44th Parl. 1st Sess.
February 1, 2022 10:00AM
- Feb/1/22 2:12:53 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, this week is National Suicide Prevention Week in Quebec.
My heart goes out to all the families and loved ones of those we have lost to suicide and to those who have struggled and have seen people struggle with suicidal thoughts.
I want all Canadians to know that if they are having a tough time or know someone who is struggling, they need to ask for help and talk about it. No one should feel ashamed about asking for help.
In fact, the purpose of this year's theme, “Talking about suicide saves lives”, is to encourage people to use the digital sphere to open a dialogue on what they are thinking and feeling.
We all have an important role to play. Providing support or listening without judgment can make all the difference in saving lives.
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- Feb/1/22 2:13:46 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal recipient and long-time Kootenay resident Carmen Purdy passed away on November 24, 2021, at the age of 82. He will be missed.
Carmen was a fierce supporter of wildlife management and the Kootenay way of life. He founded and was co-chair of the Kootenay wildlife heritage fund, whose mission was to conserve wildlife through land acquisition and winter feeding. He also served on the board of The Nature Trust of British Columbia and the Agricultural Land Commission. His knowledge on the subject of wildlife was unparalleled, and Kootenay—Columbia is blessed to have been the beneficiary of his passion and commitment to this work. I am grateful for his many contributions, both to our communities and to the wildlife that surrounds them.
Today, we celebrate the life of Carmen Purdy. On behalf of the Government of Canada and the constituents of Kootenay—Columbia, I offer my sincere condolences to his wife Carol, their three children and his many friends.
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- Feb/1/22 2:14:44 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, thousands of people have come to their Parliament and demanded to be heard. They have come in defence of their fellow Canadians, who are being denied their livelihoods by the Prime Minister. They have questions and concerns that have been mocked instead of addressed.
Canadians have had enough of the fear, division, and wild and reckless spending by a government that just does not care. The country's IOU has gone from the billions to a trillion. The Prime Minister's arbitrary mandates are fanning the flames of inflation, so truckers and supporters are here on Parliament Hill to take a stand. All this misery, and the Prime Minister who donned blackface and groped a reporter called those who disagree with him racists and misogynists. He and the government must end their mandates and understand that a Canadian is a Canadian is a Canadian.
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- Feb/1/22 2:15:51 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, today is the 10th annual World Hijab Day, which is a day to encourage women of all religions and backgrounds to wear and experience the hijab for a day and learn more about it. Everyone's choice is different. I did not grow up wearing the hijab; I began wearing it after a battle with cancer. My personal reflections during that process brought me closer to my faith. The hijab does not change who I am or how I represent my constituents. A hijab does not change the way a doctor cares for her patients or the way a teacher cares for her students. It was my choice. I stand in solidarity with all who choose to wear it or choose not to.
I encourage my colleagues to wear a hijab for a day. Today, let us stand with all those who have had to face losing their jobs or have been subjected to Islamophobia because the hijab was their choice.
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- Feb/1/22 2:17:00 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, every February people from across Turtle Island participate in Black History Month. It is a time to recognize and honour the history and legacy of Black Canadians, but it is also a time for us to unite and recommit to fighting against anti-Black racism in this place and across Canada.
Black Canadians continue to face overt barriers and life-threatening discrimination, particularly by the police. Just recently, Moses Erhirhie, a Black Canadian, died following an interaction with York police on January 21, just weeks ago. Erhirhie's family says that since the shooting they have been left almost entirely in the dark. No one should have to lose their life to police without an answer. We remember Moses.
This Black History Month, let us recognize the great progress we have made, but also the tremendous work that remains.
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- Feb/1/22 2:17:58 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, today is the first day of Black History Month, and the theme, “Honor the past, inspire the future”, is well chosen. The best way to honour the past is to raise awareness and salute Black communities for the indisputable contributions they have made to the history, culture, and social, economic and political life of Quebec, Canada, North America and the world.
This is always a good opportunity to look to the future and reflect together on a society and a Quebec that are more egalitarian, more united and free from prejudice, but it is also an opportunity to celebrate. That is why I am inviting all Quebeckers to check out the wealth of online programming on offer for Black History Month.
Talks and panel discussions will be happening all month, with the closing event, the Gala Dynastie, taking place on March 5. I also invite the public to look into local Black History Month events being held throughout Quebec, from Gatineau to the Lower St. Lawrence.
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- Feb/1/22 2:19:08 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, Bloomberg reports Canada has the second most inflated housing bubble in the world. Listen to this letter from a Peterborough—Kawartha constituent:
Dear MP Ferreri, my 26-year-old son and his partner put in an offer on a house today; a 40-year-old, 1,200-square-foot bungalow, no appliances, on a tiny lot and no air conditioning. It was listed for $599,000. My son offered $702,000 with no conditions. There were 18 offers and it sold for $830,000. My son has been pre-approved for $700,000 and it is not enough. He and his partner have great jobs and I have even cosigned. What is the incentive for our children to get educated and get a job, when their wages cannot meet the demand of society?
People are losing hope of ever having a home. This economic crisis is a mental health crisis. We need federal leadership, not “just inflation”.
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- Feb/1/22 2:20:08 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, February 1 marks the beginning of Black History Month in Canada, and as the first Black woman elected as the member of Parliament for the riding of London West, I rise today to encourage everyone to learn about, celebrate and acknowledge the contributions that Black communities in Canada have made and continue to make. I also want to highlight the London Black History Coordinating Committee, which works tirelessly every year to increase awareness of Black History Month in London. This year, as it marks its 20th anniversary, the theme of “respecting the past, embracing the present, impacting the future” speaks to so much progress made and all the work that remains.
As I rise in the House, I am always reminded that I stand on the shoulders of many giants, like the honourable Jean Augustine, who broke the glass ceiling so that many women who look like me can take a seat in the House and fight for racial equity and a better, fairer and more inclusive country.
This month, and every day, I urge the House to fight the racism and discrimination that Black Canadians continue to face and work to create a Canada where no one is left behind.
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- Feb/1/22 2:21:32 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, all Canadian families are struggling to keep up with the ever-increasing cost of living. Canadians have not seen 4.8% inflation in 30 years.
The Parliamentary Budget Officer does not hold back in his most recent report. He says that the government's plan to spend $100 billion on economic stimulus is having the exact opposite effect. Not only will this spending not help the economy, but it will actually make inflation worse. Why is the government not listening to the Parliamentary Budget Officer?
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- Feb/1/22 2:22:14 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives continue to push a false narrative to talk down the Canadian economy. I want to use this opportunity to share good news.
Yesterday, Statistics Canada published new data showing that our GDP increased by 0.6% in November. That means that by the time omicron emerged, our economy had completely recovered from the COVID-19 recession.
I congratulate Canadians and thank them for their—
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- Feb/1/22 2:22:53 p.m.
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The hon. member for Louis-Saint-Laurent.
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- Feb/1/22 2:23:00 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, after question period, I wonder if the Deputy Prime Minister would come with me to a mall or grocery store here in Gatineau and tell people who are paying 8% more for their groceries that the GDP has just gone up by 0.8% and everything is fine. Or will the Deputy Prime Minister speak directly to Canadians and tell them we are going to tackle inflation?
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- Feb/1/22 2:23:24 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, once again, the Conservatives continue to focus on their own partisan interests—it is easy to see why—and talk down the Canadian economy. The truth is, Canada's economic potential just keeps growing. In fact, the IMF recently projected that Canada would have the second highest growth rate in the G7.
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- Feb/1/22 2:24:02 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, again, I would urge the Deputy Prime Minister to go to the IGA in Gatineau and tell Madame Tremblay not to worry because the IMF says all is well in Canada.
Like all other Canadians across the country, Madame Tremblay is paying more for her groceries. That is what is having a direct impact on Canadians. Why is the Deputy Prime Minister looking down on Canadian families who are actually paying for Liberal inflation?
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- Feb/1/22 2:24:28 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I want to point out to my esteemed hon. colleague that Madame Tremblay is not the only one grocery shopping. Ms. Freeland does it every week for her family too.
For us, for our government, facts and data are important. It is important to note that inflation in Canada is below the G7 average, the G20 average and the OECD average.
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- Feb/1/22 2:25:12 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the minister should know that gross domestic product is calculated including government expenditures.
The government has put so much debt onto Canadians, and what have we seen happen? The cost of living has increased. This cost-of-living increase is affecting regular Canadians. Certainly somebody with a $270,000-a-year salary should not be trying to equivocate with somebody who cannot buy a $60 bag of groceries.
Will the minister apologize for trying to make that comparison?
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- Feb/1/22 2:25:45 p.m.
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- Re: Bill C-2
Mr. Speaker, the people who should be apologizing to Canadians are the Conservatives, because before Christmas, just as the omicron wave was rising, it was the Conservatives who voted against Bill C-2.
It is thanks to Bill C-2 and the lockdown provisions in Bill C-2 that we are, today, able to pay small businesses, grocery stores and restaurants that are suffering under lockdown restrictions and are able to support them. Thank goodness the Conservatives failed before Christmas.
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- Feb/1/22 2:26:27 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, two years into the pandemic, Canadians do not want to be hearing about lockdown provisions. They want a federal government that is taking a leadership role, fixing Canada's broken health care system, getting people back to work and getting their freedom back.
The Liberals are so out of touch with the average Canadian. People just want to work. They want to keep people safe. They want to keep people healthy, and dismissing their concerns with laughter across the way is not going to heal the divisions in this country. It is not going to make us stronger.
Will the minister apologize for her statements, take the temperature down and tell us how she is going to fix the rising cost of living Canada?
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- Feb/1/22 2:27:07 p.m.
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- Re: Bill C-2
Mr. Speaker, if there is anyone in the House who needs to apologize to Canadians, it is the Conservatives who voted against Bill C-2 and those provisions that are supporting so many businesses and people.
When it comes to jobs, our government has understood from the very beginning that having a job is the foundation of the economic well-being of the vast majority of Canadians. That is why we focused on getting the jobs back, and that is why I am so pleased we have recovered 108% of the jobs lost to the COVID recession.
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- Feb/1/22 2:27:51 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, allow me to belatedly wish you and all our colleagues a happy new year.
In the meantime, parts of Ottawa and Gatineau are paralyzed. It is okay to protest, but it is not okay to occupy the city.
It is important for people to know that the real trucking associations are in favour of vaccination. Can the Deputy Prime Minister tell us whether the Prime Minister has considered making an appearance or at least meeting with the real industry spokespeople, those who are in favour of vaccination?
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