Questions and responses All Sessions January 17, 1994, to present

With regard to government funding to the constituencies of Windsor West, Essex, and Windsor—Tecumseh: what is the total amount of government funding, since the fiscal year 2022, up to and including the current fiscal year, allocated within the constituencies of Windsor West, Essex, and Windsor—Tecumseh, broken down by department or agency, initiative, and amount?

With regard to the need for more Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers in Canada: (a) does the government have plans to increase the number of border officers across Canada, and, if so, by how many officers in this next fiscal year and any further years after that; (b) does the government have plans to build a second training facility to train more border officers, and, if so, where does it plan to build the facility; and (c) does the government have plans to expand the role of border officers by reviewing the 1932 Order-in-Council to allow CBSA officers to perform the full extent of their functions between ports of entry?

With regard to the plans to establish urban parks across Canada: (a) does the government have plans to increase the amount of funding for Ojibway National Urban Park beyond the announced $36.1 million over five years, starting in 2024-25, of which $8.2 million is remaining amortization, and $4.6 million per year ongoing is to create Ojibway National Urban Park in Windsor, Ontario, as announced in budget 2024; (b) if the answer to (a) is affirmative, how much funding beyond the announced amounts will be made available; (c) does the government have plans to announce another urban park location; and (d) if the answer to (c) is affirmative, has additional funding been set aside for the creation of the next park or parks, and in what amounts?

With regard to the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP): in Essex County, Ontario, broken down by the federal constituencies of Windsor West, Windsor—Tecumseh, and Essex, what is the (i) total number of approved applicants, with age and income amount, (ii) total number of approved applicants who received care, with age and income amount, (iii) total number of oral health providers participating in the CDCP, (iv) total number of applications denied, (v) list of reasons provided for denials?

With regard to the proposed deep geologic repository (DGR) plan by the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) which could be located in South Bruce, Ontario: (a) should this site be selected, which falls within the Great Lakes basin, has the government (i) met with members of the United States Congress and United States Senate, or with our Canadian Ambassador to the United States, to hear the American concerns and opposition about storage of nuclear waste near, or within, the Great Lakes Basin, and, if so, who did they meet with, where were the meetings held and when, (ii) followed the progress of Amendment #947 to the to the FY 25 National Defense Authorization Act in U.S. Congress which calls for both Canada and the United States to not develop facilities to permanently store nuclear waste in the Great Lakes Basin and which has now moved to the United States Senate for further action and support, (iii) discussed with the NWMO alternatives to transporting and storing radioactive waste in the Great Lakes basin, (iv) considered alternatives to DGRs, such as recycling the radioactive waste, such as France, Japan, Germany and Belgium; (b) has the Prime Minister, the Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development or the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry raised or responded to this issue to the President or other representative of the Biden Administration, and, if so, when and where did the meetings take place and with who?

With regard to the federal target of achieving 100% Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) market share in Canada by 2035: (a) what is the government doing now, and what was done to date to address the lack of available public charging stations throughout the country to meet the demand for ZEVs; (b) what is the number of current public charging stations available through Canada, including locations, number, and types of chargers; (c) what is the projected number of public charging stations needed to meet demand by 2035; (d) did the government consider or have plans to increase the amount of the federal Incentives for Zero-Emission Vehicles Program (iZEV) from $5000; (e) did the government consider or have plans to match the United States’ federal incentive program to provide an equal and fair incentive for purchasing domestic vehicles; (f) did the government consider a plan for federal incentives for consumer purchases of used electric vehicles to help drive the sales and meet the environmental targets; (g) is the government tracking the import and export of new and used electric vehicles, and, if so, is it starting from the year 2022; and (h) is the government tracking the movement of electric vehicles purchased in one province the later moved to another province?

With regard to the Canada Border Services Agency's (CBSA) Request for Assistance Program (RFA), which has historically been an effective tool for Intellectual Property (IP) rights owners to prevent counterfeit goods from crossing the Canadian border and entering the commerce stream, and having cut the RFA program significantly: (a) does the government have plans to (i) reassess the cuts to training and processes that limit CBSA officers from efficiently searching, identifying and detaining the counterfeit products, (ii) reinvest in the RFA program in the next years, and, if so, when, (iii) work and discuss the impacts that these cuts have had on Canadians, businesses and trade noting that Canada is the only G7 country on the 2023 United States Trade Representative Watchlist, (iv) meet directly with the Customs Immigration Union to ensure that the frontline officers participate in the process to reestablish increased searches, identification and counterfeit products processes; and (b) how much estimated value has been confiscated each year from this program and from how many seizures for the last ten years at all ports of entry to Canada?

With regard to members of the Border Services (FB) group who work at the Canada Border Services Agency and the commitment made by the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat during the 2021 round of bargaining to resubmit the Border Services (FB) group’s proposal to introduce legislative amendments providing enhanced early retirement benefits under the public service pension plan, to facilitate an expedited opportunity to bring forward its related business case to the Public Service Pension Advisory Committee (PSPAC), and to facilitate a streamlined process to have these issues reviewed and ensure that related recommendations are brought forward in a timely manner: (a) who has the government consulted with through this process, including, but not limited to, members of the Border Services (FB) group, through their bargaining agent; (b) what information, advice, and recommendations have the (i) PSPAC, (ii) Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), (iii) Public Sector Pension Investment Board (PSPIB), presented to the Treasury Board; (c) what information, statements, advice, and recommendations has the Treasury Board presented to the (i) PSPAC, (ii) PSAC, (iii) PSPIB; (d) what is the timeline to implement the promised changes; and (e) what steps still need to be taken to ensure these changes take place?

With regard to federal housing investments for Windsor, Toronto and Hamilton, since February 1, 2006, broken down by year and city: (a) how much federal funding was provided to support the construction of nonprofit or community housing and how many units were developed; (b) how much federal funding was provided to support the construction of cooperative housing and how many units were developed; and (c) how much federal funding was provided to support the construction of purpose-built rental housing and how many units were developed?

With regard to budget 2023 and the government’s action to crack down on junk fees: (a) what are the details of all consultations and meetings with regulatory agencies, provinces and territories on this subject, including the (i) date of the consultation, (ii) agency or officials consulted, (iii) outcomes of the consultation; (b) what indicators and targets does the government use to measure progress on cutting junk fees; and (c) what efforts have been done by the government to (i) set new NSF fee caps, (ii) enhance low-cost accounts, (iii) expand eligibility for no-cost accounts?

With regard to the sales and transfers of military equipment and weapons from Canada to Israel and in light of the International Court of Justice determination that Israel is carrying out a plausible genocide in Gaza and has issued several orders to Israel: (a) what military equipment and weapons has the government of Canada sent or approved to be sent to Israel since October 7, 2023; (b) what military equipment and weapons has the government of Canada sent or approved to be sent to Israel since January 26, 2024; (c) what military equipment and weapons has the government of Canada rejected sending to Israel since October 7, 2023; (d) what military equipment and weapons has the government of Canada rejected sending to Israel since January 26, 2024; (e) what surveillance equipment has the government of Canada sent or approved to be sent to Israel since October 7, 2023; (f) what surveillance equipment has the government of Canada sent or approved to be sent to Israel since January 26, 2024; (g) what surveillance equipment has the government of Canada rejected sending to Israel since October 7, 2023; (h) what surveillance equipment has the government of Canada rejected sending to Israel since January 26, 2024; (i) what is the monetary value of the military equipment and weapons the government of Canada has sent to Israel since October 7, 2023; (j) what is the monetary value of the surveillance equipment the government of Canada has sent to Israel since October 7, 2023; (k) what is the monetary value of the surveillance equipment, military equipment and weapons the government of Canada sent to Israel in 2021, 2022, and 2023; (l) what surveillance equipment, military equipment and weapons the government of Canada sent to Israel in 2021, 2022, and 2023; (m) as a signatory to the Genocide Convention, has the government of Canada taken legal advice to comply with the orders that the International Court of Justice has issued to Israel and to ensure the government of Canada does not contravene them; and (n) what plan, if any, does the Government of Canada have to comply with the orders of the International Court of Justice?

With regard to the Housing Accelerator Fund and the decision to not fund the city of Windsor, Ontario (Ontario’s application), due to the decision to not change their zoning bylaws to include four units on any residential property as-of-right: (a) did the Government of Canada refuse all applications from municipalities that presented alternative plans which included allowing a minimum of four units on other properties not currently listed as-of-right; (b) how many, and which municipalities were denied funding due to not changing their current zoning requirements to permit four units on any residential property as-of-right; (c) what consultations, and with whom, took place to create a different density planning formula than the one established in Ontario which permits threeplexes; (d) what studies or evaluations were done to determine that the city of Windsor required a density increase to fourplexes to use these funds; (e) without the change to fourplexes, would the city of Windsor have been able to use the funds if approved in terms of places available to build; and (f) was consideration given to municipalities based on statistics of poverty, gender-led households, race, ethnicity, first nations and children per household?

With regard to the repayment to the city of Windsor for the Ambassador Bridge blockade in February 2022: (a) will the government be providing the outstanding expenses of almost $1 million in reimbursement to the city of Windsor as requested for outstanding legal fees and foregone transit revenue; (b) does the federal government believe this portion of the funds should be recuperated by the province of Ontario, and, if so, what steps has the federal government taken to address this outstanding amount with the government of Ontario; and (c) what are the details of the documentation and reasoning of the federal government's decision to not provide the remaining amount to the city of Windsor?

With regard to the Fall Economic Statement (FES) 2023 and the reference to right-to-repair on page 37: (a) will the amendment to the Competition Act include the right to repair of automotive vehicles; (b) what is the breakdown of all “equipment,” as referenced in the FES, that will be included in the changes to the Competition Act; (c) what other considerations are not included in these proposed changes; (d) which organizations, interest groups and businesses were consulted during the process; and (e) does the government intend to make further changes to the Competition Act to include future considerations left out of this current plan?

With regard to the housing crisis and affordable housing in Canada: (a) will the government commit to the recommendations of the Canadian Real Estate Association to (i) create a permanent national housing roundtable to bring together housing stakeholders in order to address the housing crisis through an inclusive, holistic approach that emphasizes collaboration, innovation and policy coordination, (ii) leverage federal infrastructure funding with municipal, provincial and territorial partners requiring the creation of more housing supply, (iii) develop a housing workforce immigration strategy to attract tradespeople from abroad while streamlining the immigration process for qualified professionals willing to work in the construction industry; and (b) how much funding for affordable housing has been distributed to the City of Windsor, Ontario, through federal government programs over the last five years, from January 1, 2018, through present, including (i) what federal funding programs were applied for, (ii) the amount of funding distributed, (iii) the list of specific projects funded, (iv) whether the funding was in the form of grants or loans?

With regard to the Great Lakes Fishery Commission’s (GLFC) machinery of government interface with the government, its financing and its obligations to Canada under the Convention on Great Lakes Fisheries Between the United States of America and Canada (1954) : (a) from what statute(s) or Act(s) of Parliament does the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard derive the legislative authority to function as the lead minister; (b) does the existing legislative authority of the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard negate, alter or eliminate the GLFC Privileges and Immunities Order (originally made under section 3 of the Privileges and Immunities (International Organizations) Act and subsumed into section 16 of the Foreign Missions and International Organizations Act); (c) what are the primary functions and operational limitations of the ministers responsible for the interface functions pursuant to all relevant statutes and regulations; (d) does the Great Lakes Convention Act, or any other statutes, regulations or Acts of Parliament, provide any ministers with the authority to direct the commission or the commission’s routine activities and programming beyond Parliament’s prerogative to approve annual budget allocations to the Commission; (e) what are the implications of paragraph 10(2)(b) of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Act for the interaction of Canada with the commission; (f) has Canada’s annual financial allocation to the commission been “fenced” as described by the Department of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard (DFO) officials during their testimony on June 8, 2023, to the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans (FOPO); (g) what is the precise nature, structure and limitations of the “fencing” structure described by DFO officials during testimony on June 8, 2023, to the FOPO; (h) what sources, officials, or departments would possess the authority to alter, reverse or eliminate the financial “fencing” described by DFO officials during their testimony on June 8, 2023, to FOPO; (i) who or what body is the Canadian Contracting Party as described under Article II; (j) what is the role of Parliament with regard to supervision, directing and oversight of the activities and programming of the commission; (k) if the Contracting Party is not Parliament, what is the role of Parliament with regard to the supervision, direction and oversight of the Contracting Party; (l) does the existing legislative framework provide the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard with the authority to administer the Great Lakes Fishery Convention Act or does the legislative framework provide specific ministerial authority, and, if so, what is the precise nature and limit of that authority; (m) does the Convention on Great Lakes Fisheries Between the United States of America and Canada (1954) stipulate that commissioners are representatives of the Contracting Parties, and, if so, does this stipulation provide commissioners with the authority to represent Canada at Commission meeting and events; and (n) does the Convention on Great Lakes Fisheries Between the United States of America and Canada (1954) provide for a specific authority for any minister(s) to directly represent Canada at commission meetings and events?

With regard to the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund (DMAF), since the program officially launched in 2018: (a) how many applications for funding have been received from the City of Windsor, Ontario; (b) of the applications in (a), how many have been approved; (c) what is the total amount of funding distributed in Windsor, Ontario, through the fund since its official launch; (d) does the government have a plan in place to assist with increased inflationary costs to the currently approved projects; and (e) does the government plan to increase the total federal DMAF fund due to the ever-increasing costs associated with DMAF projects?

With regard to funding allocated to all Great Lakes programs and organizations: what was the total amount of funding allocated since the 2012 fiscal year up to and including the current fiscal year, broken down by year, organization, amount and purpose of intended funding?

With regard to the hiring and training of border services officers for the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) across Canada: (a) how many new CBSA officers were hired and trained in Canada since 2012; and (b) how many are projected to be hired in the next five years with the construction of the new Gordie Howe Bridge?

With regard to government funding in the constituencies of Windsor West, Essex and Windsor—Tecumseh: what is the total amount spent since the fiscal year 2020-21 up to and including the current fiscal year, broken down by department or agency, initiative, and amount?