//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgLebanonInterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin (Fredericton, GP): (1225)[English]Mr. Speaker, I thank the minister and my colleagues for their important words today. It is critical that we show solidarity and compassion in these dark times.We have a thriving Lebanese community in Fredericton with roots that run deep. As I have been learning over the past few days, these roots indeed run across the country. I would like to highlight our wonderful Atlantic Honorary Consulate to Lebanon, Consul Fares, who cares deeply about the connection to the homeland and Lebanese Canadians. My heart goes out to Consul Fares for his work in the months to come and to all of Lebanon as it confronts this unimaginable reality. We are with them as Canadians and as citizens of the globe. We send our deepest condolences. I call for justice for the families of victims, and for a peaceful and swift national recovery with adequate support from Canada.BeirutDeaths and funeralsExplosionsInternational cooperationStatements by MinistersJagmeetSinghBurnaby SouthHeatherMcPhersonEdmonton Strathcona//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/1813DominicLeBlancHon.Dominic-LeBlancBeauséjourLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/LeblancDominic_Lib.jpgGovernment OrdersCOVID-19 Pandemic and Other MattersInterventionHon. Dominic LeBlanc (President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada, Lib.): (1240)[Translation]Mr. Speaker, I thank the leader of the Bloc Québécois for his question.I believe he pointed out an important fact, and that is that our government, the Prime Minister and the members of our cabinet have always been available to answer questions, whether it be in the House, in committee of the whole like today, or before the House committees. At the same time, as the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth pointed out, our government is focused on the economic issues that are of concern to Canadians and public health issues.We will be very pleased to work with our opposition colleagues as we have done since the beginning of the pandemic in order to adapt programs to support Canadians, Canadian businesses and, above all, our provincial partners in order to deal with the health situation, which is still a major concern.We are working hard. The ministers are working, and members are in their ridings across the country to support their constituents and develop policies that will meet the needs of Canadians. That is exactly what we will continue to do.Consideration in a Committee of the WholeCOVID-19Government and politicsPandemicAnthonyRotaHon.Nipissing—TimiskamingJagmeetSinghBurnaby South//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgGovernment OrdersCOVID-19 Pandemic and Other MattersInterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin (Fredericton, GP): (1400)[English]Mr. Chair, my first question to the Minister of Health is very simple. Is it the responsibility of the minister's department to uphold the Canada Health Act in all jurisdictions in Canada?Canada Health ActConsideration in a Committee of the WholeCOVID-19PandemicFrançois-PhilippeChampagneHon.Saint-Maurice—ChamplainPattyHajduHon.Thunder Bay—Superior North//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgGovernment OrdersCOVID-19 Pandemic and Other MattersInterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin: (1400)[English]Mr. Chair, will the government intervene then to save Clinic 554 and, by this, ensure access to reproductive health and essential services to the LGBTQ2S+ community in New Brunswick?Canada Health ActConsideration in a Committee of the WholeCOVID-19New BrunswickPandemicSexual minoritiesPattyHajduHon.Thunder Bay—Superior NorthPattyHajduHon.Thunder Bay—Superior North//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgGovernment OrdersCOVID-19 Pandemic and Other MattersInterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin: (1405)[English]Mr. Chair, the Minister of Public Safety said that he heard calls from families, survivors and advocates when he made the important announcement that the federal government was launching a full public inquiry into the Nova Scotia mass shooting. Families will get answers, communities will be able to heal and recommendations will be made, ensuring that such a tragedy will never happen again.Can the minister also hear the voices of the families of Rodney Levi, Chantel Moore and Brady Francis? Can he hear the calls from the New Brunswick and British Columbia chiefs, the indigenous leaders and advocates, and launch a comprehensive, open and fully transparent inquiry into how the legal and law-enforcement systems have failed indigenous people in New Brunswick?Consideration in a Committee of the WholeCOVID-19Indigenous peoplesJudiciaryNew BrunswickPandemicPattyHajduHon.Thunder Bay—Superior NorthBillBlairHon.Scarborough Southwest//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgGovernment OrdersCOVID-19 Pandemic and Other MattersInterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin: (1405)[English]Mr. Chair, the pandemic has shaken to the core the very way that we, not too long ago, thought how to do business: walking into a store, trying and touching various items and shaking hands once a transaction is finalized. Businesses had to adapt to new ways of doing things, and fast.The Fredericton economic development agencies group, in its effort to respond and advocate on behalf of all businesses, highlighted the need for businesses to obtain support and information on transitioning to or expanding e-commerce options. Does the government have a plan to support businesses to make this transition?Consideration in a Committee of the WholeCOVID-19Electronic commercePandemicSmall and medium-sized enterprisesBillBlairHon.Scarborough SouthwestMaryNgHon.Markham—Thornhill//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgGovernment OrdersCOVID-19 Pandemic and Other MattersInterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin: (1405)[Translation]Mr. Chair, the last time the Official Languages Act went through a complete overhaul was 1988. I am practically the same age as this legislation. Linguistic minority communities across the country, organizational representatives and specialists have worked hard to contribute to the study, and the report and its recommendations were submitted to the government over a year ago now. I know the minister cares deeply about the vitality of official languages, but the longer the government drags its feet, the more hope fades with each passing day that anything will come of this file.Can the minister confirm that the legislation will indeed be modernized during her present term of office?Consideration in a Committee of the WholeCOVID-19Official languages policyPandemicMaryNgHon.Markham—ThornhillMarie-ClaudeBibeauHon.Compton—Stanstead//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgGovernment OrdersCOVID-19 Pandemic and Other MattersInterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin: (1405)[English]Mr. Chair, I read the report following the review of systemic racism and oppression at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. It is telling of the problems present in our society and how pervasive systemic racism and homophobia are when an institution that was created to promote respect for others and encourage reflection and dialogue fails its own mission. The report provides avenues for reparation. Every action toward inclusivity has the potential to lead to significant improvements in the lives of Canadians. There are some recommendations specifically with respect to the language used in communications.My question is for the Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth. Would the government be ready to adopt a gender-inclusive language, remove gender binaries and adopt an epicene style of writing in all of its internal and external communications, in English and in French?Consideration in a Committee of the WholeCOVID-19Gender identity and gender expressionGovernment policyPandemicMarie-ClaudeBibeauHon.Compton—StansteadBardishChaggerHon.Waterloo//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgGovernment OrdersGovernment Business No. 10InterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin (Fredericton, GP): (1635)[English]Mr. Speaker, as a first-time MP, this has been quite the introduction into federal politics. I have received a quick schooling on what is truly important to the people in my riding, how things work in this government environment and the ways that I can contribute.After the initial post-election excitement, the reality of setting up an office in Ottawa and the constituency set in. We got to work putting together a team to serve the people of Fredericton and represent Canadians.We spent the five months following the election in a typical rhythm of Parliament before the pandemic took hold in our nation. We have now spent just as much time involved in the emergency public health, social and economic relief efforts associated with COVID-19. As many members know, I am a teacher by trade. Teaching is not the traditional path to politics, but there is nothing traditional about this Parliament for me. I spent a decade teaching youth to have a critical lens, to stand up for what they believe in and to not accept injustice. I applied those lessons to my work here as an MP, and I am honoured to be able to share them with my colleagues in this venue.Despite the change in career, I have kept my priorities and passions. I came here to create a better world for children and youth, and to create better communities for them to grow up in. In today's take-note debate, I want to talk about families, students, some of the realities of this pandemic experience and the ways we can keep moving forward to get through this together.My family means everything to me, and they have been along for this intense journey. For us, the pandemic has meant months in intermittent isolation and a family bubble, days in the car to get here and back to New Brunswick, and only about eight hours, since March, that I have been without my two children, except for the hours I have spent sitting in this House. This is perhaps why I have one of the best attendance records.If my colleagues did not catch the humour in that, they can rest assured that I love my children and they love me, but we are looking forward to our routines returning to normal. The point is, as a working mom, having no school or day care these past months has been like maternity leave without the leave. Full-time work while providing child supervision and care is simply not possible, especially with the added responsibilities of home schooling.I have heard from many parents of the struggles and concerns of parenting in a pandemic. Parents in Canada need a break, especially parents of children with disabilities, autism or behavioural challenges who need educational assistance, resource teachers and guidance counsellors. Children also need a break from their parents, especially the children who are perhaps experiencing neglect or abuse. Those children have been on my mind these past few months. Children need to hear from other adults, coaches and role models. Let us take this time to sincerely appreciate our early childhood education and public school systems and the people we rely on to make them work.[Translation]As a government, we must ensure that all parents, children, teachers and staff feel safe as they return to the classroom.[English]Families are stressed and apprehensive with a variety of tough choices ahead. I know there are innovative solutions and ideas out there, and I trust the government to assist provinces as they reopen schools with clear and cautious health advice. I think also about the families separated by our border closure. Foreign national long-term partners and adult children remain unable to enter Canada to see their loved ones. These families have spent five months separated already. While enforcing two-week quarantines, we could lighten travel restrictions for students and immediate family, enabling them to return to their Canadian families and communities. These changes, coupled with the reminder that Canada is home to people from all over the world, would go a long way to combat the isolationism that has been known to breed contempt, which may already be being directed at the international students trickling into our country.[Translation]Fredericton is home to two university campuses and several colleges.[English]The international students who arrive in Fredericton each year are a critical component of our local communities. Having so few of them returning to us in person this year is a major loss. The universities in my home province have been announcing pandemic protocols for the coming semester. There are a lot of pressures on these institutions, but I cannot help but think of the impact on students.On top of the anxieties the last five months have brought for all of us, they are facing the choice of continuing to take on personal student debt at a time when it is not clear what sort of economy they will graduate into. We will need the government, and likely the next government to come, to stand beside these students as they work to pay off the student debt incurred at this juncture in their lives.Speaking of student debt, we are coming up on the end of the government's initiative to pause student loan repayment obligations for recent graduates. This will mean hundreds of dollars a month that these debt holders will need to begin paying again. This program should be extended for at least another six months, and we should start talking meaningfully about student debt forgiveness.(1640)[Translation]We need to support families, especially children, adolescents and young adults, during these uncertain times.[English]The public health emergency over the last months has been coupled with civil unrest and action. We have seen deaths in our streets, ongoing oppression and injustice. I think of the world that my children are inheriting, all children, the world that youth and students are inheriting across Canada. I look around, I watch the news and I read the comments on social media, which maybe I should not, because they lead me to shake my head. Our kids will have questions of all of this, and we had better have decent answers for them. We must seize this opportunity and wield the responsibility we have as parliamentarians to address the prejudices that blind us: rampant systemic racism; hiding the many microaggressions and overt acts of racism present in our everyday lives; toxic masculinity that seeds silent acceptance of a rape culture, violence against women and girls and members of the LGBTQ2IA+ community; privilege that shrinks our world view, making invisible those living in poverty with insecure housing, with disabilities, fighting addictions and surviving trauma. We need to start seeing one another again and finding compassion for our neighbours. Since being elected as a member of Parliament, I have been actively involved in calls for equality and systemic change. Recently, and in light of international and local tragedies, I have supported a call for a national Senate inquiry into wellness checks as a police response to mental health issues in Canada; I attended a healing walk for Chantel Moore and Rodney Levi; I made a public pledge to call out racism when I see it online or otherwise; I signed a petition calling for a review of systemic racism in police forces; I submitted a letter to you, Mr. Speaker, to address systemic racism in this institution; I have questioned the Minister of Health about actions on her mandate to address racism in the health care system; and I asked the Public Safety minister to declare his outrage and commit to protecting all black, indigenous and people of colour from racial injustice. These are the promises I made to my youth, the ones that I worked with, my students. I taught them to be activists. If we see something is wrong, we do something about it. If someone's voice cannot be heard, we find ways to amplify it.As I prepare to send my kids back to school, I have been reflecting on the immense responsibility our teachers will shoulder in this school year. They will balance public health protocols with school curricula and changing class composition. They too will face the questions of curious young minds about the world we live in. Their answers will be instrumental in shaping the minds of a coming generation of leaders.[Translation]Teachers need our support, our patience and our encouragement.[English]Just as our health care professionals have stepped up to respond to this pandemic, our teachers are being called to step up now to do the important work of helping to raise children, to educate them and to help them build resilience in the face of uncertainty. I thank them for their service, and I stand with Canadian families. To the young thinkers and learners across this country, I am listening. Your leadership is essential as we face down our challenges, and we will get through this together. Please reach out at any time.Care for childrenConsideration in a Committee of the WholeCOVID-19Foreign studentsGovernment Business No. 10Health and safety at schoolPandemicRacial equalitySexual discriminationStudent debtTake-note debatesTeachersAnthonyRotaHon.Nipissing—TimiskamingDanAlbasCentral Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgGovernment OrdersGovernment Business No. 10InterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin: (1645)[English]Mr. Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague so much for that very important question.Absolutely, I have been hearing from my constituents on this same issue of parental and maternity benefits as a result of COVID. There is a group that has gathered. There are parents across this country who are grappling with this question. When we had our daily or almost daily briefing calls with various government departments, I consistently asked that question day in and day out, and I was given that same response: “We're working on it. We're looking for the solution.”For me, this delay is quite disappointing. These people have been waiting. Some have already had their children and need to receive this benefit, so I was pleased this morning to hear the minister talk about retroactive pay, but that does not get people what they need in the interim. I am very concerned with how long this has taken, but I am also encouraged that finally we might see some action on this. Here we are five months into the pandemic, and these parents have been waiting. Let us get money into the hands of parents now. Certainly, the retroactive payment is good to hear, but it is an issue that went on for far too long. Consideration in a Committee of the WholeCOVID-19Employment insuranceGovernment Business No. 10PandemicParental leaveTake-note debatesDanAlbasCentral Okanagan—Similkameen—NicolaCharlieAngusTimmins—James Bay//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgGovernment OrdersGovernment Business No. 10InterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin: (1645)[English]Mr. Speaker, certainly as a Green Party member, the environment is top of mind. It is the lens I use with all policy and questions, including social justice. It is all connected. For me it is a critical component of our recovery plan moving forward. However, the youth are already fired up. They are already active and engaged. This is something that fuels me and gives me the energy I need to do my work in the House.My advice for him is to keep this up, not to lose optimism and hope. The solutions are out there. We are the leaders of today, not the leaders of tomorrow. Those voices are so critical to the work we do to inspire us and guide us.As parliamentarians, it is our responsibility to be role models and to bring truth to the House, to not be divisive, to not get too bogged down in the weeds of what perhaps our personal ideologies may be, but be here to do the work we were sent here to do by our electorate.I am going to talk about environmental issues, and it is not just because I am a Green. It is because I am a Canadian. It is because I am a mother and a teacher and those things are so important to me.On the east coast, we have seen some different weather patterns. We have seen some changes. We have seen some of the hottest days on the record in our communities. People are very aware of these impacts. It is just a matter of empowering them to continue to do that work, to continue to be active and to continue to demonstrate or to do whatever they may feel is important. Social media is a great venue for that as well.Consideration in a Committee of the WholeCOVID-19Environmental protectionGovernment Business No. 10PandemicTake-note debatesCharlieAngusTimmins—James BayKevinLamoureuxWinnipeg North//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgGovernment OrdersGovernment Business No. 10InterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin: (1650)[English]Mr. Speaker, as a former teacher, I feel that this is an incredibly important time. It is something we have never seen before, and I think initially teachers were looking for ways to engage. They wanted to be able to help more, but because of the restrictions and all of the measures to keep us safe they were not necessarily able to do that.With the time that has passed, I think our teachers are really ready to get back into the classroom. We enjoy our summer breaks as best we can, but we always have that feeling in September when we cannot wait to get back to our students who mean so much to us. Teachers have been ready for months and months now, so I really feel they are going to take the bull by the horns on this. They will really take the initiative and do what needs to be done to keep our children safe, keep themselves safe, keep staff safe and also keep everyone's level of well-being in check. What is really important to me about kids returning to school right now, outside of curriculum and the necessary things to move them through their grades, is that well-being: that social aspect of being with other people besides their family bubbles they have been stuck in for the last five months.I believe teachers are well suited to do this and, as I have said, they have just been waiting to get involved and have their turn to serve citizens in this pandemic. I am so excited to see what they will do with this. When thrown a curveball, our education systems respond very well. I am so proud of the education system in New Brunswick in particular.I note that we fared quite well in New Brunswick during the pandemic, and we do not face as much uncertainty as some of the other jurisdictions in Canada. I wish them well. I hope we go slow. I hope we are as cautious and as safe as we need to be, but I am so thankful for kids to go back to school. I hope I can support teachers within my riding to do that as safely and enjoyably as possible.Consideration in a Committee of the WholeCOVID-19Government Business No. 10PandemicTake-note debatesTeachersKevinLamoureuxWinnipeg NorthHeatherMcPhersonEdmonton Strathcona//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgGovernment OrdersGovernment Business No. 10InterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin: (1650)[English]Mr. Speaker, I did not know my colleague had a teacher training background, but I should have guessed because we align on many things.It is going to be different across jurisdictions, as I mentioned. I am a big fan of national standards. No matter where someone is in Canada, one should be able to receive the best practices we are seeing in other provinces or territories.I have faith in our provincial systems and feel our job is to protect and support them, so I hope they are able to monitor and ensure they are reaching the same standards as other jurisdictions. We do not necessarily have those standards yet, so I would certainly be supportive of seeing those happen here in Canada. Care for childrenConsideration in a Committee of the WholeCOVID-19Government Business No. 10Health and safety at schoolPandemicTake-note debatesHeatherMcPhersonEdmonton StrathconaAnthonyRotaHon.Nipissing—Timiskaming//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgGovernment OrdersGovernment Business No. 9InterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin (Fredericton, GP): (1415)[English]Mr. Speaker, the member highlighted a lot of really critical pieces of how people have been dealing with COVID-19. You mentioned support for shelters, individuals, racialized minorities, mental health issues and you also mentioned federal-provincial-territorial collaboration. On that note, there was one thing I noticed that might have been missing from that discussion. I wonder if you could speak about whether or not you believe that safe, affordable housing is a right and whether you support a rent freeze as families and individuals navigate COVID-19.Consideration in a Committee of the WholeCOVID-19Government Business No. 9PandemicSocial housingTake-note debatesKarenMcCrimmonKanata—CarletonAnthonyRotaHon.Nipissing—Timiskaming//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgGovernment OrdersGovernment Business No. 9InterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin (Fredericton, GP): (1520)[English]Madam Chair, I very much enjoyed the speech from the member for Edmonton Strathcona. I always do, so I appreciate her work and her efforts. The member has been discussing a very important aspect, which is universal basic income, and how that could have come to the rescue of so many more Canadians.Why does the member think the Liberal government is resistant to that idea?Consideration in a Committee of the WholeCOVID-19Government Business No. 9Guaranteed annual incomePandemicTake-note debatesHeatherMcPhersonEdmonton StrathconaHeatherMcPhersonEdmonton Strathcona//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgGovernment OrdersGovernment Business No. 9InterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin (Fredericton, GP): (1545)[English]Madam Chair, our chamber of commerce in Fredericton held a webinar with the Minister of Economic Development. She mentioned the process of dealing with COVID-19 as stopping the bleeding, sewing up the wound and then healing. I feel like we have done a pretty good job of stopping the bleeding. We have incredible programs in place now. We have made some tweaks and improvements, which is what I would call sewing up those wounds.What does the member believe would be the best way to support this next stage of healing for which Canadians are looking?Consideration in a Committee of the WholeCOVID-19Government Business No. 9PandemicTake-note debatesAnitaVandenbeldOttawa West—NepeanAnitaVandenbeldOttawa West—Nepean//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgGovernment OrdersGovernment Business No. 9InterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin (Fredericton, GP): (1610)[English]Madam Chair, I have been reminded again and again of the kindness and creativity of people across this country these past four months, especially in our own civil service. That historic weekend in mid-March when the pandemic took hold in Canada began a domino effect of businesses closing to the public, employees losing work and people flocking to government relief programs, fearing whether or not they would be able to pay their rent. [Translation]The huge number of applications submitted that have been processed by Service Canada and Canada Revenue Agency staff is incredible. More than six million applications were submitted by mid-April, just two weeks after Canadians started submitting their applications again.[English]More unsung heroes of this pandemic are the people employed at Global Affairs Canada and the CBSA, who began an incredible effort of repatriating Canadians from across the globe. During the first weeks of the pandemic, these civil servants moved mountains to schedule flights, to confirm travel eligibility, to work with consulates and foreign governments to get Canadian citizens and permanent residents back on Canadian soil. Their efforts were incredible. The minister responsible played a significant leadership role in guiding these efforts, and I wish to thank him as well. Who can overlook the incredible work of the people involved in Canada's public health infrastructure? Dr. Tam and all of the other provincial health officers' daily updates and leadership and the support of the entire Public Health Agency and the public health departments across each province and territory, which pooled data, tracked cases and implemented protocols, have saved countless lives.All of these efforts are to be commended, but the staff that dedicated their time to these emergency measures had to step away from their regular workloads, and ongoing cases at IRCC, Service Canada, CRA, Veterans Affairs, etc., have been stuck and languishing for months. What do people do when their federal systems are shutting down? They come to their MPs.My team and I have been handling an incredible number of these case files and the people whose lives are on hold while their files stagnate in a backlog. Even as our government slowly works to address these files that are piling up on desks across departments, the traditional supporting documentation that people need to track down is not always available, and they cannot possibly complete the requests being made of them. We need these systems to empower workers to find alternative pathways for Canadians. This system collapse is having second- and third-order impacts on individuals and families across the country. Let me tell members about a few of my constituents.There is a gentleman in my riding who has been working in Canada for several years now and is applying for his permanent residency. He has submitted all of his documentation, but has been asked to submit one last piece of information: an FBI security check. It is not possible for him to get this document right now, as the FBI is not conducting these checks at this time. Relying on other countries to provide documentation is highly complex, given how hard it is to get documentation within our government. Will he need to leave Canada because we insisted on a document he could not get? How long will we leave this man and his loved ones in limbo? We need flexibility in the immigration system, and case workers who are empowered to identify alternative paths to residency and citizenship, or we risk losing our neighbours who have come to call Canada their home. In another case, there is a couple in my riding who rely on their GIS cheques each month like so many other Canadians. They both submitted paper versions of their taxes at the same time in February. One of them had their taxes reviewed. One of them had their tax file lost. As a result, they have been denied their GIS payment until they can resubmit their taxes. They are being told that it must be done via e-file, but they have not been able to make that happen. We need flexibility within the CRA and employees in that department to be empowered to work with people and, in this case, to either track down the paper file or to work with this couple to facilitate the refiling of their taxes so they can receive their GIS payments.In yet another case, there is a mother in my riding who lost her child tax benefit just before the pandemic shut down offices in March, because the father of her children claimed that he had custody when he did not. The CRA has placed the burden of proof on her shoulders to regain the benefit, which she needs to raise these children. One of the supporting documents required was a letter from a health care provider substantiating her claims. For months, doctors, dentists and other health professionals have not been providing these services. Getting these supporting documents has been incredibly difficult.(1615)[Translation]We need to implement flexible systems that enable federal employees to work more closely with people in these uncertain times. [English]I know that many of my colleagues in the House worked day and night in the first months of the pandemic to get support to constituents in crisis, and continue to do so. That workload has now shifted to support constituents in their backlogged cases. While my constituent assistants and I are continuing to advocate on behalf of the individual cases that come through my door, we need to fix this at a macro level. I want to raise this today to articulate a question to my colleagues in government. What comes next? Can we initiate a major hiring push, just as Veterans Affairs Canada announced last month to handle its backlog? So many Canadians remain underemployed and unemployed. This seems the perfect opportunity to get more hands on deck to start working across government departments.Can we empower case workers with more flexibility and tools at their disposal to massage case files through the system, recognizing that the standard burden of documentation is not realistic now, and may not be for months to come?I am but one opposition member of the House, and a rookie member, at that. I do not pretend to have all of the solutions, but I know that the solutions are out there, and I believe they lie in our civil service. The brilliant and compassionate minds that have worked tirelessly through March and April to get support into the hands of Canadians need to be equipped and empowered to put their brilliance to work to address these issues.[Translation]Communities across the country are changing. The government must adapt its services and embrace new technology.[English]There is so much about this virus that we cannot control, but we can control how we respond to it.I wish to end on a positive note, a “thank you” to our civil service and a pledge to do all I can with my colleagues in the House to ensure that they have the tools and the respect they need to help Canadians in this time and in the future ahead.BacklogsBenefits for childrenConsideration in a Committee of the WholeCOVID-19Government Business No. 9Government servicesGuaranteed Income SupplementImmigration statusPandemicTake-note debatesKevinWaughSaskatoon—GrasswoodAnjuDhillonDorval—Lachine—LaSalle//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgGovernment OrdersGovernment Business No. 9InterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin: (1615)[English]Madam Chair, I am very supportive of the government's response to COVID-19. I mentioned yesterday just how proud I am to be a member of Parliament and to be a Canadian, at that, because we have fared quite well on the global stage, as far as COVID-19 goes.The programs are not perfect, but we worked together to make them as applicable as we could to most Canadians. I do feel, however, that I must voice my support for a guaranteed livable income. That was something that, at the onset, would have supported so many more Canadians without the existing strict eligibility criteria. They would have had the support they needed to get through these months and the months ahead.We are talking a bit about the healing and the recovery and what comes next, and I really hope the government is very open-minded with regard to the concept of a universal basic income or a guaranteed livable income, because I really feel that is the next step that we need to continue supporting Canadians with, as we have done throughout this COVID-19 crisis.Canada Emergency Response BenefitCanada Emergency Wage SubsidyConsideration in a Committee of the WholeCOVID-19Government Business No. 9Income and wagesPandemicTake-note debatesAnjuDhillonDorval—Lachine—LaSalleLindsayMathyssenLondon—Fanshawe//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgGovernment OrdersGovernment Business No. 9InterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin: (1620)[English]Madam Chair, I thank my hon. colleague for her work in the House. We certainly align on just about everything, so I am glad to be here with her in the 43rd Parliament.I am very supportive, as well, of a universal child care system. I have two children of my own; many of my friends, families and Canadians know how important child care is to these next steps in our recovery in building back better for Canada, so we certainly need to put a lot of emphasis on that. We know how women have been disproportionately impacted throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.Certainly, I have felt some of those pressures as a woman, especially as a newly elected MP and what that brings into play, but I also recognize my privilege, so I cannot imagine those in a less privileged position having to deal with these last few months and then what is to come with all of the uncertainty.There certainly need to be some changes. You mentioned some changes to the EI system; I really believe, again, that putting that patchwork of supports into a guaranteed basic income for all Canadians would really be the best step forward. It would alleviate a lot of the administrative costs and the stresses that we have experienced as parliamentarians in the rollout of these programs. That would be the direction that I would put my energy and my vote behind.Childcare centres and workersConsideration in a Committee of the WholeCOVID-19Government Business No. 9Guaranteed annual incomePandemicTake-note debatesLindsayMathyssenLondon—FanshaweLaurelCollinsVictoria//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgGovernment OrdersGovernment Business No. 9InterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin: (1620)[English]Madam Chair, I thank my colleague from Victoria for joining us virtually. That is a testament to how we have been doing our work here in Parliament.In my speech, I gave a couple of examples of people struggling during this time. I think specifically about those who are waiting for their GIS cheques to come in. I think about those living on a limited income. I think about mothers who are struggling to find work or who want the option to stay with their children before they go on to their school-age classrooms.For me, it would help countless individuals such as entrepreneurs, people wanting to take risks in their lives, artists and anyone in the gig economy. Specifically, I am thinking of many people in Atlantic Canada. I think about those with disabilities and those struggling with mental health issues. I feel this is the net we need to cast out into Canada, because it eliminates those holes we have been seeing glaringly throughout this COVID-19 crisis.Consideration in a Committee of the WholeCOVID-19Government Business No. 9Guaranteed annual incomePandemicTake-note debatesLaurelCollinsVictoriaAlexandraMendèsBrossard—Saint-Lambert//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgGovernment OrdersFurther COVID-19 Measures ActInterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin (Fredericton, GP): (1340)[English]Madam Speaker, I am happy to be in the House with my colleagues. Once again, it was quite a journey to get here, especially on short notice, but I know there is important work to be done.I have been supportive of the government as we navigate COVID-19. I also want to thank fellow opposition members for their hard work and for getting things done. I am honoured to be a member of the 43rd Parliament and am proud to be Canadian. I do have one regret: partisan politics. Quite simply, it has made a mockery of our institution. It has allowed us to perpetuate systemic issues within the House and has pitted us against each another. It inflames hatred and fear, the type that one can read about in the manifestos of domestic terrorists.I want to offer my sincere concern for our Prime Minister and his family, as well as the Governor General. I think we should all reflect very deeply on what has occurred at Rideau Hall and commit to doing a better job of teaching love in our communities.Our system sees its members fighting for credit and recognition, and tearing each other down at every available opportunity. It is the people of this country who are suffering. I think of all the Canadians who are eagerly awaiting the one-time payment for persons with disabilities that was proposed in June. It was poor planning and political posturing that has left these Canadians an extra month without aid.I too have been made to draw lines in the sand where I did not want to. There is no definitive wrong or right side. If we are truly here in the best interests of Canadians, the taxpayers who elected us, then I must ask us all, what are we doing? Why pour our energy and resources into one-upping each other?This is in no way to say that we are not to disagree, seek clarification, challenge evidence or hold the government to account. On the contrary, what I am calling for is increased participation and collaboration. I am calling for respect. Call it decorum or call it human decency.On that note, I would like to speak about some of the specifics of Bill C-20. The most important thing we can be doing right now and in the coming months is to ensure that Canadians have the resources they need to meet their needs. I applaud the move by the government to support wages for Canadians. I question the complexity of the system it has devised and I am particularly concerned that the ongoing lack of clarity about the details of this program will make business owners vulnerable to audits and investigations to come.It is essential that one year from now, or seven years from now, we remember that these programs were evolving in real time and that Canadians who accessed the wage subsidy, the emergency response benefit, the emergency student benefit, etc., did so in good faith based on the information they had available to them at the time. Heavy-handed, retroactive penalties will be the wrong approach.I am pleased to finally see the one-time payment for persons with disabilities being passed, hopefully. My own province has the highest rates of disability in Canada, and many of those with disabilities live in rural communities. The nature of New Brunswick as Canada's only bilingual province means that many francophones living with disabilities are also trying to find adequate resources in their mother tongue. This funding is a step forward, but it should never have taken this long.I would like to read an excerpt from a letter to the minister responsible for disability inclusion from a newly formed group, the New Brunswick Coalition for People with Disabilities:...day after day during his daily briefings, the Hon. [Prime Minister] hardly ever even mentioned people with disabilities. Then, when a promised payment of $600.00 failed to get approved at the House of Commons, we told ourselves maybe we should "let the adults hash it out". But then, we said no. No, we will not sit quietly anymore. This is what has been expected of people with disabilities for too long.... Let's be honest here. [The Prime Minister] said that Covid19 had exposed some "uncomfortable truths" about how we look after our seniors. The truth of the matter is, should we not also be embarrassed of the way we have been treating people with disabilities in this country? Here we have a group of people who live below the poverty line month after month, year after year. With no chance of EVER going back to work.... And we sit in the sidelines, watching as the Prime Minister of our beloved country decides that $2000 per month is the amount needed to get by in this country. And yet... We are asking people with disabilities to get by on so much less. And then, in a time of crisis, we tell them—by not saying anything at all—that we will deal with them last. And when we do decide to help them with a one-time payment of $600.00, well...it doesn't go through. The only financial aid during this whole Covid nightmare that does not go through.It is the responsibility of those with power to ensure that the most vulnerable among us are receiving the support they need. Many Canadians were already struggling to make ends meet, particularly because they could not access employment before COVID. For those relying on provincial social assistance programs, CPP or the disability benefit, their regular activities have been terribly interrupted by COVID.(1345)The precariousness of housing, loss of community kitchens, closure of public spaces and limitations on public transit have all had financial consequences for people who are already living on the edge. These citizens should have been among the first to receive aid. Instead, most of them have still received nothing and those living with disabilities have waited five months for a one-time benefit. It is not good enough. There are two weeks before the House is scheduled to sit again and I encourage my colleagues in cabinet to come back to us in two weeks' time with a meaningful pitch to support all Canadians who are the most financially vulnerable.I am also encouraged to see that the Canada-China relations committee will be able to continue its work. My hope is that we will be brave enough to be outspoken about China's occupation of Tibet and its treatment of religious minorities, including the Uighur concentration camps, and about the recent security law in Hong Kong. I am also pleased to see the commencement of virtual meetings of the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security. We have incredibly important work to do as parliamentarians, and the more we enable this activity virtually, the better served each of our constituents will be.I look forward to seeing how we address the question of virtual voting, especially as we expect a second wave of the pandemic to occur this fall. It would be irresponsible of us to become vectors of transmission in our communities. However, there is no question that we must get on with the regular business of the House to debate and pass important legislation.This brings me back to my opening comments about partisan bickering hurting Canada. I encourage all members of the House across party lines to consider how we can work together to ensure that the needs of our constituents are best met, rather than the various partisan interests we represent. We have all been experiencing the pandemic as parliamentarians and as individuals. I wish my colleagues well. I hope they are all doing okay. I know how this experience has affected my family and friends, my staff and their families. There is a collective struggle occurring across Canada and the globe. In this time of crisis, we need to tear down the barriers inherent to our ideologies and find ways that we can align. We need each other. We cannot get through the next phase of this virus without supporting each another as Canadians. We are stronger united. We must be able to have discussions, to challenge norms and stigmatization, but let our example of human decency in the House set the tone for the respect, kindness and compassion we want to see in communities across this country.C-20, An Act respecting further COVID-19 measuresChinaCOVID-19Government billsInternational relationsPandemicParliamentary democracyPartisanshipPersons with disabilitiesRemote votingSecond readingAlexandraMendèsBrossard—Saint-LambertMartinChampouxDrummond//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgGovernment OrdersFurther COVID-19 Measures ActInterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin: (1350)[English]Madam Speaker, I just think it shows so much about our society today, about how we prioritize, how we have completely lost the idea of eldership and how important seniors are in our communities. We are all going to be there, and we should definitely be trying to improve our quality of life at all stages, but particularly as we face our senior years. To me, we need to do far more to protect those in our communities who are most vulnerable and who have years and years of experience being Canadian, who have gone through so many things, other difficult times and experiences similar to this. There is so much to learn from them. To support them with a one-time $300 payment is symbolic of how much we value them, and we should do so much more.C-20, An Act respecting further COVID-19 measuresCOVID-19Government billsPandemicPersons with disabilitiesSecond readingSenior citizensSocial benefitsMartinChampouxDrummondCathayWagantallYorkton—Melville//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgGovernment OrdersFurther COVID-19 Measures ActInterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin: (1350)[English]Madam Speaker, to be honest, I have to disagree with the first part of my hon. colleague's question. I feel, especially as a Green Party member, that I have actually been given more opportunities to participate in debate. I particularly enjoy the virtual participation when we have the five-minute question slots, with the back-and-forth that occurs. We are getting our questions to Canadians. We are getting messages from the ministers responsible.We are having adequate conversations and discussion, but I would love to see virtual voting, because that is the missing piece here. We can do the work we need to do in the House. We need to adapt to the changes that have been thrown our way during this pandemic, and the way to do that is through virtual voting. I cannot see this room—An hon. member: If you do not want to come to work, resign.Mrs. Jenica Atwin: I am at work right now, thanks very much. I am still speaking, so if you could respect the decorum—C-20, An Act respecting further COVID-19 measuresCOVID-19Government billsPandemicSecond readingVirtual ParliamentCathayWagantallYorkton—MelvilleAlexandraMendèsBrossard—Saint-Lambert//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgGovernment OrdersFurther COVID-19 Measures ActInterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin: (1350)[English]Madam Speaker, we cannot fill this room with 338 MPs. It is already quite filled at the moment. Each of us has our own lives, families and communities to return to, and it would be very irresponsible of us to have everyone return. Without virtual voting, without giving members the equal opportunity to represent their constituencies, this is the way it has to be, and I am very supportive of that.C-20, An Act respecting further COVID-19 measuresCOVID-19Government billsPandemicSecond readingVirtual ParliamentAlexandraMendèsBrossard—Saint-LambertKristinaMichaudAvignon—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgOral Question PeriodThe EnvironmentInterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin (Fredericton, GP): (1500)[English]Mr. Speaker, the pandemic is forcing us to rethink the world we live in, from food security to our workspaces to the impacts of systemic racism. As we continue to respond to the COVID-19 health crisis, we must not forget that the climate crisis is also a health crisis, an economic crisis and a social crisis. They are intricately connected, and a response requires that we build resilient communities that will be ready to adapt.Could the Minister of Environment and Climate Change explain how exactly the undeniable impact of the climate crisis will be taken into account in the upcoming budget and within the long-term post-pandemic recovery plan?Climate change and global warmingCOVID-19Oral questionsPandemicStevenGuilbeaultHon.Laurier—Sainte-MarieDavidLamettiHon.LaSalle—Émard—Verdun//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgGovernment OrdersProceedings of the House and CommitteesInterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin (Fredericton, GP): (1100)[English]Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister for splitting his time with me today.It is absolutely a pleasure, as it always is, to be here with all of you. I am delighted to see some members for the first time in months and I really did miss everyone. Once again, it was not easy getting here. I packed up my family and we drove here from New Brunswick. They are with me for the long haul. We will be here as long as we need to be to do the work of Parliament that is very critical and essential during this time.I do think of all the MPs who are not here today, and it is not because they do not want to be here or that they are not working. As I look at this chamber, at the 30 or so of us spread out with several seats between us, I am reminded that each empty chair represents roughly 100,000 Canadians. Their voices will not be heard here today.Certain members of this House believe that perhaps a responsible representation of MPs by party status is adequate for decision-making and questioning the government. However, let us not forget that our jobs are first and foremost to our constituents and not to our parties.I am delighted to be here on behalf of the riding of Fredericton and raising the issues that are important to my constituents. Just like the member for Foothills said, this is also the thrill of my lifetime to be an elected member of this House and to stand here in this historic place, a symbol of our freedom and democracy. It is a place of honour and respect, yet there have been some disrespectful comments made, such as insinuations that our fellow members are not showing up to work because they cannot be here in person.We have heard wartime anecdotes and quotes from Winston Churchill, among others, all suggesting that COVID-19 in the year 2020 is somehow the same as World War II or the influenza outbreak. Of course, we know this is not the case.The word “unprecedented” has been used an unprecedented number of times to describe the situation that faces us. We are not seeing the forces of the world clashing under tyrannical regimes. We do not have bombs bursting overhead. We are facing an invisible enemy. It is an enemy that does not discriminate, that infects its host at a rate we have never seen before and that has left our communities vulnerable.We most certainly have an essential role to play as parliamentarians, but it looks different than it has at any other time in our history. The motion before us asks us to be creative, collaborative and accommodating to our members of Parliament. I believe it is meant to allow the fulsome participation of all elected members of this House from all ridings across this great country.Few other MPs from Atlantic Canada are able to be here today. That is concerning to me. The issues facing my home region are urgent and unique. Right now, our region of Canada is facing challenges with the lobster season, quotas for fishers and processors unable to recruit enough workers. Temporary foreign workers were only allowed in New Brunswick as of last Friday, meaning a delayed season with major implications for the economy and the agricultural yields.There are also calls for a public inquiry into the handling of the Portapique tragedy. There is the broader conversation it has started about support for mental health initiatives and our collective response to domestic violence, especially in rural areas.Cities, towns and villages in Atlantic Canada are much smaller than the major urban centres of other provinces, meaning that some of the federal funding earmarked for New Brunswick, P.E.I. and even Nova Scotia cannot be implemented by the municipalities that need it most.Let us not forget New Brunswick's unique role as a bilingual province and the challenges faced by Canada's minority francophone population to receive accurate, current information about the virus. We also see that New Brunswick is one of the most enviable jurisdictions in the world in terms of its total number of cases and zero deaths. Finally, it pays to be a New Brunswicker.Canada should be watching closely as my home province continues to open up elements of its economy as a test case for which businesses will flourish post-COVID-19, and which will need continued support. These issues are regionally specific and deserve to be voiced. Most of the MPs representing those voices cannot be here due to restrictions on interprovincial travel, limited domestic flights and the requirement for pared-down numbers in Parliament.I also note that it is not safe for other members of this House, those who are from isolated communities or those who will put their or their communities' health at a greater risk of COVID-19 by travelling to Ottawa. How can we ask those who cannot be here today to risk becoming vectors of transmission? At the same time, how can we hope to make decisions and represent Canada without a single voice from these vulnerable regions?It remains my opinion that until we can have a full integration of virtual participation with in-person meetings of the chamber or special committee, we are doing a disservice to rural, northern, Atlantic and west coast Canadians. As we stand here today, we are not ensuring equal representation for Canada, which is one of our most fundamental principles. Having said that, I see the effort the government is making with this motion to integrate virtual participation with the in-person sittings.(1105)I also recognize that the day-to-day sittings would be in the Special Committee on the COVID-19 Pandemic rather than full sittings in the House of Commons, which would be more ideal. With these elements considered, I will be supporting the motion because I believe it is in the best interests of democracy at this time.When we have figured out how the whole virtual integration of MPs will work, we will need to see the House reconvene to table some pressing legislation, such as on medical assistance in dying. In February, the Minister of Justice asked the Supreme Court for a four-month extension to the ruling in order to avoid the creation of separate MAID frameworks in Quebec and the rest of Canada. We have already taken advantage of an extension. Difficult issues still need to be addressed and Canadians who wish to receive MAID depend on us to pass that legislation.In March, the government introduced legislation to criminalize the cruel practice of conversion therapy. We need to commit to ban that practice without further delay. We also need to see the specifics of the firearms legislation meant to accompany the regulatory changes made on May 1. Canadians need to see the full details of this plan to end the suppositions on this issue that are polarizing Canadians.Figuring out the integration of virtual MPs with those of us here in person will enable us to lead the way for Canada as the world of work shifts permanently through this period of history. Some Canadians will need to continue working from home for some time to come. Some will want to continue working from home. Some will need to work partially from their homes and partially from their offices. We are being creative. We will see less travel by plane. We will see less commuter traffic in general. Let us set the example for workplaces across the nation by enabling MPs to make the best decisions for their constituents and to engage fully in the debate and decision-making that occurs in the House.My hope is that all Canadians will know how hard we are working for them every day. Whether in our living rooms with our kids hanging off us in front of a Zoom screen, or here on the floor of the House of Commons, our commitment and our efforts are unwavering.My mind is constantly on those I know are still slipping through the cracks of our COVID relief initiatives: the not-for-profits, charities and church groups, which for one reason or another find themselves ineligible for the wage subsidy program despite the critical services they provide in our communities; the cleaners and cashiers who have been left out of the essential workers wage top-up in New Brunswick; the dentists who are concerned about their practices moving forward and are finding barriers to pursuing PPE; the international students who still do not qualify for the student benefits and who have nowhere to go and no support; the pregnant women who still do not have adequate answers about their parental leave benefits in the weeks to come, and so many others.My colleagues and I work for them. I know that we can continue to do this work in a way that protects the health and safety of our home communities.COVID-19Government and politicsGovernment Business No. 7PandemicProcedureOmarAlghabraHon.Mississauga CentreFrancisScarpaleggiaLac-Saint-Louis//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgGovernment OrdersProceedings of the House and CommitteesInterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin: (1110)[English]Mr. Speaker, the member is right that it would not protect our parliamentary privilege. We have the right to be here and to voice our concern on every issue that is put before the House. Being from a small party, I am responsible for many files as critic, so I have broader interests and responsibilities than perhaps other members do, so I want to participate in everything that goes on. I really feel that this shows our ability to collaborate. We are being creative. We are being accommodating. This needs to move forward and it is something we can be excited about. This is a very neat initiative. Canadians will be excited to see how this works, and other jurisdictions are already doing it, so it is time that we give it a shot and a good effort. Our attitudes need to shift a bit.COVID-19Government and politicsGovernment Business No. 7PandemicProcedureFrancisScarpaleggiaLac-Saint-LouisKevinWaughSaskatoon—Grasswood//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgGovernment OrdersProceedings of the House and CommitteesInterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin: (1110)[English]Mr. Speaker, the member is right. Yesterday when he was speaking about private members' bills, I found myself nodding my head quite a bit. They are a critical component of what we do here in the House, and it is an unfortunate aspect of this new motion that they would not be included. I was not lucky enough to win the lottery; my number is quite a bit further down the line. That is perhaps why I am more willing to support this, but it is not fair to my other colleagues who do have private members' bills they would like to put forward.The member is right. This is not perfect. It is not the ideal situation, but we have to do what is best for the health of our communities and, unfortunately, private members' bills will not fit into what is being proposed here today.COVID-19Government and politicsGovernment Business No. 7PandemicParliamentary democracyProcedureKevinWaughSaskatoon—GrasswoodAndréanneLaroucheShefford//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgGovernment OrdersProceedings of the House and CommitteesInterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin: (1110)[English]Mr. Speaker, as allies of women on the issue of domestic violence, we are certainly doing all that we can. It is difficult across jurisdictions. We need to be very regionally specific because there are lots of cultural things to take into consideration around this issue. That is one of the important things that we want to discuss here in the House, but also to allow all of our colleagues across Canada to join us through a virtual Parliament as well. I am open to any idea that allows the fulsome participation of all voices to address very serious issues like domestic violence in Canada.COVID-19Government and politicsGovernment Business No. 7PandemicProcedureViolence against womenAndréanneLaroucheSheffordLindsayMathyssenLondon—Fanshawe//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgGovernment OrdersProceedings of the House and CommitteesInterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin: (1110)[English]Mr. Speaker, schools and day cares are closed. My children are with me. It has presented many challenges along the way. That has perhaps been the biggest barrier. It is the work-home life balance. As I said, in Zoom conferences my children often appear on the screen, but that has added an element of humanity to our work as well. Absolutely, there have been increased costs associated with day cares reopening. We need consider its affordability for Canadians across this country. If we want our economy to get back to work, we need day cares to be there for people and to be affordable.Childcare centres and workersCOVID-19Government and politicsGovernment Business No. 7PandemicProcedureLindsayMathyssenLondon—FanshaweAlainTherrienLa Prairie//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgOral Question PeriodTourism IndustryInterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin (Fredericton, GP): (1505)[English]Mr. Speaker, Canada has incredible destinations, from spectacular mountain scenery to World Heritage sites, the highest tides in the world and vibrant cultural diversity. We can be proud of everything our beautiful country has to offer. Tourism is indeed a vital part of the Canadian economy. Before the pandemic, it represented more than $20 billion in revenue, millions of jobs and 3% of the GDP. However, now this sector and the people who make hospitality their career need our support more than ever.Could the minister detail the plan to support the workers of this industry? Will they be able to count the hours they worked in the previous year when applying for employment insurance, as has been a concession for other seasonal workers?Employment insuranceOral questionsTourismAhmedHussenHon.York South—WestonJean-YvesDuclosHon.Québec//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgGovernment OrdersProceedings of the House and CommitteesInterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin (Fredericton, GP): (1155)[English]Madam Speaker, I appreciate the very passionate speech of the member opposite. My questions are in follow-up to the previous member's question. How is it decided which members are able to participate? How was it decided what members from her caucus would be here today? I am very curious as to what the deliberations look like.COVID-19Government and politicsGovernment Business No. 7PandemicProcedureVirtual ParliamentTracyGrayKelowna—Lake CountryTracyGrayKelowna—Lake Country//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgStatements by MembersFront-Line WorkersInterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin (Fredericton, GP): (1400)[English]Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the essential workers who have kept us safe and who are continuing to do so: the nurses, the long-term care home workers, the paramedics, doctors, social workers, the people who work in grocery stores, the people who clean, the waste collectors and so many others. Too often their work is in the shadows and some of them are not receiving the financial compensation they deserve. By working to keep us safe, they are making tremendous sacrifices, and for that we are grateful. If this pandemic is teaching us one thing, it is the true meaning of what is essential: our families, our health, our friends and the well-being of our planet.We are getting through this by taking care of each other, and essential workers embody the hope and confidence we need to build a better tomorrow for all. We thank them for their courage, tenacity and persistence. I invite all members to join me in expressing our sincere gratitude.COVID-19Essential servicesPandemicStatements by MembersAndrewScheerHon.Regina—Qu'AppelleKenHardieFleetwood—Port Kells//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgOral Question PeriodCOVID-19 Emergency ResponseInterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin (Fredericton, GP): (1505)[English]Mr. Speaker, municipalities are the decision-making level that is closest to the people that we serve. They are key to maintaining safe communities and ensuring essential services for one's quality of life. However, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities sounded the alarm more than a month ago. The pandemic is pushing municipalities to the brink of financial crisis. Critical services are at risk. Could the minister confirm if and when municipalities across this country will receive emergency federal support to face the impact of this pandemic? When will they be given the means to recover and rebuild?COVID-19Federal-provincial-territorial relationsMunicipal governmentOral questionsPandemicMarcGarneauHon.Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—WestmountJean-YvesDuclosHon.Québec//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/71323JohnWilliamsonJohn-WilliamsonNew Brunswick SouthwestConservative CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/WilliamsonJohn_CPC.jpgStatements by MembersShootings in Nova ScotiaInterventionMr. John Williamson (New Brunswick Southwest, CPC): (1415)[English] Mr. Speaker, the Bluenose province, like my home in neighbouring New Brunswick, is a place where small rural communities share a special bond. Our communities are an extension of our families, and when tragedy strikes one community, it is felt by us all.I do not have the words to properly express how the shooting rampage in Portapique and its surroundings has shaken our nation, as has the death of Constable Heidi Stevenson, a 23-year RCMP veteran and mother of two.It is with deep gratitude that I pay tribute to those who answered the call to protect our communities.As to the families and colleagues who lost loved ones, we share their anguish. We will work together to get through this. They are not alone. Our nation, our country, stands with them.Deaths and funeralsNova ScotiaPolice officersShootings with firearmsStatements by MembersStevenson, HeidiAlainTherrienLa PrairieStevenMacKinnonGatineau//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/71323JohnWilliamsonJohn-WilliamsonNew Brunswick SouthwestConservative CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/WilliamsonJohn_CPC.jpgOral Question PeriodHealthInterventionMr. John Williamson (New Brunswick Southwest, CPC): (1440)[English]Mr. Speaker, as Canada moves from self-isolation and closures to a gradual reopening of communities and businesses, a high level of testing for COVID-19 will be needed, especially in areas that experience a second wave, yet concerns are increasing that the federal government has not adequately ramped up the availability of tests, as was successfully done in Taiwan and South Korea. What is the government's plan to initiate large-scale testing to coincide with a lifting of self-isolation, and how many test kits are needed to begin?COVID-19Health screeningOral questionsPandemicPattyHajduHon.Thunder Bay—Superior NorthPattyHajduHon.Thunder Bay—Superior North//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/71323JohnWilliamsonJohn-WilliamsonNew Brunswick SouthwestConservative CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/WilliamsonJohn_CPC.jpgGovernment OrdersCOVID-19 PandemicInterventionMr. John Williamson (New Brunswick Southwest, CPC): (1805)[English]Madam Chair, on April 11, I asked the government in the chamber when a plan would be forthcoming for Canada's decimated international seafood market. The deputy prime minister responded that the minister was working on such a plan.The minister of fisheries issued a statement on April 17, six days later, saying that she was still working on it and proceeded to go through some of the benefits under the emergency response plan that provide help to out-of-work Canadians. The minister has not yet surfaced. We have not heard details of that plan.When is that plan forthcoming?Consideration in a Committee of the WholeCOVID-19Fish and seafoodPandemicMarcMillerHon.Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-SoeursChrystiaFreelandHon.University—Rosedale//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/71323JohnWilliamsonJohn-WilliamsonNew Brunswick SouthwestConservative CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/WilliamsonJohn_CPC.jpgGovernment OrdersCOVID-19 PandemicInterventionMr. John Williamson: (1805)[English]Madam Chair, I will come back to the fisheries. How does that sound? We will give the minister another couple of days.On the emergency response benefit, we have had some direction. It now applies to individuals who earn $1,000 more a month, but what about incorporated businesses? I am thinking now of a fishing boat, for example, or a small farm where these incorporated businesses are bringing in revenue, but they are losing money. Their expenses are higher than their revenues and the individuals who work for these incorporated businesses, the owners, are not taking an income. The income is zero but they have revenue coming in.Would these businesses qualify for the CERB benefit?Canada Emergency Response BenefitConsideration in a Committee of the WholeCOVID-19Fish and seafoodPandemicChrystiaFreelandHon.University—RosedaleMarie-ClaudeBibeauHon.Compton—Stanstead//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/71323JohnWilliamsonJohn-WilliamsonNew Brunswick SouthwestConservative CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/WilliamsonJohn_CPC.jpgGovernment OrdersCOVID-19 PandemicInterventionMr. John Williamson: (1805)[English]Madam Chair, I want to be very clear on this because we are getting calls from not only these businesses but also accountants who are unclear how to proceed.I think I heard the minister say that if they have no income, zero income with a revenue stream, but they are underwater and operating in the red, that they would qualify for the CERB. They would be able to qualify for this while they are working, bringing in revenue, but their expenses are higher.Application processCanada Emergency Response BenefitConsideration in a Committee of the WholeCOVID-19PandemicMarie-ClaudeBibeauHon.Compton—StansteadMaryNgHon.Markham—Thornhill//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/71323JohnWilliamsonJohn-WilliamsonNew Brunswick SouthwestConservative CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/WilliamsonJohn_CPC.jpgGovernment OrdersCOVID-19 PandemicInterventionMr. John Williamson: (1810)[English]Madam Chair, are there other parameters on these incorporated businesses? Do they, for example, have to show a loss for the year? I ask this because a business could be in a short-term situation where there is no income coming in. Is there a requirement that an incorporated business would have to show a loss for the year?Application processCanada Emergency Response BenefitConsideration in a Committee of the WholeCOVID-19PandemicMaryNgHon.Markham—ThornhillMaryNgHon.Markham—Thornhill//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/71323JohnWilliamsonJohn-WilliamsonNew Brunswick SouthwestConservative CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/WilliamsonJohn_CPC.jpgGovernment OrdersCOVID-19 PandemicInterventionMr. John Williamson (New Brunswick Southwest, CPC): (1410)[English]Mr. Chair, when we last met here on March 24, the employment minister left the House with the distinct impression and belief that workers who are currently on unemployment insurance, whose claims will soon expire, would qualify for the emergency benefit program, yet over the last two weeks the Q and A on regulations that is sent to members of Parliament changed. I know that members of Parliament across this country have been telling workers that they would qualify. It now appears they do not.Do these workers qualify for the emergency benefit program when their claims expire in the coming weeks?Application processCanada Emergency Response BenefitConsideration in a Committee of the WholeCOVID-19PandemicBillMorneauHon.Toronto CentreCarlaQualtroughHon.Delta//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/71323JohnWilliamsonJohn-WilliamsonNew Brunswick SouthwestConservative CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/WilliamsonJohn_CPC.jpgGovernment OrdersCOVID-19 PandemicInterventionMr. John Williamson: (1410)[English]Mr. Chair, will that change require a legislative change, or a regulatory change that the minister is able to make from her desk or with cabinet?Application processCanada Emergency Response BenefitConsideration in a Committee of the WholeCOVID-19PandemicCarlaQualtroughHon.DeltaCarlaQualtroughHon.Delta//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/71323JohnWilliamsonJohn-WilliamsonNew Brunswick SouthwestConservative CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/WilliamsonJohn_CPC.jpgGovernment OrdersCOVID-19 PandemicInterventionMr. John Williamson: (1410)[English]Mr. Chair, could the minister tell us when this will happen?Application processCanada Emergency Response BenefitConsideration in a Committee of the WholeCOVID-19PandemicCarlaQualtroughHon.DeltaCarlaQualtroughHon.Delta//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/71323JohnWilliamsonJohn-WilliamsonNew Brunswick SouthwestConservative CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/WilliamsonJohn_CPC.jpgGovernment OrdersCOVID-19 PandemicInterventionMr. John Williamson: (1410)[English]Mr. Chair, this question is for the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance. Small businesses with payrolls of $50,000 or more have access to zero- or low-interest loans, but for small businesses below that threshold or sole proprietorships, these businesses are wondering if low-interest or zero-interest loans may be made available to them as well.Consideration in a Committee of the WholeCOVID-19LoansPandemicSmall and medium-sized enterprisesCarlaQualtroughHon.DeltaBillMorneauHon.Toronto Centre//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/71323JohnWilliamsonJohn-WilliamsonNew Brunswick SouthwestConservative CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/WilliamsonJohn_CPC.jpgGovernment OrdersCOVID-19 PandemicInterventionMr. John Williamson: (1415)[English]Mr. Chair, we do look forward to hearing more about that.Turning to the emergency relief benefit program, the challenge, of course, is around precarious workers. The government policy today is one of lights on, lights off. Small businesses that have seen a collapse in income yet are still struggling to keep their business lights on have a choice to make: keep going with no income, no revenue and no help from the emergency relief benefit, or turn the lights off and receive help. This is not the way we are going to recover. This needs to be changed.Will the minister commit today to changing it?Canada Emergency Response BenefitConsideration in a Committee of the WholeCOVID-19PandemicSmall and medium-sized enterprisesBillMorneauHon.Toronto CentreBillMorneauHon.Toronto Centre//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/71323JohnWilliamsonJohn-WilliamsonNew Brunswick SouthwestConservative CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/WilliamsonJohn_CPC.jpgGovernment OrdersCOVID-19 PandemicInterventionMr. John Williamson: (1415)[English]Mr. Chair, I ask that the minister lower his sights. I am talking about what I will call the “micro” small businesses, the coffee shops that have laid off the employees but are serving meals to try to keep some income coming in. I am talking about the businesses that do not have employees anymore because they have no revenue but still have a choice to make as to whether to keep operating as a sole proprietorship, effectively. A team of one, or perhaps a couple, does not qualify for any of these programs but it has a choice to make: lights on or lights off. How are they going to keep those lights on in these businesses?Canada Emergency Response BenefitConsideration in a Committee of the WholeCOVID-19PandemicSmall and medium-sized enterprisesBillMorneauHon.Toronto CentreBillMorneauHon.Toronto Centre//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/71323JohnWilliamsonJohn-WilliamsonNew Brunswick SouthwestConservative CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/WilliamsonJohn_CPC.jpgGovernment OrdersCOVID-19 PandemicInterventionMr. John Williamson (New Brunswick Southwest, CPC): (1520)[English]Mr. Chair, the problem is that Service Canada is not there for us. It is not there for Canadians if they do not have high-speed Internet and if they cannot get through on a phone line, which most Canadians cannot. With millions of Canadians out of work, why did the government think it was acceptable to close down Service Canada offices while grocery stores across the country have refitted themselves to serve Canadians? Why could those measures not have been taken in Service Canada offices so they could continue to serve the public?Closure of government operations and facilitiesConsideration in a Committee of the WholeCOVID-19PandemicService CanadaBillMorneauHon.Toronto CentreCarlaQualtroughHon.Delta//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/71323JohnWilliamsonJohn-WilliamsonNew Brunswick SouthwestConservative CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/WilliamsonJohn_CPC.jpgGovernment OrdersCOVID-19 PandemicInterventionMr. John Williamson: (1520)[English]Mr. Chair, this question is for the Minister of Finance. Regarding what we are debating and will debate for the rest of the afternoon, can a company that qualifies for the wage subsidy just pay that 75% subsidy? In other words, can an employer cut an employee's salary by 25% and just pay what the federal government is offering or is there a requirement to pay 100%, so employers do pay 25% and the feds pay 75%?Canada Emergency Wage SubsidyConsideration in a Committee of the WholeCOVID-19Income and wagesPandemicCarlaQualtroughHon.DeltaBillMorneauHon.Toronto Centre//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/71323JohnWilliamsonJohn-WilliamsonNew Brunswick SouthwestConservative CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/WilliamsonJohn_CPC.jpgGovernment OrdersCOVID-19 PandemicInterventionMr. John Williamson: (1525)[English]Mr. Chair, I appreciate the clarity.Canada's international seafood trade markets have been decimated. Throughout Atlantic Canada, there are numerous small and medium-sized lobster buyers who have faced serious and significant financial losses. They purchased lobster in the fall for $10 a pound and they have been unloading it for $2 to $4. They are taking huge losses. This is not stock they can keep in tanks. It has to be sold. What kind of help will the government be able to provide these lobster buyers throughout Atlantic Canada? My question is for the Minister of Finance.Consideration in a Committee of the WholeCOVID-19Fish and seafoodPandemicBillMorneauHon.Toronto CentreChrystiaFreelandHon.University—Rosedale//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/71323JohnWilliamsonJohn-WilliamsonNew Brunswick SouthwestConservative CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/WilliamsonJohn_CPC.jpgGovernment OrdersCOVID-19 PandemicInterventionMr. John Williamson: (1525)[English]Mr. Chair, my question is for the government House leader. Why does he say Parliament cannot meet daily when it is acceptable for ministers to do so?Consideration in a Committee of the WholeCOVID-19PandemicSittings of the House of CommonsChrystiaFreelandHon.University—RosedalePabloRodriguezHon.Honoré-Mercier//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/71323JohnWilliamsonJohn-WilliamsonNew Brunswick SouthwestConservative CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/WilliamsonJohn_CPC.jpgGovernment OrdersCOVID-19 Emergency Response Act, No. 2InterventionMr. John Williamson (New Brunswick Southwest, CPC): (1755)[English]Mr. Speaker, to my colleague, from one end of the country to another, let me perhaps provide some help. I too have ferries in New Brunswick Southwest. Last Sunday the federal government extended the Quarantine Act. It is now actually a federal regulation that gives ferry owner-operators the ability to restrict people who take the ferries to get across this country; that power is already there.On that note, a concern I have about the Emergencies Act is that already municipal workers, ferry workers and provincial workers have power that the federal government has granted. I do not believe we should rush to enact the Emergencies Act when powers already exist and they just are not being utilized, perhaps because they are not known. There is the ability to restrict people travelling on ferries today, thanks to the work the federal government has done.C-14, A second Act respecting certain measures in response to COVID-19COVID-19Government billsPandemicPublic financeSecond readingElizabethMaySaanich—Gulf IslandsElizabethMaySaanich—Gulf Islands//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/71323JohnWilliamsonJohn-WilliamsonNew Brunswick SouthwestConservative CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/WilliamsonJohn_CPC.jpgGovernment OrdersCOVID-19 PandemicInterventionMr. John Williamson (New Brunswick Southwest, CPC): (2805)[English]Madam Chair, I will be splitting my time with the hon. member for Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes.My question is for either the Minister of Employment or the Minister of Finance. Can small business owners collect the emergency support benefit at the same time they need to run a business? Must they not be working to get the benefit or can they work to rescue their business while collecting the benefit?Canada Emergency Response BenefitConsideration in a Committee of the WholeCOVID-19PandemicPublic financeSmall and medium-sized enterprisesWays and Means No. 4BillMorneauHon.Toronto CentreBillMorneauHon.Toronto Centre//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/71323JohnWilliamsonJohn-WilliamsonNew Brunswick SouthwestConservative CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/WilliamsonJohn_CPC.jpgGovernment OrdersCOVID-19 PandemicInterventionMr. John Williamson: (2805)[English]Madam Chair, interest rates on BDC loans are too high. What is the plan to bring them down so that Ottawa does not cripple small businesses?Business Development Bank of CanadaConsideration in a Committee of the WholeCOVID-19Interest ratesLoansPandemicPublic financeWays and Means No. 4BillMorneauHon.Toronto CentreBillMorneauHon.Toronto Centre//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/71323JohnWilliamsonJohn-WilliamsonNew Brunswick SouthwestConservative CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/WilliamsonJohn_CPC.jpgGovernment OrdersCOVID-19 PandemicInterventionMr. John Williamson: (2805)[English]Madam Chair, unfortunately, rates as high as 17% are just too high when you add in that variable. Large businesses can see relief in this package, and individuals can as well. What about small businesses? How are we going to help small businesses, micro-businesses and mom-and-pop operations bridge this economic shock beyond the unemployment measures and other similar measures? What are we doing to help small businesses?Consideration in a Committee of the WholeCOVID-19PandemicPublic financeSmall and medium-sized enterprisesWays and Means No. 4BillMorneauHon.Toronto CentreBillMorneauHon.Toronto Centre//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgGovernment OrdersCOVID-19 Emergency Response ActInterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin (Fredericton, GP): (2930)[English]Mr. Speaker, my first question was about guaranteed livable income or a universal basic income, so I thank the member for responding to that. I am happy to see support in the House, and perhaps we could have further discussions about what that could look like in Canada moving forward.I have a question about equality across regions and provinces in accessing materials and supplies for dealing with the COVID-19 crisis. There are concerns in New Brunswick that we do not have the public purse to acquire supplies directly at some of the high costs for things we are going to need moving forward. Can the member comment on reassurances for some of the smaller provinces that are dealing with this issue as well?C-13, An Act respecting certain measures in response to COVID-19COVID-19Federal-provincial-territorial relationsMedical and assistive devicesPandemicPublic financeSecond readingJagmeetSinghBurnaby SouthJagmeetSinghBurnaby South//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgGovernment OrdersCOVID-19 Emergency Response ActInterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin (Fredericton, GP): (2930)[English]Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues for giving me the opportunity to speak here today on this important issue.We certainly are in unprecedented times. It is remarkable for me to be here today representing my own riding while also carrying the weight of those living in the ridings of my Green Party colleagues, the member for Saanich—Gulf Islands and Nanaimo—Ladysmith. I have also been asked to share these comments on behalf of the independent member for Vancouver Granville.I would first like to acknowledge that we are on the unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinabe people. It is essential that we remember the historical and ongoing implications of those words and the responsibilities we bear toward indigenous communities across the nation, especially as we face this unprecedented crisis.I know I am not alone in having made this bizarre trek to Ottawa to be present here for these proceedings. I made the 10-hour trip by car with my husband and two boys.(2935)[Translation]We stopped only to get gas and take a break. We followed all the recommended hygiene measures.[English] Of course, we did our best to entertain a toddler and a seven-year-old for 10 hours in the car. I think of the many families and households across the nation who are answering difficult questions from their children and trying to keep them entertained. I feel that too. I want to let the children of Canada know we love them and we are here for them too. We know this is a difficult time.I would like to take this opportunity to also humbly thank many, many people: the front-line workers staffing our hospitals, stocking our grocery stores and keeping our communities safe; the businesses and educational institutions that are answering the call and mobilizing in a warlike effort to provide and manufacture and supply that we need; Dr. Tam and her team for coordinating our public health response, as well as Dr. Bonnie Henry of B.C. for her incredible work; the tireless efforts of our cabinet ministers and their staff to coordinate a response to COVID-19 across government departments; and my colleagues here in this House and those practising social distancing at home for proving that in the face of a national crisis, we can and will work together for the people of this country.We gather in these extraordinary times to pass extraordinary legislation. It will allow the federal government to reach out and help Canadians directly with their personal finances. It will allow help to reach the self-employed, small and medium-sized businesses and large corporations. I am very relieved that a compromise was found that allows us to pass this legislation today, albeit a bit later than we had hoped.It is a fundamental principle of Westminster parliamentary democracy that Parliament controls the public purse. We cannot, even in a public health emergency, convey unprecedented powers without any oversight and without any criteria limiting those powers to any government, no matter how well-intentioned.This is a defining moment for our country. I am prouder than ever before to be Canadian and to see the expedited response to this crisis. I am also so proud to be from New Brunswick. I commend Premier Higgs and chief medical officer Jennifer Russell for declaring a state of emergency. To the decision-makers of the neighbouring Atlantic provinces of Nova Scotia, P.E.I. and Newfoundland, I commend them all for making the difficult decision to close provincial borders to further protect citizens. I thank them for their leadership.We have now seen more than a week of social distancing, of closures and restrictions. It is now the time for all Canadians to comply and do our part to get us through this together. Effective suppression would mean fewer cases of coronavirus, a fighting chance for our health care system and the humans who run it, a reduction in the number of total fatalities and a reduction in collateral damage. As well, it would give us the time for infected, isolated and quarantined health care workers to get better and return to work.[Translation]Canada has been quick to respond so far. Inevitably there are lessons to be learned to ensure that we are better prepared for this type of disaster in the future.[English]I am here to work collaboratively with my colleagues in government, but I must also point out the ways we need to improve so that we can get this right for Canadians. I am sure we are all in the same boat when it comes to the level of correspondence with our constituents over the past few weeks. We have been hearing a lot of concern. One thing the situation has made clear is the inequalities within our society. COVID-19 has amplified the challenges people are already facing.[Translation]I am thinking of the Canadians who are living in poverty, especially those who are homeless.[English]Working Canadians have been laid off or are facing reduced work hours, particularly at a time when they feel financially insecure. Older Canadians living on a fixed income are worried about their pensions and investments. Indigenous peoples are facing heightened challenges in their communities.[Translation]It is not easy for Canadians living in rural areas to access health care services.[English]Permanent residents and other newcomers worrying about family abroad are trying to get home amidst travel cancellations. Our charities and not-for-profit organizations are losing their donor base right now and really need our support. We must also stay vigilant against those who want to profit from this crisis, and they are out there.We are facing this giant together, but from very different vantage points. Almost a million people have applied for employment insurance. Our Green Party has been proposing a guaranteed livable income for Canadians for years, and if we had a GLI in place now, we would easily be able to ramp up payments to people facing layoffs and reduced hours without clogging the phone lines of Service Canada and scaring people who are afraid in their unique situations, leaving them without support. The government measures announced are now taking time to roll out because we lack the infrastructure to quickly disseminate direct payments to Canadians. We need to have a closer look at this issue.It is also clear to me that if we had already made much-needed improvements to our health care system in areas that have been advocated by professionals, such as improved infrastructure, preventive health care and pharmacare, we would be much better situated to address the needs of Canadians in this COVID-19 crisis.Best estimates of what lies ahead vary widely. We can all agree that the more we are able to maintain social distancing among those who are asymptomatic and maintain isolation for those who have symptoms, the greater our chances are of getting through COVID-19 without overwhelming the system. The extent to which individual Canadians and businesses can follow the advice provided depends on the extent of their financial ability to do so. People have to be in a financially secure position in order to take the public health advice.When we talk about the economic impacts, it seems we have left some things out. We have discussed a few of them here today. Renters, both residential and commercial, need measures to protect them from landlords who are not passing along the goodwill of the banks or who do not have the goodwill of their bank. New Brunswick and a few other provinces have made it illegal to evict tenants for nonpayment of rent. These measures are good, but they need to be standardized across the country.[Translation]We must do more for the small and medium-sized businesses that keep our economy moving.[English]As Dan Kelly, president of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, says of the wage subsidies, “It's the right measure, but it's the wrong amount.” Our assistance measures for businesses are being dwarfed by steps taken or being contemplated elsewhere. For example, in Denmark the government is offering up to 75% of wages, with the maximum payout per employee 10 times higher than the current offering in Canada. As well, there seems to be nothing for unincorporated businesses that have employees. This is a big concern.New Brunswick is allowing small businesses to defer WorkSafe New Brunswick premiums for three months. The federal government could do the same for EI, CPP and HST.These are trying times, but we do see examples of hope all across the country. I have seen jingle-dress dancers standing out in their yards dancing for all of our collective healing. I know that we have seen churches, synagogues, mosques and other places of worship adapting to a new reality and being steadfast in their support of spirituality and faith, which we need now more than ever.These are emotional times for citizens as well, and we also must consider their mental health. We should get outside if we can, but we must maintain our social distancing. We can go for the online museum tours. Online zoo tours are happening. I have seen people making badminton nets out of tape. We can play Hide the Potato. [Translation]I have also seen people making Portugese-style or Quebec-style tortillas. [English]We are finding really creative examples to deal with this crisis. Let us keep it up. I urge us all to call neighbours, check in, do FaceTime with grandparents. We all have a responsibility here. Let us stay connected. Isolation can be a really difficult thing for each of us to face.Many of us are setting an example by operating from home as well, and we can continue to play a leadership role here by exploring digital options for the work we do here in the House. Let us continue to have that conversation.Today means passing this motion to ensure Canadians have the financial resources they need to make ends meet while we rigorously follow the advice of public health experts. We will get through this if we stick together, even if that means standing apart.C-13, An Act respecting certain measures in response to COVID-19COVID-19Government accountabilityGuaranteed annual incomeHealth care systemIncome and wagesPandemicPublic financeRentSecond readingSmall and medium-sized enterprisesJagmeetSinghBurnaby SouthDanAlbasCentral Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgGovernment OrdersCOVID-19 Emergency Response ActInterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin: (2940)[English]Mr. Speaker, I come from rural New Brunswick, where we have faced issues with high-speed Internet access for quite some time. I know that people are trying to work from home or trying to do Zoom conferencing and find ways to communicate in this new reality that we are facing, and it is creating difficulties. We have not been able to communicate through phone calls with our staff members or other colleagues in Parliament. We need to look at what these services can provide to our rural communities as well as all of Canada with this new reality that we face.The bandwidth just cannot handle what we are currently seeing. There is a surge of people binge-watching Netflix or whatever for entertainment purposes, and then there is certainly our work at home that we will need to be doing for who knows how long. We also need to ensure that everyone has access to those crucial connections to the people they love. I hope that we will continue to have these conversations in the House. Broadband Internet servicesC-13, An Act respecting certain measures in response to COVID-19COVID-19PandemicPublic financeRural communitiesSecond readingDanAlbasCentral Okanagan—Similkameen—NicolaMarkGerretsenKingston and the Islands//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgGovernment OrdersCOVID-19 Emergency Response ActInterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin: (2945)[English]Mr. Speaker, as a mom of a seven-year-old, I have seen that the seven-year-old understands more than the two-year-old about what is happening. He chats with his friends on his headset when he is playing video games to entertain himself during this time, and I have heard him ask his friends if they are worried about the coronavirus and if they are scared. I wait to hear what the response is and how he might handle that question, and I hear him reassuring his friends and saying that it is okay, that we are going to get through this and that there are people trying to help.That would be my message. It is that even the kids know how hard everyone is working toward this common goal of fighting COVID-19 as a nation. That is what it is going to take to get us over that peak: staying together, understanding how important it is to heed the warnings of public health and ensuring that we do stay connected.My other message would be to change the narrative a bit about the social distancing. Let us focus on the physical distancing with social connection, because that is so crucial right now. We really need to protect that.C-13, An Act respecting certain measures in response to COVID-19ChildrenCOVID-19PandemicPublic financeSecond readingMarkGerretsenKingston and the IslandsJagmeetSinghBurnaby South//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgGovernment OrdersCOVID-19 Emergency Response ActInterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin: (2945)[English]Mr. Speaker, that is an excellent question.I have been asked by the media and some of my constituents about some of the comments that are floating around about perhaps bailing out the oil and gas industry or other corporations that are involved in different sectors. My response is that we should first look after the individual Canadians, the workers. They certainly do need jobs to go back to. We just need to be really careful about the future that we are planning. My hon. colleague from the Bloc mentioned that an economic crisis sets the stage for what is to come, so this is the time for us to make really bold changes to what we want to see in our future here in Canada. I think those bold changes include looking at expanding other sectors. Of course, I am very supportive of things like renewable energy and other ways that we can maximize our energy output and still have Canadians feel that we have a great role to play on the global stage, but I feel we need to be careful about where we place our investments, understand how the markets are fluctuating and understand what that looks like moving forward in response to COVID-19.We need to be cautious, but we need to focus first and foremost on the workers and the individual Canadians who need money in their pockets now.C-13, An Act respecting certain measures in response to COVID-19COVID-19Labour forcePandemicPublic financeSecond readingJagmeetSinghBurnaby SouthBruceStantonSimcoe North//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgRoutine ProceedingsWomen and Gender EqualityInterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin (Fredericton, GP): (1025)[English]Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues for the privilege of speaking today. I would like to thank the minister for her words and powerful statement and my colleagues for their words.Ladies, life-givers, we make miracles and we are miracles. Today we celebrate sisterhood, the matriarchs, the clan mothers. We all have our own journeys. For me, I felt the most connected to my womanhood when I became a mother. I am a mom of two little boys, who see their mom working hard for Canada and giving a lot of time and attention to our citizens.From the moment I announced my candidacy to taking my seat here in the House of Commons, the number one question I was asked is how I do it. What is it like balancing the demands of parliamentary life with the responsibilities of motherhood? The answer, as one might expect, is that it is difficult.I know that seeing strong women in important positions makes them stronger, more balanced individuals with respect for all people of all genders. Even in saying this, I know it will not be that easy for us to set an example every day to be consistent and innovative in our approach to supporting women and creating opportunities for them all over the world.[Translation]While we celebrate women who are in decision-making positions and we acknowledge that a lot of progress has been made in reducing the wage gap, the fact remains that there is still a lot of work to be done. [English]Despite women's increased participation in the workforce, they continue to spend much of their time doing unpaid labour. On average, women continue to be the predominant providers of care to children and to family members with mental or physical limitations related to age or chronic health conditions. This mostly invisible unpaid labour means that working Canadian women spend an additional 3.9 hours per day performing household chores and caring for children, among other things.[Translation]While women are fighting against inequality in the workplace, they are also dealing with social expectations surrounding gender.[English]On top of it all, feeling like imperfect mothers and imperfect workers, women blame themselves for not being able to manage it all. Mom guilt is real. However, we sitting in the House know that good public policy and structural supports play an important role in shaping the experience of working mothers. We in the House need to pay particular attention to how achieving this balance becomes all the more difficult for low-income women, trans women, women struggling with mental illness, women with disabilities and women of colour.When we invest in social services like long-term care, health care, pharmacare, mental health care, universal affordable child care and in protecting reproductive rights, we also invest in women. We normalize women's issues and interests, we level the playing field and we bring women closer to gender parity. I see the women of Canada, and they are spectacular.International Women's DaySexual discriminationStatements by MinistersStatus of womenBruceStantonSimcoe NorthDonDaviesVancouver Kingsway//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/17210RobMooreHon.Rob-MooreFundy RoyalConservative CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/MooreRob_CPC.jpgOral Question PeriodJusticeInterventionHon. Rob Moore (Fundy Royal, CPC): (1500)[English]Mr. Speaker, a Montreal man found guilty of sexually assaulting a four-year-old in 2015 was charged recently with making and distributing child pornography during the period he was having court-ordered supervised visits with the child he abused. This man was sentenced to a mere 22 months in prison for abusing this child.The minister has stated that he will look to eliminate mandatory minimum sentences to give even more discretion in sentencing. Does the minister really think that justice is being served in a case like this?Criminal justice systemMandatory sentencingOral questionsMarcGarneauHon.Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—WestmountDavidLamettiHon.LaSalle—Émard—Verdun//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgOral Question PeriodVeterans AffairsInterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin (Fredericton, GP): (1505)[English]Mr. Speaker, experts testified last month at the Veterans Affairs committee that treatments for family members of a former soldier were cut off or not approved and that there is a backlog of 18,330 cases.[Translation]The average wait time for applications is 32 weeks.[English]They also testified that there is a longer than average turnaround time for women and francophones.The Minister of Veterans Affairs was tasked to ensure that the government lives up to its sacred obligation to our veterans and their families. I want to know when and how the government will start acting concretely on that commitment.BacklogsOral questionsVeteransVeterans benefitsCarlaQualtroughHon.DeltaLawrenceMacAulayHon.Cardigan//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgGovernment OrdersBusiness of Supply [Opposition Motion—Pharmacare]InterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin (Fredericton, GP): (1735)[English]Madam Speaker, I wish to thank my NDP colleagues for giving me the opportunity to speak. I will be splitting my time with the member for Edmonton Strathcona.One third of working Canadians do not have employer-funded drug coverage. One in five households reported a family member who had not taken a prescribed medicine in the past year due to its cost.[Translation]Every year, nearly three million Canadians say they cannot afford to fill one or more of their prescriptions.[English]In the 2019 election, I heard these statistics echoed at doors and across party lines. I am excited by the idea of national pharmacare and the support I know we have from members of the House to improve the lives of Canadians. I am also excited by how much work has already been done to understand what our national pharmacare plan needs to look like.Last June, the well-known published final report of the advisory council on implementation of national pharmacare, also known as the Hoskins report, advised that it had received questionnaires from more than 15,000 people and organizations, received more 14,000 petitions or letters, reviewed more than 150 written submissions, investigated global best practices and hosted town halls and round tables. It uncovered significant gaps in drug coverage.Of the nearly three million Canadians who said they were not able to afford their prescriptions, 38% had access to private insurance coverage and 21% had public coverage. However, with co-pays and exemptions, they still did not have the resources to afford their medications. Almost one million Canadians were forced to cut back on food or home heating to pay for their medication.(1740)[Translation]Nearly one million Canadians have had to borrow money to pay for their prescription drugs. [English]This highlights the crushing poverty weighing on Canadians. It has many causes but with pharmacare, we can take one worry away. We can alleviate some of the stress and uncertainty in their lives.In the Hoskins report, the advisory council laid out several recommendations to address these gaps, and I will reiterate them.Its first and foremost recommendation was that the federal government work with provincial and territorial governments to establish a universal, single-payer, public system of prescription drug coverage in Canada. A two-tiered system would create further inequity, leaving low-income and unemployed Canadians at risk. The administration of such a program would be cost-ineffective. A privately administered system would create profit incentives where public interest must be the first priority.The council also recommended that national pharmacare benefits be portable across provinces and territories. This reinforces the need for federal leadership to come alongside provincial health departments to ensure the system is truly national in scope.[Translation]Another recommendation was to make everyone in Canada eligible for a pharmacare program to ensure that everyone can get the drugs they need to maintain their physical and mental health.[English]It also recommended a national formulary be developed to list which prescription drugs and related products should be covered to ensure all Canadians would have access equally to the medicines they needed to maintain or improve their health, no matter where they were living in Canada.Clearly this is a big job. We are going to need leadership from our Prime Minister and his cabinet, and we are going to need significant financial investment from the federal government to make this happen.It is remarkable that Canada is the only developed country that has a universal health care program that does not include universal coverage for prescription medication, especially when we know there are real costs associated with people who need to skip doses or avoid filling prescriptions because they cannot afford to buy them. These decisions put strain on our health care system.[Translation]People are struggling to stay healthy their whole lives, which leads to complications and chronic illnesses later in life.[English]Individuals end up in urgent health care situations, needing to return to hospital emergency rooms and taking up hospital beds, because they cannot afford to properly manage their conditions and illnesses at home.The Parliamentary Budget Officer has already indicated that this will save federal, provincial and territorial governments billions of dollars, and that does not even consider the quality of life for Canadians who require prescription medicines. A recent study by St. Michael's Hospital's MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions found that providing free medicine resulted in a 44% increase in people taking their essential medications and led to a 160% increase in the likelihood of participants being able to make ends meet.Ensuring people have access to the medications they need throughout their life will have real, positive impacts, such as poverty reduction, as people become able to direct their money toward food, rent, home heating or child care. When a chronic condition is well managed with medications, individuals can better access the workforce and participate in their communities.[Translation]People with rare diseases should not have to go bankrupt because of their diagnosis.[English]Those living on fixed incomes, such as seniors, are not stuck with increasing pharmaceutical costs. For people in immediate mental health crisis, the extra financial anxiety of a new medication does not have to weigh on them. I am struck as well by the consensus that exists around this issue.[Translation]The majority of MPs in the House are members of parties that made this issue a priority in the last election. [English]Polls show that 90% of Canadians support equal access to prescription drugs, regardless of income. When I saw national pharmacare reference in the mandate letters of four ministers, I was hopeful that we would actually see this happen in the 43rd Parliament, but I am a little concerned that nothing seems to be moving on this front yet, and I am so thankful for this motion from my NDP colleagues. Maybe we will be pleasantly surprised when the budget is tabled, but I fear that the government may be losing its courage, perhaps because of the lobbying that is being carried out by pharmaceutical and insurance companies. I hope the government is being vigilant against letting entities with deep pockets and full-time Ottawa-based lobbyists buy influence on our policy development process.I have spent time with representatives from community organizations and health care professionals and their unions. They said that we need universal public pharmacare. These groups include the Heart and Stroke Foundation, National Nurses United, the Canadian Diabetes Association, the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association, the Canadian Health Coalition, the Canadian Labour Congress, and I could go on. These organizations represent average Canadians, workers in the health field and those who are living with, or caring for, people with chronic or acute disease. These are the people we work for.The Canadian Medical Association shared stories of doctors fighting for national pharmacare. Dr. Nav Persaud had this to say: "Why did I spend all those years training to become a doctor if at the end of it, when I give someone a diagnosis, they don't fully benefit because they can't afford the treatment?"The advisory council on the implementation of national pharmacare left us with the way forward: "It will take time, significant federal investment and close collaboration among all health system partners to turn Canada's patchwork of prescription drug insurance plans into a national public pharmacare program.” But it is possible. Thanks to the work of the council, the path forward is clear. The data are incontestable, Canadians are on board and parliamentarians in the House are mostly on board. We are here to represent the people, and this is what the people want.My final reflection is this: What are we waiting for?Opposition motionsPharmacarePrescription drugsSplitting speaking timeTomKmiecCalgary ShepardDonDaviesVancouver Kingsway//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgGovernment OrdersBusiness of Supply [Opposition Motion—Pharmacare]InterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin: (1745)[English]Madam Speaker, I think back to the election process and knocking on countless doors, visiting every long-term care facility and senior care facilities in my riding to discuss these issues of health care and high costs. I have a very high demographic of seniors in my riding as well, and this was something that they acknowledged would help them. They talked about the times they had to make the decision between heating or food and medication. We have heard that line so many times, but it is because it needs to be repeated. That should not be happening in Canada. There were nurses and doctors as well. We had so many meetings with these organizations over the past few months, and it was unanimous. It seemed to be a no-brainer, and I really hope that we can make this happen for them.Opposition motionsPharmacarePrescription drugsDonDaviesVancouver KingswayTomKmiecCalgary Shepard//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgGovernment OrdersBusiness of Supply [Opposition Motion—Pharmacare]InterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin: (1745)[English]Madam Speaker, I am happy to be here as well, instead of my predecessor. I also want to thank the hon. member for his advocacy for rare diseases. We also care deeply about that issue. We know we need to work harder.To address the issue, maybe we should deal with the regulatory system as it is first, but I do not think we have time to wait. I think we can do these alongside of one another. It certainly should be part of the considerations for national pharmacare, but I do not think it has to mean we are leaving those patients behind.Opposition motionsPharmacarePrescription drugsTomKmiecCalgary ShepardDenisTrudelLongueuil—Saint-Hubert//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgGovernment OrdersBusiness of Supply [Opposition Motion—Pharmacare]InterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin: (1750)[English]Madam Speaker, that is a challenge. It is going to take all provinces on board for this to be cost-effective and so it is really important that we have these debates in the House, that it goes to committee and we make sure that the interests of Quebec are looked after.I look at all the statistics, the support and organizations, and I have a hard time understanding why someone would not want that program. We have also advocated for increases in health transfers. It seems like it would be the best thing for Quebec, as well as Canada. I would like to know more about why.Canada Health TransferOpposition motionsPharmacarePrescription drugsDenisTrudelLongueuil—Saint-HubertHeatherMcPhersonEdmonton Strathcona//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgRoutine ProceedingsPovertyInterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin (Fredericton, GP): (1525)[English]Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to rise today to present a petition that calls upon the House of Commons to adopt a notional poverty elimination strategy, thereby assuring Canadians of a suitable quality of life and opportunity to succeed.Petition 431-00155PovertyArnoldViersenPeace River—WestlockJenicaAtwinFredericton//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgRoutine ProceedingsIndigenous AffairsInterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin (Fredericton, GP): (1525)[English]Mr. Speaker, I have a second petition. It is similar to other petitions presented today. It calls on the government to uphold the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's calls to action by immediately halting existing and planned construction of the Coastal GasLink project on Wet'suwet'en territory; asking the RCMP to dismantle its exclusion zone and stand down; scheduling nation-to-nation talks with the Wet'suwet'en, which has happened; and prioritizing the real implementation of UNDRIP.Coastal GasLink Pipeline ProjectIndigenous rightsPetition 431-00156Wet'suwet'en First NationJenicaAtwinFrederictonKevinLamoureuxWinnipeg North//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgAdjournment ProceedingsHealthInterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin (Fredericton, GP): (1830)[English]Madam Speaker, I am pleased to stand in the House today as a follow-up to my question on funding for a national framework for mental health. I would like to start today by sharing how mental health has impacted my journey here.I began my career as an educator. One day, a 14-year-old student got into some trouble in class and was sent down to see me. As we talked, it became clear there was a lot going on. I was aware of some social struggles in the friend group and I knew a bit of family history.Suddenly and unforgettably, this student for whom I cared deeply, said the words, “I do not want to live anymore.” The student had the means and the motivation to escape this painful experience. The weight of the suffering hung thick in the air. I did what any human would do under the circumstances. I did my best to stumble through the rest of the conversation with empathy, but I recognized very acutely that my colleagues and I were not equipped to navigate the complexities of these conversations with the youth who trusted us the most. I would spend many hours and resources finding the tools to tackle this crisis, and I wish many other Canadians would also have that opportunity.I am acutely aware of the pain of suicide, as many of us are. We have all lost someone, a cousin, the child of a teammate, a co-worker, a friend, a grandmother. Research shows that approximately 90% of people who die by suicide suffer from mental illness or addiction. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among youth ages 15 to 24. Rates of suicide are three times higher for members of first nations communities than they are for non-indigenous people. Risk factors are directly linked to socio-economic characteristics, including household income, employment status, level of education and family support.I have shared a story. I have shared the data. I would now like to look to the solution. Canadian provinces and territories need financial support from the federal government to ensure they can address the mental health crisis impacting families and communities across the nation. We need to invest in training for professionals across sectors, educators and everyday Canadians to access resources and learning opportunities to support those suffering from mental illness.We need to invest in a timely diagnosis process. Service providers and families need access to early diagnosis to ensure early intervention. We need to invest in a national pharmacare system. Canadians should never have the financial anxiety of needing to choose between buying groceries or life-saving medications. We need to invest in support for sexual assault survivors. This is a massive missing link in this conversation. We need to invest in support for elders, like intergenerational housing, to avoid isolation and loneliness.That is why on February 26, I asked the Minister of Finance if the budget would include funding for a national framework on mental health so the provinces and territories could work together to find solutions to address this crisis. I look forward to hearing the response from the hon. member as to how we might come together to restore hope for Canadians across the country.Adjournment ProceedingsHealth services accessibilityMental healthCarolHughesAlgoma—Manitoulin—KapuskasingGudieHutchingsLong Range Mountains//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgAdjournment ProceedingsHealthInterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin: (1835)[English]Madam Speaker, I thank the member for that really wonderful response. There are lots of great initiatives taking place in Canada. I feel we have come a very long way.I do want to highlight that there are still some missing pieces. Mental health has long been recognized as a fundamental aspect of one's health; however, under our current health regime, the majority of mental health services do not meet the eligibility requirement of “medically necessary”.I feel we need to have another look at this, and that is why I am asking for a national legislation framework. There is a patchwork of provincial and regional initiatives, but I feel we need a more unified approach. I am thinking of a story of a constituent who is searching for their son across provincial lines and is having a lot of difficulty because there is not a lot of collaboration and communication that occurs.I am asking for a national strategy to be looked at and funded by the government.Adjournment ProceedingsHealth services accessibilityMental healthGudieHutchingsLong Range MountainsGudieHutchingsLong Range Mountains//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/88364GinettePetitpas TaylorHon.Ginette-PetitpasTaylorMoncton—Riverview—DieppeLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/PetitpasTaylorGinette_Lib.jpgOral Question PeriodDiversity And InclusionInterventionHon. Ginette Petitpas Taylor (Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe, Lib.): (1500)[English]Mr. Speaker, as the member for Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe, I have had the privilege of interacting with many members of the LGBTQ2 community, yet nothing, and I stress nothing, has been more shocking to me than hearing accounts of anyone trying to change the core being of another person so that they cannot be their true self. (1505)[Translation]The evidence is clear: Conversion therapy is harmful and disruptive.Could the Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth tell the House what we are doing to finally ban conversion therapy?C-8, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (conversion therapy)Conversion therapyOral questionsSexual minoritiesMarie-ClaudeBibeauHon.Compton—StansteadBardishChaggerHon.Waterloo//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/17210RobMooreHon.Rob-MooreFundy RoyalConservative CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/MooreRob_CPC.jpgOral Question PeriodReference to Standing Committee on Procedure and House AffairsInterventionHon. Rob Moore (Fundy Royal, CPC)(1515)[English] moved:MotionThat the matter of the premature disclosure of the contents of Bill C-7, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying) be referred to the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs.He said: Mr. Speaker, thank you for your finding that a breach of our privileges did exist in this case in the leaking of the contents of Bill C-7 to the media before members of the House could see the bill.There is a reason we have rules in this place to protect the rights and the privileges of members of Parliament in this place on all sides of the House, so that we are able to do the job that we were elected to do, which is to represent our constituents, to pass legislation and to debate. Those are the things that we have been given the ability to do by our constituents. When we have government departments, government members that do not abide by the rules of the House, it undermines not just those members in the opposition; it undermines all of us.It is well-established practice in the House that when a bill is on notice for introduction, the House has the first right to the contents of the bill. Everyone in the House knows this. We know that the House is paramount when it comes to the introduction of the legislation, but if there is any one department in the whole of government that we would expect would know the rules around the laws and procedures in the House, that department would be the justice department, the department tasked with making laws that impact the lives of all Canadians. That department knows better. That is a department filled with hundreds if not thousands of lawyers and legal minds that know better.Let us say they did not know better. Just like with any one of our children, sometimes if they make a mistake, we correct them. Maybe if they make a second mistake, we will correct them again. By the third time around, we expect that they know the rules.This is the fourth time there has been found a breach of our privileges in the House that was made by the Department of Justice. In fact, the last ruling on this matter was also on the previous legislation around medical assistance in dying. It was even the same legislation.The article that was put forward within The Canadian Press had very detailed and specific information contained in the bill. That is why this breach of privilege has been found.The reporters and those who were leaking know that contempt has occurred by revealing later in the article that, "The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to reveal details of the bill prior to its tabling in the House of Commons this afternoon." There is no doubt in anyone's mind that those who were leaking this information from the Department of Justice or some other arm of government knew exactly what they were doing when they did it. What they thought about this place is not much, because we have rules, and they thumbed their nose at the rules that we have.After the sources indicated to the reporter that they were aware of their guilty actions, they boldly and defiantly continued their affront to Parliament by providing even more detail of the bill. Quoting again from that article, “Sources say today's bill will not deal with broader issues that were excluded in the new law and that must be considered as part of a parliamentary review of the law that is to begin this summer.” Again, bang on with what was in the bill.We saw the news articles and we thought we knew what had happened, another leak from the Department of Justice, another affront to this Parliament, another breach of all of our collective privileges, but again we had to read the bill to find out whether in fact that was the case.We carefully reviewed the contents of Bill C-7 following its introduction in the House. When I and other members of Parliament got to see the bill for the first time, others in the media had seen the bill in its entirety for hours before.(1520)The details reported by The Canadian Press hours earlier were indeed contained in Bill C-7. Ironically, over and over, the first precedent that I had quoted earlier was from the last Parliament, brought to the Speaker's attention on April 14, 2016, and in regard to Bill C-14, an act to amend the Criminal Code and to make related amendments to other acts (medical assistance in dying).The department in question is being absolutely recidivist. It is not taking seriously the consequences and the rulings of Speakers. The Speaker in 2016 found that there was, in fact, a prima facie case of privilege regarding Bill C-14 and said:As honourable members know, one of my most important responsibilities as Speaker is to safeguard the rights and privileges of members, individually and collectively. Central to the matter before us today is the fact that, due to its pre-eminent role in the legislative process, the House cannot allow precise legislative information to be distributed to others before it has been made accessible to all members. Previous Speakers have regularly upheld not only this fundamental right, but also expectation, of the House.The Speaker's concluding remarks in 2016 were as follows:In this instance, the chair must conclude that the House's right of first access to legislative information was not respected. The chair appreciates the chief government whip's assertion that no one in the government was authorized to publicly release the specific details of the bill before its introduction. Still, it did happen, and these kinds of incidents cause grave concern among hon. members. I believe it is a good reason why extra care should be taken to ensure that matters that ought properly to be brought to the House first do not in any way get out in the public domain prematurely. On October 4, 2010, on page 4711 of the House of Commons Debates, Speaker Milliken noted:It is indisputable that it is a well-established practice and accepted convention that this House has the right of first access to the text of bills that it will consider.This all goes back to my point about the Department of Justice not taking seriously the rules of this House. The one department that ought to know best about the rules of this House is now a four-time offender, with breaches of privileges found by successive Speakers over the last several years, sometimes over the same bill subject matters. The House, and the rules of the House, are being completely ignored.The Speaker found another case of contempt on October 15, 2001, after, and members are not going to believe this, the Department of Justice briefed the media on the contents of a bill prior to the legislation being introduced in the House.Maybe, in this minority House, members can finally take this department and this Minister of Justice's office to account and to task for their continuous disrespect of the privileges and the rights of this place, and the rights of all Canadians who send us as members of Parliament to do good work on their behalf.C-14, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and to make related amendments to other Acts (medical assistance in dying)C-7, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying)Health care systemMedical assistance in dyingMotion to refer the matter to the appropriate committeeParliamentary privilegePremature disclosurePrima facie breach of privilegeStanding Committee on Procedure and House AffairsAnthonyRotaHon.Nipissing—TimiskamingCarolHughesAlgoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/88364GinettePetitpas TaylorHon.Ginette-PetitpasTaylorMoncton—Riverview—DieppeLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/PetitpasTaylorGinette_Lib.jpgGovernment OrdersBusiness of Supply [Opposition Motion—Additional Allotted Days]InterventionHon. Ginette Petitpas Taylor (Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe, Lib.): (1015)[English]Madam Speaker, giving the opposition more government time to debate their motions will negatively affect the government's legislative agenda. Let me remind the House that this motion will delay several important bills, such as Bill C-4, the bill to implement the historic trade agreement between our great country, the United States and Mexico. Let us remember that the United States, Mexico and all premiers want this bill to be passed, and passed quickly.Will the member comment on how this will delay very important legislation before the House at this time?Allotted daysBusiness of supplyGovernment policyOpposition motionsCandiceBergenHon.Portage—LisgarCarolHughesAlgoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/71323JohnWilliamsonJohn-WilliamsonNew Brunswick SouthwestConservative CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/WilliamsonJohn_CPC.jpgOral Question PeriodTaxationInterventionMr. John Williamson (New Brunswick Southwest, CPC): (1200)[English]Madam Speaker, the national revenue minister brought in changes to the disability tax credit in 2017. The government said this was to improve accessibility. Three years later, constituents from my riding with lifelong mental disabilities are still waiting for access. They are still denied eligibility even after providing legitimate medical documentation. One family was even forced to go to tax court before the government conceded that mental health issues are eligible. When will the government stop discriminating against Canadians with mental health disabilities so they can receive this tax credit?Application processDisability tax creditMental healthOral questionsCarolHughesAlgoma—Manitoulin—KapuskasingDianeLebouthillierHon.Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/88364GinettePetitpas TaylorHon.Ginette-PetitpasTaylorMoncton—Riverview—DieppeLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/PetitpasTaylorGinette_Lib.jpgOral Question PeriodSocial DevelopmentInterventionHon. Ginette Petitpas Taylor (Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe, Lib.): (1205)[Translation]Madam Speaker, when our government was elected in 2015, we committed to one of the boldest and most ambitious federal initiatives in the history of Canada: reducing poverty among Canadians by 50%. I am very proud of the progress made to date.Could the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development in charge of housing give the House an update on the various initiatives in New Brunswick and across Canada?Government policyNew BrunswickOral questionsPovertyDianeLebouthillierHon.Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-MadeleineAdamVaughanSpadina—Fort York//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/88364GinettePetitpas TaylorHon.Ginette-PetitpasTaylorMoncton—Riverview—DieppeLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/PetitpasTaylorGinette_Lib.jpgGovernment OrdersBusiness of Supply [Opposition Motion—Additional Allotted Days]InterventionHon. Ginette Petitpas Taylor (Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe, Lib.): (1230)[Translation]Madam Speaker, I want to thank my colleague for her comments.I think Canadians sent us a very strong message in 2019 when they elected us to lead a minority government. They want all parties to work closely together to make life easier for Canadians.As I am sure my colleague knows, the parliamentary calendar provides enough time for all parties to be able to debate their priorities. The priorities people talk to me about in my home region are things like NAFTA and job creation. I doubt that today's motion is the most important issue of the day for her constituents.Once again, does my colleague not think we should be debating legislation that would improve the lives of Canadians?Allotted daysBusiness of supplyOpposition motionsMarilèneGillManicouaganMarilèneGillManicouagan//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/88350SergeCormierSerge-CormierAcadie—BathurstLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/CormierSerge_Lib.jpgOral Question PeriodFisheries and OceansInterventionMr. Serge Cormier (Acadie—Bathurst, Lib.): (1445)[Translation]Mr. Speaker, fishers in my riding will soon be heading out to sea for the snow crab and lobster season. We hope their season is safe and successful for them and for everyone involved in this industry.(1450)[English]Can the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard update this House on what our government is doing to ensure our harvesters have access to markets while also continuing to protect the North Atlantic right whale?Black right whalesEndangered speciesFisheries policyOral questionsDarrenFisherDartmouth—Cole HarbourBernadetteJordanHon.South Shore—St. Margarets//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgOral Question PeriodHealthInterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin (Fredericton, GP): (1505)[English]Mr. Speaker, one in five Canadians suffers from a mental health problem or illness in any given year. Mental illness-related costs in Canada are over $50 billion annually.[Translation]Social costs are high. People with serious mental illness are at greater risk of living in poverty.[English]The Minister of Finance has been tasked with setting national standards for access to mental health services. Could the minister confirm that the upcoming budget will include funding for a national framework that will allow Canadians to access a variety of mental health professionals, including counsellors, and will empower provinces and territories to work together for action on this important issue?Health services accessibilityMental healthOral questionsDarrenFisherDartmouth—Cole HarbourSeanFraserCentral Nova//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/17210RobMooreHon.Rob-MooreFundy RoyalConservative CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/MooreRob_CPC.jpgGovernment OrdersPrivilege [Alleged Premature Disclosure of Private Member's Bill]InterventionHon. Rob Moore (Fundy Royal, CPC): (1650)[English]Mr. Speaker, the hon. member mentioned that he did not want to waste the time of the House, yet he went on, when we are debating medical assistance in dying, on a question of privilege about a private member's bill. I would point him back to earlier this week when the entire contents of Bill C-7, medical assistance in dying, was in a CP story the morning before the bill was introduced. This is just for his reference.C-238, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (possession of unlawfully imported firearms)FirearmsImportsParliamentary privilegePremature disclosureSentencingJohnBrassardBarrie—InnisfilBruceStantonSimcoe North//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/88369RichardBragdonRichard-BragdonTobique—MactaquacConservative CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/BragdonRichard_CPC.jpgRoutine ProceedingsReduction of Recidivism Framework ActInterventionMr. Richard Bragdon (Tobique—Mactaquac, CPC)(1535)[English]Bill C-228. Introduction and first reading moved for leave to introduce Bill C-228, an act to establish a federal framework to reduce recidivism. He said: Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today on behalf of the people and organizations I have deliberated with to introduce a bill that would improve the lives of thousands of Canadians. The bill would aim to shut the revolving door that plagues our prison system.Thousands of lives and hundreds of communities across Canada are negatively impacted by the revolving door within the prison system. Nearly one in four people leaving the prison system will reoffend and find themselves back in prison within two years. That number is higher for indigenous and black Canadians. An act to establish a federal framework is about calling on the Minister of Public Safety to establish effective partnerships across multiple sectors to develop a through-the-gate support structure. I believe that the establishment of effective partnerships with provinces, indigenous groups and NGOs as well as non-profit, faith-based and community organizations, is the crucible and centre for lasting societal change. This approach has been successful in reducing recidivism in other countries such as the U.K., the United States and other jurisdictions. As the former lieutenant governor, the first of indigenous Maliseet descent, and as a retired provincial court judge, the hon. Graydon Nicholas has said that this bill is a step toward helping the walking wounded in our society. It is time for a creative initiative to tackle the devastating and persistent harms that are both the cause and the effect of recidivism.I hope the members from all parties recognize the importance of this bill and that we will begin working together to ensure people leaving the prison system become contributing members of our society. (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed) C-228, An Act to establish a federal framework to reduce recidivismIntroduction and First readingPrivate Members' BillsRecidivistsRubySahotaBrampton NorthJamesCummingEdmonton Centre//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgRoutine ProceedingsStatus of WomenInterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin (Fredericton, GP): (1555)[English]Madam Speaker, the petitioners call on the House of Commons to recognize that violence against women remains a critical problem in Canada and disproportionately impacts indigenous women. They also note that striving for pay equity and equal participation for women in leadership roles must be political priorities for all members of Parliament and that shifting cultural attitudes toward women and gender minorities in our society requires structural changes to education and socialization.Petition 431-00118Sexual discriminationStatus of womenViolence against womenGaganSikandMississauga—StreetsvillePaulManlyNanaimo—Ladysmith//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/17210RobMooreHon.Rob-MooreFundy RoyalConservative CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/MooreRob_CPC.jpgGovernment OrdersCriminal CodeInterventionHon. Rob Moore (Fundy Royal, CPC): (1625)[English]Madam Speaker, I would like to seek unanimous consent to split my time with the hon. member for Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon.C-7, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying)Government billsHealth care systemMedical assistance in dyingSecond readingSplitting speaking timeDavidLamettiHon.LaSalle—Émard—VerdunAlexandraMendèsBrossard—Saint-Lambert//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/17210RobMooreHon.Rob-MooreFundy RoyalConservative CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/MooreRob_CPC.jpgGovernment OrdersCriminal CodeInterventionHon. Rob Moore: (1625)[English]Madam Speaker, it is a great pleasure today to rise as the shadow minister of justice for the official opposition to speak to the government's Bill C-7. As I rise to speak on this bill, I do so with concern over some of the contents within it and even over the way it was presented to the House this week when, unfortunately, many of us read about the contents of the bill in the media, rather than seeing it first in this House. The bill was intended to be a response to the Quebec Superior Court decision that was made on September 11, 2019. The decision stated that the law as it stood was too restrictive around the requirement for death to be reasonably foreseeable. The official opposition called on the government at the time to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court of Canada in order for Parliament to receive clarity about the parameters in which we would legislate, but the bill was introduced without that clarity. Not only was the bill introduced without that clarity, but it goes far beyond what was required to meet the Quebec Superior Court's decision. I believe that is an affront to this Parliament, because when the previous bill, Bill C-14, was passed in the 42nd Parliament, the wisdom of this Parliament required that there be a statutory review of our assisted dying regime in Canada. That statutory review was and is to take place in June of this year.It is in that review period that parliamentarians would be able to go more into depth on how the government's legislation has worked over the past several years and on how best to proceed. Rather than wait for that review, as it should have done, the government has decided to start making amendments to the legislation now, avoiding the in-depth review that is to take place shortly.The reality is that when we are talking about this legislation, we are literally talking about the matter of life and death. This is an incredibly sensitive issue. Members on all sides of the house have diverse opinions on it, and it is because of this diversity of opinions and because of the sensitivity of this issue that the Quebec Superior Court decision should have been appealed to the Supreme Court of Canada for further clarity. However, as the government has now opened this legislation up, it is upon us as legislators to now highlight other matters that should be addressed and included.My office has heard plenty from concerned Canadians about the lack of protection for conscience rights for health care professionals. This is particularly important now that the government is broadening medical assistance in dying to include individuals whose death is not reasonably foreseeable. Expanding medical assistance in dying to more patients could in fact diminish the number of medical professionals willing to take part in the process. The fact is that this expanded access could result in a heavy emotional burden on those health care providers. None of us here can fully appreciate the burden put on those health care providers currently working in the system and providing medical assistance in dying. The fact is that there is nothing about ensuring proper support to health care professionals who provide this service and there continue to be no penalties for pressuring a medical professional into providing medical assistance in dying, nor are there penalties for punishing or penalizing a medical professional who does not participate in medical assistance in dying. This means there continues to be no real protection for conscience rights for health care professionals.The issue of advance directives, now rebranded as a “waiver of final consent” by this government, is a complex one that poses questions of ethics and safety and issues with oversight. The fact that the legislation legalizing this is half a page of a bill shows a lack of care given to this issue. This issue rightly should have been discussed as part of the parliamentary review to take place this summer.(1630)The process for the creation and execution of this agreement remains ambiguous. Further, there is a lack of clarity on the process for proceeding with an advance directive agreement upon the date selected. The process will only be stopped if a patient expresses a form of resistance, but we do not know what that looks like. What if they are simply confused or groggy at the time? Under the legislation, unless they resist, the process will still proceed.The bill also removes the 10-day waiting requirement when a person's death is reasonably foreseeable. When I read in media reports before the bill was tabled that this would be included, I, like many of my colleagues and parliamentarians, questioned as to what prompted its removal. I still remain incredibly concerned as to why this was included. This is particularly true because there was already the ability to remove the 10-day waiting period if a person's death or loss of capacity to consent was imminent, so why proceed with the removal of a safeguard that Parliament saw fit to include in the previous legislation?It is also confusing that Bill C-7 requires a 90-day waiting period when a patient's death is not reasonably foreseeable. Why add an extended wait period for one, but remove the wait period entirely for the other?On the issue of whether a death is reasonably foreseeable or not reasonably foreseeable, there is no clarification or guidance for health care professionals. As a result, it is not up to them to make the determination as to what category to put a patient under. That determination will decide whether a patient can access medical assistance in dying immediately or if they will require a 90-day waiting period. This is an extraordinary amount of pressure that the government is putting on health care professionals across this country.The changing of witness requirements under this legislation has also been mentioned. The law requires only one independent witness, which is down from two. All of these changes lead to an expansion of the law in Canada far beyond what was addressed in the Quebec court decision, an expansion that should have required deeper reflection through the study that is to take place this summer.For a moment, let us speak to a point that seems to be lost in this conversation: palliative care services in this country. The reality is if the choice is between a lack of quality palliative care and medically assisted dying, that really is no choice at all. Unfortunately, over the past number of years there have been instances of patients feeling they were forced to choose death because of a lack of palliative care.The story of Archie Rolland comes to mind. Archie was a Montreal landscape architect who chose to end his life rather than continue suffering at a long-term care facility that was failing to provide him adequate care. He had ALS and had his life upended when he was forced to move from a Montreal hospital that specialized in treating patients with severe respiratory ailments to a long-term care facility for geriatric patients. Mr. Rolland did not want to go, but he was transferred against his wishes. He called the system “inhuman”. He felt he was not getting adequate care, so he chose death.I do not think that this is any real choice at all. We must have the discussion in this country about palliative care because people must not feel forced into a decision on medically assisted death. Mr. Rolland's story makes it clear that there was a failure of the system to provide him with adequate care. We risk medically assisted death being seen as some sort of bureaucratic solution for people who require an extra level of care. In a country like Canada, that is simply not acceptable. The government risks expanding a culture of not valuing life, and we should all agree in this place that we must place value on human life.In closing, the bill disrespects Parliament and the parliamentary process. With Bill C-14, parliamentarians did a significant amount of work in the House and committee in an attempt to build consensus. The work was challenged by the Quebec Superior Court, but rather than defending the will of elected representatives in court, the Liberals immediately backed down.(1635)Now the Liberals are responding not just to that decision but are also undoing the work of the joint committee on Bill C-14 by adding new measures. Many of these issues should be dealt with in the summer when we have our scheduled parliamentary review. This is a complex matter that requires proper scrutiny and debate.Application processC-7, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying)Capacity of consent for careCaregivers and health care professionalsConsentFreedom of conscience and religionGovernment billsHealth care systemLiving willsMedical assistance in dyingPalliative careSecond readingStatutory reviewAlexandraMendèsBrossard—Saint-LambertArifViraniParkdale—High Park//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/17210RobMooreHon.Rob-MooreFundy RoyalConservative CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/MooreRob_CPC.jpgGovernment OrdersCriminal CodeInterventionHon. Rob Moore: (1640)[English]Madam Speaker, I thank the parliamentary secretary for his question. He covered a lot of ground. If the government agreed with the decision, and that is the basis for not appealing it, then why was that not in the original legislation to begin with? All too often we see on the other side of the House a willingness to let the courts do the work that is rightly the work of Parliament, and we are seeing that again here. One court decision is made in one province, and then the government will hide behind that decision rather than appeal it to the Supreme Court of Canada as it should.Now the government has brought in legislation that goes far beyond what this court was dealing with, which is reasonable foreseeability of death. That again should have been dealt with in the review that is coming up this summer, when all parliamentarians can get input from their constituents and from experts on this issue.Appeals and appeals officersApplication processC-7, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying)Caregivers and health care professionalsConsentFreedom of conscience and religionGovernment billsHealth care systemMedical assistance in dyingPalliative careSecond readingArifViraniParkdale—High ParkAlistairMacGregorCowichan—Malahat—Langford//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/17210RobMooreHon.Rob-MooreFundy RoyalConservative CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/MooreRob_CPC.jpgGovernment OrdersCriminal CodeInterventionHon. Rob Moore: (1640)[English]Madam Speaker, in Bill C-14 from the previous Parliament, the decision was made not to include advance directives, meaning that someone would have to give consent at the time of medically assisted death. That is why, in the previous legislation, someone would have to consent and then give a further consent at the time of medically assisted death. The bill before us would change that. This is a major expansion of Canada's laws on assisted dying. It was done under the premise of a response to an unrelated court decision in Quebec.There is a reason parliamentarians and the House put in place a statutory review of this regime: so that we can consider new measures and look at what is working and see what is not working. This is why the whole discussion on this aspect of consent should have been done in the course of the statutory review. C-7, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying)Government billsHealth care systemMedical assistance in dyingSecond readingAlistairMacGregorCowichan—Malahat—LangfordAlexandraMendèsBrossard—Saint-Lambert//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/17210RobMooreHon.Rob-MooreFundy RoyalConservative CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/MooreRob_CPC.jpgGovernment OrdersCriminal CodeInterventionHon. Rob Moore (Fundy Royal, CPC): (1810)[English]Mr. Speaker, specifically on the 10-day cooling off period, does the parliamentary secretary acknowledge that under the current legislation, if necessary, those 10 days could be waived? That was a safeguard put in place by this Parliament and has been taken out in haste.I would like the parliamentary secretary to comment on a couple of facts that deal with this Parliament. First, a two-week online consultation is not a parliamentary review. Bill C-14 called for a parliamentary review that was to take place this summer before we expand our regime in Canada around medically assisted dying. The Liberal government has jumped ahead with a vast expansion of the legislation without the benefit of that review.Does the parliamentary secretary see a two-week online consultation having some equivalency with a parliamentary review?Application processC-7, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying)Government billsHealth care systemMedical assistance in dyingPublic consultationSecond readingStatutory reviewArifViraniParkdale—High ParkArifViraniParkdale—High Park//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/88360PatFinniganPat-FinniganMiramichi—Grand LakeLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/43/FinniganPat_Lib.jpgGovernment OrdersCriminal CodeInterventionMr. Pat Finnigan (Miramichi—Grand Lake, Lib.): (1830)[English]Mr. Speaker, I have had many calls regarding MAID, and many of my constituents are in favour of it. Some are concerned that this could be risky for people who might be vulnerable in their hours of pain. What safeguards would the member say we have in place that guarantee, whether for religious beliefs or other reasons, people are not coerced or pushed into making a decision they may not be in the right state to make?C-7, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying)Freedom of conscience and religionGovernment billsHealth care systemMedical assistance in dyingSecond readingVulnerable personsKodyBloisKings—HantsKodyBloisKings—Hants//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgStatements by MembersTranslation BureauInterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin (Fredericton, GP): (1400)[English]Madam Speaker, in light of the recent tensions in this House, I wish to call attention to a bright patch in the Canadian record, something we can all be proud of. Today, I want to honour and congratulate the Translation Bureau.[Translation]The Translation Bureau's staff support the Government of Canada in its efforts to serve Canadians by communicating in both official languages, but their efforts go far above and beyond that mandate. I was touched to learn how incredibly inclusive, respectful and committed their work is.[English]A fine example of their efforts is the new gender and sexual diversity glossary, a free glossary that lists the English and French equivalents of 193 concepts on gender and sexual diversity. The Bureau also offers translation for international languages, sign language and five indigenous languages and counting, including recent work to include Wolastoqey latuwewakon, a language with only a few hundred speakers in my home riding.[Member spoke in Wolastoqey and provided the following text:]Wolasuweltomuwakon, Nuhkomossok naka nmuhsumsok, Woliwon ciw latuwewakon, Kisi monuwehkiyeq ‘ciw nilun, nilun oc tokec nuleyutomonen, ciw weckuwapasihtit. Nit leyic. [Member provided the following translation:]Maliseet language honour code, grandmothers and grandfathers, thank you for our language that you have saved for us. It is now our turn to save it for the ones who are not born yet, may that be the truth.Indigenous languages in proceedingsMaleciteStatements by MembersTranslation and interpretation servicesTranslation BureauAlexandraMendèsBrossard—Saint-LambertGudieHutchingsLong Range Mountains//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/88369RichardBragdonRichard-BragdonTobique—MactaquacConservative CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/BragdonRichard_CPC.jpgStatements by MembersTomlinson Lake Hike to FreedomInterventionMr. Richard Bragdon (Tobique—Mactaquac, CPC): (1410)[English]Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize the immense contribution of black Canadians as part of our month-long celebration of Black History Month.The great riding of Tobique—Mactaquac is home to the northernmost route of the underground railway. Brave men and women fleeing slavery found their way to Fort Fairfield, Maine, where they were given refuge in places such as Friends Church. Once they were able to make their final journey to freedom, they would set out through the woods until they reached Tomlinson Lake in Carlingford, New Brunswick. Once there, they knew they were safe and began their new lives in Canada as free people. They overcame many challenges and contributed immensely to a better Canada. Passionate and tireless volunteers have worked to preserve these stories and valuable parts of our history. They hold an annual hike in the fall where families can walk the trails and learn the stories. I would encourage all members to learn more about this part of Canadian history at tomlinsonlakehiketofreedom.ca. Although freedom was reached at Tomlinson Lake, the journey to true equality and recognition continues.Black CanadiansBlack History MonthCultural heritageNew BrunswickStatements by MembersMarcusPowlowskiThunder Bay—Rainy RiverCathyMcLeodKamloops—Thompson—Cariboo//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/17210RobMooreHon.Rob-MooreFundy RoyalConservative CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/MooreRob_CPC.jpgOral Question PeriodPrivilege [Alleged Premature Disclosure of Contents of Bill C-7]InterventionHon. Rob Moore (Fundy Royal, CPC): (1510)[English]Mr. Speaker, I rise on a question of privilege today concerning the premature disclosure of the contents of Bill C-7, an act to amend the Criminal Code regarding medical assistance in dying, introduced yesterday. As you know, it is a well-established practice in the House that, when a bill is on notice for introduction, the House has the first right to the contents of that legislation. In a report circulated prior to question period, and hours before Bill C-7 was read a first time in the House, the Canadian Press published an article that detailed specific information contained in Bill C-7. In the article it states: The bill [would] scrap a provision in the law that allows only those already near death to receive medical assistance in dying—as ordered by a Quebec court last fall.... Sources say it will drop the requirement that a person must wait 10 days after being approved for an assisted death before receiving the procedure. And it will drop the requirement that a person must be able to give consent a second time immediately prior to receiving the procedure.The reporter gives credence to the fact that contempt has occurred by revealing later in the article: The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to reveal details of the bill prior to its tabling in the House of Commons this afternoon. After the sources indicated to the reporter that they were aware of their guilty actions, they boldly and defiantly continued their affront to Parliament by providing even more detail of the bill. I quote again from the article, which states: Sources say today's bill will not deal with broader issues that were excluded in the new law and that must be considered as part of a parliamentary review of the law that is to begin this summer. Those issues include whether mature minors and those suffering only from mental [illness] should be eligible and whether people who fear losing mental capacity due to conditions like dementia should be able to make advance requests for medical assistance in dying. It will, however, propose a measure intended to deal with a situation in which a person is given consent and who has been approved for an assisted death loses the mental capacity to give consent a second time immediately prior to receiving the procedure. After carefully reviewing the contents of Bill C-7 following its introduction in the House, when I and other members of Parliament got to see the bill for the very first time, the details reported by the Canadian Press hours earlier were indeed contained in Bill C-7. Ironically, my first precedent to present to you is from the last Parliament, brought to the Speaker's attention on April 14, 2016. It was with respect to Bill C-14, an act to amend the Criminal Code and to make related amendments to other acts regarding medical assistance in dying. It would appear that the Liberal justice team just has not learned any lessons as it was pointed out on April 14, 2016, as I am pointing out today on Bill C-7, that specific and detailed information contained in Bill C-14 was reported in a newspaper article and elsewhere in the media before the bill had been introduced in the House.On April 19, 2016, the Speaker found that there was in fact a prima facie case of privilege regarding Bill C-14. He stated:As honourable members know, one of my most important responsibilities as Speaker is to safeguard the rights and privileges of members, individually and collectively. Central to the matter before us today is the fact that, due to its pre-eminent role in the legislative process, the House cannot allow precise legislative information to be distributed to others before it has been made accessible to all members. Previous Speakers have regularly upheld not only this fundamental right, but also expectation, of the House.The Speaker's concluding remark on April 19, 2016, was as follows:In this instance, the chair must conclude that the House's right of first access to legislative information was not respected. The chair appreciates the chief government whip's assertion that no one in the government was authorized to publicly release the specific details of the bill before its introduction. Still, it did happen, and these kinds of incidents cause grave concern among hon. members. I believe it is a good reason why extra care should be taken to ensure that matters that ought properly to be brought to the House first do not in any way get out in the public domain prematurely.On October 4, 2010, on page 4711 of the House of Commons Debates, Speaker Milliken noted:It is indisputable that it is a well-established practice and accepted convention that this House has the right of first access to the text of bills that it will consider. (1515)Getting back to my point about the Liberal justice team not learning any lessons, there was a similar case from March 19, 2001, regarding the Department of Justice briefing the media on a bill before members of Parliament. In that reading, Speaker Milliken said, at page 1840 of the House of Commons Debates:In preparing legislation, the government may wish to hold extensive consultations and such consultations may be held entirely at the government's discretion. However, with respect to material to be placed before parliament, the House must take precedence. Once a bill has been placed on notice, whether it has been presented in a different form to a different session of parliament has no bearing and the bill is considered a new matter. The convention of the confidentiality of bills on notice is necessary, not only so that members themselves [will] be well informed, but also because of the pre-eminent [role] which the House plays and must play in the legislative affairs of the nation.The Speaker found another case of contempt on October 15, 2001, after the Department of Justice again briefed the media on the contents of a bill prior to the legislation being introduced in the House. Maybe, in this minority House, members can finally take these characters in the Minister of Justice's office to task for their continuous disrespect of this Parliament. Given the facts presented and the clear precedents on this matter, I believe, Mr. Speaker, you should have no trouble in finding a prima facie case of privilege. In that event, I am prepared to move the appropriate motion.C-14, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and to make related amendments to other Acts (medical assistance in dying)C-7, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying)Health care systemMedical assistance in dyingParliamentary privilegePremature disclosureRaising a question of privilegeAnthonyRotaHon.Nipissing—TimiskamingAnthonyRotaHon.Nipissing—Timiskaming//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/88364GinettePetitpas TaylorHon.Ginette-PetitpasTaylorMoncton—Riverview—DieppeLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/PetitpasTaylorGinette_Lib.jpgGovernment OrdersBusiness of Supply [Opposition Motion—Proposed Tax Changes]InterventionHon. Ginette Petitpas Taylor (Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe, Lib.): (1630)[English]Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague from Dartmouth—Cole Harbour for his very thoughtful comments today and also for his tremendous work as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health.My colleague comes from Atlantic Canada. When knocking on doors last summer, one of the number one items I heard at the door, and I am assuming he did as well, was access to health care services in Atlantic Canada and how we can improve health care services within our region and all across the country.I wonder if my colleague could elaborate on the importance of the investment of $11 billion that we have made when it comes to home care and mental health services, and how that has really benefited Canadians across the country.Health care fundingHealth care systemHome care servicesIncome taxMental healthOpposition motionsOral and dental healthTax reliefDarrenFisherDartmouth—Cole HarbourDarrenFisherDartmouth—Cole Harbour//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/88364GinettePetitpas TaylorHon.Ginette-PetitpasTaylorMoncton—Riverview—DieppeLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/PetitpasTaylorGinette_Lib.jpgGovernment OrdersBusiness of Supply [Opposition Motion—Proposed Tax Changes]InterventionHon. Ginette Petitpas Taylor (Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe, Lib.): (1650)[English]Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague for her questions. I always appreciate her comments.I do not agree with one of the statements that she has made, indicating that our government has punted pharmacare down the road. If I look back over the past four years, our government has done extensive work to move this file forward. We have taken steps, including making changes to the pan-Canadian pharmaceutical review board. We have also joined provinces and territories to make sure that we can bulk-purchase medications together. Furthermore, in budget 2019, we invested $35 million for the creation of the Canadian drug agency. Work is under way.I have a specific question for my colleague. Does she agree that putting together a national pharmacare program, and also a dental care program, is going to require the collaboration of the provinces and territories? If we want to move forward with this, we absolutely have to work with all levels of government. I would like to hear the member's comments about that.Federal-provincial-territorial relationsHealth care systemIncome taxOpposition motionsOral and dental healthTax reliefRachelBlaneyNorth Island—Powell RiverRachelBlaneyNorth Island—Powell River//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/71323JohnWilliamsonJohn-WilliamsonNew Brunswick SouthwestConservative CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/WilliamsonJohn_CPC.jpgEmergency DebateEmergency Debate [Cancellation of Teck Frontier Mine Project]InterventionMr. John Williamson (New Brunswick Southwest, CPC): (2045)[English]Madam Speaker, earlier tonight we heard a Liberal member of Parliament tell this chamber that the government's goal in Canada is to produce the cleanest oil in the world. However, this is not true. We know what the Prime Minister told Canadians some years ago: The goal is actually to “phase out” the industry.I can say this with some certainty because Canada is already an environmental leader when it comes to refining and producing its petroleum products. It is one of the cleanest producers in the world. If that is the goal, the government could say it is mission accomplished. It could get on with creating jobs and opportunity in Canada and exporting this technology and our clean ethical products around the world.We know the decision that came down from Teck is a result of a market failure, which is produced by policy uncertainty. The result is fewer jobs, higher energy prices and less of Canada's ethical oil being consumed at home and around the world.Teck's decision is a blow to Canada. It is devastating to Alberta's economy. It is also problematic and hurtful and is raising questions in Alberta about its place in Confederation in Canada. Jobs have been lost, opportunities have left, tax dollars are evaporating, and we now hear voices in western Canada wondering what Alberta's place is in the federation. This is a realistic question we hear, as people who look to Ottawa see a government trying to turn off this industry.This is not the first time we have seen these actions from a federal government that is focused elsewhere. In my home province, energy east was killed. The government tried to say this too was a market decision, but energy east was following all the rules that were laid out by the Government of Canada. Those rules were changed midstream, something we never see. The company engaged in good faith in the Canadian regulatory process. It spent $1 billion trying to go through that process. Then the government changed the rules. The Prime Minister was not willing to spend a nickel of his political capital in Quebec, so the company walked away. It was another lost opportunity for Canada, an opportunity to bring the real eastern Canada, Atlantic Canada, into this nation building. We look west and to central Canada and see jobs, growth and opportunity. We say in New Brunswick that we would like a piece of that. Instead of sending our best and brightest to work in this industry, this vital Canadian industry, we would like to see a piece of that in Atlantic Canada. However, the Prime Minister and the Liberal Party have other ideas. They want to shut it down. They wanted to shut it down in the east and now want to shut it down in western Canada.Tonight I had the good fortune of hosting Preston Manning here on the Hill. Mr. Manning was in town promoting his new book about political involvement and engagement, entitled Do Something! I have known Preston Manning for 25 years now. When he sat in the House, his mantra was “the west wants in”. Thirty years ago he was championing western Canadians to come to Ottawa, roll up their sleeves and work with fellow Canadians.Teck abandoned its project, not because of the market but because of policy failure and policy uncertainty, just like TransCanada did on energy east, just like Kinder Morgan did by bailing out of the Trans Mountain pipeline, which was purchased by the federal government, because things were falling apart so quickly, because of policy and regulatory uncertainty. Today what do we hear in western Canada? Not that the west wants in, but maybe, just maybe, that the west wants out. This is deeply concerning and should raise alarm bells at the highest level of the federal government. We do not want to see this happening.(2050)Our country is strong because of western Canada. It is strong because of all parts of this country. If we have a region or province that feels shut out of the corridors of power and feels its concerns are being ignored, this is a problem, almost a crisis. I hope the government will reconsider its position.Some say this decision by Teck was made because of a downturn in prices or they say that Teck is just hitting the pause button and will return. Some are even saying that in a way Alberta deserves this because it is not saving enough of its resource. However, there is no downturn in the industry. It is a made-in-Canada problem, a made-in-Canada downturn. One only needs to look at the United States of America. It is booming. It is being called a blue-collar jobs boom. Jobs are being created, wealth is being created and opportunities are being created. At the same time, America last year, under President Donald Trump, believe or not, was the world's largest net CO2 reducer in the world. America has figured out that one can be prosperous, can cut CO2 and can create jobs.To the idea that Teck will return, Teck is not going to return as long as the current government is in office under these policies. In fact, dare I say this is probably the last large-scale project we are going to see come to our shores. Why would a company come here? Project after project after project has been either cancelled, abandoned or killed by the government.As for the notion that Alberta deserves this because it is just not saving enough compared to some European countries, those countries are not part of grand federations. Alberta has shared its wealth. It has shared the wealth with this federal government and it shares its wealth every single year with provinces across this country. My province of New Brunswick receives a third of its budget every year from transfers from the federal government, generous transfers I know Albertans and other western Canadians are proud to pitch in to help. In the past, they have been allowed to do what they do best, which is to create jobs and opportunity and to share that wealth. They have grown mightily and we have seen a population boom in western Canada.To my western friends, when the Liberals come to them and say not to worry and they will help with more transfers and EI, I say to run to the hills. We have that in Atlantic Canada. Life is pretty good, but that is not how one creates a growing economy that is going to see families grow, people move in and economies prosper. We are fortunate and thankful to have those transfers, but that is not the road a country follows to grow itself.Today Canada is poorer because of this decision that is a direct result of the federal government. Indigenous communities that had agreed to it and were looking to participate are poorer. The provinces are going to be poorer over the long run as well. The government is destroying reliable energy, affordable energy and Canada's ethical energy industry. For that I say shame, because increasingly we are finding energy is cheaper outside of this country than good old made-in-Canada energy, and I decry that. AlbertaBituminous sandsEconomic impactEmergency debatesEnergy East Pipeline ProjectExtractive industryNew BrunswickTeck Resources LimitedTransfers to provinces and territoriesWestern alienationCarolHughesAlgoma—Manitoulin—KapuskasingStéphaneLauzonArgenteuil—La Petite-Nation//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/71323JohnWilliamsonJohn-WilliamsonNew Brunswick SouthwestConservative CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/WilliamsonJohn_CPC.jpgEmergency DebateEmergency Debate [Cancellation of Teck Frontier Mine Project]InterventionMr. John Williamson: (2055)[Translation]Madam Speaker, we heard the same arguments when the energy east pipeline was cancelled. We were told it was a market-related decision. Clearly, the federal government is responsible for this decision in Alberta, just as it was responsible for the energy east decision. The Liberals did nothing. They created obstacles and then said it was not their fault. It is their fault.Bituminous sandsEmergency debatesExtractive industryTeck Resources LimitedStéphaneLauzonArgenteuil—La Petite-NationHeatherMcPhersonEdmonton Strathcona//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/71323JohnWilliamsonJohn-WilliamsonNew Brunswick SouthwestConservative CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/WilliamsonJohn_CPC.jpgEmergency DebateEmergency Debate [Cancellation of Teck Frontier Mine Project]InterventionMr. John Williamson: (2055)[English]Madam Speaker, I decry where we find ourselves. I am worried about it because I think it is going to be the issue we will be dealing with between now and the next federal election.We do not have to make things up or be mischievous to realize that Albertans might soon realize the only way they can move forward to get these projects done or to ship their product outside the country is not with a federal government like the one we have. The conclusions they draw after that will be difficult ones.I have spent part of my career looking at politics in this country. Albertans are not stupid. They will see where this problem originates from and try to find solutions. I hope and trust they will do so within the country. I understand how the winds of change might blow and people will propose dramatic actions that I do not agree with, that this side of the House does not agree with, but that are being fuelled by the Government of Canada, unfortunately.Bituminous sandsEmergency debatesExtractive industryFederal-provincial-territorial relationsTeck Resources LimitedHeatherMcPhersonEdmonton StrathconaFrancisDrouinGlengarry—Prescott—Russell//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/88350SergeCormierSerge-CormierAcadie—BathurstLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/CormierSerge_Lib.jpgStatements by MembersRufin GionetInterventionMr. Serge Cormier (Acadie—Bathurst, Lib.): (1400)[Translation]Madam Speaker, Rufin Gionet was a well-known and very respected constituent of mine. On January 17, 2020, at the age of 99 years and seven months, he passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family. Mr. Gionet was one of the last surviving veterans of World War II. After his military service, Mr. Gionet made a name for himself throughout New Brunswick with his passion for the shipbuilding industry. He was a co-founder of the Bas-Caraquet shipyard, Fundy Shipbuilding and Caraquet Marine Ltée. He also owned a small business and sat on many boards of directors, such as the boards of Caraquet Hospital and of Caisses populaires acadiennes.Mr. Gionet was also a Bas-Caraquet municipal councillor and founding member of our only French-language newspaper, the Acadie Nouvelle.We will be forever grateful for his service to Canada and our community. In our riding, he will be remembered as a modern and courageous man.I would like to extend my condolences to his children, René and Huguette, and to his family and friends.Rest in peace, Mr. Gionet.AcadiaDeaths and funeralsGionet, RufinStatements by MembersVeteransErinO'TooleHon.DurhamMoniquePauzéRepentigny//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/88360PatFinniganPat-FinniganMiramichi—Grand LakeLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/43/FinniganPat_Lib.jpgStatements by MembersCharles HubbardInterventionMr. Pat Finnigan (Miramichi—Grand Lake, Lib.): (1400)[English]Madam Speaker, I rise in the House today with a heavy heart to pay my respects to the late Charles Hubbard, who passed away on February 12. He was a friend and colleague to many of us here in this House.Charlie was the member of Parliament for Miramichi from 1993 to 2008 and served the people of the riding with great pride. He was the parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport during the government of Paul Martin. Before entering politics, Charlie served in the Canadian Armed Forces, and in 1963 began his illustrious teaching career. He later went on to become the first principal of Miramichi Valley High School and was also deeply involved with many community organizations over the years. Charlie had a love for the outdoors that included farming and fishing.I would like to extend my condolences to his wife Pat, their children and their grandchildren. Charlie was a good friend and mentor to me, and a true champion of the Miramichi region. He will be missed.City of MiramichiDeaths and funeralsHubbard, CharlesParliamentariansStatements by MembersMoniquePauzéRepentignyBernardGénéreuxMontmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/71323JohnWilliamsonJohn-WilliamsonNew Brunswick SouthwestConservative CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/WilliamsonJohn_CPC.jpgOral Question PeriodIndigenous AffairsInterventionMr. John Williamson: (1510)[English]Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. During today's question period, the member for Lakeland asked a question. She was reprimanded by you for charged language. It is not clear, on this side at least, why she was. Was it for using the word “crock”? Was it for saying that Alberta is bleeding? Was it for highlighting the dramatic spike in suicides?AlbertaExtractive industryFederal-provincial-territorial relationsOil and gasOral questionsPoints of orderReferences to membersStubbs, ShannonUnparliamentary languageDavidLamettiHon.LaSalle—Émard—VerdunAnthonyRotaHon.Nipissing—Timiskaming//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgGovernment OrdersCitizenship ActInterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin (Fredericton, GP): (1610)[English]Madam Speaker, I feel like we are missing the mark a bit. We are missing the idea about sovereignty and self-determination. What we are really discussing is advancing the rights of indigenous peoples in the country. I heard many times in the member's statement the words “our indigenous communities”. We do not own these communities. They are sovereign in their own right. I ask the member whether he thinks it is a bit pandering itself, a bit token, and a bit patronizing to use that kind of terminology?C-6, An Act to amend the Citizenship Act (Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's call to action number 94)Citizenship and identityGovernment billsIndigenous policyOathsSecond readingKennyChiuSteveston—Richmond EastKennyChiuSteveston—Richmond East//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgGovernment OrdersCitizenship ActInterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin (Fredericton, GP): (1740)[English]Madam Speaker, it is an honour to rise in this House to speak and to represent the people of Fredericton.Today we debate Bill C-6, a bill to amend the citizenship oath. I wish to provide context for my words today with some of my background. Before being elected in this House, I was a teacher and an advocate for indigenous youth in our public schools. I worked to remove barriers in the New Brunswick education system for indigenous children. I worked to educate the broader population on the true history of Canada and the implications for ignoring it. I remember learning about residential schools on my own time and not as part of my formal education. It took two years to comb through testimonials, letters, documents and photo evidence. It was a roller coaster of emotions as I confronted my identity as a non-indigenous person, and my role and responsibility in repairing the damage that had been done. Understanding that responsibility led to my passion for teaching and it led me into this House where I stand today.The 94 calls to action that came out of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada were designed to be a road map to reconciliation, covering a variety of aspects of life, including business, education, health, youth, women, justice and more. Canadians might be asking where this road has gotten us, and how many calls to action have been completed. In the Prime Minister's words, he made a commitment, in partnership with indigenous communities, the provinces, territories and other vital partners, to fully implement the calls to action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, starting with the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. That was in 2015.CBC's Ian Mosby has been tracking the TRC's progress. He commented, “One thing that the calls to action that have been completed have in common, is that they are very simple to complete, or they are calls for things that were already happening to continue.”Dr. Cindy Blackstock said, “In 2020, it is time to stop feeding the government’s insatiable appetite to be thanked for its inadequate measures and to demand a complete end to the inequality”.Particularly poignant are the observations of the Yellowhead Institute on assessing progress. It writes:We have also operated from the assumption that completing any particular Call to Action cannot be solely determined by gestures of process, budgetary promises, or otherwise “recognition of concerns” on the part of Crown-Indigenous Relations (CIR). Rather, we have judged their status based on whether or not specific actions have been taken that are capable of producing the kinds of clear, meaningful, structural changes necessary to improve the lives of Indigenous peoples throughout Canada.Let us review the scorecard. Out of the 52 broader reconciliation recommendations, seven have been completed; under justice, one out of 18; language and culture, one out of five; health, zero; education, zero; child welfare, zero. Five were completed in the first year, and just four since 2016. At the current rate, it will take approximately 38 more years before all of the calls to action are implemented. We will see reconciliation in the year 2057, just in time for zero emissions.In the 2019 mandate letters, the Prime Minister reiterated, “No relationship is more important to Canada than the relationship with Indigenous People”. I think it is time to call in the marriage counsellor. Take, for example, Canada's ongoing legal challenges to the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal's September 2019 ruling that “the Federal government was wilfully and recklessly discriminating against First Nation children in ways that contributed to child deaths and a multitude of unnecessary family separations.” For a government so concerned with appearances, this does not look good.With no reminder needed, let us look to the current and ongoing Wet'suwet'en crisis in Canada, testing the Prime Minister and his government's commitment to this mandate of reconciliation, as well as the public interest. This could have been a slam dunk, setting the tone for positive, peaceful relationships for years to come. However, due to what I believe to be a catastrophic mishandling of the situation, we are seeing effects like the explicit, overt racism breeding in online comment sections and spilling into the streets and schoolyards.This is the true barrier to the calls to action, to reconciliation and to the hope of a better tomorrow for indigenous peoples in Canada. We have heard a lot of rhetoric over the last couple of weeks. We had the opposition leader attempt to educate us on privilege. Mind you, he is a white, affluent man who was standing in front of the grand doors of the House of Commons. He should know privilege well, yet somehow he missed the mark. We have heard a lot of platitudes, punch lines and patriarchy. We have heard promises made and, three days later, promises broken as well as a gross overstating of the role of dialogue.(1745)The exhaustive TRC, the previous Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, the missing and murdered indigenous women and girls inquiry were the hard work of dialogue and set a course of action for Canada to take. Dialogue is a conversation among parties, but Canada does not seem to be listening. In closing, I will change my tone. I will of course support this effort to fulfill one of the 94 recommendations, but I wish to note the timing of this effort as well as question the actual impact in today's Canadian political climate. Things have changed. We have failed in the bridge building, in the healing that is required of this work, which is embedded in each of the 94 recommendations. Today we address one call to action, the 94th, with 84 incomplete before it. We will potentially move this request to committee stage and in time perhaps we will see our newcomers repeat an oath that acknowledges something the majority of settler Canadians have not. Having said all this, this change will have a positive impact on the immigration experience in Canada, despite falling flat as a call to action for indigenous peoples so long after it was originally recorded.C-6, An Act to amend the Citizenship Act (Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's call to action number 94)Citizenship and identityEducation and trainingGovernment billsIndigenous peoplesIndigenous policyOathsSecond readingLloydLongfieldGuelphKevinLamoureuxWinnipeg North//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgGovernment OrdersCitizenship ActInterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin: (1750)[English]Madam Speaker, yes, we are supportive of the bill before us. Again, it puts forward one of the 94 recommendations. If we are looking at prioritizing or placing importance on these recommendations, it is rather symbolic, if we are going to talk about symbolism, and it is the 94th call to action. It would seem that the hard-working individuals who were involved in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission would have rather seen some of the others addressed long before we got to this one. Again, while it is one step that is necessary to take, 93 others steps should probably have been taken before this one.C-6, An Act to amend the Citizenship Act (Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's call to action number 94)Citizenship and identityGovernment billsIndigenous policyOathsSecond readingKevinLamoureuxWinnipeg NorthKyleSeebackDufferin—Caledon//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgGovernment OrdersCitizenship ActInterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin: (1750)[English]Madam Speaker, the simple answer is yes. With our limited time here, we have to address things with a certain level of urgency and prioritize them in a very important way. However, this is the bill before us, and I support it.C-6, An Act to amend the Citizenship Act (Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's call to action number 94)Citizenship and identityCitizenship educationGovernment billsImmigration and immigrantsIndigenous policyOathsSecond readingKyleSeebackDufferin—CaledonPeterJulianNew Westminster—Burnaby//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgGovernment OrdersCitizenship ActInterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin: (1750)[English]Madam Speaker, I am very frustrated. I sat very patiently and listened to the midnight debate without a speaking slot, so I took this time to really address those concerns.My children are indigenous. What I see from all this, as I mentioned, is some of the racism that is really pouring out of the comment sections and in society. I am very concerned. Therefore, I would like to see a strong focus placed on anti-racism. With that, comes all the rest of the recommendations as well. They are very much embedded in that spirit. We need to understand how to better relate to one another, but we have to tear down the walls we have seen. The power of racism in our society is there and I worry for my children, my students and Canada. We need to address this right away.C-6, An Act to amend the Citizenship Act (Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's call to action number 94)Citizenship and identityGovernment billsIndigenous policyOathsSecond readingPeterJulianNew Westminster—BurnabyMarkStrahlChilliwack—Hope//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/71323JohnWilliamsonJohn-WilliamsonNew Brunswick SouthwestConservative CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/WilliamsonJohn_CPC.jpgOral Question PeriodRail TransportationInterventionMr. John Williamson (New Brunswick Southwest, CPC): (1135)[English]Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Minister of Transport told the House that VIA Rail service was now operating between Ottawa and Montreal. The minister also said that he was a frequent VIA Rail traveller, which is very convenient for him and fellow Montreal area MPs. I was surprised to learn that VIA Rail is not operating to Atlantic Canada. In fact, VIA is not running any services between Montreal and Halifax. These illegal blockades are located in western and central Canada, not down east. Therefore, why is VIA Rail not running in Atlantic Canada?Economic impactIndigenous peoplesOral questionsProtestsRail transportation and railwaysVIA Rail Canada Inc.Wet'suwet'en First NationChrisBittleSt. CatharinesChrisBittleSt. Catharines//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/88369RichardBragdonRichard-BragdonTobique—MactaquacConservative CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/BragdonRichard_CPC.jpgOral Question PeriodThe EconomyInterventionMr. Richard Bragdon (Tobique—Mactaquac, CPC): (1155)[English]Mr. Speaker, 24,000 people in New Brunswick rely on the forestry sector for their livelihoods. The Prime Minister has already hurt the industry through poorly negotiated trade deals, and his inaction on blockades is hurting them again. I am hearing from Forest NB that thousands of jobs and contracts are in jeopardy if this current disruption of rail and port services continues even one more week.When will the Prime Minister move beyond the politics of endless dialogue, dither and delay, and take action so that I can tell the forestry workers of New Brunswick that the blockades are coming down?Economic impactIndigenous peoplesOral questionsProtestsRail transportation and railwaysWet'suwet'en First NationStevenGuilbeaultHon.Laurier—Sainte-MarieChrisBittleSt. Catharines//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/89383RenéArseneaultRené-ArseneaultMadawaska—RestigoucheLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/ArseneaultRené_Lib.jpgGovernment OrdersBusiness of Supply [Opposition Motion—Coastal GasLink Project]InterventionMr. René Arseneault (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Official Languages), Lib.): (1135)[Translation]Madam Speaker, I have been listening with great interest to the comments made by my esteemed colleague from Montarville. It is odd that the Bloc Québécois, whose main talking point is that the federal government must avoid interfering in Quebec's affairs as much as possible, is now asking why the federal government will not intervene regarding the blockades in the interest of public safety in the province of Quebec.Like my esteemed colleague, I am old enough to remember what happened at Oka in 1990. The Sûreté du Québec was dispatched to the barricades. Then the federal government was asked to intervene, and the conflict went on for 78 days, or two and a half months.First of all, I would like to ask my esteemed colleague what he remembers about Oka and how it relates to today's situation, which affects the entire country, not just a small area of Quebec. What does he remember about those notorious 78 days, for that is how long it took to reach a resolution?Second, what he calls procrastination on the government's part is actually an effort to enter into dialogue with key stakeholders that is happening as we speak.Coastal GasLink Pipeline ProjectIndigenous peoplesOil and gasOpposition motionsProtestsProvince of QuebecRail transportation and railwaysWet'suwet'en First NationStéphaneBergeronMontarvilleStéphaneBergeronMontarville//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/88368WayneLongWayne-LongSaint John—RothesayLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/LongWayne_Lib.jpgStatements by MembersDemocratic ReformInterventionMr. Wayne Long (Saint John—Rothesay, Lib.): (1400)[English]Mr. Speaker, during the last election campaign, I pledged to stand up for democratic reform in this place if re-elected. Now I am back. I rise to begin fulfilling this pledge by addressing my many fellow members about the historic opportunity to improve the democratic character of this place that lies before us in this minority Parliament.By amending our Standing Orders to ensure that all members of the House are fully empowered to advocate for their constituents on Parliament hill, whether it be by creating a parallel chamber or tackling party discipline, we can ensure that the voices of voters are not drowned out by acrimonious partisan rhetoric and voting patterns in the people's House.On election day, our names come first and our parties come second on the ballots cast by our constituents. Let us all put our constituents first in this Parliament. Let us seize this historic opportunity to work across party lines to implement the democratic reform this place needs.Democratic reformParliament of CanadaStatements by MembersPaulManlyNanaimo—LadysmithBobZimmerPrince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/71323JohnWilliamsonJohn-WilliamsonNew Brunswick SouthwestConservative CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/WilliamsonJohn_CPC.jpgOral Question PeriodEmploymentInterventionMr. John Williamson (New Brunswick Southwest, CPC): (1500)[English]Mr. Speaker, job losses from these illegal blockades are growing by the hour. Last night, CN Rail announced 450 workers will be laid off. Today, VIA Rail announced another 1,000. When Canadian workers and families have their livelihoods and safety put at risk, the Prime Minister offers nothing but platitudes. If these illegal rail blockades continue, Atlantic Canada will run out of propane, airports will run out of the de-icing fluids that keep us moving in the winter and water treatment facilities will soon lack chemical supplies that keep our drinking water safe.When will the government finally stand up for Atlantic Canada?Economic impactIndigenous peoplesOral questionsProtestsRail transportation and railwaysWet'suwet'en First NationJustinTrudeauRight Hon.PapineauJustinTrudeauRight Hon.Papineau//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/88364GinettePetitpas TaylorHon.Ginette-PetitpasTaylorMoncton—Riverview—DieppeLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/PetitpasTaylorGinette_Lib.jpgGovernment OrdersJudges ActInterventionHon. Ginette Petitpas Taylor (Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe, Lib.): (1745)[English]Madam Speaker, during the statement that my colleague made today, she made reference to the gender-based violence strategy.In 2017, our government launched its first-ever gender-based violence strategy, and we backed it up with over $100 million in funding over five years.Would my colleague elaborate on how Bill C-5 would fit within that strategy?C-5, An Act to amend the Judges Act and the Criminal CodeFamily Violence InitiativeGender-based violenceGovernment billsJustice systemSecond readingSex offencesStrategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based ViolenceKamalKheraBrampton WestKamalKheraBrampton West//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/88364GinettePetitpas TaylorHon.Ginette-PetitpasTaylorMoncton—Riverview—DieppeLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/PetitpasTaylorGinette_Lib.jpgGovernment OrdersJudges ActInterventionHon. Ginette Petitpas Taylor (Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe, Lib.): (1750)[English]Madam Speaker, it is an absolute pleasure for me to rise in the House today to speak to this important legislation, Bill C-5, an act to amend the Judges Act and also the Criminal Code of Canada.I feel very passionate about this piece of legislation, because I have seen first-hand many barriers that women and Canadians face when they are victims of sexual violence. Prior to entering politics, as I have mentioned a few times in this House, I was a front-line social worker. I served over 23 years with the Codiac regional RCMP as the victim services coordinator. During that time, I had the privilege of accompanying many survivors of sexual violence through some very difficult times. Within the RCMP, a part of my job was assisting police officers in conducting these types of investigations and also helping victims navigate through a very a complex system, preparing them for court and oftentimes accompanying them to court. I have personally had the privilege of accompanying probably thousands of victims who faced these very difficult situations. I wish I could stand here today and say that I have never heard any inappropriate comments made by judiciaries, but that is not the case. I have seen first-hand some of the treatment that women and individuals have gone through, which is why I feel so passionate that this bill move forward. I am pleased to see that all members of this House are supporting the bill.[Translation]If passed, this bill will ensure that superior court judges who hear sexual assault cases get proper training so they will not be influenced by harmful myths and stereotypes that persist in our society. It will also lead to a better understanding of the social context surrounding this type of crime in our country. This training will also assure the public that judges are applying the law in a way that respects survivors' dignity and reality. This training will give judges the right tools to make fair, impartial decisions. The bill will also require judges to explain their final decisions in sexual assault proceedings in writing, which will make the process more open and transparent.[English]Sexual assault is a form of gender-based violence and one of the most under-reported crimes in Canada. When I was a front-line worker, we would often say that fewer than 6% of survivors came forward, and today we have heard in the House the statistic of 5%, and so we know that this crime is truly under-reported. Unfortunately, gender-based violence is one of the most pervasive and deeply rooted human rights violations of our time, and we have to remember that it is 100% preventable. I would like to talk about the Government of Canada's coordinated efforts to prevent and address gender-based violence, because Bill C-5 is another important piece of a larger suite of initiatives designed to better support survivors and their families, as well as to promote a responsive legal justice system.First, let me explain what gender-based violence is.Gender-based violence is violence directed towards another person based on their gender identity, gender expression or perceived gender. Gender-based violence is linked to gender inequities, unequal power dynamics and harmful gender norms and behaviours. It is made worse by other forms of discrimination.Women and girls, racialized women, lesbian, gay and bisexual people, indigenous people and people with disabilities are at an increased risk of experiencing gender-based violence. Transgender, two-spirit and gender-diverse people in Canada also experience higher rates of violence.In Canada, gender-based violence continues to happen at an extremely alarming rate. According to data collected by Statistics Canada, between 2008 and 2018, over 700 women were killed by their intimate partner in this country. In 2018, one in every three women experienced unwanted sexual behaviour in public. While these numbers are terrifying, the reality for indigenous women and girls is even worse. In 2018, the rate of homicide was nearly seven times higher for indigenous women and girls than for their non-indigenous counterparts. Faced with such a bleak picture, the government took action.(1755)[Translation]In 2017, the Government of Canada took action, launching the very first federal strategy to prevent and address gender-based violence entitled “Canada's Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence”.The strategy includes over $200 million for federal initiatives to prevent gender-based violence, support survivors and their families, and promote responsive legal and justice systems.[English]The gender-based violence strategy is the first-ever federal strategy of its kind because it takes a whole-of-government approach and is informed by grassroots activism and feminist action. We listened to survivors and women's and equality-seeking organizations in communities across the country that are working tirelessly to address gender-based violence within their communities. Let me give some examples of the initiatives under the strategy that were informed by their voices. As a part of the strategy, the Public Health Agency of Canada, also known as PHAC, is investing more than $40 million over five years and more than $9 million per year ongoing. This includes investing in initiatives that prevent child maltreatment and teen and youth dating violence, and equip health professionals to respond to gender-based violence. For example, the Public Health Agency of Canada is funding projects through which young Canadians learn how to develop and maintain healthy relationships that are free from violence and abuse. Educators are also provided with new tools to increase their capacity to deliver this type of guidance to young Canadians. Teaching teenagers across Canada about what a healthy relationship looks like also helps foster positive relationships, changes attitudes and promotes gender equality. It helps foster a greater understanding, ultimately resulting in a safer community for young Canadians anywhere in Canada from coast to coast to coast.In addition, the Public Health Agency of Canada is investing more than $6 million per year to support the health of survivors of family violence. Improving physical and mental health outcomes for youth and children, helping mothers experiencing family violence learn the impact of violence on their parenting and their children's development, while building mothers' self-esteem and improving their positive parenting and healthy relationship skills, and building resilience and life skills in young women are just some examples of what the funded projects aim to accomplish.Just as Bill C-5 proposes to train judges, under the strategy we are training RCMP front-line officers so that they can better understand the social context surrounding gender-based violence. The goal is for survivors to feel more confident in moving forward to denounce their aggressors and for officers to be more understanding of the survivors' situation.These are just a few examples that demonstrate the ongoing progress of the strategy.[Translation]As part of the strategy, we are working in close co-operation with every level of government, including the provincial and territorial governments, as well as several departments and organizations. We are pooling our resources to strengthen our ability to support those affected by gender-based violence in communities across Canada.We are working on establishing a national plan that would ensure that anyone facing gender-based violence is protected and has reliable and timely access to services, no matter where they live.[English]In closing, I could continue discussing our accomplishments and the continuous efforts we are making. The point is that Canada's strategy to prevent gender-based violence is moving forward because we know there is still more work that needs to be done. We need to give Bill C-5 our full support. We are counting on all members of Parliament to help us continue this crucial work to end gender-based violence within our communities.AccountabilityC-5, An Act to amend the Judges Act and the Criminal CodeCourt ordersDomestic violenceEducation and trainingFederal judgesFederal-provincial-territorial relationsGender-based violenceGovernment billsJustice systemPolice servicesPublic Health Agency of CanadaRoyal Canadian Mounted PoliceSecond readingSex offencesStrategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based ViolenceWork-based trainingYoung peopleKamalKheraBrampton WestLloydLongfieldGuelph//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/88364GinettePetitpas TaylorHon.Ginette-PetitpasTaylorMoncton—Riverview—DieppeLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/PetitpasTaylorGinette_Lib.jpgGovernment OrdersJudges ActInterventionHon. Ginette Petitpas Taylor: (1800)[English]Madam Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to thank my colleague from Guelph for his tremendous work in his riding when it comes to mental health and support services. I thank him for all the work he continues to do.When it comes to providing the appropriate sensitivity training, it is a must for all professions, and judges are not excluded from that. It is truly important. When I look at the work Ms. Ambrose did in putting the bill together, she has to be commended for a job very well done. This is probably an area that perhaps was not addressed in years gone by, but we certainly recognize that if we want to have an effective judicial system to meet the needs of all survivors of sexual violence or all types of victims, we have to ensure the appropriate training is in place. Again, I commend all members of the House for wanting to support the bill and hopefully getting it to the other House in a timely fashion.C-5, An Act to amend the Judges Act and the Criminal CodeFederal judgesGender-based violenceGovernment billsJustice systemSecond readingSex offencesLloydLongfieldGuelphRachelBlaneyNorth Island—Powell River//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/88364GinettePetitpas TaylorHon.Ginette-PetitpasTaylorMoncton—Riverview—DieppeLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/PetitpasTaylorGinette_Lib.jpgGovernment OrdersJudges ActInterventionHon. Ginette Petitpas Taylor: (1800)[English]Madam Speaker, I also appreciate working with the member opposite on the PROC committee. I always appreciate her interventions.When it comes to providing the training that is needed, we certainly have to recognize that we have many vulnerable groups within our society. We recognize the groups the member has listed are also victims of sexual violence at a higher proportion than many others. Therefore, we have to ensure the training is appropriate. I would also like to highlight, however, that when it comes to gender-based violence strategies, I am extremely proud that our government has consulted with many of those vulnerable groups mentioned by my colleague. We wanted to ensure that we had the strategy right, and to get it right we had to meet with people with lived experience, and living experience, and also people who worked with these clients as well. As a result, we have come up with a wonderful strategy, the first of its kind in Canada. We are looking not only at the judicial system within the strategy, but also at all social services that affect survivors of sexual violence and other forms of gender-based violence.C-5, An Act to amend the Judges Act and the Criminal CodeGovernment billsJustice systemPublic consultationSecond readingSex offencesWork-based trainingRachelBlaneyNorth Island—Powell RiverAlexandraMendèsBrossard—Saint-Lambert//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/88350SergeCormierSerge-CormierAcadie—BathurstLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/CormierSerge_Lib.jpgStatements by MembersGuy CormierInterventionMr. Serge Cormier (Acadie—Bathurst, Lib.): (1400)[Translation]Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today to honour the memory of a great man.Guy Cormier was a fisher and mayor of the village of Saint‑Léolin, in my riding. Sadly, he died suddenly on January 11. Mr. Cormier had two dreams: to become mayor and to find a new purpose for the former school in his village. In 2014, he was elected to municipal council and became mayor in 2018. Thanks to him, the former school became a hydroponic greenhouse that is enjoying great success.Guy, or Ti-Guy as he was known, was a friend to many. He gave countless hours of his time to various causes and was valued as a volunteer. Guy always had a smile and a good story to tell. He was a man who loved politics and never hesitated to give advice to elected members to help them understand the issues of our region.His death is a major loss for the entire community. I offer my deepest condolences to his wife, Edwige, his daughter, Nancy, as well as his family and friends.Ti-Guy, you will be sorely missed. Thank you for your incredible contribution to the riding of Acadie—Bathurst.Cormier, GuyDeaths and funeralsMayorsSaint-LéolinStatements by MembersJeremyPatzerCypress Hills—GrasslandsDenisTrudelLongueuil—Saint-Hubert//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/88364GinettePetitpas TaylorHon.Ginette-PetitpasTaylorMoncton—Riverview—DieppeLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/PetitpasTaylorGinette_Lib.jpgGovernment OrdersBusiness of Supply [Opposition Motion—Special Employment Insurance sickness benefits]InterventionHon. Ginette Petitpas Taylor (Deputy Government Whip, Lib.): (1645)[Translation]Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for his comments.[English]I want to take this opportunity to thank my colleague for the tremendous work he did on his private member's bill. I remember very well the work he did on it.Listening to the hon. member's comments today, I think we would all agree that in the previous and current Parliament, our government has taken some steps to improve our EI system. Could my colleague elaborate on the changes we have made to the caregiver benefit and how that change alone has helped many Canadian families?Employment insurance benefits period extensionEmployment insurance caregiving benefitsEmployment insurance sickness benefitsOpposition motionsMarkGerretsenKingston and the IslandsMarkGerretsenKingston and the Islands//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgEmergency DebateRelations with Indigenous PeoplesInterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin (Fredericton, GP): (2335)[English]Mr. Speaker, I agree, I want the blockades to end. I feel action is delayed and unnecessarily so. I feel there is a lot that goes into this very nuanced conversation.I hear the member about the farmers. I am just curious as to what the member thinks about the National Farmers Union issuing a press release that is in solidarity with the Wet’suwet’en people. It is the first thing on their website. British ColumbiaCoastal GasLink Pipeline ProjectEmergency debatesFarming and farmersIndigenous peoplesIndigenous policyOil and gasProtestsWet'suwet'en First NationJohnBarlowFoothillsJohnBarlowFoothills//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/88364GinettePetitpas TaylorHon.Ginette-PetitpasTaylorMoncton—Riverview—DieppeLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/PetitpasTaylorGinette_Lib.jpgGovernment OrdersRoyal Canadian Mounted Police ActInterventionHon. Ginette Petitpas Taylor (Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe, Lib.): (1005)[English]Madam Speaker, I am extremely pleased that all members of the House, I believe, are supporting Bill C-3.All of us in the House recognize that it is extremely important to have in place an independent review and complaint process, as we certainly want to make sure that all of our constituents are protected. That is, again, why we are extremely pleased.The RCMP and other government departments have these types of independent review processes in place. That is why we are moving forward to put resources and the necessary investments in place to make sure that when such complaints come forward, our constituents will be afforded an opportunity to make a complaint that will be investigated by an independent body.C-3, An Act to amend the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act and the Canada Border Services Agency Act and to make consequential amendments to other ActsCanada Border Services AgencyComplaintsGovernment billsSafetySecond readingGarnettGenuisSherwood Park—Fort SaskatchewanKevinLamoureuxWinnipeg North//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/88364GinettePetitpas TaylorHon.Ginette-PetitpasTaylorMoncton—Riverview—DieppeLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/PetitpasTaylorGinette_Lib.jpgGovernment OrdersRoyal Canadian Mounted Police ActInterventionHon. Ginette Petitpas Taylor: (1005)[English]Madam Speaker, perhaps many in the House are not aware that prior to entering politics, I worked within the Codiac RCMP regional office in Moncton, New Brunswick. During that time, I saw the value of having an independent body that was able to conduct investigations when people felt they did not receive the proper service.With respect to having in place an independent body, we want to make sure that all of our constituents are treated with the utmost respect and that they have the confidence to move forward and make a complaint when it is necessary. That is why we are very pleased to be moving forward with the bill in a timely fashion.However, not only are we moving forward with the bill, but in budget 2019 more than $24 million has been set aside to make sure that the appropriate resources are in place.C-3, An Act to amend the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act and the Canada Border Services Agency Act and to make consequential amendments to other ActsCanada Border Services AgencyComplaintsGovernment billsSafetySecond readingKevinLamoureuxWinnipeg NorthRandallGarrisonEsquimalt—Saanich—Sooke//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/88364GinettePetitpas TaylorHon.Ginette-PetitpasTaylorMoncton—Riverview—DieppeLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/PetitpasTaylorGinette_Lib.jpgGovernment OrdersRoyal Canadian Mounted Police ActInterventionHon. Ginette Petitpas Taylor: (1005)[English]Madam Speaker, first and foremost, I want to thank my colleague for his support of the bill. Once again, our priority is to make sure we have an independent review complaints process for the Canada Border Services Agency, as that is where we have jurisdiction. We want to make sure that our constituents have access to an independent body to which they will be able to make a complaint if necessary. I also want to highlight that we recognize that the large majority of interventions at the CBSA are very positive. However, for some extreme circumstances, we want to make sure that is available to them.Border officialsBordersC-3, An Act to amend the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act and the Canada Border Services Agency Act and to make consequential amendments to other ActsCanada Border Services AgencyComplaintsGovernment billsPre-clearanceSafetySecond readingRandallGarrisonEsquimalt—Saanich—SookeGaganSikandMississauga—Streetsville//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/88364GinettePetitpas TaylorHon.Ginette-PetitpasTaylorMoncton—Riverview—DieppeLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/PetitpasTaylorGinette_Lib.jpgGovernment OrdersRoyal Canadian Mounted Police ActInterventionHon. Ginette Petitpas Taylor (Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe, Lib.): (1410)[Translation]Madam Speaker, I would like to thank my friend, my colleague and my neighbour in the Confederation Building for his comments.Before entering politics, I worked for the RCMP for almost 24 years. The RCMP has an independent investigative process. When my colleagues had to file a complaint, the majority of them had confidence in this system.Can my colleague tell us how important such a system is in terms of properly serving our fellow citizens?C-3, An Act to amend the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act and the Canada Border Services Agency Act and to make consequential amendments to other ActsComplaintsGovernment billsSafetySecond readingGérardDeltellLouis-Saint-LaurentGérardDeltellLouis-Saint-Laurent//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/88364GinettePetitpas TaylorHon.Ginette-PetitpasTaylorMoncton—Riverview—DieppeLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/PetitpasTaylorGinette_Lib.jpgGovernment OrdersRoyal Canadian Mounted Police ActInterventionHon. Ginette Petitpas Taylor (Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe, Lib.): (1420)[English]Madam Speaker, I am very pleased that all members of the House, I believe, approve of this legislation and recognize that it is very important.As my hon. colleague mentioned, we know that all members who work for the CBSA, almost 14,000 of them, provide a tremendous service to protect our borders and protect us as Canadians on a regular basis. We recognize that the work we are doing to put this review in place is not for the majority of them, but for the exceptions to the rule.Could my colleague elaborate on the importance of putting together this independent review process and how he feels it would benefit his constituents and all constituents?C-3, An Act to amend the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act and the Canada Border Services Agency Act and to make consequential amendments to other ActsCanada Border Services AgencyComplaintsGovernment billsOversight mechanismSafetySecond readingMelArnoldNorth Okanagan—ShuswapMelArnoldNorth Okanagan—Shuswap//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/88369RichardBragdonRichard-BragdonTobique—MactaquacConservative CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/BragdonRichard_CPC.jpgOral Question PeriodEmploymentInterventionMr. Richard Bragdon (Tobique—Mactaquac, CPC): (1445)[English]Mr. Speaker, following the closure of the smelter in Belledune, New Brunswick, the province is hoping that a $1-billion iron ore processing facility will fill the void. It is expected to create 1,300 short-term jobs and more than 200 permanent jobs.The Liberals claim that the environment and the economy go hand in hand, but they constantly throw up roadblocks that hurt Atlantic provinces. It is continuously “no” with the government, and New Brunswick deserves a “yes”.Will the Liberals work with the Province of New Brunswick and support the Maritime Iron project, and the hundreds of jobs it will create?BelleduneGlencore International plcIron oreOral questionsSteel industryJonathanWilkinsonHon.North VancouverJonathanWilkinsonHon.North Vancouver//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/88364GinettePetitpas TaylorHon.Ginette-PetitpasTaylorMoncton—Riverview—DieppeLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/PetitpasTaylorGinette_Lib.jpgGovernment OrdersRoyal Canadian Mounted Police ActInterventionHon. Ginette Petitpas Taylor (Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe, Lib.): (1610)[English]Mr. Speaker, having worked for the RCMP in Moncton, New Brunswick, for close to 24 years, I have personally seen the value of having an independent review and complaints process. Many of my constituents felt very comfortable knowing there was a process in place when they had to make a complaint. I wonder if my colleague could elaborate on the benefits of having such a process in place for the CBSA.Border officialsC-3, An Act to amend the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act and the Canada Border Services Agency Act and to make consequential amendments to other ActsCanada Border Services AgencyComplaintsGovernment billsSafetySecond readingIqraKhalidMississauga—Erin MillsIqraKhalidMississauga—Erin Mills//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/88360PatFinniganPat-FinniganMiramichi—Grand LakeLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/43/FinniganPat_Lib.jpgGovernment OrdersRoyal Canadian Mounted Police ActInterventionMr. Pat Finnigan (Miramichi—Grand Lake, Lib.): (1715)[Translation]Madam Speaker, I would like to ask my colleague if there are any concerns that have already been raised about the security or speed with which people and goods will be able to cross our borders when the provisions of the bill are implemented. Is he aware of any concerns that have been raised in that regard?BordersC-3, An Act to amend the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act and the Canada Border Services Agency Act and to make consequential amendments to other ActsComplaintsGovernment billsSafetySecond readingKevinLamoureuxWinnipeg NorthKevinLamoureuxWinnipeg North//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/88364GinettePetitpas TaylorHon.Ginette-PetitpasTaylorMoncton—Riverview—DieppeLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/PetitpasTaylorGinette_Lib.jpgGovernment OrdersRoyal Canadian Mounted Police ActInterventionHon. Ginette Petitpas Taylor (Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe, Lib.): (1830)[English]Madam Speaker, this is the first time I have had an opportunity to speak during this 43rd Parliament, so I want to take a moment to thank my constituents from the beautiful riding of Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe. Members certainly would not be in this place without the hard work of many people, and I am very blessed to have had a tremendous team of volunteers that supported me during the summer and fall of 2019. I want to thank each and every one of them. I want to thank my constituents, the volunteers, the donors and riding associations because they worked with me hand in hand to make this a reality. It has truly been the honour of my life to represent the great folks of Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe.I rise in the House today to speak to Bill C-3, an act that would create a public review and complaints commission, which would provide Canadians with added accountability measures. Before I proceed, I want to take a moment to acknowledge the work currently performed by front-line officers at our airports, who work tirelessly to protect us from the coronavirus. Though the risk to Canadians remains low, we do not often take the time to commend those who dedicate their time and effort to keeping us safe, day in and day out. Looking at the months and weeks to follow, there will be long weekends and March breaks. Many of my constituents will visit another province or territory to see family, cross the border for weekend shopping or leave the continent altogether to go on a well-earned vacation. However, if they do decide to travel I, like other members in the House, want my constituents to have a hassle-free and stress-free experience. I know that during the course of the debate on policies and legislation, there are often partisan disagreements and arguments. However, when it comes to this bill, I am pleased to say that so far we have seen bipartisan support which, to me, is very encouraging. I thank all members for helping to make this bill as strong as possible as we move forward. Thus far, we have come to agreement on a few items. First is the tremendous quality of the work undertaken by our border officers and the CBSA. Second is the necessity of ensuring that any negative, or otherwise unprofessional, experiences can be independently heard and reviewed. We have heard from other members that the CBSA processes millions of travellers and shipments every year at multiple points across Canada and abroad. When looking at 2018 and 2019 statistics, this included 96 million travellers. That is an astonishing number. They also looked at 27.3 million cars, 34.5 million air passengers and 21.4 million commercial releases. Every day, at 13 international airports, 117 land border crossings, 27 rail sites and beyond, CBSA officers provide consistent and fair treatment to travellers and traders. [Translation]Our border officers are the first point of contact in Canada for visitors and for Canadians who are returning home. What is more, these officers are responsible for maintaining the integrity of Canada's borders. This means that their work is essential to our country's well-being. In this day and age, border security management is a key concern for the government and for Canadians.[English]Other public safety organizations in Canada, such as the RCMP and Correctional Service of Canada, are already subject to independent review. Globally, border agencies in a number of countries, including the U.K., Australia, New Zealand and France, are subject to external review. Addressing the accountability gaps through Bill C-3 would improve the CBSA and strengthen public confidence in the agency.I should indicate that I will be sharing my time with the member for Mississauga—Streetsville.The legislation would ensure that the public could continue to expect consistent, fair and equal treatment by CBSA employees, and that funding would include support to modernize some of our land, ports of entry and border operations with the goal of both ensuring efficiency and enhancing security.(1835)Under Bill C-3, complaints would be handled by a new arm's-length public complaint and review commission. The PCRC would be able to receive and investigate complaints from the public regarding the conduct of CBSA officials as well as the service provided by the CBSA. Now, if any of my constituents have a particular unprofessional experience, they can be assured that an independent review can occur. This bill is very similar to Bill C-98 from the last Parliament, and it received all-party support at third reading. Whereas concerns were expressed about the timing of introduction, we were proud to make introducing Bill C-3 one of the first pieces of legislation during this Parliament.We also incorporated feedback that we received, such as ensuring that a chairperson-initiated review would have access to the same information that the CBSA review has. On a question from the opposition in the last Parliament, the CBSA union has been contacted already and there will be, at some point, the ability to compel oral or written evidence on oath or solemn affirmation. Under Bill C-3, the PCRC would publish an annual report covering each of its business lines, the CBSA and the RCMP and resources devoted to each.This bill aligns with other commitments to improve accountability and transparency. The creation of the PCRC is long overdue. Independent review legislation was proposed in the previous two Parliaments, both in the other place and in this House. Amnesty International Canada's 2018 report card noted that the CBSA remained the most notable agency with law enforcement and detention powers in the country that was not subject to independent review and oversight. The professional men and women at borders would be well served by an independent review function for the CBSA. My constituents and the constituents of the other 337 members of Parliament deserve it as well. That is why I encourage all members to join me in supporting this bill, Bill C-3, at second reading today.Access to informationAccountabilityBorder officialsBordersC-3, An Act to amend the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act and the Canada Border Services Agency Act and to make consequential amendments to other ActsCanada Border Services AgencyComplaintsGovernment billsLabour unionsOversight mechanismPolice servicesPublic Complaints and Review CommissionPublic consultationRoyal Canadian Mounted PoliceSafetySecond readingSplitting speaking timeRichardLehouxBeaucePatriciaLattanzioSaint-Léonard—Saint-Michel//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/88364GinettePetitpas TaylorHon.Ginette-PetitpasTaylorMoncton—Riverview—DieppeLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/PetitpasTaylorGinette_Lib.jpgGovernment OrdersRoyal Canadian Mounted Police ActInterventionHon. Ginette Petitpas Taylor: (1835)[English]Madam Speaker, if we want to put together this type of procedure, we have to ensure the proper resources are put in place. In budget 2019, I was extremely pleased that $24 million was put in place for the border enforcement strategy, which will cover the cost of exactly this initiative. Also, each year going forward, an additional $6 million per year will be funded for the ongoing funding and continuation of this program. C-3, An Act to amend the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act and the Canada Border Services Agency Act and to make consequential amendments to other ActsComplaintsGovernment assistanceGovernment billsPublic Complaints and Review CommissionSafetySecond readingPatriciaLattanzioSaint-Léonard—Saint-MichelAlexandraMendèsBrossard—Saint-Lambert//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/17210RobMooreHon.Rob-MooreFundy RoyalConservative CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/MooreRob_CPC.jpgOral Question PeriodHealthInterventionHon. Rob Moore (Fundy Royal, CPC): (1450)[English]Mr. Speaker, last year, the House passed a bill by the member for St. Albert—Edmonton that would help jurors seek medical or psychiatric counselling for the horrific images and testimony that they deal with at a trial. The bill passed the House will all-party support. Since then, some provinces and territories have moved forward with their own measures to support jurors. Meanwhile, the government has failed to act.When will the Prime Minister take action and address his responsibility to Canadians fulfilling their civic duty as jurors?Health care systemJury and jurorsMental healthOral questionsJustinTrudeauRight Hon.PapineauJustinTrudeauRight Hon.Papineau//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgRoutine ProceedingsClimate ChangeInterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin (Fredericton, GP): (1535)[Translation]Madam Speaker, I have the honour to present a petition about the climate crisis.[English]The petitioners call on the Government of Canada to support Motion No. 1, a made-in-Canada green new deal, the first initiative before the House of Commons, which calls on Canada to take bold and rapid action to adopt socially equitable climate action to tackle the climate emergency and address worsening socio-economic and racial inequalities while at the same time ending fossil fuel subsidies, closing offshore tax havens, supporting workers impacted by the transition and creating well-paying unionized jobs in the shift to a clean and renewable energy economy.Climate change and global warmingGreen economyM-1Petition 431-00071MarkGerretsenKingston and the IslandsKevinLamoureuxWinnipeg North//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/1813DominicLeBlancHon.Dominic-LeBlancBeauséjourLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/LeblancDominic_Lib.jpgOral Question PeriodDemocratic InstitutionsInterventionHon. Dominic LeBlanc (President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada, Lib.): (1500)[English]Mr. Speaker, let me begin, the first time I take my seat and have the floor in this House, by congratulating you, Mr. Speaker, and thanking my former University of Toronto classmate for his question.Our government is committed to an open and transparent democratic system.Some hon. members: Oh, oh!Hon. Dominic LeBlanc: Mr. Speaker, our colleagues in front are laughing. They are probably confusing the former Harper government's plan with what our government has done to make elections fairer and more accessible. We are proud of the work done by my predecessor, the minister of democratic institutions. It made elections fairer for every Canadian.Election of 2019Government advertisingGovernment expendituresOral questionsPartisanshipMichaelChongHon.Wellington—Halton HillsMikeKellowayCape Breton—Canso//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgOral Question PeriodThe EnvironmentInterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin (Fredericton, GP): (1505)[English]Mr. Speaker, I welcome comments from the environment minister that his government expects provinces to take responsibility for their emissions.[Translation]Last week, during oral question period, the Prime Minister stated that the government's decisions are based on facts and science.[English]Knowing that science is conclusive to the effect that we need to drastically reduce our greenhouse gas emissions without further delay, can the minister confirm to the House that Canada supports an international emissions credit regime based on real, verifiable emissions reductions, and that hypothetical proposals, such as those proposed by New Brunswick regarding Maritime Iron, would never be allowed?Carbon creditsMaritime IronNew BrunswickOral questionsSteel industryRachelBendayanOutremontJonathanWilkinsonHon.North Vancouver//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/88360PatFinniganPat-FinniganMiramichi—Grand LakeLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/43/FinniganPat_Lib.jpgStatements by MembersJohn ForbesInterventionMr. Pat Finnigan (Miramichi—Grand Lake, Lib.): (1410)[English]Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honour Sergeant John Forbes, a Second World War veteran who passed away last December.John joined the army at age 16 and was sent to England in 1940. He landed in Normandy shortly after D-Day and was wounded by a land mine during the advance from Holland to Germany in 1945. Following five months in hospital, he was released and returned to civilian life.John continued his service by becoming a reserve soldier and helping other veterans in need. He was a strong advocate in schools and the community, and at the age of 96, John was still helping others and promoting commemorations.He has been recognized many times for his dedicated and long-term service, including with the French Legion of Honour. John will receive the Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation posthumously.Let us never forget that the freedom we are enjoying today in Canada is because of the sacrifice made by people like John Forbes.Deaths and funeralsForbes, JohnSecond World WarStatements by MembersVeteransTedFalkProvencherJoëlGodinPortneuf—Jacques-Cartier//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgRoutine ProceedingsHealthInterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin (Fredericton, GP): (1515)[English]Mr. Speaker, this petition is around reproductive justice and ensuring that the Government of New Brunswick repeal paragraph (a.1) in schedule 2 of Regulation 84-20 under the Medical Services Payment Act, creating a billing code that adequately reflects the provision of services by the provider and facility, thereby meeting the Canada Health Act's requirements of accessibility for residents of New Brunswick to publicly funded abortion services in medically and regionally appropriate settings.AbortionHealth care systemNew BrunswickElizabethMaySaanich—Gulf IslandsKevinLamoureuxWinnipeg North//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/88368WayneLongWayne-LongSaint John—RothesayLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/LongWayne_Lib.jpgGovernment OrdersCanada-United States-Mexico Agreement Implementation ActInterventionMr. Wayne Long (Saint John—Rothesay, Lib.): (1805)[English]Madam Speaker, as it is my first time rising in the House in debate, I would be remiss if I did not thank the wonderful constituents of the riding of Saint John—Rothesay for re-electing me and sending me back to this beautiful House and this beautiful city to represent them. It was a hard-fought campaign. I want to thank and congratulate other candidates like Rodney Weston, Armand Cormier and Ann McAlllister for offering spirited debate and great dialogue throughout the campaign. Again, it is an honour to be back here. I was looking at some records the other day, and I have been in Ottawa almost 600 nights over the last four and a half years. Everybody recognizes the large commitment we all make and the time that we take away from our families. I want to recognize my beautiful wife Denise and my sons Khristian and Konnor for supporting me, putting up with me and standing with me over the last four and a half years. I want to thank my wonderful campaign team: my co-campaign managers Kevin Collins and Nora Robinson; and last but not least, Jeannette Arsenault and my wonderful office staff for doing great things for the riding, representing my constituents.It is an honour to rise tonight to speak to Bill C-4, an act to implement the agreement between Canada, the United States and the United Mexican States. I would like to begin by thanking the hon. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs for her outstanding work in negotiating the new North American Free Trade Agreement, known as the Canada-United States-Mexico agreement, or CUSMA, with the United States and Mexico. It is thanks to her hard work, leadership, vision and perseverance that we now have a modernized and improved free trade agreement with our North American partners.As the member of Parliament for Saint John—Rothesay, I represent a riding with an economy dependent on international trade and, as a result, thousands of workers in my riding depend on their elected representatives to ensure Canada's trading agreements protect their jobs, rights and environment. This is why I am proud to stand here today to speak in support of legislation that intends to implement a modernized NAFTA, which contains unprecedented measures to protect the well-paying jobs of workers in my riding, whose jobs depend on trade with the United States and Mexico, ensure labour standards are upheld and protect the environment.Before my previous life in hockey, I was involved for 15 years in international trade and business with an aquaculture company. I travelled the world and extensively throughout the United States. If anybody knows the value of a trade agreement, of lowering barriers, lowering and eliminating tariffs and creating an environment of free and open trade, I certainly do. It produces thousands of jobs in my riding and hundreds of thousands of jobs right across the country.Saint John is a key node in Canada's global trade network. The port of Saint John is Canada's third-busiest seaport and eastern Canada's largest port by volume. It serves Canada's largest oil refinery, the Irving Oil refinery, and handles a diverse cargo base. It handles an average of 28 million metric tons of cargo annually, including dry and liquid bulks, break bulk and containers originating from and destined to ports all over the world.My riding is also home to a second world headquarters, Cooke Aquaculture Inc., an international aquaculture firm that employs thousands of people, has sales in the billions of the dollars and was started by the Cooke family. Glenn, Mike and their father Gifford live literally 35 minutes from my office. It is a success story that is an example of leadership.(1810)Our port is also in the midst of a historic expansion. It is currently undertaking a $205-million modernization of its west-side cargo terminal. This transformational trade infrastructure project was made possible by the $68.3-million investment by our federal government. In addition, CP Rail announced in November that it will begin serving the port of Saint John as it has purchased close to 800 kilometres of track which runs from Saint John deep into the state of Maine. This means that the port of Saint John will soon be connected to both of Canada's class I railways.The new NAFTA, which our government is seeking to implement with the bill before us, would ensure that the port of Saint John is able to fully leverage its expansion and the incredible opportunity by preserving our tariff-free access to the American market and ensuring that the other North American ports it competes with comply with the same rigorous environmental standards as it does when it comes to preventing marine pollution through its enforceable environmental chapter.I am thrilled to tell members that New Brunswick is on the cusp of becoming an international leader in manufacturing and export of small modular nuclear reactors. In 2018, ARC Nuclear Canada and Moltex Energy established offices in Saint John when the provincial government announced its nuclear innovation cluster funding for which they were both chosen as participants. With this announcement, the province of New Brunswick instantly became a climate change policy leader for Canada with the development of SMRs. Since that time, ARC and Moltex have proceeded with purpose to develop their technologies with the goal of eventually establishing a manufacturing export hub for their technologies in our province by leveraging the port of Saint John.SMRs can employ thousands of people across New Brunswick. Also, if members want to talk about reducing a carbon footprint, SMRs could be used across the country in every province. The new NAFTA would ensure that our province is able to fully leverage this incredible opportunity to grow our economy and tackle climate change by ensuring that we continue with tariff-free access to the American and Mexican markets. As well, it would ensure that our SMR technology companies do not have to compete against companies in other North American jurisdictions that do not have to comply with rigorous environmental standards for air and marine pollution through its enforceable environmental chapter.This agreement also includes an unprecedented enforcement provision when it comes to labour standards to address, in a timely manner, labour violations relative to collective bargaining and freedom of association. The agreement also includes innovation mechanisms for rapid response between Canada and Mexico and between the United States and Mexico. To close, as I mentioned previously, I was in international trade for 15 years and I know what it means to have an agreement that reduces tariffs and barriers and promotes free trade. It is crucial to the success of business. It is crucial to the growth of business. It is crucial to the development of business. I am proud to stand behind this bill. I am proud to support it. I know first-hand that Canadians appreciate what we have done. I can certainly speak for the world leaders, constituents, unions and businesses in my riding who stand with me in support of this new bill.C-4, An Act to implement the Agreement between Canada, the United States of America and the United Mexican StatesCanada-United States-Mexico AgreementExportsFree tradeGovernment billsLabour lawMarket accessNuclear technologyPort of Saint JohnPorts and harboursSecond readingTrade agreementsToddDohertyCariboo—Prince GeorgePatKellyCalgary Rocky Ridge//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/88368WayneLongWayne-LongSaint John—RothesayLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/LongWayne_Lib.jpgGovernment OrdersCanada-United States-Mexico Agreement Implementation ActInterventionMr. Wayne Long: (1815)[English]Madam Speaker, my friend opposite is obviously referring to energy east and the history behind energy east. I do not think it is any secret that I stood in this House and in my constituency and supported energy east. That being said, the only way that project was ever going to happen was to have consultation and buy-in across the country.The Leader of the Opposition at that time, on his own website, said that he was listening to Quebeckers and that he was going to stand in support of Quebec's jurisdiction and rights. I asked him how he squared what he said there with what he said in other parts of the country. Of course I did not get an answer. I fully respect the fact that our port needs to export, and I stand behind that.C-4, An Act to implement the Agreement between Canada, the United States of America and the United Mexican StatesCanada-United States-Mexico AgreementExportsGovernment billsOil and gasSecond readingTrade agreementsPatKellyCalgary Rocky RidgeJohnBrassardBarrie—Innisfil//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/88368WayneLongWayne-LongSaint John—RothesayLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/LongWayne_Lib.jpgGovernment OrdersCanada-United States-Mexico Agreement Implementation ActInterventionMr. Wayne Long: (1820)[English]Madam Speaker, I lived it. My constituents of Saint John—Rothesay absolutely agree with what I was saying because they sent me back here to represent them. That project was going nowhere under the previous government of members opposite. Everyone knew it, they knew it; the project was stalled. The Conservatives had gutted the environmental process. There was no credibility left with anything. We tried our best to reboot. It was not in the cards. My riding has moved on. My riding is looking forward, industry in my riding is looking forward, and we are ready to turn the page.C-4, An Act to implement the Agreement between Canada, the United States of America and the United Mexican StatesCanada-United States-Mexico AgreementEnergy East Pipeline ProjectGovernment billsPipeline transportationSecond readingTrade agreementsJohnBrassardBarrie—InnisfilRachelBlaneyNorth Island—Powell River//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/88368WayneLongWayne-LongSaint John—RothesayLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/LongWayne_Lib.jpgGovernment OrdersCanada-United States-Mexico Agreement Implementation ActInterventionMr. Wayne Long: (1820)[English]Madam Speaker, my riding of Saint John—Rothesay is 30 minutes from the town of Sussex, which has a diverse, growing, innovative and vibrant dairy industry. That industry was consulted. That industry was in the loop. We have worked with that industry to make sure that it will be protected with any changes in the agreement. That industry is satisfied with where we are. In fact, I am meeting with members from that industry this week in my office here in Ottawa, and we will continue to consult. We will continue to work with that industry and grow that industry vital to New Brunswick.C-4, An Act to implement the Agreement between Canada, the United States of America and the United Mexican StatesCanada-United States-Mexico AgreementDairy farmingGovernment billsSecond readingSupply managementTrade agreementsRachelBlaneyNorth Island—Powell RiverTonyBaldinelliNiagara Falls//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgOral Question PeriodRegional Economic DevelopmentInterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin (Fredericton, GP): (1205)[English]Madam Speaker, I welcome comments from the Minister of Economic Development on ensuring the delivery of strategic regional investments and a focus on rural economic development. I agree with the government on the importance of cybersecurity in Canada. I also agree with the official opposition that funding a multinational, billion-dollar corporation like Mastercard should not have happened.Can I expect the government to also invest in local Canadian projects in the Maritime region like CyberNB, designed specifically to be the hub for Canadian cybersecurity, already in the construction phase and at a cheaper price for Canadian taxpayers? Business developmente-SecurityOral questionsOmarAlghabraMississauga CentreMélanieJolyHon.Ahuntsic-Cartierville//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgRoutine ProceedingsPetitions [Animal Welfare]InterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin (Fredericton, GP): (1555)[English]Madam Speaker, this petition is about ending animal cruelty in Canada. The petitioners are acknowledging that animals are sentient beings capable of feeling pain, that they are not property. They are requesting additional protections for wild and stray animals. They state that it is imperative that those who abuse animals face conviction and significant penalty, and that loopholes in existing legislation too often allow those who have abused animals to escape penalty.Cruelty to animalsPetition 431-00044SentencingAlexandraMendèsBrossard—Saint-LambertGarnettGenuisSherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/88360PatFinniganPat-FinniganMiramichi—Grand LakeLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/43/FinniganPat_Lib.jpgStatements by MembersWorkshop Program for WomenInterventionMr. Pat Finnigan (Miramichi—Grand Lake, Lib.): (1405)[Translation]Mr. Speaker, in my hometown of Rogersville, we have a program called “Femmes Fortes”.Two years ago, a comment made by a recently widowed woman really bothered a municipal employee. She had mentioned that since her husband's passing, she felt powerless and useless, and she realized how much she had depended on her husband to take on traditionally male tasks, such as car repairs, carpentry and the like.That employee, Angèle McCaie, then proposed her “Femmes Fortes” project to the municipal council. In response to suggestions made during a meeting, more than 30 workshops were organized, including workshops on self-defence, woodworking, car repairs, menopause, anxiety, physical fitness and gardening.Mr. Speaker, just know that if you ever drop by my community of Rogersville, you are sure to meet some “Femmes Fortes”, some strong women.Education and trainingFemmes fortesGirlsRogersvilleStatements by MembersWomenRaquelDanchoKildonan—St. PaulJulieDzerowiczDavenport//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/88368WayneLongWayne-LongSaint John—RothesayLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/LongWayne_Lib.jpgStatements by MembersRegional Economic DevelopmentInterventionMr. Wayne Long (Saint John—Rothesay, Lib.): (1415)[English]Mr. Speaker, I am thrilled to rise for the first time in the 43rd Parliament to thank the wonderful people of Saint John—Rothesay and my incredible campaign volunteers for giving me a second mandate to stand up for them in this place.Since being re-elected, I have hit the ground running. I have worked to deliver nearly $8 million in new federal funding for our riding. Last week, this began paying off. I was thrilled to announce our federal government's investment of $750,000 through ACOA to help UNB Saint John relocate its MBA program to Saint John's uptown core. This significant federal investment in our riding will allow our community to fully leverage its entrepreneurial hub and its world-class university in order to unlock its full economic potential.This is only the beginning. I am excited to continue delivering the unprecedented federal investments our riding needs by always putting it first in Ottawa.Atlantic Canada Opportunities AgencyColleges and universitiesGovernment assistanceStatements by MembersUniversity of New BrunswickJohnBarlowFoothillsAnthonyRotaHon.Nipissing—Timiskaming//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/89383RenéArseneaultRené-ArseneaultMadawaska—RestigoucheLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/ArseneaultRené_Lib.jpgGovernment OrdersBusiness of Supply [Opposition Motion—Audit of the Government's Investing in Canada Plan]InterventionMr. René Arseneault (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Official Languages), Lib.): (1700)[Translation]Mr. Speaker, I was listening to what my two colleagues were saying, and I completely disagree, especially with the comments made by my colleague from Mégantic—L'Érable who claims to have been a mayor. All of the mayors in my riding and all of the mayors listening this evening would say the exact opposite of what he said. All he needs to do is ask them.Bilateral agreements were signed with the provinces. Our province, like all of the others, submits its priorities to the federal government, which has not happened. The municipalities are well aware of how infrastructure spending works. More specifically, what is happening is that some provinces do not submit any projects. That is the problem. All of the municipalities in my riding know this, contrary to what my colleagues claim.Audits and auditorsCities and townsInfrastructureInvesting in Canada PlanOpposition motionsGabrielSte-MarieJolietteGabrielSte-MarieJoliette//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/71323JohnWilliamsonJohn-WilliamsonNew Brunswick SouthwestConservative CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/WilliamsonJohn_CPC.jpgAdjournment ProceedingsPrivacyInterventionMr. John Williamson (New Brunswick Southwest, CPC): (1825)[English]Madam Speaker, during tonight's adjournment debate, I will be speaking about the privacy rights of my constituents. I know for all members of the House privacy rights are important, and of course they are guaranteed by the charter. They are paramount to our identity as Canadians.Unfortunately, the government has missed the boat on protecting privacy rights in southern New Brunswick. Some members may recall my question last year about Canada Post mail delivery to a beautiful part of my riding called Campobello Island. U.S. Customs and Border Protection continues to open and review Canada Post mail going to Campobello. That is because Campobello is Canadian territory but is only accessible year round by driving through the state of Maine for an hour. The government responded to my question by stating, “We will be looking at this matter and will have further things to say on it in the future.” I was expecting that in this minority Parliament where the government is trying to work across the aisle, when a serious issue is brought to its attention, an issue that impacts the privacy rights of Canadians, it would act. Sadly, I was wrong.My office has received a letter from Canada Post, which I will table after the adjournment proceedings. Quite frankly, the response from this government-owned Crown agency, Canada Post, is tone deaf. Canada Post says that the United States has a right to open the mail and that Canada Post understands “this has caused you concern”.Second, it says that the delivery route through Maine is “the only available option beyond seasonal ferry service”. From what I understand, Canada Post has not requested use of that seasonal ferry service. It has not contacted the ferry operator whose craft is in the water and available for private or public charter.Third, the letter says that Canada Post is working on resolving the matter with United States government officials and hopes to see “fewer delays in the coming weeks”. Nearly two months have come and gone.Here is the problem. The letter closes by saying, “to provide timely service, we ask that you refrain from ordering or sending items that cannot be sent by mail or that could be seized by a customs agent as they may delay passage of all mail through the border”. Therefore, Canada Post is asking Canadians living on Campobello to use the mail less or not use it at all.I have contacted Canada Post. I have brought this issue to the minister's attention, and Canada Post has contacted my office. However, once again, its explanation does not solve the problem. According to Canada Post, this whole problem is because cannabis is mailable within Canada. It is just a fluke of geography that necessitates the crossing of borders to reach Campobello that causes some challenges here.However, a Canadian is a Canadian is a Canadian. Also, geography cuts both ways. That is because there is a place called Point Roberts in British Columbia that is U.S. territory and is only accessible by passing through Canadian territory. The U.S. mail that is going to Point Roberts is not being opened by CBSA officials. Perhaps it is time that we did so.I have some questions for my colleagues in the government this evening. Why has the issue of U.S. border official agents searching Canada Post mail still not been resolved? What will the Liberals do today, not in the future, to protect the privacy rights of Canadian residents living on Campobello?Adjournment ProceedingsBordersCampobello IslandPostal servicesPrivacy and data protectionUnited States of AmericaTerryBeechBurnaby North—SeymourStevenMacKinnonGatineau//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/71323JohnWilliamsonJohn-WilliamsonNew Brunswick SouthwestConservative CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/WilliamsonJohn_CPC.jpgAdjournment ProceedingsPrivacyInterventionMr. John Williamson: (1830)[English]Madam Speaker, I appreciate the response from the hon. member. It is clear that he is familiar with this corner of my riding, New Brunswick Southwest, Charlotte County.I would point out that it is not up to the citizens living in Campobello to solve this problem. The hon. member suggested they have come up with innovative solutions in the past. That is because the people in Campobello have had no choice to do so. They feel, rightly, the government has let them down. I appreciate the member's opening of the door to providing help on, perhaps, a year-round ferry in Campobello from the Higgs government, should it come to the federal government seeking infrastructure dollars to build and operate such a ferry service.However, as the member knows, ferry services are not built overnight and we need a solution to this matter right away. I will point out again, for the record, that these Canada Post mail trucks are bonded. They should not be inspected by U.S. customs agencies and doing so is an infringement on our rights as Canadians.Adjournment ProceedingsBordersCampobello IslandPostal servicesPrivacy and data protectionUnited States of AmericaStevenMacKinnonGatineauStevenMacKinnonGatineau//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/17210RobMooreHon.Rob-MooreFundy RoyalConservative CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/MooreRob_CPC.jpgOral Question PeriodJusticeInterventionHon. Rob Moore (Fundy Royal, CPC): (1440)[English]Mr. Speaker, the Liberals carelessly rushed through changes to Canada's criminal justice system in Bill C-75. Conservatives raised concerns over the impacts of the bill and how it would impact and harm victims of crime. Legal experts warned the Prime Minister that his poorly drafted legislation would result in guilty verdicts being nullified. Now in Ontario we see that is indeed the case.What is the Prime Minister planning to do now that criminals are being set free and victims will have to go through painful retrials due to the government's incompetence?Criminal trialsJury and jurorsOral questionsChrystiaFreelandHon.University—RosedaleDavidLamettiHon.LaSalle—Émard—Verdun//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/17210RobMooreHon.Rob-MooreFundy RoyalConservative CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/MooreRob_CPC.jpgOral Question PeriodJusticeInterventionHon. Rob Moore (Fundy Royal, CPC): (1445)[English]Mr. Speaker, that is not good enough. The Liberal government's poorly drafted Bill C-75 means criminals are now facing retrial and victims of crime will have to relive the horrific situations yet again in court. This is a significant failure of the Liberal government to protect victims. We already know that the sloppy implementation of the bill will lead to retrials in Ontario.When will the Prime Minister act before more criminals go free?Criminal trialsJury and jurorsOral questionsDavidLamettiHon.LaSalle—Émard—VerdunDavidLamettiHon.LaSalle—Émard—Verdun//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgSpeech from the ThroneResumption of debate on Address in ReplyInterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin (Fredericton, GP): (1605)[English]Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure to stand today in the House to address not only my fellow members but the many Canadians across this country who are tuning in to hear what their representatives on this floor have to say on their behalf.I want to recognize that today is the international day of remembrance for the Holocaust. We are also on the cusp of Black History Month, which begins this weekend. In 2020 it is crucial to recognize the lessons history have taught us, the progress we have made on human rights and all the work that remains to be done. I also want to recognize the victims and the families of flight PS752. Many of us have had the privilege of spending almost two months in our home communities connecting with constituents.[Translation]Over the past few weeks, I have had the pleasure of meeting hundreds of people during public events and my first round of community gatherings.[English]The people of Fredericton, Oromocto, Marysville, Maugerville and surrounding communities are engaged, and I am so proud to represent such a dynamic riding. [Translation]Fredericton is the capital of Canada's only officially bilingual province.[English]Indigenous leadership in the arts is putting New Brunswick on the map. We are also a riding where consistent, devastating floods are making climate change real to people, and where parents are standing up to demand more support for their children struggling with mental illness. I am proud to stand with and beside them as their MP.I want to address the Speech from the Throne. I was, in all honesty, very pleased to see where our priorities have landed: addressing climate change, healing regional divides and acknowledging the need to further advance forward relationships with indigenous peoples. I was ready to support the speech. I thought if there was ever a Speech from the Throne to support, this would be it.However, then I was reminded of the last four years. I was reminded of the reason I decided to run in the past election and the promises I made to my constituents to hold the government accountable and challenge pretty words and superficial statements. As a wife and a mother to two indigenous sons, I must stand in the House to protect their future, to protect their inherent collective rights and be firm in my affirmation that their rights are non-negotiable.I want to speak for a moment on the proposed legislative and policy framework, the Prime Minister's two-track approach to a pan-indigenous policy. It is being called the “two-track termination plan” by many indigenous scholars and traditional leaders. It is reminiscent of the white paper on Indian policy from 1969. People have real, valid issues with what is being proposed, indigenous people, those directly impacted by this legislation. We owe it to them to listen.The Government of Canada has been consistent in its top-down approach. The patriarchal relationship remains: Canada like a father to its children. Indigenous communities are not Canada's children. Their roots run the deepest on this land and they have the right to self-determination. We have convoluted, confused and complicated our end of the bargain, and that has gotten us where we are today: a deadlock over the land, the land we agreed to share. Canada's definition of sharing is not something I would feel comfortable teaching my children. Reconciliation means giving back where we took too much. It is achieving an equilibrium. I have heard critics say that we are all Canadian, that we should all be treated equally and that there should be no special treatment. That only works if we are in fact equal.I am not going to rattle off statistics to describe the disparity that exists. We know what they are. What they mean is that we have to do better. We need real action, real negotiations that find parity in the voices represented.(1610)[Translation]In Canada, the right to consultation is closely tied to free, prior and informed consent. That means issues must be considered at the individual level and that consultations must involve participants who truly reflect the views of indigenous peoples. The idea is certainly not that powerful and influential organizations and corporations at the top should have a greater say.[English]When Canada continues to ignore the voices of grassroots community members, traditional and hereditary chiefs, we have outrage and activism in the streets.The delays on certain energy projects like Coastal GasLink or fracking in New Brunswick are not to be blamed on the demonstrators. It was the wilful ignorance of the players involved from the beginning who made indigenous voices an afterthought. To see that indigenous considerations have been prioritized is very encouraging, but forgive me if I remain suspicious.I was pleased to hear the mandate for UNDRIP in the throne speech.[Translation]I hoped those words signalled that real change was coming soon.[English]However, in the past few weeks we see the way the government has behaved in the unceded territory of the Wet'suwet'en peoples. It bears a striking resemblance to the behaviour of a previous government in my backyard in 2014, when traditional elders of the Mi'kmaq nation and Elsipogtog built a camp to protect the land and water from the encroachment of a fracking company. At that time, it was only the member for Saanich—Gulf Islands, on behalf of the Green Party of Canada, and David Coon, on behalf of the Green Party of New Brunswick, who stood with the Mi'kmaq hereditary and traditional chiefs.[Translation]The RCMP's deplorable colonial practices in dismantling a peaceful demonstration made headlines across the country.[English]I have a personal connection to this history, as I had to see a family member, a traditional chief, handcuffed with zip ties and arrested as he was conducting a pipe ceremony.A lot has changed since 2014. We have come through the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's report of findings. Canada has reversed its opposition to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Persons and has been working on legislation to see it enshrined in Canadian law.The inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous women and girls has published its final report, including the testimony of 2,380 survivors and family members of those lost.[Translation]I am proud to be a member of a party that understands what this really means and does not shirk its responsibility for the need to work tirelessly on reconciliation across Canada.[English]Unfortunately, Canada seems queued up to repeat the same mistakes it has been making for generations, the same mistakes it made in 2014.Despite my support for some of the words in the Speech from the Throne, I have little confidence in the Liberal government to understand its responsibilities or to implement the changes we need.(1615)[Translation]I strongly believe that when we establish a real nation-to-nation relationship with the Indigenous peoples, our relationship with mother earth will be much better.[English]Our relationship with indigenous peoples is a step forward for climate action.Earlier today my fellow Green Party members both spoke about the urgency of climate change. Ridings across New Brunswick have been hit in each of the last two years by historic flooding. The river systems at home are jammed. The snow is piling up in our forests. Our wetlands and buffer zones are compromised. We are seeing an increase in precipitation. All signs point to another bad flood season this spring. Action is required. The Prime Minister and his government know that. I want them to know I am committed to working with them to make progress on adapting to climate change and that I am committed to helping facilitate the rapid transition that our economy must also undertake. I want to talk for a minute about that. I am so excited by the opportunities that lay before us in the new economy. We know we have to end our dependency on fossil fuels and I am convinced we can do it, while looking out for workers who will need new careers. We have always been and will continue to be a resource-driven economy. |Just look at the bounty of the resources we have to offer toward renewable energy: our long sunny summer days; powerful river systems across the country; beautiful forests; and right at home in New Brunswick, the highest tides in the world.This new economy brings with it the promise of new jobs for electricians, mechanics, manufacturers, truck operators and the list goes on. In New Brunswick, renewable energy companies are already accomplishing amazing things, showing leadership, sharing expertise and building capacity. One solar company in Fredericton has already trained 200 people in solar panel installation work, half of which has come from the Alberta oil sands.[Translation]This is an opportunity that will help reunite New Brunswick families. At the same time, this will allow workers to participate in the economy of the future.[English]The people of my riding are ready and willing to be part of the new economy and they are eager to reduce their own carbon pollution. It is up to the government to give them the way forward.What is the plan to expand public transit and increase electric vehicle uptake? Where is the plan to help everyday Canadians make their homes most efficient to—Address in Reply to the Speech from the ThroneClimate change and global warmingConsentEconomic conditionsIndigenous policyMaiden speechPublic consultationRenewable energy and fuelJulieDzerowiczDavenportAlexandraMendèsBrossard—Saint-Lambert//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgSpeech from the ThroneResumption of debate on Address in ReplyInterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin: (1615)[English]Madam Speaker, we have been criticized by some, saying that we cannot turn the taps off now as there has to be that transition. We understand that. We are not turning the taps off. We know that we need to get some of what we have in the ground to market. I do not think that building the pipeline is the way to do that. We have existing infrastructure that can continue to fuel our current energy demands. As we ramp up renewables, we can decrease that dependency. I do not see the need for that pipeline. I also do not agree that connecting those resources would necessarily mean that we are off our foreign oil resources. That will continue. It is more that I want to see the concrete steps toward this future plan we hear about. I need to see the actual steps forward. I continue to support the member's province and what is happening there, but not by building new pipeline infrastructure.Address in Reply to the Speech from the ThroneOil and gasPipeline transportationGarnettGenuisSherwood Park—Fort SaskatchewanMarkGerretsenKingston and the Islands//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgSpeech from the ThroneResumption of debate on Address in ReplyInterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin: (1620)[English]Madam Speaker, I thought that this is the Canada of which I want to be a part. This is the government I would like to support. However, holding the government accountable for its actions over the last four years is certainly a part of this process. I cannot just take the Liberals' words for it anymore.My colleague from Saanich—Gulf Islands read some pieces from the 2015 Speech from the Throne. We cannot be kind of duped into believing that this is the time to believe.As much as I want to be supportive, as much as I think the speech was great and well-intentioned and believe that even steps forward on reconciliation and on climate change are well-intentioned, the government is still missing the mark. I need the government to start hitting that mark because time is of the essence. I have two little children who need a future they can live in, breathe clean air and have clean water.Address in Reply to the Speech from the ThroneGovernment accountabilityMarkGerretsenKingston and the IslandsAlistairMacGregorCowichan—Malahat—Langford//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgSpeech from the ThroneResumption of debate on Address in ReplyInterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin: (1620)[English]Madam Speaker, that turbine remains at the bottom of the ocean on our coastline. We were prepared with the technology to harness that amazing power we would have with tidal. I would like to see our technology catch up. There are also great opportunities for offshore wind, but we need our provinces and some regulations to change as well. We need a willingness on the part of government to support some of these changes. There are so many exciting things that are so possible and are ready to be deployed. However, we continue to invest in old, outdated infrastructure that holds us back as Canadians.Address in Reply to the Speech from the ThroneBay of FundyTidal energyAlistairMacGregorCowichan—Malahat—LangfordGarnettGenuisSherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/88369RichardBragdonRichard-BragdonTobique—MactaquacConservative CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/BragdonRichard_CPC.jpgStatements by MembersTobique—MactaquacInterventionMr. Richard Bragdon (Tobique—Mactaquac, CPC): (1405)[English]Mr. Speaker, today I rise to thank the good people of Tobique—Mactaquac who elected me to be their voice here in Ottawa. I also want to thank my family, especially my beautiful wife Crystal and our three children, Vada, Walker and Mariah, for being there to support me.During the campaign, my father's lunch bucket became a very important symbol to me. My father is 68 years old and still works at the pulp mill in Nackawic. It is because of people like my father and mother who work in our factories and wait on our tables, the farmers who grow our food, those who develop our natural resources and those who truck and ship our goods that I am here today. They are the ones who are so often overlooked, ignored and increasingly looked down upon.On this side of the House, those who have been forgotten and feel disconnected from the decisions being made here will always have a voice. They will be heard. They will have their rights and livelihoods defended until we make it onto that side of the House and bring about the changes they are desperately longing for. On this side of the House and in this seat, we will remember those who carry the buckets.Statements by MembersTobique—MactaquacVoting and votersJeanYipScarborough—AgincourtKirstyDuncanHon.Etobicoke North//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/71323JohnWilliamsonJohn-WilliamsonNew Brunswick SouthwestConservative CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/WilliamsonJohn_CPC.jpgSpeech from the ThroneResumption of Debate on Address in ReplyInterventionMr. John Williamson (New Brunswick Southwest, CPC): (1750)[English]Mr. Speaker, today is the first time outside of question period that I rise to speak in this session. I would like to congratulate you on your elevation to the Speaker's chair as our deputy. The mantle carries a heavy burden to be fair-minded and I am sure you will again guide our House to the best of your ability. For that, we all congratulate you.I have had the privilege of serving in this great House in a previous Parliament. Given that I represent a constituency in Atlantic Canada as a Conservative, members know that there is a gap in my political employment history. It is a rare honour to be elected to Parliament. It is an honour to serve and be sent here by constituents to represent them. For this, I thank the voters of New Brunswick Southwest for sending me back. The one promise I made during the election was to work hard every day to represent the voice of my constituents. It is a task I intend to take seriously and one I will work on every single day.|I must also thank my amazing wife, Kelly Williamson. Many of us know all too well that our spouses make the biggest sacrifice for us to be here. Kelly has been with me through good times and bad. She continues to be my closest confidante and my best friend. My thanks to Kelly. “Je t'aime.”I would also be negligent today if I did not include in my address my mentor, the Hon. Greg Thompson. Greg was elected to Parliament six times. He served with distinction as minister of veterans affairs under the previous Conservative government. Greg passed away on the day before the election was called. It was a difficult moment for many of us at the start of that election campaign. For those of us who have had the privilege of sitting on either side of the House with him, and for those who might know Greg only through Hansard, I can say this. Everything that was said about Greg is true. Greg did not do anything in half measures. Greg was never afraid to stand up, never afraid to speak out for his constituents. He truly represented the very best of us. My commitment is to follow Greg Thompson's high standard. Perhaps I will not always hit it, but I know at least I will always be on the right path.In considering today's news, I wish to also acknowledge our Conservative leader. He is a friend, he is a good man and, importantly, he understands Canada.In the last Parliament, when the federal government failed to appoint a minister for our region's economic development portfolio, when we nearly lost our seat on the Supreme Court, and when 32 Liberal MPs sat quietly, it was the federal Conservative leader and it was all Conservatives who defended those important priorities for Atlantic Canada. As well, it was Conservatives from outside the region who fought for the energy east pipeline, more so than New Brunswick Liberal MPs did in the last Parliament.Failing to stand up for home is why the Liberals lost 40% of their seats in New Brunswick and they nearly lost the majority of them. We will win them next time.I turn now to the matter at hand, the Speech from the Throne.In several places, the Speech from the Throne talks about a mandate, yet this is very much a hung Parliament. Canadians gave no party a mandate, except a mandate to try to work together. The Liberals won the most seats, but won fewer votes than the Conservatives. The debate will continue, and a wise government will look to work collaboratively with other parties. Let me begin in a spirit of harmony or agreement.I support the idea of cutting income taxes for Canadians. It is important to make home ownership more affordable for Canadians. It is important that governments' help families get ahead. The idea of providing clean water to indigenous communities is also important. We need to do more to tackle opioid abuse and as well, do more to help people battling mental health issues.The government also needs to reduce red tape. We also need to work together on the NAFTA file, the free trade file, although on this one the government is getting off on the wrong foot already.(1755)Those are the areas of the throne speech where I think we can find common cause. Notably, the throne speech was silent on aquaculture and the traditional fisheries. This was a good thing, given the reckless promises made by the Prime Minister during the heat of the recent election.Unfortunately, there are also a whole host of areas where we are on the wrong path. The ACOA minister continues to be a member from outside of our region. When it comes to scientific research dollars, innovation and R and D funding, the lion's share of that money ends up in areas outside of Atlantic Canada, which has a harmful economic impact on Atlantic Canada and areas outside of central Canada.On rural Internet, the government is simply moving too slowly and is too focused on the big telecoms for solutions. The government continues to target law-abiding, responsible firearm owners, not illegal guns and gangs. Additionally, it has been equally silent on the forestry industry and on its inability to get an agreement with the United States in this regard. This is important for Canada as well as New Brunswick. On deficits and rising taxes, all too often the Liberals' focus is elsewhere, and they have not made deficit elimination a priority, which they have promised to do time and time again.I will discuss the two most pressing areas where we are going to have a challenge. The first is the carbon tax. Workers at Flakeboard in my riding lost their jobs because of policies brought in by the government which raised energy prices. Marwood, another company, is a builder of wood products, with sales at home in Canada and in New England. It, too, is deeply concerned about the impact of ever-rising energy prices.As well, the economy is sluggish. We have heard that 71,000 jobs were lost in November, and we are falling behind our international competitors. Last year, real gross domestic product expanded by 1.4% and population grew by 1.5%, which means on a per capita basis, things are shrinking. They are getting worse for Canadians and the economy. As a result, wages for working Canadians are not keeping up with the prices on just about everything. I will have more to say on this in the coming weeks and months in my role as the opposition labour critic.Over these four years, we have seen one constant thing from the government. It has no discipline, and this has led to a decline for the entire country. This is true on the economy, it is true with our international standing, it is true with our institutions and now it is true on national unity. The Liberals are not a serious government. Canadians gave the government a humbling return in this Parliament. Unfortunately, I do not think it is enough to change its direction, so Conservatives will continue to offer a better course for Canada and a way forward.Address in Reply to the Speech from the ThroneEconomic conditionsInternational tradeRosemarieFalkBattlefords—LloydminsterAlistairMacGregorCowichan—Malahat—Langford//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/71323JohnWilliamsonJohn-WilliamsonNew Brunswick SouthwestConservative CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/WilliamsonJohn_CPC.jpgSpeech from the ThroneResumption of Debate on Address in ReplyInterventionMr. John Williamson: (1800)[English]Mr. Speaker, I am here today to speak for myself. I can tell members the concerns from my constituents. The technology the hon. member is proposing is unproven. It will drive up the price to produce farmed fish. It will drive up the price that families pay to put food on their table. It will kill Canadian jobs. If we do not produce farmed fish in the east coast aquaculture, our international competitors will. Investment dollars will go elsewhere, whether it is to Scotland, to Chile or to other parts around this world. This is a growing industry, and it is a way to feed the world with safe and affordable farmed seafood.That is the perspective from Atlantic Canada. We have this technology. It creates many good-paying jobs, not only on the water but also as white-collar jobs in the office in rural Canada.Address in Reply to the Speech from the ThroneFisheries and fishersAlistairMacGregorCowichan—Malahat—LangfordKevinLamoureuxWinnipeg North//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/71323JohnWilliamsonJohn-WilliamsonNew Brunswick SouthwestConservative CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/WilliamsonJohn_CPC.jpgSpeech from the ThroneResumption of Debate on Address in ReplyInterventionMr. John Williamson: (1800)[English]Mr. Speaker, again, I will speak for myself here. I will have to look at the tax cuts. Too often with the Liberals, they will propose one thing and then deliver something else.I have been talking about raising the basic personal exemption since I was head of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, when the Liberals were fighting that idea and refusing to lower taxes on working Canadians. Our side will give any legislation from the government a fair reading. If, in fact, taxes are to be cut, we will likely applaud that. We are going to read the fine print first. One has to read the fine print on any promise when it comes from the Liberals on spending and taxes.Address in Reply to the Speech from the ThroneTaxationKevinLamoureuxWinnipeg NorthAndréanneLaroucheShefford//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/71323JohnWilliamsonJohn-WilliamsonNew Brunswick SouthwestConservative CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/WilliamsonJohn_CPC.jpgSpeech from the ThroneResumption of Debate on Address in ReplyInterventionMr. John Williamson: (1805)[Translation]Mr. Speaker, I will just repeat that the solution is not to go after Canadians who are following the rules when they buy and use firearms. What we need to do is go after the people who use firearms illegally and do not obey current laws. Address in Reply to the Speech from the ThroneGun controlAndréanneLaroucheSheffordBobZimmerPrince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/88350SergeCormierSerge-CormierAcadie—BathurstLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/CormierSerge_Lib.jpgStatements by MembersClosure of Brunswick SmelterInterventionMr. Serge Cormier (Acadie—Bathurst, Lib.): (1405)[Translation]Mr. Speaker, I want to start by thanking the voters of Acadie—Bathurst for giving me the privilege of serving them for a second term.[English]I rise today, however, to share some very unfortunate news. The Brunswick smelter in the village of Belledune in my riding has decided to close its doors. I am very disappointed in this decision, as the smelter is the largest employer in our region and this closure will result in the loss of 280 jobs and hundreds more indirect jobs. This will have a major impact on the economy of the region.[Translation]I am proud of the unprecedented investments our Liberal government has made in Acadie—Bathurst since 2015. We have shown that northern New Brunswick is an ideal home for big industry, but let us not forget that small businesses have always been some of our most important job creators. Their work is an essential contributor to the economic success of the region.I want to reassure everyone who is affected by the closure of the smelter that they have my support and the support of the government. We are going to do everything in our power to help them.BelleduneGlencore International plcPlant closuresSmeltersStatements by MembersAnthonyRotaHon.Nipissing—TimiskamingStevenBlaneyHon.Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/17210RobMooreHon.Rob-MooreFundy RoyalConservative CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/MooreRob_CPC.jpgOral Question PeriodJusticeInterventionHon. Rob Moore (Fundy Royal, CPC): (1505)[English]Mr. Speaker, the current government's new jury selection rules have already been found to be unconstitutional in Ontario. Further, courts have been split on whether to apply the changes on a go-forward basis or retroactively. This confusion, created solely by very poorly drafted Liberal legislation, could have the impact of nullifying more than 30 guilty verdicts, including in a murder trial. How will the Prime Minister fix his mistake to ensure that murderers do not walk free?Jury and jurorsJustice systemOral questionsJustinTrudeauRight Hon.PapineauJustinTrudeauRight Hon.Papineau//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/88369RichardBragdonRichard-BragdonTobique—MactaquacConservative CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/BragdonRichard_CPC.jpgOral Question PeriodThe EnvironmentInterventionMr. Richard Bragdon (Tobique—Mactaquac, CPC): (1500)[English]Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege to rise in the House today for the first time. I am grateful to the good people of Tobique—Mactaquac for electing me as their member of Parliament.New Brunswick has presented a credible and effective environment plan to the government for review. Unlike the federal carbon tax, New Brunswick's plan is made in New Brunswick and protects consumers and local businesses. The provincial government is still waiting for a reply. When will New Brunswick receive its answer?Environmental protectionNew BrunswickOral questionsKarinaGouldHon.BurlingtonSeamusO'ReganHon.St. John's South—Mount Pearl//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/88360PatFinniganPat-FinniganMiramichi—Grand LakeLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/43/FinniganPat_Lib.jpgOral Question PeriodHealthInterventionMr. Pat Finnigan (Miramichi—Grand Lake, Lib.): (1500)[English]Mr. Speaker, over the past month, I have heard from many constituents from my riding of Miramichi—Grand Lake who have loved ones struggling with an addiction to crystal meth. Crystal meth devastates lives and communities, and it is both accessible and very cheap.[Translation]Often, the stigma is also an obstacle for those who want to get help.Can the Minister of Health tell the House what the government is doing to help Canadians struggling with substance abuse problems?Drug addiction treatmentDrug use and abuseMethamphetamineOral questionsSeamusO'ReganHon.St. John's South—Mount PearlPattyHajduHon.Thunder Bay—Superior North//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgGovernment OrdersInterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin: (1910)[English]Mr. Speaker, I agree to apply and will be voting yes.C-2, An Act for granting to Her Majesty certain sums of money for the federal public administration for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2020Government billsRecorded divisionsSecond readingSupplementary estimates (A) 2019-2020Supply billsPaulManlyNanaimo—LadysmithJodyWilson-RaybouldHon.Vancouver Granville//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgGovernment OrdersInterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin: (1920)[English]Mr. Speaker, I agree to apply and I will be voting yes.C-2, An Act for granting to Her Majesty certain sums of money for the federal public administration for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2020Government billsRecorded divisionsReport stageSupplementary estimates (A) 2019-2020Supply billsPaulManlyNanaimo—LadysmithJodyWilson-RaybouldHon.Vancouver Granville//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgGovernment OrdersInterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin: (1920)[English]Mr. Speaker, I agree to apply and I will be voting yes.C-2, An Act for granting to Her Majesty certain sums of money for the federal public administration for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2020Government billsRecorded divisionsSupplementary estimates (A) 2019-2020Supply billsThird reading and adoptionPaulManlyNanaimo—LadysmithJodyWilson-RaybouldHon.Vancouver Granville//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgStatements by MembersHousingInterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin (Fredericton, GP): (1400)[English]Mr. Speaker, in 2017, Prime Minister Trudeau's government signed an agreement—Statements by MembersAnthonyRotaHon.Nipissing—TimiskamingAnthonyRotaHon.Nipissing—Timiskaming//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgStatements by MembersHousingInterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin: (1400)[English]Mr. Speaker, I apologize.In 2017, the government signed an agreement with the Province of New Brunswick to invest $299.9 million in housing for the homeless and housing security for New Brunswickers, which began on April 1 of this year. Unfortunately, the funding seems to be trickling into the province too slowly to help the people who are desperately in need of affordable and secure housing today.According to a CBC story from last Wednesday, 500 New Brunswickers are currently homeless and 5,000 New Brunswickers' households are waiting for an affordable housing unit to become available. I see that the supplementary estimates are increasing funding to the CMHC by $9 million. It is my hope that some of this funding will be spent to help those facing homelessness as we enter the coldest season of the year.Homelessness and homelessNew BrunswickSocial housingStatements by MembersAnthonyRotaHon.Nipissing—TimiskamingRandeepSaraiSurrey Centre//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgOral Question PeriodInfrastructureInterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin (Fredericton, GP): (1505)[Translation]Mr. Speaker, in a recent speech to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities said that infrastructure must be more resilient to climate change.(1510)[English]I was glad to hear this. At home, in my riding of Fredericton, we have faced the dreadful consequences of some of the worst flooding of the Wolastoq river, known as the Saint John, in recent memory. We have certainly not seen the last of this seasonal flooding. We need to effectively adapt to the effects of the climate crisis. My question for the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities is this. How is she planning to use the green municipal fund in New Brunswick to ensure that my constituents will stop suffering from the effects of these now recurring and predictable floods?Flood controlGreen Municipal FundNew BrunswickOral questionsSeamusO'ReganHon.St. John's South—Mount PearlCatherineMcKennaHon.Ottawa Centre//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/88364GinettePetitpas TaylorHon.Ginette-PetitpasTaylorMoncton—Riverview—DieppeLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/PetitpasTaylorGinette_Lib.jpgBusiness of SupplySupplementary Estimates (A), 2019-20InterventionHon. Ginette Petitpas Taylor (Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe, Lib.): (1840)[Translation]Mr. Chair, I thank my colleague for his remarks.The minister mentioned earlier that the supplementary estimates include funding for public service compensation. Can he provide us with an update on the ongoing collective bargaining with the unions?Collective bargainingConsideration in a Committee of the WholePublic Service and public servantsSupplementary estimates (A) 2019-2020Jean-YvesDuclosHon.QuébecJean-YvesDuclosHon.Québec//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/88364GinettePetitpas TaylorHon.Ginette-PetitpasTaylorMoncton—Riverview—DieppeLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/PetitpasTaylorGinette_Lib.jpgBusiness of SupplySupplementary Estimates (A), 2019-20InterventionHon. Ginette Petitpas Taylor: (1845)[Translation]I want to again thank my colleague for his speech earlier, but also for his work over the past four years. We have seen the results: Over one million Canadians were lifted out of poverty.Could the minister explain, once again, why it is important to keep giving all Canadians tax cuts?Consideration in a Committee of the WholeSupplementary estimates (A) 2019-2020Tax reliefJean-YvesDuclosHon.QuébecJean-YvesDuclosHon.Québec//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/88350SergeCormierSerge-CormierAcadie—BathurstLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/CormierSerge_Lib.jpgBusiness of SupplySupplementary Estimates (A), 2019-20InterventionMr. Serge Cormier (Acadie—Bathurst, Lib.): (2000)[Translation]Mr. Chair, I thank the minister for his speech. I would also like to thank all the men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces for the excellent work they do. Some of my family members are in the Canadian Armed Forces, so I see the extraordinary work they do every day.I know the minister was at the meeting with NATO leaders last week. I would like to give him an opportunity to tell us what we are doing with NATO, to talk about the excellent work being done by our allies and what Canada is prepared to do. We are working with our partners and everybody benefits.Can the minister tell us what we are working on with our NATO allies?Consideration in a Committee of the WholeDefence alliancesNorth Atlantic Treaty OrganizationSupplementary estimates (A) 2019-2020Harjit S.SajjanHon.Vancouver SouthHarjit S.SajjanHon.Vancouver South//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/88350SergeCormierSerge-CormierAcadie—BathurstLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/CormierSerge_Lib.jpgBusiness of SupplySupplementary Estimates (A), 2019-20InterventionMr. Serge Cormier (Acadie—Bathurst, Lib.): (2055)[Translation]Madam Chair, I appreciate this opportunity to talk about an issue of great importance to all MPs and to all Canadians: the Canadian Armed Forces and the Department of National Defence. I would like to thank the women and men of the Canadian Armed Forces for the excellent work they do every day for this country.Today I would like to talk about how our government is taking care of Canadian Armed Forces members and their families. As I said before, the women and men of the Canadian Armed Forces and their families are a priority for our government. Our people in uniform are the forces' most valuable asset. Our troops keep Canada safe and contribute to multilateral efforts to make the world safer, more prosperous and more sustainable.We can have the most modern equipment in the world, work in the greenest facilities, offer the best possible services and have the best possible policies, but none of that matters as much as taking good care of our women and men in uniform. That is why our government and the Minister of National Defence built Canada's defence policy around our people, our troops, our civilian employees and our military families.Our “Strong, Secure, Engaged” defence policy guarantees that the Canadian Armed Forces will employ more people, that they will be properly prepared to tackle the task at hand and to encourage them to stay on once they have enlisted. In addition, giving our military personnel our full support guarantees that they will have the tools needed to answer the call of duty anytime and anywhere to the best of their ability, so that they may continue to properly defend our country and preserve our values, helping keep Canadians safe. That is why our government promptly introduced initiatives to improve the care provided to our military personnel and their families.I would like to outline some of those initiatives. Let me begin with those intended for military family members, since they are the strength behind the uniform. Military family members provide ongoing support and step up when their loved ones have be elsewhere. We recognize the immense contribution they make and we are extremely grateful to them for that. That is why the defence team updated the military family services program. We are providing an additional $6 million a year to military family resource centres.Through the seamless Canada initiative, we are working with the provinces and territories to facilitate relocation. We also put in place virtual mental health consultation services for the families and deployed support staff abroad to support soldiers anywhere, at any time. We also launched the military spousal employment network to give military spouses access to jobs offered by employers across the country in the public or private sectors.Another aspect is transition support. Sometimes, as we know, military families continue to deal with some unique challenges when they leave the forces. That is why our commitment to their well-being goes beyond their years of active service. A year ago, we officially established the Canadian Armed Forces transition group. This group, as promised in our policy, provides support to sick and injured members of the Canadian Forces and facilitates the transition for all members, veterans and their families. This is an important first step in improving the care provided to our troops when they transition to a new post or life outside the forces.A third very important aspect is compensation and benefits. To ensure that members of the Canadian Armed Forces feel supported throughout their career, the government is also ensuring that they receive adequate compensation. We have launched several initiatives to ensure that our military members are well compensated. For example, we have enhanced tax breaks for members who participate in international missions. We have also altered the compensation structure for the reserves so that reservists are paid the same as members of the regular forces for equal work.A very important issue that we are also tackling is changing the culture of the defence team. We are doing nothing less than changing the way in which we support our troops and their families. Just as important is the fact that we are focusing on changing the culture within the Canadian Armed Forces. That is why we are striving to implement the recommendations concerning the equal treatment of the sexes in all of our programs and policies.(2100) According to “Strong, Secure, Engaged: Canada's Defence Policy”, diversity and inclusion must be prioritized for effective operations and decision-making in the Canadian Armed Forces. We know that diverse and inclusive armed forces are more agile and more effective. This is why we are committed to increasing the proportion of women in the Canadian Armed Forces to 25% by 2026.We know that the Canadian Armed Forces have not always been welcoming to members from all backgrounds, in particular to LGBTQ2 and visible minority members. We are committed to correcting these mistakes. In November 2017, the Prime Minister formally apologized to Canadians who had endured discrimination based on their sexual orientation. It never should have happened, and we are committed to eradicating intolerance within the Canadian Armed Forces. We are currently working with other government partners to follow through on the results of the class action lawsuit over the LGBT purge. Up to $110 million will be set aside to compensate all those who were subjected to these discriminatory practices, including federal public servants, members of the Canadian Armed Forces and members of the RCMP.We have also implemented reconciliation and commemoration measures. There is the Canada pride citation, which will be awarded to eligible applicants in recognition of their service to Canada and the hardships they endured. We have learned from the past. Our government will continue to make every effort to ensure that the workplace is welcoming and free from harassment and discrimination. Hateful behaviour, in any form, will not be tolerated. Furthermore, tougher sentences for crimes motivated by prejudice or hate were proposed in our Bill C-77, which received Royal Assent this summer.This was a defining moment for the military justice system, giving more rights to victims of service offences.We will also continue to move forward with Operation Honour, the mission of which is to eliminate sexual misconduct in the Canadian Armed Forces.Two weeks ago, the Federal Court approved a $900-million settlement agreement in the class action lawsuit over sexual misconduct in the CAF and DND. We hope this settlement will serve as recognition of the harm done to victims of sexual misconduct and enable them to turn the page and begin the healing process. We are proud of the care we provide to members of our Canadian Armed Forces. From the time they first don the uniform to the day they hang it up for good and beyond, we will be there for them and their families. They deserve to be taken care of, and they deserve to be respected. Our government will make sure it does both.Once again, I commend the men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces for the work they do for us every day.Canadian ForcesCanadian Forces ReservesConsideration in a Committee of the WholeEmployment benefitsFamilies and childrenHealth care systemMilitary justice systemPay equitySex offencesSexual discriminationSexual minoritiesSupplementary estimates (A) 2019-2020WomenMarcGarneauHon.Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—WestmountSergeCormierAcadie—Bathurst//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/88350SergeCormierSerge-CormierAcadie—BathurstLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/CormierSerge_Lib.jpgBusiness of SupplySupplementary Estimates (A), 2019-20InterventionMr. Serge Cormier (Acadie—Bathurst, Lib.): (2100)[Translation]In my speech I talked about the services we are offering to families. The minister and I had an opportunity to visit the base in Gagetown when I was the parliamentary secretary. I would like to ask him a question about family resource centres and the transition that some men and women have to make when moving from one base to another. How can those programs make the journey or transition within the Canadian Armed Forces a little easier for members?Canadian ForcesConsideration in a Committee of the WholeFamilies and childrenSupplementary estimates (A) 2019-2020SergeCormierAcadie—BathurstHarjit S.SajjanHon.Vancouver South//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/88350SergeCormierSerge-CormierAcadie—BathurstLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/CormierSerge_Lib.jpgBusiness of SupplySupplementary Estimates (A), 2019-20InterventionMr. Serge Cormier: (2105)[Translation]Madam Chair, earlier I heard the minister talk about an additional investment of $250 million for our reserve units.One such unit is the North Shore Regiment, which is in my riding. It has an incredible history, including service during the Second World War. I want to ask the minister how the additional $250 million will help our reserve units across the country. Canadian Forces ReservesConsideration in a Committee of the WholeMilitary equipment and facilitiesSupplementary estimates (A) 2019-2020Harjit S.SajjanHon.Vancouver SouthHarjit S.SajjanHon.Vancouver South//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/88350SergeCormierSerge-CormierAcadie—BathurstLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/CormierSerge_Lib.jpgBusiness of SupplySupplementary Estimates (A), 2019-20InterventionMr. Serge Cormier: (2105)[Translation]Madam Chair, something else members of the Canadian Armed Forces have been telling me about is post-traumatic stress disorder, which is becoming more common in the Canadian Armed Forces. I know that our government has made it a priority in Canada's defence policy and the various programs it offers. I would like to ask the minister about these programs. What are we doing to help members of the Canadian Armed Forces obtain help or appropriate care when they feel they are affected by this condition?Canadian ForcesConsideration in a Committee of the WholePost-traumatic stress syndromeSupplementary estimates (A) 2019-2020Harjit S.SajjanHon.Vancouver SouthHarjit S.SajjanHon.Vancouver South//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/88350SergeCormierSerge-CormierAcadie—BathurstLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/CormierSerge_Lib.jpgBusiness of SupplySupplementary Estimates (A), 2019-20InterventionMr. Serge Cormier: (2105)[Translation]Madam Chair, in my speech on Canada's defence policy, I spoke about another aspect, the equipment for our men and women.I would like the minister to provide a little more information or an update on the procurement of new Arctic and offshore patrol ships. We have committed to providing the men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces with the equipment they need to do their job. I would like the minister to tell us about the status of these ships. Is their construction well under way?Arctic and Offshore Patrol ShipsCanadian ForcesConsideration in a Committee of the WholeSupplementary estimates (A) 2019-2020Harjit S.SajjanHon.Vancouver SouthHarjit S.SajjanHon.Vancouver South//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/88350SergeCormierSerge-CormierAcadie—BathurstLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/CormierSerge_Lib.jpgBusiness of SupplySupplementary Estimates (A), 2019-20InterventionMr. Serge Cormier: (2110)[Translation]Madam Chair, I have one last question. This one is about changing the culture within the Canadian Armed Forces.Can the minister tell us what he is doing to change the culture and to make the Canadian Armed Forces more diverse? What are we doing to ensure we no longer tolerate hate against different groups?Canadian ForcesConsideration in a Committee of the WholeEqual opportunitiesSupplementary estimates (A) 2019-2020CarolHughesAlgoma—Manitoulin—KapuskasingHarjit S.SajjanHon.Vancouver South//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgÉcole Polytechnique in MontrealInterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin (Fredericton, GP): (1000)[English]Mr. Speaker, I would like to acknowledge the unceded, unsurrendered homeland of the Anishinabe Algonquin nation on which we stand.[Translation]Today is the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women. We remember the victims of the December 6, 1989, attack at École Polytechnique. This attack was a vile, anti-feminist act, and it was not an isolated one. This attack was a direct consequence of the rampant misogyny in our society. Violence against women has not been eradicated in our communities.[English]Misogyny continues to exist today and has seen a resurgence as of late. As with racism or homophobia, we must name it so we can end it. There can be no place for gender-based hatred in our society. This day commemorates a living history of ongoing violence against women and girls and members of the LGBTQIA2+ community, particularly those who also face other forms of discrimination for their race, religion or economic status. Whether it is in the echoes of a fight from the apartment upstairs, in hateful comments on Facebook or Twitter or in the backlog of case files of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls, we must not forget that there is still so much violence and marginalization facing women across the country.We must work to educate society about consent and our responsibility to call out violence where we see it, to intervene and to help prevent instances of abuse. We must also support women who are seeking to end the violence they face. We must believe them.[Translation] Yesterday, CBC/Radio-Canada reported that New Brunswick had the highest number of domestic murder-suicides of all Canadian provinces. Seventy per cent of these homicides are committed in rural communities. These tragic deaths prove that there is a glaring lack of essential services to support women who are facing all kinds of violence.[English]By the same token, we need to support women who continue to push boundaries and break through the glass ceilings in their own worlds, despite the challenges and sometimes the dangers that this brings.Today I remember the 14 women cut down in the massacre at École Polytechnique, and today I commit to women across Canada, and indeed across the world, that I believe them and support them. There is no room for misogyny in Canada.I remember.[Translation]I remember.[Member spoke in Wolastoqiyik and provided the following text:]Nwewitahatom.[Member provided the following translation:]I remember.[Translation]AnniversaryIndigenous languages in proceedingsMaleciteMultiple murdersPolytechnique MontréalStatements by MembersViolence against womenJagmeetSinghBurnaby SouthAnthonyRotaHon.Nipissing—Timiskaming//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/71323JohnWilliamsonJohn-WilliamsonNew Brunswick SouthwestConservative CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/WilliamsonJohn_CPC.jpgOral Question PeriodPrivacyInterventionMr. John Williamson (New Brunswick Southwest, CPC): (1205)[English]Mr. Speaker, U.S. Customs and Border Protection continues to open and review Canada Post mail going to Campobello Island. Campobello is Canadian territory but is only accessible year-round by driving an hour through the state of Maine. The ongoing mail search by U.S. officials is an invasion of our privacy rights. It also challenges Canada's sovereignty. It is unacceptable.What is the federal government doing to safeguard the privacy rights of Canadians living on Campobello?BordersCampobello IslandOral questionsPostal servicesPrivacy and data protectionUnited States of AmericaNavdeepBainsHon.Mississauga—MaltonFrançois-PhilippeChampagneHon.Saint-Maurice—Champlain//www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/104586JenicaAtwinJenica-AtwinFrederictonLiberal CaucusNew Brunswick//www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Parliamentarians/Images/OfficialMPPhotos/44/AtwinJenica_Lib.jpgRoutine ProceedingsViolence Against WomenInterventionMrs. Jenica Atwin (Fredericton, GP): (1210)[English]Mr. Speaker, this petition calls on the House of Commons to recognize that violence against women remains a critical problem in Canada and disproportionately impacts indigenous women, as reflected in the crisis of missing and murdered aboriginal women; that striving for pay equity and equal participation for women in leadership roles must be political priorities for all members of Parliament; and that shifting a cultural attitude toward women and gender minorities in our society requires structural changes to education and socialization.Petition 431-00002Sexual discriminationStatus of womenViolence against womenGarnettGenuisSherwood Park—Fort SaskatchewanGordJohnsCourtenay—AlberniINTERVENTIONParliament and SessionOrder of BusinessDiscussed TopicProcedural TermPerson SpeakingProvince / TerritoryCaucusSearchResults per pageOrder byTarget search languageSide by SideMaximum returned rowsPagePUBLICATION TYPE