Debates of Oct. 28th, 2024

Labour

[Steven MacKinnon, Liberal, Minister of Labour and Seniors]

Mr. Speaker, the government is monitoring the situation closely, indeed daily. Mediators are working with the parties and are available to assist at any time. We urge them to continue their efforts to reach an agreement.

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission will continue to monitor this company for regulatory compliance to ensure the safety of workers, the public and the environment. The facility remains secure. There have been no changes to the security of the site. Of course, we will not let workers down and have made repeated entreaties to the owner to return to the bargaining table.

[Kyle Seeback, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I can tell that the Unifor workers at Local 1541 are going to be absolutely inspired by that heartfelt response from the NDP-Liberal minister.

Why are the NDP-Liberals never responsible for anything? Two million Canadians using a food bank is not their fault. Violent thugs out on bail is the province's fault. For a local employer trying to bust a union, there is nothing they can do but read their talking points.

If the NDP-Liberals are not responsible for anything and cannot fix anything, why do they not get out of the way and let a common-sense Conservative government fix their mess?

[Steven MacKinnon, Liberal, Minister of Labour and Seniors]

Mr. Speaker, we will take no lessons from the right-to-work Conservative Party on labour relations in Canada, the people who have stood up repeatedly to vote to remove power from unions, to force unions to reveal their financial statistics and to make sure that unions find it hard to certify in workplaces. The union-busting Conservatives will give us no lessons.

I work daily with my colleague from Kanata—Carleton on this issue, and we will make sure that these workers get the negotiations and contract they deserve.

Democratic Institutions

[Julie Dzerowicz, Liberal, Davenport, ON]

Mr. Speaker, we know that actors like Russia, China and India have attempted to interfere in Canada. Recently, the RCMP revealed that agents linked to the Indian government are involved in serious criminal activities in Canada—

[An hon. member]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

I am going to ask the hon. member for Miramichi—Grand Lake to please not speak out and to allow the question to be asked, as the Speaker had recognized the hon. member.

I will ask the hon. member for Davenport to start from the top.

[Julie Dzerowicz, Liberal, Davenport, ON]

Mr. Speaker, we know that actors like Russia, China and India have attempted to interfere in Canada. Recently, the RCMP revealed that agents linked to the Indian government are involved in serious criminal activities in Canada, including extortion and the murder of a Canadian citizen. It is time for all political party leaders to put country before party.

My question for the government House Leader is this: Why will the Leader of the Opposition not do the right thing, join all opposition leaders and get a security clearance so he can act on foreign interference and protect Canadians?

[Karina Gould, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, that is a really important question when it comes to protecting our national security. When Canadians send us here, they think we are going to do one thing, and that is put the national security of Canada first and put Canadians first. Every leader of a party in this place has received a security clearance except for the leader of the Conservative Party of Canada. The question is why. What is he hiding? What is he trying to protect? Why is he putting himself and his party ahead of the security of Canadians?

Telecommunications

[Brian Masse, NDP, Windsor West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, under the Liberal government, multi-billion dollar companies feel emboldened to use shady tactics to rip off Canadians. After the government rubber-stamped the Rogers takeover of Shaw, they promised lower costs but have snuck in price hikes for Canadians. The Liberals have done nothing to protect people. Instead, they rewarded Rogers with over $165 million in federal money.

Rogers must be put on notice and reverse the cuts or be banned from federal contracts. Will the Liberals have the courage to do it, yes or no?

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and to the Minister of Innovation]

Mr. Speaker, our government's top priority from day one has been making life more affordable for Canadians. We are focused on increasing competition and lowering prices in the telecom sector. Since 2023, we have been holding companies like Rogers accountable by eliminating switching fees and attacking extra and unnecessary fees so that Canadian consumers are empowered to find a plan that works for them.

On this side of the aisle, we are standing up for Canadian consumers by helping them regain their negotiating power.

CBC/Radio-Canada

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

Mr. Speaker, we have learned that CBC/Radio-Canada paid its executives $18 million in bonuses in 2024. It is really something that executives are getting millions of dollars in bonuses while hundreds of employees are losing their jobs and the public broadcaster is asking for larger and larger subsidies every year to do its job. All of that is tarnishing the reputation of CBC/Radio-Canada and all of its artists.

I have a simple question for the Prime Minister. Does he agree with those bonuses, yes or no? If not, what does he intend to do to put a stop to them?

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Richmond—Arthabaska for his question, as well as for his courage in speaking out against the Conservative Party of Canada and its position on a woman's right to choose.

I would also like to remind him that CBC/Radio-Canada is an arm's-length corporation that decides for itself how to manage its own budget. That is why we created a Crown corporation in which the government, mainly a Conservative government, cannot intervene and whose decisions it cannot dictate.

Interparliamentary Delegations

[Darrell Samson, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, the following reports from the Canadian branch of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie. The first report concerns its participation in the 44th Ministerial Conference of La Francophonie held in Yaoundé, Cameroon, on November 4 and 5, 2023, and the Good Offices Mission in Libreville, Gabon, on November 6 and 7, 2023. The second report concerns the meetings of the Education, Culture and Communication Committee and the Parliamentary Network on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria held in Bucharest, Romania, from April 3 to 5, 2024. The next report concerns the meeting of the Commission on Economic, Social and Environmental Affairs held in Luang Prabang, Laos, on April 10 and 11, 2024. The final report concerns the meeting of the Parliamentary Affairs Committee held in Podgorica, Montenegro, from April 24 to 26, 2024.

Health

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

Madam Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 21st report of the Standing Committee on Health in relation to Bill C-277, an act to establish a national strategy on brain injuries.

The committee has studied the bill and has decided to report the bill back to the House with amendments.

Old Age Security

[Mario Beaulieu, Bloc, La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC]

Madam Speaker, I have the honour of presenting petition e-5054, which has been signed by 228 citizens of my riding to signify their support for the Bloc Québécois's Bill C-319, an act to amend the Old Age Security Act. The citizens are calling on the government to provide a royal recommendation for Bill C‑319 in order to increase OAS by 10% for people aged 65 to 74 and to raise the maximum amount of income that can be earned without affecting GIS from $5,000 to $6,000.

Public Safety

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

Madam Speaker, it is always an honour to present a petition on behalf of constituents.

I rise for the 54th time on behalf of the people of Swan River, Manitoba, to present a petition on the rising rate of crime. The community of Swan River is struggling with the rising rate of crime in its area. Statistics Canada reports that after nine years of the Liberal government, violent crime has risen by 50% and gang-related homicides have nearly doubled. Within the last five years, the town's crime severity index has increased by over 50%.

The people of Swan River see the devastating effects this crime has had on their community's safety and economic stability. The people of Swan River are calling for jail and not bail for violent repeat offenders. The people of Swan River demand that the Liberal government repeal its soft-on-crime policies, which directly threaten their livelihoods and their community. I support the good people of Swan River.

Service Dogs for Veterans

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

Madam Speaker, as we approach Remembrance Day, I wanted to present a petition on behalf of my constituents who want to extend tangible support for so many veterans who suffer with PTSD and who recognize that a service dog can provide better therapy than pharmaceutical drugs and is one of the best ways to provide continuing daily supports to countless veterans. It is expensive to get an OSI-PTSD service dog. It is deemed an effective medical tool for veterans in need, but even veterans who can get a service dog at no cost have the costs of veterinary care and food and daily care for their dogs.

The petitioners are asking the House of Commons to conduct a needs assessment, to identify financially vulnerable veterans seeking this essential medical tool, to provide critical funding and to do it with urgency so all of our veterans receive the support they so deeply need and certainly deserve.

Sudan

[Matthew Green, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

Madam Speaker, I rise today to present a petition from the undersigned citizens, concerned Canadians, calling on the House of Commons and the Government of Canada to establish an emergency initiative specifically tailored to address the Sudan crisis, akin to successful measures implemented for other global emergencies. This petition asks for facilitating the swift issuance of temporary work and residence permits to Sudanese refugees and asylum seekers based on compassionate grounds and, by formulating equitable policies that outline a clear and secure pathway to permanent residency and citizenship, promoting successful integration and long-term stability for Sudanese war-surviving individuals in Canada.

Opioids

[Parm Bains, Liberal, Steveston—Richmond East, BC]

Madam Speaker, it is an honour for me to rise to present a petition from 513 members of my community, Richmond. The undersigned citizens and residents of Canada call on the government to implement a sustainable and continuous national ad campaign targeting those statistically most affected by the harms of the unregulated drug supply, to address the harms of using drugs alone by advertising the LifeguardConnect app, and to present other suggestions on how to use drugs safely. These advertisements should be at points of contact for men aged 30 to 59, such as sports broadcasting, restrooms, pubs, nightclubs and online platforms in addition to advertising in federally regulated workplaces. The government should work with provinces to distribute campaign materials and advertise at job sites among the trades.

I also want to recognize the advocacy of the Tablotney family and Maria Rantanen of the Richmond News.

Canada Council for the Arts

[Mike Morrice, Green, Kitchener Centre, ON]

Madam Speaker, I rise to present two petitions. The first is on behalf of folks who recognize that artists and creatives in the arts community do immeasurable good across the country, whether it is related to mental health or lifting up the voices of activists. Petitioners point out the economic impact of artists across the country, as they contribute $54.8 billion to Canada's GDP. However, the petitioners also note that public data shows communities across the country are underfunded, including communities like mine. They note that the regional development agencies model has proven successful. This model has organizations, like FedDev Ontario, ensuring that funding for economic development is more equitably distributed across the country.

Petitioners call for three actions from the Government of Canada: first, to restore funding of the Canada Council for the Arts to its pandemic level of $500 million annually; second, to amend the underlying legislation for the Canada Council for the Arts to require that the regional development agencies model be applied, to ensure communities are more equitably funded across the country; and third, to meaningfully consult with historically underfunded communities to ensure that this funding is directed toward under-represented and equity-deserving groups.

Oil and Gas Industry

[Mike Morrice, Green, Kitchener Centre, ON]

Madam Speaker, my second petition notes that we are in both a climate and an affordability crisis, and that this crisis is exacerbated by oil and gas companies that are gouging Canadians at the pumps and making record-breaking profits.

The petitioners note that the five largest oil and gas companies in Canada alone made $38 billion in 2022. They did it by gouging Canadians. They increased their profits by 18¢ a litre, from 26¢ a litre to around 42¢ a litre. They note that some folks talk a lot about the carbon tax. That went up around two cents a litre, while these profits went up 18¢ a litre. They also note that other countries around the world have put in place a windfall profit tax on the profits of oil and gas industries, where this has happened in other places around the world.

The petitioners have two very reasonable calls to action. They call on the Government of Canada to immediately put in place a 15% windfall profit tax on these excess profits and to reallocate the revenues generated toward programs that would make life more affordable for folks across the country, for example, by investing in improved service and more reliable public transit, and by investing in helping Canadians retrofit their homes.

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances

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

Madam Speaker, it is a huge honour today to table this petition calling on the government to take urgent issue impacting the health and safety of firefighters across our country. I want to thank my colleague, the member for New Westminster—Burnaby, for pulling together this petition, which is so important. It calls for immediate action to ban pre- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS in firefighting gear and firefighting foam.

PFAS are man-made chemicals known to be resistant to heat, water and oil, but their durability comes at a significant cost. Scientific evidence links these substances to severe health risks, including cancer, putting firefighters who already face hazardous conditions at greater risk. Research shows that PFAS can accumulate in the body, leading to serious health issues.

Alarmingly, firefighters face a higher cancer risk than the general population. We must mitigate these risks by regulating what we can control in their working conditions. I just heard from Tofino Fire Department Chief McKeogh about the loss of a great legend in Tofino, George Hubert, because of cancer. He was a volunteer firefighter in our community for decades. I also heard about this from Port Alberni fire chief Mike Owens and his members.

Several countries have restricted PFAS use. Canada must follow suit. Our firefighters deserve gear free from toxic chemicals. Let us protect those who risk their lives for us.

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

Madam Speaker, today I rise to table a petitions submitted by firefighters from Port Moody IAFF local 2399 and Coquitlam IAFF local 1782.

This petition addresses an urgent issue impacting the health and safety of firefighters across Canada. This petition, sponsored by the member for New Westminster—Burnaby, calls for immediate action to ban pre- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, called PFAS, in firefighter gear and firefighting foam.

PFAS are man-made chemicals that are known to be harmful. Research shows that PFAS can accumulate in the body, leading to serious health issues. Firefighters are already facing a higher cancer risk than the general population. We must mitigate these risks by regulating what we control in the workplace.

Several countries have restricted PFAS. It is time for Canada to follow suit. Our firefighters deserve gear free from toxic chemicals. Let us protect those who protect us and risk their lives.

Old Age Security

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Madam Speaker, very briefly, I would like to table an important petition concerning Bill C‑319, which would increase OAS for people aged 65 to 74 to the same amount paid to people aged 75 and over, and would also increase the GIS by $1,500. Indeed, 79% of Canadians agree. The ball is now in the government's court. The petition has been signed by 1,450 petitioners.

I have another petition containing 388 signatures, and I am tabling petition e‑5054 which contains 7,154 signatures. I know that my colleagues are tabling others too. This is an important issue. The deadline is tomorrow, October 29. The petitioners I met with all summer want the government to take action. The dignity of seniors hangs in the balance. Really, what is the government waiting for to finally help seniors?

I present these petitions on behalf of everyone who cannot understand why there are still two classes of seniors.

Questions on the Order Paper

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

Madam Speaker, I ask that all questions be allowed to stand at this time, please.