Debates of Feb. 9th, 2022

Health

[Jamie Schmale, Conservative, Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Saskatchewan and Alberta have announced an end to restrictions. Canada's chief public health officer is calling for normalcy. Two Liberal MPs have called out their own for divisiveness.

Canadians have done everything asked of them for the last two years, and while many other countries are offering a plan of hope, the Liberals continue to stifle industries like travel and tourism for little benefit. It seems the Prime Minister has gotten a little too comfortable with using the force of government rather than trusting Canadians.

On what day this month will all travel advisories be lifted?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the member opposite talks about stifling industries. The reality is the support of the Conservative Party of Canada for people barricading our streets and our border crossings is harming businesses. It is harming Canadians who are putting food on the table. It is driving up prices. It is causing uncertainty, instability and frustration for people who have suffered too much because of the pandemic over the past two years. It is time for the Conservative Party to show responsible leadership and condemn these blockades, and for all of us to move forward together.

[Mario Simard, Bloc, Jonquière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal member for Louis-Hébert understands that the Prime Minister's position on health transfers is untenable.

It is imperative that the Prime Minister increase health funding in the long term. This is essential if we are to catch up on all the delayed surgeries, hire nurses and increase the number of beds, so that we never again have to lock down an entire population in order to protect the health care system. Some 85% of citizens are calling on the Prime Minister to increase health transfers to cover 35% of health care costs.

Will the Prime Minister listen to them? He has their money in his hands, not his own.

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, since the beginning of this pandemic, we have been there to increase health transfers and health investments, and that is on top of the $43 billion we transfer to the provinces and territories every year for their health care systems.

Throughout this pandemic, we have invested an additional $63 billion to support our health care system.

Yes, we will continue to increase funding, in the medium and long term, to ensure that Canadians are safe. The federal government will be there for them, just as it has been for the past two years.

[Mario Simard, Bloc, Jonquière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the phrase “be there” is losing all meaning.

The Prime Minister is the only one too stubborn to increase the federal share of health care funding to 35%.

Even his member for Louis-Hébert is criticizing him. In doing so, his member is joining every party in the National Assembly, the governments of Quebec and every province and territory, 85% of Canadians and 86% of Quebeckers.

When someone is the only one who is right, often that is because they are too stubborn to admit they are wrong. Instead of going against everyone else, when will the Prime Minister provide the federal government's fair share for health care?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I am not sure what more I can say. The member across the way cannot seem to take yes for an answer.

Yes, we will be there to continue increasing health transfers because, yes, we were there with an additional $63 billion from the federal government for our health care systems.

We will continue to be there. We know how much we need to work together to provide better health care systems to Canadians. The federal government will be there for our health care systems, just as it was there with $8 out of every $10 spent during the pandemic.

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

Mr. Speaker, people across the country are asking the Prime Minister for clarity, leadership and hope. People are so frustrated with the Prime Minister that there are protests nationwide. Canadians are just asking for respect and to be listened to.

With regard to the continued uncertainty and brazen disregard for legitimate concerns around the state of our country, I ask the Prime Minister this simple question: Can he share with us what evidence he has to justify implementing an interprovincial trucking mandate?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we cannot end a pandemic with blockades. We cannot end a pandemic by decreeing it. We cannot even end it with legislation. We need to end it with science. We need to end it with public health measures. We need to end—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I just want to point out that when the hon. member for Regina—Lewvan asked his question, there was dead silence. I believe he deserves that same respect when he is getting his answer.

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Papineau, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we cannot stop a pandemic with blockades. We cannot end a pandemic by decree. We cannot end a pandemic with legislation.

We need to end a pandemic by relying on science, by following public health measures and with vaccinations. That is exactly what we have focused on through these past two years, and even while Canadians are tired and impatient for it to end, we are going to continue to be there for them, to support them through it and to make sure we do everything necessary to end this pandemic.

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

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister just demonstrated why Canadians are so frustrated. He does not listen. I asked him to show me some evidence and science around interprovincial trucking mandates, and he totally ignored that question.

My question to him might be a redo, but maybe he will get it right the second time. How high do grocery prices have to go? How empty do grocery stores have to be for him to not implement an interprovincial trucking vaccine mandate?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, first of all, the member opposite has criticized something that we have not even done, so there is already that issue there. Secondly, he talks about empty grocery store shelves, and he talks about disruptions to supply chains.

The reality is that right now people in Windsor are suffering and losing their jobs because they cannot get auto parts across the Ambassador Bridge. People in Alberta are seeing shelves empty because they cannot get deliveries across the Coutts border crossing. The Conservative Party, which supports these blockades, will not even stand up and say enough is enough and it is time to go home.

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Grande Prairie—Mackenzie, AB]

Mr. Speaker, Ireland, Sweden, Norway, Israel, Czech Republic, the U.K., Spain and Denmark are all removing restrictions, including vaccine mandates, even though they have lower vaccine rates than we do here in Canada. Saskatchewan and Alberta provincial governments have also announced plans to remove their restrictions.

When will the Prime Minister follow our international allies, follow the science, follow the expert advice, follow the premiers and give Canadians a plan as to when he will remove the federal travel restrictions here in Canada?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, throughout the pandemic, different jurisdictions have handled things differently every step of the way. This includes jurisdictions across the country, which we have been there to support, and different countries that have had much worse outcomes in some cases and many more restrictions in other cases.

The reality is that we will continue to do what is right for Canadians to keep people safe as we get through this pandemic. Yes, I understand how frustrated Canadians are, and how much we need to see an end to this pandemic, but we cannot do it by decree. We can only do it by continuing to trust science and getting people vaccinated.

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Grande Prairie—Mackenzie, AB]

Mr. Speaker, that is the problem. There the Prime Minister goes again refusing to answer the question. It seems he would rather wedge, divide and stigmatize fellow Canadians. The problem is Canadians are better than that. They are sick and tired of his divisive games. They have done their part and they deserve to know when Canada will follow our international allies and end our restrictions.

On what date will the restrictions end?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians have done their part. They have continued to step up and get vaccinated to a higher percentage than the Conservative caucus has. Canadians have continued to follow public health advice. They have continued to be there for each other, to lean on each other.

We now see the Conservative Party continuing to egg on its supporters to shutdown border crossings, and to encourage its supporters to blockade downtown Ottawa because they are upset they lost an election. We are going to continue to focus on supporting Canadians, keeping people safe and vaccinations.

[Jagmeet Singh, NDP, Burnaby South, BC]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians have done their part. They have gotten vaccinated. They have followed public health measures. They now want a plan to get us past this pandemic. That plan is going to mean we will have to work with our public health officials. It also means we will have to make sure that our health care system is never pushed to the brink of collapse again.

Will the Prime Minister put forward a plan that will chart the course for us to get past this pandemic, which would include properly funding our health care system, so it is there for our loved ones when they need it most?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we know that our health care systems have been stressed during these past two years. That is why, as a federal government, we have continually stepped up.

Every year, the federal government sends about $43 billion to the provinces for supporting their health care systems. Over the past two years, on top of those regular transfers, we have invested about $63 billion in health care for everything from vaccines to transfers for provinces to other measures to keep Canadians safe. Yes, we will be there to increase health care transfers to ensure that we have a stronger medical system into the future.

[Jagmeet Singh, NDP, Burnaby South, BC]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians are vaccinated. They have followed the advice of public health experts. Now, they need a plan. How are we going to get out of this pandemic?

This plan will follow public health advice. This plan must also acknowledge that our health care and health care system have been pushed to the brink several times during this pandemic. Will the Prime Minister commit to investing in our health care system so it is there for our loved ones when they need it?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, yes, we will be there to invest even more in our health care systems.

Over the past two years, we have invested an additional $63 billion in our health care systems and programs to get Canadians through the pandemic.

We are in talks with the provinces and will continue these talks because we know that it will take more money to deliver better results and to make our health care systems more resilient.

We will be there to work in partnership with the provinces and territories.

Telecommunications

[Iqwinder Gaheer, Liberal, Mississauga—Malton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, whether it be $10 a day for child care, or historic investments in affordable housing, our government is committed to making life more affordable for Canadian families. We know that, traditionally speaking, Canadians have paid some of the highest cell phone bills in the world.

Could the Prime Minister please update the House on actions being taken to make cell phone plans more affordable?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by thanking the member for Mississauga—Malton for his important question. We promised Canadian families that we would reduce the cost of their cell phone bill.

Today, I am happy to announce that we have met our 25% price reduction target. In fact, we have done so three months ahead of schedule. This is wonderful news, but we know there is still more work to be done. We will continue to push to improve cell coverage and to make life more affordable for all Canadians.

The Economy

[Stephanie Kusie, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the finance minister continues to try to convince Canadians that all is well with the economy, but what she does not seem to understand is that the majority of Canadians just do not see it that way.

What they do see is that their family cannot afford the same groceries that they used to, and they will try to squeak in just one more trip back and forth to pick up the kids from school before having to buy another tank of gas.

Canadians are facing a cost of living crisis. When will the finance minister take this inflation crisis seriously and provide solutions?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, does that member know what is driving up the cost of living, the cost of groceries and the cost of parts for manufacturers this week? It is the blockades, which the Conservative Party continues to support, at the Coutts border crossing, at the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor and even in downtown Ottawa.

Canadians have struggled for two years because of this pandemic in so many different ways. They have stepped up and made sacrifices, and we have been there to have their backs. Why, right now, does the Conservative Party not have Canadians' backs, instead choosing to support those who are blockading their neighbours and our economy?