House of Commons Hansard #138 of the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was communities.

Topics

FinanceOral Questions

3:10 p.m.

Conservative

Philip Lawrence Conservative Northumberland—Peterborough South, ON

Mr. Speaker, what the Conservatives do understand is the number of targets the Liberal government has hit, which is zero.

The cost of government is raising the cost of living, with $54 million for arrive scam, $6,000 for a hotel room for one night and billions of dollars in corporate welfare. All the while, Canadians are suffering with high rates of inflation, the doubling of interest on mortgage payments and record food bank usage.

Will the government finally show a bit of discipline and a bit of compassion and limit its inflationary deficit spending?

FinanceOral Questions

3:10 p.m.

Papineau Québec

Liberal

Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister

Mr. Speaker, we went into the pandemic with the strongest fiscal position of any of our peers and we came out of it with the strongest fiscal position of any of our peers. We did that because we invested in Canadians. We supported small businesses. We supported families. We supported workers. We supported students. We supported seniors. Not only was that the right thing to do because it allowed most of them to get vaccinated, but it also ensured that we would stay strong in our economic recovery.

We have recovered 100% of our jobs faster than the United States. We are seeing strong economic growth. We will continue to be there with targeted supports for Canadians who need them.

Dental CareOral Questions

3:10 p.m.

Liberal

Ken McDonald Liberal Avalon, NL

Mr. Speaker, we know that provincial and territorial programs do not cover dental care needs for all children under the age of 12 equally across Canada. I have been hearing from families in my riding that they need better access to good oral health care. That is why I am pleased that our government took action and moved forward with our interim Canada dental benefit, which received royal assent just two weeks ago.

Could the Prime Minister please speak to how our government is investing in a Canada-wide dental care program to improve access for those who need it the most? When will Canadians be able to apply for this benefit?

Dental CareOral Questions

3:10 p.m.

Papineau Québec

Liberal

Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for Avalon for his hard work for his constituents.

Despite Conservative Party opposition, as of tomorrow the families of half a million kids under 12 will be able to access the Canada dental benefit. That means up to $1,300 over two years per child for dental care. It will be open through the CRA's My Account for those with a net family income of under $90,000 who do not have access to private dental insurance. It is tax-free and goes directly to parents.

This is all part of our plan to make life more affordable for Canadians.

HealthOral Questions

November 30th, 2022 / 3:15 p.m.

NDP

Blake Desjarlais NDP Edmonton Griesbach, AB

Mr. Speaker, this week marks World AIDS Day. The HIV/AIDS crisis once devastated Canada and the 2SLGBTQI community. Today, through the dedication and hard work of the community, we have the tools to eliminate HIV infections once and for all, but the Liberal government continues to ignore the calls for the annual $100-million investment that it would take to do this.

When will the government provide the funds to eliminate HIV so that all Canadians can live a safe and healthy life?

HealthOral Questions

3:15 p.m.

Papineau Québec

Liberal

Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister

Mr. Speaker, we know that far too many Canadians still deal with the disease of HIV/AIDS, and the fact is that we will continue to be there to support them. When we hosted the world AIDS conference in Montreal this summer, we made historic investments toward supporting people not just in Canada but around the world to live free of AIDS. This is something we are going to continue to stand for.

I thank the member opposite for his strength and advocacy on this issue. We will continue to work with him and with all members of the House as we keep Canadians safe.

The EnvironmentOral Questions

3:15 p.m.

Green

Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC

Mr. Speaker, the major global summit on nature, COP15, opens next week in Montreal. It was originally scheduled to take place in China, so China retains the chairmanship of this conference, but the Prime Minister could do more. Many civil society organizations have asked the Prime Minister to put the message out and ask other heads of government to come to Canada so that a strong global biodiversity framework can be achieved.

Is the Prime Minister willing to reach out and improve the chances of success for COP15 in Montreal?

The EnvironmentOral Questions

3:15 p.m.

Papineau Québec

Liberal

Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister

Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by thanking the member for her long-standing advocacy.

We are excited about stepping up to welcome the world for COP15, focused on nature and biodiversity, because we know how much it matters. In Montreal, we will be pushing countries for results on funding, protected areas and more. At home this week, we announced money for 67 projects to protect species across the country. We have gone from protecting less than 1% of our coastal areas before 2015 to protecting over 14%. I am looking forward to sharing more next week in Montreal.

The EnvironmentOral Questions

3:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

That is all the time we have today for Oral Questions. I want to thank the members for a very peaceful question period. That was very good.

The House resumed from November 23 consideration of the motion that Bill C-288, An Act to amend the Telecommunications Act (transparent and accurate broadband services information), be read the second time and referred to a committee.

Telecommunications ActPrivate Members' Business

3:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

It being 3:18 p.m., pursuant to order made on Thursday, June 23, the House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred division on the motion at second reading stage of Bill C‑288 under Private Members' Business.

Call in the members.

(The House divided on the motion, which was agreed to on the following division:)

Vote #228

Telecommunications ActPrivate Members' Business

3:30 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

I declare the motion carried.

Accordingly, the bill stands referred to the Standing Committee on Industry and Technology.

(Bill read the second time and referred to a committee)

The House resumed from November 25 consideration of the motion that Bill C-294, An Act to amend the Copyright Act (interoperability), be read the second time and referred to a committee.

Copyright ActPrivate Members' Business

3:30 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

Pursuant to order made on Thursday, June 23, the House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion at second reading stage of Bill C-294 under Private Members' Business.

(The House divided on the motion, which was agreed to on the following division:)

Vote #229

Copyright ActPrivate Members' Business

3:40 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

I declare the motion carried.

Accordingly, the bill stands referred to the Standing Committee on Industry and Technology.

(Bill read the second time and referred to a committee)

Copyright ActPrivate Members' Business

3:45 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

I wish to inform the House that because of the deferred recorded division, Government Orders will be extended by 25 minutes.

The hon. member for Louis-Saint-Laurent on a point of order.

Copyright ActPrivate Members' Business

3:45 p.m.

Conservative

Gérard Deltell Conservative Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC

Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, May 3, during question period, after the member for Northumberland—Peterborough South asked a question, the Minister of National Revenue said, “Mr. Speaker, I can well understand, during this Mental Health Week, how warped the thinking is on the other side of the House and that they do not understand what we mean.”

In response to such a comment making a parallel between mental health problems and the argument of an opposition member, the Speaker rose and said, “Perhaps it would be appropriate for the minister to phrase her words differently. Maybe she could apologize for that last statement. It was a little inflammatory.” Reclaiming the floor, the minister said, “I apologize, Mr. Speaker.”

My colleagues can find all these excerpts in the revised Hansard, volume 151, No. 063.

Unfortunately, that is not where this sad story ends, because on November 16, on local radio in the Gaspé, CIEU-FM, the Minister of National Revenue came back to her statement and, believe it or not, doubled down on it. She said, “I worked in mental health for 25 years and I saw all sorts of things, but I must say that I have rarely seen what is happening across the way when I look at my colleagues, and I am really concerned”.

To be polite, to say the least, the—

Copyright ActPrivate Members' Business

3:45 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

Order. I need to interrupt the member for a second. There is noise and it is not coming from the House. I would ask the Sergeant-at-Arms to go outside and ask people to calm down a bit and keep the noise down.

The hon. member for Louis-Saint-Laurent can continue.

Copyright ActPrivate Members' Business

3:45 p.m.

Conservative

Gérard Deltell Conservative Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC

Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, the story does not end there. It goes on.

On November 16, on local radio in her riding of Gaspé, CIEU-FM, the Minister of National Revenue came back to her statement and even, believe it or not, doubled down on it. She said, and I quote, “I worked in mental health for 25 years and I saw all sorts of things, but I must say that I have rarely seen what is happening across the way when I look at my colleagues, and I am really concerned”. To put it politely, the apology that the minister gave here in the House in May was not very sincere, to say the least.

We may have different opinions on a subject. We can, and I would even venture to say that we should, have different opinions. We can use evidence-based arguments to attack the opposing views of the other side. However, we should never resort to insults.

There are a thousand acceptable ways to attack an opponent without resorting to unacceptable means. Unfortunately, the Minister of National Revenue used insults as a weapon and as an argument, not once but twice. In my opinion that is unworthy of the mandate that citizens gave us with trust and respect.

Copyright ActPrivate Members' Business

3:45 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

I would like to thank the hon. member for his intervention. As he knows, my power is limited to the House, and I cannot leave and impose what was decided in this place to a situation outside the House.

The hon. member for Salaberry—Suroît.

Copyright ActPrivate Members' Business

3:45 p.m.

Bloc

Claude DeBellefeuille Bloc Salaberry—Suroît, QC

Mr. Speaker, had my colleague next to me not mentioned it, I would not have risen to concur in his point of order. I, too, was affected and felt insulted and even scorned by my colleague's comments.

I believe my colleagues know that I am a social workers and member of my professional association. I also find that it is an insult to the profession to make a clinical judgment without an assessment about colleagues she does not know. Even with 25 years' experience in mental health, one is not necessarily an expert capable of making a clinical judgment about all of one's opposition colleagues.

Mr. Speaker, I know that you have no authority over what happens outside the House. I had the opportunity to personally speak to the minister to ask her to withdraw her comments and qualify them. It seems to me that a good social worker would have said that it is possible that some individuals opposite may have mental health issues. You cannot make a blanket statement about one's colleagues as she did. It is written in the rules of our profession and we also learn that at school.

Perhaps the minister needs to be reminded more generally to be more careful next time. Implying that members of the opposition have mental health problems is rather contemptuous, and it is simply not something we do in this job. Given that she has experience in the field, it is even more improper for her to do so.

Copyright ActPrivate Members' Business

3:50 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

Once again, the Speaker has no authority over what happens outside the House. Today, during Oral Questions and Statements by Members, we had a good example of how we should respect others in the House. I thank all members for acting in a very civil manner today, and I encourage them to continue to do so.

I know that the party leaders in the House worked very hard with the whips to accomplish what we saw today. I hope that this will continue, not only in the House, but also outside the chamber, both in person and on the radio, and on social media.

I thank both hon. members.

Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission of New BrunswickRoutine Proceedings

3:50 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

It is my duty to lay upon the table, pursuant to subsection 21(1) of the Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act, a certified copy of the report of the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission of New Brunswick.

Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), this report is deemed permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs.