44th Parl. 1st Sess.
February 29, 2024 10:00AM
- Feb/29/24 3:05:23 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, Black Mental Health Week begins next week. It is a time to amplify Black voices and support equity in mental health. It is time to correct the disproportionate lack of Black health researchers, so we can deliver culturally appropriate mental health solutions. It is time to act to improve the wide gap in health outcomes for many Black Canadians that is the result of historical and systemic anti-Black racism.
Can the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions tell us what her department is doing to improve access to culturally safe and informed mental health services for Black communities across the country?
104 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Feb/29/24 3:06:08 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, the member is such a tremendous advocate on so many issues that matter to Canadians. Black communities across Canada continue to experience social and economic inequities, which have persisted for far too long and have negative impacts on people's mental health. We know there is more work to do and we are committed to doing it together.
Through programs like the mental health of Black Canadians fund, we are supporting organizations to develop culturally safe, focused, knowledge-based programs with the capacity to improve the mental health of Black Canadians and meet their needs. We will keep working with the Black community across Canada.
107 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Feb/29/24 3:06:50 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, common-sense Conservatives will axe the tax, build the homes, fix the budget and stop the crime. Meanwhile, after eight years of the NDP-Liberal Prime Minister, Canadians know he is not worth the cost, the crime or the corruption.
Just yesterday, we learned that in the Prime Minister's $60-million arrive scam, one of the contractors who was paid millions is actually a bureaucrat for the NDP-Liberal government. That is why common-sense Conservatives passed a motion in this House, demanding that the government produce all the documents on the Prime Minister's scandal. Will he stand in this place and commit to releasing every last page?
112 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Feb/29/24 3:07:29 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, 24 hours after we became aware that the CEO of Dalian was a DND employee, we took action. We have suspended all contracts with Dalian. We have suspended the employee and launched an investigation of how this person became an employee of DND in the first place.
We will act to ensure that we protect the integrity of our institutions and our government.
65 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Feb/29/24 3:08:01 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, let us say this a little louder for those in the back. We are looking for a commitment from the government to release every page of those documents. After eight years, it is very clear that the Liberals and their NDP-Liberal Prime Minister are not worth the corruption. This is a $60-million scandal, with people in their basements getting paid $20 million and not doing any IT work. Now we have the minister's staff getting paid millions of dollars while Canadians are lined up at food banks.
Some hon. members: Oh, oh!
Mr. Michael Barrett: I will ask this loudly so that the minister can hear it: Will they commit, standing in their place, to getting Canadians money back for their corruption?
127 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Feb/29/24 3:08:44 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, I will simply remind the member opposite how quickly we acted. This information came to our attention yesterday. Since that time, we have suspended all contracts with Dalian. We have suspended the member and launched a thorough investigation to determine how this individual came to be employed.
We are—
52 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Feb/29/24 3:09:09 p.m.
- Watch
I expect all colleagues to have respect for each other and to wait their turn to be recognized by the Chair. At that point, when they have the opportunity to speak, I also request that all people listen to them.
The hon. minister.
43 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Feb/29/24 3:09:35 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, I do not want to repeat what I have already said, except to remind the members of this House that, when this information came to our attention, we took immediate action. We took the steps necessary to protect Canadians' interests and to remove this individual from our employ.
50 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Feb/29/24 3:09:56 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, common-sense Conservatives will axe the tax. We will build the homes. We will fix the budget. We will stop the crime.
After eight years, the NDP-Liberal Prime Minister is not worth the cost, crime or corruption. Yesterday we learned that yet another company received eight million tax dollars for the arrive scam. However, it gets better: This one was owned by a national defence bureaucrat. The rot continues. Yesterday, Parliament passed our motion to force the government to release all documents and to repay taxpayers.
Will the government end the cover-up and release the documents, yes or no?
103 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Feb/29/24 3:10:41 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, the member opposite began his question by talking about all the things the Conservatives propose to do at some point in the future. However, let us remember what they did when they were in government. They cut defence spending, for example, to less than 1% of GDP. They cut the resources of the police, our national security and intelligence advisers, and all the people whose job it is to protect us and to maintain the integrity of our institutions. They cut them.
We have been rebuilding the government to get the work done, and we are prepared to take the action necessary—
105 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Feb/29/24 3:11:20 p.m.
- Watch
I will ask the hon. member for South Shore—St. Margarets to please wait his turn.
The hon. member for Alfred-Pellan.
23 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Feb/29/24 3:11:39 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, Quebec is blessed with tourist attractions that appeal to Quebeckers, Canadians and the rest of the world. Quebec's tourism sector accounts for more than 3% of jobs and 2% of the GDP.
Can the minister tell us how our government will ensure that Quebec's tourism sector achieves its full growth potential, be it for sustainable tourism, agri-tourism, outdoor experiences, indigenous tourism or rural tourism?
69 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Feb/29/24 3:12:21 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question.
He can tell everyone in Alfred-Pellan and the rest of Quebec that, as of today, the tourism growth program for Quebec is ready to receive project submissions from SMEs, not-for-profit organizations and indigenous communities.
Our delivery partners, the Société des attractions touristiques du Québec and Indigenous Tourism Quebec, will select projects to enhance and diversify visitor experiences.
The Conservatives do not believe in tourism. They want to make cuts everywhere from Saguenay to Gaspé. Here on this side of the House, we will support all of Quebec's tourism projects.
108 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Feb/29/24 3:13:04 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, last summer's wildfires devastated communities across Canada. The Minister of Emergency Preparedness has admitted that the upcoming wildfire season will be even worse.
Canadians want their government to take decisive action. According to last week's Abacus poll, 74% of them want to see this done through a new national wildfire fighting force, but the Liberals are taking a go-slow approach. The wildfire season is already starting.
When will the government act to create a national wildfire fighting force?
83 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Feb/29/24 3:13:41 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, in fact, actually, we are taking immediate action, taking lessons learned not only from last year but also from previous years.
First and foremost, we need to make sure that all the resources that have been put in place go directly to fighting wildfires, that is, to the local levels. We have already trained approximately 500 firefighters, putting in place more personnel to support the recovery.
Yes, we are reviewing the overall national system as well.
For any support that we provide, we are going to make sure that it actually has the maximum impact.
97 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Feb/29/24 3:14:15 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, we are learning that Palestinians in Gaza have been shot and killed while waiting for aid, at a time when the UN reports that at least a quarter of those in Gaza are one step from famine.
Meanwhile, Amnesty International reports that Israel has failed to comply with the ICJ ruling requiring it to take immediate steps to prevent genocide, including allowing humanitarian aid in.
In light of this, when will the government reinstate UNRWA funding, which millions of Palestinians rely on for food, and call on Israel to follow the ICJ ruling?
95 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Feb/29/24 3:14:55 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, the stories coming out of Gaza are extremely preoccupying. This is catastrophic. I would call it a nightmare scenario.
At all times, international humanitarian law must be respected; both parties must respect the ICJ ruling. We need to do more to make sure that humanitarian aid is going into Gaza. At all times, civilians must be protected.
59 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Feb/29/24 3:15:37 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, it is time for the weekly Thursday question. I just want to let my colleague, the government House leader, know that the Conservatives are ready to quickly pass any legislation that will axe the tax, build the homes, fix the budget or stop the crime. They need not use extended sittings to do that, if they come forward with common-sense, practical plans, not like the inflationary deficits and soft-on-crime approach that have unleashed so much crime and chaos in our community.
Can the government House leader inform the House whether any of that will be coming the week we come back? If not, what will the government actually be calling for debate.
117 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
Mr. Speaker, I have good news today. We have announced a whole bunch more homes being built in Canada. We have reduced taxes on the middle class and increased them on the one per cent, and those guys voted against it. The budget is the best in the G7, and we have a great record on reducing poverty. All these things are well in hand without the bad track record of the previous government.
Later today, we will have the final vote on the motion regarding the Senate amendment to Bill C-35, an act respecting early learning and child care in Canada. Tomorrow will be an allotted day.
When we return following the constituency weeks, we will resume second reading debate of Bill C-59, the fall economic statement implementation act, 2023. On Wednesday of the same week, we will continue debate on the motion relating to the Senate amendments to Bill C-29, an act to provide for the establishment of a national council for reconciliation. Tuesday, March 19, and Thursday, March 21, shall be allotted days.
180 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
I would like to advise that an agreement could not be reached under the provisions of Standing Order 78(1) or 78(2) with respect to the second reading stage of Bill C-59, an act to implement certain provisions of the fall economic statement tabled in Parliament on November 21, 2023 and certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 28, 2023.
Under the provisions of Standing Order 78(3), I give notice that a minister of the Crown will propose at the next sitting a motion to allot a specific number of days or hours for the consideration and disposal of proceedings at the said stage.
115 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
