Niki Ashton

[Canada—United Kingdom Trade Continuity Agreement Implementation Act, March 9th, 2021]

Madam Speaker, I am proud of our position in the NDP against this trade deal which poses real concerns, including for jobs in supply management. We are also very concerned about Canadian sovereignty that is ceded in other ways. I would add that we know from our recent track record that a number of the trade deals we have signed have actually seen the loss of good Canadian jobs, including in the part of the country I come from here in western Canada.

I understand that the member is in full support of this bill, but what does he say to people who have seen trade deals cede ground and lead to the loss of good jobs here in our own country? When will the Liberals stand up for Canadian jobs?

[Business of Supply, February 25th, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for his lively, personal speech.

In northern Manitoba, the poverty of elders and seniors is heard of in every single community. I have heard about the ways in which they have suffered and continue to suffer during this COVID crisis. We, as a society, have lost track of what matters. Having seniors and elders in our lives is sacred.

The motion put forward by the Bloc to increase the OAS and supports for seniors and elders is very important, but we need to do so much more. Would the member not agree that we need to change the way we think and, as government, act to ensure that seniors and elders in our lives have better lives than they have now?

[COVID-19 in Cross Lake, February 19th, 2021]

Madam Speaker, Cross Lake here in Manitoba is facing its third wave of COVID-19. There are 204 active cases and counting. Elders, children and essential workers, including water truck drivers, are sick, and self-isolation spaces are full. The community is scared and exhausted. Yesterday, nine flights left the community taking people to safety.

As overall numbers go down in Manitoba, the same is not happening for first nations such as Cross Lake. This has everything to do with the history of federal neglect. Cross Lake is a community of over 8,000 people. It has an acute housing crisis. One of the households affected by COVID has over 20 people living in it. Five years ago, the federal government promised Cross Lake a hospital; the community is still waiting.

At this time, the federal government must pull out all the stops for Cross Lake. The people need a full military response, including medical response. They need emergency infrastructure. Beyond this, Cross Lake needs an end to federal neglect. This is about saving lives.

[Indigenous Affairs, February 16th, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, Tataskweyak Cree Nation has been forced to not only sue the government over the government's failure to provide clean drinking water but to take its complaint to the UN.

A spokesperson for the Minister of Indigenous Services said that the water in TCN continues to meet approved guidelines. Guidelines? The water is making people sick.

Meanwhile, chiefs are expressing fear of reprisals if they stand up to this government. TCN is standing up, and it has my support and the support of northern Manitoba.

Enough with the excuses. When will the government act to fix the problem?

[Business of Supply, February 4th, 2021]

Madam Speaker, my question stems in part from the poster behind my colleague and the obvious tribute to our former Prime Minister John Diefenbaker who was elected in the member's part of the country. While I would disagree with a number of positions that Mr. Diefenbaker took, many of us know that he was a prime minister who did prioritize Canadian jobs. That is something we have lost sight of. We know that the kind of approach we have seen to free trade in recent years has led to the loss of good, unionized, family and community-sustaining jobs in our communities.

Yes, today we are talking about a committee, but does the member not agree that we Canadians need an approach to trade that has as its priority the well-being of Canadian workers?

[Business of Supply, February 4th, 2021]

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for his passionate speech.

Quebec and Canada have been losing good jobs since the United States dictated the neo-liberal free trade agenda. This has been going on for decades. Unfortunately, the Canadian federal government continues to stay the course, failing to protect the good jobs in our communities and our country.

Does my colleague think that we should adapt our vision of free trade to prioritize the interests of workers in Quebec and Canada?

[Petitions, February 4th, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, it is my honour to present the petition calling for an independent investigation into the killing of Dylan Paradis, Andrew Dockrell and Daniel Waldenberger-Bulmer on CP Train 301 near Field, B.C., in 2019.

Today is the second anniversary of their deaths, and many of us share our thoughts with the three families. This petition, signed by thousands of Canadians, pushes for justice. Thanks to the tireless efforts of the families and Teamsters Canada, an independent investigation has begun. As CBC's The Fifth Estate made clear, many have said there must be answers.

The petition also makes clear that this tragedy pointed to the major concerns of the ongoing policing of rail forces. Through this petition, Canadians are saying Dylan, Andrew and Daniel, rail workers and working people in our country, deserve justice. No Canadian worker should die to make a living.

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

Madam Speaker, my question is about the concerns that the member and many of us have expressed on the vaccine rollout. People here in northern Manitoba are very concerned about the lack of vaccines in our country, especially here where we know that we are extremely vulnerable. As a result of intense advocacy, many indigenous elders have received the vaccine, but we know that we need much more. Does my colleague agree the federal government must step up urgently to ensure that Canadians across our country are getting the vaccines they need?

[Canada-United Kingdom Trade Continuity Agreement Implementation Act, January 28th, 2021]

Madam Speaker, I am proud of our NDP position that opposes Bill C-18 based on some very clear grounds, including the fact that it replicates much of CETA, which cedes Canadian sovereignty and capacity with respect to the pharmaceutical industry and will certainly deal more pain to certain key sectors in our own economy.

I wonder if the member does not see a need to take a hard look at the approach to trade in his government, and recent governments' approach to trade, where free trade deals seek to benefit corporations as opposed to average Canadians and people across our country.

Is it not the time to do trade differently? Is it not the time to make sure that we are increasing capacity in our own country? Right now, we are struggling with the fact that we do not have the capacity to create our own vaccines and our—

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

Madam Speaker, the question I want to ask my colleague concerns the COVID-19 pandemic and the fact that we need leadership from the federal government.

As we know, many indigenous communities are going through a real crisis. Not only do they need more vaccines, but they also need investments in clean drinking water and a solution to the housing crisis.

Does my colleague believe that this should be a priority for the federal government, which does not seem to be the case, so that progress and real improvements can be made to the situation of people who are suffering right now?