Debates of June 1st, 2021

Public Safety

[Glen Motz, Conservative, Medicine Hat—Cardston—Warner, AB]

Mr. Speaker, over this past Victoria Day weekend, there were three people shot in Toronto, four shootings in Ottawa, and one person killed and four wounded in a Mississauga shooting. The Lower Mainland in B.C. has seen increased gang violence, with over 20 killings so far this year. Winnipeg experienced a string of three shootings in just one day, last month.

The Liberals' soft-on-crime approach has resulted in huge gang-crime increases and gang violence across this entire country. When will the government start working to protect our communities?

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness]

Mr. Speaker, I would remind the member that we promised Canadians we would strengthen gun control, while his party has promised Canadians that it would weaken it.

We have given the law enforcement agencies across this country $327 million to strengthen their response to gun and gang violence. The member voted against that. We have also brought forward legislation that has identified the three ways in which criminals gain access to guns: smuggling—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I apologize for the interruption, but there is a problem with translation.

I will ask the the hon. minister to start his answer again.

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the question the member has asked because it gives me an opportunity to remind him that we have promised Canadians we would strengthen gun control, while, of course, his party has promised the gun lobby that it will weaken it.

We have also made significant investments of $327 million in law enforcement's ability to do gun and gang investigations, a budget measure that the member voted against.

We continue to invest in kids and in communities, but we have also brought forward new legislation identifying the ways in which criminals gain access to guns, and strong new measures to deal with the smuggling of guns, the theft of guns and the criminal diversion of guns. We will continue to work hard to keep Canadians safe. I would encourage the member to support those initiatives and support law enforcement's efforts to keep—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

The hon. member for Vimy.

Families, Children and Social Development

[Annie Koutrakis, Liberal, Vimy, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the pandemic has affected many Canadians, including young families. My constituents have had to balance work and family, which has resulted in many additional expenses.

Can the Minister of National Revenue tell the House what our government is doing to support families with young children during this difficult time?

[Diane Lebouthillier, Liberal, Minister of National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Vimy for her important question.

Many families have experienced financial difficulties during this pandemic. This is why we announced a Canada child benefit supplement of up to $1,200 per child under the age of six.

Last Friday, the first payment was issued directly to parents. This measure will help 1.6 million families. The Canada child benefit gives nine out of 10 families more tax-free income. This benefit is indexed to inflation and has helped lift 435,000 children out of poverty since 2015.

My message to families is clear: We will always be there to support you.

The Environment

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

Mr. Speaker, this week is Environment Week in Canada. My question to the Prime Minister is this. Would it not be a wonderful thing if, during Environment Week, the environment committee strengthened Bill C-12, the so-called net-zero climate accountability act?

Specifically, one of my amendments has been rejected, and it would be so grateful to know from the Prime Minister why the government does not want the climate targets and climate plans to be based on the best available science. Right now the bill says the best available science must be merely taken into account. Surely we would not take it into account when we look at COVID. We base our decisions on science.

[Jonathan Wilkinson, Liberal, Minister of Environment and Climate Change]

Mr. Speaker, I wish the member a happy Environment Week.

The best available science tells us that we must achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, and certainly we are committed to meeting that target. With this legislation, we are enshrining that commitment into law.

We will be further strengthening this bill to include a number of amendments, including a 2025 review of our 2030 target and an interim emissions reduction objective for 2026, and enshrining the principle of progression of future targets. This legislation is very much a win for Canadians, who expect their parliamentarians to have a real plan to fight climate change and to build a clean growth economy.

Business of the House

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

Mr. Speaker, there have been discussions among the parties, and I believe if you seek it, you will find unanimous consent to adopt the following motion.

I move:

That, notwithstanding any standing order, special order or usual practice of the House, Bill C-8, An Act to amend the Citizenship Act (Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's call to action number 94), be disposed of as follows:

a) The bill be deemed concurred in on division at report stage; and

b) following Private Members' Hour on Thursday, June 3, 2021, the bill shall be considered at the third reading, a member of each recognized party and a member of the Green Party each speak for not more than 10 minutes followed by five minutes for questions and comments and, at the conclusion of the time provided for debate or when no member rises to speak, whichever is earlier, the bill be deemed read a third time and passed on division, and that the House then proceed to Adjournment Proceedings pursuant to Standing Order 38.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

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

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

I declare the motion carried.

(Motion agreed to)

Oral Questions

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

Mr. Speaker, I believe that after I asked my question about supply management earlier, you intervened and said that I had mentioned the name of a sitting member of Parliament, but I was referring to Pierre Elliott Trudeau in 1972. I would ask you to make any corrections necessary.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Thank you very much. I apologize, because that was not my intention. I do thank you for giving me the opportunity to remind everyone of the rules.

The hon. member for Louis‑Saint‑Laurent.

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I also rise on a point of order.

I would like to start by pointing out that the current Prime Minister was exactly six months old at the time the member for Châteauguay—Lacolle was referring to when she talked about his father.

We all recognize that we are at the beginning of June and in the last stretch of this session. We all recognize there are some serious and concerning issues for each and every Canadian that we have to debate in the House of Commons.

The House is currently meeting in a hybrid format because of the pandemic. When we accepted the procedural rules of the pandemic, we did so in good faith to ensure the health and safety of parliamentarians and of everyone we work with here in the House, in the buildings around Parliament Hill and in our ridings.

This provision is very serious, and we shall respect it based on the health of the people.

Just because the House is meeting in a hybrid format does not mean members, let alone ministers, can sit outdoors. Oral question period is a serious affair. It is inappropriate to see a minister sitting outside in a forest, even in a hybrid sitting of the House. That is our opinion.

More than that, I have to raise the point that during question period, for a full 10 minutes no Liberal members were in the House of Commons.

It is totally unacceptable that for 10 minutes during question period, not a single Liberal parliamentarian was sitting in this House—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I am sorry to interrupt the hon. member, but I must remind him that he cannot say whether members are present in the House or draw attention to their absence. I know the hon. member is already aware of this rule, but I will take this opportunity to remind all hon. members.

While I am at it, before I move on to the next point of order, I would ask all hon. members who are going to ask or answer questions to set up in a neutral location where the connection is good and they can be heard clearly. This will ensure that their colleagues who are interested in what they have to say are able to hear them. It also allows the interpreters to hear them and interpret what they are saying, so that those who do not speak the same language can understand what is being said.

The hon. member for Kingston and the Islands is rising on a point of order.

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

Mr. Speaker, it is on the same point of order. Notwithstanding that we are not supposed to reference the presence of members in the House, I suggest that indeed many members from the Liberal Party were in the House. They are participating virtually. This goes to the rules we adopted. They specifically say that members can be—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I am going to stop this right now. I am not sure I want to continue this argument, because we are not supposed to be referring to anyone in the chamber. Also, the fact that we are discussing it means it becomes a debate.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am just trying to say that they are in the chamber—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

We want to make sure that everything is clear. Referring to someone's presence in the chamber, whether it is an absence or presence, is not allowed, and that rule has gone on for a long time. The main reason for it is that during sessions, MPs have obligations that sometimes take them out of the chamber and it is impossible for them to be here. I am sure we do not want to insult anybody or hurt anyone's work. I am sure they are doing work on behalf of the government, no matter where they are.

The hon. member for Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo.

[Cathy McLeod, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC]

Mr. Speaker, one a point of order, I am looking for some clarification. I have always been aware that we cannot speak of the presence or absence of a specific member, but I did not think that this extended to empty benches. I guess you are saying that it does extend to empty benches.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I also want to remind the hon. members that we cannot do indirectly what we cannot do directly. I thank the member for her intervention, but members are in the House, according to the convention, because they are joining us virtually.

The hon. member for Louis-Saint-Laurent.

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Mr. Speaker, you were right to call me to order. I will be more careful next time.

You mentioned earlier in response to our colleague from Kingston and the Islands that we were having connection problems and that the connection was not good. Technically, the connection is working fine here in the House of Commons.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Again, I must remind the House that we cannot do indirectly what we cannot do directly.

The hon. Minister of Justice is rising on a point of order.

[David Lametti, Liberal, Minister of Justice]

Mr. Speaker, I would like a clarification regarding the member for Chicoutimi—Le Fjord. When he asked a question during question period, I believe he used a prop, a milk carton, in delivering his question.