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.

Topics

Fitness IndustryStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Conservative

Len Webber Conservative Calgary Confederation, AB

Madam Speaker, the pandemic has devastated many small businesses throughout the country. Many are struggling to stay open, and for others it is just too late. One of the sectors hardest hit is the fitness industry. A constituent of mine, Emily Slaneff, who owns and operates the CrushCamp in the East Village of Calgary, like all in the fitness industry, is desperate for a strong recovery. She knows very well that the health of Canadians has suffered throughout this pandemic, and Canada needs to get back into shape, not only financially and mentally, but physically as well. As she pointed out to me, the Liberal government would do well to consider bringing back the Conservative fitness tax credit or making fitness memberships tax deductible. This would get people back into fitness facilities and back into fitness routines who otherwise would not be able to because of the financial hardships this pandemic has caused.

Let us work with people like Emily to ensure our economic recovery is, literally, a healthy one.

Wolf SolkinStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Liberal

Francis Scarpaleggia Liberal Lac-Saint-Louis, QC

Madam Speaker, the term “force of nature” does not apply to many people. Wolf Solkin was a force of nature: an extraordinary individual who lived an extraordinary life that intersected with history.

Born in the Soviet Union, a child of the Great Depression, a World War II combat officer with the Algonquin Regiment, a social worker, property developer, and hotel manager, Wolf left us this month just shy of his 98th birthday. Wolf's love of a just cause was unrelenting to the very end. At Ste. Anne's Hospital, he was a tireless advocate for the rights and dignity of his fellow veterans. He launched an internal newspaper called the Veteran's Voice and, armed with his iPad, employed the written word to amplify and defend the interests of his cohort at the hospital.

I ask members of the House to join me in expressing our deepest condolences to Wolf's wife, Louise, and sons David and Andrew.

Hooked on School DaysStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Bloc

Kristina Michaud Bloc Avignon—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia, QC

Madam Speaker, this week, the Bloc Québécois would like to take a moment to talk about Hooked on School Days, a campaign that is particularly important this year because the pandemic has changed the lives of young people. It might be hard for them to feel motivated when all that is left of regular school is the toughest part of learning, but we are going to get through this challenging time.

I want to tell young people to hang in there because it is worth it, and we are going to get through this pandemic. Sports and recreational activities will resume. We will be able to see other people again and start living again. Young people will be particularly pleased that their ongoing efforts will have prepared them for success and enabled them to live life to the fullest when things get back to normal.

In closing, I want to sincerely thank all the teachers, workers and staff who have showed determination and imagination in staying the course. Do not give up this winter.

Meriem BoundaouiStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Liberal

Patricia Lattanzio Liberal Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC

Mr. Speaker, last week, a horrific crime was committed in my riding. Meriem Boundaoui, a 15-year-old girl, was the victim of a bullet intended for someone else.

This tragedy serves as a reminder of an insidious pandemic that is slowly spreading through our cities and towns. Gun violence is a real and urgent problem that we need to address.

We have taken action to ban military-style weapons and we must continue to act. We need to introduce red flag laws that will enable community stakeholders, police, health care professionals and victims of domestic violence to report individuals who pose a threat. We must continue to invest in the Canada Border Services Agency to prevent weapons from falling into the hands of criminals.

I offer my deepest condolences to Meriem's family, friends and relatives.

Maurice LeBlancStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

Conservative

Chris d'Entremont Conservative West Nova, NS

Mr. Speaker, I was very sad to hear last Saturday that my friend Father Maurice Leblanc had passed away at age 96.

Born in West Pubnico, in the Par-en-Bas region, this great Acadian was very involved in our community throughout his life. He was well loved because he was close to everyone, and I had the privilege of knowing him my entire life. He was a proud Acadian activist who generously shared his deep affection for our culture both at home in Nova Scotia and far beyond our borders.

Father Leblanc was considered a wise man, but to the community he loved so deeply and was so close to, he will always be Father Maurice. Thanks to his many talents as a painter and musician, he shared his passions by conducting marching bands and choirs and teaching art and history as artistic director at Université Sainte-Anne.

Father Maurice cared about preserving and sharing his heritage, and he served as president of the Fédération acadienne de la Nouvelle-Écosse and the Conseil des arts d'Argyle. He remained an active pastor until 2019.

I offer my sincere condolences to Father Maurice's family and loved ones. I would like to thank Father Maurice for everything. May he rest in peace.

Jackie VautourStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

Liberal

Pat Finnigan Liberal Miramichi—Grand Lake, NB

Mr. Speaker, a week ago, a legend in my riding passed away: Jackie Vautour. To some, he was a national hero. In 1969, with his family and 250 other families, he resisted expropriation from the tiny Acadian community of Claire-Fontaine by the provincial and federal governments for the creation of Kouchibouguac National Park.

In 1976, Jackie and his family, having refused to leave, were forcibly removed from their homes and their houses and properties were bulldozed to the ground. Jackie and some of his family returned to live in the park in scruffy huts and outbuildings where he remained for most of the rest of his life.

Historians have said that the battle waged by Jackie and other former residents against the Kouchibouguac expropriation helped shift Parks Canada policies such that people are no longer forced off their land to make way for national parks.

Jackie is back home. May he rest in peace.

Brome—Missisquoi Youth CouncilStatements By Members

February 16th, 2021 / 2:05 p.m.

Liberal

Lyne Bessette Liberal Brome—Missisquoi, QC

Mr. Speaker, last week, my Brome—Missisquoi youth council held its first meeting of the year. I would like to thank my colleague from Louis-Hébert for joining us and contributing to the discussion.

It was a wonderful opportunity for me to talk with many local young people and hear what was on their minds during the pandemic. The environment and mental health were at the top of the list of topics we discussed, and those two issues are top priorities for me too. I think it is important for young people to take an interest in politics and have a space where they can share their point of view.

I would like to thank the incredible team of young people participating in the council's work this year. I am very much looking forward to working with them and to our conversations about changes our government can make in 2021.

Parks CanadaStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

Liberal

Gudie Hutchings Liberal Long Range Mountains, NL

Mr. Speaker, what encompasses over 330,000 square kilometres, is in each and every province and territory, is very conscious of protecting our environment, showcases stunning vistas of coastlines, mountains and rolling fields, employs thousands of people, recognizes the incredible history of areas and is a huge contributor to our local economies? If colleagues guessed it is Parks Canada, they are correct.

There are 47 national parks and 171 national historic sites from coast to coast to coast. In my riding in the Long Range Mountains, over 1,800 square kilometres is home to Gros Morne National Park, which is also a UNESCO world heritage site. If it is history someone is looking for, my riding is also blessed to house Port au Choix and L'Anse aux Meadows national historic sites. These treasures of Parks Canada are huge contributors to the region's economy.

When it is safe to travel, members should explore a Parks Canada area. In 2019, over a quarter of a million people travelled to my riding to visit Parks Canada attractions. I cannot wait until I can boast that we have exceeded that number again in a few years.

Airline IndustryStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Conservative

Stephanie Kusie Conservative Calgary Midnapore, AB

Mr. Speaker, we have been demanding for a year that the government keep its promise to deliver a sector-specific plan for the airline industry. Its failure to do so has caused the sector irreversible damage. As a result, Canadians are still waiting for refunds for cancelled flights, regional routes are gone and visiting loved ones across Canada is difficult and unaffordable.

Aviation workers are unemployed, displaced to other locations or to lower-paying jobs. Nav Canada does not have the means to provide service at a level of safety and coverage that Canadians expect.

Canada's airlines cannot compete against foreign airlines that have been supported by their governments. Any plan now from the government is too little too late. Airline workers know it and Canadians know it.

Only a Conservative government can secure both jobs and our economy.

DemocracyStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Conservative

Mike Lake Conservative Edmonton—Wetaskiwin, AB

Mr. Speaker, the past several years have been challenging for global democracy. We have seen a rise in polarization and increasingly vitriolic language expressed by hyperpartisans from all sides. Too often this leads to violence. Social media has exacerbated the problem. Sides are chosen and anchored in Twitter bios. Talking points are delivered in echo chambers, amplified by cryptic algorithms.

Six decades ago, President Dwight Eisenhower seemingly anticipated our current need for wisdom, saying, “The middle of the road is all of the usable surface. The extremes, right and left, are in the gutters.”

Before our political labels, we are all just human beings. The middle of the road is simply our common ground. Make no mistake: passionate political debate is foundational to a healthy democracy, but it is most effective when we engage in conversations not only seeking to persuade but open to being persuaded. This will require a significant shift in our current thinking, but in the end, we will all be better off for it.

Small BusinessStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Conservative

John Nater Conservative Perth—Wellington, ON

Mr. Speaker, a community without vibrant small businesses is not a community at all.

The tourism, hospitality, arts, restaurant and accommodation sectors all lost an entire season and are now facing the prospect of a grim 2021. I also hear from business owners who, for the entirety of the past 11 months, have had to keep their doors closed either because of restrictions or because it would be cost-prohibitive for them to open them under current conditions.

Then there are the countless entrepreneurs who were first the victims of circumstance, when they opened immediately prior to or during the pandemic, and were then the victims of government red tape when the same programs they thought would help actually excluded them because their businesses were too new.

To secure our economic recovery, we need small businesses to succeed. That means a vaccine rollout that quickly gets Canadians vaccinated, and it means showing respect and support to small businesses.

We need to secure our future.

COVID-19 Emergency ResponseStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

NDP

Daniel Blaikie NDP Elmwood—Transcona, MB

Mr. Speaker, the Canada emergency response benefit was a lifeline to millions of Canadians in the early days of the pandemic. Despite NDP calls for a universal program, the government chose to exclude many people living on the margins and needing help in these difficult times. The people falling through the cracks include many low-income seniors, people living with disabilities, children aging out of care and workers getting by on contract work or cash jobs. Now many of these people are being told to pay back the CERB, even though they do not have the means.

The measures announced by the government just two weeks ago simply do not solve the problem for many Canadians experiencing poverty. This is a group that includes a disproportionately high number of women and racialized Canadians. We want to see Canadians supported all the way through this pandemic and come out in one piece on the other side. We will not get there without offering a CERB repayment amnesty to low-income Canadians still struggling to get by.

The government has wrongly turned a blind eye to corporate abuses of the wage subsidy. The least it can do is show a similar sympathy where it is actually warranted, which is to those Canadians who need help the most.

Raymond LévesqueStatements By Members

2:15 p.m.

Bloc

Caroline Desbiens Bloc Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île d’Orléans—Charlevoix, QC

Mr. Speaker, our friend Raymond Lévesque, the man behind the greatest love song of the 20th century, Quand les hommes vivront d'amour, passed away yesterday, February 15. The date of his passing is especially significant given that our national poet, a patriot in the proper sense of the word and a modern pacifist, left us on exactly the same day that our patriots were executed in 1839.

Raymond was a friend to all, an inspiration, an icon, a mentor, and a model of authenticity and commitment to his one and only nation, Quebec. His immense and magnificent body of work was renowned throughout the Francophonie, paving the way for local artists. He received many honours and refused only one, the Canadian Governor General's Award and the $30,000 that came with it, because even though he lived in a precarious situation, he would not put a price on his convictions.

I want to echo Raymond Lévesque's message of love, peace and liberty. As he said in his song Bozo-les-culottes, pioneers are meant to be forgotten, but not you; you will not be forgotten, for your songs will live on forever.

When man lives in love at last,

All our sorrow will be over

The golden age shall come to pass

But we, we'll be gone, my brother.

Human RightsStatements By Members

2:15 p.m.

Conservative

Michael Chong Conservative Wellington—Halton Hills, ON

Mr. Speaker, Canada has long been a world leader in standing up for human rights and dignity, but today Canada is silent. Some 75 years ago, Canada sacrificed blood and treasure to liberate Europe from the tyranny of Nazism. Some 35 years ago, Canada took a principled stand against apartheid in South Africa. Today it is clear that a genocide is taking place against Uighurs and other Turkic Muslims in China.

These acts of genocide include systematic population control, sexual violence and mass detention. A number of reports have come to the same conclusion, as have two U.S. administrations.

Today we call on the Government of Canada to recognize that a genocide is taking place, and to actively seek a relocation of the 2022 Beijing Olympic games.

Black History MonthStatements By Members

2:15 p.m.

Liberal

James Maloney Liberal Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON

Mr. Speaker, my riding of Etobicoke—Lakeshore has a special place in Canadian history. We are the constituency that elected the first Black Canadian to the Ontario legislature, and the first Black woman to the House of Commons.

As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of Black History Month, it is thanks to my predecessor, the Hon. Jean Augustine, and her motion, which was unanimously agreed to in the House of Commons. That was no small feat. Jean was the first woman elected to represent this riding in the House, the first Black woman elected to the chamber and the first Black woman appointed to cabinet. Recently, Maclean's magazine presented her with a well-deserved lifetime achievement award.

Leonard Austin Braithwaite was an outstanding Second World War veteran, a gifted lawyer, a school trustee and a city councillor. He served the legislature from 1963 to 1975, was instrumental in revoking racial segregation in schools and advocated for girls to be allowed to serve as pages in the chamber.

It is an honour to follow in the footsteps of these trailblazers.

EmploymentOral Questions

2:15 p.m.

Durham Ontario

Conservative

Erin O'Toole ConservativeLeader of the Opposition

Mr. Speaker, there were 63,000 job losses in December, twice what economists predicted, and 213,000 job losses in January, almost four times more than expected.

As unemployment lines in Canada keep getting longer, when is the government finally going to deliver a plan to get Canadians back to work in every sector and in every region of this country?

EmploymentOral Questions

2:15 p.m.

Papineau Québec

Liberal

Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister

Mr. Speaker, since the beginning of this pandemic, we have made a simple promise to Canadians that we would have their backs as we made it through. That is exactly why our focus has been on seeing Canadians supported so we can do the things that keep us all safe, like staying home and closing down businesses temporarily so we can prevent the spread of COVID-19.

We know that the best way to restore our economy rapidly is to control the spread of COVID-19. That is what we are focused on, while at the same time we spend millions and billions of dollars to support small businesses and families to help them get through this.

EmploymentOral Questions

2:15 p.m.

Durham Ontario

Conservative

Erin O'Toole ConservativeLeader of the Opposition

Mr. Speaker, job creators are tired of waiting for the government to act, so the Canadian Chamber of Commerce announced an advisory group to help businesses manage in an economy that is quickly turning against them. They specifically mentioned the lack of a national rapid-testing strategy as a major barrier to getting Canadians back to work.

Why is the Prime Minister more focused on keeping his job than on the Canadians who have been losing theirs?

EmploymentOral Questions

2:20 p.m.

Papineau Québec

Liberal

Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister

Mr. Speaker, it is interesting to hear the Leader of the Opposition calling for a national strategy on rapid testing when he does not want us to have a national strategy on keeping elders safe in long-term care homes. However, I will get back to rapid testing.

We delivered, this fall, close to 19 million rapid tests to the provinces and territories and are working with them to get them rolled out. Indeed, we have seen that a number of provinces and territories have not moved forward as quickly as we would like on rapid testing, which is why we are going to keep working with them to protect all Canadians and get our economies rolling again.

HealthOral Questions

2:20 p.m.

Durham Ontario

Conservative

Erin O'Toole ConservativeLeader of the Opposition

Mr. Speaker, on the weekend, the United Kingdom announced that it had vaccinated 15 million people in 60 days. The United States has vaccinated over 54 million people, including more people every single day last week than Canada has vaccinated so far. This morning, Chile announced that it had vaccinated two million of its citizens.

While the world is vaccinating by the millions, the government can only deliver a few thousand. Where is the plan to get vaccines into the arms of Canadians?

HealthOral Questions

2:20 p.m.

Papineau Québec

Liberal

Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister

Mr. Speaker, back in November, we announced to Canadians our vaccination plan that would see six million vaccinations in the first quarter, by the end of March, and have everyone vaccinated by September. I can say that, with over 400,000 vaccines from Pfizer arriving this week, we are very well on track to getting those six million vaccinations by the end of March and tens of millions of vaccinations through the spring, with everyone in Canada who wants to get vaccinated getting vaccinated by September.

HealthOral Questions

2:20 p.m.

Durham Ontario

Conservative

Erin O'Toole ConservativeLeader of the Opposition

Mr. Speaker, after a major vaccine delivery agreement from Pfizer and Moderna three weeks ago, Health Canada now agrees that there are six doses in every vial, not five.

Can the Prime Minister tell us how many doses we have lost because of his dithering?

HealthOral Questions

2:20 p.m.

Papineau Québec

Liberal

Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister

Mr. Speaker, as I just said, back in November, we announced that we would be receiving at least six million doses of vaccine by the end of March, and that is exactly what is arriving. We will be getting 400,000 doses or more this week and millions more in the weeks to come, putting us on track to not only meet our target by the end of March, but to have tens of millions of vaccinations through the spring. Everyone who wants to be vaccinated in Canada will be vaccinated by the end of September of this year. Our plan is working.

HealthOral Questions

2:20 p.m.

Durham Ontario

Conservative

Erin O'Toole ConservativeLeader of the Opposition

Mr. Speaker, Canada ranks 38th in world on vaccine delivery.

We do not know if we are actually going to receive all the doses we were promised. There is still some uncertainty. We will believe it when we see it.

When will the Prime Minister be ready to vaccinate 300,000 Canadians a day?

HealthOral Questions

2:20 p.m.

Papineau Québec

Liberal

Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister

Mr. Speaker, we were very quick to sign contracts with different vaccine producers.

We were one of the first countries to begin delivering the vaccines, and we will be receiving more than 400,000 Pfizer vaccine doses this week. There will be millions of doses in the weeks to come to meet our targets for the end of March and to ensure that all Canadians will be vaccinated by the end of the summer.