House of Commons Hansard #3 of the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was columbia.

Topics

Agriculture and Agri-FoodOral Questions

3:15 p.m.

Liberal

Justin Trudeau Liberal Papineau, QC

Mr. Speaker, in regard to the serious situation facing islanders, we have been working closely with islanders and with the Americans to make sure the Americans understand there is no scientific basis for the ban of table potatoes.

We are going to continue to stand up for Prince Edward islanders and look for a solution on this based on science.

Agriculture and Agri-FoodOral Questions

3:15 p.m.

Conservative

John Barlow Conservative Foothills, AB

Mr. Speaker, obviously the Prime Minister has no idea what I was talking about, but maybe he should ask his members of Parliament from Prince Edward Island, who have not said a single word about this decision.

With the stroke of a pen, the Prime Minister has devastated Prince Edward Island's potato industry. This is crippling for those farm families, like the Roses in Souris and the Ellis family in O'Leary.

Will the members of Parliament from Prince Edward Island stand up and tell the Prime Minister to reverse this self-imposed ban on our potato exports to the United States, yes or no?

Agriculture and Agri-FoodOral Questions

3:15 p.m.

Papineau Québec

Liberal

Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister

Mr. Speaker, following the discovery of potato wart on seed potatoes in Prince Edward Island, the Americans threatened to cut off all potato exports from Prince Edward Island to the United States. We made the decision to move forward with a voluntary suspension to prevent the Americans from bringing in something that would have been much more difficult to reverse, while we work with the Americans and other partners to ensure they understand there is no scientific basis for the banning of table potatoes from Prince Edward Island to the United States or anywhere else.

Agriculture and Agri-FoodOral Questions

November 24th, 2021 / 3:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

I just want to remind hon. members that the masks are not muffling that much of the sound.

The hon. member for Barrie—Innisfil.

EthicsOral Questions

3:15 p.m.

Conservative

John Brassard Conservative Barrie—Innisfil, ON

Mr. Speaker, during the election, the member for Calgary Skyview was caught on a doorbell camera and has been accused of not just removing campaign literature for Conservative candidate Jag Sahota, but replacing it with his own piece that provided wrong information about a polling location. The member is facing a $5,000 fine and up to six months in jail during an investigation that is continuing from the Commissioner of Canada Elections.

Even with the low bar on ethics and conduct set by the Liberals and the Prime Minister over the last six years, does the Prime Minister think that this type of action from a member of his caucus is acceptable?

EthicsOral Questions

3:15 p.m.

Papineau Québec

Liberal

Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister

Mr. Speaker, the member has apologized and is fully co-operating with Elections Canada as it goes through its processes.

Child CareOral Questions

3:20 p.m.

Liberal

Jenica Atwin Liberal Fredericton, NB

Mr. Speaker, our government has reached nine child care agreements across all provinces and territories. I am acutely aware that access to child care will make a major difference for families in my riding and across Canada. It not only gives our children the best possible start in life, but allows parents, especially mothers, to maintain their professional careers. It also creates good, well-paying jobs for educators.

Can the Prime Minister update the House on the agreements reached, the ones we are still waiting for and how they will change the lives of Canadians?

Child CareOral Questions

3:20 p.m.

Papineau Québec

Liberal

Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank our outstanding member for Fredericton for this important question.

This month, Alberta joined our Canada-wide early learning and child care system, making it the ninth jurisdiction to offer $10-a-day child care spaces for families. That means that 60% of all children across Canada under the age of six will have access to early learning and child care for $10 a day in five years or fewer. Together, we will finish the job and deliver $10-a-day child care for all Canadian families, including families in New Brunswick.

Government ProgramsOral Questions

3:20 p.m.

NDP

Jagmeet Singh NDP Burnaby South, BC

Mr. Speaker, right now the government is cutting the help that vulnerable seniors and families need. By cutting the GIS and cutting the child benefit, vulnerable seniors and families are struggling to put food on the table and they are struggling to keep their homes because they cannot afford the rent.

The Prime Minister can fix this today. Will the Prime Minister commit today to ending the clawbacks of GIS and the child benefit, and stop hurting vulnerable seniors and families?

Government ProgramsOral Questions

3:20 p.m.

Papineau Québec

Liberal

Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister

Mr. Speaker, I want to begin by thanking the leader of the NDP for continuing to stand up for Canadians as we endeavour to on this side of the House. I look forward to working with him on issues such as this one.

From the beginning, our government's priority has been to support the most vulnerable, which is why we worked hard to strengthen income security for seniors, including with a boost to the GIS. It is also why we stopped the Conservatives' practice of sending child benefit cheques to millionaires to send more to families who needed it with the CCB. We put CERB in place to help people at the height of the pandemic. We know it is having an impact on some of our most vulnerable. Ministers are now actively working on this issue to come to the right solution to support vulnerable Canadians because we will always be there for them.

International TradeRoutine Proceedings

3:25 p.m.

Markham—Thornhill Ontario

Liberal

Mary Ng LiberalMinister of International Trade

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), and in accordance with the enhanced transparency requirement set out in the amended policy of tabling of treaties in Parliament, I am pleased to notify the House of Commons of the government's intent to initiate negotiations toward a free trade agreement between Canada and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN. The Government of Canada intends to commence negotiations by holding a first round of negotiations with ASEAN no later than 90 days from the date of this notice. In accordance with this policy, Canada is negotiating objectives for the Canada-ASEAN FTA, which will also be tabled in the House of Commons no later than 30 days before Canada holds its first round of negotiations with ASEAN.

I am also pleased to present to the House of Commons the Government of Canada's negotiating objectives for a Canada-Indonesia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. The Government of Canada intends to commence negotiations by holding a first round of negotiations with Indonesia as soon as practicable, but in accordance with this policy the first round will take place no earlier than 30 days from today.

International TradeRoutine Proceedings

3:25 p.m.

University—Rosedale Ontario

Liberal

Chrystia Freeland LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-2, An Act to provide further support in response to COVID-19.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

Appointment of ChairCommittee of the WholeRoutine Proceedings

3:25 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

Following my election as Speaker, I have consulted with the leaders of the recognized parties regarding nominations of the other Chair occupants. I am now prepared to propose for ratification of the House a candidate for the position of Deputy Speaker and Chair of Committees of the Whole.

Pursuant to Standing Order 7, I propose Mr. d'Entremont for the position of Deputy Speaker and Chair of Committees of the Whole.

The motion is deemed moved and seconded. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

Appointment of ChairCommittee of the WholeRoutine Proceedings

3:25 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

Appointment of ChairCommittee of the WholeRoutine Proceedings

3:25 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

(Motion agreed to)

Assistant Deputy SpeakerCommittee of the WholeRoutine Proceedings

3:25 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

I am now prepared to propose for ratification of the House a candidate for the position of Assistant Deputy Speaker and Assistant Deputy Chair of Committees of the Whole.

Pursuant to Standing Order 8, I propose Mrs. Hughes for the position of Assistant Deputy Speaker and Deputy Chair of Committees of the Whole.

The motion is deemed moved and seconded. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

Assistant Deputy SpeakerCommittee of the WholeRoutine Proceedings

3:25 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

Assistant Deputy SpeakerCommittee of the WholeRoutine Proceedings

3:25 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

(Motion agreed to)

EthiopiaPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:25 p.m.

Conservative

Greg McLean Conservative Calgary Centre, AB

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to be presenting a petition today drawing the attention of the House of Commons to the alarming bouts of unrest and violence engulfing the Tigray Region of Ethiopia. The petitioners indicate that this conflict has led to egregious human rights abuses and a humanitarian crisis.

The petitioners call upon the Government of Canada to take action and to engage directly and consistently with the Ethiopian and Eritrean governments on this conflict.

AfghanistanPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:25 p.m.

Conservative

Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate you on your election, and it is great to be back.

I am presenting a petition regarding the dire situation of minority communities in Afghanistan. The petitioners call on the government to note the situation of the Sikh, Hindu, Hazara, Christian and other minority communities whose position was precarious prior to the Taliban takeover and is much worse now.

This petition was gathered prior to the Taliban takeover and calls on the government to create a special program to help vulnerable minorities receive direct sponsorship to come to Canada. Conservatives have been calling for this special program for over six years and Liberals have failed to act. Rather than focus on the crisis in Afghanistan, the government chose to call an unnecessary election on the very day that Kabul fell, putting its own interests ahead of its responsibility to lead. The petitioners want to see real leadership by Canada in defence of justice and human rights, standing up for the most vulnerable in Afghanistan and around the world.

HazarasPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:30 p.m.

Conservative

Alex Ruff Conservative Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON

Mr. Speaker, I present a petition today on behalf of Canadians who are concerned about the past and present atrocities suffered by the Hazara community within Afghanistan.

The petitioners call on the Government of Canada to recognize the genocide of the Hazara people, to designate September 25 as a Hazara genocide memorial day, to ensure that all Canadian aid to Afghanistan continues to contribute to the peace and security of the region, and to fight for the rights of all Afghan minorities, including Hazaras, Christians, Sikhs and Hindus.

The petitioners want to see real leadership by Canada to defend justice and human rights, to stand up with the Hazara community and other minority communities in Afghanistan, and to recognize the genocide suffered by the Hazara people.

Trans Mountain PipelinePetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:30 p.m.

Green

Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC

Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to present a petition regarding the Trans Mountain pipeline.

It is of critical concern to the petitioners that the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion not take place. They point out that a diluted bitumen spill would devastate local ecosystems and economies throughout British Columbia, but particularly in the coastal zone and anywhere along the 800 water bodies, tributaries and rivers the pipeline would cross.

The petitioners call on the government to cancel any plans to put public money into, or to approve any expansion of, the Trans Mountain pipeline.

Income Tax ActPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:30 p.m.

Conservative

Arnold Viersen Conservative Peace River—Westlock, AB

Mr. Speaker, congratulations and welcome back.

I rise to present this petition on behalf of my constituents who live in the towns of Fox Creek and Swan Hills. These two towns are in northern Alberta, and they have some of the highest elevations in Canada.

The petitioners note that there are extended travel times, and that increased heating costs and other expenses make life more expensive in these communities. As such, these petitioners are asking to be moved from the prescribed intermediate zone in Alberta, to the northern living allowance zone so that they can get the northern residents deduction.

The petitioners are calling on the government to include Fox Creek and Swan Hills as communities within the prescribed intermediate zone, allowing the residents of these communities to claim these deductions.

PornographyPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:30 p.m.

Conservative

Arnold Viersen Conservative Peace River—Westlock, AB

Mr. Speaker, the next petition I have is from Canadians across the country.

The petitioners are concerned about the accessibility of violent and degrading sexually explicit material online and its impacts on public health, especially for women and girls. The petitioners recognize that we cannot say we believe in preventing sexual violence if we continue to allow companies like Pornhub to freely expose our children to violent and explicit material every day.

The petitioners note that the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child requires Canada to develop the means to protect children from forms of media that are injurious to their well-being. As such, the petitioners are calling on the House of Commons to require meaningful age verification.

HazarasPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:30 p.m.

Conservative

Rick Perkins Conservative South Shore—St. Margarets, NS

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present two petitions from Canadians who are concerned about the past and present atrocities suffered by the Hazara community in Afghanistan.

Between 1891 and 1893, a genocidal campaign was waged against this ethnic community. Then, in 1998, thousands of men, women and children were slaughtered during the first reign of the Taliban. Since the fall of the regime, the Hazaras were often targets of violence and harassment, and things have obviously dramatically worsened.

The petition calls on the government to recognize the genocide of the Hazara people, designate September 25 as a Hazara genocide memorial day, ensure that all Canadian aid to Afghanistan contributes to the peace and security of the region, and fight for the rights of all Afghan minorities, including Hazaras, Christians, Sikhs and Hindus.

The petitioners want to see leadership by Canada in defence of justice and human rights, standing with the Hazara community and other minority communities in Afghanistan and recognizing the genocide suffered by the Hazara people.