Debates of Feb. 11th, 2022

COVID-19 Protests

[Christine Normandin, Bloc, Saint-Jean, QC]

Madam Speaker, Ontario has just declared a state of emergency, but you would not know it on Parliament Hill.

What started as a protest against vaccine mandates is transforming into a full-on siege of downtown Ottawa.

It is transforming into blockades in Windsor, in Manitoba and in Alberta. These blockades are threatening the supply chain and the economy.

It is also transforming into an international movement, spilling over into the United States, France, New Zealand and more.

Rather than ease tensions, the federal government's laissez-faire approach is ramping them up. When will the minister realize that a non-answer is the strategy—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès), Liberal, Alexandra Mendes]

The hon. Minister of Public Safety.

[Marco Mendicino, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, perhaps my colleague did not hear the news.

The federal government has already taken action. We added resources to help the Ottawa Police Service not once, not twice, but three times. We added officers to assist the Ottawa police officers. We also did that in Coutts, where we continue to work in collaboration with the Government of Alberta.

Since the beginning of this convoy, this government has taken meaningful action such as—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès), Liberal, Alexandra Mendes]

The hon. member for New Westminster—Burnaby.

[Peter Julian, NDP, New Westminster—Burnaby, BC]

Madam Speaker, protests financed and backed by wealthy far-right Americans forced thousands of Canadians out of work this week, as border crossings are shut down and supply chains are completely blocked. Communities are asking for federal leadership, and the Prime Minister seems caught frozen in place, like a deer in the headlights. Even our neighbours note the absence of leadership. The Washington Post reports this morning that the Biden administration wants the Prime Minister to “use federal powers to resolve this situation”.

Why is the Prime Minister so incapable of managing this crisis? Why is he passing the buck to everyone else?

[Marco Mendicino, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety]

Madam Speaker, right from the beginning of this convoy, we have been showing strong leadership by providing law enforcement with all of the resources they need in Ottawa, in Windsor and in Coutts, Alberta.

My colleague refers to seeing leadership at the federal level. Yesterday, I was very pleased to have participated in a call between the Prime Minister and all opposition parties. I think that was a very constructive dialogue.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[Marco Mendicino, Liberal, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

While our colleagues are heckling, I am calling on the Conservatives to join the federal government in calling on the convoy to—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès), Liberal, Alexandra Mendes]

The hon. member for London—Fanshawe.

[Lindsay Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Madam Speaker, the convoy is blocking Canadians—

[An hon. member]

Oh, oh!

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès), Liberal, Alexandra Mendes]

Order.

[Lindsay Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Madam Speaker, the convoy is blocking Canadians from going to work across the country. People in my region of southwestern Ontario are heavily impacted. All Canadians are missing much needed national leadership during this crisis. They are tired of jurisdictional excuses and they just want this to stop.

The vast majority of Canadians have done their part. They are following public health measures and we owe it to them to use every tool available to stop these occupations and to work on a plan.

When will the government end this occupation that is harming Canadian workers and their families?

[Marco Mendicino, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety]

Madam Speaker, my colleague is absolutely correct in that 90% of Canadians have taken up their vaccinations. It is a small, angry lot that continues to participate in these illegal blockades, which is why the government will provide law enforcement with all of the tools and resources they need.

Our number one priority is very clear and that is to end the illegal blockades, uphold the law and make sure we get trade and travel moving again. That is why it is so imperative that every member in the chamber call on the convoy to go home.

Health

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

Madam Speaker, provinces and countries around the world are removing mandates and restrictions. The Liberals lack compassion and empathy and are not in line with our allies and other G7 countries. Is the Prime Minister waiting to once again be the last to act? For the last two years, Canadians have been continually let down by the Liberal government. It is time for Canada to have a clear path out of the pandemic. Canadians have sacrificed to keep our community safe but now they are being ignored and discredited.

When will the Liberals stop dividing and end the mandates?

[Adam van Koeverden, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health and to the Minister of Sport]

Madam Speaker, ever since the beginning of the pandemic, all Canadians have wanted to know when it will be over and when we can go back to the way things were. I count myself among them. I am eager to get back to normal as well.

The reality is that we will continue to do what is right for Canadians and keep people safe throughout the pandemic. Different jurisdictions have handled things differently and we have seen that every step of the way. This include some jurisdictions across the country, which we have been there to support, and different countries that have had much worse outcomes in some cases and even with more restrictions.

I am proud of the fact—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès), Liberal, Alexandra Mendes]

The hon. member for Fort McMurray—Cold Lake.

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

Madam Speaker, unfortunately there are no gold medals for spin doctoring. The Prime Minister has stumbled from failure to failure on the COVID-19 response. He seems to have forgotten the most pressing need for Canadian families: a foreseeable and successful return to normal public life.

Instead of dismissing and stigmatizing Canadians who voice valid concerns, he needs to rise above politicizing the pandemic and provide answers.

When will the Liberal government stop alienating those it disagrees with and find a way—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès), Liberal, Alexandra Mendes]

The hon. parliamentary secretary.

[Adam van Koeverden, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health and to the Minister of Sport]

Madam Speaker, personal attacks aside, I am proud of Team Canada and I will give them a quick little shout-out over at the Winter Olympics. I am sure all of the members of the House are proud of our team. I do not know why she would want to take a personal dig at me for that.

The reality is that we want to continue to support Canadians and we want to keep them safe, healthy and alive. We have to recognize this pandemic is not over. We need to continue to trust science and encourage our neighbours to get vaccinated. I understand how frustrated Canadians are. I count myself among them. However, we need to stay focused on keeping Canadians safe and that includes some restrictions.

I will point out that most of those public health restrictions are provincial in nature.

[Joël Godin, Conservative, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

Madam Speaker, almost two years have passed. Canadians toughed it out and got through this pandemic.

It is time for the government to table a plan that will let Canadians from all across the country plan for the return to normal life.

We are asking it to stop playing politics. The government must have a plan to reopen. Let us give Canadians hope.

When will the plan be tabled?

[Adam van Koeverden, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health and to the Minister of Sport]

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for this very important question.

We know that the omicron variant is spreading quickly around the world. That is why the government quickly put health restrictions in place at the borders in order to continue protecting Canadians against the spread of COVID-19.

As stated earlier, our government is officially recommending that Canadians avoid all non-essential travel outside the country. Collectively and individually, we all have a role to play.

[Joël Godin, Conservative, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

Madam Speaker, we do not want to hear about restrictions. We want a plan to reopen.

Almost 90% of Canadians are vaccinated. Protesters came to Ottawa with the message that they want some freedom back. The Prime Minister's partisan attitude turned this protest into a blockade that is now entering its third weekend.

Will the Prime Minister undertake to quickly and peacefully bring an end to the blockade?

[Adam van Koeverden, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health and to the Minister of Sport]

Madam Speaker, I agree with the member that the blockades are causing harm in our communities, so I would ask him to ask all of his colleagues on the other side to ensure we are all encouraging people to go home. As we have seen recently, the member for Carleton says he is proud of the trucker convoy. The anti-vax protests are exactly what he wants for his new political agenda, so let us encourage everybody to go home and to evacuate this blockade in Ottawa that is causing so much harm so that we can get on with our lives and continue to support Canadians and keep them healthy.

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

Madam Speaker, from the Liberals we continue to see the politics of division. Instead of talking to Canadians, they try to divide them. Instead of doing their job, they pass the buck to the provinces on what is squarely the government's jurisdiction: our international borders. It was the current Prime Minister who once said, “The role of the PM is to build a stronger country, not make it easier for some to break it apart.” Leadership means having conversations, even when they are with people we disagree with.

Is the Prime Minister prepared to have these conversations and to peacefully and quickly end the impasse this country is facing?