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Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 84

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
June 8, 2022 02:00PM
  • Jun/8/22 3:03:07 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, ArriveCAN provides a serious accessibility barrier to many Canadians, in particular those who may not own a smart phone or have the digital literacy to properly navigate the process. Not everyone is tech savvy. While the introduction of a paper form was a good first step, and one that should have been in place since day one, when will the government commit to listening to the thousands of Canadians experiencing problems at the border and stop the mandatory use of the ArriveCAN app?
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  • Jun/8/22 3:03:47 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague for underlining some of the issues which we have worked through with the CBSA. With respect to ArriveCAN, I am pleased to report that, since the low point of travel during the pandemic, we are now seeing levels come back over 700%, which is good news. That is as a result of the modifications we have made for easing travel restrictions. That is also as a result of lowering some of the barriers that my colleague pointed out with respect to ArriveCAN. I am also pleased to report to the chamber that compliance with ArriveCAN is over 90% and, in the long run, will make the voyage of travellers that much more efficient. We will continue to work with all members on it.
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  • Jun/8/22 3:04:25 p.m.
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  • Re: Bill C-21 
Mr. Speaker, according to experts, the increase in cases of gun violence in Montreal in recent years is a new phenomenon. Gang members now appear to be firing multiple shots at buildings and cars to send a message and mark what they claim is their territory. However, the guns they are using are not covered by Bill C-21. Will the minister admit that the solution to this scourge is about more than just making these guns illegal, as Bill C-21 proposes to do? More importantly, we need to prevent illegal guns from getting into our neighbourhoods.
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  • Jun/8/22 3:05:04 p.m.
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  • Re: Bill C-21 
Mr. Speaker, I completely agree with my colleague. The cycle of gun violence is out of control. We have already taken action by banning assault weapons. We will build on this initiative with our next step, which is implementing a mandatory buyback program. The issue right now is Bill C-21. The Conservatives' delays and filibustering must stop. We need to start debating Bill C-21 to protect our communities. I am always willing to work with the Bloc and everyone else.
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  • Jun/8/22 3:05:48 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I am sorry to contradict my colleague, but my question was not on Bill C‑21. As my colleague noted, the gunshots we hear in the streets of Montreal may not always result in deaths, but there is always a victim, and that is the public's sense of safety. Gun culture is taking hold in Montreal, as is gang culture. The solution to the problem of illegal guns requires helping police forces deal with the gang problem. Bill C‑21 is not a bad bill, but it does not offer any solutions to address the shootings. When will the minister realize that to deal with criminal organizations we need to start by having a registry of those criminal organizations?
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  • Jun/8/22 3:06:29 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, our government has already done a number of practical things, such as establishing a $350‑million fund to provide resources to our police forces. With all due respect to my colleague, Bill C‑21 contains tangible measures to target organized crime, including by increasing criminal sanctions and giving new oversight powers to eliminate and prevent gun violence. We will work with the Bloc and every member to get this bill passed. It is very important. It is essential for protecting our communities.
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  • Jun/8/22 3:07:12 p.m.
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  • Re: Bill C-5 
Mr. Speaker, a 12-year-old girl found herself right in the middle of a shooting in Montreal. She was traumatized, of course. This is happening in our streets in Quebec. Instead of tackling the problems of street gangs and illegal arms trafficking, this Liberal government is doing the opposite with its Bill C‑5. It is eliminating mandatory prison sentences for gun crimes. How can this government be so disconnected from reality that it is doing the opposite of what is obviously common sense?
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  • Jun/8/22 3:07:47 p.m.
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  • Re: Bill C-5 
Mr. Speaker, serious offences will always be punished in a serious manner. The situation that my colleague just described is not a situation targeted by Bill C‑5. This bill addresses situations that are not a threat to public safety. Bill C‑5 seeks to address the overrepresentation of Black and indigenous people in the justice system. That is precisely what we are doing.
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  • Jun/8/22 3:08:29 p.m.
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  • Re: Bill C-5 
Mr. Speaker, on this side of the House, we believe that serious and violent firearms offences warrant a mandatory sentence. We stand on the side of victims. It is disappointing to see this government openly siding with criminals. It is even letting them serve their sentence at home for such crimes as armed robbery and extortion with a firearm. Those are quite serious crimes. Why is this government being so soft on crime with Bill C-5?
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  • Jun/8/22 3:09:00 p.m.
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  • Re: Bill C-5 
Mr. Speaker, it is difficult to watch the opposition continue to support Harper's tough-on-crime policy, which was a total failure. What we are doing is continuing to punish serious offences in a serious way. What we are doing is taking a different approach when public safety is not threatened or at risk in order to help communities and victims.
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  • Jun/8/22 3:09:42 p.m.
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  • Re: Bill C-5 
Mr. Speaker, let us hear what Stephan Fogaing, a member of Montreal's Black community, has to say about Bill C‑5: “In short, when the federal government contemplates doing away with some of the minimum sentences in the Criminal Code, we can only wonder whether they are more interested in protecting criminals than the public and victims of crime.” Given what these people had to say, is the Prime Minister interested in listening to them, or does he prefer to protect criminals over victims?
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  • Jun/8/22 3:10:15 p.m.
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  • Re: Bill C-5 
Mr. Speaker, Mr. Harper's tough-on-crime policy was a complete failure. We have managed to fill our prisons with indigenous people and Black people. We have prevented the system from working properly, because minimum sentences slow down the justice system. Around the globe, and especially in the United States, where the Conservatives drew their inspiration 15 years ago, authorities are doing away with minimum sentences because they do not work. We are here to do a better job of protecting society.
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  • Jun/8/22 3:10:59 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, indigenous peoples and first nations organizations have long been calling for police reform. Security and protection are essential services. It is time for indigenous police forces to be considered as equally essential. Indigenous groups have been very clear about wanting a law that recognizes, funds and prioritizes first nations police services. How is this government supporting culturally sensitive first nations police forces and recognizing the essential role they play on the pathway to reconciliation?
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  • Jun/8/22 3:11:44 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, to begin, I want to thank my colleague for all of her hard work. Protecting indigenous communities through well-funded, culturally sensitive indigenous police services is a top priority and vital to our commitment to walk the pathway to truth and reconciliation. We understand the importance of recognizing indigenous police services as an essential service, which is why our government is imminently launching a public engagement process to develop legislation. In consultation with indigenous groups, provinces and territories, we will work to further protect indigenous communities all across Canada. We will do this work because it is in response to the calls to justice and the calls to action and because it is the right thing to do.
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  • Jun/8/22 3:12:25 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the 83-year-old father of my constituent was deported from Canada because of the government's draconian mandates. He arrived in Canada, and despite being doubly vaccinated, one of the vaccines he had was not approved. He co-operated and got the Pfizer shot. That did not help. After being held three days, he was sent back to Venezuela to return after a two-week quarantine. This involved unnecessary stress, extra expenses and zero common sense. Will the minister apologize for the appalling treatment of this family?
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  • Jun/8/22 3:13:04 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, back in 2020, the Conservatives claimed that we would not have enough vaccines for all Canadians, but let me be clear that Canada has sufficient supply to ensure all eligible Canadians are protected for primary, series, boosters and pediatrics. On this side of the House, our government will continue to make sure we are putting the health and safety of Canadians first because nobody wants another wave of this COVID-19 pandemic. The member opposite raised a particular case. If he would like to discuss it personally, I would be happy to accept a call or an email anytime.
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  • Jun/8/22 3:13:37 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, Canada is in a housing crisis. Too many families are unable to find a safe roof over their heads and many young Canadians are just being forced to give up on the dream of ever even owning a home. There is a simple solution, though. It is to build more houses and increase the housing supply. All we see the government do is pose for photo ops at spending announcements, but there is a curious lack of ribbon cuttings. My question is simple: When is the government going to get off the sidelines, demonstrate leadership to end exclusionary zoning and say yes to building more homes for Canadians?
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  • Jun/8/22 3:14:11 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I have no doubt in saying they are facing a crisis of leadership, because the hon. member fails to mention his very leader refuses to help municipalities with supply. His member for Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon says that we should step back and not invest in provisional housing programs. He is opposed, on the record, to the foreign ban of Canadian residential real estate and has opposed funding for affordable housing for indigenous peoples. It is all rhetoric and more rhetoric.
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  • Jun/8/22 3:14:50 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, there it is once again: more rhetoric, more talk, but no real action. If announcing billions of dollars could solve this problem, we would have a housing surplus in this country right now. In fact, the number of houses per 1,000 Canadians has gone down dramatically since 2016 under this government's watch. Again I ask the minister: When is the government finally going to have the courage to do what is right and commit to working with provincial governments and municipalities to end exclusionary zoning and fix this crisis?
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  • Jun/8/22 3:15:22 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we are doing exactly that through the housing accelerator fund. The housing accelerator fund is all about supply, supply, supply, but they are on record as opposing the housing accelerator fund— Some hon. members: Oh, oh!
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