43rd PARLIAMENT, 2nd SESSION House of Commons Debates Official Report (Hansard) Volume 150 No. 076 Thursday, March 25, 2021 Speaker: The Honourable Anthony Rota CONTENTS (Table of Contents appears at back of this issue.) 5225 HOUSE OF COMMONS Thursday, March 25, 2021 The House met at 10 a.m. port of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women, entitled “Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Women”. Prayer Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report. ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS * * * [Translation] ● (1005) [English] CANADA SHIPPING ACT FEDERAL-PROVINCIAL FISCAL ARRANGEMENTS ACT Hon. Chrystia Freeland (Deputy Prime Minister and Minis‐ Mr. Maxime Blanchette-Joncas (Rimouski-Neigette—Témis‐ ter of Finance, Lib.) moved for leave to introduce Bill C-25, An couata—Les Basques, BQ) moved for leave to introduce Act to amend the Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act, to Bill C-281, An Act to amend the Canada Shipping Act, 2001 (cer‐ authorize certain payments to be made out of the Consolidated Rev‐ tificate of competency). enue Fund and to amend another Act. (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed) He said: Mr. Speaker, this morning, I am pleased to introduce a * * * bill to amend the Canada Shipping Act, 2001. COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE This legislative measure will address head-on the labour shortage PUBLIC SAFETY AND NATIONAL SECURITY in the marine industry, which is a major concern. A foreign national Hon. John McKay (Scarborough—Guildwood, Lib.): Mr. who holds a diploma from a recognized school, such as the Institut Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, maritime du Québec in Rimouski, will now also be able to benefit the fifth report of the Standing Committee on Public Safety and Na‐ from the privileges that come with the certificate of competency tional Security in relation to the main estimates 2021-22, and re‐ and sail on the majestic St. Lawrence River. ports the same. (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed) On a personal note, I want to thank the clerk for saving the chair from impeachment. [English] PUBLIC ACCOUNTS Mrs. Kelly Block (Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek, CPC): Mr. Mr. Peter Julian: Mr. Speaker, there have been discussions Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, among the parties and in an effort to avoid yet another vote this the following three reports of the Standing Committee on Public evening, if you seek it, I believe you will find unanimous consent Accounts: the 14th report, entitled “Taxation of E-Commerce”; the for the following motion: That the opposition motion scheduled for 15th report, entitled “Public Accounts of Canada 2020”; and the debate later today be amended in paragraph (b) by replacing the 16th report, entitled ”Oversight of Government of Canada Adver‐ word “10 a.m.” with the following: “11 a.m.” tising”. Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the ● (1010) government table a comprehensive response to each of these three reports. The Speaker: All those opposed to the hon. member moving the STATUS OF WOMEN motion will please say nay. Ms. Marilyn Gladu (Sarnia—Lambton, CPC): Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the sixth re‐ Some hon. members: Nay. 5226 COMMONS DEBATES March 25, 2021 Routine Proceedings PETITIONS Ms. Jenny Kwan (Vancouver East, NDP): Mr. Speaker, I am tabling two petitions today. THE ENVIRONMENT Mr. Kyle Seeback (Dufferin—Caledon, CPC): Mr. Speaker, the Town of Erin has been permitted to dump treated effluent into the West Credit River, which is one of the most ecologically sensi‐ I am also tabling a petition regarding the opioid crisis. As mem‐ tive areas in my riding. The West Credit River is one of the last bers know, the opioid crisis is taking the lives of so many. They are pristine cold-water fisheries in the Greater Golden Horseshoe and is preventable deaths, and the petitioners recognize that this crisis home to native brook trout. Belfountain is also part of the Niagara needs to be dealt with and the Canadian government needs to de‐ Escarpment, which has been declared a UNESCO World Biosphere clare it a national health emergency. reserve. The petitioners call on the Government of Canada to implement a federal environmental impact assessment on this proposed waste The petitioners call for action. They call on the government to treatment plant. take steps to end overdose deaths and overdose injuries, and to im‐ mediately collaborate with provinces and territories to develop a GANDER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT comprehensive, pan-Canadian overdose action plan. They also Mr. Scott Simms (Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame, want to ensure that the plan considers reforms that other countries Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I present a petition on behalf of the mighty little have used, such as legal regulation of drugs to ensure safe supply, town of Gander. The Gander and Area Chamber of Commerce, God decriminalization for personal use and changes to the flawed drug love it, has been putting this petition together for quite some time. policy and policing practices. There are about 1,000 signatures on it. This is in regard to one of the greatest little airports in the world. It is the Gander International Airport. In the 20th century, it was the We want to ensure this emergency is taken seriously and met most notable for being one of the largest airports around World War with adequate programming and supports. These lives matter. We II. It was built for that reason. Of course, in this century, it became can end the overdose crisis if we want. famous for welcoming all those stranded passengers on 9/11 and in‐ spiring the great musical Come From Away. It is currently in finan‐ cial trouble. ● (1015) The petition calls on the Government of Canada to help it out in this time of need, as it is still, to this day, an essential service, not just for Central Newfoundland but the entire province, the east INDIGENOUS HOUSING coast and, as we have proven, an international asset for aviation safety. We call on the government to help Central Newfoundland, in Ms. Jenny Kwan (Vancouver East, NDP): Mr. Speaker, the particular, and the Gander International Airport. As Reg Wright, the other petition I am tabling is with respect to indigenous housing. CEO of the airport once said, it is the airport that was built for bat‐ tle and now needs a bit of help. OPIOIDS The petitioners recognize that over 80% of indigenous people Mr. Charlie Angus (Timmins—James Bay, NDP): Mr. Speak‐ live in urban, rural and northern communities and that indigenous er, I rise with a petition from a group called Moms Stop the Harm, peoples are 11 times more likely to use a homeless shelter. They a group of mothers from across the country who have lost loved recognize that the 2017 National Housing Strategy did not include ones to the opioid crisis, a crisis that is causing devastation in all any specific funding, strategies or policies for urban or rural indige‐ our communities across Canada. nous housing, even though the mandate letter from the minister specifically outlined such a strategy. The petitioners point out that the opioid crisis is one of the most deadly public health emergencies of our lifetime, with a death tak‐ ing place every two hours and a death toll of over 15,400 in the past four years alone. As the overdose crisis rages, they call on the gov‐ The Canadian Housing and Renewal Association and its indige‐ ernment to declare the overdose crisis a national public health nous caucus have put forward a number of suggestions for the gov‐ emergency; to take steps to end those overdose deaths and overdose ernment to act on. This includes for the government to develop a injuries; to immediately collaborate with provinces and territories “For Indigenous, By Indigenous” national housing centre; to in‐ to develop a comprehensive, pan-Canadian overdose action plan; to crease the supply of stable, safe, affordable housing by building ensure that any plan considers reforms that other countries have 73,000 new units of housing for urban, rural and northern indige‐ used, such as legalization, decriminalization and changes to flawed nous peoples; to support the tenants' well-being and long-term suc‐ drug policies; and to ensure this emergency is taken seriously, with cess with wraparound indigenous services; and to accelerate action adequate funding and program supports. on indigenous homelessness; and to focus on northern housing. March 25, 2021 COMMONS DEBATES 5227 Business of Supply QUESTIONS PASSED AS ORDERS FOR RETURNS (i) an order of the House do issue for due diligence reports, in the care, cus‐ tody or control of the Privy Council Office, respecting the Canada Student Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Parliamentary Secretary to the Presi‐ Service Grant, and that these documents be deposited, in both official lan‐ dent of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of guages, with the Clerk of the Committee no later than Thursday, April 1, Intergovernmental Affairs and to the Leader of the Govern‐ 2021, ment in the House of Commons, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, if the gov‐ (ii) Rick Theis, the Prime Minister's Director of Policy and Cabinet Affairs, ernment's revised response to Question No. 373, originally tabled be ordered to appear before the committee on Monday, March 29, 2021, at on March 22, could be made an order for return, this return would 2:00 p.m., be tabled immediately. (iii) Amitpal Singh, the Deputy Prime Minister's Policy Advisor, be ordered The Deputy Speaker: Is that agreed? to appear before the committee on Wednesday, March 31, 2021, at 2:00 p.m., Some hon.