House of Commons Hansard #11 of the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was hospital.

Topics

École PolytechniqueRoutine Proceedings

3:35 p.m.

NDP

Leah Gazan NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB

Mr. Speaker, it has been 32 years since the femicide at École Polytechnique, in which 14 women were killed and 14 others were injured.

Communities, families and friends were plunged into grief when they lost a loved one to this massacre, this senseless act of violence.

This hate crime attacked the fundamental rights of women and girls everywhere, including our right to security, equality and education. It shook Canada's conscience to the core. It was a day of reckoning, forcing the country to accept this crisis of violence women are faced with, far too often absent of supports as a result of generations of systems that have chosen to turn a blind eye to this violence, a crisis of violence that continues to be perpetuated.

As we gather here today to mourn the massacre at the École Polytechnique, the crisis of violence against women and diverse-gendered peoples continues. In 2020 alone, 160 women were murdered, which means a woman is killed every other day on average, and girls younger than 11 years old experience the highest rate of homicides.

Tragically, rates of violence have increased even more since the pandemic and are 400 times higher in some areas. Inaction costs lives. Almost 50% of femicides are committed by an intimate partner, and women are five times more likely to be killed by their intimate partner.

This experience of violence impacts all age groups, including half of all women, who experience at least one incident of gender-based violence before the age of 16, 30% of women 15 or older, who report experiencing a sexual assault at least once, and the over 6,000 women and children who sleep in shelters on any given night because it is not safe at home.

This epidemic of violence is even more pronounced when viewed through an intersectional lens. Women with a disability are three times more likely to experience violent victimization compared to women living without a disability. Trans individuals are more likely to have experienced violence by the age of 15 and are also more likely to experience inappropriate behaviours in public, online and at work than cisgender individuals.

Indigenous women are killed at seven times the rate of non-indigenous women. This is a recognized genocide against indigenous women, girls and two-spirit individuals that has become so normalized in this country that when a young Gitxsan woman's door was violently torn down by the RCMP using an axe and a chainsaw, it barely made the news.

Today I wish to honour all the women who lost their lives at École Polytechnique by calling on all members of this House to stop talking and immediately act. Gender equality is a human right, and failing to protect this fundamental right results in the loss of life, precious lives: our sisters, our mothers, our aunties, our grandmothers and our daughters.

My NDP colleagues and I want the families who lost a loved one in this tragic massacre to know that, today and every day, we honour Geneviève Bergeron, Hélène Colgan, Nathalie Croteau, Barbara Daigneault, Anne‑Marie Edward, Maud Haviernick, Maryse Laganière, Maryse Leclair, Anne‑Marie Lemay, Sonia Pelletier, Michèle Richard, Annie St‑Arneault, Annie Turcotte and Barbara Klucznik-Widajewicz.

Enough is enough. We remember them. We will remember them through our actions. May they feel, for all eternity, the warm embrace of their ancestors. They are loved.

École PolytechniqueRoutine Proceedings

3:45 p.m.

Green

Mike Morrice Green Kitchener Centre, ON

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order to seek the consent of the House to deliver a reply on behalf of the Green Party.

École PolytechniqueRoutine Proceedings

3:45 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

All those opposed to the hon. member moving the motion, please say nay.

École PolytechniqueRoutine Proceedings

3:45 p.m.

An hon. member

Nay.

École PolytechniqueRoutine Proceedings

3:45 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

I am afraid we do not have unanimous consent.

École PolytechniqueRoutine Proceedings

3:45 p.m.

NDP

Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON

Mr. Speaker, on a point of order, I just wanted to get clarification on such a serious issue as this. I would be surprised if the Conservatives would play partisan games when we are talking about the memorial that needs to be done and that every member should be a part of.

There may have been a mistake from the member, but I think that she may be asked the question again because it shows really abominable politicization of such a horrific—

École PolytechniqueRoutine Proceedings

3:45 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

We are starting to get into debate. I am afraid the question was asked and we cannot ask it over and over again, but I want to thank the hon. member for his interjection.

Interparliamentary DelegationsRoutine Proceedings

3:45 p.m.

Liberal

Marc Serré Liberal Nickel Belt, ON

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, two reports of the Canadian Section of ParlAmericas.

The first report concerns its participation in the 17th ParlAmericas Plenary Assembly, which was held virtually on November 16 and 29, 2020. The second report concerns its participation in the 5th Gathering of ParlAmericas' Parliamentary Network on Climate Change, which was held virtually on June 4, 15 and 25, 2021.

Human Rights in RussiaPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

December 6th, 2021 / 3:45 p.m.

Conservative

Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB

Mr. Speaker, I have a number of petitions to present to the House today.

The first petition is with respect to the human rights situation in Russia. The petitioners note the passage of the Sergei Magnitsky act in a previous Parliament. They note concerns about serious corruption in Russia, including the attacks on Alexei Navalny, a Russian opposition leader, and over 10,000 people being detained during peaceful protests against the unlawful imprisonment of Alexei Navalny.

The petitioners call upon the Government of Canada to impose sanctions such as the Special Economic Measures Act and the Sergei Magnitsky Law against individuals and entities involved in human rights violations in Russia, including those who were responsible for human rights violations and have been identified by anti-corruption and rights activists as enablers of the Putin regime. It also calls on the government to offer asylum to Russian activists and dissidents who face political persecution for expressing their political views or attending peaceful protests and to strengthen our work in defence of fundamental human rights and seeking the release of political prisoners in Russia.

Small BusinessPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:50 p.m.

Conservative

Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB

Mr. Speaker, the second petition draws the attention of the House to challenges faced by small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. It calls on the government to adopt the 2017 recommendations of the Alberta skills for jobs task force.

Carbon Capture and StoragePetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:50 p.m.

Conservative

Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB

Mr. Speaker, the third petition calls on the government to support the expansion of carbon capture and storage technology as a critical force for responding to global carbon emissions. It calls on the government to recognize the role of that technology and support its use and deployment.

Conversion TherapyPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:50 p.m.

Conservative

Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB

Mr. Speaker, the next petition highlights concerns associated with the definition of conversion therapy that was used in Bill C-6, in the last Parliament. Those concerns persist with respect with Bill C-4. The petitioners call on the House of Commons to ban all practices designed to coerce or degrade persons into changing their sexual orientation or gender identity. It also calls on the government to ensure that the definition is accurate, reflects the correct definition of conversion therapy and does not ban, for instance, private conversations that would take place that are not related to conversion therapy.

ChinaPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:50 p.m.

Conservative

Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB

Mr. Speaker, the next petition speaks to the genocide of Uighurs and other Turkic Muslims in China. It calls on the House of Commons and the government to formally recognize that Uighurs in China have been and are being subjected to genocide and to use the Magnitsky act to sanction those responsible for the heinous crimes committed against the Uighur people.

AfghanistanPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:50 p.m.

Conservative

Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB

Mr. Speaker, the next petition highlights the human rights situation in Afghanistan. This petition was certified prior to the fall to the Taliban, and obviously these human rights circumstances have become even worse. It particularly highlights the horrific abuse faced by the Sikh and Hindu minority community in Afghanistan. It calls on the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship to create a special program to help persecuted minorities. I wish this had been done prior to the fall to the Taliban. We would be in a very different position.

EthiopiaPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:50 p.m.

Conservative

Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB

Mr. Speaker, the next petition highlights the human rights situation in Ethiopia. It calls on the Canadian government to increase its engagement in the defence of fundamental human rights in Ethiopia. It highlights particular concern related to events in the Tigray region.

Natural ResourcesPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:50 p.m.

Conservative

Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB

Mr. Speaker, the next petition draws attention to the ongoing residual negative impact associated with the national energy program and the scars that program, put forward by then prime minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau, left on our part of the country. It therefore calls on the Prime Minister to issue an official apology for the national energy program and affirm the rights of provinces to develop, manage and market their natural resources.

Human Organ TraffickingPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:50 p.m.

Conservative

Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB

Mr. Speaker, the final petition I am tabling today is with respect to Bill S-223. The bill has had a number of different names and numbers. It is the bill that seeks to make it a criminal offence for a person to go abroad and receive an organ taken without consent. The bill has been in the works for over 15 years, trying to address forced organ harvesting and trafficking. It has been put forward in every Parliament I have been a part of, under Bills S-240 and S-204. Now it has been retabled in the Senate as S-223, and I am hoping against hope that this Parliament will finally be the one that gets it done.

I commend all these petitions to the consideration of hon. members.

HealthPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:50 p.m.

NDP

Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to table this petition today on behalf of residents from Cumberland, Courtenay, Parksville and Port Alberni. They are calling on the government to address the preventable opioid overdose crisis resulting from fentanyl-poisoned sources. They cite that regulating to ensure safe sources with proper measures and bylaws will reduce the criminal element associated with street drugs, that problematic substance use is a health issue and is not resolved through criminalizing personal possession and consumption, and that decriminalization of personal possession is associated with dramatically reducing overdose deaths in the countries that have modernized their drug policies.

Therefore, the petitioners are calling on the government, first, to declare the current opioid overdose and fentanyl-poisoning crisis a national public health emergency under the Emergencies Act in order to manage and resource it, with the aim to reduce and eliminate preventable deaths; second, to reform current drug policy to decriminalize personal possession; and last, to create with urgency and immediacy a system to provide safe, unadulterated access to substances so that people who use substances experimentally, recreationally or chronically are not at imminent risk of overdose due to a contaminated source.

I thank these constituents in light of this health emergency and the lives that are being lost in the communities of my riding.

The EnvironmentPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:50 p.m.

Liberal

Mark Gerretsen Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present a petition on behalf of 261 constituents in my riding. They are calling on the government to enact just transition legislation that specifically aims to reduce emissions significantly, wind down fossil fuel subsidies and the industry in general, create good, clean green jobs that drive an inclusive workforce and development, expand the social safety net through new income supports, and pay for a transition by increasing taxes on the wealthiest corporations and financing through a public national bank.

Indigenous AffairsPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:55 p.m.

Green

Mike Morrice Green Kitchener Centre, ON

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present petition no. 10686748, wherein the petitioners call upon the House of Commons to commit to upholding the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's calls to action by immediately halting all existing and planned construction of the Coastal GasLink pipeline project on Wet’suwet’en territory, ordering the RCMP to dismantle its exclusion zone and stand down, scheduling nation-to-nation talks among the Wet’suwet’en First Nation and federal and provincial governments, and prioritizing the real implementation of UNDRIP.

Questions on the Order PaperRoutine Proceedings

3:55 p.m.

Brampton West Ontario

Liberal

Kamal Khera LiberalMinister of Seniors

Mr. Speaker, I ask that all questions be allowed to stand.

Questions on the Order PaperRoutine Proceedings

3:55 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

Is that agreed?

Questions on the Order PaperRoutine Proceedings

3:55 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

Access by Members to the House of Commons PrecinctPrivilegeRoutine Proceedings

3:55 p.m.

Conservative

Cathay Wagantall Conservative Yorkton—Melville, SK

Mr. Speaker, under the Board of Internal Economy's decision on Tuesday, October 19, 2021, it fell to you, Speaker, to ensure that the decision was carried out in a manner that respected the inalienable rights of members to keep personal health information between themselves and their doctors private. I commend you in the way you did so. Clearly, the House sees you as fair in your decisions as the Speaker and affirmed that confidence by electing you to the chair for a second term.

I thank the House of Commons nurse, human resources, health and wellness and the Sergeant-at-Arms for their highly professional, non-partisan, reasonable and accommodating efforts to ensure the safety of all members of Parliament and those who serve in other capacities throughout the precinct. I assure you my intervention will be concise, as I have no desire to unfairly or unreasonably delay the business of the House.

My question of privilege challenges the government's motion passed in the House that imposed inappropriate conditions on the House of Commons nurse's professional ability and independence from political interference in determining whether a medical exemption should be provided to a member of Parliament. The House of Commons nurse made medical decisions that she, not politicians in this place, is professionally qualified to make, including being the one tasked to determine and follow up with parliamentarians who were in close contact with the member who contracted COVID. We are all glad to see him return in good health.

It is my deep belief that this action by the government to control outcomes sets a dangerous precedent. It enables political interference in what should be the objective decision-making of medical professionals serving us as parliamentarians. Furthermore, it opens the door to the further abuse of members' privileges at the whim of whatever political party or parties are in power.

What other actions could governing parties take to place arbitrary limitations on members of Parliament, if this self-awarded power to reduce or remove members' privileges continues to be allowed? I appreciate that you recognize my question of privilege as timely, due to the motion being implemented with directives at a very late hour on Friday, November 26.

I was unable to have the required documents properly processed by my personal physician until the following week. The House of Commons nurse and human resources needed time to consider my application in light of the government's change to the mandate. In addition, I thought it prudent to wait until your decision on the question of the BOIE's authority to set the requirements for medical exemptions was heard, and it affirmed that the actions of the BOIE were outside of its jurisdiction.

That being said, the government decided to move forward with a motion that mirrors the Board of Internal Economy's decision, while subjectively actually narrowing the acceptable reasons for medical exemptions that were already validated by the House of Commons nurse.

I humbly request that you review and make a decision on my question of privilege, and affirm that the government's motion passed in the House does actually impose inappropriate conditions on the House of Commons nurse's professional medical authority and independence from political interference to determine whether a medical exemption should be provided to a member of Parliament.

I thank you for this opportunity and certainly respect your deliberations and your decision.

Access by Members to the House of Commons PrecinctPrivilegeRoutine Proceedings

4 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

I thank the hon. member, and I will be returning.

I notice the member for Timmins—James Bay is rising on a point of order.