Debates of April 4th, 2022

The Economy

[Tako Van Popta, Conservative, Langley—Aldergrove, BC]

Mr. Speaker, so many small and medium-sized businesses in my riding of Langley—Aldergrove tell me that one of their biggest challenges is to find good workers with the skills and knowledge needed for today's economy. We know that many young people and new immigrants are anxious to get to work, but if the economy cannot produce the products, services and workers the economy needs, we have inflation.

When will the government realize its mismanagement of the economy is hurting so many Canadian businesses and workers?

[Carla Qualtrough, Liberal, Minister of Employment]

Mr. Speaker, I am happy to share with the House all the good work our government is doing to address labour shortages. This includes attracting talent from around the world to Canada, including additional measures announced today under the temporary foreign worker program. It is about investing in the next generation of workers through the Canada student loans and grants program. It is about maximizing workforce participation of workers who are in this country and ready to work, such as indigenous youth and persons with disabilities. It is about investing in things like child care, transit and housing so people can live and play near where they work. There are so many things we are doing that I will need another question.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

[Philip Lawrence, Conservative, Northumberland—Peterborough South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Belden, a manufacturer in my riding, has been struggling with its expansion. It needs two engineering experts from India to train Belden engineers, machine operators and local installers. Work permits from India are taking well over a year in processing time. Belden is coming close to a standstill and layoffs are close.

When will the NDP-Liberal government finally take ownership of the unacceptable processing times and stop putting Canadian businesses at risk?

[Sean Fraser, Liberal, Minister of Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, there are a number of things that we have advanced to address processing times and I would point out that chief amongst them is an $85-million investment across five lines of business, including work permits that were included in the economic and fiscal update, which the Conservatives continue to delay.

In addition, we have hired more than 500 staff who are full trained and producing now. We are modernizing the way we do immigration with a new digital platform. I am proud to share that, in the immigration levels plan I tabled a few months ago, we have set the most ambitious course for immigration in the history of Canada, because we know it is good for the economy, it is good for jobs and it is good for our communities.

Taxation

[Tony Baldinelli, Conservative, Niagara Falls, ON]

Mr. Speaker, on July 1, wineries in my riding producing 100% Canadian-grown wines will now be hit with the excise tax. This is the result of the government's failure to protect the sector and the 2006 excise exemption the Conservatives provided to allow the industry to flourish. To help mitigate uncertainty, the wine industry is asking the federal government to confirm it will not apply the excise tax to wine products bottled before July 1.

Will the NDP-Liberals commit to not taxing 100% Canadian-made wine products produced before July 1?

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his question and value the great contribution that the wine industry makes to Canada and to the tourism sector. I can also say that for the craft beer industry, like other taxes and benefits, the alcohol excise duty rate is automatically adjusted each year to inflation, and this is the right approach. It provides certainty and predictability. It is to ensure the fairness of our tax system for all Canadians.

The increase is less than one-fifth of a penny per can of beer and there are specific measures taken into consideration when it comes to the wine industry. We are going to continue to support the industry. We are going to continue to support jobs across the country.

International Development

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

Mr. Speaker, the situation in Afghanistan is dire. For the year 2022, the United Nations estimates that 24 million people inside Afghanistan require humanitarian assistance. This represents half of the population. The rise to power of the Taliban has made the humanitarian crisis much more important, especially for women and girls who are the primary victims of this situation.

Can the Minister of International Development inform the House of what Canada is doing to support the Afghan people?

[Harjit S. Sajjan, Liberal, Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my hon. colleague for Laval—Les Îles for his strong advocacy for the Afghan people.

Afghanistan is suffering from a humanitarian crisis. That is why last week I announced that Canada is providing an additional $50 million, for a total of $143 million in 2022 to help support the people of Afghanistan. This assistance will be delivered through our partners and will provide life-saving assistance such as food, nutrition and medical support to the Afghan people, particularly women and girls.

Fisheries and Oceans

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

Mr. Speaker, across Canada, declining habitat and years of poor management have put Canada's fish stocks at risk. Coastal communities and workers are feeling these impacts first-hand. They want to be a part of the solution to protect our marine ecosystems, but they are being left behind by a lack of support by the government.

Instead of fighting with workers trying to make ends meet, will the minister confirm that a fair transition plan for workers across Canada's fishing industries will be part of the budget?

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Minister of Fisheries]

Mr. Speaker, clearly I will not be talking about what is in the budget, but what I will say is that we are very committed to growing our fish and seafood sector, which means having sustainable stocks. We are working on that as well as transitioning to bring more indigenous communities into being able to satisfy their right to fish, while working with the harvester community on this transition.

I will continue to be engaging with all of the stakeholders to have the best possible way forward.

Health

[Kevin Vuong, Independent, Spadina—Fort York, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have received many emails from constituents calling for the government to support a “people’s vaccine”. The Prime Minister had joined EU leaders to pledge that future COVID-19 vaccines, developed with government support, would be for the global public good and be made available, affordable and accessible. That pledge appears abandoned. It is unacceptable that three billion people are still waiting for their first vaccine. Fighting COVID abroad fights COVID at home. It protects Canadians, small business and jobs.

Will Canada endorse the TRIPS waiver to permit the temporary global transfer of vaccine-making technology, as called for in a motion by the hon. member for Beaches—East York?

[Harjit S. Sajjan, Liberal, Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, one thing that I can assure the member and the House is that Canada is doing its part in making sure that we provide vaccines for around the world. In fact, I was in Senegal and Ghana. In particular, in Ghana when I was there we received 300,000 doses of vaccines. We are working in partnership with the WHO and COVAX to make sure that the world gets vaccinated.

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order.

Twice today we heard different ministers claim Canada has the best debt-to-GDP ratio in the G7. With the House's permission, I would like to table a report from the Library of Parliament showing we are actually third and have the 29th best in the OECD.

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

All those opposed to the hon member's moving the motion to table the document will please say nay.

[Some hon. members]

Nay.

Events in Bucha, Ukraine

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I believe if you seek it you will find unanimous consent to adopt the following motion. I move:

That, in light of the horrific and appalling reports received from the city of Bucha, the House condemn in the strongest terms possible the crimes against humanity and war crimes perpetrated by Vladimir Putin, the Russian military and Russian-backed forces, and call on the government to:

a) provide Ukraine further aid to defend themselves against Russian aggression;

b) ensure instances of crimes against humanity and war crimes are documented and that Russia be held responsible for these crimes at the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice;

c) provide desperately needed economic support to Ukraine, including the implementation of further severe economic penalties on the Russia regime and those supporting it, including even stronger trade restrictions and economic sanctions, and continuing to freeze the assets of Russian oligarchs and their families; and,

d) report to Parliament on the progress of these actions as soon as possible.

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

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

Therefore, it is agreed.

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

(Motion agreed to)

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

Following discussions among representatives of all parties in the House, I understand there is an agreement to observe a moment of silence in light of the events that occurred in the city of Bucha, Ukraine. I now invite hon. members to please rise.

[A moment of silence observed]

The House resumed from March 31 consideration of the motion.

Opposition Motion—Federal Budget

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

It being 3:13 p.m., pursuant to order made on Thursday, November 25, 2021, the House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion of the member for Abbotsford relating to the business of supply.

Call in the members.

(The House divided on the motion, which was negatived on the following division:)

Vote #54

Business of Supply

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

I declare the motion defeated.

Before everyone goes, just hold on a second. I would like to draw the attention of the House that today was the first vote called by our table officer, Danielle Labonté.

We congratulate her on a job well done.

Government Response to Petitions

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

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.

Environment and Sustainable Development

[Francis Scarpaleggia, Liberal, Lac-Saint-Louis, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the second report of the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development, entitled “The Impacts of a Ban on Certain Single-Use Plastic Items on Industry, Human Health and the Environment in Canada”.

Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report.

Citizenship and Immigration

[Salma Zahid, Liberal, Scarborough Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the fifth report of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration in relation to the motion adopted on Thursday, March 31, 2022, regarding the situation at the Russia-Ukraine border.

The motion reads:

That the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration report the following to the House: We

(a) condemn the continuing attack on Ukraine ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin,

(b) recognize that a growing proportion of the Russian people are bravely resisting and opposing this attack,

(c) call on the Government of Canada to develop measures to support Russian dissidents, human rights defenders, and conscientious objectors within the military who are seeking to urgently flee Russia, while ensuring that necessary security precautions are taken.