Debates of Sept. 24th, 2020

Fisheries and Oceans

[Bernadette Jordan, Liberal, Minister of Fisheries]

Mr. Speaker, we do believe that the path forward is to make sure that we are having respectful and collaborative dialogue with the parties involved. My number one priority is to make sure that people are safe and to lower tensions.

We have to work together toward a solution to the impasse. That is what we are doing now. This is a very long-standing and deeply personal issue to many, many people. We are going to work with the first nations as well as with industry to make sure that we find that path forward.

Speech from the Throne

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

Mr. Speaker, “disappointing, hollow, partisan, directionless and anemic” are some of the harsh words used to describe the Liberal government's Speech from the Throne.

The Liberals appear to have learned nothing from their failure to prevent the first wave of COVID-19. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce clearly stated that what we need is more than just a patchwork of disjointed initiatives.

People are concerned. Why are the Liberals letting this virus do even more damage to Canadians' health and finances?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for his question.

As the Prime Minister said yesterday, Canada now knows how to deal with the second wave of COVID-19.

Our priority in terms of both the economy and health is to combat the second wave. That is the responsibility of all members of the House. I would like to point out to Canadians that is also the responsibility of each and every Canadian. We can succeed, but we all have to try to work together.

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

Mr. Speaker, the problem is that the only plan the Liberals have is to lecture Quebec, interfere in its jurisdictions and start quarrels. That helps no one. Yesterday's throne speech, a partisan ad to the Prime Minister's nation, was full of empty words and recycled promises. It was desperately lacking in rigour and timelines.

Dan Kelly of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business noted that many of these commitments are coming far too late for many small businesses.

Do the Liberals realize that by proroguing Parliament, they jeopardized the survival of thousands of small businesses in Canada?

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

Mr. Speaker, it sounds like my colleague took one of the Bloc Québécois's questions.

Since he is criticizing the throne speech, I would like to know what he would have cut. Would he have cut assistance for seniors? Would he have cut assistance for businesses? Would he have cut the CERB? Would he have cut assistance for people with disabilities? It is easy to stand there and criticize, to express disappointment, but I would like to know what the member would have cut. He should at least have the courage to tell us.

Seniors

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Mr. Speaker, let us talk about those who are most affected. COVID-19 has affected everyone, seniors especially. The majority of COVID-19 victims are seniors, and they have also been the most isolated, separated from their loved ones, alone and anxious. Now, they are the ones left out of the Speech from the Throne.

Why is the Prime Minister insisting on creating two classes of seniors, and why is he abandoning seniors aged 65 to 75?

[Deb Schulte, Liberal, Minister of Seniors]

Mr. Speaker, I really appreciate the opportunity to answer this question. We know that seniors are being affected more than many other Canadians because they are staying home and staying safe.

We know that the social isolation among seniors is requiring much support from the government. We have provided direct financial support and we have supported them with additional funding through new horizons for seniors.

These have been important resources on the ground that have helped seniors get through this challenging time, but you have raised a question why—

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Mr. Speaker, in order to help seniors, we need to increase their purchasing power in the long term.

The government has spent close to $400 billion since the beginning of the pandemic, and yesterday it said that this was not the time for austerity. Now is not the time for austerity, according to this government, except when it comes to helping seniors and giving a little more to those who built Quebec and Canada.

Can the government tell seniors why it still refuses to increase the pension by $110 a month for seniors 65 and older?

[Deb Schulte, Liberal, Minister of Seniors]

Mr. Speaker, I want to remind those in the House of what we have been doing to support seniors over the last many months. We have provided direct financial support to those seniors 65 and above who are on OAS of $300, and an additional $200 for those on the guaranteed income supplement.

We have also provided a GST credit to those most vulnerable seniors, and if we look at seniors who are a couple, they get $1,500 of direct tax-free support to help them during this pandemic. We have additionally—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

The hon. member for Lambton—Kent—Middlesex.

Agriculture

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

Mr. Speaker, the agriculture industry has been through a lot, even before the pandemic. The pandemic has made existing problems worse and added new ones.

Whether it is competitiveness, market access, processing capacity or reduced production, farmers have needed an action plan for some time. Yesterday, we got the same platitudes and vague promises that we have heard for years from the Liberal government.

When will the government finally back up its promises with meaningful actions?

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

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank our farmers, as well as the ranchers and food workers, because they have been working extremely hard. It is because of their hard work that we were able to have good food on our plates during the crisis. We are there for them and we will continue to be there for them.

We have put out significant additional money to support them. I am thinking about the $77.5 million for our processors, the $15 million was to give $1,500—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

The hon. member for Lambton—Kent—Middlesex.

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

Mr. Speaker, farmers take pride in being stewards of their land, ensuring it is sustainable for generations to come while lowering carbon emissions.

While their campaign speech yesterday recognized these efforts, the Liberals' words still do not match their actions. To date, grain farmers have two options for drying their grain: natural gas or propane. There are no alternatives.

Will the government recognize that fact and exempt the on-farm use of fuels from the punitive carbon tax?

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

Mr. Speaker, my colleague is right when she says that the farmers are good stewards of the land. They care for the land, they care for our environment and we do appreciate it. In the Speech from the Throne yesterday, we recognized that they will be strong partners in the relaunch of the economy and also to fight climate change. Putting a price on a pollution is one important tool to fight climate change.

Telecommunications

[John Nater, Conservative, Perth—Wellington, ON]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday's Liberal throne speech simply repeated the failed promises they have already failed to keep, especially when it comes to rural broadband. In April, the Liberal government admitted that the connect to innovate program had already failed to distribute much-needed funds for rural broadband to rural communities.

Once again, we keep hearing the same buzzwords, with no plan and no action taking place. Families, small businesses and farmers in rural Ontario and in remote villages in Newfoundland and Labrador and indigenous communities across Canada are waiting to connect and are struggling because of this failure to connect.

When will Canadians see real action to get their Internet up to speed?

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

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate my colleague on his new role and look forward to working with him.

Since we formed government, we have invested to connect a million households to high-speed Internet, but that work is far from over. Colleagues heard in the throne speech yesterday our plans to accelerate and add ambitions to our plans. I am counting on my colleague's support to ensure that the throne speech and subsequent measures are supported so that we can connect every Canadian to high-speed Internet.

Status of Women

[Julie Dzerowicz, Liberal, Davenport, ON]

Mr. Speaker, a key focus for our government as we restart our economy is facilitating Canadians' return to work in a way that keeps them safe and healthy while sustainably growing the economy. One way is by taking measures to close the gender gap between men and women in the workforce, which will boost economic growth, productivity and prosperity for the whole country.

Can the hon. Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development tell the House how our government will be helping women across Canada to fully engage in the workforce and reach their economic potential?

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

Mr. Speaker, as my hon. colleague from Davenport well knows, women have been on the front lines of the fight against COVID. They have also been sidelined and our economic recovery depends on women entering and re-entering the workforce.

Yesterday's throne speech ensured that Canadians know we will not lose the hard-won gains of the past decades, that we will work to ensure that there is an economic recovery with a plan to get women back into the workforce, and that we will ensure women's health and safety so that they can care for children, care for our elders and ensure that Canada's full potential is realized.

Public Safety

[Peter Kent, Conservative, Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, over the last five months, COVID-19 has had to share headlines with almost daily shootings across the GTA. Criminals do not care about COVID-19 and they certainly will not follow any new gun bans the Liberals pass. Organized crime and guns smuggled across the border go hand in hand.

When will the government finally realize that the solution is not going after law-abiding gun owners in small towns, but going after smuggled guns and organized crime?

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

Mr. Speaker, our government is absolutely committed to strengthening gun control measures as part of a larger response to the gun violence and violence generally that is impacting our communities right across the country.

We have worked very closely with communities, provinces and territories and with the police to take measures that we know will be effective. We will be bringing forward legislation to strengthen our efforts at the border to prevent the theft and diversion of guns into the hands of criminals, and also will take steps to ensure that for those who are currently in possession of firearms, if the firearms represent a danger to others, they are removed.

International Trade

[Tracy Gray, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Mr. Speaker, Canada's trade agreement with the EU, CETA, will no longer apply to the U.K. as of December 31. Canadian businesses from multiple sectors across the country are very concerned that we do not have a new agreement signed. In February, the Deputy Prime Minister stated that the government would inform the House of any negotiations that it enters into with intent within 90 days of those negotiations starting. This means that, technically, we would not be entering into negotiations until December, when this agreement ends.

When are the Liberals going to enter into negotiations with the U.K.?

[Mary Ng, Liberal, Minister of Small Business]

Mr. Speaker, I remain in close communication with my contact in the U.K. The U.K. trade secretary is really pleased that we will continue to work with the U.K. to build on our strong trade agreement. We are going to continue working on a solid path for both of our countries to grow our economies and benefit our people on a transition agreement that will ensure continuity for businesses here in Canada and for workers and businesses in the United Kingdom. We are going to keep working hard for Canadians.

Health

[Cathy McLeod, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC]

Mr. Speaker, three years ago, almost to the day, a dear friend died of a drug overdose. Kamloops has seen more people die of illegal drug overdoses in the first half of 2020 than in all of 2019.

In the throne speech, all the government did was acknowledge there is an opioid epidemic. It gave no hint of a plan. There was one sentence, when more than 1,000 people in B.C. have died. There are heartbroken families. Fentanyl is being smuggled unchecked and there is no plan from the Liberals.

How does the government justify such neglect?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, as the member opposite might realize, in fact this government has done more than any previous government to meet substance users where they are by making sure that there is easier access to medications, like Suboxone and methadone, and working with provinces and territories to make sure that there are overdose prevention sites supporting community-based projects or substance use and addiction programs for treatment, safer supply programs.

We are tirelessly working with provinces and communities to ensure that people who use substances have treatments that work for them.