Rachel Blaney

[Questions on the Order Paper, September 16th, 2024]

With regard to Veterans Affairs Canada, broken down by fiscal year since 2015-16: (a) what are the available funding streams that (i) support Indigenous veterans’ mental health, (ii) support Indigenous Veterans in finding employment after service; (b) of the funding streams in (a), what is the total amount of funding that remained unspent, uncommitted, or undelivered; and (c) what criteria or justifications were used to evaluate and reject the Burns Way Program which has been established to improve mental health services for Indigenous, non-Indigenous and minority veterans and their family members?

[Seniors, September 16th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, the poorest seniors are receiving hundreds of dollars less every year because Liberal policies created another GIS clawback.

This summer, I heard from seniors and their loved ones. They are drowning. Conservatives cut pensions and increased the retirement age, and the Liberals are punishing the poorest seniors. Canadians never win with Liberals or Conservatives.

When will the clawbacks end?

[Veterans Affairs, June 18th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, between 2010 and 2020, 191 Canadian military personnel died by suicide. Instead of addressing mental health challenges, Liberal and Conservative governments have cut funding, putting veterans at risk.

The Burns Way is ready to provide more trained, peer-to-peer support to our brave veterans, particularly for indigenous and 2SLGBTQIA+ veterans. They deserve nothing less.

Will the minister commit today to funding The Burns Way, yes or no?

[Budget Implementation Act, 2024, No. 1, June 17th, 2024]

Madam Speaker, I appreciate the member's support for the school food program. It is something the NDP has been fighting for, and I am really happy to see that, with our pressure, we were able to finally see it in the budget.

Returning to this issue of people living with disabilities and the reality of the deep level of poverty that community is in, the benefit that the Liberals are putting forward is only $200 a month, which absolutely will not bring people out of poverty.

Is the member willing to advocate for persons living with disabilities and push the government to do better?

[Budget Implementation Act, 2024, No. 1, June 17th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is my neighbour, and it is always good to see him here in the House.

My question is around the disability supports. We know that the NDP has been fighting desperately for a long time, along with a lot of advocates for the disability community, talking about the high level of poverty and the reality that so many are slipping through cracks that we should be filling.

It was very disappointing to see the Liberal government not put forward something more substantive, but instead, something that will keep people in poverty rather than lifting them from it.

I am just wondering if he has heard the same thing I have heard from my constituents, that this is a significant concern, and they expect to see more.

[Budget Implementation Act, 2024, No. 1, June 17th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, I really appreciate the member's role in our caucus, as well as in this House, with his many years of expertise.

One of the parts he mentioned in his speech that really resonated with me was the realities of climate change and the impacts it has on smaller communities and their economies. I am just wondering if he could talk about some solutions that we could be looking at, instead of giving so many dollars to the oil and gas industry.

[Budget Implementation Act, 2024, No. 1, June 17th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, I appreciated how much the hon. member talked about the seriousness of climate change. I do agree. I come from a riding that is in a rainforest. We are in droughts more often than we are not, which is very concerning for me because of the long-term impacts that it will have.

I am just wondering if the member could talk about why they keep giving so much money to oil and gas industries in subsidies instead of taking some of those resources and investing in a more green economy.

[Electoral Participation Act, June 17th, 2024]

Madam Speaker, I thank this place for having a meaningful discussion about democracy, which I think is something we should be talking about frequently. I know that holistically, when we look at the bill, most of the things do strengthen our democracy, and I think there are some good steps that have been taken. Obviously, the Conservatives have a concern about their 32 members who will be eligible for a pension. I know that our member who is the critic for democratic reform has been very clear that she will be moving an amendment to remedy that issue by moving the date of the election back.

I am wondering if the minister would share with this place if the Liberals would be supporting that amendment.

[Royal Canadian Air Force, June 14th, 2024]

Madam Speaker, as part of acknowledging the 100-year anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force, amazing people in my riding are working hard to celebrate by building a beautiful, full-size display case for the De Havilland Vampire Mark III.

The aircraft is stored at the base, away from public sight, to protect it from the weather. We want it outside, safe in a pavilion with the outdoor museum of other military planes. Year-round, people tour the museum and learn more about how our service members served in the past. During the winter holidays, the planes get decked out in lights. The folks have aimed for $1 million to get the display case built. We have gotten 50% of the way there and I am so proud. I hope the government looks at ways to contribute to help to keep this history.

I want to thank everyone leading the fundraising project, especially the folks at the Comox Air Force Museum, as well as 19 Wing Honorary Colonel Quartermain, for matching donations from the public up to $50,000, which was successfully done. I thank Dave Mellin, who always keeps me updated.

[Business of Supply, June 13th, 2024]

Madam Speaker, the hon. member's speech made a lot of sense to me, and I have not heard that from every speech in the House today. I wanted to express my appreciation for that.

One of the things that concerns me, and I think we share this concern, is that the loopholes in the carbon pricing system mean that oil and gas companies are paying a tiny fraction of the cost of their pollution. We know, for example, that Suncor only pays one-fourteenth of the full carbon price.

I am just wondering if he shares that concern about seeing a lot of money going toward these oil and gas companies as they are making huge profits and not really respecting everyday Canadians.