Debates of June 2nd, 2023

Correctional Service of Canada

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

Madam Speaker, the opposition has a wonderful opportunity by listening to the consultations and the output that came from the consultations with the provinces and Ottawa on bail reform. We have legislation here that the Conservative Party members could support. By doing that, they will be supporting the provinces and the legislation, which would be good for all Canadians.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Madam Speaker, the Liberals have wreaked havoc on our immigration system. Canadians and prospective Canadians who play by the rules are being forced to wait for years, while the integrity of our system is threatened by unscrupulous consultants and an incompetent government.

Conservatives have moved a motion at the immigration committee to get to the bottom of a scandal in which the government issued visas based on fake college acceptance letters and then tried to punish the victims instead of the scammers. My question is for the chair of the immigration committee: After Liberals and New Democrats shut down debate on this issue, does the committee have plans to study the impact on students of the government's failure to properly enforce Canada's immigration laws?

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

Madam Speaker, I can assure the member opposite that we take these allegations of fraud very seriously. For these students—

[An hon. member]

The question is for the chair.

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, NDP, Carol Hughes]

I recognize the individual who gets up to answer the question.

The hon. parliamentary secretary.

[Marie-France Lalonde, Liberal, Orléans, ON]

Madam Speaker, opposition members may want to listen to the answer.

I can assure the member opposite that we take these allegations very seriously. For these students who may have been victims of fraud, we want to make it clear: They can benefit from full due process. We are also cracking down on these bad actors who prey on our most vulnerable. We will always be there for these vulnerable students and we will be relentless in our efforts to clamp down on these dishonest consultants.

[Michael Cooper, Conservative, St. Albert—Edmonton, AB]

Madam Speaker, Logan Hunter and Jaxon Joseph had their lives taken in the Humboldt Broncos bus crash. Because of the reckless, criminal actions of one man, 16 people are dead and 13 more were injured. The perpetrator, a non-citizen, is fighting to stay in Canada. Logan's and Jaxon's parents want to know, if committing a crime of this consequence is not enough to get someone deported, then what is?

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

Madam Speaker, I want to say to those victims that I was a member of the provincial government, actually the former solicitor general, when these incidents happened. We collectively, as Canadians, stand very firm on the tragic loss of these wonderful young men who perished. I can assure the House that every day we remember them.

We also know that there is a court case in place, and this is the court to make the decision. I hate to think that the Conservatives will interfere into a court procedure. Let us allow—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, NDP, Carol Hughes]

The hon. member for Fleetwood—Port Kells.

Climate Change

[Ken Hardie, Liberal, Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC]

Madam Speaker, taking action on climate change is something we should all be able to agree on. Recently, we saw another major initiative to combat climate change in the Canada greener homes program. Can the minister share with the House the anticipated impact of this program on affordable housing providers and residents and how this initiative will support our government's commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050?

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

Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his advocacy on this important issue.

Affordable housing and climate change must go hand in hand. That is why I was pleased to recently announce the launch of the $1.2-billion Canada greener affordable housing program. This initiative will help affordable housing providers serving low- and moderate-income households complete deep energy retrofits for residential rental buildings and reduce operational costs and greenhouse gas emissions at the same time. This will result in an increased quality of life for residents while contributing to climate change initiatives. This is what real action on housing affordability and sustainability looks like.

The Environment

[Bonita Zarrillo, NDP, Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC]

Madam Speaker, as communities from coast to coast to coast face wildfires and flooding, Canadians need the government to step up and do more. The B.C. NDP government already provided a $100-million watershed security fund to proactively protect from extreme weather events, and the Liberal government needs to do the same.

Will the government show the same leadership as British Columbia did on water and match, at minimum, its $100-million watershed security fund?

[Stéphane Lauzon, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Rural Economic Development]

Madam Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for her question.

All of the currently active wildfires are making it abundantly clear how important it is to tackle climate change.

Our government is very closely monitoring fires that are worsening during this wildfire season to the point of overwhelming local capacity. Our government is standing by to offer federal assistance. We encourage Canadians to follow the advice and warnings issued by local authorities.

The government will always be there to help the provinces and territories.

Persons with Disabilities

[Mike Morrice, Green, Kitchener Centre, ON]

Madam Speaker, it has been two weeks now since the Senate strengthened and passed Bill C-22, the Canada disability benefit act, yet the governing party has prioritized six or seven government bills ahead of it. Canadians with disabilities continue to disproportionately live in poverty across the country. They need to see action.

When will the Liberals bring Bill C-22 back to the floor of the House so it can be urgently passed into law?

[Terry Sheehan, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Labour]

Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. member for this important question.

In the spirit of “Nothing Without Us”, we are continuing to move forward with historic investments and actions that will improve the social and economic inclusion of millions of Canadians with disabilities.

In February, Bill C-22, the act to establish the Canada disability benefit, was unanimously adopted by this House. On May 18, Bill C-22 was adopted with amendments in the Senate and has now been sent back to this House for consideration.

This bill remains a top priority for us, and we have every intention of dealing with it as quickly as possible. We are working with all parties to get this important legislation passed.

Oral Questions

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

Madam Speaker, during question period, I rose to point out a problem with the interpretation. The member for Halifax was answering a question but, sadly, when the interpretation began, he was halfway through his answer. Given that both official languages are very important in the House, I would like to ask him to please repeat his answer.

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, NDP, Carol Hughes]

Could the hon. parliamentary secretary repeat his answer?

[Andy Fillmore, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Innovation]

Madam Speaker, I believe the member was referring to the question about Stellantis. I am not sure. I did not hear the beginning of his intervention. I think the member knows I am working hard to learn French. I would be happy to convey my answer to him in writing, en français.

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, NDP, Carol Hughes]

The member was asking that the hon. parliamentary secretary repeat the answer he gave.

[Andy Fillmore, Liberal, Halifax, NS]

Madam Speaker, I understand. First of all, I thanked the NDP member from the industry committee who posed the question for his tireless advocacy for the auto industry and for his great work on the committee. I then went on to say that, as the member knows, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry has worked hard to secure the future of Canada's auto industry. We continue to negotiate in good faith with our partners. That includes the Province of Ontario and Stellantis. At the heart of our negotiations is getting the best deal possible for the auto workers and for Canadians.

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, NDP, Carol Hughes]

I see there are other individuals rising on points of order. Are they pertaining to question period?

The hon. member for Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry.

[Eric Duncan, Conservative, Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry, ON]

Madam Speaker, if I could, I am looking for unanimous consent, following question period today, to table in the House the Parliamentary Budget Officer's report detailing the impacts of the second carbon tax coming by province. One will find in the—

[Some hon. members]

No.

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, NDP, Carol Hughes]

I am already hearing some nos, so therefore there is no unanimous consent.

Are there still points of order arising from question period?

The hon. member for Red Deer—Lacombe.

[Blaine Calkins, Conservative, Red Deer—Lacombe, AB]

Madam Speaker, I have in my hands a letter that was written to the Chair of the procedure and house affairs committee requesting that the Minister of Public Safety appear for two hours instead of one hour in response to the—