Paul Manly

[Orange Shirt Day, September 30th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, I am seeking the unanimous consent of the House to say a few words on behalf of the Green Party.

[Indigenous Affairs, September 30th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, today is Orange Shirt Day, when we honour and remember residential school survivors and bear witness to their healing journey. It is important to recognize the destructive harm of Canadian governments and policies that sought to destroy the cultures, languages and way of life of indigenous people.

True reconciliation requires action. Sockeye salmon are not just an iconic species on the west coast of Canada, they are also sustenance for coastal first nations and a key part of their culture and traditions. True reconciliation demands that we protect wild salmon, but this year salmon stocks have crashed to an all-time low.

Today is also the deadline to implement recommendation 19 of the Cohen Commission report. Despite overwhelming evidence that net-pen salmon farming poses a risk to migrating wild salmon, the government has not shut down these fish farms. It is time for the government to take action to protect wild salmon in B.C.

[Proceedings on the bill entitled An Act relating to certain measures in response to COVID-19, September 29th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, I too am extremely disappointed in the lack of funds going out to people with disabilities. In my community, in the block behind my office, I have a homeless camp and some people there are living with disabilities.

Has the hon. member seen the same situation in his riding, where vulnerable people are living on the streets and should not be there?

[Petitions, September 28th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour and privilege to present this petition today.

Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a non-addictive, non-intoxicating, non-psychoactive part of the cannabis plant that is associated with a number of health benefits.

The petitioners call upon the House of Commons to amend the regulation of CBD and classify CBD as a natural health product, to remove CBD from the prescription drug list as certain dosages and to legalize the transportation of CBD products across the Canadian border.

[Taxation, September 28th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, during the pandemic shutdown, Canadians banged pots and pans to thank front-line workers, including grocery store workers who were among the most at risk of contracting COVID-19. Meanwhile, over the past six months, Canada's 20 richest billionaires, including the owners of Canada's largest grocery store chains, increased their wealth by a staggering $37 billion.

Will the government implement a wealth tax so that Canada's wealthiest citizens contribute fairly to the public services that their businesses and employees rely on?

[Proceedings on the Bill Entitled an Act Relating to Certain Measures in Response to COVID-19, September 28th, 2020]

Madam Speaker, I want to echo what I have heard from other people. We hear through the media that 400,000 people will not get the help they need through this new program. This affects several people in my riding. One person had a medical leave of absence and was going back to work just at the time the pandemic hit. Another person was taking care of an elderly father and was just going back to work when the pandemic hit.

Would it not be better to look at a revamp of our social safety net to ensure that no Canadian can fall below a specific income level and that we take care of Canadians no matter what their circumstances? Does the hon. member not think it is time for a guaranteed livable income?

[Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply, September 25th, 2020]

Madam Speaker, I echo the hon. member's concerns about the lack of targets established for climate change in the Speech from the Throne. We need definitive targets. We need to know that we are going to meet our international commitments under the Paris accord to ensure a livable future for our children and grandchildren.

Would the hon. member support a ban on gas fracking in Canada? It is one of the most destructive practices for destroying our climate. It releases methane emissions into the atmosphere, which are 85 times more potent than CO2.

[Petitions, September 25th, 2020]

Madam Speaker, it is an honour and a privilege to present this petition that was started by members of my constituency, Nanaimo—Ladysmith.

They are asking the government to implement a guaranteed livable income for all Canadians. This would establish an income floor below which no Canadian could fall and which would reflect regional differences in the cost of living. It would replace the current patchwork of federal and provincial income assistance programs with a single universal cash payment. It would be progressively taxed back based on income level. It would be administered through the existing tax system and require no means testing, thereby dramatically reducing federal and provincial administration costs. It would reduce poverty, thereby reducing demand on social services, law enforcement and health care, resulting in additional cost savings for government and taxpayers, and would provide a financial safety net for all Canadians, especially through major economic shifts, pandemics, natural disasters or industrial automation.

[Petitions, September 24th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour and privilege to stand today to present a petition by seniors advocates in my riding of Nanaimo—Ladysmith.

COVID-19 has exposed the degradation of care to seniors and the instability of the workforce.

The petitioners are calling on the government to include long-term care in the public health system by creating national standards for care and staffing levels under the Canada Health Act and ensure accountability; eliminate profit-making by government-funded long-term care facilities, ensure funds are spent as allocated and ban subcontracting; standardize equitable living wages and benefits, and implement single-site employment for all staff; strengthen government oversight, and initiate strong penalties and clawbacks for facilities not complying with the regulations; and require independent family councils with protect rights.

I would like to thank Penny MacCourt in my riding. There are 2,500 signatures on this petition.

[Canadian Dairy Commission Act, May 13th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, I spoke about regenerative farming, which requires a lot less fossil fuel input. Regenerative farming is a very key part of dealing with climate change. I have talked to farmers and grain growers in meetings. They have talked about how they have changed their system of farming so it is far more regenerative and sequesters carbon.

We are working through development now where we see things like Caterpillar that has an excavator that runs on batteries. We need to have an electrified system so we can have farm equipment that can be charged and run. We can do it. We just need to have a little creative thinking and innovation and work toward the future we want to see.