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Dec/6/21 1:56:55 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-3

Mr. Speaker, only a Conservative would suggest that the security of the work of our frontline workers should be compared to that of a pipeline.

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Mr. Chris Bittle (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage, Lib.)

Dec/6/21 1:57:24 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-3

Mr. Speaker, I have heard a couple of times from the Conservatives that they are likening hospitals, vaccination centres and abortion clinics to pipelines. I am a cancer survivor. Many of my constituents go daily to the St. Catharines General Hospital to receive treatment. I would like to ask if the hon. member agrees how ridiculous this argument from the Conservatives is, to liken a hospital, a cancer centre or a vaccination centre to a pipeline.

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Mr. Mark Gerretsen

Dec/6/21 1:57:53 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-3

Mr. Speaker, either it is in documentation they have been provided in advance of this debate or it is just a common theme among Conservatives, because the last two members have literally asked questions comparing the security around pipelines to that around health care facilities. As I indicated in my speech, in my own constituency during the election, there were People's Party of Canada candidates and anti-vaxxers protesting out in front of the cancer clinic of Kingston General Hospital. How ridiculous is it that we even have to bring forward this legislation?

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Ms. Lisa Marie Barron (Nanaimo—Ladysmith, NDP)

Dec/6/21 1:58:40 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-3

Mr. Speaker, health care workers have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic and provide life-saving care for our loved ones. As a result of underfunding and underprioritization through the Liberal government, health care workers in my riding of Nanaimo—Ladysmith were already overworked and underpaid. Adding to this, we have seen an increase of bullying and hatred of health care workers. Our health care workers are tired and deserve better. When will this government support the NDP's plan to increase health care for workers and increase training, recruitment and retention of health care workers?

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Mr. Mark Gerretsen

Dec/6/21 1:59:18 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-3

Mr. Speaker, I can respect the fact that the question is slightly off the topic of this particular debate, but the member raises a good point. If we have not learned from this pandemic that we need to strengthen the resources around hiring, recruiting and bringing more frontline workers on board, then I do not think we have truly learned the lesson from this pandemic. If the NDP is set to make proposals in this regard, I would be interested in hearing what they are.

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Ms. Elizabeth May (Saanich—Gulf Islands, GP)

Dec/6/21 2:00:03 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, 32 years ago, 14 women were killed at École Polytechnique in Montreal. We remember Geneviève Bergeron, Hélène Colgan, Nathalie Croteau, Barbara Daigneault, Anne-Marie Edward, Maud Haviernick, Maryse Laganière, Maryse Leclair, Anne-Marie Lemay, Sonia Pelletier, Michèle Richard, Annie St-Arneault, Annie Turcotte and Barbara Klucznik-Widajewicz. We must end misogyny, end patriarchy and stop violence against women.

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Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Winnipeg North, Lib.)

Dec/6/21 2:01:15 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I want to talk about diversity. Do members know one of the fastest-growing communities in Canada today is the Filipino heritage community, at approximately one million strong and growing? Winnipeg, which I would suggest is the heart of the Filipino community, is after all where we got our very first Jollibee here in Canada. I have more good news when it comes to diversity and businesses. Winnipeg, not the first this time, as Edmonton beat us, now has Potato Corner, another successful franchise that comes from the Philippines. It speaks volumes that one of the things that gives Canada its greatest value is our diversity, so let us give a hand for Canada's diverse community and the Filipino heritage community.

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Hon. Kerry-Lynne Findlay (South Surrey—White Rock, CPC)

Dec/6/21 2:02:16 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I want to warmly thank the good people of South Surrey—White Rock for re-electing me and give an enthusiastic shout-out to the friendship of many volunteers and my campaign manager, who made it all possible. Public service is both a solemn duty and a great honour, and today I remember the wonderful Benno Friesen. He represented my community for a record five terms as MP, from 1974 to 1993, and passed away in September at age 92. He remained very sharp when it came to politics, history, literature and theology. An eloquent English literature professor and founder of Trinity Western University, he was highly respected in this place. He was predeceased by his wife Marge, and my sympathies go to his daughters, Cyndi and Lynne, and their families, including seven grandchildren. Benno was a mentor and friend. I am truly blessed to have received his wisdom and advice.

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Mr. Chad Collins (Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, Lib.)

Dec/6/21 2:03:25 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I rise today for the first time in the 44th Parliament to say thanks. I thank the residents of ward 5 in Hamilton East—Stoney Creek for their 26 years of support when I was their city councillor. It was an honour and privilege to serve them for so many years. I thank those very same residents in Hamilton East—Stoney Creek who elected me this past September as their new member of Parliament. I look forward to addressing the challenges and opportunities that face our community and our great city. As all elected representatives know, we owe our success in large part to our families, friends and volunteers. Oftentimes our service to the community conflicts with special occasions at home or simply spending time with those we care about the most. I thank my wife, Mary, and our children, Chase and Reese, for their unconditional love and support and the sacrifices we have made as a family to support my time in public office. I thank my parents, Shirley and Bob, and my sister Candace and her family for being there every step of the way. I could not have done it without them. As for my friends, volunteers and supporters in the community, many of them like part of an extended family, it continues to be an honour and a privilege to serve them.

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Ms. Kristina Michaud (Avignon—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia, BQ)

Dec/6/21 2:04:34 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, exactly 32 years ago today, a man obsessed by his hatred of feminists opened fire at École Polytechnique in Montreal, killing 14 women and injuring several others. For the past 32 years, this sad anniversary has been a time to condemn violence against women, as well as gun violence. We condemned it last year, and the year before that, and the year before that. I do not think that there are words to describe the exasperation of the survivors who have been fighting for over 30 years. The more time passes, the more it seems like we are making no progress or even going backwards. In memory of all those who have been gunned down over the past 30 years, and those who have been killed on the streets over the last few months, as recently as last week in Montreal, it is our duty to work harder for gun control, but we will need the government's help. The federal government cannot wait for another fatal shooting before taking action. On behalf of the Bloc Québécois, I urge the government to do more to curb gun violence. We owe it to the victims.

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Andy Fillmore (Halifax, Lib.)

Dec/6/21 2:05:59 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, today marks the 104th anniversary of the Halifax explosion. On the morning of December 6, 1917, the SS Mont-Blanc, an incoming munitions vessel, collided with the SS Imo, an outgoing Belgian relief vessel in Halifax harbour. Hundred-foot flames erupted from the ships as the volatile cargo violently exploded, the largest human-caused explosion until the atomic bomb. Two thousand people were killed, 9,000 people were injured and every structure in an 800-metre radius was flattened. The hearts of Haligonians were shattered too, as they mourned the loss of their loved ones and neighbours. The explosion also damaged the tower clock and bell of Halifax city hall, but this year that bell was repaired and triumphantly returned to service, where it can now be heard at Grand Parade, a testament to the enduring efforts to rebuild our city. It was community and love of place that helped us build back better following the explosion, and a century later we have not forgotten.

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Mr. Alex Ruff (Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, CPC)

Dec/6/21 2:06:51 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, it was 100 years ago today that the first woman, Agnes Macphail, was elected here to the House of Commons. Born in Grey County, Agnes was first elected to represent the riding of Grey South East and later represented the riding of Grey—Bruce. She worked hard to represent farmers and rural interests here in Ottawa. She knew what mattered to rural communities and was instrumental in the establishment of old age pensions and the reform of our Canadian prison system. Agnes's achievements did not end with being elected to the Canadian Parliament. She was the first woman to represent Canada at the League of Nations and was the one of the first two to be elected to the Ontario legislature in 1943. Today, her legacy and work continue with organizations like electHER Now that aim to increase women's representation in municipal politics across my riding of Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound by connecting aspiring women with some of the great role models in the riding. I hope all members will join me today in recognizing the historic and inspiring contribution Agnes made to Canada and here in the House of Commons.

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Mr. Peter Fragiskatos (London North Centre, Lib.)

Dec/6/21 2:08:06 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, as I rise for the first time in the 44th Parliament, I want to express my sincere and profound gratitude to the residents of London North Centre for electing me to be their member of Parliament for a third time. A concern consistently brought to my attention by those constituents is the affordability of child care. The average London family is paying more than $15,000 annually per child. This hits close to home, as my wife Katy and I welcomed our first child at the end of September, a healthy baby girl named Ava. We are currently planning for what is next. Though we are in a very privileged position, many parents are struggling with how to pay the child care bill. It is time for $10-a-day child care in London, in Ontario and across Canada. I therefore implore the Ontario government to get a deal done with the federal government now. It is time to join other provinces and territories that have signed on to make child care affordable for all. Doing so is vital for equality of opportunity, gender equality and economic betterment.

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Mrs. Alexandra Mendès (Brossard—Saint-Lambert, Lib.)

Dec/6/21 2:09:11 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, today is the 32nd anniversary of the massacre at École Polytechnique. I do not think there are many Canadians who do not understand what this event represented for the country, but I think this is particularly true for the 50% of Canadians who are born female. Femicide is now recognized for what it is: the intentional killing of a person because of their gender. There are many murders in Canada, a large number of which are connected to organized crime. However, what remains particularly worrisome about the event that took the lives of 14 young women who wanted to become engineers is that their only crime was that they were women. The primary motivation behind femicide is the fact that the victim is a woman. I find this incomprehensible and deeply troubling. I am a grandmother to two boys. My dream for them is a growing awareness of the intrinsic equality of all individuals and a society that recognizes that every single one of us is responsible for promoting equality.

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Ms. Michelle Ferreri (Peterborough—Kawartha, CPC)

Dec/6/21 2:10:20 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, today I am very proud to share the story of #CoachCal, a six-year-old from my riding of Peterborough—Kawartha. Cal was selected after auditioning for the next gen program. He was granted a single-game contract with our OHL team, the Peterborough Petes, to give the pre-game pep talk. His pep talk went viral on social media and has been trending across North American media. It has over three millions view on the NHL’s TikTok. I cannot deliver the speech as well as Cal, but I want to share some of my favourite words from his passionate speech: “Everyone in this room has a dream, but those dreams don’t just come to you, you have to earn it. This is a team and each one of us brings something to the team.” Cal's words are a powerful reminder of what we should be focusing on, both on and off the ice. As his MP, I am very proud of his hard work, and I will do whatever it takes to get the “W” for Peterborough—Kawartha.

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Mr. Bryan May (Cambridge, Lib.)

Dec/6/21 2:11:23 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to rise to speak to the recent accomplishments by the Canadian nuclear industry. Ontario Power Generation has announced that Darlington will construct a small modular reactor, SMR, in partnership with GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy. This is a significant step in the development of SMRs. It delivers jobs and helps us meet the climate crisis. In addition, the Canadian Nuclear Association recently signed MOUs with Romania and the French nuclear energy society to promote the growth of civil nuclear energy. These are decades-long relationships that will continue to grow as Canada works to address climate change with its international partners. These announcements demonstrate the leadership of OPG, CNA and the nuclear industry's creation of jobs and economic, environmental and technological benefits for all Canadians. Please join me in helping welcome them and congratulating them on their incredible work.

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Mr. Dane Lloyd (Sturgeon River—Parkland, CPC)

Dec/6/21 2:12:27 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, since the flooding began in British Columbia, Canadians have stepped up. The heroic efforts of first responders, members of the Canadian Forces and just regular people have helped save lives and protect property. Faith groups and civic organizations have also stepped up in a big way to provide food and shelter to evacuees. As we work to rebuild the Fraser Valley, Canadians want to know what is going to be done to ensure something like this never happens again. They want to know why critical infrastructure that could have prevented this disaster was not built. They want to know that the government will have their back and will act proactively to mitigate these disasters in the future. Whenever trouble arises, Canadians never fail to live up to our reputation. We are a generous people, always ready to help those in need, even when it means putting our own lives at risk. Conservatives are committed to a team Canada approach. We will work hard to rebuild and to protect British Columbians for generations to come. It is time to get the job done.

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Mr. Eric Melillo (Kenora, CPC)

Dec/6/21 2:13:29 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, in Canada 50% of women have been victims of sexual or physical violence. Last year, on average, a woman or girl was killed every two and a half days, with indigenous women being disproportionately targeted. The vast majority of identified perpetrators are men, and in many cases are current or former intimate partners. As we mourn the losses, we must direct our efforts into preventing future tragedies. We must ensure abusers face real consequences while providing vulnerable women and girls with access to safe housing and other support services. In our personal lives, we must stand against domestic violence, abuse and coercion. We must hold ourselves and our friends accountable, listen to the survivors in our lives and offer support to women looking to leave abusive partners. We all have a role to play in ending violence against women.

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Mr. Kody Blois (Kings—Hants, Lib.)

Dec/6/21 2:14:35 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an exceptional Maritimer, someone who has had a lasting impact on journalism in Canada. Earlier this week, Steve Murphy delivered his last sign-off as anchor CTV Atlantic News at Six after a broadcasting career that spanned four decades. He has taken us through many historic moments during his time, tragedies like the crash of Swissair Flight 111, massive storms and weather events like hurricane Juan and White Juan, historic visits from the Queen and American presidents, and milestones like the opening of the Confederation Bridge. Steve has also reported on many elections. His interviews were known for being tough but fair. Indeed, he has held the feet of many prime ministers and MPs to the fire on the issues of the day. In fact, Steve's interviews were seen as a rite of passage for elected officials. One of my own regrets as a young MP was to not have had one of those interviews and to not have been questioned by Steve. I would like to ask that all members of this House wish Steve Murphy all the best in his retirement and the days ahead.

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Mr. Alexandre Boulerice (Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, NDP)

Dec/6/21 2:15:49 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, Geneviève Bergeron, Hélène Colgan, Nathalie Croteau, Barbara Daigneault, Anne-Marie Edward, Maud Haviernick, Barbara Klucznik-Widajewicz, Maryse Laganière, Maryse Leclair, Anne-Marie Lemay, Sonia Pelletier, Michèle Richard, Annie St-Arneault and Annie Turcotte, 14 young women with bright futures, had their lives taken from them just because they were women. Thirty-two years ago, they were shot and killed by a man who hated women, particularly those who could hold their own. That was 32 years ago, but have we made any real progress as a society? It is hard to tell. This year, there have already been 18 femicides in Quebec alone. Eighteen women died at the hands of their violent partners. We need to do more. We need to continue to focus on education, putting resources on the ground and limiting access to guns in our communities. We owe it to our sisters, our friends, our daughters and those 14 young women who left us far too soon 32 years ago.

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