Debates of June 13th, 2022

Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Act

[Luc Thériault, Bloc, Montcalm, QC]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C‑282, An Act to amend the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Act (supply management).

Madam Speaker, it is my great pleasure to introduce, seconded by my colleague from Berthier—Maskinongé, a bill whose purpose is to take the symbolic support of the majority of MPs in the House and make it tangible to protect supply management from further dilution in future international trade negotiations.

With the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement with Europe, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, and the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement, the government really did a number on this agricultural system. Food producers and processors are still assessing the scale of the damage caused by the implementation of these three trade agreements.

Very simply, this bill would amend section 10 of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Act by adding provisions to exclude supply management from negotiations.

I hope a majority of members will once again vote in favour of this bill, which our agriculture and agri-food sector is eagerly awaiting.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

National Ribbon Skirt Day Act

[Jenica Atwin, Liberal, Fredericton, NB]

moved for leave to introduce Bill S-219, an act respecting a National Ribbon Skirt Day.

Madam Speaker, I rise today for the first reading of Senate bill, Bill S-219, which would establish January 4 of every year as national ribbon skirt day. Through this bill, Canada would have the opportunity to further its understanding and education of indigenous culture and heritage, specifically the ribbon skirt, which is a symbolic piece of clothing used in indigenous tradition and ceremony across the country.

In my riding of Fredericton, an unceded Wolastoqiyik territory, we have Wolastoq Wednesdays, where indigenous women, girls and two-spirited peoples wear ribbon skirts with pride and reclaim spaces with meaningful cultural representation. This bill would give us an opportunity to celebrate and stand with indigenous women and girls and two-spirited peoples to honour them in such a positive way and truly walk in the path of reconciliation.

I wish to sincerely thank the amazing Senator McCallum for her work and dedication to uplifting the voices of indigenous peoples in Canada, and for the immense honour she has given me to sponsor this bill in the House.

I also want to thank Chief George Cote of the Cote First Nation, Saskatchewan, as well as Isabella Kulak and her family for giving us all the opportunity to learn and grow together.

Meegwetch. Woliwon.

(Motion agreed to and bill read the first time)

Climate Change

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

Madam Speaker, it is a huge honour to present this petition today on behalf of constituents who are calling on the government to address the climate emergency.

They are calling on the Prime Minister and the Government of Canada to enact just transition legislation that would reduce emissions by at least 60% below 2005 levels and make significant contributions to emissions reductions in countries in the global south. They want to see the wind-down of the fossil fuel industry and related infrastructure, an end to fossil fuel subsidies, and a transition to a decarbonized economy.

They cite that this would create good green jobs, drive inclusive workforce development and expand the social safety net through new income supports. It would pay for the transition by increasing taxes on the wealthiest and corporations, and financing through our public national bank. It would protect and strengthen human rights, worker rights and respect for indigenous rights, sovereignty and knowledge, by including them in creating and implementing this legislation. It would ensure migrant justice and emphasize support for historically marginalized communities.

Corporate Social Responsibility

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

Madam Speaker, I have a petition here signed by 59 individuals. It is aimed at Canadian companies that operate abroad. The petitioners are calling for the House of Commons to adopt human rights and environmental due diligence legislation that would require companies to prevent adverse human rights impacts and environmental damage throughout their global operations and supply chains, and establish a legal right for people who have been harmed to seek justice in Canadian courts, among other things.

Okanagan Rail Trail

[Tracy Gray, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Madam Speaker, I rise today to present a petition on behalf of constituents from Kelowna—Lake Country and the surrounding area.

The Okanagan Rail Trail serves as an important recreational and commuter path for pedestrians and cyclists across the region. Seven kilometres of the trail remain incomplete, which poses a safety risk as users have no option other than to divert onto a busy highway. The completion of the Okanagan Rail Trail would be an important link to provide more healthy activity space for residents and visitors in the Okanagan.

Therefore, the petitioners call upon the Government of Canada to expeditiously complete the federal commitments to the Okanagan Indian Band and Duck Lake Indian Reserve 7 to complete the Okanagan Rail Trail.

Immigration and Citizenship

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Madam Speaker, I have three petitions to present today.

In the first one, the petitioners note that applicants for many processes and documents at IRCC, including citizenship applications and PR cards, face prolonged delays in processing. Many have received no response or details from IRCC on the status of their application or expected timelines, which prevents them from being able to plan important and critical life decisions. Many applicants have missed or are missing important family events because they are at some stage of citizenship application and the email for the next step can come at any time.

They are therefore calling on the government to increase staffing and resources at IRCC in order to address the backlog of outstanding applications for citizenship that were submitted in 2019 and 2020, and provide clear status and concise expected timelines to applicants so that they can make decisions and plan accordingly, in order to address the ambiguity of getting an email for a test or an oath ceremony at any time. Finally, in a case of unreasonable delay, they are calling for IRCC to provide the reason to the applicant and clear steps to mitigate the delay and ensure that the applicant's PR card can be received promptly.

Human Rights

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Madam Speaker, in the second petition, the petitioners are noting the Government of Israel's designation of six prominent Palestinian human rights and civil society groups as terrorist organizations on October 19, 2021. They are concerned that the six prominent Palestinian human rights and civil society organizations in question are being criminalized for critical human rights work. They point to Canada's own guidelines on supporting human rights defenders, which state that the commitment of Canada and Canada's diplomatic mission is to advocate for human rights defenders and protect them from harm.

They are therefore calling on the government to take concrete action against the Israeli occupation authorities' continued harassment and criminalization of Palestinian human rights defenders and civil society organizations, by calling for full revocation of the designation and publicly calling on Israeli authorities to immediately end efforts aimed at prosecuting, delegitimizing and criminalizing Palestinian human rights defenders and civil society organizations. Finally, they call on relevant cabinet ministers, policy-makers and members of Parliament to meet with the six Palestinian organizations.

Persons with Disabilities

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Madam Speaker, in the last petition, my constituents are noting that persons with psychosocial and other disabilities continue to be at grave risk of being detained in facilities and/or otherwise subjected to limitations on freedom of movement, including the use of physical restraints, chemical restrains and isolation, and being forcibly administered drugs, which frequently cause toxic and damaging effects, such as reduced mobility and constrained cognition, reducing life expectancy and inducing dependency, notwithstanding that some people take these drugs voluntarily.

They are calling on the government to enact article 14 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and prohibit civil commitments, psychiatric assessments and all related interventions for psychosocial disabilities, repealing laws and provisions that violate the CRPD by permitting detentions, restraints, seclusion, community treatment orders, forced drugging, electrical shock, sterilization and similar impositions, and rescind all—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès), Liberal, Alexandra Mendes]

I would remind the hon. member that we are meant to provide very short summaries of the petitions. There are quite a few other members who would like to present petitions.

The hon. member for North Island—Powell River.

Veterans Affairs

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

Madam Speaker, today I am here to present a petition on behalf of many Canadians across the whole country who are very concerned about the fact that Canada is still implementing the “gold-digger clause” that was put in place in the early 1900s. We know that so many veterans, RCMP and public servants who marry after 60 do not qualify for survivor pensions for their loved ones when they pass on. The National Council of Veteran Associations, the RCMP Veterans' Association and the Armed Forces Pensioners' Association of Canada are all in support of this. We believe it is important not to punish veterans for finding love after 60.

Insecticides

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

Madam Speaker, I have three petitions to present today. These are very pressing and important issues that I am putting forward and I will summarize.

The first petition deals with the threat to pollinators. It is a global threat and it is largely due, as we understand it, to neonicotinoid insecticides, which have been restricted from use in the European Union. Petitioners call on the Government of Canada, for the sake of our bees and food security, to take steps and follow Europe's lead.

Opioids

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

Madam Speaker, the second petition refers to an urgent issue we often discuss in this place, and that is the opioid crisis. These petitioners point out that the public health emergency constituted by poisoning the drug supply is a public health emergency and that the solution is to decriminalize the drug supply, to reframe the overdose crisis as a health issue rather than one of criminal justice, and to take a comprehensive, multi-faceted approach to dealing with the opioid crisis once and for all.

Climate Change

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

Madam Speaker, my last petition, I have to say, is certainly one of the ones that had great support online, with over 5,653 petitioners.

The petitioners point out that the government had promised in the last election to place a ban on the export of thermal coal from ports. Members in this place may not know that we export thermal coal that comes into Canada from the U.S., because U.S. ports are already refusing to export thermal coal for reasons of climate. The petitioners point out that thermal coal creates about half of the world's carbon emissions and that the phase-out that the government has planned should be expedited and moved more rapidly.

I also want to thank the citizens who worked on this petition, particularly a retired justice department lawyer who did a lot of work at Environment Canada, Beverly Pixie Hobby from White Rock. I also want to thank constituents of my own riding from the South Coast Ship Watch Alliance, because much of the contamination of our waterways in the Gulf Islands is due to anchorages for ships that cannot be loaded with products in bulk, due to inefficiencies at the port of Vancouver. This would expedite environmental protection in the Gulf Islands and also be an action for climate change.

The petitioners ask for the priority substances list within the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, as soon as possible, to list thermal coal and then to regulate the mining and export of thermal coal, in accordance with our international commitments.

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

Madam Speaker, I am happy today to rise and present a petition on behalf of constituents in my riding of Nanaimo—Ladysmith. The constituents are calling on the Prime Minister and the Government of Canada to enact just transition legislation that, among other things, reduces emissions by at least 60% below 2005 levels by 2030; winds down the fossil fuel industry and related infrastructure; creates good green jobs; promotes and strengthens human rights and workers' rights; respects indigenous rights, sovereignty and knowledge; expands the social safety net through new income supports; and pays for the transition by increasing taxes on the wealthiest and corporations, and financing through a public national bank.

[Blake Desjarlais, NDP, Edmonton Griesbach, AB]

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to rise on behalf of petitioners who are calling on the government to enact a just transition that would see the reduction of emissions. It would also see the support for public institutions, ensure that we create good green jobs across Canada, and protect workers' rights, including the rights of indigenous nations.

Corporate Social Responsibility

[Blake Desjarlais, NDP, Edmonton Griesbach, AB]

Madam Speaker, I also have another petition, which calls on the government to protect and make enforceable actions related to companies that are operating overseas and contributing to human rights abuses and environmental damages.

Questions on the Order Paper

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

Madam Speaker, the following questions will be answered today: Nos. 500, 508, 513, 514 and 519.

Question No.500—

[Dan Albas, Conservative, Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC]

With regard to the 2022 budget not including the commitment by the Prime Minister on page 69 of the 2021 Liberal election platform to “Introduce a Veterans stream to the Rapid Housing Initiative (RHI)”: (a) why was this specific commitment not included in the 2022 budget; (b) has the government developed a specific timeline for when the veterans stream will be added to the RHI, and if so, what is it; and (c) what are the specific details, including dates of any action taken to date by the government, to introduce a veterans stream to the RHI?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, budget 2022 announced a proposed investment of $1.5 billion over two years to extend the rapid housing initiative. This funding is expected to create at least 6,000 new affordable housing units.

Veterans have been a priority group since our government launched the national housing strategy. Veterans continue to be a priority population for the national housing strategy, of which the rapid housing initiative is a constituent element.

The government remains committed to addressing the issue of veteran homelessness. Budget 2021 announced $45 million for a pilot program aimed at reducing veteran homelessness. Budget 2022 proposes an additional $62.2 million over three years toward a new veteran homelessness program that will provide services and rent supplements to veterans experiencing homelessness in partnership with community organizations until 2027.

Question No.508—

[James Bezan, Conservative, Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB]

With regard to the Prime Minister's trip to Bell Island in the Bahamas: (a) did the Prime Minister sign any document that gave him permission to accept the trip, and, if so, what are the details of the document, including the date on which it was signed; and (b) if the response to (a) is affirmative, on what date did the Clerk of the Privy Council become aware that the Prime Minister signed the document?

[Greg Fergus, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and to the President of the Treasury Board)]

Mr. Speaker, this matter has been addressed in the House of Commons. For further context, please visit https://www.ourcommons.ca/DocumentViewer/en/44-1/house/sitting-58/hansard#Int-11636457.

Question No.513—

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

With regard to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance announcing on February 18, 2022, that the government will spend no additional public money on the Trans Mountain Expansion Project: does the commitment to spend no additional public money extend to (i) loan guarantees, (ii) placing creditor priorities ahead of government debts, (iii) providing write-downs to potential investors?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, on February 18, 2022, the Government of Canada provided an update on the Trans Mountain expansion project. With 50%t of the pipeline already built and the project significantly de-risked, the government announced that no additional public money will be spent on the project and that Trans Mountain Corporation would secure the funding necessary to complete the project with third party financing.

The corporation has now secured up to $10 billion in third party financing with a group of Canadian financial institutions. These monies will be used to fund the project's construction costs.The financing will not change the cost estimate and 2023 completion date outlined in February 2022.

As part of this process, the Government of Canada is providing a loan guarantee on behalf of the corporation. This is a common practice that puts in place an insurance policy for the institutions that have invested in the project. It does not reflect any new public spending. The corporation will pay a fee to the government for this guarantee. The Government of Canada has not spent any money to put this guarantee in place.

This project is in the national interest and will make Canada and the Canadian economy more sovereign and more resilient. The Government of Canada intends to launch a divestment process after the expansion project is further de-risked and after further consultation with Indigenous groups about economic participation has progressed.

Question No.514—

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

With regard to the government’s engagement with BMO Capital Markets and TD Securities on the financial aspects of the Trans Mountain Expansion project, as noted in the response by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance to petition No. 441-00120: (a) what are the details of the public financing options that were analyzed, including the (i) type of financing, (ii) level of financing, (iii) reported feasibility of the financing; and (b) is the government currently considering public financing options for the project, and, if so, what are the details, including the (i) type of financing, (ii) level of financing, (iii) results of any further analysis the government has completed?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, the analyses undertaken by BMO and TD of the Trans Mountain expansion project confirmed that despite the increased cost estimate and completion timeline, the project is financially sound and commercially viable. These analyses are subject to commercial confidentiality.

On April 29, 2022, Trans Mountain Corporation completed third party financing consisting of a $10-billion credit facility with a syndicate of Canadian financial institutions. The financing is supported by a guarantee provided by the Canada Account administered by Export Development Canada.

More information can be found at www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/news/2022/05/update-on-trans-mountain-expansion-project.html.