Niki Ashton

[Business of Supply, October 20th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, before I ask my colleague a question, I would like to share a troubling situation that happened in my northern riding.

The Mathias Colomb first nation learned from media reports that tents had been produced for it, but they were not what the first nation had specifically requested from the department. Once the matter was made public, we learned that a well-connected Liberal was linked to the company in question. He has since stepped down, fortunately, but the money has already been spent and we are still waiting for answers. This is another example of public funds being mismanaged, which has real consequences for a very vulnerable community like this remote first nation in my riding.

Does my colleague think that this example, like so many others, reinforces the urgent need for a committee tasked with examining how this government spends public money in first nations and across the rest of Canada?

[Lobster Fishery Dispute in Nova Scotia, October 19th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, in a statement issued on October 17, a Conservative called on the Prime Minister to keep all Nova Scotians safe and to “include commercial fish harvesters in discussions” regarding their livelihoods. This sounds like all lives matter logic, and it is unacceptable. Let us also be clear that the negotiations are between the Mi'kmaq fishers and the federal government. The federal government has a role to play in protecting their constitutional and treaty right.

Will the member not agree that the first step to ending racially motivated violence is to call out the racism that is driving it and to defend the indigenous community that is the target of this violence?

[Airline Industry, October 19th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on the airline industry with routes cut, massive layoffs and customers being ripped off. Countries around the world facing these same challenges have shown leadership and put in place solutions, including taking on an equity stake to protect the public interest, but not Canada.

It is not about helping CEOs. It is about protecting Canadian jobs and making sure passengers get their money back. When will the government stop dithering and commit to a rescue package of public equity, job protection and consumer protection, which the NDP has been calling for?

[Indigenous Affairs, October 2nd, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, today we are reminded that COVID-19 can hit anyone anywhere, even the President of the U.S.

We also know that first nations are disproportionately impacted. One of the biggest challenges for first nations is how people self-isolate when their houses are overcrowded during a housing crisis. Every day, indigenous people are forced to leave their community for essential services. For communities now in lockdown, like York Factory, people are stranded.

What actions is the government taking to ensure people can safely remain outside their community for their health and that of their first nation?

[Indigenous Affairs, September 29th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, York Factory, an isolated first nation in northern Manitoba, has seven confirmed cases of COVID-19 and other people are symptomatic. The community desperately needs tests, medical personnel, PPE and mental health supports. The rapid testing team could not land, but there are other ways of getting it there. This first case is someone who had to go to Winnipeg for medical treatment.

I have been in touch with the parliamentary secretary, but will the government treat this as a wake-up call? York Factory and northern and indigenous communities need help now.

[Questions Passed as Orders for Returns, May 25th, 2020]

With regard to claimed stock option deductions, between the 2012 and 2019 tax years inclusively, broken down by tax years: (a) what is the number of individuals who claimed the stock option deduction whose total annual income is (i) less than $60,000, (ii) less than $100,000, (iii) less than $200,000, (iv) between $200,000 and $1 million, (v) more than $1 million; (b) what is the average amount claimed by an individual whose total annual income is (i) less than $60,000, (ii) less than $100,000, (iii) less than $200,000, (iv) between $200,000 and $1 million, (v) more than $1 million; (c) what is the total amount claimed by individuals whose total annual income is (i) less than $60,000, (ii) less than $100,000, (iii) less than $200,000, (iv) between $200,000 and $1 million, (v) more than $1 million; and (d) what is the percentage of the total amount claimed by individuals whose total annual income is more than $1 million?

[Questions Passed as Orders for Returns, April 11th, 2020]

With regard to monitoring and policing of as well as litigation against lndigenous peoples, broken down by fiscal year since 2010-11: (a) how much has been spent on litigation involving First Nations; (b) how much has been spent on policing operations targeting lndigenous land defence movements; and (c) how much has been spent on surveillance, monitoring or intelligence-gathering operations targeted at lndigenous peoples by any government department or agency?

[Questions Passed as Orders for Returns, April 11th, 2020]

With regard to Canada Child Benefit (CCB), since its creation: (a) what percentage of Manitoba on reserve First Nation families are eligible for CCB payments, broken down by reserve; (b) what percentage of Manitoba on reserve First Nation families are receiving CCB payments, broken down by reserve; and; (c) what steps the government has taken to ensure that all eligible First Nation families on reserve are receiving these payments?

[Business of Supply, March 12th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, we are here to show leadership for Canadians, not jurisdictions. We are here to show leadership for our constituents. I think we can all agree that many constituents are struggling because they cannot afford their drug costs. This is the way we can act going forward.

I am sure that a lot of the messages we are hearing today are reminiscent of the kind of opposition that Tommy Douglas and others faced in bringing in medicare. They stood up for Canadians in their time in the face of great opposition, and often that opposition was from monied interests that wanted to profit off sick people.

Let us learn from that moment in time and have the courage to stand up and fully realize the idea of medicare for all by bringing in national universal pharmacare and really defending constituents, the people who send us here, the people who share the heartbreaking stories of what they are facing.

We have that opportunity at this moment in time, right now. Let us be on the right side of history.

[Business of Supply, March 12th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, we have engaged in many conversations about how important pharmacare is. This is about action.

Right now we have an opportunity to support an opposition day motion directing the government to act on its own report, the Hoskins report, and ensure there is a national universal pharmacare program. The time for talk is over. It has been over for a long time. The needs of Canadians are only growing, given our demographics and, as I pointed out, given that increasingly many people, especially many young people, are not covered for medications by their work. We know that many people are in an increasingly precarious situation.

We have a moment in time to show leadership on this front. We can support broadening health care in our country and support our constituents. Let us take this moment in time; let us not waste any more of it. Let us get behind this opposition day motion. I implore the Liberals to do that today.