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Ms. Soraya Martinez Ferrada (Hochelaga, Lib.)

Jun/6/22 2:13:59 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, after the coup in 1973, thousands of Chileans sought sanctuary in Canada. For the first time, the Canadian government issued ministerial permits to Chileans. After the crisis, the political refugee class was added to the Immigration Act. This was before social media, but the community figured out how to organize and played an important role in raising the international community's awareness of the political situation. The Chilean community stayed and is now deeply rooted in Canada. It has built relationships based on co-operation and solidarity and has contributed to our country's vitality every day. I want to thank that first generation of immigrants, who showed us how much they loved our country, language and culture while fostering our sense of duty, be it political or social. I would like to welcome President Boric, who is here in Canada today. He was recently elected as the head of a government with a vision for a progressive, feminist and inclusive future.

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Ms. Rachel Blaney (North Island—Powell River, NDP)

Jun/6/22 2:15:09 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, today we remember D-Day and the Battle of Normandy. Just several weeks ago, I stood on Juno Beach, looked out at the sand and the water, and wondered at the incredible bravery of those Canadians who fought. In the museum, I was moved to hear the voices of Canadians, but what made me stop cold was when I stood below a screen that continuously scrolls through the names of the 45,000 Canadians who were killed in the Second World War. If one were to read every single name, one would have to stand in that spot for 13 and a half hours. So many Canadians made the ultimate sacrifice. This year is particularly poignant for my riding of North Island—Powell River, as we recently lost World War II veteran James Francis “Stocky” Edwards, who would have been 101 yesterday. The day after his 23rd birthday, he flew his Spitfire over the beaches of Normandy on D-Day and was a proud Canadian for the depth of his service. As Canadians, we must never forget their sacrifice: then, today or forever.

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Mr. Martin Champoux (Drummond, BQ)

Jun/6/22 2:16:24 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the 24th Québec Cinéma gala was held yesterday. A host of Iris trophies were awarded to the most deserving artists and artisans who worked in Quebec film this past year. Let us begin by congratulating the big winner, Les oiseaux ivres, on receiving 10 awards, including the Iris for best film for producers Kim McGraw and my old friend Luc Déry, the best screenplay award for Ivan Grbovic and Sara Mishara, who also triumphed respectively for directing and for director of photography, as well as the best actor awards for the magnificent Hélène Florent and Claude Legault. Other films also stood out, including Maria Chapdelaine by Sébatien Pilote, L'Arracheuse de temps by Francis Leclerc and the documentary Comme une vague by Marie‑Julie Dallaire. Beyond recognizing the winning artists and artisans, we are also celebrating the very existence of Quebec film. This entire industry that is dedicated to telling us stories, both to us and to the entire world, keeps growing and continues to reflect who we are, as well as being a source of inspiration for the future. Congratulations to the winners and sincere thanks to the entire Quebec film family.

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Mrs. Karen Vecchio (Elgin—Middlesex—London, CPC)

Jun/6/22 2:17:31 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness that I rise in the House today on the anniversary of the Afzaal family massacre. On June 6, 2021, Yumna Afzaal, her parents Madiha Salman and Salman Afzaal, and her grandmother Talat Afzaal were out on a Sunday walk when they were killed by a vehicle jumping the curb. One man made a decision to end the lives of four innocent people simply because of their faith. There are not enough words to describe the hateful, deliberate and discriminatory motive behind this attack. We live in a country that promotes diversity, culture and inclusion, yet Muslims across the country walk the streets of Canadian cities daily afraid that they might be attacked because of their faith. My thoughts and prayers are with the Afzaal family, the London community and all Muslims in Canada and across the world. Our job is to ensure safety and protection for all. We need concrete solutions that will fight hate and discrimination and ensure that everyone feels safe in our country. I pledge to do my part.

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Mr. Taleeb Noormohamed (Vancouver Granville, Lib.)

Jun/6/22 2:18:49 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, one year ago today, Madiha and Salman Afzaal, their daughter Yumna, and her grandmother Talat were brutally murdered in London, Ontario. They were killed for one reason: They were Muslim. Nine-year-old Fayez Afzaal, in the blink of an eye, became an orphan and lost his sister and his grandmother. Their murder shook us to our core and united Canadians in our grief. For Muslims across Canada, in the Afzaals we saw our own families, because the Afzaals were our family, and they could have been any of us. Many of us asked, “How could this happen in Canada?” We are not immune to the hate of those who fear difference or refuse to see our common humanity. It is up to all of us to keep the promise we made a year ago: to defeat Islamophobia by building a Canada where we all belong. Today, we remember Salman, Madiha, Yumna and Talat. Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un. Indeed, to Allah we belong and to Allah we shall return. May the souls of our London family rest in eternal peace.

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

Jun/6/22 2:20:15 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, now is not the time to spout off scripted lines meant for the press. The situation in Canada is increasingly worrisome. We have learned that a quarter of Canadians are not eating enough because they cannot afford to buy food. Statistics Canada reports that food prices have risen 10% since last year, the highest increase since 1981. Why are the Prime Minister and his ministers not doing anything to help Canadians?

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

Jun/6/22 2:20:45 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, that is not true. Our budget includes a range of measures to help reduce the cost of living, such providing dental care for Canadians, offering a one-time $500 payment to those facing housing affordability challenges, doubling the first-time homebuyers' tax credit and introducing a multi-generational home renovation tax credit.

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

Jun/6/22 2:21:17 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the minister cannot be serious. Her answer was about dental care and the home buyers' tax credit. Is that the Liberals' solution to the crisis food banks are currently facing? Places like Mégantic—L'Érable have seen a 10% increase in demand over the past few weeks from people who cannot afford to put food on the table. In many other regions, it is as high as 25%. When food bank usage goes up faster than inflation, which has hit a record high, that means Canada has a serious problem. Would the minister please park her theoretical budget and explain to ORAPE how it is supposed to make ends meet and make sure everyone gets enough to eat?

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

Jun/6/22 2:22:01 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we know all too well that the cost of living is a big issue for Canadian families. That is why we created and indexed the Canada child benefit. A single mom of two can get up to $13,666. We increased old age security by 10%. We took care of our youth and now students can now save over $3,000 thanks to our plan.

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

Jun/6/22 2:22:42 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I cannot get over the answers I am hearing from Canada's Minister of Finance. She does not realize what a tough time people are having paying their bills and putting food on the table. Everything is more expensive. What the minister is saying is that it may just be single mothers who are having a tough time. In reality, every Canadian and every worker is having a tough time. Some are struggling to pay for gas to get to work. Forty per cent of people earning less than $50,000 a year are going hungry. That is the reality. Other governments are taking action, so why are Liberals dragging their feet?

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

Jun/6/22 2:23:26 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we have no lessons to learn from the Conservatives when it comes to helping the most vulnerable Canadians cope with the cost of living. In 2015, when we formed the government, 5,177,000 Canadians were living in poverty. According to the last year for which we have statistics, that number has dropped to 3,794,000. That is progress.

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Mr. Dan Albas (Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, CPC)

Jun/6/22 2:24:07 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, yesterday the national average gas price was $2.06 per litre, with expectations it will jump again this week. Canadians are struggling and are looking for help. Conservatives have proposed temporarily cutting the GST at the pumps. The Prime Minister has said that Canadians should just go buy an electric car. Do the speNDP-Liberals really believe this is a credible answer for commuters who cannot afford to fill their tanks, let alone pay for their grocery bills, or, when it comes to ideas on how to keep life affordable for Canadians, is the government just running on fumes?

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Hon. Jonathan Wilkinson (Minister of Natural Resources, Lib.)

Jun/6/22 2:24:44 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, as my hon. colleague knows, President Putin's illegal invasion of Ukraine has driven up gas prices around the world. While Canada's energy supply remains secure, we are working with our international allies to preserve energy value chains and to actually reduce pricing globally. Here in Canada, we have asked the Competition Bureau to monitor the situation to ensure there is no illegal collusion. We are certainly working to ensure we are enhancing affordability through various programs the government has put into place and we are working internationally to stabilize global energy prices.

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Mr. Dan Albas (Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, CPC)

Jun/6/22 2:25:16 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, since I asked about gas prices and leadership last week, the average price of gas has jumped 11¢. Now the Americans, the British and even the Germans have lowered gas prices to protect their consumers. They did not talk; they acted. However, the Prime Minister has lost the plot. Does this actor turned Prime Minister understand that the only leadership he has shown in the G7 is to raise gas prices? Can someone in the Prime Minister's Office recast him in the next act to a reformed Prime Minister who takes action on gas prices, or will he remain true to character and keep making it worse?

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Hon. Jonathan Wilkinson (Minister of Natural Resources, Lib.)

Jun/6/22 2:25:55 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, as my hon. colleague is fully aware, the illegal invasion of Ukraine has driven up gas prices around the world. Canada is working with international partners to address the issues around energy security and pricing with respect to hydrocarbon fuels. In fact, we have committed to increasing oil and gas production by— Some hon. members: Oh, oh!

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The Speaker

Jun/6/22 2:26:14 p.m.
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I am going to interrupt the hon. minister. I am trying to hear what he is saying, but it is getting kind of loud and it is early in the session, so I want to remind everyone that the hon. member for Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola asked a question. I am sure he wants to hear the answer. The hon. minister.

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Hon. Jonathan Wilkinson

Jun/6/22 2:26:31 p.m.
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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. l appreciate that. Certainly we continue to be focused with our international partners on working to stabilize global energy prices. We have increased production and are in the process of increasing production and supply of 300,000 barrels a day by the end of the year to help to address the global crisis with respect to energy. Here, with respect to affordability, we are doing enormous work through a range of different programs to put money back in the pockets—

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The Speaker

Jun/6/22 2:26:58 p.m.
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The hon. member for La Prairie.

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Prairie

Mr. Alain Therrien (La Prairie, BQ)

Jun/6/22 2:27:02 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, last year, Montreal and Laval smashed the record for false 911 calls reporting shootings. Citizens called 893 times because they thought they heard gunshots. That represents two and a half calls a day. Why? It is because people are afraid. They might hear a jackhammer or a collision and, instinctively, they are afraid for their family's safety. It has become a scourge. We do not want to know what is happening with legal weapons. We want to know when the government will do something about illegal weapons and criminal gangs.

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Hon. Marco Mendicino (Minister of Public Safety, Lib.)

Jun/6/22 2:27:40 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I completely agree with my colleague. It is unacceptable that there would be threats like those you mentioned. That is precisely why we introduced Bill C‑21. I hope that the Bloc will work with the government to pass this bill as soon as possible. That is one of the concrete measures we can use to protect our communities.

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