Laurel Collins

[Petitions, March 26th, 2021]

Madam Speaker, I have two petitions to present today.

I am presenting a petition focused on the commercial rent subsidy program. The petitioners are concerned about the rules that exclude non-arm's-length holders who conduct their business relationship in a 100% arm's-length manner. The tourist industry has been affected more than most businesses. The petitioners explain that 90% of their income comes from international travellers, and that in this challenging time, businesses are falling through the cracks and may not make it through the pandemic without the rent subsidy. They are asking the Government of Canada to review the legislation so that businesses like theirs can qualify for support.

[Victoria, March 26th, 2021]

Madam Speaker, through all the immense hardships of this year, I have been heartened to see people in the community of Victoria pulling together to support each other.

The opioid crisis and toxic drug supply have been devastating. This is why the North Park community came together with a free drug testing site. The Vancouver Island drug checking project operates anonymous testing for anyone who needs it.

Many local businesses have been struggling, but through the building back Victoria initiative, Broad Street businesses came together and found a way to thrive by creating a pedestrian zone with outdoor seating where people can gather safely, with hopes it can become a permanent public space.

I am proud to share that last week, the Victoria Admirals U13 team was named champions of the Good Deeds Cup, awarded to the Canadian youth hockey team that does the most to give back to its community. The $100,000 prize will go to the Children's Health Foundation of Vancouver Island. I say “Well done” to the Admirals.

The pandemic is not over. We still have difficult months ahead, but these community members show us that we can get through this together.

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

Madam Chair, the report on missing and murdered indigenous women and girls found that the link between resource-extraction projects and violence against indigenous women is a serious problem that demands attention.

I had a meeting with one of my constituents and she told me about her nation, which is located close to a resource-extraction project. She talked about the threat of violence. She also talked about her worry over COVID and its spread during the pandemic.

Does the member agree that the government needs to do more to address the issue of man camps and violence against indigenous women?

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

Madam Chair, growing up, I witnessed domestic violence in my own home, and as an adult I have supported friends and family experiencing gender-based violence. This has fuelled my passion, which I can see is shared by the member opposite, to address this issue.

It is very clear to me that poverty and trauma are intersecting issues that increase women's risk of violence. I worked with Victoria Women in Need. It does incredible work supporting women on their journey from crisis to wellness, or simply women supporting women with pre-employment programs and empowering other women experiencing these barriers. It is so clear that precarious employment and economic instability mean women face these additional barriers leaving abusive situations.

Does the member support a guaranteed livable income to ensure that women will have the economic security to support themselves in making free choices?

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

Madam Chair, for women who are newcomers, abusers can control immigration documents and passports. Women can struggle to access the information they need to get much-needed services, and organizations in my riding have told me that sponsorship breakdown is very difficult to report to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Also, some women arrive in Canada and are shocked to learn they do not have status. Their husbands promise to sponsor them, then their visas expire or something limits their ability to separate from their husbands. This is just one of the many reasons for status for all.

What does the member think needs to be done to support newcomer women and those without status to ensure they are safe and supported?

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

Madam Chair, I thank the member for his strong stand against gender-based violence and for talking about what happens when home is no longer a safe place.

Many organizations in my riding of Victoria have raised the issue that a lack of affordable, safe housing traps women in unsafe situations. While this has always been a reality, skyrocketing rents and COVID have made the situation worse.

Right now, the Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness and the Aboriginal Coalition to End Homelessness are undergoing a project to look at the landscape of housing supports for women at the highest risk of violence. They told me that 100% of indigenous women in Victoria who are experiencing chronic homelessness cited intimate partner violence as the key reason for their housing loss. This project relates directly to article 22 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and also to the need for a national indigenous-led indigenous housing strategy—

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

Madam Chair, I want to thank the member for raising the issue of brain injuries. During the pandemic, I have held a number of meetings and round tables with women's organizations and transition houses. One of those organizations is The Cridge Centre for the Family. It runs an intimate partner violence and brain injury initiative and supports women who have experienced brain injuries at the hands of intimate partners, and the needs of the centre are greater than the resources it has. In addition, the brain injury portion of the program is currently funded just by donors and has no secure federal government funding.

In Canada, 200,000 women each year experience violence at the hands of intimate partners and studies show that at least 90% of those will suffer a brain injury through blows to the head, face, neck and/or strangulation. Can the member speak about the need for stable government funding for these programs?

[The Environment, March 25th, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, today's Supreme Court ruling is good news. Canadians are concerned about the climate crisis, but they are also concerned about the Liberals' lack of action.

Canada has missed every single climate target. The Liberals continue to hand out billions of dollars to big oil companies instead of putting that money into transit, energy-efficient homes and clean energy, and good jobs for workers in the low-carbon economy. They failed to deliver on their promise of a just transition act.

When will the minister stop treating the carbon tax as a silver bullet, stop leaving workers behind and stop subsidizing big polluters?

[Business of Supply, March 23rd, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, I agree with the member's statement about how federal COVID guidance must be based on the best available evidence and best available science, but the federal government should also be providing Canadians with a clear path forward, a comprehensive plan and process for recovery. The government cannot wait until the pandemic is over to begin acting on and learning these critical lessons. One of those lessons has to be about paid sick leave for every Canadian worker. The government must fix the flawed Canada recovery sickness benefit to make it easier for workers to access that program. Does the member agree that all Canadian workers should have permanent access to 10 days of paid sick leave?

[Petitions, March 23rd, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, the next petition I am presenting is on the rental subsidy program.

The petitioners would like to draw the attention of the Government of Canada to the fact that many businesses are not currently eligible for the rental subsidy program because they are non-arm's length tenants. They draw to government's attention to the fact that for 22 years many businesses have been engaged in the tourism industry and are leasing or renting units. They would like the government to reconsider the rental subsidy program and ensure tenants who are currently excluded are included in this program. They request that the Government of Canada change the legislation so businesses are no longer falling through the cracks.