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Hon. Mélanie Joly (Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lib.)

Feb/1/22 3:07:54 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for this very important question because on sanctions, we are really ready to impose severe economic sanctions should Russia further invade Ukraine. We are working closely with our allies: the U.S., the EU and of course the U.K. Sanctions are most effective when we all act in lockstep. Canada is ready.

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Mr. Gerald Soroka (Yellowhead, CPC)

Feb/1/22 3:08:23 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, according to Canada's 2022 food price report, the overall food price increase is from 5% to 7%. It is the highest predicted increase in food prices in the last 20 years. This is becoming a concern for many constituents in my riding. The price of food in Alberta is expected to be higher than the national average in 2022. When will the Liberal government finally admit that its policies have directly affected the two-decade high inflation rate?

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

Feb/1/22 3:08:59 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, as I have already pointed out, and as Canadians understand very well, inflation is a global phenomenon driven by global challenges, like congested supply chains and the fact that there have been very significant crop challenges around the world. There are concrete things we can do to make life more affordable for Canadians, like building affordable housing and early learning and child care. That is why I am so astonished that the Conservative Party opposed our early learning and child care plan, which the Province of Alberta has now done a deal with us on.

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Mr. Robert Kitchen (Souris—Moose Mountain, CPC)

Feb/1/22 3:09:46 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, seniors from across my riding have been expressing their worries about the government's disregard for their skyrocketing costs of living. With inflation being higher than ever before, those who live on fixed incomes through programs like CPP or old age security, many with no pensions, are finding it hard to make ends meet. The Liberal carbon tax only makes things worse. In these stressful economic times, why does the Prime Minister insist on taking money from Canadians and seniors who are already struggling to pay their bills?

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Hon. Kamal Khera (Minister of Seniors, Lib.)

Feb/1/22 3:10:23 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I find it rather rich for the Conservatives to bring up seniors working past the age of retirement, because they raised the retirement age when they were in power. We reversed that and gave seniors back the benefits they are entitled to. We are gradually enhancing the CPP, including what the employers pay in, in partnership with the provinces and territories so that seniors now and into the future can have a strong, stable retirement. Seniors know who has been and will be there for them and it is not the Conservatives.

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Mr. Angelo Iacono (Alfred-Pellan, Lib.)

Feb/1/22 3:10:58 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, over the past two weeks, we have stepped up the fight against COVID-19. As Canadians continue to receive their third dose of vaccine, we are starting to see delays in appointments for booster doses. Could the Minister of Health please give the House an update on the progress that has been made with respect to booster doses and the additional measures the government is taking to ensure that all Canadians have access to a third dose?

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Hon. Jean-Yves Duclos (Minister of Health, Lib.)

Feb/1/22 3:11:27 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Alfred‑Pellan for his outstanding work on behalf of his constituents and for raising the issue of vaccination. A total of 77 million doses have been administered. Almost 84% of Canadians of all ages have received a first dose, 79% have received two doses, 43% of eligible Canadians have already gotten a booster, and 53% of children aged 6 to 11 have received a first dose. We can be proud. We have been among the most vaccinated countries in the world for months. We are, of course, deeply grateful to all those who have made the right choice.

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

Feb/1/22 3:12:18 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, immigration processing times are long and have been long for quite some time. Families, workers and students have to put their lives on hold while waiting for an answer that never seems to come. Too often, these people are asked to fill out a second application and pay the fees a second time because the Liberals are taking too long to get to their file. The system is broken and does not respect people. Will the Liberals invest the necessary resources so that these people can start living with respect and dignity?

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Hon. Sean Fraser (Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Lib.)

Feb/1/22 3:12:46 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to share that yesterday, in order to respond to the very serious pressures the pandemic has put on our immigration system, I announced there would be an $85-million investment to improve processing times for work permits, study permits, temporary resident visas and proof of citizenship, and to eliminate the inventory of PR cards. At the same time, we made further announcements about new functionalities of the digital platform that we are going to be introducing that would allow more people to get information about their files in real time and improve efficiencies across 15 different lines of business by this summer. There is no question this has been a challenging year for those seeking to come to Canada, but we are working to make life easier so they can call Canada home.

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Ms. Jenny Kwan (Vancouver East, NDP)

Feb/1/22 3:13:28 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, after the government abandoned people who risked their lives to help us, millions of Afghans, including children, are on the brink of starvation. We learned yesterday that Canadian organizations, like World Vision Canada, are unable to deliver food and aid to children suffering from malnutrition. They cannot help for fear of prosecution from Canada's anti-terrorism laws. The U.S. and the EU have made sure that humanitarian aid partners would not be prosecuted, but the Liberal government has not. How many more Afghan children will have to die of starvation before an exemption is provided to Canadian organizations that want to help?

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Hon. Harjit S. Sajjan (Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada, Lib.)

Feb/1/22 3:14:14 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we are deeply concerned about the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan and we will be there to support the people of Afghanistan, not the Taliban. That is why I recently announced that Canada would provide $56 million in humanitarian funding in response to the appeals from the United Nations and the international Red Cross. This funding will allow Canada's humanitarian partners to provide life-saving assistance to ensure that humanitarian goods are dispatched and that workers can continue to be able to support the Afghan people. We will look to do more with our partners.

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The Speaker

Feb/1/22 3:14:43 p.m.
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That is all the time we have for question period today. I want to thank all members. You were very civil. It was very nice to hear everyone actually having a debate today. We have a number of points of order coming up. I will go through them one at a time. We will start with the hon. member for Edmonton Strathcona.

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Ms. Heather McPherson (Edmonton Strathcona, NDP)

Feb/1/22 3:15:13 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, there have been discussions, and I think that you will find unanimous consent for the following motion. I move: That the House (a) recognize the one-year anniversary of the military coup in Myanmar that took place as a new session of Parliament was set to open; (b) take note of the impact of the deteriorating political and humanitarian situation on the most vulnerable; (c) condemn the oppression of the population through forced disappearances, torture, arrests, killings and intimidation; (d) urge the government and the international community to increase pressure on the military to engage in inclusive political dialogue to end the crisis; (e) support the use of sanctions against members of Myanmar's military who disregard the human rights of the people of Myanmar; (f) deplore the ongoing suffering of the Rohingya and other ethnic minorities; and (g) stand in solidarity with those in Myanmar who aspire for peace, democratic governance and the protection of human rights.

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The Speaker

Feb/1/22 3:16:18 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 dissent, it is agreed.

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Mr. Anthony Housefather (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Services and Procurement, Lib.)

Feb/1/22 3:16:47 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, there have been consultations among the parties, and if you seek it, I believe you will find unanimous consent for the following motion. I move: That the House deplores the use of Nazi and anti-Semitic symbols in demonstrations on Parliament Hill and denounces their use at all times.

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The Speaker

Feb/1/22 3:17:05 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 dissent, it is agreed.

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Mrs. Salma Zahid (Scarborough Centre, Lib.)

Feb/1/22 3:17:33 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, there have been discussions among the parties, and if you seek it, I believe you will find unanimous consent for the following motion. I move: That the House condemn the display of hateful and harmful Islamophobic rhetoric by protesters on the streets of Ottawa on the National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack and Action against Islamophobia, and urge all Canadians to join in putting an end to all hate.

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The Speaker

Feb/1/22 3:18:01 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.

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Ms. Arielle Kayabaga (London West, Lib.)

Feb/1/22 3:18:23 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, there have been discussions among the parties, and if you seek it, I believe you will find unanimous consent for the following motion. I move: That the House: (a) view the display of racist flags in Ottawa this weekend as shameful and a testament to the divisive and hateful rhetoric of the protest; (b) condemn these actions; and (c) continue to fight to eradicate anti-Black racism and all forms of hatred in Canada.

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The Speaker

Feb/1/22 3:18:48 p.m.
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All those opposed to the hon. member moving the motion will please say nay. I hear none. The House has heard the terms of the motion. All those opposed will please say nay.

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