Debates of April 1st, 2022

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

[Richard Lehoux, Conservative, Beauce, QC]

Madam Speaker, this is the 17th time in two years that I am rising in the House to talk about the labour shortage in my constituency and endless immigration delays.

According to a March 18 Radio-Canada article, immigration lawyers are suing Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada for the outrageous delays in Quebec. Businesses that need workers and potential citizens are discouraged and out of patience.

When will the minister finally buckle down and cut wait times?

[Marie-France Lalonde, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Immigration]

Madam Speaker, once again I thank my colleague for his question.

I just want to make one thing clear to the House. Since the beginning, we have received and processed over half a million permanent residence applications. In fact, we set a record. We welcomed 143,000 permanent residents to Canada over the last three months.

We need to do more, and that is exactly what we will continue to do.

Foreign Affairs

[Emmanuel Dubourg, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

Madam Speaker, there are strong ties between Canada and the Caribbean.

It is by working together with our partners that we can meet the challenges we face, particularly those related to regional stability, COVID-19 and climate change.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs inform the House how this joint organization between Canada and the Caribbean Community, or CARICOM, is helping us to meet these challenges and strengthen these essential ties?

[Rob Oliphant, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague from Bourassa for his important work.

This morning, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and her counterpart from Belize co-chaired a meeting of the foreign ministers of CARICOM. They talked about security and stability in Haiti and Nicaragua, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the steps being taken to address climate change and COVID-19.

These meetings are essential for Canada and the world.

The Environment

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

Madam Speaker, the NDP-Liberal government continues to try to destroy the oil and gas industry in Canada. First it had the carbon tax, then the clean fuel standards and now a call for a 42% emissions reduction.

My riding of Sarnia—Lambton, which produces a third of the petrochemicals in the country, will be hard pressed to remain competitive under these punishing rules that do not apply to foreign oil. The carbon footprint would not be leaving the planet; it would just be leaving Canadian jobs.

Why are the Liberals trying to destroy thousands of jobs in this country in order to give them to foreign producers with higher emissions?

[Julie Dabrusin, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources and to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change]

Madam Speaker, it is really important, and I would like to highlight, that in fact the industry actually made the commitment to move to reduce emissions and to have a pathway to net zero by 2050. We took them up on their offer.

When it comes to speaking to the emissions reductions plan, the Oil Sands Pathways alliance, which represents oil sands producers, actually spoke in support of this plan. This is a plan that is working to reduce emissions and make sure we have a clean economy for the future, while creating sustainable jobs.

Fisheries and Oceans

[Dave Epp, Conservative, Chatham-Kent—Leamington, ON]

Madam Speaker, U.S. representatives on the Great Lakes Fishery Commission have delayed the passage of their 2022 budget because of Canada's long-standing appropriations shortfall in meeting its treaty obligations.

In the fisheries committee, the minister agreed with my colleague for South Shore—St. Margarets that the best decision for Canada would be to pay its bills and not allow invasive species to contaminate our Great Lakes.

When will the NDP-Liberal government pay the remaining $9 million on our obligation?

[Mike Kelloway, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries]

Madam Speaker, as always, the government has had the backs of workers and people in the industry. We will continue to work in the best way possible to achieve outcomes that are shared, that are direct, and that stand by the principles of this government. That is unwavering, and that is what we are committed to do.

Justice

[Arnold Viersen, Conservative, Peace River—Westlock, AB]

Madam Speaker, on Wednesday, the Minister of Justice denied that Bill C-5 would allow human traffickers to serve their sentences at home. It is crazy. The minister does not even know his own bill. Human trafficking is a vicious crime and traffickers prey on the most vulnerable. In Canada, a lot of them are indigenous women and girls.

Can the minister explain how giving sex traffickers house arrest will protect trafficking victims, and why does he think that this is okay?

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Madam Speaker, our government is committed to criminal justice system reform. It is a promise we made to Canadians and we intend to keep it. This is about criminal justice policy that actually keeps our communities safe. A justice system that unfairly targets indigenous people and Black and marginalized communities is not effective. It does not keep us safe, and it must be changed.

International Development

[Wilson Miao, Liberal, Richmond Centre, BC]

Madam Speaker, the fight against climate change should be a top priority. The impacts of climate change are having a greater and more direct impact on developing countries, and are disproportionately affecting women and girls. With the increasing frequency and severity of floods and droughts and the loss of biodiversity, women and girls are the ones most impacted by natural disasters and are the first to go without food when crops fail.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Development tell us what Canada is doing to do its part in the fight against climate change?

[Anita Vandenbeld, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Development]

Madam Speaker, I would like to thank my hon. colleague for Richmond Centre for his advocacy. Our government recognizes that more support is needed for women and girls who are disproportionately affected by the impacts of climate change, natural disasters and biodiversity loss. That is why we announced $67.5 million in international assistance funding that will provide support to eight projects.

These projects will support women's leadership in climate change adaptation and mitigation and natural resource management.

The Environment

[Niki Ashton, NDP, Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, MB]

Madam Speaker, 2030 is quickly approaching, and the Liberals still do not get it when it comes to climate change. They refuse to meet the urgency of this moment. They are still handing out billions to big oil, and it is no surprise that emissions continue to go up. We cannot wait any longer. We need infrastructure investments for indigenous and northern communities that are already paying the price for climate change.

Canada's infrastructure bank is just sitting there, literally, because it has yet to complete one project. That is why we in the NDP want to put it to work with my bill, Bill C-245.

Will the Liberals stand with indigenous and northern communities by voting for this bill?

[Terry Duguid, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change]

Madam Speaker, Tuesday was a very exciting day: It was the day the emissions reduction plan was announced. It is a road map for Canada to reach our ambitious climate targets, sector by sector. It is getting great reviews from environmental groups, banks and the resource sector.

Let me cite a few for the hon. member. Andrew Weaver, former leader of the Green Party, has praised it, as well as the World Wildlife Fund. There is also a very important one from David Suzuki, who says, “For the first time, Canada charts a credible path to 40% emissions reduction by 2030.”

Government Response to Petitions

[Mark Gerretsen, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons (Senate)]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8)(a) I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's responses to four petitions. These returns will be tabled in an electronic format.

Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs

[Marilène Gill, Bloc, Manicouagan, QC]

Mr. Speaker, if you seek it, I think you will find unanimous consent for the following motion:

That the membership of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs be amended as follows: Ms. Gaudreau (Laurentides—Labelle) for Mr. Therrien (La Prairie).

[The Acting Speaker, Bloc, Gabriel Ste-Marie]

All those opposed to the hon. member moving the motion will please say nay.

Okay. The House has heard the terms of the motion. All those opposed to the motion will please say nay.

(Motion agreed to)

Age Verification Software

[Arnold Viersen, Conservative, Peace River—Westlock, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I have several petitions to present today.

The first petition is from Canadians from across the country. The petitioners are concerned about the accessibility and impacts of violent and degrading sexually explicit material online and the impacts on public health, especially the well-being of women and girls. The petitioners recognize that we cannot say that we believe in preventing sexual violence against women while allowing pornography companies to freely expose our children to violent, explicit sexual imagery day after day, which is a form of child abuse.

The petitioners note that the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child requires Canada to develop means to protect children from the forms of media that are injurious to their well-being. As such, these petitioners are calling on the House of Commons to adopt legislation that would require websites to have meaningful age verification on all adult websites.

Northern Residents Tax Deduction

[Arnold Viersen, Conservative, Peace River—Westlock, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the next petition I have to present is from constituents from the towns of Fox Creek and Swan Hills. These two towns are in northern Alberta. The petitioners say that rising heat costs and other expenses make life more expensive in northern Alberta. They also have to travel great distances to access grocery stores and shopping centres. The petitioners state that there is an arbitrary line that runs across Alberta preventing Fox Creek and Swan Hills residents from accessing the northern residents deduction.

The petitioners are calling on the government to include Fox Creek and Swan Hills communities within the prescribed intermediate zone, allowing the people who live in these two communities to be able to receive the northern residential deduction for living in northern Alberta.

Charitable Organizations

[Arnold Viersen, Conservative, Peace River—Westlock, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the next petition I have to present is on behalf of Canadians who are concerned about charities that could be targeted based on their views and forced into a values test. The petitioners note that the Liberals have promised to deny charitable status to groups that they view as dishonest. The petitioners say that this could jeopardize the charitable status of hospitals, houses of worship, schools, homeless shelters and other organizations. The petitioners also note that the Liberals previously used the values test to discriminate against groups that were applying for the Canada summer jobs grant.

The petitioners are asking the House of Commons to protect and preserve the application of charitable status rules on a politically and ideologically neutral basis, without discrimination on the basis of political or religious views, and without the imposition of another values test. They are asking for an affirmation of their freedom of expression as Canadians.

Vaccine Mandates

[Arnold Viersen, Conservative, Peace River—Westlock, AB]

The final petition I am presenting today, Mr. Speaker, is from Canadians from across the country who are opposed to and want an end to the COVID-19 mandates. The petitioners state that throughout the pandemic, truckers have served Canadians and are heroes but now are subject to vaccine mandates that are impacting the supply chain. The petitioners say the Prime Minister has politicized the vaccines and insulted Canadians who disagree with him. Moreover, the petitioners comment that it is the sacred duty of the government to guard against discrimination and guarantee the freedoms of all Canadians.

The petitioners are calling on the House of Commons to immediately end all COVID vaccine mandates implemented and controlled by the federal government, which includes federal employees, truckers and travellers. They are also calling for the end of all mandates and restrictions.

Fish Hatcheries

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

Mr. Speaker, I am here today to table this petition for residents largely from the Powell River region who have a lot of concerns about DFO and the fact that funding has not been increased for community economic development program hatcheries since 1982. My constituents are very passionate and want the government to increase the annual contribution to the Powell River Salmon Society hatchery, to allocate any increase to the conservation stamp funds to the CEDP program and, of course, to ensure proper representation of coastal communities by DFO staff members, which continues to be of major concern in the region that I serve.

Ukraine

[Eric Melillo, Conservative, Kenora, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am presenting a petition today regarding the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The petitioners note that Canada is home to 1.4 million citizens of Ukrainian descent and that Canada was the first country to recognize Ukrainian independence in 1991.

The petitioners are calling on the government to provide further lethal defence weapons and supplies to the Ukrainian people. They are also calling on the Government of Canada to immediately urge NATO allies and Ukraine-friendly nations to close the airspace over Ukraine and deploy peacekeeping troops to the country.

Climate Change

[Lisa Marie Barron, NDP, Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to present a petition on behalf of constituents in my riding of Nanaimo—Ladysmith. The petitioners call on the federal government to take bolder action to address the climate crisis, including a transition to a more sustainable economy, investments in green jobs for Canadians, respect for indigenous rights and expansion of the social safety net so no one is left behind.

I want to thank For Our Kids for its advocacy and work to build a more sustainable future for generations to come.

Ukraine

[Michael Kram, Conservative, Regina—Wascana, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to present two petitions today, both related to Canada's military contribution to the war in Ukraine and both signed by the Ukrainian community in Regina and southern Saskatchewan.

The first petition calls on the Government of Canada to resume providing RADARSAT image intelligence to the Ukrainian government and Ukrainian military. This is something that the Ukrainians have been calling for for some time and is something that Canada can and should be doing to help Ukraine win the war.

The second petition calls on the Government of Canada to expedite the approval of any export permits of arms sales to Ukraine. This one is pretty much self-explanatory. When President Zelenskyy addressed this chamber just a couple of weeks ago, he was very clear that Ukraine needs military equipment to help win the war. This petition says that any military equipment that is provided should be given in a timely manner.

I am pleased to present these petitions today on behalf of the Ukrainian community in Regina and southern Saskatchewan.