SoVote

Context: House Hansard - 113 - Oct/19/22

Ms. Anju Dhillon (Dorval—Lachine—LaSalle, Lib.)

Oct/19/22 3:08:49 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, our government has been there from the very beginning to support small businesses across Canada. They are the heart of our communities and the backbone of our economy. That is why it is crucial that we all work together to give small business owners the support they need to succeed. Can the right hon. Prime Minister remind Canadians what our government has been doing to support small businesses?

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Right Hon. Justin Trudeau (Prime Minister, Lib.)

Oct/19/22 3:09:22 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I would first like to thank the member for Dorval—Lachine—LaSalle for her question and for all her hard work. Canadians know who really stands up for small business. When we proposed a tax cut to help small businesses grow, the Conservatives voted against it. When we helped 1,400 small businesses in Ottawa get back on their feet after the convoy crisis, the opposition leader said he was proud of the occupiers. The Conservatives refuse to properly support small business owners, but we on this side of the House will always be there for small businesses in this country.

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Mr. Jake Stewart (Miramichi—Grand Lake, CPC)

Oct/19/22 3:10:02 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the cost of home heating just keeps going up in Atlantic Canada. Half of Atlantic Canadians are living in energy poverty. The cost of home heating oil jumped 30% in the last month in New Brunswick. Half of Atlantic Canadians heat with oil and are facing a cold, bitter winter because of the Liberal government. Today's numbers confirm that Liberal inflation is up again for groceries and housing back home. With the affordability crisis devastating Atlantic Canadian families, why are the Liberals planning to triple taxes on home heating?

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Right Hon. Justin Trudeau (Prime Minister, Lib.)

Oct/19/22 3:10:36 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, again, all in this House are concerned about the rising cost of living faced by Canadians in Atlantic Canada and indeed across the country, so the question we all have is this: Why are Conservative politicians not supporting our cost of living relief measures? Why are they not stepping up to send cheques to the lowest-income renters, which will support close to two million Canadians who are going to have trouble paying rent this winter? Why are they not sending support to families who cannot send their kids under 12 to the dentist? We are talking about $1,300 that is going to help families over the next couple of years. The Conservatives say they care, but they do not stand up for them.

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Mrs. Shelby Kramp-Neuman (Hastings—Lennox and Addington, CPC)

Oct/19/22 3:11:24 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, this morning, media reports indicated that food prices are skyrocketing. Up by 11.4% this month, it is the largest increase in 41 years. Everything is broken, and the government's carbon tax makes the already unbearable even worse. Instead of the Liberals driving up prices and sending Canadians deeper in debt, we need less talk and more decisive action from the government now. When will the Prime Minister cancel his plan to triple taxes on gas, groceries and home heating?

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Right Hon. Justin Trudeau (Prime Minister, Lib.)

Oct/19/22 3:12:02 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, as the members opposite well know, our price on carbon pollution returns more money to most Canadian families in the areas in which it is imposed. The reality is that we are stepping up to support Canadian families across the country, including with our cost of living relief package. The question that many Canadians have is this: Why are Conservative politicians not there to support our measures to deliver help to low-income renters and families who cannot afford to send their kids to the dentist? These are things that matter to Canadians, yet the Conservatives are standing in the way.

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Mr. Fraser Tolmie (Moose Jaw—Lake Centre—Lanigan, CPC)

Oct/19/22 3:12:47 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, this upcoming Remembrance Day, veterans across Canada will be thanked for their service by being charged GST on top of a carbon tax on their heating bills, which is a tax on a tax on a tax. Heating a home during winter is a necessity. Why will the Prime Minister not cancel his plans to triple his tax on home heating and axe his tax on tax?

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Right Hon. Justin Trudeau (Prime Minister, Lib.)

Oct/19/22 3:13:23 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, despite Conservative misinformation, the reality is that with our price on carbon pollution, more money is returned to 80% of families in the areas in which it is imposed than they pay in these taxes. That is a fact that Conservatives have been avoiding. As the carbon price increases to give predictability signals to businesses to continue to invest in reducing their emissions, Canadians keep getting more money back. We are going to continue to deliver for Canadians. We are going to continue to stand up to support Canadians who need it.

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Ms. Lisa Hepfner (Hamilton Mountain, Lib.)

Oct/19/22 3:14:06 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the government is committed to the collective bargaining process to protect workers’ rights, pay and power. One of the first things we did after we formed government was to repeal Conservative anti-worker legislation that made it harder for unions to fight for workers, legislation the Leader of Opposition supported. Hamilton labour leaders tell me they were relieved and grateful that our government took this swift action. Can the Prime Minister update the House on what our government is doing to eliminate the use of replacement workers during strikes and lockouts so workers have more power and fairness at the negotiating table?

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Right Hon. Justin Trudeau (Prime Minister, Lib.)

Oct/19/22 3:14:42 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for Hamilton Mountain for her hard work and her constant advocacy for workers. As a cabinet minister in the Harper years, the Conservative leader actively supported anti-union legislation, such as Bill C-525 and Bill C-377, and he is still attacking supports for workers today. Today, our government launched consultations on eliminating the use of replacement workers during strikes and lockouts. This government will always be on the side of workers, while the Conservative leader gatekeeps Canadians out of safer, good paying jobs.

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Ms. Lori Idlout (Nunavut, NDP)

Oct/19/22 3:15:29 p.m.
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Uqaqtittiji, when I visited Kugaaruk, I was told of the consequences that housing boards face when they say no to an applicant. One decision resulted in turning away a young pregnant woman because there were no houses available. In hopelessness, she completed suicide. The housing board suffers with this decision while the government continues to fall short on meeting the housing needs in Nunavut. When will the government finally take on the burden that Nunavummiut face every day and act on the housing crisis to save lives?

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Right Hon. Justin Trudeau (Prime Minister, Lib.)

Oct/19/22 3:16:12 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, our hearts break as we hear stories like that. Obviously, it is unacceptable. That is why we are continuing to step up, including working in direct partnership with Premier Akeeagok to ensure we are delivering housing investments in the north. We know the needs are great, and we know we need to continue to step up. We have strong programs and big investments going in, but we need to do more. We recognize that. We will be there.

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Mr. Mike Morrice (Kitchener Centre, GP)

Oct/19/22 3:16:43 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-22

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, MPs from all parties unanimously voted to move the Canada disability benefit act to committee, following the calls of disability advocates across the country. While this is an important milestone, nothing changes for Canadians with disabilities until the benefit is actually funded. People with disabilities living in poverty desperately need us to get this done. Will the Prime Minister commit today to funding this benefit by budget 2023?

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Right Hon. Justin Trudeau (Prime Minister, Lib.)

Oct/19/22 3:17:20 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-22

Mr. Speaker, we know that Canadians living with disabilities face unacceptably high levels of poverty. We know how much important work there is to continue to do. That is why we have moved forward, over the past number of years, with historic steps in the right direction. We agree entirely. There is much more to do. That is why we are pursuing these important measures. We are moving forward with this legislation, and we are going to continue to be there to ensure that we are supporting Canadians living with disabilities, so they can fully participate in all the ways all of us need them to be able to do if we are going to be the country that we want to be.

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The Speaker

Oct/19/22 3:19:37 p.m.
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I understand there have been discussions among representatives of all parties in the House and there is an agreement to observe a moment of silence in honour of the fallen RCMP officer Shaelyn Yang in Burnaby, British Columbia. [A moment of silence observed]

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The Speaker

Oct/19/22 3:19:45 p.m.
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It is with deep sadness that we mark the passing of a great man and a great parliamentarian, the Hon. Bill Blaikie. Bill Blaikie served his constituents in Elmwood—Transcona for nearly 30 years, and for two of those years, from 2006 to 2008, he served as the Deputy Speaker of the House under former Speaker Peter Milliken. The term “dynamic duo” has been used to describe the Milliken-Blaikie team. They were united in their commitment to the House, its role in democracy, its traditions and its history. I understand there were no procedures or processes too arcane for these devotees and scholars of Parliament. At one time, I had the good fortune to serve with Bill Blaikie on the Standing Committee of National Defence and Veterans Affairs where I always looked forward to his balanced view on the issues. I also looked forward to his trademark wit and good humour. We shared many good laughs together. Many of us benefited from his extensive experience in serving Canadians. Bill Blaikie was a source of inspiration to us all. We have proof in this chamber that he was a source of inspiration to his children, who followed in his footsteps to serve the people of Manitoba and all Canadians. I know that hon. members join me in expressing our deepest condolences to Bill Blaikie's wife, Brenda, and his entire family. Of course, we send our sympathies to his son, our colleague, the hon. member for Elmwood—Transcona, for the loss of his beloved father.

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Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, Lib.)

Oct/19/22 3:22:19 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer condolences on behalf of the Liberal caucus. Bill Blaikie was an individual who accomplished a great deal in many different ways. He has, in fact, been an inspiration. When I think of politicians in Manitoba, he was second to no other in being able to transcend partisan politics. Yes, he could be partisan at times. I was at the unfortunate end of that, I must say, on one occasion in particular early in my political career, but that is for another day. There are individuals in Manitoba, whether Conservative, New Democrat, Liberal or of any other political affiliation, who look to Bill Blaikie as an inspiration, as someone who understood the principles of what it meant to be a parliamentarian. Our first responsibility is to our constituents, and Bill Blaikie demonstrated just how important that was. In the 1993 federal election when the NDP was reduced to nine seats, he was a survivor. In fact, I believe he was the only New Democrat elected east of the province of Saskatchewan. I would argue the reason for that was that he had established himself as a constituency person, someone who understood the needs of those who worked at CN Rail and in the many different businesses and occupations of the people he served. That is why he survived back in 1993. We often think that, if parliamentarians are in government, they can potentially become a minister, but, in opposition, the best a member can be is a critic. I would suggest that it does not matter where members sit in the House of Commons, whether on the government side or the opposition side, and Bill Blaikie demonstrated that. He demonstrated that in the roles he held in the House, whether it was as deputy leader when he came in second to Jack Layton back in the 2003 leadership convention or when he was the health care critic. We all talk about the Canada Health Act of 1984 and how important that was to our nation, and still is today. Bill Blaikie played a critical role in the development of the Canada Health Act. It is what we make of the positions we are assigned as parliamentarians that determines how much we will enjoy this and how successful we are going to be at implementing it. That is something Bill Blaikie demonstrated so well. I look to Bill Blaikie as someone who inspired many. The Speaker referred to his attitude when he was Deputy Speaker under Speaker Milliken. Many members may not know, though the member for Elmwood—Transcona would know, but after leaving Ottawa, he was recruited as the candidate for the NDP in the Elmwood riding. He won and later became the minister of conservation. In one year, four or five provincial parks were established. He loved nature. I believe he was an avid canoeist. He was able to accomplish a great deal even when he left the House of Commons. He was a parliamentarian, first and foremost. That is when I got to know Bill Blaikie, primarily because he was also the government House leader. It is no surprise that I was part of the House leadership team back then. We had lots of discussions and negotiations and his years in opposition gave him a better appreciation even of individuals in the Liberal Party back then when it did not have party status, and I respected that of the late Mr. Blaikie. There is so much more that I could say, but suffice it to say that William Alexander Blaikie was appointed to the Order of Canada in November 2020 for his lifelong contributions to parliamentary service and for his steadfast commitment to progressive change and social activism. On behalf of the Liberal caucus, we extend our condolences to his wife of almost 50 years Brenda, his four children, his grandchildren and the many friends and family members who were touched by his life.

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Mr. James Bezan (Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, CPC)

Oct/19/22 3:28:14 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege to rise today and pay tribute to a former colleague and veteran parliamentarian, the Hon. Bill Blaikie, who recently passed away. Bill was first elected to this place in 1979 and served continuously for 29 years. When I and others in this chamber were first elected back in 2004, the dean of the House was Bill, a position he held in the 38th and 39th Parliaments. As we know in this chamber, the esteemed roles of Speaker and Deputy Speaker are normally shared between the governing party and the official opposition. However, because Bill epitomized what being a parliamentarian meant, he was respected right across party lines and throughout this entire House. He was appointed in 2006 as Deputy Speaker, as mentioned, serving with Speaker Milliken. He made some incredible rulings and ran the House very efficiently. Our House leader, the member for Regina—Qu'Appelle, was appointed at that time as Assistant Deputy Speaker at the tender age of 26 and worked closely with Bill. I have a fun fact: When Bill was first elected to the House of Commons in 1979, the member for Regina—Qu'Appelle was just two days old. Bill was a devoted parliamentarian, a former House leader and a Deputy Speaker. Bill's reverence for the institutions of Parliament is something we will always remember about him. When I first met Bill, he was literally bigger than life, towering over almost all of his colleagues, with the exception of six-foot-seven Brian Pallister, the former premier of Manitoba, who, at the time, was the MP for Portage—Lisgar. Back in those days, the direct flights between Winnipeg and Ottawa were done on either Dash 8s or the little CRJ jets. I can say that it was almost impossible for Bill to bend over enough to get into the airplane and walk down the aisle, never mind to fit into the extremely tight seating. I found it very uncomfortable, but Bill never ever complained. It was on those trips back and forth between Ottawa and home that I was able to get to know Bill. I was surprised to learn that he had been a member of the Progressive Conservative Party. He was a young Conservative in high school and his early days in college. That is why I think he was so reasonable and he could always appreciate our side of the debate. It was also on those trips, because of his long service and that I knew when he first started in Parliament he had a young family, as I did, I would ask him for advice on how to make sure we balanced parliamentary life with our responsibilities to our families. He provided me with very sound advice. Bill also served as a reservist with the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada and shared my passion for a strong Canadian Armed Forces. Mr. Speaker, as you and I both know, Bill was very proud of his Scottish heritage. He was one of the best pipers Canada had to offer and was instrumental in founding our annual Robbie Burns nights here on the Hill, starting back in 1988 with Speaker Fraser. I can honestly say that I have never seen a more passionate, better or comical Address to a Haggis. Bill loved performing it and we all loved watching him do it. Following his federal career here in Ottawa, Bill was asked to run provincially and served from 2009 to 2011 as Manitoba's minister of conservation and government House leader. I got to work with him again as we dealt with overland flooding along Lake Manitoba, Lake Winnipeg and Lake St. Martin in my riding. It was not just politics and Parliament that Bill respected. He was a man of faith. He revered God. The Hon. Bill Blaikie was also the Reverend Bill Blaikie, an ordained minister of the United Church. He found callings in both faith and politics. After he retired from politics, Bill accepted a position as adjunct professor of theology and politics at the University of Winnipeg. When it came to politics, as Bill said in an interview after publishing his 2011 biography, his “driving force has been the social gospel in Canadian left-wing politics”. That dynamic of persons of faith in politics, perhaps, is something that has been more common in western Canada and certainly was, once upon a time, part of the very foundation of the NDP. Bill was keen to stress, “The church and state is different than faith and politics...you notice that where the separation of church and state is very strong and constitutional that doesn’t mean there’s a separation between faith and politics because that’s something individuals bring. It’s not an institutional connection.” Bill was a worthy successor to the social gospel heritage of the NDP and its predecessor, the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation, which had propelled that party to many of its historical successes on the Prairies. In fact, the House leader of the official opposition told me, “If Bill had won the NDP leadership back in 2003, I probably would never have won my Saskatchewan seat in 2004.” Truth be told, if Bill was the NDP leader, my Manitoba seat would have been at risk and I may not have made it here in 2004 either. Instead, as fate would have it, Jack Layton won, which allowed our House leader and I to be Bill's colleagues in the House and, in the case of our House leader, share your chair, Mr. Speaker. Like many Conservatives and New Democrats, we hardly agreed on everything, but we certainly respected the fact that we each believed in things and acknowledged our respective principles. Bill Blaikie had a life well lived, a life dedicated to service and helping others, and for that we unite today in paying tribute and giving thanks. In closing, on behalf of my Conservative colleagues, I want to express our sincere condolences to Bill's wife Brenda, his daughters Rebecca, Jessica and Tessa, and his son, our colleague, who is carrying on Bill's legacy, the hon. member for Elmwood—Transcona. Bill will be sadly missed, but fondly remembered by all. May he rest in peace.

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Mr. Louis Plamondon (Bécancour—Nicolet—Saurel, BQ)

Oct/19/22 3:35:12 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Bloc Québécois, I would like to honour the memory of Bill Blaikie, a prominent figure in the New Democratic Party and, more broadly, the Canadian left. When I was elected in 1984, Bill Blaikie had already been the MP for Winnipeg—Transcona for five years. He was a towering figure in the NDP caucus, both figuratively and literally, as he stood at least a head taller than his colleagues. With his loud, carrying voice, Bill Blaikie got noticed. When he spoke, the House went silent. In 2011, when I sat in the Speaker's chair to open the session and preside over the election of the Speaker as the dean of the House, I thought about him. Before me, it was Bill Blaikie who carried out that role as dean of the House. Before that, as members will recall, the Speaker was appointed by the Prime Minister. It goes without saying that I did not measure up. Bill Blaikie was almost a giant, but I tried to have the same upright character. Bill Blaikie was the embodiment of the original NDP, a party that grew from religious roots in the Prairies. Like Tommy Douglas, Bill Blaikie was a pastor and was almost nothing like the slick urban elites who now form the NDP's base. As he used to say, he was close to the little people, those I would describe as regular folks. In 30 years, Bill Blaikie took on just about every role within the NDP, including House leader, interim leader, as well as parliamentary leader when Jack Layton was the unelected party leader. He was also Deputy Speaker, as the House leader was saying. When the NPD lost official party status after the 1993 election, Bill Blaikie was there, like an island of stability. I will never forget his forceful interventions to get recognition for his party, which did not have 12 seats at the time. He and I did not always see eye to eye. Bill Blaikie was a centralist. His vision of Canada did not really embrace Quebec nationalism, much less a special status for Quebec. In all his 30 years as an MP in Ottawa, I never once heard him utter a single word in French. I once asked him why. He jokingly answered, “I have too much respect for the French language to use it with my bad accent. I will leave that to my children, who are managing quite well.” Our confrontations were always respectful when it came to ideas, values, principles. Bill Blaikie was a man of principle, a decent man, a powerful advocate, a person who was deeply respectful to those around him, and an expert on parliamentary procedure. When he had something in mind, he was so well versed in procedure that you better believe that the amendment would be adopted easily. On behalf of the Bloc Québécois, I would like to offer my condolences to his political family, who owe a great deal to the man who helped them weather the storms over the years with his reassuring presence. I especially want to extend sincere condolences to his family, including his wife and children, in particular his son, Daniel, who currently serves as the member for Elmwood—Transcona, his father's former riding. To my friend Bill, to tease you a little, I will end by quoting a great French author, Alexandre Dumas, who once said that those we have loved may not be where they used to be, but they are with us always, wherever we may be. Farewell, Bill.

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Mr. Jagmeet Singh (Burnaby South, NDP)

Oct/19/22 3:39:56 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, many words have been used to describe Bill Blaikie: giant, legend, pillar. He was a giant in our movement, both in physical stature, as has been alluded to, and in his deep commitment to justice. He was a legend in the House of Commons. He held a deep respect for democracy and for the people he represented. He was a pillar of social gospel, a strongly held spiritual belief that we are called to fight against greed and to lift each other up. He was a beloved husband and father, who instilled in his children a sense of adventure, as well as responsibility to use their talents to make the world a better place. I was incredibly lucky to be able to attend Bill's memorial service in Winnipeg. It was led in the most remarkable way by his children, Rebecca, Jessica, the member for Elmwood—Transcona and Tessa. They recounted stories of a father who would spontaneously pull the car over to put the canoe in unexplored bodies of water, sometimes with unexpected but usually safe results. He was a father who could be counted on to deliver good advice and encouragement, and a father who had a passion for social justice and a deep love of nature, qualities he passed on to his children. Bill loved the communities he served, whether he was in the church, his party or his neighbourhood of Transcona. He knew that his community had its roots in the railway, and he was dedicated to protecting those jobs and making sure they could sustain families in the future. Bill understood that economic justice, social justice and environmental justice were all essential parts of our vision of a better Canada. He was a leading voice against increased globalization. He warned against the dangers of a race to the bottom where greed and profit were the priority, and people and the environment and protecting them against exploitation was seen as a barrier to free trade. Bill was also a passionate champion of our public health care system. As the NDP health critic, he was instrumental in pushing the Liberal health minister at the time, Minister Bégin, to introduce the Canada Health Act to protect Canadians from having to pay for health care services. Both Bill and Minister Bégin told stories of how Bill engaged in guerrilla warfare in the House to make sure the act contained the necessary protections and, as is still the case, the minister depended on this pressure from the NDP to convince her colleagues to make the legislation better for Canadians. Before it was ever fashionable, Bill was an environmentalist. He loved nature. He was an avid paddler and camper. He believed it was a part of our mission to protect the earth. In his final act of political life, as Manitoba's minister of conservation, he put these beliefs into action when he took measures to protect the boreal forest, a place that had nurtured him. Bill loved Parliament. He was the dean of the House and served as Deputy Speaker. In 2007, he was named Parliamentarian of the Year by Maclean's magazine. He was an incredible speaker, and his speeches in this place were legendary, shaming the government of the day for ignoring the needs of the most vulnerable and laying out a path to a better and fairer future. When Jack Layton was elected leader, he asked Bill to be his parliamentary leader since he did not yet have a seat in the House. Bill had finished second in that leadership race, which was a disappointment to him, but he put that aside and took on the challenge of leadership in the House, working closely with Jack, sharing his wisdom and advice with the new leader. He also loved getting to know MPs from other parties and finding common ground with people who had a different view of the world. He could be hard on members in the House while still respecting their humanity and sharing a conversation over a meal. He was fiercely proud of his Scottish heritage. Bill was one of the founders of the annual Robbie Burns night on the Hill, which he saw as another opportunity for MPs of different parties to meet each other outside of daily debate. Listening to his children tell the story of Bill's life, it was clear he found his strength in two places: his faith and his family. Bill's Christian faith informed his politics. For him, the calling to do good in the world required him to challenge injustice and those in power who allowed injustice to happen. He did not believe that the Bible should be used to justify a politics of hate and exclusion, but a politics of justice and equality. Bill loved his family. The life of a politician is not easy on families. It means long days and lots of time away from the home. Bill's wife, Brenda, was the glue that kept the family together, and it is her more than anyone we must thank for sharing Bill with the country. Bill delighted in time with his kids, being fully present for them. He made sure their time together was filled with bike rides, camping and canoe trips and sharing stories of his family and childhood in Transcona. We are so fortunate to have Bill's son, the MP for Elmwood—Transcona, in the House and in our caucus. He carries on his dad's legacy, speaking truth to power, standing up to injustice and always defending the interests of the least powerful. Like his dad, he does not suffer fools gladly, but when people win his friendship, they know he will always have their back. In his final years, Bill cherished time with his four grandsons, Robert, Owen, Noah and Emmet. Throughout his battle with cancer, he made sure to find the energy to make memories with the new generation of Blaikie kids. He took part in water pistol fights and played in the fall leaves with them just as he had with their parents. Bill made sure his grandchildren knew him and heard his amazing stories. New Democrats across the country mourn the loss of Bill Blaikie, and we are so thankful for his life. He leaves a legacy of compassion, fairness and justice. His example reminds us that we are morally required not to add to the riches of those who have the most, but to meet the needs of those who have the least. I extend my sincere sympathy to his family and our commitment that we will continue his work.

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