44th Parl. 1st Sess.
March 21, 2022 11:00AM
- Mar/21/22 2:16:01 p.m.
- Watch
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.
145 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Mar/21/22 2:17:16 p.m.
- Watch
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”.
238 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Mar/21/22 2:19:04 p.m.
- Watch
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.
135 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Mar/21/22 2:20:17 p.m.
- Watch
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?
80 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Mar/21/22 2:20:54 p.m.
- Watch
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.
56 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Mar/21/22 2:21:18 p.m.
- Watch
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?
101 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Mar/21/22 2:21:55 p.m.
- Watch
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.
29 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Mar/21/22 2:22:14 p.m.
- Watch
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?
102 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Mar/21/22 2:22:50 p.m.
- Watch
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.
61 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Mar/21/22 2:23:23 p.m.
- Watch
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?
113 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Mar/21/22 2:24:01 p.m.
- Watch
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.
87 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Mar/21/22 2:24:30 p.m.
- Watch
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?
101 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Mar/21/22 2:25:05 p.m.
- Watch
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.
96 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Mar/21/22 2:25:40 p.m.
- Watch
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?
89 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Mar/21/22 2:26:20 p.m.
- Watch
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.
78 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Mar/21/22 2:26:51 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, the number of refugees—women, children and seniors—has reached 3.5 million, and that number is growing quickly.
Canada is home to the second largest Ukrainian diaspora in the world. This means that people will want to come here, and a lot of planes will be needed to accommodate them.
Imagine if Ukrainian families have all the proper paperwork but unfortunately remain stuck in refugee camps because of a lack of transport. That is inhumane. The minister's answer is not good enough. He says that in order to succeed the federal government needs to charter flights.
Here is my question. When will that happen?
111 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Mar/21/22 2:27:33 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, Canada has welcomed nearly 10,000 Ukrainians since January.
We are working with our partners, including the provinces and territories, the business community, the Ukrainian Canadian community and settlement agencies. This is the best way to support people arriving from Ukraine.
We are going to continue to work with partners to arrange the best way for people to get here as quickly as possible, regardless of what it takes.
I am very proud of the measures we have put forward. I am going to continue to work to get as many people here as quickly as possible.
99 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Mar/21/22 2:28:06 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, what is happening at CP is a lockout. The minister should be concerned to know why a company in the supply chain is locking out its employees under the current circumstances.
The cost of gas, groceries and housing continues to rise. Families are struggling, but banks, big oil, grocery and big box stores are making record profits. Wealth inequality is at its highest level in generations.
Will the Liberals deliver on their promise to make life more affordable for people by making the wealthiest pay their fair share?
90 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Mar/21/22 2:28:44 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, the opposition member is discussing the issue of affordability.
We lowered taxes for the middle class twice. We increased them for the wealthiest 1%, but the members across the aisle voted against. We created the Canada child benefit, which is indexed to inflation, but they voted against.
On this side of the House, we are here to address the issue of affordability, and that is what we will continue to do.
73 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Mar/21/22 2:29:13 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, Canadians reeling from the pandemic are having a hard time making ends meet. From groceries to transportation, housing, corporate profits and CEO bonuses, everything is increasing except income and pensions. Canadians are frustrated with this rigged economy. The rich are getting richer and Canadians are paying the price. The NDP has a solution: Tax the rich. Tax the banks and use that money to offer relief to Canadians.
Will the government continue to stand with wealthy CEOs, or will it finally take action in support of Canadians who are struggling right now?
94 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- menumenu
- notificationsnotifications
- home
- mailmail
- searchsearch
