Damien Kurek

[Questions on the Order Paper, November 23rd, 2020]

With regard to the Optional Survivor Benefit (OSB) for common-law partners and the statement on the government’s website that “The Canadian Forces Superannuation Act (CFSA) was amended so that a member living in a common-law relationship can provide a survivor pension if the relationship begins after age 60. However, the regulations must be amended to specify the details. Consequently, the OSB is not yet available for common-law relationships.”: (a) when will the regulations be amended to make the OSB available to those in common-law relationships that begin after age 60; (b) why have the regulations not yet been amended; (c) what are the government’s projections regarding how many such individuals will be eligible for the OSB; and (d) of the individuals in (c), what percentage does the government project will opt in to the OSB?

[Questions Passed as Orders for Returns, November 16th, 2020]

With regard to Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) pension recipients who receive Regular Force Pension Plan: (a) how many current pension recipients married after the age of 60; (b) of the recipients in (a), how many had the option to apply for an Optional Survivor Benefit (OSB) for their spouse in exchange for a lower pension level; (c) how many recipients actually applied for an OSB for their spouse; (d) what is the current number of CAF pension recipients who are currently receiving a lower pension as a result of marrying after the age of 60 and applying for an OSB; and (e) what is the rationale for not providing full spousal benefits, without a reduced pension level, to CAF members who marry after the age of 60 as opposed to prior to the age of 60?

[Questions on the Order Paper, November 16th, 2020]

With regard to the government’s decision not to exclude costs associated with grain drying from the carbon tax: (a) why did the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food say that the impact of these costs on farmers is “not that significant”, and what specific evidence does the minister have to back up this claim; (b) what is the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food’s definition of “not that significant”; (c) what are the government’s estimates on how much revenue will be received yearly from the carbon tax on grain drying, for each of the next five years; and (d) has Farm Credit Canada conducted any analysis or studies on the impact of this tax on the income of farmers, and, if so, what were the findings of any such analysis or studies?

[Criminal Code, October 28th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, on a point of order, just as clarification, I was attempting to connect prior to the question being read. I am making the assumption from the last few moments, because I was not connected before that point, that the debate is now collapsed.

[Suicide Prevention, October 27th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, the challenges we face have been tough emotionally, financially and physically on Albertans and Canadians. Job losses, social isolation and uncertainty are some of the pressures that we are all facing. We all need to take it seriously that, as community leaders, we need to address difficult issues, and today I want to talk about suicide.

Over the last year, it seems like every week I hear that a friend, a family member or a member of my community has decided to take their own life by suicide. Today I want to share a simple message. If people are struggling, there is hope. I know that they can be brave. They can ask for help, whether that means talking or even texting a friend, a family member, a pastor, a health professional or one of the anonymous services that exist. There are folks out there who can help them get through those tough moments.

Lastly, if people see others struggling, they should be a good neighbour and talk to their friends or family members. Give them a call, invite them out for a coffee and ask them what is troubling them. That simple act can save a life.

[Criminal Code, October 27th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, quite a number of members in this House have said the Minister of Justice made it clear in his remarks or the Minister of Justice said that would not be the case. The House of Commons being the lower house of the legislature of the land, it is incumbent upon all of us to ensure that the legislation actually reflects the intent of the bill. I have raised concern before about the ambiguity that exists in the bill, with the universal acceptance that we want conversion therapy stopped, but the ambiguity that exists needs to be addressed.

I would ask my hon. friend to comment on that.

[Criminal Code, October 27th, 2020]

Madam Speaker, I appreciate many of the interventions made by my colleagues from different parties. The member used the words “red herring” a number of times. I am concerned about the fact that it has been used to nullify some of the legitimate concerns the Leader of the Opposition and others have raised about some of the ambiguity that exists around the bill. Certainly, I have some fairly strong opinions about the fact that this bill simply had to be reintroduced because the Liberals decided to shut down Parliament.

In order to see broader support to address this issue, which I think all in the House agree on, would she be willing to explore ways to remove the ambiguity that exists in the way the legislation is written currently?

We could then do exactly what the Liberals and all members of the House want to accomplish, which is to see these coercive practices banned in this country.

[Stan Schumacher, October 26th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to Stan Schumacher, who passed away this past month at the age of 87. Stan was a political institution from east central Alberta, who served as both a member of Parliament and a member of the Alberta legislative assembly. He also served as speaker in the Alberta legislature, where he could always be counted on to stand up for our parliamentary institutions and democracy. Stan was also a veteran, having served in the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps. After retiring from elected politics, he continued his law practice and remained a constant voice for his community and grassroots politics. This was where I got to know and appreciate Stan, where we could always count on his voice of experience.

Today, on behalf of the people of Battle River—Crowfoot, I want to pay tribute to Stan's life of service and the impact he made on our region, Alberta and Canada. I share condolences with his wife, Virginia, his family and friends, and the communities he spent his entire life serving.

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

Madam Speaker, I agree. This clearly speaks to how the government is great on announcing, but fails on delivery.

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

Madam Speaker, I love being able to address the environment when it comes to the fantastic record Alberta has in this regard. I am proud to come from a constituency that produces some of the most ethically and environmentally sound resources in the world, and that includes oil and gas.

We should be proud of the resources, the resource extraction technologies, the companies and the record that we have as Canadians, especially when it comes to the reality that carbon-based resources, oil and gas, are still going to be a part of the energy infrastructure needed in our world for many decades to come.

Canadians are faced with a choice. We could have government policies, such as those which the government has proposed, that would force us to look elsewhere for oil and gas and import them from jurisdictions that do not care about ethics, human rights, and the environment, or we could have the most ethically produced, environmentally friendly oil, from right here in Alberta. That could be used all across—