Debates of Sept. 20th, 2022

Canada Disability Benefit Act

[Mike Morrice, Green, Kitchener Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am glad to hear that the member for Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge is supportive of the legislation with lots of good words this afternoon, but the fact is that there is a real sense of urgency for those living in poverty. We took a recess over the summer. Those living in poverty did not get a recess from that.

Could the member speak to what he can do within his party to fast-track this legislation and get emergency supports to people living with disabilities today?

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

I need to remind the members to keep their conversations low as they come into the House of Commons because we still have debate going on.

The hon. member for Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge.

[Marc Dalton, Conservative, Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I know we are happy to move things forward, but we really see an empty shell with this bill. With respect to regulations, there are subparagraphs (a) through (t), but we do not know what the regulations are. We need to see those regulations to help move the bill forward so we can ensure those with disabilities would best profit from it.

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

Mr. Speaker, what a pleasure it is to rise and speak to such an important piece of legislation, which the minister brought forward today. I know it will disappoint many members opposite, but I will be sharing my time.

Let me get back to the point. Whether it is the Prime Minister or members of the Liberal caucus, we can often be heard talking about an economy that would work for all Canadians. That is a central theme in the Liberal caucus. We understand and appreciate the importance of Canada's middle class and those aspiring to be a part of it. Recognizing that the true value of having a strong and healthy middle class would give us a healthier economy and a better society.

When we talk about an economy that works for all Canadians, it is important. That is the reason I am so glad that the first piece of legislation on our return is Bill C-22. Bill C-22 would ensure that there is a larger disposable income for those individuals with disabilities. This is something truly unique happening here in Canada. We are recognizing that the national government plays a significant role in ensuring that people with disabilities would receive money coming from the government.

I hear many of the comments from opposition members talking about wanting more details. This legislation would establish the framework, and no doubt there would be interesting discussions taking place in the standing committees. However, we need to realize that, when we establish a national program, and we speak from experience because we have developed other national programs, we need to work with different provinces and stakeholders. Not every province is the same. Provinces and territories have different structures in place.

As a government, the last thing we want to see is a payment going out, and then a province clawing back that money from a person with a disability. There are agreements that have to be achieved. There are negotiations and discussions that have to take place.

In Manitoba, for example, there is an income support program for people with disabilities. We are talking about something that is relatively new that started just in the last year. It has been talked about for a while. I am an optimist. I am hoping that Premier Heather Stefanson will work with our minister, and maybe Manitoba and the Government of Canada could come up with an agreement that could ultimately see people with disabilities in Manitoba further ahead in regard to disposable income.

As the minister herself indicated in introducing the legislation, this legislation would potentially lift tens of thousands of people out of poverty. Our track record shows that lifting people out of poverty is something we have experience in as a government. It is one of the things that differentiates us from the Conservative Party. Whether it was the guaranteed income supplement, which lifted tens of thousands of people out of poverty, including hundreds in Winnipeg North alone, or the Canada child benefit, which lifted tens of thousands of people out of poverty, including again hundreds, if not thousands, in Winnipeg North alone, this particular legislation—

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. It is “easy come, easy go...little high, little low...doesn't really matter to me”, but I cannot hear the statement because there are too many people talking. I would like to remind people in this political fandango that we should actually take the time to listen to what is being said.

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

I appreciate that intervention. I just did that, probably three minutes ago, but maybe some people did not hear as they were coming into the chamber. Let us keep the noise down a little while we listen to the hon. member for Winnipeg North.

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

Mr. Speaker, my feelings are not hurt. Members can continue their idle chatter.

From my perspective, we continue to provide policy and budgetary measures that are, in a real and tangible way, lifting people out of poverty. Bill C-22 would do just that. It is legislation that all of us should be supporting and sending it to committee.

Attacks on Hindu Temples

[Chandra Arya, Liberal, Nepean, ON]

Mr. Speaker, recent attacks on Hindu temples in Toronto, including BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir and Vishnu Mandir, must be condemned by all as hate crimes.

Hindu Canadians arrived here from South Asia, Africa, Caribbean but mostly from India. They are the most peaceful and hard-working community and keep a low profile focusing on their families and children’s education.

The increasingly vocal and well-organized anti-India and anti-Hindu groups in Canada has resulted in increasing anti-Hindu sentiments. Hindu Canadians are legitimately concerned about rising Hinduphobia in Canada.

I urge all levels of government to note this and take remedial actions now. Let us all work hard to ensure that people of all religious faiths continue to peacefully coexist in Canada.

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

I will once again remind folks to keep the noise down. Statements by Members is an important time for all members who have the opportunity to present them. Some of them, of course, are very serious in their nature.

The hon. member for Barrie—Innisfil.

Car Accident in Barrie

[John Brassard, Conservative, Barrie—Innisfil, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to six young people who died on August 27 as a result of a tragic car accident in Barrie.

Curtis King, River Wells, Luke West, Haley Marin, Jersey Mitchell and Jason Ono-O'Connor are being remembered as talented athletes and students who were figuring out their paths in life, as we would expect them to be at just 20, 21 and 22 years of age. They were friends, loving friends, loyal friends, and amazing young adults taken way too soon. As members can imagine, the entire community is mourning this tragedy, and this loss and the pain will be felt for a long time by many.

On behalf of the member for Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte and myself, I express our deep and sincere condolences to the family and many friends of Curtis, River, Luke, Haley, Jersey and Jason. We would also like to extend sincere thanks to the Barrie police, firefighters and Simcoe County paramedics who responded to this horrific incident and are working hard to find answers for the families.

Sharon Lustig

[Judy Sgro, Liberal, Humber River—Black Creek, ON]

Mr. Speaker, today I rise because I want to honour the memory of a very important friend and a member of the Humber River—Black Creek community, Sharon Lustig.

It is with profound sadness that I recognize Sharon's passing on September 5. She was a devoted mother to Ellen and Joel, a caring grandmother to her grandchildren and a loving wife of the long-standing Humber River Riding Association president, Ernie Lustig, who devotedly served our constituency for 23 years.

Sharon's commitment and contribution to our community is profound. She always advocated on issues that mattered most. She was a great support to her family and friends, most of all to her loving husband Ernie for 70 years, and to Sam and I and our family.

Sharon will always be remembered and dearly missed by all of us who loved her.

May my dear friend Sharon rest in peace.

Maude Charron

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the strength, talent and perseverance of Rimouski-born weightlifting champion Maude Charron. Maude won an Olympic gold medal in Tokyo in 2021 and was named international athlete of the year at the Sports Québec gala held in June. A few weeks ago, she added to her impressive record when she dominated the 64-kilogram weight class at the Commonwealth Games. Not only did she win gold, but she also set not one, not two, but three records at the games.

Beyond being a medallist and record holder, Maude is also a fantastic ambassador. She is inspiring a whole new generation to take up a sport and, above all, to believe they can make their dreams come true while training in their home region.

Her exceptional performance and authentic personality have made Maude the pride of not just the Lower St. Lawrence, but the entire nation as well. I encourage her to continue sharing her inspiring passion.

Return of the House

[Angelo Iacono, Liberal, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I had a busy summer reconnecting with the constituents, businesses and organizations in my riding, listening to their needs and drawing on their infectious enthusiasm to recharge my batteries.

Our Liberal team tuned in to people across the country, and we used what we learned about Canadians' needs to redefine our priorities as we head back to work. Business people, community groups and individuals told us what a relief and a lifeline the measures we introduced over the past two years were.

We also listened to their concerns about the challenges they are facing right now. The labour shortage, the affordable housing shortage, global inflation and gun control are the top issues as the new parliamentary season gets up and running.

Together with my colleagues, I am rolling up my sleeves and getting down to business.

I wish everyone a good session.

Anna Marguerite Ruff

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

Mr. Speaker, Anna Marguerite Ruff, known as Peggy, born August 7, 1922, passed away on September 10 at the young age of 100. She was number nine of 11 kids, mother of five, grandmother of 14, great-grandmother of 23 and great-great-grandmother of one.

I could easily talk about grandma for hours, and I have. She was legendary across the Canadian Armed Forces, including Bosnia, Afghanistan and Iraq. I asked family to give me one word to describe her and here are some of those words: applesauce; stellar; tenderhearted; honest; funny; strong; feisty; clever; unforgettable; caring; tomato soup, and that is world famous; and family.

Grandma played golf into her 80s and was a huge Toronto Blue Jays fan. She loved cribbage and was a provincial champion just shy of her 95th birthday, even though she was legally blind. Grandma made a huge impact on a lot of different organizations in the community. Whether it was the ladies’ auxiliary, the legion, different church groups, seniors or many more, grandma was respected by all.

She was stubborn, a trait she clearly passed onto her children. Thankfully, it skipped a generation and her grandkids did not inherit it. However, I can attest first-hand that her great-grandchildren did.

I love my grandma. Her whole family loves her. She will be missed.

Cable Public Affairs Channel

[Rechie Valdez, Liberal, Mississauga—Streetsville, ON]

Mr. Speaker, first, I would like to take a moment to welcome my colleagues back to the House of Commons.

I rise today to congratulate the Canadian Cable Public Affairs Channel for celebrating its 30th anniversary.

CPAC was founded in 1992 by an association of cable companies to preserve an independent voice for Canadian democracy and our democratic process.

CPAC is broadcasted into the homes of nearly 11 million Canadians and is available for streaming worldwide. Every day, Canadians tune in to CPAC to get direct access to parliamentary debates, provides an opportunity to learn about the work MPs do every day and broadens their understanding of the relevant issues as they unfold.

CPAC takes Canadians far beyond the headlines and provides us with compelling coverage of historic breaking events.

On behalf of all MPs, I wish CPAC a very happy 30th anniversary.

Canada's Great Lakes Crossing

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Whitby, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is with great honour that I rise in the House today to speak about one of Whitby's finest: our very own Mike Shoreman.

Despite being diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome and being told it would leave him disabled and unable to continue his lifelong passion for paddleboarding, Mike decided to take on a monumental challenge: paddleboarding across all five Great Lakes.

Not only did Mike not let his diagnosis deter him from continuing his life's passion, instead he persevered and dedicated himself to a worthy cause. He launched Canada's Great Lakes Crossing to raise awareness and to provide funding for youth mental health resources. This summer, on August 20, Mike completed the final leg of his journey by paddleboarding across Lake Ontario, becoming the first person with a disability to paddleboard across the Great Lakes.

His story reminds us of just how crucial access to mental health resources are and that there is no limit to what individuals living with disabilities can accomplish. Mike Shoreman not only inspires our community in Whitby, but is a role model for all Canadians.

I would ask that everyone please join me in congratulating Mike Shoreman on his impressive achievement.

Conservative Priorities

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

Mr. Speaker, what is wokeism? At first, the term “woke” was used to describe someone who was aware of and offended by the injustices and discrimination experienced by minority groups.

Today, however, this once-positive idea has been appropriated by a movement that is using it for political gain. Nowadays, wokeism is a culture that shuns, boycotts or cancels anyone who dares to disagree with its virtuous proponents.

Was I wrong at the beginning of the pandemic when I said that planes from China should not be allowed to land in Canada? Am I wrong to bring up the fact that immigrants should not be permitted to enter Canada willy-nilly at Roxham Road?

For both those opinions, I have been called a racist. However, Quebeckers defend their heritage, culture and language and make no apologies for it. The Quebec nation is bucking wokeism, and we will too.

The new Conservative leader will put people, their pensions, their paycheques, their homes and their country first.

New School Year

[René Arseneault, Liberal, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

Mr. Speaker, today is our first day back in Parliament this fall, and I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge all of the students in Madawaska—Restigouche who have recently gone back to school. We wish all students going back to school, college or university much success this school year.

This month, all students going back to school, college or university will be faced with choices, challenges and frustrations along the way. They will discover subject matters they love and struggle with others.

What is important is that each student use this time to find their own voice and their own path.

Whether they are one day teachers, doctors, farmers or hairdressers, some day in the future, Canada will need them. The process of finding their inspiration starts in those classrooms.

They have endless opportunities, and Canada will need their passion and their skills.

To young people going back to school, I urge them to explore a range of interests and find their passion. Canada will need them to develop it to its full potential.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Before we go to the next person, I just want to remind everyone that there are statements being made. It is great to see everyone talking to each other. I know we have missed each other. If members want to cross over and whisper as opposed to talking across the aisle, that would be great.

The hon. member for Peterborough—Kawartha.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

[Michelle Ferreri, Conservative, Peterborough—Kawartha, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the new Conservative leader will put people first: their retirement, their paycheques, their homes and their country.

We will bring hope to doctors, nurses and engineers, and others who are immigrants to this country but are blocked from working in their professions for no other reason than that they come from another country. We will team up with provinces to guarantee that, within 60 days, an immigrant applying to work in their profession will get a yes or no based on their tested abilities, not based on where they come from.

We will back up 30,000 small study loans for those in need of time off work to study up to Canadian standards. The current labour challenge felt in my riding of Peterborough—Kawartha and across our nation is substantial. Increased immigration is key for getting through it.

Enough talking. Remove the gatekeepers to get more doctors, more nurses, more engineers and more inflation-proof paycheques for newcomers to Canada.

[Frank Caputo, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the new Conservative leader will put people first: their retirement, their paycheques, their homes and their country. We need to restore home ownership. Right now—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Order. I just want to make sure everybody is listening to each other, not shouting or heckling.

If he does not mind, the hon. member for Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo will begin again, from the top.

Housing

[Frank Caputo, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the new Conservative leader will put people first: their retirement, their paycheques, their homes and their country.

We need to restore the hope of home ownership. Right now, youth and newcomers cannot get a home because local government gatekeepers block housing with heavy fees and long delays for building permits. This leaves us with the fewest houses per capita of any country in the G7, even though we have the most land to build on.

A Conservative government would require big cities that want federal infrastructure money to speed up and lower the cost of permits, and to approve affordable housing around all new transit stations so that our young people can live there and not even need to afford a car. We will also sell 15% of the under-utilized 37,000 federal buildings to turn them into housing and use the proceeds to reduce our deficit.

In other words, stop printing money and start building homes for people.

Trevor Robert Thomas Harrison

[Rob Oliphant, Liberal, Don Valley West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, every one of us who has the privilege to sit in this chamber is here because of the hard work, intelligence and love of the staff who support us every day.

This past week, the Liberal family lost one of our most valuable members. At the very young age of 36, Trevor Robert Thomas Harrison died in the presence of his beloved wife Kaisha, his wonderful and devoted parents Karen and John and his family.

We have lost a colleague and a friend. We are deeply grieved, but we are all the richer for having had him among us for a decade and a half. Over more than 10 years, Trevor has grown and thrived, served and worked, and taught us through his courage and grace as he lived with cancer. Working for members, ministers and the leader's office with the government House leader, Trevor was wise and respectful, good humoured and patient, kind and always optimistic.

He was an anchor for his family and friends. He fought the good fight. He finished the race and kept the faith. He will rest in peace and surely be remembered in love.