44th Parl. 1st Sess.
April 1, 2022 10:00AM
- Apr/1/22 11:52:21 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, agricultural producers in Elgin—Middlesex—London and across Canada are experiencing challenges from global fertilizer shortages, the increase in the costs of inputs and production, and the increase of the carbon tax today. These factors are threatening Canada's food supply and the security of the supply chains.
What is the government's plan to support Canadian agriculture and agribusinesses to prevent the supply chain disruption and the food shortages?
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- Apr/1/22 11:52:52 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, with regard to fertilizer availability, this is something that our government takes very seriously. It is working with our partners and industry leaders to ensure that we have fertilizer available in Canada. I know some farmers were able to book early in December and January, but there are some impacts on farmers today, and we will be continuing to work with the industry to ensure that we have a solution.
The other thing the hon. member can do is pass Bill C-8 right away, because that would give a rebate to farmers today, if Conservatives would work with us on Bill C-8.
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- Apr/1/22 11:53:29 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, the Liberals' failure to take the crisis facing our food supply seriously hurts Canadian farmers and families. The Ontario Agri Business Association and farmers in my riding support sanctions against Russia. However, they have asked, along with Conservatives, if tariffs will apply to fertilizer purchased before March 2 and if orders will be allowed to be offloaded here in Canada.
With the cost of food rising daily, the last thing we need is additional pressure on our agricultural sector. Will the minister, for once, actually respond to the concerns of Canadian farmers?
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- Apr/1/22 11:54:07 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, fertilizer availability is important in Canada. At the same time, this has been caused by Putin's illegal war, and we have to take serious action against that. We are working with the industry to ensure that fertilizer remains available in Canada and that it remains at a reasonable price.
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- Apr/1/22 11:54:31 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, Canadians are still deeply concerned that the government has no plan to address skyrocketing food and gas prices. An inflation crisis, coupled with supply chain shortages, is forcing many businesses to raise prices anywhere from 25% to 40% just to stay afloat. Higher energy, fertilizer, wheat and corn prices are all impacting the cost of food here in Canada.
When will the Prime Minister finally table a plan so that Canadians can feed their families?
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- Apr/1/22 11:55:06 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, the Conservatives continue to ignore basic economic facts. Canada's GDP rose again in January, making eight consecutive months of growth. We have recovered over 3.4 million jobs lost during the pandemic, 2021 saw Canada's largest annual trade surplus since 2008, totalling $6.6 billion. We also retained S&P and Moody's AAA credit ratings.
That is delivering for Canadians. That is delivering for small business. That is real leadership.
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- Apr/1/22 11:55:38 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, services for francophone veterans are getting worse instead of better.
An anglophone's application for disability benefits is processed in 20 weeks, but francophones are currently waiting 76 weeks. The wait time is six months longer now than it was in 2018.
The minister claims that all is well, however. The Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs wrote to ask him to explain why independent analysts paint a less rosy picture of the situation. We are still awaiting a response.
When will the minister be accountable to francophone veterans?
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- Apr/1/22 11:56:26 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, we recognize that we need to do more to ensure that francophone veterans get a response in a timely manner—
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- Apr/1/22 11:56:32 a.m.
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I must interrupt the parliamentary secretary. He will have to start over because the interpretation is not working.
An hon. member: He is not wearing his headset.
The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Carol Hughes): The hon. parliamentary secretary is not wearing his headset. While we wait for him to put it on, I remind all members, ministers and parliamentary secretaries that they must wear their headsets or they may lose their chance to ask a question or give an answer.
The hon. parliamentary secretary.
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- Apr/1/22 11:57:15 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, as I was saying, we recognize that we need to do much more for francophone veterans when it comes to the wait times for a response to their application.
We have created a dedicated francophone unit to improve the situation for francophones on the ground. We have also hired many francophone and bilingual employees to process these applications. Our $340‑million investment is helping us make significant progress on this issue.
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- Apr/1/22 11:57:59 a.m.
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Mr. Speaker, services for francophone veterans are deteriorating. An expert confirmed this at committee. She has helped more than 1,200 veterans with their valiant struggle to access services.
She confirmed that officials are recommending that francophone veterans apply in English. They are told that things will move more quickly if they apply in English. In other words, if they have issues getting service in French in Canada, they have to speak English.
Is that how we should be thanking francophones who have served Canada?
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- Apr/1/22 11:58:42 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for his question. That is absolutely not what we should be doing. We can serve people in French. That is why we have a francophone unit dedicated to doing just that, as I mentioned earlier.
We are hiring more bilingual people. Plus, let us not forget that our government has invested more than $11 million to help serve and support veterans across Canada.
We have been there for veterans, and we will be continue to be there for them, francophones included.
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Madam Speaker, Canadian are proud of both official languages, English and French. They must be protected and integrated into federal-provincial agreements. If the federal government does not enforce the Official Languages Act, who will?
Furthermore, the decline of French in Canada must stop now. Will the Minister of Official Languages commit to amending Bill C-13 to include language clauses, among other things?
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Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question and for his work on official languages.
Our government understands the importance of the substantive equality of both official languages. This means strengthening the positive measures in the bill as well as co-operation with our partners and the provinces.
We will consider all the implications related to official languages. We will study the amendments and work with the opposition and with communities across the country on the bill.
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- Apr/1/22 12:00:35 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, I am issuing a heartfelt plea to the government to help Laurence Couture Gagnon, a young Canadian mother who had to flee the war in Ukraine with her newborn, Léo. They are in Poland.
She desperately wants to return to Canada, but the embassy in Warsaw is taking a long time to issue a citizenship certificate for her baby, who is also Canadian. Once they have the certificate, they can get a passport and come back to Canada. How is the government going to help me help her?
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- Apr/1/22 12:01:11 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question.
Since day one, Canada has been there to help Ukrainians fleeing Putin's war. We will continue to work with them. More than 12,000 Ukrainians arrived this week alone.
My colleague is well aware that we cannot talk about specific cases. I strongly encourage him to come to see me, and we will work together.
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- Apr/1/22 12:01:39 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, this is the 17th time in two years that I am rising in the House to talk about the labour shortage in my constituency and endless immigration delays.
According to a March 18 Radio-Canada article, immigration lawyers are suing Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada for the outrageous delays in Quebec. Businesses that need workers and potential citizens are discouraged and out of patience.
When will the minister finally buckle down and cut wait times?
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- Apr/1/22 12:02:18 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, once again I thank my colleague for his question.
I just want to make one thing clear to the House. Since the beginning, we have received and processed over half a million permanent residence applications. In fact, we set a record. We welcomed 143,000 permanent residents to Canada over the last three months.
We need to do more, and that is exactly what we will continue to do.
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- Apr/1/22 12:02:56 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, there are strong ties between Canada and the Caribbean.
It is by working together with our partners that we can meet the challenges we face, particularly those related to regional stability, COVID-19 and climate change.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs inform the House how this joint organization between Canada and the Caribbean Community, or CARICOM, is helping us to meet these challenges and strengthen these essential ties?
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- Apr/1/22 12:03:42 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague from Bourassa for his important work.
This morning, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and her counterpart from Belize co-chaired a meeting of the foreign ministers of CARICOM. They talked about security and stability in Haiti and Nicaragua, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the steps being taken to address climate change and COVID-19.
These meetings are essential for Canada and the world.
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