44th Parl. 1st Sess.
March 20, 2023 11:00AM
- Mar/20/23 2:27:35 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, after eight years of this Prime Minister, waiting lists for medical treatment have doubled to 26 weeks. Some 6,000 Canadians do not have family doctors, and we rank 26th among OECD countries in terms of physicians per capita. We have 10,000 immigrants and other Canadians trained abroad who are qualified physicians.
When will the Prime Minister work with the provinces to establish a test and a licence so that we can tap into the pool of all those brilliant doctors?
86 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Mar/20/23 2:28:15 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to remind my hon. colleague that on February 7, 2023, we announced a total investment of $198 billion to help Canadians access better health care. In addition, as part of the agreement with all the provinces and territories, everyone agreed to boost and facilitate the recognition of skills acquired here at home or abroad.
I am very pleased that my colleague from the opposition is also interested in this issue.
78 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Mar/20/23 2:28:48 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, it does not matter how much money we spend. As long as we are banning 19,000 foreign-trained doctors and 34,000 foreign-trained nurses from entering into the profession, we will not have enough people delivering the service.
We have had a national testing standard for the trades for 70 years in this country, but nothing similar exists in the professions. There is the Red Seal program for the trades. We should have a blue seal for the professions. It should be merit based, based on what people prove they can do in a national test, and it should allow them to practise across the country. Will the Prime Minister get up to make it happen?
120 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Mar/20/23 2:29:31 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, it is happening. All provinces have now sent a letter, in principle committing to implementing a national credential recognition. It is happening in Atlantic Canada. It is happening in Ontario, and it is happening in British Columbia, with the leadership of this government.
Obviously, the words and support from the opposition leader also matter, but more importantly, the actions on the part of the government matter very much.
70 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Mar/20/23 2:30:06 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, despite the fact that the opposition parties have unanimously called for a public inquiry, and despite the fact that the public is calling for one too, the Prime Minister is being stubborn and has unilaterally appointed a special rapporteur who is anything but independent. The public's trust in the electoral system is at stake.
It seems to me that the primary duty of a prime minister is to ensure that democracy is healthy.
Can the Prime Minister assume his responsibilities, revoke the appointment of the special rapporteur and launch an independent public inquiry?
97 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Mar/20/23 2:30:50 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, we obviously share the sentiments of our hon. colleague about the importance of protecting democracy and democratic institutions, as well as maintaining and strengthening the trust Canadians have in those institutions.
That is precisely what we did last week when we asked the Right Hon. David Johnston to act as an independent special rapporteur, to look at the full suite of measures that we have put in place since we formed government and to make public recommendations as to the next steps. We will obviously follow those recommendations.
92 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Mar/20/23 2:31:33 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, using “Johnston” and “independent” in the same sentence does not work.
We are not blaming Mr. Johnston for being a member of the Trudeau foundation. We are not blaming him for having a cottage next door to the Prime Minister's. We are not blaming him for being a close friend of the family. We are not even blaming him for saying that he felt at home when he went on a trip to China.
We are not blaming Mr. Johnston for anything. However, for the Prime Minister to select Mr. Johnston out of the 38 million people he had to choose from, he must be doing it on purpose. He must enjoy being his own worst enemy.
Can the Prime Minister help his friend out of this mess and do as everyone is asking and immediately set up an independent public commission of inquiry?
155 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Mar/20/23 2:32:19 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, I think that all Canadians recognize Mr. Johnston's important contributions in a number of areas. Not only did he serve as governor general of Canada, but he was also the dean of a university law school. He is an eminent Canadian. He will work independently to make recommendations, look at all of the measures that we implemented as a government and make suggestions as to how we can continue to improve.
I think that my hon. colleague should recognize this important act on the part of Mr. Johnston.
92 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Mar/20/23 2:33:01 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, people are wondering why it is taking so long for the Prime Minister to launch a public and independent inquiry into allegations of foreign interference. Such suspicions are serious and deserve a serious response.
It is all fine and well to appoint a rapporteur, but it will mean nothing if his mandate does not include a public and independent inquiry to get to the bottom of things. That is essential to getting answers and reassuring people about our electoral system.
Will the Prime Minister mandate his rapporteur to hold a public, independent and transparent inquiry on foreign interference?
101 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Mar/20/23 2:33:42 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, our government has certainly taken the issue of foreign interference seriously. That was far from being the case before we formed government in 2015.
We introduced a series of measures, including the creation, under the act, of an all-party committee that will review and examine all these national security concerns.
The Right Hon. David Johnston will go even further. He will review the measures currently in place, which we consider robust and which have been publicly described as such. We will follow Mr. Johnston's recommendations.
92 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Mar/20/23 2:35:01 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, child care workers are leaving the sector and provinces are not recruiting enough staff, making it tougher for parents to find spaces. Why is this? It is because of inadequate benefits, the working conditions and wages that do not cover the bills. This is not a worker shortage. It is a wage shortage, a respect shortage and a dignity shortage.
The Liberals promised personal support workers at least $25 an hour. Will the minister make the same commitment for child care workers today?
85 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Mar/20/23 2:35:04 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for her work and her support of our important work on child care.
In the Canada-wide agreement we have signed with all provinces and territories, the provinces and territories have committed to ensuring that they are able to recruit and retain ECEs. We know that ECEs and child care workers form the backbone of our child care system. Within those agreements, they can use some of that money to help with wage increases. In fact, we have seen that in many provinces and territories across the country. We will continue to work with PTs to make sure that we are supporting our ECEs right across the country.
117 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Mar/20/23 2:35:45 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, it has been weeks and more than 20 hours of talking out the clock in the cover-up from the government. Liberal MPs will do anything possible to keep the Prime Minister's chief of staff from testifying at the House affairs committee on what she knew about Beijing's election interference. Instead of the NDP showing some courage and standing up against the cover-up, it is no surprise that it looks like they are going to support it.
Will the Prime Minister stop stonewalling to allow his chief of staff to testify before members of Parliament, yes or no?
103 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Mar/20/23 2:36:19 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, election interference is an attack against each and every one of us. The reality right now is that the presidents of China and Russia are meeting in Moscow, which should be concerning to all of us considering what type of efforts are being made to undermine Canadian democracy.
What has been offered is for the people who received the briefings, the national campaign directors in 2019 and 2021, to appear. The Conservatives, I would suggest, should do the same. I would also suggest that it should be including Russia and other foreign actors that are attempting to interfere in our democracy instead of having such a partisan focus.
110 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Mar/20/23 2:37:01 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, I say to bring it on.
Testifying about sexual misconduct in the military was no problem for Ms. Telford, as was testifying about the WE Charity scandal. There were no worries there, but testifying about what the PM knew about Beijing's interference in our elections is off limits. The PM's chief of staff has appeared at parliamentary committees on numerous occasions to answer questions. She ran the campaign. She is campaign staff. What is the difference this time?
What is the Prime Minister hiding, and why is the NDP letting him get away with it?
99 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Mar/20/23 2:37:36 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, the Privy Council and the Leader of the Opposition would have been provided, and were provided the opportunity for, a full briefing. He has declined it. In fact, the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians, which would give an opportunity for the members opposite to be able to see every single document, is something that they are not willing to focus on or engage in.
We have offered this opportunity, and we have offered David Johnston, an independent, eminent Canadian, to look at this issue, so it begs this question: What is their interest? It would appear to me that their interest is partisan in nature and that they are using this opportunity to grind a partisan axe rather—
123 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Mar/20/23 2:38:16 p.m.
- Watch
The hon. member for Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes.
13 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Mar/20/23 2:38:20 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, the official opposition brings one interest to this place, and that is the interest of Canadians to find out what the Prime Minister knew about foreign interference by the government in Beijing in our elections in 2019 and 2021.
However, the NDP, a party that twice voted to send Conservative staff to committee when we were in government, and that twice voted for Katie Telford to go to committee when their coalition partners were in government, are now unwilling or unable to send her this time. Is it a condition of the supply and confidence deal between these coalition partners that the NDP not send Katie Telford to committee?
111 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Mar/20/23 2:39:01 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, I will tell everyone what obstruction looks like. When I was the critic, and I was trying to deal with the then Conservative government, Justice Iacobucci and Justice O'Connor critically called for the establishment of an independent oversight mechanism filled with parliamentarians that could look into every aspect of government.
What did the opposition leader do when he was minister of democratic reforms? He did nothing.
He did not take action on that. We did. This means that members of Parliament from every single party have the opportunity to look into every aspect of this matter. We have offered witnesses. We have had many ministers testify.
What is their interest? Partisan—
115 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Mar/20/23 2:39:40 p.m.
- Watch
The hon. member for Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes.
13 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- menumenu
- notificationsnotifications
- home
- mailmail
- searchsearch
