Leah Taylor Roy

[Business of Supply, February 10th, 2022]

Mr. Speaker, I have not seen a rudderless government. I have seen a government that has a plan and has stuck to it. We have had a plan that has given us some of the best results in the world, and we are continuing to follow that plan. We have provided supports for Canadians, more than have been provided in many other countries, and we have better economic results. In fact, we have had fewer small business bankruptcies during the pandemic than we did the previous year.

Canadians have been supported. We had the foresight to pass legislation in the fall to allow for supports to be put in place if provinces enacted lockdowns because of another surge in COVID. Those have been in place.

I do not agree that we have been rudderless at all. In fact, I think we have been very calm and have stayed the course in continuing with a plan that has given us very good results that we should all be proud of.

[Business of Supply, February 10th, 2022]

Mr. Speaker, I am glad that we agree on a few things and that we are also listening to Canadians.

We are hearing a variety of views. I agree that we have to have a plan. As I said, we have had a plan and we are following it. To tell Canadians that we have an exact timetable or plan for how to end all restrictions would require that we end COVID, and I do not know how to do that. I hope the member does. If we did that as the Government of Canada, we would be very popular worldwide.

[Business of Supply, February 10th, 2022]

Mr. Speaker, I am thankful for this opportunity to address the opposition motion requesting that our government table a plan for COVID.

Let me be clear. Throughout the pandemic, the Government of Canada has prioritized the health and safety of Canadians. We have followed a plan to do this, informed by science and data, and we will continue to follow this plan.

The public health measures we have implemented have been, and will continue to be, based on the best public health advice, data and projections available. This is the plan we have been following and will continue to follow.

This plan has had some of the best outcomes in the world. Canadians have stepped up and done their part. I would like to join my colleague from Vaughan—Woodbridge in thanking all Canadians for doing their part in combatting COVID.

The incidence of serious disease and death in Canada is among the lowest in the world, and our businesses and citizens have been supported by the measures our government has put in place. In fact, as a country we have recovered over 101% of the over three million jobs we lost during this unprecedented pandemic. This is compared to the U.S., which has recovered 87%.

Canadians have pulled together and continue to do so by getting vaccinated. In fact, this past week over 60,000 Canadians got their first shot, and hundreds of thousands of Canadians are getting boosters to further help stop the spread of COVID.

We know vaccines are not perfect, nor are they the only solution, but they are the best solution we have right now to address this unprecedented global pandemic, to control the transmission of COVID and to prevent serious disease, death and hospitalization, especially in our much-needed ICU spaces. Vaccines are the best way to protect our frontline workers, the vulnerable, our health care system, the public health of all and ensure that restrictions can be lifted for the sake of our mental health and economic well-being. I am sure the members opposite would agree.

As the pandemic and our understanding of it has evolved, so have public health measures. These measures will continue to evolve. I am sure that all of us here want to see restrictions lifted and our lives returned to normal. We all want to travel and see our loved ones without testing and extra measures. In fact, it has been over two years since I have seen my granddaughters, who live in the United States. We all want to continue to be united with our loved ones and united as a country.

We will continue to listen to Canadians, as we have been doing and as I have been doing. I have spoken to many constituents, and they are not all in agreement, just like members in the House. I heard from one constituent who was very concerned about another wave if the measures are undone too early. I have heard from constituents who are frustrated with the border testing. I have heard concerns from others who are worried about sitting next to unvaccinated people on plane rides and want the mandates to continue. However, most of what I heard is frustration and anger, which is often directed toward us because people cannot lash out at COVID. It does not have an email address or a telephone number. It does not cross the street here in Ottawa in front of Parliament to come and work to try our very best to make responsible, mature and reasoned decisions.

I know, and members know, that we are all human and that the anxiety caused by COVID and the frustration caused by the restrictions and inconveniences have caused this mounting anger. In my mind, that only makes it more important for us to stay the course, to make changes when and if warranted by science, and to not respond to anger and frustration by telling Canadians that all restrictions will be lifted.

There are many different points of view on how to move forward, but the job of a leader, of a responsible and responsive government, is to listen to Canadians and our experts and make and follow a plan. This is what our government has been doing successfully.

The opposition motion asks for a plan, but what it actually wants is a different plan. We will continue to adjust pandemic measures as the pandemic progresses, as we have been doing all along. We will continue to follow the plan that we have and that has had among the best results in the world.

I hope that we in this House can model the civil and respectful behaviour that the majority of Canadians want and expect from us and is so needed at this challenging time.

[Business of Supply, February 8th, 2022]

Mr. Speaker, we have been focusing on Saskatchewan, and the member has been mentioning that he wants Ottawa to be more involved and more supportive. I wonder if the member could comment on the success of the supercluster in Saskatchewan, the plant protein-based supercluster. I have a personal interest because I am a vegetarian, and one of my favourite snacks, chickpeas from Saskatchewan, comes from Three Farmers.

Can the member comment on how that has gone? That was a great joint collaboration between the federal government and the provincial government.

[Petitions, February 8th, 2022]

Mr. Speaker, I am tabling petition e-3766 today. The petition has been signed by Canadians across the country, but primarily residents of York Region and the riding I represent: Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill. They are very concerned by the Province of Ontario's decision to move forward with the construction of the Bradford Bypass without adequate environmental consideration of proposed routes or possible alternatives. The petitioners request that the connector highway known as the Bradford Bypass be designated by the Minister of Environment for a federal impact assessment under the Impact Assessment Act. The existing assessment was done over 25 years ago, in 1997, and on October 7 of last year, the Ontario government exempted this project from a provincial environmental assessment.

The petitioners note that the bypass will result in adverse environmental effects within several jurisdictions. They argue that the bypass, which cuts across the environmentally sensitive Holland Marsh, including wetlands and farm lands in the Greenbelt and the Lake Simcoe headlands, would bring an average daily traffic of approximately 58,000 vehicles. They argue this would contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, add to phosphorus pollution, destroy wetlands and forests, threaten species at risk and allow more levels of road salt to flow into Lake Simcoe, which would endanger fish habitats. It would also destroy one of Canada's most significant historical sites: the Lower Landing, which is of great importance to first nations.

The bottom line is that these petitioners are asking the federal government to do its duty, because the Province of Ontario did not. It is the Government of Canada's duty and responsibility to deliver on both ensuring the climate change targets that Canada committed to on the international stage and, more importantly, ensuring that we do everything we can to protect our fragile ecosystem.

[Beverley Wood, December 14th, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to be in the House today to recognize the legacy of a long-time community builder in my riding of Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill: Beverley Wood.

In 2006, Beverley founded Welcoming Arms, a program that provides warm meals and essential goods to low-income families. It also spearheaded the creation of a community garden, a financial literacy program and holiday dinners. Beverley was an angel to all those in our community who felt they could turn to her in challenging times. She responded to everyone's concerns with a listening heart. During the pandemic, Beverley responded to requests from the mayor of Aurora and created a task force to identify the needs of the most vulnerable.

Beverley passed away earlier this year, but the impact of her tireless service to the riding will carry on for years to come. Welcoming Arms continues its work with families in need, and during this holiday season the continuing work is so appreciated, as need is experienced more acutely during these times. May we all respond to those in need this holiday season with welcoming arms and a listening heart. Happy holidays to all.

[The Environment, December 3rd, 2021]

Madam Speaker, I would like to congratulate you on your appointment.

I am pleased to stand in the House today on behalf of all of my constituents. Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill and the greater York Region area is composed of delicate interconnected natural ecosystems.

The provincial government is proposing to construct two highways in York Region. Highway 413 would run through Vaughan, Caledon, Brampton and Halton Hills, to meet the Highway 401 and 407 interchange. The Bradford bypass would cut through the Holland Marsh to connect Highways 400 and 404.

Each of these projects comes with profoundly negative environmental consequences, such as running through the pristine greenbelt and fertile farmlands, raising emission levels, degrading the water quality in Lake Simcoe and undoubtedly leading to increased development in the green spaces surrounding them.

I stand here today to draw attention to the adverse impacts on the environment these projects would cause and to the opposition raised by several first nations that would be affected thereby. Nearly 10,000—

[Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply, December 2nd, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, I am completely committed to lifting women up and I believe our government has been working very hard on that. I believe the very ambitious child care program will help address overall affordability. When we free up $1,500 to $2,000 for a household, it provides more money for other things.

The Canada child benefit that this government has put in place and increased has lifted 900,000 children out of poverty, many of those living in single-parent families and with women who are struggling. We will continue to work on these issues and continue to address the demands and needs that women are facing.

[Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply, December 2nd, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for that warm welcome. I do agree we need to reduce emissions. That is clear and I think we all understand there is a climate crisis.

I think we can cap emissions on the oil and gas industry without capping production because we are moving toward means of production that are cleaner. However, I believe that the market is going to bring about the eventual transition as well. I do not believe that the oil and gas industry in Canada is going to continue the way it is right now and we are seeing market pressures that are going to bring that about as well.

I look forward to working with the member on the environment caucus.

[Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply, December 2nd, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, our government has been taking action. I have been working and speaking to staff at shelters and networks that have been helping women in our riding. I know that the money that has been put into these institutions to help these women to meet the challenges during the pandemic is much appreciated.

There are different initiatives. I was just talking to staff at Blue Door, an organization that addresses homelessness and helps build homes. They are talking about working with initiatives from the rapid housing initiative with the women's shelters to build townhouses that will provide transitional housing.

We are doing a lot and I know our government cares deeply about this issue. I thank the member for her concern and work on it.