Debates of Feb. 14th, 2022

Health

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

The hon. member for Mégantic—L'Érable.

COVID-19 Protests

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians are not fooled. They understand the Prime Minister’s political games.

First, according to his own MPs, he wilfully chose to wedge, to divide and to stigmatize in order to win an election. We are not the ones saying that. It is people from his own team and caucus.

He then chose to politicize the pandemic, and that is what he is still doing today. Section 16 of the Emergencies Act states that there must be a threat to the security of Canada in order for the act to be invoked.

How does the Prime Minister justify using emergency powers in a different way, once again—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Order. The hon. Minister of Public Safety.

[Marco Mendicino, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, these blockades are hurting Canadians and they must stop.

We are acting responsibly. In Windsor, the RCMP and Windsor Police Service have reopened the Ambassador Bridge. In Alberta, the RCMP have made 11 arrests. In Ottawa, the RCMP and the Ontario Provincial Police have established an integrated command centre with the Ottawa Police Service.

Our top priority is to end the illegal blockades, enforce the law, and make it possible for Canadians to get to where they need to go.

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

Madam Speaker, the situation that is unfolding today was entirely avoidable. The Prime Minister's campaign to divide Canadians and to divide his own caucus contributed to this escalation and, unfortunately, he went into hiding for days instead of trying to defuse tensions. The public wants a peaceful resolution to this conflict, an end to the protests, but not the military on the streets.

Will the Prime Minister vote in favour of our motion and present all Canadians with a plan, as all the other governments in Canada have done?

[Mark Holland, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservative Party has a clear choice: to de-escalate the situation by telling the protesters that it is time to leave Ottawa immediately. On Twitter—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Can we proceed?

The hon. Leader of the Government in the House of Commons.

[Mark Holland, Liberal, Ajax, ON]

Mr. Speaker, on Twitter, the Conservative Party continues to support the illegal actions taking place outside. The next potential leader of the Conservative Party keeps saying that he is really proud of the illegal actions going on outside. That is totally irresponsible.

We are going to work very hard to stop what is going on outside.

[Alain Therrien, Bloc, La Prairie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister intends to invoke the Emergencies Act to deal with the occupation in Ottawa. He will have seven days to get the House's approval for the special powers he is seeking. However, he refuses to say exactly what he intends to do with those powers.

People have a right to know. We cannot wait seven days to find out. We cannot give the Prime Minister carte blanche when we are talking about extreme powers that could include the use of the military. Will the Prime Minister reveal his detailed plan today?

[Marco Mendicino, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, from the beginning, we have been supporting the City of Ottawa and its police service in their response to the blockade. We have acted responsibly. This includes three deployments of the RCMP, tactical and logistical support, and an integrated command centre with the RCMP and the Ontario Provincial Police.

Our top priority is to put an end to the illegal blockade, enforce the law and help residents of Ottawa get their lives back.

[Alain Therrien, Bloc, La Prairie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, in short, they have done nothing for three weeks.

We do not know what the Prime Minister is planning to do, but we do know some things. We know that Quebec is opposed to having the Emergencies Act imposed on its territory. To this point, the crisis has been much better managed and contained in Quebec than elsewhere in Canada.

If the premier of Ontario wants emergency measures implemented in his province, he has that right and it is his business.

However, will the government commit to not imposing the Emergencies Act in Quebec?

[Marco Mendicino, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, as I said several times since the start of this crisis, we offered resources to the police services in Ottawa and Windsor. Even in Coutts, the police have made great progress. However, we must now rally all members of the House and put an end to the convoy.

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

Mr. Speaker, people in communities across our country are feeling the impacts of the occupations. Health care workers, retail and grocery store workers, truck drivers, small business owners and residents have lost their jobs and livelihoods. They have also been intimidated, and even assaulted, during these occupations.

Where was the Prime Minister 18 days ago when this started? If he had shown leadership and acted promptly, we would not have to talk about emergency measures today. Canadians want to know why the Prime Minister let things get so bad. Why has it taken him so long to show any leadership at all?

[Bill Blair, Liberal, President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Emergency Preparedness]

Mr. Speaker, let me acknowledge the terrible impact these blockades and actions have had on ordinary Canadians. We have seen terrible disruptions to the lives and safety of not only the people of Ottawa, but also those right across the country. These blockades have resulted in true harms to the people of Canada. We have seen idle workers. We have seen the interruptions to the supply chains of goods and services.

Right from the outset, we have provided support and advice to law enforcement and to the provincial and territorial governments. However, as this event has evolved, we have seen greater threats to critical infrastructure, and to the lives, safety and interests of Canadians. We are prepared to do what is necessary.

[Alexandre Boulerice, NDP, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the reality is that the Prime Minister has been absent since the beginning of the convoy crisis, and that is nothing new. He has been absent when it comes to the housing crisis, the increased cost of living, the climate crisis and health transfers. Today, people feel neglected and abandoned. They want a Prime Minister who does not wait for the worst to happen before taking action.

Why does this Prime Minister refuse to take action when people really need help?

[Marco Mendicino, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, from vandalism to acts of violence, the convoy has turned Canadians' lives upside down. My colleagues opposite have had many opportunities to de-escalate the situation, but they chose to throw oil on the fire instead. From the beginning, our government has supported three deployments of the RCMP and is now supporting an integrated command centre with the Ontario Provincial Police and the Ottawa Police Service. Our top priority is to put an end to the illegal blockades and enforce the law.

Health

[Dominique Vien, Conservative, Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC]

Mr. Speaker, many people in my riding approached me this weekend wanting to talk about this government's lack of leadership. I want to remind the Prime Minister that Canadians are 90% vaccinated, and Canada is the most vaccinated country in the G7. We will be voting on a motion this afternoon that calls on the government to come up with a plan by February 28 for getting life in Canada back to normal.

Will the government commit to doing that?

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague and want to congratulate her on talking about a plan. We have had a plan for the past 22 months, and the plan is working. We have the lowest mortality rate of any G7 country by far, except Japan. We have enjoyed some of the best economic growth of any G7 country and most OECD countries. People have been doing their part, including getting vaccinated, for quite some time. Nearly 80% of Canadians of all ages are fully vaccinated, and nearly 50% have received a booster.

[Dominique Vien, Conservative, Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC]

Mr. Speaker, to govern is to make decisions. This government's lack of vision has caused division within its own caucus. After two years of efforts and sacrifices, it is time, as Dr. Theresa Tam says, to reevaluate the public health measures.

Will the government choose to move forward or will it keep spinning its wheels by dividing and stigmatizing people?

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, speaking of division, I think that in Canada most people are not divided. On the contrary, they support vaccination and think it is important. Eighty per cent of people have chosen to get fully vaccinated. Nearly 50% have gotten a booster dose and that number is going up every day. Every day, 150,000 Canadians are receiving their booster shot and 10,000 others are getting their first dose. It is those 10,000 people that I would like to congratulate in the House for making the right decision every day to protect themselves and their loved ones. That is particularly appropriate on Valentine's Day.

[Warren Steinley, Conservative, Regina—Lewvan, SK]

Mr. Speaker, today at the agriculture committee, the Canadian Pork Council stated that an interprovincial trucking vaccine mandate would be very damaging to the industry and producers.

This proposal was not even considered at the height of the pandemic. Now Canadians are lining the streets of Ottawa and clogging up major economic arteries. The Prime Minister is getting pressure from every direction, asking when we will have a clear plan to move this country forward.

Would the Minister of Transport put on the record today that his government will not go forward with an interprovincial trucking mandate for the trucking sector?

[Omar Alghabra, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, let me put it on the record today and every day that our government will always follow the advice of our public health experts. We will follow the advice of our doctors, and we will always do what is good for our—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Order. We are waiting for some silence.

The hon. Minister of Transport.