SoVote

Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 75

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
May 19, 2022 10:00AM
Context: House Hansard - 75 - May/19/22
Hon. Filomena Tassi
  • May/19/22 7:42:15 p.m.
  • Watch
Madam Chair, what I would recognize is that absolutely this is a crisis. There is no question, but our government has been there for support. The member mentioned the $100 million but in fact the total is now $800 million to support community-led harm reduction treatment and prevention projects since 2015. I know the minister is working very hard on this, and I look forward to the work that she will be announcing as we move forward.
78 words
All Topics
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Mr. Gord Johns
  • May/19/22 7:42:41 p.m.
  • Watch
Madam Chair, the stigma is not just in the policy; it is in the amount of money that has been spent on COVID-19 and on the toxic drug supply crisis. When will the government respond to the toxic drug crisis with the urgency with which it responded to COVID-19, and in a way that shows it values the lives of people who use drugs, the people who are dying right now in our country and whose lives can be saved from preventable deaths?
85 words
All Topics
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Hon. Filomena Tassi
  • May/19/22 7:43:09 p.m.
  • Watch
Madam Chair, we realize the hurt and the difficulty. I worked in a high school for 20 years. I can recognize how opioids can be a problem; drugs can be a problem, but our government has taken action. We are going to continue to take action. I am delighted that we have a minister appointed specifically for mental health and addictions. It is extremely important.
65 words
All Topics
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Mr. Gord Johns
  • May/19/22 7:43:36 p.m.
  • Watch
Madam Chair, the government says it is taking action while more people are dying. The deaths are mounting. It is not taking action in the way it needs to, like it did with COVID-19. I will change my line of questioning to the minister. As caregivers for children under five eagerly await a decision from Health Canada on Moderna's application for vaccines for this age group, how quickly will doses be distributed to the provinces upon approval?
79 words
All Topics
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Hon. Filomena Tassi
  • May/19/22 7:44:04 p.m.
  • Watch
Madam Chair, that is a very important question. I can say that we have been working with Moderna, Pfizer and other providers of vaccines from the beginning. I would just remind the member that when the pediatrics were approved, I was very happy to receive the first planeload in Hamilton, at the John C. Munro international airport. We had, within one week of the approval date, enough vaccines to vaccinate every child aged 5 to 11.
76 words
All Topics
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Mr. Gord Johns
  • May/19/22 7:44:34 p.m.
  • Watch
Madam Chair, given the ongoing issues with the Phoenix pay system, why did the budget not allocate necessary funding to help deal with the now years-long backlog of pay problems for federal public servants?
35 words
All Topics
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Hon. Filomena Tassi
  • May/19/22 7:44:49 p.m.
  • Watch
Madam Chair, what I would say about this is that it is a top priority. We have been working on this from the very beginning of inheriting this problem. We are going to continue to work to put supports in place to reduce the backlog and to provide satisfaction to public servants, but we believe that every public servant should be paid accurately and should be paid on time.
69 words
All Topics
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Mr. Gord Johns
  • May/19/22 7:45:10 p.m.
  • Watch
Madam Chair, the government is increasing spending on expensive consultants to fix the problems of expensive consultants, while public servants are being offered wage increases that do not even keep up with inflation. Does the minister believe hard-working public servants who have delivered for Canadians throughout the pandemic deserve wage increases that account for the rising cost of living?
60 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Hon. Filomena Tassi
  • May/19/22 7:45:34 p.m.
  • Watch
Madam Chair, I believe every worker in this country should be paid a fair wage. Workers are working hard across the country. Of course, we want them to be paid fairly for the work that they are doing. There are different systems in place in terms of how payment is made, but I absolutely appreciate the work of public servants and think they should be paid fairly.
67 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Mr. Gord Johns
  • May/19/22 7:45:58 p.m.
  • Watch
Madam Chair, does she believe they should be able to be paid and given wage increases to meet inflation and the new cost of living?
25 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Hon. Filomena Tassi
  • May/19/22 7:46:06 p.m.
  • Watch
Madam Chair, I am a big believer in negotiations and I think that any disputes with respect to that should be settled at the bargaining table. It is the best solution.
31 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Mr. Gord Johns
  • May/19/22 7:46:18 p.m.
  • Watch
Madam Chair, is the minister committed to reigning in outsourcing to ensure Canadians are getting value for services and that we maintain institutional knowledge, skills and expertise in the public service?
31 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Hon. Filomena Tassi
  • May/19/22 7:46:35 p.m.
  • Watch
Madam Chair, whenever we can use in-service, we do. We cannot say we want Phoenix fixed tomorrow even though we do not have the skills and the expertise inside to fix it, and then say that we cannot go out. We go out when we need to go out, because we need the expertise.
55 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Mr. Gord Johns
  • May/19/22 7:46:54 p.m.
  • Watch
Madam Chair, the announcement of a strategic review of the public service and potential cuts of up to $6 billion has prompted concern from hard-working public servants and Canadians who rely on public services. The last time a strategic review happened, the Harper government cut service delivery for veterans, people on EI and many others, while going after 19,000 public service jobs. The lack of details about this review is concerning. Can the minister reassure Canadians that this review will not impact service levels, and that the federal public service unions will be consulted throughout the process?
99 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Hon. Filomena Tassi
  • May/19/22 7:47:31 p.m.
  • Watch
Madam Chair, the treasury board president is leading this process, and I believe the determination has not been made yet.
20 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Mr. Gord Johns
  • May/19/22 7:47:39 p.m.
  • Watch
Madam Chair, I would like to ask the minister whether the federal contractors program requires organizations bidding on federal contracts to enter into an agreement to implement employment equity? Is this policy being followed?
34 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Hon. Filomena Tassi
  • May/19/22 7:47:51 p.m.
  • Watch
Madam Chair, I am really happy about the measures that we have undertaken as a government in terms of establishing employment equity. There is a task force that is looking at this—
33 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
The Deputy Chair
  • May/19/22 7:48:01 p.m.
  • Watch
The hon. member for Courtenay—Alberni.
7 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Mr. Gord Johns
  • May/19/22 7:48:03 p.m.
  • Watch
Madam Chair, is disaggregated data being collected, and have contracts been awarded to organizations that fail to meet their obligations on employment equity?
23 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Hon. Filomena Tassi
  • May/19/22 7:48:18 p.m.
  • Watch
Madam Chair, I think that question is more appropriate for the Minister of Labour, but what I will say is that we are taking measures in order to ensure that there is equity in work and that pay is—
40 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border