House of Commons Hansard #73 of the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was homes.
Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipOral Questions
The Speaker Anthony Rota
We have a bit of a problem.
The camera is working again. To make sure that everything is understood properly, we will have the hon. member for Lac-Saint-Jean repeat his question, and then we will hear the minister's response with both cameras working.
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
Mr. Speaker, I will be pleased to repeat the question, and this time, I hope the member understands it.
On January 27, the House of Commons unanimously adopted a Bloc Québécois motion to call on the Minister of Immigration to grant citizenship to Raif Badawi.
That was nearly two months ago. Mr. Badawi is still in prison in Saudi Arabia, and he is still not a citizen.
My question is simple. What has the minister been doing for the past two months?
Why is it that Raif Badawi is still not a citizen, despite the appeal from all members of all parties of the House?
Marco Mendicino LiberalMinister of Immigration
Mr. Speaker, we are grateful to the members of the House of Commons and the Senate for the recent passage of the motion.
We will always stand up for human rights in Canada and around the world. Our immigration system is based on compassion and the rule of law, and we can be proud of that. We will continue to work with all members to reunite Mr. Badawi with his family.
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
Mr. Speaker, that was not the question. I find that answer is disrespectful to Mr. Badawi, his wife, his family and his children and even to this House.
Every member is calling on the minister to grant citizenship to Mr. Badawi. This week, even the Senate wants to join the movement by adopting exactly the same motion as the House. The minister has the discretionary power to grant citizenship to a person in distress. Everyone knows that is the case for Mr. Badawi, whose life is in danger after nearly nine years in prison.
When will the minister grant him citizenship?
Marco Mendicino LiberalMinister of Immigration
Mr. Speaker, I completely agree with the member.
We are concerned about Mr. Badawi's safety. We are working with our colleague, the Minister of Foreign Affairs. We will continue to defend human rights around the world and in Canada. We will continue to engage with Mr. Badawi's family. That is very important. We will continue to work together.
Alain Rayes Conservative Richmond—Arthabaska, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Liberals ignored allegations in the Canadian Armed Forces. They turned a blind eye to abusive behaviour on the part of former governor general Julie Payette. They did not want to hear about employees at Radio-Canada Québec who recently experienced a toxic work environment. They let a report on an investigation into a harassment complaint at the Canadian Museum of History drag on for more than two months. There are victims at the centre of each of these stories.
At what point will the minister take action?
Steven Guilbeault LiberalMinister of Canadian Heritage
Mr. Speaker, we are currently reviewing the independent investigation report and the recommendations of the board of trustees of the Canadian Museum of History, and we are discussing the matter directly with the board chair.
The Government of Canada expects national museums to manifest the highest standards of respect, healthy working relationships and inclusion. That means always prioritizing the physical and mental well-being of staff members. The Government of Canada has a zero tolerance policy for workplace harassment.
Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
Mr. Speaker, a Mexican immigrant has made it through the entire selection process. His employer, which is in my riding, is naturally eager to see him get here.
All he is missing is his biometrics appointment, but the subcontractor in Mexico, VFS Global, is closed until further notice. If we wait until the pandemic is over, we could be waiting a long time.
How does the government plan to fix this? I do not want excuses. When can this employer expect this immigrant worker to arrive?
Marco Mendicino LiberalMinister of Immigration
Mr. Speaker, our government has a strong record of meeting our immigration objectives.
Our 2021 plan is based on the economic recovery and on ensuring that we are recruiting the workers we need to meet to provide the health care, food and services Canadians need. We will continue to work with employers to meet all of our immigration planning goals.
Greg McLean Conservative Calgary Centre, AB
Mr. Speaker, offshore oil workers are hard at work keeping our economy running, yet the Liberals are sitting back and delaying regulations to keep these workers safe on the job. The Liberals waited until the last minute to introduce a bill in the Senate to keep offshore workers safe in their jobs. The Senate has finally done its job, but now the government is dragging its feet again on moving this bill through the House. Enough with the delays. Conservatives and thousands of offshore workers have been waiting for six years.
When will the government stop sleeping on the job and actually get to work to keep oil workers safe?
Natural ResourcesOral Questions
St. John's South—Mount Pearl Newfoundland & Labrador
Liberal
Seamus O'Regan LiberalMinister of Natural Resources
Mr. Speaker, workers in the offshore are currently protected. The legal framework continues to be in place: it has been since 2014. Workers are protected under the best health and safety framework in the world, and we continue to improve it, which is why it is the best.
We are working on permanent regulations with our partners. When it comes to the lives and safety of the noble men and women who work in our offshore, I can tell the member that getting it right is paramount.
Emmanuel Dubourg Liberal Bourassa, QC
Mr. Speaker, they let the cat out of the bag last weekend.
Like many Canadians, I was shocked to see a supposedly modern national political party reject the simple fact that climate change is real. The reality is that we are experiencing extreme weather events such as floods and forest fires.
How can the Conservative Party and its leader claim to be ready to govern if they cannot accept such simple facts?
Jonathan Wilkinson LiberalMinister of Environment and Climate Change
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for Bourassa for his question.
Climate change is real. We are experiencing extreme weather events such as historic flooding and forest fires in Quebec. However, the Conservatives have decided to put their heads in the sand and ignore the reality we are all living.
It is clear that the Conservative Party is taking a step in the wrong direction and, unfortunately, our future generations will suffer the consequences.
Marty Morantz Conservative Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB
Mr. Speaker, thousands of students across Canada are struggling to find summer employment in the middle of a pandemic. Families in my community are trying to make ends meet, and students need jobs to pay for their education. Last year, the Liberal government's brilliant solution to this problem was to try and pay their friends at WE Charity half a billion dollars.
Instead of paying their friends again this year, will the Liberals commit to supporting students by increasing funding for the Canada summer jobs program as Conservatives have called for?
Carla Qualtrough LiberalMinister of Employment
Mr. Speaker, there is good news. Canada's prosperity in post-COVID economic recovery depends, we know, on young Canadians getting the education and experience they need to succeed, which is why the Canada summer jobs program is an important part of our government's youth employment skills strategy.
Last year, we funded 80,000 CSJ job placements, and this year we are aiming to create 120,000 job placements for young Canadians. We understand the importance of this program, and we will be there to support jobs for young people this year and in all the years to follow.
Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB
Mr. Speaker, the government can only work effectively if it has the trust of Canadians. That trust, however, is eroding.
To access benefits, Canadians have to provide their personal information online. However, according to cybersecurity experts, the government is not doing an adequate job protecting that information. The CRA has now closed own 800,000 accounts because hackers are gaining access.
My question is simple. What is the government doing to beef up security measures to make sure bad actors are not accessing Canadians' personal information and using it against them?
Diane Lebouthillier LiberalMinister of National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, cleary my colleague reads only the headlines and not the articles.
The protection of taxpayers' information is a priority for our government. For that reason, the Canada Revenue Agency has revoked user names and passwords in order to prevent identity theft. The agency acted before the data was compromised.
I would like to thank CRA employees for their excellent preventative work and invite my colleague to become better informed and read newspaper articles in their entirety before spreading information that is wrong. Her constituents deserve better.
Robert Gordon Kitchen Conservative Souris—Moose Mountain, SK
Mr. Speaker, since the minister had no clue about the numbers when asked today at committee, I will fill him in. Enbridge's Line 5 safely moves 540,000 barrels of oil to Sarnia each day to service Ontario and Quebec. If cancelled, replacing it will require nine extra 110-car unit trains or five barges, moving 118,000 barrels of oil each through the Mackinac straits and the Great Lakes every day.
Aside from spouting platitudes and scripted talking points, what concrete results has the minister received to ensure the continuation of Line 5?
Natural ResourcesOral Questions
St. John's South—Mount Pearl Newfoundland & Labrador
Liberal
Seamus O'Regan LiberalMinister of Natural Resources
Mr. Speaker, everything that the hon. member brought up occurs in a place called reality. Reality is a place where Line 5 exists and where workers are on the line. Reality is where climate change is real.
It is time for action, not more studies. It is time to deal with reality as it is in a world where climate change is real and where Line 5 is something that is non-negotiable for this government. We know full well what is at stake: 5,000 direct jobs in Sarnia, 23,000 indirect jobs in the region. That is reality and that is where we live, and the job we will do.
Lloyd Longfield Liberal Guelph, ON
Mr. Speaker, I, like many Canadians, was deeply concerned when I saw this weekend that the Conservative Party, at its national convention, rejected adding “climate change is real” to its policy book.
Canadians know that a plan for the environment is a plan for the economy. Could the Minister of Environment and Climate Change please update Canadians on how this Liberal government is building a cleaner, stronger and more resilient economy?
Jonathan Wilkinson LiberalMinister of Environment and Climate Change
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for Guelph for his tireless work on this subject.
On this side of the aisle, the debate truly is settled. Climate change is real. We stand with science and the scientific community on this important matter. I, too, was deeply disappointed when I heard the news this weekend that the Conservative Party was continuing to reject the reality of climate change.
Canadians expect their governments to protect the environment and grow the economy. That is why we brought forward a strengthened climate plan in December. It is a simple fact that in the modern world we cannot grow the economy without having a plan for the environment. Sadly, it is a fact the party opposite has once again rejected.
Brian Masse NDP Windsor West, ON
Mr. Speaker, Canadians pay some of the highest rates in the world for cellphone and Internet service. For decades, the Liberals and Conservatives have sided with the telecom giants, which has reduced competition and led to skyrocketing prices that many Canadians simply cannot afford.
Rogers cannibalizing Shaw will eliminate the little competition we have now, raise these outrageous prices, intensify gouging on consumers and continue to damage our economy. That is why there is a universal public outcry to stop this takeover.
Broken Liberal promises will not pay the bills. Will the minister stop this insane merger?
William Amos LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Innovation
Mr. Speaker, we have been very clear that greater affordability, competition and innovation all across the telecommunications sector in Canada are so important to us as a government just as they are important to Canadians who are concerned about their cellphone bills and their connectivity. These goals are going to be front and centre as we do the analysis necessary to figure out the implications of this proposed deal. The transaction will be reviewed by the CRTC, by the Competition Bureau, by the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology and by our own department. The work will be done.
Canadians can be assured that, as consumers, they will be protected as will the public interest be considered all along in these analyses.
Derek Sloan Independent Hastings—Lennox and Addington, ON
Mr. Speaker, last week, we passed the one-year anniversary of lockdowns only to hear of another breach of liberties gaining traction: vaccination passports. A forced “vaxxport” raises serious medical and ethical concerns.
Health Canada tells us it is unknown whether the vaccines prevent the spread of the virus or even how long the vaccine's effectiveness may last. Many are concerned about the leaking of personal medical information, religious freedom and personal consent. Canada cannot become a two-tiered country.
Will the minister oppose vaccination passports on behalf of all freedom-loving Canadians?
Patty Hajdu LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, unlike the member opposite, we believe in a response that is guided by science, evidence and public health expertise. In fact, that is the only way to get through this pandemic, to listen to those people who are putting their own lives on hold to help guide Canadians through this incredible challenge. It is important that we do not sow fear and distrust among the public health officials who are doing so much work to get us all through this safely.
I call on the member opposite to support a public health response that is based on science and evidence.