Debates of Feb. 4th, 2022

COVID-19 Protests

[Yves-François Blanchet, Bloc, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

Mr. Speaker, from what I understand, everything that is happening is happening without or in spite of the government, which is quite worrisome in and of itself.

The extremists are waiting for reinforcements, many of them from outside the region. The truckers are expecting reinforcements. There are plans for a counterprotest, which would quite likely devolve into a confrontation.

In light of this, has anyone contacted the spokespeople, who have finally been identified among the protesters, to ask them to leave before the situation really escalates?

[Marco Mendicino, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleague understands that operational decisions are made by the police of jurisdiction, which in this case is the Ottawa Police Service.

That is how our democracy works. We must always respect the fact that police have the jurisdiction to make operational decisions. I know that the Ottawa Police Service is in discussions with some of the convoy leaders, but all that is a police matter.

Veterans Affairs

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

Mr. Speaker, veterans continue to wait for their disability supports. The backlog of applications is long and has been for years, and the minister is not committing to extend temporary workers past March 31. The list of veterans still waiting for help is far too long, and without these much needed workers, it will only get worse.

Where is the commitment from the Prime Minister to support our veterans? These temporary workers must be made permanent to honour Canada's commitment to those who served our country.

When will the minister stand up for those who stood up for us?

[Darrell Samson, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague for her work on the veterans committee. Our government's investment of nearly $200 million has increased staff, with hundreds of staff workers, and allowed us to speed up processes. Budget 2021 also allowed us to extend those resources.

I want to share with the House something that is very important. We have seen, in the last year, a decrease of 40% in the backlog. Tackling the backlog is our top priority, and we will continue to do what we need to do to support our veterans.

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Marten Falls First Nation has declared a state of emergency for their children who have gone all year without school, not because of COVID but because they have no teachers. Teachers cannot be brought to a community suffering from a massive housing and infrastructure crisis.

If it is not safe for teachers, it is certainly not safe for students. They have pleaded with the minister all year for help. The school year is now half over, and nothing has been done.

What steps will the minister take to guarantee that the children of Marten Falls First Nation have a right to quality education this year?

[Vance Badawey, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indigenous Services]

Mr. Speaker, the events at Marten Falls are concerning. Our department will follow up with the community, and continue to follow up with the community to ensure a path forward that works for them. Everyone deserves the right to clean water and proper infrastructure to help with the needs of the community.

This is why we have invested in drinking water advisories since 2015. To date, we have lifted 127 long-term advisories and prevented 208 short-term advisories from becoming long term. There is still more to do across the board for these communities and for water operators, and of course the proper infrastructure all communities need—

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

The hon. member for Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola.

Disaster Assistance

[Dan Albas, Conservative, Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister was crystal clear in this place when he told the people of Princeton, British Columbia, that he had their backs and would be there for them as they rebuilt from flooding. The community needs $2 million as soon as possible to rebuild, or their property taxes will have to go up by 70%.

Can the Prime Minister tell the people of Princeton when they will receive the federal support that he has committed to them?

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

Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by thanking the member for the important question and for his strong advocacy on behalf of his constituents and the people of British Columbia. I want to assure the House that we are working very closely with the provincial authority. I spoke extensively with the deputy premier on this very issue the other day.

We have made over $5 billion available through the disaster financial assistance fund. We are working with communities and speaking to B.C. municipalities in order to facilitate recovery from the terrible events that took place as a result of the flooding. I want to assure the member that we will continue to work with him and with the affected communities, to be there for them and to help in the recovery.

[Dan Albas, Conservative, Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has made a commitment in this place. This is also a Prime Minister whose government gave Loblaws, a billion-dollar grocery chain, $12 million to buy new refrigerators. The people of Princeton just want to receive today the $2 million they were promised by the Prime Minister to rebuild their community.

Can the Prime Minister answer why they are waiting when others are receiving supports for things that are nice to have, but not necessary?

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

Mr. Speaker, again, I understand the member's frustration. We share it.

We are working very hard with the province. As I am sure the member knows, the disaster financial assistance arrangement is done in partnership with our provincial authorities, and we are working with them to move money as expeditiously as possible to those communities that need it.

We know there is an enormous amount of work to be done, and there are issues with respect to interim housing. I would also point out to the member that as a result of money that we, as well as the province, have provided to the Canadian Red Cross, we have been able to provide financial supports and services to individual families. Over 7,500 families have received direct support as a result of that contribution. We will continue to be there for the people of Merritt, and for all of the people of British Columbia.

The Economy

[Alain Rayes, Conservative, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the average family will spend almost $1,000 more on groceries in 2022. That is in addition to the rising cost of food, gas, unemployment and housing. That extra $1,000 for food alone is equal to a Canadian worker's average income.

Quebeckers and Canadians have had enough. When will this government step up and take meaningful action to tackle the rising cost of living that is affecting us all right now?

[Terry Beech, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, we know that Canadians are concerned about issues of affordability. We also know that inflation is a global phenomenon. We take protecting Canada's most vulnerable people very seriously.

We are the government that introduced the CCB and the GIS, which are both indexed for inflation, and which lifted almost 300,000 Canadians out of poverty. In fact, by 2019 our government lifted 1.3 million Canadians out of poverty, which lowered Canada's poverty rate to all-time lows. We are going to continue to stay focused on affordability.

[Alain Rayes, Conservative, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Mr. Speaker, according to Statistics Canada data released just this morning, 200,000 jobs were lost in January and the unemployment rate is now 6.5%. Those are real numbers, not the numbers the minister has been playing on repeat all week.

People are struggling. The cost of living is soaring. People have less money in their pockets now, all because of the Liberal government's decisions.

Meanwhile, what have the Liberals been doing? Spending, spending, spending. That has a direct impact on inflation.

When will the government take care of what really matters: jobs and the cost of living that is affecting everyone?

[Rachel Bendayan, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians understand that inflation is a global phenomenon.

Here are some numbers that prove it: Canada's latest inflation rate was about 4.8%. In the U.S., it was 7%. In Germany, it is over 5%.

I would note that our inflation rate is lower than the G7 average, the G20 average and the OECD average.

Canadian Heritage

[John Nater, Conservative, Perth—Wellington, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the government is trying to use 20th-century rules to address the digital world of 2022. Through Bill C-11, the government is once again delegating more power to the CRTC for some future solution at some future time.

However, the government can act now and give support to Canadian broadcasters by simply abolishing CRTC part II licence fees. Will it?

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, this is a very important bill for Canadians, for artists and for our creators. Its objectives are very important. It is about streamers contributing to our culture. We heard that there were concerns about social media. We heard, we listened and we fixed them.

Now, the question is this. What are the Conservatives going to do this time? Are they going to support our artists and creators, or abandon them once again?

[John Nater, Conservative, Perth—Wellington, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I think that the Liberals are also supporting Facebook, spending $4.2 million in advertising on Facebook alone in the last two years.

It was like Groundhog Day on the day this bill was introduced, because the challenges that were in Bill C-10 are there again in Bill C-11.

In the old Bill C-10, there was an exclusion for user-generated content, but then the Liberals excluded that exclusion in committee. This time, the exclusion for user-generated content is excluded by another exclusion.

Why can the government not simply exclude user-generated content that is on social media, and protect Canadians in that way?

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, it would be a pleasure to sit down with my friend and colleague to talk about the bill and maybe explain some of the sections in it, because the bill is very simple. It is about the platforms contributing to Canadian culture. That is extremely important. That is how we tell our stories. Our culture is our past. It is our present. It is our future. It is our story. It is our Canadian stories, our music and everything. This bill is very simple. Platforms are in and users are out.

COVID-19 Protests

[Yves-François Blanchet, Bloc, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the mayor of Ottawa has requested additional human resources to counter this occupation, which is clearly illegal.

Ottawa police officers definitely need a break, and the rising tension has the potential to become quite dangerous. If the Prime Minister ever returns to the House once he recovers from COVID, he will be in for a big surprise.

Does the government realize that the message it is sending to the protesters is that they can stay as long as they like? The government is practically rolling out the red carpet.

[Marco Mendicino, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, perhaps my colleague did not hear my answer earlier in this question period.

Yesterday I confirmed whether the RCMP could provide additional support and resources on the ground to assist the Ottawa Police Service, the police of jurisdiction.

Laws must be obeyed, and the rights of Ottawa's residents must be respected. The RCMP will assist the Ottawa Police Service.

[Yves-François Blanchet, Bloc, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

Mr. Speaker, let us talk about obeying the law when, on the contrary, the number of trucks could increase.

The protest is illegal, not because of the ideas it espouses—ideas that I disagree with, but they have the right to have different ideas and express them—but because trucks are parked on the white line in the middle of the street. That is illegal. There are fines for doing that.

Normally, when that happens, we look around and see a sign that says “tow-away zone”. Is it not time to post a sign that says “tow-away zone”?

By the way, where is the Prime Minister?

[Marco Mendicino, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, I share my colleague's concerns, because there have been a number of disruptions and examples where the convoy has not obeyed the law.

That is why it is very important for the RCMP to be there to provide its support to the Ottawa Police Service and to assure everyone that the law must be followed, even on Wellington Street and throughout Ottawa.

COVID-19 Economic Measures

[Stephanie Kusie, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

Mr. Speaker, CEOs of companies received extravagant compensation in 2020, even the companies that received the Canada emergency wage subsidy. The government allowed corporations receiving federal supports to still give massive payouts to their CEOs at the same time that Canadians were struggling to make ends meet.

Why has the minister allowed for federal supports to go to CEOs instead of Canada’s workers?

[Terry Beech, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, when COVID first hit, businesses had to close their doors to keep Canadians safe. Today we have more active businesses than we did before COVID, and we are seeing that bankruptcies and insolvencies are below normal levels. Thanks to our government's decisive economic policies, we have avoided the economic scarring that followed the 2008 economic crisis.