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

Mar/21/22 2:11:11 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Leonard Joseph Gustafson, a former member of Parliament, parliamentary secretary to then prime minister Mulroney, and a senator, who passed away last Friday. Len was born in, and loved, Macoun, Saskatchewan. Throughout his life he was many things, including a contractor, a businessman, an MP, a senator and, most importantly, a farmer. The great orator, Paul Harvey, must have been thinking of Len when he wrote his famous speech “So God Made a Farmer”. In a quote from the speech, God says he needs, “‘somebody...who, planting time and harvest season, will finish his forty-hour week by Tuesday noon, then, pain'n from 'tractor back,' put in another seventy-two hours.’ So God made a farmer.” Our thoughts and prayers are with Len's loving wife, Alice; their children Terry, Jerry, Ben and Bona Jean; their children's spouses; and their many grandchildren. Len is now with his son Jerry, looking down on all of us and sending their blessings for a bountiful harvest season. I send my thanks to Len for his service to the people of Souris—Moose Mountain and to Canada. His legacy will not be forgotten.

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Mr. Eric Melillo (Kenora, CPC)

Mar/21/22 2:12:22 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, today marks the end of mask mandates in Ontario and Nova Scotia. Quebec has already ended their vaccine passport requirements. As of March, P.E.I. no longer requires proof of vaccination. Saskatchewan has not had vaccine mandates since February 14, the same day that New Brunswick ended all COVID-19 restrictions, and Alberta ended its mandates back on February 8. Across the country, provinces are following the science and they are removing their restrictions. The government must follow suit. Vaccine mandates have cost Canadians their jobs, have restricted travel and are hurting our tourism sector here at home. Canadians have done their part to fight COVID-19. They have done their part to get through this pandemic. It is time that they get their lives back. The federal government must put an end to all pandemic restrictions that are in its jurisdiction.

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Mr. Ali Ehsassi (Willowdale, Lib.)

Mar/21/22 2:13:32 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, it is a great pleasure for me to rise today to join other colleagues to wish everyone who celebrated Nowruz a happy new year. Yesterday, thousands of residents in my riding of Willowdale and, indeed, hundreds of thousands of Canadians, joined 300 million individuals around the world, to usher in Nowruz. A 3,000-year tradition, Nowruz is a festive holiday celebrated by Persians, Afghans, Turks, Kurds, Bahá'í, Ismailis, Zoroastrians and many more communities. It was a pleasure for me to join others around the haft-seen table to mark the spring equinox and the promise of new beginnings. Nowruz celebrates renewal, optimism and light, all essential qualities that are necessary at a time like this. May this festival of renewal bring hope to a world that needs it like never before by ushering a new year free from hardship, the pandemic and war. To everyone celebrating, [Member spoke in Farsi] [English]

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Mr. Blake Desjarlais (Edmonton Griesbach, NDP)

Mar/21/22 2:14:43 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, today I join all New Democrats in marking the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. As a Métis person, I know first-hand how the tolerant image that Canada projects on the world stage can hide ugly realities, racism and discrimination. Too often, this shiny image does not match the reality that indigenous peoples, Black Canadians, Asian Canadians, Muslim Canadians and other racialized people, both in my riding of Edmonton Griesbach and across the country, face every single day. Canada must wake up to the reality that we have a serious and growing problem with white supremacy and hatred. We saw another reminder of how serious this problem is just days ago when a Mississauga mosque was violently attacked in an act of islamophobic hate. Words of solidarity and symbolic gestures are not enough to stop the ongoing violence and dismantle the systemic racism that continues to thrive in Canada today. We need real solutions.

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The Deputy Speaker

Mar/21/22 2:15:48 p.m.
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I do want to remind everyone that we are almost at QP. I know that is what everybody is waiting for, but we are getting a little noisy. I want to make sure we can listen to the great statements we have been having. The hon. member for Salaberry—Suroît.

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Mrs. Claude DeBellefeuille (Salaberry—Suroît, BQ)

Mar/21/22 2:16:01 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, this week, Quebec is recognizing the professional contribution of social workers. Social workers put people first. They make it easier to access basic social services. They make the voices of the most vulnerable and overlooked members of our society heard. They innovate and make lasting improvements to society. They are true agents of change. We see what social work is really all about through the independent community organizations that perform miracles on a daily basis, through every individual citizen who moves one step closer to realizing their full potential, and through the roughly 15,500 social workers who lead, organize and participate in the development of their communities. Every day, these professionals guide us toward a more welcoming, warm, respectful and fair society. I am proud to be a social worker. I wish all of my dear colleagues a happy social workers' week.

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Mr. Todd Doherty (Cariboo—Prince George, CPC)

Mar/21/22 2:17:16 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, on November 25, 2021, at 12 noon, a white Ford F-350 pulled up to a small RCMP detachment in my community of Vanderhoof, British Columbia. Seconds later, the driver started shooting, narrowly missing the officers and civilians inside. He circled the building and continued shooting. Minutes felt like hours. Leaving behind rounds and bullet-ridden vehicles, the suspect fled into the community. It is a miracle that no one was injured or killed. For the first time, the B.C. Emergency Alerting System was activated, and the community was locked down within minutes. Simply put, the suspect was hunting police officers. He fired over 20 rounds alone into the detachment. Within an hour, the suspect was taken down without incident. When asked to recount the events of this day, many of the officers' voices still crack with emotion. They are still hurting. One shared with me that he thought this was the day that he was going to die. On behalf of the residents of Cariboo—Prince George and all Canadians, I would like to express our appreciation and our gratitude. These brave men and women put the safety of their community above their own. They ran towards danger. They ran towards gunfire. They are somebody's mothers, daughters, sisters, fathers and brothers. They are true heroes, and I ask that all my colleagues join me in saying a heartfelt “thank you”.

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Mr. Marc Serré (Nickel Belt, Lib.)

Mar/21/22 2:19:04 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I thank the francophones and francophiles who celebrated the International Day of La Francophonie yesterday. We must thank the pioneers and builders across Canada who fought, worked and advocated to ensure that we can access services in French and English in official language minority communities. The francophonie should be celebrated for the significant cultural and economic contributions it has made to Canada. We must support our community organizations and promote education, from early childhood right through to post-secondary, across the country. I thank all of the proud private-sector companies that promote the French language and that are working hard to provide bilingual services to their customers. Let us celebrate the culture, community and pride that unite us. Let us show deep compassion for our neighbours and be proud of our diversity.

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Mr. Luc Berthold (Mégantic—L'Érable, CPC)

Mar/21/22 2:20:17 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, railways are central to Canada's economy. Canadians are finding it harder and harder to find the essentials, and the labour dispute could not come at a worse time. Some $425 million worth of goods are transported on the CP railway every day. Farmers, businesses and millions of Canadians are affected every day of this dispute. This was all foreseeable. How do the Liberals plan to prevent disruptions to the supply chain, job losses and business closures?

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Hon. Seamus O'Regan (Minister of Labour, Lib.)

Mar/21/22 2:20:54 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, negotiations always come with their challenges, but it is important to know how to overcome these challenges to come to an agreement. CP and the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference are still negotiating. The parties are working hard and no one has left the table. They are well aware of what is at stake here.

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Mr. Luc Berthold (Mégantic—L'Érable, CPC)

Mar/21/22 2:21:18 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, two years after the onset of a pandemic that deeply scarred the supply chain, caused skyrocketing prices across the board and continues to compromise buying power, the Prime Minister does not seem to care, and that is disappointing. This labour dispute comes as no surprise. Everyone has been talking about it for weeks, but once again the Prime Minister is slow to act. Canadians are paying the price, and so will the rest of the world if a solution is not found quickly. Will the Prime Minister personally commit, here and now, to finding a solution to this conflict?

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Hon. Seamus O'Regan (Minister of Labour, Lib.)

Mar/21/22 2:21:55 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the best deals are reached at the bargaining table. We have faith in the parties' ability to reach an agreement. Canadians are counting on a swift resolution.

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Mr. Luc Berthold (Mégantic—L'Érable, CPC)

Mar/21/22 2:22:14 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, it sounds to me like they are washing their hands of the whole thing. I really do not understand the Minister of Labour's response. While we are here talking, Canadians are paying a hefty price. Inflation is at an all-time high, houses are no longer affordable, and grocery bills are forcing families to make tough choices. The CP Rail dispute will exacerbate the situation. We would like to suggest a way for the government to make things a little bit more bearable for Canadians right away. Will the Prime Minister waive the GST on gas and diesel immediately?

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All Topics

Hon. Seamus O'Regan (Minister of Labour, Lib.)

Mar/21/22 2:22:50 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, negotiations between the parties are ongoing. No one has left the table. We have faith in the parties' ability to reach an agreement at the bargaining table. Our government believes that is where the best deals are reached. The parties understand what is at stake, and Canadians are counting on them to reach an agreement as soon as possible.

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All Topics

Ms. Marilyn Gladu (Sarnia—Lambton, CPC)

Mar/21/22 2:23:23 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, when I previously asked the Minister of Transport what he was doing to prevent a CP Rail strike, he said, “Let me assure my colleague we are monitoring the situation. I have met the CEO. I have met with the Teamsters. It is really important that we maintain the fluidity of our supply chain.” The strike is on and damage is already happening. The agriculture sector is already seeing it, the automotive sector has said it cannot endure another hit and the Chamber of Commerce is calling for back-to-work legislation on behalf of small businesses. What is the government’s plan to immediately resolve this dispute?

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Hon. Seamus O'Regan (Minister of Labour, Lib.)

Mar/21/22 2:24:01 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, notice of a work stoppage could not have come at a worse time. Every day that goes by, for farmers and for manufacturers in this country particularly, is a day too long, and I think the parties at the table know that. They have an enormous responsibility to all Canadians to negotiate an agreement that protects the supply chains that Canadians depend on. They are working hard. No one has left the table. Our party believes that the best deals are reached at the table.

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Ms. Marilyn Gladu (Sarnia—Lambton, CPC)

Mar/21/22 2:24:30 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, those are empty words, because the government's record is of being slow to act in these situations. With the Wet’suwet’en and the Coastal GasLink rail blockades, it took weeks for the federal government to intervene. With the Port of Montreal, it took over a week. Forty-five hundred railcars, and nearly half a billion dollars' worth of goods getting to market, are in jeopardy every day. Canadians cannot afford more inflation. Eight out of nine of the previous CP disputes went to binding arbitration. What will the government do to immediately address this situation?

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Hon. Seamus O'Regan (Minister of Labour, Lib.)

Mar/21/22 2:25:05 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I would acknowledge Canada's supply chains are still reeling from the B.C. floods, from COVID-19 and now the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Canadians' best interests need to be prioritized. I am here in Calgary. I am urging the parties to reach an agreement. Our government is committed to ensuring the reliability and the efficacy of our supply chains, which support Canada's economy right across all sectors. Canadians worked together throughout this pandemic to find solutions to our collective challenges, and they expect the same from stakeholders in our national economy.

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Mr. Alain Therrien (La Prairie, BQ)

Mar/21/22 2:25:40 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the government has created an emergency travel authorization for refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine. It can count on the Bloc Québecois's support for that measure, but two weeks ago, we also said that it should charter additional flights to evacuate these individuals. As we speak, refugees are applying for the program and filling out the paperwork, but once they get through the process, no one is picking them up. When exactly will refugees be airlifted out of Ukraine on federally chartered flights?

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

Mar/21/22 2:26:20 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for his question and, in particular, for his co-operation on the Ukraine file. We are prioritizing applications from Ukrainians. Since January, over 10,000 Ukrainians have arrived in Canada. Last week, I announced new measures that will make it easier and faster for Ukrainians to safely come to Canada. I will continue to work with my colleagues to facilitate the entry of as many Ukrainians as possible to Canada.

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