House of Commons Hansard #63 of the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was c-8.

Topics

Innovation, Science and IndustryOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Liberal

Emmanuel Dubourg Liberal Bourassa, QC

Mr. Speaker, we on this side of the House know that vaccines save lives.

That is why we made an announcement with Moderna last week regarding plans to build a plant in Montreal capable of producing up to 100 million vaccines. This is very promising for our biomanufacturing.

Could the Minister of Innovation comment on the importance of this partnership to the health sector and the Canadian economy?

Innovation, Science and IndustryOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Saint-Maurice—Champlain Québec

Liberal

François-Philippe Champagne LiberalMinister of Innovation

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his excellent question.

The Prime Minister and I were in Montreal last week to mark a historic step forward in the life sciences sector, as we announced that Moderna would build its plant in Quebec.

For the past two years, we have been rebuilding the Canadian biomanufacturing sector with strategic investments. Thanks to our vision, Canada will be better prepared to deal with any future health emergency.

We are going to invent the future of vaccines right here in Canada.

National DefenceOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Conservative

Bob Zimmer Conservative Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC

Mr. Speaker, the NDP-Liberal budget proves once again that the current government is all talk and no action. Instead of a plan to protect our Arctic sovereignty and security, all we got was a reannouncement of NORAD's existing infrastructure and that the government is considering its options. Millions are promised, while billions are needed.

Our Arctic sovereignty and security cannot be protected by more Liberal empty promises. Will the minister, who continues to fail to defend our north, stand up and explain?

National DefenceOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Oakville Ontario

Liberal

Anita Anand LiberalMinister of National Defence

Mr. Speaker, Canada's sovereignty in the Arctic is secure and well established. We are taking action and making landmark investments to increase our Arctic sovereignty, including conducting joint exercises in the Arctic, purchasing six Arctic offshore patrol ships and enhancing surveillance and intelligence capability in the Arctic with the procurement of 88 fighter jets.

We will remain firm and unwavering in the defence of the Arctic and of our continental security more generally.

HealthOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Conservative

Clifford Small Conservative Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame, NL

Mr. Speaker, the Baie Verte Peninsula, Fogo Island, Buchans, St. Alban's and Harbour Breton once had 25 doctors. These five communities in my riding are either without a doctor or are about to lose their last one. Some desperate communities are even asking me if it is possible to get relief from army doctors and medics.

The 7,500 health care professionals promised for rural Canada in the Liberal election platform cannot be found in the 2022 budget. Why did the Liberal government break its promise to rural Canadians?

HealthOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Québec Québec

Liberal

Jean-Yves Duclos LiberalMinister of Health

Mr. Speaker, I am very glad to receive a question from an MP from Newfoundland, with which we have a great relationship.

We are very grateful for their hard work through the last two years. We are also very grateful for the important work that they do every day to provide people in Newfoundland with primary care providers in health: family physicians. In order to reduce the backlog, a $2-billion investment that we announced just a few weeks ago will make sure that every person in that province, and in all provinces and territories, benefits from the wonderful collaboration we are having across Canada.

HealthOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Conservative

Blaine Calkins Conservative Red Deer—Lacombe, AB

Mr. Speaker, the provincial governments, which are responsible for the delivery of health care, are fine with removing vaccine and mask mandates in their jurisdictions, because they know they can now manage COVID.

The federal government, however, which is not responsible for health care delivery, is still implementing punitive mandates for employees, travellers and those crossing borders. It is virtually the only government in the world that is doing this.

Why are these NDP-Liberals such “out liars”?

HealthOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh!

HealthOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Conservative

The Deputy Speaker Conservative Chris d'Entremont

I would say maybe the member could find a new word, apologize for that little quip, and rephrase that.

HealthOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Conservative

Blaine Calkins Conservative Red Deer—Lacombe, AB

I am sorry, Mr. Speaker. Wearing a mask has made me cough. I meant to say “outliers”.

HealthOral Questions

3:10 p.m.

Conservative

The Deputy Speaker Conservative Chris d'Entremont

I know we are trying to say indirectly what we cannot say directly. Maybe the member could try one more time.

The hon. member for Red Deer—Lacombe.

HealthOral Questions

3:10 p.m.

Conservative

Blaine Calkins Conservative Red Deer—Lacombe, AB

Mr. Speaker, I am just asking. I withdraw the comment. I am wondering why the Government of Canada is an outlier on this issue.

HealthOral Questions

3:10 p.m.

Québec Québec

Liberal

Jean-Yves Duclos LiberalMinister of Health

Mr. Speaker, everyone in the House obviously agrees on the importance of being responsible and prudent. We have done what Canadians have expected of us in the past two years. Canadians have done what we expected of them in the past two years, which was to follow public health measures and to get vaccinated.

Because of that, in Canada we have achieved one of the lowest death rates in the world. If that is called being an “outlier”, we are very proud of that.

International TradeOral Questions

3:10 p.m.

Liberal

Rechie Valdez Liberal Mississauga—Streetsville, ON

Mr. Speaker, as a former small business owner who knows first-hand the struggles that small businesses and entrepreneurs faced throughout the pandemic, I know that expanding trade ties with the Philippines is crucial in our trade diversification strategy as it is a fast-growing market and would create new economic opportunities for Canadian businesses of all sizes.

Can the Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development update us on what our government is doing to strengthen our economic and commercial relationships with the Philippines and Filipino-Canadian businesses?

International TradeOral Questions

3:10 p.m.

Markham—Thornhill Ontario

Liberal

Mary Ng LiberalMinister of International Trade

Mr. Speaker, this weekend Canada and the Philippines signed an agreement to establish a joint economic commission.

The Philippines is a growing, dynamic market in the Indo-Pacific region. This is going to help Canadian businesses of all sizes export more into this market and become more competitive globally. We will also continue to build the people-to-people ties, with over a million Filipino-Canadians who call Canada home. I want to say to those entrepreneurs that this is a great way to kick off Asian Heritage Month.

HealthOral Questions

3:10 p.m.

NDP

Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC

Mr. Speaker, this week is Mental Health Week. After two years of COVID-19, Canada has seen what we already knew: that our mental health system is woefully underfunded.

Many Canadians are struggling with their mental health, but cannot access the care they need. The government promised to establish a new federal transfer to help provinces and territories expand mental health services. While the government pledged an initial $4.5 billion over five years, this funding was nowhere to be found in the budget.

When will the government fulfill its promise and deliver a permanent federal transfer for mental health services?

HealthOral Questions

3:10 p.m.

Toronto—St. Paul's Ontario

Liberal

Carolyn Bennett LiberalMinister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for his question and his ongoing advocacy. As he knows, mental health is health, and our government has made mental health a priority. In 2017, we made $5 billion available to provinces and territories in bilateral agreements. It is for 10 years: up until 2027. We have established $45 million for the national mental health care standards. Through that, we will get a mental health strategy and have a plan to be able to negotiate with provinces and territories for the very important mental health transfer.

Indigenous AffairsOral Questions

3:10 p.m.

NDP

Lori Idlout NDP Nunavut, NU

Uqaqtittiji, the impacts of colonialism are deep among Inuit. In Nunavut, suicide rates are 10 times higher than in the rest of Canada. I must emphasize the need for sustainable, culturally appropriate mental wellness services. Organizations such as the Ilisaqsivik society work tirelessly to support mental well-being and train Inuit to be counsellors. To survive, Ilisaqsivik must compete for funding.

Will the government take action by providing sustainable funding for organizations that provide culturally appropriate wellness services?

Qujannamiik.

Indigenous AffairsOral Questions

3:10 p.m.

Thunder Bay—Superior North Ontario

Liberal

Patty Hajdu LiberalMinister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario

Mr. Speaker, it gives me pleasure to rise in the House during Mental Health Week to talk about the overlay of extreme mental health needs in indigenous communities as a result of the history of colonization and oppression in this country.

That is why this government takes it so seriously. In fact, we have designated $425 million toward indigenous mental health-specific programs. There is more money in budget 2022 so that we will have mental health services that are culturally appropriate and that will serve communities to the best of their needs as designed by indigenous people.

Presence in GalleryOral Questions

May 3rd, 2022 / 3:10 p.m.

Conservative

The Deputy Speaker Conservative Chris d'Entremont

I wish to draw the attention of members to the presence in the gallery of the honourable John Streicker, who is the government House leader, Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources, Minister responsible for Yukon Development Corporation, Minister responsible for Yukon Energy Corporation, Minister of the Public Service Commission and Minister responsible for French Language Services Directorate.

Presence in GalleryOral Questions

3:10 p.m.

Some hon. members

Hear, hear!

Points of OrderOral Questions

3:15 p.m.

NDP

Laurel Collins NDP Victoria, BC

Mr. Speaker, there have been consultations among the parties and, if you seek it, I hope you will find unanimous consent for the following motion, that given that we are in a climate emergency and Canada spends 14 times more on financial supports to the fossil fuel sector than it does for renewable energy, the House call on the government to eliminate all subsidies, public financing and other fiscal supports to the oil and gas sector before the end of—

Points of OrderOral Questions

3:15 p.m.

Some hon. members

No.

Points of OrderOral Questions

3:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Deputy Speaker Conservative Chris d'Entremont

I am hearing a lot of “no”s, so we are going to go on to the next one.

Points of OrderOral Questions

3:15 p.m.

Bloc

Stéphane Bergeron Bloc Montarville, QC

Mr. Speaker, there have been discussions among the parties and if you seek it, I believe you will find unanimous consent to adopt the following motion: That the House emphasize that Canada is a welcoming country, open to the world, invested in the fight against anti-Semitism and all forms of discrimination and condemn the false, defamatory and offensive remarks made by the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov.