House of Commons Hansard #84 of the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was billion.
James Cumming Conservative Edmonton Centre, AB
Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned in my speech, there is nothing in the budget that recognizes the importance of this industry that has helped Canada for years and has allowed us to grow our social programs and infrastructure in the country. I am incredibly disappointed there is no recognition of the energy sector in the budget.
Yasmin Ratansi Independent Don Valley East, ON
Mr. Speaker, the Ismaili Volunteer Corps, through the civic program, have been in the forefront of providing services to those facing isolation during the pandemic. It launched access that provides virtual programming, tech support and non-emergency medical help to all in need.
Many constituents in my riding and across Canada have benefited from these services. The team recently joined hands with the Michael Garron Hospital to conduct a mass vaccination clinic in my riding, where thousands accessed the service. As well, the Ismaili Civic, in collaboration with the Humber River Hospital, has worked to recruit volunteers for a mass vaccination initiative at the Downsview Park arena.
I thank the team of dedicated volunteers for the service they provide, and follow the motto of “Work No words”. They are truly an inspiration to all.
Ya'ara Saks Liberal York Centre, ON
Mr. Speaker, the pandemic has taken an enormous toll on the most vulnerable, but we have also seen so many volunteers step up and show us the very best of our community.
I want to highlight the efforts of York Centre constituent, Emily Gampel. Since the pandemic began, she has reached out and kept in touch with Holocaust survivors, arranged support for first responders and front-line health care workers, and organized donations of winter clothing to vulnerable Canadians in Nunavut with the support of the Uquutaq Society in Iqaluit. Like so many volunteers, it is not just about helping others but also a key to supporting her own mental health.
I want to close with Emily's own words about her motivation, “In Canada, we may have different religious, ethnic, and cultural roots, or we may look different from one another. But despite it all we have one powerful commonality. We are all Canadians, and we live in this beautiful country that we are lucky to call home.”
Todd Doherty Conservative Cariboo—Prince George, BC
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight an international disaster response organization, made up of 70,000 incredible volunteers: veterans, first responders, medical professionals and kick-ass civilians who continue to make an impact at home and across the globe. With the driving force of service above self, Team Rubicon was founded by two U.S. brains in 2010.
Six years later, Team Rubicon Canada got its start during the 2016 Fort McMurray wildfires.
In 10 years, Team Rubicon has deployed to six earthquakes, 132 floods, 56 hurricanes, 47 severe weather events, 96 tornadoes, 79 wildfires and, on the COVID front line, has over 325 vaccination sites, helping deliver over 1.3 million vaccinations. Team Rubicon members from Prince George have deployed all across Canada, the United States, the Bahamas and, most recently, in Honduras.
I am exceptionally proud to be a “greyshirt”. I encourage everyone to reach out to their local organizers and see how they can support Team Rubicon, its mission and maybe even become a greyshirt themselves.
Shaun Chen Liberal Scarborough North, ON
Mr. Speaker, since the COVID-19 pandemic began, Canadians of Asian descent have fallen victim to incessant hate and xenophobia.
A recent Chinese Canadian National Council report says that from March 10, 2020 to February 28, 2021, there were 1,150 reported attacks, with both adolescents and seniors more likely to be targeted. Eleven per cent of incidents involved violent physical assault or some form of unwanted contact, while 10% included being coughed or spat on. This is repugnant and reprehensible.
Last month, at Toronto City Hall, I joined thousands of Canadians standing in solidarity against anti-Asian racism. Together, we condemned hate and made a concerted call for action. Whether it is against Asian, Black or indigenous communities, racism has no home in Canada.
As Canadian citizens, we must continue to create an inclusive space for racialized groups, cultural and religious minorities and newcomers. Canada has come too far to go backward now.
Yves Perron Bloc Berthier—Maskinongé, QC
Mr. Speaker, the budget does not jibe with the government's commitments to the agricultural community or its needs.
When someone goes on and on about food sovereignty at some point they have to stop talking and start doing something about it. Succession planning is crucial to the health of the agricultural sector.
In 2019, the Liberal Party promised to modernize the tax system to facilitate the transfer of family businesses and family farms between generations. There is nothing to that effect in the budget. What is more, we need to get these businesses geared up. They need foreign workers.
In the middle of a crisis involving quarantine problems with Switch Health, the only thing Ottawa has to offer in the budget is more inspections. How will that help?
The government also needs to compensate the entire supply-managed sector for CUSMA. This was included in the fall economic statement, but it is not in the budget.
The Bloc Québécois will ensure that the government honours its commitments and keeps its promises to the agricultural community.
Karen McCrimmon Liberal Kanata—Carleton, ON
Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to share with members the success that Kanata—Carleton has achieved with the Canada summer jobs program.
I am pleased to announce that $2.1 million in funding was approved, creating 618 jobs at 123 organizations, charities and businesses. From technology to organic farming to summer camps, it is this diversity that makes Kanata—Carleton such an amazing place to live and do business.
I thank everyone from all the businesses and organizations who showed incredible determination, commitment and creativity when presented with the challenges of COVID-19. They have supported and served their community, and the people of Kanata—Carleton have been there to support them in return. Shopping local is a win-win.
Together we can all succeed in spite of these challenging times. Their leadership and teamwork matters greatly, and I thank them all.
Richard Bragdon Conservative Tobique—Mactaquac, NB
Mr. Speaker, for over a year now Canadians have been doing everything they can to stay safe and keep Canada moving and working.
My riding of Tobique—Mactaquac takes in a majority of the New Brunswick-U.S. border. COVID restrictions have been particularly hard on our border communities across the country. Many Canadians are required to cross regularly for essential work and services. Some work in health care on the other side of the border, others truck and haul our goods and others work in our agriculture and food supply chains, while others must cross for medical and other essential appointments.
For some this means crossing the international border multiple times a day. Everyone wants to be safe and take the necessary precautions, but when our essential workers are crossing multiple times a day, the process for crossing should be as simple and straightforward as possible.
Instead of insisting that these essential workers fill out arriveCan submissions multiple times a day in places that often have poor to no cell coverage, the government should be doing everything it can to streamline the process and ensure our essential workers are supported with a process that makes sense and eliminates redundancies.
Marie-France Lalonde Liberal Orléans, ON
Mr. Speaker, on April 16, the federal government announced a $1.5 million investment to Veterans' House as part of its efforts to tackle houselessness and provide crucial supports for our veterans in need.
Operated by the Multifaith Housing Initiative, Veterans' House opened this past February and offers veterans affordable housing as well as access to mental health and addiction services. This new investment will help construct 40 homes for veterans who are houseless or at risk of houselessness and builds on the federal government's $6.5 million investment made in 2019.
The Multifaith Housing Initiative has been working since 2001 to supply safe, continuous and inclusive affordable housing in Ottawa. I would like to thank executive director Suzanne Le and her team at MHI for their outstanding contribution to our community. I also thank the member for Ottawa—Vanier for making the announcement.
Paul Lefebvre Liberal Sudbury, ON
Mr. Speaker, we are all aware of the situation unfolding at Laurentian University in Sudbury. What I want to focus on today are the students affected by this tragedy.
Like most universities, exams at Laurentian started on April 12, the same day as the job losses and program cuts were announced.
Hundreds of students have to do their exams knowing that their program will no longer exist next year.
The hockey and swim teams were cut, casting student athletes adrift, with nowhere to play, train or study.
As the father of a university student athlete, I cannot imagine the pain of losing one's team, teammates, academic program and dream all at the same time.
I talked to the students about the devastating effects the cuts have had on them. No one has been spared.
As concerned and frustrated as I am about the enormous impact currently felt by Laurentian University students, I remain resolved to see the university emerge as strong as possible from this terrible situation. We owe it to our students, who have sacrificed so much to get this far in their studies, to search for a way forward so they can complete their studies and launch their careers.
Kelly Block Conservative Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek, SK
Mr. Speaker, conscience rights are a fundamental freedom protected by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Sadly, this right is being severely undermined for medical processionals in relation to medical aid in dying. When euthanasia and MAID were first legalized in 2015, the government promised that people would not be coerced to take part in euthanasia against their will. Without the force of law behind it, this promise has proven to be completely empty.
Physicians as well as other medical professionals are now constrained by law to offer MAID as a primary treatment option even in cases where they do not believe it is in the best interest of their patient. Without conscience rights, patients will no longer have access to a second opinion for their end-of-life care. As a result, patient rights and well-being are being undermined. My private member's bill, the protection of freedom of conscience act, seeks to address this deterioration of rights.
Pam Damoff Liberal Oakville North—Burlington, ON
Mr. Speaker, this past March, Statistics Canada found that Canadians with Asian backgrounds have reported increased racial harassment during the pandemic. While systemic racism against Asian Canadians is certainly not new, it has increased exponentially during the pandemic.
Earlier this month, I hosted Halton MPs and stakeholders for an anti-Asian racism round table with the Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth to discuss the disturbing acts of discrimination and racism facing people of Asian descent in our communities and steps we can take to fight it.
The members of Halton's Asian Canadian community have been leaders during the pandemic, distributing PPE and sanitizer and adopting public health measures early on. We have a diverse and active Asian Canadian community in Halton, and we all have a responsibility to support those facing racism and stand united to ensure that everyone in Canada is treated equitably.
Steven Blaney Conservative Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC
With their pre-election goodies, the Liberals are taking seniors for fools. They are dangling $500 in front of them just before the election. However, if seniors are 65, 70 or even 74 years of age, they can forget about it because it is not for them.
With record deficits, no fiscal anchor and a debt ratio that has ballooned to more than 50%, it is obvious that the Liberal credit card is going to blow up at our expense.
After a two-year wait, we were expecting far better from the Liberals, especially with the pandemic, namely real measures to stimulate our economy in a responsible manner and to get people back to work. Instead, the Liberals are creating new programs with a staggering price tag and are putting future generations further into debt. These same Liberals then talk to us about sustainable development.
Seniors deserve better, as do future generations. I can hardly wait for a Conservative government to set things right before it is too late.
John Barlow Conservative Foothills, AB
Mr. Speaker, the impact this pandemic has had on our mental health will far outlast this crisis. This is something we cannot ignore. I have held numerous virtual town halls in my riding with community leaders and business owners, talking about mental health and the impact on our constituents. I want to thank Dr. Jody Carrington for her powerful and inspirational message, and Pamela Morgan with Headstrong for her focus on rural businesses and farm families. Hundreds of people attended these sessions and shared their heartfelt stories of stress, anxiety, depression and, in many cases, suicide.
This cannot be the new normal. Canadians need hope that this will end.
However, instead of a recovery plan, the Liberals' budget had no strategy for how to permanently and safely end these lockdowns. The Liberals have failed miserably in accessing vaccines, meaning that these quarantines will extend. As Conservatives, we have focused on securing jobs and our economy and the recovery of the financial and mental health of Canadians.
As Dr. Carrington said, “We are all just here walking each other home”.
Carol Hughes NDP Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, ON
Mr. Speaker, often we hear about the challenges indigenous communities can face securing a safe and reliable source of drinking water. However, for Whitefish River First Nation, water quality has been a source of pride in recent years. Now that has been tempered with the passing of water treatment plant operator Mark Shawanda.
Trained in the shadow of the Walkerton crisis, Mark took great pride in running the water plant by the book for over two decades. Proof of excellence came by way of multiple water quality awards that brought recognition to the community and to Mark as well. He shared his experience by mentoring others, ensuring Whitefish River First Nation's water will remain of the highest quality for years to come.
Known for his can-do attitude and one-liners like “I'm no doctor, but I'll take a look”, Mark was active in the local sport community, served on council and was fully devoted to his family, especially his grandchildren.
I extend heartfelt condolences to Mark's wife Debbie, his family and the community of Whitefish River First Nation. Our thoughts are with them.
Martin Champoux Bloc Drummond, QC
Mr. Speaker, I was pleased to hear that money was allocated in the budget to small festivals and local cultural celebrations.
The problem is that there will soon be no one left to promote if the government continues to let our news media and regional media die a slow death. We have been saying that the media is in crisis for years, but the Liberals completely ignored the issue and missed the perfect opportunity to address it in their record-spending budget.
That is why the Bloc Québécois is pushing to put the revenue collected from taxing web giants in a fund for culture and news media. The content creators who work in these sectors are the ones bringing in the big bucks for online platforms. People in these industries face an uncertain future, because their work goes towards lining the pockets of foreign multinationals instead of benefiting their own families.
The Liberals deliberately left our media and content creators out of the budget, but it is not too late to do something. Rest assured that the Bloc Québécois will not abandon these sectors.
Tony Baldinelli Conservative Niagara Falls, ON
Mr. Speaker, as Canadians look ahead to rounding the corner on COVID-19, our country is at a crossroads. The future of Canada is at stake, and Canadians must choose which path to recovery they trust.
The path of the Prime Minister's reimagined economy veers off into the unknown and saddles our children with debt levels and repayment obligations that will challenge their future success.
Canada's Conservatives are offering another path, one of security and certainty, through our five-point Canada recovery plan. Our plan will secure our future and deliver us to a Canada where those who have struggled the most through this pandemic can get back to work. Canada's Conservatives got through the last recession, and with Canada's recovery plan, Canada's Conservatives will get Canadians through these challenging times as well.
Annie Koutrakis Liberal Vimy, QC
Mr. Speaker, budget 2021 offers a historic plan to fight the pandemic while creating jobs and building a stronger, greener, healthier and more inclusive Canada.
We worked hard to ensure that local voices were reflected in this budget, including those in my riding, Vimy, and all across Canada. We are extending the critical support programs we introduced during the pandemic. We are making sure that seniors can live with additional financial security.
After 50 years of talking about it, we are finally creating a national early learning and child care system to support working mothers. We are going to get it done this time. This budget sets out a plan to support all Canadians and help our economy grow.
Erin O'Toole ConservativeLeader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, the third wave of COVID-19 is ravaging Canada. We are in this situation because the federal government did not secure enough supply of vaccines fast enough to prevent it. Today, the Government of Manitoba had to secure help from North Dakota to vaccinate essential workers.
How many Canadians will have to be vaccinated in the United States because of the Prime Minister's failure to secure vaccines?
Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, it is important in this House that we be grounded in facts. Our plan is working, and we are getting more vaccines than anticipated. We have now delivered over 13.3 million doses to provinces and territories, with more than 10 million doses of vaccine already administered. Thanks to the tireless work of officials to accelerate vaccine deliveries, we are now in the top three of G7 and G20 countries.
Erin O'Toole ConservativeLeader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, his plan is working. Moderna was delayed and doses were reduced. AstraZeneca was delayed and doses were reduced. This morning, production of the J&J vaccine has been suspended at the main facility. Supply shortages will only get worse as more Canadians become eligible for shots.
Why did the Prime Minister fail to secure the required vaccines months ago?
Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, again, the Conservatives attempt to play politics with this, but the fact is that we actually passed our target of six million doses by the end of March by over 50%. We are now receiving over a million doses every single week, and we will continue to. We will receive two million doses in the month of May every week, and more than 48 million doses by the end of June. Every Canadian who wants to be vaccinated will be fully vaccinated by September. We are on track.
Erin O'Toole ConservativeLeader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, we are in the third wave of this pandemic, so severe because of the Prime Minister's failure to secure vaccines at a rate the United States was at months ago. Exceeding targets by stealing vaccines from the developing world is shameful leadership by the Prime Minister. He announces future shots months from now, and in those same press conferences he announces delays for the next few weeks.
The provinces are desperate for more vaccine supply. Where is it?
Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, we will be receiving more than a million vaccines every single week for the foreseeable future, with two million in the month of May, with tens of millions in the month of June. We will continue to deliver vaccines, but we know that as we continue to work, we need to make sure we are following public health guidelines and basing our decisions on science, which is something this government has always done. We will continue to work with provinces and territories.
Canadians will notice, even if Conservatives do not want to talk about it, that we put forward a budget that gives so much help to Canadians that Conservative do not even have any questions on it.
Erin O'Toole ConservativeLeader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, I have a question.
The Quebec finance minister was very disappointed by the lack of stable, predictable and unconditional health care funding. The budget had no support for health care, even though we are in the middle of a third wave.
Why is the government spending on an election rather than on the health of Canadians?