Debates of Nov. 25th, 2021

Quebec Farmers' Union

[Yves Perron, Bloc, Berthier—Maskinongé, QC]

Mr. Speaker, on November 16, we learned that Martin Caron, a dairy farmer from Louiseville who has been involved in the union for 35 years, will officially become the new president of the Union des producteurs agricoles on December 2. I am therefore extremely proud to tell you today that the next president of the UPA is a resident of Berthier—Maskinongé and that his land is very close to my riding office.

Mr. Caron is a man of conviction. I am sure that he will make a difference. I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to him. I also want to acknowledge the extraordinary contribution of Marcel Groleau, who served as the president of the UPA for 10 years. During that time, Mr. Groleau was able to make agricultural information more accessible to the general public and promote the interests of farmers and, by extension, the interests of all citizens, since we must always remember that we are nothing without agriculture.

Congratulations to both of you and long live the agricultural community.

Hochelaga

[Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Liberal, Hochelaga, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate all the members on being elected or re-elected. It is an honour and a huge privilege to be back in the House. I would like to thank the people of Hochelaga for their renewed confidence. I am very proud to be representing them in the House for the second time, a responsibility I take very seriously.

My riding is made up of several neighbourhoods: Hochelaga, Maisonneuve, Longue-Pointe, Mercier-Ouest and Rosemont east. These neighbourhoods have repeatedly asked us for more affordable housing, more green spaces, support for people experiencing homelessness, a strong social and economic safety net and a collaborative approach to sustainable, inclusive development.

I would like to conclude by thanking my children, Keyla and Ianko, my family, my friends and my entire campaign team. Alex, Rose, Rime, Arnaud, Ariane, Victor, Malia, Camille, Laurence, Sébastien, Béatrice and Maxime, I would not be here without you. I thank you for your support, engagement and dedication. We certainly have our work cut out for us. Let us do it together.

Southwestern Ontario Nobel Prize Winners

[Michael Chong, Conservative, Wellington—Halton Hills, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Canadian doctor David Card was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics last month for his pioneering empirical approach. He shares the prize with two other economists.

David, the son of Yvonne and the late Ted Card, grew up on a dairy farm in Wellington County, just down the road from where I grew up. In fact, we both worked at different times for the same farmers long ago. He is now a professor of economics at the University of California, Berkeley. We are proud of the contributions this great Canadian has made to the field of human knowledge.

This is the third Nobel Prize awarded to a Canadian from southwestern Ontario in the last 10 years. Alice Munro of Wingham was awarded the prize in 2013 and Donna Strickland, formerly of Guelph and now of Waterloo, was awarded the prize in 2018. These three Nobel prize winners are a reflection of the industriousness, hard work and creativity of the people of southwestern Ontario.

Fraser McDougall Prize

[Francis Scarpaleggia, Liberal, Lac-Saint-Louis, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to share the news with members of the House that one of my constituents, Rachel Watts, a fourth-year journalism student at Carleton University, is the recipient of this year's Fraser MacDougall Prize for best new Canadian voice in human rights reporting. This prestigious prize is awarded to an exceptional piece of student journalism with a human rights focus. Rachel's winning entry, entitled “Pandemic intensifies silent sorrow of Canada's asylum seekers”, was a truly compelling and insightful piece on a vital and timely issue.

Rachel possesses a rare gift for the written word and an ability to capture a subject in a way that is capable of engaging public opinion and influencing public policy decisions. Indeed, this is the role and power of great journalism. Rachel Watts is clearly on the cusp of a promising and exciting career as a journalist. I just want to be clear that this statement is very much meant to be on the record.

Heart Disease Awareness Ride

[Rechie Valdez, Liberal, Mississauga—Streetsville, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I want to take a moment to say congratulations on your re-election as Speaker of the House and also to thank my husband, kids, family, campaign team and volunteers for their support, as well as all the residents of the beautiful riding of Mississauga—Streetsville for giving me the honour to serve them.

There are many who heed the call to serve a greater purpose in life. For some, it happens because of great loss. Adam Hoerdt, from Mississauga—Streetsville, is biking across Canada to raise awareness for arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy. He built a family support network in Canada and supports research into ARVC. It is a disease of the heart muscles that can lead to life-threatening heart rhythms that cause sudden cardiac arrest in young, otherwise healthy Canadians, often without warning.

I had the chance to meet him and his team, where I learned his story. His wife died suddenly at the age of 31, and his son, 23, has been left in critical condition by the disease. Adam's stoicism and activism are inspiring, and I encourage everyone to learn more and support the foundations of a future where this disease is beaten.

B.C. Farmers

[John Barlow, Conservative, Foothills, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the constituents of Foothills for once again showing their trust and confidence in me to be their member of Parliament and their voice in Ottawa. It is an honour.

It is these same constituents who faced the BSE crisis and the 2013 flood. The road to recovery was long and arduous. It is heartbreaking now to see farm families in B.C. facing their own crisis. Dairy, pork and poultry producers have lost thousands of animals. Fruit growers have been decimated, and B.C. farm families face a challenging and long road to recovery. I thank the service clubs, the volunteers and the military for doing all they can to help, and groups like the Do More Agriculture Foundation for offering their services.

I am asking the agriculture minister to announce a comprehensive and accessible assistance package for these farmers as soon as possible. The impact on the financial and mental health of B.C. farm families would be profound.

This is no time for them to be alone, and they are not. Canada stands with them.

Alfred-Pellan

[Angelo Iacono, Liberal, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate you on your re-election.

It is so nice to be back in the House, surrounded by the dark green of our workplace, after so long in virtual mode.

For my first statement in the House during this 44th Parliament, I want to say thank you 24,516 times to the people of Alfred‑Pellan. The confidence they have placed in me for a third time fills me with pride, humility and a sharpened sense of responsibility.

Since October 19, 2015, I have been a trusted partner for my community and I am committed to continue being so.

I am committed to working with local people, community organizations and businesses. It is for them, first and foremost, that I continue my work in my community of Alfred‑Pellan. I am confident that together, we are moving Canada forward.

International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

[Karen Vecchio, Conservative, Elgin—Middlesex—London, ON]

Mr. Speaker, internationally one in three women is subjected to physical or sexual violence at least once in their lifetime. That is roughly 736 million women around the world. Nationally our numbers are not much better. In Canada, three out of 10 women aged 15 years or older have experienced sexual assault. That is 30%. That is one-third of all women in Canada. These numbers should deeply upset Canadians, and especially us as parliamentarians. They should motivate us for real, tangible action.

Today marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and the beginning of 16 days of activism against gender-based violence. This year's theme is “Orange the world: End violence against women now”. Orange is the colour used to represent a brighter future free of violence against women and girls. If we work together, we can make this future a reality.

We all have a part to play in ending violence against women. We need to come up with a concrete plan that provides the necessary resources, funding and support for women and young girls facing violence. To ensure safer communities and a safer Canada, we need to do better.

The Holodomor

[James Bezan, Conservative, Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB]

Mr. Speaker, this Saturday marks the 88th anniversary of the Holodomor genocide. In 1932-33, Joseph Stalin's brutal Soviet regime used food as a weapon to exterminate upwards of 10 million Ukrainian men, women and children. At its height, Stalin's starvation edict killed 28,000 Ukrainians per day in 1933.

To illustrate the extent of the Holodomor genocide in modern times, imagine if in Western Canada all the food was forcibly removed from all homes, produce, crops and livestock were seized from farms and all the grocery shelves were stripped bare. Then let every man, woman and child slowly starve to death in Manitoba, Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia. That would be the equivalent of the evil perpetrated on the Ukrainian people by Stalin and his communist thugs. The Ukrainians' only crime was being patriotic. Ukrainians wanted to keep their language, culture and traditions.

Today, Ukraine's very survival is threatened by Putin's kleptocratic regime, which is amassing Russian tanks and troops on Ukraine's border. This Saturday evening, I invite every Canadian to light a candle in remembrance of the millions of lives lost and honour those who survived.

[Member spoke in Ukrainian and provided the following text:]

Vichna yim pamyat.

May their memories be eternal.

International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

[Lori Idlout, NDP, Nunavut, NU]

Mr. Speaker,

[Member spoke in Inuktitut]

I speak today on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. Indigenous women experience significantly more violence in Canada. On September 1, 2016, the national inquiry on missing and murdered indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people began its work.

Three years later, on June 3, 2019, after many testimonies across Canada, the commission published its calls to justice. Two Inuit women in Montreal and in Nunavik were recently lost to violence. These deaths were preventable. These deaths are evidence of incremental justice, a practice that is unjustly a norm in Canada.

To my colleagues in the House, I ask that we make implementing the calls to justice a priority. Indigenous girls, women and two-spirit people are loved. They must be strong, use their voice and keep defending their rights.

[Member spoke in Inuktitut]

Antonine Maillet

[Martin Champoux, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a remarkable woman and ambassador of francophone literature, Acadian author Antonine Maillet, who was honoured in Paris yesterday. She was awarded the rank of commander of the Legion of Honour, and it was the French President himself who handed her the insignia. It is the highest distinction awarded by France to a person who is not a French citizen.

Many of us know Antonine Maillet for her famous character, La Sagouine, who has charmed us on stage and on television. Her award-winning literary work includes dozens of treasures of a richness and depth that transcend far beyond just a few titles.

Ms. Maillet was the first Canadian woman to win the Prix Goncourt, in 1979, for her novel Pélagie-la-Charrette, and is now part of a very exclusive club alongside Marcel Proust, André Malraux and Simone de Beauvoir, to name just a few. Through her writing and storytelling talents, Ms. Maillet has been showcasing Acadian and francophone culture around the world for over 60 years.

On behalf of the Bloc Québécois and the entire francophonie, I would like to salute Antonine Maillet for her exceptional contribution to the French language, to Acadian identity and to literature.

44th Parliament

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the leader of the NDP was spotted in a TikTok video, sitting on a swing, plucking daisy petals. He was heard whispering, “Do I have a coalition with the Liberals, or do I not? Do I have a coalition with the Liberals, or do I not?”

With the upcoming vote on the Liberals' latest anti-accountability motion, Canadians will get to see, in prime time, just what kind of dance these partners have planned. It certainly will not be a western swing, but more likely the job-killing jive, the shut-down shuffle or the inflation waltz.

A Liberal-NDP coalition will be an absolute disaster for Canadians, who are already struggling to get by because of the skyrocketing cost of living due to the Prime Minister's reckless spending. This coalition promises to wreck the economy, kill jobs and raise costs for Canadians. The Liberals and the NDP are the dance partners Canadians cannot afford.

Will the Prime Minister get his wish and form a coalition with the unprincipled NDP? Tune in tonight to witness what the final pull of the daisy petals will reveal.

Niagara Athlete

[Vance Badawey, Liberal, Niagara Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, today I am extremely proud to recognize the accomplishments of Port Colborne lifelong resident and cycling athlete Anna Tykoliz. Starting with a bicycle built for two that she shared as a teenager with her future husband, Wally, Anna eventually excelled in the cycling disciplines of mountain bike, cyclocross, road, individual time trial and criterium racing.

Her most recent master level results include gold medals and Canadian championship titles in individual time, road race and criterium back in September 2021. Only Anna's commitment to training during the COVID-19 pandemic has allowed her to accomplish these historic results. She trained indoors and outdoors in all weather conditions to reach the required fitness level to succeed.

Anna is not just a role model for her children, Jay and Janet. She has also set an example for the entire Niagara community.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Before going to Oral Questions, I just want to remind all the members that Statements by Members are 60 seconds. I let them go a little longer and some of them went a little longer. It is good news, wonderful news for the most part, coming from ridings, and I just want to make sure we do not cut anyone off.

Canada-U.S. Relations

[Erin O'Toole, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, last week, the Prime Minister went to Washington. Last night, Canadians got hit with new tariffs on softwood lumber. The price of everything is going up, and now more Canadians are seeing their jobs threatened, from B.C. to the Saguenay to New Brunswick.

President Biden said that Canada is his easiest relationship. When will the Prime Minister stop being such a pushover?

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

Mr. Speaker, the softwood lumber industry is a source of jobs and pride for Canadians across our country. We are extremely disappointed by the unfair and unwarranted decision of the United States to increase the duties it imposes on softwood lumber. This issue was raised, of course, by the Prime Minister at his meeting with President Biden. I have raised it with Secretary Yellen, as have all of our colleagues, and we have pointed out that these duties are adding to the inflation tax American consumers are paying.

[Erin O'Toole, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, another thing the Prime Minister pointed out was electric vehicle subsidies. He failed on that too. He failed on Keystone XL, he was months late standing up for Line 5, and now we have mill workers having their jobs threatened just before Christmas, workers who already cannot afford this Liberal economy.

Is the Liberal government going to stand up for Canadian workers or just keep selling them out?

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

Mr. Speaker, when it comes to standing up for Canadian workers, they know who is prepared to take a tough line, and they also know who is not—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I am having a hard time hearing the answer. I am going to ask the hon. Deputy Prime Minister to start from the top so I can hear the whole reply.

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

Mr. Speaker, when it comes to standing up for Canadian workers, they know who is prepared to take a tough line and who is not. They remember that the man who is now the leader of the official opposition, during our 232 tariff fight, publicly called on us to drop our retaliation.

He thought we were being too tough. We were not; we won, and we will win this fight too.

[Erin O'Toole, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, perhaps the Prime Minister's new foreign minister will rectify the failures of the Deputy Prime Minister when she was in that role.

Now the Prime Minister has stopped our potato exports because of threats from the Americans. More threats does not sound like a friend to us, and it is nice that the Prime Minister informed the U.S. State Department before he informed the premier of P.E.I.

Farmers, foresters and factory workers are all being failed by the Liberal government. Will failing the Americans be a chapter in the Deputy Prime Minister's new book?

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

Mr. Speaker, I will leave it to Canadians to judge the success of our NAFTA negotiations and of our successful fight to have the illegal 232 tariffs lifted. We won that fight.

Now, I do want to say something specifically to the potato farmers of P.E.I. I grew up on a farm too. I know how important farming is to our communities. Our members of Parliament, our ministers and our Prime Minister are fighting for P.E.I. potato farmers, and we are going to get this done.

[Erin O'Toole, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, last week, the Prime Minister went to Washington. Last night, Canadians were slapped with new tariffs on softwood lumber. The cost of everything is going up and an increasing number of Canadians in the Saguenay and northern Ontario are seeing their jobs threatened.

When will the Prime Minister stop failing Canadians in his dealings with the United States?

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

Mr. Speaker, softwood lumber is a key industry for Canada. Our government will always be there for softwood lumber workers.

The opposition leader need only talk about the aluminum industry to his neighbours. We were successful in opposing the section 232 tariffs and we will be successful in this matter.