House of Commons Hansard #100 of the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was c-15.

Topics

2:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

It being Wednesday, we will now have the singing of the national anthem led by the hon. member for Orléans.

[Members sang the national anthem]

Sexual Assault Awareness MonthStatements by Members

2:05 p.m.

Liberal

Pam Damoff Liberal Oakville North—Burlington, ON

Mr. Speaker, May is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Sexual violence continues to be under recognized within the criminal justice system and has increased significantly during the pandemic. May is a month for us to bring awareness to the realities of sexual violence within our communities and to recognize that certain communities are disproportionately impacted by sexual violence, in particular indigenous women.

I would like to thank SAVIS of Halton for educating our community on the realities of sexual violence while providing direct support and resources to survivors in Halton.

Last week, I was pleased to see Bill C-3 receive royal assent, which will ensure education is provided for judges on sexual assault and social context. I would like to give special thanks to Conor Lewis from my office, who worked on this bill since 2017.

Today and everyday, I send my support to all survivors, as we continue to advocate for the end of sexual violence in all forms.

COVID-19 Support GroupStatements by Members

2:05 p.m.

Conservative

Kelly McCauley Conservative Edmonton West, AB

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize the community work of Rosy Borkowski in my riding of Edmonton West. At the start of COVID, with the help of local volunteers she calls her angels, Rosy formed the Hamptons and surrounding areas COVID-19 support group.

Rosy and her angels support isolated and quarantined seniors and families in need with care packages of food, cleaning supplies, pet care and more. The angels have since expanded to the entire Edmonton region. Health and home care providers can even refer their clients to the angels for assistance.

To date, Rosy and her angels have helped over a thousand families and individuals with Christmas hampers, senior care bags, Easter meals, Mother's Day dinners and more. With the help of angels and local donors, such as COBS Bread West Granville, all care packages are provided 100% from donations.

To Rosy and her angels, I send my thanks.

National Mining WeekStatements by Members

2:05 p.m.

Liberal

Marc Serré Liberal Nickel Belt, ON

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize National Mining Week.

In 2019, the mining industry created 719,000 direct and indirect jobs across the country, including 16,000 jobs for indigenous people. It also contributed nearly $71 billion to Canada's GDP.

The industry is also a world leader in environmental practices, innovation and clean technologies that will secure our low-carbon future.

We are committed to the mining industry. That is why we invested $365 million to extend the mineral exploration tax credit, $36.8 million to advance our battery mineral processing and refining expertise, and $9.6 million to create a critical battery minerals centre of excellence.

I ask all hon. members to join me in celebrating National Mining Week and recognize the importance of Canada’s mineral industry.

International Nurses DayStatements by Members

2:05 p.m.

Bloc

Louise Chabot Bloc Thérèse-De Blainville, QC

Mr. Speaker, today, May 12, is International Nurses Day.

This year, I think it is rather obvious why we owe them such a debt of gratitude.

On behalf of the Bloc Québécois, I want to say thank you to all nurses, most of whom are women, who have put their health at risk every day of the pandemic to care for the sick.

Thank you for working unimaginably long hours on the front lines, week after week, to battle COVID-19. Thank you for saving thousands of lives. Thank you for being there, with compassion and dignity, for those who had to leave this world without the comfort of being surrounded by loved ones.

Quebec has a duty to remember the commitment, courage and compassion of nurses throughout this historic health crisis.

We owe them our respect and gratitude.

National Nursing WeekStatements by Members

2:05 p.m.

Liberal

Marie-France Lalonde Liberal Orléans, ON

Mr. Speaker, this is National Nursing Week, and today being International Nurses Day, I would like to thank nurses in Orleans and across Canada for their hard work and sacrifices not only this week, but every day of the year.

Thank you for continuing to play an essential role in the fight against COVID-19. Thank you for always stepping up when our communities need you to protect our health and well-being.

I invite all members of the House to join me in recognizing their excellent work, especially over this past year.

My message to our nurses today is simple: They are our heroes.

Income Tax ActStatements by Members

2:05 p.m.

Conservative

Larry Maguire Conservative Brandon—Souris, MB

Mr. Speaker, later this afternoon we will have the final vote on my private member's bill, Bill C-208. The purpose of this bill is straightforward. It will level the playing field by giving families the exact same tax treatment when they transfer their businesses or operations to their children as when they transfer it to a stranger. It would result in more locally owned and operated businesses, the type of businesses that are deeply involved in their communities and provide steady employment for countless individuals.

Bill C-208 sends a message of hope to young farmers who want to carry on what their families started. No longer will parents be given the false choice of having to choose between a larger retirement package after selling to a stranger, or a massive tax bill after selling to a family member, their own child or grandchild.

I urge all members to vote in favour of Bill C-208 and bring tax fairness to the Income Tax Act for all qualifying small businesses.

Women EntrepreneurshipStatements by Members

2:10 p.m.

Liberal

Ruby Sahota Liberal Brampton North, ON

Mr. Speaker, today I would like to wish every mother across Canada a happy belated Mother’s Day. We know women, specifically caregivers and mothers, have been hard hit by this pandemic. We must make sure that Canada’s economic recovery pulls women up.

Canada’s competitive edge depends on women being able to participate fully and equally in the economy. That is why budget 2021 prioritizes investing an additional $146 million to expand the women entrepreneurship strategy, a commitment to strengthen gender and racial diversity in corporate governance. It also prioritizes announcing a historic investment in child care. Our plan will reduce the cost of child care to $10 a day by 2026, providing every child the best start in life, and every parent an opportunity to excel in the workforce and realize their full potential.

I know investments like these will make a real and lasting difference in the lives of women in Brampton North.

Public Service and Members' StaffStatements by Members

May 12th, 2021 / 2:10 p.m.

Liberal

Vance Badawey Liberal Niagara Centre, ON

Mr. Speaker, I have always understood, respected and held a great appreciation for those who work behind the scenes at every level of government. They put in an endless effort to ensure government and our country function day in and day out. We recognize that with the contributions of our constituency office staff, our staff in Ottawa, as well as the many talented individuals available to us from the different departments throughout government, this great nation continues to thrive based on the values established by past generations.

I proudly take this opportunity to express my heartfelt appreciation to all those who work tirelessly with all of us to ensure the residents, businesses, organizations and municipalities within our country’s borders are well taken care of. Their efforts do not go unnoticed and neither has their commitment to the well-being of our country during this time of exceptional challenges. Their efforts have strengthened the future health and prosperity of Canada. They should be forever proud of what they have accomplished during these historic times.

I thank my team, Dan, Ashley, Seema, Gail, Anna, Sarah, Douglas, Julie and Greg. They continue to make a difference in the lives of many.

Enbridge Line 5Statements by Members

2:10 p.m.

Conservative

Warren Steinley Conservative Regina—Lewvan, SK

Mr. Speaker, it is a sad day for Canada. Through the government's willful ignorance, we are facing yet another crisis in the western Canadian oil and gas sector with the shutdown of Line 5.

Tens of thousands of men and women are concerned about their ability to provide for their families. The government knew back in 2018 that action needed to be taken when Governor Whitmer campaigned and was elected on the promise to shut down Line 5 once and for all. She then sought a legal order to halt the flow of oil and gas through the pipeline by today, May 12, calling it an unreasonable risk for the Great Lakes.

Once again the Prime Minister shows his refusal to act on any western Canadian issue that is critical until it reaches the crisis point, if he acts at all. I cannot help but think maybe a negative outcome is what the Liberals truly want when they reimagined Canada. They are hoping that Governor Whitmer will be re-elected in 2022 and will see her promise fulfilled. This would help the Prime Minister fulfill his promise to phase out the western Canadian oil and gas sector.

COVID-19 Emergency ResponseStatements by Members

2:10 p.m.

Liberal

Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB

Mr. Speaker, working alongside Canadians, from day one our government has been there to support real people and businesses throughout this pandemic, and we will continue to be there until the coronavirus is behind us.

We created programs such as the Canada emergency response program, which financially supported approximately nine million people, and the wage subsidy for small businesses, which kept millions of people working, not to mention the businesses that would have closed permanently or gone bankrupt.

We provided support in the form of direct payments to seniors and people with disabilities. We increased support for youth. The government supported non-profit organizations that, in turn, supported Canadians. As a national government we supported other levels government, whether indigenous, provincial, municipal. We supported our school boards.

As of today, we have received over 20 million doses of vaccine. We are getting closer to the new normal because, as Canadians, we came together to battle the coronavirus.

Enbridge Line 5Statements by Members

2:10 p.m.

Conservative

Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC

Mr. Speaker, time is up for Enbridge's Line 5, and the government waited until the eleventh hour to take action for Canadians.

Why is this Prime Minister so slow to act? He was slow to close the borders, slow to provide rapid tests, slow to provide Canadians with vaccines and slow to protect jobs in Quebec. This Prime Minister's trademark is being slow to react when Canadians need him to act.

The Liberals waited until the last possible second to do something about Enbridge's Line 5. This Prime Minister's sluggish pace could end up costing Quebeckers dearly, especially the thousands of workers at the Suncor refinery in Montreal and the Valero refinery in Lévis.

Line 5, which is in danger of being shut down today by the Governor of Michigan, supplies about two-thirds of the crude oil refined and consumed in Quebec. Hundreds of engineers, technicians and day labourers are in danger of losing their jobs. The airports in Montreal and Quebec City could run out of fuel. Gas prices across Quebec could skyrocket.

Time is up, and the Liberal government is still incapable of guaranteeing that Enbridge's Line 5 will not be shut down. The 600 Suncor workers and the 460 Valero workers—

Enbridge Line 5Statements by Members

2:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

Order. The hon. member for Sarnia—Lambton.

Enbridge Line 5Statements by Members

2:15 p.m.

Conservative

Marilyn Gladu Conservative Sarnia—Lambton, ON

Mr. Speaker, today is the day Governor Whitmer has ordered Enbridge Line 5 to be shut down. Yesterday, chambers of commerce in Canada and the U.S., our government, trade unions and affected states filed briefs of support in the court case to show support for keeping the line open.

Independent studies show that at least 33,000 jobs will be impacted in both countries if Line 5 is shut down, 23,000 of those in my riding of Sarnia—Lambton, and $21 billion in economic damage would result.

For all the Liberal government's many words to insist it will do everything diplomatically, legally and politically to keep Line 5 open, I am concerned it waited until the last possible moment to file a brief of support.

I call on the Prime Minister to elevate the importance of Line 5 in his discussions with President Biden. Hopefully, a mediated solution will be accepted to support the project that will put the pipeline below the bedrock encased in a tunnel so we can protect the many people across the states and provinces who are worried about their jobs.

Unite HereStatements by Members

2:15 p.m.

NDP

Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals say they want a she-covery, yet they were silent when Pacific Gateway became a federal quarantine hotel and 140 long-term workers were terminated, nearly two-thirds of them immigrant women. Hilton Metrotown has locked out its workers and terminated 97 workers, the majority of them racialized women.

A feminist government would not tolerate the firing of women to replace them for less, yet this is happening across the country, from Metro Vancouver to Ottawa. Management wants to roll back these long-term workers’ wages to minimum wage, cut their health and pension benefits and eliminate severance.

Unite Here has launched the Unequal Women campaign to bring attention to this disgraceful practice. These women are not disposable. We should not tolerate any hotel firing women to replace them for less. They should not be allowed to receive government support if they treat their workers in this despicable way.

I am calling on the government to intervene to ensure hotel employers—

Unite HereStatements by Members

2:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

Order. The hon. member for La Prairie has the floor.

The Member for Beloeil—ChamblyStatements by Members

2:15 p.m.

Bloc

Alain Therrien Bloc La Prairie, QC

Mr. Speaker, on May 24, Quebec will celebrate National Patriots Day.

This year, we pay special tribute to a great patriot and natural statesman, an intuitive and disciplined politician that no one really saw coming. He is a man whom people called completely crazy for leaving a successful career in the media to lead a political party.

He quickly distinguished himself by sharing with all of Quebec his vision of a proud, French-speaking country, one whose clean energy brings prosperity and where wealth is created in each of its regions. He is a man who defends Quebec every time he stands in the House, always with great pride. I am, of course, speaking of my leader, the hon. member for Beloeil—Chambly.

On May 24, he will be honoured by the Rassemblement pour un pays souverain with the Louis-Joseph-Papineau Prize. On behalf of the Bloc Québécois and the entire sovereignist movement, I would like to commend his tireless efforts toward the development of the Quebec nation and his unwavering commitment to Quebec's sovereignty.

Former Member for Haldimand—NorfolkStatements by Members

2:15 p.m.

Conservative

Candice Bergen Conservative Portage—Lisgar, MB

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute, with gratitude, to a highly respected parliamentarian, a loyal Conservative and a dear friend, the remarkable Diane Finley.

For the past 17 years, Diane has served the constituents of Haldimand—Norfolk, her party and her country in this place with honour. Diane was former prime minister Stephen Harper's go-to person on tough files. Whether negotiating with tobacco farmers, reforming EI, military procurement or G7 and G20 lead during the great recession, Diane got the job done. She served as Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, and Minister of Public Works and Government Services, not because it was 2015, but because she is among the best of the best.

Diane is more than an incredibly competent woman. She is kind, thoughtful and wise, and she has mentored many of us, especially Conservative women, over the years. What people might not know about Diane is she is also a very talented interior decorator and amazing cook, and although a proud Scotswoman, she loves her Greek food. I know one thing Diane will miss about Ottawa is her favourite Greek restaurant, Mystiko. I hope she will also miss many of her colleagues, because we are sure going to miss her. We know she will continue to be there for our Conservative movement and our country for many years to come.

I know Doug is smiling on Diane right now. We all wish her the very best and Godspeed in the next chapter of life. “We love you, Diane.”

Asian Heritage MonthStatements by Members

2:20 p.m.

Liberal

Han Dong Liberal Don Valley North, ON

Mr. Speaker, May is Asian Heritage Month in Canada, a time for all Canadians to come together to recognize the contributions of Asian Canadians in building our great country.

From the early pioneer generation who helped connect Canada from coast to coast by rail, to those on the front lines fighting COVID-19 today, the Asian Canadian community has contributed enormously to the development and prosperity of Canada. In my riding of Don Valley North, I am grateful for the amazing work being done by Asian Canadian organizations dedicated to serve all Canadians, such as Hong Fook, Yee Hong, SEAS Centre, Formosa Evergreen Senior Citizens Centre, Love Toronto Korean-Canadian Community Services and of course our frontline heroes putting their lives on the line every day to keep our loved ones safe.

This Asian Heritage Month, I call on Canadians to come together to combat anti-Asian racism and discrimination in all forms because, like the Prime Minister put it many times in the past, a Canadian is a Canadian is a Canadian.

COVID-19 Emergency ResponseOral Questions

2:20 p.m.

Durham Ontario

Conservative

Erin O'Toole ConservativeLeader of the Opposition

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has moved more goalposts than a minor hockey referee when it comes to Canada's vaccine plan. His “one-dose summer, two-dose fall” started with a zero-dose winter and that is why we are in a disastrous third wave. How much longer will the pandemic be in Canada because of the current government's continued vaccine failures?

COVID-19 Emergency ResponseOral Questions

2:20 p.m.

Papineau Québec

Liberal

Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister

Mr. Speaker, from November of last year onward we talked about six million doses in time for the end of March, when we actually got 9.5 million doses. By the end of June we will have 50 million doses and by September we will have enough doses to vaccinate everyone who wants to across this country completely.

We are moving forward, but we encourage everyone to get vaccinated as quickly as possible and drive down cases in their communities so we can have a one-dose summer and a two-dose fall.

COVID-19 Emergency ResponseOral Questions

2:20 p.m.

Durham Ontario

Conservative

Erin O'Toole ConservativeLeader of the Opposition

Mr. Speaker, what the Prime Minister neglected to say is he wanted the first dose to actually come from China and his original plan was with CanSino. That fell apart.

Now Canadians are waiting on the longest second-dose period in the world and the disastrous communications from the minister, the Prime Minister, NACI, from all of them, is leading to more vaccine hesitancy. Now the Prime Minister's comments are suggesting we have lockdowns until fall and Thanksgiving.

Enough. How much longer will this pandemic be in Canada because of the Prime Minister's failure to secure vaccines earlier?

COVID-19 Emergency ResponseOral Questions

2:20 p.m.

Papineau Québec

Liberal

Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister

Mr. Speaker, on the contrary, from the very beginning of this pandemic we worked with partners around the world to secure a large portfolio of potential vaccines coming to Canada. That is bearing fruit with four different approved and safe vaccines in this country and millions of doses arriving every single week.

We know the path toward a better summer is to get that first dose and drive down cases. We are going to have a better summer and we are going to have an even better fall because I see Canadians stepping up every single day to do the right thing for themselves and their families and get vaccinated.

COVID-19 Emergency ResponseOral Questions

2:20 p.m.

Durham Ontario

Conservative

Erin O'Toole ConservativeLeader of the Opposition

Mr. Speaker, that is the first time the Prime Minister has acknowledged his attempts to partner with Communist China on a vaccine. We lost months because of his partnering on this portfolio. That is why they were so late.

Let us see how we partnered with the developed world, because the only way the Prime Minister made his so-called targets was by stealing from COVAX, by stealing from the developing world that Canada usually helps, so I will ask him this.

Since he admitted it today, why possibly, when China is holding our citizens hostage and stealing our intellectual property, did the Prime Minister choose a CanSino partnership for his doses for Canadians?

COVID-19 Emergency ResponseOral Questions

2:25 p.m.

Papineau Québec

Liberal

Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister

Mr. Speaker, that is simply not true. We signed seven vaccine contracts with vaccine makers from around the world and not one of them was from China.

We moved forward on delivering vaccine doses as of December. We were among the first countries to start receiving doses, and we are now in the top three of the G7 countries with respect to doses for our citizens.

We will continue to deliver for Canadians. We will continue to work with the provinces and territories to make sure Canadians are kept safe and we get through this in the right way.