Madam Speaker, I am proud to represent a rural riding that includes many in the Amish community. The Amish do not use electricity, phones or the Internet. They are pacifists, they do not vote and many are dual Canadian-U.S. citizens.
In April 2021, I first asked the Liberal government how it was communicating border restrictions and requirements to Canadians like the Amish. I followed this up in February, September and November 2022, both here in the House and in written questions, as I started getting reports that the community was facing fines in excess of $250,000 for failure to use the ArriveCAN app, to get the right COVID test or to quarantine. The government finally responded in January 2023 that it did not inform the Amish of the rules before they arrived at the border. Now the community is facing approximately $300,000 in fines and collection agencies have taken liens out against many of the Amish properties.
Was it the Liberal government's intent to discriminate against this community? If not, will it now rectify the situation and give the Amish their farms and lives back?