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The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès)

Dec/3/21 12:05:49 p.m.
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The hon. member for Timmins—James Bay.

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Mr. Charlie Angus (Timmins—James Bay, NDP)

Dec/3/21 12:05:52 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, the environment minister announced that he had blown yet another deadline in dealing with the climate crisis. God help our planet. It is no wonder the government is now at the bottom of the G20 when it comes to renewables, right down there with Russia and Saudi Arabia. While Joe Biden has committed to an energy transformation that is tied to well-paying union jobs, the Prime Minister is tied to targets he keeps missing. Where is this plan to invest in the diversification, using the skill and training of energy workers, so that no region is left behind? The clock is ticking.

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Hon. Jonathan Wilkinson (Minister of Natural Resources, Lib.)

Dec/3/21 12:06:32 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, as my hon. colleague knows, Canada has developed a climate plan that is perhaps one of the most detailed and comprehensive in the world. I would invite him to actually read the document. Canada also, I would remind him, has one of the cleanest grids in the world as it exists today. More than 80% of Canada's power comes from non-emitting sources, the vast majority of it from renewables, which is one of the highest levels of renewable production anywhere in the world. However, we certainly understand that more needs to be done. We will be bringing forward an enhanced reduction plan associated with our commitments under the net-zero legislation, and we will be working to ensure there is economic prosperity—

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Mr. Gérard Deltell (Louis-Saint-Laurent, CPC)

Dec/3/21 12:07:35 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. During Oral Questions, the member for Kelowna—Lake Country, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, said the following in response to my colleague's question: “I think the member is misleading in her question.” All members here, and especially the minister, know that we cannot accuse or suspect a member of misleading the House. The minister is an honourable man, so I encourage him to act with the dignity befitting his position, especially since he spent the entire question period sitting in the Deputy Prime Minister's chair.

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Hon. François-Philippe Champagne (Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, Lib.)

Dec/3/21 12:08:10 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, I appreciate the point made by the opposition House leader. I apologize if my colleague was offended by what I said. That was not my intention.

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Mrs. Sherry Romanado (Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne, Lib.)

Dec/3/21 12:09:07 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, there have been discussion among the parties and if you seek it, I hope you will find unanimous consent to adopt the following motion: That today, on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, and in the spirit of “Nothing without us”, the House reaffirm its commitment to continue to work to identify, remove, and prevent barriers that still exist and increase the opportunities available to persons with disabilities.

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The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès)

Dec/3/21 12:09:34 p.m.
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All those opposed to the hon. member moving the motion will please say nay. The House has heard the terms of the motion. All those opposed to the motion will please say nay. Hearing no dissenting voice, I declare the motion carried.

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The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès)

Dec/3/21 12:10:39 p.m.
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All those opposed to the hon. member moving the motion will please say nay. Some hon. members: Nay.

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Mr. Peter Julian

Dec/3/21 12:10:39 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, with thanks to my colleague from Port Moody—Coquitlam, on this International Day of Persons with Disabilities, there have been consultations among the parties and if you seek it, I hope you will find unanimous consent for the following important motion: That given that 50% of the homeless and half the people who rely on food banks in Canada are Canadians with disabilities, the House call on the government to put into place, without delay, a guaranteed livable basic income for Canadians with disabilities.

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Mr. Gord Johns (Courtenay—Alberni, NDP)

Dec/3/21 12:11:35 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, I rise to table a petition from constituents from the Comox Valley, Courtenay, Cumberland and Royston. The petitioners cite that farmers' markets are a key tool for a COVID‑19 recovery as small business incubators, domestic food system resilience and security builders, local economy community builders and farmers' market coupon programs are a key support for new and existing market development and their provincial associations. Farmers' market nutrition coupon programs help create food security and resiliency by giving vulnerable people access to healthy, locally grown foods and dietary education, while positively impacting the physical and mental health of participants by increasing the amount and diversity of the fruits and vegetables they consume. The petitioners therefore call on the Government of Canada to initiate a national matching program for all provincial farmers' market nutrition coupon programs across Canada that would match those provinces already contributing to their farmers' market nutrition coupon programs and encourage the provinces that do not have such a program to implement one by offering matching funding.

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The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès)

Dec/3/21 12:12:45 p.m.
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I would remind hon. members that when presenting petitions to please try to shorten their introduction.

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Presentation of petitions

Hon. Mark Holland (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, Lib.)

Dec/3/21 12:13:02 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, I would ask that all questions be allowed to stand.

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The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès)

Dec/3/21 12:13:11 p.m.
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Is that agreed? Some hon. members: Agreed.

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Mr. Maxime Blanchette-Joncas (Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, BQ)

Dec/3/21 12:13:35 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-3

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to resume my speech after that fast-paced question period. As I was saying, we have been trapped in the worst public health crisis of the past century for almost two years now, and our health care system is more vulnerable than ever, so we have to do whatever it takes to protect it. Our health care workers have been holding down the fort throughout this trying time, and we as a society must keep them safe. That is why the Bloc Québécois will support Bill C-3, introduced by the government. That said, there is a very real potential pitfall that will have to be addressed at some point in the legislative process. The proposed amendments must not violate health care workers' rights to peaceful protest and freedom of expression. These fundamental rights are necessary in a healthy democracy and must not be openly violated. Once again, the public can count on the Bloc Québécois to ask the right questions to help Parliament clarify its intentions and to propose any necessary amendments. The bill seeks to amend the Canada Labour Code to guarantee that every federally regulated employee gets a minimum of 10 paid sick days a year. As a loyal defender of all workers, the Bloc Québécois agrees with this proposal. No one, but no one, should have to go to work sick because they cannot afford to stay home. No one should be forced to make the impossible choice between taking the time to heal and putting food on the table. What is more, this pandemic we are going through has shown us another, equally convincing argument. Collectively, we are better off when our infected colleagues do not come in to work. That is how we can stop a virus like COVID‑19 or the flu from spreading and prevent unfortunate outbreaks. It is good for workers, it is good for businesses, it is good for everyone. However, it is important to be realistic about what this bill the Liberals are introducing can really do to transform the labour market in Quebec and Canada. I will explain by considering the entire labour market. Federally regulated businesses, such as those in the banking, telecommunications and airline industries, employ only a tiny fraction of the workers in this country, only 6%, to be exact. Of that fraction, we have to subtract all the workers whose employment conditions are governed by collective agreements comparable to or more generous than the one proposed in Bill C‑3. In the end, the bill does not amount to much. It is just another well-crafted PR stunt by this government. That being said, I personally believe that any improvement in the employment conditions of any workers ultimately represents a win for all workers. That is why the Bloc Québécois will support this bill. In closing, the Liberals have returned to Parliament more than two months after calling an unnecessary election. After delivering such an uninspiring throne speech, they are now proposing a two-pronged bill that seeks to make minor changes to the Criminal Code and the Canada Labour Code. The fact that this bill was one of the first ones introduced by this government in the new session eloquently demonstrates that the Liberals are more interested in ticking off election promises than in advancing meaningful legislation, and that they still do not have a clear strategic vision to offer this Parliament, much less a concrete social blueprint for achieving that vision. In spite of all this, the Bloc Québécois will support Bill C‑3 so that it can move forward, because, as a wise man once said, nobody can be against apple pie.

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Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Winnipeg North, Lib.)

Dec/3/21 12:18:18 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-3

Mr. Speaker, I recognize that opposition members are coming forward and speaking positively of the legislation, indicating that they would be supporting it. I appreciate the value in that. This is something that was raised during the last federal election. The Prime Minister made a commitment to it, as the member referenced. Given the very nature of what we have witnessed over the last number of months, the legislation not only sends a positive message but really has some teeth and will make a difference, particularly by highlighting just how important our health care workers have been throughout this process. Could the member provide his thoughts in regard to why he believes it would be of value to see the legislation pass before the House rises?

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Mr. Maxime Blanchette-Joncas

Dec/3/21 12:19:17 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-3

Mr. Speaker, if this bill was so important to the government, why did the government not introduce it earlier, and why did it not bring Parliament back more quickly rather than waiting over 60 days? Yes, this bill is important because it is a step forward and provides protection for health care workers and support for those who do not have access to paid sick days. As I mentioned, no one can be against apple pie, but again, if something is urgent, then it is better to take action than to dawdle.

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Mr. Alexandre Boulerice (Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, NDP)

Dec/3/21 12:20:05 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-3

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his speech. The protection and advancement of workers' rights are central policy issues for the NDP. Throughout the pandemic and 2020, we pushed the Liberal government to give people paid sick leave. Of course, we are talking about employees under federal jurisdiction, which does not include everyone. The Liberals were not interested. They told us no or put it off until later. They finally woke up during the election campaign and, 18 months after the start of the pandemic, they are admitting that this was a good idea and are now suddenly in a hurry to do something about it. Why does my hon. colleague think that the Liberals have finally realized that paid sick leave does not just benefit individuals, but also constitutes a public health measure?

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Mr. Maxime Blanchette-Joncas

Dec/3/21 12:20:59 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-3

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie for his question. My colleague knows that the Bloc Québécois has a tradition of supporting workers' rights and that it is also a steadfast ally of unions. It is hard to explain why the government took so long to propose this bill. We can see that it wanted to put on a dog-and-pony show by making this election promise. Now it is bringing forward this bill, but we still do not understand why. I am thinking of other bills that the government introduced in the last Parliament that are also very important, in particular the infamous Bill C-10 and the bill on the modernization of official languages. It is difficult to explain or justify the inexplicable.

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Ms. Andréanne Larouche (Shefford, BQ)

Dec/3/21 12:21:53 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-3

Mr. Speaker, I thank my eloquent colleague from Rimouski‑Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques for his very interesting speech. He said that no one can be against apple pie or the importance of protecting workers while we are still grappling with this pandemic and do not want anyone to infect others. Let us not forget that the purpose of these 10 days of paid leave is to ensure the safety of the individual, but also to protect others. My colleague also addressed the Speech from the Throne. With respect to workers' rights, the Bloc Québécois notes that this speech makes no mention of the EI reform it has been calling for for months. This issue is being championed by my wonderful colleague from Thérèse-De Blainville. In 2021, it is more urgent than ever to conduct a major reform of EI in order to further protect workers' rights.

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Mr. Maxime Blanchette-Joncas

Dec/3/21 12:22:48 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-3

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for Shefford for the question. As I mentioned earlier, it is impossible to explain the inexplicable. Currently, someone fighting an illness is entitled to less EI sickness benefits than someone who simply loses their job in the ordinary way. A person who loses their job is eligible for more than 15 weeks of benefits, and that is already enshrined in law. The Liberals have said that they are aware of this issue and have promised to increase sickness benefits from 15 weeks to 26 weeks. We are hoping for a consensus on this here in the House, because people who are sick are not getting the support they need to heal or to return to the workforce.

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