Ken Hardie

[Business of Supply, June 15th, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, a number of years ago a good friend gave me a really lovely collection of Canadian folk songs. In it are forgotten tunes from Quebec, which are absolutely delightful. It made me think that perhaps one of the best and most positive aspects of Bill C-10 was the notion that more of this Canadian content would be made discoverable to Canadians outside of Quebec, which would be an enriching experience right across the country.

[Indigenous Peoples, June 3rd, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, weeks before the discovery of the graves of indigenous children at the Kamloops residential school, our weekly webcast to Fleetwood—Port Kells featured two stories that illustrated Canada’s systemic racism toward indigenous people.

Genesa Greening, president and CEO of the BC Women's Health Foundation, told of how indigenous women still dress in their best clothes to go to the emergency room. They do that because still, today, it is too often suspected or assumed that they are drunk or high. If they take their kids in for care, well, there is always the fear that those kids will be apprehended.

Keenan McCarthy told us of how he only discovered his heritage shortly before his grandmother passed away. She told him about how, after her service in England during World War II, she came home only to be denied her demobilization package because she was Métis.

Much harm has been done by past governments, but we are the government now. Canadians look to us to act on truth and reconciliation, and we will do it.

[Line 5 Pipeline Shutdown, May 6th, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, I appreciated the hon. member's speech, but I want to go back to what one of his colleagues said earlier about the Leader of the Opposition who, in fact, did contact the Governor of Michigan. I wonder if he can report on what that conversation was all about, what happened, what the leader said and what the governor said. It did not work, obviously, because we are in this situation. Still, it would be interesting to know what dynamics the leader picked up on from the Governor of Michigan over this issue.

[Businesses in Fleetwood—Port Kells, May 3rd, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, throughout the pandemic, our government has been there with supports for Canadian businesses and we have had amazing partners. At home, the Fleetwood Business Improvement Association and executive director Dean Barber have guided our Fraser Highway business community through these difficult times, helping it adapt to pandemic realities, making it fun and rewarding for people to shop close to home. I can report that we have 12 more small businesses with open doors now than we did before the pandemic.

As Surrey grows into the industrial heart of metro Vancouver, another shout-out must go to the Surrey Board of Trade's executive director Anita Huberman, who always tirelessly advocates for businesses large and small and, I must add, very effectively for the supports our government has provided.

Today, it is a parliamentary salute to Anita, Dean and every local BIA, board of trade and chamber of commerce, great partners for business and great partners for government, too.

[Gender-Based Violence, March 25th, 2021]

Madam Chair, we are dealing with a form of systemic racism here really. This is not just something that has been amplified by the pandemic, but has been around for a long time.

I would like the member's comments on the pernicious impact, especially on young men, of the way women are portrayed in video games, movies, music, television, not to mention what is going on online, including pornography.

[Economic Statement Implementation Act, 2020, February 26th, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, I have a lot of time for my friend from North Okanagan—Shuswap and we work well together on the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans, but the speech he has given today reminds me of the old expression often directed at parliamentarians, which is, “When all is said and done, there's a lot more said than done.”

I heard the sense of urgency in some of the examples he gave of people needing help. We know people need help, but is the Conservative Party prepared to talk out the clock until a budget comes down weeks from now, or is it prepared to move now on the supports and help that so many people need?

[Business of Supply, February 25th, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, in relation to the hon. member's reference to tax credits, this has been a cruel Conservative shell game for a long time. To take advantage of a tax credit, people have to spend the money first, which means they need to have the money to put up front. The real beneficiaries of past Conservative tax credits have been those doing well enough to cover the upfront costs and have enough income to take advantage of the tax credit.

Would the hon. member not agree that putting cash in the bank accounts of seniors, as this government has done, is far more effective and far more helpful to seniors?

[Fleetwood—Port Kells Hidden Heroes, February 2nd, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, everybody here can share stories about the generosity of the folks at home as we have made our way through some very difficult times, and I am glad to offer examples of just those kinds of people in Fleetwood—Port Kells: Flavio Marquez and his amazing Christmas light show and his wonderful Fraser Heights neighbours, who donated 1,427 pounds of food and nearly $1,800 in cash to the Surrey Food Bank; people like Narinder Singh at the big gurdwara at 152nd Street and 68th Avenue, who turbocharged their langar hall and delivered thousands of meals to seniors and people having tough times; the Muslim Food Bank, which helped thousands more; our Filipino community, and Narima Dela Cruz; Michelle Liu, for our Chinese community; Sergeant Mike Spencer, of our Surrey RCMP; Brian Woudstra from our faith community, and so many others that our constituency office has honoured as Fleetwood—Port Kells Hidden Heroes.

The worst of times can bring out the best in so many, and to all who have done their best, I thank them.

[Economic Statement Implementation Act, 2020, February 2nd, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, I want to quote something from that fine old socialist newspaper, The Globe and Mail, which said:

Once the world gets past the worst of the pandemic, and growth returns to more normal levels, the economies in most industrialized countries should expand substantially faster than the interest rate on their debt. This means the size of their government debt should shrink steadily as a portion of GDP. In Canada, for instance, it makes perfect sense to borrow at 0.7 per cent (the current yield on 10-year Canada bonds) to support an economy capable of growing at 3 per cent or more.

Given that our debt service costs today, with the additional deficit, are $4 billion less per year than they were in the fall of 2019, how does the hon. member justify the alarmist narrative that he has been delivering?

[Business of Supply, November 26th, 2020]

Madam Chair, I know once we get started, there are so many details.

There is one last question though that we needed time to get in. Many jurisdictions are experiencing outbreaks. They have been unable to keep up with contact tracing for people who have tested positive. Given that there is at least some asymptomatic transmission contact tracing, it is important to identify those who may be infected so that they can seek testing and help break the chain of transmission.

The Government of Canada announced surge capacity for contact tracing. Could the minister with the time available provide an overview of the support and the nature of the support provided to date?