44th Parl. 1st Sess.
May 6, 2022 10:00AM
- May/6/22 11:48:21 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, it goes without saying that Line 5 is crucial energy infrastructure for our country and for our continental energy security. There is another court case in Wisconsin that is threatening the line's operation.
Could the Minister of Natural Resources update the House on what he is doing to ensure that the line continues to operate?
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- May/6/22 11:48:40 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, the continued operation of Line 5 is, as I have said, non-negotiable. We will take appropriate steps to ensure the continued safe operation of this critical infrastructure, and we will continue to work closely with the owner of Line 5.
Canada and the United States continue to be engaged in the process under the 1977 transit pipelines agreement to ensure the continued operation of Line 5, and until this issue is resolved, I will continue to raise it with my U.S. counterparts, as I have been doing on an ongoing basis.
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- May/6/22 11:49:16 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, the lines are around the block at Service Canada centres across the country, and budding entrepreneurs are charging upwards of $50 an hour to stand in line to help people get that golden walk-in appointment.
If we call the Service Canada passport line, we get a generic message saying “long processing time” and then it hangs up. However, when we go to the website, there is no mention of delays and no indication of a problem, leaving Canadians completely in the dark until it is too late in many cases.
Will the minister admit that this is a crisis?
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- May/6/22 11:49:55 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, Canadians are travelling again, and we understand that the lines are long and this is difficult and stressful for many. That is why last weekend, 12 of the busiest offices across the country were open throughout the weekend. Service Canada staff continue to work through weekends and through overtime to alleviate backlogs. More counters are being opened at passport offices every single day.
The minister and officials continue to explore options to do more, and we continue to push to improve the service standards and help Canadians access the services they are entitled to.
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- May/6/22 11:50:31 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, unfortunately, Canadians deserve more than talking points. Gordon applied for his son's passport by mail in February. After a month, he made request after request, online and by fax, simply for a status update. Then he called and was number 543, and after an hour he gave up. He appealed to his local MP, the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, but even then he could not get a status update. Clearly, the process is broken.
Will the minister drop the talking points and fix this serious problem?
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- May/6/22 11:51:09 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, I want to thank the hon. member for her advocacy for constituents.
We do know this is a frustrating time for many Canadians as they try to use the system. We have simplified the process to replace expired passports and have extended it to those that expired 15 years ago, treating them as renewals rather than new applications. We continue to find every avenue possible to address the needs of Canadians as they wish to travel again.
If there is a particular issue that a constituent, such as Gordon, is facing, I would be more than happy to speak to the member about it to see how we can find—
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- May/6/22 11:51:47 a.m.
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The hon. member for Cumberland—Colchester.
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- May/6/22 11:51:49 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, we need some answers here, not talking points, so I will go with this “despicable” or “annoying” question, I suppose.
I have heard from Madison and Michelle. They applied on March 14 for travel on May 4. They could have an expedited passport for extra money, and being held ransom, they paid. After over 400 phone calls and hours waiting on hold, they travelled one hour and 10 minutes to Halifax and slept on the floor overnight.
The government is downloading its ineptitude onto the backs of public service employees. When will it clean up this mess and put the “service” back in “Service Canada”?
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- May/6/22 11:52:29 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, I appreciate the hon. member sharing the frustrations that many Canadians are facing as they try to embark on travel again to see loved ones throughout the country.
With the easing of public health restrictions and Canadians resuming their travels, Service Canada is experiencing unprecedented volumes in the demand for passports. Our current priority is to ensure that Canadians with planned travel are able to travel. To avoid long lines, Canadians with no imminent travel can apply by visiting over 300 Service Canada centres—
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- May/6/22 11:53:04 a.m.
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The hon. member for King—Vaughan.
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- May/6/22 11:53:06 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, Canadians are lining up for days attempting to renew their passports so they can reunite with their families after two long years.
A constituent in my riding is feeling desperate. She is trying to visit a dying family member in the United States and is getting nowhere. Time is of the essence. If we fail to plan, we are planning to fail.
Will the government have compassion and fix the passport backlog so that Canadians can have the ability to say goodbye?
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- May/6/22 11:53:48 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, I want to thank the hon. member for her advocacy for her constituents.
We have compassion for those who are facing the need for imminent travel, particularly when it is to visit a loved one facing dire health conditions. That is why proof of travel is needed and required in these cases in order to approach a passport centre or Service Canada office. Priority is being given to those who have imminent travel needs, and I encourage the member to reach out to me to discuss the issue further.
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- May/6/22 11:54:20 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, the government is once again punishing our aerospace sector. It is proposing yet another tax on this sector through the luxury tax on private jets set out in its budget bill.
The government wants companies to turn over 20% of their total sales and get reimbursed many months later if the aircraft ends up being exported.
We are talking about making companies advance the government half a billion dollars. Will the minister fix this situation and stop burdening our businesses?
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- May/6/22 11:55:04 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, we recognize that the aerospace sector is facing long-term impacts from COVID-19. That is why we are allocating $1.75 billion over seven years from the strategic innovation fund to this sector. The funding will support projects totalling $2 billion in investments in Canada, including close to $1.6 billion in Quebec alone. It will also create more than 1,000 jobs in the Quebec aerospace industry and co-op placements for more than 6,200 students.
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- May/6/22 11:55:27 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, he unfortunately picked the wrong page. The luxury tax is supposed to be charged to the wealthy who are buying private jets, but that is not how the bill will work in practice.
For example, mining companies that buy a plane to transport workers rent it out when they are not using it. That is how these things work. Now, they will have to pay the tax if, one out of 10 times it is rented out, it is used for recreational purposes.
A company that is transporting workers to the regions should not have to pay the same price as a billionaire heading south to an island on their private jet. Will the government make the bill more flexible?
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- May/6/22 11:56:04 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for his question and for the work he does on the Standing Committee on Finance.
We introduced a luxury tax on boats and aircraft because we know that everyone must pay their fair share. The pandemic was difficult.
It is important for those of us on this side of the House to ensure that the wealthy, the 1% of Canadians, pay their fair share.
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- May/6/22 11:56:32 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, several horrific cases have recently been reported of vulnerable Canadians who have ended their lives by medical assistance in dying for reasons such as inadequate housing and lack of access to care. That is precisely what the Liberals claimed would never happen.
When will the Liberals acknowledge that so-called MAID safeguards are not being enforced, putting the lives of vulnerable Canadians at risk?
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- May/6/22 11:57:06 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, these issues are difficult and deeply personal and touch the lives of everyone across this country. We would like to thank those who have lent their voices to this important national conversation.
We look forward to seeing the findings and recommendations of the special joint committee as well as the expert panel, which are due imminently.
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- May/6/22 11:57:31 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, one such case involved an Ontario woman who ended her life by MAID after she could not find adequate housing. Her condition was not irremediable, as required by law. Rather, she was vulnerable and desperate and had lost all hope.
Do the Liberals believe that inadequate housing is an acceptable criterion for MAID?
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- May/6/22 11:58:01 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, I want to reiterate that there is an expert panel right now that is set to report imminently, and there is a special joint committee, on which the member opposite is a very active member. We look forward to the findings of both, in order for us to address additional issues that are likely to come up.
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