Debates of April 13th, 2021

Post-Secondary Education

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

Mr. Speaker, I want to first say the COVID pandemic has impacted all Canadians, certain segments disproportionately, and students are no exception. I want all students to know that our government, under the leadership of this Prime Minister, will be there for them. That is exactly why we came out with the Canada emergency student benefit. That is why we removed interest from Canada student loans, so that they would not be in repayment. I want students to know that we created jobs through the Canada summer jobs program.

We will continue working on their behalf because they deserve it. They are not only the leaders of tomorrow, they are the leaders of today, and this government has their backs.

Employment Insurance

[Doug Shipley, Conservative, Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte, ON]

Mr. Speaker, we all aware many Canadians are struggling to make ends meet during this pandemic. The Liberal government is failing Canadians and the residents of Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte. My staff have been flooded with complaints from residents who have been denied EI and are unable to access CERB. When an application is made for EI, it triggers a flag with the CRA. This flag prevents further processing of the CERB applications. Many of these applicants have been waiting months without any income.

Can the Prime Minister advise this House and my constituents when he will fix this issue?

[Carla Qualtrough, Liberal, Minister of Employment]

Mr. Speaker, I can assure the member that we are absolutely on top of this issue. Obviously we want to make sure, from an integrity point of view, that Canadians are not receiving two benefits at the same time, but we know how hard it is for Canadians to wait to see which benefit they should be getting. We have teams working together with the CRA and ESDC on this. It is not taking the time it did at the beginning when this problem was first identified.

I am happy to provide the member with more information, if he wants. I can assure him this is a top priority for me and my team.

Taxation

[Kevin Waugh, Conservative, Saskatoon—Grasswood, SK]

Mr. Speaker, this month Canadians were hit with a 33% tax increase to the carbon tax. Now media reports suggest that the Liberals are planning to implement a home equity tax. In fact, the CMHC is already studying elimination of the capital gains exemption on principal residences. The last thing that families need is their life savings to be wiped out overnight.

Why are the Liberals increasing taxes on Canadians in the middle of this pandemic?

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, Minister of Families]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives refuse to take no for an answer.

The Government of Canada is not looking at charging capital gains tax on primary residences. This is not under consideration by our government. Any suggestion otherwise is false. In fact, we have been working hard to make home ownership more affordable for middle-class Canadians with our first-time home buyer incentive. The Conservatives, time and again, try to suggest otherwise, but they are engaging in falsehoods.

Seniors

[Salma Zahid, Liberal, Scarborough Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, we know that the COVID-19 pandemic has worsened already existing challenges that seniors face around social isolation, which can be harmful both to physical and mental health.

Last year, with help from the new horizons for seniors program, organizations in my riding, such as Tesoc Multicultural Settlement and Community Services, were able to run programs to help with this. Tesoc's program, seniors together, brought together seniors and younger people for online activities, such as yoga classes and meditation as well as intergenerational discussions and art activities.

Could the Minister of Seniors tell us why it is so important to support the mental health of Canadian seniors during the pandemic and beyond, and about further actions the government is taking?

[Deb Schulte, Liberal, Minister of Seniors]

Mr. Speaker, my hon. colleague from Scarborough Centre is right. As a result of the pandemic, seniors have experienced significant negative impacts. To help combat the isolation they have faced during the pandemic, we invested millions more into the new horizons for seniors program. In total, we have funded 5,000 community support projects across the country during the pandemic to help seniors stay connected and supported.

I want to thank the organizations, like those in my colleague's riding, that stepped up to serve seniors with projects during this extraordinarily challenging time. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of seniors. I look forward to the opposition supporting Bill C-14 to get it through to the other place as soon as possible.

Fisheries and Oceans

[John Williamson, Conservative, New Brunswick Southwest, NB]

Mr. Speaker, the fisheries minister has told Maritime fishing families that lobster fishing by indigenous communities under the moderate livelihood will follow existing seasons, regulations and enforcement rules, all set by DFO. The Liberal MP for Sydney—Victoria has said that this is wrong, that the fisheries minister's announcement is only an interim measure for this one year and that first nations will eventually be allowed, by the Liberal government, to set their own seasons and rules.

Who is right?

[Bernadette Jordan, Liberal, Minister of Fisheries]

Mr. Speaker, we recognize that first nations have a right to a moderate livelihood fishery. This was affirmed by the Supreme Court of Canada. The measures that we have put in place for this year are flexible and allow fishers to get out on the water right now, as we work toward longer term agreements.

These are ongoing negotiations with first nations communities. I look forward to having agreements in place.

[Chris d'Entremont, Conservative, West Nova, NS]

Mr. Speaker, let me be sure that Canadians understand this. The Liberal MP for Sydney—Victoria was correct when he said that the minister's pronouncement was only an interim measure. Clarity is extremely important here.

Is the minister telling us that flexible, moderate livelihood plans will be established by each first nation outside existing lobster seasons and will not be enforced by DFO after this interim plan is done?

[Bernadette Jordan, Liberal, Minister of Fisheries]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask my hon. colleagues to please stop spreading malicious rumours, basically.

These are ongoing negotiations we are having with first nations communities so we can get to a long-term agreement. First nations have a Supreme Court-affirmed right to a moderate livelihood fishery. We are working with them to make sure they are able to exercise that right.

In the interim, we have put measures in place that allow the moderate livelihood fishery to take place this year.

National Defence

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

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of National Defence was informed of the workplace violence at the CFB Valcartier fire department a year ago. An internal disclosure investigation has been requested, but there has been no co-operation from National Defence.

Can the minister tell us more about these cases of workplace violence?

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

Mr. Speaker, we take all allegations of harassment very seriously. I was not aware of that particular issue. However, I will look into it and get back to the member.

The Environment

[Yvan Baker, Liberal, Etobicoke Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the current pandemic has reminded us how important our environment is for protecting the health of families in my riding of Etobicoke Centre and across Canada.

This morning, the government introduced a bill that will provide greater protection from toxic substances.

Can the Minister of Environment and Climate Change explain to the House and Canadians how his new bill will help keep our communities healthy?

[Jonathan Wilkinson, Liberal, Minister of Environment and Climate Change]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for Etobicoke Centre for his question.

We have kept our promise to strengthen the Canadian Environmental Protection Act and implement measures that protect Canadians from toxic substances. Our bill will help us better protect the environment, recognize the right to a healthy environment, and much more.

Together, we will make Canada healthier for our families and communities.

Indigenous Affairs

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

Mr. Speaker, Indigenous Services Canada has taken up to two years to process applications for Indian status, while a Canadian passport is processed within 16 weeks. Status cards are necessary for first nations people to access health supports, including vaccinations. If the process is so complicated that it can take over two years to figure it out, there is something wrong with the system. I have a constituent who has been waiting for over three years. This is unacceptable and this is systemic racism.

When will the Liberals stop hiding behind the bureaucracy and talking points and actually fix it?

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Minister of Indigenous Services]

Mr. Speaker, the member will know that this government has made significant investments in accelerating the processing times in and around status. The cases can vary from one person to another. If the member has any particular case she would like to advance, the ministry would be more than happy to look at it and pass it onto my team.

Finance

[Jenica Atwin, Green, Fredericton, NB]

Mr. Speaker, the pandemic has made it clear that the financial security of millions of Canadians is hanging by a thread. The economy and the systems supporting it are not working for everyone. The wealth of Canadian billionaires sky-rocketed during the pandemic, while millions, including children and people with disabilities, still live below the poverty line.

For months, the government has been making promises that no Canadian will be left behind, but these promises feel empty when we see a refusal to hike the capital gains tax and reticence to impose a significant wealth tax.

Will the upcoming budget be a pathway to a fair and more prosperous Canada for all or will the government continue to allow corporations and their shareholders to build back better on the backs of Canadians?

[Sean Fraser, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and to the Minister of Middle Class Prosperity and Associate Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the hon. member for her advocacy for Canada's most vulnerable. While I will not pre-empt the decisions that will be outlined in the upcoming budget, I will reassure her that from the very first day we formed government, our focus has been to support middle-class and low-income Canadians.

The very first thing we did when we formed government was raise taxes on the 1% so we could cut taxes for the middle class. When we advanced the Canada child benefit, we put more money in the pocket in nine out of 10 Canadian families and stopped sending cheques to millionaires.

The pandemic has shown that we need to continue to support the vulnerable, and Canadians can rest assured that we will have their backs as long as it takes, no matter what it takes.

Post-Secondary Education in French

[Mario Beaulieu, Bloc, La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC]

Mr. Speaker, there have been discussions among the parties, and if you seek it, I believe you will find unanimous consent for the following motion:

That the House express its concern about the closure of 28 French language programs and the layoff of some 100 professors at Laurentian University in Sudbury;

That it reiterates its solidarity with the Franco-Ontarian community; and

That it recalls the essential role of higher education in French for the vitality of the Franco-Canadian and Acadian communities.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

All those opposed to the hon. member moving the motion will please say nay.

I hear none. The House has heard the terms of the motion. All those opposed to the motion will please say nay.

(Motion agreed to)

[Daniel Blaikie, NDP, Elmwood—Transcona, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. As you know, there has been a fair bit of election speculation on the Hill lately and the pandemic gives rise to legitimate questions about the advisability of an election. The procedure and House affairs committee has released a report with a recommendation that speaks directly to that issue.

As such, I am hoping that if you seek it, you will find unanimous consent on the floor for the following motion: That notwithstanding any standing order, special order or usual practice of the House, at the expiry of the time provided for Private Members' Business later today, the House revert back to the rubric motions for the purpose of considering a motion to concur in the 12th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, presented on Friday, February 26, and at the conclusion of the time provided for debate or when no member rises to speak, whichever is earlier, all questions necessary to dispose of the motion shall be put without further debate or amendment, provided that if a recorded division is requested, it shall stand deferred until the conclusion of Oral Questions at the next sitting day.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

All those opposed to the hon. member moving the motion will please say nay.

[Some hon. members]

Nay.

[Paul Manly, Green, Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. There have discussions among the parties and if you seek it, I believe you will find unanimous consent for the following motion: That notwithstanding any standing order, special order or usual practice of the House, until Wednesday, June 23, independent members and members of non-recognized parties be allowed to ask a total of eight questions per week during Oral Questions, including two on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays and one on Wednesdays and Fridays, it being understood that these questions do not impact the amount of oral questions already shared among recognized parties.