Debates of May 11th, 2021

Rail Transportation

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

Mr. Speaker, three years ago today, in Lac-Mégantic, the Premier of Quebec and the Prime Minister of Canada jointly announced the construction of a rail bypass.

Three years later, the residents of Lac-Mégantic are worried. Work has yet to start on the site, and time is going by. On March 15, I asked the Minister of Transport to reassure the public. It was only this morning, because of pressure from the mayor and the intervention of columnist Bernard Drainville, that a press release was finally issued.

My question is for the Prime Minister. Can the public still trust his promise to put the rail bypass into service by 2023 at the latest?

[Omar Alghabra, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, I have made this important file a priority since I was first appointed.

Today, we reiterated our commitment to have this project completed by 2023. I have had recent conversations with CP, with the mayor of Lac-Mégantic and with the mayors of local municipalities to reiterate our commitment. Construction will begin next year, and we are committed to completing the project by 2023.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

[Leah Gazan, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

Mr. Speaker, last week the government opened 50,000 permanent residency spots for essential workers, but the minister excluded many from applying, including refugee claimants, undocumented workers and many other temporary foreign workers. Essential workers in Winnipeg Centre and throughout Canada deserve better. They put their lives at risk every day.

Why does the minister perpetuate a two-tiered system of migrants instead of granting permanent residency status for all?

[Marco Mendicino, Liberal, Minister of Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, I am very proud of the pathway that we announced that will allow 90,000 essential workers and recent graduates to stay in Canada with permanent residency. These newcomers are already contributing in our hospitals and long-term care homes. We have also introduced pathways for those asylum seekers who helped similarly in Quebec and across the country.

I will always stand up for the work that we are doing on immigration in Canada as it will accelerate our economic recovery and ensure prosperity for all Canadians.

Privacy

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

Mr. Speaker, Privacy Commissioner Daniel Therrien is raising serious alarm bells that Bill C-11 would undermine the fundamental privacy rights of Canadians. As a case in point, Clearview AI broke Canadian law when it took millions of photos of Canadians without their consent for its controversial facial recognition technology. The Privacy Commissioner is saying that Bill C-11 would actually protect the interests of companies like Clearview over the rights of Canadians.

Why are the Liberals using Bill C-11 to rewrite the privacy laws and stack the deck in favour of corporate outliers such as Clearview over protecting the rights of Canadian citizens?

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for the question, because I think we share a commitment to protecting the privacy interests of all Canadians. That is why we very much value the advice that we receive from the Privacy Commissioner.

While it is important to ensure that we provide the national security intelligence establishment and law enforcement with the tools they need to keep us safe, at the same time we must always make an effort to ensure the protection of the privacy interests of all Canadians, and we will—

[Sherry Romanado, Liberal, Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne, QC]

Mr. Speaker, a point of order. My apologies, but the minister's camera was not on. We could not see him.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

We were hearing him, but I would remind the hon. minister to turn on his camera in case he gets another question.

The hon. member for Vancouver Centre.

Public Safety

[Hedy Fry, Liberal, Vancouver Centre, BC]

Mr. Speaker, we know that human trafficking is a modern form of sexual slavery, which disproportionately affects women and girls as well as other vulnerable and marginalized persons. It is crucial that survivors of these crimes have access to support services, yet many do not know how or where to turn for help.

Can the Minister of Public Safety inform the House of the resources our government has made available to support survivors of human trafficking?

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

Mr. Speaker, first of all, let me begin by thanking the hon. member for Vancouver Centre for a very important question and for her unrelenting advocacy on behalf of survivors.

We acknowledge that human trafficking is one of the most heinous of crimes, and we are committed to ending it. To that end, we are making significant investments of nearly $75 million. In particular, we are also assisting with wraparound care funding for organizations such as REACH Edmonton Council and the YWCA in Moncton. The National Human Trafficking Hotline connects survivors with services any day and at any time. We are also investing in all of the supports required for the survivors of human trafficking to help them recover from this terrible offence.

National Defence

[Leona Alleslev, Conservative, Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, there can only be trust in our military when Canadians have confidence that their elected representatives will hold the military in check. An unelected and unaccountable member of the Prime Minister's staff decided to withhold critical information from the Prime Minister, breaking that trust.

Any allegation against Canada's top general is serious and could jeopardize the safety of the country and its citizens. Who told Katie Telford that the allegations against General Vance were not a safety issue: the defence minister, the Privy Council or General Vance?

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

Mr. Speaker, we take allegations of sexual misconduct very seriously and immediate action was taken. We need to make sure that no politician is ever involved in any type of investigation. That is why the information was given to non-partisan public officials. It is also very important that the previous government followed that process.

We need to make sure that we listen to survivors and that we have a harassment-free workplace in the Canadian Armed Forces. This is something that we are absolutely committed to doing.

[Leona Alleslev, Conservative, Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the defence minister and Katie Telford withheld critical information about Canada's top soldier from the Prime Minister. Tragically, the Prime Minister gave General Vance a performance bonus, a pay raise, and allowed him to continue in his position despite serious unresolved allegations of misconduct against him. This is reprehensible and should never have happened. Under the Prime Minister, no one is at fault. No one is held accountable.

Will the Prime Minister admit that he was wrong to reward General Vance while allegations of misconduct remained unresolved?

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

Mr. Speaker, our government takes allegations of sexual misconduct very seriously. No one should feel unsafe at work. That is why we created the sexual misconduct response centre, which provides confidential 24-7 support services to CAF members anywhere in the world. We also listened to survivors. We put in place a response and support coordination program for CAF members who have experienced sexual misconduct.

We have a lot more work to do and we will get it done.

Health

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Mr. Speaker, earlier this morning, the Prime Minister stated that, “A one-dose summer sets us up for a two-dose fall”. Many Canadians may now be wondering when they can expect to get their second dose of vaccine and/or become fully vaccinated, if they will have to wait longer than four months to get a second dose of vaccine and if this means a longer period of lockdowns due to delayed vaccinations.

By what date can every Canadian who wants one expect to have access to both doses of vaccines and/or be fully vaccinated? Is there a clear date?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, first let me say that today is a very important day. We hit 20 million doses delivered to Canadians across the country and we are now administering the most doses daily in the G7.

I want to thank all Canadians who are stepping up to accept vaccination. This is an important tool that we have. We can see the finish line and as Canadians get vaccinated, indeed, we see case numbers go down. I want to thank all Canadians for accepting vaccinations when it is their turn.

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

Mr. Speaker, this morning, the Prime Minister said at a press conference that a “one-dose summer” is setting us up for a “two-dose fall”. We will let the confusion go. Besides, we are used to it, it is always confusing with the Liberals. The Prime Minister had already said that everyone who wanted to be vaccinated would be by September 30. However, I remind him that fall begins on September 21.

Can the Prime Minister be more clear? Can he give Canadians a specific date as to when they will be vaccinated and when they can regain their freedom?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, this is a great day for Canada.

We have received 20 million doses in this country as of today and we are seeing Canadians step up in unprecedented ways to get vaccinated. In fact, I will say we are now administering the most doses daily in the G7. What that means is that Canadians are taking their health seriously, they are taking the health of their communities and their loved ones seriously and we can see the finish line.

I encourage all Canadians to take the vaccine when it is their turn.

Rail Transportation

[Xavier Barsalou-Duval, Bloc, Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the people of Lac-Mégantic were victims of a rail disaster. The people are still waiting for a bypass so they can rebuild their town with peace of mind.

The Prime Minister has committed to building the bypass. He even signed a petition to get it done. Will he keep his word and work toward getting the bypass completed as quickly as possible?

[Omar Alghabra, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, since my appointment, I have prioritized key issues.

Today I was pleased to reiterate our government's commitment to have this project completed by 2023. I have been in touch with CP on a regular basis. I have been talking to the mayors of Lac-Mégantic and the region. Our government is committed. Project construction will begin next year and we are committed to completing it by 2023.

[Xavier Barsalou-Duval, Bloc, Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the question I just asked the Prime Minister is exactly the same as the one asked by my colleague from Terrebonne on May 19, 2016, five years ago.

What has changed since then for the people of Lac-Mégantic? Nothing has changed, nothing at all. The train still travels through downtown, which was ravaged by fire and where 47 people were killed.

The Prime Minister promised that the rail bypass would be ready in 2022. The date has been changed to 2023. Now, people are concerned because it could be postponed to 2025.

The tragedy happened eight years ago. When are we going to move on this issue?

[Omar Alghabra, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, the tragedy of Lac-Mégantic is still with us today. We stand in solidarity with the people of Lac-Mégantic. Our Prime Minister and our government made a solemn commitment to the people of Lac-Mégantic. We have been working diligently on completing this project. I am pleased to say that progress is being made today and we have reiterated our commitment.

I understand my hon. colleague wants to make a political issue out of this, but we remain committed to the people of Lac-Mégantic.

Public Safety

[Shannon Stubbs, Conservative, Lakeland, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the public safety minister has presided over a deadly spike in organized crime. NSICOP said it has become “pervasive” in Canada. By 2019, groups had more than doubled in less than a decade. There have been 12 new high-level threat organizations in the past five years alone. B.C. has already faced 15 gang-related murders so far this year.

Instead of targeting law-abiding firearms owners and retailers and reducing penalties for serious offences, as they are, when will the Liberals actually crack down on gangs and criminals?

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

Mr. Speaker, as the member is likely aware or will recall, our government invested $327 million into not just the RCMP but the capacity of the provincial and municipal police services to do gun and gang investigations. We have also made significant investments in communities and kids to address the causes of gun crime, all of which the member opposite voted against, by the way.

We are also listening to victims and the police about the need to restrict the access criminals have to guns. That is why, in Bill C-21, we have introduced strong new measures to keep guns out of the hands of criminals, to remove guns from dangerous situations made deadly by the presence of firearms, and to prohibit a number of weapons that have no place in our society.

[Alice Wong, Conservative, Richmond Centre, BC]

Mr. Speaker, in my home riding of Richmond Centre, on the front steps of the domestic terminal at the YVR airport, a 28-year-old was gunned down. All major roads leading out of Richmond were then shut down and the roads were jammed for miles in an unsuccessful attempt to locate the getaway vehicle, which was later found burned. At least as of this morning, the multiple shooters had not been arrested.

The RCMP confirmed that this was related to an ongoing gang conflict. When will the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness prioritize action against truly violent crimes?