SoVote

Dec/16/21 3:20:58 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, I believe that in the confusion of what was going on and the amount of heckling, perhaps you did not hear it. There was definitely a negative from this side, and I think we were taken aback and surprised by the manner in which the motion was passed.

50 words

Mr. Gérard Deltell

Dec/16/21 3:21:20 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, let me be clear. I do recognize that sometimes there can be some heckling from one side. However, in this specific situation, and let me be very serious, we are talking about a really serious issue. We are talking about Islamophobia and everybody was listening carefully. What I am talking about is coming from the government side. Maybe the Liberals regret their choice, but they made it.

69 words

Mr. Alain Therrien

Dec/16/21 3:22:03 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, there seems to be a bit of confusion here. What I understand from the government is that the Liberals were supposedly slow to respond to the motion moved by the hon. member for Beauport—Limoilou. However, they had plenty of time to respond. If they have gotten that slow, it serves them right. Everyone had time to vote on the motion, and it was adopted.

68 words

Mr. Mark Gerretsen

Dec/16/21 3:22:34 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, all I am trying to say is that— Some hon. members: Oh, oh! Mr. Mark Gerretsen: They are doing it right now while I am trying to make a point of order. This is my point. All I am trying to say is that there was a reaction. They are suggesting there was not and there was. If they did not hear it or if you, Mr. Speaker, did not hear it, that is one thing, but I am trying to note it for you. I certainly do not appreciate that the House leader of the opposition accused me of lying when I got up and spoke earlier and told you what had happened.

117 words

The Speaker

Dec/16/21 3:23:04 p.m.
Watch

I will speak to that for a second, and then we will see if there is still a point of order. When we ask for a reaction, I need a clear yea or nay, and at this point there are nays. I wanted to hear something then and I did not hear anything. Therefore, it was passed. That is the ruling. The hon. member for Perth—Wellington has a point of order.

73 words

Mr. John Nater

Dec/16/21 3:23:36 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, the member for Kingston and the Islands owes an apology to this House. It has long been the practice in the House that decisions of the Chair are not challenged. Members cannot challenge the decisions of the Speaker and that is exactly what the member for Kingston and the Islands was doing. He should apologize.

57 words

The Speaker

Dec/16/21 3:23:50 p.m.
Watch

I believe he was just trying to clarify what happened. It was not what I heard or what anyone else heard, so we will leave it at that and move on, if that is okay. On a point of order, the hon. member for Kingston and the Islands.

48 words

Mr. Mark Gerretsen

Dec/16/21 3:24:11 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, I certainly was not challenging your ruling. I was trying to let you know what my observations in the House were.

23 words

The Speaker

Dec/16/21 3:24:20 p.m.
Watch

Let us leave it at that and move on.

9 words

The Speaker

Dec/16/21 3:24:20 p.m.
Watch

The hon. member for Lanark—Frontenac—Kingston brought forward a point of order this morning, and it was a good one. I want to make a statement regarding the length of explanations made by members during the rubric Introduction of Private Members' Bills during Routine Proceedings. After points of order raised earlier today by the members for Kingston and the Islands and Lanark—Frontenac—Kingston, I undertook to return to the House on this matter. When introducing a private member's bill, a member is permitted to give an explanation outlining the purpose of the bill. The explanation must be succinct and not enter into debate. For the benefit of members, footnote 80 in House of Commons Procedure and Practice, third edition, at page 1130, states, “A succinct explanation has traditionally been interpreted to mean 30 to 60 seconds.” The Chair wants to remind members to keep their explanations within that time frame. I want all members to remember this, and I appreciate their co-operation. I know there is excitement in wanting to move on, but before continuing, I want to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very merry Christmas and all the best in the new year.

206 words

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

Dec/16/21 3:26:29 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, it seems likely that we will all soon be returning to our ridings to continue to work very hard on behalf of all Canadians and our constituents. This gives me the opportunity to thank everybody who works for the best democratic system in the world, our parliamentary system. Let me be clear: We cannot fight issues without the support of everybody here, especially those who work for the House of Commons. From the bottom of our hearts, we want to thank those who allow us to have the privilege of debating issues in the House. The debate may get fierce at times, but that is the beauty of parliamentary democracy in Canada, and we will always fight to preserve it. I thank all my colleagues on both sides of the House for the privilege of sitting here and having exciting debates. I also thank all the people in our ridings who help us stay in direct contact with our constituents. I want to acknowledge Isabelle and Éric, who are doing such a great job in my constituency office. Now, as tradition would have it, I will ask my ministerial counterpart what the parliamentary agenda will be for the next few hours and perhaps the next few days.

210 words

Weekly Business Statement

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

Dec/16/21 3:27:46 p.m.
Watch
Re: Bill C-2

Mr. Speaker, I thank my hon. opposition colleague for his comments. I absolutely join him in thanking everyone who works here. It is an extraordinarily difficult thing, particularly during a pandemic, to provide the support we have seen. I want to take this opportunity to thank the Clerk of the House, Mr. Charles Robert, his wonderful team of clerks, every branch of service in the administration of the House of Commons, including the Parliamentary Protective Service, and the pages, who help us so much in our work, particularly during these challenging times. Mr. Speaker, I also want to wish you and your family, and indeed all members, a very merry Christmas, happy holiday and happy new year. I hope that all members are able to spend time with their families and are both safe and healthy in these very challenging times. I think we have demonstrated over the last four weeks, with my hon. counterparts from the Conservatives, the Bloc Québécois and the New Democrats, a wonderful spirit of co-operation. We have been able to get a lot done on behalf of Canadians. I want to thank them, and through them I thank their caucuses for a very productive last four weeks. This afternoon, we will continue our work on Bill C-2, an act to provide further support in response to COVID-19, and Bill C-3, which would provide workers in federally regulated sectors with 10 days of paid sick leave and make it an offence to intimidate or prevent patients from seeking care. I will advise that in February, the government will propose a take-note debate on Saskatchewan's proposed constitutional amendment. I would also like to table, in both official languages, an amendment to Bill C-3, an act to amend the Criminal Code and the Canada Labour Code. Finally, there have been discussions among the parties, and I believe if you seek it, you will find unanimous consent to adopt the following motion. I move: That, notwithstanding any Standing Order, special order or usual practice of the House, Bill C-2, An Act to provide further support in response to COVID-19, as amended, be deemed concurred in at the report stage, that the motion for third reading of the bill be deemed moved and seconded and that the House proceed immediately to a recorded division on the motion for third reading.

403 words

All Topics

The Speaker

Dec/16/21 3:29:14 p.m.
Watch
Re: Bill C-2

All those opposed to the hon. minister moving the motion will please say nay. It is agreed. The House has heard the terms of the motion. All those opposed to the motion will please say nay. I declare the motion carried.

41 words

All Topics

The Speaker

Dec/16/21 3:30:55 p.m.
Watch

The House will now proceed to the taking of the recorded division on the motion at third reading stage of Bill C‑2. Call in the members.

28 words

Hon. Chrystia Freeland (Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Lib.)

Dec/16/21 3:30:55 p.m.
Watch
Re: Bill C-2

moved that Bill C-2, An Act to provide further support in response to COVID-19, be read the third time and passed.

23 words

C-2, An Act to provide further support in response to COVID-19

The Speaker

Dec/16/21 4:16:11 p.m.
Watch
Re: Bill C-2

I declare the motion carried.

5 words

All Topics

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

Dec/16/21 4:16:14 p.m.
Watch
Re: Bill C-3

Mr. Speaker, there have been discussions among the parties and if you seek it, I think you will find unanimous consent to adopt the following motion: That, notwithstanding any Standing Order, special order or usual practice of the House, Bill C-3, an act to amend the Criminal Code and the Canada Labour Code be disposed of as follows: 1. the bill, as amended, be deemed to have been concurred at the report stage with the further amendments contained in the document tabled earlier today; 2. the bill be immediately considered at third reading stage; 3. when the bill is taken up at third reading stage, a member of each recognized party be allowed to speak for not more than 10 minutes each followed by five minutes for questions and comments and, at the conclusion of the time provided for debate or when no member rises to speak, whichever is earlier, the bill shall be deemed read a third time and passed; 4. the Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel be authorized to make any technical changes or corrections to the bill as may be necessary to give effect to this motion; and 5. after the completion of proceedings on the bill, the House shall stand adjourned until Monday, January 31, 2022, provided that, for the purposes of any Standing Order, it shall be deemed to have been adjourned pursuant to Standing Order 28 and be deemed to have sat on Friday, December 17, 2021.

244 words

All Topics

The Speaker

Dec/16/21 4:17:38 p.m.
Watch
Re: Bill C-3

All those opposed to the hon. minister 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. I declare the motion carried.

38 words

All Topics

The Speaker

Dec/16/21 4:18:06 p.m.
Watch

Accordingly, pursuant to order made earlier today, the House will now proceed to the third reading stage of Bill C-3.

21 words

Hon. Seamus O'Regan (Minister of Labour, Lib.)

Dec/16/21 4:18:55 p.m.
Watch
Re: Bill C-3

moved that Bill C-3, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Canada Labour Code, be read the third time and passed. He said: Mr. Speaker, I am deeply grateful for the leadership shown in the House today. All parties supported Bill C-3 at second reading; all parties supported Bill C-3 at committee, and all parties are now supporting the passage of Bill C-3 with reasoned amendments from the opposition. I want to recognize my opposition critics: the member for Parry Sound—Muskoka, the member for Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie and the member for Thérèse-De Blainville. We worked with urgency and with openness. I want to thank the members of HUMA for taking up this bill with the swiftness it deserved and giving it due and reasoned consideration. I also want to recognize the House leaders, as well as the Minister of Justice, for their work. I want to recognize all the officials who worked diligently on this legislation. The pandemic has shown us that many workers do not have paid sick leave. No one should have to choose between staying home when they are sick or being able to afford rent and groceries. We are proposing amendments to the Canada Labour Code to provide all federally regulated private sector workers with 10 days of paid sick leave. We are working with the provinces, territories and other interested stakeholders to develop with an action plan to legislate sick leave across the country. Approximately 955,000 employees, approximately 6% of all Canadian employees, are working for 18,500 employers in federally regulated industries. In 2019, about 582,700 employees, representing 63.3% of all employees employed in federally regulated industries, had access to fewer than 10 days of paid sick leave to treat a personal illness or injury. Statistics from 2019 show that Canadian workers took an average of eight-and-a-half days of leave for illness and issues related to a disability. As a government, we moved quickly and urgently on this bill, and parliamentarians of all parties and in both chambers have done the same. The last two years have shown us the cost of what further inaction would be: people forced to choose between going into work sick and risk spreading the virus to others and being able to afford groceries or rent, productivity loss, quarantine, shutdowns, lockdowns. The cost of inaction is too great. However, beyond the current pandemic, Bill C-3 would put in place an enduring protection for workers in our country. I will speak briefly to the amendments, both those made at HUMA and those made today in the House. No medical certificate would be required for five days or less of paid sick leave. Requiring a medical certificate for each day of paid sick leave taken would have been too much of a barrier to access. I heard that from the House and Senate committees undertaking this bill. An Ipsos poll that was taken just before the pandemic shows that 82% of Canadians would rather go to work sick than obtain a medical certificate. Workers would earn 10 days of paid sick leave throughout the year, but would have three days after the first 30 days of continuous work. This is something we heard again at committee, both in the House and Senate, and we deemed it important to provide. Finally, anyone experiencing the loss of an immediate family member can feel shock and grief in addition to having their well-being and effectiveness at work impacted. Bill C-3 now includes 10 days of leave for the loss of an immediate family member. The loss of a child is devastating. It is a devastation no one should know. There is an amendment to Bill C-3 to provide eight weeks of leave for parents who are confronted with this unspeakable tragedy. Our government took steps to ensure that when workers experienced such a tragic event, there would be supports now in place. There is a lot more work to do. We must continue to move not only with speed, but with accuracy to implement this legislation. This has to be done right, but it has to be done quickly. The pandemic is relentless, but so are Canadians and the members of the House. We will engage urgently with stakeholders to do the necessary work to ensure workers in Canada have access to paid sick leave as soon as possible. As has been the case with workers and their issues throughout Canada's history, no one has been as effective as, or shone a clearer light on the importance of this topic than, organized labour and Canada's unions. I want to specifically thank those groups, whether provincial labour federations, individual members of a local, or national union leaders, for the work they did to make this idea a reality. I would also touch on the proposed Criminal Code offences and those amendments that would target intimidation and obstruction of health service workers. It was made clear that it is not an offence for people to attend or approach a health care facility simply to communicate information and to do so peacefully. We have all seen the necessity of those Criminal Code amendments. I will close with two observations. One came very early on in my time as the labour minister when meeting with front-line workers. Someone asked that we stop calling them heroes and start treating them like human beings. The other is a quote from Jim Stanford, the economist who wrote in The Globe and Mail earlier this month. He states: It would be reckless and short-sighted to return to a pre-COVID “normal” that compelled sick workers to show up, regardless of the risk to others. Today, members of the House said they unanimously agreed. The government and the House met the moment. This legislation will be a permanent support for workers and will help us fight, and finish the fight, against this pandemic. I thank all the members of the House who supported this legislation and all those who have worked so hard to find a reasonable and honourable way forward. The message they have sent to Canadian workers and Canadians in general about how seriously we take the fight against the pandemic was written in their vote, which was unanimous.

1069 words

All Topics

SoVote

House Hansard - 19