44th Parl. 1st Sess.
November 15, 2022 10:00AM
- Nov/15/22 3:11:08 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, the costly coalition has made it a sin to eat, heat and drive. It has added a tax like that on alcohol and cigarettes that automatically increases every year. The taxes on fuel and fertilizer are making food unaffordable. The government's homegrown inflation is forcing children to miss meals.
When will the government give Canadians a break and end the triple tax on gas, groceries and home heating?
71 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Nov/15/22 3:11:44 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, earlier, one Conservative member referred to COP27 where people from around the whole world are gathered. They are focused on climate change, what it means for our economies and what it means for future generations.
Do members know who is not there? The Conservatives are not there. They pulled members from their delegation, and that is not surprising because for 10 long years, they did absolutely nothing on climate change. Every time they went to an international meeting, they received the “fossil of the year” award.
90 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Nov/15/22 3:12:23 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, many of my constituents in Surrey—Newton travel regularly to India to visit loved ones. Some of them are presently in Ottawa. The pandemic put a pause on many of these international trips. My constituents are now looking to reconnect with family and friends.
Would the minister update the House on what steps our government is taking to make it easier for Canadians to travel to India?
70 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Nov/15/22 3:12:55 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague from Surrey—Newton for his leadership and his advocacy on this issue. Yesterday, I announced that Canada is amending the Canada-India air transport agreement to move toward an unlimited number of weekly flights. This will increase the option for Canadian travellers who want to travel to India.
My colleague and I agree that we would like to see a direct flight from Canada to Amritsar. I have raised this issue with my Indian counterpart. We will continue to advocate for this until we see more options for Canadians.
98 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Nov/15/22 3:13:36 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, nothing is more important to Canadians than the health of our kids, but right now children are being admitted to ERs because of a lack of pediatric medicines. Today, experts told the health committee that severe drug shortages are a long-standing problem in Canada with hundreds of medicines in dangerously low supply every year. This must change. New Democrats have long called for the Canadian government to create a public drug manufacturer to supply the medications people need and our kids need.
Will the Liberals finally act to produce life-saving medications here in Canada?
98 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Nov/15/22 3:14:16 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, we share the concerns of my colleague from the NDP, of parents and caregivers about their inability to find infant and children's acetaminophen and ibuprofen. This has been a really tough cold and flu season for parents across this country and we acknowledge that.
Therefore, we secured an additional foreign supply of children's acetaminophen, which will be available for sale at retail and community pharmacies in the coming weeks, to help address this immediate situation. Our littlest neighbours and constituents are our top concern. I agree with my colleague from the NDP that a domestic solution is one that would last a lot longer.
108 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Nov/15/22 3:14:53 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, the government is making the littlest effort. This was a good question about establishing a public drug manufacturer in Canada. We just came through a pandemic where we saw the government scramble to secure a vaccine supply and only succeed at the expense of people in the global south, who never did get the vaccines that they needed.
Now we are witnessing a shortage of children's medicine. We are seeing Amazon charge over $200 for four ounces of Tylenol on the Internet. There is something wrong with a system that allows that and does not allow the government to push back, which it could do with a public drug manufacturer to produce essential medications when the market fails.
When are the Liberals going to start the work?
131 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Nov/15/22 3:15:35 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, it seems that my colleague was absent for a couple of months. There is nothing more important than ensuring the health and safety of Canadians. That is why we acted. We brought Moderna to Canada to produce vaccines. It was not for COVID-19 but for about 30 families of vaccines that Canadians would need, including for cancer. We have Sanofi investing in Toronto. We invested in Biovectra.
One thing we understand on this side of the aisle is that we did not choose the pandemic and we do not know if there is going to be another one, but we choose to be better prepared. That is what Canadians expect from us.
115 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Nov/15/22 3:16:09 p.m.
- Watch
I am afraid that is all the time we have for question period today.
The hon. member for Louis-Saint-Laurent on a point of order.
26 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Nov/15/22 3:16:23 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, I would like to table the COP27 document entitled “Climate Change Performance Index”, which states that, after seven years of Liberal governance, Canada's ranks 58th out of 63 countries for its climate change performance.
39 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Nov/15/22 3:16:39 p.m.
- Watch
All those opposed to the hon. member moving the motion will please say nay.
Some hon. members: Nay.
18 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Nov/15/22 3:17:13 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. There have been consultations and I believe, if you seek it, you will find unanimous consent for the following motion that, given that, first, the mental health of Canadians has been negatively impacted by the COVID–19 pandemic; second, the toxic drug crisis has worsened during the COVID–19 pandemic and continues to have a tragic impact on communities; third, too many Canadians are unable to access mental health or substance use supports in a timely manner and economic conditions are exacerbating financial barriers; and fourth, lack of timely access to community-based mental health and substance use services is adding to the immense strain facing our hospitals and primary care providers; the House call on the government to take the necessary steps to bring a comprehensive range of mental health and substance use services beyond physician and hospital settings into our universal public health care system.
158 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Nov/15/22 3:18:12 p.m.
- Watch
All those opposed to the hon. member's moving the motion will please say nay.
An hon. member: Nay.
19 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Nov/15/22 3:20:34 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, in relation to the consideration of Government Business No. 22, I move:
That the debate be not further adjourned.
21 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Nov/15/22 3:20:34 p.m.
- Watch
Pursuant to Standing Order 67.1, there will now be a 30-minute question period.
I invite hon. members who wish to ask questions to rise in their places so the Chair has some idea of the number of members who wish to participate in this question period.
The hon. member for Mégantic—L'Érable for questions and comments.
63 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Nov/15/22 3:20:37 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, once again, we are being treated to an eloquent demonstration by the Liberal government, which, with the NDP coalition, has chosen to limit the ability of members from across the country to speak freely on issues that interest them. Not only are they trying to get a motion passed in the House, with the support of the NDP, that will give the Liberals even greater control over how the House works, but now they want to avoid debating the motion. This is totally inappropriate and unacceptable.
I wonder why the Liberals, who for months have been touting transparency, openness and consensus, are once again limiting debate in the House today, with the tacit support of the NDP. That is the reality. The Conservatives want to collaborate and contribute, while the Liberals want to impose their will. Why is that?
141 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Nov/15/22 3:21:49 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, this seems so strange to me, because this motion is about extending the time for debate. The member opposite says that the government's objective is to prevent the opposition from speaking. Maybe the opposition member has not had a chance to read the text, because it actually provides the opportunity to speak more.
The problem here is the Conservative Party's obstructionist tactics, which it continues to use to block other parties from passing legislation at this critical time.
As for speaking freely, if there are more hours to speak, there are more opportunities for members on the other side to explain their position and have more debate.
That is why the member's question seems very strange to me.
123 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Nov/15/22 3:23:04 p.m.
- Watch
Madam Speaker, I would like to hear from the party across the way.
A recent meeting of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women, of which I am a member, was cancelled due to a lack of resources. That is the impact of the hybrid Parliament. That is the impact of extending sitting hours. This committee is unable to meet to deal with major issues that have consequences for women and girls.
As a mother, I am sincerely asking my colleagues if that is the message they want to be sending. I do not want to hear a single person across the way tell me that I am lazy. I was able to work. That is not the issue.
Can we send a message to women that having debates until midnight does not make sense? If we want Parliament to be more representative and more diverse, then we need to use a bit more common sense. We can debate during the day. There is no need to schedule debates until midnight until the end of the session.
178 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Nov/15/22 3:23:49 p.m.
- Watch
Madam Speaker, the member's question covers two issues.
First, there is the issue of committees. That is the reason we can talk about the legislative agenda for Parliament and also for the committees. I am very aware of that. The 31 committees study some very important issues. There is also the legislative agenda here in Parliament, and it is vital that we have time for both.
Concerning the situation for mothers, I hope that the member opposite will support the hybrid system because it is a good solution, not just for mothers, but for anyone.
There are solutions. We must continue to talk.
104 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Nov/15/22 3:24:48 p.m.
- Watch
Madam Speaker, it is hard to imagine any member of Parliament objecting to working longer hours, particularly when we look at what Canadians are facing right now.
Canadians are struggling to put food on their tables and to keep a roof over their heads. We have an obligation as parliamentarians to work longer hours and to work harder to make sure that Canadians are supported.
I want to ask my colleague, the government House leader, what the real reason may be for the Conservative objection. Looking back two years ago, the Globe and Mail reported that Conservatives held the worst attendance record at the House of Commons COVID-19 committee, with only a 47% attendance rate. We can contrast that with the Bloc at 73%, Liberals at 76% and the NDP at 85%, with the NDP once again being the worker bees of Parliament. Is that not the real reason Conservatives are opposing extending hours and working harder on behalf of Canadians?
162 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
