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Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 31

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
February 15, 2022 10:00AM
Context: House Hansard - 31 - Feb/15/22
Hon. Steven Guilbeault (Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Lib.)
  • Feb/15/22 3:13:51 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I have asked my hon. colleague this before, and he still has not answered. I would like him to show me a country in the world that has done more in the last four or five years than we have to fight climate change. There have been more than 100 measures, $100 billion of investment, regulations on methane, clean-fuel standards and electricity. These are all things we are doing, and we have so much more to do.
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Mrs. Sherry Romanado (Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne, Lib.)
  • Feb/15/22 3:14:26 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the Gladue principles, in part, recognize that there is an overrepresentation of indigenous peoples in the criminal justice system and that there are complex issues based on systemic discrimination that should be considered in sentencing. They now have had to be used in courts in sentencing for quite some time. However, in the final report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, many participants expressed concerns about overly lenient sentences in cases of violence against indigenous women and girls. Does the Minister of Justice have an answer to those who are worried about the Gladue principles negatively impacting the safety of and justice for indigenous women and girls?
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Hon. David Lametti (Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Lib.)
  • Feb/15/22 3:15:03 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for asking that question in the stead of the hon. member for Northwest Territories. I thank him for his leadership and his wisdom. The Gladue principles, just like the revitalization of indigenous justice systems, calls to action from the TRC and the implementation plan for the MMIWG, are concrete steps toward making our justice system fairer. However, we understand there are still systemic issues in our criminal justice system that we need to address. It is impossible to undo centuries of colonialism in only a few short years. Far too many women and girls endure serious injustice, including discrimination and disproportionately high rates of violence. We are going to work on this with indigenous leadership to get—
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The Speaker
  • Feb/15/22 3:15:48 p.m.
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I am afraid that is all the time we have for today.
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Mr. Rick Perkins
  • Feb/15/22 3:15:59 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I am rising on a point of order arising out of question period. I would like to seek unanimous consent to table the four House of Commons fisheries committee reports that the Liberal government has not responded to on small-craft harbours.
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The Speaker
  • Feb/15/22 3:16:15 p.m.
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All those opposed to the hon. member's moving the motion will please say nay. Some hon. members: Nay.
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The Speaker
  • Feb/15/22 3:17:27 p.m.
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  • Re: Bill C-10 
It being 3:16 p.m., pursuant to an order made on Monday, February 14, 2022, the House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion at the second reading stage of Bill C-10. Call in the members.
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The Speaker
  • Feb/15/22 3:30:54 p.m.
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  • Re: Bill C-10 
I declare the motion carried. Accordingly, the bill stands referred to a committee of the whole. Pursuant to the order made on Monday, February 14, 2022, Bill C-10, an act respecting certain measures related to COVID-19, is deemed considered in the committee of the whole, deemed reported without amendment, deemed concurred in at report stage, deemed read a third time and passed.
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The Speaker
  • Feb/15/22 3:31:35 p.m.
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Earlier today, questions were raised in the House about the wearing of masks in the chamber. I note that all members are certainly wearing their masks, and I applaud them for that. As members will know, since the beginning of the pandemic, my fellow Chair occupants and I have consistently reminded members to wear their masks in the House when they are not speaking in debate. This is in keeping with public health advice that states masks should be worn, especially when social distancing is not possible, as is often the case in the chamber. In fact, as soon as one leaves the chamber, the wearing of masks is mandatory, further to measures adopted by the Board of Internal Economy. This is for the safety and security of members and staff. That said, further to the Speaker's ruling of December 2, 2021, only the House can determine the rules that it will apply to itself and its committees. While the Board of Internal Economy has strongly recommended that members wear a mask when they are at their place during parliamentary proceedings, it cannot impose such a requirement. Ultimately, the House has sole authority to determine how it conducts its proceedings. As Speaker, I am the servant of the House. To date, all parties have supported the Chair's efforts to encourage the wearing of face masks when not speaking and have raised points of order when this practice has not been followed. This being Tuesday, I understand the House leaders will be meeting later today, and I would encourage them to discuss this issue so that there can be clarity for all members. I thank all members for their attention.
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Mrs. Cheryl Gallant
  • Feb/15/22 3:34:08 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I am rising on a point of order. When you were reading things out, you said that we had to have our masks on once we leave the chamber. Does that mean we can have them off when we are in the chamber? The Speaker: Yes. Mrs. Cheryl Gallant: Yes, we do not have to wear them in the chamber, but we have to put them on as we leave the chamber?
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The Speaker
  • Feb/15/22 3:34:31 p.m.
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Exactly.
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Mr. Kevin Lamoureux
  • Feb/15/22 3:34:33 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I am rising on a point of order. Just to be clear, it is highly recommended that we wear the masks inside the chamber. On that note, I would ask if there is unanimous consent of the House to have members wear their masks unless they are actually speaking.
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The Speaker
  • Feb/15/22 3:34:52 p.m.
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Do we have unanimous consent? Some hon. members: No.
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The Speaker
  • Feb/15/22 3:35:23 p.m.
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The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage has seven minutes and 30 seconds remaining in his elocution.
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Mr. Chris Bittle (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage, Lib.)
  • Feb/15/22 3:35:51 p.m.
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  • Re: Bill C-12 
Mr. Speaker, in regard to your ruling with respect to masks, we have been hearing, from the opposition, a lot of shouting about science. They say, “Listen to the science.” However, the number of MPs who removed their masks as soon as your order was issued is rather shocking. The science is clear on masks, and I truly hope that the hon. members on the other side who are heckling me, maskless—
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The Speaker
  • Feb/15/22 3:35:59 p.m.
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Order. I want to make sure individuals and MPs recognize that whoever has the floor should have the respect of the House. I also want to remind the hon. member that the decision from the Speaker clarified what the policy was, and I would hope that everybody would respect that.
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Mr. Chris Bittle
  • Feb/15/22 3:36:30 p.m.
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  • Re: Bill C-12 
Madam Speaker, I also hope that the opposition respects what the Speaker said, which was that he highly encouraged the use of masks. We were being lectured on science and that we should listen to the science, and the science is clear on mask usage. I am seeing a lot of unmasked faces on the other side, and that is disappointing because, as we are talking about vaccinations—
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The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Carol Hughes)
  • Feb/15/22 3:37:05 p.m.
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Order. Again, I think that matter has been dealt with, and I would ask the parliamentary secretary to speak to the issue that is before the House, which is Bill C-12.
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Mr. Chris Bittle
  • Feb/15/22 3:37:11 p.m.
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  • Re: Bill C-12 
Madam Speaker, I was just moving on to seniors, who are looking forward to us listening to science and listening to public health. I will move on to the debate at hand. I had already given some of my remarks before the break, but as a first step, our government is providing $742.4 million for one-time payments. These payments would help alleviate the financial hardship faced by GIS and allowance recipients who received pandemic relief benefits in 2020, but who also faced a reduction or loss of their GIS or allowance benefits in July, 2021. As the payments would be automatic, seniors would not need to take any action to receive the one-time payments. These payments would also fully compensate affected seniors. They would be non-taxable, too. We estimate that the 183,000 GIS clients who qualified to receive CERB or similar benefits in 2020 would benefit. We did not want to just provide a quick fix. We also wanted to ensure that seniors would not be facing such a loss—
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The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Carol Hughes)
  • Feb/15/22 3:38:24 p.m.
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Order. The hon. member has the floor. There are a lot of discussions being had here, and I know that they are side discussions. I would just ask members to please step outside the chamber if they wish to have side discussions. I am sure that they want to attentively hear what the hon. parliamentary secretary has to say, because I am sure they are going to have questions and comments for him.
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