Debates of June 8th, 2022

The Economy

[Jonathan Wilkinson, Liberal, Minister of Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, certainly it is important that we are thinking about how we actually create good, economic prospects for people across this country and that we are creating jobs and economic opportunities.

I was very pleased last week to launch the regional energy and natural resource tables, which are about building, on a province-by-province, territory-by-territory basis, a future that is going to create those jobs and economic opportunities in a manner that would actually drive growth and prosperity and in a manner that is consistent with meeting our moral obligation to our children to fight climate change.

I certainly look forward to working with the energy sector as move forward in that direction.

Employment Insurance

[Daniel Blaikie, NDP, Elmwood—Transcona, MB]

Mr. Speaker, when people lose their jobs, they count on employment insurance to keep their homes and feed their families while they look for new work.

However, the EI system has been broken for far too long. There are more people who pay into EI that do not qualify for benefits when they need them than who do. After almost seven years in government, the Liberals finally tried to fix something about the EI system in the latest budget bill, and they fell flat on their face.

When are the Liberals finally going to fix the EI system and do right by Canadian workers?

[Carla Qualtrough, Liberal, Minister of Employment]

Mr. Speaker, we are working very hard to modernize employment insurance. Quickly, when we got into the pandemic, we recognized that the EI system had not kept up with the way Canadians work. That is exactly why we are working to improve the system in terms of adequacy, in terms of access and in terms of the individuals who pay in and who do not yet have access.

The member knows very well that we are working very hard on this file.

[Alexandre Boulerice, NDP, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, today the Conseil national des chômeurs et chômeuses is launching its employment insurance campaign. It highlights this government's monumental failure to deliver on its promise to reform employment insurance.

The pandemic has shown that the current system is not working. For example, self-employed workers, freelancers and women are being forgotten. We need real reform so that workers have access to good benefits to make ends meet.

When will the Liberals finally fix the EI system to help struggling families?

[Carla Qualtrough, Liberal, Minister of Employment]

Mr. Speaker, the pandemic has revealed that Canada must adapt its employment insurance system to the realities of the 21st century.

Our government is currently holding consultations on how to modernize the system to make it more responsive to workers and employers.

We need to strengthen the rights of workers hired through digital platforms and establish new provisions in the Income Tax Act to include that work in the calculation of hours needed to qualify for employment insurance and the Canada pension plan.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

[Yvan Baker, Liberal, Etobicoke Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Russia's genocidal war on Ukraine has caused the largest refugee crisis in Europe since World War II, with 14 million Ukrainians having fled their homes and about six million having fled to other countries. In my community in Etobicoke Centre and across this country, Canadians have opened their arms to Ukrainian refugees, opening up their homes, collecting donations, offering financial support and more.

Could the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship please share with Canadians what the Government of Canada is doing to support Ukrainians fleeing Russia's genocidal war on Ukraine?

[Sean Fraser, Liberal, Minister of Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by thanking the member for Etobicoke Centre, who has been a tireless champion for Ukraine and Ukrainian Canadians from the beginning of this war.

This unjust war of aggression is an affront to humanity and the very values that underpin the international legal order. Canada has opened its arms to provide safe haven so far to 30,000 Ukrainians or more, who have already landed in Canada. It is not enough that they get here. They need to be supported when they arrive. We have arranged federal charters, including last week in my home province of Nova Scotia. We have established income supports, temporary accommodation, reception supports at airports and settlement services, including language training. We are going to continue to do what we can to demonstrate this is not a European problem. It is a problem for the world, and Canada will continue to play a leadership role.

Slava Ukraini.

Health

[Stephen Ellis, Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester, NS]

Mr. Speaker, we have heard from the parliamentary secretary the tremendous risk for and from unvaccinated air travellers. However, is it not true that many unvaccinated Canadians can actually travel by air with a negative antigen test?

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

Mr. Speaker, all Canadians are sick and tired of COVID, and we all agree on that, but just wishing it away or ignoring it will not simply make it go away. Over the past three months, we continue to see more deaths from COVID. There were over 1,700 in the month of May. The most important thing we can do to get through this pandemic is to drive up vaccination rates. We will continue to be informed by science and not the political games of the Conservative opposition.

[Stephen Ellis, Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester, NS]

Mr. Speaker, I find it fascinating. We do not want to wish away science. We want to wish away incompetence.

What is important here is to answer the actual question because, if an antigen test is good enough for some Canadians to get on an airplane, why is it not good enough for all Canadians? What is the difference between Canadians who are unvaccinated and who want to fly in Cumberland—Colchester, for instance, and those who live in northern communities? The answer is clear. The only difference is not medical science, but political science.

When will the government drop these vindictive mandates and let Canadians get back to prepandemic normal?

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

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the member for Cumberland—Colchester tried to minimize the COVID‑19 deaths in this country by referencing deaths from other causes. Every lost life is tragic and, on this side of the House, we understand that it is the government's job to do everything we can to protect people and save lives, whether that is from COVID‑19 or any other cause. We owe it to them and all Canadians to remain focused on keeping them safe and our communities healthy, and we will continue to do that.

[Marilyn Gladu, Conservative, Sarnia—Lambton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health needs to get in line with the rest of the countries, all 55 of them, that have dropped all the mandates. He was informed the other day that Canadians who are unvaccinated can travel on ferries as long as the journey is less than 24 hours, so why are unvaccinated Canadians not able to travel on flights within Canada since they are all less than 24 hours? When is the Liberal government going to get rid of the mandates and get us back to prepandemic normal?

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

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives just cannot seem to make up their minds about vaccinations. The member for Yorkton—Melville claims the government has a secret agenda after she refused to get vaccinated. Another Conservative, the MP for Niagara West, tabled a petition in the House to ban all mRNA vaccines. Those are the vaccines that have saved millions of lives around the world.

The science is clear that vaccines are safe and effective in reducing the spread of COVID‑19, as well as severe cases, hospitalizations and death. I would encourage the members opposite in the Conservative opposition to get behind that and encourage their constituents to get a third or fourth dose.

[Shelby Kramp-Neuman, Conservative, Hastings—Lennox and Addington, ON]

Mr. Speaker, ArriveCAN provides a serious accessibility barrier to many Canadians, in particular those who may not own a smart phone or have the digital literacy to properly navigate the process. Not everyone is tech savvy. While the introduction of a paper form was a good first step, and one that should have been in place since day one, when will the government commit to listening to the thousands of Canadians experiencing problems at the border and stop the mandatory use of the ArriveCAN app?

[Marco Mendicino, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague for underlining some of the issues which we have worked through with the CBSA.

With respect to ArriveCAN, I am pleased to report that, since the low point of travel during the pandemic, we are now seeing levels come back over 700%, which is good news. That is as a result of the modifications we have made for easing travel restrictions. That is also as a result of lowering some of the barriers that my colleague pointed out with respect to ArriveCAN. I am also pleased to report to the chamber that compliance with ArriveCAN is over 90% and, in the long run, will make the voyage of travellers that much more efficient. We will continue to work with all members on it.

Public Safety

[Kristina Michaud, Bloc, Avignon—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia, QC]

Mr. Speaker, according to experts, the increase in cases of gun violence in Montreal in recent years is a new phenomenon. Gang members now appear to be firing multiple shots at buildings and cars to send a message and mark what they claim is their territory.

However, the guns they are using are not covered by Bill C-21. Will the minister admit that the solution to this scourge is about more than just making these guns illegal, as Bill C-21 proposes to do? More importantly, we need to prevent illegal guns from getting into our neighbourhoods.

[Marco Mendicino, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, I completely agree with my colleague. The cycle of gun violence is out of control.

We have already taken action by banning assault weapons. We will build on this initiative with our next step, which is implementing a mandatory buyback program.

The issue right now is Bill C-21. The Conservatives' delays and filibustering must stop. We need to start debating Bill C-21 to protect our communities. I am always willing to work with the Bloc and everyone else.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am sorry to contradict my colleague, but my question was not on Bill C‑21. As my colleague noted, the gunshots we hear in the streets of Montreal may not always result in deaths, but there is always a victim, and that is the public's sense of safety. Gun culture is taking hold in Montreal, as is gang culture.

The solution to the problem of illegal guns requires helping police forces deal with the gang problem. Bill C‑21 is not a bad bill, but it does not offer any solutions to address the shootings. When will the minister realize that to deal with criminal organizations we need to start by having a registry of those criminal organizations?

[Marco Mendicino, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, our government has already done a number of practical things, such as establishing a $350‑million fund to provide resources to our police forces.

With all due respect to my colleague, Bill C‑21 contains tangible measures to target organized crime, including by increasing criminal sanctions and giving new oversight powers to eliminate and prevent gun violence.

We will work with the Bloc and every member to get this bill passed. It is very important. It is essential for protecting our communities.

Justice

[Dominique Vien, Conservative, Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC]

Mr. Speaker, a 12-year-old girl found herself right in the middle of a shooting in Montreal. She was traumatized, of course. This is happening in our streets in Quebec.

Instead of tackling the problems of street gangs and illegal arms trafficking, this Liberal government is doing the opposite with its Bill C‑5. It is eliminating mandatory prison sentences for gun crimes.

How can this government be so disconnected from reality that it is doing the opposite of what is obviously common sense?

[David Lametti, Liberal, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, serious offences will always be punished in a serious manner.

The situation that my colleague just described is not a situation targeted by Bill C‑5. This bill addresses situations that are not a threat to public safety. Bill C‑5 seeks to address the overrepresentation of Black and indigenous people in the justice system.

That is precisely what we are doing.

[Dominique Vien, Conservative, Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC]

Mr. Speaker, on this side of the House, we believe that serious and violent firearms offences warrant a mandatory sentence.

We stand on the side of victims. It is disappointing to see this government openly siding with criminals. It is even letting them serve their sentence at home for such crimes as armed robbery and extortion with a firearm. Those are quite serious crimes.

Why is this government being so soft on crime with Bill C-5?

[David Lametti, Liberal, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, it is difficult to watch the opposition continue to support Harper's tough-on-crime policy, which was a total failure.

What we are doing is continuing to punish serious offences in a serious way. What we are doing is taking a different approach when public safety is not threatened or at risk in order to help communities and victims.

[Pierre Paul-Hus, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, let us hear what Stephan Fogaing, a member of Montreal's Black community, has to say about Bill C‑5: “In short, when the federal government contemplates doing away with some of the minimum sentences in the Criminal Code, we can only wonder whether they are more interested in protecting criminals than the public and victims of crime.”

Given what these people had to say, is the Prime Minister interested in listening to them, or does he prefer to protect criminals over victims?

[David Lametti, Liberal, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Harper's tough-on-crime policy was a complete failure. We have managed to fill our prisons with indigenous people and Black people. We have prevented the system from working properly, because minimum sentences slow down the justice system.

Around the globe, and especially in the United States, where the Conservatives drew their inspiration 15 years ago, authorities are doing away with minimum sentences because they do not work. We are here to do a better job of protecting society.