House of Commons Hansard #377 of the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was leader.
Terry Sheehan LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Labour and Seniors
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the report of the Canada-Japan Inter-Parliamentary Group on the 22nd bilateral meeting in Tokyo and in Tohoku, Japan, from May 13-17.
Hedy Fry Liberal Vancouver Centre, BC
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the following two reports of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage.
The first is the 14th report of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage, entitled “Harms Caused by Illegal Sexually Explicit Material Online”.
The second is the 15th report of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage, entitled “The Holding of a National Forum on the Media”.
Kevin Waugh Conservative Saskatoon—Grasswood, SK
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present a dissenting report, in both official languages, on harms caused to children, women and men by the ease of access to, and online viewing of, illegal sexually explicit material. It was a Conservative motion that led to this important study to bring understanding to the real harm experienced by many Canadians within virtual spaces.
Conservative members of this committee believe that the report fell short in a number of areas, notably that women are overwhelmingly the primary targets of online harms. Current legislation fails to include deepfakes. Existing legislation must be amended to address the criminal nature of online harms. A victim-centric approach and more effort are needed to prevent uploading of illegal sexually explicit material. There is a growing need to protect Canadians from the threat of online harms, and the Liberal government's online harms legislation, Bill C-63, will not satisfy the need for protection and will only limit the freedoms of Canadians.
It is my honour to table this dissenting opinion on behalf of members of the Conservative Party.
Damien Kurek Conservative Battle River—Crowfoot, AB
Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to stand on behalf of Conservative members of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage and table, in both official languages, a dissenting report to address an important aspect that was missed during the consideration of the report on the national forum on the media. The message is clear and simple, and it might be the shortest dissenting report ever tabled in the House. It contains three words: Defund the CBC.
After failing to produce content that Canadians actually want to watch and want to listen to, missing key performance metrics, cutting hundreds of jobs, and giving $18 million in bonuses to CBC executives and managers amidst declining trust, viewership and ad revenue, the solution is to simply defund the CBC so that we can encourage creative and free journalistic expression and so that we can let journalism thrive through the work of journalists, not by the heavy hand of a bloated, bureaucratic, woke, biased and outdated model that the CBC represents today.
Alistair MacGregor NDP Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-421, An Act to establish a national food cooperative strategy.
Mr. Speaker, grocery prices in Canada are increasing at the fastest rate in over 40 years. Many Canadians are struggling to put food on the table, with more people than ever resorting to food banks for help. Canada's grocery industry is dominated by a handful of large corporations, limiting consumer choice, and in 2023, these corporations reported over $6 billion in profits, all at a time when Canadians were struggling with the cost of food.
The bill I am introducing today would develop a national strategy that would help food co-operatives in Canada enable more small and medium-sized businesses compete in Canada's grocery industry. The Competition Bureau Canada has highlighted that encouraging competition in the grocery sector can help lower prices. By supporting the establishment of more food co-operatives, we can foster a more competitive market and can create community-owned businesses. This would ensure greater economic resilience and would promote food security for all Canadians.
Canadians are sick and tired of billionaires getting richer while regular people pay more and more. This bill is a necessary step toward affordable groceries, greater choice for consumers, and a stronger, more sustainable food system for Canada.
I would like to thank my good friend, the member for Hamilton Centre, for being the seconder of this bill.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Salma Zahid Liberal Scarborough Centre, ON
Mr. Speaker, I present a petition today signed primarily by Lebanese Canadian constituents in my riding of Scarborough Centre. They draw our attention to the conflict in the Middle East, which has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced many more in Palestine and in Lebanon. Petitioners note that Israeli air strikes have hit UNESCO world heritage sites and health care facilities, and they point to the death of over 170 health care workers.
Petitioners call on the Government of Canada to implement sanctions on the Netanyahu government, to ensure a clear and unambiguous two-way arms embargo, to support a United Nations resolution calling for our peacekeepers in Gaza as part of the development of mechanisms and to ensure civilian protection. They are calling for peace and for recognition of the state of Palestine.
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
Mr. Speaker, I rise to table a petition adding 827 names to the thousands of signatures that have already been added to a petition I tabled previously. The petition is about the situation in Hong Kong, and more particularly with respect to the fact that Hong Kong's basic law has completely been eroded and that the national security law imposed by China and adopted in Hong Kong has gotten rid of even the most basic of rights, including freedom of the press.
On August 12, Hong Kong's top court upheld the conviction of seven of Hong Kong's most prominent pro-democracy activists, including 82-year-old Martin Lee and 76-year-old Jimmy Lai, who was the owner of Apple Daily. That publication has now been shut down and Lai is in jail. In fact, he is actually in court trying to defend himself.
The offences of these individuals are that they participated in a peaceful demonstration on August 18, 2019. The group of 47, which includes legislators, were found guilty on May 30, in the exercise of their democratic rights for participating in election primaries. These pro-democracy activists have since been sentenced. Some of them face as much as 10 years in prison for their pro-democracy activities.
Given the extraterritorial reach of the national security law in article 23, there is ongoing fear of surveillance among the Hong Kong diaspora. In light of the recent spying charges laid against staff at the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in the U.K., Hong Kongers want to be assured this is not happening in Canada.
Therefore petitioners are calling on the Canadian government to call on Hong Kong and the PRC to release Jimmy Lai and the group of 47 and others, whose only crime was to exercise their rights and freedoms as prescribed by the UN human rights declaration; stop according any special rights or diplomatic status to the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office; and proactively apply sanctions, under the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Officials Act, against Chinese and Hong Kong officials.
Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC
Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to rise to present a petition with over 700 signatures, including some from my constituency and across the country.
The petitioners cite the events of this summer in the arrest of Canadian citizen, Captain Paul Watson, who was detained in Greenland and has been held under arrest by the Danish government. The concern raised by the petitioners is that since 2012, the Government of Japan has been attempting to extradite Paul Watson in various efforts, although the notice was condemned by the European Parliament in 2017.
It is very concerning because the events, according to petitioners, all occurred in Captain Paul Watson's efforts to fight whaling activities that were and have been found to be illegal and were carried out by Japanese vessels in international waters.
I will summarize by saying that the petitioners ask the Prime Minister to immediately request the release of Canadian citizen Paul Watson from Danish prison and, further, to request the withdrawal of the Interpol notice that was issued against Paul Watson by the Japanese government for Captain Watson's efforts to protect marine mammals from illegal whaling activities.
Sean Casey Liberal Charlottetown, PE
Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions to present today. The first calls on the Government of Canada to create a national nutrition coupon program fund that would strengthen and grow all existing and proposed provincial farmers' market nutrition coupon programs across Canada.
Sean Casey Liberal Charlottetown, PE
Mr. Speaker, the second petition emanates from my home province of Prince Edward Island. In November 2020 there was a special committee on poverty that presented its final report to the provincial legislature, calling on the Government of Prince Edward Island to begin negotiations with the Government of Canada with a view to develop and implement a basic income guarantee demonstration program for Prince Edward Island.
The initiative received the full support of all political parties; therefore, the petitioners call upon the Government of Canada to begin immediate negotiations with the Government of Prince Edward Island to develop and implement a basic income guarantee demonstration program in the province of Prince Edward Island that would be administered, monitored and evaluated for at least five years.
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Mr. Speaker, I have a number of petitions to present to the House today.
The first petition responds to concerns that have been raised by many people in the Eritrean Canadian community about ongoing human rights abuses in Eritrea, as well as foreign interference emanating from Eritrea.
Petitioners want to draw the attention of the House to the fact that Eritrea has been ruled by a brutal authoritarian dictator under a totalitarian system for the last 30 years. There is no constitution, no election, no parliament, no freedom of the press and no freedom of movement and association. The people of Eritrea have the same aspirations for freedom and democracy that people always and everywhere have.
Eritreans continue to flee indefinite military conscription, religious persecution and political repression. Petitioners note that a very high number of people have fled and yet continue to face threats in the form of foreign interference while they are living elsewhere. Those people who have managed to flee face intimidation and extortion from representatives and agents of the regime that are abroad. People are also harassed and forced to pay large amounts of money because members of their family have fled.
Petitioners are concerned about the use of Eritrean embassies for foreign interference. They also highlight other forms of repression that happen abroad.
Petitioners also draw the attention of the House to the conspiracy and the collaboration of the Eritrean dictator and the Russian regime, and how that is facilitating neocolonial efforts of the Russian state in Africa, which I know should be of great concern to all members.
Petitioners call on the Government of Canada to engage actively with Eritrean political and human rights activists, especially with pro-democracy groups working here in Canada and building coalitions around the world. They want to see Canada take a leadership role among western allies to challenge the Eritrean dictator's collaboration with Vladimir Putin and Russian neocolonial policy in Africa in general.
Petitioners want to see an investigation of foreign interference activity here in Canada and stronger measures to ensure that the asylum system here in Canada is not abused by people who are affiliated with the regime.
Petitioners want Parliament to advocate for the release of all imprisoned journalists and parliamentarians. They highlight specifically the cases of Dawit Isaak, Petros Solomon, Mahmoud Ahmed Sheriffo, Haile Woldetensae, Ogbe Abraha, Hamid Himid, Saleh Idras Kekya, Estifanos Seyoum, Berhane Ghebrezgabiher, Aster Fesehazion, Germano Nati and Beraki Gebreselassie.
The petitioners would also like to see strengthened sanctions against human rights abusers in Eritrea.
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Mr. Speaker, the next petition is an issue of concern to many Canadians who file their taxes and would like to have more flexibility in how they do so. Nobody likes filing their taxes, but petitioners in this case are frustrated by the fact that paper filing is being discouraged.
Petitioners note that Canadians need to file their taxes regardless of their level of connectivity. They are frustrated that CRA will no longer print line-by-line instructions in the paper package and will impose financial penalties for paper filing for certain kinds of taxes, including business filing and GST/HST returns. This is unfair to Canadians who do not have the same level of connectivity or who simply prefer to file in other ways.
Petitioners call on the Government of Canada to remove all penalties associated with the paper filing of tax returns and also to make available printed copies of the line-by-line instructions for tax filing for anyone who requests them.
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Mr. Speaker, the next petition is regarding the Liberals' so-called feminist international assistance policy. Petitioners note that the Muskoka initiative, launched by the previous Conservative government, involved historic investments in the well-being of women and girls around the world and that the initiative emphasized value for money and ensured that investments were made in priorities identified by local women.
By contrast, petitioners say that the Liberal government's approach has shown a lack of respect for the cultural values and the autonomy of women in the developing world by supporting organizations that violate local laws at the expense of international development priorities like clean water, access to basic nutrition and economic development, and that it pushes ideology at the expense of local priorities.
The petitioners also note how the Liberals' approach to international development for women and girls has been criticized by the Auditor General for its failure to measure results.
The petitioners call on the Government of Canada to align international development spending with the approach taken in the Muskoka initiative and to focus international development dollars on meeting the basic needs of vulnerable women around the world, rather than pushing ideological agendas that may conflict with local values in developing countries.
Petitioners also want to see better measurement of the outcomes in the work being done by the government.
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Mr. Speaker, the next petition raises concern about the very radical and extreme agenda of the government and of some of the people who have testified in support of it on the issue of euthanasia. Canada already has the most liberal euthanasia regime in the world, which is being used as a cautionary tale in debates around the world on this very issue.
This particular petition highlights with grave concern a proposal for the expansion of euthanasia to include babies from birth to one year of age. This was a proposal made by Louis Roy of the Quebec college of physicians and surgeons for the legalized killing of infants. Petitioners see this as morally abhorrent and as the sort of thing that, frankly, a few years ago we never would have expected to hear openly uttered let alone advocated for in Parliament.
The petitioners call on the Government of Canada to block any attempt to allow the killing of children.
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Mr. Speaker, the next petition highlights the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in the People's Republic of China and shares some of the history of that persecution.
Petitioners call for stronger steps by the Government of Canada and Parliament to combat the ongoing, now 25-year-long, persecution of Falun Gong practitioners, who simply wish to exercise their religious freedom and to practice a spiritual discipline that emphasizes truthfulness, compassion and tolerance.
Scott Reid Conservative Lanark—Frontenac—Kingston, ON
Mr. Speaker, my petition is also on the subject of Falun Gong or Falun Dafa, a peaceful practice that emphasizes truth, compassion and forbearance and that is centred on Chinese traditional practices. Its practitioners have been persecuted for, frankly, no good reason by the Chinese government since 1999.
The petitioners request that Canada take a strong stance against the persecution, and in particular against the practice of organ harvesting. Falun Gong practitioners in many cases, and this is extremely well documented, have been used for involuntary organ harvesting. We can imagine what this results in for the people whose organs are being harvested; it is effectively a form of permitted murder. The issue was well investigated by David Kilgour and David Matas, who presented impressive testimony at the international human rights subcommittee, of which I was chair.
The petitioners ask that we take a strong stand on the issue.
Kevin Lamoureux LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, I ask that all questions be allowed to stand at this time, please.
Kevin Lamoureux LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, I would ask that all notices of motions for the production of papers also be allowed to stand at this time, please.
The Deputy Speaker Conservative Chris d'Entremont
It is my duty pursuant to Standing Order 38 to inform the House that the questions to be raised tonight at the time of adjournment are as follows: the hon. member for Kitchener Centre, Foreign Affairs; the hon. member for Cypress Hills—Grasslands, Natural Resources.
The House resumed from November 26 consideration of the motion, of the amendment as amended and of the amendment to the amendment.
Reference to Standing Committee on Procedure and House AffairsPrivilegeOrders of the Day
Conservative
Ryan Williams Conservative Bay of Quinte, ON
Mr. Speaker, I want to start today by offering a hearty congratulations to the government. The privilege debate in the House is now the longest in recorded Canadian history. I am sure that there is birthday cake, balloons and streamers in the back.
Even though this might be a gift for the government, Canadians really want a gift in return. What they want in return is the production of the unredacted documents that the House has asked for and that the government fails to give. It is the power of the House of Commons, the power of the people. We are all elected by the people to ask the government and the government, under the power of Parliament, because of the Speaker's order, needs to give.
We are now six weeks into the House costing taxpayers a million dollars a day and still we have no production of documents. It is really a travesty in the House. We obviously have bigger fish to fry. We have bigger problems. As we stand here, we have a multitude of problems in the country. People are paying 37% more for groceries in Canada than they are in the U.S. We have a housing crisis, the biggest in a generation, where Canadians are paying double for mortgages, rents and down payments. There are 1,400 tent encampments across the country and two million Canadians are lining up at food banks, in Canada, a G7 nation.
We have the highest household debt in a generation. We are headed into more disaster. In the headlines this week, President-elect Donald Trump has announced a 25% tariff that he is going to levy on all goods and services to Canada if Canada does not fix its border.
We look at what that means for Canada. It is going to be devastating to all of our sectors. We put much importance on U.S.-Canada trade. We have had an incredible relationship for so long, so much so that we depend on trade for 40% of our economy. Our trade with the U.S. is almost double that of all other countries combined. We have a $1.2-trillion responsibility.
We look at what has happened with trade. We have a weak leader, a weak Prime Minister who is not able to stand up for Canadians, who does not have a backbone. We are entering a really dangerous period of Canadian economics and Canadian sovereignty, where we are trying to hold on to what we have from CUSMA.
The U.S. is not just a partner; it is a lifeline to global trade. The consequences are dismal. If we do not get a trade deal together, if we are not able to stand up to President-elect Trump, then the consequences will be jobs and paycheques. There is going to be a depression for the Canadian economy.
It happened nine years ago when the Prime Minister was elected. When the government tried to negotiate with Trump last time, it failed. The government likes to say that it stood up to Trump and won.
I would recommend to anyone Robert Lighthizer's book called No Trade is Free. He was the U.S. trade representative the last time around. In his book, he goes into the details of what happened during the trade negotiations. They were dismal. On June 8, when we hosted the G7 summit and we were supposed to sign CUSMA, supposed to have the trade deal done, the finance minister and the Prime Minister went behind the U.S.'s back. They tried to have a team Canada approach and it failed miserably. They went to the press and said that they had an agreement signed. They rolled over the U.S. government and those representatives and they maddened those representatives. After that June 8 summit, when President-elect Trump left Canada, Canada was sidelined. It was put to the side of CUSMA and, for three months, Mexico got to go into those trade negotiations. Mexico benefited from that.
Because of that failure in those trade negotiations, Mexico is now the U.S.A.'s number one trading partner and Canada is number three. When Conservatives were in power, we were the U.S.A.'s number one trading partner.
It says it right here in the book. The former chief of staff, Peter Navarro, had a really good quote. When he left those meetings on June 8, he said that the Prime Minister has a “special place in hell”. Trade relationships were sour. We did not have a Prime Minister who stood up for Canadians and their values and, of course, we saw the end result of that.
The end result is worse than we could think. Half a trillion dollars of investment has gone south. The average American worker now makes $32,000 more than the average Canadian worker. We have had entrepreneurs, investment and venture capital all escape south. It is not just a bad trade deal; it is increased taxes; it is the fact that we have a planned increase to the carbon tax of 61¢ per litre; we have increased capital gains taxes and we have decreased incentives for entrepreneurs, for investors and for capital as a whole to be placed into Canada.
Because of the lack of trade negotiations, the fact that the President-elect is tweeting, or truthing, that he is going to put these tariffs into place means that we are going to see decreased investment into Canada.