House of Commons Debates VOLUME 148 Ï NUMBER 121 Ï 1st SESSION Ï 42nd PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Monday, December 5, 2016 Speaker: The Honourable Geoff Regan CONTENTS (Table of Contents appears at back of this issue.) 7607 HOUSE OF COMMONS Monday, December 5, 2016 The House met at 11 a.m. against wounded veterans and spend that money instead to bring back veterans' pensions. Prayer Second, because one in six vets experiences mental health or alcohol-related disorders, or have in this past year, and because half who have served in Afghanistan have suffered PTSD, depression, PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS and anxiety, I call upon this Parliament to prioritize and support the mental health of military service men and women, veterans, first Ï (1105) responders, retired and volunteer first responders, and their families. [English] HOLIDAYS ACT Third, to make real change for vets and their families, we can The House resumed from November 2 consideration of the motion defeat paternalistic legislation that blocks pension benefits for two that Bill C-311, An Act to amend the Holidays Act (Remembrance groups: one, spouses of veterans, RCMP members, judges, and Day), be read the second time and referred to a committee. public sector workers who choose to marry after the age of 60; and, second, retired and disabled Canadian Forces and RCMP veterans. The Speaker: Resuming debate, the hon. member for Nanaimo— Ladysmith has six and a half minutes left in her speech. Ms. Sheila Malcolmson (Nanaimo—Ladysmith, NDP): Mr. The fix for this bill and the mental health one referred to Speaker, to honour veterans, fallen soldiers, and peacekeepers who previously are Bills C-260, C-261, and Motion No. 61, all from the stood up for Canada, we gather on Remembrance Day to honour the member of Parliament for London—Fanshawe and the New service of the men and women who put their lives on the line for our Democrat critic for Veterans Affairs. country. Nanaimo—Ladysmith's Legions, No. 256 Mt. Benson, and No. 10 Harewood, in Nanaimo; No. 257 Lantzville; No. 171 Ladysmith; Fourth, to our shame, homelessness rates in Canada are shocking, the Gabriola Island Veterans Association; and Cedar Valley with estimates that there might be as many as 1,300 veterans living Memorial Gardens, all held powerful services to recognize on Canada's streets. Canada's national housing strategy must take Remembrance Day in Nanaimo—Ladysmith. I am grateful for their action on veteran homelessness. work. They are keeping veterans' stories alive, and we are grateful to them. Fifth, the government should act on detox treatments for veterans Veterans need parliamentarians to do our part to recognize and exposed to chemical defoliants like Agent Orange. Medical support those who have sacrificed for our country. There is clearly a treatment can cut dioxin levels such that veterans can return to debt owed, there is money in the till, and sincere and vital promises work. It will not repair the damage, but it can help people function. have been made. Every year, 3,000 veterans pass away, so let us get on with it and act to show that we truly support veterans. Six, we should relax the regulations on access to veterans There are eight things that parliamentarians can do to live up to hospitals, and ensure that veterans from World War II and the Korean that responsibility. Last year, this House unanimously passed a War are able to access these beds when they require long-term care. motion brought forward by my colleague, the member of Parliament for Port Moody—Coquitlam, recognizing Canada's covenant of moral, social, legal, and financial obligations to veterans. Seven, and I am very glad to say that this has already been done, Here are the eight ways that we could act on that unanimous the government will start covering the cost of medically prescribed commitment of this House: cannabis extract products for police and military veterans being treated for PTSD. This was the subject of a petition that I sponsored, One, instead of spending thousands of dollars fighting veterans in and I am very glad that the government listened to the many court, the Liberal government should halt the court proceedings Canadians who supported this change. 7608 COMMONS DEBATES December 5, 2016 Private Members' Business Eighth, we can pass this bill to make Remembrance Day a holiday. There was everyone from CF-18 pilots to bylaw officers, all of Earlier versions of this bill to make Remembrance Day a holiday those who wake up every day and put on a uniform and defend the across the country were introduced by former New Democrat MPs laws of Canada, the freedoms of Canada, and the values of Canada Dan Harris, Chris Charlton, Nelson Riis, and veterans' advocate and Canadians. Peter Stoffer. In my home province of British Columbia, November 11 is When my colleague asked me if I were able and disposed to already a holiday. As a result, we see families coming together to support his private member's bill, I was particularly pleased to think recognize and celebrate Remembrance Day. When families remem- of the many people in Gatineau, and the many people I know who ber together, they are able to teach their children about the sacrifices reside in his riding and all over this country, who want to stand up that the men and women who have fought and continue to fight for every day and recognize the tragic events that we underscore and Canada have made. underline every year. For example, Ladysmith's Legion hosts an afternoon ceremony in [Translation] the community of Cedar, at the Cedar Valley Memorial Gardens, where there are cadets, Guides, Scouts, and Beavers. It is lovely to see, and a great example of what happens when families honour and I was so proud to learn that the government is also going to celebrate together. support the key principle of this bill and give Remembrance Day legal status. It is important to emphasize that this does not in any Last month, on Remembrance Day, we recommitted to standing way force the provinces or municipalities to do the same. It is a up for veterans and their families, so that every veteran has the care symbolic gesture, but a very powerful one, given that Parliament is that our country owes them. Bureaucratic delays and disingenuous giving Remembrance Day the same legal status as Canada Day and platitudes cannot define Canada's response to veterans, and just 2.5 Victoria Day, in May. of 23 Liberal promises have been fully implemented. Let us use our power as leaders and voters and support real change for veterans and their families. I will not dwell on this any further. I hope my colleagues on all sides of the House will support my hon. colleague's bill, and I urge On Remembrance Day and all days, we never forget; we forever everyone to do so. honour. [Translation] I would invite all Canadians to continue to make every effort to Mr. Steven MacKinnon (Gatineau, Lib.): Madam Speaker, I am mark Remembrance Day with pride every year, as my constituents in very pleased and proud to be here to support my colleague from Gatineau always do. I hope we can move quickly to pass this bill. West Nova's bill. This bill would make Remembrance Day a legal holiday. Mr. Luc Berthold (Mégantic—L'Érable, CPC): Madam Speak- er, I thank my colleague for his speech. November has passed, and all of our communities have commemorated another November 11. I know how very proud all members of the House are of our veterans and serving military Indeed, if there is one thing that everyone in the House can agree personnel. I know that we are just as proud of our students who are on, it is the importance of recognizing the contribution of our learning about the events of World War I, World War II, the Korean veterans, the men and women who have fought for our country over War, and the war in Afghanistan. Some of them are learning for the the years. I am especially proud to rise today to speak to Bill C-311 first time about all the sacrifices made and the lives lost and sponsored by our colleague, the member for West Nova. disrupted here at home in our communities and our country. I believe that November 11, the day we commemorate these tragic I would also like to commend the work of my colleague, the events every year, deserves the same legal status and the same official opposition critic for veterans affairs, the member for Barrie recognition by Parliament as Canada Day and Victoria Day. That is —Innisfil. He is doing a fantastic job as our veterans affairs critic why I am proud to be here to support my hon. colleague's bill. and on top of that his French is excellent. He spent the weekend in Quebec City speaking with members of associations and other Ï (1110) people in the region, all in French. His hard work and his efforts to [English] use both of Canada's official languages deserve recognition. I thank him for that. This year, I was particularly pleased to attend something that happens every year in the only English school in my riding. It was an incredibly happy event, where students were proud to get up and Bill C-311 before us today is quite interesting and has quite a deliver their interpretation of the events we commemorate every background. This is the seventh time this bill has been introduced in year.