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Ms. Lianne Rood (Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, CPC)

Feb/3/22 2:09:25 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, forcing people's backs against a wall by imposing unreasonable mandates and demonizing those who seek to create a dialogue and ask to be heard by their government is wrong. We need to safely and responsibly learn to live with the virus, and the government needs to accept that there are many ways forward to give people hope. Hope is the message we have been hearing, and many are spreading this message of freedom, unity and patriotism across this country. It is shameful that the government continues to divide Canadians. With this many Canadians from across the country of all races and faiths coming together to seek hope to end the mandates, they deserve to be listened to. So many people I have met are thankful for the polite conversation, because they want to be heard. I encourage the Liberal members to listen and give hope a chance to be heard.

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Mr. Maninder Sidhu (Brampton East, Lib.)

Feb/3/22 2:10:25 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, our government has put forth a national child care strategy to help families save thousands of dollars in child care costs and help grow our economy. Almost every province and territory has signed on to a child care agreement with our federal government, except for the Province of Ontario. In Brampton East, families have consistently expressed the need for affordable child care and what it would mean for them. Over the weekend, my friend Ajit in Calgary reached out to thank me and our Liberal government for a national child care strategy and shared what it will mean for his family. For his family, that means child care costs going from $1,300 a month to $680 a month, That is over $7,000 in savings in the first year alone. Our federal government has $10.2 billion on the table and stands ready to work with the Province of Ontario so that Ajit's reality in Calgary can become a reality for families in Brampton and across Ontario. It is high time for the Province of Ontario to do its part in making affordable child care a reality.

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Mr. Dan Muys (Flamborough—Glanbrook, CPC)

Feb/3/22 2:11:27 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, families in Flamborough—Glanbrook are desperate for reliable high-speed Internet. On a regular basis, I receive calls and emails from constituents who struggle with overpriced, unreliable Internet. Take Ryan in Flamborough, for example, who lives just 15 minutes from the city but has no reliable broadband. Last month, to ensure his two kids would have access to online schooling, he had to pay over $500 in charges for a wireless hot spot. There are over 8,000 rural households in Flamborough—Glanbrook, the majority with bad Internet, including my own. Yet, last week the government made an announcement to connect just 47 of them. That is less than 1%. In 2022, the pandemic has taught us that access to reliable high-speed Internet is no longer a privilege for some but a necessity for all. The people of my riding cannot wait until 2025. They need action now.

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Mr. Brad Redekopp (Saskatoon West, CPC)

Feb/3/22 2:12:28 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, my heart was saddened to hear the news of four people from India losing their lives last month after becoming lost in -35°C weather during a blizzard. This is a tragedy made worse by the news that it was allegedly human traffickers who put these people in harm’s way. Human trafficking causes real harm. No matter what someone may say, it is never safe to cross the border illegally. Human smugglers are only concerned about money and have no regard for the lives lost. They are responsible for over 40 million victims worldwide, often leading to forced labour, prostitution and death. There is a substantial need among some individuals to get to another country like Canada, but this is not the way. Canada’s Conservatives are calling on the government to ensure that our immigration system is fair, efficient and compassionate to prevent future tragedies like these events. We issue our collective condolences to the victims of this horrendous tragedy and to all fleeing their countries in search of a better life.

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Ms. Rachel Bendayan (Outremont, Lib.)

Feb/3/22 2:13:31 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I was in Quebec City last Saturday to take part in a ceremony commemorating the fifth anniversary of the tragic attack on the great mosque. I rise today to once again pay tribute to the six men who were taken from us on January 29, 2017: Ibrahima, Mamadou, Khaled, Abdelkrim, Azzedine, and Aboubaker. They were all Quebeckers and were all shot by a murderer who entered their mosque carrying a handgun and five 10‑round magazines. The weapon in question, a Glock 17, was acquired legally, and, in less than two minutes, it was used to extinguish the lives of our fellow citizens. There is no doubt that more needs to be done to combat violence involving guns, including handguns. Survivors, young people, and Canadians across the country are urging us to act, and I will continue to speak up for them.

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Ms. Bonita Zarrillo (Port Moody—Coquitlam, NDP)

Feb/3/22 2:14:51 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, today I want to highlight three athletes from my riding of Port Moody—Coquitlam who will be competing for Canada at the Special Olympics World Winter Games next year. They are Lindsey Aarstad, Ariel Taylor and Fiona Hall. Lindsey and Ariel will compete in snowshoeing and Fiona will compete in alpine skiing. I had the opportunity to meet Ariel recently, and she told me how important her friends at the Special Olympics are for her social and physical well-being. For all three women, these are their first World Games and they are training year-round. Lindsey and Ariel even have grass “snowshoes” so they can train during the summer months. I want to give a shout-out to Special Olympics B.C., with over 4,000 volunteers and coaches who deliver year-round, high-quality programs to people with intellectual disabilities through sport. Congratulations again to Lindsey, Ariel and Fiona, along with the other Canadian Special Olympics athletes. The residents of Port Moody—Coquitlam are cheering them on.

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Mr. Martin Champoux (Drummond, BQ)

Feb/3/22 2:15:57 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, today is the 40th anniversary of Parrainage civique Drummond, a citizen advocacy group that provides services for adults living with an intellectual disability, a physical disability or other disorders that may affect functional autonomy. Parrainage civique Drummond was the initiative of a group of individuals looking for ways to provide specific, tailored support to this clientele. Needless to say, since the beginning of the pandemic, Parrainage civique Drummond has played an essential role in helping these people stay in touch with their community. I am thinking in particular of Joey, a 27-year-old man with a passion for politics, who was able to do a one-day internship in my constituency office thanks to Parrainage civique Drummond. He is a nice guy and full of energy. His great need for interaction could not be fulfilled without thsi organization's initiatives. I really want to commend the valuable contributions made by the volunteers and the remarkable work done by the Parrainage civique Drummond team. They bring happiness to the lives of these wonderful people and help them stay in their own homes, while also providing respite for their loved ones. In closing, I would like to congratulate the executive director, Michel Gouin, who has been at the helm of this valuable organization for 20 years now.

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Mr. John Nater (Perth—Wellington, CPC)

Feb/3/22 2:17:05 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, on her 21st birthday, Princess Elizabeth declared, “my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service”, and what a record of service that has been, through 12 Canadian Prime Ministers and 14 Governors General, including the first Canadian-born Governor General and, today, the first indigenous person to serve as Governor General. During her reign, the Queen has visited Canada more often than any other country, endearing herself to generations of Canadians. February 6 marks the 70th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II's accession to the throne as head of the Commonwealth and Queen of Canada following the death of her father, King George VI. As she enters her platinum jubilee year, Her Majesty's loyal opposition extends our best wishes for continued health and happiness. God save the Queen.

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Mr. Lloyd Longfield (Guelph, Lib.)

Feb/3/22 2:18:11 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the Guelph Black Heritage Society has begun its Black Heritage Month celebrations and continues to preserve the historical significance of Heritage Hall, a former church that was built in 1880 by former slaves who arrived in southern Ontario through the Underground Railroad. This building continues to serve as the cultural, historical and social centre within Guelph and Wellington County, and is the headquarters of the Guelph Black Heritage Society, which continues to work toward a more equitable society. It is a rich resource empowering Black Canadians and educating all around on anti-racism and discrimination while promoting cultural diversity, giving a leg up to Black entrepreneurs, running mental health workshops and bringing important lived experiences to our community. The Government of Canada is proud to support the Guelph Black Heritage Society in my riding, and I look forward to joining it for events in Guelph celebrating Guelph Black Heritage Month.

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Hon. Candice Bergen (Leader of the Opposition, CPC)

Feb/3/22 2:19:42 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the protesters and, to be more accurate, the trucks have been parked outside in Ottawa for almost a week now, and instead of presenting a plan, which is what I think a lot of people in this country would like to see, to work with the people who are out there to help them feel they have been listened to, the Prime Minister is threatening Canadians with more vaccine mandates for interprovincial trade and travel. This is not helpful. Can the Prime Minister please tell Canadians what role he feels the government can play and what it can do to help solve the impasse?

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

Feb/3/22 2:20:30 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, allow me to first congratulate the member for Portage—Lisgar on her election as interim leader of her party. It is great to see another strong western woman leading the official opposition. As well, allow me to thank the member for Durham and his family for their public service. I got to know him during his time as the official opposition's critic for foreign affairs, and I know he is a strong advocate for his community and for Canada. When it comes to the ongoing protests, all of our government and I clearly condemn the desecration of national monuments and the display of hateful symbols that this protest has tolerated.

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Hon. Candice Bergen (Leader of the Opposition, CPC)

Feb/3/22 2:21:18 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the Deputy Prime Minister's kind words. Maybe all the horns affected her hearing, because I do not know if she heard my question, so I am going to ask it again. Where is the olive branch? I ask this because Canadians are looking for an olive branch. I appreciate the olive branch she just extended to me right now, and I think that is what Canadians are looking for. The government does not have to agree. Its members do not even have to like the protesters and the trucks that are parked outside, but they need to provide a solution. Could they please tell Canadians what the solution is to get past this impasse?

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

Feb/3/22 2:21:56 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, my hearing is just fine, and yesterday I heard very clearly my colleague from Hull—Aylmer, who explained what it means for a Black Canadian to see swastikas and the Confederate flag displayed at a protest in our nation's capital. He told us that this horrible emblem makes Black Canadians question who else among us would infringe on their equality and freedom. His words are a powerful reminder that every member of the House has a responsibility to speak out against a movement that tolerates such—

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The Speaker

Feb/3/22 2:22:38 p.m.
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The hon. Leader of the Opposition.

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Hon. Candice Bergen (Leader of the Opposition, CPC)

Feb/3/22 2:22:40 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, that, I am afraid, is classic gaslighting, and it is very disappointing to see the deputy leader do that when we are in the middle of what is going on in the streets right now in Ottawa. There is nobody in the House who tolerates racism, like wearing blackface. We do not need to go through the litany of racist things that have been done by people who clearly have very poor judgment. That is not what we are talking about. We are talking about an impasse on Parliament Hill. We need to have some solutions. There needs to be an olive branch. Where is it?

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

Feb/3/22 2:23:28 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the member opposite has just used the “bad apple” excuse. She has excused the desecration of the national monuments and the display of the swastika and the Confederate flag on the grounds that these are just the actions of a few. We tell our children that when they see a bully, even if that bully is their friend, their job is to speak out. It is our job as members of the House to speak out against these hateful actions.

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Hon. Candice Bergen (Leader of the Opposition, CPC)

Feb/3/22 2:24:06 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, that is a disappointing answer. The Prime Minister's policy is causing the price of everything to soar, but he smugly brushes that away, just as he brushes away almost every other challenge that Canadians are facing. He looks at single moms, for example, who are struggling, and seems to smugly not understand that they are just trying to put nutritional food on their kids' plates. He looks at families who are trying to pay their rent. Does he understand how difficult rent is to pay right now? Rent is soaring. What is the Prime Minister's plan to stop runaway inflation?

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

Feb/3/22 2:24:45 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives continue to irresponsibly push a false economic narrative. The truth is that Canada is resilient, and our economy is strongly recovering from the COVID recession. Our GDP grew 5.4% in the third quarter. That was stronger than the U.S., the U.K, Japan and Australia. We have replaced 108% of jobs lost to COVID, and S&P and Moody's have reaffirmed our AAA credit rating.

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

Feb/3/22 2:25:23 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, here is an indisputable fact: Yesterday, Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem issued a warning that, unfortunately, directly affects all Canadian families. He said that there is certainly uncertainty about interest rates before they can return to normal levels. It is not just anyone saying this, it is the Governor of the Bank of Canada who is issuing a warning. The best way to control inflation is first and foremost to control spending. Why is the Liberal government refusing to do what any responsible government must do, which is to control spending?

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

Feb/3/22 2:26:04 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, unlike the Conservatives, Canadians understand that inflation is a global phenomenon. The latest inflation rate stood at 4.8% in Canada, 7% in the United States, 5.3% in Germany, and 5.4% in the United Kingdom. Our inflation is below the G7, G20 and OECD averages.

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