Debates of March 3rd, 2022

Taxation

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, the opposition is raising the issue of affordability, so let us review what we have done since taking office.

We lowered taxes for the middle class twice and raised them on the wealthiest 1%, and the Conservatives voted against. We created the CCB, indexed to inflation, and the Conservatives voted against. We provided seniors over 75 years old with a one-time payment of $500 and guess what. The Conservatives voted against.

This side will focus on affordability. That side should get on board.

International Trade

[Randy Hoback, Conservative, Prince Albert, SK]

It is nice to see some enthusiasm over there, Mr. Speaker.

Canada's duty-free access to the U.S. market, our largest and most important trading partner, is under threat like never before. Tariffs on softwood lumber, punishing buy-American provisions and now the possibility of highly integrated auto supply chains will be disrupted by more U.S. tariffs.

In Tuesday's state of the union address, President Biden stated, “instead of relying on foreign supply chains, let’s make it in America.” That is code for protectionism. What is the minister doing to protect our lumber, auto and manufacturing workers from more U.S. trade restrictions?

[Mary Ng, Liberal, Minister of International Trade]

Mr. Speaker, let me start with a fact. We have seen the highest trade between Canada and the U.S. that we have seen in the history of our trading relationship. That demonstrates that trade is working between our two countries. Of course, in a relationship as large as the one between Canada and the U.S., we have to continue to cultivate this relationship to the benefit of our workers and of our businesses.

I was just there on Monday, just a few days ago, meeting with the USTR and with congressional leaders to continue to defend Canada in this really important market that we have access to.

Employment Insurance

[Louise Chabot, Bloc, Thérèse-De Blainville, QC]

Mr. Speaker, even now, in 2022, new mothers who lose their jobs when their parental leave is up cannot collect EI.

Even though six brave women fought the federal government in court to end this injustice, even though they won, Ottawa is appealing. Imagine. The government is appealing a court ruling because it wants to leave young mothers who have lost their jobs out in the cold. Will the government cancel the appeal?

[Carla Qualtrough, Liberal, Minister of Employment]

Mr. Speaker, the pandemic exposed major disparities in our EI system. That is why the government is working on modernizing it.

We have met with many partners across the country to gain an understanding of how we can reform EI so that it better meets the needs of workers, including mothers.

The Social Security Tribunal is an independent tribunal, and it made a decision. The Canada Employment Insurance Commission, which is also independent, opted to appeal the decision.

None of that changes our government's commitment, and we will keep working to adapt the EI system—

[The Speaker, Anthony Rota]

Order. The member for Shefford.

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Mr. Speaker, this is embarrassing. During the week of March 8, a day when we celebrate women's rights, this government, which claims to be feminist, is in court to retain the right to deny employment insurance to new mothers who lose their jobs. Let us just think about that for a moment. I could not even make this stuff up.

Women had to sue the Canada Employment Insurance Commission because the government has refused to correct the situation for years. Even though the women won, this government wants to appeal. Because of this government, they have to continue to fight. Is this the fight that a self-proclaimed feminist government should be waging today?

[Carla Qualtrough, Liberal, Minister of Employment]

Mr. Speaker, as I said, the Social Security Tribunal is an independent tribunal, and it has ruled.

The Canada Employment Insurance Commission, which is also independent, made the decision. However, we understand and are working very hard to adapt and modernize the EI system to better meet the needs of all workers, especially mothers.

Health

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

Mr. Speaker, for two years, Canadians have been doing the hard work of getting themselves and each other through this pandemic. Saskatchewan and Alberta have done away with their mandates, with Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba and the Atlantic provinces doing the same this month. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister is doubling down on mandates and our allies around the world are moving on. There is no leadership and no plan.

When will the Prime Minister end the mandates?

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

Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to receive this question from the member from Ontario. I would like to signal that we have been working extremely hard and extremely well with Minister Elliott and the Ontario government over the last few months in order to protect the health and safety of Ontarians. Just to give an example, the vaccination operations that took place in Ontario probably saved thousands of lives and avoided billions of dollars in losses to families and businesses over the last few months. This is good news. We will continue to work for the people of Ontario.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am glad to hear that the minister is delighted to get my question, and I am glad to hear that he has been working with the Province of Ontario. However, on behalf of all Canadians, I would be delighted if the minister and the government would tell Canadians what their plan is to end the mandates.

When is the government going to stop firing its public servants? When is the government going to stop moving backward while the rest of the country and the provinces are moving ahead with fewer government restrictions and more individual responsibility? I would be delighted to hear, from the minister, a plan to end the mandates.

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

Mr. Speaker, the member is entirely right to talk about responsibility, both individual and collective responsibility. Individually speaking, I think most members of the House have been vaccinated and many of them with a booster shot. This is exactly the right thing to do. Collectively, we had, at least on this side of the House and I think we worked collaboratively with opposition parties, the responsibility to protect everyone's health and safety. We ended up with large vaccination rates across the country, which is, in fact, the reason we are able to put lockdowns away and turn to more sustainability and affordability when it comes to moving through the crisis.

[John Williamson, Conservative, New Brunswick Southwest, NB]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals still require all incoming travellers to be tested for COVID-19, even for cross-border day trips by car. The Liberals have now added another hammer. Canadians who drive home and do not present a negative COVID test are fined $5,000 or are told to stay out of the country for 10 days. Ottawa is using financial penalties to keep Canadians out of their own country.

Why does the government continue to punish Canadians with these mandates? Is this financial barrier to enter Canada even constitutional?

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

Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to be able to continue on this topic. The reason I mentioned earlier that we are going through this crisis better and faster than many other countries is that Canadians have made the right choice. We were vaccinated in large numbers. That is why we are seeing large falls in the number of cases and large falls in the number of hospitalizations, and deaths are also decreasing. That is not by chance. That is because Canadians have made the right choice and have been vaccinated and have followed public health measures.

Official Languages

[Fayçal El-Khoury, Liberal, Laval—Les Îles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the new bill to modernize the Official Languages Act would not have been possible without the participation and passion of a great many Canadians.

From individual meetings to national symposia, to hearings in the House of Commons or other places, to the countless letters and phone calls, we are deeply grateful for this incredible participation.

Can the President of the Treasury Board explain to the House how she will ensure that the act is enforced throughout the entire federal government?

[Mona Fortier, Liberal, President of the Treasury Board]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his important question and especially his hard work for his constituents in Laval—Les Îles.

Respecting official languages is not only an obligation, it is also essential to delivering our services more effectively to Canadians. Bill C‑13 on the modernization of the Official Languages Act will strengthen the powers of the Treasury Board with respect to official languages to ensure that federal institutions are compliant. It will provide for an enhanced role in monitoring, auditing, and evaluation.

The right to work in French within the federal public service is and always will—

[The Speaker, Anthony Rota]

The hon. member for Sarnia—Lambton.

Labour

[Marilyn Gladu, Conservative, Sarnia—Lambton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am concerned about the possibility of a work stoppage at CP Rail that would shut down the supply chain across the country. CP Rail and the teamsters have been negotiating, but strike action is possible as early as March 16.

Could the government tell us what steps it is taking to ensure that Canadians do not experience another supply chain crisis that would drive the cost of everything up even further?

[Omar Alghabra, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague for this important question. Our supply chains are critical to our economy.

I want to thank the workers of CP, CN and other organizations who have done the hard work during the pandemic and during climate events and who were there for Canadians. Let me assure my colleague that we are monitoring the situation. I have met the CEO of CP. I have met with teamsters. It is really important that we maintain the fluidity of our supply chain.

Small Business

[Martin Shields, Conservative, Bow River, AB]

Mr. Speaker, “Justinflation” is hurting small businesses in my riding.

Chin Ridge Seeds is a birdseed producer in Taber, Alberta, that relies on imported ingredients for their production. The cost of a single truckload of these ingredients went from $6,000 to $19,000 in a few months. Irrigation pipes went up by 30% and they are critical. Don, the owner, told me that they do not need handouts from the government; they just need it to get out of the way.

Will the government stop its spending spree, get out of the way and let small businesses prosper in the Bow River riding?

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, the pressures created by supply chain disruptions and the shift from buying services to buying goods are real, and we are monitoring that situation closely.

As it relates to inflation, there are other structural costs that make life less affordable for Canadian families, and chief among them are housing and child care. That is why our government has a robust national housing strategy and a child care plan that is covering Canadians from coast to coast to coast. The average Albertan family will save $5,600 this year.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

[Anna Roberts, Conservative, King—Vaughan, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Maria, a single mom in my riding, has struggled for years to obtain a visitor's visa for her son, but IRCC told her that he is not a priority. There are many Canadians like Maria being told that seeing their family again is not a priority. They are left to suffer from IRCC's long delays and backlogs.

Could the minister tell us when they plan on clearing the backlog so that families can reunite in Canada?

[Sean Fraser, Liberal, Minister of Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to share that over the past few months since I have been appointed minister, I have been working hard to advance investments that would actually have a meaningful impact on processing times. We have hired more than 500 new staff. We have invested more than $85 million. We have moved towards digital features that would boost the productivity of our department. We have increased overall immigration levels.

I am proud to report that the combined impact of these investments has allowed us to approve over 100,000 permanent residency applications already in January and February alone. We are going to continue to make investments to improve processing times because Canadians—

[The Speaker, Anthony Rota]

The hon. member for West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country.

Fisheries and Oceans

[Patrick Weiler, Liberal, West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, BC]

Mr. Speaker, hundreds of first nations in British Columbia rely on fishing as a primary source of revenue. Their success not only resonates in their community but across British Columbia.

Could the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans please update the House on how the pacific integrated commercial fisheries initiative is helping indigenous commercial enterprises, including the shíshálh Nation in my riding?