answers.

Will the minister tell the more than 2,000 victims which recommendations will be implemented and when, or, like all victims always, will they have to fight the Liberals to get results?

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

Madam Speaker, quite contrary to what has been asserted by the member opposite, we are absolutely committed to ensuring a workplace free of violence, harassment and discrimination by all members of the RCMP and, in fact, in all government workplaces. We are doing this work with the RCMP and we take this responsibility very seriously.

We recognize that the recommendations of Justice Bastarache provide an excellent guide to a way forward, and the commissioner of the RCMP has assured me of her commitment to implementing all of his recommendations.

Government Programs

[Louise Chabot, Bloc, Thérèse-De Blainville, QC]

Madam Speaker, the federal government is abandoning new mothers who lose their job while on parental leave. Because they did not accumulate enough working hours while they were taking care of their newborns, they are not entitled to EI. Ottawa is not even allowing them to collect the Canada recovery benefit. They are simply being left to fend for themselves.

Will the government immediately announce that new mothers qualify for the Canada recovery benefit?

When will they be able to apply for it?

[Carla Qualtrough, Liberal, Minister of Employment]

Madam Speaker, Canadians expect and deserve an EI system that is flexible and responsive to their needs. We have spent the last five years modernizing EI, giving parents a choice between 12 and 18 months of parental leave, but we recognize that because of COVID-19, many parents have not been able to accumulate the hours they need. That is why we gave them the one-time credit. We have made this credit retroactive to March 15. I am very aware of the issue that the member is speaking about. We are looking into it, and we will make sure that parents have the support they need.

[Louise Chabot, Bloc, Thérèse-De Blainville, QC]

Madam Speaker, this was already a problem before the pandemic. It is unacceptable that new mothers are not entitled to EI if they lose their employment at the end of their parental leave. They are workers like any other and deserve to be supported.

In some cases, it is already possible to count weeks worked in the past two years instead of the past year in order to qualify for EI. That is the case for prisoners.

Will the government do the same for new mothers?

[Carla Qualtrough, Liberal, Minister of Employment]

Madam Speaker, we know that we have to modernize and have an EI system that is reflective of the way that workers work today. Certainly this pandemic has highlighted specific challenges in the EI system, particularly as it relates to supporting parents, and mothers in particular. That is why we have spent the last four years taking steps to modernize, including, as I said, letting parents have the choice between 12 and 18 months and introducing the new parental sharing benefits. As we move forward, we will ensure that EI supports everyone.

[Louise Chabot, Bloc, Thérèse-De Blainville, QC]

Madam Speaker, the problem is that EI has never been adapted to the Quebec parental insurance plan. The mothers being abandoned by the federal government are Quebeckers. Because Quebec is feminist and has a more generous program so that Quebec women can balance work and family, Quebec women are being abandoned when they lose their job.

This government claims to be feminist. Will it fix EI so that it stops penalizing mothers who are benefiting from a feminist parental leave program?

[Carla Qualtrough, Liberal, Minister of Employment]

Madam Speaker, we know that Canadians expect and deserve an EI system that is flexible and responsive to their needs. Since 2006, the Province of Quebec has provided maternity, parental and adoption benefits to its residents. We have an agreement with the province for other EI benefits. Regular and caregiver benefits were made available.

We are aware of the QPIP recipients who are experiencing problems. We are working really hard to address these cases on a priority basis to ensure that claimants are paid as soon as possible. There is more work to do, but I am on this and we will keep working to ensure that EI is there for everyone.

Official Languages

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

Madam Speaker, Canada's rich history is celebrated in our culture and in our French and English languages, but minority communities are still having trouble getting services in the language of their choice.

This government promised to introduce a bill to modernize the Official Languages Act. The year 2020 is drawing to a close, and nothing has been done.

Will the minister commit to introducing a bill before Christmas?

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

Madam Speaker, it goes without saying that we must always protect our two official languages.

I find it very surprising and even hypocritical when I hear the Conservatives say that there are problems with the French-language services offered by the Government of Canada and even those offered in linguistic communities.

The bottom line is that the Conservatives are the ones who made cuts to French-language services for years. We will be there with the communities to help them.

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

Madam Speaker, the COVID Alert messages are being sent in English only, online meetings and presentations for public servants are being held in English only, and a $900-million contract was given to a company that is unable to provide services in French. There are many examples of this government's failure to protect the French language.

When will the minister introduce a bill to modernize the Official Languages Act?

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

Madam Speaker, we have been there, we are there, and we will be there.

We were there by making the largest investment in official languages in Canadian history; by creating an action plan; by doubling the Canada Council for the Arts' budget; by saving CBC/Radio-Canada from Conservative cuts; by protecting the Royal Military College Saint-Jean; and by supporting the bilingual Ottawa initiative. We have also helped organizations get through the pandemic, and we are going to be there with language reform.