House of Commons Hansard #117 of the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was content.

Topics

National DefenceAdjournment Proceedings

June 15th, 12:50 a.m.

Conservative

Cheryl Gallant Conservative Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON

Madam Speaker, Canada is complicit in torture. As the strong, proud and ready member of Parliament for Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke representing Garrison Petawawa, I refuse to be complicit, as do the soldiers who recorded it. I rise to defend the honour and reputations of the women and the men who serve as members of the Canadian Armed Forces, particularly when the Prime Minister and his party refuse to support soldiers in uniform. The reputation of Canada has been maligned by the government.

On June 4, I once again asked the Prime Minister why his party has taken the position to condone torture. I specifically asked why soldiers were instructed to ignore evidence of war crimes other than to protect the Prime Minister's decision to ignore the evidence. By ignoring very disturbing evidence of war crimes, then responding with a cover-up, the Prime Minister and the Liberals become a party to the crime. Responding on behalf of the Prime Minister, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence does a disservice to all women and men in uniform and all Canadians with her cover-up comments.

This is about rape, torture and execution. Let us recap the story for Canadians so far. According to a Canadian Armed Forces briefing note, Canadian soldiers reported the presence of videos being circulated among troops they were tasked to provide training to showing evidence of war crimes being committed by the trainees. The graphic images included raping a girl to death, torturing and executing a line of bound prisoners by beating them to death with what appeared to be iron rods or rebar, executing prisoners lined up by shooting, and executing a man by hanging him from the barrel of a battle tank. At least seven Canadian, non-commissioned soldiers saw the footage. To their credit, they immediately reported the situation to their superiors.

The government claimed ignorance. The fact that the Prime Minister expects Canadians to believe he or the Minister of National Defence were not informed about the torture videos is a slap and a grope to Canadian democracy. That claim has about as much truth to it as the Prime Minister not knowing the Kielburgers from the WE Charity corruption scandal were paying hundreds of thousands of dollars to the Prime Minister's family members.

Canadians subsequently learned the commander of the Canadian Joint Operations Command responsible for overseeing all military missions briefed the chief of the defence staff over two years ago. The tone for accountability is set at the top. There is zero leadership from the Prime Minister and less from the Minister of National Defence.

It would now appear that the commander of the Canadian Joint Operations Command responsible for overseeing all military missions briefed the former chief of the defence staff as recently as June 2 at the Hylands Golf and Country Club in Ottawa, an exclusive golf venue for the Canadian military. The same leadership vacuum that allows for the toxic masculinity of a broken Prime Minister gives the signal that sexual harassment, torture, rape and execution will be ignored or, worse, tolerated.

Canada has become, under the government's watch, an international laggard when it comes to denouncing torture and cruel treatment.

National DefenceAdjournment Proceedings

June 15th, 12:50 a.m.

Ottawa West—Nepean Ontario

Liberal

Anita Vandenbeld LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence

Madam Speaker, our military has consistently contributed to international operations to deter terrorism, to defend human rights and to act as a force for good in the world. That reputation will only be maintained by our willingness to continually question our own practices and fully support those who raise concerns. Through Operation Impact, we are participating in the Global Coalition Against Daesh and we are working with our allies and partners to make the Middle East more stable and more secure.

The work of the Canadian Armed Forces supports Canada's Middle East strategy. As part of this extensive effort, CAF members have helped rebuild local military capacity in Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq. This is non-combat work. It is vitally important because it lays the foundation for a better future for the regions and all those who live there.

The partner forces that we train with currently go through a stringent vetting process.

The intent of this process is to reduce the risk of training forces that have committed or are deemed likely to commit violations of the law of armed conflict.

The law of armed conflict is a guiding principle in our efforts to counter Daesh, and, as the Minister of National Defence said, we were troubled to learn about the concerns raised by CAF members about members of the Iraqi security forces potentially sharing videos that depicted violations of the law of armed conflict.

CAF members deployed on Operation Impact received significant training on the law of armed conflict, including how to prevent suspected incidents or abuses. Like all CAF members, they are also required to report up the chain of command any violations of the law of armed conflict that do occur. The matter that the hon. member opposite mentions is now under investigation by the Canadian Forces National Investigation Service.

These reports of abuse date back to the fall of 2018, and the Canadian Armed Forces is no longer working with the Iraqi security forces that were involved. The Canadian Armed Forces initially ceased participating in this type of training in March 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The training was subsequently deemed as no longer required by the combined joint task force Operation Inherent Resolve because the Iraqi security forces met the original aims of these training efforts. As such, tactical training in this capacity did not resume.

Finally, on behalf of our government, I would like to thank the soldiers who first raised these issues and have continued to raise these concerns. They have our gratitude and our full support.

National DefenceAdjournment Proceedings

June 15th, 12:55 a.m.

Conservative

Cheryl Gallant Conservative Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON

Madam Speaker, how can Canada credibly promote human rights? The communists are laughing at Canada right now while innocent Canadians rot in a foreign prison, forgotten by their government.

The Prime Minister and his party like to lecture others. All Canada and Canadians ever hear from the government, be it on indigenous children, boil water advisories, torture, sexual harassment in the military, the environment or corruption in government, is denial, followed by a long round of meaningless virtue signalling. Canadians expect better of their elected representatives, and being accountable in question period would be a good start.

National DefenceAdjournment Proceedings

June 15th, 12:55 a.m.

Liberal

Anita Vandenbeld Liberal Ottawa West—Nepean, ON

Madam Speaker, the military training missions the Canadian Armed Forces have undertaken as part of Operation Impact are a vital part of our whole-of-government approach to increasing security and stability in the Middle East. The groups that our military train are subject to a rigorous vetting process intended to prevent CAF members from working with forces that have committed or might in the future commit violations of the law of armed conflict.

The reports filed by CAF members in Iraq in 2018 are troubling, and we are treating the situation with the seriousness it deserves. This matter is now under investigation by the Canadian Forces National Investigation Service.

Indigenous AffairsAdjournment Proceedings

June 15th, 1 a.m.

NDP

Heather McPherson NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB

Madam Speaker, from mid-April through the end of May, Alberta saw the highest rate of infection in North America from COVID-19. Fourteen separate outbreaks at oil sands work camps made the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, home to a mere 70,000 people, the epicentre of COVID infections in Canada.

Jason Kenney blames the high infection rate on indigenous people's vaccine hesitancy despite the very obvious fact that the COVID infections were spreading from the oil camps that his government deemed essential. Kenney's racist scapegoating did, however, bring attention to indigenous communities in Alberta and across Canada and to the challenges that these communities face in a global pandemic. Without adequate housing, health care and other basic infrastructure, the threat this virus and all infectious diseases pose to indigenous communities is acute.

I want to thank the government for its targeted vaccine distribution to indigenous communities and for getting COVID-19 emergency support to them during this crisis. It was useful during an emergency, in this emergency, not the emergency that we are currently seeing in northern Ontario. However, it does beg the question: Why does it take an emergency as serious as a global pandemic for the government to do the right thing?

Kenney's scapegoating of indigenous communities in Wood Buffalo was disgusting, but it was built upon Canada's legacy of genocide against indigenous people and on the current government's continual refusal to meet its obligations.

A shockwave went through the country just a couple of weeks ago when the unmarked burials of 215 children were discovered at the site of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School. These children, as young as three years old, died in a genocide. They died in a system designed to kill the Indian in the child, the very definition of a genocide, an attempt to destroy the identity, language, culture and familial connections that define a people and hold them together. These children died along with thousands of other children across 100 residential schools because they were an inconvenience to European settlers and they were in the way.

Now, as hundreds more unmarked burials of children are found at sites, the shock will subside but the shame will continue. Of the 94 calls to action issued by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2015, how many has the government enacted? Five and a half years ago, the Prime Minister promised to implement all the recommendations. Five and a half years ago, even the government's own website, which has the most glowing account of the government's response that one could possibly find anywhere, clearly demonstrates the government's failure.

Addressing the genocide of the past, not even providing for the smallest ask of the TRC for support so that indigenous communities could find their children's unmarked burials is one type of failure. However, continuing that genocidal legacy by taking residential school survivors to court, by fighting indigenous children seeking their basic rights in court is a failure of a whole other level. That is shameful.

A few months ago, we learned that the government spent over $3 million to fight the release of documents from St. Anne's residential school in Ontario, more than was requested to find burials. It spent $3 million of Canadians' money to keep residential school survivors and their family members from learning the truth about St. Anne's.

That was today. When will this genocide end?

Indigenous AffairsAdjournment Proceedings

June 15th, 1 a.m.

Oakville North—Burlington Ontario

Liberal

Pam Damoff LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indigenous Services

Madam Speaker, I want to begin by recognizing that I am on the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation from my home in the riding of Oakville North—Burlington. I would also like to thank my hon. colleague from Edmonton Strathcona for raising the issue of vaccine distribution in hard hit areas of Alberta.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created an unprecedented crisis in Canada, especially for indigenous peoples and I want to applaud indigenous peoples across our country who stepped up for vaccines and continue to step up for vaccines.

In response to the pandemic, Indigenous Services Canada has formed COVID-19 vaccine planning groups with representation from federal, provincial, territorial, and indigenous partners to co-develop approaches to support access to COVID-19 vaccines for first nations, Inuit and Métis, including youth and indigenous peoples living in urban settings.

As of June 7, we are aware of 687 indigenous communities with vaccinations under way. A total of 540,581 doses have been administered. Based on Statistics Canada 2020 population projections, over 61% of eligible individuals in first nations communities as well as over 72% of eligible individuals living in the territories have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Of this group, over 36% of individuals 12 years and up have received their second dose.

In my province of Ontario, the Canadian Armed Forces are supporting vaccine rollout for indigenous communities through Operation Vector. They are distributing COVID-19 vaccines in various communities of Nishnawbe Aski Nation. This is in response to a request for assistance from the Government of Ontario and Orange partners with the delivery of the first doses of the vaccine to community members aged 12 to 17.

In addition as part of Operation Laser, Canadian Rangers are currently activated in Attawapiskat First Nation, Fort Albany First Nation, Kashechewan First Nation and Long Lake #58 First Nation in Ontario to provide assistance with COVID-19 response efforts in those communities.

We are currently working with communities to determine how many additional doses are needed to ensure a 70% immunization rate among the 12 to 17 age group on reserve.

Last week, the Government of Alberta also announced that people who had received their first dose of vaccine in April are now eligible to book their appointments for the second dose. This is very encouraging.

Throughout the pandemic, indigenous leaders in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo have demonstrated exceptional leadership and care for the community. They continue to guide vaccination rollout and uptake. Because of this, Alberta first nations continue to report high numbers of vaccinations in their communities and more urban clinics are being planned.

I share the member's concerns which is why I reached out to her to arrange a briefing on the topic. As she knows, the federal government is responsible for vaccine procurement and the provinces for vaccine distribution. As the member was informed during a briefing, Indigenous Services Canada is working with first nations located around the municipality of Wood Buffalo, including the Athabasca Tribal Council and Alberta Health Services to facilitate supports and vaccine distribution where needed, including with friendship centres and urban indigenous health clinics.

We will continue to support indigenous communities across the country, including Kashechewan First Nation, to bring an end to the pandemic and ensure the safety and well-being of indigenous peoples across the country.

Indigenous AffairsAdjournment Proceedings

June 15th, 1:05 a.m.

NDP

Heather McPherson NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB

Madam Speaker, unfortunately, I do not think the parliamentary secretary listened to what I had said. However, I will ask again.

Canadian governments have discriminated against indigenous children for decades. Indigenous children have been denied the social, educational and medical support that they need, support that non-indigenous children readily receive.

Today, the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada, the Assembly of First Nations and other parties representing indigenous children are back in Federal Court fighting for their basic rights, fighting the government, and yet today, the member stands and talks about what is happening in different communities.

Will the government stop suing children? Will the government stop taking indigenous children to court and actually stop wasting millions of dollars that could be used to make sure that there is care for indigenous children?

Indigenous AffairsAdjournment Proceedings

June 15th, 1:05 a.m.

Liberal

Pam Damoff Liberal Oakville North—Burlington, ON

Madam Speaker, perhaps I misunderstood adjournment proceedings, because I thought it was to expand on a question that the member had already asked during question period, which was about vaccines.

Our government has been clear. Our goal is comprehensive, fair and equitable compensation for further healing for those impacted by the historic inequities in first nations child welfare.

We maintain that there are substantive, unresolved questions on the CHRT's jurisdiction. We remain committed to finding a fair way forward on compensation for first nations children who may be outside of the CHRT's process.

Indigenous AffairsAdjournment Proceedings

June 15th, 1:10 a.m.

Liberal

The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès) Liberal Alexandra Mendes

Pursuant to order made on Monday, June 14, 2021, the motion to adjourn the House is now deemed to have been adopted. Accordingly, this House stands adjourned until later this day at 10 a.m. pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).

(The House adjourned at 1:10 a.m.)