44th Parl. 1st Sess.
May 31, 2022 10:00AM
- May/31/22 3:03:52 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, academic research is essential to the advancement of science, and it greatly enriches our societies. It is critical that the process for hiring research chairs be based solely on the candidates' qualifications and the nature of their research.
However, in the Canada research chairs program, Ottawa forgoes this quest for excellence and prioritizes diversity considerations. Does the minister agree that discrimination should never influence the assessment of competence?
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- May/31/22 3:04:29 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague for allowing me to speak about the investments we have made in science.
In recent years, we have seen what an important role science, technology and innovation play in finding solutions to the great challenges that humanity faces, from climate change to COVID‑19. We have also seen the key role that diversity and inclusion play in scientific research.
That is why we expect the research councils to put the right policies in place to achieve this goal.
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- May/31/22 3:05:05 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the Bloc Québécois believes that research funding should be allocated based on skill. The federal government thinks it should be allocated based on diversity.
Visible minorities represent 51% of the population in Toronto and only 2% of the population in Rimouski, but both regions are subject to the same criteria.
Our universities are scrambling to recruit and reflect diversity, but we have to be realistic. Why not trust the universities and fund scientific research based on scientific capabilities?
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- May/31/22 3:05:44 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question.
We, on this side of the House, do indeed trust our universities. That is why we are making massive investments in science, research and innovation because those things are important.
My colleagues in the House want the scientific community to reflect Canada's diversity. That is why we asked the research councils to implement the right policies to ensure that scientific research represents all Canadians.
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- May/31/22 3:06:17 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, there is an urgent need to take action on the labour shortage. There are solutions, but this government has lost control.
For example, a temporary foreign worker who has been coming here every year for the past 10 years has to attend an eligibility interview this year. However, he has been coming here for 10 years now. Another example that I have is a manufacturer with plants in Ontario and Quebec. It takes four times longer to get the permits in Quebec than in Ontario.
This is not Quebec's fault, and this government needs to come up with another excuse. What is the problem with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada?
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- May/31/22 3:06:58 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I appreciate my colleague's question.
We know that immigration plays a key role in combatting the labour shortage. IRCC is prioritizing jobs in high-demand occupations. I would like to point out again that in the first quarter of this year, the department processed more than 100,000 work permit applications, which is nearly double the number processed over the same period last year.
We will continue to ensure that Canadian employers have access to the workers they need to secure Canada's and Quebec's economic recovery.
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- May/31/22 3:07:41 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, labour shortages are an undeniable problem in our economy. Not only is there a shortage of workers, but more and more people no longer want to work because this government has created a culture of dependency that does not encourage them to work.
Since the Liberals are struggling to fast-track foreign worker applications, will this government introduce incentives that benefit the labour market?
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- May/31/22 3:08:10 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, temporary foreign workers have played an important role in ensuring our food security, particularly during the pandemic. They deserve to be protected.
That is why we are working with the provinces to ensure that employers are prepared to welcome workers safely. We are ensuring that employers meet their program obligations through enhanced inspections.
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- May/31/22 3:08:36 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, Liberal inaction has struck again, creating an unprecedented vicious cycle for Canadian entrepreneurs who are facing a labour shortage hell.
This is yet another issue on top of the problems with EI, passports, foreign workers, permanent residency and identity theft in Canada.
What does this Prime Minister intend to do about his overall incompetence?
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- May/31/22 3:09:11 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I am smiling because I always enjoy my opposition colleague's dramatic flair. Let us applaud that lively performance.
What I can say on behalf of members on this side of the House is that our government is working very closely with Quebec to make sure workers can work.
As I made clear, we have twice as many work permit applications as last year. We will always make sure that Canadians and Quebeckers can work.
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- May/31/22 3:09:58 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the tourism sector has been through two extremely difficult years, and now it is time to talk about how important this sector is.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance tell the House what the government is doing to put this industry, which is crucial to Canada's economy, front and centre?
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- May/31/22 3:10:28 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Dorval—Lachine—LaSalle for both her question and her hard work.
Yesterday, we kicked off our National Tourism Week. Canada is ready to welcome visitors and travellers from around the world.
I would also like to thank Beth Potter and the Tourism Industry Association of Canada for the incredible success of their Rendez-vous Canada conference last week, their leadership role in our tourism sector and everything they do to showcase Canada internationally.
I wish everyone a happy National Tourism Week.
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- May/31/22 3:11:11 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, since 2015, the cost of living in northern Saskatchewan has skyrocketed. People travel great distances for groceries and medical appointments and to check on loved ones. There is one charging station, no public transit and there are more deer and moose trails than bike lanes in my riding. The cost of gas, groceries, home heating fuel and farm inputs, and nearly everything is getting more expensive under the Liberal-NDP coalition.
This is another attack on Saskatchewan's rural, northern and remote communities. Is that not true?
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- May/31/22 3:11:48 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, our government has been taking measures in order to address the cost of living increase, which we all know is caused by the war started by Russia.
I believe that the member opposite will find in this budget a number of measures that go directly to his point. There is a one-time payment for those having trouble finding affordable homes in our budget. There is a proposal to subsidize dental care in our budget. We have already reduced the taxes on middle-class families and the Conservatives voted against it. Will they vote for our budget?
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- May/31/22 3:12:31 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, on the topic of Russia, we know that during the war and conflict, women and youth are at increased risk of exploitation. The 2021 U.S. Trafficking in Persons Report notes that Ukraine has been a long-time source country for human trafficking victims. Now that millions of women and youth are fleeing Ukraine, we know that human traffickers have been targeting them.
What specific steps is the government taking to ensure that Ukrainian women and youth seeking refuge in Canada are not being trafficked and exploited?
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- May/31/22 3:13:10 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, indeed, the question of human trafficking is an issue and, indeed, this is something that we have raised through the G7. Many of the G7 ministers have made it clear that we need to do more to counter any form of human trafficking, particularly in the context of Putin's war of choice against Ukraine. I look forward to working with my colleague on this issue and with many others within cabinet because we need to give particular attention to this.
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- May/31/22 3:13:49 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the Liberals reduced operating hours at dozens of border crossings during COVID-19, but Canadians are travelling again and crossing the border to visit families, do business or just to get away for a few days. Forty ports of entry, 13 of which are in Manitoba, are still operating at reduced operating hours. When will the Liberals restore the full service at our border crossings?
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- May/31/22 3:14:12 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to report that thanks to the advocacy of the members of this chamber, including on our side of the House, we have reopened the vast majority of ports of entry, which is seeing an increase in trade and travel. This is getting our economy going, and all the while we are protecting Canadians from the pandemic. We will continue to work with my hon. colleague to make even more progress as we head into the summer season so we can get our economy going even better.
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- May/31/22 3:14:44 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, welcome back.
Over the past two years, Canadians have been rocked by this pandemic, and it comes as no surprise that the harsh realities faced by our most vulnerable have been exacerbated, especially for women and children fleeing domestic violence. Far too many in this situation have nowhere to turn. Could the Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion please tell this House about what our government is doing to ensure those fleeing domestic violence have the support and space they need?
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- May/31/22 3:15:18 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the hon. member for Vaughan—Woodbridge for his excellent question and work on this really important file.
Last week, I was thrilled to announce $121 million to build over 430 shelters and transitional homes in over 15 municipalities across Canada. This work is being done together with 14 provincial and territorial shelter associations. These extra shelter beds and transitional homes will ensure that women and children fleeing gender-based violence will have a safe roof over their heads. This is the national housing strategy at work.
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