Debates of Oct. 18th, 2023

Justice

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Abbotsford, BC]

Mr. Speaker, today, this House will vote on whether to protect the mentally ill against assisted suicide, but yesterday the justice minister falsely claimed that euthanizing vulnerable Canadians was good public policy and the only way to comply with Canadian law. Meanwhile, we are hearing more and more reports of Canadians crying out for help and being offered assisted suicide instead. Is this the sorry state of our mental health system? Millions of Canadians oppose the government's fascination with assisted death.

Will the government now bring a full stop to this madness?

[Mark Holland, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, of course, there is not one among us in this House who does not have people they love who are deeply vulnerable and have been in a state of mental health crisis. Every single person in this House wants to make sure those people get the support and strength they need. That is why we are making critical investments there.

We also have to make sure, for the people who are trapped in mental illness and in deep, profound suffering, that we examine the best way to deal with those circumstances. That is why we are working to reconstitute the joint committee so that we can look at this process and look at how to responsibly deal with these issues in a way that respects and protects vulnerable people.

Veterans Affairs

[Blake Richards, Conservative, Banff—Airdrie, AB]

Mr. Speaker, each year on November 11, we gather to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice in defence of our nation. Now, under the Liberal government, our military chaplains are being told they cannot even pray for the fallen.

During World War II, chaplains led prayer on the boats on the eve of the D-Day landings. Chaplains have provided last rites to dying soldiers in the field. The Prime Minister is now telling Canadians that, on Remembrance Day, they cannot even pray for those who fought for our country.

What is going on?

[Marie-France Lalonde, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, today I would like to thank our members of the armed forces and all the veterans who have served our country.

Every day in Canada, we must say thank you to these men and women who, in these times in particular, are defending what we do. On November 11, like many of my friends here and my colleagues, we remember. We will always remember the sacrifice of our veterans.

[James Bezan, Conservative, Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals are discriminating against people of faith who want to pay tribute to our veterans. It is bad Liberal policy that is actually driving down morale in the Canadian Armed Forces.

It was reported that troops are leaving the forces in droves because of the lack of good, affordable housing. Sadly, military families are being forced to ask for donations to help offset the high cost of food and housing. After eight long years, the troops can no longer afford the Liberals or make that sacrifice.

When will the Prime Minister finally start supporting our troops?

[Marie-France Lalonde, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, I will not take any lessons today from that side of the House. When the Conservatives were in power, they actually cut spending to fall below 1%. Let me be very clear: Military members and their families are our top priority. We are taking steps to ensure that they are supported. In budget 2022, we invested $55 million in residential housing for CAF members. We will be there for our troops. We will always support them.

Canadian Heritage

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

Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Acadian community of New Brunswick and proud member of Parliament for Madawaska—Restigouche, I am pleased to have participated in the announcement a few moments ago confirming funding for Acadian community celebrations of National Acadian Day in 2024. My Acadian colleagues and I have always ensured that these major celebrations continue to receive support.

Can the Minister of Canadian Heritage update us on how this government supports the Acadian community and its culture, as well as National Acadian Day celebrations?

[Pascale St-Onge, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, I must say that my colleagues worked extremely hard leading up to today's announcement, and I thank them for their collaboration. Today's announcement is a reaffirmation of the Government of Canada's support for Acadian culture and history.

Today's announcement completes the funding package of $500,000, which is the amount required to celebrate National Acadian Day. The $250,000 announced today will make celebrations possible in every community.

This is excellent news. Together with the $2.8 million set aside for the Congrès mondial acadien, Acadia will be celebrating in style.

Public Services and Procurement

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

Mr. Speaker, no one is above the law, and that includes the Prime Minister. After eight years, he is the only one in Canadian history who has been found guilty of breaking not one, but two, ethics laws and now, with the arrive scam app, the RCMP is investigating criminality in the highest echelons of the government.

What was the Prime Minister's response? He shut down debate, and he shut down committees. Now he is hiding behind cabinet confidence. He is not worth the cost. Under dark clouds of suspicion, will the Prime Minister cooperate with the now several RCMP investigations?

[Jennifer O'Connell, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, as the member opposite should know by this time, the Prime Minister does not dictate committees. It is the responsibility of members of the House to determine what the committees decide to move forward with. With that being said, we have faith and trust in the RCMP and those who are said to investigate any accusations of wrongdoing.

[An hon. member]

Oh, oh!

[Jennifer O'Connell, Liberal, Pickering—Uxbridge, ON]

Mr. Speaker, we look forward to any reports that come forward from the RCMP. Any form of misconduct will have consequences.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

May I remind the member for Brantford—Brant that he had the opportunity to ask his question and to please listen to the response without comment.

The hon. member for Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians would love for reports to come from the RCMP, but the Prime Minister is hiding behind cabinet confidences and the NDP-Liberal coalition to keep Canadians in the dark about wrongdoing. That is why they were not able to launch that criminal investigation into the government. If members can believe this, there is a $1-billion so-called green slush fund that, through misappropriation and conflicts of interest, the government has had to suspend because $150 million in taxpayers' money has been mismanaged.

Now, whistle-blowers are looking for employment and reprisal protection, but we know that the government will do what it always does and throw a whistle-blower under the bus, just like it did with Jody Wilson-Raybould when she called out corrupt Liberals. Will they protect these whistle-blowers?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Minister of Innovation]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians watching at home should remember what the facts are in the House. The moment that we heard about allegations of misconduct, we immediately commissioned a third-party independent expert to investigate these allegations, who reported back to me. We have suspended, in good governance, the funds that would be disbursed to protect the interests of Canadians.

I can assure the member that we will take all measures required to make sure that proper governance is applied in all agencies of the Government of Canada.

Natural Resources

[Gerald Soroka, Conservative, Yellowhead, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Supreme Court has declared the Liberals' no more pipelines act as unconstitutional. Ignoring concerns from Canadians, the Prime Minister and his minister for carbon taxes seem hell-bent on destroying our natural resource sector. After eight years of the Prime Minister's anti-resource agenda, Canadians are suffering. Common sense Conservatives would advocate for our natural resource sector. The Prime Minister is just not worth the cost.

When will the NDP-Liberal government do the right thing and repeal this disastrous bill?

[Jonathan Wilkinson, Liberal, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, I think Canadians understand that, when the Conservative Party was in power, it gutted the environmental legislation that existed in this country in 2012. It undermined the confidence that Canadians had that the environment was going to be protected and that the rights of indigenous peoples would be respected, such that good projects could go ahead.

We have put into place a system of better rules to ensure environmental sustainability and respect for indigenous rights, which will accelerate the work we are doing to ensure that good projects move ahead.

With respect to the Supreme Court decision, there are some surgical tweaks that we will make to ensure that we move forward.

Diversity and Inclusion

[Ben Carr, Liberal, Winnipeg South Centre, MB]

Mr. Speaker, Jews in Canada represent just 1% of the population, and as Irwin Cotler reminds us, they are victims of 67% of reported hate crimes in Canada. Anti-Semitism is on the rise and Islamophobia is too.

I met with Jewish students yesterday who are afraid to be outed as Jews in their own community for fear of their safety. I have spoken with Muslims who are afraid to be outed as Muslims in their own communities for fear of their safety.

Can the Minister of Diversity and Inclusion let us know what role the government is playing in addressing the real anxieties of Jews and Muslims in Canada right now?

[Kamal Khera, Liberal, Minister of Diversity]

Mr. Speaker, I first want to acknowledge just how difficult the past few days and weeks have been for both the Jewish and Muslim communities. I want them to know that all of us here stand with them and in solidarity with those communities.

On Monday, we announced the appointment of Ms. Deborah Lyons as Canada's special envoy on preserving holocaust remembrance and combatting anti-Semitism. As she stated, she will work closely with her counterpart, the special representative on combatting Islamophobia, to support both communities during this difficult time when feelings of anxiety, tension and fear are on the rise.

Diversity is at the core of who we are as Canadians. We all need to be united in standing up against hate and intolerance whenever and wherever.

National Defence

[Rachel Blaney, NDP, North Island—Powell River, BC]

Mr. Speaker, those who join the Canadian Forces do so because they believe in service to their country. Now, members are leaving their jobs because they cannot keep up with rising house costs. Those who keep us safe cannot afford a home, and the Liberals' and Conservatives' solution is to leave housing to condo developers, who keep costs so high.

The people who serve us deserve better. What is this government going to do to ensure that members of the Canadian Armed Forces do not become homeless?

[Marie-France Lalonde, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member for raising this. As an advocate, she has brought forward a lot of issues in the House.

However, let me be very clear. Military members and their families are our top priority, and we are taking steps to ensure that they are supported. This is why we are working with our stakeholders to align resources and acquire additional housing. In budget 2022-23 alone, we have invested $55 million in residential housing for CAF members.

Natural Resources

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

Mr. Speaker, the incredible irony here is that the portions of the impact assessment law that the Supreme Court found were in excess of federal jurisdiction were the sections created by Stephen Harper in wrecking our previous, predictable, strong environmental assessment legislation and the so-called designated project list, which was a very bad idea. The expert environmental law panel created under former minister McKenna, and then ignored by the government in bringing forward Bill C-69, has the answers the government needs.

Will this minister commit to reviewing those recommendations and putting them in place?

[Jonathan Wilkinson, Liberal, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, I think we can agree that the Conservative Party destroyed environmental legislation in this country and undermined the integrity of those processes such that it was incumbent upon the new government to bring into place better rules that would allow major projects to be built in this country. These would be projects that respect environmental rights and the rights of indigenous peoples. We have delivered on that.

We certainly respect the decision of the court, and we will be making amendments to the act. However, the Supreme Court was clear, and I will be very clear about this, that the Parliament of Canada enacted legislation to protect the environment, and we certainly will continue to do that.

Presence in Gallery

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

I wish to draw the attention of members to the presence in the gallery of Her Excellency Lindita Nikolla, Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Albania, accompanied by a parliamentary delegation.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear!