Debates of Sept. 27th, 2023

Small Business

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, through the depths of the pandemic, we were there to support Canadians, to support workers, families, seniors, young people and yes, small businesses. We have been there to support them and we continue to support them while inflation postpandemic is making the recovery harder.

That is why we put forward measures to support them and why we are going to continue to be there to support small businesses from coast to coast to coast and to support Canadians while we grow our economy, fight climate change and create an economy that works for all Canadians.

Foreign Affairs

[Kevin Vuong, Independent, Spadina—Fort York, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member representing Nipissing—Timiskaming was one of the most respectful individuals to have presided over the House. Regrettably, that same treatment was not afforded to him.

I am disappointed in the cabinet ministers and party leaders who tripped over themselves to express their indignation and distance themselves from what transpired. The Prime Minister should have had no hesitation to make a statement in the House apologizing to Canadians, to countries hurt by this serious incident and to the world. He had a duty to make clear that Canada stands firm in its abhorrence to anything or anyone connected to Nazism.

What took the Prime Minister so long to finally make that statement?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, as I said a few days ago, this incident was an embarrassment to Canada and to all parliamentarians. That is why we continue to emphasize how we stand with Ukraine, how we continue to fight against Russian propaganda and disinformation, and how we will continue to ensure that the rules of this place and the independence of the Speaker are fully respected.

The House resumed from September 20 consideration of the motion.

Inclusion of People with Disabilities

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Chris d'Entremont]

The House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on Motion No. 78 under Private Members' Business in the name of the member for Edmonton—Wetaskiwin.

Call in the members.

(The House divided on the motion, which was agreed to on the following division:)

Vote #413

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Chris d'Entremont]

I declare the motion carried.

The House resumed from September 25 consideration of the motion that Bill C-323, An Act to amend the Excise Tax Act (mental health services), be read the second time and referred to a committee.

Excise Tax Act

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Chris d'Entremont]

The House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion at second reading stage of Bill C-323.

(The House divided on the motion, which was agreed to on the following division:)

Vote #414

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Chris d'Entremont]

I declare the motion carried.

Accordingly, the bill stands referred to the Standing Committee on Finance.

(Bill read the second time and referred to a committee)

The House resumed from September 26 consideration of the motion that Bill S-222, An Act to amend the Department of Public Works and Government Services Act (use of wood), be read the third time and passed.

Department of Public Works and Government Services Act

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Chris d'Entremont]

The House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion at third reading stage of Bill S-222 under Private Members' Business.

(The House divided on the motion, which was agreed to on the following division:)

Vote #415

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Chris d'Entremont]

I declare the motion carried.

(Bill read the third time and passed)

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Chris d'Entremont]

I wish to inform the House that because of the deferred recorded divisions, Government Orders will be extended by 38 minutes.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs

[John Aldag, Liberal, Cloverdale—Langley City, BC]

Mr. Speaker, it was with huge privilege yesterday that I was elected as chair of the indigenous and northern affairs committee. In that context, I am presenting my first report on behalf of INAN.

I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 11th report of the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs, entitled “Food Security in Northern and Isolated Communities: Ensuring Equitable Access to Adequate and Healthy Food for All”.

Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report.

Small Business

[Brad Vis, Conservative, Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present a petition on behalf of residents in Lillooet, British Columbia. More and more small business owners are being forced to significantly reduce their services or shut down entirely due to labour shortages. Last year, Statistics Canada reported that there were an overwhelming one million job vacancies across the country.

Residents are calling for more action to address labour shortages, particularly by including the community of Lillooet in the northern immigration pilot project so that it can attract more workers to the region. Small towns across the country, I will note, are all struggling with labour shortages.

Climate Change

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate having the opportunity to table this petition on behalf of youth in my riding, climate activists from Qualicum Beach.

First, the petitioners cite that children who were born in 2020 will face an average of two to seven times more extreme weather events than their grandparents did. They cite that in the 2020 report in The Lancet, 83% of children worldwide reported that they think people have failed to take care of the planet. They are most affected, and they will live to see the worst effects of the climate crisis.

The petitioners are calling on the government to require all members of Parliament, regardless of party lines, to consult with secondary or elementary school leadership, student council or environmental youth group of their riding before Parliament holds the second reading of any bill that would directly affect Canada's greenhouse gas emissions. The purpose of the consultation would be to listen to the viewpoints of those who would be directly affected by the specified bill but who do not already have representation in Parliament. Youth discussions have been crucial to successful climate action and policy creation around the world.

Public Safety

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB]

Madam Speaker, I rise for the 12th time on behalf of the people of Swan River, Manitoba, to present a petition on the rising rate of crime. The people of Swan River are asking for a plan when it comes to addressing crime and bail reform.

Unfortunately, the Liberal government has failed them. Residents no longer feel comfortable walking at night, and for businesses, theft has become a common occurrence. Members of this community have told me how unsafe they feel since crime has taken a toll on a once safe and welcoming town.

The people of Swan River demand that the Liberal government repeal its soft-on-crime policies that directly threaten their livelihoods and their community. I support the people of Swan River.

Climate Change

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Madam Speaker, I rise to present a petition signed by people in Vancouver Kingsway and all over the Lower Mainland of British Columbia who are profoundly concerned about the climate crisis. They understand and want the House to know that they view the climate crisis as an existential issue that requires a top-priority response from governments across the world, and particularly from this one.

They are calling on the government to adopt a number of measures, including meeting the targets of reducing emissions by at least 60% below 2005 levels, assisting the global south, and making sure we have a just transition program to ensure that, as we move to a low-carbon economy, there are good, family-sustaining jobs for all workers, particularly those who will be displaced as we make that necessary transition to save our planet.

The Environment

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

Madam Speaker, it is an honour to rise virtually today to present a petition from constituents in Saanich—Gulf Islands and elsewhere who are calling on the government to recognize that we are entering an age where human impact is approaching many ecological system boundaries, threatening survival. They mention boundaries in terms of freshwater usage, atmospheric pollution and extinction of species.

The petitioners also call on the government to recognize the critical significance of indigenous knowledge and indigenous practices in sustainability education and to incorporate them at every level.

The petitioners call on us in the House of Commons to take a leadership role in enacting a Canadian strategy to support educators, communicators, community leaders and all levels of government to take actions that would result in healthy, sustainable and flourishing human and ecological communities.

Immigration and Citizenship

[Greg McLean, Conservative, Calgary Centre, AB]

Madam Speaker, I rise today in the House of Commons to speak on behalf of the Sudanese community in Calgary, which is encouraging the government to process more quickly the applications of several Sudanese who want to come to Canada as a result of the conflict that is happening in central Africa. It is imperative that we process these as quickly as possible, particularly for those Canadians and permanent residents who have family in South Sudan and Sudan. These are people who are in refugee camps and we need to make sure they have access to a fair life here in Canada and are processed as quickly as possible.

Housing

[Mike Morrice, Green, Kitchener Centre, ON]

Madam Speaker, it is an honour to rise this afternoon to present a petition on behalf of folks who have a set of items they are calling on the government to address for the housing crisis we are in. Among the eight items, they are calling for redefining “affordable housing” to ensure that it better reflects the economic reality being faced by millions of Canadians; better regulations to control excess profiteering by corporate investors and real estate investment trusts; closing tax evasion and money-laundering loopholes; increasing regulations on foreign investment in residential real estate; and prioritizing funding for non-profit and co-operative housing.

Taxation

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

Madam Speaker, over the summer I had the opportunity to meet with Dorothy Pane and Linda Megason of the Gardens Condominium Corporation, which is a non-profit corporation in Regina, Saskatchewan. Dorothy and Linda have been paying very close attention to the condominium complex's ever-increasing monthly electricity and heating bills. They have noticed that the carbon tax, as well as the GST on top of the carbon tax, is making it more and more difficult for the condominium residents to make ends meet.

Furthermore, the amount the residents receive from the climate action incentive payment falls far short of the amount they are required to pay in carbon tax and in GST on top of the carbon tax. As Dorothy and Linda made abundantly clear to me and my constituency office over the summer when we reviewed their heating and electricity bills together—