DOCSLIB.ORG

Debates of the House of Commons

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Debates of the House of Commons 43rd PARLIAMENT, 1st SESSION House of Commons Debates Official Report (Hansard) Volume 149 No. 043 Tuesday, July 21, 2020 Speaker: The Honourable Anthony Rota CONTENTS (Table of Contents appears at back of this issue.) 2651 HOUSE OF COMMONS Tuesday, July 21, 2020 The House met at 10 a.m. Canada. The Thames also contains the largest diversity of clams, the threatened eastern spiny softshell turtle and one of the most di‐ verse fish communities in Canada. Prayer In 2000, the Canadian heritage rivers system named the Thames ● (1005) River a designated heritage river. Its existence is a crucial part of our heritage and it must be protected. [Translation] The Speaker: Colleagues, before we begin our proceedings, I would like to say a few words. The bill, which would amend the Navigable Waters Act, was first introduced in 2013 by my predecessor, but was ignored by the gov‐ [English] ernment of the day. During the 2015 election, the Liberals promised Pursuant to orders made on Monday, July 20, the application of the Canadian people that they would prioritize the amendment to Standing Order 17 will be suspended until Monday, September 21 the Navigable Waters Act. Today, I am calling upon the government to allow members to practise physical distancing. I encourage all once again to keep its word, protect the Thames River and support members to follow this and other recommended best practices dur‐ my bill. ing today's proceedings. [Translation] (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed) Therefore, members desiring to speak and address the Chair may * * * do so from any seat in the House. ● (1010) [English] Finally, I ask that all members tabling a document or moving a NATIONAL FRESHWATER STRATEGY ACT motion sign the document and bring it to the table themselves. Ms. Lindsay Mathyssen (London—Fanshawe, NDP) moved for leave to introduce Bill C-245, An Act respecting the develop‐ ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS ment of a national strategy in relation to fresh water. [English] She said: Mr. Speaker, there definitely is a theme today for me as NAVIGABLE WATERS ACT I rise to introduce my second bill. Ms. Lindsay Mathyssen (London—Fanshawe, NDP) moved for leave to introduce Bill C-244, An Act to amend the Canadian Navigable Waters Act (North Thames River, Middle Thames River This bill comes after consultations with local environmentalists, and Thames River). conservation authorities and members from the Oneida Nation of the Thames. It calls on the government to commit to a national She said: Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to reintroduce this bill to freshwater strategy. amend the Navigable Waters Act in order to ensure the integrity of the Thames River. The Thames River stretches 273 kilometres, ex‐ tending from southwestern Ontario to Lake St. Clair. It flows past The Thames River runs through my riding of London—Fan‐ many communities, including, of course, the city of London. shawe, but we also are so fortunate to have several wetlands and environmentally significant areas such as Meadowlily Woods, Pot‐ The Thames is the only major river in Canada with the majority tersburg Valley and Westminster Ponds. These areas are home to an of its watershed within the Carolinian life zone. This region is rec‐ incredible number of birds, wildlife and vegetation. Of course, we ognized as one of the most biologically significant and diverse re‐ are influenced by the beauty of the Great Lakes, which provides all gions in Canada, with more 2,200 species of vascular plants identi‐ our communities with environmental benefits that deserve targeted fied, including the only two locations of the wood poppy in protection and sustainable planning. 2652 COMMONS DEBATES July 21, 2020 Privilege It has been well over 20 years since the government established a Speaker, I am rising to address the question of privilege raised yes‐ policy on fresh water, and environmental conditions have certainly terday by the member for Regina—Qu'Appelle. I would note that changed since 1987. While Canada has seemingly abundant fresh‐ this matter was previously raised in a meeting of the committee of water resources, very little of it is actually renewable. We need a the whole on July 8. modernized national freshwater strategy. The protection of our fresh water is vital. Whether for tourism, agriculture, recreational use, health or household needs, the health The member raised concerns about the Prime Minister's response of our water is instrumental to our regions and our country's sus‐ to a question in the committee of the whole on July 8. The ex‐ tained growth, environmental stability and safety. change concerned the Ethics Commissioner's investigation on a matter last year. The member argued that the Prime Minister misled I hope I can count on all-party support for the bill to protect our the House when he stated that the government took the unprece‐ fresh water for generations to come. dented step of waiving cabinet confidentiality and solicitor-client (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed) confidentiality so that the Ethics Commissioner could fully investi‐ gate the matter at hand. The member argued that the matter was not * * * fully investigated, because the Ethics Commissioner reported that he did not have access to additional cabinet confidences. PETITIONS WORKPLACE SAFETY Ms. Heather McPherson (Edmonton Strathcona, NDP): Mr. The Prime Minister's response is not being taken into proper con‐ Speaker, I stand in the House today to bring forward a very impor‐ text. It is clear that the Prime Minister was speaking about the gov‐ tant petition. ernment's rationale for taking an unprecedented step to co-operate with the Ethics Commissioner. Furthermore, fully investigating a As Canada, and indeed the entire world, slowly reopens its econ‐ matter does not mean that the Ethics Commissioner must have full omy during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is vital that workers are access to all cabinet confidences and to all solicitor-client privi‐ protected. leged information. It means that the commissioner has the informa‐ Across Canada, we have already seen examples where compa‐ tion he needs to fulfill his duties under the Conflict of Interest Act. nies have put their profits ahead of the safety and health of their This means that the commissioner is able to examine a matter and workers. Whether it is a migrant worker in Ontario or meat-packing to produce a report that sets out the facts in question and provides plant workers in my home province of Alberta, workers' rights to a the commissioner's analysis and conclusions. safe environment must be protected, and the ability of workers to continue to support themselves and their families is a key piece of a successful reopening. As a result, the issue raised by the member is, at best, a dispute as to the facts and does not meet the threshold of constituting a pri‐ The petitioners note, as provinces increase the list of businesses ma facie question of privilege. that can reopen, that many front-line workers may not feel safe re‐ turning to work for many reasons, including an inability to physi‐ cally distance or higher risks for individuals and their families. They call on the government to amend the CERB eligibility re‐ The Conflict of Interest Act does not provide the Ethics Commis‐ quirements to include workers who cannot return to their jobs vol‐ sioner authority to access cabinet confidences or solicitor-client untarily due to concerns related to COVID-19. privileged information for an investigation. Parliament did not grant this authority to the commissioner when it passed the act in * * * 2006. Authority to disclose cabinet confidence or waive solicitor- client privilege rests with the executive branch of government. QUESTIONS ON THE ORDER PAPER Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Parliamentary Secretary to the Presi‐ dent of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and to the Lead‐ er of the Government in the House of Commons, Lib.): Mr. This government is committed to transparency and accountabili‐ Speaker, I ask that all questions be allowed to stand. ty. This government has co-operated with the Ethics Commissioner to ensure that the commissioner is able to examine matters and pro‐ The Speaker: Is that agreed? duce reports. Some hon. members: Agreed. * * * Regarding the matter at hand, the government recognized that PRIVILEGE certain cabinet confidence and certain solicitor-client privileged in‐ formation could be important to the commissioner's investigation. RESPONSE BY THE PRIME MINISTER The Prime Minister's response on July 8 explains the basis for the Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Parliamentary Secretary to the Presi‐ government's decision to take an unprecedented step of issuing an dent of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and to the Lead‐ order in council to authorize the disclosure of cabinet confidences er of the Government in the House of Commons, Lib.): Mr. to the Ethics Commissioner and to waive solicitor-client privilege. July 21, 2020 COMMONS DEBATES 2653 Government Orders The government wanted to co-operate with the Ethics Commis‐ have undertaken and our government's next steps toward creating sioner so that he could fully investigate the matter on the merits and an inclusive and barrier-free Canada. produce a report, and this is what the Ethics Commissioner was able to do. The commissioner stated as much in his report when he wrote, In 2015, our government named the first-ever cabinet minister “In the present examination, I have gathered sufficient factual in‐ responsible for persons with disabilities and promised Canadians formation to properly determine the matter on its merits.” The that we would pass legislation aimed at removing barriers to inclu‐ member himself quoted this statement when he raised this issue on sion.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Shifting Paradigms
    SHIFTING PARADIGMS Report of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage Julie Dabrusin, Chair MAY 2019 42nd PARLIAMENT, 1st SESSION Published under the authority of the Speaker of the House of Commons SPEAKER’S PERMISSION The proceedings of the House of Commons and its Committees are hereby made available to provide greater public access. The parliamentary privilege of the House of Commons to control the publication and broadcast of the proceedings of the House of Commons and its Committees is nonetheless reserved. All copyrights therein are also reserved. Reproduction of the proceedings of the House of Commons and its Committees, in whole or in part and in any medium, is hereby permitted provided that the reproduction is accurate and is not presented as official. This permission does not extend to reproduction, distribution or use for commercial purpose of financial gain. Reproduction or use outside this permission or without authorization may be treated as copyright infringement in accordance with the Copyright Act. Authorization may be obtained on written application to the Office of the Speaker of the House of Commons. Reproduction in accordance with this permission does not constitute publication under the authority of the House of Commons. The absolute privilege that applies to the proceedings of the House of Commons does not extend to these permitted reproductions. Where a reproduction includes briefs to a Standing Committee of the House of Commons, authorization for reproduction may be required from the authors in accordance with the Copyright Act. Nothing in this permission abrogates or derogates from the privileges, powers, immunities and rights of the House of Commons and its Committees.
    [Show full text]
  • Debates of the House of Commons
    43rd PARLIAMENT, 2nd SESSION House of Commons Debates Official Report (Hansard) Volume 150 No. 092 Friday, April 30, 2021 Speaker: The Honourable Anthony Rota CONTENTS (Table of Contents appears at back of this issue.) 6457 HOUSE OF COMMONS Friday, April 30, 2021 The House met at 10 a.m. Bibeau Bittle Blaikie Blair Blanchet Blanchette-Joncas Blaney (North Island—Powell River) Blois Boudrias Boulerice Prayer Bratina Brière Brunelle-Duceppe Cannings Carr Casey Chabot Chagger GOVERNMENT ORDERS Champagne Champoux Charbonneau Chen ● (1000) Cormier Dabrusin [English] Damoff Davies DeBellefeuille Desbiens WAYS AND MEANS Desilets Dhaliwal Dhillon Dong MOTION NO. 9 Drouin Dubourg Duclos Duguid Hon. Chrystia Freeland (Minister of Finance, Lib.) moved Duncan (Etobicoke North) Duvall that a ways and means motion to implement certain provisions of Dzerowicz Easter the budget tabled in Parliament on April 19, 2021 and other mea‐ Ehsassi El-Khoury sures be concurred in. Ellis Erskine-Smith Fergus Fillmore The Deputy Speaker: The question is on the motion. Finnigan Fisher Fonseca Fortier If a member of a recognized party present in the House wishes to Fortin Fragiskatos request either a recorded division or that the motion be adopted on Fraser Freeland division, I ask them to rise in their place and indicate it to the Chair. Fry Garneau Garrison Gaudreau The hon. member for Louis-Saint-Laurent. Gazan Gerretsen Gill Gould [Translation] Green Guilbeault Hajdu Hardie Mr. Gérard Deltell: Mr. Speaker, we request a recorded divi‐ Harris Holland sion. Housefather Hughes The Deputy Speaker: Call in the members. Hussen Hutchings Iacono Ien ● (1045) Jaczek Johns Joly Jones [English] Jordan Jowhari (The House divided on the motion, which was agreed to on the Julian Kelloway Khalid Khera following division:) Koutrakis Kusmierczyk (Division No.
    [Show full text]
  • Joint Statement Calling for Sanctioning of Chinese and Hong Kong Officials and Protection for Hong Kongers at Risk of Political Persecution
    Joint statement calling for sanctioning of Chinese and Hong Kong officials and protection for Hong Kongers at risk of political persecution We, the undersigned, call upon the Government of Canada to take action in light of the mass arrests and assault on civil rights following the unilateral imposition of the new National Security Law in Hong Kong. Many in Hong Kong fear they will face the same fate as the student protestors in Tiananmen Square, defenders’ lawyers, and millions of interned Uyghurs, Tibetans, and faith groups whose rights of free expression and worship are denied. We urge the Government of Canada to offer a “Safe Harbour Program” with an expedited process to grant protection and permanent residency status to Hong Kongers at risk of political persecution under the National Security Law, including international students and expatriate workers who have been involved in protest actions in Canada. Furthermore, Canada must invoke the Sergei Magnitsky Law to sanction Chinese and Hong Kong officials who instituted the National Security Law, as well as other acts violating human rights; and to ban them and their immediate family members from Canada and freeze their Canadian assets. Canada needs to work closely with international allies with shared values to institute a strong policy toward China. It is time for Canada to take meaningful action to show leadership on the world stage. Signatories: Civil society organizations Action Free Hong Kong Montreal Canada-Hong Kong Link Canada Tibet Committee Canadian Centre for Victims of
    [Show full text]
  • Canada Gazette, Part I
    EXTRA Vol. 153, No. 12 ÉDITION SPÉCIALE Vol. 153, no 12 Canada Gazette Gazette du Canada Part I Partie I OTTAWA, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2019 OTTAWA, LE JEUDI 14 NOVEMBRE 2019 OFFICE OF THE CHIEF ELECTORAL OFFICER BUREAU DU DIRECTEUR GÉNÉRAL DES ÉLECTIONS CANADA ELECTIONS ACT LOI ÉLECTORALE DU CANADA Return of Members elected at the 43rd general Rapport de député(e)s élu(e)s à la 43e élection election générale Notice is hereby given, pursuant to section 317 of the Can- Avis est par les présentes donné, conformément à l’ar- ada Elections Act, that returns, in the following order, ticle 317 de la Loi électorale du Canada, que les rapports, have been received of the election of Members to serve in dans l’ordre ci-dessous, ont été reçus relativement à l’élec- the House of Commons of Canada for the following elec- tion de député(e)s à la Chambre des communes du Canada toral districts: pour les circonscriptions ci-après mentionnées : Electoral District Member Circonscription Député(e) Avignon–La Mitis–Matane– Avignon–La Mitis–Matane– Matapédia Kristina Michaud Matapédia Kristina Michaud La Prairie Alain Therrien La Prairie Alain Therrien LaSalle–Émard–Verdun David Lametti LaSalle–Émard–Verdun David Lametti Longueuil–Charles-LeMoyne Sherry Romanado Longueuil–Charles-LeMoyne Sherry Romanado Richmond–Arthabaska Alain Rayes Richmond–Arthabaska Alain Rayes Burnaby South Jagmeet Singh Burnaby-Sud Jagmeet Singh Pitt Meadows–Maple Ridge Marc Dalton Pitt Meadows–Maple Ridge Marc Dalton Esquimalt–Saanich–Sooke Randall Garrison Esquimalt–Saanich–Sooke
    [Show full text]
  • Acentury Inc. 120 West Beaver Creek Rd., Unit 13 Richmond Hill, Ontario Canada L4B 1L2
    Acentury Inc. 120 West Beaver Creek Rd., Unit 13 Richmond Hill, Ontario Canada L4B 1L2 Director General, Telecommunications and Internet Policy Branch Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada 235 Queen Street, 10th Floor Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H5 February 13, 2020 Subject: Petition to the Governor in Council to Vary Telecom Order CRTC 2019-288, Follow-up to Telecom Orders 2016-396 and 2016-448 – Final rates for aggregated wholesale high-speed access services, Reference: Canadian Gazette, Part 1, August 2019, (TIPB-002-2019) Dear Director General, Telecommunications and Internet Policy Branch, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada: I’m writing this letter in response to the CRTC decision on August 2019 under section 12 of the Telecommunications Act issued by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) concerning final rates for aggregated wholesale high-speed access services. As a valued supplier for all the major Canadian Telecommunication companies, I felt obliged to communicate the impact this decision will have on a growing Canadian technology company like ourselves. Acentury is an aspiring technology company who is currently one of the top 500 Canadian growing businesses as reported by Canadian Business (2019) and also one of the top 400 Canadian growing companies as reported by the Globe and Mail (2019). Our achievement and continued success are a direct result of the investment commitment made to next generation 5G and IoT wireless communications led by Bell Canada, Rogers and Telus. Canadian suppliers like us have been supported by Canadian Tier 1 telcos to help build and innovate our technical core competencies and capabilities; it has helped cultivate the growth of a Canadian-led, global organization that can keep pace and compete with our global technology peers.
    [Show full text]
  • Core 1..16 Journalweekly (PRISM::Advent3b2 17.25)
    HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA CHAMBRE DES COMMUNES DU CANADA 42nd PARLIAMENT, 1st SESSION 42e LÉGISLATURE, 1re SESSION Journals Journaux No. 22 No 22 Monday, February 22, 2016 Le lundi 22 février 2016 11:00 a.m. 11 heures PRAYER PRIÈRE GOVERNMENT ORDERS ORDRES ÉMANANT DU GOUVERNEMENT The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Trudeau La Chambre reprend l'étude de la motion de M. Trudeau (Prime Minister), seconded by Mr. LeBlanc (Leader of the (premier ministre), appuyé par M. LeBlanc (leader du Government in the House of Commons), — That the House gouvernement à la Chambre des communes), — Que la Chambre support the government’s decision to broaden, improve, and appuie la décision du gouvernement d’élargir, d’améliorer et de redefine our contribution to the effort to combat ISIL by better redéfinir notre contribution à l’effort pour lutter contre l’EIIL en leveraging Canadian expertise while complementing the work of exploitant mieux l’expertise canadienne, tout en travaillant en our coalition partners to ensure maximum effect, including: complémentarité avec nos partenaires de la coalition afin d’obtenir un effet optimal, y compris : (a) refocusing our military contribution by expanding the a) en recentrant notre contribution militaire, et ce, en advise and assist mission of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) in développant la mission de conseil et d’assistance des Forces Iraq, significantly increasing intelligence capabilities in Iraq and armées canadiennes (FAC) en Irak, en augmentant theatre-wide, deploying CAF medical personnel,
    [Show full text]
  • Debates of the House of Commons
    43rd PARLIAMENT, 2nd SESSION House of Commons Debates Official Report (Hansard) Volume 150 No. 117 Monday, June 14, 2021 Speaker: The Honourable Anthony Rota CONTENTS (Table of Contents appears at back of this issue.) 8309 HOUSE OF COMMONS Monday, June 14, 2021 The House met at 11 a.m. [English] NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR A GUARANTEED BASIC INCOME ACT Prayer Ms. Julie Dzerowicz (Davenport, Lib.) moved that Bill C-273, An Act to establish a national strategy for a guaranteed basic in‐ come, be read the second time and referred to a committee. PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS She said: Mr. Speaker, I am absolutely honoured to rise in the ● (1105) House today to speak to my private member's bill, Bill C-273, an [Translation] act to establish a national strategy for a guaranteed basic income. I give my thanks to the member for Malpeque, who seconded the bill The Speaker: The Chair would like to take a moment to provide and is a champion for a guaranteed basic income pilot in his home some information to the House regarding the management of Pri‐ province of P.E.I., and to the member for Beaches—East York, a vate Members' Business. true progressive who traded his spot so I could stand in the House today to begin second reading of Bill C-273. I feel blessed to call As members know, certain procedural realities constrain the him a colleague and friend. Speaker and members insofar as legislation is concerned. [English] Basic income is not a new idea. It is one that has been circulating in Canada for decades.
    [Show full text]
  • 2019 Federal Election: Result and Analysis
    2019 Federal Election: Result and Analysis O C T O B E R 22, 2 0 1 9 NATIONAL ELECTION RESULTS 157 121 24 3 32 (-20) (+26) (-15) (+1) (+22) Comparison between results reflected based on party standings at dissolution of the 42nd parliament • The Liberal Party of Canada (LPC) won a second mandate, although was diminished to minority status. • The result of the 43rd Canadian election is one of the closest in recent memory, with both the Liberals and Conservatives separated by little more than one percentage point. Conservatives share of vote is slightly higher than the Liberals, making major gains in key areas for the party • Bloc Quebecois (BQ) is a winner in this election, moving up to official party status which will give the party added resources as well as significance in the House of Commons • The NDP managed to win enough seats to potentially play an important role in the House of Commons, but the party took a big hit in Quebec — where they were only able to hold one of the Layton era “Orange Wave” seats • Maxime Bernier, who started the People’s Party of Canada after narrowly losing the Conservative leadership contest in 2017, lost the seat he has held onto since 2006 • The former Treasury Board president Dr. Jane Philpott, who ran as an independent following her departure from the liberal caucus, lost her seat in Markham Stouffville to former Liberal MPP and Ontario Minister of Health, Dr. Helena Jaczek. Jody Wilson-Raybould won as an independent in Vancouver Granville NATIONAL ELECTION RESULTS 10 2 32 3 39 24 PARTY STANDINGS AT
    [Show full text]
  • Evidence of the Standing Committee on Agriculture
    43rd PARLIAMENT, 2nd SESSION Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food EVIDENCE NUMBER 031 Thursday, May 6, 2021 Chair: Mr. Pat Finnigan 1 Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food Thursday, May 6, 2021 ● (1530) Mr. John Barlow (Foothills, CPC): Thank you very much, Mr. [English] Chair. It's great to be back here with some friends. I'm certainly looking forward to the discussion today. It really is an honour for The Chair (Mr. Pat Finnigan (Miramichi—Grand Lake, me to be in front of the standing committee on agriculture and agri- Lib.)): I call this meeting to order. food to discuss my private member's bill, Bill C-205, an act to Welcome to meeting number 31 of the House of Commons amend the Health of Animals Act. Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food. Pursuant to the order of reference of Wednesday, March 10 and the motion adopted by the committee on April 15, the committee is Mr. Chair, Bill C-205 proposes to amend the Health of Animals beginning its study of Bill C-205, an act to amend the Health of Act to make it an offence to enter without lawful authority or ex‐ Animals Act. cuse a place in which animals are kept, if doing so could result in the exposure of animals to disease or a toxic substance capable of Today's meeting is taking part in a hybrid format pursuant to the affecting or contaminating them. Simply put, this enactment would House order of January 25. Therefore, members can attend in per‐ apply existing penalties within the act to people who trespass on son in the room and remotely using the Zoom application.
    [Show full text]
  • Andrew Simpson
    tuden ’s S t Aw 20 cipie a 0 Re nt rd British Home Children 2 Advocacy & Research Association By Lori Oschefski & November 2020 Newsletter Andrew Simpson Visit page 7 r New book release by Julie Band George Beardshaw By Lori Oschefski from her book “Bleating of the Lambs” BHC and Second World War Veteran Celebrates his 97th Birthday. This is his story. Remembrance eorge Herbert Beardshaw Gcame to Canada as a fourteen This Remembrance Day we reflect back on year old boy, mistakenly believing he was an 2020 on the work done to remember our BHC orphan and that he who served. would become a We were saddened to lose Fegan Boy and cowboy. "I was at Second World War Veteran Patrick school one day and they said “How many boys would Maloney recently. He enlisted in the RAF like to go to Canada? So I stuck up my and was stationed in Scampton, England during hand." WWII where he served as a mid-upper gunner on a Lancaster bomber. Born September 14, 1923 in the coal mining town of Doncaster, Yorkshire, England, he was Craig Froese, Grade 10 history teacher at the fourth child of five, born to a single mother. the Nantyr Shores Secondary School in George knows very little about his father, just that Innisfil, Ontario, spent time during during the he had a family elsewhere. He believes that the covid lock down uploading our Honour Roll plaque to police had made his father return to his first each BHC’s page on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial family causing the family breakdown.
    [Show full text]
  • Debates of the House of Commons
    43rd PARLIAMENT, 2nd SESSION House of Commons Debates Official Report (Hansard) Volume 150 No. 026 Wednesday, November 4, 2020 Speaker: The Honourable Anthony Rota CONTENTS (Table of Contents appears at back of this issue.) 1657 HOUSE OF COMMONS Wednesday, November 4, 2020 The House met at 2 p.m. A member of the Saskatoon Fire Department, she serves the community as the department's community relations officer. She further serves Saskatoon as an ambassador for the city's Remem‐ bering When program. Prayer ● (1405) Firefighters, like all first responders, rush toward danger in order to save ordinary people who are in trouble. They do not know what [English] they will encounter, but through their training, experience and The Speaker: It being Wednesday, we will now have the singing teamwork, they know they will face that crisis head-on. Their skill of the national anthem led by the hon. member for Windsor West. and fearlessness has been critical during our current COVID-19 pandemic. [Members sang the national anthem] Going above and beyond is not new for Dori. She previously served the community, working in the constituency offices of Carol STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS Skelton and the current member for Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek. [English] This is a well-deserved honour for Dori. I wish her the best of 4-H CANADA luck, lifelong happiness, congratulations and a big thanks for every‐ thing she continues to do. Mr. Kody Blois (Kings—Hants, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, today I am pleased to rise virtually in the House to celebrate “Show Your 4-H Colours” day, alongside 4-H members, alumni and friends who are * * * wearing green today in support of the good work 4-H Canada does in our communities.
    [Show full text]
  • April 19, 2021 the Honourable Diane Lebouthillier
    CONFEDERATION BUILDING, SUITE 318 229 WELLINGTON AVE OTTAWA,ON K1A0A6 April 19, 2021 The Honourable Diane Lebouthillier Minister of National Revenue Ottawa, Ontario Canada K1A 0A6 SubjeCt: Canada EmergenCy Response Benefit (CERB) repayment Dear Minister Lebouthillier: We are writing to you because we are deeply concerned about the disastrous consequences of the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) repayment for low-income people. We have been contacted by 19 human rights organizations in Quebec, your province. They have told us about the difficulties that low-income people face in meeting the federal government’s and the CRA’s CERB repayment requirements. The CRA admitted that there were errors and unclear information provided on the eligibility criteria. Furthermore, the CRA had applicants’ full information but did not take this into account before granting the CERB to ineligible individuals. There have also been situations where Canadians switched from the CERB to EI but there was no system in place to ensure that EI took the CERB into account. This problem goes beyond Quebec. Similar stories from Canadians in our riding of Fredericton and in British Columbia show that this is a Canada-wide problem. We are writing to you today to show respect for these Canadians by implementing the following measures: ● that there be no deadline for repayments; ● that half of the GST tax credit be used for repayments; ● that no further amounts be claimed; ● that there be no interest. These groups’ requests are very reasonable. We think we need to go even further: we should not ask this group of people to repay the CERB.
    [Show full text]