Debates of June 1st, 2021

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

[Marco Mendicino, Liberal, Minister of Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, for the last three years in a row, Canada has led the world when it comes to resettling refugees. We have worked very closely with the LGBTQ2 community to ensure that members of that community are able to resettle to Canada despite the challenges that have been posed by COVID-19.

We will continue that work to uphold human rights around the world, and we will do so proudly.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I want to remind hon. members that when setting up and they know they are either going to ask a question or possibly answer one, to hook up where the ISP is solid so everyone can hear and it does not damage the ears of translators. It is a courtesy of which I want to remind all the members.

[Martin Champoux, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. To add insult to injury, there was no French interpretation coming through the headset; it must have gotten lost in the woods.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I am going to ask the hon. minister to try answering that again. We did not get the translation because of the quality of the sound. Again, the question is on the transmission quality. I will let him try again.

[Marco Mendicino, Liberal, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

Mr. Speaker, as I said, for the last three years in a row, Canada has led the world when it comes to resettling refugees [Technical difficulty—Editor]

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I believe we have lost connection. We are going to move on to the next question. The hon. member for Calgary Forest Lawn.

[Jasraj Singh Hallan, Conservative, Calgary Forest Lawn, AB]

Mr. Speaker, we hear the same old answers with no action, and let me show how.

The Liberal government has repeatedly failed to stand up for persecuted refugees. It ran away from standing up to China, which is committing genocide against Uighur Muslims, and shows no action for persecuted Hindus and Sikhs in Afghanistan. It has created a Liberal-made backlog nightmare, causing further hardship to families and minority groups.

When will the platitudes end? When will the Liberal government show some fortitude and step up?

[Bardish Chagger, Liberal, Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth]

Mr. Speaker, for our government, LGBTQ2 rights are human rights. Whether that is domestically or internationally, Canada will always take a strong position. Our record demonstrates that.

What is unfortunate is that the member is very bold to ask that question when just yesterday we were debating Bill C-6 in regard to protecting LGBTQ2 rights for Canadians. What are the Conservatives doing? They are holding up that legislation. The Bloc, the NDP and the government are ready to call the question, and the Conservatives are stopping it. Maybe they want to get their act together and take a position, and state that LGBTQ2 rights are in fact human rights.

Official Languages

[Christine Normandin, Bloc, Saint-Jean, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Quebec wants Bill 101 to apply to federally regulated businesses to make French the language of work. In its white paper of linguistic reform, the federal government says that it plans to use the Official Languages Act to protect French. It is not the same thing. Bill 101 protects French. The Official Languages Act protects bilingualism. Bilingualism is doing just fine. It is French that is struggling.

Will the government allow Quebec to protect French, or will it override Quebec to protect bilingualism?

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, this is not at all about overriding Quebec. On the contrary, we are working with Quebec. That is probably why the Bloc Québécois is so upset. That is probably why it is trying to pick a fight where there is no fight to pick. Quebec determined that French is in decline, and so did the Government of Canada. Now, much to the Bloc Québécois's chagrin, both levels of government are working together to strengthen and promote this language we cherish and love so much.

[Christine Normandin, Bloc, Saint-Jean, QC]

Mr. Speaker, for once, Air Canada is not the top source of complaints to the Commissioner of Official Languages. Of course, no one was flying this year.

I bring this up because Air Canada is subject to the Official Languages Act, but the company still could not care less about French.

The problem is that the federal government's strategy to protect French is to expand the application of the Official Languages Act to all federally regulated businesses.

Why does the government not simply tell Quebec to enforce its Bill 101 instead of doing to Quebec workplaces what it did to Air Canada?

[Marie-France Lalonde, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages (FedDev Ontario and Official Languages)]

Mr. Speaker, the Quebec lieutenant made a similar comment, but the Bloc Québécois is looking to pick a fight. We agree that more protections are needed for the French language.

The current Liberal government is the first federal government in history to acknowledge that French is a minority language in this country. In our reform, we plan to offer protection for French as the language of work and of service in Quebec and in certain communities across the country with a large francophone population. We will work within our jurisdiction to protect French outside of Quebec and also within Quebec.

Public Safety

[Lianne Rood, Conservative, Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON]

Mr. Speaker, we have learned that two scientists, as well as students, from Communist China gained security clearance, had access to and entered the National Microbiology Laboratory. Even more disturbing is that the federal scientists are collaborating with a Communist government that wants to hurt Canada.

I know the Prime Minister said he admires China’s basic dictatorship, but my constituents do not. Will the government commit to finally cutting ties with scientists working for China's Communist regime?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, I am not sure what that mishmash is.

Let me be clear, the National Microbiology Laboratory is a Canadian jewel. It has provided an immense amount of support to Canadians during COVID-19 and, indeed, before. World-renowned science, in collaboration with many other countries, is conducted through the lab and through its partners.

In terms of national security, clearly the Conservatives are playing a dangerous game. Either they do not understand or they do not care about national security. I would encourage them not to use the security of Canadians, putting the security of Canadians at risk, for partisan gain.

[Marty Morantz, Conservative, Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB]

Mr. Speaker, Conservatives have repeatedly tried to get answers for Canadians about how a military scientist from the Communist Chinese regime got access to the Level 4 National Microbiology Lab in Winnipeg. The government continues to stonewall and refuses to provide answers. Recent polling has shown that over 60% of Canadians have had their trust in the federal government permanently eroded. Anyone watching, as Liberal ministers continue dodging in question period, can quickly see why.

Canadians deserve a government that they can trust. What is the Liberal government trying to hide?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians know that this government puts their security, safety and health at the forefront of everything we do. In fact, what Canadians do not appreciate is partisan games with their security. That member opposite knows that we have provided those documents to the committee with minor redactions for the protection of confidentiality. I would encourage the Conservative Party not to put the security of Canadians at risk for partisan gain.

Housing

[James Cumming, Conservative, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Mr. Speaker, home prices continue to rise beyond the affordability level for many Canadians. In my city of Edmonton, a single-family detached home increased by more than 11% year over year in the month of April. Inflation in this sector is particularly pronounced and on top of that, we have new mortgage rules. The U.S. is doubling tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber, yet another factor in increasing the prices on homes.

When will the Prime Minister take decisive action versus hollow announcements to improve housing affordability in this country, or will he continue to ignore this massive issue?

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, Minister of Families]

Mr. Speaker, we remain firmly committed to tackling the crucial issue of housing affordability in Canada. Our government is focused on ensuring that Canada's residential housing stock is not used unproductively by non-resident, non-Canadian investors. That is why we are proposing an annual 1% tax on the value of non-resident, non-Canadian owned residential real estate that is considered to be vacant or underused.

On top of that, budget 2021 is our fifth consecutive budget where we are investing more than ever before in affordable housing for Canadians.

Agriculture and Agri-Food

[Brenda Shanahan, Liberal, Châteauguay—Lacolle, QC]

Mr. Speaker, today is World Milk Day and I would like to thank all our farmers. In Quebec, 11,000 producers on 5,000 farms produce the milk, butter, cream, yogourt, and cheese that we are proud of and even the ice cream that I love.

In 1972, the Trudeau Liberal government put in place the supply management system that protects our Canadian producers.

Would the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food tell us about what our government is doing for the dairy sector?

[Marie-Claude Bibeau, Liberal, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, our government recognizes the importance of Canada's dairy producers, and we keep our promises to them.

They have already received more than $1 billion in compensation for the agreements signed with the European Union and the trans-Pacific region. They already know what they will receive in 2022 and 2023 and compensation for the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement will follow. We remain committed to protecting the supply management system and not giving up any more market share.

I wish everyone a happy World Milk Day.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I would like to remind members that they cannot name members. They can refer to their riding or their title in the House. I just wanted to give a little reminder.

The hon. member for Beauce.

[Richard Lehoux, Conservative, Beauce, QC]

Mr. Speaker, today being World Milk Day, my question is for the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food.

Over the past year, the government has finally made some announcements for dairy farmers, but our dairy processors are still waiting. Negotiations on compensation under CUSMA have stalled. Meanwhile, our American counterparts are already disputing the tariff rate quotas.

What will the minister do to better protect the Canadian dairy sector and the products that cross our borders? When will we see real help for processors?

[Marie-Claude Bibeau, Liberal, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, I would remind my hon. colleague that in the last budget, we announced compensation for Canada's dairy, poultry and egg processors. I am also working closely with the Minister of International Trade to follow up with the Canada-Quebec committee. We are confident that we are applying the tariff rate quotas in accordance with the agreement we very carefully negotiated with the United States.

I want to reassure all milk producers that we have their backs.

Seniors

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

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government that chose to create two classes of seniors in Canada also had the bright idea of creating two classes of compensation for damage created by the Phoenix system.

As a result, retirees who are entitled to compensation for failures in the system will have to wait until after the others to claim their due. The Treasury Board does not have any forms to submit to retirees for compensation because the forms will not be available for a few months.

One retiree wrote to us saying, “I am still furious since I do not yet know when the money will be paid to me.”

Why is this government treating these retirees as second-class citizens?

[Deb Schulte, Liberal, Minister of Seniors]

Mr. Speaker, I want to assure my colleague that we are working on behalf of seniors who have worked all their lives. They deserve to have a safe and financially secure retirement. They deserve to be paid their benefits and the payments that they require. We are working very hard to make sure that all seniors receive the payments and the benefits that they are entitled to.