Debates of March 23rd, 2021

Health

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Montarville, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the deputy minister is proving that the government is well aware that, despite the deficit from the pandemic, Canada's debt-to-GDP ratio is the lowest in the G7 while Quebec and the provinces are going in debt because of skyrocketing health costs.

The Parliamentary Budget Officer already confirmed it; the Conference Board as well, as did the Council of the Federation and the National Assembly of Quebec. Today, we have confirmation that the government knows that all those people are right.

However, it chooses to continue to starve the health networks by refusing to increase health transfers. Why?

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, despite what my colleague might say, the Government of Canada is collaborating with the Government of Quebec. We are there when it comes to health and we have been there from day one of the pandemic, bringing in testing, providing personal protective equipment and procuring vaccines.

We will continue to collaborate with the Government of Quebec in the future. We will always be there for Quebec.

Ethics

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Carleton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, when it came to light that the Prime Minister approved a half-billion-dollar grant to a group that had paid his family half a million dollars, he said, “Listen, this thing was just dropped on the cabinet table, and I knew nothing about it.” Is it really believable that the Prime Minister would know nothing about a half-billion-dollar cabinet submission?

Well, actually, yes, it is, but people should see this email that was sent to his top adviser from Craig Kielburger: “Hello Ben, Thank you for your kindness in helping shape our latest program with the government.”

What role did the Prime Minister's top adviser play in setting up this half-billion-dollar handout to the Prime Minister's friends?

[Bardish Chagger, Liberal, Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth]

Mr. Speaker, as has been shared on numerous occasions, the non-partisan public service recommended that this was the only organization that could deliver the Canada student service grant in the time and capacity that was required. Obviously the program did not unfold as we intended, and all of the money that was allocated to the organization has been—

[The Speaker, Anthony Rota]

I am just going to interrupt. The microphone is not picking up well.

Could the hon. minister just start over?

[Bardish Chagger, Liberal, Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth]

Mr. Speaker, as has been shared, the non-partisan public service recommended that this was the only organization that could deliver this program in the timeline and degree that was required to respond to student and youth needs. Unfortunately, the program did not unfold as it was intended, and all of the money that was allocated for this program has been returned. Our government remains focused on youth and students and on responding to their needs.

It is unfortunate that the Conservative Party has been slowing and delaying Bill C-14, which actually would provide interest relief to student programs. I am pleased to see their interest in supporting youth and students and I hope we can continue providing programs to Canadians—

[The Speaker, Anthony Rota]

The hon. member for Carleton.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Carleton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, while the minister said the program did not unfold as intended, that is because the Liberals got caught when they were intending to hand money over to their friends, but there they go again, blaming the non-partisan public service for the program, except for this little email from Craig Kielburger, who says, “Hello Ben”—the senior adviser to the Prime Minister—“Thank you for your kindness in helping to shape our latest program with the government.”

If these ministers cannot give us a straight answer about the role the PMO played in shaping the program, will they let this senior adviser come testify at a parliamentary committee under oath to explain his story?

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, my colleague knows well that we believe strongly in the work of committees. They have a responsibility to examine legislation, make it better and ask questions. That is why we never turn away from having our ministers appear at committee. We did so without any hesitation many times, and we will continue doing it. That is how it works. Our ministers are accountable to this Parliament.

National Defence

[Pierre Paul-Hus, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister approved a salary increase and a $50,000 bonus for the former chief of the defence staff, even though he knew in 2018 about the allegations of sexual misconduct against him. Women serving in our military must be frustrated with the Prime Minister's decision.

My question is simple. What message does this send to the women serving our country?

[Harjit S. Sajjan, Liberal, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, we take all allegations of misconduct extremely seriously. As I said before, I do not determine pay increases. That is done independently based on the advice and recommendations of the public service.

[Pierre Paul-Hus, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we are used to the Prime Minister always passing the buck and saying that it is not his responsibility and that others are dealing with it.

I would ask the Minister of National Defence to go back in time and to remember his days in uniform.

Would he say the same thing to his female colleagues if he was still serving today? Would he give them the same answer, yes or no?

[Harjit S. Sajjan, Liberal, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, I am sure when the member served he served honourably, and I did the same thing.

We take very seriously our responsibility for the women and men of the Canadian Armed Forces, and that is exactly what we are doing. We have absolutely zero tolerance for any type of misconduct. We take every allegation extremely seriously, and that is exactly what we did in this situation as well.

Public Safety

[Rachel Blaney, NDP, North Island—Powell River, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the RCMP Civilian Review and Complaints Commission determined Colten Boushie's mom was discriminated against when officers told her of her son's death. According to the report, police told her to “get it together”, then asked her if she was drinking and even smelled her breath. This was said to a mom who had just lost her son violently. Imagine her pain.

Reconciliation grows from recognizing uncomfortable truths, not symbolic gestures. When will the Prime Minister stop talking and start acting to end systemic racism in policing?

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

Mr. Speaker, this is an important question. Certainly, our condolences and sympathy go to the Boushie family, and the way in which they were treated is unacceptable.

We thank the CRCC for its report. However, I would remind the member that we have made a clear declaration of moving forward on enhanced civilian oversight for all law enforcement agencies, including the RCMP. We are working towards modernizing the training for police and law enforcement, we are addressing standards of de-escalation for people in crisis and the use of force, and we are accelerating the work to co-develop a legislative framework for first nations policing as an essential service.

We are acting on these recommendations, and we are working to ensure that the RCMP is fully engaged in the reform.

Indigenous Affairs

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

Mr. Speaker, after years of obstruction, the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations finally agreed to an independent review of the rights abuses of the St. Anne's residential school survivors, but she made no effort to talk to the survivors, and now we know why. It is because the minister is arbitrarily excluding many of the survivors. She is refusing to let the survivors know if their claims were breached by the government's actions, and she is refusing to provide access to the evidence that her officials suppressed.

This minister has already spent over $3 million fighting these survivors. When is she going to end these toxic legal games and just do what is right by the survivors of St. Anne's residential school? She should do the right thing.

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations]

Mr. Speaker, the mistreatment of indigenous children, including those who attended St. Anne’s Indian Residential School, is a tragic and shameful part of Canada's history.

To restore confidence, rebuild trust and maintain the integrity of the Indian residential school settlement agreement, Canada has approached the court to request an independent third party review of the St. Anne’s Indian Residential School independent assessment process claims, which were decided without the benefit of Canada's 2015 updated persons of interest reports.

Throughout any review, Canada will fund health support measures for the survivors.

The Budget

[Mark Gerretsen, Liberal, Kingston and the Islands, ON]

Mr. Speaker, over the past year, Canadians and Canadian businesses have faced an unprecedented challenge.

We, as a country, have gone through the worst health and economic crisis in over a century. Our government has been there for Canadians and Canadian businesses every step of the way.

With the vaccine rollout, there is now light at the end of the tunnel. Will the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance please update the House on when the government will present budget 2021, and the government's vision for the future?

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

Mr. Speaker, Canada entered the global pandemic in a strong fiscal position, which allowed our government to provide unprecedented support to Canadians.

We will continue to do whatever it takes to support Canadians and Canadian businesses. We have a plan for jobs and robust growth.

I am pleased to announce that on April 19, at 4 p.m., the government will present budget 2021.

Pursuant to Standing Order 83(2), I ask that an order of the day be designated for that purpose.

Agriculture and Agri-Food

[Lianne Rood, Conservative, Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON]

Mr. Speaker, fruit and vegetable growers who are bringing in international farm workers for the 2021 growing season are being asked to wait on phone lines with hundreds and thousands of people, and to wait for nurses contracted by the government to supervise their COVID-19 tests at day 10. If they get through, once the tests are complete, they are required to forward them to the lab by Purolator courier.

This just in: Purolator does not serve many parts of rural Canada and, where it is available, it does not work on the weekends.

Will the government give fruit and vegetable growers a workable solution for getting farm workers to work?

[Marie-Claude Bibeau, Liberal, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, I want to reassure my colleague and all Canadian farmers that we are working really seriously to make sure that the procedure is safe for temporary foreign workers and safe for Canadians.

We know there is a challenge around day 10 tests, but I can assure the member that we are working on it. We have already put in place additional resources and a line that is specifically dedicated to foreign workers.

International Development

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the government's hotel quarantine policy is not based on science, and is hurting the global work of Canadian humanitarian organizations. These organizations must now pay for hotel stays when they bring their workers home or transfer them through Canada to other locations. Humanitarian workers need to be travelling to fight this virus abroad, and that is why Conservatives asked for an exemption for them a month ago.

At the very least, will the government support an exemption from this policy for humanitarian workers, so that NGOs can focus their resources where they are most needed?

[Karina Gould, Liberal, Minister of International Development]

Mr. Speaker, we tremendously value the incredible work that humanitarian workers are doing on the front lines here in Canada and around the world. The policy our government has put in place is designed to keep Canadians safe, which is why quarantine measures are very important. However, we stand by the important work humanitarian workers are doing.

Health

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lévis—Lotbinière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, thousands of Canadians are returning from Florida with vaccination certificates and negative COVID-19 tests in hand.

Will these Canadians be able to go directly home for the mandatory three-day period, without having to quarantine in a hotel?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, I will first remind Canadians that now is not the time to travel internationally. It is very important that we have proper public health protocols at the international borders. We have some of the strongest measures in the world. These keep our rate of importation extremely low and, as returning Canadians arrive in Canada, they will be expected to follow the regulations in place for all returning travellers.