SoVote

Dec/10/21 2:03:53 p.m.
Watch
Re: Bill C-2

Madam Speaker, I always appreciate a pointed and difficult question in the House. The fact of the matter is that Canadians would have been far better served in the pandemic if not for the chronic problems with employment insurance. They were not really news to many of the people who had to avail themselves of employment insurance, or who tried and could not, and the organizations that work with folks who have needed employment insurance over the years. We should have done the work they were already calling on us to do. There is another way in which Canadians would have been very well served if we had done the homework on employment insurance early on. As I mentioned earlier in my remarks, one of the big problems we have right now is a lack of a way to hook up workers who are out of work and trying to find a way back into the labour market with the training they need that pertains directly to a job that is available in the market. That is something we used to do in the unemployment insurance system we had many years ago in Canada. We used to work with workers to find a job and train them up to it. We need something like that in our EI system again.

220 words

All Topics

Mr. Yves Perron (Berthier—Maskinongé, BQ)

Dec/10/21 2:05:03 p.m.
Watch
Re: Bill C-2

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for his very pertinent speech. I would like to give him an opportunity to tell us more. Can he explain what is behind the Conservatives' manoeuver this afternoon? Why have they wasted all this time? I did not get an answer to the question I asked earlier.

53 words

All Topics

Mr. Daniel Blaikie

Dec/10/21 2:05:31 p.m.
Watch
Re: Bill C-2

Madam Speaker, I always find it hard to think like a Conservative. As a parliamentarian, when I can, I always try to attribute good intentions to my colleagues in the House of Commons. Whether it is worth separating the two parts of the bill is an interesting debate, in my view. Many bills in the House of Commons have elements that do not necessarily go together. This is a familiar debate. In this case, however, I think the different parts of the bill share a common purpose, so it would make sense to maintain both parts of it, but not as it has been presented to us.

107 words

All Topics

Ms. Elizabeth May (Saanich—Gulf Islands, GP)

Dec/10/21 2:06:38 p.m.
Watch
Re: Bill C-2

Madam Speaker, my thanks to my hon. friend for Elmwood—Transcona for, as ever, a clear analysis of how Parliament should function and how our traditions should guide us. I just want to add to his analysis that an omnibus bill really has to have unrelated sections that are forced together. To support his analysis that these do hang together, although they are inadequate, he may have something else to add. I think his analysis on conventions of prorogation and confidence of the House needs to be understood by all, but for now I will just ask if he want to add more about what benefits we need.

109 words

All Topics

Mr. Daniel Blaikie

Dec/10/21 2:07:20 p.m.
Watch
Re: Bill C-2

Madam Speaker, it is a rare thing in this place to say of a bill that there should be more things put into it. We often do say that there are too many things in a bill that do not relate. I think there is a moral point at stake, and there is a conceptual point. We are talking about Canada's recovery. This bill is the legal foundation for the first big step in Canada's recovery. I actually think it is coming too soon for the kind of step that it is. I think this is actually probably more like the third or fourth step and we are jumping across a lot of steps that we need in between. However, we did need to have a discussion in this place about what Canada's recovery looks like, how we make sure that no one is left behind and the programming we need in order to do that. The fact that the government's proposal is inadequate does not mean that it was not right to have that conversation and that it did not make sense to have a bill that would bring those elements together so that we could really talk in a programmatic way about what our recovery looks like. Splitting up the bill just means we are talking piecemeal about recovery instead of a recovery system that could actually build an infrastructure for a new economy that really does not leave people behind. The bill does not do that, but this is the place for the conversation.

261 words

All Topics

Mr. Francis Drouin (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Lib.)

Dec/10/21 2:09:06 p.m.
Watch
Re: Bill C-2

Madam Speaker, I do not have a lot of time, but it would be a waste of time anyway, since the Standing Committee on Finance is already studying Bill C-2. I am surprised that the Conservatives would move such a motion today, considering that they are always advocating for less red tape. I am surprised that the Conservative Party would introduce such a motion today knowing full well that the finance committee had already started to look at the bill on December 7. They sure know because the member for Carleton likes to give us lectures for about 20 minutes at a time. Probably the whole reason for this motion today was so that he could speak for 20 minutes, give us a lecture on rebel news economics and publish it on his Twitter, if it is not already published now. In fact, as I speak, the finance committee is continuing to look at this bill. We see the news across the world and there was some good news in November. Our economy added 153,000 net new jobs, but COVID is still real and we do not know what may happen in January, February and March. That is why it is important that the measures in Bill C-2 be debated and adopted at some point. I hope the bill passes because it provides the worker lockdown benefit. I hope our Canadian economy and provincial governments will not have to implement lockdowns, but they are obviously a tool to reduce the spread of COVID. I would hate to let our workers down because of shenanigans in this place. This is exactly what this routine motion would do. The motion we are debating today essentially proposes the creation of two bills C‑2 that would be referred to the Standing Committee on Finance. This would lead to delays, including for workers who might need benefits if certain sectors of the economy had to close again. If we adopt the motion moved by the member for Carleton, then the bill cannot be passed before Christmas. I had the opportunity to rise to speak to Bill C‑2 earlier this year. Some sectors of the economy are still not operating at full steam, including the tourism industry. I often think of the 417 Bus Line Ltd company, which offers transportation services for the tourism industry. That company has to pay between $15,000 and $20,000 just to put a bus on the road. Some benefits would have helped them rehire employees and cover some of those costs. That would have been a big help. The member for Carleton knows really well Paul's Little Ray's Zoo. I am going to be meeting him at five o'clock today. He wants to know when Bill C-2 will be passed and I am going to have to tell him that his friend is trying to delay, through dilatory motions like this one today. I would expect those types of motions to be presented after six, seven or eight months. We know the official opposition plays games in a minority government. Of course, the Liberals have never done that. I am going to have to tell Paul that I do not know whether Bill C-2 will pass before the holiday season. I am going to tell him to talk to his business community and ask him to call the member for Carleton to explain the sense of urgency and why these measures are so important not only for the business community, but also the workers who may depend on them. Numbers are really high in schools right now. Parents have to be off work and it is important for them to have access to the recovery caregiving benefit. Not everybody can stay home and be paid. They are not fortunate like the member for Carleton. Some of them have to rely on measures that we have introduced. That is why it is important that Bill C-2 passes as quickly as possible, because people are depending on it. As cases rise in schools, parents have to take time off work, and it is not their fault. We are asking them to get their kids tested, and that is a responsible thing by the government. We recognize there is a gap in the system, but we fill that gap through the recovery caregiving benefit and the recovery sickness benefit. They are measures included in Bill C-2. I hope Conservative Party members join us. They can bring accountability to the finance committee, as they are doing as we speak, but Bill C-2 needs to pass before the holiday season.

781 words

All Topics

The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Carol Hughes)

Dec/10/21 2:14:55 p.m.
Watch
Re: Bill C-2

It being 2:15 p.m., it is my duty, pursuant to Standing Order 50(5), to interrupt the proceedings and to put forthwith every question required to dispose of the motion. Pursuant to Standing Order 66(1), the debate on the motion is transferred under Government Orders. Accordingly, it is my duty to put forthwith every question necessary to dispose of the amendment to the Address in Reply to the Speech from the Throne. The question is on the amendment. If a member of a recognized party present in the House wishes to request a recorded division or that the motion be adopted on division, I would invite them to rise and indicate it to the Chair. The hon. member for Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman.

128 words

All Topics

Mr. James Bezan

Dec/10/21 2:16:54 p.m.
Watch

Madam Speaker, I request that the amendment carry on division.

10 words

The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Carol Hughes)

Dec/10/21 2:17:05 p.m.
Watch

The hon. parliamentary secretary to the government House leader.

9 words

Mr. Kevin Lamoureux

Dec/10/21 2:17:07 p.m.
Watch

Madam Speaker, we request a recorded vote.

7 words

The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Carol Hughes)

Dec/10/21 2:17:19 p.m.
Watch

Pursuant to Standing Order 45, the division stands deferred until Monday, December 13, at the ordinary hour of daily adjournment.

20 words

Mr. Kevin Lamoureux

Dec/10/21 2:17:24 p.m.
Watch

Madam Speaker, I suspect that if you were to canvass the House you would find unanimous consent to call it 2:30 p.m. at this time.

27 words

Adjournment

The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Carol Hughes)

Dec/10/21 2:17:34 p.m.
Watch

Does the hon. member have unanimous consent to see the clock at 2:30 p.m.? Some hon. members: Agreed. It being 2:30 p.m., the House stands adjourned until Monday at 11 a.m. pursuant to Standing Order 24(1). (The House adjourned at 2:18 p.m.)

50 words

SoVote

House Hansard - 15