44th Parl. 1st Sess.
March 3, 2022 10:00AM
- Mar/3/22 3:06:37 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the pressures created by supply chain disruptions and the shift from buying services to buying goods are real, and we are monitoring that situation closely.
As it relates to inflation, there are other structural costs that make life less affordable for Canadian families, and chief among them are housing and child care. That is why our government has a robust national housing strategy and a child care plan that is covering Canadians from coast to coast to coast. The average Albertan family will save $5,600 this year.
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- Mar/3/22 3:07:11 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, Maria, a single mom in my riding, has struggled for years to obtain a visitor's visa for her son, but IRCC told her that he is not a priority. There are many Canadians like Maria being told that seeing their family again is not a priority. They are left to suffer from IRCC's long delays and backlogs.
Could the minister tell us when they plan on clearing the backlog so that families can reunite in Canada?
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- Mar/3/22 3:07:55 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to share that over the past few months since I have been appointed minister, I have been working hard to advance investments that would actually have a meaningful impact on processing times. We have hired more than 500 new staff. We have invested more than $85 million. We have moved towards digital features that would boost the productivity of our department. We have increased overall immigration levels.
I am proud to report that the combined impact of these investments has allowed us to approve over 100,000 permanent residency applications already in January and February alone. We are going to continue to make investments to improve processing times because Canadians—
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- Mar/3/22 3:08:33 p.m.
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The hon. member for West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country.
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- Mar/3/22 3:08:37 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, hundreds of first nations in British Columbia rely on fishing as a primary source of revenue. Their success not only resonates in their community but across British Columbia.
Could the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans please update the House on how the pacific integrated commercial fisheries initiative is helping indigenous commercial enterprises, including the shíshálh Nation in my riding?
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- Mar/3/22 3:09:06 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague from West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country for his tireless work.
This funding initiative supports first nations commercial fish-based enterprises right across British Columbia. Last week our government announced $11.8 million to support business development and training for 31 indigenous companies, representing 117 first nations. We are committed to supporting first nations in their work to create a thriving coastal economy.
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- Mar/3/22 3:09:49 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, workers at the Office of the Auditor General have been on strike for three months and without a contract for more than three years. The President of the Treasury Board's absence and silence are not helping the situation.
The strike is dragging on and that is having a negative impact on performance audits of this government on important issues like emergencies, cybersecurity, homelessness and vaccine spending. It is time for the minister to get involved.
Will the minister step up and do something to ensure that these professionals get a fair and equitable contract?
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- Mar/3/22 3:10:27 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, our government is determined to sign agreements with all of the bargaining agents that are fair for the employees and that reflect the current economic and financial context.
We are negotiating at the bargaining table, not in public.
The Office of the Auditor General of Canada is conducting its own negotiations, and the offer on the table is in line with the increases agreed upon by 99% of the core public administration during the 2018 round of negotiations.
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- Mar/3/22 3:11:01 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, earlier this week, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change published its most recent report, described as an “atlas of human suffering and a damning indictment of failed climate leadership”. Yesterday, 126 environmental and citizens groups and academics called on the federal government to now reject Bay du Nord, a proposed massive new deepwater oil drilling project, owned by a foreign company, looking to extract up to a billion barrels of oil, equivalent to running 100 coal-fired power plants for a year. A response is due Sunday.
Will the minister commit to rejecting this climate disaster?
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- Mar/3/22 3:11:46 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, as I shared with our Bloc colleague a little earlier, we are following a legislated process on this very important decision, and we are reviewing all the evidence, including the Impact Assessment Agency's environmental assessment report. I think the hon. member will be very happy to know that our government conducts impact assessments using fair and predictable processes that are grounded in science and indigenous traditional knowledge. As I said, that decision will be made in due course.
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- Mar/3/22 3:12:16 p.m.
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I wish to draw the attention of members to the presence in our gallery of Mr. Andrii Bukvych, chargé d'affaires of the Embassy of Ukraine to Canada.
Some hon. members: Hear, hear!
The Speaker: I will take this opportunity to remind hon. members that there is no pointing out of anyone in the gallery. The Minister of National Defence pointed him out. We have not had people in the gallery in a while and we are just starting to again, so I want to remind everyone in the chamber that calling out at any time is not permitted.
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- Mar/3/22 3:14:21 p.m.
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There have been discussions among the parties and if you seek it, I believe you will find unanimous consent to adopt the following motion:
That the House call on the government to create a compensation package for Gatineau businesses that were also impacted by the occupation of downtown Ottawa, modelled on the package created by the federal government for Ottawa businesses.
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- Mar/3/22 3:14:43 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 to the motion will please say nay.
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- Mar/3/22 3:15:08 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, on a point of order, I seek unanimous consent to table a very important report, which was referenced during question period earlier this week and is relevant to the motion being debated today. It is the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report, entitled “Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability”. With that, I request unanimous consent to table this report.
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- Mar/3/22 3:15:29 p.m.
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All those opposed to the hon. member moving the motion will please say nay.
Some hon. members: Nay.
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- Mar/3/22 3:17:32 p.m.
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One hundred years ago, on March 8, 1922, history was made in this chamber. At the opening of the first session of the 14th Parliament, Agnes Macphail, the first woman elected to our House of Commons, took her seat as the member of Parliament for the riding of Grey Southeast. She was one woman alongside 234 men.
Nearly 55 years after Confederation and with the women's suffrage movement opening the way for her, Macphail fought hard for her constituency and was re-elected to Parliament four times. She served in the House for close to two decades.
Agnes Macphail was 31 years old when she was first elected to Parliament. She had never been to Ottawa and, after seeing the Parliament buildings, said, “They were all I imagined and more. My devotion to Canada was so great, and my nerves so taut at the time, that tears sprang to my eyes.” If members have not noticed, there is a bust of Ms. Macphail located at the entrance of this chamber.
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- Mar/3/22 3:17:32 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, on a point of order, I have an add-on to your statement, for which I am very grateful. I would like to suggest for somebody's consideration that the statue of Agnes Macphail, which is out of view to visitors of this place, be added to the outer foyer, the chamber of men. Perhaps that might be considered at some point.
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- Mar/3/22 3:17:55 p.m.
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I thank the hon. member for her suggestion and we will see how we can deal with that.
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- Mar/3/22 3:18:18 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, in the spirit of Agnes Macphail, I note that this is an absolutely wondrous place to be part of and to sit in. It is our symbol of democracy. I, for one, feel just as emotional every time I step into this place as she did.
We are heading back to our constituencies for a couple of weeks to do the work that our constituents expect of us. We will be coming back on March 21. It is my honour to ask the government House leader what business we can expect at that time.
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- Mar/3/22 3:18:46 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I hope all members have a productive two weeks working in their constituencies and being with their families over the March break period.
This afternoon, we are going to continue with the debate on the Conservative opposition day motion. Tomorrow, we begin the report stage of Bill C-8, an act to implement certain provisions of the economic and fiscal update. On the week we return, March 21, 22 and 24 shall all be allotted days.
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