Debates of May 5th, 2021

Health

[Kristina Michaud, Bloc, Avignon—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the federal government is making the same mistake it has been making from the start. It is downplaying the impact of travel, even though that is how COVID-19 arrived and how the variants are entering our country.

Ottawa has no idea who has come into contact with the 1,411 people who left the hotel after testing negative but who tested positive on day 10. Ottawa has no idea who has come into contact with the hundreds of thousands of travellers crossing by land, who are only told to go home and get tested.

When will the Liberals realize that community spread starts at the border and that the measures must be tightened?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I expect the Conservatives to spread misinformation in the House, but I am surprised to hear it coming from the Bloc Québécois.

The reality is that COVID-19 came to Canada when Canadians returned from their March break vacations in March 2020 carrying the virus. We are obviously not going to stop Canadians from coming home.

That is why we worked with the provinces to put the necessary restrictions in place and made sure that the federal government would be there to support Canadians through CERB and the wage subsidy. We will continue to work hand in hand with our partners.

Canadian Heritage

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

Mr. Speaker, in a democracy, it is the government's job to defend people's right to speak freely, yet the Liberal government is doing the exact opposite with Bill C-10. It edited its very own bill to remove the protections that were once in place for the content that Canadians post online. Bizarrely, it is justifying this alarming move by saying that it is to protect art, music and culture.

If the Prime Minister is so obsessed with protecting culture, could he perhaps start by protecting Canada's long-standing commitment to free speech?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, let me be absolutely clear. Bill C-10 is not about restricting content or freedom of speech, but about making Canadian music more discoverable and more available to the general public. Freedom of speech is explicitly protected under this act and in our Charter of Rights and Freedoms. It is not negotiable by this government, and we will continue to abide by it, protect it and uphold it.

The Conservatives are yet again deliberately misleading Canadians and obstructing the study of this important bill by siding with web giants against Canadian creators.

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

Mr. Speaker, that is interesting. The Prime Minister, on the one hand, says it is clear that everyone is protected, but then he says they are going to bring in amendments because further protection is needed. The Liberals keep saying that artists need this bill rushed through, therefore Conservatives should stop asking questions. There is no chance of that.

If they were not aware, freedom of speech and freedom of expression actually matter to Canadians, especially to artists. While the Liberals continue to justify their power grab, Conservatives will continue to stand up for all Canadians. Would the Prime Minister perhaps like to come on board?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, once again, this bill is not about what Canadians do online. It is about what web giants do not do, which is support Canadian-made stories, music and creators. That is why we made sure this bill covers professional, profitable content, while explicitly exempting regular users from contribution requirements.

We have and we will continue to improve this bill so it truly reflects its initial objective, which is to serve Canadian creators without hindering freedom of expression in this country.

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is so unfamiliar with the content of the bill that he has to read talking points. Yesterday, I was on a talk radio panel. The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage said it is crystal clear that Bill C-10 does not target individuals. A few minutes later, however, she said that the minister is going to bring forward amendments to make sure it is crystal clear. They cannot have it both ways. The bill cannot already be crystal clear and still need amendments.

Which is it? Is the bill already perfect, or does it infringe on Canadians' charter rights and therefore need to be amended?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we know the Conservatives are casting about, desperate to make attacks on an issue that matters to all Canadians, which is freedom of expression, yet they find the fact we are willing to listen to amendments and move forward to make improvements as proof that it is a terrible piece of legislation.

The reality is we are focused on supporting content creators. We are focused on protecting freedom of expression. We are happy to work with all parties to ensure that Canadians understand that is exactly what this bill will do.

Public Safety

[Han Dong, Liberal, Don Valley North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, each May, Canadians across this country mark Asian Heritage Month by recognizing the contributions of Asian Canadians in building our great nation from coast to coast to coast. Unfortunately, since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen a significant increase in reported cases of anti-Asian racism, which has left many in my community of Don Valley North extremely concerned. We know that in Canada, diversity is one of our greatest strengths and there is no place for hate and intolerance.

Can the Prime Minister please tell this House the importance this year’s Asian Heritage Month holds?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague from Don Valley North for his leadership and for his continuous efforts to combat anti-Asian racism.

Asian Heritage Month is an opportunity to celebrate the immeasurable contributions that Canadians of Asian descent have brought to shape Canada. This year’s theme is recognition, resilience and resolve, an important theme to urge all Canadians to come together to combat all forms of racism and discrimination. As we celebrate Asian Heritage Month, we are committed to fighting all forms of discrimination through important measures, such as Canada's anti-racism strategy 2019-2022, and we will keep at it.

Ethics

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

Mr. Speaker, is the root of the problem with Bill C-10 that the Prime Minister cannot show leadership on questions of ethics?

He could not deal with sexual misconduct allegations against the former chief of the defence staff because he was dealing with the revelations of assaults he had committed. He fired his attorney general when she tried to stop him from interfering in the prosecution of his friends at SNC-Lavalin.

Instead of the Prime Minister fixing his own ethical problems, is the real plan to silence his critics online?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, while the Conservatives again resort to personal attacks and mudslinging, we will stay focused on helping Canadians through this pandemic and into a build back better future.

The fact is, whether it is supporting creators and content producers online, whether it is standing up for survivors of sexual assault and ensuring we transform the culture of the military, or whether it is making sure that we are supporting small businesses and jobs right across the country, we will continue to stay focused on what matters to Canadians, while Conservatives continue to focus on me.

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

Mr. Speaker, anytime anyone asks a tough question of the Prime Minister, he says it is a personal attack. That is why when the questions got really tough and heated for the Prime Minister, when he was trying to cover up his conflict of interest in the WE scandal, he shut down Parliament during a pandemic. Now his attacks on democracy have gotten more brazen.

That is what the Prime Minister is trying to do by silencing Canadians online with Bill C-10. Will the Prime Minister tell us how long it will be before every aspect of Canadian life must conform to his Liberal vision of Canadian society?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the tinfoil hats on the other side of the aisle are really quite spectacular.

Our focus throughout this pandemic has been on Canadians, on supporting hard-working Canadians, on supporting artists, on supporting workers, on supporting women, on making sure that vulnerable Canadians get the support they need throughout.

We will continue to stand up to defend freedom of speech and stand up against hatred and discrimination. We will do it while supporting Canadians to both get through this pandemic and come roaring back on the other side. That is our focus. The Conservatives can continue to focus on me. We will continue to focus on Canadians.

Canadian Heritage

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

Mr. Speaker, just like we heard from the Prime Minister that the story in the Globe and Mail was false, he cannot be believed.

Let us listen to Michael Geist, Canada research chair in Internet law at the University of Ottawa. He said, “[The Prime Minister] keeps saying in the House of Commons that Bill C-10 only covers professional, for-profit content. Simply false. The word “professional” doesn't even appear in the bill, which now clearly covers user generated content given the government's amendments.”

Who should Canadians believe, the Prime Minister, or Canada's leading internet law expert?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, this bill is not about what Canadians do online. It is about what web giants do not do, which is to support Canadian-made stories and music.

That is why we made sure the bill covers professional, profitable content, while explicitly exempting regular users from contribution agreements. We have and will continue to improve this bill so it truly reflects its initial objective, which is to serve Canadian creators without hindering freedom of expression in this country.

Public Safety

[Ya'ara Saks, Liberal, York Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, in 2018, this House unanimously passed a bill making the month of May Canadian Jewish Heritage Month.

As a Jewish Canadian, I am proud to join the House today in celebrating the incredible contributions of the Jewish community to our great country. At the same time, though, we are witnessing a distressing rise in hate and anti-Semitism, not only globally, but also here at home in Canada.

Could the Prime Minister update this House on how the government is taking action against anti-Semitism in Canada?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague from York Centre for her hard work for her constituents and her advocacy.

This month we have the opportunity to celebrate and learn about Jewish communities in Canada, along with their history of courage and resilience. This is also a time to reaffirm our commitment to combat xenophobia and anti-Semitism.

Our government is committed to fighting hatred, prejudice and discrimination in all their forms through important measures such as Canada's anti-racism strategy 2019-22, in which the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition of anti-Semitism was formally adopted.

Health

[Jagmeet Singh, NDP, Burnaby South, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the situation right now in India is catastrophic. It is horrible to see the images of people desperate for help. People are dying because they cannot get access to oxygen. The situation requires the entire world to come together to provide support. We need to provide support to India to help the people of India.

There is one concrete thing the Liberal government could do. What poorer countries need is for vaccine patents to be waived so they could produce more vaccine and protect more people. What we have seen so far from the Liberal government is that it is more interested in protecting the profits of big pharmaceutical companies than actually helping these poorer countries by waiving those patent protections.

Will the Prime Minister waive, or support the waiver, of those patent protections, so poorer countries could produce more vaccine, and we could get the help to India and the people of India that they need?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the ongoing tragedy in India is breaking hearts around the world. This is why Canada has reached out to our Indian counterparts to ensure they know we are there to help in a broad range of ways. The Minister of Foreign Affairs has spoken with his counterparts, and we will continue to be there to support people suffering in India.

With respect to the WTO, we are actively working with international partners to support the WTO's dialogue with the pharmaceutical sector and to accelerate equitable global vaccine production and distribution. In this way, as well as through our contributions to COVAX, our government is committed to ensuring equitable access to vaccines.

Digital Services Tax

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

The member for Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie on a point of order.

[Alexandre Boulerice, NDP, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, if you seek it, I think you will find the unanimous consent of the House for the following motion:

That the House:

(a) recognize that tax giveaways to Netflix represent an injustice to local broadcasters; and

(b) call on the government to make all webs giants pay their fair share, by including Netflix in its proposed 3% tax on digital services.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

All those opposed to moving the motion please say nay. I hear none.

The House has heard the terms of the motion. All those opposed to the motion will please say nay.

Hearing no dissenting voice, I declare the motion carried.

(Motion agreed to)

[Mark Gerretsen, Liberal, Kingston and the Islands, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. On that last unanimous consent motion, I just wanted to clarify that no company is excluded from the proposed digital services tax.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I believe that is getting into debate, but I thank the hon. member for pointing that out.