Debates of Dec. 3rd, 2021

New Horizons for Seniors

[Han Dong, Liberal, Don Valley North, ON]

Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure to rise today to speak about the new horizons for seniors program.

Seniors have been especially impacted by isolation and loneliness throughout the pandemic. The new horizons for seniors program has contributed much-needed support to community organizations that have helped seniors to stay connected, healthy and active during the pandemic.

I would like to highlight a few examples in my riding. There are organizations in Don Valley North, like the Xile Nianhua Senior Centre, the Armenian Community Centre and the Iranian Women's Organization of Ontario. They have helped seniors to learn and use technology to stay connected at home; offered virtual exercise classes to keep seniors active and socially involved; and hosted online painting workshops.

For anyone who wishes to apply, applications for funding close on December 21. I encourage all eligible community organizations to apply for this wonderful program.

Argenteuil—La Petite-Nation

[Stéphane Lauzon, Liberal, Argenteuil—La Petite-Nation, QC]

Madam Speaker, I want to congratulate you on your role today. I also want to take a moment today to extend my sincere thanks to the people of my riding, Argenteuil—La Petite-Nation, for placing their trust in me for a third time. I thank my family, my friends, our volunteers, and my children for supporting me since 2015.

I am proud to represent our beautiful riding and to contribute to its advancement in collaboration with the municipal officials in the four RCMs in my riding, with my colleagues in the Quebec government, and with the entrepreneurs and citizens of my riding. I am committed to continuing the work that we started together in 2015 with a wonderful, experienced and diverse team.

I thank Danielle, Jean, Timmy and our newest recruit Martin, who just joined the team.

The Economy

[Dave Epp, Conservative, Chatham-Kent—Leamington, ON]

Madam Speaker, 18 months ago I congratulated the former member of Parliament for Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo as she gained a new resident, Brynnley Lisette Huby, my granddaughter. Today I wish to congratulate the new member of Parliament for the same riding for the same reason. Brynnley's sister, Hannah Laurelin Huby, was born yesterday to parents, Adam and Carina. All are healthy, and I thank God for her safe arrival.

I also, 18 months ago, questioned the Minister of Finance as to the level of debt my first granddaughter, Brynnley, was to inherit and asked this question before the massive overspending of the past 18 months. Today, Hannah, her parents and all Canadians are facing rising monthly inflation rates and a housing affordability crisis. I implore the government to address our country's financial mess.

Many of us began our business careers amid the rampant inflation and the interest rates that rose dramatically during the early 1980s. Surely, this is not the future we wish for our children and grandchildren. Let us fix it.

Lobster Industry

[Rick Perkins, Conservative, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

Madam Speaker, the lobster season in southwest Nova Scotia, Canada’s most lucrative fishing season, opened on Wednesday morning.

Fishermen set out on the harsh North Atlantic in the early hours to set their traps, with great anticipation of what the new season may bring, while families at home pray for the safe return of their loved ones. The work is gruelling and dangerous. Howling winds, frigid temperatures and unpredictable waves at sea create working conditions that many of us could only imagine.

In coastal communities along the South Shore, the lobster industry is the main economic driver. Families depend on a thriving lobster season to pay the bills and to put food on the table. I hope everyone in the House will join me in wishing all the fishermen in LFAs 33 and 34 a safe, successful and prosperous lobster-fishing season.

COVID-19 Vaccines

[Laurel Collins, NDP, Victoria, BC]

Madam Speaker, COVID-19 has been devastating. Getting people vaccinated continues to be our best line of defence against this deadly virus. However, while wealthy countries have enough doses, most lower-income countries cannot protect their frontline workers, their elderly or their most vulnerable. This mean countless unnecessary deaths, but it also means variants like omicron arise.

Vaccine inequity impacts us all. We must waive patents, so vaccines can be produced around the world, but his vital measure, called the TRIPS waiver, has been continually blocked or delayed by wealthy countries like Canada. This is not only morally reprehensible; it is unbelievably short-sighted. It means more variants. It puts us all at risk. I call on the government to openly support the TRIPS waiver, to stop protecting big pharma and to start protecting human health.

International Day of Disabled Persons

[Gabriel Ste-Marie, Bloc, Joliette, QC]

Madam Speaker, today the world is marking the International Day of Disabled Persons. The theme for this day is always equity, accessibility and inclusion. On behalf of the Bloc Québécois, I want to commend the many contributions of persons with disabilities to Quebec society, despite the very real obstacles in their way.

The World Health Organization estimates that more than one billion people in the world live with some form of disability. Their talents and bright minds deserve the best efforts of governments, businesses and organizations in ensuring that people with disabilities can achieve their full potential. On this day, we should reflect on what we can do collectively in Quebec and abroad to ensure greater equality of opportunity. This is a time to reflect on the prejudice that still exists.

For us as legislators, it is an opportunity to ask ourselves whether we are doing enough to consider the impact of our public policies on persons living with a disability. It is an opportunity to commend our family members, our friends, our colleagues and our constituents, because they are the ones we are talking about today.

International Day of Persons with Disabilities

[Tom Kmiec, Conservative, Calgary Shepard, AB]

Madam Speaker, today is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, a special day for wonderful people in our lives who carry an extra burden and through whom we can experience and see the innate worth and dignity of their lives.

I think of Shailynn, who despite her wheelchair and SMA diagnosis is an advocate, podcaster, YouTuber and, judging from her Instagram, a beach bum too. I think of Calgary mom, Janelle, and her daughter, Ryah, who was born with Trisomy 13 like my late daughter, Lucy-Rose. Ryah is a fighter, having defied the odds many times over. I think of my oldest daughter, Jolie, who despite her dyslexia is working through her 14-volume Dork Diaries set with gusto.

If we focus on someone's disability, we will overlook their abilities, their beauty and their uniqueness. They and all Canadians with disabilities can count on my colleagues and me to fight for them each and every day. Conservatives are the voice of Canadians left behind by the Liberal government.

[Tim Louis, Liberal, Kitchener—Conestoga, ON]

Madam Speaker, I rise today to mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities and to celebrate the strength, resilience and important contributions of persons with disabilities.

I am proud that we are creating Canada's first disability inclusion action plan, which includes the Canada disability benefit, a robust employment strategy, and improved processes for eligibility in disability programs. Engagement on this plan with the disability community and with provinces and territories is ongoing.

In the spirit of “nothing without us”, let us work together to realize an inclusive recovery and a more equitable society for all.

I invite all Canadians to celebrate this day by highlighting the incredible contributions of persons with disabilities in their communities. These are people like my good friend, Erin Callon, in Kitchener—Conestoga, whose smile is infectious. Together we can build a truly inclusive and accessible Canada.

The Economy

[Tim Uppal, Conservative, Edmonton Mill Woods, AB]

Madam Speaker, Conservatives have repeatedly warned the government its reckless spending would fuel inflation. It said it would not, yet here we are. The cost of everything has gone up.

When will the government take real action to help Canadian families who are struggling to afford the most basic things, like groceries?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Minister of Innovation]

Madam Speaker, it is a real pleasure to see you today in this session, and I want to congratulate you.

I am very happy, and I hope there are a lot of questions about the economy today, because we have very good news to share with Canadians who are watching at home today. Thanks to the hard work of Canadians, in November Canada added 154,000 jobs, which is five times more than some had forecasted, to our economy. Our plan is working; our economy is growing.

[Tim Uppal, Conservative, Edmonton Mill Woods, AB]

Madam Speaker, as they say, small businesses are the backbone of an economy, and we need to help them thrive to help get our economy back on track. However, because of Liberal inflation, labour shortages and rising shipping costs, many businesses are struggling just to stay open.

Why does the government continue to ignore the needs of Canadian small businesses?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Minister of Innovation]

Madam Speaker, we all appreciate and understand in this House that small and medium-sized businesses are the backbone of our economy, and that is why, during this pandemic, as members will recall, this government was there to support them every step of the way.

One thing we said to small businesses is that we have their backs as long as it takes to make sure we get through this pandemic together. We will continue to support them.

[Tim Uppal, Conservative, Edmonton Mill Woods, AB]

Madam Speaker, just this morning analysis from National Bank Financial revealed that, for the first time in decades, private sector investment in Canada has actually shrunk. Canadian factories are currently operating with the lowest capital stock in 35 years.

The Liberals have made it harder to open and operate a business in Canada. When are they going to realize the “Justinflation” economy is slowly destroying Canadian jobs?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Minister of Innovation]

Madam Speaker, I am very, very happy to talk about the economy this morning, because I have other good news. In fact, 106% of jobs have been recovered since the pandemic. This is astonishing, and it is thanks to Canadian workers and Canadian businesses. That compares to 83% south of our border.

We will continue to invest in workers. We will continue to invest in our economy. One thing Canadians watching at home understand is that our plan is working.

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Madam Speaker, over the past six years, and in particular in more recent months and years, the Liberal government has been spending a lot of money, printing a lot of money, and borrowing a lot of money. As a result, Canada is now dealing with 4.7% inflation, the worst inflation crisis we have seen since 2003. Canadian families are the ones footing the bill, given that the cost of living keeps rising under this Liberal government.

Could the government commit to doing one very simple and very responsible thing and control its spending?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Minister of Innovation]

Madam Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague from Louis-Saint-Laurent. He knows that I truly respect him, and I am happy that he has given me the opportunity today to share some good news with the House and with Canadians.

As a result of Canadians' hard work, Canada added 154,000 jobs in November, which is five times higher than what had been forecast for our economy. Canadians can clearly see that our plan is working, because our economy is growing.

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Madam Speaker, I invite my colleague to go to a food bank and repeat what he said about everything going very well. No, families are suffering more and paying more, and that is the reality for all Canadian families.

In my riding, the charitable organization Amélie et Frédérick has noticed a large increase of 25% in requests for food hampers. That is the true face of Canada's inflation. This morning, André Larose, the executive director of Amélie et Frédérick, said, “Yesterday's donors are today's beneficiaries”.

Is the government prepared to help—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès), Alexandra Mendes]

Order. The hon. Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry.

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Minister of Innovation]

Madam Speaker, I understand because earlier this year, I myself helped distribute food hampers to families in need.

If there is one thing that Canadians will remember about our government, it is that when Canada went through a pandemic, we were there to support them. We were there for families, we were there for workers and we were there for businesses.

The best thing to do, and this is the advice I am giving the member opposite, is to support Bill C‑2, which will continue to help Canadian families and workers.

Public Safety

[Christine Normandin, Bloc, Saint-Jean, QC]

Madam Speaker, for eight months, the government hid information about why two scientists were fired from Canada's highest-security virus research centre. For eight months, the government refused to hand over documents about what could have been espionage on behalf of China.

Now it has relented and is offering to hand the documents over to the opposition parties, but only under tightly controlled conditions. The government House leader says this is a good faith effort. Does that mean it was acting in bad faith for eight months?

[Mark Holland, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Madam Speaker, the balance between ensuring the House has access to all documents and ensuring that national security interests are protected is absolutely paramount to this government. That is why we suggested that the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians be used, so that members of Parliament could have access to all documents in an unrestricted way.

Opposition parties said that was not enough, and we are willing to go further. We are suggesting the model that was used for Afghan detainees in 2010 as the way to proceed. I look forward to—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès), Alexandra Mendes]

The hon. member for Saint-Jean.

[Christine Normandin, Bloc, Saint-Jean, QC]

Madam Speaker, of course people have questions.

Scientists who appear to be connected to the Chinese regime and had access to top-secret information had to be fired. Instead of being transparent and explaining why, the Prime Minister accused the opposition of being racist. Then he took the Speaker of the House to court to prevent the release of documents the House demanded. Imagine the Montreal Canadiens suing a referee to prevent him from enforcing the rules.

Does the government realize that secrecy only fuels speculation?

[Mark Holland, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Madam Speaker, it is absolutely clear that members have access to all of the information. However, it is essential to have a system in which members can securely verify that information so that national security interests are protected.

It is indeed possible to see all of the information, but we need a system that protects our national security.

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

Madam Speaker, another day, another dark chapter of gun violence in Montreal. Another person was killed in Anjou last night. This is the 32nd homicide. Close to 60 weapons destined for the streets of Montreal were seized at the border.

There are still too many guns on the streets. People have had enough, and so have border officers. We need more resources to protect the children in our neighbourhoods. Enough is enough.

Will the minister commit today to taking real action to stop the flow of illegal weapons across our borders?