44th Parl. 1st Sess.
May 20, 2022 10:00AM
- May/20/22 12:18:58 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, a constituent named Sharon called me the other day to say that she cannot afford to drive to the city for groceries because gas prices are crazy. Many agree with Sharon, especially rural and low-income Canadians.
Last week, the average gas price was 85¢ less per litre in the United States compared with Canada. Why? Because the Liberals love taxing fuel.
Why has the government not provided any tax relief for Canadians at the pumps?
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- May/20/22 12:19:40 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, we know that a price on pollution is the best way to fight climate change, and that inflation is a global phenomenon.
We also know that the federal price on pollution is 11¢ per litre, and that it is the only fee collected on gas that is refunded to consumers, with eight of 10 families actually getting more money back.
Why is it the Conservatives oppose all of our affordability measures, such as child care, retirement security and the national housing strategy, but are always willing to make life more affordable for very profitable oil and gas companies?
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- May/20/22 12:20:15 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, friendship centres provide important culturally informed employment, youth and housing programs for indigenous people across the country. Friendship centres are important for indigenous and non-indigenous people to come together and learn from one another.
The Mi'kmaw Native Friendship Centre has been providing essential programs and services to indigenous people from across Nova Scotia from its downtown location in Halifax since 1972. Can the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indigenous Services inform the House on what this government is doing to support the Mi'kmaw Native Friendship Centre?
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- May/20/22 12:20:44 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to thank the member for Kings—Hants for this very important question and his hard work on this file.
The Mi'kmaw Native Friendship Centre currently provides over 55 programs, including early childhood education, employment, and housing supports for culture and language, as well as harm reduction.
Yesterday, we announced $4.91 million in joint federal funding to contribute to the design and construction of this new facility. The funding will also support social and economic opportunities for indigenous entrepreneurs.
Building an improved, safe and accessible space that supports the delivery of high-quality culturally relevant—
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- May/20/22 12:21:17 p.m.
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The hon. member for Saskatoon—Grasswood.
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- May/20/22 12:21:21 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, Kristie from my riding submitted her passport renewal by mail, which was the only option in March. Still, three months later, she has not received her passport. When she heard from Passport Canada, she was given a phone number that spit out an automated message and then disconnected. When she wanted to file a complaint, guess what number Service Canada gave her? It was the same one.
How embarrassing. When will the backlog be cleared?
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- May/20/22 12:22:00 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, there is a huge demand for passports at this point in time. I understand the situation that Kristie is in. I would invite the member opposite, and any members opposite if they also have urgent cases, to please get in touch with my office. We are happy to help them ensure that Canadians get their passports on time.
As I have explained recently, prepandemic the majority of passport delivery issuance was happening in Service Canada offices. That has switched to mail-ins. We are addressing this issue and allocating resources as necessary.
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- May/20/22 12:22:42 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, two days ago the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety stated, in reference to the prison farm in Joyceville, “to my knowledge, there is no slaughterhouse.” This would appear to contradict the response given on April 8 to another MP by her minister, who stated that the existing slaughterhouse would remain in operation.
We are all a bit confused. Has the parliamentary secretary just announced that the slaughterhouse has been shut down and will not be reopened?
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- May/20/22 12:23:21 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, I applaud the hon. member for his new-found interest in corrections, and I have to ask where he was when the Conservative government was making mean-spirited cuts to corrections, including prison farms. We know that the rehabilitation of those who commit crimes is important for public safety, and that is why we reopened the prison farms. It is good for public safety, it is good for inmates and it is good for the community.
I would ask him to ask the Save Our Prison Farms folks what they think about the prison farms in their communities.
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- May/20/22 12:23:50 p.m.
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There seem to be a lot of conversations going back and forth, including from parliamentary secretaries, so I would ask members to ensure that they hold on to their thoughts while other people are trying to answer questions.
The hon. member for Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound.
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- May/20/22 12:24:10 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, when the Canadian wine industry was targeted by Australia at the World Trade Organization, the Liberal government said that it had the industry's back. Canada's 1,100-plus wineries and cideries need the level of government support that the European, Australian and American wine and cider industries receive, not a big Liberal tax grab in the form of an excise duty.
Will the finance minister keep her promise to support the long-term interests of wineries and cideries, especially the smaller businesses like the cideries in my riding of Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, or will she just continue to tax them into bankruptcy?
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- May/20/22 12:24:49 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, with respect to the wine industry, we stand firmly in favour of supporting this industry in terms of its growth in this country and in terms of its growth, economic development and ability to export.
The minister's work is taking her into different areas of the world. Right now, she is travelling to APEC to address the need for diversification in the Asia-Pacific. With our agreements and trade accords, what we are doing is ensuring the exportation of Canadian wine and other Canadian industries so they can meet the important targets we are setting.
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- May/20/22 12:25:25 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, a free and independent press is vital to democracy, and it is sustained by journalists' remarkable work. From everyday sacrifices to numerous risks, journalists face incredible hardships to inform the world. However, Putin's regime has decided to further damage these strong values by closing the CBC bureau in Moscow to silence journalists from reporting the facts.
What is the government's position on this deeply troubling authoritarian decision?
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- May/20/22 12:25:56 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, we strongly condemn this decision by Putin. This is a desperate attempt to cover up the truth and hide his regime's crimes in Ukraine.
A free and independent press is essential for reporting the facts. It is at the core of our democracy, and we should never take it for granted. Around the world, and even here, journalists are being threatened and intimidated. I sincerely thank Canadian journalists and all journalists for their remarkable work and the risks they take every day.
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- May/20/22 12:26:30 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, the situation at Canada's major airports is a mess. There are massive lineups, missed flights and stress and anxiety for so many travellers. All of this is because the government loosened pandemic travel restrictions but did not do the work necessary to prepare our airports. What is worse is that the brunt of this crisis is falling on airport workers, who are working massive overtime, missing breaks and more.
How is it that the Minister of Transport has been so woefully unprepared for the return of travel?
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- May/20/22 12:27:06 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, as I have said several times throughout the last couple of days, we understand how frustrating it is for Canadians to experience long lines and delays at airports. This is clearly not a staffing issue alone. CATSA is at 90% of prepandemic staffing levels, while travel is at 70% of what it was in 2019.
Our government is working really hard with the aviation sector and all the agencies involved to make sure we have a plan in place that will reduce these frustrations. This is a multi-faceted issue and we are working with everybody. We kindly ask all Canadians to remain patient.
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- May/20/22 12:28:02 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, with the House's permission, I would like to table the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada “Fees Report” audit, which shows that just 19% of passports are being done in the standard time, not the 98% the minister claimed today.
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- May/20/22 12:28:13 p.m.
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All those opposed to the hon. member's moving the motion will please say nay.
Some hon. members: Nay.
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- May/20/22 12:28:50 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8)(a), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to 12 petitions. These returns will be tabled in an electronic format.
While I am on my feet, I move:
That the House do now proceed to orders of the day.
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- May/20/22 12:29:11 p.m.
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The question is on the motion.
If a member of a recognized party present in the House wishes to request a recorded division or that the motion be adopted on division, I would invite them to rise and indicate it to the Chair.
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