Debates of June 8th, 2022

Addiction Recovery

[Brad Vis, Conservative, Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition is from Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon, and it calls upon the government to expand rapid detox programs and provide housing and skills training to those who are struggling with addiction to get their lives back on track. The petitioners state that harm reduction monies are being used to keep addicts on drugs, thus shortening their lives and providing no real help to those unfortunate individuals.

They need to get their lives back, so the petitioners call upon on the government to stop giving free needles and drug supplies to addicts and to use those funds to establish rapid detox centres and provide the skills previously mentioned.

Firearms

[Alex Ruff, Conservative, Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am presenting a petition on behalf of my constituents with respect to the Liberal government's introduction on April 29 of, in their words, a “shadow registry” on licensed firearms owners in Canada. The petitioners are pointing out that this is unfairly going to target businesses and cost countless jobs and wages, and that it is unfairly targeting Canadian firearms owners, who are already the most vetted citizens in Canada. They are subject to daily screenings and are statistically proven to be less likely to commit crimes than non-PAL and non-RPAL holders.

The petitioners are calling upon the Government of Canada to immediately repeal the order issued on April 29, 2022.

Banknote Redesign

[Han Dong, Liberal, Don Valley North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am here to present a petition on behalf of 75 Canadians and Canadian residents who call upon the Minister of Finance to select Won Alexander Cumyow to be featured as the face on the redesigned five-dollar Canadian bank note. We believe that this initiative will help fight the anti-Asian racism we have observed in the last few years.

Human Rights

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

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition signed by over 1,400 Canadians who call upon Parliament to ensure that the Government of Canada denies public funding to any domestic or foreign non-governmental organizations that promote or engage in acts of anti-Semitism.

Honeybees

[Corey Tochor, Conservative, Saskatoon—University, SK]

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to rise. I have two petitions to present today, and they are both related to the environment and the importance of being good stewards of our environment.

The first one is on honeybees, the importance of the 10,000 beekeepers in Canada and the important role bees play in our environment. The petition encourages people to consider ways we can help the bee population. There has been overwhelming support by the provinces and cities to support a day of the honeybee since 2010, and I am honoured to sponsor this petition, which 748 people have signed.

Nuclear Energy

[Corey Tochor, Conservative, Saskatoon—University, SK]

Mr. Speaker, given the neglect of the environment by the Liberals, I have petition e-3912. It has to do with the exclusion of nuclear energy in the green bond framework. It classifies nuclear energy as a sin stock. The Liberals are grouping nuclear energy with arms manufacturers, tobacco, alcohol and gambling activities, which I think is a travesty and so do a lot of Canadians. Some 10,544 people across Canada signed the petition, hoping the Liberals would reconsider their position on nuclear energy.

I present these petitions to the House.

Questions on the Order Paper

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

Mr. Speaker, the following questions will be answered today: Nos. 493, 496 and 499.

Question No.493—

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

With regard to the government providing NDP members with special briefings in the days prior to April 7, 2022, about the content of the 2022 budget: (a) on what dates did these briefings occur; (b) which NDP members were invited to the briefings; (c) were any NDP staff allowed to attend these briefings, and, if so, which ones; (d) who from the government, including both elected and departmental officials, provided the briefings to the NDP members; (e) what precise information was provided in the briefings; (f) is it the position of the Department of Finance that none of the information contained in the briefings could have had any market implications, and, if so, who determined that position; and (g) if there was any possible market impacting information contained in the briefings, what written assurances, if any, did the government require to ensure that profits could not be made as a result of the advance information provided?

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

Mr. Speaker, the Department of Finance did not provide any briefings on the content of budget 2022 to New Democratic Party members of Parliament or their staff prior to April 7, 2022.

Question No.496—

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

With regard to the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) and information about former prostitution offences committed prior to 2014, in relation to section 210, former section 212(1)(j), and former section 213(1)(c) of the Criminal Code: (a) when these offences were committed, what information was entered by police services to the files of offenders in the CPIC; (b) are the circumstances of the commission of a prostitution offence recorded and visible in the CPIC; and (c) has the Parole Board of Canada studied the feasibility of the automation of record suspensions for these former prostitution related offences, and, if so, did the studies conclude that it is possible to automate these record suspensions?

[Pam Damoff, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, with regard to (c), it should be noted that Public Safety Canada does not have input into parts (a) and (b) of this question. The feasibility of the potential automation of record suspensions is currently being studied and considered as part of broader record suspension program reforms. Public Safety Canada, in collaboration with portfolio partners the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Parole Board of Canada, is currently engaging with key criminal justice stakeholders and federal, provincial and territorial partners on the potential implementation of an automated sequestering of criminal records system in Canada. Former prostitution-related offences may be considered for eligibility, along with other offences, as the government moves forward with exploring a potential automated sequestering of criminal records system.

With regard to (a), in relation to section 210, former section 212(1)(j), and former section 213(1)(c) of the Criminal Code and specific to the offences above, the Canadian Police Information Centre, CPIC, conducted a review on the investigative databank to ascertain what information was entered by police services into CPIC concerning former prostitution offences committed prior to 2014. Findings indicate that information pertaining to these offences remains available under several CPIC records categories, including “accused person”, “wanted person” and “prohibited person”. The criminal record in the identification databank on CPIC does not contain information as to when offences were committed. Only the final disposition information provided by the police of jurisdiction is entered into that criminal record, that information being disposition date, section of the Criminal Code and final disposition information. Charges that do not result in convictions, such as acquittals and withdrawals, are available only to Canadian law enforcement partners for limited criminal identification and investigative purposes and are generally not included in criminal record checks for civil purposes, per the dissemination of criminal record information policy.

With regard to (b), the circumstances of a prostitution offence, or any offence, are only available from the originating agency’s reports and/or record management system. However, there is an option when an individual has been added to the investigative databank of CPIC for an agency to add more information under the “Remarks” field. This field provides investigators with the option to indicate why an individual is of interest or wanted by the police, instructions to the person conducting the query when further action is required, or to clarify any other information related to the record, such as additional convictions, additional warrants, publication bans, failure to attend court, probation or release conditions, and firearms prohibitions. Information as to the circumstances of the offence is not recorded or visible on the criminal record in the identification databank on CPIC.

Question No.499—

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

With regard to COVID-19 vaccines thrown away due to spoilage or expiration: what was the available national wastage rate between May 1, 2021, and April 21, 2022, including the (i) percentage of doses wasted, (ii) number of doses wasted, (iii) number of doses administered?

[Adam van Koeverden, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health and to the Minister of Sport]

Mr. Speaker, with regard to (i) and (ii), of the vaccines held in the federally managed central inventory, 759,948 doses of the Moderna vaccine expired on March 21, 2022, and an additional 429,450 doses expired in mid-April of 2022. In addition, 3.8 million AstraZeneca doses held by the manufacturer and made available for donation by Canada to COVAX in 2021 expired in March 2022.

The Public Health Agency of Canada does not maintain provincial and territorial wastage figures. Provinces and territories are responsible for the management of wastage and for the disposal of vaccines that have been transferred to their jurisdiction to support vaccination campaigns.

With regard to (iii), as of April 21, 2022, approximately 153.4 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been procured and made available. Of these, more than 83 million doses have been administered.

Questions Passed as Orders for Returns

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

Mr. Speaker, if the government's responses to Questions Nos. 489 to 492, 494, 495, 497 and 498 could be made orders for return, these returns would be tabled immediately.

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

Is that agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

Question No.489—

[Rhéal Fortin, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

With regard to the government-owned building at the corner of Saint-Georges and Labelle streets in Saint-Jérôme, Quebec, that is used by the Correctional Service of Canada as the Laferrière Community Correctional Centre: (a) why did the centre close in March 2019; (b) when did the Correctional Service of Canada make the decision to close the centre; (c) what impact did the closure of the centre have on the mission of the Correctional Service of Canada and the services provided; (d) over the past 15 years, how many inmates (i) transited through, (ii) could be accommodated at, this centre, broken down by year; (e) what data (occupancy and growth statistics) warrant reopening this centre; (f) have other organizations working for community reintegration in the Laurentians or in the greater Montreal area been consulted about the need to renovate and reopen this centre, and, if so, which ones and when; (g) has the City of Saint-Jérôme been consulted about the planned renovations to this building, and, if so, on what dates and for which parts of the project; (h) has a study on the heritage value of the building been conducted, and, if so, by which organization and what are its conclusions; (i) does the government intend to respond positively to the request to transfer the building to the City of Saint-Jérôme in order to restore its heritage value and develop it as a place of culture and pride, as requested by the city council in its resolution adopted unanimously on January 18, 2022, copies of which were provided to the ministers of Public Safety, Canadian Heritage and Quebec Lieutenant, and Public Services and Procurement; (j) has a study been conducted on the centre’s location and have the City of Saint-Jérôme and community partners been consulted on this location, and, if so, on what dates and which individuals and organizations were involved in these consultations; (k) does the Correctional Service of Canada intend to comply with the City of Saint-Jérôme municipal by-laws with respect to the renovation of buildings within its city limits, particularly concerning the timeline for completing the work in question, and, if so, when; (l) since the closure of the centre in March 2019, what correspondence, emails and other communications have been exchanged between the Correctional Service of Canada and the City of Saint-Jérôme concerning this building and on what subjects, broken down by date; (m) since the closure of the centre in March 2019, how much public money has been invested in studies and work on this building, broken down by budget item, supplier and month; (n) what is the timeline for renovating the building, broken down by month and by major work completed and to be completed; (o) what are the total cost estimates related to the proposed renovation and restoration of this building; and (p) were any options other than the currently planned renovation considered, and, if so, what were they and what did they consist of?

(Return tabled)

Question No.490—

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

With regard to the departmental acquisition cards and expenditures made in March 2022: (a) what is the total sum of all purchases made; (b) what departmental expenses were made, broken down by accounting code; and (c) what is the number of purchases made specifically between March 22 and March 31, 2022?

(Return tabled)

Question No.491—

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB]

With regard to Parks Canada, broken down by each national park that is accessible to tourists: (a) how much money has each park budgeted for tourism promotion in 2022; (b) how much money did each park spend on tourism promotion in each of the last five years; and (c) what were the visitor attendance numbers, broken down by each of the last five years?

(Return tabled)

Question No.492—

[Jeremy Patzer, Conservative, Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK]

With regard to the government's response to rising inflation across the Canadian economy: (a) is it the government's position that the high rate of inflation is entirely the result of temporary factors, such as supply disruptions, and, if so, does the government also maintain that the rise of inflation is unrelated to its economic and spending policies; (b) what specific analysis or data, if any, does the government have to support the position that inflation is entirely the result of temporary forces and not the result of its fiscal policy; (c) what specific actions in 2022, broken down by month or quarter, is the government taking or will take to ensure that temporary forces do not become embedded in ongoing inflation; and (d) does the government have any contingency plans to address other factors driving inflation for any rate higher than two per cent in late 2022, and, if so, what are the details?

(Return tabled)

Question No.494—

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

With regard to reports of "March madness expenditures" where the government makes purchases before the end of the fiscal year so that departmental funds do not go unspent, broken down by department, agency or other government entity: (a) what were the total expenditures during February and March of 2022 on (i) materials and supplies (standard object 07), (ii) acquisition of machinery and equipment, including parts and consumable tools (standard object 09); and (b) what are the details of each such expenditure, including the (i) vendor, (ii) amount, (iii) date of the expenditure, (iv) description of the goods or services provided, (v) delivery date, (vi) file number?