Debates of April 17th, 2024

Housing

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

I would ask hon. members to please listen to their whips, so that we can listen to the question.

[George Chahal, Liberal, Calgary Skyview, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I have been hearing from young people in my riding that home ownership is just out of reach. The 2024 budget puts forward the government's housing plan to build more affordable homes faster and to make it more affordable to buy or rent.

Can the Prime Minister please share with the House how the government plans to support young people?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for Calgary Skyview for his continued advocacy and hard work.

We have put forward the most ambitious housing plan in generations. Our plan will help build more student housing on or by campus, link infrastructure dollars to housing conditions to ensure new apartments are built near public transit, make it easier to save up for a down payment and qualify for a mortgage.

While the leader opposite has no real plan, we are delivering for Canadians.

Persons with Disabilities

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

Mr. Speaker, $200 a month is what the Liberal government thinks Canadians with disabilities are worth. The Liberals said that their long-overdue Canada disability benefit would end poverty for persons with disabilities, but what they have offered is not even enough for groceries for a month, yet the Liberals did manage to keep giving $60 billion to rich corporations, just like the Conservatives before them. It is unacceptable.

Will the Prime Minister use his power and increase the Canada disability benefit immediately?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the Canada disability benefit is a major milestone in our strong and unwavering commitment to creating a more inclusive and fairer Canada. There is always more to do, but $6.1 billion over the coming years is going to make a measurable difference in the lives of some of Canada's most vulnerable people. Hundreds of dollars a month, tax-free, will help with the cost of living.

We recognize there is more to do. We will be working with provinces and territories to make sure, first of all, that this disability money is not clawed back and, secondly, that we can do even more in partnership with provinces and territories for Canadians with disabilities.

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

Mr. Speaker, in line with the question just asked, we were also shocked to see $200 a month, as if that could lift people living with disabilities out of poverty. In what world is $200 a month enough? At the same time, the red dress alert initiative will be given $1.3 million over three years. When we have stolen sisters versus stolen cars, the cars get $47 million right away.

Can the Prime Minister explain: Is this fair? Is this just?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, this government has recognized for many years that Canadians living with disabilities are facing extreme challenges and disadvantages in our economy and in our communities. That is why we have stepped up regularly over the past years with initiatives to reduce barriers in Canada and to create a Canada disability benefit. We are now moving forward with that at the cost of over $6 billion over the coming years to put hundreds of dollars a month, tax-free, in the pockets of individuals with disabilities.

The reality is that there always more to do, but this will help.

Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates—Mr. Kristian Firth at Bar of House

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

It being 3:20 p.m., pursuant to order made on Monday, April 8, the House will now proceed to the appearance of Kristian Firth at the bar of the House.

Colleagues, the Chair would like to make a brief statement in regard to the historic moment that is about to take place. Indeed, the last time an individual was summoned to the bar of the House to answer questions dates back to 1913, well over a century ago.

Pursuant to order made on April 8, 2024, once Mr. Firth is escorted to the bar of the House by the Sergeant-at-Arms, the Chair shall read the admonishment. Following this, the House shall proceed to a question-and-answer session with Mr. Firth.

The process for questioning, specified in the House order, is as follows.

First, questions and answers shall be addressed through the Speaker.

Second, 10 minutes will be allocated to each recognized party for the first and second rounds in the following order: Liberal Party, Conservative Party, Bloc Québécois and New Democratic Party.

Third, during the third round, five minutes will be allocated to each of the recognized parties with an additional five minutes for the Green Party. Fourth, within each 10- or five-minute period of questioning, each party may allocate time to one or more of its members.

Fifth, in each question and answer period, answers shall approximately reflect the time taken by the question. In addition, should Mr. Firth require a moment to consult with his counsel prior to responding to a question, or for other delays of a similar nature, the Chair will stop the clock.

As well, as discussed with House leaders, provisions are in place for brief suspensions between the rounds of questioning to allow Mr. Firth a pause, if he chooses to avail himself of them.

Furthermore, as with any proceedings of the House, the Chair will decide procedural matters as they may arise.

Upon completion of the questioning, the Chair shall excuse Mr. Firth from further attendance at the bar, after which he will withdraw, and the House shall resume its usual business for the remainder of the sitting.

Finally, colleagues, I wish to remind members that it is incumbent upon all of us to conduct ourselves in a manner befitting of this occasion and to uphold the dignity of the House. I therefore ask for everyone's co-operation in respecting our rules of decorum.

I now ask the Sergeant-at-Arms to admit Mr. Firth at the bar of the House.

Mr. Kristian Firth, please remain standing until I invite you to be seated.

You are attending the bar of the House for being found in contempt for your refusal to answer certain questions and for prevaricating in your answers to other questions before the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates.

You are here today, by order of the House, for the following purposes: First, to receive an admonishment for your refusal to respond to questions posed to you by the committee; second, to provide responses to the questions referred to in the committee's 17th report; and third, to response to supplemental questions.

The privileges of the House of Commons are enshrined in The Constitution Act, 1867, and in the Parliament of Canada Act. This includes the right to institute inquiries and to require the attendance of witnesses. Under the Standing Orders of the House, they are also exercised by its committees within their respective mandates.

These privileges, enjoyed by the House collectively and by members individually, are essential in the discharge of our duties. The House has the power, and indeed the obligation, to reaffirm them when obstruction or interference impedes the House's proceedings and the ability of members to carry out their parliamentary duties.

That is precisely what the House has ordered the Speaker, as the guardian of these rights and privileges, to do today: to reprimand you, to reprimand your contempt for refusing to answer questions put to you by the committee and for prevaricating other questions.

For all these reasons, on behalf of the House of Commons, I admonish you.

In addition, the House orders you to respond to the questions you refused to answer in committee, in whole or in part, and to respond to any supplementary questions.

Mr. Firth, I would like to remind you that you must answer all questions that are posed to you. I would also like to remind you, and everyone listening, that everything you say as part of these proceedings is protected by parliamentary privilege and cannot be used against you in any other forums.

The Chair is aware that you have been briefed on this process.

You may now be seated.

The House will now proceed with its questions.

The House will now proceed to the first round of questions. Each recognized party will have 10 minutes.

I wish to remind hon. members again that all questions are to be addressed through the Chair.

The hon. Leader of the Government.

[Steven MacKinnon, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, could Mr. Firth inform the House as to whether he consulted with a medical professional, prior to his appearance today, regarding answering questions from the House?

[Kristian Firth, Partner]

Mr. Speaker, yes, I did. I consulted yesterday.

[Steven MacKinnon, Liberal, Gatineau, QC]

Mr. Speaker, is Mr. Firth comfortable sharing what the doctor told him?

[Kristian Firth]

Mr. Speaker, yes, I am.

I am not supposed to participate in any activity that would call any undue stress to myself, being diagnosed with having acute mental health flare-ups, being actively under therapy and being on medication.

[Steven MacKinnon, Liberal, Gatineau, QC]

Mr. Speaker, was the information about Mr. Firth's medical condition shared with the House of Commons administration?

[Kristian Firth]

Sorry, Mr. Speaker, could the member ask the question again, please?

[Steven MacKinnon, Liberal, Gatineau, QC]

Mr. Speaker, certainly, by all means.

Was the information about Mr. Firth's medical condition shared with the House of Commons administration?

[Kristian Firth]

Mr. Speaker, we shared it with the Clerk.

[Steven MacKinnon, Liberal, Gatineau, QC]

Mr. Speaker, this information is consistent with what was shared with all recognized parties yesterday individually by the Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel: Mr. Firth's health is fragile, and a doctor has provided a note recommending that Mr. Firth does not participate in activities such as the questioning today for mental and physical health reasons.

We were also told that Mr. Firth understands he will have to answer questions and that he is prepared to do so once his health allows it.

I want to be crystal clear: We believe that what happened with the ArriveCAN app is unacceptable. We want to ensure that all unanswered questions receive answers. That is an important principle of the House.

It is why we supported the motion that brings Mr. Firth here today. We want to get to the bottom of this issue, and we want to ensure that committees are respected.

We understand all recognized parties were individually informed of options to delay the questioning component of today's proceedings until Mr. Firth has been medically cleared to participate. Only the Conservatives refused.

On this side of the House, we do not believe it is appropriate to question Mr. Firth if he is not medically able to participate. We want this to be done in a way that respects the dignity of Parliament, and forcing someone against medical advice to do something a doctor believes could harm their treatment and recovery is indeed beneath the dignity of this place.

The Leader of the Opposition is giving us a demonstration of his character, and Canadians should pay careful attention—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

The hon. government House leader has the floor.

[Steven MacKinnon, Liberal, Gatineau, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I will repeat the last sentence. The Leader of the Opposition is—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[Kerry-Lynne Findlay, Conservative, South Surrey—White Rock, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. The government House leader is purposely causing disorder in this House. Mr. Speaker, you just asked every person here to keep their conduct calm and within the dignity of the House for these extraordinary proceedings. The member is saying that things were in a medical certificate that were not there. We had a House leaders' discussion on this. Now he is using the opportunity to attack the official opposition. This is inappropriate, and it causes discord in the House; it will cause disruption on a continuing basis.

I ask you, Mr. Speaker, to please ask the government House leader to conduct himself within the dignity and within the four squares of this extraordinary situation and not continue down this path.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

I thank the hon. member for South Surrey—White Rock for raising this issue.

I see that the hon. member for Regina—Qu'Appelle is also rising on his feet for a point of order.

[Andrew Scheer, Conservative, Regina—Qu'Appelle, SK]

Mr. Speaker, it is very important for you, Mr. Speaker, to understand how we got here. It is important to know that the witness was offered accommodations that have been granted; should there be further accommodations requested, in terms of breaks or any type of need to consult with any professional, we have signalled our absolute co-operation with that. These are very similar to the accommodations the witness requested when it took months for him to respond to a committee invitation and further summons. These were the same accommodations that were provided when he finally testified just recently, and that is how we arrived at where we are today.

The dignity of the House and the ability for parliamentarians to do their jobs on behalf of taxpayers, many of whom lost every single cent they had during the lockdown, and on behalf of the thousands of Canadians who were ordered into quarantine because of this app, essentially—