House of Commons Hansard #59 of the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was expropriation.
James Cumming Conservative Edmonton Centre, AB
Mr. Speaker, during a disastrous interview this weekend, a representative of Huawei Canada, Morgan Elliott, could not, on behalf of the company, either condemn the treatment by the Chinese government of its detaining of Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, nor could he explain why Huawei patent technology was being used in Uighur detention camps.
The writing is all over the walls. It is time to ban Huawei. Why is the government continuing to drag its feet?
François-Philippe Champagne LiberalMinister of Innovation
Mr. Speaker, as we have said many times, we will be guided by national security in our decision when it comes to 5G in Canada. We are not going to be dictated any timetable by the opposition. We have said time and time again that what is going to dictate our decision is national security. We understand that 5G is going to have a tremendous impact for generations to come, and Canadians can rest assured that this government will take the appropriate and best decision in the interests of all Canadians for generations to come.
James Cumming Conservative Edmonton Centre, AB
Mr. Speaker, the Canadian representative of Huawei said in the interview that Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou “has done nothing wrong”, suggesting that her detention in a $13-million Vancouver mansion is the exact same as the containment of the two Michaels in China. All the while, the government has partnered with Huawei, to the tune of almost $5 million in funding for its university research here in Canada.
How can the government claim to take human rights seriously while Huawei equipment is being used by the Chinese government in Uighur detention camps?
François-Philippe Champagne LiberalMinister of Innovation
Mr. Speaker, an experienced member like him should know, like members in this House know, that the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council is responsible for the administration of the grants. Grants have been awarded through an independent process, which is managed at arm's length from the government. Further, last September we did publish a policy statement on research security, which included instructing the federal granting councils to review their security policies so that Canadian researchers can appropriately protect their work.
Michael Chong Conservative Wellington—Halton Hills, ON
Mr. Speaker, Canada has long been a world leader in human rights and dignity, but today Canada is silent. Some 75 years ago, Canada liberated Europe from the tyranny of Nazism with blood and treasure. Some 35 years ago, Canada took a principled stand against apartheid in South Africa.
Will the government recognize that a genocide is taking place against the Uighur people and other Turkic Muslims in China?
Marc Garneau LiberalMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, as my colleague will know, our government has always taken a very principled approach with respect to the violation of human rights. We are gravely preoccupied by the allegations of mistreatment of Uighurs and other ethnic minorities in the Xinjiang area, and we are looking at all of the available evidence. In the meantime, we have urged China to allow experts into the country to examine the situation so that they can see for themselves what is actually being alleged and committed.
Michael Chong Conservative Wellington—Halton Hills, ON
Mr. Speaker, many reports indicated that a genocide was occurring.
These reports document systematic population control, sexual violence and mass detention.
Will the government keep silent or will it take a clear stand and recognize this genocide? Will it ask the IOC to relocate the 2022 Beijing games?
Marc Garneau LiberalMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, as I said, our government has always placed a great deal of importance on human rights, and we are very concerned about the treatment of Uighurs and other ethnic minorities in China.
We are urging China to allow experts to come to the Xinjiang area and examine the situation in order to determine whether the human rights of Uighurs are being violated.
Daniel Blaikie NDP Elmwood—Transcona, MB
Mr. Speaker, as the pandemic continues, we are learning that for many people the effects of COVID-19 can last over the long term, with debilitating symptoms such as shortness of breath and chronic fatigue. In some cases, these symptoms are lasting for months and making it impossible for affected Canadians to work. Because of the newness of the disease, government and private insurers are too often getting away with letting these Canadians fall through the cracks.
Will the minister commit to extending the EI sickness benefit to 50 weeks and make it retroactive to January, when many COVID long-haulers' EI sickness benefits expired?
Carla Qualtrough LiberalMinister of Employment
Mr. Speaker, paid sick leave has been a cornerstone of our public health response to COVID-19, both through the CERB, the Canada recovery sickness benefit and indeed EI. Our government is committed to extending EI sickness benefits from 15 weeks to 26 weeks, and we stand firm and committed to doing just that.
Niki Ashton NDP Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, MB
Mr. Speaker, Tataskweyak Cree Nation has been forced to not only sue the government over the government's failure to provide clean drinking water but to take its complaint to the UN.
A spokesperson for the Minister of Indigenous Services said that the water in TCN continues to meet approved guidelines. Guidelines? The water is making people sick.
Meanwhile, chiefs are expressing fear of reprisals if they stand up to this government. TCN is standing up, and it has my support and the support of northern Manitoba.
Enough with the excuses. When will the government act to fix the problem?
Marc Miller LiberalMinister of Indigenous Services
Mr. Speaker, first off, we absolutely respect the rights of indigenous groups, including Tataskweyak Cree Nation, to seek intervention of the courts, and we absolutely must respect that process.
Our government continues to support Tataskweyak in the repairs and upgrades to its water system as the water quality does indeed continue to meet approved guidelines.
I would point out that since 2016, Indigenous Services Canada has provided over $23.5 million toward water and waste-water upgrades, which has provided a new lagoon, a lift station, distribution lines and repairs and upgrades to the water treatment plant as well as a detailed source water study, but we will continue to engage with the community and get to the root of this problem.
Helena Jaczek Liberal Markham—Stouffville, ON
Mr. Speaker, York Region, particularly Markham, Richmond Hill and Vaughan, and the city of Toronto, continue to grow each year. That means more cars on the road, more time spent getting around our region and more pollution in the air each day.
Can the minister update the House on our commitment to fund major transit projects and our plans to establish a permanent public transit fund?
Catherine McKenna LiberalMinister of Infrastructure and Communities
Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for Markham—Stouffville for her commitment to public transit.
I understand the pain of sitting in a traffic jam on the Don Valley Parkway. It wastes people's time while polluting our air. Last week, our government announced $15 billion in new funding for public transit as well as $3 billion ongoing, as permanent public transit money, to support major projects like subways, zero-emission buses and bike paths. This is about public transit that will help Canadians get around in faster, cleaner and more affordable ways.
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Mr. Speaker, countries around the world are ramping up their vaccination pace because of the spread of the U.K. and South African variants. These variants are highly contagious, and it is very concerning to see what they could do.
We have seen the results of what the U.K. variant did in a long-term care facility in Barrie, and the South African variant has been discovered in other places in the country.
Is the Prime Minister concerned that our slow pace of vaccinations in Canada has left Canadians vulnerable to a potentially larger third wave due to the variant, and if so, what is he doing about it?
Patty Hajdu LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, we share the concern of the member opposite about the effect of variants taking hold in any Canadian community. That is why we have worked so diligently with the provinces and territories to support them in all of their efforts to contain the virus, including sending in additional support with the Canadian Red Cross to particular settings, like the one she mentioned, to help ensure we are doing a thorough job of containing those viruses. This government will stop at nothing to protect Canadians and support provinces and territories in their essential work.
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Mr. Speaker, the best way to protect Canadians against the variant is with a vaccine that we do not have right now.
Other countries around the world have slowed and stopped their vaccination programs using the AstraZeneca vaccine because of its reported ineffectiveness against variants.
As well, Novavax, one of the candidates the government has signed contracts with to be produced here in Canada, also has severe concerns about its effectiveness against variants.
We do not really have mRNA capacity in Canada right now. The government is not working with companies that do have it, so we are slow to receive those vaccines.
If Novavax and AstraZeneca do not work against the variants and we do not have mRNA capacity, what is plan B?
Patty Hajdu LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, we do have mRNA vaccines, two of them to be precise, and they are 90% effective. In fact, the manufacturers are very confident they are also effective against the variants. Those are the ones that we will be receiving more of each and every week, including this week: 400,000 from Pfizer, and an additional 400,000 the week after, etc.
I am very confident in the work of the Health Canada regulators to make sure that whatever is approved for use in Canada will be safe and effective.
Pierre Paul-Hus Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC
Mr. Speaker, the CEO of Solstar Pharma wrote the innovation minister to say, “As far as Canada is concerned, we tried to move things forward, but to no avail. We were unable to secure the funding or key strategic partners in Canada that we needed to gain access to the labs.”
Canadian businesses are willing and able to get the job done. The fact that TriLink Bio Technologies, from San Diego, partnered very rapidly with Solstar is clear proof of that.
Why did the Prime Minister leave Solstar on the sidelines?
François-Philippe Champagne LiberalMinister of Innovation
Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by thanking my hon. colleague for his question.
As I said earlier, we have made historic investments. Twelve days after the pandemic was declared we were already making $192 million available to the biomanufacturing sector. On April 23, we announced an additional $600 million. In total, approximately one month after the pandemic began, we had invested close to $800 million.
I invite my colleague to tell the CEO with whom he spoke to contact me. I will gladly speak to him, just as I speak with anyone who wants to get in touch with us.
Of course we are prepared to support Canadian businesses. We have supported many and will continue to do so.
Pierre Paul-Hus Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC
Mr. Speaker, there is another issue that raises some questions.
Dr. Gary Kobinger walked away from the COVID-19 vaccine task force in response to comments by the Liberal government. Let me point out that the Minister of Public Services and Procurement publicly stated that Canada did not have the brainpower or the expertise to develop its own COVID-19 vaccines or to get a plant up and running.
In response, Dr. Kobinger said, “It's an insult to the last decade.”
The Liberals talk a lot about Canadian know-how, so why are they acting this way?
François-Philippe Champagne LiberalMinister of Innovation
Mr. Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague for his question.
I can assure him that we have enormous respect for Canada's researchers and scientists. I believe I have even visited his lab.
Let me set the record straight. We made historic investments in biomanufacturing in Canada. Examples include Medicago in Quebec City, VBI Vaccines Inc. in Ontario, Precision NanoSystems in Vancouver, ImmunoVaccine Technologies in Nova Scotia, Entos Pharmaceuticals in Alberta, Providence Therapeutics in Alberta, Symvivo in British Columbia, Biodextris in Laval and Glycovax Pharma in Montreal.
We will continue to invest—
Julie Vignola Bloc Beauport—Limoilou, QC
Mr. Speaker, it has been 10 years since the federal government awarded Irving the contract to build frigates, but the shipyard has yet to deliver anything. Now we learn that it is going to be another 10 years until the first frigate is built. It will be delivered in 2031, at the earliest.
It is unbelievable. Irving has not produced a single frigate in 20 years. Meanwhile, the Davie shipyard, the best in North America, was shut out.
When will the government finally realize that the only intelligent solution to the 20-year wait and delay is to give Davie its fair share of contracts?
Anita Anand LiberalMinister of Public Services and Procurement
Mr. Speaker, the Davie shipyard is a strong and reliable partner that is going to great effort to help our government deliver results for Canadians.
While the Davie shipyard was shut out of all major works by the previous government, we have awarded contracts totalling more than $2.4 billion to that Quebec company.
We support the shipbuilding industry and its workers from coast to coast to coast.
