44th Parl. 1st Sess.
February 28, 2022 11:00AM
- Feb/28/22 11:32:03 a.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for Surrey Centre for his motion. As he knows, part of the problem with our immigration system is that, over the years, Canada has changed the permanent immigration stream for economic workers to only high-skilled workers. The reality is that Canada needs the full range of workers. As we learned in the COVID period, many of these workers are, in fact, essential. They put food on our tables and support our community and our economy.
To that end, would the member support an amendment to his motion? I would like to propose:
That the motion be amended: (a) by adding after the words “comprehensive plan to expand” the following: “the economic immigration stream to allow workers of all skill levels to meet the full range of labour needs”; and (b) in paragraph (f), by adding the word “caregivers” after the words “health services”.
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- Feb/28/22 2:02:33 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, people across Canada are in solidarity in showing and demonstrating support for the people of Ukraine. What we are seeing in Ukraine today is horrific, but Canadians are responding. They are showing up at rallies and demonstrations. In my own home city of Winnipeg, thousands of people came out in solidarity for Ukraine. They are sending money. They are sending prayers.
The Government of Canada is providing lethal weapons and humanitarian aid. Canadians are coming together because of their concern and love for Ukraine.
Today I am calling for the House to unanimously support the efforts of all Canadians to be there for Ukraine in solidarity as one.
Long live Ukraine.
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- Feb/28/22 2:31:50 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I agree with the member opposite that the world is watching in horror at what is happening in Ukraine, but I am also watching in pride at the incredibly brave resistance of the people of Ukraine.
It is important for us to say that we continue to support them in their fight. When it comes to refugees, of course Canada is there for Ukrainians. We have been and we will be, and we will have more to say soon.
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- Feb/28/22 2:36:47 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I have had multiple conversations with defence minister Reznikov from Ukraine, and we have provided support that Ukraine has requested, including lethal and non-lethal aid, including economic and financial aid, and we are in constant touch with Ukraine. In fact, Minister Reznikov called Canada a very, very dear friend, and I look forward to continuing to support him and his country in this time of need.
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Madam Speaker, yes, support for small businesses is very important. That is why I would encourage small business funds to be created to assist in that capacity. However, to limit Canadians' choices and what they can see, and for our government to dictate and pick winners and losers, is not the Canadian way.
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- Feb/28/22 7:23:23 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, there are many things the member for Beloeil—Chambly and I agree upon, as a matter of fact. One part I would like the member to elaborate on more is funding for our allies in Ukraine and making sure they have the resources they need.
The government has been able to support Ukraine with some funding, but much more needs to be done. Would the member agree that the Government of Ukraine needs money in hand now more than ever?
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- Feb/28/22 7:57:55 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the Canadian government has already demonstrated that it will work to support people who are fleeing war and Ukraine.
I hear the member's suggestion, and I thank him very much for that. I think it is vitally important that Canada do everything it can to bring Ukrainians who need out to Canada.
The government has already announced that we are doing this, and we will continue to work on it.
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- Feb/28/22 9:28:17 p.m.
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Mr. Chair, I have been hearing from some constituents, including one who actually just passed through one of the border crossings from Ukraine into Poland, and one of the things he mentioned to me was the lack of supplies and necessities to support people at the border, such as blankets in the cold elements. Many of the individuals fleeing are women and children.
I am wondering if the hon. member would like to comment on some of the humanitarian aid that we could provide and if she would be in favour of increasing that support.
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- Feb/28/22 10:01:13 p.m.
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Madam Chair, I thank my colleague for his heartfelt and emotional speech. We do indeed feel a sense of unity. The Bloc Québécois has offered its full support to the government today, indicating that we want to work with the government, because this cause is much bigger than all of us.
I would like to know whether my colleague has anything to ask of the opposition. Are there any issues on which he wants us to continue to work together in order to reach the quickest and most peaceful solution possible?
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- Feb/28/22 11:00:05 p.m.
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Madam Chair, one of the issues I am very cognizant of is, of course, the variety of measures that the Canadian government needs to put in place to support Ukrainians. With respect to immigration, the government has announced that some efforts have been made. However, we also just learned that the government is not putting additional resources to support that work within IRCC. If we do not put additional resources into it, I fear that the backlog within IRCC and other streams will just escalate, as we have seen before.
What are the member's thoughts with respect to the government needing to put in additional resources to support immigration measures to support the people of Ukraine?
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- Feb/28/22 11:00:55 p.m.
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Madam Chair, the hon. member and I worked together on the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration. I very much support seeing the government put more resources into ensuring we have a visa-free regime with which we can bring Ukrainians to Canada to be reunited with their families, to be reunited with Canadians and to bring them to safety.
That is something we can move forward with immediately. The government has the resources. They can put that in place in the coming days.
Another thing we can do to support Ukraine and all of Europe is to ensure our pipeline capacity takes Canadian gas to tidewater so that we can offset Europeans' dependence on Russia for gas. Forty per cent of European gas is dependent on Russia right now. What does that do to countries in Europe that are looking to support Ukraine? They are in a vise-grip from Russia because of the energy it provides those European countries. We can easily offset that by getting our resources to tidewater and by supporting the security of energy to our European allies.
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- Feb/28/22 11:13:44 p.m.
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Madam Chair, I am grateful for the support that many of the members of the official opposition have shown for the steps that the government has taken. A lot of unity has been shown, and it is really important at this time.
A lot of the measures that Canada and other countries have instituted have been around providing Ukraine with military support, like the announcement that was made today around weapons, as well as economic sanctions in a variety of forms. I am wondering if the member could speak to whether he agrees with those measures, and what, if any, impact he thinks those measures are having to help Ukraine?
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