Debates of Feb. 5th, 2020

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

It being Wednesday, we will now have the singing of O Canada, led by the member for South Okanagan—West Kootenay.

Jack Moran

[Peter Fragiskatos, Liberal, London North Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honour the life of Jack Moran, a constituent and a long-time resident of London, a community he passionately fought to make a better place throughout his life.

Democracy depends on dedicated volunteers, and Jack was exactly that. He was known locally as a political organizing legend, a deeply committed Liberal volunteer who fought for our party's shared values. Jack gave generously of his time, knowledge and resources to provincial and federal riding associations and election campaigns. All along, he encouraged people to fight for a better country and a better world.

Above all, Jack was a proud family man and someone who had strong faith in God. He was pre-deceased by this wife Beverley Anne, a proud father to his children Susan, Linda, Cathy, Nancy and Michael, and a loving grandfather to Tara, Courtney, Zach, Hope, and Patience.

Jack, rest in peace, my friend. Many thanks for always leading by example.

Government Policies

[Marilyn Gladu, Conservative, Sarnia—Lambton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have a lot of questions for the Liberal government.

Why, in five years, does it not have a softwood lumber deal that will keep mills from closing? Why has it not been able to get nation-building projects like Petronas LNG, the Trans Mountain pipeline and Teck mines approved and built? Why did it not negotiate a better deal with the U.S. so that aluminum in Quebec and the automotive sector in Ontario would not be punished? Why can it find money to build infrastructure in China, but cannot find money for veterans? Why can it not say no to Huawei? Why does it give millions to Mastercard when seniors cannot afford to live? Why does it want to spend $40 billion a year on pharmacare, when it could put Canadians who do not have a plan on the existing provincial plans for less than a tenth of that cost?

Why is the Prime Minister leaving on a junket to Africa to schmooze for a Security Council seat when there are pressing issues here at home?

Why will the Liberal government not put Canadians first?

Edgar Gallant

[Darrell Samson, Liberal, Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS]

Mr. Speaker, not long ago, we lost one of Prince Edward Island's great Canadians. Edgar Gallant's career with Canada's public service was a long and brilliant one.

Mr. Gallant also made notable contributions to the francophonie. He chaired the committees that established francophone school systems in Saskatchewan, British Columbia and Manitoba.

He was awarded many honours over the years, including the title of Officer of the Order of Canada, Officer of the Ordre de la Pléiade, the Vanier Medal of the Institute of Public Administration of Canada, the federal Excellence and Leadership in Official Languages award and the FCFA's prix Boréal.

His achievements also inspired the creation of the Edgar Gallant prize, awarded by the Fédération nationale des conseils scolaires francophones du Canada. I was the proud recipient of that prize in 2016.

I am grateful to Edgar Gallant.

Resource Centre for People with Disabilities

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

Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate an organization in my riding, La Ressource pour personnes handicapées, on the success of its 23rd annual telethon, held last week in Abitibi—Témiscamingue.

Once again this year, the generosity of the people of Abitibi—Témiscamingue and Nord-du-Québec helped the organization raise a total of $550,386, surpassing its original goal. With that funding, La Ressource will be able to fulfill its mission and deliver support services, including physical adaptations for the home, access to medical supplies, transportation for people requiring medical care within or outside the region, scholarships, help with social integration and many other specialized services, such as sledge hockey.

I wish many years of success to this vital, active organization that provides services to people with disabilities of all kinds in my region. Once again, I congratulate the organization on its fundraising success.

I want to thank my friend Rémy Mailloux and his team, as well as the volunteers and everyone who generously contributed.

Frieze & Roy General Store

[Kody Blois, Liberal, Kings—Hants, NS]

Mr. Speaker, Maitland, Nova Scotia, in my riding of Kings—Hants is a small community that is historically important to our province and our country. Situated on the Minas Basin, with the highest tides in the world, Maitland is where Canada's largest wooden ship, the W.D. Lawrence, was built in 1874.

It is also home to Canada's oldest general store, Frieze & Roy, which has been serving customers along the Hants shore and beyond since 1839, a full 28 years before Confederation. Frieze & Roy was a key business during the golden age of sail, an era when the completion of the Shubenacadie Canal placed Nova Scotia and Maitland as a world leader in shipbuilding.

I have had the pleasure of shopping at Frieze & Roy. It remains a key hub for our community and is truly a unique experience, as there remain many items at the store that give a unique perspective on our storied past.

I would like to congratulate the current owners, Troy and Theresa Robertson, and wish them continued success in the years ahead.

Nobel Peace Prize Nomination

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring the attention of the House to a remarkable Coptic Orthodox woman named Maggie Gobran, affectionately called “Mama Maggie” and often referred to as “the Mother Teresa of Egypt”.

Over the past year, I have had the privilege of becoming familiar with her work in the slums of Cairo and across Egypt.

Mama Maggie is the founder of Stephen's Children, one of the largest charities in the Middle East. Stephen's Children exists not only to serve the poor and disadvantaged but also to elevate them to a sense of their dignity as children of God.

The ministry serves Christians, Muslims and anyone else in need in Egypt, and contributes to cultivating a culture of pluralism and respect for minorities. Last week I was pleased to join four other members of our caucus in nominating Mama Maggie for the Nobel Peace Prize.

In learning about her work and engaging with those in her organization, I know that Mama Maggie has no intention of being honoured for her remarkable selflessness, dedication and radical love for each person she encounters, but recognition and awareness help to strengthen the important work she is doing.

I hope that all members will join me in supporting the Nobel nomination.

Mont Bellevue

[Élisabeth Brière, Liberal, Sherbrooke, QC]

Mr. Speaker, very few cities can boast a mountain in their core where people can go downhill skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, hiking, tubing, fat-biking, and so on.

In Sherbrooke we are fortunate to have Mont Bellevue. This beautiful mountain is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year but is nowhere near retirement. It is a not-to-be-missed attraction for both residents and tourists in the Eastern Townships. The hill has something to offer both to children skiing for the first time and the more experienced among us.

The calendar of events for this anniversary season is already quite full, which is a reflection of our dynamic region. I hit the slopes with my family for the “Nuit insomniaque” night-skiing event on February 1.

I wish Mont Bellevue a happy 60th anniversary.

Airbnb in Spadina—Fort York

[Adam Vaughan, Liberal, Spadina—Fort York, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the riding that I represent is geographically small enough that when shootings happen, the sirens are literally heard in every corner of Spadina—Fort York. Last Friday, when gunfire broke out on the 32nd floor of a CityPlace condominium, all of downtown was rattled, rattled but not surprised.

Too many guns are going off in Toronto, too many people are dying and too many people are terrified in the aftermath. Residents are demanding stronger gun control, investments to create more resilient communities and supports to help young people make better choices.

I support these goals and I will fight for them in this Parliament, but condo residents are asking for something else. Too many of these shootings are tied to short-term rentals. People in my riding are demanding that Airbnb and other sharing platforms obey city bylaws. Rules are in place to clamp down on multiple listings and units being rented out for parties.

The city has moved to protect those of us who live in condominiums. It is time for Airbnb to obey the law and drop their lawsuit.

Government Spending

[Kyle Seeback, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

Mr. Speaker, wasteful spending and Liberal governments go hand in hand. Who can forget former Liberal minister David Dingwall's infamous statement, “I'm entitled to my entitlements?”

On one 10-day tour, the Prime Minister's flight spent, wait for it, $143,000 on food and alcohol. Given the massive debts that this government is running up, they are putting it on our nation's credit card. Maybe it is a Mastercard.

Every day, Canadians in this country are struggling to make ends meet. They deserve better than this. When will the Liberal government stop wasting taxpayer money on fine dining and boozy flights?

Vietnamese Boat People Museum

[Chandra Arya, Liberal, Nepean, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to offer my support to the proposed Vietnamese boat people museum project in Ottawa. The objectives are to present the historical facts of the quest for freedom by Vietnamese refugees and to showcase the contributions of the Vietnamese community.

This noble initiative is led by Mr. Can Le, who is the president of the Vietnamese boat people museum project and who is also the president of the Vietnamese Canadian Centre. Some of the other supporters include Haquyen Nguyen, president of the Free Vietnamese Canadian Community of Ottawa; Thu Tran, president of the Vietnamese Canadian Cultural Organization of Ottawa; and An Hoang, president of the Association of Veterans of the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces of Ottawa.

This museum will also feature a community service centre and will be an excellent addition to the multicultural fabric of Ottawa.

Employment Insurance

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

Mr. Speaker, a constituent in my riding of Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, Émilie Sansfaçon, has sadly been diagnosed with cancer, not once but twice.

Thousands of Canadians receive this kind of news every year and must temporarily leave their jobs to undergo treatment and, in some cases, spend some time convalescing. The direct impact of this situation is a major loss of income. It seems to me that they should have the privilege of focusing on their well-being instead of worrying about finances at the end of each month.

Workers who lose their jobs are entitled to 45 weeks of employment insurance. Caregivers are entitled to 35 weeks of benefits. However, those fighting for their lives are only entitled to 15 weeks of benefits. How much is their life worth? That is pathetic. The Liberals are running up deficits of billions of dollars every year, but are not even able to increase the number of weeks of benefits for people who are fighting for their lives.

When will this Liberal government make the right choices and look after people struggling with illness?

Teck Frontier

[Damien Kurek, Conservative, Battle River—Crowfoot, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals simply do not get it. They talk about growing the economy and protecting the environment, yet they want to phase out the Canadian energy industry, which has the best environmental record on the planet. They say indigenous reconciliation is important, yet they refuse to show support for indigenous-backed energy projects. They claim their environmental plan will reduce emissions, when in reality it only raises costs on the middle class, a term they cannot even define. They claim to care about national unity, yet they pit premiers, provinces and regions against one another.

I am proud my riding is home to significant resource development. I am also proud that I worked in that industry for a number of years, along with many of my constituents.

The facts are clear. The work has been done. The studies are there. The opportunity is here for the current Prime Minister to finally turn words into action. It is time to stop the dither and delay and approve Teck Frontier.

Poverty

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

Mr. Speaker, our region is struggling and nowhere is this more evident than the rates of child poverty. According to a recent Campaign 2000 report, 63% of children in our region live in poverty. That is unacceptable in a country as wealthy as Canada. These are not just numbers; these are lives impacted by crushing poverty every single day. This poverty is directly linked to the poverty of their mothers, women's poverty. The reality is not by accident; it is the result of Liberal and Conservative political agendas that have sought to exploit, dispossess and marginalize indigenous women, their children and their nations.

The federal government must change course and take on the factors that lead to this poverty, from making healthy foods accessible to tackling the housing crisis, from ending gender-based violence to funding child care, from expanding employment and training to building all-weather roads, from creating gainful employment to ensuring the consent of first nations for development on their territories.

I stand with the many women in our north and across the country who are demanding better for themselves, their children and our collective future.

Antoine Desilets

[Martin Champoux, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Antoine Desilets, the father of photojournalism in Quebec, passed away on December 19, 2019.

The recipient of over 80 awards during his glorious career, he first made a name for himself in the United States by winning the photographer of the year award from the National Press Photographers Association of North America in 1966, 1968 and 1969.

He became a Chevalier de l'Ordre national du Québec in 1990 and authored 12 books on photography, which were translated into four languages and sold over 650,000 copies.

Mr. Desilets inspired generations of Quebeckers, including many members of the House, and introduced them to the art of photography. Every year for over 10 years, the Fédération professionnelle des journalistes du Québec has awarded seven Antoine-Desilets prizes to recognize the best press photos.

A determined separatist, Mr. Desilets had the good fortune to see his son enter the House of Commons as the Bloc Québécois member for Rivière-des-Mille-Îles this fall.

My friend, on behalf of all our colleagues and our party, I want to offer our sincere condolences to you and your family.

International Development Week

[Mike Lake, Conservative, Edmonton—Wetaskiwin, AB]

Mr. Speaker, International Development Week gives me an opportunity to share an important story that too few Canadians know.

Leading the G8 in 2010, Prime Minister Stephen Harper brought the world's attention to something very close to his heart. Ten years into their 15-year window, two UN millennium development goals were critically behind. The first was to save the lives of children under five. The second was to save mothers in and around childbirth.

Harper's Muskoka initiative rallied world leaders to meet the challenge and delivered significant results. This was largely due to his relentless focus on accountability and transparency and the tireless work of the Canadian development community. The initiative would turn out to be a global game-changer, helping save the lives of more than three million children and 200,000 mothers every single year.

In the midst of a global economic crisis, Stephen Harper never lost sight of those around the world who were truly the most vulnerable. He became their quiet champion, and it is a story that should make all Canadians rightly proud.

Black History Month

[Kamal Khera, Liberal, Brampton West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, happy Black History Month.

Not only is my riding one of the fastest growing in the country, but Brampton West is home to Canada's largest black community. In honour of Black History Month, although the list is extensive, I would like to recognize local leaders in my riding who make Brampton West a better place every day.

Rainford Cornish is a leader in our community who wears many hats. As a high school teacher, a mentor, a volunteer and an author, he empowers and inspires black youth through sports, volunteering and teachings of black history.

I would also like to highlight Yvonne Squires, a community activist who keeps everyone on their toes, including me, by advocating and fighting for the most vulnerable in our community. She has been a voice for the voiceless for over 45 years, and I am so proud to call her my friend.

I thank them for inspiring our community and for making Canada a better place for all.

Natural Resources

[Andrew Scheer, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, according to the original TMX plan, a private company was going to use investors' money to build it. It would have already been operational this past December and the government would be making money on tolls and taxes, not losing money due to delay.

Yesterday, the finance minister was asked whether all obstacles had been removed from the construction of TMX and he could not answer the question. Therefore, can the Prime Minister guarantee an in-service date for Trans Mountain?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we were pleased with the court decision yesterday that highlighted that our approach on balancing environment and economic growth works. We worked with indigenous communities, we worked with environmentalists and their concerns and we are moving forward on getting our oil resources to markets responsibly and sustainably after 10 years of a Conservative government that was unable to do that. Regardless of their boosterism of the Alberta economy, they were unable to get it done the way that Albertans and people in the oil sector needed. We are getting it done because we are doing it the right way.

[Andrew Scheer, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, Liberals are not doing it the right way; they are doing it the wrong way.

Instead of passing emergency legislation to deal with the court ruling, they decided to restudy the same issues, but just with a different government department. They then waited over a month to restart indigenous consultations. The court did say yesterday that project opponents “cannot tactically use the consultation process as a means to try to veto” a project. That is good news. However, the Prime Minister has promised to use a United Nations declaration to create a new threshold requiring free, prior and informed consent.

How does the Prime Minister expect any new projects to get built under that regime?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, everything the member opposite just said demonstrates at which point the Conservative Party does not understand the modern economy, does not understand the expectations of Canadians to be responsible around environmental concerns, to work with indigenous communities and to get things done the right way. No wonder Conservatives failed for 10 years, no wonder they keep failing.

[Andrew Scheer, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, it is the Prime Minister who has failed to get TMX started over a year after it was supposed to have already been under way.

There are dozens of first nations communities that supported northern gateway, there are dozens that support Trans Mountain and there are dozens that support Frontier mine. The courts have ruled that no one community has a veto over projects, but the Prime Minister is using a United Nations declaration to create a new threshold of free, prior and informed consent.

Does the Prime Minister not realize that granting a veto power that does not currently exist will stop any project from being built in the future?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, those are demonstrations of complete misunderstanding and miscomprehension by the Conservatives on these issues.

First and foremost, to correct the record, the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion is being built right now. The member opposite, I am sure, did not want to make false statements to this House.

Second, the court reaffirmed yesterday that free, prior and informed consent does not mean a veto for any communities. That is something that is absolutely clear, which Conservatives are choosing to misunderstand for political reasons.

News Media Industry

[Andrew Scheer, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, it is the current law that states that; his new law will undermine that.

There was strong backlash to the Prime Minister's plan requiring the media to obtain licences and be subject to penalties if they did not comply. This is about more than just freedom of the press. The author of these recommendations even suggested that all media content be regulated.

Will the Prime Minister confirm that he will reject the entire report?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we will always support a strong, independent press.

The report we received proposes to exempt news media from licensing requirements, but allow me to be absolutely unequivocal. We will not impose a licensing requirement on news organizations, nor will we regulate news content.