Adam Vaughan

[Criminal Code, October 26th, 2020]

Madam Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague opposite for what can only be described as a beautiful speech. Beautiful speeches often have a shadow of pain to show the contrast that creates that beauty. I want to thank him for sharing his thoughts and experience with us today. It makes us all better to know each other that way and to understand where we have come from and where we are trying to get to. I truly wish to express my gratitude for his good words today.

He talked about words he has for young people who are struggling as they emerge into their sexuality and gender, but he also comes from a community where older people have seen the world change. If we go back 10 years in this House, we will see a debate around same-sex marriage, which was not quite so beautiful and had some very painful moments for all us who have family members who have benefited from the changes that we have lived through.

What are the words he would share with older people in his community who have seen this change to give them comfort that their best interests and their loved ones are being cared for with this legislation?

[Criminal Code, October 26th, 2020]

Madam Speaker, much of the health care system of the country is governed by provincial and territorial jurisdiction and government. I am curious as to what kind of conversations the minister has had with his provincial counterparts to ensure there is no back-door access to a practice we are seeking to severely limit and restrict.

[Child Care, October 23rd, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for Scarborough Centre for her advocacy on behalf of working mothers and families that are looking for high-quality and affordable child care.

Our government understood that this was a significant challenge as far back as 2015 with a $7.5 billion investment to set the stage for an early learning child care strategy right across the country. This year we have invested a further $600 million to top up to $1 billion the investment in early learning and child care, the largest single investment in child care by any federal government in the history of the country. However, we know there is more to do, and that is why the throne speech projects a new early learning child care strategy with new funding later this year.

We are committed to making sure that women and families get back to work safely and that their children are cared for.

[Housing, October 9th, 2020]

Madam Speaker, the national housing strategy addresses the full spectrum of housing needs of Canadians across the country. Our first-time home equity purchase program, which supports first-time buyers getting into the market, is part of the way in which we are supporting the industry and making sure Canadians have access to affordable housing, whether it is through ownership or on the rental side. The rental housing initiative, part of the $56-billion national housing strategy, also assists Canadians in finding a home.

We have also launched the Canada housing benefit, which in Ontario is the Canada-Ontario housing benefit, to support housing needs through rent supplements, and that can also go toward low-income home ownership. There are many steps we are taking. I would invite the member to meet with me to talk—

[COVID-19 Response, October 9th, 2020]

Madam Speaker, I want to thank the member for Nickel Belt for his excellent advocacy and strong work on this file.

For the past few months, we have been acutely aware of the challenges facing families, children and teachers in the education system. It is why we worked so hard over the summer to advance $2 billion as part of the safe school reopening program to help schools acquire PPE and cleaning materials and do the changes necessary to keep families and children safe. We have also increased the Canada child benefit. We have also made investments in broadband to make sure distance learning is possible for more kids across this country.

The member is right: There is work to be done here, but working with provinces, territories, indigenous governments, municipalities, school boards and, most importantly, families and children, we will make sure the school year is done as safely as possible with federal investments.

[Housing, October 9th, 2020]

Madam Speaker, since this government took office in 2015, we have been consistently stepping up and making substantial investments in providing housing to Canadians from coast to coast to coast. A $56-billion national housing strategy is just part of that. Additionally, reaching home, for example, the program that serves front-line housing work in this country, has been increased to almost $1 billion this year. We just announced $1 billion for rapid rehousing. These are real dollars helping real people.

While the NDP's focus is on getting people's names into petitions, we are focused on getting people into housing. Our work is not finished. We will finish this job with a good, strong budget this fall. We are committed to housing Canadians—

[Housing, October 9th, 2020]

Madam Speaker, the rapid housing initiative, which the member speaks of, is an innovative and fundamentally necessary $1 billion investment at the front lines to help fight homelessness as we deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The member asks for transparency, and of course there will be transparency. There always has been, right along, all the way, with all of the projects that we have announced, publicly posted through CMHC and reported back to the House. That is part of the national housing strategy requirement.

The money will be made available within the coming days, with new criteria, for people to apply. The $55-billion national housing strategy works alongside the rapid housing initiative to make sure Canadians get the housing they need, and the safety and security they need to make sure the pandemic is endured properly.

[Housing, October 8th, 2020]

On behalf of the residents of my riding, I would like to wish you, Mr. Speaker, the House and of course everyone in Canada a happy but safe Thanksgiving.

I would also like to thank Fort York Food Bank, Alexandra Park Community Centre and countless other volunteers in the riding, like the people of ReportTO who, this weekend, will be donating food and care to make sure as many as possible feel included in community, but safe, hosted Thanksgiving celebrations.

For homeless Canadians, for people living in tents and parks, for women who may be couch surfing and for young people who are fleeing to the safety of shelters, Thanksgiving weekend is a difficult time and not necessarily a moment to give thanks. The national housing strategy has legislated the right to housing, and last month, we added $1.2 billion to the $55-billion program to address these situations with even greater focus.

Homelessness can be ended, and our government is working hard with municipalities, indigenous housing providers, provinces, territories and people who have experienced homelessness to do just that: end it. I invite the opposition to work with us to realize this goal. Canada, let us get to work.

[Housing, September 25th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, the rapid housing initiative announced this week with the billion-dollar investment in acquisition and construction of new supportive housing units is one of the most important investments this government and, in fact, this country has ever made in terms of battling chronic homelessness.

The throne speech now commits to ending chronic homelessness in this country. That is an ambitious but a massively necessary target. The issue that the member opposite raises is an important one. We need to show Canadians exactly where these units are landing and how people are being helped.

We will commit to working to make sure he gets the information he needs. I would caution, though, not to rely on some of the language coming out of newspaper articles. The investments in B.C. are 26.8% of the investments we have made. I have made several announcements of projects in B.C., and that is a good news story for people—

[Child Care, September 25th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, we have made the largest single-year investment in early learning and child care in the history of this country this year, through this pandemic, with a $625-million investment to help get child care spaces secured, expanded and made safe for families right across the country. That was before the throne speech.

The throne speech has now committed to a new national program. We look forward to the NDP supporting it and not defeating the government like it did back in 2006. The critical issue now is to sit down with the provinces and expand the system, protect quality and make sure that child care workers are paid properly. That is the work we are engaged in and that is the work we will continue to move forward on.