Au printemps, le fédéral a éliminé l’évaluation environnementale pour 100 forages au large de Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador. La semaine passée, il en a autorisé 40 autres à Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador, et aujourd’hui, le fédéral a l’œil sur le Québec. Une pétrolière albertaine veut faire des forages exploratoires sur 1500 kilomètres au large de la Basse-Côte-Nord en plein refuge marin. Le ministre de l’Environnement dit-il non aujourd’hui aux forages pétroliers au Québec?

[L]a santé de nos zones marines et de la biodiversité qui s’y trouve est une priorité pour notre gouvernement. C’est pourquoi nous nous sommes engagés à protéger 25 % des océans d’ici 2025 et que nous avons rejoint l’Alliance mondiale pour les océans. Notre gouvernement respecte le moratoire de la province de Québec dans le Saint-Laurent et sur les nouvelles exploitations pétrolières et gazières extracôtières dans le golfe du Saint-Laurent. Le permis en question a été délivré dans les années 1990 par le gouvernement du Québec.

[T]he Liberals … continue to delay taking any real action to fight the climate crisis. More than just delay, we have a Prime Minister who … [, having] bought a pipeline, … continues to exempt the biggest polluters and … to subsidize the fossil fuel sector. How can Canadians trust the Prime Minister to take on the climate crisis?

I appreciate the question on such an important day when the Supreme Court has upheld the constitutionality of Canada’s approach to pricing carbon pollution,Footnote ⁴ because carbon pollution should not be free anywhere in this country. Canada brought forward a strengthened climate plan in December. It is one of the most detailed and comprehensive climate plans anywhere in the world. It provides a detailed path through which we will not only meet but exceed our current Paris Agreement targets. We have indicated that we will be bringing forth a new target that we will be announcing at the Earth Summit in April. This government takes climate change very seriously. It is an existential threat, but also an enormous economic opportunity for this country.

La ministre du Développement international peut-elle dire à la Chambre ce que fait le Canada pour aider ces pays dans la lutte mondiale?

Au Sommet du G7, notre gouvernement a affirmé son engagement à atteindre l’objectif international de 100 milliards de dollars par an pour le financement climatique dans les endroits du monde où il est le plus nécessaire. Nous avons également doublé notre engagement en matière de financement climatique, passant de 2,65 milliards de dollars en 2015 à 5,3 milliards de dollars au cours des cinq prochaines années. Chez nous, nous nous sommes engagés à réduire nos émissions de 40% à 45% d’ici 2030.

Alors que le gouvernement prétend avoir des objectifs ambitieux en matière de réduction des émissions de gaz à effet de serre, l’industrie pétrolière, elle, au contraire, se vante d’un désir ou d’une projection d’augmentation des forages de 25% en 2022. Est-ce compatible avec les objectifs du gouvernement?

[D]ans le plan que nous avons présenté à la COP26, […] nous reconnaissons que nous avons besoin de mettre un cap absolu sur les émissions de l’industrie pétrolière et gazière et de les réduire jusqu’à la carboneutralité. Ce sont d’ailleurs les engagements qui ont déjà été pris par un grand nombre de grandes compagnies pétrolières au Canada. Nous allons nous baser sur la science. Nous allons réduire nos émissions partout au pays. Nous allons nous assurer de créer les bons emplois vers un avenir meilleur pour tous, tout en luttant contre les changements climatiques.

The Liberals are now giving tax dollars to a for-profit company to sell electricity to the United States. Could the minister tell us why?

[T]hanks to this project, Canada has an opportunity to export clean power, helping to reduce emissions, maximizing clean power use and making electricity more affordable for Canadians. The Canadian Infrastructure Bank’s investments in the Lake Erie Connector will give Ontario direct access to North American’s largest electricity market, 13 states, and the District of Columbia. It will reduce overall GHG [greenhouse gas] emissions by giving those jurisdictions access to Ontario’s clean energy. The Lake Erie Connector also gives the province of Ontario the ability to import more clean energy to meet periods of exceptionally high demand rather than firing up an additional gas plant within the province.

Last week, the Ontario Superior Court ruled the January 2020 Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ attack on flight 752 was an intentional act of terrorism.Footnote ⁵ All 176 on board were killed, including 55 Canadian citizens and 30 permanent residents. In 2019, the U.S. White House declared that the “IRGC actively participates in, finances, and promotes terrorism as a tool of statecraft.” When will the Liberals stand up for Canadians and list the IRGC as a terrorist organization?

We have been standing up for Canadians and particularly the families of those who were tragically lost in PS752 on January 8, 2020. We are reviewing the Ontario court decision at the moment. However, we have said right from the beginning in all the communications with Iran that it has failed to be transparent, open and accountable for the actions that it committed against flight PS752. We will not cease to pursue it on that matter until it has provided all the necessary answers with respect to that tragedy.

Violence has erupted in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza. … Will the minister state unequivocally today that he supports Israel’s right to defend itself, just as President Biden has done?

Our comments and statements have been crystal clear. The indiscriminate barrage of rocket attacks fired by Hamas into populated areas of Israel is absolutely unacceptable and must cease immediately. Canada supports Israel’s right to live in peace with its neighbours within secure boundaries and recognizes Israel’s right and duty to ensure its own security. Canada remains fully committed to the goal of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East. Canada remains a steadfast ally of Israel and a friend to the Palestinian people.

[What is] being done to support the people of Myanmar?

I am pleased to say that Canada has imposed additional sanctions today on entities affiliated with Myanmar’s military regime. Today’s announcement sent a clear message to the people of Myanmar that their resilience and quest for democracy and civil rights will not be diminished.

La semaine dernière l’Union européenne et les États-Unis ont annoncé des sanctions contre les Russes responsables de la répression de Alexeï Navalny et des manifestants, mais le Canada était absent. […] Pourquoi ce gouvernement ne travaille-t-il pas avec nos alliés pour maintenir l’ordre international fondé sur les règles?

Canada strongly supports the decision made by the United States and the EU on the adoption of sanctions against the Russian officials responsible for the arbitrary detention, prosecution and attempted assassination of Alexei Navalny. Two of the four individuals targeted by the EU have already been sanctioned by Canada. When it comes to further sanctions from Canada, all options are on the table. We continue to call on Russian authorities to immediately release Mr. Navalny and all those being detained for exercising their rights of freedom of speech and assembly.

The government threatened to cancel future funding for the Halifax security forum if it awarded the John McCain Prize to Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen. The government’s attempt to silence those critical of China is shameful and it plays right into China’s desire to silence its critics abroad. Will the Prime Minister admit this was a mistake and commit to continuing to fund the Halifax International Security Forum even if it awards the John McCain Prize to Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen?

The government has supported and provided funding to the Halifax security forum throughout our time in office, and the minister has participated every year and will continue to. On Taiwan, I have always supported Taiwan’s meaningful participation in multilateral international forums, and Canada continues to have strong and growing trade and people-to-people relations with Taiwan.

Seven years ago, Russia invaded Ukraine and annexed Crimea. Canada has been very supportive of Ukraine. … [W]hat [is] Canada … doing, and [what] will [it] do, to defend Ukraine’s sovereignty?

Since 2014, we have provided over $800 million in international assistance to Ukraine, as well as military training and institutional-level defence reform support via Operation Unifier. We have also sanctioned more than 440 Russian individuals and entities. We are aware of reports that Russia has ordered the withdrawal of troops from the area, and we continue to follow these developments very carefully. Canada will always remain a steadfast friend and ally of Ukraine.

Russia’s foreign minister has just told our foreign affairs minister that the nightmare of military confrontation is returning. … [W]ho is in charge and how will Canada defend democratic Ukraine?

Since 2015, under Operation Unifier, Canada has been steadfast in its support of Ukraine with troops on the ground undertaking training exercises day in and day out. We stand with our Ukrainian partners, as well as with our NATO allies, in terms of presenting a united front against unwarranted Russian aggression. We will continue to work on a multilateral basis to uphold the international rules-based order, peace and democracy.

Joe Biden has not listened to the Prime Minister on KXL [Keystone XL pipeline][,] … softwood lumber[,] … [Enbridge] Line 5 [oil pipeline][,] … [and now,] on the border. … [H]ow likely is it that the Americans are now going to unilaterally reopen the border?

Over the past very difficult four years, we were able to renegotiate NAFTA in a way that protected supply management, that strengthened our economy and that demonstrated a defence of our cultural industries. We stood up for steel producers, for steel workers and for aluminum workers. We managed to get the Americans to remove unfair tariffs. We have continued to stand up for Canadian interests and we will continue to, particularly with someone who is significantly more aligned with Canadians now in the White House.

Le gouvernement va-t-il reconnaître que l’OMS a cédé aux pressions de la Chine et va-t-il travailler avec nos alliés pour demander une refonte de cette organisation?

Nous avons très clairement reconnu, dans un rapport auquel nous avons participé avec d’autres pays, que davantage doit être fait pour mieux comprendre l’origine de la COVID-19. Le rapport qui a été soumis par l’Organisation mondiale de la santé comporte des lacunes, et plus d’informations sont nécessaires pour vraiment comprendre la situation. Le Canada, avec plusieurs autres pays, a reconnu ce fait, et on encourage l’Organisation mondiale de la santé à aller plus loin pour vraiment mieux comprendre l’origine de cette pandémie.

Today we observe International Holocaust Remembrance Day, which commemorates the six million Jews and 11 million others who were murdered by the Nazi regime and its collaborators. … W]hat [is] our government … doing to combat anti-Semitism and honour the lives of those lost in the Holocaust?

Today we honour the memories of the victims and survivors of the Holocaust. We pledge to tell their stories so that the horrors of the Holocaust could never happen again. We have formally adopted the IHRA [International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance] definition of anti-Semitism and appointed the Hon. Irwin Cotler to lead Canada’s efforts to promote Holocaust remembrance and combat anti-Semitism abroad. We will always stand with the Jewish community and fight anti-Semitism wherever and whenever it occurs.

More than two years have passed since Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor were arbitrarily detained in China. … Canadians, including all members of this House, remain united in calling for their immediate release so they can come home and reunite with their families. … [What have been] the government’s efforts to make that possible?

Ending the arbitrary detention of Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig is an absolute priority of mine and of the government. We will work on this every single day in order to obtain their release. … [T]he Prime Minister raised the matter with President Biden, who was informed on the subject, and I intend to raise it with my counterpart, Secretary Blinken, as early as this week as a top priority for the Canadian government. We want to get the two Michaels released.

A number of entities, including a subcommittee of this House, two consecutive U.S. administrations and Canada’s official opposition, have concluded that the Government of China is committing a genocide against the Uighurs and other Turkic Muslims. Yesterday, the minister said the government believes an independent investigation is needed to arrive at that conclusion. Ambassador Rae said something similar before Christmas. What specific action has the Government of Canada taken to initiate an independent investigation?

[W]e are gravely concerned with the very strong allegations that have been made against China with respect to its treatment of the Muslim minority Uighur people and other minorities. We are calling upon China to allow unfettered access to the High Commissioner for Human Rights for the United Nations, and also to allow an independent and impartial committee of experts to enter China to examine the situations that exist there to confirm or not the situation that has been reported.

Le gouvernement chinois commet un génocide contre les Ouïghours, viole un traité international en menaçant 300,000 Canadiens vivant à Hong Kong et commet d’autres actes belliqueux dans la région indo-pacifique. Compte tenu de ces informations, le gouvernement va-t-il agir? Au minimum, va-t-il refuser d’envoyer un représentant à l’occasion de l’ouverture des Jeux olympiques de Pékin?

Nos athlètes olympiques bâtissent des ponts entre les peuples et les nations et méritent notre soutien lorsqu’ils participent à des compétitions internationales. Nous allons continuer de travailler aux côtés des comités olympique et paralympique canadiens et de toutes les organisations sportives pour soutenir les athlètes canadiens jusqu’aux prochains Jeux. Nous allons continuer d’être là pour défendre nos valeurs et nos principes en ce qui a trait à la défense des droits de la personne.

On a appris récemment que les athlètes canadiens se font expliquer ce qu’ils peuvent et ne peuvent pas dire en Chine afin de ne pas devenir des cibles pour les autorités chinoises. […] Comment le premier ministre et son ministre peuvent-ils accepter cela? Quand vont-ils faire preuve de leadership pour exiger le déplacement des Jeux olympiques et le demander au Comité international olympique si nécessaire?

[C]e sont le Comité olympique canadien et le Comité paralympique canadien qui sont responsables de prendre la décision en ce qui concerne la participation de nos athlètes canadiens aux Jeux olympiques. Nous avons tout à fait confiance en ces organisations. Elles prendront ces décisions de façon éclairée, tout en respectant les valeurs fondamentales des Canadiens et des Canadiennes.

Canadians continue to raise concerns about the conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray region. … Over a million people have been displaced, and there are reports of ethnic cleansing and gross violations of human rights. The government has committed funds to support humanitarian efforts in the region. What other measures has the government taken to defend human rights and the people of this region?

I share the hon. member’s deep concern for the humanitarian crisis in Ethiopia. … [W]e have committed an additional $34 million for the humanitarian situation in Ethiopia to be used flexibly to address the crisis. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Prime Minister and I have all spoken to our counterparts in Ethiopia. We are supporting the work of the UN Human Rights Commission [sic] to support the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission to investigate human rights abuses, including abuses of sexual and gender violence.

Notable Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong has been sentenced to a year in prison for participating in peaceful protests. Three weeks ago, 53 lawmakers and pro-democracy activists were arrested for violating Hong Kong’s draconian national security law. … Will the minister stand with Hong Kong and finally introduce a real refugee and asylum program to bring pro-democracy activists to Canada?

Canada joined the international community in condemning the mass arrests in Hong Kong of more than 50 lawmakers and activists. These arrests fundamentally contradict the civil and political guarantees that have been made to the people of Hong Kong under the Basic Law. This demonstrates that the national security law is being used as a tool in escalating repression of peaceful political opposition and grassroots electoral politics. The arrests are an assault on representative democracy, the rule of law and a further erosion of the one country, two systems principle.

Can the Minister of Foreign Affairs provide an update on the latest actions taken by Canada to address human rights violations and accountability in Sri Lanka?

Canada is part of the core group on this resolution and worked alongside members of the council for the passage of resolution 46/1 in Geneva this week.Footnote ⁶ This resolution mandates the High Commissioner for Human Rights to collect, consolidate, analyze and preserve information and evidence. This is an important step towards accountability in Sri Lanka. Canada has and always will stand up for human rights in Sri Lanka and around the world.

En début de semaine, le secrétaire général des Nations unies a exprimé de graves préoccupations concernant la crise dans la région du Tigré, en Éthiopie. L’ONU estime qu’environ 3,2 millions de personnes, soit plus de la moitié de la population du Tigré, ont un besoin urgent d’aide humanitaire. […] Le ministre des Affaires étrangères peut-il exprimer le point de vue du Canada sur la situation? Que faisons-nous pour faire face à la crise humanitaire?

Le Canada est extrêmement préoccupé par les rapports faisant état de violences sexuelles et les allégations de violation grave des droits de la personne au Tigré. Nous demandons à toutes les parties d’assurer la protection des civils, d’œuvrer à la désescalade et de permettre un accès humanitaire immédiat. Le Canada accorde une aide de 3 millions de dollars pour les opérations humanitaires en Éthiopie et au Soudan en réponse aux effets de ce conflit qui s’envenime.

Palestinian civilians are suffering profound hardship, as a result of the recent violence, displacement and loss of life and have endured unimaginable pain. … [Will] Canada … support Palestinians in coping with the effects of this devastating violence and work to build a foundation for lasting peace?

The $25 million in funding announced last week is being provided through trusted partners and will ensure that emergency relief quickly reaches Palestinian civilians whose humanitarian needs have only been worsened by this conflict. It will go beyond these urgent and immediate needs to also support recovery and rebuilding efforts. It will support critical peacebuilding and people-to-people initiatives to advance the goal of a just and lasting peace in the Middle East.

The Liberals just committed $90 million in new funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency. Classroom materials distributed to Palestinian students encourage them to “defend the motherland with blood”, portray child-murdering terrorists as heroes and call Israel the enemy. Will the government suspend funding to UNRWA and commit to aid for Palestinians through alternate means, just as the previous Conservative government did and, more recently, just as the Netherlands and Switzerland did?

We will continue to engage in international development in many projects around the world. Our support and our presence in UNRWA continues to ensure that the materials and the funds that are vehicled [sic] to the Palestinians are done in the right way. We will continue to stand up for a two-state solution and for the kind of peace that we need to see through direct negotiations between both Israel and the Palestinian state.

[L]e ministre de l’Immigration a promis une accélération du traitement des dossiers d’immigration au Québec. Or, c’est tout le contraire qui s’est produit en 2020. Alors que le Québec avait une cible de 44 000 immigrants, le ministre a reconnu qu’il avait admis 17 000 personnes de moins. Il a également reconnu que près de 1 000 dossiers de travailleurs déjà présents au Québec auraient pu être traités et ne l’ont pas été. On parle de 10 000 personnes qui sont déjà ici, déjà au travail, déjà francisées et déjà intégrées. Que va faire le ministre pour mettre de l’ordre dans son ministère?

Nous travaillons en étroite collaboration avec le Québec pour lui fournir des travailleurs qualifiés dont il a besoin. Nous avons accueilli plus de 7 000 nouveaux résidents permanents qualifiés au Québec, soit une augmentation de 56 personnes comparativement à la même période l’an dernier. Notre gouvernement continuera de respecter sa part de marché sur l’immigration, ce qui fera en sorte que le Québec recevra tous les travailleurs qualifiés dont il a besoin.

The backlogs at IRCC continue to grow. As of October, there were 1.8 million applications in backlog and counting. … What concrete steps is the government taking to finally address the disastrous … backlogs?

There is no question that the COVID-19 pandemic has posed unprecedented challenges for our immigration system, when we continued to have demand to come into Canada at a time when our borders were closed. However, I have good news. … [W]e are on pace to hit an all-time record, with 401,000 new Canadians admitted this year.

My office has received many complaints from constituents who have been waiting since 2018 to take their oath of citizenship. There is also a delay of over six months in processing work permits, putting people’s lives in limbo. Overseas sponsorship applications from many countries are delayed by five years. Medicals and criminality checks have expired, and citizens are getting frustrated. … [W]hat is being done to reduce this unfair processing backlog?

Our government has an exceptional track record when it comes to meeting our immigration objectives. In the last several months alone, we have welcomed over 80,000, prioritized over 55,000 … sponsorship applications, and welcomed over 50,000 new individuals to the family of Canadian citizenship. We are not going to stop there. We are going to do these things because we know that immigration is one of the keys to our economic recovery and Canada’s long-term prosperity.

Since the fall of Kabul, fewer than 4,000 of our Afghan partners have arrived in Canada. Afghans were standing shoulder to shoulder with our armed forces on the ground, putting their lives on the line to help us. These partners are now desperate to flee the brutality of the Taliban. Why does the government not care about the promises made to our allies. Could the government explain why the safety, security and resettlement of our Afghan partners is not a priority?

I want to begin by standing in solidarity with those Afghans who supported the Canadian mission while we were there. That is the reason why we introduced a special immigration measures program that allowed us to resettle approximately 4,000 Afghan refugees despite the very challenging circumstances that remained on the ground as a result of the Taliban. In addition to that, we also introduced a humanitarian resettlement program that would resettle 40,000 Afghan refugees, focusing on women, girls and targeted minorities. That is work I hope all members in the chamber will support, because it is the right thing to do.

La semaine dernière, la communauté internationale a regardé avec admiration l’atterrissage sur Mars du rover Perseverance. C’est d’ailleurs une Québécoise, la Dre Farah Alibay, ingénieure en aérospatiale, qui a joué un rôle déterminant dans cette mission et qui a été grandement saluée pour son travail novateur lors de ce moment historique. Est-ce que le ministre de l’Innovation, des Sciences et de l’Industrie peut donner une mise à jour à la Chambre quant aux mesures que le gouvernement a prises pour soutenir l’exploration spatiale?

Notre gouvernement a fièrement réinvesti dans ce secteur vital, avec 2 milliards de dollars pour une stratégie spatiale nationale. Les Canadiens ont été inspirés par la mission historique de Perseverance et par les travaux de la Dre Alibay. J’ai eu moi-même l’occasion de lui parler. Elle est une leader inspirante dont nous sommes tous extrêmement fiers.

[Will the government] reverse [a] self-imposed ban on our potato exports to the United States, yes or no?

Following the discovery of potato wart on seed potatoes in Prince Edward Island, the Americans threatened to cut off all potato exports from Prince Edward Island to the United States. We made the decision to move forward with a voluntary suspension to prevent the Americans from bringing in something that would have been much more difficult to reverse, while we work with the Americans and other partners to ensure they understand there is no scientific basis for the banning of table potatoes from Prince Edward Island to the United States or anywhere else.

[Qu’a fait le] gouvernement pour le secteur laitier ?

Notre gouvernement reconnaît l’importance des producteurs et des productrices de lait du Canada, et nous tenons nos promesses envers eux. Ils ont déjà reçu plus de 1 milliard de dollars en compensations pour les accords signés avec l’Union européenne et la zone transpacifique. Ils savent déjà ce qu’ils vont recevoir en 2022 et en 2023, et les compensations pour l’Accord Canada – Etats-Unis – Mexique suivront. Nous sommes toujours aussi engagés à protéger le système de la gestion de l’offre et à ne plus céder aucune part de marché.

Cela fait depuis 2015 que ces groupes attendent des compensations du gouvernement, à la suite de l’entente de libre-échange avec l’Europe et du PTP. Les libéraux ont eu six ans pour tenir leur engagement. … Le gouvernement doit verser les compensations promises à nos transformateurs locaux. Qu’attendent-ils pour agir?

Canada’s supply-managed dairy, poultry and egg farmers play a critical role in keeping our rural communities vibrant. In order to offer dairy farmers more certainty, our government announced that the remaining $1.4 billion of compensation would be delivered over a timeline of three years. For Canada’s 4,800 chicken, egg, broiler hatching egg and turkey farmers our government also announced $691 million for a 10-year program. We will always be there to defend supply management. We will not make any further market access concessions.

Pour contrer la violence dans le Grand Montréal, la mairesse de Montréal et le gouvernement du Québec demandent au gouvernement fédéral d’agir contre les armes illégales. […] Le projet de loi C-5 […] propose l’abolition des peines minimales qui y sont reliées. La ministre de la Sécurité publique du Québec a dit que “c’est important que le gouvernement fédéral envoie le message qu’il trouve ça grave”. Le premier ministre considère-t-il que déposer le projet de loi C-5 en pleine vague de fusillades, c’est envoyer le message “qu’il trouve ça grave”?

Nous agissons de façon concrète pour aider à lutter contre la violence liée aux armes à feu. Bien des mesures doivent être adoptées et le projet de loi C-5 en fait partie. Nous avons aussi investi 125 millions de dollars pour créer un groupe transfrontalier pour mettre fin à la contrebande, 250 millions de dollars pour soutenir les programmes communautaires antigang et 327 millions de dollars pour que la police dispose des ressources nécessaires pour mieux détecter et prévenir les crimes. De plus, nous allons investir 1 milliard de dollars pour que le Québec et d’autres provinces puissent interdire les armes de poing.

Last week, the government sent a strongly worded letter to U.S. senators about the electric vehicle tax credit and its devastating impact on the Ontario auto industry, but the same government has not contacted Democratic Senator Joe Manchin who, three weeks ago, called on President Biden to approve Keystone XL [pipeline] even though the Canadian oil and gas industry contributes six times more to the economy than does the auto sector. Is that because this government values the auto sector over the oil and gas sector?

This is a really important issue for our government. Of course, we are standing up for all sectors of the economy. The issue around the EV [electric vehicle] credits is before the Senate right now. It is why I was there last week. It is why we ensured that we communicated clearly to the American government that this issue is important to the hundreds of thousands of workers who are in this sector of the economy.

L’entreprise Les Viandes du Breton, dans ma circonscription, une entreprise de plus de 600 employés, risque de voir ses activités diminuer ou carrément partir au profit des Américains si le Canada n’arrive pas à faire entrer un nombre suffisant de travailleurs étrangers temporaires. Il y a plus de 8000 postes à pourvoir dans la transformation alimentaire au Québec. Le ministre de l’Immigration pourrait, en vertu du paragraphe 205a) du Règlement, temporairement exempter ces entreprises essentielles du seuil maximal de 10% ou des études d’impact sur le marché du travail si cela était dans l’intérêt national. Va-t-il le faire?

Les travailleurs étrangers temporaires sont essentiels pour nos entreprises, c’est pourquoi nous avons facilité l’arrivée des travailleurs étrangers temporaires essentiels tout au long de la pandémie. D’ailleurs, l’an dernier, nous avons appuyé plus de 85% des travailleurs agricoles prévus et, cette année, on en accueille encore plus. Je vais continuer de travailler avec mon collègue.

Mercredi, les producteurs agricoles se sont fait couper de moitié l’aide qu’ils reçoivent du fédéral pour les quarantaines de leurs travailleurs étrangers temporaires. Ottawa les indemnisait à hauteur de 1500$ pour s’excuser de leur avoir pelleté la responsabilité des quarantaines. Aujourd’hui, le fédéral coupe cela à 750$, mais les agriculteurs continuent d’accueillir les travailleurs et les quarantaines continuent d’être obligatoires. Les mesures sanitaires n’ont pas changé. Les coûts n’ont pas changé non plus. Tout ce qui change, c’est qu’Ottawa ne fait plus sa part. Est-ce que la ministre de l’Immigration, des Réfugiés et de la Citoyenneté va immédiatement renverser cette coupe?

Nous avons travaillé en étroite collaboration avec nos homologues québécois sur ce dossier et sur bien d’autres. D’ailleurs, plus de 34 000 travailleurs étrangers sont déjà arrivés au Canada pour la saison agricole 2021, dont plus de 14 000 au Québec. Ces résultats parlent d’eux-mêmes et nous continuerons à fournir au Québec les travailleurs dont il a besoin pour appuyer sa relance économique.

[O]n apprend que l’Office d’investissement du régime de pensions du Canada lui met des bâtons dans les roues en finançant une entreprise gazière du Texas qui conteste les nouvelles lignes de transport d’Hydro-Québec. Le gouvernement s’engage-t-il à enfin laisser Hydro-Québec se développer, créer de bons emplois et réduire ainsi, globalement, les émissions de gaz à effet de serre?

[L]’Office d’investissement du régime de pensions du Canada est complètement indépendant. J’espère qu’il n’est pas en train de nous dire qu’il faut que les politiciens décident comment investir les pensions des Canadiens, car ce n’est pas notre job. Le projet d’Hydro-Québec au Maine est un très bon projet pour l’environnement, pour le Québec et pour toute la Nouvelle-Angleterre. Tout le monde ici est en faveur de ce projet.

[W]hat [has] our government … done to recognize the invaluable contributions that newcomers bring to Canada and our economy?

The pandemic has shone a bright light on the extraordinary contributions of newcomers who are working on the front lines of our hospitals, long-term care homes and farms. That is why I was proud to announce a fast, innovative and inclusive pathway to permanent residence for up to 90,000 essential workers and international students who are already in Canada and giving back. This is another positive example of how, when given the opportunity, hard-working and skilled newcomers can accelerate our economic recovery and drive a pathway to prosperity for all Canadians.

Bill Morneau a démissionné de la course au poste de secrétaire général de l’OCDE, disant qu’il n’a pas le soutien d’un nombre suffisant de membres. … [E]st-ce que le premier ministre peut nous dire combien d’argent les Canadiens ont dépensé pour cet autre échec lamentable?

Nous avons été déçus que Bill Morneau n’ait pas obtenu suffisamment d’appui pour devenir le prochain secrétaire général de l’OCDE. Nous pensons que Bill Morneau était le candidat idéal pour diriger l’OCDE en ces temps difficiles. Nous tenons à remercier M. Morneau de son dévouement et de sa campagne, mais aussi de tout ce qu’il a fait pour améliorer la qualité de vie des Canadiens. Bien que ce ne soit pas le résultat que nous ayons espéré, nous travaillerons avec le prochain secrétaire général de l’OCDE, qui sera choisi par ses membres.

When will the Prime Minister do something to stop the job losses that are coming as a direct result of … U.S. policies [regarding Keystone XL or Line 5]?

It is irresponsible and it serves no one to conflate Line 5 with Keystone XL or any other project. President Biden’s decision to rescind the permit for KXL has no impact on Enbridge’s Line 5 or Line 3 replacement projects. These pipelines continue to operate. These are projects to modernize existing energy infrastructure that has been in place since 1953. They are driven by safety and driven by good labour jobs. Both of these projects have been repeatedly validated by the U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.

[W]hen will the government actually do something to stand up for clean, ethical and job-creating Canadian energy?

It is incumbent upon us to safeguard our relationship with the single largest customer for Canadian crude. In fact, over the past five years, Canadian oil has continuously displaced foreign sources in the U.S. market. Canadian crude now represents 60% of all oil imported by the U.S. That is up from 40%. Because of this government, new pipelines are under construction. Trans Mountain and Line 3 will provide us with the ability to expand our energy exports. We are proud of our energy workers and we support them.

Tomorrow the Governor of Michigan wants to shut down the Line 5 pipeline that is critical to the Canadian economy. After many months of inaction, this morning, … the Liberal government filed an objection with the court. Is this last-minute legal action an admission that the Prime Minister’s outreach to President Biden has failed?

Line 5 is a critical piece of infrastructure for both Canada and the United States. It is vital for energy workers and families on both sides of the border. Today, the Government of Canada filed a submission in U.S. court in support of the continued safe operation of Line 5 and in support of continued mediation between Michigan and the company. As we have for many months, Ambassador Hillman and government officials will continue to engage with our counterparts on this important issue.

International experts have warned about China’s developing capacity in bioweapons. They have also warned that any academic working in China is available to the state for military and defence purposes. This would include the scientists that his government approved to work at our high-security lab in Winnipeg. Will the Prime Minister commit today to increasing security at the National Microbiology Lab, yes or no?

[E]spionage and foreign interference pose real threats to Canadian research security, intellectual property and business interests. This is a threat that our government has always taken seriously. In March, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry requested the development of specific rules that integrate national security considerations into research partnerships. Public Safety and CSIS [Canadian Security Intelligence Service] are leading outreach to universities to help them keep research safe. Canadian universities and research organizations must remain vigilant to protect their IP, and we have not hesitated to support them.

When will the government and the minister make a decision [on banning the Chinese technology corporation Huawei]?

Our government will continue to ensure that Canadian networks are kept safe and secure. Canadians can be assured that we will not compromise on matters of national security. While we cannot comment on specific companies, an examination of emerging 5G technology and the associated security and economic considerations is under way. We have been clear that this analysis will take into account important domestic and international considerations.

When will the Prime Minister start getting focused on … getting a softwood lumber agreement?

[The] American duties are completely unjustified and, quite frankly, counterproductive since they hurt workers and businesses on both sides of the border. The minister has raised this with President Biden directly and with Ambassador Tai, and our government continues to press for a negotiated settlement, because a negotiated settlement is in the best interests of both of our countries. We will do whatever it takes to defend our softwood lumber industry, including instigating litigation under NAFTA, under CUSMA and before the WTO. All options are on the table.

President Biden just doubled the tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber in spite of two things: the World Trade Organization, which came out in favour of Canada, and the Prime Minister of Canada just meeting with President Biden days ago. … Has the Prime Minister considered the uncertainty that this constant failure to manage Canadian-American relations will have on other industries, such as auto manufacturing and agriculture?

We, of course, are very disappointed with the result of the administrative review that will increase tariffs for the Canadian softwood lumber industry and forestry sector. This is an issue that we take very seriously. We will continue to defend our workers and our forestry sector. … The WTO, as well as panels in NAFTA, found Canada to be fair in its trading practices. We will continue to fight for Canadian workers and forestry workers all the time.

La ministre de l’Agriculture et de l’Agroalimentaire peut-elle informer la Chambre des compensations pour les secteurs soumis à la gestion de l’offre?

Nous avons resserré sur quatre ans les versements de compensations aux producteurs laitiers pour les accords signés avec l’Union européenne et la zone transpacifique. Déjà plus de 60% d’entre eux ont reçu leur deuxième versement, pour un total de 327 millions de dollars. Les programmes pour les producteurs de volailles et d’œufs suivront et ce sera ensuite le tour des transformateurs. Notre gouvernement est engagé à protéger le système de la gestion de l’offre et à ne plus céder aucune part de marché.

L’an dernier, Revenu Québec a récolté, dans les paradis fiscaux, plus d’argent tiré des Panama Papers que ce qu’a récolté l’Agence du revenu du Canada pour le Canada au grand complet. J’ai une suggestion pour Mme la ministre: au lieu de harceler les victimes de fraude de la PCU, comme elle le fait présentement, elle pourrait peut-être les laisser tranquilles, le temps que les enquêtes se fassent, et investir ses énergies dans les paradis fiscaux plutôt que d’empoisonner la vie des honnêtes personnes.

En parlant des Panama Papers, je veux […] informer mon collègue que 900 Canadiens ont été identifiés, que 160 vérifications sont en cours et que plus de 200 vérifications sont terminées. Nous sommes sur la bonne voie.

Hier, […] le gouvernement a donné son appui à notre motion pour que Netflix paie aussi des impôts sur ses revenus mirobolants. […] [La Ministre va-t-elle] s’engager à appliquer la taxe à tous les revenus des services en ligne, y compris les abonnements, et de rendre publique l’entente secrète de 2017 avec Netflix ?

[I]l n’y a pas d’exception particulière pour Netflix ni pour tout autre entreprise numérique. En effet, le 1^er juillet, nous imposerons, pour la première fois de l’histoire du Canada, la TPS [la taxe sur les produits et services] et la TVH [la taxe de vente harmonisée] aux fournisseurs de services numériques comme Netflix. Ce montant est inclus dans la loi d’exécution du budget et devrait recueillir 1,2 milliard de dollars sur cinq ans.

Malgré l’annonce du gouvernement, rien n’empêche les vols non essentiels en temps de pandémie. Tout ce qui a changé, c’est que ceux qui veulent voyager dans le Sud doivent maintenant acheter leur billet à une compagnie américaine, comme Delta, plutôt que de passer par une compagnie canadienne. Les transporteurs étrangers, eux, continuent d’offrir des vacances au rabais. C’est bien de tester les voyageurs à leur retour, mais le ministre ne pense-t-il pas que la façon la plus sécuritaire de prévenir la propagation, c’est que les gens ne partent pas en vacances au départ? Pourquoi ne pas simplement interdire tous les vols non essentiels, peu importe la compagnie aérienne?

Le Canada avait déjà les mesures parmi les plus strictes au monde. Nous les avons encore renforcées cette semaine, alors que nous avons des ententes avec SunWing, Air Canada, WestJet et Air Transat pour qu’il n’y ait plus de vols vers le Mexique et vers les Caraïbes. Au retour, les gens doivent passer un test avant de partir et un test en arrivant, s’isoler dans un hôtel pendant trois jours et payer 2000$. Nous sommes convaincus que ces mesures sont très fermes, et le plus important, c’est que nous disons à tous les Canadiens de ne pas partir s’ils ne veulent pas avoir de problèmes au retour.

[H]ow [will] the recent agreement with Air Canada … impact travel agents?

Last week, we announced an agreement with Air Canada that refunds passengers, protects jobs, restores routes and protects travel agents. We are in the middle of discussions with other airlines to offer the same benefits. I look forward to hearing the outcome of these discussions soon, but air travellers are an integral part of these discussions.

Devant la menace des variants, est-ce que le premier ministre va resserrer le contrôle des voyageurs?

Cela fait plus d’un an maintenant que nous avons fermé nos frontières à tout voyageur non essentiel. Nous allons continuer d’imposer les mesures nécessaires pour protéger les Canadiens. Maintenant, quand on revient au Canada, il faut passer un test avant d’embarquer dans l’avion et d’arriver à la frontière. Il faut également passer un test à l’arrivée et un autre test au jour 8. Il faut aussi faire une quarantaine obligatoire de deux semaines. Nous faisons des suivis. Nous sommes là pour protéger les Canadiens et nous allons continuer d’ajouter des mesures au fur et à mesure que les données indiquent qu’on en a besoin, comme c’était le cas avec l’arrêt des vols directs en provenance de l’Inde et du Pakistan.

One of my constituents, Allan, crossed the border with his wife to attend a matter in Washington state and returned an hour later. The government announced a 72-hour exemption, but despite being fully vaccinated, Allan and his wife, because he does not use a smart phone, were told their documents were not acceptable and they would have to quarantine and send in virtual tests or face a $5,000 fine. Will the government quit discriminating against people like my constituents for not having a smart phone and immediately rescind this unfair quarantine order?

This government has already introduced flexibility at the border to ensure that we are facilitating the arrival of Canadians, including the 72-hour exemption rule particularly for those Canadians who are going back and forth across the border and need essential goods. However, we will not compromise when it comes to health and safety. That is the reason we are requiring those returning from the United States to be fully vaccinated. That is why we use the ArriveCAN app. It is to ensure the health and safety of all Canadians, particularly now as we are dealing with a new variant of concern in omicron.

[W]hat [is] the government doing to support small business and the recovery of tourism?

Let me outline just a few of the supports that the government has put in place for entrepreneurs and people in the tourism sector: $100 million to help Destination Canada market us around the world and in our own country, $200 million to support festivals and events, $200 million to support small festivals and large festivals, $500 million for the tourism relief fund and $1 billion in 2021. If the other side of the House would like to deliver a Christmas present to the tourism sector, they could vote for Bill C-2 and see $7.4 billion put into our economy.

[T]he government … approved … arms exports to Turkey. Will the Prime Minister now admit that this was a mistake?

When reports first came out about the possible utilization of Canadian technology in unsanctioned areas, we suspended the relevant export permits to Turkey, because we take very seriously the responsibilities we have under some of the most restrictive and constraining regulations in the world around arms exports. We will continue to push for proper accountability and transparency in arms exports … [and] to ensure that we have full accountability and full transparency, including from our NATO allies such as Turkey.

What is the Prime Minister’s answer to the people … who will not get a vaccine this week because of his failure to secure them?

There is an intense competition for vaccines in the world today. In anticipation of this global race, Canada took precautions. We secured the world’s most extensive vaccine portfolio from seven companies, with 10 doses for every Canadian. That is why Canada has already vaccinated more people per capita than our G7 peers of Germany, Japan and France, and more than our Five Eyes partners of Australia and New Zealand. There is no more urgent issue for this government than getting Canadians vaccinated, and together we will get it done.

The Prime Minister has failed to get a vaccine delivery guarantee from the European Union. Reports indicate that vaccine deliveries from India could be delayed for all of April. … How many more months of lockdowns will these new delays cause?

Canada has already received half a million vaccine doses from India, on top of what was originally scheduled, and Canadians can also expect 1.5 million doses from the United States on top of what was originally scheduled. We are using every diplomatic channel and relationship possible to increase and advance our deliveries. … There is more work to do, but we are delivering.

Can the trade minister guarantee that Canada will not see a reduction in our vaccine imports [in light of the EU’s latest COVID-19 vaccine export measures]?

The 92 countries remaining on the exemption list for these new EU measures are all low-income countries. There is not a single high-income country on that list. Furthermore, … not a single one of our vaccine shipments from the European Union has been blocked or delayed because of these new EU export measures. Anyone familiar with the political situation in Europe at the moment understands that Canada is not the intended target, nor are Moderna or Pfizer vaccines.

[I]l faut suspendre les brevets sur les vaccins pour que les pays en développement puissent en produire et les administrer rapidement. […] Le gouvernement fera-t-il pression à l’international et sur l’industrie pour hâter la levée des brevets?

À l’échelle internationale, nous avons déjà promis 200 millions de doses de vaccins qui seront livrées d’ici la fin de 2022, ainsi qu’une contribution de 2,5 milliards de dollars aux pays en voie de développement pour les aider à administrer ces vaccins aussi rapidement que possible.

Notre gouvernement a annoncé la première Stratégie pour les femmes en entrepreneuriat, ou SFE, un programme de 6 milliards de dollars pour faire progresser l’autonomisation économique des femmes. … La ministre … peut-elle nous mettre à jour sur la Stratégie et sur la façon dont ce programme contribue à la réussite des entrepreneures?

En misant sur le potentiel des femmes entrepreneures, nous ajoutons 150 milliards de dollars à l’économie. Au moyen du Fonds pour l’écosystème de la SFE, notre gouvernement appuie des projets d’envergure partout au pays. Dans le budget de 2021, nous avons investi 147 millions de dollars afin d’offrir aux entrepreneures un meilleur accès au financement, au mentorat et à la formation.

[T]he U.S. government has recognized the extraordinary realities of COVID-19 and has committed to waiving intellectual property rights [to COVID-19 vaccines under] … the TRIPS [Agreement on Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights]. … When will [Canada act]?

Our government continues to be a leader in the global effort to ensure that there is equitable access to successful vaccines and critical medical supplies around the world. We will actively participate in negotiations to waive intellectual property protection, particularly to COVID-19 vaccines under the WTO agreement on TRIPS.