Ken Hardie

[Community Service, May 25th, 2020]

Madam Speaker, we are reading stories about people in Fleetwood—Port Kells who are stepping up to help in these challenging times. One is Mr. Baldev Bath, the owner of Basant Motors in our Fleetwood neighbourhood. Baldev has kept all of the staff on the payroll, but instead of keeping them in the showroom, he has them packaging food and delivering it to vulnerable people around the neighbourhood.

A lady in her eighties was incredibly grateful. One day not long ago she mentioned that she had no family close by and that all her friends were shut-ins like her. It had been a long time since she had been able to celebrate her birthday, which was coming up. Instead of a hamper, she asked for a birthday cake. Her wish was Baldev's command. He picked up a nice birthday cake, took it over and celebrated with her, of course, at a distance.

Since the moment he arrived in Canada, Baldev has been so grateful for what our country stands for. In these times, he and so many others have become what Canada stands for.

[COVID-19 Emergency Response, April 20th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, it has been over a month since the world has become deeply engaged with this global health emergency. This government has demonstrated great leadership in putting in place health measures to protect Canadians. We know, though, that these health measures have been difficult on workers and have caused economic uncertainty for Canadian families across the country.

Can the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development update this House on how many Canadians the Canadian emergency response benefit, CERB, has been able to help since its launch two weeks ago?

[Tri-Cities Community, April 20th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of my friend and colleague, the hon. member for Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam, I rise to convey his message to his community.

COVID-19 has challenged us as a world, as businesses, as neighbours and as families, but what comes through most vividly is the essential resilience of our Tri-Cities community as we each do our part, big or small, to flatten the curve. As member of Parliament for Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam, he is here to support and advocate for his constituents. He hears their concerns and continues to work hard for them every day as we adapt and respond to the problems facing us. Whether they are front-line or essential workers, restructuring their business or simply staying at home, he recognizes every individual who has stepped up, appreciates all the efforts made and admires how so many have adapted to meet the challenges head-on. We are truly all in this together. Together, we are going to prevail by staying safe and staying healthy.

[Small Business Support, April 20th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of my colleague, the hon. member of Parliament for Vaughan—Woodbridge, I would like to offer our heartfelt condolences to the 14 families in the city of Vaughan who have lost loved ones due to COVID-19. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.

COVID-19 has brought vast challenges, but our government has responded, and we are here to support workers and businesses across the country. The Canada emergency business account has helped, to date, over 200,000 businesses across Canada, including businesses such as family-owned Menchie's in Vaughan—Woodbridge which, with a $40,000 interest-free loan, will be able to reopen for the summer.

Through such programs as the CERB, CEBA and now the Canada emergency wage subsidy, our government will ensure that Canadian families and businesses will weather the challenges as we confront the issues facing us as a country due to COVID-19. Together we will emerge stronger.

[Community Service in Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, April 20th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, we wish to join our colleague, the hon. member for Cumberland—Colchester, to offer our deepest condolences to all those touched by the senseless violence in Nova Scotia.

I rise now on behalf of the hon. member for Dartmouth—Cole Harbour to commend Nova Scotians helping to feed others, like The Canteen restaurant in Dartmouth. When the owners were forced to close their dining room due to COVID-19, they transformed their restaurant into a community kitchen to help feed others throughout the pandemic. Owners Renée and Doug are working with incredible organizations like the Dartmouth North Community Food Centre and Margaret's House, run by Feeding Others of Dartmouth, to provide hundreds of meals per week to those in need.

I ask all members in the House to thank businesses and organizations across Canada, like The Canteen, for stepping up to help their communities. I encourage all people to lend a hand if they are able, from six feet apart of course, to help others in need.

[Opposition Motion—Pharmacare, March 12th, 2020]

Madam Speaker, there is undoubtedly passion in my colleague's presentation, but there are two aspects that bring out my inner Conservative.

First, what would she do to preserve the contributions currently made by the private sector in some of the patchwork of programs that are being offered through private company plans and being used by Canadians right now? What would we do to avoid shipping those costs directly from the private sector onto the government?

Second, in deference to the story the member told about the person who was obviously not well off and was burdened with the expense, what does she propose to do with the very well off? Would she propose, for instance, to have an annual deductible on pharmacare, based basically on an income test?

[Opposition Motion—Pharmacare, March 12th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, we have heard in the past that the patchwork quilt of programs available to people cover perhaps as many as 60% of Canadians. However, as has been pointed out, this leads to inefficiencies and higher prices. One concern that many would have is whether a move to a single-payer public system to cover the costs of pharmaceuticals would involve a shift of costs from private companies, which currently contribute through their individual plans, to the government.

[Committees of the House, March 11th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the first report of the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans, entitled “West Coast Fisheries: Sharing Risks and Benefits”.

Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report.

[Business of Supply, March 9th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, I wanted to give my colleague a chance to expand a little on something he was saying, that being the difference between the approach taken by the Stephen Harper government and the approach our government has taken.

We all know that during his time as prime minister, Mr. Harper rang up over $150 billion in additional debt and, at the end of it all, we were technically in a recession in the summer of 2015. We had very low growth and very stagnant employment figures. Now we turn in contrast to investments as opposed to stimulus, and the results have been very different.

I would like my colleague to give us a sense of what those differences are.

[Brandon Bassi, February 26th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the member for Delta to pay tribute to Brandon Bassi.

Brandon was an aspiring young athlete who was taken from this world far too soon. At the age of 19, he had just started his undergraduate arts degree at Simon Fraser University, was a member of the university's men's soccer team and a prospect for the Vancouver Whitecaps. Unfortunately, a tragic car crash on May 18, 2019, extinguished these dreams.

Brandon was an outstanding athlete, a generous and compassionate person, and a positive role model for many young students in Delta. Our thoughts are with Brandon's family, his mom Pam, his dad Kulwinder, his brother Derrick and his sister Dalbir.

In his memory, the Bassi family has created the Brandon Bassi Foundation, through which $1,000 will be awarded annually to a student in North Delta who demonstrates leadership inside and outside the classroom. Although Brandon is no longer with us, this fine young man's legacy will live on through this scholarship, which will help other students realize their dreams.