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Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 57

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
April 25, 2022 11:00AM
Context: House Hansard - 57 - Apr/25/22
The Deputy Speaker
  • Apr/25/22 3:04:44 p.m.
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Order. The hon. minister.
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Hon. Marie-Claude Bibeau (Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Lib.)
  • Apr/25/22 3:04:46 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Pontiac for her commitment to farmers. As she said so well, planting season is an important time for farmers, and they are facing a lot of financial pressures right now. That is why we have made improvements to the advance payments program. Farmers will have access to additional cash flow to purchase their inputs, ensuring a successful growing season and contributing to global food security.
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Mr. Todd Doherty (Cariboo—Prince George, CPC)
  • Apr/25/22 3:05:16 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, it has been 500 days since our Conservative motion to bring 988 to Canada unanimously passed in the House. In those 500 days, an estimated 5,500 Canadians have died by suicide. A further 137,000 have attempted suicide. The Minister of Mental Health and Addictions does not know the existing national suicide prevention hotline number, but she knows 988. She knows that 988 will save lives. For 500 days, the minister has had the will of the House, the support of municipalities and the support of telecoms and mental health organizations. She has had the power to bring 988 to Canada, yet she has failed to do so. Why?
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Hon. Carolyn Bennett (Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, Lib.)
  • Apr/25/22 3:06:04 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for his ongoing advocacy. Our hearts are with the families of all those people we have lost to suicide. As members know, we have asked the CRTC to be expeditious in getting this work done, including for persons with disabilities. It means we are working to leverage the work that the United States has been doing on this since 2018. This is a complicated issue and we want to make sure that when people call, they are connected to the most appropriate care in the most appropriate manner. We will get this done together. This morning, we announced $3.7 million for distress centres across this country so that we will have a coordinated way to make sure we prevent the loss of lives.
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Mr. Marty Morantz (Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, CPC)
  • Apr/25/22 3:06:56 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, last year the Liberals gave Medicago $173 million in taxpayers' dollars to build a Canadian vaccine manufacturing plant. Now we have learned that tobacco company Philip Morris owns a major stake in Medicago and that the World Health Organization has denied approval for the emergency use of the Covifenz vaccine outside of Canada. Can the minister please explain this failure of due diligence, and why he wasted $173 million on a vaccine we cannot even donate?
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Hon. François-Philippe Champagne (Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, Lib.)
  • Apr/25/22 3:07:39 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to take the opportunity to recast history a bit. It seems the member has lost the passage of time. When the World Health Organization declared a pandemic in March 2020, we made sure, as a government, that we would invest in all the families of vaccines to protect the health and safety of Canadians. Plant protein vaccines work and have been recommended by our experts. The investment we made was to protect the health and safety of Canadians. We will find a solution, and we will continue to work for Canadians across this nation.
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Mr. Rick Perkins (South Shore—St. Margarets, CPC)
  • Apr/25/22 3:08:20 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, what is lost in time is any answer from the government. Recent decisions by the government, which take away fishery licence holders' quotas on the east and west coasts without compensation, are counter to the long-standing policy of “willing buyer, willing seller”. DFO sources tell me the minister was about to expropriate 15% of lobster traps from licence holders, without compensation, to give to first nations. This would be devastating for these fishermen. Will the minister state in the House, categorically, that the government will not expropriate from lobster fishermen?
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Hon. Joyce Murray (Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, Lib.)
  • Apr/25/22 3:09:05 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, as we all understand, and fairly so, first nations have a Supreme Court-affirmed treaty right to fish for a moderate livelihood, and our government has never stopped working to implement that right. We are doing so in consultation with any other fish harvesters who may be impacted. We are working very hard to have a “willing buyer, willing seller” process, so that those transactions can be appropriate for everyone. This decision has not been made, and I will continue working on a fair outcome for all.
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Mr. Wilson Miao (Richmond Centre, Lib.)
  • Apr/25/22 3:09:48 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, high-speed Internet is essential to today's economy and our society. It is a necessity in any household for work, school and entertainment. Can the minister update the House on the work being done to connect more British Columbian rural households?
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Hon. Gudie Hutchings (Minister of Rural Economic Development, Lib.)
  • Apr/25/22 3:10:10 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, since 2015 our government has invested and committed $7.2 billion to connect every Canadian from coast to coast to coast with affordable, reliable high-speed Internet. Just recently, we announced $5 million to connect over 3,300 homes in British Columbia, so that is doing great work for folks in rural B.C., but it is also making us reach our goals of 98% of Canada connected by 2026 and the rest by 2030. We have a plan to connect Canadians, and it is working.
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Ms. Bonita Zarrillo (Port Moody—Coquitlam, NDP)
  • Apr/25/22 3:10:48 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the Liberals have left people with disabilities behind again. They chose to leave out the long-promised income supports in their budget 2022, and they have yet to act on their commitments from budget 2021. For too long, people with disabilities have felt abandoned. They deserve to live with dignity and to get the help they need. On the disability tax credit, the government must remove all barriers, including the 14 hours per week requirement that prevents people who need it from qualifying. When will the Liberals modernize the disability tax credit and stop leaving behind people with disabilities?
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Hon. Carla Qualtrough (Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Lib.)
  • Apr/25/22 3:11:33 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I can assure my colleague that I am working very hard to reduce poverty levels of working-age Canadians with disabilities. I am very confident we will move forward with the Canada disability legislation, and a key pillar of our disability inclusion action plan is to reform, modernize and dignify the eligibility processes for Government of Canada disability benefits and supports, including the disability tax credit. We are working on it.
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Mr. Mike Morrice (Kitchener Centre, GP)
  • Apr/25/22 3:11:58 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, in recent weeks, over 100 MPs from all parties have shared their support for the immediate reintroduction of the Canada disability benefit. With the backing of MPs from the governing party, this bill would enjoy the support of the House, while 43 senators in the other place have already publicly declared their support as well. Consultations can and should continue after the bill is introduced, so this should not be used as a reason for further delay. Can the minister share when this much-needed legislation will be reintroduced?
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Hon. Carla Qualtrough (Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Lib.)
  • Apr/25/22 3:12:40 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I am encouraged by my hon. colleague's enthusiasm for tabling the Canada disability legislation. Its implementation remains a top priority for me. With budget 2021, we actually invested $11.9 million to consult the disability community on eligibility, and that work will directly inform this benefit. We are also working with provinces and territories to ensure the CDB will increase the monthly income of Canadians with disabilities, will not impact access to other services and programs, and will ensure that everyone will be better off. Our government will reintroduce this legislation and ensure that persons with disabilities have the financial security they deserve.
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The Deputy Speaker
  • Apr/25/22 3:13:12 p.m.
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Before we move on, I just want to bring attention to the exchange between the Minister of Transport and the member for Thornhill. The minister sort of questioned the honesty of the member, which was unparliamentary. I really hope that we do not use that kind of phrasing in the future.
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Mr. Alexandre Boulerice (Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, NDP)
  • Apr/25/22 3:13:41 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, there have been consultations among the parties and I believe you would find unanimous consent for the following motion: That the House: (a) recognize that Guy Lafleur, Officer of the Order of Canada, Knight of the National Order of Quebec, member of the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame and member of the Hockey Hall of Fame was a legendary player for the Montreal Canadiens and the National Hockey League; (b) recognize that the Quebec Nation and Canadians from across the country are deeply touched by the loss of this gentleman who will have marked his time and touched several generations, through his abilities and as an ambassador of the Montreal Canadiens, of our national sport and of his hometown of Thurso or by his accessible and welcoming personality; (c) celebrate his brilliant career, including 17 seasons with the Montreal Canadiens, the New York Rangers and the Quebec Nordiques, five Stanley Cups, 560 goals, including six consecutive seasons of more than 50 goals and several National Hockey League trophies; and (d) offer its condolences to his family and loved ones, as well as to the entire family of the Montreal Canadiens.
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The Deputy Speaker
  • Apr/25/22 3:14:46 p.m.
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All those opposed to the hon. member moving the motion will please say nay. Okay. The House has heard the terms of the motion. All those opposed to the motion will please say nay.
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The Deputy Speaker
  • Apr/25/22 3:16:14 p.m.
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Following discussions among representatives of all parties of the House, I understand that there is an agreement to observe a moment of silence in honour of Guy Lafleur. I now invite hon. members to please rise. [A moment of silence observed]
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Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, Lib.)
  • Apr/25/22 3:16:29 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8)(a) I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's responses to 19 petitions. These returns will be tabled in an electronic format.
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Hon. Jim Carr (Winnipeg South Centre, Lib.)
  • Apr/25/22 3:17:07 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the third report of the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security, entitled “A Path Forward: Reducing Gun and Gang Violence in Canada”. Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report.
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