Debates of Feb. 4th, 2021

Umberto Bruni

[Angelo Iacono, Liberal, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

Mr. Speaker, with their paints and brushes, artists make us see our community and our everyday lives through their eyes.

Today, I pay tribute to a grande maestro, signore Umberto Bruni, who was born in Montreal in 1914. A painter, panellist, mural artist and sculptor, Mr. Bruni is universally recognized for his luminous pieces.

Umberto Bruni drew his inspiration from the beauty of our beautiful province and received numerous awards recognizing the excellence of his art. After 106 years, this incredible artist and unforgettable master has left this world, leaving the artistic community in mourning.

[Member spoke in Italian]

IT Support

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

Mr. Speaker, we live in a crazy world today, but fortunately we are still in a democratic country. Now we know that the Prime Minister is an admirer of benevolent dictatorships, and if he had his way, I am not sure that Parliament would be in session today. He likes to govern from the tent outside Rideau Cottage, but that is not what Canadians want. They want their government to be held accountable, and that is taking place today, thanks to the House of Commons IT's fabulous team. It is a little clunky at times, I must admit, like last night during a vote. I am a technological klutz, but every time I have had a technical issue, I have called our IT folks. The response has been swift, it has been cordial and it gets resolved every time.

The IT team at the House of Commons has brought Parliament into the living rooms of every Canadian, so today I would like to give a big shout-out and my thanks to all of the folks who are in a backroom somewhere, maybe even working from home. They are keeping democracy alive and well in Canada.

Official Languages

[Adam van Koeverden, Liberal, Milton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, bilingualism is such an important part of Canadian culture and identity. For anglophone MPs like me, this reality represents both a challenge and a golden opportunity to develop our full potential as Canadians. I have been working hard with my French teacher over the past year. Since this is Teacher Appreciation Week in Quebec, I want to take this opportunity today to thank all teachers.

I also want to thank the translators and interpreters who make it possible for us to always work in both of Canada's official languages in the House and across Canada.

Finally, since it is Black History Month, I want to recognize the outstanding and enormous contribution of French Canadians from the Black community.

Sri Lanka

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Scarborough—Rouge Park, ON]

Mr. Speaker, as Sri Lanka marks its 73rd independence day, I rise to express my solidarity with those walking for justice from Pottuvil to Polikandi. Survivors and family members of the disappeared have been joined by civil society organizers and political leaders. Their purpose is to seek accountability for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide against the Tamil people by the Sri Lankan state.

Impunity has prevailed on the island since its independence and the rule of law has broken down. In the last few months alone, Sri Lanka has desecrated the Mullivaikkal genocide memorial at Jaffna University, pardoned war criminals, forced discrimination on Muslim minorities, and the military has taken over many civilian-run bodies.

Last week, the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights concluded that Sri Lanka would be referred to the International Criminal Court, and cautioned that recurrence of past atrocities is likely if Sri Lanka goes unchecked. The world must, therefore, act with urgency to ensure that Tamils can live on the island with peace, justice and self-determination.

Small Business

[James Bezan, Conservative, Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB]

Mr. Speaker, one of the things we missed in 2020 was the excitement of taking our kids and grandkids to rural community fairs and enjoying the Midway rides and amusements when carnivals visited towns. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has left these travelling amusement and carnival businesses without revenue since September 2019.

My constituent, Jennifer Mills, wrote extensively to Liberal ministers asking them for help to keep her business alive and to able to provide services post-pandemic to our fairs and festivals when they reopen. To put it bluntly, the ministerial responses I have received about this industry have been pathetic at best and completely infuriating at worst. Some ministerial correspondence appears to be completely ignorant of the eligibility requirements for their own government programs.

The Liberal government has abandoned our small businesses, especially our local fairs and associated businesses. Canadian entrepreneurs like Jennifer deserve so much better. Indeed, all of us deserve better.

The Environment

[Tim Louis, Liberal, Kitchener—Conestoga, ON]

Mr. Speaker, planting trees is a natural climate solution. For years, groups such as Trees for Woolwich, here in Kitchener—Conestoga, have taken up the cause to increase tree coverage locally. To help such groups, our government announced a plan that will see two billion trees planted over the next 10 years.

Today I am proud to share with Canadians from coast to coast to coast, One Million Trees, a debut documentary directed by Kitchener—Conestoga constituent, Mr. Everett Bumstead. The film follows veteran tree planters and is a timely, informative look at the culture of tree planting and the people who do this important work. On behalf of Canadians, including our children and generations to come, my thanks to Mr. Bumstead for highlighting this important work.

To all Canadians planting trees, my thanks for their efforts that improve our quality of life and add to our Canadian culture and identity.

COVID-19 Emergency Response

[Peter Kent, Conservative, Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, almost a year after the government began pumping out billions of dollars to properly support the pandemic unemployed and struggling businesses, many of the emergency funding programs remain inequitable and unfair. Many thousands of Canadians in need are still denied access.

For example, in May last year, the Prime Minister promised to make COVID support funding available to new businesses, the legitimate start-ups stuck in limbo because of the lockdown. To date, there has been nothing for worthy companies in Thornhill and across the country.

Another of many examples is the thousands of pregnant women or new mothers laid off because of COVID closures who are now stranded without support because whereas CERB protected women's insurable hours, the new CRB-EI does not.

Given that emergency support programs will be necessary for many more months because of the Liberals' vaccine shortfall, it is time the government fixes the flawed program to ensure that all Canadians in need have equal access.

Hero Award

[Candice Bergen, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

Mr. Speaker, while we have all heard of superheroes like Batman and Spider Man, I want to bring attention to a superhero who people may not have met or heard of. His name is Devon Olafson. Devon works at the Portage Transport truck yard in Portage la Prairie in my riding. While Devon might not wear a cape, mask or a special suit of armour, his actions on October 22 were nothing short of heroic because, on that day, Devon found his co-worker, Warren Steppan, laying on the ground lifeless and close to death.

Devon did not have formal life-saving training, but he kept his cool. He followed a 911 operator's instructions over the phone and repeated chest compressions as he waited for paramedics to arrive. Three days later, Warren woke up alive in the hospital. Devon's efforts saved Warren's life and the two of them continue to be valued employees at Portage Transport.

While he does not like to be called a hero, Devon recently won the first ever Bridgestone Canada/MTA Trucking Hero award for 2020 in Manitoba. We congratulate Devon on behalf of the people of Portage—Lisgar for winning this award and, most of all, our thanks for saving a life and being a true hero.

COVID-19 Emergency Response

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

Mr. Speaker, we are now one year into the worst medical catastrophe in our nation's history. This past week, the Prime Minister announced that Canada would finally be ready to start producing vaccines, hopefully for the beginning of next year. In the meantime, many more people have died and countless businesses will go under.

How did it come to this point that Canada does not have the capacity to keep its own people safe? Over a century ago we established the Connaught Labs to be vaccine self-sufficient and we were a world leader. Then Brian Mulroney sold it off. It was Canadian public research that created the Ebola vaccine and Stephen Harper gave it away to the Americans.

The Prime Minister has spent this last year trusting that the market and other countries will keep us safe. Where was the sense of urgency? That is the lesson we need to learn from this, to mobilize manufacturing to be ready, to bring the best Canadian minds to the table and to ensure that Canada will never, ever again be left hoping that some foreign corporation or country will look after us when we have the skill to do it here in Canada.

Michel Germain

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC]

Mr. Speaker, you are aware of my unconditional devotion to Rimouski's Océanic hockey club. I tend to highlight the brilliant achievements of NHL stars who got their start with our club, but today I would like to express my heartfelt congratulations to Michel Germain, a living legend who proudly hails from the Lower St. Lawrence.

On live radio Tuesday evening, he called his 2000th game, a match featuring our Quebec Major Junior Hockey League team. A fervent fan since the team's inception, Michel Germain radiates passion with his thrilling accounts of our Nics' on-ice exploits. Without him, hockey would be a non-event on our local airwaves. He is the voice of an entire region, and he electrifies us every time. He knew all the big stars well: Lecavalier, Richards, Crosby and Lafrenière. Thanks to his memory and his exceptional talent, Michel Germain delivers an exhilarating play-by-play that puts us right there in the thick of the action.

Long live the Océanic.

Bravo, Michel.

Go, Nics, go!

Canada-U.S. Relations

[Tony Baldinelli, Conservative, Niagara Falls, ON]

Mr. Speaker, many Canadian union workers and their jobs depend upon the strong economic relationship that exists between Canada and the United States. As such, we need to make sure that our two countries continue working together on the many shared interests we hold on matters such as energy, trade, industry, travel and tourism and the environment. When we do, both nations benefit.

For much of our recent history, our Canada-U.S. economic relationship has been strong, not weak. In fact, it only began to unravel since the current Prime Minister and Liberal government came to power in 2015. After five years of this Prime Minister on the job, Canadian workers have watched their jobs flee, their economic opportunities diminish, their industries crash and their prosperity decline as our country's important economic relationship with the United States falters.

Canadian workers need the government to do better. While the Liberal government fails to defend union workers, Conservatives are focused on securing union jobs and securing the future for Canadian workers.

Year of the Ox

[Alexandra Mendes, Liberal, Brossard—Saint-Lambert, QC]

Mr. Speaker, February 12 marks the first day of the Year of the Ox. This year, because of the pandemic, we will not be able to celebrate with the traditional festivities.

However, in the same spirit of resilience and creativity we saw in the Year of the Rat, I think we will all find inclusive and festive ways to celebrate this important date.

After one of the most most difficult and challenging years the world has lived through since 1945, I would especially like to wish all a healthy and safe new year.

The Year of the Ox will hopefully provide us all with the positivity, good health and the hard work we all need after the hardships the pandemic has meant for all of us.

I wish everyone a happy new year. As this year comes to a close, I thank Canadians for being models of resiliency, solidarity and compassion.

From the bottom of my heart: Xiè xie. Gong Xi Fa Cai. Gong Hey Fat Choy.

International Trade

[Candice Bergen, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians need to get back to work. We need to see jobs in every region and in every sector in this country. We know the United States is our close ally and friend, and trade between us exceeds $1.5 billion per day. However, several U.S. policies are hurting our economy and the Prime Minister is doing nothing to address it. The Conservative motion today would create a special committee to ensure our ongoing co-operation with the U.S., with a goal to find solutions.

Will the government support this motion?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, our government knows how to defend Canada, as we showed in our successful NAFTA negotiations and in the 232 tariff fight. By contrast, when the going got tough, the Conservatives lost their nerves.

The leader of the official opposition actually said, “I...believe that many of the Canadian retaliatory tariffs should be dropped as they...are not worth their symbolic nature.” The Conservatives wanted to wave the white flag, but Canadians can trust our government to fight for them.

[Candice Bergen, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

Mr. Speaker, does the Deputy Prime Minister not realize that Canadians have already suffered tens of thousands of job losses because of the pandemic? Now with Biden's cancelling of Keystone, the threat to Line 5 and his buy American policy, tens of thousands of more jobs are at risk.

Canada's unemployment is already the third highest in the G7. Up to 30,000 jobs alone are at risk if Line 5 is cancelled. Do the Liberals not realize the seriousness of this situation? These are good-paying jobs, many of them unionized.

Again, when will the Prime Minister do his job and protect Canadian jobs now and in the future?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, our government absolutely appreciates the importance of the Canada-U.S. trading relationship, and we have shown that we are able to work with a team Canada approach to maintain that relationship. When the going gets tough, we are willing to stand and fight to defend the national interest.

When it comes to jobs, I am pleased to report that Canada has already had a robust recovery from the depths of the COVID recession, much stronger than the one we are seeing in the United States.

Health

[Candice Bergen, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

Mr. Speaker, well, if the Liberals believe in a team Canada approach, they will support our motion and support establishing the special committee.

Everyone knows there will be no economic recovery until Canadians can start to open up their businesses and lives and can get back to work. However, that will not happen until we get vaccines.

The Prime Minister has failed miserably to deliver vaccines or even be clear and honest on how his September deadline will happen. We are now 34th in the world in the vaccination of our population. Let that sink in. We are 34th and dropping—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

The hon. Deputy Prime Minister.

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, our government absolutely appreciates the urgency of getting vaccines to Canada. That is why Canada has secured 10 doses of vaccine per Canadian. We have the most comprehensive and most diverse vaccine portfolio in the world. We have already received more than 1.1 million doses. We will receive six million doses by the end of the first quarter, and every Canadian who wants to be vaccinated will be by the end of September.

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we are all Canadians and we are all proud of our country, but today my pride in my country has been shaken, all because the government did not lock down the infamous vaccine agreements.

Now, Canada is having to use COVAX, and we are the only G7 country to do so. This is humiliating and Canadians deserve better. How did the government manage to fail so hard?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, our government will never apologize for doing everything in our power to get Canadians vaccinated as quickly as possible. COVAX has always been part of the Government of Canada's procurement strategy, and the mechanism is working precisely as designed. We have been clear from the start: No one will be safe until everyone is vaccinated. We are focused on getting Canadians vaccinated while making sure the rest of the world is vaccinated too.

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we all want the economy to get off on the right foot once COVID-19 is behind us. The fastest way to make that happen is vaccination.

The government goes on and on about all its vaccine agreements, but now it is turning to a mechanism designed to help the lowest-income countries even as it says the doses are coming. It is a disgrace.

The Deputy Prime Minister has the nerve to say she will never apologize, but will she apologize to Canadians for breaking her promise to provide Canadians with vaccines through regular channels?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I completely agree with all members of the House that the vaccine issue is urgent, and that is why we have secured 10 doses per Canadian. We have the most comprehensive and diverse vaccine portfolio in the world. Canada will get more than six doses by the end of the first quarter, and all Canadians who want the vaccine will get it by the end of September. COVAX has been part of our plan from the start.

[Alain Therrien, Bloc, La Prairie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the bad news about vaccine supplies just keeps coming. In total, we will receive 70% fewer doses from Pfizer and 20% fewer from Moderna, and this will only get worse. Things are so bad that Canada is dipping into the COVAX program, which is intended for the poorest countries. We are the only G7 country doing this, and that is extremely embarrassing.

The Prime Minister has clearly not shown himself to be worthy of blind trust. On the contrary, now more than ever, he must be transparent. Will he release the vaccine contracts and supply schedule?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, with regard to COVAX, the government will never apologize for doing everything in its power to vaccinate Canadians as quickly as possible. COVAX has always been part of the Government of Canada's procurement strategy, as it has for other partners such as New Zealand and Singapore, and the mechanism is working. We are on track to deliver at least two billion vaccine doses globally by the end of 2021.