Stephen Ellis

[Criminal Code, June 9th, 2022]

Madam Speaker, I find it fascinating that the member opposite talks about being in prison as a dark place for people's entire lives: the rest of their lives. We are talking about how hidden in this bill is human trafficking with material benefit. What does that mean? In the words of two women who live in my riding, Linda MacDonald and Jeanne Sarson, who wrote a book called Women Unsilenced, they talk about torture. They talk about the sale of women and girls.

If that is not something that we need more time to talk about and make the House aware of, so that we can protect those who are vulnerable in our society, I do not know what is. For the government to talk about time allocation for such an important topic is absolutely untenable. It is unfathomable. It is absolutely ridiculous and, quite honestly, this is virtue signalling at its worst.

[Health, June 8th, 2022]

Mr. Speaker, I find it fascinating. We do not want to wish away science. We want to wish away incompetence.

What is important here is to answer the actual question because, if an antigen test is good enough for some Canadians to get on an airplane, why is it not good enough for all Canadians? What is the difference between Canadians who are unvaccinated and who want to fly in Cumberland—Colchester, for instance, and those who live in northern communities? The answer is clear. The only difference is not medical science, but political science.

When will the government drop these vindictive mandates and let Canadians get back to prepandemic normal?

[Health, June 8th, 2022]

Mr. Speaker, we have heard from the parliamentary secretary the tremendous risk for and from unvaccinated air travellers. However, is it not true that many unvaccinated Canadians can actually travel by air with a negative antigen test?

[North Nova Scotia Highlanders, June 8th, 2022]

Mr. Speaker, on June 6, 1944, 156,000 Canadian, British and American soldiers stormed some 50 miles of beaches along the heavily fortified Normandy coast of France. The sage advice given to troops by Dwight Eisenhower was simple: “You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you.”

Fortunately for us, one of the regiments to land on D-Day was the North Nova Scotia Highlanders. This storied regiment, based in Amherst in my riding of Cumberland—Colchester, pushed through the extreme fighting and made the greatest inland gains of any allied forces. The now Nova Scotia Highlanders still exists today in Cumberland—Colchester and in Pictou County. Those who continue to serve stand on the shoulders of giants. The cenotaph in Amherst has recently been beautifully revamped. It is adorned with a lifelike North Novie and it is spectacular.

As we often debate freedom in this House, let us always remember the great sacrifice by those who have gone before, the seriousness of our decisions and the plight of those we represent. Lest we forget.

[Health, June 7th, 2022]

Mr. Speaker, the other thing we hear from the government is lots of statistics with respect to health care: We hear that 6,000 people die every month from heart disease, 3,500 die from diabetes, 7,000 die monthly from cancer and 600 people die every month from overdoses, which is four times the prepandemic number.

Clearly, these numbers are meant simply for context. These diseases are a reality in our lives, but Canadians do not live in fear. It is time for us to learn to live with COVID also. These mandates are clearly political science and not medical science. Is that not right?

[Health, June 7th, 2022]

Mr. Speaker, the government clearly does not know its own policies with respect to travel on federally regulated boats. The Marine Atlantic policy clearly states that travel is open to unvaccinated Canadians because the voyage is less than 24 hours and the service is essential. Clearly, all plane trips in the world are less than 24 hours. Also, the parliamentary secretary's assertion that the hardy folks of Newfoundland will spend the entire voyage outside on the North Atlantic in the wintertime is nothing short of ridiculous.

Canadians need a commitment that this government will put an end to their hypocritical and vindictive political mandates.

[Business of Supply, June 7th, 2022]

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for his speech about the economy.

However, this is just a motion. It is not the Conservatives' budget. It is just a motion designed to help all the people in our ridings, be they in Nova Scotia or Quebec. It is just the Conservatives' straightforward way of trying to help all Canadians.

[Health, June 6th, 2022]

Mr. Speaker, perhaps I should sit on that side as a minister, because the rules are very easy to find. They say that for essential travel under 24 hours on a Marine Atlantic ferry, unvaccinated people can access ferries. Why air travel is different from marine ferry travel I do not know. There are no 24-hour flights inside of Canada, nor indeed around the world. Sadly, this indicates clearly that the ongoing mandates for air travel are only vindictive political punishment.

When will the Prime Minister allow Canadians to return to prepandemic normal?

[Health, June 6th, 2022]

Mr. Speaker, would the minister responsible please explain the mandate rule for unvaccinated travellers who wish to access federally regulated ferries such as Marine Atlantic?

[The Economy, June 3rd, 2022]

Madam Speaker, the cost of living in Canada is crippling small businesses.

In the words of my constituent David, who owns a small business, it is also pushing middle-class workers close to the poverty line. David has 30 individuals and 16 vehicles on the road on any given day. His fuel costs have doubled in the past month. This means that projects he bid on a month ago he will have to pay to complete.

His question echoes what many other Canadians want to know, and it is very simple. What is the government going to do about rising fuel costs and the out-of-control cost of living?