House of Commons Hansard #15 of the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was seniors.
Melissa Lantsman Conservative Thornhill, ON
Madam Speaker, the government's mismanagement of this pandemic has hit a new low, and closing the border is not working and neither is testing. From February to June, this government misplaced 30% of COVID tests from people entering this country; almost 400,000 tests were lost. There are now new testing requirements.
This government is not protecting Canadians. Twenty months into the pandemic, and it has not gotten testing right. Why would Canadians trust you?
The Assistant Deputy Speaker NDP Carol Hughes
I do want to remind the hon. member to address questions and comments through the Chair and not directly to the members.
The hon. Minister of Natural Resources.
Jonathan Wilkinson LiberalMinister of Natural Resources
Madam Speaker, we certainly thank the Auditor General for her recent report and her findings. Our government has worked extremely hard to protect Canadians and to address the issues associated with COVID-19 based on the latest science and evidence. We are accepting all of the recommendations of the Auditor General, and work is already under way to ensure that we are learning from some of the observations that she has made.
However, we have acted quickly and we have acted boldly to ensure that we are protecting the health and security of Canadians at a time when the Conservatives wanted us to do less. That is what Canadians expect, and that is what we will continue to do.
The Assistant Deputy Speaker NDP Carol Hughes
It is starting to get a little loud on this side when ministers are trying to answer the question. I am sure that hon. members want to hear the response so they can ask another question.
The hon. member for Thornhill.
Melissa Lantsman Conservative Thornhill, ON
Madam Speaker, 46,000 people from April to June this year landed at U.S. border airports and immediately crossed into Canada by land, all to circumvent the ineffective air travel restrictions the Liberals put in place.
Yesterday's AG report said that no recommendations were ever given to the government to enforce different rules for air and land. These arbitrary rules on Canadian travels have been a boon for American airports.
How many jobs has the minister created in the Buffalo Airport, and when is he going to stand up for Canadians?
Jonathan Wilkinson LiberalMinister of Natural Resources
Madam Speaker, as I have said a number of times today, the government has worked very hard to protect the health and security of Canadians, and that is what Canadians expect a responsible government to do.
We certainly recognize and acknowledge the recommendations that were made by the Auditor General. We can and shall do better going forward, but we have done extremely hard work. We have put in place measures that have been effective in protecting the health and security of Canadians, and we are going to continue to do that.
The Assistant Deputy Speaker NDP Carol Hughes
I want to remind the members of the official opposition one more time that when someone else has the floor to listen to the answer, even though they may not like the answer, and prepare for their next question instead.
The hon. member for Shefford.
Andréanne Larouche Bloc Shefford, QC
Madam Speaker, yesterday we learned that food prices will go up by 7% next year. That will cost families almost $1,000 extra.
That is also very bad news for seniors in the 65 to 74 age bracket, whom the government decided will not get the old age security increase.
With prices on the rise, the government's decision to create two classes of seniors is literally forcing people to take food out of their carts, put it back on the grocery store shelf, and go line up for a Christmas hamper.
What will it take for the government to realize it has to increase OAS for all seniors?
Kamal Khera LiberalMinister of Seniors
Madam Speaker, our government's priorities have always been to support seniors, especially those most vulnerable.
When it comes to our record on seniors, I am proud of it. One of the first things we did as a government was to restore the age of eligibility for OAS back to 65. We have enhanced the CPP. We have strengthened the OAS and GIS. We will be increasing OAS by 10% for those older seniors.
We have an ambitious agenda for seniors, and we are going to continue to make sure that we deliver for seniors across Canada.
Andréanne Larouche Bloc Shefford, QC
Madam Speaker, that is not what we are talking about. This is going to take a whole lot more than lip service. It is going to take action. Too many seniors are being left out in the cold.
Not only is the government refusing to help those under 75, but it is actually attacking older workers who receive the GIS. It is cutting benefits for those who lost their jobs during the pandemic and had to apply for CERB. We have the numbers. Benefits for over 183,000 seniors are being cut by an average of $3,500. The government is taking away 83,000 people's GIS entirely. As food prices skyrocket, those people are finding themselves in a more precarious position than ever.
Why does the government have it in for society's poorest?
Kamal Khera LiberalMinister of Seniors
Madam Speaker, strengthening income security for seniors has been a top priority for our government, and that is why our government has strengthened GIS for vulnerable seniors. We provided one-time payments for seniors during the pandemic, so they could afford the things they need. We will be increasing support through OAS for older seniors.
We have an ambitious agenda for seniors. We are going to continue to make sure we have their backs.
John Nater Conservative Perth—Wellington, ON
Madam Speaker, 2022 marks the platinum jubilee of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. In 1975, 2002 and 2012, the governments of the day issued jubilee medals to mark this historic occasion and delivered them to deserving Canadians. If these past 20 months have shown us anything, it is that there are so many deserving Canadians who stepped up in the fight against COVID-19, yet here we stand in December 2021, with no announcement of the platinum jubilee medal.
Will the Minister of Canadian Heritage take immediate action to create a platinum jubilee medal to recognize so many deserving Canadians on this momentous historic occasion?
Pablo Rodriguez LiberalMinister of Canadian Heritage
Madam Speaker, as members know, 2022 marks the 70th anniversary of the Queen's reign, and we are going to provide funding to communities across the country to celebrate the jubilee and all the things we have accomplished together, as many countries in the Commonwealth are still considering options. We will be sharing the rest of our plans for this celebration in due time.
John Nater Conservative Perth—Wellington, ON
Madam Speaker, "in due time”? Unless their calendar was broken, the Liberals have known 2022 has been coming for some time. Whether they are truck drivers, first responders, health care workers, those working in the food supply chain, the military or veterans, all of these Canadians stepped up over the last 20 months during the fight against COVID-19 and are so deserving of recognition through a platinum jubilee medal.
Will the minister do the right thing and take this platinum opportunity to recognize Canadians?
Pablo Rodriguez LiberalMinister of Canadian Heritage
Madam Speaker, as we said, we will be sharing the rest of our plans in due time. Of course, we recognize the hard work of all Canadians and all the efforts of Canadians during the pandemic. One of the things we can do to respect the work and efforts of all Canadians is get vaccinated. Maybe that is a thing the Conservatives may want to consider.
Jasraj Singh Hallan Conservative Calgary Forest Lawn, AB
Madam Speaker, the backlogs at IRCC continue to grow. As of October, there were 1.8 million applications in backlog and counting. Those are not just numbers; they are families that remain separated, Canadian businesses unable to fill labour shortages and refugees stranded in Afghanistan. This Liberal-made backlog is causing immense mental health issues, at a time when loved ones need to be together, our economy needs workers and refugees are desperate for safety.
What concrete steps is the government taking to finally address the disastrous Liberal-made backlogs?
Sean Fraser LiberalMinister of Immigration
Madam Speaker, there is no question that the COVID-19 pandemic has posed unprecedented challenges for our immigration system, when we continued to have demand to come into Canada at a time when our borders were closed. However, I have good news for the member opposite. Month after month, we have set records in our nation's history, due in large part to the work of my predecessor, the member for Eglinton—Lawrence.
I can tell the member opposite that we are on pace to hit an all-time record, with 401,000 new Canadians admitted this year.
Jasraj Singh Hallan Conservative Calgary Forest Lawn, AB
Madam Speaker, as the minister pats himself on the back for a job well failed, Deepak Talwar is a business owner in Saskatoon. He and his family left India for Canada in 2017 and have been waiting for years to hear any word on their applications. This story is just one of thousands about newcomers who are lost in the black hole of Liberal-made backlogs. My office hears these cases every day and the devastating effects they have on people are damaging Canada's reputation around the world.
When is the government going to stop hiding behind excuses and finally get something done on immigration backlogs?
Sean Fraser LiberalMinister of Immigration
Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his concern, and I point out, as he is looking at the role immigration plays in the economy, that we are going to set a record for the number of people who are admitted to Canada this year. I will also point out that as of last month, 106% of the jobs lost during the pandemic have now been recovered, making our labour force participation rate the highest in the history of our country.
We will make the necessary investments to reduce the backlog. I am going to work on this issue. It has my full attention, and I look forward to sharing future investments in the near term with the member opposite.
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
Madam Speaker, the Auditor General released a damning report about the systemic failure of the Liberal government in ensuring temporary foreign workers are protected. Many workers tested positive for COVID-19 and some went home in a body bag. The government said that it would take immediate action, but inspections only got worse. Employers were found to be compliant with regulations even though there was little or no evidence to support it.
Are these lives dispensable to the government, or will the Liberals end this exploitation by giving all migrant workers permanent resident status now?
Carla Qualtrough LiberalMinister of Employment
Madam Speaker, the health and safety of temporary foreign workers is of the utmost importance to the government, and I want to thank every single temporary foreign worker for what they have done for our food security over the course of COVID-19. Like every worker in Canada, they deserve to be safe in their workplaces.
I thank the Auditor General and her office for the report and recommendations. We understand the importance of this audit, and we agree with her recommendations. They will guide our work ahead.
Taylor Bachrach NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
Madam Speaker, the Auditor General's latest report is a scathing look at the government's border measures. It turns out that the Public Health Agency did not track over one-third of arrivals at the border. It did not know whether people were actually staying in its quarantine hotels. One-third of tests were missing or not matched up, and here is the worst part: Over 1,000 people tested positive for COVID and were not even contacted.
The border measures had one goal: to protect Canadians from COVID exposure. How did the government allow so many Canadians to be put at risk?
Jonathan Wilkinson LiberalMinister of Natural Resources
Madam Speaker, protecting the health and safety of Canadians has been and always will be the top priority of this government. We thank the Auditor General for her report and her findings. Our government will work to ensure that we are implementing the recommendations on a go-forward basis.
We have acted quickly and boldly at a time when the Conservative Party wanted us to do less. We will continue to work to protect the health and safety of Canadians as we move forward.
Rechie Valdez Liberal Mississauga—Streetsville, ON
Madam Speaker, I am glad to rise today in recognition of International Human Rights Day, which recognizes worldwide the principle of the right to equality, justice and freedom for all. International Human Rights Day also shines a light on the continued oppression of populations and groups around the world, such as the people of Myanmar.
Could the minister update the House on the work being done to support the people of Myanmar?
Steven Guilbeault LiberalMinister of Environment and Climate Change
Madam Speaker, as a young activist, I worked for two years for the Canadian Human Rights Foundation, and I am particularly proud to stand on behalf of the Minister of Foreign Affairs today—