Debates of Feb. 26th, 2021

Natural Resources

[Mike Lake, Conservative, Edmonton—Wetaskiwin, AB]

Madam Speaker, I have asked this question three times and three times, through what I can only assume is some kind of Zoom glitch, it was like the person answering was in a completely different conversation, so I am going to try again.

The Liberals have made it virtually impossible for the private sector to build a pipeline in this country. Over the past few years, we have imported tens of millions of barrels of oil per year into Canada by tanker from Saudi Arabia, Nigeria and Algeria.

Is that oil subject to the same rigorous regulations on upstream and downstream emissions as oil coming from Alberta, Saskatchewan and Newfoundland, yes or no?

[Paul Lefebvre, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources]

Madam Speaker, let us talk about the facts. The majority of oil imported to Canada comes from the United States, at 74%. Under our government, imported oil has consistently decreased to the lowest levels in 10 years to just under 660,000 barrels per day.

The member opposite referenced Saudi Arabia and Nigeria. Does he know who was happy to buy more oil from Saudi Arabia and Nigeria combined instead of strengthening trade with the United States? It was the previous Conservative government from 2008 to 2012.

[Arnold Viersen, Conservative, Peace River—Westlock, AB]

Madam Speaker, my friend JD from Slave Lake works in the oil patch and he likes his job, but Keystone XL has been cancelled and now we could lose the easement for Line 5. Alberta's ability to get its energy to market, and by extension our ability to get a fair price for our energy, is in danger. The energy sector is the engine of Canada's economy.

On what day will the Prime Minister pick up the phone, call the Americans and defend Alberta energy markets and jobs?

[Paul Lefebvre, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources]

Madam Speaker, actually, the Prime Minister raised Line 5 directly with the President and members of his cabinet during the virtual summit this week. We have approached this at the highest levels because we take threats to Canadian energy security very seriously. Line 5 is vital to our economy, vital to workers, vital to producers and vital to consumers in Canada and the United States.

I assure the House that we are working on all of our options. Line 5 is a vital pipeline for Canada's energy security. The Prime Minister has already addressed it with the President of the United States.

Infrastructure

[Annie Koutrakis, Liberal, Vimy, QC]

Madam Speaker, in Vimy, many of my constituents rely on safe, reliable and affordable public transit every day.

Can the Minister of Infrastructure explain how the new permanent public transit fund will help communities develop their public transit networks, while growing the economy and fighting climate change?

[Catherine McKenna, Liberal, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities]

Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. member for Vimy for the question. There is no question that municipalities need predictable funding for public transit in order to plan and develop projects to help people get around in a clean, quick and cost-effective way.

These historic investments in public transit seek to truly help Canadians get around more quickly and in a more green and affordable way while creating good jobs, fighting climate change and creating cleaner communities.

Public Safety

[Jack Harris, NDP, St. John's East, NL]

Madam Speaker, a new reports says that nearly one in 10 federal inmates in structured intervention units is being subjected to treatment defined as torture. Solitary confinement, supposedly outlawed, continues. It confirms what inmates, prisoner advocates and investigators have been saying for years: that Canada is not following its own laws and court rulings. Now it is clear it is also violating the UN convention on torture. The inescapable conclusion of this report is that we cannot rely on the Correctional Service of Canada alone to protect the rights of inmates.

The question is simple. What is the Minister of Public Safety going to—

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

The hon. minister.

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness]

Madam Speaker, I share the hon. member's concern. In Bill C-83, we imposed legislation, and we have been working with Correctional Service Canada to ensure the proper implementation of the SIUs. We are very grateful for the work of Dr. Doob and our external panel in their review. Their insight and analysis have been very helpful. We also rely on the work of our external review bodies that also examine this issue. It is a complex one.

I want to assure the member and the House of our absolute commitment to ensure that people who are in our custody in our federal institutions are treated fairly. We recognize the challenges of—

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

The hon. member for Brampton Centre

[Ramesh Sangha, Independent, Brampton Centre, ON]

Madam Speaker, the Sikh community was grateful and delighted by the government's removal of Sikh religion words from the “2018 Public Report on the Terrorism Threat to Canada”. However, a large number of communities still have questions for the government even today.

Who pressured the Prime Minister's Office, the Minister of Public Safety and the Canadian intelligence community to compromise the national security of Canada, because Sikhs in general never wanted—

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

The hon. minister.

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness]

Madam Speaker, with respect to this issue, I want to assure the House that our national security intelligence services monitor the activities of concern within Canada and internationally. We work very closely with our partners. Frankly, I would also caution the member about the use of intemperate language and making allegations not based on evidence or fact. It is very important that these matters be dealt with responsibly, and we rely entirely on the good work of our national security intelligence agencies and law enforcement to keep Canadians safe.

Foreign Affairs and International Development

[Sven Spengemann, Liberal, Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON]

Madam Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, an interim report of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development. This is the committee's third report and is entitled “Part 1 of a study on the aftershocks of the COVID-19 pandemic—The humanitarian burden: ensuring a global response and reaching the most vulnerable”.

Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this interim report.

Procedure and House Affairs

[Ruby Sahota, Liberal, Brampton North, ON]

Madam Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 12th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, entitled “Final Report: Protecting Public Health and Democracy during a Possible Pandemic Election.”

[John Nater, Conservative, Perth—Wellington, ON]

Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 35(2), on behalf of the official opposition, I am tabling the Conservative supplementary report to the 12th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs.

This supplementary report addresses the shortcomings of the committee report and highlights several of the risks of the Liberals calling an unnecessary pandemic election before it is safe to do so. This supplementary report particularly notes the challenges for Canadian voters living in long-term care homes.

I would like to thank the clerk, the analysts, the interpreters and all committee staff for their exceptional work during these difficult circumstances.

Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

Madam Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the second report of the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities concerning Bill C-220, an act to amend the Canada Labour Code with regard to compassionate care leave. The committee has studied the bill and has decided to report the bill back to the House with amendments.

Falun Gong

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

Madam Speaker, I present a petition on behalf of concerned Canadians in my community about the mistreatment of the Falun Gong practitioners in China.

For over 21 years, the Chinese Communist regime's corrupt officials have orchestrated the torture and killing of many who practise Falun Gong, a spiritual discipline promoting the principles of truth, compassion and tolerance, and harvest their organs for the regime's organ transplant trade.

The Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act, also known as the Magnitsky act, sanctions foreign officials responsible for gross human rights violations or acts of corruption.

The petitioners call on the Government of Canada to deploy all legal actions, including freezing assets and barring entry to Canada against the 14 individuals identified by name in this petition and any others committing these acts.

Tourism Industry

[Tony Baldinelli, Conservative, Niagara Falls, ON]

Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure to present e-petition 3027 on behalf of the concerned citizens of Canada who call upon the government to present a sector-specific tourism recovery plan on or before the date of 2021 federal budget.

Among their requests, the petitioners call on the government to ensure that this tourism recovery plan addresses the specific needs of the many travel and tourism sectors across Canada and to use this recovery plan as a tool to begin restoring public confidence in travel and tourism.

I would like to thank and acknowledge all 3,868 citizens who signed this e-petition. I look forward to the government's response.

Animal Welfare

[Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, Liberal, Beaches—East York, ON]

Madam Speaker, today I will introduce four petitions related to animal welfare.

The first two petitions are related to labelling. Petition e-2981, on behalf of over 800 residents, calls for improved consumer labelling to easily inform Canadians whether products have been made using ingredients derived from an animal. Petition e-2614, on behalf of over 900 residents, highlights the science of the risks of processed meat and calls for labels that inform Canadians that processed meats are carcinogenic.

The third petition, e-2700, is signed by over 3,000 residents who love their companion animals. The petitioners call on the government to ban the sale of animals through online classified websites and other social media platforms, noting that such sales help to fuel an underground puppy mill economy.

The final is a written petition that calls on the government to, among other things, prohibit the live export and import of horses for slaughter for human consumption. There is a growing campaign across Canada on this issue. The petitioners ask our government to take that campaign seriously.

Human Rights

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Madam Speaker, the petition I present today once again stresses that Canada cannot remain silent in the face of the ongoing atrocities against the Uighur people by the Chinese Communist Party, such as, birth suppression through forced sterilization and abortion; political and anti-religious indoctrination; arbitrary detention and separation of parents and children; invasive surveillance; destruction of cultural sites; forced labour; and forced organ harvesting. Three million Uighurs and other Muslim minorities are being detained in what can only be described as concentration camps.

These Canadians petition the Prime Minister to formally recognize the genocide. They are aware that the House, including many sitting members of the Liberal Party, support Canada recognizing this genocide by the Communist Party. They also call on Canada to use the Magnitsky act to sanction those who are responsible for heinous crimes against the Uighur people.

[Brad Redekopp, Conservative, Saskatoon West, SK]

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition today on behalf of Canadians about the recent news of coordinated Uighur birth suppression as well as their concern about the mounting evidence that Uighurs are being subjected to arbitrary detention; separation of children from their families, forced labour, forced organ harvesting and more.

The petitioners therefore call on the House of Commons to formally recognize that Uighurs in China have been and are subject to genocide and for it to invoke the Magnitsky act for the heinous crimes that are being committed against the Uighur people.

[Arif Virani, Liberal, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

Madam Speaker, today I have the privilege of presenting two petitions on behalf of my constituent.

The first petition was sent to me by my constituent, Arkady Silverman. Arkady and the petitioners in my riding of Parkdale—High Park are deeply concerned about the ongoing human rights abuses in the anglophone region of Cameroon.

The petitioners call on Canada to impose targeted Magnitsky-style sanctions to prevent travel and immigration of Cameroonian government military officials and self-proclaimed leaders of the non-state armoured groups implicated in these abuses.

Financial Institutions

[Arif Virani, Liberal, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

Madam Speaker, the second petition I am presenting on behalf of petitioners in my riding of Parkdale—High Park is with respect to credit card fees charged to small businesses.

The petition recognizes small businesses as the lifeblood of our communities and the fact that during this pandemic credit card payments have become much more prevalent.

As such, the petitioners call on the government to ensure that financial institutions reduce processing fees charged to small businesses for credit card transactions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Taxation

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

Madam Speaker, I have three petitions to present and I will be brief on each of them.

The first petition recognizes that our tax code does not allow a tax on a tax. The petitioners call for the Government of Canada to eliminate the GST on the federal carbon tax, levies and additional costs as well as the newly announced clean fuel standards.