Debates of Feb. 15th, 2022

Public Safety

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the Emergencies Act applies to illegal blockades and occupations that may arise anywhere across the country.

It is a response that we have brought forward that is reasonable, proportionate, time-limited and geographically targeted, and still protects the values and freedoms in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

We are reacting in a responsible manner, and we will continue to be there for Canadians who are suffering.

[Jagmeet Singh, NDP, Burnaby South, BC]

Mr. Speaker, sadly, we are in this crisis because we have seen a failure to take the crisis seriously at all levels of government. Now we are seeing indigenous and racialized people look at the double standard of how the convoy is being treated compared to those protestors. We also have deeply disturbing reports of military and police personnel who have expressed sympathy and support for the convoy.

Will the Prime Minister provide assurances in the House that the police will use the powers given to protect people and not support the occupation?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the measured and reasonable use of the Emergencies Act that we announced yesterday gives specific, time-limited, proportional tools to police of local jurisdictions, and their partners, to ensure these illegal blockades end, and make sure that people, who have now been fully heard by all Canadians, choose to go home. These are the things that Canadians expect from their orders of government.

I can say that we have worked extremely closely across orders of government with all the different police of jurisdictions to ensure that Canadians get their streets and their lives back.

[Jagmeet Singh, NDP, Burnaby South, BC]

Mr. Speaker, this is a national crisis, and we have seen the impact it is having. Weapons were found in Coutts, and the situation in Ottawa is deteriorating. It has become quite clear that it is time to put an end to the occupation. It is also clear that there is no occupation in Quebec.

Is the Prime Minister prepared to make the commitment that the emergency measures will not be applied where they are not needed?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the Emergencies Act provides additional tools for governments and local police forces supported by the RCMP if needed.

We will not impose measures anywhere in the country where they are not needed. These are tools that local police are free to use at their discretion, but it is a matter of ensuring that everyone has the tools they need to end these illegal blockades.

[Dane Lloyd, Conservative, Sturgeon River—Parkland, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the invocation of the Emergencies Act for the first time in Canadian history is a damning indictment on the failure of the Prime Minister to address the situation. The Prime Minister once said, “when a government asks its citizens to give up even a small portion of their liberty...it is not [simply] enough...to say: ‘trust us.’ That trust must be earned. It must be checked. And it must be renewed.” Those were his words.

Canadians do not trust the Prime Minister. When will he stop undermining Canadians’ rights and start renewing Canadians' trust?

[Marco Mendicino, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians can trust that this government will always follow the science and the best evidence to get us out of this pandemic. That includes getting vaccinated.

Contrary to what my colleague says, this is an illegal blockade. This illegal blockade is not about the vaccines or the mandates. It is about a very small, organized group that is trying to upend our way of life. Now, we have made progress. We have seen the Ambassador Bridge reopen, we have seen Coutts reopen and we have seen Surrey reopen. Yes, yesterday, we invoked the Emergencies Act so we can secure that progress and give law enforcement all the tools they need.

[Dane Lloyd, Conservative, Sturgeon River—Parkland, AB]

Mr. Speaker, we shall see if the Prime Minister answers this one. At every opportunity he has had to de-escalate the situation in Ottawa and around Canada, he has chosen to hide, confront and escalate. His divisive conduct has been a lesson in abject failure. Blockades should come down. They are already coming down across this country, but now the Prime Minister has invoked the Emergencies Act to punish Canadians who, in his words, hold “unacceptable views”.

Why is the Prime Minister punishing Canadians for their political views?

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

Mr. Speaker, it was not long ago that the former Conservative leader, the member for Regina—Qu'Appelle with the Conservative Party, said:

These protesters, these activists, may have the luxury of spending days at a time at a blockade, but they need to check their privilege.... They need to check their privilege, and let people whose jobs depend on the railway system, small businesses and farmers do their jobs.

What have they said now, in this context, from the beginning, as swastikas and Confederate flags flew? They went out and they gave out coffee. They took pictures. They have been absolutely the opposite of responsible leadership. Instead of de-escalating, they escalated at every turn.

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

Mr. Speaker, we all want to resolve the impasse in front of Parliament in Ottawa, and we want it to end quickly and peacefully. Because this government failed to act earlier, now it has to play catch-up and is invoking the Emergencies Act. The government should have emulated the provincial premiers, who managed to control the protests without any special legislation.

Will the Prime Minister commit to not using any powers under the Emergencies Act in the many provinces that oppose it?

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

Mr. Speaker, it was the former leader of the Conservative Party, currently the member for Regina—Qu'Appelle, who once said that it was completely unacceptable for protests to block essential infrastructure. What is the Conservative Party doing today? It is out there taking photos, tweeting and encouraging protesters, which is irresponsible, considering the protests are costing billions of dollars. It is completely irresponsible.

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

Mr. Speaker, it is the government that is being irresponsible. I will repeat my question, and I invite the leader to listen.

Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Alberta and Quebec no longer want health measures. What is the government waiting for? It must commit to not forcing the provinces to impose health measures.

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

Mr. Speaker, we are all responsible. Each member is responsible for protecting the law and Canadians. This responsibility belongs to each member, not just to the Government of Canada and not just to this side of the House of Commons. I want to clearly state that it is time to stop tweeting and supporting the people protesting outside. The protests must come to an end. It is time to be reasonable, and it is time for the Conservative Party to act responsibly.

Health

[Stephanie Kusie, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

Are you done now?

For two years, the Prime Minister has insisted he is making decisions—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I want to remind hon. members to place their questions through the Speaker.

I will let the hon. member restart her question.

[Stephanie Kusie, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

Mr. Speaker, my apologies.

For two years, the Prime Minister has insisted he is making decisions based on science. Canadians sacrificed, isolated, closed businesses and got vaccinated because experts advised that it was the safest way forward. Now those same experts say it is time to ease restrictions. Premiers are listening, but the Prime Minister believes he knows better and has invoked the emergency measures act.

Does the Prime Minister intend to force the provinces to implement measures they, and science, disagree with?

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

Mr. Speaker, I will tell members what I am done with. I am done with seeing this protest continue and these illegal actions continue, which have cost billions of dollars for businesses and have terrorized downtown residents. I am tired of seeing Conservative tweets. The member for Provencher is saying he supports it, and the member for Yorkton—Melville is saying that ripping down barricades in front of a war memorial is a patriotic act. I am watching somebody who aspires to be the leader of the Conservative Party say that what is happening outside is something he stands by.

That is enough. Please, it is time to end this. Stop supporting what is going on outside.

[Stephanie Kusie, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the rest of the world is opening up and returning to normal. Where the science supports it, the provinces are providing Canadians with hope for the first time in two years, contrary to the Prime Minister, whose lack of leadership has brought him to invoke the emergency measures act, traumatizing Canadians. He is well aware that many provinces are opposed to these measures. He is also well aware that the science says they are not needed.

Will the Prime Minister force the provinces to implement measures that they independently decided to remove?

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

Mr. Speaker, Canada has one of the lowest death rates in the world and one of the highest vaccination rates in the world. It has met the challenge of this pandemic. However, what has not been met in this hour of history is that as chaos descended outside and protesters began to shut down critical infrastructure, we had lawmakers, people of the House, going out and encouraging their activity. I have to ask: If they did not have lawmakers, who are elected by constituents, encouraging their illegal actions, when would this have been over? I think it would have been over a lot sooner.

Public Safety

[Kristina Michaud, Bloc, Avignon—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia, QC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Prime Minister said that the Emergencies Act was not something to take lightly.

The act has in fact never been invoked since it was passed in 1988, which is before I was even born. It is the absolute last resort.

The Prime Minister said himself, and I quote: “It's not the first thing you turn to, nor the second or the third.”

However, he did not turn to a first thing, nor a second, nor a third. He did absolutely nothing before choosing the most extreme option.

Is that truly reasonable?

[Marco Mendicino, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for her question.

Much progress has been made at the Surrey and Coutts border crossings, and even in Windsor, where the Ambassador Bridge is now open again. That is good for trade.

Yesterday, we invoked the Emergencies Act to be able to offer new, innovative tools to help the police put an end to this illegal blockade. That is what our government is focusing on.

[Kristina Michaud, Bloc, Avignon—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I will tell the House what the government did not do.

The Prime Minister has not been in contact with the occupiers on Parliament Hill since they arrived 19 days ago.

He did not send his share of the 1,800 law enforcement officers requested by the City of Ottawa.

He did not set up a crisis task force comprising all levels of government and all police forces.

He did not consult his Quebec and provincial partners before informing them of his decision to invoke the Emergencies Act.

Does the Prime Minister really believe that invoking this law should be the first real step the government takes to respond to the siege in Ottawa?

[Marco Mendicino, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, with all due respect for my colleague, perhaps she has not been watching the news.

There are three installments of police reinforcements helping the police here in Ottawa. In addition, members of the RCMP have done a lot of good work, not just here in Ottawa but also in Windsor, where the Ambassador Bridge has now reopened.

That is good for the economy and good for everyone, but we also need to look at new tools to help the police put an end to this illegal blockade and convoy.

[Kristina Michaud, Bloc, Avignon—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Premier of Quebec has been clear: Quebec does not need the Emergencies Act.

The Government of Quebec wants nothing to do with it. The Quebec National Assembly unanimously opposed having this act enforced in Quebec.

Nevertheless, the Prime Minister, who said yesterday that the act would be geographically targeted, issued a decree that applies to all of Canada, including Quebec.

Why does the Prime Minister claim to consult but then decide to ignore Quebec's demands once again? Why does the Emergencies Act apply to Quebec?

[Marco Mendicino, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, I assure my colleague that we will continue to provide resources in accordance with the powers set out in the act.

However, yesterday we invoked the Emergencies Act. This act provides for time-limited, geographically targeted measures. These measures will be implemented with the provinces and territories, even in Quebec.