House of Commons Hansard #118 of the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was genocide.

Topics

2:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

Before we start, the hon. member for Kitchener—Conestoga will lead us in the singing of the national anthem.

[Members sang the national anthem]

Mental HealthStatements by Members

2:05 p.m.

Green

Mike Morrice Green Kitchener Centre, ON

Mr. Speaker, I would like share about a dear friend of mine and a leader in my community, Kari Kokko. Kari was deeply caring and brilliant, and she invested her whole self in the betterment of our community, from social work to community theatre.

Sadly, we recently lost Kari to depression and an anxiety disorder that made the future so bleak for her that she saw no point in going on living. On behalf of our entire community, we extend our condolences to Maggie, John and the extended Kokko family.

Just weeks prior to this, I learned of another young friend, David, who took his own life as well.

Organizations such as the Waterloo Region Suicide Prevention Council are more critical today than ever, so they can support those thinking about suicide, and provide resources for those supporting others and those coping with grief from suicide loss.

Suicide can be prevented, and help is available. We all have a role to play. Let us also keep Kari and David's families in our hearts as we push for increased mental health resources so they might be accessible to anyone who needs them, without wait times, early discharge, discrimination or cost.

Cynthia LaiStatements by Members

2:05 p.m.

Liberal

Shaun Chen Liberal Scarborough North, ON

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honour the life of Cynthia Lai, the city councillor for Scarborough North who tragically passed away last Friday afternoon.

Councillor Lai emigrated from Hong Kong in 1972 and built a successful career in real estate sales and management here in Canada. She became the first Chinese-Canadian woman to serve as president of the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board. Elected to Toronto City Council in 2018, Councillor Lai was a voice for the unheard and under-represented. A relentless advocate for the Scarborough subway, she filled every room with energy, positivity and big ideas.

Last Friday, Councillor Lai was on a clear path to re-election in Monday’s municipal election when she lost her battle with cancer. On behalf of the people of Scarborough North, I extend my deepest condolences to her family, her husband, C.K. Fung, and their two sons, Derrick and Darren.

Councillor Lai is dearly missed. May she rest in peace.

Cynthia LaiStatements by Members

2:05 p.m.

Conservative

Marc Dalton Conservative Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge, BC

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government's incompetent, insensitive, voodoo economic management is crushing everyday Canadians. More debt has been added by the Prime Minister than all prime ministers before him combined. The Liberals said that, because interest rates were rock bottom, it was no big deal to print billions—

Cynthia LaiStatements by Members

2:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

I am going to interrupt for a moment. We are having a translation problem.

Sitting SuspendedCynthia LaiStatements by Members

2:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

It seems the interpretation is working for the two front rows, but not for the back rows. The pages are coming around with new headsets. We will try changing the headsets.

In the meantime, we will suspend the sitting for a few seconds or minutes until we can solve the problem.

(The sitting of the House was suspended at 2:11 p.m.)

(The House resumed at 2:13 p.m.)

Sitting ResumedCynthia LaiStatements by Members

2:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

Order. Let us resume statements by members.

Sitting ResumedCynthia LaiStatements by Members

2:10 p.m.

Conservative

Marc Dalton Conservative Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge, BC

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government's incompetent, insensitive, voodoo economic management is crushing everyday Canadians. More debt has been added by the Prime Minister than—

Sitting ResumedCynthia LaiStatements by Members

2:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

I am sorry.

There seems to be a problem with the interpretation.

Could we confirm if it is working? By the looks of it, there is no interpretation in the backbenches, but we have some portable units for members to use.

Does this ever happen to other Speakers, or am I the only one who is a target for technology?

The hon. member for Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge has the floor.

The EconomyStatements by Members

2:15 p.m.

Conservative

Marc Dalton Conservative Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge, BC

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government's incompetent, insensitive, voodoo economic management is crushing everyday Canadians. More debt has been added by the Prime Minister than all prime ministers before him combined. The Liberals said that, because interest rates were rock bottom, it was no big deal to print billions, which shot up the price of homes, gas, groceries and goods.

Inflation is at a 40-year high. Now they are saying, “Whoopsie, it is time to jack up interest rates.” This will financially stress out new homebuyers who have purchased at inflated prices. Nancy at our local food bank tells me that thousands of people are coming there. They are struggling, and she has not seen this happen like this before.

What will the Liberals do? They are going to triple the carbon tax on home heating and fuel and, for good measure, they will increase EI premiums by 10%. Has Canada ever seen a more out-of-touch government?

Alliance of Canadian Land TrustsStatements by Members

2:15 p.m.

Liberal

Leah Taylor Roy Liberal Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON

Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to rise this afternoon to highlight the work of community land trusts.

Over the past few days, the Alliance of Canadian Land Trusts, a newly formed umbrella network that advocates for local land trusts at the national level, has been holding a summit here in Ottawa. These community-based organizations are at the forefront of local action on conservation and climate change, with programs such as the land trust conservation fund, part of the much larger natural heritage conservation program.

Our government has invested $20 million through these local land trusts. This government investment has been more than doubled, and yes, more than tripled. It was actually quadrupled the money it had raised from private funds. This money has supported over 40 organizations and 116 projects, and it has protected over 13,000 hectares of nature reserves since 2009. The return on the $20 million invested by our government has been phenomenal, due to the work these land trusts have done.

The success of our government and country in meeting our environmental goals, both in emissions reduction and biodiversity protection, depends on all of these local land trusts, boards, volunteers and donors. For that, our government joins with me in thanking the new Alliance of Canadian Land Trusts and its member organizations greatly.

Alliance of Canadian Land TrustsStatements by Members

2:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

We still seem to be having technical difficulties.

We do not have interpretation in French, so we have portable units being passed around.

Is everything okay now? I see members giving the thumbs up. Everything seems to be working.

The hon. member for Laurentides—Labelle.

Alliance of Canadian Land TrustsStatements by Members

2:20 p.m.

Bloc

Marie-Hélène Gaudreau Bloc Laurentides—Labelle, QC

Mr. Speaker, today I want to talk about the miners in Saint‑Rémi‑d'Amherst and their families.

Bruno Carrière's documentary film 1948, L'affaire silicose — L'histoire d'une injustice

Alliance of Canadian Land TrustsStatements by Members

2:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

I am sorry to interrupt the hon. member, but I am being told that the members on the back benches do not have any interpretation.

If anyone cannot hear me in one of the official languages, please raise your hand and we will have someone come to you with a unit.

Let us try this again.

The hon. member for Laurentides—Labelle has the floor.

Documentary on Industrial DiseaseStatements by Members

2:20 p.m.

Bloc

Marie-Hélène Gaudreau Bloc Laurentides—Labelle, QC

Mr. Speaker, today I want to talk about the miners in Saint‑Rémi‑d'Amherst and their families.

Bruno Carrière's documentary film 1948, L'affaire silicose — L'histoire d'une injustice shines a light on the tragedy of the first industrial disease in Quebec in the 1930s and 1940s.

It is thanks to the tireless investigative work of Franco-American journalist Burton LeDoux that we know the extent of the ravages caused by silicosis. This disease caused the death of several dozen miners from Saint‑Rémi‑d'Amherst, a township that was nicknamed “the village of widows”.

This powerful and touching documentary chronicles the years when Quebec workers were victims of hazardous working conditions. To get a better idea of the hardship these families endured, I invite everyone to watch 1948, L'affaire silicose — L'histoire d'une injustice, one of the first big scandals in Quebec's social history.

75 Years of Canada-Italy RelationsStatements by Members

2:25 p.m.

Liberal

Angelo Iacono Liberal Alfred-Pellan, QC

Mr. Speaker, in this month of October, 2022, Canada is celebrating the 75th anniversary of bilateral relations with Italy. Both countries have common positions on important regional and international issues. We share common values of democracy, liberty, human rights and a rules-based international order.

More than 1.5 million Canadians are of Italian descent. They are part of a dynamic community that participates in every aspect of our bilateral relations: culture, the economy, trade, science and technology. We might say that it is a perfect marriage.

On behalf of the Canada-Italy Interparliamentary Group, I invite all members to join us tonight from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Speaker's dining room in room 233-S, West Block, for a celebration of this milestone with His Excellency Andrea Ferrari, the ambassador of Italy. Yes, there will be Italian food. I hope to see all members there.

DiwaliStatements by Members

2:25 p.m.

Conservative

Todd Doherty Conservative Cariboo—Prince George, BC

Mr. Speaker, after a hiatus of two years, the national Diwali celebration is returning to Parliament Hill today. With the support of our Indo-Canadian friends, community organizations and mandirs from across the country, tonight at 6:30 p.m. I will be delighted to host the 22nd national Diwali celebration at the Sir John A. Macdonald Building. I hope all my colleagues will join us.

The Diwali celebration on Parliament Hill was started by our dear friend the late Hon. Deepak Obhrai. With this inaugural event, Canada became the first western democracy to celebrate Diwali in Parliament, in 1998. We continue this tradition by joining hands across political boundaries to light the Diwali lamp, a gesture that symbolizes the banishment of darkness and the ushering in of light, peace and hope.

Let the national Diwali celebration be a truly Canadian tradition where South Asian and Indo-Canadians join hands with the rest of Canada to share the message of Diwali: Let there be light.

Happy Diwali, everyone.

Gender Equality in MedicineStatements by Members

2:25 p.m.

Liberal

Emmanuella Lambropoulos Liberal Saint-Laurent, QC

Mr. Speaker, women are misdiagnosed 30% more often than men. This gender gap in medicine stems from the lack of knowledge of women’s medical conditions and experiences. That is why I am thrilled that our government just launched the national women's health research initiative, an investment of $20 million to enhance health outcomes for women and eliminate gaps.

In the past, researchers excluded women from participating in early-phase drug trials in case they would accidentally fall pregnant during the trial, and women were generally left out of medical research because their hormonal cycles would complicate results. This has led to the complete neglect of conditions that primarily affect women, such as ovarian cancer and endometriosis.

Another factor contributing to this gender gap is a lack of trust in women to report on their own health. When doctors cannot explain why a female patient is in pain, she is told that she is under stress, that she suffers from depression or that it is hormonal. This is unacceptable. The women's caucus considers this a top priority and asks women in Canada who agree to please stand up.

Gender Equality in MedicineStatements by Members

2:25 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

The hon. opposition whip is rising on a point of order.

Gender Equality in MedicineStatements by Members

2:25 p.m.

Conservative

Kerry-Lynne Findlay Conservative South Surrey—White Rock, BC

Mr. Speaker, the problems with interpretation seem to be spreading and we have run out of mobile translators, so at the moment, a number of us have no interpretation.

Gender Equality in MedicineStatements by Members

2:30 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

Can all members who do not have interpretation raise their hands? There are portable units coming your way.

Let us try this again. Members should have a portable unit if interpretation is not working at their desks. If they do not have one or if something goes wrong during question period, please raise a hand. We have pages and table officers looking out for any hands that go up. They will go to members with a brand new unit, and then they can get started.

The hon. member for St. John's East.

Youth Ventures AwardsStatements by Members

2:35 p.m.

Liberal

Joanne Thompson Liberal St. John's East, NL

Mr. Speaker, today’s youth are tenacious and determined and get the job done. Nowhere was that better displayed than at the recent 25th annual Newfoundland and Labrador Youth Ventures Awards. Youth Ventures Newfoundland and Labrador supports young people in turning their hobbies, interests and passions into profitable ventures. Today’s youth ventures are tomorrow’s emerging start-ups, thriving small businesses and growing employers. This program instills an entrepreneurial spirit to support a prosperous Newfoundland and Labrador.

The awards ceremony recognized the best ventures from this year. I want to send my sincere congratulations to all the winners, especially venture of the year winner Dawson Greene of Green Head Growers, from Lourdes, and Anna Ryan of Seriously Dough! in Placentia for outstanding venture among those 17 years old and younger.

Youth Ventures is a CBDC program and has helped start over 4,500 businesses. All the participants at the Youth Ventures Awards have so much to be proud of. Our future is in great hands.

The EconomyStatements by Members

2:35 p.m.

Conservative

Damien Kurek Conservative Battle River—Crowfoot, AB

Mr. Speaker, Canadians cannot afford this costly NDP-Liberal coalition and that is no more evident than with food.

Here are a few facts. Food inflation in Canada hit its fastest growth in September since August 1981, when the first Trudeau was in office. Food purchased from stores is up 11.4% year over year. Food banks are seeing record demand as prices soar.

The Liberals' triple tax hikes, fertilizer cuts and back-breaking gatekeepers are bankrupting farmers and ranchers and outsourcing food production to other counties, which then requires the burning of fuel to get it back to Canada when we should be growing, raising and preparing it here.

Here is a final fact. A Conservative government under our new leader would repeal these taxes, remove the fertilizer mandates and get the gatekeepers out of the way so we can grow affordable food, feed our people and be the breadbasket of the world.

PoliticsNOWStatements by Members

2:35 p.m.

Liberal

Viviane LaPointe Liberal Sudbury, ON

Mr. Speaker, October marks Women’s History Month. In honour of this, I want to highlight the important work being done by PoliticsNOW, an organization in my riding of Sudbury. PoliticsNOW empowers and supports women to become political leaders in communities across northern Ontario. In the last municipal election, PoliticsNOW supported over 46 women by providing training sessions and campaign schools and hosting events for women to connect and learn.

In Ontario’s municipal elections held this week, 60 women ran in northern Ontario's nine cities, 26 women were elected to municipal council and one was the first elected woman mayor in a northern Ontario city since 2014.

Organizations like PoliticsNOW are making an impact on women across the country. I want to acknowledge and congratulate the incredible work being done by Amanda Kingsley Malo and PoliticsNOW to get even more women elected so they have better representation across northern Ontario.