Debates of May 10th, 2021

National Nursing Week

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

Mr. Speaker, today marks the beginning of National Nursing Week, which recognizes the outstanding contributions and hard work of nursing staff.

Hôpital de la Cité-de-la-Santé in Laval is full of superstars who work tirelessly to provide care to members of our community who need it.

Staff members were already performing daily miracles before the pandemic, but they have ramped up their efforts since the crisis began, often to the detriment of their own health. They were on the front lines in responding to the emergency, and they continue to be guardian angels as vaccination continues in Laval.

I thank all the nursing staff in Laval for their daily dedication to our community and the essential work they do every day. I thank them for continuing to care for those who are ill.

U18 World Championship

[Joël Godin, Conservative, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

Mr. Speaker, on Thursday night, Canada won its first gold medal since 2013 at the under-18 world hockey championship in the United States, in Texas to be precise. I want to highlight the Canadian team's strong performance, as it did not lose any of the seven games it played throughout the tournament. This is a testament to both its strong offence and its seasoned defence.

This team included only one Quebecker, a young hockey player from Cap-Santé, a village in my riding of Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier. I would like to congratulate Guillaume Richard on his outstanding contribution. This young defenceman's remarkable talent and potential were showcased throughout the tournament. Finishing the tournament with a plus-14, Guillaume was a defensive pillar for his team.

Guillaume is a role model for young athletes in our region and is doing a great job of representing Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier and Quebec as a whole on our national team. I hope he is as proud of himself as we all are. Congratulations, Guillaume.

Jewish Heritage Month

[Marty Morantz, Conservative, Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB]

Mr. Speaker, this month of May marks Jewish Heritage Month. Jews throughout Canada's history have made extraordinary contributions to the fabric of our nation and have helped make it the greatest country in the world.

Whether it be the Bronfman family and their contributions in business and philanthropy; in politics and government with former minister of finance Joe Oliver; in the entertainment world with the likes of none other than Captain James T. Kirk, captain of the Starship Enterprise, William Shatner; or, for the younger crowd out there, Canada's own superstar, Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter Drake, the Canadian Jewish community has made significant contributions to the growth and prosperity of Canada while overcoming tremendous obstacles.

This month, let us remember to celebrate and educate future generations about the inspirational role that Jewish Canadians have played and continue to play in communities across the country. On behalf of our entire Conservative team, I want to wish a happy Jewish Heritage Month to my fellow Jewish Canadians across the country.

Hospitality Industry

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to bring to Parliament's attention an unconscionable attack on workers, occurring in British Columbia.

Two weeks ago, an employer group representing the hospitality industry served lockout notice on some 1,200 workers in 14 communities around the province. This has been accompanied by mass firings of hundreds of workers at the Hilton Metrotown and Pacific Gateway Hotel, two-thirds of whom are women. These employers are cynically using the pandemic to eliminate loyal employees with decades of service and to roll back wages and workplace conditions. This despicable tactic also constitutes an assault on racialized Canadians, as many of these workers are people of colour.

The Prime Minister promised Canadians a feminist recovery, but his government continues to operate quarantine services at a hotel, behind picket lines, which is attacking women. I call on the government to cease operations immediately at facilities affected by job action and suspend all federal funds to these employers until they reverse their disgraceful behaviour.

Scotland's Election Result

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Montarville, QC]

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Bloc Québécois, I am pleased to congratulate the Scottish National Party and the First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, for their resounding victory in Thursday's election.

The majority of the people of Scotland voted very clearly in favour of holding another referendum on their future with the United Kingdom. Considering that the Scots voted strongly against Brexit in 2016, a referendum on Scottish independence seems most appropriate and could end in victory.

It is my sincere wish that the will of the people of Scotland is heard and that democracy is not impeded by the government of Boris Johnson, who is refusing to let their nation simply express itself.

I want to reiterate that a people's right to self-determination is a fundamental principle to which any democracy worthy of the name must adhere. I therefore invite every party in the House of Commons to reiterate their unconditional support for this principle to assure Scotland that its friend Canada will stand behind its values and support Scotland's choice either way.

Liberal Party of Canada

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

Mr. Speaker, in a riding that has been decided by fewer than 50 votes in recent years, the member for Winnipeg North was found guilty of breaking elections law for running illegal ads on election day, influencing the vote of some 35,000 people on their way to the polls. It is completely inappropriate for this same member to be the parliamentary secretary in charge of changing Canada's election laws for all candidates in 338 ridings across the country, when he cannot be bothered to follow our existing laws.

Canadians expect our elections to be the global standard for unquestionable integrity. How can the government be trusted to ensure the integrity of our elections and have the best interests for Canadians at the front of mind when they will recklessly break current laws for their own benefit?

Canadians deserve better. The Liberals break the law whenever they think they can get away with it because they believe they are above the rules that the rest of us follow. A Conservative government would bring back ethics and good governance to Parliament Hill and restore Canadians' confidence in their public institutions.

2020 Joshua Glover Public Art Competition

[Kirsty Duncan, Liberal, Etobicoke North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, today I recognize Quentin VerCetty, an award-winning Black artist, storyteller and educator who was born and raised in Etobicoke North. His work addresses issues of decolonization, immigration and representation and has been featured in countries including Australia, Germany, Haiti, Mexico and Peru.

Quentin recently won the 2020 Joshua Glover Public Art Competition. His sculpture commemorates Joshua Glover who arrived in Canada via the Underground Railway and who helped propel the abolitionist movement.

In Quentin's words, his memorial “marks a moment of allyship, advocacy and activism to improve the treatment of human beings that we can all continue to strive for”.

I ask members of the House to join me in recognizing Quentin VerCetty, who works hard to inspire hearts and minds and pave the way for up-and-coming Black artists.

National Defence

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

Mr. Speaker, “I think it's going too far to say we didn't know it was a MeToo complaint. Between PMO and PCO, we knew it was of a sexual nature.” That is what a Liberal senior government official told the Toronto Star this weekend. The Prime Minister's Office is telling Parliament something very different from what this person told the Toronto Star.

Why did Katie Telford mislead the committee about knowing whether she was dealing with a sexual misconduct complaint against General Vance?

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

Mr. Speaker, I want to make it very clear that we did not know the nature of the specifics of the case when the information was brought forward, but we are absolutely committed to making sure that we create the culture change that is needed in the Canadian Armed Forces and making sure we have an absolutely inclusive work environment that is harassment free for all women in the Canadian Armed Forces. That is a goal we will continue to work toward.

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

Mr. Speaker, that is just not believable. For weeks, the Minister of National Defence has refused to answer about whether he knew the complaint was sexual misconduct. The former ombudsman has said repeatedly that he told the minister it was. The committee has correspondence from the minister's chief of staff saying it was sexual harassment and correspondence on which the minister is copied saying it was sexual harassment.

Can the minister stop this shameful denial and just admit that he knowingly sat on sexual misconduct complaints against General Vance for three years?

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

Mr. Speaker, I want to make it very clear that the nature of the specific details were not provided, but we acted immediately on this information. In fact, the very next day public officials, who are non-partisan, contacted Mr. Walbourne to take the appropriate action. We know that we have a lot more work to do, but we will get it done.

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

Mr. Speaker, no one trusts that minister, and no one is trusting the government or believing a word it says. Telford told committee that the Prime Minister signed off on extending Vance's term and giving him a pay raise, yet she said she did not tell him about the allegations all that time. The defence minister knew, the chief of staff knew and the Clerk of the Privy Council knew, yet somehow Vance spent three more years as Canada's top soldier.

My question is actually for the Deputy Prime Minister. How did this so-called “feminist government” allow that to happen?

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

Mr. Speaker, as we said, we have a lot more work to do, when it comes to supporting the women in the Canadian Armed Forces. There is work that we have done, when it comes to passing Bill C-77, and with the sexual misconduct response centre. We have been taking important steps, but clearly we have a lot more work to do to make sure we have an absolutely harassment-free workplace in the Canadian Armed Forces. That is the work Madam Arbour is doing. The work, when it comes to military justice reforms, will also be presented. We have a lot more work to do. We are going to get this done.

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Mr. Speaker, on Friday, the Prime Minister's chief of staff testified in committee. We expected her to provide compelling evidence. She did not. No one believes Katie Telford.

A source close to the government told the Toronto Star that it was going too far to say that they did not know that it was a #MeToo complaint. Someone close to the government told the Toronto Star this. In addition, I remind members that an email received on March 2, 2018, proves without a doubt that the chief of staff knew that the complaint was about sexual harassment.

How can the Deputy Prime Minister defend the indefensible?

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

Mr. Speaker, no specific details were provided, but we acted immediately on this information, and non-partisan public officials contacted Mr. Walbourne to take the appropriate action. We know that we have a lot more work to do in making sure we create the confidence for women to be able to come forward, and that is the work that is currently ongoing to get this done.

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Mr. Speaker, how can we believe the government? It changed its story three times.

On Friday, the chief of staff had a golden opportunity to tell Canadians the truth and provide tangible evidence. She was not able to do so. I will repeat my question to the Deputy Prime Minister of this self-proclaimed feminist government.

How can the Deputy Prime Minister of Canada defend the indefensible?

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

Mr. Speaker, as we stated before, no specific details were provided on this case, but action was immediately taken. A process was followed, the exact same process the former government had followed when information was brought to it. We know there is a lot more work to do. This is the reason we have appointed Madam Arbour to give us recommendations on the way forward, when it comes to the independence of the complaints process, so that women can feel confident to come forward. Harassment-free workplaces that have zero tolerance for any type of misconduct is our goal and something that we are committed to.

Elections Canada

[Alain Therrien, Bloc, La Prairie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I am very concerned that the government is imposing a gag order to amend election rules in the middle of a pandemic.

The government introduced Bill C-19 four months ago. We have had four months to debate it, but the bill has suddenly become important today. The government is waking up. All of a sudden, there is no time to debate or even reflect. The government quite simply wants to use a gag order so that it can impose its election rules.

This bill sat around for four months, so why is it suddenly so urgent to use a gag order now? Is it because the government wants to call an election in the middle of a pandemic?

[The Speaker, Anthony Rota]

We have a problem with the interpretation.

The problem now seems to be fixed. I would ask the hon. member to repeat his question.

The hon. member for La Prairie.

[Alain Therrien, Bloc, La Prairie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, it is very worrisome to see the government impose closure to change election rules in the middle of a pandemic.

The government introduced Bill C-19 four months ago. We could have been debating it these past four months. It was only today that it became important to the government. Suddenly, the government has no more time to debate or, frankly, to even think about it. It wants to use closure, of all things, to impose its election rules.

If it was not an urgent matter for four months, why are they suddenly imposing closure? Do the Liberals want to call an election in the midst of the pandemic?

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from La Prairie for his question.

My Bloc Québécois colleague is well aware that the government is fully focused on providing the assistance required to protect Canadians during the pandemic. That is why, throughout this pandemic, we have taken the time in the House of Commons to implement measures that provide direct support to Canadians. We also believe that when the Chief Electoral Officer asked Parliament in October—

[The Speaker, Anthony Rota]

Order. I must interrupt the hon. minister because it seems that the members who are attending virtually cannot hear the interpretation.

We will try again. I would ask the minister to repeat his answer.

The hon. minister.

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, Beauséjour, NB]

Mr. Speaker, I promise that this answer will be just as good as the first one, just like it was a good question.

My Bloc Québécois colleague is well aware that the government is fully focused on providing the assistance required to protect Canadians during the pandemic. However, we also thought it was a good idea to respond to the report of the Chief Electoral Officer, who asked Parliament in October to introduce temporary amendments to the Canada Elections Act to ensure that an election could be held during the pandemic. That is what we are doing.

[Alain Therrien, Bloc, La Prairie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the best way to manage an election during a pandemic is to not hold an election.

By imposing a gag order on Bill C-19, the government is announcing that it not only wants an election but that it wants one as soon as possible. No one, except the government, thinks it is a good idea to have an election during a pandemic. More importantly, no one wants the rules of a pandemic election to be imposed by a government without any discussion. The Liberals are attacking the very heart of our democracy.

Does the government realize that voters' health is at risk?

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, we do realize that. That is why we are asking parliamentarians to consider Bill C-19 in committee. With regard to the idea that a minority government could impose legislation on Parliament, I think that my colleague, who has quite a bit of experience, knows that we would need the consent of the other parties to move forward with such a bill.

My colleague is the one who is about to trigger an election by continually voting no confidence in the government. That is something we have not done until now.