Lindsay Mathyssen

[Further COVID-19 Measures Act, July 21st, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, as we talk about the recovery of the economy, obviously a huge part of it is child care. Workplaces have continually expressed the need for a national public system of affordable child care.

The government has put forward an economic recovery plan, but the $625 million that has been allocated to child care is simply not enough. Some are calling for $2.5 billion.

I am wondering what the member across the way has to say about the huge difference in realities and the need to do a lot more on child care.

[National Freshwater Strategy Act, July 21st, 2020]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-245, An Act respecting the development of a national strategy in relation to fresh water.

Mr. Speaker, there definitely is a theme today for me as I rise to introduce my second bill.

This bill comes after consultations with local environmentalists, conservation authorities and members from the Oneida Nation of the Thames. It calls on the government to commit to a national freshwater strategy.

The Thames River runs through my riding of London—Fanshawe, but we also are so fortunate to have several wetlands and environmentally significant areas such as Meadowlily Woods, Pottersburg Valley and Westminster Ponds. These areas are home to an incredible number of birds, wildlife and vegetation. Of course, we are influenced by the beauty of the Great Lakes, which provides all our communities with environmental benefits that deserve targeted protection and sustainable planning.

It has been well over 20 years since the government established a policy on fresh water, and environmental conditions have certainly changed since 1987. While Canada has seemingly abundant freshwater resources, very little of it is actually renewable. We need a modernized national freshwater strategy.

The protection of our fresh water is vital. Whether for tourism, agriculture, recreational use, health or household needs, the health of our water is instrumental to our regions and our country's sustained growth, environmental stability and safety.

I hope I can count on all-party support for the bill to protect our fresh water for generations to come.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

[Navigable Waters Act, July 21st, 2020]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-244, An Act to amend the Canadian Navigable Waters Act (North Thames River, Middle Thames River and Thames River).

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to reintroduce this bill to amend the Navigable Waters Act in order to ensure the integrity of the Thames River. The Thames River stretches 273 kilometres, extending from southwestern Ontario to Lake St. Clair. It flows past many communities, including, of course, the city of London.

The Thames is the only major river in Canada with the majority of its watershed within the Carolinian life zone. This region is recognized as one of the most biologically significant and diverse regions in Canada, with more 2,200 species of vascular plants identified, including the only two locations of the wood poppy in Canada. The Thames also contains the largest diversity of clams, the threatened eastern spiny softshell turtle and one of the most diverse fish communities in Canada.

In 2000, the Canadian heritage rivers system named the Thames River a designated heritage river. Its existence is a crucial part of our heritage and it must be protected.

The bill, which would amend the Navigable Waters Act, was first introduced in 2013 by my predecessor, but was ignored by the government of the day. During the 2015 election, the Liberals promised the Canadian people that they would prioritize the amendment to the Navigable Waters Act. Today, I am calling upon the government once again to keep its word, protect the Thames River and support my bill.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

[Further COVID-19 Measures Act, July 20th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, to continue with the idea of those who will be left behind once the CERB comes to an end at the end of August, this will not just happen for artists, but for so many. COVID has shown the many holes that exist within our social systems and within those programs. Sadly, a lot of them have been chipped away after consecutive governments, time after time. Specifically, I think about our EI program and the fact that throughout the 1990s, the Liberal government stole about $50 billion. The Conservatives after them, in 2015, stole $54 billion from our EI system.

As the member across the way talks about all these wonderful programs that have been created, I would like to get back to talking about the programs that existed before and ways that the government has recommitted to expand them, to grow them, to ensure they are strong and will continue to support people beyond COVID.

[Ethics, July 20th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, once again, the Liberals are in trouble after handing over almost a billion-dollar contract to their friends at WE. Meanwhile, students have to wait to get paid for the time they have already spent working in their communities. That time was given in good faith.

During COVID, students are facing disruption of their studies and lack of employment opportunities. Their futures are at stake, but Liberals prefer keeping their wealthy friends wealthy, instead of helping students make ends meet.

When will the Liberals put the future of students ahead of the interests of their friends and the well-connected?

[Youth Employment, July 20th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, the ramifications of COVID-19 will be felt for a long time, and Canada's youth are most definitely being hit hard. The disruption in their education and employment opportunities will have lasting effects on their lives and on Canada for years.

Instead of using existing programs to help students, the Liberals have asked them to rely on the now stalled Canada student service grant. The Prime Minister and his Liberal government are under investigation, and this program is not working. Students now find themselves stuck in the middle of yet another Liberal scandal. Students should not have to keep waiting for the government to find its moral compass. They need work and financial support now.

The government needs to cancel this complicated program and transfer the funds to the Canada summer jobs program or give grants directly to the volunteer sector. This would ensure that jobs would be accessible for students who need help right now. It is time that the Liberal government stop putting corporations and their well-connected friends first and start helping students in Canada.

[COVID-19 Pandemic and Other Matters, July 8th, 2020]

Madam Chair, access to child care and onward to post-secondary education continues to be out of reach for most Canadians. That is why the failed rollout of the Canada student service grant is incredibly troubling and needs an immediate fix. The Liberal government continues to prioritize its friends, who are richer, over the needs of other Canadians and many students.

Will the Liberal government either cancel this program and transfer the funds to Canada summer jobs or give grants directly to the volunteer sector?

[COVID-19 Pandemic and Other Matters, July 8th, 2020]

Madam Chair, there is not a national standard across the board.

Today in committee, the Minister for Women and Gender Equality agreed to establish an act for child care like the Canada Health Act to ensure that children and parents would have equal access no matter where they lived in Canada to high-quality and affordable early learning and child care.

How long will Canadians have to wait for this act and how will the government back it up with the necessary funding?

[COVID-19 Pandemic and Other Matters, July 8th, 2020]

Madam Chair, I will be splitting my time with the member for Hamilton Mountain.

As the economy starts to reopen and many child care providers must reduce their capacity due to physical distancing measures, investments in child care are more crucial now than ever. Since women make up half of Canada's workforce, there will be no recovery without women, and they cannot recover without child care.

Will the government commit to establishing universal, high-quality child care?

[Business of Supply, June 17th, 2020]

Madam Chair, it is disappointing, because I know a lot of students who are struggling. There are single mothers desperately trying to go to school who have 13-year-olds, and they simply cannot get the additional help they so desperately need.

One more question I have is about women's organizations. They are continuing to struggle with funding and capacity gaps. Fundraising remains a particular challenge for gender-equality groups, especially those that are trying to cobble together short-term project funding just to operate. Project funding alone was not sufficient before COVID. It certainly is not now, and they are in a crisis.

Will the government commit to converting capacity-building funding grants to permanent core funding that will allow women's organizations to break down the systemic barriers women face across this country?