House of Commons Hansard #102 of the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was c-15.
Jonathan Wilkinson LiberalMinister of Environment and Climate Change
Madam Speaker, as I indicated before, public safety is of the utmost priority to this government, and I think to all members of the House. This has been an ongoing challenge that we are working to resolve. It is important this is done in a thoughtful and constructive way, and that is exactly what we are doing.
Gerald Soroka Conservative Yellowhead, AB
Madam Speaker, in my region of Canada, the forest industry needs help from the government. It is facing an epidemic caused by the mountain pine beetles. The species destroys many acres of pine trees every year and are expanding east, causing damage along the eastern slopes of the Rockies.
The mountain pine beetles in Jasper and Hinton are a genetic mix of the northern and southern mountain pine beetles that are stronger and more destructive.
Will the federal government take action to reduce the population of this harmful invasive species?
Marc Serré LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources
Madam Speaker, we are working closely with provinces and municipalities to help slow the spread and mitigate the impact of forest pests in Canada as well as reduce the risk of infestation in areas that are not affected.
Our government invested $20 million annually in scientific research to address the risk posed to our forests. We remain focused on science-based solutions. We will continue working with our partners and invest to protect Canada's trees from infestation.
Brenda Shanahan Liberal Châteauguay—Lacolle, QC
Madam Speaker, the people of Lac-Mégantic and all Quebeckers will forever remember the rail disaster in Lac-Mégantic.
Could the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport tell the House what progress has been made on the rail bypass and what our government is doing to support the people of Lac-Mégantic?
Soraya Martinez Ferrada LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Châteauguay—Lacolle for her important question.
We are working tirelessly for the community of Lac-Mégantic. This week, our government reaffirmed its commitment to completing the rail bypass project by 2023. Construction is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2022, and the preparation of the plans and specifications will begin in the coming weeks.
We are keeping the community informed of the project's progress. We will do everything in our power to complete this project within the established timeframe.
James Cumming Conservative Edmonton Centre, AB
Madam Speaker, Zenari’s has been an Edmonton favourite Italian restaurant for over 30 years, but because it reincorporated in 2020 it did not qualify for the federal relief programs. This business has lost its vast customer base due to the hollowing out of downtown Edmonton caused by this government’s slow vaccine rollout. Statistics Canada reported over 200,000 jobs lost in April alone, and Zenari’s may soon add another 20.
Will the Prime Minister admit that he has failed businesses like Zenari’s, which, if it was south of the border, would be fully back in business?
Sean Fraser LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and to the Minister of Middle Class Prosperity and Associate Minister of Finance
Madam Speaker, with great respect, our government has put a series of programs in place to support households and businesses from the very beginning of this pandemic. That is why so many have been able to survive the storm. We have even made changes to many of the programs, including for certain businesses that have had a change in ownership.
With respect to the member's assertion about vaccinations, I would remind the hon. member that Canada is currently third among all G20 countries in terms of the rate of people who have actually taken their first dose, and Canadians are being vaccinated faster than citizens of any other country today. I am looking forward this summer to enjoying some of the businesses and restaurants in my own community.
Michael Cooper Conservative St. Albert—Edmonton, AB
Madam Speaker, my constituent Abhi opened a restaurant, the Flame Kitchen, just before COVID. Since then he has been unable to draw a wage and the restaurant is at risk of permanently closing, yet his business has been completely shut out of the government's COVID supports because of a failure to include new businesses.
For a government that claims to have Canadians' backs, why after 14 months does the government not have Abhi's back and the backs of new business owners like him?
Sean Fraser LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and to the Minister of Middle Class Prosperity and Associate Minister of Finance
Madam Speaker, at the outset of this pandemic we moved forward with a suite of policies that were designed to support as many businesses as possible, as quickly as possible. In order to protect the integrity of the systems that we put in place, we used the revenue from the year prior as a comparator to ensure that we were providing funding in a targeted way to help businesses survive.
Going forward, a number of programs that we put in place could help businesses keep their doors open and hire new workers, including new financing programs that are available for businesses to invest in themselves and purchase new pieces of equipment.
With respect to new businesses, we are going to continue to look for solutions to support those, so they can help contribute to the recovery going forward.
Gary Vidal Conservative Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK
Madam Speaker, it has been over a year since the start of the pandemic. While other countries are emerging from this crisis, Canada is in the middle of a Liberal third wave.
Conservatives have consistently asked the government to provide a plan with benchmarks and targets for reopening so that businesses and families, such as those in my riding in northern Saskatchewan, can get back to normal. Last week, the Government of Saskatchewan announced its three-step reopening road map that clearly laid out a plan for the people of Saskatchewan.
Where is the government's plan?
Sean Fraser LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and to the Minister of Middle Class Prosperity and Associate Minister of Finance
Madam Speaker, it is important in the middle of a global public health emergency that we do not take our eyes off what is most important. We need to continue to support Canadians through the ongoing public health emergency that the COVID-19 pandemic represents.
I would remind the hon. member that during their time of need we supported 9 million Canadians with CERB, so they could keep food on the table. We have helped 5.3 million workers keep their jobs with the wage subsidy, and over 80% of the money that has been spent to help Canadians get through this pandemic has come from the federal government, including through the safe restart agreement, to help Canadians enjoy and succeed in their communities during this pandemic.
We will continue to be there for Canadians as long—
Lloyd Longfield Liberal Guelph, ON
Madam Speaker, we know good things grow in Ontario. The adoption of environmentally sustainable practices in agriculture is a priority for our government. We are proud of the Living Laboratories initiative that brings together farmers, scientists and other partners to develop, test and share innovative agricultural practices and technologies.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food tell us about our role in protecting important waterways and conserving soil health in Ontario?
Neil Ellis LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
Madam Speaker, our government is investing $4.2 million to launch a living lab in Ontario. This will be the fourth of its kind, following similar collaborations in the Atlantic region, the Prairies and Quebec.
The research will focus on reducing runoff from agricultural land into Lake Erie, improving water quality, conserving soil health and increasing biodiversity. Those are the tools farmers need to set the stage for tomorrow's agriculture.
Taylor Bachrach NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
Madam Speaker, news that Greyhound is ending service in Canada is a huge blow for rural Canadians who depend on the bus. More than an inconvenience, it is also a safety concern for indigenous women and girls, seniors, students and Canadians who do not have their own cars.
Instead of ensuring services, the government stood by and did nothing for years as Greyhound cut routes. It has allowed rural communities to be left behind.
There can be no more half-measures. Will the minister commit to a national passenger transportation strategy that serves all Canadians?
Soraya Martinez Ferrada LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport
Madam Speaker, Greyhound's decision to cease operations in Canada is disappointing. We know that many Canadians depend on this service for transportation, and the transportation industry has been hit hard this year.
We have been there from the beginning to provide financial support through various programs, including the Canada emergency wage subsidy. We will continue to be there to protect jobs and work with provincial partners to support the transportation industry.
Jody Wilson-Raybould Independent Vancouver Granville, BC
Madam Speaker, speaking to the UNDRIP legislation today, the justice minister said that if Bill C-262 had not been delayed in the last Parliament, the government would be working on an action plan for its implementation.
Let us not kid ourselves. The fact is the government delayed the important work of true reconciliation due to political expediency. There have been over five years of promises, and very little action on rights recognition.
Bill C-15 is a small first step. Will the government stop making excuses, do its work, get its own house in order and change its laws, policies and operational practices to ensure indigenous peoples can be self-determining?
Arif Virani LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Madam Speaker, we take very seriously the issues that relate to indigenous reconciliation and UNDRIP.
We thank the member opposite for her contributions to this matter in her previous role as minister of justice. The government stood behind Romeo Saganash's private member's bill in the last Parliament. It is unfortunate that it did not secure passage at that time due to Conservative opposition in the Senate.
That is why we have tabled Bill C-15, why we are working with opposition parties to secure the passage of Bill C-15, and why we are very keen to have UNDRIP see the light of day and achieve royal assent.
Kevin Lamoureux LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8)(a) I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to one petition. This response will be tabled in an electronic format.
While I am on my feet, I move:
That the House do now proceed to Orders of the Day.
The Assistant Deputy Speaker NDP Carol Hughes
The question is on the motion.
If a member of a recognized party present in the House wishes to request a recorded division or that the motion be adopted on division, I would invite them to rise and indicate it to the Chair.
The hon. member for Kingston and the Islands.
Mark Gerretsen Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON
Madam Speaker, I would ask that the motion be carried on division.
The Assistant Deputy Speaker NDP Carol Hughes
I declare the motion carried on division.
(Motion agreed to)
Green
Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC
Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order, I know this is difficult, but in a situation where another member, the member for Nanaimo—Ladysmith, has notified the Speaker's office of an emergency matter, with what just occurred it would seem that there is no rubric left for an appeal for an emergency debate.
I wonder if the hon. members are aware of that, and if there could be unanimous consent to allow the member for Nanaimo—Ladysmith to present the call for an emergency debate. Clearly, by the time we assemble again, the emergency could be a full-scale war.