SoVote

Mr. Rick Perkins (South Shore—St. Margarets, CPC)

Apr/28/22 2:10:10 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, summer sandstorms have been wreaking havoc in the town of Windsor, Nova Scotia due to the dried up Avon River mud flat. The destructive sandstorms are not just an annoyance; they pose serious health threats to residents. The dry pond has also reduced summer activities on the Avon River, such as canoeing, kayaking and swimming, and has stopped the important pumpkin festival lake race. This is having a severe impact on tourism in Windsor, after two years of reduced visitor numbers. The sandstorms are a result of a ministerial order that is renewed every two weeks by the Minister of Fisheries and that allows the head of the pond to sit dry. In an ideal world, the minister would amend the order to restore the river and lake, but the least she could do is amend it to keep the riverbed moist enough to stop the sandstorms. The Minister of Fisheries can do everyone in the Town of Windsor a favour by amending the order and fixing the Avon River issue.

173 words

Mr. John Aldag (Cloverdale—Langley City, Lib.)

Apr/28/22 2:11:22 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, this weekend, after a two-year hiatus, it was my privilege to attend the Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 6 in Cloverdale for its annual awards ceremony. The branch, home to 1,314 members, presented many awards, including years of service from 10 years to 55 years. Legion members continue to support our veterans and community despite the difficulty of the pandemic. During my visit, I presented Dollie Greensides with the Palm Leaf to Meritorious Service Award. It is the highest award for the Legion Ladies’ Auxiliary. Dollie, at the tender age of 94 years, has been a member of the Legion Ladies’ Auxiliary for 63 years. I was proud to present Dollie with this honour, and I am proud to call her my friend.

129 words

Mr. Gérard Deltell (Louis-Saint-Laurent, CPC)

Apr/28/22 2:12:07 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, Wendake is right in the middle of the Louis-Saint-Laurent riding and it is surrounded by Quebec City, but Canada Post has assigned Wendake a postal code that classifies it as a remote area far from urban centres. As a result, businesses and residents in Wendake pay up to 30% more to have goods delivered, all because of a postal code that in no way reflects their reality. This is happening in Wendake, in my riding, but it is also happening in a number of other indigenous communities near urban centres. Wendake business owner Guillaume Boulianne wrote to me to say, and I quote: “This concrete example of systemic racism on the part of a federal Crown corporation is directly affecting economic development in our communities. Not only is this situation ludicrous, but it is also unfair.” I urge the government to take swift action and to do what needs to be done to ensure that Canada Post selects postal codes based on geography, not the community. On top of just being common sense, it is a matter of respect.

185 words

Mr. Eric Duncan (Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry, CPC)

Apr/28/22 2:13:10 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, finally, after years of delay, Canada is one step closer today to the long-standing and discriminatory blood ban being lifted in this country. It has been a long time coming. The pain, the stigma and the frustration that many gay, bi and trans men have felt in this country for too many years has not been fair. While today's news is welcome news, it did not need to take this long. I have been proud to stand in the House calling on the government to show some urgency in actually ending this. We are still at least five months away from this change taking effect; this, after knowing the recommendation was coming over a year ago. There is still leadership that can be shown to have this easy and simple and safe change be made sooner. Discrimination such as this should not take this long to resolve. We will keep up the battle, but today I want to thank the many voices that pressured the government to finally act, the All Blood is Equal campaign, and particularly men who have felt this stigma first-hand, me included. After years of advocacy, change is finally coming. Long-standing discrimination is finally ending when it comes to the blood ban.

212 words

Mr. Peter Schiefke (Vaudreuil—Soulanges, Lib.)

Apr/28/22 2:14:44 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, it is an incredible feeling to rise today to mark the 350th anniversary of L'Île-Perrot, which is located in my community of Vaudreuil—Soulanges. This is an historical event that goes back to nearly 200 years before Canada was founded. It is indeed a very special celebration, with more than 50 activities, that would not be possible without the vision and dedication of men and women who care about their island, namely Lise Charetier, Catherine Vincent, Olga Casseta, Charles‑Olivier Bellerose‑Bellanger, Daniel Bertolino, Catherine Champagne, Sébastien Daviau, Laurier Farmer, Louise Lapointe, Vicky Sauvé and Christiane Lévesque. Of course, I would also like to thank the mayors of our four towns on L'Île-Perrot. They are Pierre Séguin, Danie Deschênes, Claude Comeau and Michel Boudreau, and they are all working hard to make this incredible event happen. I invite all members of our community of Vaudreuil—Soulanges to come together to celebrate the rich history of our beautiful island and to wish Île Perrot a happy 350th.

188 words

Mr. Matthew Green (Hamilton Centre, NDP)

Apr/28/22 2:15:50 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, today on the National Day of Mourning for workers killed or injured on the job, we mourn all workers who have lost their lives, and recommit to fight like hell for the living. Just two days ago, a worker at Janco Steel in Stoney Creek died in an industrial accident. Our thoughts are with his family and everybody impacted by this horrible and preventable tragedy. Working-class people continue to be sacrificed for the greed and profits of capitalism, and COVID has made things worse. Whether it is in long-term care homes, on construction or industrial sites or in meat-packing plants, far too many workers continue to be killed and injured on the job, yet corporate executives keep cashing in. All employers must be held accountable for their negligence. The Westray Law was introduced to hold companies criminally accountable for workers' safety, but only one person has ever gone to jail. This is appalling: if one kills a worker, one goes to jail. We must continue to fight to improve the health and safety conditions for workers, because every worker deserves to get home safe at the end of the day.

195 words

Mr. Martin Champoux (Drummond, BQ)

Apr/28/22 2:17:04 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, these are the words of Jean Ferrat: They were twenty and one hundred, they were in the thousands, Naked and gaunt, trembling, in sealed wagons, They tore at the night with their restless fingers. They were in the thousands, they were twenty and one hundred. On this Yom HaShoah, we remember. We remember what people can do when they lose their humanity. We remember the atrocities that evil can do when evil triumphs. We also remember that life and the strength to live, the thirst for life, solidarity, resilience, courage and love can ultimately triumph, despite the darkness, despite the terror. We remember that memory can help us avoid repeating the mistakes already made. Memory can also make us look at the world sometimes with anger, sometimes with fear. We remember these men, women and children who were victims of hate. We remember our sacred duty to fight this hatred. We remember that we are not out of danger, especially if we forget. On this Yom HaShoak, zakhor, we remember.

172 words

Mr. Marty Morantz (Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, CPC)

Apr/28/22 2:18:35 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, as a Jewish Canadian, I join Jewish communities and others in Canada and around the world to observe Yom HaShoah. On Yom HaShoah, we remember the six million innocent Jews who were systematically murdered by the Nazis during the Holocaust, which is one of the darkest periods in human history. We also pay tribute to those who survived these unspeakable atrocities and recognize the bravery of all who stood against the Nazi regime, risking their lives to save others. By telling the stories of the Holocaust, we make sure these experiences of loss and survival, of unspeakable suffering and profound resilience, are never forgotten. Sadly, acts of anti-Semitic violence are still frequent today, and it is our solemn duty to stand united and vigilant against all forms of anti-Semitism, hatred and discrimination. We must be clear: Attacks against the Jewish community are attacks against all of us. We have a shared responsibility to continue to pay tribute to the victims of the Holocaust and ensure their stories continue to resonate with generations to come. Together, let us all vow, “never again”.

187 words

Ms. Ya'ara Saks (York Centre, Lib.)

Apr/28/22 2:20:04 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, last night around the world, Jewish communities began to mark, from sunset to sunset, Yom HaShoah, which is Holocaust memorial day. This morning at 10 a.m. in Israel, air raid sirens sounded throughout the country. An entire nation, the Jewish people, stopped their day-to-day lives at the moment of these sirens. They were a collective cry. It was a moment to reflect, to listen and remember. On this day, six million of our people live in all of our hearts. Today, we are the eyes that remember. Today, we are their voice. Today, we cry for them and for what was lost in their murder at the hands of the Nazi regime. We cry for their memory. I was honoured to join the Prime Minister and colleagues from across the House this morning to stand with the Jewish community at the national Holocaust memorial to honour and remember the men, women and children whose lives have been lost forever. We stand together as the Jewish community with our country here in Canada to say clearly and resolutely, “never again”. In every generation, it is our duty and obligation to honour the victims of the Holocaust, to learn from this tragic moment in humanity and to ensure that the words “never again” are both a focus of remembrance and a reminder to never be complacent in the face of evil and to be relentless in our efforts to fight back against the darkness of hate. Lighting a flame of remembrance today is to shine a light into all of our hearts and to protect those who are in crisis. Then, now and always, [Member spoke in Hebrew] [English] May their memories be a blessing.

292 words

Mr. Luc Berthold (Mégantic—L'Érable, CPC)

Apr/28/22 2:22:05 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, the Emergencies Act is so extreme that it requires the government to justify its use to prevent abuses against citizens. It requires an inquiry into the government's actions. Yes, I said the government's “actions”. Analysts and civil rights groups were not fooled. The order giving Justice Rouleau his mandate asks him to investigate citizens. Why is the Liberal government writing the findings of the inquiry before the inquiry has even begun?

78 words

All Topics

Hon. Chrystia Freeland (Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Lib.)

Apr/28/22 2:22:40 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, the illegal blockades of essential corridors and the occupation of Ottawa were harming our economy and jeopardizing public safety. Our government was prudent and careful, but we also understood that we had a responsibility to protect Canada's economy and Canadians. We look forward to receiving Justice Rouleau's report.

53 words

All Topics

Mr. Luc Berthold (Mégantic—L'Érable, CPC)

Apr/28/22 2:23:13 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, neither the Minister of Justice nor the Minister of Public Safety are able to justify the use of the Emergencies Act. They are hiding behind cabinet confidence. We are once again witnessing a concerted effort on the part of all the ministers to protect the Prime Minister, who chose to put on a political show at the expense of citizens' rights. With the complicity of the NDP, the Liberals themselves established the rules of the committee that is supposed to analyze the government's decisions. They are preventing Justice Rouleau from carrying out the very specific mandate bestowed upon him by the act. Why hide the truth from Canadians?

111 words

All Topics

Hon. Chrystia Freeland (Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Lib.)

Apr/28/22 2:23:52 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, our government took appropriate, targeted measures that were terminated as soon as possible. We had a duty to protect Canadians and Canada's economy. We fulfilled that obligation, which is the central responsibility of any federal government. We look forward to receiving Justice Rouleau's report.

49 words

All Topics

Mr. Luc Berthold (Mégantic—L'Érable, CPC)

Apr/28/22 2:24:31 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, with today's Motion No. 11, the government is in cover-up mode again, just like with WE Charity, Jody Wilson-Raybould and the secret documents from the Winnipeg lab. The Prime Minister received an illegal gift. The RCMP even considered filing criminal charges of fraud against the Prime Minister. Since the Prime Minister admits that no one gave him permission to break the law, will the Minister of Justice support our new request for an RCMP investigation?

80 words

All Topics

Hon. Chrystia Freeland (Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Lib.)

Apr/28/22 2:25:05 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, let us be clear. The opposition is talking about something that happened in 2016, more than six years ago. The Ethics Commissioner conducted a thorough investigation and released a report in 2017. Our government feels that Canadians are facing much more urgent issues these days.

47 words

All Topics

Mr. James Bezan (Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, CPC)

Apr/28/22 2:25:42 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals need to understand that we are talking about the RCMP investigation of fraud against the government by the Prime Minister, not the Ethic Commissioner's study. The Prime Minister thinks he is above the law and the rest of us are under another piece of law. He accepted a $215,000 luxury private island vacation from someone who is actively lobbying the government for millions of taxpayers' money. The environment minister provided the missing piece of the puzzle the RCMP needed to charge him. He admitted he did not have permission to take the trip. The RCMP has all of the puzzle pieces they need now to charge the Prime Minister with committing fraud against the government. Will the Prime Minister co-operate with that investigation?

130 words

All Topics

Hon. Chrystia Freeland (Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Lib.)

Apr/28/22 2:26:26 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, let us be clear. The opposition is talking about something that took place in 2016, more than six years ago. This matter has been throughly investigated by the Ethics Commissioner, who published a report in 2017. Our government absolutely understands that Canadians want and need us to focus on more pressing challenges, such as affordability, climate change, housing and, of course, Putin's illegal war in Ukraine.

69 words

All Topics

Mr. James Bezan (Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, CPC)

Apr/28/22 2:27:06 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister cannot dodge these questions much longer. We have to remember, there is no statute of limitations under the Criminal Code here in Canada. In fact, the Prime Minister's silence sounds a lot like an admission of guilt. The RCMP criminal brief said that, if the Prime Minister were any other Canadian, he would have been charged. Canadians are demanding that the Prime Minister be held to a higher standard. Will the Prime Minister lift the veil of secrecy, clear the air and proactively speak to the RCMP?

93 words

All Topics

Hon. Chrystia Freeland (Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Lib.)

Apr/28/22 2:27:42 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, let me tell the member what I hear Canadians demanding. Canadians are demanding action on climate change. Canadians are demanding action to build more houses for a growing country. Canadians are demanding that our country act urgently to support Ukraine and oppose Putin's illegal invasion of Ukraine. Those are the urgent issues facing Canada today, and that is what our government is focused on.

67 words

All Topics

Mr. Alain Therrien (La Prairie, BQ)

Apr/28/22 2:28:18 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, the House demanded that the government appear in committee to shed some light on the worrisome dismissal of scientists in Winnipeg. The Liberals did not comply, however, and are using their alliance with the NDP to create their own committee for just the two of them, for which they can set their own rules, produce their own report and announce their own findings. They are doing all of this without the agreement of the two main opposition parties. That is not democratic, nor is it transparent. Does the government realize that its alliance with the NDP does not authorize it to create a parallel Parliament and set its own rules?

112 words

All Topics

SoVote

House Hansard - 60