Debates of March 10th, 2021

Health

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

Mr. Speaker, this morning, the Prime Minister said that travellers arriving at land borders would not be subject to the mandatory hotel quarantine because there are no big hotels in Lacolle and because there is no way to take action against non-compliant travellers like there is at the airport.

However, there are customs officers at the Lacolle border crossing, just as there are at every border crossing. They can require people to show proof of a COVID-19 test and a hotel reservation. They can tell people to go to a hotel just as people arriving at our airports are told to do. They can take action against those who ignore the law. That is already part of their job. Why is the Prime Minister refusing to take action?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, since March of last year, we have brought in a quarantine act that includes some of the strictest measures in the world for travellers arriving in Canada. We have continued to add measures as they became necessary. We will continue to ensure every step of the way that we are protecting Canadians from the virus and the new variants that are emerging all over the world.

We will do whatever it takes to ensure that people follow the quarantine and public health rules. If they do not, severe consequences and fines will be imposed by the police.

Human Rights

[Tracy Gray, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Toronto Star reported that despite the government putting in measures to stop the import of products made with the forced labour of Uighurs in Xinjiang, not a single shipment has been stopped from entering Canada. At the international trade committee yesterday, Liberals voted down a Conservative motion to conduct a study to evaluate the effectiveness of these measures, which are clearly not working.

Can the Prime Minister tell the House why the Liberals voted down this important study? What are they trying to hide?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, as we well know, committees are independent, and they will continue their work independently. As a government, we will continue to work in close collaboration with our allies to push forward on investigations through international, independent bodies, so that impartial experts can access the regions to see first hand the situation and report back. We are also adopting a comprehensive approach to defending the rights of Uighurs and other ethnic minorities, including measures to address the risk of products made by forced labour entering Canadian and global supply chains from any country, and to protect Canadian businesses from becoming unknowingly complicit.

[Michael Chong, Conservative, Wellington—Halton Hills, ON]

Mr. Speaker, last month the House recognized that China is perpetuating a genocide against Uighurs and other Turkic Muslims. Yesterday a coalition of global experts, including two former Liberal ministers of justice and a former Liberal minister of foreign affairs, concluded that China is perpetuating a genocide. The government must uphold its responsibility under international law and the 1948 genocide convention.

When will the government uphold the rules-based international order and recognize that a genocide is taking place in Xinjiang province in China?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we are, of course, aware of this new report and will review it very closely. We remain deeply disturbed by the troubling reports of human rights violations in Xinjiang. We take allegations of genocide very seriously.

We will continue to work in close collaboration with all of our allies to push for not just investigations but also consequences, and an end to these reprehensible behaviours. We will continue to work as a government to make sure that we are having the maximum impact on the world stage.

[Erin O'Toole, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, last month, we all recognized the troubling and inhumane treatment of Uighurs in China. It is a genocide, full stop. Since then, we have heard nothing but radio silence.

What is the next step? Why does the Liberal government say one thing but do another when it comes to China?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, on the contrary, we are working with our international allies to develop a coordinated, concerted approach to address these allegations of genocide and the concerns we all share with respect to Uighurs.

We know very well that the international community has to work together if we are to change China's behaviour and protect ethnic minorities.

I respect and understand how important it is for Parliament to be able to make a statement on these types of issues, but a government has a responsibility to take action, and any action must be taken with our allies.

Public Services and Procurement

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

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives wasted no time criticizing a vaccine procurement strategy that is working. They are simply refusing to accept good news when they hear it.

We understand it is their job to ask questions about how many doses will be delivered and when, but it is not their job to intentionally muddy the waters and potentially mislead Canadians. That is irresponsible and does a disservice to Canadians.

Would the Prime Minister please set the record straight and give us the vaccine facts we are entitled to?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for Brome—Missisquoi for that important question, and I would like to wish her a happy birthday.

For nearly a year now, our top priority has been to assemble the most comprehensive and diverse vaccine portfolio possible. The facts speak for themselves, and we have proven our plan is working. In total, eight million doses will be delivered by the end of March, which exceeds our goal by two million doses.

While the opposition muddies the waters to score political points, we are staying focused on Canadians.

Natural Resources

[Marilyn Gladu, Conservative, Sarnia—Lambton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister said he spoke to President Biden about the Line 5 closure and the critical impact it will have on 50,000 jobs on both sides of the border. Could he update this House as to whether the President said he would intervene to keep Line 5 open?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, Canadian energy workers work hard to power homes on both sides of the border. When I met with the President, I underlined how Canada is a reliable source of energy contributing to U.S. energy security and economic competitiveness. Ambassador Hillman and our Detroit consul general, alongside many other officials, are strongly advocating Line 5's continued operation.

Our government supports the continued safe operation of Line 5. We will continue to stand up for Canadian energy interests.

[Greg McLean, Conservative, Calgary Centre, AB]

Mr. Speaker, can the Prime Minister tell Canadians what he means when his government says that Line 5 is different from Keystone XL? Is it different because the Minister of Natural Resources is paying more attention this time? Is it different because he might actually engage the U.S. administration on this issue? Is it different because it involves Canadian jobs outside of western Canada?

Keystone XL's cancellation represents the loss of thousands of Canadian jobs and billions of dollars of economic value to our country. So does Line 5. What is different this time?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, as we did for many years, we continued to advocate Keystone XL up until the moment that a final decision was made. We are continuing to advocate the continuation of Line 5 and will continue to, because we know how important it is to Canadian energy and energy workers.

We also have continued to be there for workers in the oil patch, whether it was by purchasing the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion in order to ensure that it would get built, whether it is by investing billions of dollars for orphan wells or whether it is by standing up for Canadian energy workers and a brighter future that we are building together. We will continue to be there to demonstrate that we know the future must include oil and gas workers in Alberta and across the country.

[Erin O'Toole, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has let thousands of Canadian families down twice with Keystone XL. Talks have broken down between the Governor of Michigan and Enbridge on Line 5. Thirty thousand jobs are on the line. It is two months before the deadline, and the Prime Minister just confirmed today that he did not specifically raise the issue of Line 5 with the President.

The minister and officials told the committee that they are happy that there is now a mediator in place. Can the Prime Minister tell us why his plan is to bet 30,000 Canadian jobs on an American-appointed mediator?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians saw over the past four years that as a government, we were consistently able to stand up for Canadian interests, even against a very challenging American administration. I can assure Canadians that despite the fearmongering going on from the Conservatives, we will continue to stand up for Canadian jobs and Canadian interests throughout our work as government. We will continue to be effective in advocating for Canadians every step of the way, as we successfully did, while the Conservatives play cheap political games.

Indigenous Affairs

[Marc Serré, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

Mr. Speaker, today, I am happy to hear that the community of Anishinabe of Wauzhushk Onigum Nation is celebrating the lift of its long-term boil water advisory. This lift means that over 400 community members will have access to clean, safe drinking water.

Ensuring clean drinking water for first nations on reserve is a deeply important commitment our government has made. Can the Prime Minister please update the House on where our government is at on fulfilling this important commitment?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, today marks a historic milestone in our partnership with first nations communities. We have now lifted 101 long-term drinking water advisories since coming into office.

In 2015, there were 105 long-term water advisories with no tracking mechanisms. Now, with our investments and these lifts, over 450,000 first nations people will have access to clean drinking water. We remain committed to lifting all remaining advisories and investing in long-term solutions so that no other generation will grow up without clean drinking water.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I have a document that shows the Chinese Communist Party is at the heart of Canada's visa application centre in China. The subcontractor doing this work is a company owned by the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau. Under Chinese regulations, the chair of the company is the same person as the party's secretary, and the general manager is the deputy secretary. They must execute the will of the party in performing their duties and swear an oath to never betray the party.

If the Prime Minister does not think a Chinese state-owned company should supply X-ray machines for embassies, why should we trust the Chinese Communist Party to run and operate Canada's visa application centres in China?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I can confirm that all third party contractors undergo rigorous screening. Officials regularly carry out inspections and audits to ensure compliance with Canada's privacy standards, most recently in December of last year.

A number of countries also use the same local provider, including a number of Five Eyes allies. We will, every step of the way, continue to ensure the safety and the integrity of our visa application system.

Oral Questions

[Shannon Stubbs, Conservative, Lakeland, AB]

Mr. Speaker, on Monday on International Women's Day I asked questions about the silencing of women victims of sexual misconduct and the silencing of a whistle-blower in relation to the chief of the defence staff. I used a word to describe the difference between what the Liberals say and what they do when it comes to believing and listening to all women. You reminded me that it was unparliamentary language. With the irony not completely lost on me, I do want to retract that word.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I thank the hon. member for that retraction. We will strike that and consider it dealt with.

The House resumed from February 25 consideration of the motion that Bill C-221, An Act to amend the Income Tax Act (oil and gas wells), be read the second time and referred to a committee.

Environmental Restoration Incentive Act

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

It being 3:30 p.m., pursuant to order made on Monday, January 25, the House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion at second reading stage of Bill C-221 under Private Members' Business.

Call in the members.

(The House divided on the motion, which was negatived to on the following division:)

Vote #64