Debates of Sept. 30th, 2020

Aerospace Industry

[Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay, Bloc, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC]

Mr. Speaker, in the Speech from the Throne, Ottawa says it wants to help industries that have been hard hit by COVID-19, but there is not a single word about the aerospace industry.

That omission represents Quebec's primary export sector, 43,000 good jobs, $18 billion in sales, and the third largest aerospace hub in the world.

The Prime Minister is an MP from Montreal. Aerospace is key to the economy of greater Montreal.

Will Ottawa finally stop ignoring this cutting-edge Quebec industry and bring in an aerospace policy?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the aerospace industry in Quebec and across Canada is an extremely important industry when it comes to jobs, innovation, and the future we are building here in Canada. We will always support that industry.

Many industries have been affected by the COVID-19 crisis. That is why we brought in measures like the wage subsidy and the Canada emergency response benefit, to help workers and these industries.

We continue to work with the industries that have been hit hard so that we can help them. We will always be there for the aerospace industry in Quebec and across Canada.

[Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay, Bloc, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we need targeted programs and a comprehensive policy, not rhetoric or piecemeal measures that lack vision. The Prime Minister's indifference towards this sector is nothing new. In 2016, he said that what is good for a Montreal MP is not necessarily good for a Toronto or Calgary MP. That is ironic, because when Toronto needs help for its auto sector, the government is there. When Calgary needs help for its oil sector, it gets it.

When Montreal needs help for the aerospace sector, where is the Prime Minister?

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the laughter from different parts of the House shows that these remarks do not really ring true. As people know very well, our government was there for all Canadians before this crisis, during this crisis and, naturally, in the years to come. We will do whatever it takes to create good, long-term jobs in Canada to protect our environment, support our natural resources and help our leading manufacturing sectors, such as the aerospace industry and other industries. We will be there to create a better future for all Canadians.

Indigenous Affairs

[Gary Vidal, Conservative, Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK]

Mr. Speaker, earlier this week it was reported that the government is no longer planning to meet its March 2021 target to eliminate long-term drinking advisories on first nations. As my colleagues can imagine, this has left many nations across Canada, including Ministikwan in my riding and Bearskin Lake first nation in northern Ontario, wondering whether indeed they are a priority for the government.

Can the Prime Minister tell us, if not in 2021, when will these long-term drinking water advisories actually be lifted?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, some of these long-term boil water advisories have been in place for decades, which is absolutely unacceptable. That is why we made the commitment to lift all long-term boil water advisories on reserve by the spring of 2021. We are working extremely hard to reach that deadline. We have already eliminated well over 80 of those long-term boil water advisories and are working very hard on the next ones.

COVID challenges brought a bit of a delay, but that is why we are further accelerating our efforts and working extremely hard, not to meet some deadline, but to make sure that all Canadians have access to safe drinking water.

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

Mr. Speaker, today the Prime Minister has been patting himself on the back for what he believes has been a quick response to the pandemic. Clearly, the Liberals are saying where there is a will, there is a way. As of today, we have 61 long-term drinking water advisories with two more that were added over the weekend.

The government has tossed aside its promise to have projects completed by March 2021. Where is the Prime Minister's will?

Canadians have been told to wash their hands frequently to fight this pandemic, so indigenous families are asking how they are supposed to do that without clean water.

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I have to say on Orange Shirt Day, as I would on any day, I am extremely pleased to see the level of engagement and interest in indigenous issues that the Conservative Party is showing. It has been a long time coming. I can tell them that we have eliminated almost 90 long-term boil water advisories and are working very hard to eliminate the last ones.

We will continue to redouble our efforts as we move forward, because we know that is something that all Canadians, not just indigenous Canadians, expect.

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB]

Mr. Speaker, millions of rural Canadians do not have access to quality Internet services. This means a lack of opportunity for personal and economic growth. However, two weeks ago, the Liberal government pulled the plug on a $55-million contract to bring Internet services to indigenous communities throughout Manitoba.

The Liberals promised to connect Canadians five years ago. Could the government explain how cancelling a $55-million investment is connecting indigenous communities?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I will follow up on that specific investment the member opposite is talking about.

I can say that we recognize that high-speed Internet access is essential. As we confirmed in the throne speech, we will accelerate the connectivity timelines and ambitions of the universal broadband fund that will ensure that all Canadians, no matter where they live, have access to high-speed Internet. This is in addition to Canada's first comprehensive national strategy to connect all Canadians and the billions of dollars we have made available to achieve universal connectivity.

Multiculturalism

[Jean Yip, Liberal, Scarborough—Agincourt, ON]

Mr. Speaker, every year people of Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese and other Asian heritage gather with their families to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival.

The festival marks the end of autumn harvest, and families use this time to enjoy the fruits of their labour, give thanks to the gods and contemplate the full moon, believed to be a symbol of blessing and prosperity. Today this 3,000-year old tradition is celebrated all around the world and across our country.

Can the Prime Minister tell this House how the Government of Canada is recognizing and celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival this year?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by thanking the member for Scarborough—Agincourt for her hard work and her tireless advocacy for her community.

It is a time to thank and remember the sacrifices of our ancestors, parents and grandparents. This year in particular, at the Mid-Autumn Festival, as we see an increase in anti-Asian racism all across the country, we are reminded of the importance to speak out against discrimination in all its forms, to celebrate our differences and, mostly, to stay united.

We join many Asian communities in Canada and around the world to celebrate this Mid-Autumn Festival.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

[Jasraj Singh Hallan, Conservative, Calgary Forest Lawn, AB]

Mr. Speaker, it has been six months since the World Sikh Organization reached out to Liberal ministers about a prejudiced beard policy against Sikh and Muslim RCMP officers.

No other jurisdiction in Canada, including the Peel region, has implemented this ridiculous policy. It is wrong, and they know it. However, the minister refuses to stand up for ethnic minorities, simply saying it is under review.

Why does the minister continue to drag his feet, and on what date will he end this blatant discrimination against these Canadian heroes?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, both the Minister of Public Safety and I have been very clear over the past days that this is absolutely unacceptable.

We have asked the RCMP to review its policies to make sure that this example of systemic racism is put aside. We need to correct the faults within our system. We need to make sure that these extraordinary law enforcement officers who step up to protect their communities do so with full respect of their human rights.

We will see action taken.

Health

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

Mr. Speaker, Canada has two national health crises: COVID-19 and opioids. The opioid crisis impacts one in three Canadians, and it has impacted my family. My brother-in-law passed away due to an overdose, and in recent weeks one of my brothers overdosed a number of times. He is alive today because of our frontline heroes: police, firefighters, ambulance technicians, doctors and nurses, who unbelievably sometimes have to purchase their own naloxone kits and personal protective gear.

The throne speech could have given families hope, but instead it offered nothing. This is a national health care crisis. Why is the Prime Minister missing in action?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, COVID-19 is compounding the ongoing public health crisis of opioid overdoses and deaths in far too many communities. I am deeply sorry to hear about my colleague's family's loss. Our hearts are with those who have lost a loved one.

To help people with substance use disorders, we have made it easier to access medication like Suboxone and methadone. We have made it easier to set up overdose prevention sites. We have supported community-based products through the substance use and addictions program. We will continue to rely on science. We will continue to listen to experts. We will continue to use harm reduction and safe consumption sites as a way to move forward in protecting vulnerable people and respecting public health advice.

Public Safety

[Bob Saroya, Conservative, Markham—Unionville, ON]

Mr. Speaker, illegal casinos, organized crime, shootings, murders, property theft and robbery are out of control across the GTA. We need more resources, not empty Liberal promises that GTA residents are sick and tired of.

The throne speech outlined hundreds of billions in new spending. Why was there not a cent for the safety and security of people across the GTA?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to hear the concern of the GTA member from the Conservative caucus on gun control. That is why we have committed to stepping up on controlling the illegal importation and the use of military style assault weapons in Canada. We have committed to working with provinces, territories and municipalities to further restrict handgun use. I look forward to the support of the member of Parliament on moving forward to restrict handguns in the GTA and in other places across the country.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I want to remind hon. members that some of them have wonderful voices that really resonate, but they do not realize how strong they really are, so I want to remind them to keep it down a bit.

The hon. member for Bourassa.

Government Programs

[Emmanuel Dubourg, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the government acknowledges that a long history of racism, discrimination and prejudice against Black people has had a serious impact on these communities.

Business communities rely on informal support systems or family members, friends and other Black business owners for help. The pandemic has highlighted and magnified the inequalities that Black business owners face. As the throne speech acknowledged, there is work still to be done.

I congratulate my government for announcing the new $211-million Black entrepreneurship program. The Prime Minister of Canada, the member of Parliament for Papineau, met with several members of Black communities.

Can he tell us how—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

The right hon. Prime Minister.

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Bourassa for the extraordinary work he is doing to support the community and combat systemic racism.

We are working closely with the Black business community to develop the Black entrepreneurship program, which will include a loan fund for businesses. In addition to providing loans, this program will strengthen ecosystems by working with business organizations and will collect disaggregated data on the experiences of Black business owners to help us develop our policies.

We are proud to be implementing this important program. We recognize that systemic racism also exists in the business world and that we need to combat it. Entrepreneurship is important.

Aerospace Industry

[Alexandre Boulerice, NDP, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, before the pandemic, Canada was the only industrialized country without a national aerospace strategy.

The crisis sent the entire aviation industry into free fall. At stake are 240,000 good jobs, the vast majority of them in Quebec. Layoffs are on the rise, orders are being cancelled, and workers are worried about their future. Today, the machinists' union is sounding the alarm and demanding an emergency response plan and a national strategy, which the NDP supports.

Everyone in the aerospace sector is wondering if there is actually a pilot on board.