House of Commons Hansard #280 of the 44th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was maid.

Topics

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This summary is computer-generated. Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.

National Strategy on Flood and Drought Forecasting Act Second reading of Bill C-317. The bill seeks to establish a national strategy for flood and drought forecasting, aiming to improve coordination, information sharing, and share best practices across Canada. While generally supported, concerns include potential federal overreach into provincial jurisdiction and the need for the strategy to provide tangible and practical solutions. Some emphasize the importance of respecting provincial strategies already in place. 8100 words, 1 hour.

Government Business No. 34—Proceedings on Bill C-62 Members debate a motion to expedite Bill C-62, delaying Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) for mental illness until 2027. The government states the delay is needed for readiness, requested by different jurisdictions. Conservatives argue against MAID for mental illness and advocate to stand up for those with mental illness. Bloc members question Why take three years for the delay. The NDP criticizes the government's past handling, calling it an ill-advised 11th hour amendment. 13900 words, 2 hours.

Statements by Members

Question Period

The Conservatives focus heavily on the ArriveCAN app scandal, highlighting its $60-million cost, vastly over budget. They allege the process was rigged to pay insiders like GC Strategies millions for no work, calling it a waste of taxpayer money. They accuse the Prime Minister of being not worth the cost or the corruption.
The Liberals address the Auditor General's ArriveCAN report, accepting recommendations to improve the management of taxpayer money and ensure accountability for practices where rules were not followed. They highlight job growth, discuss providing humanitarian aid to Gaza and clarify export permits to Israel. They also touch on medical assistance in dying and protecting 2SLGBTQ+ students.
The Bloc focuses on MAID advance requests and a Quebec exemption. They scrutinize the ArriveCAN app's cost and accountability failures. They demand reimbursement for Quebec for asylum seekers and consultation on immigration capacity.
The NDP criticize the waste of $60 million on ArriveCAN, accusing Liberals of making consultants richer. They question military exports to Israel, demand action on online harms, and oppose the beer tax increase.
The Green Party calls for the government to help Canadians' family members leave Gaza via special immigration measures.

Impact Assessment Act First reading of Bill C-375. The bill amends the Impact Assessment Act, enabling federal-provincial deals to exempt projects and allow a single assessment for faster approval. .

Criminal Code First reading of Bill C-376. The bill amends the Criminal Code to institute a mandatory weapons prohibition for individuals convicted of violent indictable offences. .

Parliament of Canada Act First reading of Bill C-377. The bill establishes a process for parliamentarians to request secret security clearance, facilitating access to information deemed necessary for national security and accountability. 100 words.

Canada Labour Code First reading of Bill C-378. The bill amends the Canada Labour Code to increase the time limit for former employees to file harassment complaints from three months to two years. 100 words.

Combating Motor Vehicle Theft Act First reading of Bill C-379. The bill amends the Criminal Code to toughen penalties for repeat motor vehicle thieves acting on behalf of organized crime. .

Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 First reading of Bill C-380. The bill amends the Canadian Environmental Protection Act to remove plastic manufactured items from the list of toxic substances, aiming to reverse the plastic straw ban and prevent food cost increases. 200 words.

Protection Against Extortion Act First reading of Bill C-381. The bill amends the Criminal Code concerning extortion, reintroducing mandatory minimum penalties that the Mover states were removed by the Liberal government's Bill C-5. .

Petitions

National Council for Reconciliation Act Bill C-29. The bill, An Act to provide for the establishment of a national council for reconciliation, responds to TRC Calls to Action 53-56 by creating a body to monitor and report on reconciliation progress. Members debate the bill and Senate amendments, discussing the need for Indigenous leadership, government accountability, consultation processes, inclusion of off-reserve voices like the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples, and the importance of economic reconciliation. While parties generally support the council's creation, concerns are raised about the bill's initial flaws and the government's approach to consultation and implementation. 20500 words, 2 hours.

Adjournment Debates

The Carbon Tax's Impact Cheryl Gallant defends her constituent Edmund's existence and criticizes the carbon tax, claiming it hurts Canadians. Kevin Lamoureux cites the PBO's report that 80% of Canadians benefit from the carbon tax rebate, and accuses the Conservatives of climate denialism and distorting the facts.
Mortgage fraud and housing Kevin Vuong argues that mortgage fraud exacerbates housing unaffordability. He accuses the government of inaction, citing examples of fraudulent mortgages. Kevin Lamoureux defends the government's housing investments and national strategy. He cautions against linking immigration to fraud, emphasizing collaboration with stakeholders.
Carbon Tax Policy Garnett Genuis criticizes the carbon tax, arguing it's a failed experiment that hasn't met environmental targets and increases costs. Kevin Lamoureux defends the carbon tax as a necessary measure supported by other parties and countries. Genuis calls for the tax to be axed, while Lamoureux questions the Conservative's environmental plan.
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Committees of the HouseOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Conservative

Kelly McCauley Conservative Edmonton West, AB

Mr. Speaker, this Wednesday, at the government operations and estimates committee, the Auditor General will be appearing on her ArriveCAN audit. Given today's report, we will be ordering past and present ministers of public safety, procurement, health and treasury board to answer for ArriveCAN mismanagement and waste. GC Strategies, which we have now learned was paid $20 million, will be issued a summons, ordering its appearance.

The committee will call every witness and compel every document to hold the government to account on ArriveCAN.

Diversity and InclusionOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Liberal

Joanne Thompson Liberal St. John's East, NL

Mr. Speaker, like many people across the country, I have been deeply disturbed by attacks—

Diversity and InclusionOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh!

Diversity and InclusionOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

The Speaker Greg Fergus

I am going to ask members to please allow the Chair to hear the questions and the answers from all members.

The hon. member for St. John's East, from the top, please.

Diversity and InclusionOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Liberal

Joanne Thompson Liberal St. John's East, NL

Mr. Speaker, like many people across the country, I have been deeply disturbed by attacks from the Premiers of New Brunswick, Saskatchewan and now Alberta on vulnerable 2SLGBTQ+ students who are looking for privacy, dignity and a safe place to be who they are. Far too often, for this group, home is not a safe place.

What can our government and people who believe in inclusion do to fight this discrimination?

Diversity and InclusionOral Questions

February 12th, 2024 / 3:05 p.m.

Edmonton Centre Alberta

Liberal

Randy Boissonnault LiberalMinister of Employment

Mr. Speaker, in the weeks since Danielle Smith took to social media to threaten the privacy, the safety and the dignity of queer and trans students, I have spoken to countless individuals who have told me how terrified they are about the discriminatory actions taken by the provincial government.

I have one message for every person in Alberta who believes in the inclusive and equitable province that we know it to be. What those people need to do is to call the silent Conservative MPs in this room and call the MLAs in Alberta, so we can kill this bill before it gets to the floor of the legislature.

TaxationOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

NDP

Lindsay Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON

Mr. Speaker, those out-of-touch Liberals show time and again that they do not have the backs of brewery workers. The Liberals are set to drastically increase the tax on beer in April. This will hurt breweries, small businesses and restaurants, and their unionized workers risk losing their jobs. Workers deserve better.

Will the minister listen and reverse her decision to increase costs on those who are already struggling to keep their doors open?

TaxationOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

University—Rosedale Ontario

Liberal

Chrystia Freeland LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance

Mr. Speaker, I am really glad to have a question about Canadian workers and Canadian jobs because it gives me a chance to share some good news that we got on Friday. The Canadian economy, in January, added 37,000 new jobs. That means we have 1.1 million more jobs than we had before COVID hit. Unemployment fell to 5.7%. That is lower than it was at any time when Stephen Harper was prime minister.

Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipOral Questions

3:10 p.m.

Green

Mike Morrice Green Kitchener Centre, ON

Mr. Speaker, Hazim is a member of my community with family members trapped in Gaza, including his brothers, sister and mother. Like so many, he worries he will not be able to get them to safety. Unlike Ukraine, the government has imposed an arbitrary cap of 1,000 people who can qualify for special immigration measures. Worse still, other countries, like Iceland, have been successful in getting family members out in 2024, while Canada has not.

What is the minister doing to compel Israel to allow Canadian visa holders to leave Gaza?

Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipOral Questions

3:10 p.m.

Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs Québec

Liberal

Marc Miller LiberalMinister of Immigration

Mr. Speaker, it is inaccurate that we have been able to extract people from Gaza in 2024. We have a unique program, unique in the world, to get family members of Canadians out from Gaza. It has of yet been unsuccessful because of unco-operative local authorities at the Rafah gates. We urge them to help us in getting those people across the border.

That said, I have asked my department to review the humanitarian terms of the program to make sure they are complying with our obligations, without compromising the security of Canadians. We will get people out.

Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipOral Questions

3:10 p.m.

Conservative

Ziad Aboultaif Conservative Edmonton Manning, AB

Mr. Speaker, on a point of order, I seek unanimous consent for the following motion, that the House condemn the Prime Minister's past comments—

Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipOral Questions

3:10 p.m.

Some hon. members

No.

Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipOral Questions

3:10 p.m.

The Speaker Greg Fergus

The Minister for Women and Gender Equality is rising on a point of order.

Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipOral Questions

3:10 p.m.

Some hon. members

No.

Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipOral Questions

3:10 p.m.

The Speaker Greg Fergus

Order. I am going to remind members that, when there is an opportunity for the House to consider points of order on unanimous consent motions, it is very helpful for members to ensure that they have asked and sought unanimous consent, at least from the House officers, so we could negotiate. That is not a rule, as an hon. member pointed out, but it is a very good practice so that members' time, which is very valuable, is being best used.

We have had two members rise, one a minister, and there was no unanimous consent. I see other people rising on points of order. We have seen on two occasions members rise who have been immediately shouted down with noes. That is an indication to the Chair that there is no unanimous consent. It is also an indication to the Chair that there have been no negotiations and discussions beforehand to try to have these unanimous consent motions adopted.

The hon. member for Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan is rising on a point of order.

Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipOral Questions

3:10 p.m.

Conservative

Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB

Mr. Speaker, I would like to seek—

Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipOral Questions

3:10 p.m.

Some hon. members

No.

Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipOral Questions

3:10 p.m.

The Speaker Greg Fergus

The member for Regina—Qu'Appelle is rising on a point of order. I am certain that, as a House officer, he has sought unanimous consent.

Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipOral Questions

3:10 p.m.

Conservative

Andrew Scheer Conservative Regina—Qu'Appelle, SK

Mr. Speaker, I move that, notwithstanding any standing order or—

Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipOral Questions

3:10 p.m.

Some hon. members

No.

Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipOral Questions

3:10 p.m.

The Speaker Greg Fergus

Colleagues, we have a couple of votes afterward. I know you all have business to do but, if this is the way members would like to continue going, we will run through this.

The hon. member for Barrie—Innisfil.

Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipOral Questions

3:15 p.m.

Conservative

John Brassard Conservative Barrie—Innisfil, ON

Mr. Speaker, there have been discussions—

Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipOral Questions

3:15 p.m.

Some hon. members

No.

Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipOral Questions

3:15 p.m.

The Speaker Greg Fergus

The hon. member for Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley.

Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipOral Questions

3:15 p.m.

Conservative

Marty Morantz Conservative Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB

Mr. Speaker, I would like to seek—