44th Parl. 1st Sess.
October 19, 2023 10:00AM
- Oct/19/23 3:13:28 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, this week is Small Business Week. Small businesses employ about 10 million Canadians and contribute about 40% of GDP. From indigenous people to new Canadians, we have dynamic entrepreneurs in my riding of Nepean with small businesses in sectors from technology to tourism. I am glad our government has supported these local businesses.
This week is an opportunity to celebrate them. Could the Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario tell the House how we are supporting our hard-working small business owners and entrepreneurs across Canada?
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- Oct/19/23 3:14:07 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, small businesses are the heart of Canadian communities, and our government is delighted to support small businesses like Mādahòkì Farm, which I had the pleasure of visiting with the member for Nepean. It offers a unique indigenous experience and a marketplace for local indigenous entrepreneurs.
Our government is going to continue to support entrepreneurs and small business owners so they can reach their potential and develop new possibilities for Canadians. I thank all small businesses across Canada for their commitment and for their dedication and hard work.
Happy Small Business Week.
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- Oct/19/23 3:14:48 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, several water main breaks saw torrents of water pouring down the streets of Prince Rupert and flooding people's homes. Now there is a city-wide boil water advisory. This is not the first time. Last December, the city had to declare a state of emergency due to its failing water infrastructure.
This is a port city that is critical to Canada's supply chain and our economy. Will the minister stand and speak directly to the people of Prince Rupert and assure them that timely federal help is on its way?
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- Oct/19/23 3:15:32 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we know the people of Prince Rupert are facing serious water challenges and we are closely monitoring the situation.
Through the disaster mitigation and adaptation fund, we are helping communities protect their critical infrastructure while reducing long-term costs associated with replacing infrastructure following natural disasters. The minister has been working with Mayor Pond and the province on Prince Rupert's application to the fund to address its water challenges.
We will always have the backs of the people of Prince Rupert, and we will share more on this as soon as we can.
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- Oct/19/23 3:16:12 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, through the heights of the pandemic, small businesses in my community, from Big Bliss yoga to Full Circle Foods, did all we asked of them. Now, during Small Business Week, they need more than a selfie. They need more time, before what they thought at first was a grant turns into another loan they will have to repay. The 18 days previously announced is not good enough.
If the government has $30 billion for a pipeline that is only going to accelerate our own extinction, will it not step up for small businesses when they need it the most?
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- Oct/19/23 3:16:55 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we understand the struggles that many small business owners had during the pandemic and that many continue to face. That is why we have offered additional flexibilities for small businesses to repay their CEBA loans. They include a full one-year extension on the term loan repayment deadline, more flexibility on refinancing and more time to access loan forgiveness, which is both a balanced and fiscally responsible approach.
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- Oct/19/23 3:17:26 p.m.
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The hon. member for La Pointe‑de‑l'Île is rising on a point of order.
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- Oct/19/23 3:18:22 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, there have been consultations among the parties and I believe that if you seek it you will find unanimous consent for the following motion:
That the House recognize that, according to the 2021 census data, the proportion of Quebec residents whose mother tongue is French dropped from 77.1% in 2016 to 74.8% in 2021; the proportion of Quebec residents who primarily speak French at home dropped from 79% in 2016 to 77.5% in 2021; the proportion of francophones in Quebec, according the first official language spoken criterion, dropped from 83.7% in 2016 to 82.2% in 2021; the proportion of francophones in Canada, according to the first official language spoken indicator, dropped from 22.2% in 2016 to 21.4% in 2021; the proportion of Quebec residents who use French most often in the workplace went from 81.9% in 2011 to 79.7% in 2021. The decline of French in Quebec and Canada is real.
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- Oct/19/23 3:19:48 p.m.
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All those opposed to the hon. member's moving the motion will please say nay.
Some hon. members: Nay.
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- Oct/19/23 3:20:34 p.m.
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The hon. member for Lanark—Frontenac—Kingston on a point of order.
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- Oct/19/23 3:20:34 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, it is possible that the Liberal who said no was concerned about the accuracy of the statistics, but it sounds to me like those are accurate statistics. I wonder if the member could try again now that we are confident that they are.
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- Oct/19/23 3:21:03 p.m.
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I thank the hon. member for raising this point, but there was a unanimous consent request and a member clearly said no.
This reminds me of how important it is for all House leaders and whips to coordinate when a request for unanimous consent is made, to ensure that there is in fact unanimous consent. A number of Speakers have already ruled on the matter and offered members some sound advice, namely that when they say there is unanimous consent, they should make sure there really is unanimous consent, because it is important not to waste the House's time.
The hon. member for New Westminster—Burnaby on a point of order.
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- Oct/19/23 3:21:57 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, unanimous consent motions are circulated among the political parties. However, the parties often neglect to say exactly what they intend to do with them. Naturally, we are entitled to present them in the hope that all the parties will proceed in good faith.
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- Oct/19/23 3:22:20 p.m.
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I concur with the sentiment behind that idea. It is very important for all of the parties to work together, behind the scenes, if possible, on unanimous consent requests.
The hon. member for Mégantic—L'Érable for the Thursday question. This being my first Thursday question as Speaker, I must say that I am eager to hear it.
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- Oct/19/23 3:22:58 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I have to admit you are putting a little pressure on me to produce a Thursday question that lives up to this House's reputation.
During Oral Questions, there were a lot of questions about Bill C‑56 and comments by government ministers about the Conservative Party's decision to support or oppose it. They urged us to support it. I would note that the government has not put Bill C‑56 on the House's agenda since October 5. I actually have an excellent speech ready about my position on Bill C‑56.
I would therefore like to ask the Leader of the Government if a discussion of Bill C‑56 is planned for next week's House business so that I can finally deliver my speech.
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- Oct/19/23 3:23:57 p.m.
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I congratulate the member for Mégantic—L'Érable on meeting my expectations for my first Thursday question.
The hon. Leader of the Government in the House of Commons.
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- Oct/19/23 3:24:11 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I think the hon. member will be very happy with my answer.
I hope that happiness will result in him supporting Bill C‑56 and not just giving a speech about it. The bill is good for Quebeckers and Canadians.
Tomorrow, we will begin second reading debate of Bill C-38, which deals with new registration entitlements. I am sure my colleague is very interested to hear that, on Monday, we will debate Bill C-56, the affordable housing and groceries act. On Tuesday and Wednesday, we will call Bill C-57, the Canada-Ukraine free trade agreement implementation act, which was introduced earlier this week.
Thursday, we will proceed with report stage and third reading of Bill C-34, concerning the Investment Canada Act. I assume that my hon. colleague is very happy with this news, and I look forward to hearing his speech on Monday.
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- Oct/19/23 3:25:38 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. At times the issue of decorum inside the chamber is raised, but I have also found that there has been quite a bit of noise outside of the chamber.
For example, as the government House leader was providing a response, clapping was taking place. There seems to be, at times, a constant level of noise. I just want to reinforce the importance of trying to keep it quiet outside of the chamber too.
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- Oct/19/23 3:26:00 p.m.
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I thank the hon. member for raising that issue. In fact, before the hon. member took his feet, I had actually signalled to the Sergeant-at-Arms to ask members outside to keep the conversation low.
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I am now ready to rule on the point of order raised on Thursday, September 21, by the member for Bay of Quinte concerning Bill C-339 and Bill C-56.
Bill C-339, an act to amend the Competition Act (efficiencies defence), standing in the name of the member for Bay of Quinte, received first reading on June 8 and was added to the order of precedence on September 20. Bill C-56, an act to amend the Excise Tax Act and the Competition Act, received first reading on Thursday, September 21, and is currently being debated in the House at second reading.
In his intervention, the member for Bay of Quinte noted that the government had presented a bill which contains the same provisions as his private member's bill. The member sought assurance from the Chair that, if required, he would have recourse to replace his bill with another item according to the provisions of the Standing Orders.
The parliamentary secretary to the government House leader countered that it would be premature to consider the matter until the Subcommittee on Private Members’ Business and the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs had completed their work pursuant to Standing Order 91.1 and presented a report to the House.
Bill C‑339 contains only two clauses, which are identical to clauses 9 and 10 of Bill C‑56. Bill C-339 seeks to repeal the provision of the Competition Act setting out the “efficiencies defence”, which prevents the Competition Tribunal from making an order if it finds that the likely gains in efficiency will be greater than the effects of any lessening of competition resulting from a merger.
Bill C-56 aims to repeal the exception brought about by mergers involving efficiency gains, while also establishing a framework to conduct an inquiry, permitting the Competition Tribunal to make certain orders, as well as amending the Excise Tax Act.
It is my understanding that the Subcommittee on Private Members’ Business held a meeting on Thursday, October 5, to determine whether the bills added to the order of precedence on September 20 should remain votable or not. While the subcommittee and the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs have not yet made a final recommendation to the House concerning Bill C-339, the official process has not yet run its course. It would therefore be premature for the Chair to make any determination on this matter at this time.
There is an opportunity to resolve the concern raised through the Subcommittee on Private Members' Business and the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, which are the designated bodies for considering items added to the order of precedence. I trust that the usual process will be followed in accordance with the rules and practices of the House. If a procedural issue remains after that process is complete, the Chair is open to considering the matter.
I thank all members for their patience and attention.
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