Debates of June 1st, 2022

Health

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

Mr. Speaker, nearly 38,000 people participated in a Twitter poll posted by the government, but PHAC says 33,000 of them got the answer wrong. It seems like the government has done a terrible job of keeping Canadians informed.

The Prime Minister has extended his punishing mandates for another month, so let us give him a chance to provide Canadians with some information and some facts. For how many more months will the Prime Minister extend his unscientific mandates?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, no one knows how long this pandemic is going to last, but I can tell members that, even though the Conservatives seem to think it is over already, it is not. We will continue to make sure we are putting first and foremost the protection of Canadians, their safety, their well-being, the safety and the reliability of their jobs, and their futures.

We have done that every step of the way, and we will continue to be informed by science, not by the barking of the Conservative opposition.

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

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has changed his story so many times and moved the goalpost so many times. He refuses to answer a simple question. Millions of Canadians have lost their jobs and cannot travel across the country because the Prime Minister chooses to divide, wedge and stigmatize. Canadians deserve leadership, not ideology.

When will the Prime Minister finally drop the divisive politics and end the mandates?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, once again, we see the Conservatives refusing to remember that we actually had a very important election last year on the question of mandates and on the question of protections for Canadians, and they lost that election.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Papineau, QC]

Mr. Speaker, overwhelmingly, Canadians supported moving forward with vaccination mandates to keep Canadians safe. Unfortunately, they are stuck on the wrong side of things, but we continue to know putting science first and putting vaccinations first actually matters most to keep Canadians safe and to keep our economy going well. That is what we will continue to do.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

We are getting close to the end, and I know everybody is getting excited, but I would just like to remind members, especially the ones with loud voices that carry well, that I can hear them. As well, some of them do not have masks on, so I can see their lips moving. I know who they are.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, British Columbia has been the epicentre for the overdose crisis for the past several years, and the increasingly toxic drug supply has exacerbated an already heartbreaking loss of life. In B.C. alone, there were an average of five deaths per day in the month of March alone, sending shock waves of grief that ripple through families and communities.

Can the Prime Minister please update the House on what our government is doing to turn the tide on the overdose and toxic drug supply crisis to save lives and to create a brighter future for communities in my province and right across the country?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member for West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country for his incredibly hard work on this file and others.

We are taking concrete action to tackle the opioid epidemic, including the announcement of the approval of B.C.'s proposal to decriminalize personal possession of certain small amounts. We will work in partnership with B.C. through its comprehensive monitoring and evaluation strategy to address both public health and public safety. Our approach is supporting community-led solutions to reduce harm, treat addiction and prevent overdoses.

Persons with Disabilities

[Bonita Zarrillo, NDP, Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC]

Mr. Speaker, it is so nice to see you back in the chair.

Last week, the Liberals said they would move ahead with a disability benefit bill. People with disabilities deserve meaningful support from the government, and they have made it clear that the last bill was not good enough. Any new legislation must spell out comprehensive support. It cannot leave people behind. People living with disabilities have been waiting over a year for better.

Will the Prime Minister promise that any new legislation will actually lift Canadians with disabilities out of poverty?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I am always pleased to see members of the NDP asking about this file. It is one that we take extraordinarily seriously and have continued to lead on every step of the way, including through the difficult times of the pandemic, by being there for Canadians living with disabilities. That is why we are very pleased to be moving forward to reintroduce the Canada disabilities legislation.

We know that support for people with disabilities is extremely important, but we also know that getting it right really matters. We do nothing about people with disabilities without Canadians with disabilities' input, and that is why we will be working with the community to make sure we are getting it right.

Health

[Mike Morrice, Green, Kitchener Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, this is it. The Prime Minister has one last opportunity before we vote on Bill C-216. A national crisis requires federal leadership. There are moms, such as Irene and Angela, who are with us today, and the tens of thousands more across the country, who have lost loved ones to a poisoned drug supply.

The Prime Minister can put people's lives ahead of politics. He can turn around right now and give his caucus permission to support having expert input at committee. Will he do it?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we are acting to keep Canadians safe. We have moved forward with a proposal, working hand in hand with the provincial government in British Columbia to make sure that, as we move forward, people have the supports in their community and in the local health system. We need a wraparound approach, which B.C. is leading on, and we are very pleased to work with them. We also look forward to working with any other jurisdiction that wants to take on this responsible approach, which British Columbia and its NDP government has led with. We stand with them, and we thank them for their leadership as we move forward.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

That is all the time we have for questions today.

Oral Questions

[Greg Fergus, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I am rising on a point of order.

During question period, I and a number of members on this side of the House heard the member for Kildonan—St. Paul make an intemperate if not incendiary remark in response to an answer the Prime Minister was making with regard to the over-incarceration of indigenous peoples and Black Canadians.

I am confident that this member will not want those remarks to stand in the Hansard. I ask that you, Mr. Speaker, offer her the opportunity to withdraw those remarks or to significantly clarify them to the House.

[Raquel Dancho, Conservative, Kildonan—St. Paul, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I am not sure if the member is referring to my question, so maybe he can clarify it.

[Greg Fergus, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I am very reluctant to repeat those comments because they were so incendiary and intemperate. If I may, I might ask you, Mr. Speaker, to review Hansard and to review the comments that I am certain our reporters heard.

To answer the member's question, it was not a question that she posed to the Prime Minister. Rather, it was a statement that she made while the Prime Minister was answering.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

If it is okay with the House, what we will do is we will revise the language and then come back to the House, should something arise from that.

The House resumed from May 18, consideration of the motion that Bill S-211, An Act to enact the Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act and to amend the Customs Tariff, be read the second time and referred to a committee.

Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

It being 3:18 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 at second reading stage of the bill.

Call in the members.

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

Vote #113

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I declare the motion carried. Accordingly, the bill stands referred to the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development.

(Bill read the second time and referred to a committee)

The House resumed from May 20 consideration of the motion that Bill C-216, An Act to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and to enact the Expungement of Certain Drug-related Convictions Act and the National Strategy on Substance Use Act, be read the second time and referred to a committee.

Health-based Approach to Substance Use Act

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

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 at second reading stage of Bill C‑216 under Private Members' Business.

The question is on the motion.

May I dispense?

[Some hon. members]

No.