House of Commons Hansard #97 of the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was election.

Topics

Canadian HeritageOral Questions

Noon

Conservative

The Deputy Speaker Conservative Bruce Stanton

Order. The hon. member for Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo.

HealthOral Questions

Noon

Conservative

Cathy McLeod Conservative Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC

Mr. Speaker, we are a year in and many people are struggling with COVID. They rely on expert advice. I will quote just one person's frustration regarding vaccine messaging: “I am so tired. I was excited to get my first vaccine and suddenly I am told it is not the preferred dose. Now I’m questioning why I was told to take the first dose available. In the meantime, my 92-year-old father can’t get his second shot as advised.”

When will the minister take responsibility for these failures in communication and delivery?

HealthOral Questions

12:05 p.m.

Pickering—Uxbridge Ontario

Liberal

Jennifer O'Connell LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health

Mr. Speaker, Canadians can rest assured that the approval and authorization of vaccine use in this country is left up to the world-renowned regulators at Health Canada. All vaccines that are authorized go through a rigorous testing process for safety and effectiveness, and that review continues even as vaccines are distributed.

Vaccines are an important tool for getting through this virus, and we encourage all Canadians to get a vaccine as soon as it is their turn.

Public Services and ProcurementOral Questions

12:05 p.m.

Conservative

Alice Wong Conservative Richmond Centre, BC

Mr. Speaker, in the middle of the largest global health crisis seen in over a century, seniors need more than a token benefits increase. What seniors really need are vaccinations so that they can enjoy the rest of their years secure from COVID-19.

Countries such as Israel, the United States, the United Kingdom and Singapore are beating Canada to vaccinate their people. When will the Minister of Health account for her failure to bring wide distribution of vaccines?

Public Services and ProcurementOral Questions

12:05 p.m.

Oakville Ontario

Liberal

Anita Anand LiberalMinister of Public Services and Procurement

Mr. Speaker, the supply of vaccines coming into this country is such that Canada ranks in the top three or four countries in the world for vaccine administration. We have had 18.4 million doses delivered to Canada. The provinces and territories have administered 15 million doses, and 36% of Canadians have had one dose. Those numbers are increasing rapidly because of the continuous supply of vaccines coming into this country, which are serving all demographic groups, including our seniors.

HousingOral Questions

12:05 p.m.

Liberal

Randeep Sarai Liberal Surrey Centre, BC

Mr. Speaker, it has never been more important to support Canadians in achieving home ownership. We know that many young families are ready to buy their first home but face financial challenges to doing so in cities like greater Vancouver.

Can the minister please update the House on the first-time home buyer incentive and explain how it is helping put home ownership in the reach of young Canadians?

HousingOral Questions

12:05 p.m.

Spadina—Fort York Ontario

Liberal

Adam Vaughan LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Families

Mr. Speaker, we know it is important to help Canadians who are looking to buy their first home. That is why yesterday we announced the expansion of the first-time home buyer incentive, improving the eligibility in Toronto, Vancouver and Victoria, and their regions, by raising the income threshold for eligible homebuyers. With this incentive, we are supporting more young Canadians and Canadian families buy their first home. However, we will also continue to build on our historic investments in the national housing strategy.

We will ensure that Canadians have a choice; have access to a market that is safe, affordable and secure; and, most importantly, have a place to call home.

Indigenous AffairsOral Questions

12:05 p.m.

NDP

Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC

Mr. Speaker, the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada has played a pivotal role in helping indigenous businesses survive the pandemic, yet budget 2021 fails to recognize its important contributions. The government is spending more money to promote the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Montreal than it is to support struggling indigenous businesses across the country. Without sector-specific support, indigenous-led tourism will disappear. This is another blow to preserving indigenous languages and cultures.

Why are indigenous business not a real priority for the Liberals, and when will specific investments for pandemic recovery be made for indigenous tourism operators?

Indigenous AffairsOral Questions

12:05 p.m.

University—Rosedale Ontario

Liberal

Chrystia Freeland LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance

Mr. Speaker, this budget makes unprecedented investments in reconciliation and in supporting indigenous people across Canada, with $18 billion over five years. That includes significant investments in supporting indigenous businesses and indigenous entrepreneurship. Moreover, this budget includes more than $1 billion to support tourism across Canada.

HealthOral Questions

12:05 p.m.

Independent

Ramesh Sangha Independent Brampton Centre, ON

Mr. Speaker, during the pandemic, many Canadians have been affected mentally and emotionally, and they deserve adequate support and treatment. However, the government has failed victims suffering from mental health issues.

Why is there neglect by the government at this crucial juncture of the COVID-19 crisis?

HealthOral Questions

12:10 p.m.

Pickering—Uxbridge Ontario

Liberal

Jennifer O'Connell LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health

Mr. Speaker, we know that mental health was a struggle for many Canadians even prior to COVID, and COVID has made the situation worse.

I could not disagree more with the member opposite's assertion that we have done nothing. In fact, we continue to invest in mental health supports, including wellnesstogether.ca. Over a million Canadians have accessed that support. It is crucially important that we encourage Canadians to use wellnesstogether.ca to access the support they need and that we support them, so that no Canadians suffer in silence.

I encourage the member to help us help his constituents and Canadians across the country get the resources that are available.

HealthOral Questions

12:10 p.m.

Conservative

The Deputy Speaker Conservative Bruce Stanton

That concludes question period for today.

The hon. member for Lac-Saint-Jean on a point of order.

HealthOral Questions

12:10 p.m.

Bloc

Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC

Mr. Speaker, there have been consultations among the parties, and I believe that, if you seek it, you will find unanimous consent for the following motion: That the House salute and support the decision of the President of the United States to support the resolution presented to the World Trade Organization to temporarily waive COVID-19 vaccine patents for developing countries; and that the House ask the Government of Canada to also support this initiative.

HealthOral Questions

12:10 p.m.

Conservative

The Deputy Speaker Conservative Bruce Stanton

All those opposed to the hon. member moving the motion will please say nay.

HealthOral Questions

12:10 p.m.

Some hon. members

Nay.

HealthOral Questions

12:10 p.m.

Liberal

Mark Gerretsen Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON

Mr. Speaker, I am seeking further clarification on a comment that you made after members' statements today.

I have a great respect for you. I think you are an exceptional Speaker, as I have said in the House before. I am looking for clarification as to why the member for Calgary Midnapore was allowed to say the word “you”, as if speaking to somebody directly, 14 times within a 60-second period without being interrupted. Is it the practice that we allow the statement to end and then provide correction later? I am hoping to get some clarification from you on that.

HealthOral Questions

12:10 p.m.

Conservative

The Deputy Speaker Conservative Bruce Stanton

I thank the hon. member for Kingston and the Islands for raising the point.

As is customary, we do try, as we saw earlier today, to avoid interruptions during the course of Statements by Members and question period. It was clear to me when the member was speaking that the style of speaking was inappropriate and not within the usual standards of the House. The question was whether to interrupt at that point or at the end, and I elected to do the latter instead of the former. Quite honestly, it could have invited an immediate interruption as well.

That is why I remind hon. members that although a speaking style is not the same thing as using unparliamentary language per se, it is against the normal standard of speech in the House. Making personal comments toward any member of the House often elevates the kind of adversarial climate that does not support good, civil debate.

I appreciate the hon. member raising the point, and I think it is a good occasion to remind other hon. members of this.

Rising on a point of order, the hon. Minister of Canadian Heritage.

HealthOral Questions

12:10 p.m.

Liberal

Steven Guilbeault Liberal Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC

Mr. Speaker, in his question, the member for Parry Sound—Muskoka claimed that I had said those who oppose Bill C-10 were extremists. I said no such thing. I did point out that the Conservative Party of Canada was leaning toward the more extremist elements of its party when it comes to Bill C-10, but I did not say that those who oppose it are extremists.

HealthOral Questions

12:10 p.m.

Conservative

The Deputy Speaker Conservative Bruce Stanton

I thank the hon. minister for his comments. I do not think this falls into the category of a point of order. It is, rather, in the area of debate. Perhaps there will be other occasions for him to comment on that subject.

Government Response to PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:15 p.m.

Winnipeg North Manitoba

Liberal

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

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8)(a), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's responses to 24 petitions. These returns will be tabled in an electronic format.

Veterans AffairsCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

12:15 p.m.

Liberal

Bryan May Liberal Cambridge, ON

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the sixth report of the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs, entitled “The Consequences of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Financial Health of Veterans Organizations”.

Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report.

Telecommunications ActRoutine Proceedings

12:15 p.m.

Conservative

Todd Doherty Conservative Cariboo—Prince George, BC

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-294, An Act to amend the Telecommunications Act (suicide prevention).

Mr. Speaker, 147 days ago, the House of Commons unanimously passed my motion supporting a new national three-digit suicide-prevention number. It has been 147 days, and every 24 hours, 11 Canadians take their own life and another 275 attempt to end their life. Using these stats, since passing the motion we have lost 1,617 Canadians to suicide, and over 40,000 Canadians have attempted to end their life. These are the attempts and deaths that we know of. So many more go unreported.

Suicide is the second leading cause of death among young Canadians. These statistics are staggering. What is even more worrisome is that the statistics are from before COVID.

My private member's bill is very simple. It would add one clause to the Telecommunications Act to ensure that a new three-digit suicide-prevention number is implemented and accessible to all Canadians within one year of passage.

We are facing a mental health crisis never before seen. We have the power to save lives, to leave a legacy of action and to show those who are suffering that we are fighting for them. Let us all bring 988 to Canada.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

Income Tax ActRoutine Proceedings

12:15 p.m.

Bloc

Maxime Blanchette-Joncas Bloc Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-295, An Act to amend the Income Tax Act (recent graduates working in a designated region).

Mr. Speaker, it is with immense pride and great pleasure that I introduce in the House a bill to amend the Income Tax Act. I am convinced I will gain the support of all my colleagues for this legislative measure. This bill will make it possible to not only address the skilled labour shortage affecting the regions, but also promote continuing education in colleges and universities as well as professional and technical training for young people who will be needed to fill jobs in the regions because of population aging.

Mr. Speaker, I know you share my enthusiasm and I thank you.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

Income Tax ActRoutine Proceedings

12:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Deputy Speaker Conservative Bruce Stanton

Before we go to petitions, I will remind hon. members of two things. First, I remind those who are presenting petitions by video conference to use the “Raise Hand” function so that we know they are there. Second, I remind hon. members to keep the descriptions of their petitions precise and short.

We will now go to the hon. member for St. John's East.

Correctional Service CanadaPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:20 p.m.

NDP

Jack Harris NDP St. John's East, NL

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour today to present a petition on behalf of a number of inmates of federal institutions, who are concerned about the fact that when a prisoner accuses medical staff of misconduct, it could have serious repercussions for the medical staff, and when the medical staff accuse prisoners of misconduct, there could be serious repercussions for the prisoner who is involved.

The petitioners are calling upon the Government of Canada to require the health care staff who interact with prisoners in federal custody to wear body cameras that record audio and video of interactions with prisoners, with the exception of medical examinations, which would be recorded in audio only, and for Correctional Service Canada to retain these recordings, so as to promote better accountability and professionalism in federal correctional facilities.