Debates of June 22nd, 2021

The Environment

[Paul Manly, Green, Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC]

Mr. Speaker, my congratulations to all the graduates of 2021. They are resilient, and I hope the challenges they have faced during their education will help them be flexible and creative as they continue on their life's journey. Enjoy the summer.

COVID-19 is not over yet. As we reopen, we need to remain vigilant to the threat that the variants pose to public health. It is also important to acknowledge that many people and businesses are still facing financial insecurity and the stress that comes with it.

The pandemic has shown us what is possible when we unite to face an emergency. We need that same approach to transform our economy, to put people and the planet before corporate profits. The climate emergency and biodiversity crisis demand nothing less.

I am committed to this work, and I pledge to work collaboratively to get it done. Together, we can do this.

Graduates of 2021

[Terry Sheehan, Liberal, Sault Ste. Marie, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to offer my most sincere congratulations to all 2021 graduates in my riding of Sault Ste. Marie.

Happy graduation to the students of Sault College, Algoma University, École Notre-Dame-du-Saul, St. Mary’s College, Korah Collegiate, Superior Heights Collegiate, White Pines Collegiate, the alternative and adult learning centres, and, of course, all the amazing grade eight graduates.

This has been a challenging year to be graduating, but these graduates have shown incredible perseverance and should be very proud of their accomplishments. I know that I am, as are their parents, relatives and friends.

Whether they are entering the workforce or returning to school in the fall, I know that the next chapter of their lives will bring great things for them.

As a reminder, the federal government has invested record-breaking dollars into the Canada summer jobs program, creating over 580 youth job opportunities locally, so visit the Canada Job Bank online for more info.

For the 2021 graduates, who are outstanding members of the community, I wish them all the best in their future endeavours.

Parliament Hill

[Corey Tochor, Conservative, Saskatoon—University, SK]

Mr. Speaker, there is something rotten on Parliament Hill. We have the Centre Block renovations that have become a big, black hole for Canadian taxpayers, with billions of dollars blown through already, over budget, delayed and literally just a big hole on Parliament Hill, and the Liberals are just getting started.

It is now being reported that the once proud national symbol is being “green washed”. The Liberals want to cancel our centennial flame, symbolizing Canadian unity, that has been using Canadian natural gas since the start. The Liberals now want the flame to burn on garbage instead. They would rather truck in garbage dump gases from Montreal than use Canadian clean natural gas.

When will the Liberals stop turning our national symbols into garbage? Canada is not a garbage dump, and the Liberals need to stop treating us like one.

Francophone Association for Social Inclusion in Ottawa

[Marie-France Lalonde, Liberal, Orléans, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I had the privilege of speaking virtually to express my appreciation to the members of the Association pour l'intégration sociale d'Ottawa, or AISO, on the occasion of their annual general meeting, on June 14.

The association is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, and I wanted to thank its members for the essential services they offer in our community. The theme of their AGA was “Our strength is the foundation that brings us together”, a theme that is perfectly aligned with the values they convey in offering services in French to francophones with intellectual disabilities.

In this way, AISO plays a leadership role in promoting and teaching our beloved French language. In the last three decades, it has proven that all we need is a vision and some leadership to accomplish great things.

I wish the whole AISO team a happy 30th anniversary. I hope they keep up the good work.

Tornado in Mascouche

[Luc Thériault, Bloc, Montcalm, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I am still in a state of shock after learning that a tornado struck the heart of Mascouche, in my riding. It took the life of a man, Jacques Lefebvre, and left devastation in its wake.

I would like to extend my condolences on behalf of the Bloc Québécois and myself to the family and friends of Jacques Lefebvre. The whole region is there for them in this time of mourning. My thoughts go out to the fifty-some families affected who, today, must deal with the damage and, in some cases, the rubble. I wish them courage.

I invite all the residents of Mascouche and the region to stand together in the days to come. Their friends, relatives, neighbours and fellow residents of Mascouche have a lot of challenges and work ahead of them. Let us be attentive, generous and kind to one another in the wake of this tragedy that we never thought could happen in our riding.

Member for Kanata—Carleton

[Karen McCrimmon, Liberal, Kanata—Carleton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I stand here today to thank the people of Kanata—Carleton and all Canadians. They have inspired me with their tenacity, their generosity, their compassion and their care. We are seeing it even today, with the number of Canadians who are stepping up to get vaccinated so they can look after each other.

My mother's favourite saying was, “It's not happiness that makes you grateful, it's gratefulness that makes you happy”, and we have so very much for which to be grateful.

It is quite an honour to stand here and to thank people for their commitment to a better Canada. If we acknowledge our shortcomings, if we know that we can do better, if we are willing to work hard and if we are willing to let love, kindness and care guide the way, we cannot get it wrong.

I thank them all, and I appreciate everything they have done to make this an even better country. We will just keep going.

Labour

[Joël Godin, Conservative, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

Mr. Speaker, as Parliament is about to rise, allow me to thank the Chair, all the staff of the House and all my colleagues. It has been impressive to see how adaptable and resilient we are.

This government must now find solutions so that our businesses can emerge from this crisis and share in the economic recovery. The labour shortage is alarming, and this government needs to stop making excuses and put tools in place, such as speeding up and relaxing immigration of workers. Businesses are the backbone of our economy; it would be shame if they were hit by another crisis in the form of a labour shortage.

The inefficiency of this government can be seen in its inability to find solutions. We must value work, not encourage passivity. I am urging this government to give a boost to Canadian businesses, which are threatened with bankruptcy. We simply need to give them access to labour; it is not complicated. Let us not forget that our businesses are what create economic prosperity, not this ethically deficient, centralizing Liberal government. This government needs to act now.

Peter Regan

[Peter Fragiskatos, Liberal, London North Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, each member of Parliament is able to serve because of people who freely give of their time for a cause larger than themselves. That is the kind of person Peter Regan was.

Last week, Peter passed away as a result of acute myeloid leukemia. He is survived by his devoted wife Lissa; daughters Amy, Sarah, Mary and Leah; his grandchildren Sydney and Thomas; and siblings Shelley, Sue, Judy, John, Mark, Jeff, and Shannon.

Peter was dedicated to his family and friends from across Canada and the United States, including his London Knights every Friday night gang, the London Football Referees’ Association, the Fanshawe Optimists, his Bell Canada guys, former North London Soccer and London Minor Football teams.

I met Peter seven years ago as a candidate pursing my party's nomination. The first volunteer to put signs into the ground and the first to take them out, Peter was genuine and kind. People like him are seldom talked about. They ought to be, because they help to make Canada exactly what it is.

Government Programs

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Grande Prairie—Mackenzie, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government has failed Canadians. My constituents in Peace Country are fed up with politicians who claim one thing to get elected and then impose an Ottawa-knows-best, one-size-fits-all fantasy solution to real-world problems.

Peace Country residents have been hit hard by the Liberals' ongoing attack on Alberta's energy sector, the tripling of the carbon tax, and they cannot afford the hyperinflation the Liberals are currently manufacturing. My constituents want representation that actually cares who they are and what they believe, and the effective solutions they have. It is time for a government that will not pit one group of Canadians against another.

Canadians are the solution; they have always been that. Canadians deserve a government that will encourage creativity, innovation, opportunity and prosperity rather than inhibit it through government control and unnecessary regulations. It is time for a government that will respect the people and will be focused on building a future for every Canadian, not just politicians and their friends.

Islamophobia

[Terry Duguid, Liberal, Winnipeg South, MB]

Mr. Speaker, earlier this month, our country witnessed a horrific tragedy. The Afzaal family, enjoying an evening walk together, became the victims of an abhorrent act of hate and terror that demonstrated the destructive and deadly consequences of Islamophobia. The reality is that this cowardly attack was not an isolated incident.

From London to Toronto to Quebec City to Edmonton, Muslim Canadians have continued to be the subject of Islamophobic attacks, targeted simply because of their faith. Muslim Canadians are hurt, they are angry and they are demanding action.

To the growing Muslim community in my riding of Winnipeg South, which is home to elders, parents, young adults and children who make our neighbourhoods a vibrant place to live, I want them to know we stand with them. I commit to listening to them and to demanding better for them.

It is the responsibility of each one of us to fight against Islamophobia and racism, and to root it out of our communities once and for all.

Schools

[Kenny Chiu, Conservative, Steveston—Richmond East, BC]

Mr. Speaker, last year, schools across the country received $2 billion in funding to see COVID-19 safety measures implemented before the school year began, including schools within SD38, the district where I once held the honour of serving as a board of education trustee.

This year, schools are still facing uncertainty as the pandemic continues. I must bring to the government's attention that vaccines for people 12 years or older alone are not enough. Richmond schools require enhanced sanitization and staff to disinfect high-touch areas. They also need support for essential health and safety supplies and PPE, including child-sized masks and hand sanitizer.

As well, with learners having been greatly impacted by the isolation, mental health supports for students and staff are also critical. There is still work to be done to prepare our nation for reopening and to ensure our children and youth have a safe return to school this fall.

Fort Edmonton Park

[James Cumming, Conservative, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to rise today to congratulate Fort Edmonton Management Company for the completion of the Fort Edmonton Park enhancement project, a $160-million project sponsored by the Government of Canada, the Province of Alberta and the City of Edmonton. As both a board member and an Edmontonian, I am proud to have played a small part in seeing this project come to life.

Recognized as the largest living history museum in Canada, Fort Edmonton Park will reopen on July 1 with an upgraded utility work, an expanded 1920s midway, a new front entry plaza and, most important, the Indigenous Peoples Experience. This one of a kind transformative experience will immerse our guests in indigenous customs and traditions and highlight the inspirational stories of first nations, Métis and Inuit peoples who have resided on these lands for hundreds of thousands of years. The breath-taking and interactive exhibit tells the story of four seasons and the 13 moons, and is designed to be truly diverse and an inclusive representation of Canada's first peoples.

I look forward to the impacts it will have on my community, the surrounding area of Edmonton and the rest of Canada.

Attack in London, Ontario

[Matthew Green, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, at the request of rabbis in Hamilton and leaders of the Jewish community, I rise today and share an excerpt from their statement of solidarity with the Muslim community after the attack in London. They say:

Once again, the Jewish Community of Hamilton recoils in horror upon learning of the deplorable act of murder perpetrated in London yesterday. We are no less sickened to learn that the murder was a racially motivated, premeditated Islamophobic attack, carried out solely because the victims were Muslims....At this incredibly painful and frightening time, Hamilton’s rabbis and its Jewish leadership reach out to our Muslim brothers and sisters and to their sheikhs and imams, extending our empathy, solidarity and support. We cry with you and we mourn with you. We yearn for a day when every human being, whether Indigenous, Muslim or Jewish, Hindu, Sikh, Atheist, Christian or other, can proudly live in this country true to her or his beliefs without a drop of fear. And we pledge to work with you, shoulder to shoulder, to bring this about....We pray for the recovery of the injured child, and that the memories of the murdered ones always be for a blessing.

In tears and hope

Raïf Badawi

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

Mr. Speaker, in the face of human tragedy, the only thing worse than inaction is promising to act and then doing nothing. That is what the federal government is doing to the family of Raïf Badawi, who has been imprisoned in Saudi Arabia for nine years.

His wife, Ensaf Haidar, wrote to the Minister of Immigration and the Prime Minister this morning, reminding them that all members of the House, including the minister and the Prime Minister, agreed that Canada should grant citizenship to Raïf Badawi. She also reminded them that the Quebec National Assembly and the Senate also support that request. Everyone is calling on Ottawa to take action.

The saddest part of her letter is that Ms. Haidar expresses doubt, perhaps for the first time, that her husband will be able to serve his full prison sentence before Ottawa finally takes action. I still believe this government is better than that. It is not too late. The government needs to honour its promise and make Raïf Badawi a citizen.

Liberal Party of Canada

[Michael Chong, Conservative, Wellington—Halton Hills, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the pandemic has laid bare the state of our institutions. There is no governor general because of scandal. Eight senior leaders of the Canadian Armed Forces have resigned or have been forced out. We have military procurement systems that cannot procure, and we have payroll systems that cannot pay.

We have a government that thought it appropriate a year ago to introduce legislation that would have suspended the powers of Parliament over taxation and spending until the end of this calendar year. We have a government that prorogued Parliament to shut down committee investigations. We have a government that continues to defy four orders of this House and its committee to hand over documents related to serious breaches at the Winnipeg lab, which is now preventing this Parliament from doing its job.

The government is in contempt of Parliament. The government does not deserve another mandate. The government must go.

Public Safety

[Kirsty Duncan, Liberal, Etobicoke North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, my thoughts and prayers are with three beautiful, innocent children who were attending a birthday party on a warm summer night. What should have been a happy occasion, filled with children's laughter, quickly turned to tragedy when a one-year-old, a five-year-old and an 11-year-old were hit by gunfire. Our community is outraged by this brazen, disgusting and horrific attack. We are grateful two of the injured children have been released from hospital, while we keep a little girl who is in critical condition in all our hearts.

Firing a gun anywhere at any time in our communities is unacceptable. We cannot tolerate violence, especially when it threatens the lives of children in our communities. The perpetrators of this heinous crime must be brought to justice. We thank 23 Division of the Toronto Police Service for working non-stop to find those responsible. We must strengthen our efforts to end gun violence and heal our communities.

National Defence

[Erin O'Toole, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the sexual misconduct scandal within the Canadian Armed Forces and the Minister of National Defence's indifference have gone from a crisis to a tragedy.

This morning the ombudsman spoke about political interference, the absence of ministerial responsibility and cover-ups by the Liberals. When will the Prime Minister take responsibility for his actions?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we are fully committed to making structural and cultural changes at the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces, and we have already taken steps to do so.

We appointed Lieutenant General Jennie Carignan as chief of professional conduct and culture. We also recently appointed Louise Arbour to conduct an independent investigation into the handling of sexual misconduct.

In budget 2021, we committed to allocating more than $236 million to combat sexual misconduct in the Canadian Armed Forces. We will continue to do what is necessary to ensure that everyone who serves in the armed forces is protected and supported.

[Erin O'Toole, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the defence ombudsman said that the sexual misconduct cover-up in our military has gone from a crisis to a tragedy. He said the government's actions and failures have eroded trust in our military.

Unlike the Prime Minister, the Conservatives have a five-point plan to secure our future and to restore accountability to Ottawa and institutions like our military. Rather than ask a question to have the Prime Minister read something back to me, I just want to say to Canadians, we will clean up this mess in Ottawa.

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, since the day we came to office in 2015, we have been focused on creating a fairer, more just Canada for everyone and that means standing up for women's rights. That means moving forward on fighting sexual harassment and discrimination in workplaces, including the Canadian Armed Forces. It means reconciliation. It means doing the hard lifting that had not been done over 10 years of a Conservative government.

That is exactly what we have been focused on for the past five years. We have made significant progress, but absolutely, there is much more to do. We will continue to do the hard work of delivering for all Canadians.

Ethics

[Erin O'Toole, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the only hard work the Prime Minister has been delivering on is for his friends. Yesterday, we learned the Prime Minister forced almost all Liberal MPs to give taxpayer dollars to his lifetime friend Tom Pitfield. Mr. Pitfield is not just the Prime Minister's buddy, he is also married to the former Liberal Party president. It certainly pays to be a Liberal insider in Ottawa these days.

We know of at least 149 contracts given to Mr. Pitfield. Can the Prime Minister assure the House that no more government contracts went to him?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, as all members in the House know, it is critical for members of Parliament to keep track of their constituents' concerns, the matters they bring to their attention and the issues that need to be addressed. All politicians do that. All members of Parliament do that.

We have a data management system that is entirely separate from the functioning of political parties. That is something that continues to matter, and we have followed all the rules and principles that guide the separation of politics from the work for constituents.

[Erin O'Toole, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the only thing the Prime Minister keeps track of is how his friends and insiders are doing, from SNC-Lavalin to the WE to Mr. Pitfield.

Mr. Pitfield is the Prime Minister's lifetime friend. He stood in the Prime Minister's wedding party. They even took an illegal trip to a billionaire's island together.

Canadians cannot afford more of this insider dealing and corruption. Can the Prime Minister assure the House that he never personally approved a contract with Tom Pitfield or Data Sciences?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, throughout this pandemic, we have been focused on supporting Canadians who need help, and that is exactly what we have done. Whether it was the millions of Canadians helped by the Canada emergency response benefit or the expanded EI, or whether it was the workers in small businesses we have been able to support with the wage subsidy, our focus through this pandemic has been on being there for Canadians, and that is exactly what we have done.

While Conservatives have nothing to do but try to sling mud and see what sticks, we are going to stay focused on Canadians. Let them focus on me. I will focus on people who really need the help right across the country.

[Erin O'Toole, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, we will see if this sticks.

There is a contract from the Prime Minister, in this pandemic, to his good friend Mr. Pitfield. His office also ensured that 148 other members of Parliament gave taxpayer money to the Prime Minister's lifetime friend. In the midst of a pandemic, Mr. Pitfield runs a Liberal list. People need to be on a Liberal list to be a judge in the Liberal government's Canada.

Will the Prime Minister apologize today for putting the interests of his friends ahead of the interests of Canadians?