44th Parl. 1st Sess.
February 15, 2022 10:00AM
Madam Speaker, listening to the member opposite, I am getting the opinion that he is actually in favour of the legislation and I do appreciate that. What I am a bit concerned about he made reference to indirectly when he talked about the Emergencies Act. Yesterday, we had another very important piece of legislation on rapid tests that was being debated. It is a very short week before the break week.
I am wondering if the member believes that, if we did not attempt to rush through these things, we would not be able to get it done before the break week. Is that a concern on his or the Conservative Party's part?
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- Feb/15/22 2:06:16 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the past few weeks have made clear that our democracy can be, and is being, threatened. Constituents are rightly asking what the federal government is doing on their behalf.
The invocation of the Emergencies Act is an extraordinary measure, but one that is justified by the current circumstances. Certain extra powers will be given to the federal government so that it can help bring the crisis to an end. These powers will be time-limited and subject to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Crucially, the military will not play an enforcement role.
I know that constituents want to help counter extremism because the government cannot solve this on its own. To them, I say do not despair. They could volunteer for a local non-profit focused on a cause they care about, condemn hate and the mistreatment of journalists, speak up against misinformation, join a political party that best reflects their values, volunteer for a political candidate they believe in and, most of all, show kindness. Kindness builds trust, and trust between citizens is what ultimately holds democracy together.
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- Feb/15/22 2:18:49 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Prime Minister invoked the Emergencies Act. Twenty-four hours in, and there are more questions than answers. There are questions about whether this is justified, questions around if the criteria has been met, and questions around what this means to Canadians' rights and freedoms.
Parliamentary approval is required in order for the Prime Minister to use this unprecedented sledgehammer. Can the Prime Minister tell us when Parliament will be debating this? Will it be coming to us on Friday? Does he expect that we will look at it Friday, but then rise, take a week off and not actually deal with this until March?
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- Feb/15/22 2:19:27 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, after discussions with cabinet and caucus, consultations with the premiers of all provinces and territories, and conversations with opposition leaders, we decided to invoke the Emergencies Act to supplement provincial and territorial capacity to address the blockades and occupations.
I want to be very clear. The scope of these measures are time-limited and geographically targeted. They are reasonable and proportionate to the threats they are meant to address. They are to be fully compliant with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms to reassure all Canadians that this is the right thing to move forward with.
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- Feb/15/22 2:20:11 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I had a very simple question for the Prime Minister, and he was not able to answer it.
It would appear this could be more political drama for the Prime Minister. He name-calls people he disagrees with. He wedges; he divides; he stigmatizes. In spite of all of his failures, Coutts border has cleared. Windsor has opened up. Provinces and police are doing their jobs, and blockades are starting to come down.
However, the Prime Minister thinks that now is the time to use this extreme measure and invoke the Emergencies Act. Is it not true that the Prime Minister's actions could serve to actually make things worse and not make things better?
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- Feb/15/22 2:25:39 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, over the past few days, Canadians have all seen situations improve without the need for the Emergencies Act.
It happened in Ontario and in Alberta, and it could have happened here in Ottawa. Instead, the Prime Minister chose to invoke an act that has not been used in 50 years. He continues to stigmatize, divide and insult people who disagree with him, instead of trying to find a compromise.
Why does the Prime Minister refuse to listen to the Canadians who agree with his Liberal MP from Louis-Hébert and want a prime minister who can bring people together?
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- Feb/15/22 2:26:59 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, Ottawa has lost control over Ottawa.
Interestingly, the situation at the Ambassador Bridge was resolved without the Emergencies Act. The situation in Coutts and the weapons seizure happened without the Emergencies Act. The situation in Quebec was managed just fine without the Emergencies Act.
Yesterday the Prime Minister pledged that the measures would be geographically targeted, but that is not what the order says. Will the Prime Minister make it clear that this order does not apply to Quebec?
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- Feb/15/22 2:27:40 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the Emergencies Act gives police forces nation-wide more tools to respond to emergency situations like the ones we have seen across the country.
True, many of the barricades in many parts of the country have been handled effectively. However, the risk remains. Local police services in Quebec and elsewhere will have additional tools if they need them.
These are responsible, proportionate measures that local police services can use if necessary.
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- Feb/15/22 2:28:54 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the Emergencies Act applies to illegal blockades and occupations that may arise anywhere across the country.
It is a response that we have brought forward that is reasonable, proportionate, time-limited and geographically targeted, and still protects the values and freedoms in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
We are reacting in a responsible manner, and we will continue to be there for Canadians who are suffering.
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- Feb/15/22 2:30:19 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the measured and reasonable use of the Emergencies Act that we announced yesterday gives specific, time-limited, proportional tools to police of local jurisdictions, and their partners, to ensure these illegal blockades end, and make sure that people, who have now been fully heard by all Canadians, choose to go home. These are the things that Canadians expect from their orders of government.
I can say that we have worked extremely closely across orders of government with all the different police of jurisdictions to ensure that Canadians get their streets and their lives back.
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- Feb/15/22 2:31:37 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the Emergencies Act provides additional tools for governments and local police forces supported by the RCMP if needed.
We will not impose measures anywhere in the country where they are not needed. These are tools that local police are free to use at their discretion, but it is a matter of ensuring that everyone has the tools they need to end these illegal blockades.
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- Feb/15/22 2:32:18 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the invocation of the Emergencies Act for the first time in Canadian history is a damning indictment on the failure of the Prime Minister to address the situation. The Prime Minister once said, “when a government asks its citizens to give up even a small portion of their liberty...it is not [simply] enough...to say: ‘trust us.’ That trust must be earned. It must be checked. And it must be renewed.” Those were his words.
Canadians do not trust the Prime Minister. When will he stop undermining Canadians’ rights and start renewing Canadians' trust?
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- Feb/15/22 2:33:33 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we shall see if the Prime Minister answers this one. At every opportunity he has had to de-escalate the situation in Ottawa and around Canada, he has chosen to hide, confront and escalate. His divisive conduct has been a lesson in abject failure. Blockades should come down. They are already coming down across this country, but now the Prime Minister has invoked the Emergencies Act to punish Canadians who, in his words, hold “unacceptable views”.
Why is the Prime Minister punishing Canadians for their political views?
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- Feb/15/22 2:35:13 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we all want to resolve the impasse in front of Parliament in Ottawa, and we want it to end quickly and peacefully. Because this government failed to act earlier, now it has to play catch-up and is invoking the Emergencies Act. The government should have emulated the provincial premiers, who managed to control the protests without any special legislation.
Will the Prime Minister commit to not using any powers under the Emergencies Act in the many provinces that oppose it?
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- Feb/15/22 2:40:30 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Prime Minister said that the Emergencies Act was not something to take lightly.
The act has in fact never been invoked since it was passed in 1988, which is before I was even born. It is the absolute last resort.
The Prime Minister said himself, and I quote: “It's not the first thing you turn to, nor the second or the third.”
However, he did not turn to a first thing, nor a second, nor a third. He did absolutely nothing before choosing the most extreme option.
Is that truly reasonable?
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- Feb/15/22 2:41:07 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for her question.
Much progress has been made at the Surrey and Coutts border crossings, and even in Windsor, where the Ambassador Bridge is now open again. That is good for trade.
Yesterday, we invoked the Emergencies Act to be able to offer new, innovative tools to help the police put an end to this illegal blockade. That is what our government is focusing on.
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- Feb/15/22 2:41:43 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I will tell the House what the government did not do.
The Prime Minister has not been in contact with the occupiers on Parliament Hill since they arrived 19 days ago.
He did not send his share of the 1,800 law enforcement officers requested by the City of Ottawa.
He did not set up a crisis task force comprising all levels of government and all police forces.
He did not consult his Quebec and provincial partners before informing them of his decision to invoke the Emergencies Act.
Does the Prime Minister really believe that invoking this law should be the first real step the government takes to respond to the siege in Ottawa?
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- Feb/15/22 2:42:55 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the Premier of Quebec has been clear: Quebec does not need the Emergencies Act.
The Government of Quebec wants nothing to do with it. The Quebec National Assembly unanimously opposed having this act enforced in Quebec.
Nevertheless, the Prime Minister, who said yesterday that the act would be geographically targeted, issued a decree that applies to all of Canada, including Quebec.
Why does the Prime Minister claim to consult but then decide to ignore Quebec's demands once again? Why does the Emergencies Act apply to Quebec?
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- Feb/15/22 2:43:30 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I assure my colleague that we will continue to provide resources in accordance with the powers set out in the act.
However, yesterday we invoked the Emergencies Act. This act provides for time-limited, geographically targeted measures. These measures will be implemented with the provinces and territories, even in Quebec.
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- Feb/15/22 2:44:03 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, yesterday, during a press conference, the Prime Minister said, “Some people will say that we moved too quickly. Other people will say no, we should have acted weeks ago. The reality is this: The Emergencies Act is not something to take lightly. It's not the first thing you turn to, nor the second, nor the third.”
Can the Prime Minister please tell Canadians what first, second and third actions he took before invoking the Emergencies Act?
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