Andy Fillmore

[Infrastructure, November 2nd, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, we know it is time to build up, and the Canada Infrastructure Bank is an important piece of that plan. This plan is creating a million jobs. It is building strong communities through investments and infrastructure, such as public transit, clean energy, access to broadband and affordable housing for indigenous peoples in northern communities.

Our government knows that investing in infrastructure for communities, for growth and for Canadians is important. We are continuing to engage with provincial leaders to make sure that we bring benefits to all provinces and territories in this country as we build back better.

[Canadians of African Descent, November 2nd, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, Canada's participation in the transatlantic slave trade and enslavement of African people is a stain on our country's history, the effects of which persist today as systemic racism in our society and in our institutions continues to harm Black Canadians.

In 2016, during an official visit to Canada, the United Nations working group of experts on people of African descent recommended that the Government of Canada “recognize African Canadians as a distinct group who have made and continue to make profound economic, political, social, cultural, and spiritual contributions to Canada” and “Issue an apology and consider reparations for enslavement and historical injustices”.

Later today, I will be presenting a petition to the House initiated by the African Nova Scotian Decade for People of African Descent Coalition, calling on the government to act on these recommendations and to recognize August 1 as emancipation day annually. It is my sincere hope that all hon. members will support these important measures.

[Infrastructure, October 30th, 2020]

Madam Speaker, we know that in Canada it is time to build up, and the Canada Infrastructure Bank is an important part of that plan. Our plan is creating a million jobs and building strong communities through investments in infrastructure like public transit, clean energy, broadband and affordable housing for indigenous peoples and northern communities alike. Our government knows that investing in infrastructure for communities for growth for Canadians is important. Unlike our Conservative friends, whose leader in the previous government campaigned on a promise to cut $18 billion from the infrastructure program—

[Infrastructure, October 26th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, public transit investments create good jobs and help Canadians get around their communities. This is why this government funded the planning and preliminary engineering of the Yonge North subway extension into York Region, while Conservatives ran on a platform of funding cuts for infrastructure. Our government has committed over $5 billion to transit projects in the greater Toronto area. These investments mean better jobs, reduced emissions and more resilient communities.

[Infrastructure, October 9th, 2020]

Madam Speaker, what this difficult time has shown us is that every dollar we invest in public infrastructure can and must do triple duty. First, our government is investing in infrastructure projects that are creating thousands of jobs across the country and growing our economy. Second, we are investing in infrastructure so that everyone gets a fair shot at success wherever they live in Canada. Third, we are investing in infrastructure that makes our communities cleaner and more resilient.

Over the next two years, our government is committed to creating a million new jobs and building strong communities through investments in infrastructure, including community centres like the member has mentioned.

[Infrastructure, October 8th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, what this difficult time has shown us is that every dollar we invest in public infrastructure can and must do triple duty. Our government is investing in infrastructure projects that are creating jobs across this country and growing our economy. We are investing in infrastructure so that everyone gets a fair shot at success wherever they live in Canada. We are investing in infrastructure that makes our communities cleaner and more resilient.

Over the next two years our government is committed to creating one million jobs and building strong communities through investments in infrastructure, like public transit, clean energy, broadband, affordable housing for indigenous peoples and the pipe services that my friend just mentioned.

[Infrastructure, October 8th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, communities from coast to coast to coast rely on transit projects to get built to get them from home to work and school, and to meet their needs and access the services they need on a daily basis.

This government is committed to a historic community investment program of $180 billion over 12 years to make sure that residents of communities from to coast to coast to coast get the services they need. We are committed to that plan, which, by the way, is going to create one million jobs as we roll it out.

[Infrastructure, October 8th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, we have a bilateral agreement with Ontario that will see the federal government invest over $11.8 billion in Ontario over the next decade, including $8.3 billion for public transit.

Success on large, complex projects requires all orders of government to work together, and we remain committed to working with provincial and municipal leaders to prioritize public transit projects, get them funded and get them built. In fact, we have implored the Government of Ontario to submit business cases on some of the major GTA and other transit lines, and look forward to more.

[Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply, October 6th, 2020]

Madam Speaker, we have seen in urban, suburban and rural communities that their main streets have been devastated by the economic fallout of this COVID-19 pandemic. Our government is committed to helping businesses, employees and individuals to recover economically from this fallout and put our main streets back into the powerful position they have held and deserve to keep in the economies of our communities and provinces rolling forward.

[Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply, October 6th, 2020]

Madam Speaker, I share the member's deep concern both for people living with disabilities and for seniors in Canada. I am very proud of the fact that the throne speech announced a new Canada disability benefit. It is going to have a major impact on people living with disabilities in Canada.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we have helped seniors in a variety of ways, with no fewer than two one-time boosts to their benefits and, as the member mentioned, an increase to benefits for those who have reached the age of 75. We are focused, as this government has always been focused, on helping those who need it most first. That is what the throne speech sets out to do.