44th Parl. 1st Sess.
March 22, 2022 10:00AM
- Mar/22/22 3:03:51 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague across the way for acknowledging that my answer was both thorough and good. I also want to acknowledge that he asked some pretty good questions yesterday in committee, and I thought the answers that the minister gave him were excellent.
This is a very complex issue, and our government is going to keep making decisions based on the best science. We also understand that there are two jurisdictions; there are provincial jurisdictions and there are federal ones. The provinces will make decisions accordingly with their health officials, and we will make our decisions based on the exact same science with our health officials.
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- Mar/22/22 3:04:29 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, they might be based on political science, but certainly not medical science.
Yesterday, when the health minister was asked to explain when federal mandates would be taken off, he shrugged his shoulders and said, “Well, COVID is still here”. No benchmarks have been set, no plan has been put in place and no assurances have been given as to when we return to normal. This is absolutely irresponsible of the government. Provinces can do it. Other countries can do it. Why can Canada not do it? When will the Prime Minister follow the science—the real science—lift the mandates and give Canadians their freedom back?
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- Mar/22/22 3:05:10 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I am happy to address the question from my colleague and the entire Conservative caucus, which is unmasked today and is pretending that COVID-19 is completely over.
I am sorry, but we cannot “wish” the pandemic to be over. We have to follow the science, and our government is committed to following that science.
Some hon. members: Oh, oh!
An hon. member: Put your mask on.
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- Mar/22/22 3:05:28 p.m.
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I am waiting for a certain level and then we will keep going.
The parliamentary secretary.
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- Mar/22/22 3:05:50 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I will put my mask on as soon as I sit back down, like the rest of my colleagues who are committed to following the science. This pandemic is not over. Canadians—
Some hon. members: Oh, oh!
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- Mar/22/22 3:06:05 p.m.
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Can we just wait until after question period is done? We can then go out and run around or do something.
I am going to give the member an opportunity to respond.
The hon. parliamentary secretary.
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- Mar/22/22 3:06:30 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I want this pandemic to be over as soon as possible, just like every other member of this House. I continue to follow the science and my colleagues have continued to follow the science, and we will ensure that we get through this pandemic. However, the thing I cannot get over is the fact that over 5,000 Canadians are in the hospital right now with COVID-19, and our colleagues across do not seem to care.
Some hon. members: Oh, oh!
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- Mar/22/22 3:06:56 p.m.
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Well, we are not done yet. We have about 10 questions left. Are we ready?
The hon. member for Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel.
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- Mar/22/22 3:07:24 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, on Friday, the Government of Quebec, the City of Montreal, and the Government of Canada announced the new version and reconfiguration of the Montreal metro blue line extension project. This project has been highly anticipated by the metropolitan community for several decades.
Can the hon. Minister of Canadian Heritage and Quebec lieutenant explain to the House how the federal government is supporting Quebeckers in a meaningful way in this initiative?
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- Mar/22/22 3:08:04 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for her excellent question. It was really pertinent.
We have invested $1.3 billion in the extension of the Montreal metro blue line. This project is important to the member because the line goes through Saint-Léonard. For me, it goes to Anjou. We have been waiting for this for a long time. More than 25,000 Quebeckers will now have access to reliable and efficient public transit. We have announced over $750 million for public transit networks across the country.
Public transit is a priority for our government and we will continue to support it.
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- Mar/22/22 3:08:44 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, Canada is a signatory to the conventions of the International Labour Organization. They prohibit international commerce in prison-made goods unless the prisoners are paid market wages. This leaves me wondering how the Correctional Service of Canada justifies its plan to open a factory farm at Joyceville penitentiary, where prisoners would milk 2,200 goats to produce infant formula for export to China while being paid only a fraction of minimum wage.
Does this plan not violate our international commitments?
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- Mar/22/22 3:09:19 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I had an opportunity to visit the prison farm at Collins Bay. I know what a tremendous organization is there. I will check into that matter for the hon. member and I will respond to him.
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- Mar/22/22 3:09:37 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, farmers are paying record amounts to dry grain. Families are paying record amounts to fill their vehicles to get their kids to school and get groceries. The price of gas in my riding is over $1.78. On April 1, the coalition is once again raising the carbon price. People in my riding do not find this April Fool's prank funny. Policy should be there to help us, not punish us.
Saskatchewan families need help with the rising cost of living, not another tax hike. When will the NDP-Liberal government cancel this tax grab?
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- Mar/22/22 3:10:23 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we all know that a carbon price is one of the most effective measures to reduce emissions, and if the Conservatives will not believe the Parliamentary Budget Officer, if they will not believe the IMF, maybe they will believe the member for New Brunswick Southwest, who said that his province should go back to using the federal carbon pricing system because at least it comes with a rebate.
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- Mar/22/22 3:10:51 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, Newfoundlanders and Labradorians and industry stakeholders have waited a long time in anxious anticipation for a decision on the Bay du Nord energy project. Now, with the NDP-Liberal marriage, they are more uneasy than ever.
Has the Prime Minister promised concessions, such as cancelling energy projects like Bay du Nord, in return for the NDP's hand in marriage?
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- Mar/22/22 3:11:27 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, our government recognizes the importance of a decision on Equinor's project, the Bay du Nord development. As the member opposite knows, a review of the extensive information is required prior to deciding whether the Bay du Nord project—
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- Mar/22/22 3:11:41 p.m.
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Order. There was a question, and I want to hear the answer. Let us see if the minister can provide us with that answer.
The hon. minister.
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- Mar/22/22 3:12:04 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, as I was saying, we need to look at extensive information prior to deciding whether the Bay du Nord project is likely to cause negative environmental effects. This is why we extended the legislated timeline for the project. It is to provide more time to review the considerable amount of complex information and make an informed decision.
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- Mar/22/22 3:12:26 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, Canadians know how important rail service is to be able to move essential goods across the country, whether or not it is inputs for farmers and ranchers or being able to get the bountiful harvest of those ranchers and producers to export markets. We watched with concern the ongoing situation with CP Rail and the union in terms of what a disruption could mean to Canadians. I had the opportunity to speak with the Minister of Labour directly in the last few days. I know he was on the ground in Calgary. We were working with federal mediators to find a solution, and thankfully that came this morning.
Can the minister provide us an update on when services will resume and the work that was undertaken to get to this critical juncture?
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- Mar/22/22 3:13:11 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we have always respected the collective bargaining process because the best, most durable deals are made at the table. It is the best path to achieve fairness and stability in the economy.
I want to congratulate and thank CP Rail and Teamsters Canada. They stayed at the table and put in the hard work to come to a resolution. Normal business operations will resume today and will continue during the arbitration period.
I especially want to thank the good people at the federal mediation and conciliation service who worked so closely with the parties and supported them throughout these negotiations.
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