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Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Winnipeg North, Lib.)

Dec/2/21 5:33:00 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-2

Mr. Speaker, let me start off by echoing the statement the member just made. Let us shop local and encourage our constituents to recognize the difficult times that our businesses have had to endure over the last 18 months. One of the ways we can support them is to shop local. There is another thing we can do collectively here in the House. We understand now that Bill C-2 will be going to committee, and I am hopeful and optimistic that we will see it come out of committee and ultimately get the support that is necessary to see it pass, because it too would support small businesses. My question is more related to the issue of housing. We have seen over the years the amounts of money being invested in social housing, and they have been historic. There has been a housing strategy too, something that has never happened before in the history of Canada, at least for the last number of generations. I am wondering what specific initiative the member believes would make a difference, from his perspective, because there are a number of initiatives already in place that are having an impact.

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Mr. John Brassard

Dec/2/21 5:34:22 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, that is an important question, because we have seen asset valuations increase directly as a result of governments and banks printing money. It is indisputable at this point. I have spoken to local realtors, the Ontario Real Estate Association and the Canadian Construction Association. All of them say to organizations that we need to move to increase the supply. We need to make sure that houses are being built free of any regulatory burdens and make sure there is ample supply in the marketplace to ensure that young people can afford not just rent, but also the opportunity of home ownership. There are lots of things that all three levels of government can do, and we need to make sure we work together. That is why were sent here, and I believe this election, by its result, showed that Canadians want us to work together to solve these problems of great magnitude.

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Mr. Rhéal Fortin (Rivière-du-Nord, BQ)

Dec/2/21 5:35:20 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I enjoyed my colleague's speech. I appreciate and find it interesting that he is from Quebec. I wonder if we share any other concerns. This week, my colleague from Avignon—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia proposed that we form a special task force of American, Canadian, Quebec and indigenous police officers with the goal of curbing firearms trafficking. Also this week, some 50 firearms were seized on their way from Akwesasne to Cornwall. Today, an 80-year-old woman was killed, apparently murdered, because spent cartridges were found next to her in Coaticook. What does my colleague think of the idea of forming a special task force to stop illegal firearms at the border?

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Mr. John Brassard

Dec/2/21 5:36:19 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I was born in Montreal, and I am from a francophone family. My father, Jean‑Guy Brassard, is a real francophone. Montreal is where all my relatives live, on the French side. It is a tough question. The issue of guns and gangs is an issue of guns and gangs. It is not an issue of law-abiding firearms owners. They are not running around the streets of Montreal, Vancouver or Toronto shooting up the place. The issue of guns coming into the country illegally needs to be addressed. In our platform we talked about guns and gangs and how to address them, such as giving more resources to police forces across the country and setting up special task forces. Those are the things we need to do, not go after law-abiding firearms owners, who are the most responsible and have the strictest gun laws in the world. Illegal guns and illegal gangs are the problem in this country, and it is time the government and all parliamentarians get serious about dealing with that issue.

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Ms. Lisa Marie Barron (Nanaimo—Ladysmith, NDP)

Dec/2/21 5:37:34 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I appreciated the member's constituency stories in particular. I always like to hear from constituents. A lot of what I am hearing from constituents in my riding is about the concerns in our long-term care homes, both for their loved ones in care homes and for the workers. I am wondering if the member could share his thoughts about the importance of putting into place national standards to better support those in long-term care homes.

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Mr. John Brassard

Dec/2/21 5:38:07 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, nobody understands the issue of long-term care facilities more than I do. We went through the situation at Roberta Place. That is in my riding. All levels of government have a role to play, understanding that this is a provincial responsibility. However, we can work with the provincial governments to make sure that we have the type of standards that look after seniors in long-term care homes. Long-term care homes are getting better and are really doing a good job of protecting their seniors. My mother-in-law is in Roberta Place right now, and I feel extremely comfortable that she is there because of the staff and the people who are looking after her.

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The Deputy Speaker

Dec/2/21 5:38:45 p.m.
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Before we move on to the next speaker, I want to remind members that the shorter the questions and answers, the more members get to participate. We keep running out of time. Resuming debate, the hon. member for Hastings—Lennox and Addington.

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Time limits on speeches

Mrs. Shelby Kramp-Neuman (Hastings—Lennox and Addington, CPC)

Dec/2/21 5:39:09 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I stand before you humbled by the enormous responsibility entrusted to me by the voters of Hastings—Lennox and Addington. In an ideal world, the people who are responsible for making this moment possible would be here with me. Though they are not here, they are certainly not forgotten. There were dozens of volunteers and friends who put their lives on hold during our campaign. I want them to know that I count them as my political family. I will be forever grateful for their efforts and am so thankful to have them as part of my circle of trust. I want to thank my husband Tadum for believing in me and standing beside me. Our life is beautifully chaotic, and I appreciate him for being able to support me and make it possible for me to be here. I also want to say that I am so incredibly proud of daughters, Tori and Reese, my volleyball player and hockey player. They always strive to be authentic and genuine. To my two sisters and their families, the village of support to help with the girls is so appreciated. Next I want to thank my parents, Daryl and Carol Ann Kramp. My mom has taught me to be fearless, respectful and responsible. She is an incredible role model, and I certainly know where I get my energy from. My father has earned a tremendous amount of respect here in Ottawa, and the impact he has made in my riding over the years is remarkable. My dad and I share something very unique to Canadian politics. My father is our current MPP for Hastings—Lennox and Addington, while I now hold the federal seat. He is my political mentor, and more importantly he is my dad. May I follow his lead but mark my own path moving forward. To the people of Hastings—Lennox and Addington, know that I will remain laser-focused on the task that has been given to me: holding the government accountable. I will be more than just a critic. I will propose solutions while representing my constituents, and I will never stop being an advocate for our riding. There are those who have grown tired of politics, and I hope to inspire them and restore their faith in this great institution. Last Tuesday, the Governor General read the Speech from the Throne, the document that sets out the government's agenda and vision for the upcoming session. Unfortunately for the people of Hastings—Lennox and Addington, as well as other rural ridings across this great country, the speech did not appear to include them. Whether it is rural broadband Internet, the agricultural sector or rebuilding main street, the government has signalled that these issues are not areas of concern for it. There is no plan to lower inflation, nor to address labour shortages and supply chains. There is no plan to ease the financial burdens of struggling business owners. The current government loves to talk about money. It talks about the amount of money promised, committed or spent, but the results are just not there. We have more consultants, more studies, more bureaucracy, more debt and more disappointment. Accountability and transparency matter. In my opinion, we are experiencing the most corrupt and divisive government in history. This matters and we need to do better. Too many Canadians are suffering from depression, anxiety and burnout. Canada's mental health crisis has deepened. Mental health is health, and we should be collectively supporting it in a non-partisan manner. For those personally affected, please reach out. Surely the six people who may be the pallbearers at someone's funeral would rather lift them up now in their time of need. We send our love to Matt. Allow me now to address the outlook for our agricultural sector. It is bleak. The farmers and livestock and dairy producers who are found in every corner of Hastings—Lennox and Addington are once again an afterthought of the government. In a nearly 3,000-word document, our agricultural sector was mentioned one single, solitary time. Let me be clear: Our united Conservative caucus knows it is farmers, like those found in Stirling and Napanee, who feed Canadians from coast to coast to coast. It is high time the members on the other side of the House recognized this fact. I was pleased that the throne speech spoke to the issue of reconciliation with Canada's first people. I have the good fortune to count the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte among my communities. During my very first week as a member of Parliament, the people of Tyendinaga voted to ratify a partial land claim returning 300 acres to the Mohawk territory. In the spirit of reconciliation, I call on the government to settle the remaining land claims expeditiously, with fairness to all concerned. As shadow minister for seniors, I would like to now focus on an area that is very close to the hearts of many Canadians. With this Speech from the Throne, the Liberal government has sent a chilling message to Canada's most vulnerable. With only a single mention in passing, the government chose to completely ignore some very serious issues. There was no mention of combatting social isolation, no mention of cracking down on elder abuse, no mention of improving access to palliative care and no mention of fixing the rising costs of critical goods such as groceries and medicine. This is a troubling trend. During the previous Parliament, members of this place from every party and every province were receiving frantic phone calls, emails and letters from seniors in their ridings. The complaints were nearly identical: The GIS had been severely reduced or, in many cases, completely eliminated after the July recalculation period. Seniors who depended on the guaranteed income supplement to pay for food to eat, a bed to sleep in and medicine to live had their financial safety net torn out from underneath them overnight. The people who built this country suddenly found themselves abandoned by it as a result of poor communication from the government. Realizing the very serious consequences of such a sudden and unforeseen reduction in disposable income, my colleague, the member for Battlefords—Lloydminster, quickly took action and sent a letter to the then minister of seniors asking her to address the situation. She never received a response. Not only are seniors' dollars not going as far as before, but they now have fewer to start off with. On top of this, many seniors are embarrassed to come forward. They are embarrassed to go to food banks or to ask for help. Traditionally, seniors and our country have been self-reliant. This is becoming increasingly difficult. On page 14 of the 2021 federal budget are the words, “We owe our elders a great debt. This is a partial repayment.” What the government has done in the intervening months is not only a spectacular failure to partially repay our elders, but rather it has increased the debt we owe to them. I know the government does not have the best track record on balancing budgets, but as a former financial adviser I can assure the government that it is not difficult to figure out that its policies have added to the debt it owes our seniors, not repaid it. Being elected as a member of Parliament to represent the people of Hastings—Lennox and Addington, or anywhere across this great nation, is a privilege. We must never forget the people who sent us here and we must never stop fighting for them. It is my sincere and perhaps naive belief that every person who comes through the doors of this chamber has the intent to make our country a better place to live for ourselves, our children and our seniors. I grew up having so much pride in Canada being a self-reliant, resilient and resourceful nation. I ask members to join me in wanting to earn this back. Let us work together to give our young leaders the tools and resources to continue to make this country strong and free. We all have a different approach as to what progress looks like, but it is that personal drive, that core tenet of public service, that unites all of us. This is what makes this place such a profound and powerful institution. Regardless of people's paths in life, they should do it to the absolute best of their ability. They must never stop learning, improving and making a difference. In closing, I was fortunate to learn a great deal from an amazing parliamentarian. That knowledge and relationship shaped me into who I am today and is why I am here. The growth I was able to achieve learning from one parliamentarian was profound, and I cannot wait to see what learning from 337 others will do. I thank my mom and dad for their kind words of wisdom: we should always believe in ourselves and always keep our doors open. Things do not happen unless we make them happen. We should be kind, love life and seek happiness along the way. God bless.

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Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Winnipeg North, Lib.)

Dec/2/21 5:49:11 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the member and I share something in common. Her father is an MLA and she is an MP. My daughter is an MLA in the Manitoba Legislature and I am an MP. As I am very proud of my daughter, I am sure the member's father is exceptionally proud of her. One of the things that we share in common, again, is that my daughter is a very powerful advocate for seniors, as I see the member opposite also wants to be. I have talked to my daughter about the need for different levels of government to work together. I am sure the member can appreciate the importance of different levels of government working together. Would the member not agree that on the issue of seniors it is important that we recognize what both levels of government could do? We can work together to make a positive difference and have a more positive impact for seniors no matter where they live in our great country.

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Mrs. Shelby Kramp-Neuman

Dec/2/21 5:50:16 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I certainly applaud the member for the relationship and special bond he has with his daughter. Both of them are serving the public. There is no question that the importance of the coordination between different levels of government is integral. I served 15 years in municipal government. I can see the relationships and importance of working with municipal, provincial and federal levels. That is how things happen. The beauty of collaboration and co-operation is the spirit of democracy.

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Ms. Christine Normandin (Saint-Jean, BQ)

Dec/2/21 5:50:58 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Hastings—Lennox and Addington. It is always nice to hear from new colleagues in the House. I, too, want to ask a question about seniors, because we also care about that issue in the Bloc Québécois. I heard her talk about the guaranteed income supplement, which has been reduced since July. I absolutely agree on that. However, the Bloc Québécois has been calling for an increase to old age security since 2019, because seniors' purchasing power has been declining for several years. Benefits have not increased to keep pace with the average industrial wage. I would like to know if my colleague agrees with us that it would take at least a $110-per-month increase to do that.

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Mrs. Shelby Kramp-Neuman

Dec/2/21 5:51:44 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, there is no question that seniors are the backbone for where we have come as a nation. We need to support our seniors. There needs to be a dialogue. Our seniors need to have the dignity of being comfortable and not worrying about whether they can put food on the table, support their families or have the same quality of life they were accustomed to. I also raised in my speech how intimidating it can be to admit that there could be trouble or concern. Taking away the barriers and making people feel comfortable is important.

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Ms. Lindsay Mathyssen (London—Fanshawe, NDP)

Dec/2/21 5:52:32 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I am happy to also congratulate the member. Like a few of us here today, I also have the honour of following in a parent's footsteps. As she may know, my mother was the former member for London—Fanshawe. I have learned so much from her, and I continue to learn so much from her. I also appreciate that parentage and that lineage. I want to ask a question along the same lines as my colleagues have asked about protecting our seniors. Some of the seniors in my riding have come forward. They are dealing with the clawback on their GIS because of the money they received from the CERB. It has left them at a point where they cannot afford their rent. They are being forced into homelessness. Could the member tell me if she and her party would support the NDP's push for the government to change that clawback of the GIS?

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Mrs. Shelby Kramp-Neuman

Dec/2/21 5:53:43 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, there is no question that there are scores of seniors who, as a result of the government's poor rollout of the CERB, are finding themselves in a really difficult situation. They are being stripped of their OAS and GIS. It is through no fault of their own. I would certainly agree that the government needs to reverse the decision, and we need to allow seniors to collect what they have earned. We need to lead by example. We need to show them. We need to win on these issues together. Seniors do not need to be a political football.

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Ms. Sonia Sidhu (Brampton South, Lib.)

Dec/2/21 5:54:29 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, it is great to join the debate in the 44th Parliament. I will be splitting my time with the member for Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill. First, I want to congratulate you, Mr. Speaker, on your election to the chair. We worked closely in the past on the Standing Committee on Health. I know you will do a good job. I also would like to thank the people of Brampton South for once again putting their trust in me for the third time. Representing them is the greatest honour of my life. I commit to them to continue to be their strong voice and represent Brampton's best interests in Ottawa. Behind each 338 members of Parliament is a strong team of volunteers who get us elected. I have an amazing team of volunteers and I could not have done it without their unwavering support. Of course, a big thanks to my family. I know they are already proud of the work we are doing here. They are the real force behind me. I want to thank my son Akash, who is always supporting me, especially on the campaign trail. He is always there by my side. It is an honour to address the House on behalf of residents of Brampton South to speak in support of the throne speech, which introduced our government's vision for the future of our country. I will be speaking about the priorities of the residents in my riding, as these priorities are reflected in this speech. I have spoken to hundreds of residents in my community over the last few months and they are optimistic that we are coming through this pandemic. Businesses in Brampton are bouncing back. They know their government is ready to lead us through this recovery, tackle the challenges ahead of us and to build an economy that works for everyone. The vision outlined in the Speech from the Throne delivered last week is the plan to finish the fight against COVID-19, make home ownership achievable, make life more affordable, confront public safety challenges and take strong climate action, while creating jobs and growing the economy. Vaccination remains the most important tool in fighting COVID-19. This is the only way we can end this pandemic. Almost 90% of those aged 12 and over have received at least one dose, and our government is continuing to encourage uptake. We have mandated vaccines for civil servants and federally regulated workers. As of this Tuesday, all travellers taking planes and trains must be vaccinated. Many of us see this decision as the right step. I heard international experts saying that they wished to had the same system in their country. This will help our economy to reopen, but also protect our health care system and essential workers. Peel Region, especially Brampton, was one of the hardest hit communities in the country at the peak of the pandemic, with over 400 new cases a day at its highest point. We are a community of essential workers. They continued to go to their jobs every day so others could stay home. We are also a very diverse community, with over 100 different languages spoken at home. I want to thank Dr. Lawrence Loh and his team at Peel public health, all the front-line health care workers in Brampton, the testing and vaccine clinics as well as all the multicultural community partners, faith leaders and service organizations that helped in the vaccination efforts. Thanks to their outreach efforts, working through language barriers and complicated work schedules, we are now one of the most vaccinated communities in Canada. We are coming through this global health crisis. Our government will be there to work with the provinces to deliver the changes needed to improve health care. This includes mental health and addiction, long-term care and addressing and delivering vaccine boosters, and vaccine doses for children. For most Canadians, housing is the single biggest portion of their monthly budgets. Whether it is through rent or a mortgage payment on a recently purchased home throughout Brampton and the GTA as well as many parts of Canada. it is a cost that is becoming unaffordable. It is an issue I regularly hear about from my constituents. This is why our government has a plan to address this rising cost. Our government will do this by working with the municipalities to help them increase supply, with the housing accelerator fund, providing more support to first-time buyers and implementing an innovative rent-to-own program that will help Canadians obtain home ownership. All members of the House agree we need to build more housing and build it faster. Our government has a clear record on lifting hundreds of thousands of children out of poverty. Thousands of families in Brampton South have benefited from the Canada child benefit introduced by our government over the years. In my riding, child care is also one of the most expensive costs for families with young children. In Brampton, it is not uncommon to find costs as high as $1,500 or even $2,000 a month per child in many cases. We are a community of essential workers, many of whom do not have the option of working from home. This high cost is unaffordable for too many people. One parent, usually the mother, will decide to leave the workforce. This is not because she wants to, but because finding child care is impossible. At the status of women committee during the last Parliament, I frequently heard how important this was and how affordable child care options needed to be expanded. Affordable child care is the priority I have heard at the doors often in my riding. Our government's $10-a-day child care plan will save families in Brampton over $9,200 a year in 2022. That is a future year of tuition payment for the child or a year of groceries. By 2026, Brampton families are going to save almost $16,000. This is a big number. The difference that our government's child care program can make in the life of a young family is significant. Our federal plan will allow many women to remain in the workforce and will increase economic output in Brampton and across Ontario once the new deal is signed. I was also reassured to see that our government is taking action on keeping our communities safe. We have taken action to ban and restrict access to firearms and will continue to work with municipalities and law enforcement on fighting gun violence. However, as many residents know, the leading reason for 911 calls in Peel is for domestic and intimate partner violence. Every hour, Peel police receive two calls on average, mostly from women. Sadly, we see many instances of gender-based violence from coast to coast. Many of them are women of colour, those who are racialized or are indigenous. This is unacceptable. It was important for me to see that our government is taking this issue seriously by continuing to provide funding to shelters and women's centres as well. As with the commitment to address gender-based violence with the 10-year national action plan, this plan will account for women of all colours, abilities, ages and backgrounds. I had the pleasure to speak with the middle school students earlier this year. The single greatest issue they are talking to me about is climate change. Climate change is real and we see the horrible consequences in British Columbia, Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. Climate change is not up for debate; it is a reality. Our government has a plan that will get us to net-zero emissions by 2050. We will invest in the green technology sector so we can create good, clean jobs for the future. Brampton seniors remember the devastating floods in Brampton in the fifties and sixties. By investing in disaster mitigation projects like the Brampton Riverwalk project in the past, they are committed to working with the municipalities on green and sustainable infrastructure projects. Our government is addressing both the infrastructure needs of our communities and fighting climate change. One of the biggest announcements that I participated in last year was when the City of Brampton received $400 million from the Canada Infrastructure Bank to fully transition our transit fleet of 450 buses to electric vehicles by 2027. This is a real example of helping cities across the country to be leaders in the climate fight. I am looking forward to continuing this work over the coming years. We need to build a cleaner, healthier and more prosperous nation for future generations. As a mother, this is what I want to leave for my children and future generations. I am asking all members of Parliament to support the values of this speech so that we can work together to build a better Canada.

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Mr. Luc Desilets (Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, BQ)

Dec/2/21 6:04:44 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, there was a lot of material in our colleague's speech. One of the things she referred to was planned federal investments in mental health. This is something that affects us all, and we are all sensitive to it. However, can the member explain to me how mental health falls under the federal government's jurisdiction?

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Ms. Sonia Sidhu

Dec/2/21 6:05:15 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the member on his election. This is an issue I care very much about, and I know that the member shares that passion. If the provinces are in agreement that these areas need to be improved, then they should welcome the strategy. Overwhelmingly, we hear from constituents who want to see national action. We are prepared to work with the provinces and make sure that this happens. It is an important issue, and I look forward to working with members to improve the lives of Canadians.

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Mrs. Karen Vecchio (Elgin—Middlesex—London, CPC)

Dec/2/21 6:06:05 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I have had the opportunity to work with the member, and we have discussed a fair amount today about seniors. I would ask the member what her thoughts are when we know that the inflationary rates are so high that the cost of living for many of these seniors means that the amount they bring compared to their expenses has become very unbalanced. I would like to know what the member's solution is and how this government will provide for seniors in the future.

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Ms. Sonia Sidhu

Dec/2/21 6:06:33 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the member's passion on this issue. We have worked closely in the past, and I share her passion for seniors. In this pandemic, seniors have been hit very hard, especially in long-term care. Seniors' issues are very close to me and our government. During this pandemic, in my riding, one of the nursing homes had the Canadian Armed Forces step in to support the seniors living there. Since then, our government supported long-term care with improvements in ventilation in my riding along with many other actions across the country. I know that we need to do more. I look forward to working with members and, yes, seniors deserve a better life.

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Ms. Bonita Zarrillo (Port Moody—Coquitlam, NDP)

Dec/2/21 6:07:30 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, as a mother, I want to thank the hon. member for her words. We do not hear enough of this in the chamber. However, I certainly hear a lot in my riding about mothers who work essential, frontline work with non-traditional hours. I thank the member's constituents for their essential, frontline work during this COVID pandemic. Those frontline workers who work non-traditional hours rely on family members, such as mothers, sisters, brothers and fathers to help with their child care. However, too many in my riding cannot get visitor visas for their family members to come over to help them with their child care needs and to help them with emotional and physical support. Can the member share what we can do or what the government can do to get those visas moving?

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