SoVote

Mar/21/22 2:12:22 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, today marks the end of mask mandates in Ontario and Nova Scotia. Quebec has already ended their vaccine passport requirements. As of March, P.E.I. no longer requires proof of vaccination. Saskatchewan has not had vaccine mandates since February 14, the same day that New Brunswick ended all COVID-19 restrictions, and Alberta ended its mandates back on February 8. Across the country, provinces are following the science and they are removing their restrictions. The government must follow suit. Vaccine mandates have cost Canadians their jobs, have restricted travel and are hurting our tourism sector here at home. Canadians have done their part to fight COVID-19. They have done their part to get through this pandemic. It is time that they get their lives back. The federal government must put an end to all pandemic restrictions that are in its jurisdiction.

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Context: House Hansard - 42 - Mar/21/22

Mr. Gary Vidal (Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, CPC)

Mar/21/22 3:33:43 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, it is an honour today to rise and present a petition on behalf of over 850 residents of Saskatchewan. Last week, Saskatchewan's Premier Moe started a petition asking the federal government to classify rail workers as an essential service in light of what was a looming CP Rail strike at the time. This disruption will have a catastrophic effect on the supply chain in Saskatchewan, affecting many sectors such as agriculture, mining and forestry. The petition asks the federal government to start working on back-to-work legislation and begin working on legislation to make rail service an essential service, which would preclude any future disruptions. The rail sector is a vital service not only for Saskatchewan's economy, but for Canada's economy.

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Context: House Hansard - 42 - Mar/21/22

Mr. Michael Kram (Regina—Wascana, CPC)

Mar/21/22 3:39:32 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, it has obviously been a very emotional few weeks for Canadians across the country, and that is especially true for the local Ukrainian communities in Regina and southern Saskatchewan who have signed this petition. Ever since Vladimir Putin's illegal invasion of Ukraine, there has been an unfolding humanitarian crisis as Ukrainian refugees flee the war zone. This petition calls on the Government of Canada to expedite the processing of refugee applicants from Ukraine and to resettle them in Canada. Regina and southern Saskatchewan have a very large Ukrainian community and there is certainly a great deal of interest in helping to resettle the refugees and in doing their part.

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Context: House Hansard - 42 - Mar/21/22

Mr. Mark Gerretsen

Mar/21/22 5:38:41 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, on a point of order, as you indicated, it was quite clear to members in this room that the member for Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan was calling another member a liar. Perhaps he would like to rise and apologize to the member for that comment.

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Context: House Hansard - 42 - Mar/21/22

Mrs. Cathay Wagantall (Yorkton—Melville, CPC)

Mar/21/22 6:37:39 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, on February 11, I raised a question concerning the impact an RCMP payroll increase and back pay will have on the rural communities of Yorkton—Melville. The agreement reached last June between the federal government and the National Police Federation includes a $20,000 payroll increase for the more than 19,000 regular members of the RCMP. It also provides for retroactive pay dating back to April 2017. In rural Canada the RCMP are our source of stability and safety. Officers are our friends, neighbours and a staple of our communities. We know that our members and reservists are deserving of a long overdue raise. We are frustrated that the government has failed to increase the number of members in the west as promised, and we are deeply concerned for the health and safety of those who are serving rural Saskatchewan. I have raised this issue on behalf of my municipalities and constituents who had no say during the federal government's unilateral negotiations. I am asking the minister to answer to concerned mayors, councillors and my constituents who are footing the entire bill for this pay increase. The minister is not oblivious to the growing economic hardships of Canada's rural communities. He knows the government's spending is out of control with no plan to rein it in. Inflation is the highest it has been in over 30 years and four in five Canadians are saying they changed their food buying habits because of increased costs. He also knows that, effective April 1, the government’s carbon tax will add 12¢ to every litre of gas with further increases to come. We have a cost of living crisis in this country. Canadians do not have the flexibility to absorb yet another steep increase in their taxes, but that is exactly what will happen as a result of poor planning or intentional design on the part of the Liberal government. The largest of my riding’s communities is the city of Yorkton, and it is a prime example of how this deal has thrown a huge wrench into their budgeting plans. Yorkton councillor Quinn Haider has told me that, in addition to the increase in salary, they are being expected to absorb the retroactive costs from as far back as 2017. The RCMP agreement came their way with the cost being about $2.1 million and, like a responsible administration, Yorkton had been diligently planning accordingly by putting significant funds into an RCMP reserve for the back pay. However, the cost is ending up to be $1.4 million, nearly double the amount set aside. The city has used up its entire reserve and has had to draw from other reserves in order to cover these costs. The council has had no choice but to plan for a 4.86% increase in taxes this year, 2.36% of which is solely for the RCMP pay increase and back pay. The councillor told me, “I don’t believe anyone on council has a problem with the RCMP getting a raise, but this is a significant hit. We didn’t have any say in these contract negotiations whatsoever. We’re not the only city around who’s in the same predicament. Everyone is. This hurts.” For some perspective, last year, the city of Yorkton’s tax increase was 0%. The city honoured hard-working taxpayers and gave them a break during the difficulties businesses and workers were facing with COVID lockdowns by making sacrifices and finding efficiencies. This year, council was hopeful for a modest 2% increase in municipal taxes, but now, because of a well-intentioned but unfair federal deal, residents of Yorkton can expect to pay more than double that amount. Yorkton and many cities like it are being left to explain such a sharp tax increase to their residents and wondering what is motivating the federal government to stay so silent on doing its part. When will the Liberal government take responsibility by revisiting this deal and announce its commitment to cover the RCMP back pay, which it unilaterally negotiated and then dropped exclusively on the provinces and our municipalities?

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Context: House Hansard - 42 - Mar/21/22

Mrs. Cathay Wagantall

Mar/21/22 6:44:35 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, responding to my question on February 11, the Minister of Public Safety stated: ...to be clear, there are long-standing arrangements that exist between the federal government, the provinces and the municipalities. Of course, we remain in very close touch with them to ensure that there is fair and equitable support when it comes to the RCMP. We will always be sure that the RCMP are properly resourced.... Saskatchewan requested the federal government to absorb the retroactive costs of this contract and rightly accuses the government of ignoring the 2021 agreement, which states, “The contract parties are committed to a more co-operative and collaborative relationship.” The province and its municipalities were not consulted during negotiations. Minimal and infrequent information on progress is not consultation. If the minister was really committed to ensuring the RCMP is properly resourced, he would have worked collaboratively with Saskatchewan and its municipalities, which of course are prepared to honour future agreements. When will he announce that the federal government will absorb the financial impact of its unilateral decisions for retroactive compensation from 2017 to 2021?

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