Debates of June 9th, 2022

Report Stage

[Marie-Hélène Gaudreau, Bloc, Laurentides—Labelle, QC]

Madam Speaker, I will not answer the question specifically, but I do have something to say.

For weeks now, months even, the Bloc Québécois has been making proposals concerning well-being and suggesting solutions to the current government, which sometimes ends up in reaction mode because it has failed to prepare. This time, we are telling the government that it should split this bill in two because it covers two different things.

I have a question of my own. Why are we once again faced with a mammoth bill at the end of the session while being hit with one time allocation motion after another?

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Madam Speaker, it is interesting listening to the debate. The government claims that this bill is about systemic racism and in particular about the overrepresentation of Black and indigenous people in our prison population. If we read the bill, the bill makes no mention of racism and no mention of Black or indigenous communities. There is nothing in there about programs or processes to address the inequalities. It is simply a bill about lowering sentences for broad categories of offences.

When there is overrepresentation, reducing overall sentences or removing minimum sentences or sentencing starting points does not change the fundamental cause of overrepresentation. There is nothing in the bill that actually addresses the issue of overrepresentation whatsoever, and the government's rhetorical defence of the bill has nothing to do with what is in the bill.

I wonder if the member has a comment on that.

[Marie-Hélène Gaudreau, Bloc, Laurentides—Labelle, QC]

Madam Speaker, my answer is very simple. We need to start relying on science, legal experts and the right advisers who are giving us concrete proof that there is a right way of doing things.

The right way of doing things is to invest in rehabilitation and support, because reducing minimum penalties will not reduce crime. The statistics make that clear.

I hope that we will implement structures and concrete measures to help people, because, right now, there are flaws in Bill C-5.

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

Madam Speaker, I share the concerns of my colleague from Laurentides—Labelle about having one bill with two goals. I fully support the elimination of mandatory minimum sentences, which do not work and are a problem for our justice system. At the same time, I am absolutely in favour of measures to achieve the objective of Bill C‑5, which is that problematic substance use must be addressed primarily as a social and health issue, not a criminal one.

Both of these elements are in Bill C‑5, but as a result, each is weaker in achieving the results we need.

[Marie-Hélène Gaudreau, Bloc, Laurentides—Labelle, QC]

Madam Speaker, I will be very succinct.

I know that we can be proactive because I worked with community organizations in Laurentides—Labelle that work proactively to prevent crime. They have what it takes to help us. I agree that Bill C‑5 should be split in two.

Filipino Heritage Month

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

Madam Speaker,

[Member spoke in Filipino]

[English]

June is the month in which we celebrate and recognize the importance of Filipino Canadian heritage. It is also the month in which the country of the Philippines celebrates its independence of 124 years. If we were to canvass the House, I am sure we would find a general consensus that the contributions of the Filipino heritage community are second to no other. It continues to grow. It is one million strong.

It is with great pleasure that I encourage all members, rural and urban and from all sides, to recognize the important role the Filipino heritage community plays every day of the year.

I give a special shout-out to my ate Clarita for the beautiful suit jacket.

Saskatchewan Roughriders

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

Madam Speaker, the Canadian Football League regular season kicks off tonight, and the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ home opener is this Saturday at Mosaic Stadium in Regina. This year, the green and white will be victorious in all regions of the country, including Atlantic Canada, when Wolfville, Nova Scotia, hosts a game against the Toronto Argos on July 16.

It has been a tough three years for Rider nation. Not only was the 2020 Grey Cup game in Regina cancelled due to the pandemic, but the 2019 and 2021 Grey Cups were both won by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. It is shameful.

However, those dark times are behind us, and we are all looking forward to seeing the Riders win the Grey Cup on home turf in Regina this November 20. If anyone is still thinking about their fall vacation plans, the Grey Cup festivities in Regina this November are not to be missed.

Go Riders, and have a great season.

Event in Oakville North—Burlington

[Pam Damoff, Liberal, Oakville North—Burlington, ON]

Madam Speaker, June 18 will be a big day in Oakville North—Burlington as we celebrate the arts, lacrosse and a renowned sports artist. On this special day, the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre in Oakville will host the Rob MacDougall Memorial Lacrosse Day and Celebrity Classic in honour of Rob MacDougall, while raising funds and awareness for KidSport Ontario.

Rob was an artist, athlete, coach and leader who was known for his paintings of sports legends. He loved lacrosse and designed logos for teams like the Oakville Hawks, the Oakville Buzz, the Burlington Chiefs and the Toronto Rock. Not only that, but he revitalized lacrosse in our community. There are not many players who were not touched by him. Rob's leadership in the arts and in sports has not gone unnoticed.

I enthusiastically encourage everyone to support this event, whether attending, donating or spreading the word, in celebration of Rob MacDougall and Canadian sports.

Sylvain Gaudreault

[Mario Simard, Bloc, Jonquière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my friend Sylvain Gaudreault has just a few days left at the Quebec National Assembly as the MNA for Jonquière.

A professor and historian who was first elected in 2007, Sylvain has filled almost every role a parliamentarian can hold, including serving as a “super-minister” in the Marois government from 2012 to 2014 and as interim leader of the Parti Québécois. However, by his own admission, the role of MNA was the most important.

The people of Jonquière have trusted him to represent them for over 15 years because they know he is a humble, fair and devoted man. My MNA attributed his staying power in politics to the “Sylvain method”, which essentially meant always elevating the debate and remaining positive. That is the mark of a great politician and statesman.

Sylvain proudly served the independence movement and helped Quebec move forward. I will always remember his courage and the strength of his convictions as he uncompromisingly defended the goal of a just and active transition to an independent Quebec.

I want to thank Sylvain and wish him all the best for the future.

Situation in Ukraine

[Rachel Bendayan, Liberal, Outremont, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Russian invasion began over 100 days ago. Since then, the people of Ukraine have been experiencing a massacre.

In December, two months before the invasion, I proposed that the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development urgently examine the situation in Ukraine. Our work is not done, and I still think it is very important.

Our foreign affairs committee heard from the Ukrainian ambassador about the horrific acts of violence, rape, torture and cold-blooded murder of civilians. The Ukrainian ambassador invited our committee to come to Ukraine to bear witness to this, which I very much hope to do, but the Conservative Party refused. What is more, it has been nearly four weeks that the Conservatives have been filibustering the work of our committee, preventing us from hearing from witnesses and getting on with our work.

Now, just this week, the Conservative Party officially proposed to the House to drop sanctions against Russia on certain agricultural goods. It is shameful.

In times of crisis and in times of war, we must rise. We cannot obfuscate. We cannot back down. We must rise to meet the moment.

Filipino Heritage Month

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Filipino Heritage Month. Filipino Canadians have made tremendous contributions to the social, cultural and economic well-being of Canada.

In my province of Manitoba, the first immigrants from the Philippines arrived in the 1950s. Today, Manitoba is proudly home to one of the most vibrant populations of Filipino Canadians in the country. Canada and the Philippines have an important and ever-growing relationship on the world stage.

As the vice-chair of the Canada-Philippines Interparliamentary Friendship Group, I sincerely look forward to working with all Canadians and Filipinos to advance our nations’ shared interests.

This morning, I was honoured to join members of the Filipino community at a flag-raising ceremony on Parliament Hill where we celebrated the Philippines' 124th Independence Day. I ask all Canadians from coast to coast to coast to join me in celebrating Filipino Heritage Month.

Filipino Heritage Day

[Ken Hardie, Liberal, Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC]

Mr. Speaker, it would appear that this is not only Filipino Heritage Month, it is Filipino Heritage Day here in the House of Commons and I join my colleagues in celebrating a community that has happily woven its way very deeply into our multicultural fabric.

Celebrate is the right term. This morning we enjoyed raising the flag of the Philippines on Parliament Hill and we enjoyed our very own, very talented Glisha from Surrey as she sang the national anthems. We have enjoyed mixing and mingling with diplomatic representatives and Filipino community leaders.

In that regard, we on the west coast and in Surrey are particularly honoured to be the home of Narima Dela Cruz, president of the Filipino National Congress. From the first Filipino sailors who came to our west coast in the late 1800s and those who worked in our lumber mills and mines in the early 1900s, to the workers who settled on the Prairies and founded Winnipeg's strong and robust Filipino community, we know them as friendly, hard-working, forward-looking people who are a valued part of every neighbourhood they are to be found in. In other words, they are really good Canadians.

Office Staff Thanks

[Wayne Long, Liberal, Saint John—Rothesay, NB]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to introduce to you and all Canadians to four very important people: Ashley Lloyd, Maghnus Ryan, David Hickey and Jeannette Arsenault. They may not be as popular and as well known as Wayne Long in the riding of Saint John—Rothesay, but they are equally, if not more, important.

They are part of Team Long. They are part of my constituency office and my Hill office, and we all know as MPs that we would not be here without them. They answer the phones, they answer the emails and the social media, they schedule the meetings, and they learn our programs and policies. They are on the front lines and on behalf of all of us, and all Canadians, I want to thank them for the wonderful jobs they do in our constituency and Hill offices.

John Smylie

[Ryan Williams, Conservative, Bay of Quinte, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness that I speak today on the passing last week of John Smylie of Quinte West, honorary colonel of CFB Trenton. John was a community leader, a loving husband, an incredible father and a more incredible grandfather.

John and Angela Smylie operated grocery stores in Simcoe, Guelph and Brockville, and ended up as operators of Smylie's Independent in Trenton, Ontario. John showed his true love and philanthropy to his town and region. In the 2003 blackout, when other grocers were increasing their prices of batteries, John decreased his. When people needed baskets for the Salvation Army, he was the first in line.

He championed the local Trenton Memorial Hospital and ensured that it would thrive today. He was the honorary colonel of 436 Squadron in Quinte West and when he passed, he was the honorary colonel of CFB Trenton, cherishing every moment spent there. He wore his uniform with pride.

The Bay of Quinte mourns the loss of an incredible service person to our community. He was a true friend and family man. I thank John for his service to our region and to our country.

May he rest in peace.

Firearms Legislation

[Jenna Sudds, Liberal, Kanata—Carleton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, one of the greatest risk factors in a violent intimate relationship is gun ownership. Just by virtue of having a gun in the home, the lethality of intimate partner violence increases by 500%.

A femicide occurs every two and a half days in our country. It routinely follows documented incidents of intimate partner violence, and it disproportionately affects indigenous women and women living in rural areas.

Intimate partner violence and gun violence intersect, and they intersect in deadly ways. That is why Bill C-21's new red flag law is crucial: It would ensure that anyone who is proved to be at risk of harming themselves or those around them would not be able to possess a firearm licence.

There are still too many women in this country who live in fear. These new provisions would save lives, and I hope everyone in the House will support the bill's speedy passage.

Tourist Attractions in Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier

[Joël Godin, Conservative, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my riding of Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, located in the beautiful greater Quebec City region, is known for its many tourist attractions, its hospitality and its abundance of local products.

Not to be missed are the farmers' markets, which are becoming a gathering place for passionate farmers, creative artisans and dedicated producers who are always ready to take good care of their customers. The wide variety of products and the friendly people always make for a pleasant experience.

At the farmers' markets in Saint‑Augustin‑de‑Desmaures, Deschambault-Grondines, Pont‑Rouge, Saint‑Raymond, Saint‑Casimir, Stoneham‑et‑Tewkesbury, Saint‑Gabriel‑de‑Valcartier and Sainte‑Catherine‑de‑la‑Jacques‑Cartier, visitors are sure to discover something special that will make their visit more enjoyable.

I invite all of Canada's foodies to come for a visit. They will receive a warm welcome in Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier.

I wish everyone a good summer.

John Ware Memorial

[John Barlow, Conservative, Foothills, AB]

Mr. Speaker, thunderclouds rolled over the foothills of southern Alberta, bringing desperately needed rain for the grasslands of the foothills. It was a perfect backdrop for a celebration honouring a legendary cowboy.

The stories of John Ware are almost too fantastic to believe. He would stop a steer head-on. He would lift small cows and he would break horses that others thought were unbreakable. What is indisputable is a story of survival and perseverance. John Ware embodied the strength and resilience of Black Canadians. He overcame racism, rough frontier conditions and slavery to build a life for himself and his family in the foothills, and he became a successful and renowned rancher. A highly skilled horseman, John joined a crew that drove a thousand head of cattle to the Rocky Mountains, where he built a life for himself.

His achievements are now being honoured with a plaque at the Bar U Ranch National Historic Site in the saddle barn that he helped build. I would encourage all Canadians to learn more about this incredible pioneer so that the legend of John Ware lives on.

West Island Black Community Association

[Sameer Zuberi, Liberal, Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise today to talk about an organization that is doing fantastic work on behalf of the Black community in Pierrefonds—Dollard.

The West Island Black Community Association, properly known as WIBCA, is celebrating its 40th anniversary this month. This wonderful organization provides a wide array of services to all segments of society while also empowering Montreal's Black community. Its services include a clinic, a scholarship program, its first-ever robotics expo being inaugurated this week and fitness programs, as well as security and financial literacy workshops for seniors.

I want to thank the West Island Black Community Association for playing such a vital role in the pandemic response and for its hard work in our community.

I thank them for making the West Island a better place. I look forward to celebrating this important milestone with them.

Ojibway National Urban Park

[Brian Masse, NDP, Windsor West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, in the face of continued misinformation from the Prime Minister's Office, yesterday's passage of Bill C-248 establishing Ojibway National Park was a victory for Caldwell First Nation, the City of Windsor, Essex County and the environment. New Democrats, Conservatives, the Bloc Québécois, the Green Party and two courageous Liberal MPs voted to establish this historic park.

I want to thank Chief Mary Duckworth and all of Caldwell First Nation for years of advocacy, Mayor Dilkens and all of the city council, Janet and Dave of Wildlands League, the Unifor Environment Committee, Friends of the Rouge, Friends of Ojibway Park, Essex County Field Naturalists' Club, ERCA, thousands of resident schools and businesses, Wildlife Preservation Canada, Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge, Green Ummah, the Audubon Society and Save Ojibway.

These remarkable organizations and people came together and worked hand in hand to make this park a reality. We now invite members who did not vote for this park to work with us on the next steps.

Quebec's Political Weight

[Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay, Bloc, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Liberal and Conservative members from Quebec showed their true colours yesterday. They voted against protecting Quebec's political weight in the House of Commons. They voted against maintaining the proportion of seats in Ottawa for the Quebec nation at 25%.

Because of them, Quebec is doomed to slowly disappear. Maintaining Quebec's political weight at 25% is not a new concept. It was proposed as part of the Charlottetown accord in 1992. It was Brian Mulroney's compromise in order to accommodate Quebec within the Canadian system. It was known as the “beau risque”. That is what the Liberals and Conservatives said no to.

It is even worse coming from the Conservatives, because they are abandoning the only real legacy they ever had in Quebec. In 1992, the Conservatives were in favour of protecting Quebec's political weight, while the Reform Party opposed it. This is basically proof that that party over there today is the Reform Party. It also shows how important the Quebec nation is to the rest of Canada. Let us face the facts.

Human Rights Work

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Chinese Communist Party continues to commit horrific acts of violence against Uighurs and other Turkic Muslims: acts that this House has rightly recognized constitute genocide. Actions by Parliament and the government continue to be vitally needed to more effectively block products made with Uighur forced labour, halt complicity in organ harvesting and prevent Canadian imports from supporting this repression, and to sanction perpetrators of violence.

This week, I was very pleased to join Senator Leo Housakos in welcoming a leader in the fight for Uighurs and for human rights in general to Parliament: NBA star Enes Kanter Freedom. Honestly, I am not normally a big sports fan, but it was great to see the way that the convening power of celebrity could be used to constructively engage more people in an important cause. Mr. Freedom has leveraged his audience of millions to bring awareness and promote action in support of the world's most vulnerable. Uighurs in concentration camps often cannot have their voices heard, so Mr. Freedom is using his platform to magnify their voices.

I also want to recognize his important work on human rights in Turkey to defend the rights of those persecuted by the increasingly authoritarian Erdogan regime.

While many stars and corporate brands only stand for racial justice when it is convenient, Mr. Freedom is always a champion on the court that matters most. I thank him for being a voice for the voiceless.

Italian Week Ottawa

[Yasir Naqvi, Liberal, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am so pleased to rise today to welcome back, after two long years of waiting, the in-person Italian Week Ottawa celebrations in my community of Ottawa Centre. Italian Week is focused on creating exciting experiences that share Italian culture with all of us.

The events scheduled this year include a film screening, master classes, children's bedtime stories and much more. The grand finale will take place from June 17 to 19 along beautiful Preston Street in Little Italy in my community.

I encourage everyone to join us next weekend to see live entertainment, a soccer tournament, kids' rides, opera performances, street animations and the Ottawa bike race as we close out the week.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Department of Canadian Heritage for the ongoing support it has provided to Italian Week Ottawa, and to applaud the festival organizers and board directors, Lydia Di Francesco and Gina Maddalena, along with all the volunteers for their tireless efforts in planning this fantastic celebration.

Happy Settimana Italiana di Ottawa.

Health

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

Mr. Speaker, soon masks will no longer be required on public transit in Ontario. Soon masks will no longer be required on public transit in Quebec. The provincial governments listened to the recommendations of their public health experts.

Vaccine passports are no longer required in the country unless you are taking a plane, working for the federal government or entering the Parliament buildings. It is so ridiculous that some Liberal MPs have asked the Conservatives not to talk about it because they are afraid it will upset the Prime Minister and he will dig in his heels.

What is wrong with the Prime Minister's political science?

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

Mr. Speaker, first allow me to thank Canadians for the sacrifices they made to get through the pandemic. Our collective efforts have borne fruit: Canada has the second-lowest mortality rate in the G7 and the lowest unemployment rate in the last 50 years.

Such effective outcomes are a result of the vaccines and all the public health measures we implemented.

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

Mr. Speaker, her talent for not answering questions is incredible. What is the difference between being crammed into a subway or lining up at an airport? People on the subway have physical contact with others, vaccinated or not, and public health is fine with that. At an airport, everyone is vaccinated and must still wear a mask.

The Prime Minister has no science to justify this. Does the Prime Minister think that the provincial public health agencies, which are responsible for health, are wrong? Are all the agencies in all the provinces wrong, or is he the only one who is right? Why does the Prime Minister insist on making people wear masks and maintaining these measures?