Debates of Dec. 7th, 2022

Justice and Human Rights

[Randeep Sarai, Liberal, Surrey Centre, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the seventh report of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights, entitled “Improving Support for Victims of Crime”. Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report.

I also have the honour to present, in both official languages, the eighth report, in relation to Bill C-291, an act to amend the Criminal Code and to make consequential amendments to other acts (child sexual abuse material). The committee has studied the bill and has decided to report the bill back to the House with amendments.

Fisheries and Oceans

[Ken McDonald, Liberal, Avalon, NL]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the seventh report of the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans, entitled “Supplementary Estimates (B), 2022-23: Votes 1b, 5b and 10b under Department of Fisheries and Oceans”.

Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, there have been discussions among the parties, and if you seek it, I believe you will find unanimous consent for the following motion. I move:

That a take-note debate on murdered and missing indigenous women and girls be held later today, pursuant to Standing Order 53.1, and that, notwithstanding any standing order or usual practice of the House: (a) members rising to speak during the debate may indicate to the Chair that they will be dividing their time with another member; (b) the time provided for the debate be extended beyond four hours, as needed, to include a minimum of 12 periods of 20 minutes each; and (c) no quorum calls, dilatory motions or requests for unanimous consent shall be received by the Chair.

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Chris d'Entremont]

All those opposed to the hon. member’s moving the motion will please say nay. It is agreed.

The House has heard the terms of the motion. All those opposed to the motion will please say nay.

(Motion agreed to)

Public Nudity

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

Mr. Speaker, this petition from a constituent speaks to an issue that many people do not want to speak about: public nudity. The petitioner points out that public nudity was not in itself any form of crime until 1954, and asks the House to repeal section 174 of the Criminal Code to specify that public nudity in and of itself is not indecent or obscene.

Seniors

[Rachel Blaney, NDP, North Island—Powell River, BC]

Mr. Speaker, today I am tabling a petition from seniors across Canada who have identified very clearly that single seniors have a much harder time financially and that we need to see significant changes by the government to support them. They note that senior couples can split their pension income, thereby allowing them to pay less tax and qualify for key things like old age security. That is not available for seniors who are single.

The petitioners note that the cost of living for a single person is two-thirds of the cost of living for a couple; that single-person households are continuing to grow and are the fastest-growing population in Canada, according to Statistics Canada; that of the six million seniors in Canada, over one-third are single, many of them women; and that this demographic will continue to grow.

This group is asking for justice on this issue and I hope they see it.

Questions on the Order Paper

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, the following questions will be answered today: Nos. 900 and 902.

Question No.900—

[Michelle Ferreri, Conservative, Peterborough—Kawartha, ON]

With regard to the Community Services Recovery Fund: (a) how much of the $400-million fund has been delivered to date; and (b) what are the details of all items financed so far through the fund, including, for each, the (i) recipient, (ii) location, (iii) amount, (iv) project description, (v) date of funding?

[Ya'ara Saks, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Families]

Mr. Speaker, in budget 2021, the government provided $400 million to ESDC to create the community services recovery fund, or CSRF. This fund is a one-time investment to help respond to the adaptation and modernization needs of charities and non-profits facing the immediate and long-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. This investment will strengthen the charitable and non-profit sector as it supports recovery in communities across Canada.

On November 22, 2022, the government announced that three national funders, that is, the Canadian Red Cross, Community Foundations of Canada, and the United Way Centraide Canada, have been selected to distribute CSRF funding to help a broad and diverse range of charities and non-profits adapt and modernize. National funders will be responsible for establishing open application processes and assessing applications from charities and non-profits providing services in communities across Canada. The grant application process for organizations to apply for funding is expected to be launched in early January 2023. The national funders will be responsible for communicating when it is open for eligible organizations to apply.

The national funders have launched a CSRF website, www.communityservicesrecoveryfund.ca, that will be kept updated as work progresses.

Question No.902—

[Andrew Scheer, Conservative, Regina—Qu'Appelle, SK]

With regard to the government's plan to reduce emissions arising from fertilizer application by 30 percent and its impact on Farm Credit Canada (FCC): (a) will FCC be lowering the amount of credit available to farmers whose projected yields will decrease as a result of using less fertilizer; (b) which crop yields does FCC predict will drop the most as a result of the government's plan; (c) broken down by type of crop, what are FCC's projections related to how much loss of yield that farmers will incur as a result of the government's plan; (d) broken down by type of crop, what are FCC's projections regarding the loss of income as a result of the government's plan; (e) is FCC planning to advise farmers not to plant certain types of crops as a result of not being able to use as much fertilizer, and, if so, which crops; and (f) has FCC received any communication from the government on not publicly discussing the negative impacts of the government's plan on farmers, and, if so, what are the details, including (i) the individuals involved in the communication, (ii) the type of communication, (iii) the date, (iv) a summary?

[Marie-Claude Bibeau, Liberal, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, in response to part (a) of the question, the amount of credit available to FCC customers is not impacted by the government’s plan to reduce emissions from fertilizer application.

With regard to parts (b), (c), (d) and (e) of the question, FCC has no analysis to inform a response.

In response to part (f), FCC has received no direction on communication from the government related to the fertilizer emissions reduction plan.

Questions Passed as Orders for Returns

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, if the government's responses to Questions Nos. 901 and 903 to 911 could be made orders for return, these returns would be tabled immediately.

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Chris d'Entremont]

Is that agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

Question No.901—

[Michelle Ferreri, Conservative, Peterborough—Kawartha, ON]

With regard to the targets listed in the mandate letter of the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development: (a) have fees for regulated child care been reduced by 50 percent on average, everywhere outside Quebec, and, if not, (i) when will they be reduced, (ii) will they be reduced by the end of 2022, and, if not, why not; (b) how does the minister plan on reducing regulated child care fees to $10 a day on average by the end of fiscal year 2025-26 everywhere outside Quebec, and what are the specifics or metrics to be attained each year between now and 2025-26 to measure whether the target will be met; (c) what are the specific plans or measures related to how the government will create 250,000 new child care spaces; (d) how many spaces will each plan or measure in (c) produce, and over what time period; and (e) what are the specific plans or measures related to how the government will hire 40,000 more early childhood educators by the end of fiscal year 2025-26, including specific details on where the government plans on finding the additional 40,000 educators?

(Return tabled)

Question No.903—

[Adam Chambers, Conservative, Simcoe North, ON]

With regard to income tax and the Canada Revenue Agency, broken down by year since 2016: (a) what is the total number of people who filed income tax returns, broken down by income tax bracket; and (b) what was the total amount of revenue collected, from personal income tax, broken down by tax bracket and tax return filed?

(Return tabled)

Question No.904—

[Adam Chambers, Conservative, Simcoe North, ON]

With regard to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA): what is the total number of employees or full-time equivalents in each (i) division, (ii) enforcement area of the CRA, broken down by year since 2016?

(Return tabled)

Question No.905—

[Gerald Soroka, Conservative, Yellowhead, AB]

With regard to government employees on leave, broken down by department, agency, or other government entity: (a) how many employees are on leave as of October 20, 2022, broken down by type of leave; and (b) how many employees were on "Other Leave With Pay" (code 699), broken down by month since January 1, 2022?

(Return tabled)

Question No.906—

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

With regard to government programs aimed at addressing drug and alcohol addiction: (a) what programs are currently being developed by the government or are already put in place; (b) for each program in (a), (i) what metrics are used to judge the success or failure of the program, (ii) what is the desired outcome of the program; and (c) what are the details of each poll the government has conducted since 2016 in relation to the programs or the issue of addictions in general, including, for each, (i) the date, (ii) who conducted the poll, (iii) the methodology, (iv) the questions asked, (v) the results and findings?

(Return tabled)

Question No.907—

[Martin Shields, Conservative, Bow River, AB]

With regard to government advertising to promote COVID-19 vaccines and booster doses: (a) how much has the federal government spent to date on advertising and promoting COVID-19 vaccines; (b) what is the breakdown of (a) by month since the first vaccines were approved; (c) what is the breakdown of (a) and (b) by (i) individual campaign, (ii) advertising medium (television, newspaper, online, etc.); (d) what is the breakdown of all traditional advertising spending promoting vaccines or booster doses by station or publication; (e) what is the breakdown of all social media advertising to promote vaccines or booster doses by social media network, outlet or website; (f) what is the breakdown of (d) and (e) by advertising campaign; and (g) what are the details of any appearance fees that were provided to public health officials, public figures, celebrities, or influencers to appear in such advertisements, including, for each, the (i) name of individual paid an appearance fee, (ii) amount paid, (iii) description of the advertisement, (iv) reason for choosing the individual to appear in the advertisement, (v) start and end dates of advertisements?