House of Commons Hansard #109 of the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was majority.
This summary is computer-generated. Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.
Military Justice System Modernization Act Report stage of Bill C-11. The bill seeks to modernize the military justice system by transferring jurisdiction over sexual offences to civilian courts, a move Liberals describe as crucial institutional reform. Conversely, Conservatives and the Bloc argue the legislation removes essential options for victims. They advocate for amendments to ensure victim choice between systems, contending that the government is ignoring concerns regarding capacity within civilian police and failing to listen to survivor testimony presented during committee. 32800 words, 4 hours.
Government Business No. 9—Changes to Standing Orders Members debate Government Motion No. 9, proposing expanded committee sizes to ensure a government majority. Liberal members argue this reflects parliamentary tradition, while opposition MPs, including Andrew Scheer and Yves Perron, contend the change stifles accountability and ignores election results. Critics argue the government seeks to evade scrutiny on key issues, and John Brassard introduces an amendment to preserve the composition of specific oversight committees. 19100 words, 2 hours.
National Framework on Skilled Trades and Labour Mobility Act Second reading of Bill C-266. The bill proposes a national framework to harmonize skilled trades certification and improve labour mobility. Liberals argue it will boost economic efficiency. Conservatives, however, accuse the government of attacking trades workers through recent funding policies, while the Bloc Québécois rejects the legislation, claiming it constitutes federal encroachment on Quebec jurisdiction regarding labour training. 7700 words, 1 hour.
Lena Metlege Diab LiberalMinister of Immigration
Mr. Speaker, the cost of health care for an asylum claimant is tied to volumes.
The good news is that the asylum claims have gone down. If we compare the first two months of this year to 2024, it has gone down by two-thirds. That is good news for Canada, and with Bill C-12, we will continue to reduce those claims.
Burton Bailey Conservative Red Deer, AB
Mr. Speaker, six million Canadians without access to a family doctor will not be lectured by the Liberals while their own tax dollars are being abused and they cannot get the proper care they need. The fact is that non-citizens whose asylum claims have been rejected have no reason to be in this country and should not benefit from better health care than Canadians.
When will the Prime Minister admit he has lost control of immigration and stop letting scammers treat Canada as a walk-in clinic?
Lena Metlege Diab LiberalMinister of Immigration
Mr. Speaker, the program the member is speaking about represents 0.2% of the total health spending for Canada. I think the Conservatives had better get their facts straight and stop fearmongering off of the backs of people who are vulnerable and need to be protected.
We will continue to do what is right for Canadians to protect Canadians and everyone in Canada.
Sonia Sidhu Liberal Brampton South, ON
Mr. Speaker, our government is investing $79 million in the strategic response fund to advance regenerative medicine, which includes innovative cures for diabetes.
Can the Minister of Health tell us how this investment will drive innovation in diabetes research and improve outcomes for Canadians living with diabetes?
Marjorie Michel LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member for her leadership on diabetes.
We cannot build Canada strong without healthy Canadians. Investments like these show our commitment to building a more resilient, modern and sustainable health care system. Thanks to our investment, we are helping create approximately 400 jobs across the Vancouver region, which is great news for the economy and the people. Just as importantly, it shows that we want next-generation health care solutions to be built here in Canada.
Arpan Khanna Conservative Oxford, ON
Mr. Speaker, thanks to the RCMP and CBSA, a massive multi-million-dollar drug lab was shut down near Norwich. In Woodstock, drug dealers pushing fentanyl and cocaine were arrested, but then released on bail.
Liberal weak-on-crime, catch-and-release and open border policies are destroying our communities. Under their watch, 50,000 Canadians have lost their lives due to drug overdoses. When will the Liberals crack down on these criminals and protect our communities?
Sean Fraser LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Mr. Speaker, I have good news to share with my hon. colleague. He will be well aware of the fact that we are in the midst of moving forward with generational changes to Canada's criminal laws, including the bail and sentencing reform act, which would lead to stiffer penalties and harder conditions on bail for the very criminals he raises in his question.
The only question that I have is whether the Conservatives, after months of obstruction in the justice committee, will finally be collaborative now that they know there is a majority Liberal government that will implement the strongest criminal reforms we have seen in years, with or without their assistance.
Arpan Khanna Conservative Oxford, ON
Mr. Speaker, the police are doing their jobs, but it is this Liberal government that is failing Canadians. The Liberals promised 1,000 new RCMP officers and 1,000 new border guards, but they failed to deliver them. The AG says that, in Canada, we are short 3,400 RCMP officers. Meanwhile, illegal guns and illegal drugs keep pouring across our borders and into our communities.
Will the Liberals stop recycling their speeches and finally act to protect Canadians?
Ruby Sahota LiberalSecretary of State (Combatting Crime)
Mr. Speaker, we have implemented the strongest tightening of the Criminal Code of Canada ever in the history of this Parliament. We are putting forward legislation that would provide law enforcement with the tools they need to catch drug traffickers, but the Conservatives have delayed many of these tools. Lawful access should have been passed months ago. Finally, now it is at the committee stage, and I hope the Conservatives listen to law enforcement and provide them with the help they need.
Brad Redekopp Conservative Saskatoon West, SK
Mr. Speaker, for years, residents and businesses in Saskatoon West warned the Liberals that the drug injection site was creating chaos and disorder in the community. The Liberals approved and funded the site, even though it was within 200 metres of a school. Now, the whole operation has collapsed into bankruptcy and closure. That should be the end of this failed experiment.
Saskatoon needs hope, recovery, treatment and safety, not a new licence for the same disaster under different management. Will the Minister of Health give the people of Saskatoon West a clear answer today and promise that she will not approve a new drug injection site in Saskatoon?
Marjorie Michel LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, as my colleague well knows, there is no one solution to the drug crisis. However, when it comes to supervised consumption sites, the federal government is responding to the request of the provinces, which operate these supervised consumption sites themselves. We do not pay the centres.
I am working with the Province of Saskatchewan to find out how we are going to move forward in this specific case.
Fayçal El-Khoury Liberal Laval—Les Îles, QC
Mr. Speaker, on March 12, in response to the Government of Lebanon's urgent request for humanitarian support, the Government of Canada announced more than $37.7 million in funding to provide critical assistance in Lebanon, including food, medical and health services, shelter and clean water.
One month on, could the Secretary of State for International Development update the House on the impact our humanitarian assistance is having on the ground?
Randeep Sarai LiberalSecretary of State (International Development)
Mr. Speaker, Canada's humanitarian assistance is making a real difference on the ground. Through trusted partners, we have helped provide nearly 5.7 million meals to families in need. We have supported emergency medical assistance to almost 16,000 patients and health services to 35,000 more. We are helping 40 primary care health facilities across Lebanon stay open, and improving access to essential medical care for the most vulnerable.
These are just a few examples of the life-saving support that Canadians are helping provide. For families fleeing violence and facing displacement, hunger and loss, it makes a real difference. It is something Canadians can be proud of.
Clifford Small Conservative Central Newfoundland, NL
Mr. Speaker, this Liberal Prime Minister bragged about his deal with China to remove tariffs from Canadian seafood. There were 49 seafood products subjected to 25% Canadian tariffs, but this government secured exemption for only two species and only until the end of this year.
Harvesters and plant workers who rely on Chinese markets for turbot, sea cucumber, whelk, capelin, geoduck, shrimp and surf clams are reeling from these tariffs. When will these Liberals secure real, lasting relief from Chinese tariffs and stop failing the Canadian seafood industry?
Maninder Sidhu LiberalMinister of International Trade
Mr. Speaker, China is our second-largest trading partner.
In our trip in January, we unlocked billions of dollars of opportunities for our agriculture and seafood sector. That includes more canola to China, more beef to China and more seafood to China. That is over 500,000 workers being supported by trade with China.
We will continue working with our Chinese counterpart to unlock more opportunities for more workers across the country.
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
Mr. Speaker, at a time when gas prices are skyrocketing, the Liberals are quietly slashing $5 billion from promised transit funding to local governments, all part of the Prime Minister's cuts, funding that cities rely on to keep people moving and to fight climate change. That means fewer buses, delayed projects and higher costs for commuters.
Why is the government abandoning working people and municipalities when they need support the most? Will the Prime Minister reverse these reckless cuts in the spring economic update and reinstate the promised stable long-term transit funding, yes or no?
Gregor Robertson LiberalMinister of Housing and Infrastructure and Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada
Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for her concerns about public transit.
The good news is that we have expanded the opportunities for funding on public transit, not only from the Canada public transit fund, which is the first permanent dedicated public transit fund in Canadian history, but also from the build communities strong fund, which is $51 billion of funding for infrastructure in communities across Canada, all of which is eligible for public transit funding.
We have grown the pot for public transit much larger. We intend to be investing aggressively, working with communities to deliver that public transit.
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
Mr. Speaker, in the last election, the Prime Minister promised to protect pharmacare and sign agreements with all provinces and territories as quickly as possible. Despite those clear commitments, his government has failed to sign a single agreement. This week, P.E.I.'s health minister revealed the Liberals' plan to scrap pharmacare entirely when current deals expire.
Will the government provide funding in the spring economic update to protect pharmacare and expand it to all Canadians as they promised, or are Liberals breaking their commitment to public pharmacare?
Marjorie Michel LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, let me repeat what I always say whenever we talk about pharmacare. The government remains committed to working with the provinces and territories to determine how best to support Canadians in the area of health care, based on their needs. Regarding Prince Edward Island and the article my colleague referred to, we are not making any cuts. These are programs that are set to end in the coming years. The government has not made any cuts, quite the contrary.
I will work with the Province of Prince Edward Island to see how to better support it when it comes to health care.
Andrew Lawton Conservative Elgin—St. Thomas—London South, ON
Mr. Speaker, on a point of order, during Statements by Members, I could not help but notice that the Minister of Finance took a photograph on his phone of the Secretary of State for Rural Development, which as you and the minister should know is very much against the rules of this House.
I am hoping you could direct the deletion of that photo.
PharmacareOral Questions
The Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia
I did not see that, but if that is the case, the minister would obviously have to delete the photo.
Does the minister has a reply to that point of order?
François-Philippe Champagne Liberal Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC
Mr. Speaker, I apologize. I will delete it. It was of one of my documents.
Andrew Scheer Conservative Regina—Qu'Appelle, SK
Mr. Speaker, now it is time for everyone's favourite part of the parliamentary calendar, the Thursday question.
I was hoping the government House leader could update the House as to the business for the remainder of this week and into next week. Specifically, on the heels of recent data showing that Canada once again under the Liberal Prime Minister has the highest food inflation in the entire G7, can we expect any legislation to provide relief at the grocery store? We would be willing to fast-track legislation that would go the full way to lifting federal taxes off gasoline and diesel, should the government want to introduce that legislation as well.
One thing that strengthens a dollar and protects currency against devaluation is investors trying to put money into our country. The two Liberal anti-development bills from the Trudeau era, the “no more pipelines” bill and the “no new development” bill, are blocking investment into Canada. Will the government finally repeal those antidevelopment laws that are contributing to the weakening Canadian dollar and helping drive up prices?
Steven MacKinnon LiberalMinister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, I have taken careful note of those questions from my hon. colleague, and perhaps I could offer a challenge in return. If he could work with his colleagues over the weekend so that we get a list, a very precise list, of all of the things that constitute, in their minds, inflationary spending, we would certainly rush to agree to have them table that document and would take a look at it before the Minister of Finance rises next week and gives his spring economic update.
In the meantime, this afternoon, we will move on to consideration of Government Motion No. 9 on the composition of committees. Tomorrow we will continue consideration at second reading of Bill C-25, the strong and free elections act. On Monday, we will resume consideration at report stage of Bill C-11, the military justice system modernization act.
Next Tuesday, we will begin debate at second reading of the very exciting Bill C-28, the Canadian space launch act, followed by the spring economic statement at 4 p.m.
Finally, on Wednesday, we will start second reading debate of Bill S-3, an act to amend the Weights and Measures Act.
Andrew Scheer Conservative Regina—Qu'Appelle, SK
Mr. Speaker, because the government House leader referenced it, I understand he has just made a commitment that he would allow us to bring that document into the House and accept its tabling. I will take him up on that and make sure we get him that list. I do hope he will not just provide unanimous consent to the tabling of that document but that he also gives it to the Minister of Finance so that we can finally get the Liberals to stop causing the inflation that is causing so much hardship for Canadians.