Debates of Feb. 2nd, 2021

Natural Resources

[Monique Pauzé, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Mr. Speaker, pandemic or no pandemic, there is one industry that can always count on the federal government, and that is the oil industry.

In the spring, the federal government eliminated environmental assessments for 100 drilling projects off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador. Last week, the government authorized another 40 there, and now it has its eye on Quebec.

An Alberta oil company wants to do exploratory drilling in an area covering 1,500 kilometres off the lower north shore, right in the middle of a marine refuge.

Will the environment minister say no today to oil drilling in Quebec?

[Jonathan Wilkinson, Liberal, Minister of Environment and Climate Change]

Mr. Speaker, the health of our marine areas and their biodiversity is a priority for our government. That is why we committed to protecting 25% of Canada's oceans by 2025 and joined the Global Ocean Alliance.

Our government respects Quebec's moratorium in the St. Lawrence and on new offshore oil and gas projects in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The permit in question was issued in the 1990s by the Government of Quebec.

[Monique Pauzé, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals let oil companies walk all over them. They took advantage of the pandemic to give them gift after gift while the public's focus was elsewhere. Now, the minister does not know what to tell me, and he confirmed that he might be thinking of authorizing oil drilling in the middle of the St. Lawrence. Quebeckers want no part of that. Our future does not lie in oil.

I will repeat my question. Will the minister minister say no today to oil drilling in Quebec?

[Jonathan Wilkinson, Liberal, Minister of Environment and Climate Change]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for her question, but the things she said are completely false.

As I said, our government said that the permit in question was issued in the 1990s by the Government of Quebec and that this matter is under provincial jurisdiction.

Our government respects moratoriums imposed by the provinces and Quebec on new offshore oil and gas exploration in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

Air Transportation

[Michael Kram, Conservative, Regina—Wascana, SK]

Mr. Speaker, Nav Canada has made the unilateral decision to close seven of this country's air traffic control towers. Last week it was revealed at committee that Nav Canada paid out $7 million in executive bonuses at the same time it was making the decision to close the towers.

The federal government holds three seats on the Nav Canada board. Can the minister tell us if the federal appointees voted for or against these executive bonuses?

[Omar Alghabra, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, my hon. colleague knows that Nav Canada operates at arm's length from the government and operates independently. Nav Canada is currently undertaking several studies to assess the level of services it needs. It is important to note that any changes in the level of service proposed by Nav Canada will be subject to a rigorous safety assessment. Rest assured, safety is my main concern of me and my department.

Carbon Pricing

[Rosemarie Falk, Conservative, Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government has not given our seniors, who are struggling, a clear plan to help them through this pandemic, but is is raising their taxes through the carbon tax. Tripling the carbon tax will cost seniors even more for essentials like gas, groceries and home heating. For many seniors, their budgets are already stretched further than they can manage.

Will the Prime Minister give them a break and cancel his failed carbon tax?

[Jonathan Wilkinson, Liberal, Minister of Environment and Climate Change]

Mr. Speaker, certainly while COVID is the challenge of our lifetime, at the present time we cannot forget that climate change is a impending existential threat to humanity. Putting a price on carbon pollution is part of our critical plan to attack climate change and reduce emissions. We do so in a manner that ensures affordability, and if the hon. member would look at the plan and those who actually are in federal backstop jurisdictions, the vast majority of Canadian families get more money back than they pay in the context of the carbon price.

It is the most efficient way to reduce emissions. It is an important part of fighting climate change in a manner that is affordable, and certainly it is something—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

The hon. member for Northumberland—Peterborough South.

[Philip Lawrence, Conservative, Northumberland—Peterborough South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, last week at the public accounts committee, the government stated that the GST was not a tax on the carbon tax. That is patently false. There is GST charged to every dollar of federal carbon tax. If anyone has any doubt, just ask a farmer.

Why did the government mislead Canadians about its tax on tax?

[Jonathan Wilkinson, Liberal, Minister of Environment and Climate Change]

Mr. Speaker, addressing and fighting climate change should not be a partisan issue. Now more than ever, I think we all need to work together to bring together the best ideas to fight climate change. Our plan to put a price on pollution will ensure that there is certainty for businesses and individuals going forward and that we reduce emissions in a manner that is both efficient and affordable. We certainly hope that the party opposite will come to the conclusion that addressing climate change is actually important and bring forward a credible plan of its own.

Health

[Lyne Bessette, Liberal, Brome—Missisquoi, QC]

Mr. Speaker, ever since the pandemic hit, our government has worked tirelessly to protect the health and safety of Canadians.

Our government has put measures in place to address COVID-19 concerns. International travellers are subject to a mandatory 14-day quarantine, and passengers must provide a negative PCR test result before boarding their flight for Canada.

Would the Minister of Transport tell the House about new measures to better protect the health and safety of our communities?

[Omar Alghabra, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for her question.

Each new case of COVID-19 is one too many. That is why, since March of last year, we have enforced some of the world's strictest border measures.

We recently introduced new restrictions, which involve an agreement with airlines to suspend flights to and from Mexico and the Caribbean. Additionally, all travellers will soon have to book three nights at a public health facility and get tested upon arrival.

We will continue to do whatever it takes and for as long as it takes to protect and support Canadians during the pandemic.

[Ron Liepert, Conservative, Calgary Signal Hill, AB]

Mr. Speaker, on my desk is a picture of Rogers Stadium in Toronto. I would show it to you, but you would accuse me of using a prop.

I will just say that the picture is a stadium full of 50,000 people. Coincidentally, that is the same number of people who were being vaccinated every day in Canada up until about 10 days ago. After 10 days of no vaccinations, do the math. That is a half a million people.

Could the Prime Minister tell us what modelling the government has done to determine how many Canadians' lives could be lost because of this 10-day gap in the government's bungling of vaccination procurement?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, every step of the way, our government has worked to protect the lives of Canadians from COVID-19 from the beginning with, as my colleague has mentioned, some of the strictest measures on the border, with a mandatory 14-day quarantine, which was most recently strengthened, and the $19 billion in support for provinces and territories and the supports for long-term care, ensuring that provinces and territories have what they need to deliver health care in their jurisdictions.

We will continue, whether it is buying tests, buying vaccines, distributing the vaccines for the most vulnerable to provinces and territories, we will be there for Canadians.

[Cathy McLeod, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC]

Mr. Speaker, when it comes to border closures, mask mandates, protective equipment and vaccine procurement, the government has been a day late and a dollar short.

The U.K. realized the necessity of making vaccines domestically months ago, and their facilities are ready to go.

We are an embarrassing 38th in the world in vaccinations per capita. Our ad hoc made-in-Canada solution was finally announced today.

Canadians deserve better. This is the most important intervention we have to save lives. Why did the minister wait so long?

[William Amos, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Innovation]

Mr. Speaker, by no means did our government wait at all. Increasing our country's bio-manufacturing capacity has been part of our recovery plan since the very beginning. It is in our interest, both now and in the future, to have this capability within our borders.

That is why, at the beginning of this crisis, at the beginning of the pandemic, we made immediate investments in bio-manufacturing projects in Quebec City with Medicago, VIDO-InterVac in Saskatchewan, the National Research Council, of course, and with AbCellera.

We have moved quickly to make sure that our bio-manufacturing is much stronger after years of disinvestment. Today's announcement with Novavax is just another bit of good news. Our government is taking a step-by-step approach with advice from our national—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

The hon. member for Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley.

Public Services and Procurement

[Marty Morantz, Conservative, Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB]

Mr. Speaker, vaccines are critical to reopening the economy and securing jobs for Canadians.

The government has said that all Canadians will have a vaccine by September, but the numbers just do not add up. The government needs an average of two million doses every week to meet the September timeline, but there is an expected 1.93 million dose shortfall this week alone.

Does the government have a real plan to secure these doses, or will this shortfall simply balance itself?

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Minister of Public Services and Procurement]

Mr. Speaker, when Canadians needed PPE, we procured over two billion items. When Canadians needed rapid tests, we procured over 40 million rapid tests.

When Canadians needed vaccines, we procured the largest number of doses per capita from seven different suppliers. Vaccines are arriving in this country, and every Canadian who wants one will be able to get one by the end of September.

We always have Canadians' backs. We will not play politics with vaccine procurement, unlike our colleagues on the other side of the House.

The Economy

[Bob Bratina, Liberal, Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, ON]

Mr. Speaker, despite the pandemic, many of the business sectors in Hamilton are performing well, contributing to wages and tax revenues, including the steel industry, which I am proud to help represent.

With the current round of pre-budget consultations now under way, can the Associate Minister of Finance tell us how the government plans to ensure vibrancy and sustainability for steel and steel-related industries as we navigate the complex issues of a post-pandemic economy?

[Mona Fortier, Liberal, Minister of Middle Class Prosperity and Associate Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, it was a pleasure to hold a pre-budget consultation with stakeholders in Hamilton last week. Like my colleagues, I heard many views on making significant investments to support the steel industry and create good jobs for the middle class.

I heard directly from Hamiltonians about their ideas to make Canadian steel the most sustainable in the world as we strive to be net zero by 2050. I also heard that we need to create opportunities to support our youth, who have been particularly hard hit during this pandemic, to get the skills they need through investments and skills training.

Hamiltonians can rest assured that our government will do everything in its power to support them.

Government Appointments

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

Mr. Speaker, an abusive employer can damage one's career, one's health and one's dignity, and some of those scars never heal. The Prime Minister failed to undertake basic due diligence in vetting Julie Payette, and he failed to lay down clear rules on her entitlements. She does not merit a pension or perks because she failed in her duties to Canada.

The Prime Minister needs to send a very clear signal that our institutions will not be a safe haven for employers who abuse their workers. Will he tell Madame Payette that she is simply not entitled to her entitlements?

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, our government has, from the very beginning, made it clear that no Canadian should work in a place that is not respectful, safe and healthy. The Prime Minister has made that commitment to all people who work in Canada's public service, and we have taken action in legislative ways to ensure that this is also the case in other workplaces. We continue to say to all Canadians that it is a fundamental right they have to work in a safe, healthy and respectful workplace, and Rideau Hall is no exception.

Health

[Jody Wilson-Raybould, Independent, Vancouver Granville, BC]

Mr. Speaker, we all want to know when we will be vaccinated. However, vaccine nationalism has become a real concern as nation states compete to procure vaccines for their citizens. We are part of this competition. While politically challenging, the hard truth is that until such time as all of the planet is vaccinated, none of us is safe. We are all interconnected. The virus will continue to mutate, and unvaccinated populations will become more virulent and will inevitably come here.

I know we are understandably focused on vaccinating Canadians, but what specifically are we doing to ensure successful global vaccination?