Debates of May 2nd, 2023

Health

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear!

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

Mr. Speaker, now parents are more afraid than ever to take their kids to playgrounds and parks due to open drug use. Law enforcement are now handcuffed and can only stand by and watch. Because—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

If I could just interrupt for a moment. I am going to have to ask the member to repeat the question. I was not able to hear it because of all the ruckus.

The hon. member for Kelowna—Lake Country can take it from the top, please.

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

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals teamed up with the B.C. NDP on drug decriminalization policies.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear!

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

Mr. Speaker, now parents are more afraid than ever to take their kids to playgrounds and—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I am not sure how often they want to hear it repeated, but we will start it again, from the top. I want to remind—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Order. The hon. member for Kelowna—Lake Country has the floor.

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

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals teamed up with the B.C. NDP on drug decriminalization policies.

Now parents are more afraid than ever to take their kids to playgrounds and parks due to open drug use. Law enforcement are now handcuffed and can only stand by and watch. Because of these new drug policies, the Kelowna mayor says that police cannot stop drug users from getting high and leaving syringes in children's playgrounds.

Our Prime Minister is out of touch and our streets are out of control. When are the Liberals going to take public safety seriously?

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, the toxic drug and overdose crisis continues to take a tragic toll on families, loved ones and communities.

Our government will use every tool at our disposal to work with our partners to end this national public health tragedy. Since 2017, we have committed more than $1 billion to address the overdose crisis, and we are taking concrete steps to divert people who use drugs away from the criminal justice system. Approving B.C.'s decriminalization proposal for personal possession is an important step. So far, we have supported 31 projects, providing a safer supply.

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

Mr. Speaker, it is unbelievable that the Liberals think it is acceptable for open drug use where children play.

The answer from the minister is completely out of touch with reality, and the reality is that the drug policies of the Liberal-NDP coalition are making our streets and parks less safe for families. Now municipalities across British Columbia, from Kelowna to Campbell River, are having to take action through bylaws and provincial advocacy, just to keep their communities safe.

Again I will ask, when will the Liberals take public safety seriously?

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, we are committed to ending the toxic drug and overdose crisis.

In moving forward on decriminalization, there is adequate supervision by the B.C. government and the B.C. Centre on Substance Use on both public safety and public health, with proper indicators. We are monitoring this very closely, but we have to stop this toxic drug overdose tragedy. We will do that.

Public Safety

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

Mr. Speaker, last week, the Minister of Public Safety—yes, him again— told a parliamentary committee that the illegal Chinese police stations in Montreal and Brossard had been shut down.

The problem with what the minister said is that it is not true. Those police stations are still operating. The heads of the two Chinese police stations say that they did not receive any closure requests from the RCMP and that they are continuing to operate normally.

The Liberals are obviously not taking the matter of Chinese interference seriously. This is a serious problem, a very serious problem.

Can the Prime Minister tell us the truth and confirm that the Minister of Public Safety misled the House?

[Marco Mendicino, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, as I explained to my colleague, the RCMP has taken decisive action to deal with the so-called Chinese police stations. The RCMP will continue to monitor whether there are others. I hope that all members expect the RCMP to remain vigilant on this issue.

More importantly, budget 2023 allocates $49 million to deal with this matter. I hope that my colleague and all Conservatives will support the budget.

Innovation, Science and Industry

[Brenda Shanahan, Liberal, Châteauguay—Lacolle, QC]

Mr. Speaker, it is essential we support scientists and researchers across Canada so we can position ourselves as a global leader in the research ecosystem.

Can the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry talk about the recent announcement made through the first research excellence fund and how this funding will support important research initiatives with universities across the country?

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

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague from Châteauguay—Lacolle for her important question and her excellent work as a colleague.

In fact, I was at Concordia University on Friday to announce an historic investment of $1.4 billion in the sciences. Our students, our researchers and our scientists play a vital role. I think that all of my colleagues agree. This funding will support wide-scale research initiatives across the country, from Vancouver to Calgary, to Montreal and obviously Halifax. We will—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

The hon. member for Parry Sound—Muskoka.

Housing

[Scott Aitchison, Conservative, Parry Sound—Muskoka, ON]

Mr. Speaker, CMHC is reporting that Canada could see a reduction of almost 32% in new housing construction this year. Its chief economist said that, with record inflation, sky-high interest rates and labour shortages, the current economic situation is “inhospitable” for new construction.

The warnings are coming from inside the castle walls now. I am wondering when this government will actually clean up the fiscal mess it created so Canadians can one day afford a home again.

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion]

Mr. Speaker, I wish the hon. member, in good conscience, would speak to his colleague from Sarnia—Lambton, who stood in this House and voted against the housing accelerator fund after praising it in committee and praising it in the House of Commons. This is the problem with that party. The Conservatives have no policies when it comes to actually delivering housing affordability and a housing supply for Canadians. The member's colleague from Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon went further and said that the federal government should withdraw from housing investments and leave everything to the provinces and the market, and somehow it will magically be okay.

Canadians expect better from the official opposition.

[Scott Aitchison, Conservative, Parry Sound—Muskoka, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I can assure members that when we replace the Liberals as the government, we will deliver better. We will not waste taxpayers' money so egregiously to achieve nothing for results. Under the Liberals, local politicians are delaying and even blocking new housing. Saskatoon guarantees a building permit for a house in five days. It can be done. There is no reason for the delay.

When will the government finally stand up to local politicians who are creating costly delays, so we can get the homes built that Canadians so desperately need?

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion]

Mr. Speaker, we know that the key to building more housing supply is to work with provinces and municipalities. The Conservatives do not understand that. In fact, their leader, this morning in this chamber, denigrated and attacked three of the mayors of Canada's largest cities. That is not going to build one unit of housing for the most vulnerable in this country.

What we have done is bring real solutions, including the housing accelerator fund, which will double the number of new homes built in Canada. Instead of supporting that and getting serious about this issue, the Conservatives offer gimmicks and buzzwords.

Carbon Pricing

[Richard Bragdon, Conservative, Tobique—Mactaquac, NB]

Mr. Speaker, I grew up in the small forestry town of Nackawic, New Brunswick, which also happens to be the home of the world's largest axe. At the rate this government is increasing taxes, including a 41¢-per-litre hike on Canadians' heating, eating and meeting, we might need an even bigger axe to slay all of these back-breaking taxes.

Will the Prime Minister, who is out of touch, take his boot off the backs of hard-working Canadians who are out of money and finally axe this failed, ineffective and punitive carbon tax?

[Steven Guilbeault, Liberal, Minister of Environment and Climate Change]

Mr. Speaker, I would ask my hon. colleague to work with me; it is going to be a bit difficult to follow. In 2006, the Conservative Party was against carbon pricing. Then, in 2008, the Conservatives were in favour of carbon pricing. Then, in 2009, they were against the fact that they were in favour of carbon pricing. That changed again in 2011, and it changed again during the last election campaign, when the Conservative Party of Canada campaigned in favour of having carbon pricing, and now they are against it.

If we give it another year or so, they will be back in favour of carbon pricing.

Health

[Kody Blois, Liberal, Kings—Hants, NS]

Mr. Speaker, three years ago, 22 people were killed in Nova Scotia in what was the worst mass shooting in Canadian history. The victims were friends, families and neighbours, and all Nova Scotians were touched by this tragedy.

Last week, our government announced funding, in partnership with the Province of Nova Scotia, dedicated specifically for mental health support for those who were impacted. Can the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions update this House on how that will support those who have been impacted by this terrible tragedy?