House of Commons Hansard #118 of the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was quebeckers.
Marie-Claude Bibeau LiberalMinister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
Mr. Speaker, there is indeed a certain number of risk management programs, including agrirecovery, that are available for producers facing exceptional costs for various reasons.
The procedure is that the province consults us and its officials analyze the situation with our officials. As soon as the analysis is done, I will be pleased to share the response with the producers and with my colleague.
Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC
Mr. Speaker, in Portneuf—Jacques‑Cartier, many agri-food, construction, agriculture and landscaping businesses are reaching out to me because they are short of employees.
This Liberal government is blaming a lot on COVID‑19. The reality is that it has done nothing in the past six years about accessing foreign workers. Is it normal for certain applications to drag on for more than a year? It is unacceptable. The process urgently needs to be sped up to allow our businesses to stay above water and participate in the economic recovery. When will this government take action?
Marco Mendicino LiberalMinister of Immigration
Mr. Speaker, our government has doubled the number of temporary foreign workers in Quebec from 11,000 workers in 2015 to 23,000 workers in 2019.
Despite the pandemic, last year we supported the second-largest number of temporary foreign workers of all time and we are welcoming even more this year. We have already admitted more than 8,500 skilled workers in Quebec this year and we will continue to work together with the Government of Quebec to provide it all the immigrants it needs.
Gerald Soroka Conservative Yellowhead, AB
Mr. Speaker, my constituents are very frustrated with the government's handling of the border. The government has insisted on forcing Canadians into hotel quarantine despite the Liberals' own science expert panel recommending that the government scrap the program. These are the same hotels that have had reports of sexual assaults and a lack of food and water.
On what date will the Liberals finally listen to the science and end the hotel quarantine program?
Patty Hajdu LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, Canada has some of the strongest measures to protect against the importation of COVID-19. We have been guided by science and evidence, and Canadians have made extraordinary sacrifices over the last year and a half to protect each other. We will continue to use that science and evidence as we adjust the border measures to reflect the best science and evidence, and to ensure that we protect Canadians from another surge of COVID-19.
Annie Koutrakis Liberal Vimy, QC
Mr. Speaker, climate change is rapidly affecting the world, especially poor and developing countries.
Can the Minister of International Development tell the House what Canada is doing to help these countries in the global fight?
Karina Gould LiberalMinister of International Development
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Vimy for her important question.
At the G7 summit, our government reaffirmed its commitment to meeting the international climate finance objective of $100 billion a year for climate finance in the places around the world that need it most.
We also doubled our climate finance pledge from $2.65 billion in 2015 to $5.3 billion over the next five years.
Here at home, we are committed to reducing our emissions by 40% to 45% by 2030.
Kelly McCauley Conservative Edmonton West, AB
Mr. Speaker, for four straight years, the minister of public works could only muster up a feeble “to be determined” when setting targets for government contracts for indigenous businesses, yet in the operations committee we heard evidence that public works invoked the national security exemption in order to sole-source a contract for PPE from China instead of from a qualified indigenous business.
Why is reconciliation with China more important to the minister than reconciliation with indigenous people?
Anita Anand LiberalMinister of Public Services and Procurement
Mr. Speaker, the member opposite is inaccurate in his question. I will say the Government of Canada is committed to improving diversity in all aspects of government programming. That includes increasing participation of minority groups in federal procurement.
I would like to say that during the pandemic, PSPC awarded 40 contracts collectively worth $130 million to 31 self-identified indigenous businesses. We have more work to do, but I am committed to increasing opportunities for indigenous businesses from coast to coast to coast.
Ziad Aboultaif Conservative Edmonton Manning, AB
Mr. Speaker, home prices have risen to an all-time high. While the minister is patting himself on the back, young Canadians and families are simply giving up the Canadian dream of owning a home due to historic price increases of almost 30% since last year.
Can the minister tell us, if his housing plan is truly perfect, why Canadians across the country are giving up on owning homes?
Ahmed Hussen LiberalMinister of Families
Mr. Speaker, our national housing strategy is investing in the first-time home buyer incentive, which is a real help for first-time homebuyers.
What did the Conservatives do when they were in office? All they could offer first-time homebuyers was a $750 credit. What a joke.
The national housing strategy is working. Since coming into office, we have invested over $27.4 billion in affordable housing. In Edmonton, the city the hon. member comes from, we recently announced $46.5 million through the rental construction financing initiative to build over 250 rental units. This is a national housing strategy that is working even in Edmonton.
Marilyn Gladu Conservative Sarnia—Lambton, ON
Mr. Speaker, what is a joke is the Liberals' existing plan for affordable housing, which is not working for anyone. I have been asking for funding for affordable housing in Sarnia—Lambton for years. In our opposition day motion, we highlighted the failure of the government in this area.
Considering the Liberals voted against our Conservative motion with all of its common-sense solutions, I would like to know this: What is the Liberal government going to do to ensure Canadians can have affordable housing?
Ahmed Hussen LiberalMinister of Families
Mr. Speaker, fake outrage without real action and real policies is not a strategy.
Since coming into office, we have invested over $27.4 billion in affordable housing. What is the Conservative record? It is $250 million a year. Those are the facts.
It is really interesting to see a party that voted against the Canada housing benefit, that votes against the national housing co-investment fund and that votes against the rental construction financing initiative get up and fake outrage. Canadians can see through that. It is a joke of a policy. Get serious, Conservative Party.
Tony Van Bynen Liberal Newmarket—Aurora, ON
Mr. Speaker, every day Canadians with disabilities face accessibility barriers in their workplaces and in their communities. Programs like the enabling accessibility fund are important to help communities and organizations become more accessible when costs are prohibitive.
Can the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion share with the House how our government is making communities and workplaces more inclusive for Canadians with disabilities?
Employment, Workforce Development and Disability InclusionOral Questions
Delta B.C.
Liberal
Carla Qualtrough LiberalMinister of Employment
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for Newmarket—Aurora for his advocacy for persons with disabilities.
The enabling accessibility fund is an important program that empowers communities and businesses to become more accessible for persons with disabilities. That is why, through budget 2021, we are tripling funding for the enabling accessibility fund so we can continue supporting the costs of renovations, retrofits and accessible technologies.
I am happy to share that we have recently launched a call for proposals for the enabling accessibility fund youth projects and mid-sized projects components. I encourage youth, non-profits and businesses to make applications so we can continue removing barriers in our communities.
Heather McPherson NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
Mr. Speaker, another Muslim woman was violently attacked in my city. She was walking in broad daylight when she was violently thrown face first to the pavement.
Muslim women in Edmonton have to tell their loved ones where they are going. They take photos of themselves when they go out in case they are attacked or go missing. Enough is enough.
When will the government table legislation on online hate? When will the government convene a national action summit on Islamophobia? When will Muslim women in Edmonton and in Canada finally be safe?
Bardish Chagger LiberalMinister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth
Mr. Speaker, no Canadian should have to live in fear, yet we recognize that is the reality for far too many. Hate and racism do not belong in Canada, yet we know they exist.
There are systemic barriers that exist in Canada, and our government remains committed to doing everything we can. That is why we have Canada's anti-racism strategy. That is why—
The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota
Order. Shouting across the aisle is not going to accomplish anything. Members can move to one side or the other if they want to talk, but shouting is not going to get us anywhere. I just want to remind members.
We will start over. The hon. minister.
Bardish Chagger Liberal Waterloo, ON
Mr. Speaker, this is a very serious matter, and all members should take it very seriously. Canadians from coast to coast to coast are hurting. Racism exists in Canada, and every single one of us has a responsibility to do something about it.
Our government has brought forward measures including Canada's anti-racism strategy. Our government has put white supremacist groups on Canada's terrorist listing. Our government has committed to holding a national summit on Islamophobia, anti-Semitism and other forms of hate. We will work with all levels of government and all Canadians, and I look forward to working with that member.
No Canadian should have to live in fear. Unfortunately it is a reality for far too many. Every—
Paul Manly Green Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC
Mr. Speaker, for more than 40 years, the Government of Canada operated 29 racially segregated hospitals across this country.
I have heard first-hand accounts from indigenous elders about the horrors they experienced at the Nanaimo Indian Hospital. Researchers have exposed a range of atrocities at these hospitals including physical, emotional and sexual abuse, experimental medical and dental treatments, and sterilization without consent.
Will the government commit to a full, independent inquiry into Canada's Indian hospital system, and release all relevant documents for that purpose?
Carolyn Bennett LiberalMinister of Crown-Indigenous Relations
Mr. Speaker, addressing historical harms committed against indigenous children is a crucial step toward healing and justice for survivors, their families and their communities.
The IRSSA, McLean, Gottfriedson and Anderson settlements represent historic milestones in Canada's efforts to address harms associated with attendance at federally operated institutions.
We know there are outstanding claims in other institutions, and we are committed to collaborative discussions with the provinces and territories and with all those affected on how to foster healing.
The House resumed consideration of the motion.