Debates of Oct. 19th, 2022

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Before we open the doors, the hon. member for Sarnia—Lambton will lead us in the singing of the national anthem.

[Members sang the national anthem]

Royal Canadian Legion and Ladies' Auxiliary

[Tony Van Bynen, Liberal, Newmarket—Aurora, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am deeply honoured to rise today to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Newmarket Royal Canadian Legion and Ladies' Auxiliary. For 75 years, they have created support programs that let veterans know help is available, and they continue to hold Remembrance Day ceremonies honouring the memories of those who made the ultimate sacrifice. These are the hallmarks of their contributions, which have made Canada and our communities of Newmarket and Aurora great places to live.

Their history of making a difference began during the First World War when they responded to the request to help wounded warriors returning home. That support for veterans continues to this day. Let us celebrate their achievements, their long history of support and their willingness to contribute to our community.

I thank all members of the Milton Wesley Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion for all that they do. May the next 75 years be as rewarding to them as their organization has been to our community.

Shaelyn Yang

[Rob Morrison, Conservative, Kootenay—Columbia, BC]

Mr. Speaker, as a former member with a son serving in the RCMP, my thoughts and prayers are with the family of Constable Shaelyn Yang and with RCMP members across Canada. Every day, we ask our sons and daughters, our husbands and wives to serve and to keep us safe, and we pray that they come home.

A cold and devastating quiet spread across our nation yesterday with the news that one of our own had been killed in the line of duty. Constable Shaelyn Yang, an RCMP mental health and homeless outreach officer, was killed during an altercation while protecting a city employee at a homeless camp in Burnaby, B.C. This is a senseless loss.

Shaelyn Yang was a loving wife, sister and daughter. Shaelyn's colleagues describe her as kind and compassionate, embracing her role with devotion to help those struggling with mental health and addiction. Our nation has suffered an immeasurable loss. May her memory be the inspiration for each of us to act on issues important to Constable Shaelyn Yang. She will never be forgotten.

Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Awards

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

Mr. Speaker, on October 1, I was pleased to hold an awards ceremony to present Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee awards at École Béatrice-Desloges in Orléans.

During the event, I had the honour to recognize 113 citizens of Orléans from all walks of life for their exceptional contributions to our community, and their contributions beyond its boundaries. In appreciation of their services to better the community, the recipients were awarded with the Platinum Jubilee pin of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, which pays special tribute to her 70 years of reign, and a certificate of recognition.

I would also like to thank Brigadier-General Nicolas Pilon for his years of service to our country, but especially for co-chairing the ceremony with me.

I want to congratulate, once again, the 2022 recipients in recognition of the passion and dedication they have shown to Orléans and Canada.

Louis Riel

[Marilène Gill, Bloc, Manicouagan, QC]

Mr. Speaker, on October 13, 1873, Louis Riel, an iconic defender of the French language and champion of Métis rights, was elected to the House.

Louis Riel should be celebrated for his commitment to his ideals and his dedication to achieving them. He was a symbol of empowerment and a resistance movement that cost him his life. He was slain after Canada wrongfully convicted him. Louis Riel stood up to the federal government, which was trying to suppress the hopes and desires of an entire nation, the Métis nation. The Métis people simply wanted to be heard, to be recognized and to exist. There has been no relief from the injustice perpetrated against Louis Riel, as the federal government has yet to sincerely apologize for his execution.

The history of Louis Riel is intimately linked to the history of Quebec. The Bloc Québécois recognizes this. The affirmation of a nation, a culture and a language is certainly the most fundamental quest for a people seeking to achieve full self-determination.

Centraide Outaouais

[Greg Fergus, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment to acknowledge the work of Centraide Outaouais, an essential organization in our wonderful region.

The past few years have not been easy, but Centraide Outaouais continued to set ambitious goals and make local residents' lives better.

This year, its goal is to raise $4 million to fund 88 organizations, including Aylmer Meals on Wheels, which delivers hot meals to seniors who are sick or unable to put food on the table.

Fighting poverty is everyone's responsibility, and Centraide Outaouais's initiative shows just how tightly knit the Outaouais community is. The organization's work proves that there are solutions to the problems the pandemic exposed. I encourage everyone listening to be generous.

I would like to wish Centraide Outaouais all the best in its campaign.

Glen Constantin

[Richard Martel, Conservative, Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC]

Mr. Speaker, coaching a sports team requires a great deal of hard work, perseverance, commitment and sacrifice, without even knowing whether all these efforts will ever pay off.

Those efforts did pay off last weekend for Glen Constantin, the head coach of Laval University's Rouge et Or football team. He set the record as the all-time “winningest” coach on the Canadian university circuit after securing his 197th career victory.

His unwavering desire to strive for excellence, year after year, has helped propel his team to nine Vanier Cup victories, which is no small feat. Of course, the players might have had something to do with it, but without a good leader to guide them, the results could have been different.

I would like to sincerely congratulate Glen Constantin. I hope he is proud of his accomplishments. I also want to congratulate the players. Every career has its ups and downs, but one thing they must remember is that passion for the sport and dedication to the team will always win the day.

Small Business Week

[Jenica Atwin, Liberal, Fredericton, NB]

Mr. Speaker, from food to art and everything in between, small business has so much to offer.

It is often said that small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and these businesses are also the very heart of communities such as Fredericton. Walking around our city, I see countless small businesses, founded by creative, innovative and tenacious entrepreneurs, that allow Frederictonians endless opportunities to support local.

As we celebrate, we must not overlook the many challenges and long-lasting impacts of the pandemic on local businesses. These challenges have been felt by business owners, employees and patrons, and as a government we must do what is necessary to support small businesses on the path of economic recovery and prosperity.

I will also take this time to highlight some of the incredible success stories in the face of adversity. One small business owner I met opened her store just months before the pandemic hit. She decided to pivot her operation to a grocery delivery model and saw her business grow and thrive. Two weeks ago, she announced the launch of a second location. That adaptive spirit is what we need to build prosperous communities.

I join my voice to those of my colleagues to celebrate Small Business Week and to encourage all Canadians to shop local.

Ukraine

[Arif Virani, Liberal, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the war Russia commenced in February against Ukraine is unjust, unlawful and unacceptable. Now, evidence clearly shows that Putin's war is also criminal.

UN investigators, after visiting 27 towns, meeting with 150 victims and inspecting sites of destruction and mass graves have concluded, “Based on the evidence gathered so far...that war crimes have been committed in Ukraine”. This includes torture, summary executions and sexual violence against children as young as four.

As the former war crimes prosecutor on the Rwandan genocide, I know how difficult the evidence-gathering exercise is, but I also know this work is pivotal to ensuring a successful prosecution. I applaud the work of the UN team thus far, and I urge it to broaden its investigations to include Izium and Lyman, as well as the targeting of civilian locations in Kyiv this past week.

The Russian perpetrators of these horrific war crimes must be brought to justice. I reiterate that the only acceptable outcome of this conflict is a decisive victory for Ukraine, intact, including Donbass and Crimea.

Slava Ukraini.

Firearms

[John Williamson, Conservative, New Brunswick Southwest, NB]

Mr. Speaker, I represent thousands of law-abiding firearm owners. They store their firearms safely and were each approved by the RCMP to legally purchase, own and use them.

Earlier this week, New Brunswick decided to reject the Liberal government's gun grab. This is a positive and welcome move to keep limited resources focused on criminals, exactly where they belong. Liberals have the wrong policy, spending hundreds of millions of dollars, as well as diverting police officers, to confiscate legally purchased firearms from law-abiding Canadians. Worse, they expect provinces, such as New Brunswick, to pay for it.

Rural crime has exploded under the Liberals because they are soft on repeat offenders. Federal laws must focus on stopping criminals and illegal guns from entering this country, not on harassing law-abiding hunters, farmers and sport shooters who have legally purchased their firearms.

Métis Nation

[Vance Badawey, Liberal, Niagara Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, in October 1873, Métis leader Louis Riel was elected to this House. Riel was never allowed to take his seat, but his election continues to resonate with the Métis. Riel inspired generations of Métis leaders who fought for the nation and its citizens.

The Métis Nation of Saskatchewan marked a milestone achievement with the transfer of the Batoche National Historic Site from the federal government this past summer, a pivotal step toward reconciliation.

I would like to recognize the representatives of the Métis Nation of Saskatchewan, who will be hosting a reception for MPs today, and to thank them for their unwavering commitment to the future of the Métis nation, Métis in Canada and the advancement of all indigenous peoples and rights holders.

Justice

[Frank Caputo, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC]

Mr. Speaker, our system of bail in Canada is broken. It is just not working.

This government's failure to address Supreme Court of Canada decisions has created a catch-and-release system. This complaint is heard throughout Canada and in my home riding of Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo. Random attacks have become a prominent issue in cities like Vancouver and Toronto. Shockingly, the violent crime severity index is up 45% in Kamloops over the past five years. Mayors and citizens want this government to address prolific offenders.

My private member's bill, Bill C-274, addresses the issue of prolific offenders and goes a long way to ending catch-and-release. It targets the most serious of offenders while still maintaining judicial discretion.

It is time we act to make our communities safe. Will the Minister of Justice act or will he sit on the sidelines?

Fisheries and Oceans

[Bob Zimmer, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals' commitment to the 30 by 30 agenda to protect 30% of lands and 30% of waters by 2030 is having huge impacts on our outdoor community and is blocking our own access to our own public lands and waters. Instead of protection where necessary, the Liberals have adopted the ever-increasing blind closures of radical ENGOs who, DFO officials have admitted, are at the decision-making tables at DFO.

Recently, at the fisheries and oceans committee, we learned that, despite two UBC studies saying there is an abundance of chinook salmon for our southern resident killer whales in B.C., DFO closed the fishery anyway. Witness after witness testified that political decisions are superseding science.

In traditional grounds outside of Sidney, B.C., at Pender Bluffs, Washington state data has proven that southern resident killer whales are only in the area seven to 10 days a year and that moving bubble zone closures could be used when they are present. Instead, DFO closed the area permanently.

It is time the Liberals start listening to the science and the sound advice from our local environmental stewards, not the radical agendas put forward by ENGOs.

World Mental Health Day

[Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Liberal, Hochelaga, QC]

Mr. Speaker, October 10 was World Mental Health Day.

We are quite vocal about physical health. We are proud to say that we eat well, exercise and take care of ourselves, but when it comes to talking about mental health, we withdraw. We are embarrassed because it is still perceived as a weakness, something that is taboo in society and sometimes even within families and among colleagues.

One in three Canadians is affected. It is not okay to have to wait months for counselling. It is not okay that family doctors do not have enough training to help their patients. It is not okay that in Quebec, there are roughly 15,000 people on the waiting list.

We would never tell a patient with a broken leg to come back in six months to get a cast. Unfortunately, even today, mental health care is reserved for those who can afford to pay for it.

We are in the midst of a public health crisis that was further amplified by the pandemic. We all know someone in our circle or in our family who is suffering. We all have a responsibility to act. A healthy population is a happy population.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Before we go on, I want to remind everyone that people are giving Standing Order 31s, which is something that is very important to them. I know we have a lot to say to each other, but members could whisper very quietly. It is getting kind of loud, and I want to make sure that we hear the last four very clearly.

The hon. member for Victoria.

Pregnancy and Infant Loss

[Laurel Collins, NDP, Victoria, BC]

Mr. Speaker, on October 15, at 7 p.m., families light candles in recognition of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day to remember these losses, as well as to acknowledge the unique grief that bereaved parents experience. It can be difficult for others to understand the magnitude of grief that accompanies these losses. The stigma and societal silence around infertility, miscarriage, stillbirth and the death of infants can make it difficult to speak out. People often feel isolated in their grief.

I recently met with members of the Victoria Butterfly Run and the Healing Hearts Foundation. They are community members who have experienced loss, organizing through their shared grief to support one another. These organizations have been doing tremendous work to ensure that families who share this lived experience do not suffer alone. Peer support and access to professional counselling for pregnancy loss and infant loss is not universally accessible. This is one of the many reasons that we need a national perinatal health mental health strategy, one that includes these families.

October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. Let us come together to support the families who experience this kind of devastating loss.

Gilles Brassard

[Yves-François Blanchet, Bloc, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

Mr. Speaker, it is a well-known fact that Quebec has genius, but Quebec also has geniuses, real ones. I want to pay tribute to Gilles Brassard.

Mr. Brassard was born in Montreal and is now a tenured professor in the Department of Computer Science and Operations Research at the University of Montreal. He is also the Canada research chair in quantum information science.

Gilles Brassard has been described as one of the pioneers of quantum computing, a discipline that could revolutionize computing in the same way that the transistor once transformed electronics.

He was a math prodigy who started an undergraduate degree in mathematics at the University of Montreal at the age of 13. His later research led to the invention of quantum teleportation, and some people believed he would win the Nobel Prize in Physics one day.

I have the utmost admiration for the great scientists who venture into areas of research that are obscure for most of us, which is confirmed every time I read a scientific journal, but that change people's lives.

I humbly applaud the genius of Gilles Brassard, and I wholeheartedly hope that he inspires the next generation to become involved in research and science. That will mean even more geniuses for Quebec.

Constable Shaelyn Yang

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the brave men and women who serve and protect our country and community do so knowing that, when they kiss their loved ones goodbye as they leave for their shift, in service to our country and our community they may have to make the ultimate sacrifice. Yesterday, RCMP Constable Shaelyn Yang was tragically killed in the line duty.

Constable Yang was a loving wife, mother and friend who volunteered extensively within her own community. She joined the RCMP just three years ago and acted as an officer who specialized in mental health outreach. She was described as kind, compassionate and empathetic by all who knew her. She was a tireless advocate for those who struggled with mental health and addictions.

Canadians around the country grieve alongside the fallen officer's family and friends in remembrance, but thoughts and prayers are of little comfort to Constable Yang's family, friends and colleagues. This tragic and senseless act of violence was in part caused by the lack of mental health funding and support for our homeless population, who suffer in our streets each and every day.

As leaders, we must take concrete action on mental health to prevent our most vulnerable and sick from being left on the fringe of society. We must protect those who protect us. Lives depend on it.

Women's History

[Rechie Valdez, Liberal, Mississauga—Streetsville, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise today to highlight that October is Women’s History Month in Canada, and this year marks its 30th anniversary.

This is an opportunity to celebrate the women, past and present, whose achievements help make Canada a more inclusive and caring country.

October 18, 1929, marked an incredibly momentous day in our history when the highest court of appeals granted women in Canada legal rights as a person. This historic decision, now known as the persons case, paved the way for women to become active in public and political life in Canada.

Today we honour the Famous Five, Emily Murphy, Nellie McClung, Louise McKinney, Irene Parlby and Henrietta Muir Edwards, who helped pave the way for gender equality, and those who worked to expand and strengthen these rights for generations to come.

I wish everyone a happy Women's History Month.

Public Safety

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, it is with sadness that we express our love and support for Constable Yang's family.

Constable Yang was sadly murdered while she was courageously doing her job. This has to stop. This is one of a series of murders of our police officers as part of a larger violent crime wave.

What changes will the Prime Minister make to policies to put this crime wave to an end?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, our hearts go out to the family of Constable Yang and to the community, not just in B.C. but right across the country, as we know we have seen murdered police officers in Ontario and elsewhere across the country as well.

We need to do more to step up on our mental health funding, as the hon. member before mentioned. We need to make sure that we are giving our frontline police officers the tools to be supported as they encounter difficult situations. We need to make sure they are not the only mental health workers out there accessible to so many people. Unfortunately they have been. They have been extraordinary at it, but we need to provide better support. The provinces and the federal government need to work together to fund more mental health supports.

Taxation

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians are also suffering with the skyrocketing increases in the price of food. Today we learned food prices are up 11%. It is 17% for bread. Pasta is up 23%, lettuce 21% and flour 24%. The Prime Minister's solution, of course, is to raise taxes on food with a carbon tax hike that will triple the tax on the cost of transporting and producing food in the first place.

Will he reverse this tax hike so that Canadians can put food on the table?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, on the contrary, our solution to support families is to move forward with a GST rebate that is going to hit 11 million households. It just received royal assent last night because all parties supported it. The Conservatives actually reversed their initial opposition to our proposal in order to support it, and that was a good thing.

Now the Conservatives have an opportunity to continue to help families that need it, with dental care for kids who cannot access it right now across the country and with direct help for low-income renters. Will the Conservative leader reverse this position and support low-income families that need it?

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, the Prime Minister is proposing to do exactly nothing for the vast majority of struggling families, which will get nothing, and even the small minority that do get something will find it gobbled up by increased inflation.

The Royal Bank says that the average family will pay $3,000 more in inflation and higher interest rates. These are the results of the half-trillion dollars of inflationary deficits that are driving up the cost of the goods we buy and the interest we pay. Now he wants to triple the tax on food.

Canadians are paying enough to put food on the table. Will the Prime Minister let up and get off their backs?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, if the leader of the official opposition wants to help Canadians, why is he not stepping up to help Canadian families give dental care to their kids? We are talking about $1,300 over the next two years to support families that need it across the country, and we are talking about direct support to low-income renters. This is money that can make a huge difference in Canadians' lives. The reality is that not only do they not support it, but they are trying to do everything they can to block it and even kill our support for these families.