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Raj Saini - 10:05

Lib. (QC)

2021-04-15 10:06 [p.5643]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on a point of order with respect to the events that unfolded in the House yesterday during question period.

I would like to say that the conduct of the person who took the screenshot is not only extremely unfortunate, but it is mean-spirited and life-changing for one of our colleagues. Taking a photo of someone who is changing clothes and in the nude, and sharing it without their consent could very well be criminal. Did the person who took the screenshot give any thought to the ramifications of their actions? Did they think of the member's family, children, friends, or the fact that the Internet is forever? Are we really at a point in our politics where it is acceptable to try to destroy the reputation of and humiliate a colleague because someone finds a very unfortunate error and unintentional mistake to be funny? Our politics has taken a very dark and destructive turn, if this is the case.

It is difficult to accept that the MP for Pontiac, who has been such a champion for environmental protection and climate action, could be treated with such callous disrespect, so I would request that the Speaker commence an immediate investigation to determine who took the photo, so that the House can decide the appropriate action to take.

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Hon. Anthony Rota - 10:07

Tim Louis - 14:16

CPC (MB)

Hon. Candice Bergen (Portage—Lisgar)

2021-04-15 14:17 [p.5674]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Deputy Prime Minister.

After over 23,000 deaths, tens of thousands of businesses closed, people's jobs and livelihoods lost; after drug overdoses, suicide and mental health crises at an all-time high; people being locked in their homes, away from their families; and a third wave of COVID upon us, could she explain why she thinks the pain and suffering that COVID has caused is a political opportunity, as she said last week, and not an absolute tragedy?

COVID-19 Oral questions Pandemic

Lib. (NS)

Sean Fraser (Central Nova)

2021-04-15 14:18 [p.5675]

Mr. Speaker, with great respect, all members of the House, regardless of party, appreciate the nature of the immense tragedy that has fallen across Canada and impacted families and communities from coast to coast to coast.

When we look forward to what may come out of this pandemic, we have the opportunity to make investments to cure some of the social deficits that we have been living with for generations. From the very outset of this pandemic, we made a decision to support households and businesses and to invest, most important, to protect the health and well-being of Canadians.

We will continue to do so until this pandemic is over, no matter what it takes.

COVID-19 Oral questions Pandemic

CPC (MB)

Hon. Candice Bergen (Portage—Lisgar)

2021-04-15 14:19 [p.5675]

Mr. Speaker, that was a really ridiculous thing for the Parliamentary Secretary to Deputy Prime Minister to say. The fact is that the Liberals have messed up so many things in their response to COVID, but they will not admit, they will not learn from it and they will not change it.

Today, we have learned that Moderna vaccines scheduled to arrive mid-April are being delayed yet again, which means provinces are forced to close vaccination clinics and people are not getting their shots. That means higher case counts and more lockdowns.

Responsibility for the third wave is the Prime Minister's. How many more Canadians will be infected with COVID because of the government's disastrous vaccine rollout?

COVID-19 Immunization of humans Oral questions Pandemic

Lib. (ON)

Hon. Patty Hajdu (Thunder Bay—Superior North)

2021-04-15 14:20 [p.5675]

Mr. Speaker, every step of the way, we have been there for Canadians. We have been there for provinces and territories in delivering on the things that we know are saving lives.

This is a difficult time for the country. It is a difficult time for all Canadians. It is a difficult time for the health care workers, the lab workers, the front-line workers and the essential workers, who are all trying so hard to support each other and care for each other.

We will be there for Canadians, whether it is with personal protective equipment, testing equipment, human resources and, indeed, vaccines.

COVID-19 Immunization of humans Oral questions Pandemic

CPC (MB)

Hon. Candice Bergen (Portage—Lisgar)

2021-04-15 14:20 [p.5675]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister's failed vaccine rollout and spin is actually making international headlines.

This morning's cover of the Daily Mail asked if our Prime Minister was jealous of Britain's vaccine delivery. It pointed out that Canada had four times as many new cases per day as the U.K. Prime Minister Johnson said that he did not have a response to our Prime Minister's comments, but that the British case data spoke for itself, because their vaccine rollout is months ahead of ours.

Could the Prime Minister admit that he is not only failing Canadians, but he is making an international fool of himself?

COVID-19 Immunization of humans Oral questions Pandemic

Lib. (ON)

Hon. Patty Hajdu (Thunder Bay—Superior North)

2021-04-15 14:21 [p.5675]

Mr. Speaker, it is really important that all of us work together now to save lives. It is important that we see cohesion in our messaging. I surely hope that the member opposite is not working in any way to discourage Canadians from taking vaccination when it is their turn.

Let us be clear that every step of the way, we have given Canadians the information they need. We have supported Canadians with financial measures. We have been there for provinces and territories to deliver on their health care responsibilities.

Surely the member opposite would encourage the people in her riding to accept vaccination when it is their turn.

COVID-19 Immunization of humans Oral questions Pandemic

CPC (QC)

Gérard Deltell (Louis-Saint-Laurent)

2021-04-15 14:21 [p.5675]

Mr. Speaker, on Monday, the Liberal government, with the help of the Bloc Québécois, decided to shut down the parliamentary investigation into the allegations of sexual misconduct against General Vance. Ultimately, no one took responsibility and no one apologized. We will not be able to get to the bottom of this matter, which is shameful, yes, but more importantly, it is an insult to the women who had the courage and dignity of speaking out during a difficult time.

Why are the Bloc and the Liberal Party refusing to get to the bottom of this matter?

Canadian Forces Committee studies and activities Conduct at work Oral questions Sexual behaviour Standing Committee on National Defence Vance, Jonathan H.

Lib. (BC)

Hon. Harjit S. Sajjan (Vancouver South)

2021-04-15 14:22 [p.5675]

Mr. Speaker, I will always respect the work done by colleagues at committee. In fact, I worked with the national defence committee on this matter quite extensively. I appeared before the committee three times, and for more than six hours.

I have repeatedly stated at each of these appearances and many times in the House of Commons that our government, and me personally, will not stand for any type of sexual misconduct and that we will be taking more action.

I look forward to the committee's report on this matter and the substantive recommendations that will be coming.

Canadian Forces Committee studies and activities Conduct at work Oral questions Sexual behaviour Standing Committee on National Defence Vance, Jonathan H.

CPC (QC)

Gérard Deltell (Louis-Saint-Laurent)

2021-04-15 14:23 [p.5676]

Mr. Speaker, of course the Minister of National Defence testified. There were other people it would have been worth hearing from. Unfortunately, the Liberals, with the help of the Bloc Québécois, stopped us from getting to the bottom of this matter.

We know that the government has some serious ethics problems. It is no coincidence that the Ethics Commissioner found the Prime Minister guilty on two occasions, and there is a third report coming out soon about the issue of sexual misconduct among the highest-ranking military officers. The Liberals and the Bloc Québécois identify as feminist, but they are shutting down an investigation involving these women.

What message does this send to the women in our military who have been the victims of harassment?

Canadian Forces Committee studies and activities Conduct at work Oral questions Sexual behaviour Standing Committee on National Defence Vance, Jonathan H.

Lib. (BC)

Hon. Harjit S. Sajjan (Vancouver South)

2021-04-15 14:23 [p.5676]

Mr. Speaker, the work the committee does, and the experts they were talking to, can be extremely important. This is why I value their opinions. We need to figure out exactly what needs to be done. All options are currently on the table. I look forward to those recommendations, because we agree with all members of the House that more needs to be done, and more will be done.

Canadian Forces Committee studies and activities Conduct at work Oral questions Sexual behaviour Standing Committee on National Defence Vance, Jonathan H.

BQ (QC)

Yves Perron (Berthier—Maskinongé)

2021-04-15 14:24 [p.5676]

Mr. Speaker, it is a second hellish year for farmers when it comes to quarantines for temporary foreign workers. It was already hard enough for them to shoulder the entire burden of the quarantines, but now the problems with the new border measures are making things even worse.

From a public health perspective, the federal government has an obligation to ensure that the quarantines are respected, but it also has an obligation to ensure that tests are accessible and the results arrive quickly. Right now, workers are spending over 25 days in quarantine before they can get out in the fields. This is an administrative foul up. The crops will not wait while Ottawa gets things sorted out.

What is the minister going to do?

COVID-19 Farm workers Foreign workers Health screening Oral questions Pandemic Quarantine of persons

Lib. (BC)

Hon. Carla Qualtrough (Delta)

2021-04-15 14:24 [p.5676]

Mr. Speaker, we have worked with other federal departments to expedite the process and simplify the arrival of foreign workers as much as possible. We know that there have been delays in receiving test results. The Public Health Agency of Canada and Service Canada have been in regular contact with Switch Health, the employers and industry associations to resolve these issues.

We take these issues very seriously, and we will continue to work with Switch Health.

COVID-19 Farm workers Foreign workers Health screening Oral questions Pandemic Quarantine of persons

BQ (QC)

Yves Perron (Berthier—Maskinongé)

2021-04-15 14:25 [p.5676]

Mr. Speaker, when the government hired Switch Health to handle COVID-19 testing, it did not make sure the company had the resources to serve Quebeckers in French. Now farmers have no choice but to use Switch Health, even though its services are inadequate. Once again, Ottawa unilaterally gave a contract to a company that cannot serve Quebec. Our farmers are paying the price.

The minister is responsible for making sure the services available to Quebeckers are just as good as those available to Ontarians. What is she going to do?

COVID-19 Farm workers Foreign workers Government contracts Health screening Oral questions Pandemic Quarantine of persons

Lib. (BC)

Hon. Carla Qualtrough (Delta)

2021-04-15 14:26 [p.5676]

Mr. Speaker, we are of course working very closely with the provinces, and we know that workers in Quebec have the right to be served in French. That is why we are working so closely with the provinces, and we will continue to ensure that Quebec workers receive the services they are entitled to in French.

COVID-19 Farm workers Foreign workers Government contracts Health screening Oral questions Pandemic Quarantine of persons

Jagmeet Singh - 14:26