SoVote

Context: House Hansard - 170 - Mar/21/23

Mar/21/23 1:47:24 p.m.
Watch
Re: Bill C-23

Mr. Speaker, there are numerous potential challenges with this bill, and among the least of them might be definitions. I think that speaks to why the government has taken so long to actually bring it forward for debate. I have other concerns. We are a country right now, over the last eight years, which has had a significant challenge building anything. I want to make sure that, as we make efforts to protect our Canadian heritage, we do not inadvertently make it harder and harder to build anything in this country. That is an important part of the conversation that we can look at when we get this bill to committee, and we hope to hear more of that through the debate in the House today.

126 words

Mr. Peter Julian (New Westminster—Burnaby, NDP)

Mar/21/23 1:48:13 p.m.
Watch
Re: Bill C-23

Mr. Speaker, I understand my colleague is really putting forward a changed position from that of the Conservative Party five years ago. Then, the committee on the environment had a study on heritage sites, and Conservatives said that although they agreed in principle with the need to support indigenous perspectives in heritage sites, they felt this would represent additional stresses to the federal government's fiscal framework. I get the sense the member is providing a new position in which the Conservative Party believes that it is important for indigenous peoples to be represented and that there should be adequate resources to ensure their participation in these important sites. Could the member clarify this? Have the Conservatives changed their position from five years ago?

124 words

All Topics

Hon. Mike Lake

Mar/21/23 1:49:13 p.m.
Watch
Re: Bill C-23

Mr. Speaker, we have absolutely not changed our position. This is a different piece of legislation. The member has been around this place for a long time and understands that different legislation requires a different approach. There are important conversations we need to have. I represent an area with a significant indigenous population, with many living off reserve. The community of Maskwacis is just south of my constituency, which is already the largest constituency in the country by population by a long way. I take my role as a member of Parliament to be very important, and I hear from constituents and constantly learn from them every day. Again, this is why it is so important to get this bill to committee and make sure we hear from experts from across the country and every community to ensure that we always have the strongest legislation we can.

147 words

All Topics

Mr. Kyle Seeback (Dufferin—Caledon, CPC)

Mar/21/23 1:50:18 p.m.
Watch
Re: Bill C-23

Mr. Speaker, I am really happy to be able to discuss the bill today. I obviously think there are some very good things within the bill. I think that it would set up the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada. It would add indigenous representation in response to truth and reconciliation recommendation number 79. I would quickly note that the piece of legislation before us had its first reading in June 2022. Here we are in March 2023, and it is coming up for second reading. I wonder why it has taken the government so long to do this. I was a history major in university. I love history. I love the concept of expanding Canadian historic sites from coast to coast to coast. I love the idea of finding ways to make sure we maintain them, like maintaining birthplaces of prime ministers. Therefore, there are certainly things within the bill that I like and am very happy to support. However, going through law school, we were always told that the devil is in the details. When I look at the bill, I describe it as “the iceberg bill”. I question why the Liberals have designed the bill in this way. If they really wanted unanimous consent for a bill like this, why did they put so many things in this particular piece of legislation that, quite frankly, can be considered controversial? I want to talk about those, and I am going to explain the actual pieces of the legislation that I find could be controversial. When I then combine this with how I have so little faith in the government to do what is right, it gives me incredible pause. For example, the government says it has done a lot to prevent the importation of goods made with forced labour from the Xinjiang region of China. However, we had a concurrence debate on that today, and the evidence is that the government did not do anything. This is one reason that I do not have a lot of faith in how it is going to implement certain sections of the bill. I want to talk about this. The first thing is that the bill would give the minister powers to recognize the national historic significance or national interest of places. The minister can make that designation. I think that is absolutely fine, but when it has taken place, the minister gets other powers. That is what I am concerned about, and I want to talk a bit about that. With respect to historic places and canals, this bill would give the minister the power to restrict and prohibit the navigation, anchoring and mooring of vessels in historic canals. If the government designates a different waterway as a historic place or historic waterway, will those powers extend there? For example, if we were to dedicate a certain portion of waters on the west coast of Canada as a new historic site or historic waterway, would the minister then have the power to determine whether navigation can go through that? If we think of the tourism industry on the west coast with the cruise ships, etc., would the minister be able to limit where the cruise ships can operate? That is sort of deeply problematic to me. Right here in Ontario, we have the Trent-Severn system. Thousands of Canadians have cottages along this system, and the minister would have the power to restrict or prohibit vessels from mooring or operating in the Trent-Severn Waterway. The government will say that the minister would never do that unless they absolutely had to, but the reasons for being able to make that designation are not defined in the bill. It is a blank cheque. I am sorry to say this, but I would never give the government a blank cheque for anything because it just has such a terrible track record on things like this. The bill is highly problematic, and it has to be studied at committee. I am very hopeful the government members, recognizing how important it is to add indigenous representation to the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, will put some guardrails in place to restrain the minister's powers to make these kinds of restrictions or prohibitions. That is the way to build consensus with all parties and make sure the bill will have speedy passage. The government does not have a good track record of doing that, though. The general approach has been that it is the government's way or the highway. Therefore, I am asking its members today to make sure that there is going to be a very collaborative approach to how we do this. The member for Edmonton—Wetaskiwin spoke about the Leduc No. 1 well and the historic significance of that, which could be designated by the minister. The minister has the power to designate a historic place. That is fine. I think there are somewhere near 36,000 submissions on this. These designations would take place from coast to coast to coast. The devil is in the details of that, because the bill also gives the power that the minister may have the authority over lands adjoining or incidental to historic places. What does that mean? Why has that not been clearly defined in the act? Let us say, for example, the government decides to declare a historic place near someone's property. Then it says the windmill on the property is taking away from the historic place, and that person needs to take the windmill down or the government needs a chunk of that person's land. What are the rules regarding that? What is going to restrain the minister's power? Someone might say that is overreaching, except the government does not have a good track record of collaborating. The government does not have a good track record of ensuring that it does not overreach. I can go on about the challenges of the minister having power over lands adjoining or incidental to historic places. Have the Liberals defined what “incidental” means? I think we all understand what “adjoining” means, but have they defined what “incidental” means? Of course they have not. Why have they done it? Why have they included language like this in a bill that they say everyone should support? It is sloppy drafting. It is trying to put way too much into the bill that should not be in it. There are other powers in this bill that were not mentioned in the member's speech and have not been discussed. There are new offences created under this act, and if a person is convicted under this act, the court could order the seizure of an item or property. Let us think back to my example of the Trent-Severn. If they say someone cannot operate on the Trent-Severn, then someone who has a cottage there decides they need to get in their boat to go to the grocery store, because those exist, then they could be charged and the boat could be seized. That is a problem, but wait, there is more. They are also setting up the historic places protection fund. Where is the funding for that going to come from? It is also not clear in the bill if the proceeds of seizures will go into the historic places protection fund. We can think of the conflict of interest that exists if the government says the more things we seize, the more money we have in the fund. We know the government likes to tax everything, whether it is the escalator tax on alcohol or whether it is tripling the carbon tax. The government is addicted to tax and addicted to revenue. If there is an incentive in this bill for the government to seize property or personal property and use those proceeds, then we have to be very concerned that it is exactly what it is going to do. This bill, I agree, should be supported and it should go to committee, but the committee needs to do the really hard work of looking at what exactly is in this bill. I am hopeful that I have illustrated just some of the concerns I have with this legislation, and that the committee will take those concerns very seriously and find ways to rein in the power of the minister that is unconstrained now, to define what “incidental” means and to make it clear that the proceeds from seizing things are not going into this fund. Those are my concerns.

1443 words

All Topics

Ms. Lena Metlege Diab (Halifax West, Lib.)

Mar/21/23 1:59:50 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to take part in many events this month held in recognition of International Women’s Day, including an inspiring luncheon hosted by Nisa Homes, a non-profit operating 10 women’s shelters across Canada, and the Vedanta Ashram Society celebration at Halifax’s Hindu temple to pay tribute to the women volunteers who have supported the temple for five decades. We have the Power of Success dinner for all women in business. I had the honour to join the 67th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, where issues like the gender pay gap were on the agenda. I also announced over $1 million in federal support for entrepreneurship centres in Halifax West. Much work remains, but I am confident that we are building a brighter world for women. As my daughter welcomed beautiful baby Isabelle Angelina, my first granddaughter, last week, my hope is that all doors will be open for the next generation of girls.

170 words

The Speaker

Mar/21/23 2:00:55 p.m.
Watch

Before I go to the next hon. member, I just want to remind everybody in the chamber that S.O. 31s are being spoken and everybody wants to hear, so let us keep our talking to a minimum so that we can all enjoy what is being said. The hon. member for Niagara West.

54 words

Mr. Dean Allison (Niagara West, CPC)

Mar/21/23 2:01:15 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, earlier this month, I attended the ceremony for the Fonthill and District Kinsmen Citizen of the Year award. This is a very special event in my riding of Niagara West. We were all happy to gather safely in person, to celebrate once again, after a three-year break due to the pandemic. I have attended almost every year since I was elected back in 2004. This year's recipients were Brad and Brayden Saplywy, a father and son duo, who helped raise almost $10,000 for Pelham Cares, a local charity. How did they do it? For the past three years, Brayden and his dad have decorated their truck in Christmas lights, 9,000 lights to be exact, to raise awareness for funds for charities. Next year, they are planning on adding 10,000 lights to the truck. What an incredible story of solidarity and generosity. Other folks who have received the Kinsmen Citizen of the Year are Gary and Rosemary Chambers, Ron Kore and Michael Jacques, among many other outstanding members of our community. I am proud to represent Pelham and other townships in our close-knit community of Niagara West.

194 words

Mrs. Rechie Valdez (Mississauga—Streetsville, Lib.)

Mar/21/23 2:02:20 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, today marks World Down Syndrome Day. The 21st day of the third month was selected to signify the uniqueness of the triplication of the 21st chromosome that causes Down Syndrome. Down syndrome is a naturally occurring chromosomal arrangement that has always existed and is universal across all racial, gender and socio-economic lines. One in every 781 babies born in Canada has Down syndrome. I want to take a moment to recognize the incredible individuals with Down syndrome who make important contributions to our communities every day. Unfortunately, these individuals often face discrimination and are denied opportunities to fully participate in society. This year's theme is “with us not for us”. As we celebrate this day, let us commit to creating a more inclusive society that values diversity and supports those with Down syndrome and their families. Together, we can create a world where everyone can live fulfilling lives.

154 words

Mr. Sébastien Lemire (Abitibi—Témiscamingue, BQ)

Mar/21/23 2:03:27 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, at the prestigious 2023 Bocuse d'Or culinary competition in Lyon, Signé Caméline's roasted camelina oil won first prize in the Bocuse d'Or SIRHA Innovation Awards, the highest international honour in the field of culinary products. It is the first time a product from Quebec has won this prize. I am proud to congratulate Oliméga, a family business that uses sustainable, environmentally responsible growing techniques. I knew the company when it was just starting out around 15 years ago. I am deeply moved to rise in the House to congratulate Chantal Van Winden, Raymond Durivage, Guillaume Cloutier, my dear friend Marc-Antoine Cloutier, and the entire team. Signé Caméline roasted camelina oil is a 100% Quebec-made, high-nutrient product that is grown and processed in Saint‑Édouard‑de‑Napierville, in Montérégie. This bright yellow plant is also grown in my neck of the woods, in Témiscamingue. I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge the contribution of Services Agritem, Ferme Alain Sarrazin and Ferme Mondou et Robert. I am proud to welcome Lorraine Mondou and Michel Robert, who are with us here today.

206 words

Mr. Peter Schiefke (Vaudreuil—Soulanges, Lib.)

Mar/21/23 2:04:36 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, this week, as I celebrate 11 years of remission from cancer, I had the honour of being chosen as the honorary president of the Canadian Cancer Society Relay for Life, being held in Pincourt on June 10. That night, I will be walking for Tarik, a young, bright man who went to Westwood High School and completed his first year at John Abbott College. He was passionate about history and politics. He loved to draw, paint, play video games and build Lego. Above all, he loved spending time with his best friends Bella, Aysha, Hailey, Maddy, Jazzy, Isabelle and Flanny. Sadly, Tarik lost his battle with cancer on January 26, taking his last breath in his mother’s arms, at the age of 19. Tarik was a warrior. During his treatments, his mother said he never complained. He just carried on. If he had a message to share with anyone else battling cancer it was “be brave, you got this”. To Tarik’s mother Donna, his sister Cerine and his great aunt Sharon, who join us in Ottawa today, I want to thank them for sharing his story with me. He truly was a special young man. It will be an honour for me to walk in his memory in June. I invite everyone from Vaudreuil—Soulanges to join me in paying tribute to those who are still battling this disease and those we have lost. Together, we can all help end cancer.

250 words

Mr. Mel Arnold (North Okanagan—Shuswap, CPC)

Mar/21/23 2:06:21 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, elections in Canada are for Canadians to decide, not to be influenced or decided by foreign interference to suit foreign interests or agendas. If our elections have been interfered with by foreign entities, Canadians deserve to know who is responsible, what actions have been taken against them and what is being done to prevent it from happening again, and yet the Prime Minister and his Liberal-NDP government are blocking attempts to get to the bottom of how Beijing operated interference networks to affect our 2019 and 2021 elections. Canadians want and deserve a public inquiry into this election interference and they deserve to know why the Prime Minister and his NDP friends are doing everything they can to prevent this from happening. What does the Prime Minister know, when did he learn about it and what did he do or fail to do about Beijing's election interference? These are questions from Canadians and the people of North Okanagan—Shuswap. What does the Prime Minister have to hide?

172 words

Mr. Taleeb Noormohamed (Vancouver Granville, Lib.)

Mar/21/23 2:07:36 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, across Canada, many communities celebrate Nowruz, the beginning of the Persian new year, the coming of spring. It is a time for sharing a meal, assembling the haft-seen table and, most important, it is a time for family and friends to come together. However, around the world, from Iran to Tajikistan, Turkey to Afghanistan, many communities that should be celebrating have been facing extreme difficulties. They are in our hearts, thoughts and prayers, and we wish them peace and happiness. This year, our family celebrated our son's first Nowruz, a moment of great joy for us and a chance to pass on traditions from one generation to the next. May this new year bring us all peace, prosperity, love and light. Nowruz Mubarak.Navroz Mubarak.

129 words

Ms. Annie Koutrakis (Vimy, Lib.)

Mar/21/23 2:08:25 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, today, as a proud Canadian of Greek origin, I rise in the House to commemorate Greek Independence Day and the struggle of the Greek people to break free from the Ottoman Empire. March 25, 1821, symbolizes the courage and fortitude of the Greek people who fought a formidable power to gain their independence. On this day, we honour all the heroes who sacrificed their lives for the re-establishment of Greece, Greek civilization, democracy, and the Orthodox faith. We also recognize the cultural and political impact of the Greek Revolution and its influence on the modern world. The Greeks have inspired us with their courage, resilience and love of freedom and democracy then and, as reliable allies against tyranny, more recently. [Member spoke in Greek]

127 words

All Topics

The Speaker

Mar/21/23 2:09:34 p.m.
Watch

I want to remind hon. members that statements are being made, and they are very important to the individuals and very important to us. For those who are talking, I would ask that they talk much lower or wait until statements are over and come back in the chamber, so that we can all enjoy and hear what hon. members have to say. The hon. member for Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound.

73 words

Mr. Alex Ruff (Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, CPC)

Mar/21/23 2:09:56 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, one of the biggest issues small businesses and industries are facing across Canada is labour shortages. However, even businesses that find qualified workers, there is no affordable place for them to live. It is not just workers who cannot find a place to live. I have not-for-profit affordable housing projects for seniors that have been impacted by the Liberal’s record inflation that has more than doubled construction costs from $3 million to $7 million dollars. Inflation is not the only problem. I am hearing from affordable, sustainable housing projects that are running into a wall of bureaucratic red tape with respect to re-zoning and permitting that delay construction while costing hundreds of thousands of dollars. During a public housing meeting that I hosted, the frustration from Canadians, developers, municipalities and not-for-profits was palatable over the lack of affordable housing. Addressing the housing crisis ultimately comes down to a simple question of supply and demand along with urgent action. I recommend the Liberals start adopting the policies we have put forth on housing, accreditation and getting rid of the gate keepers or get out of the road and let a Conservative government do it.

202 words

Mr. Jaime Battiste (Sydney—Victoria, Lib.)

Mar/21/23 2:11:00 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the 2023 winners of the New Waterford Coal Bowl Classic and the School Sport Nova Scotia Division 2 boys' basketball provincial champions, the Breton Education Centre Bears. Known for their relentless full-court press defence, that defence led them to multiple-point victories in each of their wins. This year’s Coal Bowl felt for many like a return to form as the first tournament held since the pandemic began to impact our communities in 2020. The first-ever Coal Bowl was held in 1982, but this is the first year that both contenders for the top spot came from Cape Breton. The Bears played fellow Cape Bretoner’s, the Riverview Ravens, in the championship game to take the title. However, it is no surprise that two of the top spots were from Cape Breton, because Cape Breton creates champions. I congratulate the Bears on their well-earned victory. Go Bears. I am glad they could be in Ottawa to celebrate that today.

172 words

Mrs. Cathay Wagantall (Yorkton—Melville, CPC)

Mar/21/23 2:12:11 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, with continuing inflation, skyrocketing food prices, rising interest rates, unaffordable housing, labour shortages, foreign interference, daily reports of violent crime and ethics violations, no wonder the anxiety level of Canadians has continued to escalate. Every day brings new revelations of overreach and failures by the Liberal-NDP coalition. As April 1 approaches, Canadians brace for the tripling of the Liberal carbon tax and the cost of everything will rise again as a result of their mismanagement. What the government is underestimating is the resolve of the people of Canada. Canadians refuse to yield. The day is coming soon when they will exercise their power. Canadian men, women, young and old will exercise their right to bring about change. Then, together, with a majority Conservative government, we will fix what they have broken.

134 words

Mr. Gerald Soroka (Yellowhead, CPC)

Mar/21/23 2:13:14 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, repeatedly the Liberal government proves that it does not care about Canadians. If it did, then inflation would not be at a record-breaking 40-year high. The Liberals' solution: an automatic escalator on the alcohol excise tax, increasing taxes on beer, wine and spirits by 6.3% on April 1, alongside the carbon tax like a sick April fools joke. This tax increase will devastate consumers; beer, wine and spirit producers, 95% of which are small businesses; and other Canadian entrepreneurs who can barely make ends meet as it is. This tax hike will also have sweeping negative impacts on industries like tourism, food and hospitality, among many others. Enough is enough already. Taxpayers should not have to pay for the Liberal government's chronic fiscal mismanagement. They should not have to struggle under this cost-of-living crisis. Will the Liberal government axe the planned excise tax, yes or no?

154 words

The Speaker

Mar/21/23 2:14:22 p.m.
Watch

Once again, I want to remind everyone that S.O. 31s are taking place and we all want to hear what the hon. members have to say. I want to encourage them not to speak very loudly or just whisper among themselves rather than talking loudly and interfering with the hon. members and their messages from back home. The hon. member for Orléans.

65 words

Mrs. Marie-France Lalonde (Orléans, Lib.)

Mar/21/23 2:14:43 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, the month of March symbolizes our francophone pride and our linguistic duality. Yesterday, on March 20, francophones in my community of Orleans, across Canada and throughout the world celebrated the International Day of La Francophonie. My colleague, the Minister of Official Languages came to my community, to the Collège catholique Mer bleue, under the Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-est, and we met with students to talk with them about the importance of speaking, studying and living in French. March 8 was also International Women's Day. I had the privilege of hosting over 115 women in my community at my ninth annual breakfast where I presented the 2023 Orléans Leading Women and Girls Recognition Award to 49 women and girls for their leadership and community involvement. Finally, I want to thank everyone for continuing to promote our beautiful French language, in all its diversity.

156 words