44th Parl. 1st Sess.
September 27, 2022 10:00AM
- Sep/27/22 2:31:56 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, because of the climate crisis, extreme climate events are becoming more common. The experts are clear: If telecommunications companies do not build solid infrastructure, people will continue to lose their cell service.
When will this government force these businesses to do what it takes to prevent people from losing their cell service in future?
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- Sep/27/22 2:32:26 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to start by telling all Canadians affected by hurricane Fiona that, as a government, we are doing everything we can to ensure that everyone affected by the storm has what they need. The Canadian Armed Forces are on the ground in Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.
Obviously we understand the importance of cell service and we are also working with the companies to ensure that Canadians have access to that service.
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- Sep/27/22 2:33:06 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the wine industry in Cumberland—Colchester is dominated by Jost Vineyards. From recent conversations, it is clear that hurricane Fiona has had a significant and profound negative impact. Almost 20% of the crop is now on the ground, and they only have the ability to process 25% of the crop due to a lack of electricity.
What specific and targeted programs will the government have to support the industry in its time of need?
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- Sep/27/22 2:33:39 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, as our colleague from Cumberland—Colchester knows, the Prime Minister is currently in Nova Scotia and is visiting Prince Edward Island today as well. I have had very constructive and positive conversations with Premier Houston and the other Atlantic premiers.
We can be very clear. The Government of Canada will be there not only to support the residents of the area who were hard hit, but to work with provinces as well to ensure that the economic engines of those provinces, like the agricultural industry that my colleague referenced, are also supported fully by the Government of Canada.
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- Sep/27/22 2:34:19 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, Jost Vineyards and other farmers in Atlantic Canada need more than platitudes from the government; they need action.
The other thing we need action on is cellphone service. We have already heard about it in this question period, but we also know of it from the member for Charlottetown. Last evening, he reiterated that cellphone service is essential for the safety of Canadians and that the system failed again. The government knew after hurricane Dorian three years ago that the system was tenuous at best, and once again the government has failed to act.
Atlantic Canadians need a concrete plan to ensure reliable cellular service. What is the outline from the government for this plan?
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- Sep/27/22 2:35:03 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we know that the cellular network is essential. Again, this became clear as tropical storm Fiona passed through.
As a government, we are doing everything in our power to restore services. We are working in collaboration with the province. I assure the House that we are on the ground and we will do everything we can to restore all the necessary services for the Canadians affected by this storm.
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- Sep/27/22 2:35:30 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, if a tornado tore up the 401 in Toronto, the government would already be repairing it. The government is not even in the communities assessing the wharf damage from the hurricane. How do I know? It is because fishing organizations are out there but no one from DFO is.
This will require new programs or we cannot earn a living. Will the minister commit that new programs to repair wharves will be 100% financed by DFO since port authorities do not have the financial resources to do this?
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- Sep/27/22 2:36:06 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I want to express my shock after seeing the images in Atlantic Canada and eastern Quebec. My thoughts are with the families still struggling in those areas.
I would like to assure the member that DFO has already inspected 80 small craft harbours. We are on the ground, we are there for Canadians and we are there for fish harvesters. We are committed to rebuilding and renewing this infrastructure so they can do their jobs out in the fisheries.
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- Sep/27/22 2:36:47 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, since the hurricane, I have been speaking every day with fishermen and fishing organizations about the damage caused by the hurricane and the needs of the industry to recover. As I said, it is clear that we need some new programs to deal with this.
It has been four days since the hurricane, and the minister has yet to call a single fishing organization in Atlantic Canada. How do I know this? It is because I talk to them to every day and she does not.
How will the minister design new programs that respond quickly if she does not talk to the fishing organizations and the people most impacted?
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- Sep/27/22 2:37:22 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, again, having chatted with MPs and ministers from that area, I am very much seized with how much this challenges the people who may have lost their homes and may have lost their boats or their fishing gear. There may not be adequate food in the grocery stores.
We are there, DFO, our staff, the Canadian Coast Guard and the Canadian Coast Guard College. We are doing everything we can on the ground to support the people of Atlantic Canada and eastern Quebec. We will continue to do just that.
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- Sep/27/22 2:37:59 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, if the minister or her department had bothered to reach out to fishing groups about hurricane damage, she would know that lost gear from lobster fishermen in New Brunswick and P.E.I. is over 50%. The season has three weeks left. With no traps, they cannot fish. The need for support to replace these traps is immediate.
Will the minister commit to immediate emergency support to replace this equipment to finish out the season and move into what should be our proposed extended season?
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- Sep/27/22 2:38:33 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I appreciate these voices of concern from the members opposite. I can tell the House that the members on this side of the House from Atlantic Canada and eastern Quebec have been on the ground.
I have spoken with my parliamentary secretary. He has not slept for days. I have heard about the devastation that people are experiencing. We are, and I am, in touch with fish harvesters, provincial ministers and caucus members. We will be happy to hear what requests there are for extensions and consider them very seriously.
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- Sep/27/22 2:39:12 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, following hurricane Fiona, which hammered the Magdalen Islands and Atlantic Canada, it is now time for action. Extremely violent winds and rain have left behind incredible damage: flooded buildings, impassable roads, ports and boats destroyed. I know that the residents of the Magdalen Islands are resilient and are helping each other admirably.
Will the government make sure that any infrastructure under federal jurisdiction that was seriously damaged is quickly repaired so as to be accessible?
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- Sep/27/22 2:39:49 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the answer is yes.
The government of Canada will always be there to rebuild better any infrastructure it is responsible for. Furthermore, we will work with stakeholders, the fishing industry, the provinces and municipalities to make sure we go even further and rebuild public and economic infrastructures essential to these communities, including in the Magdalen Islands and across Atlantic Canada.
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- Sep/27/22 2:40:28 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the federal government could shut down Roxham Road tomorrow morning if it wanted to by suspending the safe third country agreement. It has chosen not to, however. The CBC is reporting that the government chose to make Roxham Road permanent. All of the agreements required to keep Roxham Road open until at least 2027 have already been signed.
By making Roxham Road permanent, the government is also permanently enabling the criminal smuggling networks that are making money off the desperation of poor migrant families. Does the minister realize that smugglers are celebrating today by drinking champagne they bought with money they made off migrants?
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- Sep/27/22 2:41:03 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, that is exactly why we are working closely with the Government of Quebec. Our investments have strengthened the integrity of our borders and ensured that anyone who abuses the system will face justice. We will work with Quebec and the United States to ensure that our asylum system remains just, fair and transparent.
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- Sep/27/22 2:41:32 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, every time, the minister says he is protecting refugees, but he is letting criminals exploit them. He is letting criminals rob them blind. He is also letting criminals lie to them, because the smugglers do not tell their victims that they have a fifty-fifty chance of being deported at the end of the process. Ultimately, the minister is protecting criminals, not refugees.
We believe that protecting migrants means letting them in through the front door at the border crossing, safe from abuse. Why is the minister opting for Roxham Road and helping human smugglers?
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- Sep/27/22 2:42:04 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we should not assume that everyone who comes in via Roxham Road is a criminal. It is a bad stereotype. What does the Bloc have to say to refugees who contribute to our society? What does the Bloc have to say to my hon. colleague, the member for London West, who came into the country via Roxham Road and is now a very strong voice for her community? We need to stop these stereotypes. We need to invest in our asylum system.
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- Sep/27/22 2:42:36 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, this is proof that they cannot stay on top of their files. They do not understand anything.
Aside from smugglers, the only people who will benefit from the decision to make Roxham Road permanent are those who receive federal contracts. We know that Roxham Road has already cost at least half a billion dollars. The exact amount is unclear because the federal government refuses to disclose all of its contracts. That is worrisome because, among the contracts that are known to exist, there are seven that were awarded without competition to the companies of two well-known Liberal donors. It pays to be Liberal.
When is the government going to disclose all the contracts, all the amounts and all the suppliers?
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- Sep/27/22 2:43:19 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, transparency and accountability are critically important to our government. What we have done in terms of the Roxham Road situation is to deliver open, fair and transparent procurement processes while continuing to obtain the best value for Canadians. Of course, divulging confidential contract information would violate the agreement we have with the supplier.
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