Debates of May 12th, 2023

Carbon Pricing

[Greg Fergus, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and to the President of the Treasury Board]

Mr. Speaker, I can reassure my colleague opposite by saying that the government will continue to work tirelessly to help Canadians. In budget 2023, we have already put measures in place to tax the wealthiest Canadians. We are proposing a 2% tax on repurchases of equity, and we will tax share dividends received by banks.

We are ready to do all that, but the Conservatives always block our measures, obfuscate and filibuster. I urge them to get to work.

Justice

[Mario Simard, Bloc, Jonquière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, there are 85 empty judges' seats in federal courts, and this is resulting in “stays of proceedings” against criminals. That is the warning of Supreme Court Chief Justice Richard Wagner in a letter obtained by CBC.

Liberal ministers must answer for those delays, because they always interfered in the appointment process. They filter candidates based on data from Elections Canada to find good Liberal donors. They consult other Liberals to find out who is part of the family.

When will they stop wasting their time with partisanship? When will they appoint the missing judges based on their qualifications?

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, our government has appointed more than 600 judges since November 2015. We appoint judges to the bench more efficiently than any other government, yet we know it is still not enough. We are working to fulfill vacancies in various provinces. We spoke with members of the judiciary, as well as the bar, to encourage more people to apply to the bench.

We will continue to make appointments at a steady rate, and the number of vacancies will continue to decline.

[Mario Simard, Bloc, Jonquière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the delays in judicial appointments remind us of that coincidence in 2019. By the end of the process, out of six judges appointed in New Brunswick, five had personal connections to the current Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities. There were three of his donors, his brother-in-law's wife and his neighbour.

Obviously it is harder to appoint judges these days. People can no longer count on the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities. He has already made his contribution.

My question is this: Would justice not be better served by an impartial, independent process held far from ministers and based strictly on merit?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, it goes without saying that the appointments are non-partisan and independent. It is very important because we are a country of rule of law. I think that everyone here agrees on that. It is also a priority of ours for the bench to be representative of the population.

We will work with the justice system. We will also work with the different representatives in society. The current Minister of Justice has appointed more judges than any other justice minister in the history of Canada. It is a priority and will continue to be.

Health

[Tracy Gray, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Mr. Speaker, disturbing reports from the National Post show that the Liberal-NDP approach of safe drug supply is actually subsidizing harm. It states that the government's approach has “caused the street price of hydromorphone (the primary opioid dispensed at safer supply sites) to drop by an estimated 70-95 per cent in cities with safer supply programs”.

This illegal resale market is flooding streets with dangerous drugs. When will the Liberals stop these black markets and end their harmful drug policies?

[Élisabeth Brière, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, our government obviously takes the diversion of controlled substances very seriously. This is a deeply concerning issue with regard to all prescription medications, not only those prescribed through safer supply programs.

Health professionals, including those who manage safer supply services, have to follow federal rules on the secure handling of controlled substances, including measures designed to prevent diversion.

We will continue to monitor this issue and take appropriate action as necessary.

[Tracy Gray, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Mr. Speaker, it is disturbing to see the member not take seriously the number of addiction and drug overdose deaths, which is continuing to rise.

It has been reported that patients take their government-supplied drugs off-site, fuelling a new black market that is driving street drug prices down. Physicians are saying that this is even leading to a rise in new addictions, particularly among youth and individuals in recovery.

When will the Liberals stop fuelling addiction and stop their harmful drug policies?

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

Mr. Speaker, on this side of the House, we take an evidence-based approach to solving the addictions epidemic and the poisoned opioid crisis that is having such a devastating impact on our communities.

It has really been alarming over the last couple of weeks to hear the members in the Conservative Party blaming addicts, people who use drugs, for this crisis. We take an evidence-based, science-first approach. The Conservative fact-free approach is absolutely atrocious, and it is going to lead to more harm.

Carbon Pricing

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

Mr. Speaker, after eight years of the Liberal government, the Prime Minister is out of touch, and Canadians are out of money.

Once fully implemented, the Liberal carbon tax would cost Canadians an additional 41¢ for a litre of gas, driving up the cost of groceries even higher and sending even more Canadians to the food bank for their next meal.

When is the Liberal government going to cancel its inflation-causing carbon tax?

[Julie Dabrusin, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources and to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change]

Mr. Speaker, one thing I have a hard time with in these questions is that carbon pricing is in fact a market mechanism. It encourages industry to be more efficient and to reduce their emissions. That actually makes them more competitive in a world where that is exactly what people are looking for.

I would expect the members opposite to be supportive of anything we could do to help our industries be at the cutting edge of green technologies, which, by the way, we are.

The Environment

[Fayçal El-Khoury, Liberal, Laval—Les Îles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, forests and trees purify the air that we breathe, improve water quality, promote biodiversity and help cool down our urban centres. Their ability to capture and store carbon is an effective natural way to combat climate change.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Climate Change tell the House what the government is doing to promote and support new tree planting projects?

[Julie Dabrusin, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources and to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for his question.

We know that nature is one of our best allies in fighting climate change.

On Wednesday, at the Montreal Climate Summit, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change announced a $40-million investment in three projects under the federal two billion trees program, which will allow for 275,000 trees to be planted in Montreal and Vaudreuil-Dorion.

The planting of more than a quarter of a million trees in Montreal will undoubtedly contribute to making the city happier and the planet healthier.

Fisheries and Oceans

[Clifford Small, Conservative, Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame, NL]

Mr. Speaker, Japan and South Korea, tremendous allies and trading partners, are choosing cheap Russian crab over crab caught by our fishermen. As a result, the Newfoundland and Labrador snow crab industry is at a standstill. In 2022, according to The Japan Times, Japan imported a record 1.6 billion Canadian dollars' worth of Russian seafood. The biggest import in that category was snow crab, at 40 million pounds.

Why has the Liberal government failed to convince our Asian friends to ban Russian crab, defund dictators and support jobs for Canadian fishermen?

[Mike Kelloway, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries]

Mr. Speaker, Canada is known for its sustainable, ethical and premium-quality snow crab, and it is thanks to Canada's hard-working fish harvesters. That is why we are taking a team Canada approach, working closely with industry and Atlantic provinces and raising these concerns with our Japanese counterparts. The government has proven this time and time again: We will stand up for the Canadian fish and seafood sector and the fishers who work in it to help export top-quality products around the world.

[Clifford Small, Conservative, Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame, NL]

Mr. Speaker, what the government has proven time and time again is that it is a complete failure. The U.S. banned the importing of Russian crab in June 2022. The Liberal government has been aware of the continued Japanese and Korean purchasing of snow crab from Russia, and was warned last October of the effect it would have. Our trade deficit with Japan and South Korea combined is at least $5 billion.

While the Prime Minister is jet-setting to Japan and South Korea next week, will he convince our allies to follow suit with the U.S. to ban Russian crab, defund dictators and support paycheques for Canadian fishermen?

[Mary Ng, Liberal, Minister of International Trade]

Mr. Speaker, I applaud the passion for fishermen, because we do too, on this side. We stand up for Canadian fishers. We stand up for Canadian industries. We have issued sanctions against Russia. We stand up for Ukraine. Absolutely, this is an issue that is on our radar.

I am not going to take any lessons from the Conservatives when it comes to good trade deals and standing strong so we can have terrific trade with our trading partners all around the world.

Correctional Service of Canada

[Scott Reid, Conservative, Lanark—Frontenac—Kingston, ON]

Mr. Speaker, meeting notes obtained via access to information reveal that the union representing prison staff is alarmed that, at Correctional Service of Canada's existing prison farm, staff are required to work with inmates after hours in unsafe conditions. This includes being alone and unaccompanied, and being denied the personal paging devices necessary to call for immediate backup. The union's fears include the potential for assault and hostage taking.

If the government cannot provide safe working conditions at its existing, relatively small, prison farm, how will it do so at its planned vast, new goat- and cow-milking operation?

[Vance Badawey, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indigenous Services]

Mr. Speaker, it is a good opportunity to reflect on a lot of the work the minister is doing, this being part of it, in working with our partners to ensure a lot of what the member brings up is being dealt with.

Sport

[Tim Louis, Liberal, Kitchener—Conestoga, ON]

Mr. Speaker, we know the importance of sports for the development of children, fostering physical fitness, team work, discipline and resilience while also promoting overall health and well-being. Furthermore, our Canadian athletes contribute to our national unity, cultural diversity and pride.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Sport tell the House, the parents who have children participating in sports and our athletes at the national and international levels about the strong measures the government is taking to ensure the responsible cultural change Canadians want to see in sports, a culture that will benefit the safety and well-being of our athletes and lead to more success as a system?

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

Mr. Speaker, yesterday was a really important day in Canadian sport. Our government announced reforms to the Canadian sport system that will contribute to sustainable culture change through improved governance and accountability; increased athlete engagement and decision-making; enhanced safe sport measures right across our country; better diversity and athlete representation on boards, with term limits; and resources for athletes to ensure they get the governance training they need in order to be active and productive members of each board.

I would like to thank every athlete and participant who has stepped up bravely to tell their story, contributing to these sport reforms. This has been a heavy lift and a team effort. I want to thank everybody involved. It is a great day for Canadian sport.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

[Blake Desjarlais, NDP, Edmonton Griesbach, AB]

Mr. Speaker, Sudanese Canadians in my riding, Einam and Hani, have been pleading with the government for help. Their families are stuck in Sudan amidst violence, and the government is nowhere to be found. The government's disorganized evacuation program left people behind with its restrictive criteria. Now Einam and Hani agonize over whether they will ever see or hear from their loved ones again.

Will the government expand and broaden the special immigration measures to allow Sudanese Canadians to bring their loved ones to safety?

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

Mr. Speaker, the situation in Sudan is highly volatile, and we are deeply concerned for the safety of Sudanese people. That is why we have announced that we are introducing immigration measures to support Sudanese nationals in Canada who are unable to return home. We are also providing facilitative measures and expediting the processing of their applications, free of charge.

We are ready to help the people of Sudan and help their families here.

[Alain Rayes, Independent, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Mr. Speaker, newcomers to Canada who apply for permanent residency wait for months on end for the decision that will give them this coveted status. When they finally receive an email telling them that they have been accepted, needless to say that they are overjoyed.

However, there is one small problem: Even though it is now 2023 and despite the technology and the number of civil servants we have, the government takes between four and eight months to print and mail the permanent resident card that allows them to get the services they need and are entitled to.

Can the Prime Minister tell us if there is any hope that a simple directive will be sent to the department to provide the residency card at the same time as the confirmation?

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

Mr. Speaker, once again, I thank my colleague for his question.

Let me be very clear: We are doing everything we can to reduce wait times in processing applications. We have tripled the number of work permits for clients. We have returned to our 60-day service standard for new study permits, and in 2022 we welcomed more than 437,000 new permanent residents, a record number since 1913. This is good news for Canada.

Our modernization of the Canadian immigration system continues, and we continue our good work to return to our usual service standards. We will continue to help people who want to come to Canada as quickly as possible.