Debates of April 19th, 2021

Climate Change

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

Mr. Speaker, last week our leader announced a plan to tackle climate change. I was pleased to see many of the ideas I have been advocating for present in the plan, things like working with major industrial emitters to implement technology to actually reduce emissions, reducing emissions in transportation and buildings, increasing the amount of carbon captured through carbon sequestration and solutions that are forest and agriculture-based.

We want to replace higher carbon footprint fuels in the world with our Canadian environmentally responsible alternatives like nuclear, natural gas and green energy. We want to eliminate the Liberal punishing carbon tax and give money back to Canadians, so they can participate in helping our country reduce its carbon footprint.

Unlike the Liberals, who have yet to plant one of their two million trees and have once again not achieved their climate targets, the Conservatives have a plan that has been verified to meet our Paris 2030 targets by a well-respected environmental firm.

The Conservatives have a real plan for the environment.

National Volunteer Week

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

Mr. Speaker, volunteerism and civic and community engagement are at the heart of our Canadian values and define my community, Alfred-Pellan.

Volunteers were already making a big difference, but the pandemic has put an even brighter spotlight on the minor miracles they have performed for our local organizations. The kindness, compassion and generosity that our volunteers have shown in seniors' homes, with meals on wheels, at youth centres, or amongst neighbours and friends have made the situation less painful for my community.

During National Volunteer Week, I would like to thank these kind men and women whose individual efforts are making our Laval community stronger by binding us together.

I thank them for working miracles every day and for giving back to the community. I thank them for their volunteerism.

Governor General's Act

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Right Honourable Julie Payette was appointed Governor General on July 13, 2017. She resigned on January 21, 2021. She did not complete the usual five-year term, serving only three years and six months. Although she held her position for a very short time, since resigning, Ms. Payette will automatically receive an annual pension of $150,000 and a hospitality budget of $206,000 for the rest of her life.

The circumstances under which she left office are deeply disturbing. Eighty per cent of Canadians support ending her financial benefits. Ms. Payette resigned and should not be eligible for a lifetime pension, just as workers who resign are not eligible for employment insurance.

I urge all Canadians to sign petition e-3314, which calls on the government to immediately amend the Governor General's Act so that only governors general who have held office for a minimum of five years are eligible for a pension and financial benefits.

The Economy

[Rosemarie Falk, Conservative, Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians are weary and anxious to turn the corner on COVID-19. The future of Canada is at stake, and we know this. Now is not the time to deliver a federal budget that reimagines our economy.

Canadians who are struggling cannot afford to have the Prime Minister gamble their financial security on an ideological plan that picks winners and losers, a plan that neglects job, sectors and entire regions of our great country. Canadians need a plan that will secure their future. We need action to help the hardest-hit sectors so families have the security and dignity that come with a stable job.

The Conservatives have put forward a recovery plan that would support those who have struggled the most. It is a plan that would improve our country's resilience, restore our economy and put us on steady ground.

It is time that the Liberal government forgo risky ideological experiments and prioritize securing a strong, healthy and prosperous future for all Canadians.

Armenia

[Alexandre Boulerice, NDP, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, “The government has decided to destroy all Armenians living in Turkey. Their existence must come to an end, however tragic the means may be; and no regard must be paid to either age or sex, or to conscientious scruples.” That is a quote from a telegram sent by Talaat Pasha, the minister of the interior of the Ottoman empire on September 15, 1915.

The massacre of 1.5 million Armenians followed in what became the first genocide of the 20th century. The genocide order was followed everywhere. In Ankara alone, 500,000 people died. In some regions, caravans of families were driven into the desert, where very few survived. Let us be frank. Events in recent months have served as a reminder of this collective trauma. Once again, Armenians were attacked and bombed. A total of 3,500 Armenians were killed in the conflict that shook Artsakh, Armenians who were targeted for who they are, where they live. It is impossible not to see a very worrisome historic parallel.

That is why, more than ever, we have a duty to remember, show compassion and stand in solidarity.

Saguenay—Lac-St-Jean Forestry Association

[Mario Simard, Bloc, Jonquière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Association forestière Saguenay—Lac-St-Jean will soon be celebrating its 80th anniversary.

Since 1942, the association has been helping to cultivate an appreciation of forests among young people and the general public and is thereby contributing to the growth and development of this major economic sector while advocating for environmental conservation.

The Association forestière Saguenay—Lac-St-Jean plays a major role in educating the region's population, sharing information, and raising people's awareness of the importance of forests and of sustainably developing them. Forests are carbon sinks, which makes them one of our greatest assets in the fight against the climate crisis. As such, the association will no doubt be playing an even greater role in the years to come.

On behalf of the people of Jonquière and the Bloc Québécois, I wish the Association forestière Saguenay—Lac-St-Jean all the best in its ongoing efforts to demonstrate the importance of one of our greatest assets: forests.

2020 Shootings in Nova Scotia

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

Mr. Speaker, I take the floor today in the beautiful province of Nova Scotia to recognize the one-year anniversary of one of the darkest chapters in its history: the death of 22 people in Portapique.

One year ago, Nova Scotia RCMP struggled for 13 hours to try to stop Canada's deadliest rampage. The deaths of innocent victims were senseless, unnecessary and totally heinous.

Ever since this tragic event occurred, Nova Scotians across the province came together to mourn and to support the victims' families. They continue to stand in solidarity with them one year later to help folks understand how something so awful can happen in one of our beautiful and sleepy communities.

Yesterday, it was heartwarming to see so many COVID-friendly gatherings, church services and a provincial moment of silence at 3 p.m. to honour the memory of the victims. No matter what we face, Nova Scotians unite and rise in the times of grief and sorrow.

I ask all my colleagues in the House of Commons to work together to help the victims' families and loved ones to get answers they need and deserve to help them heal. This kind of atrocity should never happen again.

[Kody Blois, Liberal, Kings—Hants, NS]

Mr. Speaker, a year ago today, Nova Scotians began to realize the gravity of the horrific events of the Nova Scotia shooting, which began in Portapique and impacted communities across the province, including the communities I represent in Kings—Hants.

There were 22 innocent lives lost, including an expectant mother, in a senseless and cowardly act of violence that words simply cannot properly describe. Today I think of the families and friends who lost loved ones and collectively, as Nova Scotians and indeed as Canadians, we stand with them. I want to thank all the first responders who answered the call, including Constable Heidi Stevenson, who made the ultimate sacrifice in the interests of protecting others, and Chad Morrison, a neighbour of mine who was injured in the line of duty.

I am fiercely proud to be a Nova Scotian and, as Nova Scotians do, we collectively came together to mourn, grieve and show kindness and love for one another during a difficult time. The compassion and collective spirit we have witnessed is powerful and it, rather than the violence and evil we experienced, will be what continues to define us in the days ahead.

Public Services and Procurement

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

Mr. Speaker, Canadians are in a race against COVID-19 variants that we are sadly losing.

When vaccines get to Canada matters as much as how many arrive. This week's Pfizer shipment, according to experts, will be completely used up in two days. The Prime Minister's February shortages created this April's third wave.

How much longer is the third wave going to be because the government has failed to get enough vaccines on time?

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Minister of Public Services and Procurement]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for the question. It gives me an opportunity to emphasize that in addition to the deliveries that we have already secured for Canada, we signed an agreement with Pfizer, a very stable partner, to have eight million more doses coming into this country by the end of June. We will be receiving between 48 million and 50 million doses, cumulatively, before that time.

Our deliveries and our negotiations mean that in the month of May, for example, we will have 2 million doses per week coming into the country and 12 million over five weeks in June.

We are third in the G20, and I thank the hon. member for the question.

Health

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

Mr. Speaker, it is too little too late.

The Prime Minister had been warned about a third wave since February, but it is April and only 2% of Canadians are fully vaccinated. I repeat: only 2%. Less than a quarter have had even one dose. Every decision the government has made, according to its own experts, has been to compensate for a lack of supply. This third wave is a direct result of the Prime Minister's inaction.

Why are Canadians getting a vaccine plan now for June, instead of April or earlier?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, every step of the way, we have been there for provinces and territories, and indeed for all Canadians as we battle COVID-19 together.

Eight dollars out of every $10 spent on responding to COVID has been federal funding. We have been there with billions of dollars in transfers to provinces and territories, acquisition of personal protective equipment and rapid tests, acquisition of vaccines and, indeed, helping provinces and territories with surges of cases.

We will continue to be there for as long as it takes.

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

Mr. Speaker, Ontario is in crisis because of vaccine shortages.

In Kitchener-Waterloo, public health announced last weekend that vaccination clinics were closing because of vaccine shortages. For example, the vaccination clinics at the Boardwalk in Kitchener and Pinebush Road in Cambridge will go from seven to three days a week.

When will the government get serious and deliver the vaccines the provincial government desperately needs to stave off the third wave of this pandemic?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, we all know that vaccines are an important tool to fight COVID-19, but we have to continue to apply public health measures and listen to the scientists and experts who are leading the way.

We will be there for Ontarians during this third wave, as we were during the first and second waves. As the member opposite knows, I spoke with Minister Christine Elliott on the weekend. We will be supporting Ontarians no matter where they live in the province.

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

Mr. Speaker, where is the urgency from the government?

Ontario is in crisis. A third wave is upon us, all because the government has failed to deliver vaccines. We have 4,400 new cases a day, double the rate of the U.S. There were 19 COVID deaths in the last 24 hours alone, higher than the rate in the U.S.

The U.S. and U.K. are avoiding the third wave. Over 40% of Americans have been vaccinated and over 50% of Britons have been vaccinated, but only 26% of Ontarians.

When is the government going to deliver the desperately needed vaccines to the province of Ontario?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, it is very important that the member opposite not confuse Canadians with, I think, somewhat false allegations.

We know that, even in jurisdictions where there have been very high rates of vaccination, public health measures must continue until we are certain that we can crush that curve.

That is exactly what we are doing: vaccinating Canadians and making sure that they have the tools they need to get through this wave and any other experiences of surges in any province or territory. We will be there for Ontarians. We will be there for all Canadians for as long as it takes with whatever they need.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am speaking truth to power: a power the current government is not using to deliver vaccines. Referring to the government's handling of the pandemic, The Globe and Mail said last weekend, “the best policy for Canadians is this: When it comes to COVID-19 you're on your own. Pretend you don't have governments protecting you because in many ways you don't.” The government punted much of the responsibility for the pandemic to the provinces. One of the few things it had to do was deliver vaccines. This is something it has utterly failed to do.

When is it going to focus on the task at hand and deliver these vaccines?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, as the member opposite has been reassured time and again, the federal government has stopped at nothing to support Canadians, regardless of which jurisdiction they live in. Whether it was delivering PPE, supporting people with the CERB and the wage subsidy, or purchasing vaccines and other therapeutics, we have been there for Canadians and we will continue to be there. Of every $10 spent responding to the pandemic, $8 has come from the federal government. We have supported provinces and territories every step of the way and we will not stop.

COVID-19 Emergency Response

[Alain Therrien, Bloc, La Prairie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, today, the government will finally table the first budget in two years. We are expecting this past year's deficit to be close to $400 billion. The federal government is justifying its spending to help people and businesses during the pandemic. Unfortunately, the Liberal government also used this as an opportunity to pad the coffers of the Liberal Party by happily dipping into wage subsidies for businesses, a fine example that was followed by the Conservatives and the NDP.

Given that the Liberal Party received $15 million in donations this year, will it take this opportunity to return taxpayers' money that it misappropriated?

[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, at the outset of the pandemic we made a decision that we were going to be there for households and businesses. When it came to workers, we did not discriminate against them on the basis of who their employer was. With the Canada emergency wage subsidy, we have now ensured that more than five million Canadians have remained on their employers' payroll, which allows them not only to maintain their salary but to access important benefits.

Going back to March 2020, knowing what I know now, I would do the same thing again to make sure that Canadians were supported through this pandemic.

[Alain Therrien, Bloc, La Prairie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, he is not even embarrassed to say that. It is not funny.

It was not just the other parties that took advantage of the wage subsidy to line their pockets. We learned that the Canada Revenue Agency received 1,200 complaints about companies that fraudulently received the wage subsidy.

Do you know how many companies were sanctioned? Not one. There were no prosecutions or prison sentences. None at all. I have to say that the Liberals are not setting an example. That is like putting Colonel Sanders in charge of the henhouse.

When will the government demand that those who stole money from taxpayers pay it back?

[Diane Lebouthillier, Liberal, Minister of National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, our government took quick and decisive action to provide assistance to Canadian workers and employers.

The Canada Revenue Agency launched post-payment audits of Canada emergency wage benefit recipients.

I remind my colleague in the opposition that he voted against post-payment audits of wage subsidy recipients. My colleague cannot change his vote, but I hope he will admit that audits of large-scale programs might be useful after all.

Health

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the pandemic third wave is raging and Ontario's health care system is in serious crisis. People are doing their best to stop the spread of COVID-19 by staying home and following public health guidelines, but they need more help. If the federal government declared a public welfare emergency we could increase hospital capacity, get more vaccines to vulnerable people and provide paid sick leave to all workers to reduce infections.

The federal government should do everything it can to save Canadians' lives. Will the Liberal government use its powers under the Emergencies Act to save lives in Ontario?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, every step of the way we have worked with the provinces and territories collaboratively to save lives and stop the spread. That is the philosophy of the government and it is what Canadians want to see: the provinces and territories working with the federal government, stopping at nothing to save the lives of their loved ones and to ensure they have the financial and economic supports to protect themselves and their communities. We will continue that hard work with the provinces, territories and Canadians so we can get through this together.

[Lindsay Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Mr. Speaker, hospitals across Ontario are in crisis and London is no exception, setting a new record for COVID-19 patients in its ICUs. The Ontario Conservative government has dropped the ball and the federal government owes it to Ontarians and all Canadians to do everything it can to help protect lives during this third wave. New Democrats have asked the Prime Minister to use the Emergencies Act to get more people vaccinated and to provide sick leave and pay to workers.

Yes or no: Will the Prime Minister commit to using the Emergencies Act to protect the lives of Ontarians from this devastating third wave?