House of Commons Hansard #148 of the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was everyone.

Topics

JusticeOral Questions

2:55 p.m.

Conservative

Mark Strahl Conservative Chilliwack—Hope, BC

Mr. Speaker, the safeguards simply are not working. In too many cases, vulnerable Canadians, including injured veterans and persons with disabilities, are being offered assisted suicide instead of the supports they want and need from the system.

The heads of psychiatry at all of Canada's 17 medical schools have called for a delay to the Liberals' deeply flawed MAID legislation, which would expand eligibility to those with mental disorders in March of next year.

Will the Prime Minister finally listen to the experts, finally listen to vulnerable Canadians and press pause on this deeply flawed MAID expansion?

JusticeOral Questions

2:55 p.m.

Papineau Québec

Liberal

Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister

Mr. Speaker, the safety and security of our most vulnerable must remain at the forefront of our considerations. We need to be careful and thoughtful in our approach at every step. That is why we are continuing to work with experts, including those on the front lines and those with lived experience, while working with all parliamentarians and provinces and territories, to ensure there is a strong framework in place.

FirearmsOral Questions

2:55 p.m.

Conservative

Raquel Dancho Conservative Kildonan—St. Paul, MB

Mr. Speaker, in 2015, a Toronto man shot and killed his friend. He spent only five years in jail. Then he was charged in 2021 with another shooting. While out on bail for that, he was charged for running a massive gun smuggling ring of the very guns that are being used by criminals like him to terrorize people in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and Winnipeg.

This is what is going on in our cities. Clearly gangs are the problem. Why is the Prime Minister going after hunters?

FirearmsOral Questions

2:55 p.m.

Papineau Québec

Liberal

Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister

Mr. Speaker, after the previous Conservative government cut about $1 billion from law enforcement and border agencies, we stepped up to ensure that our enforcement agencies had the tools they need. We have also invested massively in community safety programs and in support for young people, and, yes, have moved forward on gun control to make sure there is a freeze on the market for handguns and that we ban assault-style weapons.

This is something we are going to continue to work on. We will continue to work with law-abiding hunters and fishers to ensure that the right guns are banned, but we will make sure we are doing the right thing for all Canadians.

FirearmsOral Questions

3 p.m.

Conservative

Pierre Paul-Hus Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister and the leader of the Bloc Québécois are totally out of touch when it comes to the safety of Quebeckers. They are working together to criminalize law-abiding citizens, while allowing criminals to roam free in our communities.

Bill C‑5, which was passed with the Bloc's support, allowed a criminal to avoid jail time this week despite being arrested in possession of two fully loaded guns. In addition, Bill C‑21, which the Bloc Québécois also supported, directly attacks Quebec hunters.

Why are they so out of touch?

FirearmsOral Questions

3 p.m.

Papineau Québec

Liberal

Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister

Mr. Speaker, what we are seeing and what we have seen over the past few years is that the so-called “tough on crime” laws brought in by the former Conservative government have been gradually removed from the Criminal Code and struck down by the court because they did not work. Obviously, a law that cannot remain in place cannot work to protect our citizens.

That is why we are moving forward with respect for our justice system and our judges and ensuring that we really are keeping people safe with laws that have staying power.

Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipOral Questions

3 p.m.

Bloc

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

Mr. Speaker, Roxham Road is breaking records. By the end of the year, 40,000 asylum seekers will have likely used that route. That is why Quebec's immigration minister, Christine Fréchette, is asking the federal government for funding so that Quebec can give asylum seekers money to help them learn French. It is a good idea, one that is both humane and productive, and it would be one way of supporting them during the long months they will have to wait for Ottawa to issue them a work permit.

Since the Prime Minister is responsible for Roxham Road, will he provide funds to help asylum seekers learn French while waiting to work?

Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipOral Questions

3 p.m.

Papineau Québec

Liberal

Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister

Mr. Speaker, since this situation started, we have been there to invest, to establish a partnership and to help Quebeckers continue showing their trademark generosity by welcoming asylum seekers.

We recognize that this is a heavy burden for the Quebec government to bear, so we are here to provide support. I would like to point out that we send more than $700 million a year to the Quebec government for French-language learning programs. We will continue to be there to ensure that Quebec continues to implement those programs.

Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipOral Questions

3 p.m.

Bloc

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

Mr. Speaker, when the Prime Minister says he wants Quebec to welcome 112,000 newcomers every year, what he really means is 112,000 plus the 40,000 from Roxham Road. He expects Quebec to welcome a total of 152,000 people every year, but is he also providing more money for French language instruction? We just got our answer, and it is no. Is he increasing health transfers in response to demographic changes? The answer is no. What about the full-blown housing crisis? Is he providing more money to keep pace with the growing population? Again, the answer is no.

Does the Prime Minister realize that immigration is about real people, not just a number to be bandied about?

Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipOral Questions

3 p.m.

Papineau Québec

Liberal

Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister

Mr. Speaker, as I just said, we send the Government of Quebec more than $700 million every year for French-language learning programs. If Quebec wants more, it need only ask because we believe in helping newcomers learn French, and we are happy to help.

What I want to make crystal clear is that Quebec can set its own immigration thresholds. If it wants more immigrants, it can accept more. We will gladly rise to the challenge so we can address the labour shortage.

EthicsOral Questions

3 p.m.

Conservative

Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON

Mr. Speaker, it is another day, and another Liberal minister is found guilty of breaking ethics laws. This time, it is the international trade minister who, through a shady deal, gave tens of thousands of dollars to her BFF, CBC pundit Amanda Alvaro. The history of this pair goes back to when they worked for the corrupt Ontario McGuinty Liberals. Old habits might die hard for these two, but Canadians deserve better.

Is the reason the Prime Minister will not fire his minister that he would be holding her to a higher standard than he holds himself?

EthicsOral Questions

3 p.m.

Papineau Québec

Liberal

Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister

Mr. Speaker, basically, we respect the work of the commissioner and the work the office does. The minister has taken full responsibility and apologized.

EthicsOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Conservative

Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON

Mr. Speaker, “full responsibility” is not a forced apology and crocodile tears. It is a resignation, and that is what Canadians expect from members of the King's Privy Council. It was fine for Art Eggleton. When he gave tens of thousands of dollars to an old girlfriend, he knew he had to resign. What we do not know is why there is a different set of rules for the Prime Minister and for the minister.

Will the Prime Minister finally do the right thing, show Canadians there are actions they need to be held accountable for, and fire the minister today?

EthicsOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Papineau Québec

Liberal

Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister

Mr. Speaker, the minister has taken full responsibility and apologized.

EthicsOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Conservative

Richard Martel Conservative Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC

Mr. Speaker, this is not the first Liberal scandal. There was also WE Charity, SNC-Lavalin, and the list goes on.

In the latest ethics violation, the Minister of International Trade awarded two contracts to her very close friend, Amanda Alvaro. An apology is just not enough when Canadians' wallets are empty and the Liberals are lining their friends' pockets on the backs of taxpayers. It is not complicated. The minister needs to step down.

Will the minister step down on her own, or will the Prime Minister have to force her to do so?

EthicsOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Papineau Québec

Liberal

Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister

Mr. Speaker, we respect the work of the commissioner and the commissioner's office. The minister has accepted full responsibility and has apologized.

Climate ChangeOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Liberal

René Arseneault Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB

Mr. Speaker, since launching our detailed 2030 emissions reduction plan, attending COP27 in Egypt and organizing COP15 in Montreal, our government has been working diligently on climate action.

Can the Prime Minister inform the House of Canada's progress in the fight against climate change?

Climate ChangeOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Papineau Québec

Liberal

Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague from Madawaska—Restigouche for his question and his hard work.

We are taking concrete action to address climate change and the loss of biodiversity. This year, we launched Canada's very first national adaptation strategy. We also announced, together with 38 other countries, that we are ending new support for the international unabated fossil fuel energy sector by the end of the year.

We will continue to implement ambitious measures to ensure that we have clean air and can build a healthier future for all.

Statistics CanadaOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Conservative

John Barlow Conservative Foothills, AB

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals have found a solution to record-high food inflation. It is to wipe the stats away from existence. We have record, 40-year high inflation, food prices are up 11%, and more than half of Canadian families are worried about their ability to put food on the table.

What is the Liberals' solution? It is to erase more than 25 years of historical food inflation data from the StatsCan website. The Liberal government, which pretends to make decisions based on science and data, has erased 25 years of vital inflation information from the website. Why?

Statistics CanadaOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Papineau Québec

Liberal

Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister

Mr. Speaker, we will take no lessons on data from the former Conservative government, which tried to cancel the long-form census because it did not want decisions to be based on facts and data.

We will follow up. These are troubling allegations. We will ensure that the data remains accessible to Canadians every step of the way.

Canadians are facing tough times right now, but times would be even tougher if they had followed the advice of the leader of the official opposition when he said to buy cryptocurrencies to “opt out” of inflation. They would have lost half their life savings. That is not responsible leadership.

Statistics CanadaOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Conservative

John Barlow Conservative Foothills, AB

Mr. Speaker, these are not allegations. The Liberals are covering up their inflation record by erasing 25 years of vital food inflation data from the StatsCan website. The Prime Minister cannot hide from those facts. The facts are that the tripling of the carbon tax will cost a typical Canadian farmer $150,000 a year. The facts are that researchers have already said that eliminating this data is making the research harder, and it no longer believes or trusts the numbers coming from the Liberal government.

Those are the facts. The Prime Minister cannot hide from them. Why is he trying to cover up his inflation record by eliminating data from the StatsCan website?

Statistics CanadaOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Papineau Québec

Liberal

Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister

Mr. Speaker, obviously these are concerning allegations and we will be following up on them, because we are the government that restored the long-form census; we are the government that bases policy on data and evidence, and we will continue to.

Talking about evidence and facts, it is important for the Conservatives to stop misleading Canadians and—

Statistics CanadaOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh!

Statistics CanadaOral Questions

3:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

I am sorry. The odd heckle coming out is one thing, but when you are trying to drown someone out, that is really not polite and is not parliamentary.

I would ask the right hon. Prime Minister to start from the top.

Statistics CanadaOral Questions

3:10 p.m.

Liberal

Justin Trudeau Liberal Papineau, QC

Mr. Speaker, obviously these allegations are concerning and we will be following up on them.

The Conservative Party, which continually waged war on facts when it was in government, by eliminating the long-form census and not being transparent with Canadians, continues to try to mislead Canadians on the price on pollution, which actually puts more money back in the pockets of hard-working Canadians every single year, four times a year, because it is a way of both fighting climate change and helping families balance their books. These are important things to continue—