Blaine Calkins

[Questions on the Order Paper, December 7th, 2020]

With regard to Requests for Proposal (RFP), Invitations to Tender (ITI) and Notices of Proposed Procurement (NPP) put forward by Public Works and Government Services Canada since March 11, 2020: (a) how many times has the national security exception been invoked; (b) for each RFP, ITI or NPP in (a), what was the (i) publication date, (ii) closing date, (iii) solicitation number, (iv) title, (v) reason given for national security exception, (vi) competitive procurement strategy, (vii) procurement entity, (viii) end user entity; (c) for each item in (b), was (i) the list of interested suppliers for the tender publicly available, (ii) the successful firm or vendor and contract value publicly disclosed; and (d) for contracts already awarded in (a), what was the (i) vendor, (ii) date the contract was awarded, (iii) value of the contract?

[Business of Supply, December 3rd, 2020]

Madam Speaker, I just listened to our colleague across the way, quite loudly, for several minutes, and he had admonished Conservatives ad nauseam for daring to ask for a plan for some certainty before Health Canada possibly approved these vaccines.

I wonder if my hon. colleague can answer this. What was the plan when the Liberals approved the purchase of ventilators from Baylis Medical before Health Canada approved them or will he just yell at me some more?

[Business of Supply, December 3rd, 2020]

Madam Speaker, it is common practice in this room not to impugn the reputations of other members. I am listening to my colleague spreading misinformation in regard to what Conservatives may or may not have been thinking and he is talking about whether they need a date—

[Judy Gordon, December 3rd, 2020]

Madam Speaker, it is with profound sadness that I rise in the House today to announce the passing of Judy Gordon. Judy was a devoted daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, mayor and MLA, and an incredible woman.

She loved politics and for more than 20 years she dutifully served the people of Central Alberta. She was passionate about her community and worked tirelessly to improve the lives of the people she served. Her accomplishments would take far longer than the 60 seconds I have today. Needless to say, they were many, they were vast and they were impactful.

Most of all Judy loved, as we all do, the small victories: the opportunity to be a champion and get results for the people she represented. I had the privilege of serving with Mayor Gordon. She was tough but fair, and I will forever be grateful for her counsel and her friendship.

According to her son, Greg, it was not about the title. She just wanted to serve people and be in a position to help them. She was very proud of the work that she did. While Judy has left us here, the actions of her servant heart live on in her accomplishments, in the people she touched and in her family.

Rest in peace, Judy.

[Business of Supply, December 3rd, 2020]

Madam Speaker, the travel, tourism and hospitality industry has faced economic ravage as a result of the border closures and the economic shutdown globally. Countries like the U.K. and the United States will have people getting vaccinated, and some of those people will receive a vaccine that Canada may be getting.

If somebody has been vaccinated in the U.K. or the U.S. or another country and that vaccine is approved in Canada, what will her response be at the cabinet table in encouraging people to be able to travel across the border safely and get our economy back on track, especially, in the travel, tourism and hospitality industry?

[Business of Supply, November 24th, 2020]

Madam Chair, what do the minister's constituents tell her, especially those with active knowledge in commercial fisheries, about pinnipeds, their abundance and their effects on fish stocks? The minister was the chair of the fisheries committee and a member of the committee. Numerous reports, by members of Parliament from all parties, came to the same conclusion unanimously that pinniped control is needed.

Where is the minister on this issue?

[Business of Supply, November 24th, 2020]

Madam Chair, I forgot to mention at the start that I would like to split my time with the member for West Nova. Am I at the halfway point already?

[Business of Supply, November 24th, 2020]

Madam Chair, if it is working for coho, why does the minister think it would not work for chinook?

[Business of Supply, November 24th, 2020]

Madam Chair, mass marking would allow for a mark-selective fishery for chinook salmon, which would be a critical lifeline for these communities. Interior Fraser coho currently have a mass marking and mark-selective fishery and have had one for years, with relative success. Interestingly, it is the interior Fraser chinook populations in that area that are struggling, so if it worked for coho, why is the minister so unsure that it will not work for chinook?

[Business of Supply, November 24th, 2020]

Madam Chair, does the minister understand that fishing lodges, guides and rural coastal communities relying on these businesses were devastated by the retention restrictions on chinook, coupled with COVID? Can the minister tell us why the Department of Fisheries and Oceans has not offered them any direct support?