Debates of March 30th, 2022

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

It being Wednesday, I will ask the member for Argenteuil—La Petite-Nation to lead us in our national anthem.

[Members sang the national anthem]

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

Before we start Statements by Members, I just want to remind everybody to make sure to keep them all to a minute. The last thing I want to do is shut people down on their statements. The last few days they have been a bit long, but they have been great statements nonetheless.

Ramadan

[Jennifer O'Connell, Liberal, Pickering—Uxbridge, ON]

Mr. Speaker, this weekend Muslims in Pickering—Uxbridge, across Canada and around the world will mark the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan, a time where Muslims will embark on a month-long journey of fasting and prayer.

Over the years, I have had the opportunity to host Iftars and join our Muslim community at the Masjid Usman, where we are reminded that Ramadan also serves as a time to put the needs of others before our own.

As Muslims fast during the day, they reflect on the values at the heart of Islam: service to others, gratitude and compassion. These values continue to resonate now more than ever. Muslim Canadians have made and continue to make invaluable contributions to our country, from serving on the front lines during COVID-19 to supporting numerous community initiatives, including collecting food during Ramadan for families in need.

May this month be a blessed one. Ramadan kareem, mubarak alaikum al shahar.

Inflation

[Kevin Waugh, Conservative, Saskatoon—Grasswood, SK]

Mr. Speaker, the lineups have already started. Canadians will fill up their gas tanks today and tomorrow in advance of the latest price surge. which will take Canadian gas prices to an all-time high. The increase of the federal carbon tax of $50 per tonne will kick in April 1.

Along with the price of gas, the price of everyday essentials will also be going up. Inflation has already surged to 5.7%, the highest in decades, and it is climbing. The majority of Canadians already say they are struggling just to keep up, and it is no wonder. Let us look at food prices. They are up 5.7%. Meat alone is up 10.1%. Bread is up 7.5%. Fresh fruit is up 8.2%.

After Friday, Canadians will be paying even more. When will the NDP-Liberal government realize it is hurting all Canadians?

Our Lady of Lebanon Parish

[Lena Metlege Diab, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Mr. Speaker, I am privileged to rise with overwhelming pride to share news of a significant and historic celebration. The Lebanese Maronite Catholics at Our Lady of Lebanon parish will officially launch the celebrations of the opening of our new church and Cedar Event Centre in Halifax West.

On the the last weekend of April, the community will gather for a solemn mass and dinner banquet alongside His Excellency Bishop Paul-Marwan Tabet. I want to acknowledge all those whose donations, generosity, time, effort and vision went into realizing this tremendous accomplishment.

Our church is the heart of our religious, social and cultural life.

I am deeply grateful to everyone who contributed over many years.

[Member spoke in Arabic]

[Translation]

Mauricie Union of Agricultural Producers

[Yves Perron, Bloc, Berthier—Maskinongé, QC]

Mr. Speaker, today I would like to recognize Jean‑Marie Giguère's commitment to the Mauricie branch of the Union des producteurs agricoles.

Today we celebrate nearly a quarter-century of devotion to the farm union movement, including nine years as president of UPA Mauricie. Jean‑Marie Giguère is passionate about horses and has developed significant expertise in breeding magnificent Percherons. He will now have more time to spend on his passion and his family.

On Sunday, Martin Marcouiller was elected to take his place. Mr. Marcouiller has held various positions with the UPA since 2004 and, having spent time in his kitchen talking about various agricultural ideas, I can guarantee that the future of UPA Mauricie is in good hands. As Mr. Giguère says, “The future of agriculture is up to society as a whole.” I agree.

I thank both men for their passion.

New President of Chile

[Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Liberal, Hochelaga, QC]

Mr. Speaker, on March 11, 2022, I had the honour of representing Canada in Santiago during the transfer of power to the new president, Gabriel Boric.

At the age of 34, he became the youngest president of Chile, leading a young government comprised mostly of women. The new president concluded his speech on a balcony in La Moneda with the famous words of Salvador Allende: Here we are again, dear compatriots, opening up great avenues where free men and women will pass to build a better society.

The Boric government represents a wind of change that promises a more progressive, feminist and inclusive future for the Chilean people.

In this symbolic year of 80 years of diplomatic relations between our two countries and of the 25th anniversary of the Canada-Chile Free Trade Agreement, and as we approach the 50th anniversary of the coup, I wish this new government every success. I look forward to working on our Canada-Chile relations.

Saskatchewan Volunteer

[Gary Vidal, Conservative, Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK]

Mr. Speaker, Joyce Willick, who turns 85 years young next month, has been named one of nine recipients of Saskatchewan's volunteer medals. She has driven the Zamboni at the arena for over 30 years and is being recognized for her dedication and commitment to her community of Spiritwood.

In addition to her duties at the arena, Joyce is also an honorary life member of the Spiritwood Skating Club, has been involved in both minor hockey and softball, is very active with the local seniors group, has helped the Spiritwood tourist booth and is an active member of her church.

Feeling overwhelmed by the honour, she said, “It’s not something you set out to do and it just blew me away. I thought it was a scam.” When congratulated on the recognition recently—at the rink, of course—she replied, “There are so many people more deserving.”

A sign of a true volunteer is that they enjoy what they are doing; therefore, it does not feel much like work.

Joyce's energy and enthusiasm are inspiring and make her a perfect role model. I ask all members to join me today in recognizing a very special volunteer, Joyce Willick.

The Great Lakes

[Vance Badawey, Liberal, Niagara Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Great Lakes are binational treasures that drive our economy by creating 238,000 jobs and billions in economic activity. This fiscal support is buoyed by many social and environmental advantages, which jointly create a triple bottom line advantage for millions of residents, businesses and communities within the basin and throughout this great nation.

Despite these advantages, this vital resource is desperate for our attention and investment, and the time for meaningful action is now.

Our government has been clear, both in our platforms and in the throne speech, that the Great Lakes are a national priority. From fully funding our Great Lakes treaty promises to ensuring the establishment of a Canada water agency and a freshwater action plan, the time is now to make sure the Great Lakes are no longer seen as Canada's forgotten coast.

As we prepare for budget 2022, we must seize the opportunity to work together to protect and keep the Great Lakes great, not just for Canadians today but for future generations to enjoy and benefit from.

Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302

[Yasir Naqvi, Liberal, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, just over three years ago, on March 10, 2019, an Ethiopian Airlines plane carrying 157 people, 18 of whom were Canadians, crashed in Ethiopia on route to Nairobi. Some were going home or visiting loved ones, some perhaps starting new adventures, but many were humanitarians headed to the UN environment conference in Nairobi, like a constituent of mine, Stéphanie Lacroix.

When she was not in Ottawa, Stéphanie spent time working for various NGOs in southeast Africa. Stéphanie loved her community unconditionally, and in doing so drew out the best versions of people.

Like Stephanie, all the passengers on Ethiopian Airlines flight 302 had hopes, dreams and plans for a future they will now never have.

Although it has been three years, we have not and will not forget them. My heart is with the families that continue to mourn the loss of their loved ones.

May they continue to be a source of inspiration for us all, as we continue our efforts to create a better future for all.

May Stéphanie and all those whose lives were lost rest in peace.

Housing

[Eric Duncan, Conservative, Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is unbelievable how tone-deaf and out of touch the Minister of Housing is when it comes to the realities the average Canadian faces. He tries to brag about how well the government's housing plan has been working over the last five years while the average housing price in the country doubled under his watch. Rents are skyrocketing with no end in sight, and a record number of Canadians are giving up on the idea of ever owning their own home. The government's first-time homebuyer shared equity program is a failure and needs to be scrapped in favour of a new approach, but here is the biggest sign of disrespect: It was recently revealed that the minister rewarded staff at the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation with $40 million in performance bonuses, when literally the single reason they exist is to make housing more affordable for everyone in Canada.

Instead of being petty and trying to suggest that anybody who questions his failed record does not care about homelessness or affordability, he should self-reflect. After all, Canadians have 40 million reasons to question his judgment.

Right to Education

[Sophie Chatel, Liberal, Pontiac, QC]

Mr. Speaker, when I was eight or nine years old, my father drove me past the University of Montreal and said, “Look, Sophie, that will be your school one day”. A world of possibilities was open before me.

Unfortunately, that is not the case for many girls around the world. That is why I would like to emphasize that education is a human right for all women in the world, including Afghan women.

The Taliban's refusal to allow girls and women to receive an education not only violates their rights, but, as Michelle Bachelet said, it leaves them more exposed to violence, poverty and exploitation. We need to put more international pressure on the Taliban.

Support for Ukraine

[Randy Hoback, Conservative, Prince Albert, SK]

Mr. Speaker, this past Saturday I had the pleasure of attending a fundraising supper at St. George Ukrainian Catholic Church.

The event, which included a Ukrainian feast, raised $12,000 for Come Back Alive: a charity supporting members of the Ukrainian forces with protective equipment, medical care and mental health services. The charity began operating seven years ago, when tensions between Ukrainian forces and Russian-backed separatists first erupted.

The event also featured a silent auction by the Veselka Ukrainian Cultural and Heritage Club. It raised $3,500 towards the Canada-Ukraine Foundation, which is involved in several humanitarian projects in Ukraine.

Residents of my constituency stand with Ukraine, with the people of Ukraine and with the over one million Canadians who have ties with Ukraine. They are our neighbours, our friends and our family. They are an integral part of Saskatchewan. Their concerns are our concerns.

Foreign Affairs

[Pat Kelly, Conservative, Calgary Rocky Ridge, AB]

Mr. Speaker, five weeks ago Putin unleashed a brazen attack on Russia's sovereign, peaceful and democratic neighbour Ukraine. Since then, the world has witnessed murderous Russian attacks on civilians and awe-inspiring acts of dauntless courage and determination by Ukrainians.

Putin's war of conquest threatens the comfortable peace that Canada has taken for granted for decades. We must immediately and significantly increase our capacity to defend ourselves and our allies. The sovereignty of Canada's Arctic land, water and air space is threatened. Democracies from the Baltic to Taiwan fear invasion, while Ukrainians are fighting for their very lives and freedom.

We are witnessing the undoing of 30 years of progress toward peace, prosperity, collective security, law and order and democracy as Putin pummels Ukrainian cities into dust. Canada must do more to help stop Putin now, because the price of stopping a murderous dictator always goes up.

Housing in Châteauguay-Lacolle

[Brenda Shanahan, Liberal, Châteauguay—Lacolle, QC]

Mr. Speaker, today I would like to share a wonderful story of perseverance and collaboration between the communities of Châteauguay and Kahnawake.

This joint effort, spearheaded by the regional federation of municipal housing offices in Montérégie and the Eastern Townships and by the Kahnawake band council, led to the announcement on Friday of the creation of 31 housing units, in a former motel, for homeless people or people at risk of being homeless in both communities.

This project may see the light of day thanks to our rapid housing initiative. Health partners, our government, and the Government of Quebec have supported this amazing project, which could be used as a model for addressing housing concerns across the country.

International Transgender Day of Visibility

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Mr. Speaker, tomorrow is the International Transgender Day of Visibility. It is a day to celebrate our transgender neighbours, friends and family members.

Trans individuals overcome formidable challenges. They face pressure to conform or change to please others. They are forced to manoeuvre in our health care system and our government services, which often refuse to see them for who they truly are, and they are too often subjected to hate and violence.

The International Transgender Day of Visibility is not just about seeing transgender people and understanding the sometimes brutal challenges they face. The Transgender Day of Visibility is an opportunity to thank people for leading a human rights revolution. They are heroes. We thank them for not giving up. They are not alone. We thank them for being themselves. They are power.

Let me say it today. Let us repeat it tomorrow. Let us remember it every day. Trans men are men, and trans women are women.

Kindness Challenge

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the “Surfe la vague”, or ride the wave, kindness challenge came to an end on March 27. Over the course of 21 days, people were asked to show kindness and empathy by taking care of themselves and others and sending messages of compassion and support to help everyone's mental health.

This initiative was created by the Haute‑Yamaska regional county municipality, the City of Granby, the Corporation de développement communautaire de la Haute‑Yamaska, the Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux de l'Estrie, the Granby CEGEP, the Centre de services scolaire du Val‑des‑Cerfs and the Haute-Yamaska users' committee.

In short, many people were involved in creating this project developed by Haute-Yamaska, which brought together over 75 partners from different sectors who wanted to raise awareness about the collateral effects of the pandemic in order to enhance the resilience of communities and individuals facing this new pandemic reality.

I am proud to wear this button in support of creating a huge wave of kindness and positivity in our communities after two years of COVID-19. Let us hope that “Surfe la vague” will spread elsewhere in Quebec. Congratulations to all those who worked on and participated in this challenge.

Emissions Reduction Plan

[Matt Jeneroux, Conservative, Edmonton Riverbend, AB]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the environment minister released a new greenhouse gas emissions reduction plan, which is being called “insane” by some in Alberta. This new plan is a direct attack on the energy sector, on Alberta and on Canada. Even the far left-leaning opposition party from Alberta has called the Liberal-NDP government's emissions goals a fantasy.

The energy policies introduced by the government are detrimental to our economy, yet on April 1, the government will also be increasing the carbon tax. Canadian families are struggling with the highest levels of inflation in 30 years. They are struggling to pay their bills, buy food and commute. These are essential needs that Liberals, supported by the NDP, are making more and more unaffordable.

The government needs to stop attacking Alberta's energy sector, and it needs to stop making life more unaffordable.

Daffodil Month

[Darren Fisher, Liberal, Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS]

Mr. Speaker, today I am rising in honour of those affected by cancer, in honour of those who give hope to others battling cancer, and in honour of folks like Jim and Judie Edgar. Their incredible vision to create something meaningful, and hard work to create a special place for others, has led to the beautiful Daffodil Garden for Cancer Survivors in my riding of Dartmouth—Cole Harbour.

The daffodil, a resilient little bulb that survives in the frigid ground throughout the harsh winter and emerges in spring with a bright burst of yellow, is a symbol of strength, courage and hope. April is Daffodil Month, and hard-working volunteers such as the Edgars are helping the Canadian Cancer Society with its annual daffodil campaign in support of Canadians living with cancer.

Soon, the Daffodil Garden for Cancer Survivors will turn into a vibrant sea of yellow. It is a beautiful symbol of hope. I am asking all Canadians to join me in supporting Daffodil Month to help raise awareness and to help support Canadians affected by cancer.

Finance

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

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Finance finally announced an important date. On April 7, we will witness the presentation of the first NDP budget in the history of Canada.

We can expect three things, namely more spending, more taxes and a bottomless deficit. It will certainly be a dark day for all the Canadians who did not vote for that and who are struggling to make ends meet.

My question is for the Prime Minister. Were former Liberal prime minister Jean Chrétien and then finance minister Paul Martin consulted about this budget?

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

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives continue to talk down the Canadian economy and spin economic fiction.

I would therefore like to share with the House some very important facts.

First, according to StatsCan, our GDP grew at an annualized rate of 6.7%. Second, we are poised to be the fastest growing economy in the G7 next year. Third, our economy is the second fastest growing in the G7 this year, and fourth, despite the omicron variant, our GDP is back to prepandemic levels.

Those are the facts.

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

Let us talk about that, Mr. Speaker.

The NDP Prime Minister and the leader of his moderate wing signed a secret agreement that seeks to implement the NDP's $200-billion spending plan, which goes against supposedly Liberal values.

As Jean Chrétien said, “The time to reduce deficits is when the economy is growing.” Paul Martin said, “Not to act now to put our fiscal house in order would be to abandon the purposes for which our Party exists and this government stands”.

Are there any fiscally responsible Liberals left in this government or did they all join the NDP?

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

Mr. Speaker, this government has made historic investments in the lives of Canadians and Quebeckers, in all communities and in all provinces, to prevent the worst depression since the 1930s.

The other side of the House can vote for Bill C‑8, for $1.8 billion for rapid COVID‑19 tests, for $100 million to improve ventilation in our schools and to help businesses and teachers.

When will the other side of the House vote in favour of Bill C‑8?

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

Mr. Speaker, I suspect that many Liberal members were not consulted on this NDP budget.

Inflation is at record highs. Small businesses are struggling with the price of gas. Families are struggling to pay the grocery bill.

In 1995, finance minister Paul Martin said, “If our purpose is to get the economy right, we need to redesign the role of the government in the economy to fit the size of our pocketbook and the priorities of our people.”

Does the Minister of Finance now realize that selling her soul to the NDP in exchange for a majority will hurt the Canadian economy?

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

Mr. Speaker, it is refreshing to hear the other side of the House talk about taxation after their terrible record over their 10 years in government.

On this side of the House, we are focused on supporting Canadians. We are on the verge of voting on Bill C‑8 and we have introduced day care benefits to help Canadian families, increased the additional support for seniors and increased the Canada child benefit.

On this side of the House we are focused on affordability. Who knows what is going on across the way.