House of Commons Hansard #67 of the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was firearms.

Topics

Rail TransportationOral Questions

11:35 a.m.

Liberal

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

The hon. member for Mégantic—L'Érable.

Public Services and ProcurementOral Questions

11:35 a.m.

Conservative

Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC

Madam Speaker, “it is a scandal”.

Who said that?

It was not my colleague from Lévis—Lotbinière, it was the columnist Bernard Drainville who said it this morning. Projected spending for building 15 frigates has gone from $26 billion to $77 billion, a threefold increase. How could the Liberals miss the mark so badly?

We are talking about $50 billion of Canadians' money. The Prime Minister is the person responsible for public funds. The frigates file is dead in the water and sinking like a stone.

Can he do his job and end this financial scandal?

Public Services and ProcurementOral Questions

11:35 a.m.

Gatineau Québec

Liberal

Steven MacKinnon LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Services and Procurement

Madam Speaker, we are fully committed to providing our navy and our Coast Guard with the ships they deserve.

As the hon. member knows full well, the previous government systematically underestimated the cost of building frigates, ships and the national shipbuilding strategy, and it excluded the Davie shipyard and other Quebec builders.

We are in the process of getting things back on course, calculating the cost of these ships and providing vessels to our navy that will be the pride—

Public Services and ProcurementOral Questions

11:35 a.m.

Liberal

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

Order. The hon. member for Manicouagan.

Public Services and ProcurementOral Questions

11:35 a.m.

Bloc

Marilène Gill Bloc Manicouagan, QC

Madam Speaker, the cost of shutting out Quebec and the Davie shipyard from these shipbuilding contracts currently amounts to $51 billion in cost overruns.

Let us think about that: $51 billion. To put it into perspective, that is more than the total amount the federal government transfers to Quebec and all the provinces to fund health care. To shut out Quebec, this government is going to waste more money on cost overruns than it invests in health care.

Why will the government not award these contracts to Davie and stop the hemorrhaging?

Public Services and ProcurementOral Questions

11:35 a.m.

Gatineau Québec

Liberal

Steven MacKinnon LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Services and Procurement

Madam Speaker, that is exactly what we have done.

We have corrected the past mistakes made by the Stephen Harper government, which shut the Quebec shipyard out of the national shipbuilding strategy. We began by awarding the Davie shipyard contracts for icebreakers and for the life extensions and refits of frigates into ferries. We are currently in talks to make Davie the third authorized shipyard in our national strategy, which would open the door to other valuable contracts for the shipyard.

As the member well knows, we did not need the Bloc Québécois to take action on this file—

Public Services and ProcurementOral Questions

11:40 a.m.

Liberal

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

Order. The hon. member for Manicouagan.

Public Services and ProcurementOral Questions

11:40 a.m.

Bloc

Marilène Gill Bloc Manicouagan, QC

Madam Speaker, the government needs the Bloc Québécois because it is weaving a big web of lies here.

The shipbuilding contracts are now $51 billion over budget because the federal government refused to give the Davie shipyard its fair share. One per cent of that amount is $510 million, which is more than the government's total increase in health transfers during the pandemic.

How does the government justify wasting 99% more money than it is putting towards health transfers during the worst pandemic in 100 years, all to prevent contracts from being awarded to Quebec?

Public Services and ProcurementOral Questions

11:40 a.m.

Gatineau Québec

Liberal

Steven MacKinnon LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Services and Procurement

Madam Speaker, the member knows full well that when the current government came to power, it made sure that the Davie shipyard and other shipyards in Quebec were able to participate more fully in the national shipbuilding strategy, which is only right.

Because of us, the Davie shipyard is getting frigates to repair icebreakers and ferries. Beyond that, the government is in negotiations to open the door wide open to the shipyard's fuller and more active participation in the shipbuilding strategy.

TelecommunicationsOral Questions

11:40 a.m.

Conservative

Richard Lehoux Conservative Beauce, QC

Madam Speaker, national media reports are saying that federal funding was used to bring Bell's Fibe Internet to the Lac Pemichangan region of Quebec. It was reported that the CEO of Bell owns a cottage on that lake and that there are fewer than 100 residences in that area that will benefit from the improved service. Meanwhile, hundreds of families in neighbouring Lac-Sainte-Marie do not have a reliable Internet connection. The Liberal government is once again showing that people need to be well-connected to get connected in this country.

Why is the Liberal government giving priority to rich cottage owners rather than to rural communities?

TelecommunicationsOral Questions

11:40 a.m.

Long Range Mountains Newfoundland & Labrador

Liberal

Gudie Hutchings LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development

Madam Speaker, connecting all Canadians from coast to coast to coast, and our friends in Quebec, is a priority for the Liberal government.

We will work with the Province of Quebec and all Internet service providers to make sure we meet our mandate of connecting all Canadians by 2030, and 98% by 2026. I welcome my colleague reaching out anytime if I could help him any further.

TelecommunicationsOral Questions

11:40 a.m.

Conservative

Dane Lloyd Conservative Sturgeon River—Parkland, AB

Madam Speaker, rural Canadians have waited long enough to access reliable Internet services.

A small Quebec community has been waiting for years to get access. The Liberals provided millions of dollars to upgrade this community's Internet. Unfortunately, all of the money has gone to help wealthy cottage owners, including the CEO of Bell Canada, instead of rural residents.

Why did the Liberal government prioritize the wealthy and well-connected cottage owners instead of the rural community, or is this just more Liberal incompetence?

TelecommunicationsOral Questions

11:40 a.m.

Pontiac Québec

Liberal

William Amos LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Innovation

Madam Speaker, while the member is entitled to his own over-heated political rhetoric, he is not entitled to his own facts.

The facts are very simple. Since 2015, our government has hooked up over 1.7 million homes, and with the $1.75 billion that has been invested, many more homes are going to get connected. In my particular riding, several million dollars, indeed we are talking of $20.4 million in projects, is connecting many households. We need to do way more.

The member should know, very clearly, that there is not a single member of Parliament, in neither government nor opposition, that has any choice in the matter. Good public servants make these good decisions. We need to continue investing more money to get every Canadian connected.

COVID-19 Emergency ResponseOral Questions

11:40 a.m.

Conservative

Kelly McCauley Conservative Edmonton West, AB

Madam Speaker, Edmonton veteran, Fred Russell is one of the few remaining survivors of the Dieppe Raid. He served Canada for six years during World War II, fighting through Normandy, Holland and Germany.

Today Fred lives isolated from friends and family because he has still not received the COVID vaccine, because of the failures of the Liberal government.

In Canada's time of need, Fred was there for us. Why in Fred's time of need is the government not there for him?

COVID-19 Emergency ResponseOral Questions

11:45 a.m.

Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook Nova Scotia

Liberal

Darrell Samson LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence

Madam Speaker, as my colleague is well aware, the vaccine rollout is the responsibility of the provinces. Veterans are a vulnerable population and we urge them to get vaccinated as quickly as possible. I can inform my colleague that veterans at facilities such as the Camp Hill hospital in Nova Scotia, Ste. Anne's Hospital in Quebec and Sunnybrook hospital in Toronto have been vaccinated.

We remain in touch with long-term care homes that house veterans to ensure all veterans are getting the supports they need.

COVID-19 Emergency ResponseOral Questions

11:45 a.m.

Conservative

Ziad Aboultaif Conservative Edmonton Manning, AB

Madam Speaker, it has been over a year since the first COVID-19 case was confirmed in Canada. Despite the government's messaging at the time that it was not a threat or a reason for worry, the virus spread across the country. The government finally decided to shut down our borders, a little too late. A year later, our unemployment rate is at historic highs, our economy is stalled and Canada is now behind over 50 countries for vaccine injections.

When will my constituents get the vaccine?

COVID-19 Emergency ResponseOral Questions

11:45 a.m.

Central Nova Nova Scotia

Liberal

Sean Fraser LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance and to the Minister of Middle Class Prosperity and Associate Minister of Finance

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to share some good news with the hon. member. With the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines in place, we anticipate that over six million Canadians will be vaccinated by the end of March. I am pleased to report that, this morning, Health Canada approved the AstraZeneca product as well.

With respect, we know there is a clear link between the economic and public health response. We are going to continue to work to promote vaccine uptake throughout Canada for every Canadian who wants one by the end of September.

PharmacareOral Questions

11:45 a.m.

NDP

Alistair MacGregor NDP Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC

Madam Speaker, COVID-19 has put enormous strain on the budgets of families. With jobs lost or hours reduced, many have seen their health benefits cut or eliminated altogether. Every month, Canadians are making tough choices between paying for medication, rent, utilities and groceries.

The Liberals first made their pharmacare promise 24 years ago, but two days ago they cynically voted against Bill C-213, which would have established a national pharmacare framework modelled on the Canada Health Act.

Why do the Liberals consistently raise the hopes of working families, only to crush them when the time comes to act?

PharmacareOral Questions

11:45 a.m.

Dartmouth—Cole Harbour Nova Scotia

Liberal

Darren Fisher LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health

Madam Speaker, we have done more than any government in a generation to lower drug prices.

The Minister of Health's mandate letter explicitly calls for the continued implementation of national universal pharmacare.

Instead of imposing a top-down approach on the provinces and territories, we are committing to work together with the provinces and territories to create a pharmacare system that works for all Canadians.

In the meantime, we are establishing a transition office to create a new Canada drug agency and a national formulary, while investing $1 billion over two years to help Canadians with rare diseases get access to the medications they need.

JusticeOral Questions

February 26th, 2021 / 11:45 a.m.

NDP

Randall Garrison NDP Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke, BC

Madam Speaker, the government likes to talk about its commitment to equal rights based on sexual orientation and gender identity, but often seems to confuse action with surveys and press conferences.

Last fall, the justice committee heard moving and compelling testimony on the urgent need to bring an end to conversion therapy in Canada. The committee worked hard to bring Bill C-6 back to the House promptly, but since it was reported back last December the government seems to have forgotten all about conversion therapy.

When is the government going to bring Bill C-6 back for final debate and a vote so we can finally put an end to conversion therapy in Canada?

JusticeOral Questions

11:45 a.m.

Parkdale—High Park Ontario

Liberal

Arif Virani LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

Madam Speaker, I thank the member opposite for his question, for his conviction on this issue, and for all of the advocacy and work he has done at committee and otherwise.

We know that conversion therapy efforts are rooted in the premise that one's sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression can and should be changed to a narrow ideal of what is considered natural or normal. There is absolutely no place for the destructive, harmful and deadly practice of conversion therapy in this country, and that is why we introduced legislation that would criminalize this cruel and degrading practice. If passed, this legislation would make our laws among the most progressive and comprehensive in the world.

Diversity and InclusionOral Questions

11:50 a.m.

Liberal

Majid Jowhari Liberal Richmond Hill, ON

Madam Speaker, my private member's motion, Motion No. 36, calls for the House to designate August 1 as emancipation day, acknowledging the abolition of slavery in the British Empire. One of the key pillars of my motion is education on Black Canadian history and recognizing the contributions of Black Canadians to our society.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth update the House on the efforts being taken to address anti-Black racism?

Diversity and InclusionOral Questions

11:50 a.m.

Milton Ontario

Liberal

Adam van Koeverden LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth and to the Minister of Canadian Heritage (Sport)

Madam Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for Richmond Hill for his extraordinary hard work on Motion No. 36 to designate August 1 as emancipation day in Canada.

There is much work to be done in the fight against anti-Black racism in Canada. That is why $50 million was spent to support anti-racism initiatives, and the work of the Anti-Racism Secretariat was included in the fall economic statement. We have also introduced funding programs to help Black-owned businesses, to support capacity building in Black communities, to combat systemic anti-Black racism and to advance diversity inclusion in the workplace.

Sunday being the last day of February, I invite Canadians to join us in the Black History Month—

Diversity and InclusionOral Questions

11:50 a.m.

Liberal

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

The hon. member for Edmonton Centre.

EmploymentOral Questions

11:50 a.m.

Conservative

James Cumming Conservative Edmonton Centre, AB

Madam Speaker, as the economy recovers, we are going to see a massive drop in the demand for workers in the hospitality industry and other close proximity industries. Meanwhile, we are seeing an equally large growth in the demand for skilled workers in the emerging tech economy.

Edmonton's unemployment rate is over 11%, and demand for tech workers in my riding in Edmonton Centre is high. How does the government plan to address this imminent, frictional unemployment?