44th Parl. 1st Sess.
May 5, 2022 10:00AM
- May/5/22 2:51:24 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member opposite for her passion and the words she shared with us, yesterday and today, with respect to murdered and missing indigenous women. It is a tragedy that sadly is ongoing in this country and has only been exacerbated by the pandemic.
The monies we have announced in the last and present budgetary cycles are directly targeted to a systemic approach to reducing the violence and insecurity that is constantly felt by women, and the tragedy that is ongoing. Unfortunately, the results are trailing, but as a country, a government and a society we need to continue to raise this issue and these matters to make sure everyone can feel safe in this country.
121 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/5/22 2:52:02 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, indigenous women are dying while the minister makes excuses.
Today, the media is reporting that indigenous women make up half the population of incarcerated persons in federal prisons. The over-incarceration of indigenous women has actually been getting worse under the current government. There is a call for justice to put in place a deputy commissioner to oversee indigenous programs and to work with indigenous communities, but surprisingly the Liberals have not gotten it done.
When will the government start addressing systemic racism and implement all the calls for justice?
92 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/5/22 2:52:43 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, on today of all days, we must acknowledge the continued legacy of colonialism in our justice system. The vast overrepresentation of indigenous peoples, including women, is unacceptable. That is why we are committed to taking action by implementing culturally sensitive training, increasing representation of indigenous peoples in our justice system, repealing mandatory minimum penalties with the legislation being put forward by the Minister of Justice and, of course, a whole suite of other reforms. My colleagues and I on this side of the House are committed to working with the NDP and my hon. colleague to ensure that we walk the path of reconciliation.
106 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/5/22 2:53:23 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, today is Red Dress Day: a day for all to remember missing and murdered indigenous women, girls and LGBTQ+ people. It is a national day for Canadians to reflect and recognize that we must all take action. Indigenous peoples know what their priorities are. They have been voicing their needs, and culturally appropriate approaches will best help those who need support so they can work toward healing and closure.
Can the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations tell us what the Government of Canada is doing to develop accessible and culturally relevant healing programs and support for children, families and survivors of this national tragedy?
106 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/5/22 2:54:05 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, the pain and loss felt by families and survivors of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls, and the lack of safety felt today, are tragedies that are ongoing and have only been exacerbated by the pandemic. Indigenous women and girls have the right to be and feel safe anywhere in this country. Tragically, this is not the case today. This can only be achieved by continued investments in shelters, safe spaces, cultural spaces and housing, coupled with culturally appropriate mental health services. We have made significant and indeed historic investments in these areas, but recognize that much more work needs to be done. We will continue to do this alongside indigenous partners.
115 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/5/22 2:54:44 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, our country is in a mental health crisis. The first hurdle to getting help is to seek it out, but the people who have the courage to ask for help are being denied that help. People are literally dying waiting for help.
The Liberals promised $4.5 billion via the Canada mental health transfer during the election campaign, which was promised to start in 2022, yet in the recent budget there is nothing, zero, for the Canada mental health transfer. Why?
83 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/5/22 2:55:25 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for the recognition that this is Mental Health Week, as we increase awareness coast to coast to coast.
As members know, in 2017 we dedicated $5 billion to this over the next 10 years. We have added $45 million to develop the national standards that would become the strategy. That would then become the transfer. We have to build this bottom up with those who have lived and living experiences.
76 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/5/22 2:56:00 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, the pandemic has affected all of us, and all Canadians, in one way or another. The stress and uncertainty have had a devastating impact on Canadians' mental health. In the spirit of Mental Health Week, the time is long overdue to take action to address the impact the pandemic has had on all Canadians and ensure adequate mental health care for everyone. However, there is absolutely nothing in the budget for this. It is not a small zero or a medium zero, but a big, fat zero. Why is that?
92 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/5/22 2:56:35 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his question. Mental health is an integral part of overall health, and it is a priority for our government. Since 2015, we have made historic investments to support the mental health of Canadians, including $5 billion for the provinces and territories to increase access to mental health services, $598 million for a distinctions-based mental health strategy for indigenous peoples, and $270 million for the Wellness Together portal.
We must do better.
83 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/5/22 2:57:22 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, just months ago during the election, the Liberal platform made a firm commitment of $4.5 billion over five years for a Canada mental health transfer, very specifically including $250 million in 2021-22 and $625 million in 2022-23. This promise was clearly broken in the budget.
What happened between the election and the budget? It was, of course, the NDP-Liberal agreement to cling to power. As part of that agreement, did the NDP demand that the Liberals break their commitment on mental health in order to fund other NDP priorities?
95 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/5/22 2:58:03 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for his ongoing advocacy, but I think he has it a bit wrong. The effect of the NDP coalition—
Some hon. members: Oh, oh!
31 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/5/22 2:58:21 p.m.
- Watch
We were doing really well there. Let us have a respectful answer.
The hon. Minister of Mental Health and Addictions.
20 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/5/22 2:58:42 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, the word was “collaboration”.
I want to say that on mental health, we think there is collaboration across the whole of the House, as we go forward with investing the $5 billion that was in the 2017 budget and move forward to the federal transfer eventually, once we have a strategy.
55 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/5/22 2:59:11 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, today we are talking about the 2022 budget, and several things are very clear. During the election, many parties made substantial commitments on mental health. The cornerstone of the Liberal commitment was the Canada mental health transfer, beginning with $250 million for 2021-22. The Liberals made an agreement with the NDP, and many elements of that agreement remain highly secret. Subsequently, the Canada mental health transfer has been shelved.
Canadians deserve to know this: What other Liberal platform commitments have been negotiated away in the deal with the NDP?
92 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/5/22 2:59:53 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, I usually respect the questions from the member, but I find this quite annoying. Everything in mental health and addiction is being built up; there is nothing being traded away. This is a high priority in our government, and I really think that was a despicable question.
49 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/5/22 3:00:36 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, we are very concerned by what the The Globe and Mail has revealed about the Canada Revenue Agency. Half the employees of a division responsible for making multinational companies pay their fair share of taxes stated they were victims of bullying last year. The employees felt they were under inappropriate pressure to approve what they saw as a multi-million dollar sweetheart deal for one company.
Bullying in the workplace is always unacceptable. That said, does the minister not see anything wrong with her own employees being bullied to recover less money, rather than more?
97 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/5/22 3:01:16 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, having been a social worker who worked with victims of violence and bullying, I can say that I strongly condemn any form of bullying. I want to reassure my colleague that all matters have been verified by an independent third party and everything is in order. The Minister of National Revenue cannot interfere in the administration of the CRA.
61 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/5/22 3:01:47 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, we know that the minister never gives an answer.
I do not want to call the third-party review into question today, but the agreement was at the very least somewhat contentious. Half the employees said they were victims of bullying. The Canada Revenue Agency is supposed to be the taxpayers' watchdog, but in this case, the dog has turned on the family and is trying to bite.
Is it standard practice at the Canada Revenue Agency to bully companies into approving such controversial requests?
87 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/5/22 3:02:19 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, there should be no problems as I am a good watchdog.
What I can say is that the Bloc Québécois will never serve as the opposition. It should at least try to be well informed, because that is its only job.
47 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/5/22 3:02:52 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, the government's failure to plan has prevented Canadians from being able to access basic government services. People cannot get through by phone or in person to Service Canada. In fact, the delays in passport processing have effectively ground Service Canada locations all across the country to a halt. It has become so dire that some people are charging upwards of $15 an hour to stand in line for people desperate to get an in-person appointment.
The Harper government introduced a 10-year passport. Has the Liberal government decided to introduce a 10-year wait-list?
99 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- menumenu
- notificationsnotifications
- home
- mailmail
- searchsearch
