Debates of June 8th, 2021

Violence Against Women

[Anju Dhillon, Liberal, Dorval—Lachine—LaSalle, QC]

Mr. Speaker, this past year has been difficult for all Canadians, but the pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on women. In Quebec, we are seeing a devastating spike of incidents of violence, in which 11 women tragically lost their lives. Could the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development update us on how our government is preventing gender-based violence and supporting survivors in Quebec?

[Maryam Monsef, Liberal, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development]

Mr. Speaker, let me first share my solidarity and condolences with Muslims in London and across the country, particularly my hijabi sisters, who are feeling terror and who are feeling targeted.

As is the case with attacks on Muslims, every life lost to femicide is an avoidable tragedy. Our thoughts are with all the people affected by these deplorable actions. Since we took office, our government has been there to fight gender-based violence, and we will continue to do so.

I thank our 250 partners in Quebec for their hard work. We will continue to be there for—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

The hon. member for Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill.

Housing

[Leona Alleslev, Conservative, Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Canada has a housing crisis, and the government has failed to act. In my riding and the GTA, housing prices are up by 25% in the last year, with the average household cost now over 33% higher than in the rest of Canada. Money laundering is extensively exploited in Canadian real estate, leaving many properties vacant. In Toronto alone, approximately 40% of condos are vacant, driving all prices up.

Will the government support our opposition day motion and urgently act to address Canada’s national housing crisis?

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, Minister of Families]

Mr. Speaker, the party opposite has absolutely no credibility on this subject. It spent $250 million a year for the whole country on affordable housing. We have spent over $27 billion in our national housing strategy, and there is more to come.

Budget 2021 is the fifth consecutive budget where we are spending more money on affordable housing solutions for Canadians. We are introducing a tax on vacant homes owned by non-resident, non-Canadian real estate owners. We have introduced the Canada housing benefit.

I could keep going, but the party opposite has absolutely no shame on this issue because it has no credibility and no lessons to give us.

[Kyle Seeback, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have heard the minister's talking points today, and the plan the government has is not working. Housing prices are continuing to surge, and it is an ongoing problem. The dream of home ownership for young Canadians is being killed, and those who do find a way to buy a house are being crippled with massive debt burdens. Criticizing what a government may or may not have done six or seven years ago is not actually a plan.

What new steps is the government going to do to deal with this housing crisis?

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, Minister of Families]

Mr. Speaker, what does not help first-time homebuyers is a mere credit of $750. That is a joke.

What we have introduced is the first-time home buyer incentive, which reduces mortgage payments by helping first-time homebuyers with their down payment. As well, we have increased it recently to make sure it works for Canadian first-time homebuyers in Vancouver, Toronto and Victoria, as well as raising the minimum household income. Those are real solutions to ensure that Canadians have access to their dream of home ownership.

The party opposite has absolutely no credibility on this issue.

[James Cumming, Conservative, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government's promised rapid housing initiatives have been anything but rapid. The government has spent billions of taxpayers’ dollars on housing, yet families in Edmonton are struggling to secure a roof. The first-time home buyer program is a failure. The removal of regulatory barriers, incentives for municipalities to increase density, and leadership that can resolve a trade dispute are what we need.

How many families in my riding unable to buy or rent a home will it take for the Prime Minister to finally capitalize on NGOs and the private sector's ability to help housing?

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, Minister of Families]

Mr. Speaker, only a Conservative would claim that a program that has ensured that 40% of the $1-billion rapid housing initiative is delivering real housing solutions for indigenous communities is a failure. Only a Conservative would claim that housing being built in less than 12 months is not rapid.

We have exceeded our target of 3,000 affordable housing units under the rapid housing initiative. We are on track to actually build 4,777 permanent housing units, and in fact we have increased funding for the rapid housing initiative to the tune of $1.5 billion, resulting in a total of 9,200 affordable housing units.

Fisheries and Oceans

[Ron McKinnon, Liberal, Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam, BC]

Mr. Speaker, my constituents in Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam are watching the steep decline of wild salmon in our region with great concern. This impacts my community, thousands of workers in rural and coastal communities and the hundreds of indigenous communities in British Columbia that fish salmon for food, social and ceremonial reasons. Preserving and restoring our Pacific salmon are fundamental to ensuring that the Pacific coast has salmon for generations to come, and my community expects our government to act.

What is the government doing to protect this exceptional species?

[Bernadette Jordan, Liberal, Minister of Fisheries]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member for Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam for his advocacy on this file.

I am pleased to announce that through budget 2021, our government is investing $647 million. Today we launched the Pacific salmon strategy initiative. This strategy represents the largest-ever government investment in efforts to save Pacific salmon and is aimed at stopping the declines now, while helping to rebuild populations over the longer term.

We will be working closely with indigenous communities, harvesters, industry, environmental organizations, and provincial and territorial partners to advance actions under each pillar: to stabilize the species and to support a more modern, sustainable and economically resilient sector.

Natural Resources

[Richard Cannings, NDP, South Okanagan—West Kootenay, BC]

Mr. Speaker, during the last election, the Liberals vowed to introduce a just transition act to give workers the training and support needed to succeed in the clean economy. Organizations such as the International Institute for Sustainable Development and Unifor are calling on the Liberals to keep their promise. The minister says it is coming.

With only two weeks left before we rise for the summer, will the Liberals introduce a just transition act, or is this just another empty promise?

[Seamus O'Regan, Liberal, Minister of Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, I am fully committed to the mandate letter given to me by the Prime Minister. We are looking at all our options to support workers as we build a low-emissions energy future, including legislation. No one gets left behind.

Energy workers built this country. They are the same people who will lower emissions and build up renewables. They are the same people who will help us meet our targets. We are investing in them through budget 2021 with $2 billion to retrain and retool for the jobs of tomorrow with investments in CCUS, low-carbon fuels and hydrogen.

Telecommunications

[Marwan Tabbara, Liberal, Kitchener South—Hespeler, ON]

Mr. Speaker, despite a ministerial policy directive requiring the CRTC to promote competition, affordability, consumer interests and innovation in its telecommunications decision, the CRTC has fallen short in reducing prices charged by the big players to the smaller, more competitive players in the telecom industry.

Can the hon. minister explain what the government is willing to do to make these services more affordable for Canadians, especially at this time?

[Ali Ehsassi, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Innovation]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for Kitchener South—Hespeler for his continued advocacy.

I can assure this chamber that our government has been relentless in promoting competition and improving the quality and coverage of telecom services across our country. We are fully committed to ensuring that Canadians pay fair prices for mobile and wireless services, regardless of their postal code. Let me emphasize that we cannot afford to leave anyone behind. We will continue working with service providers to make telecommunication services more affordable for all.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

That is all the time we have for question period today.

Rising on a point of order, the hon. member for Timmins—James Bay.

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I believe there have been consultations with other parties and if you seek it, I hope you will find unanimous consent for the following motion: That, in light of the horrific discovery at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School, the House reiterate the call it made in the motion adopted on May 1, 2018, and (a) invite Pope Francis to participate in this journey with Canadians by responding to call to action 58 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's report and issue a former papal apology for the role of the Canadian Catholic Church in the establishment, operations and abuses of the residential schools; (b) call on the Canadian Catholic Church to live up to its moral obligation and the spirit of the 2006 Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement and resume the best efforts to raise the full amount of the agreed-upon funds; and (c) call upon the Catholic entities that were involved in the running of the residential schools to make a consistent and sustained effort to turn over the relevant documents when called upon by survivors of residential schools, their families and scholars working to understand the full scope and horrors of the residential school system, in the interests of truth and reconciliation.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

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

[Some hon. members]

Nay.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I am afraid we do not have unanimous consent.

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker, I just want to confirm that it is the Conservative Party of Canada that is giving the Catholic Church a free pass this afternoon, so it—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I have to cut the hon. member off. That is debate. That is not a point of order.

The hon. member for Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon is rising on a point of order.

[Brad Vis, Conservative, Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to seek the unanimous consent of the House to table some documents outlining some of the previous Conservative government's record on housing—

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

No.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I just want to point something out. In previous governments, we have had problems where people have said no before we heard the full proposal. I will let the hon. member for Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon finish his proposal, and we will ask then.