House of Commons Hansard #149 of the 44th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was regard.

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Uighurs and Other Turkic Muslims Members debate Motion No. 62 regarding China's treatment of Uighurs and other Turkic Muslims, discussing the recognition of genocide and the need for Canada to resettle 10,000 refugees. Concerns are raised about Chinese intimidation and pressure on third countries. The NDP proposes an amendment for additional immigration levels and a shorter reporting deadline. Speakers urge the government to take stronger action and avoid past abstentions. 6700 words, 1 hour.

Online News Act The Speaker informs Members of an administrative error in Bill C-18, where a negatived subamendment was mistakenly included in the version sent to the Senate, and outlines corrective steps. 700 words.

Canada Early Learning and Child Care Act Second reading of Bill C-35. The bill Bill C-35, An Act respecting early learning and child care in Canada aims to enshrine a Canada-wide system, ensuring affordable, high-quality, inclusive, and accessible child care by 2026. Liberals highlight agreements with all provinces and territories, reducing fees towards $10/day, boosting the economy, and supporting women's workforce participation. Conservatives argue it lacks choice for families, ignores private operators, and fails to address staff shortages or wait-lists. The Bloc supports the principle but wants a permanent opt-out for Quebec. The NDP advocates for explicit fair wages for educators and stronger accountability. 37000 words, 4 hours in 2 segments: 1 2.

Statements by Members

Question Period

The Conservatives criticize the Liberal government's economic mismanagement, linking it to 40-year high inflation, increased crime, and doubled mortgage and rent prices. They accuse the government of wasteful spending and ethics breaches, particularly regarding McKinsey contracts and patronage scandals. They also demand bail reform and question the Amira Elghawaby appointment.
The Liberals focus on supporting the middle class with investments in dental and child care, rental assistance, and poverty reduction. They highlight Canada's strong G7 economic standing, defend public health care, and commit to bail reform. Other priorities include fighting Islamophobia, reviewing McKinsey contracts, and protecting biodiversity.
The Bloc challenges the Amira Elghawaby appointment, deeming it insulting to Quebec. They defend Quebec's notwithstanding clause for Bills 21 and 96 and demand 35% health transfers for provinces.
The NDP criticizes the Prime Minister's flip-flop on private health care, demands air passenger accountability, and advocates a windfall profits tax for affordability. They also seek action on seniors' housing and to designate the Wagner Group a terrorist entity.

Procedure and House Affairs Members debate the 20th report on the future of hybrid House of Commons proceedings. Liberals support its continuation, while Conservatives present a dissenting report, citing shortcomings and proposing a temporary extension with in-person modifications. 500 words.

Petitions

Speaker's Ruling Members debate an amendment to Bill C-21 (firearms) that the NDP argues is out of scope, broadening the bill beyond its original intent. The Speaker declines to rule while it is in committee. 800 words.

Adjournment Debates

Canada water agency funding Elizabeth May asks about the promised Canada Water Agency. Terry Duguid says it will be stood up soon, mentioning funding in Budget 2022 for its creation and modernization of the Canada Water Act. May reiterates the need for an independent and properly funded agency, especially given the climate crisis.
Government spending criticisms Garnett Genuis criticizes the government's spending on items such as consulting contracts and hotel rooms amid high inflation. Terry Beech defends the government's spending, citing global economic stressors, and highlights programs such as the GST credit and the Canada dental benefit.
Mental health transfer payments Gord Johns accuses the government of failing to deliver on its promise of new mental health transfer payments, leading to dire consequences. Élisabeth Brière defends the government's investments in mental health, citing existing federal supports to provinces and territories, and an upcoming meeting between the Prime Minister and premiers.
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Question No.965—Questions Passed as Orders for ReturnsRoutine Proceedings

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

Dan Mazier Conservative Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB

With regard to the government’s $2.75 billion Universal Broadband Fund: (a) how much of the $2.75 billion has actually been delivered to date; (b) what is the breakdown of (a) by Rapid Response Stream fundings versus core fund; (c) of the Rapid Response Stream funding delivered to date, what is the breakdown by province or territory; (d) of the core funding delivered to date, what is the breakdown by province or territory; (e) which organizations or other entities have received Rapid Response Stream funding to date, and how much did each receive; and (f) which organizations or other entities have received core funding to date, and how much did each receive?

(Return tabled)

Question No.966—Questions Passed as Orders for ReturnsRoutine Proceedings

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

Glen Motz Conservative Medicine Hat—Cardston—Warner, AB

With regard to the reforms to the superior courts judicial appointments process announced by the government in 2016: what are the details of all memoranda and documents sent from or received by the Office of the Prime Minister, the Privy Council Office or the Department of Justice, including the minister’s office, about the judicial appointments process between January 1, 2016, and October 31, 2016, including, for each, the (i) date, (ii) sender, (iii) recipient, (iv) title, (v) type of document, (vi) summary of contents?

(Return tabled)

Question No.968—Questions Passed as Orders for ReturnsRoutine Proceedings

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

Brad Redekopp Conservative Saskatoon West, SK

With regard to the temporary resident programs of the Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship (IRCC) for the calendar years 2019-2021, broken down by month: (a) what is the number of Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) applications received, broken down by international student study permit holders, temporary foreign workers, International Mobility Program, and visitor visas; (b) what is the number of TRV applications received, broken down by channel, including, but not limited to, telephone, in person, mail, online, other; (c) what is the number of TRVs issued, broken down by international student study permit holders, temporary foreign workers, International Mobility Program, and visitor visas; (d) what is the number of Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) applications received broken down by channel, including, but not limited to, telephone, in person, mail, online, other; (e) what is the number of eTAs issued; (f) what is the number of backlogged TRV applications, broken down by international student study permit holders, temporary foreign workers, International Mobility Program, and visitor visas; (g) what is the number of backlogged eTA applications; (h) at the most detailed level possible, what is the number of IRCC full time equivalent employees working in the temporary resident programs, broken down by the various program streams, including, but not limited to, study permit holders, temporary foreign workers, International Mobility Program, visitor visas, and general administration; and (i) at the most detailed level possible, what is the IRCC's total budget and spending for the temporary resident programs, broken down by the various program streams (study permit holders, temporary foreign workers, International Mobility Program, visitor visas, and general administration)?

(Return tabled)

Question No.970—Questions Passed as Orders for ReturnsRoutine Proceedings

3:35 p.m.

NDP

Niki Ashton NDP Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, MB

With regard to the First Nations On-Reserve Housing Program, broken down by reserve and fiscal year since 2015-16: (a) how much funding was (i) requested, (ii) delivered, through the program; and (b) what is the total number of new homes built with contributions from the program?

(Return tabled)

Question No.971—Questions Passed as Orders for ReturnsRoutine Proceedings

3:35 p.m.

NDP

Niki Ashton NDP Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, MB

With regard to ministerial loan guarantees used to secure loans to build, purchase or renovate on-reserve housing, broken down by fiscal year since 2015-16: (a) what is the total number and dollar value of loans requested; (b) what is the total number and dollar value of loans in (a) that have been (i) committed, (ii) disbursed; and (c) how many total borrowers in (a) defaulted on loans, and what was the total loan amount that was defaulted on?

(Return tabled)

Question No.972—Questions Passed as Orders for ReturnsRoutine Proceedings

3:35 p.m.

NDP

Niki Ashton NDP Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, MB

With regard to the Canada Revenue Agency’s investigations into overseas tax evasion and the Panama Papers, Paradise Papers and Pandora Papers, broken down by paper and fiscal year since 2015-16: (a) how many audits were initiated into Canadian companies; (b) how many of the audits in (a) are (i) currently under review, (ii) closed; (c) what was the average processing time for audits in (a); (d) what is the total cost of the audits in (a); (e) how many of the audits in (a) led to criminal investigations; and (f) what is the dollar value of sums recovered from each audit in (a)?

(Return tabled)

Question No.973—Questions Passed as Orders for ReturnsRoutine Proceedings

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

Michael Kram Conservative Regina—Wascana, SK

With regard to the RCMP’s delay in provision of pay stubs or tax notices: (a) why did the RCMP or the government not provide pay stubs or tax notices to members of the RCMP from the suspension of delivery of pay stubs or tax notices by epost to the delivery of pay stubs or tax notices by Gilmore Docuscan; (b) how long was or will be the time period between the end of delivery of pay stubs or tax notices by epost and delivery of pay stubs or tax notices by Gilmore Docuscan; (c) how many members of the RCMP did not or will not receive their pay stubs or tax notices during this period; (d) what are the details of discussions or meetings about this delay, including (i) violation of employment standards legislation, (ii) condition of employment, (iii) tax implications for members; (e) what departments, agencies, offices and individuals were involved in this issue; and (f) what supporting documents exist regarding this issue, including, but not limited to emails, texts, briefing notes, memos and reports, and what are the details of such documents?

(Return tabled)

Question No.975—Questions Passed as Orders for ReturnsRoutine Proceedings

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

Tracy Gray Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC

With regard to the Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program: (a) what is the number of organizations that have applied to the program prior to the closing date; (b) what was the total value of funding requests received; (c) what is the breakdown of (a) and (b) by province or territory; (d) what was the number of organizations which have been approved for the program; (e) what was the dollar value of the funding (i) approved, (ii) transferred to the recipient, as of November 11, 2022; (f) what is the breakdown of (d) and (e) by province or territory; (g) what is the number of approved organizations which have already received funding through the program; (h) what is the eligibility of charitable or non-profit organizations for this program; (i) what are the details of all projects and entities funded through the program, including, for each, the (i) recipient name, (ii) location, (iii) amount of funding approved, (iv) amount of funding delivered, (v) project description, (vi) start date of the project; and (j) have any third parties outside of Employment and Social Development Canada been given any responsibilities related to the application process or administration of the program, and, if so, what are the details, including for each, the (i) name of the entity, (ii) summary of the mandate or work assigned, (iii) amount of financial compensation provided by the government?

(Return tabled)

Question No.976—Questions Passed as Orders for ReturnsRoutine Proceedings

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

Alex Ruff Conservative Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON

With regard to all restrictions imposed related to the Minimizing the Risk of Exposure to COVID-19 in Canada Order (Quarantine, Isolation and Other Obligations) applied to Canadian travellers re-entering Canada from March 2020 until June 2022: (a) how were these changes communicated to Canadians that do not have access to electronic forms of communication, including the Amish and similar communities with dual Canadian-USA citizenship who travel regularly between Canada and the United States; (b) what are the details of all such communication in (a), including, for each, the (i) date issued, (ii) medium (e.g. flyer, newspaper advertisement, direct mail, etc.), (iii) summary of content, (iv) name of the publication if applicable, (v) number of printed communications or circulation level of the publication; (c) what specific measures, if any, were made to ensure that these restrictions were communicated to the Amish and other similar communities in the riding of Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound; and (d) what are the details of all such communications in (c), including, for each, the (i) date issued, (ii) medium, (iii) summary of the communication, (iv) name of the publication (if applicable), (v) number of printed communications or circulation level of the publication?

(Return tabled)

Question No.977—Questions Passed as Orders for ReturnsRoutine Proceedings

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

Jasraj Singh Hallan Conservative Calgary Forest Lawn, AB

With regard to government expenditures made to the big three credit rating agencies (S&P Global Ratings, Moody's and Fitch Group) since January 1, 2016: what are the details of any such expenditures, including, for each, the (i) vendor, (ii) date, (iii) amount, (iv) reason for the expenditure, (v) goods or services provided?

(Return tabled)

Question No.978—Questions Passed as Orders for ReturnsRoutine Proceedings

3:35 p.m.

Bloc

Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC

With regard to the awarding of contracts by the government to the private firm McKinsey: (a) how many contracts were awarded by the government to the private firm McKinsey; and (b) what is the value and nature of each of these contracts?

(Return tabled)

Question No.981—Questions Passed as Orders for ReturnsRoutine Proceedings

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

Eric Melillo Conservative Kenora, ON

With regard to applications received under the Northern Ontario Development Program, since 2018, broken down by year the applications were received: (a) how many applicants and what percentage did not receive a decision within 80 days of the government receiving the application; (b) of the applicants in (a), how many organizations were (i) Indigenous-owned or were from Indigenous communities, (ii) non-indigenous owned or were from non-indigenous communities; (c) what is the breakdown of (a) by federal riding in Northern Ontario; and (d) for each instance where the application did not receive a decision within 80 days, what was the reason for the delay?

(Return tabled)

Question No.982—Questions Passed as Orders for ReturnsRoutine Proceedings

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

Eric Melillo Conservative Kenora, ON

With regard to applications received for funding under the Economic Development Initiative in Northern Ontario, since 2018, broken down by the year the applications were received: (a) how many applicants and what percentage did not receive a decision within 80 days of government receiving the application; (b) of the applicants in (a), how many organizations were (i) Indigenous-owned or were from Indigenous communities, (ii) non-indigenous owned or were from non-indigenous communities; (c) what is the breakdown of (a) by federal riding in Northern Ontario; and (d) for each instance where the application did not receive a decision within 80 days, what was the reason for the delay?