Hon. Andrew Scheer - 12:26

Lib. (ON)
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Mr. Chair, thank you for that very important question from the leader of the official opposition. I have agonized over this myself, personally, quite a lot.
I think that the leader of the official opposition must be referring to the many—
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Hon. Anthony Rota - 12:27
Hon. Andrew Scheer - 12:27

Lib. (ON)
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Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
The leader of the official opposition has inaccurately quoted the comments that I made last week, but those comments did sincerely reflect what I think is the debate or the struggle all of us have been having about two realities. One is the absolute imperative to honour peaceful protests and for Canadians—
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Hon. Anthony Rota - 12:28
Hon. Andrew Scheer - 12:28

Lib. (ON)
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Let me be clear about something the Leader of the Opposition said in his previous question. I strongly support the action that our Prime Minister took on Friday in joining the anti-black racism protest. The fact that our Prime Minister was there sent an essential message to Canadians and the world. He was also wearing a mask, which is very important.
In my own comments last week—
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Hon. Anthony Rota - 12:29
Hon. Andrew Scheer - 12:29

Lib. (ON)
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Mr. Chair, I think it is essential for us to honour the right of Canadians and, indeed, of people around the world to make their political views known by peacefully protesting. That is an essential element of democracy and of people fighting for equality.
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Hon. Andrew Scheer - 12:30

Lib. (ON)
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Mr. Chair, in my comments last week and in the comments from our chief public health officer last week, clear advice was offered to Canadians who wanted to exercise their right to peaceful protest. The advice was to wear masks. The advice was to bring hand sanitizer. The advice was to be careful. That is very important, so is the—
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Hon. Anthony Rota - 12:31
Hon. Andrew Scheer - 12:31

Lib. (ON)
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Mr. Chair, I would like to be extremely clear about our government's position, and I would like to invite the official opposition to be equally clear about its position.
Now is a time in the world when all of us have to state our views. All of us have to be clear on whether we stand against anti-black racism or not. To be silent is to be complicit.
In attending that protest, in being visible for Canadians and the world, the Prime Minister sent an essential message to everyone in our country.
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Hon. Anthony Rota - 12:32
Christine Normandin - 12:33

Lib. (ON)
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I would like to thank my colleague for her very important question.
I think this crisis has highlighted for all Canadians and all Quebecers the importance of the people doing essential work in our country. That absolutely includes seasonal farm workers.
I absolutely agree that we need to do better to protect them and ensure healthy and clean working conditions. This is obviously the obligation of employers, but it is also the obligation of all Canadians.
I want to thank the seasonal farm workers for their important and hard work.
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Christine Normandin - 12:35

Lib. (ON)
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I have a few answers for that. First, organizations and civil society have a role to play in raising key issues. It is an essential part of our democracy. I also want to thank those who work in civil society.
When it comes to seasonal farm workers, our government is very aware of the importance of the issue. We are working in close cooperation with the provinces and public health authorities across the country—
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Hon. Anthony Rota - 12:37
Christine Normandin - 12:37

Lib. (ON)
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I must say there are some inconsistencies in the member's question. On the one hand, she says that the poor employers have too much paperwork, and on the other, she says that we need more inspectors to make sure that everything is fine with seasonal workers.
I share her view that it is very—
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Hon. Anthony Rota - 12:38
Christine Normandin - 12:38

Lib. (ON)
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Absolutely. This is a very important issue for us. We are working hard to ensure that the working conditions are healthy and clean. We are working with the workers themselves, with the provinces, with—
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Hon. Anthony Rota - 12:38
Jagmeet Singh - 12:39

Lib. (ON)
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Mr. Chair, I thank the hon. member for his important question.
In response to the questions we have heard today in the House, I must say that symbols are also very important. Symbols are very important to our Prime Minister—
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Hon. Anthony Rota - 12:39
Jagmeet Singh - 12:39

Lib. (ON)
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Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. I'd like to personally thank the member opposite for the very specific role that he plays in our country today on this issue. It is important. Actions are important. So is standing on the right side and I'm very proud that's what the Prime Minister did on Friday.
The member opposite points to questions we all must have today about policing, including the RCMP.
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Jagmeet Singh - 12:40

Lib. (ON)
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The member opposite has asked some important questions about the RCMP and about policing in Canada. Let me be clear about a few things. There can be no tolerance for racism or bias of any kind within police forces in Canada. We absolutely are aware that systemic discrimination, systemic racism, is real in Canada and that unconscious bias—
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Hon. Anthony Rota - 12:41
Jagmeet Singh - 12:41

Lib. (ON)
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Mr. Chair, I absolutely agree with the member opposite that these are tragedies and I agree that we must act and do everything we can to ensure they are not repeated.
Acting includes anti-bias training in all of our police forces, including the RCMP. Acting includes, as the Prime Minister said, body cameras for police, and acting absolutely includes focusing even more on mental health. That has been a focus for our government and I agree so strongly with the member opposite that we must redouble our efforts. These deaths—
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Hon. Anthony Rota - 12:43
Jagmeet Singh - 12:43

Lib. (ON)
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Mr. Chair, as the member opposite knows, mental health has been a focus of our government from the outset. It was something that we campaigned on in the election in the fall. As all Canadians have been suffering through coronavirus, we have redoubled our efforts there.
But I agree with the member opposite. We have to do more. We have to do better. We are committed to doing that, and I hope we can work with the member opposite, with the NDP—
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Hon. Andrew Scheer - 12:44

Lib. (ON)
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Mr. Chair, let me start by saying that I welcome the clear and unequivocal statement against anti-black racism by the leader of the official opposition.
I think we in Canada need to understand that we are at a watershed moment for our country and the world. We are at a moment when we all have to take a stand. We have to take a stand either against racism, against anti-black racism...we have to say something that is painful for many of us to admit—
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Hon. Andrew Scheer - 12:46

Lib. (ON)
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—which is that systemic discrimination exists in our country.
I do have to say to the member opposite and to members of all parties here, this is such a monumental challenge. It is a challenge that calls on us to transform our society and our country, and I think we need to work together on that challenge and not fall victim, fall prey, not minimize it and belittle it with partisan bickering.
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Hon. Anthony Rota - 12:46
Hon. Anthony Rota - 13:04

Lib. (ON)
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Mr. Chair, I'd like thank the member opposite for that important question.
As the Prime Minister announced today, we are expanding the understanding of what counts as essential travel into Canada. As the member opposite points out, immediate family members of Canadians and of permanent residents will be allowed to come into Canada provided it is a journey of lasting duration and—
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Lianne Rood - 13:04

Lib. (ON)
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Mr. Chair, if I may, I just want to first finish my answer to the first question, because it is very important that all Canadians, all permanent residents and now their immediate family members coming into Canada will be subject to a mandatory quarantine order. I just want to make very clear to them and to all Canadians that it must be followed. It will be enforced. I do want to thank the premiers on their collaboration around these border rules—
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Lianne Rood - 13:05

Lib. (ON)
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Yes, for sure. The border regulations are important. I wanted to be sure there was clarity on that.
When it comes to the ban on military—
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Lianne Rood - 13:05
Alain Therrien - 13:14

Lib. (ON)
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Madam Chair, I thank my colleague for his important question.
We agree that the $14 billion—I'd like to stress that amount—that the Prime Minister talked about last Friday is money. This money that the Prime Minister offered to the provinces is very important because the federal government understands the importance of economic recovery. We understand the importance of having a healthy and successful economic recovery. We also understand, of course, the importance of close co-operation with all the provinces, including Quebec.
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Alain Therrien - 13:16