hazylavender/hi huggingface dataset:
Government Priorities
Date: 2023_04_28
Chamber: HOUSE OF COMMONS
Hon. Greg Fergus: we are at the bargaining table with the Public Service Alliance of Canada. I can say that our goal is to resume normal operations as soon as possible. The government is committed to negotiating an agreement that is reasonable for public servants and fair for Canadians. I can say that the negotiators are still talking. The government is at the table, and we are negotiating in good faith.
Government Priorities
Date: 2023_04_28
Chamber: HOUSE OF COMMONS
Ms. Christine Normandin: in Quebec, French is declining as the language spoken at work. French is declining as the language spoken at home. The proportion of people whose first official language learned is French is declining. In short, French is declining across Quebec. However, the Liberals' official languages action plan invests hundreds of millions of dollars in promoting English in Quebec. The entire portion available for Quebec focuses on English. Can the Liberals explain how providing huge amounts of funding for English in Quebec will slow the decline of French?
Government Priorities
Date: 2023_04_28
Chamber: HOUSE OF COMMONS
Ms. Christine Normandin: I do not need lessons from anyone when it comes to being open-minded. We heard a real gem from the Minister of Official Languages yesterday. She said her action plan does not provide funding for English, it provides funding for the vitality of Quebec's English-speaking community. That changes everything. Nearly 30% of people mainly use English at work in Montreal. Meanwhile, the use of French as a main language has dropped by 13% in the communications sector and by 11% in the finance sector. In short, the vitality of the English language seems to be doing just fine. Why are the Liberals investing in English when we keep reminding them that French is the language that is at risk?
Government Priorities
Date: 2023_04_28
Chamber: HOUSE OF COMMONS
Hon. Pablo Rodriguez: we are investing in many ways to strengthen French. We are investing in our official languages plan and we are investing in culture, more specifically in television production, literature and elsewhere. That being said, I repeat that the Bloc Quebecois should be a bit more open-minded and stop trying to pit anglophones and francophones against each other. I would like them to understand something once and for all: Whether anglophone or francophone, we are all Quebeckers.
Government Priorities
Date: 2023_04_28
Chamber: HOUSE OF COMMONS
Mr. Alexandre Boulerice: we are all aware of the Prime Minister 's irrepressible and nearly pathological desire to rub elbows with the rich and famous, but now is not the time for champagne and selfies with Hollywood actors. This is day 10 of the biggest strike in Canada's history. Some 150,000 people, mostly women, are in the streets standing up for their working conditions and their purchasing power. Is the Prime Minister so out of touch that he does not understand that these workers are fighting just to avoid getting poorer?
Government Priorities
Date: 2023_04_28
Chamber: HOUSE OF COMMONS
Hon. Greg Fergus: as I just said, we are still at the bargaining table. The Canadian government is negotiating in good faith. The unions are also still at the table. I know full well that this is important. We recognize that it is important for public servants to provide services. We need to give them a salary that is fair, but also find a solution that is fair for Canadians.
Government Priorities
Date: 2023_04_28
Chamber: HOUSE OF COMMONS
Mr. Blake Desjarlais: today, as we mark the National Day of Mourning, we remember all those killed or injured on the job. It has been over 20 years since the Westray act was passed. It provides a legal framework for workplace health and safety, and it imposes serious penalties on unsafe workplaces. However, the Liberals have refused to properly educate law enforcement or take steps to enforce it. It is shameful for all workers who continue to be put in dangerous situations. Why does the government continue to ignore workers who deserve protections on the job? Will it enforce the Westray act?
Government Priorities
Date: 2023_04_28
Chamber: HOUSE OF COMMONS
Mr. Terry Sheehan: I wish to pass on my sympathies to the member. I heard his S. O. 31 about his father's passing while on the job. One worker's death is too many workers' deaths. Workers have the right to refuse unsafe work if they feel their life, health or safety is at risk. Employers have the duty and responsibility to protect the health and safety of workers. They are encouraged to seek guidance from the appropriate channels, including the Public Health Agency of Canada, industry associations and the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety. They must do this. Protecting lives and preventing illness are a top priority.
Government Priorities
Date: 2023_04_28
Chamber: HOUSE OF COMMONS
Mr. John Williamson: it takes a special kind of incompetence to ramp up federal spending on the public service by over 50% and end up with the largest public service sector strike in Canadian history. The Liberals are spending $22 billion more on employees and wages but taxpayers are receiving fewer services, in some cases no services, from government workers. When will the Liberal government get its employees back to work and protect Canadian taxpayers from more debt and high taxes?
Government Priorities
Date: 2023_04_28
Chamber: HOUSE OF COMMONS
Hon. Greg Fergus: first of all, it is really important to state that both parties are at the negotiating table. The federal government is negotiating in good faith. I know that my receding hairline might give an indication that I am a little bit long in the tooth, but I have a bit of a memory and I do remember when those on the other side of the aisle were in government. What did they do every time workers tried to have a collective agreement? They legislated them back to work. We believe in having a negotiated settlement that is fair for workers and reasonable for Canadians.
Government Priorities
Date: 2023_04_28
Chamber: HOUSE OF COMMONS
Mr. John Williamson: the largest public strike is happening not because of the Conservatives. We delivered on our promises. We did not have a general strike of federal workers while we were balancing the books and cutting taxes for families and businesses. We were able to manage the federal government and keep delivering services to Canadians. The Liberals had two years to come to an agreement with the public service. Now 150,000 workers are out on strike. Again, when will the Prime Minister and the government get back to work?
Government Priorities
Date: 2023_04_28
Chamber: HOUSE OF COMMONS
Hon. Karina Gould: the only thing the Conservatives did when they were in government was that they balanced the books on the backs of Canadians. They did nothing when it came to helping Canadians get out of poverty. In contrast, what we have done is help lift 450,000 children and a total of 2.7 million Canadians out of poverty. At the height of the COVID crisis, do members know what we did? We were there for every single Canadian, whether through wage supports or through services.
Government Priorities
Date: 2023_04_28
Chamber: HOUSE OF COMMONS
Mr. Scot Davidson: the Liberals could not organize a birthday party. We have seen it time and time again with inflation, passports, airports, cost of living and housing. Now there is the largest public service strike in history, despite increasing spending on the bureaucracy by $21 billion. There is no planning ahead. There is no leadership and no respect for taxpayers. Canadians just want their government back to work. Why is it that the Liberal government never knows where the puck is going?
Government Priorities
Date: 2023_04_28
Chamber: HOUSE OF COMMONS
Hon. Randy Boissonnault: we should roll the clip back to when President Biden was in the House and the Conservatives would not stand up when he talked about a gender-balanced cabinet. The Conservatives would not stand up when he talked about union rights. The Conservatives do not believe in collective bargaining; we do. We are going to get a deal that is fair for Canadians, a deal that is fair for the federal public servants. Why do they not like the fact that we have more public servants? I cannot say, but the public servants helped us get through the pandemic. The Conservatives do not like it; Canadians do. We are going to get a good deal.
Government Priorities
Date: 2023_04_28
Chamber: HOUSE OF COMMONS
Mr. Scot Davidson: Canadians are getting their lunch eaten and being told it is good for them. Under the Liberals, everything is broken. Canadians are being denied basic government services once again, because of the largest public service strike in history. It is said that Nero played the fiddle while Rome burned. The Prime Minister is now doing the same, but, knowing him, he is playing dress-up. When will he fix the mess that he made?
Government Priorities
Date: 2023_04_28
Chamber: HOUSE OF COMMONS
Mr. Adam van Koeverden: Canadians deserve elected representatives who come to Ottawa with solutions, not just cheap shots and slogans. Triple-triple is a coffee order at Tim Hortons, not a policy solution. It is not a valuable contribution to the debate in the House. However, budget 2023 invests in solutions like dental care for uninsured families, investments in mental health and more doctors and nurses to reduce wait times and make sure that Canadians can get the procedures and the surgeries that they need. When will the Conservatives propose some solutions instead of just these childish slogans? We need some solutions, everyone. That is what Canadians need.
Government Priorities
Date: 2023_04_28
Chamber: HOUSE OF COMMONS
Mr. Joel Godin: we will propose solutions when we form government. In Portneuf--Jacques-Cartier, schools in Shannon and Valcartier are closed and parents are having to take time off work because traffic is being disrupted. Canadian citizens have unanswered questions about their tax returns. There are delays in issuing passports to young people who have invested all their savings in their year-end trip, and families will lose thousands of dollars without those passports. The government is solely responsible for this strike. Where is the Prime Minister when it is time to negotiate, find a solution and get the country out of this crisis?
Government Priorities
Date: 2023_04_28
Chamber: HOUSE OF COMMONS
Hon. Greg Fergus: as I have said many times, we are still at the bargaining table with the union. We are there to negotiate in good faith. I am confident that when the parties are there and decide to negotiate in good faith, we will come to a solution. There are certainly situations where we want to avoid doing what the Conservatives do: Whenever there is a problem, they always blame the public servants.
Government Priorities
Date: 2023_04_28
Chamber: HOUSE OF COMMONS
Mr. Joel Godin: I think my colleague has missed the point of what we have been saying for the last 10 days. The bureaucracy has increased by 50% in terms of costs paid by Canadian taxpayers, who are receiving fewer services. Now 155,000 Canadian public service workers are on strike. It is the largest strike in Canadian history. This government's inaction over the past two years is what created this dispute. When will the Prime Minister come back and fix this problem?
Government Priorities
Date: 2023_04_28
Chamber: HOUSE OF COMMONS
Hon. Karina Gould: the point my hon. colleague has missed is that this increased spending was to serve Canadians during the pandemic. I know the Conservatives have forgotten that there was a pandemic that sent big shock waves through the economy and the health care system, but our government was there for Canadians during the pandemic. We made sure they received income supports, and we were there for Canadian organizations. We will continue to respect the bargaining process with the union.
Government Priorities
Date: 2023_04_28
Chamber: HOUSE OF COMMONS
Mr. Rene Villemure: at this point, the ties between the Prime Minister and the Trudeau Foundation are clear. His family, his friends and his staff are involved, as we heard in committee this morning. The ties between the Chinese government and the foundation are also clear after a $140,000 donation was made. The Trudeau Foundation is a collection of Liberal Party friends, and that is why it is of interest to China. All Quebeckers understand this. One question remains: Who can trust anyone from the foundation to investigate Beijing's attempts to get close to Liberal circles?
Government Priorities
Date: 2023_04_28
Chamber: HOUSE OF COMMONS
Mr. Rene Villemure: Ottawa must clamp down. This was the warning given last week by Raphael Glucksmann, chair of the special committee on foreign interference in Europe, who stated that what made it possible for these repeated attacks to take place was first and foremost the absence of sanctions, adding that there were no sanctions in the European Union. That is why the Bloc Quebecois is calling for three things: first, an independent public inquiry; second, an independent and permanent investigative body; and, third, a criminal law on foreign interference to equip police services. No one will settle for an already-discredited report by the Trudeau Foundation. When will the Prime Minister realize that?
Government Priorities
Date: 2023_04_28
Chamber: HOUSE OF COMMONS
Hon. Dominic LeBlanc: my colleague from the Bloc Quebecois knows full well that our government strengthened legislation to deal with foreign interference in our democratic institutions. He knows full well that we have taken several measures--which were definitely not in place when we formed the government in 2015--to strengthen our institutions and to counter foreign interference, which had already been a factor for 10 years. The good news is that we are continually working to strengthen our measures. We look forward to reading Mr. Johnston's recommendations on this issue.
Government Priorities
Date: 2023_04_28
Chamber: HOUSE OF COMMONS
Mr. Michael Barrett: by using the Trudeau Foundation, a Beijing influence operation was successful. For $140,000, Beijing had access to the Prime Minister and to the man the Prime Minister picked to investigate and report on foreign interference in our elections. What did that report say? It said there was nothing to see. Is $140,000 the cost to influence our democracy under the Liberals?
Government Priorities
Date: 2023_04_28
Chamber: HOUSE OF COMMONS
Mr. Michael Barrett: the Liberals are unreal. They are the only ones who think that "arm's-length" means literally holding a meeting at arm's length from the Prime Minister 's desk. They allowed Beijing to directly interfere in our elections and gave direct access to the Prime Minister and the person who is supposed to investigate interference in our elections. It is unbelievable. It is frankly not credible. Conservatives have called for hearings to occur on this, and we have invited, because he asked in the newspapers, Mr. Alexandre Trudeau to appear at committee to answer questions. The Prime Minister 's brother is going to answer questions. The board that is falling apart is answering questions. When will the Liberals finally give Canadians answers?
Government Priorities
Date: 2023_04_28
Chamber: HOUSE OF COMMONS
Mr. Michael Cooper: Trudeau Foundation donors paid for the Prime Minister 's luxurious $80,000 Caribbean vacation. The Prime Minister's brother signed off on a $140,000 Beijing bribe to the foundation to buy his influence, and the foundation held a meeting with five deputy ministers in none other than the Prime Minister's own office. The Prime Minister claims he has nothing to do with the Trudeau Foundation. Is it really so?
Government Priorities
Date: 2023_04_28
Chamber: HOUSE OF COMMONS
Mr. Michael Cooper: there is more. The Prime Minister appointed the former president of the Trudeau Foundation to whitewash Beijing's interference in the 2021 election. It was interference to help him get re-elected. Convenient appointments, paid vacations, meetings in his office and Beijing bribes all connect the Prime Minister to the Trudeau Foundation. When will the Prime Minister and the government stop insulting the intelligence of Canadians and admit that the Prime Minister is closely connected to the foundation that bears his family name?
Government Priorities
Date: 2023_04_28
Chamber: HOUSE OF COMMONS
Ms. Leah Gazan: while the Prime Minister is schmoozing with billionaires and bankers and taking selfies with Hollywood stars, 155,000 civil servant workers are on day 10 of their strike. In Winnipeg, 9,000 workers are on the streets, waiting on the Prime Minister to deliver a fair wage to keep up with inflation. The Prime Minister's lack of attention is, quite frankly, disrespectful. When will the Prime Minister get to the negotiation table to deliver the fair deal that workers deserve?
Government Priorities
Date: 2023_04_28
Chamber: HOUSE OF COMMONS
Hon. Greg Fergus: let me make this perfectly clear: The negotiators for the federal government are at the table, and they are negotiating in good faith. The negotiators for the unions are at the table, and they are negotiating. The best deal to happen is at the negotiating table, and if they work together, I am confident they will come to an agreement.
Government Priorities
Date: 2023_04_28
Chamber: HOUSE OF COMMONS
Ms. Bonita Zarrillo: migrant workers in the care economy are essential. They deserve respect and they deserve to stay here if they choose to. They take care of our aging parents, grandparents and loved ones. The Liberals must grant permanent residency for migrant workers and their families so that they have the same protections and rights as any Canadian worker. When will the Minister of Immigration grant permanent residency for migrant workers in Canada?
Government Priorities
Date: 2023_04_28
Chamber: HOUSE OF COMMONS
Mrs. Marie-France Lalonde: I want to thank the member for her question and for her advocacy for caregivers in our country. As a former social worker, I know caregivers' hardship. I have also worked with caregivers in many of my roles before entering politics. We have announced that we are reducing work requirements from 24 months to 12 months to help reduce the barriers in getting PR. We sincerely value the sacrifice of our caregivers. We will always try to help people.
Government Priorities
Date: 2023_04_28
Chamber: HOUSE OF COMMONS
Ms. Viviane Lapointe: today is the National Day of Mourning when we remember those who have died on the job and commit to safer and more respectful workplaces for all. A safe workplace is a fundamental right of every Canadian worker. One death in the workplace is one too many. Can the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Labour tell us what our government is doing to help ensure workplaces are safe for Canada's workers on this National Day of Mourning?
Government Priorities
Date: 2023_04_28
Chamber: HOUSE OF COMMONS
Mr. Terry Sheehan: I thank the member for Sudbury for continuing to support workers. Every worker in Canada has the right to a safe and healthy workplace and the right to return home safely at the end of their workday. On the National Day of Mourning, we pay tribute to all workers who have lost their lives, been injured or fallen ill at work. As we pause to reflect, we also see April 28 as a call to continued action. As we honour the memory of those lives lost, we are rededicating ourselves to creating and fostering workplaces where all workers can do their best work knowing that they are physically and mentally safe. One accident or one death on the job is one too many.
Government Priorities
Date: 2023_04_28
Chamber: HOUSE OF COMMONS
Mrs. Rachael Thomas: we know that, for years, Beijing has attempted to exert undue influence in Canada, but this is the very first government and the very first Prime Minister that have willingly offered Beijing cash for access. This is the first government that has gone that far, and $140,000 is all that it takes. It might as well be 30 pieces of silver. Why does the Prime Minister believe that our democracy is up for sale?
Government Priorities
Date: 2023_04_28
Chamber: HOUSE OF COMMONS
Mr. Kevin Lamoureux: it is somewhat unfortunate that the Conservatives want to continue with partisan attacks and character assassinations when there are so many different issues that Canadians are facing today. One of the budget announcements that I am very proud of and feel that Canadians are glad to see is the grocery rebate. That is putting money in the pockets of Canadians, and somewhere to the tune of 11 million people will benefit from it. I think the Conservatives need to get in touch with what Canadians are concerned about.
Government Priorities
Date: 2023_04_28
Chamber: HOUSE OF COMMONS
Mr. Jeremy Patzer: they say that if someone does not learn from history, they are doomed to repeat it. We would think that the Liberals would learn a lesson or two with their many failed firearms policies, but here we are. Rather than focusing on the violent criminals who are causing havoc in our streets, they would rather implement a buyback program from our law-abiding retailers. Why will the Prime Minister not get back to work and focus on criminals, rather than lawful citizens?
Government Priorities
Date: 2023_04_28
Chamber: HOUSE OF COMMONS
Ms. Pam Damoff: combatting crime is a complex issue. Rather than offering solutions, the party opposite wants to come up with catchy slogans and obstruct the policies we are putting forward. We need to be dealing with mental health. We are providing options when it comes to housing. We are very proud of Bill C-21 and the things that are being put in there to get a handgun freeze and additional penalties on organized crime. We are taking an overall approach to dealing with crime, and I am proud of what we are doing.
Government Priorities
Date: 2023_04_28
Chamber: HOUSE OF COMMONS
Mr. Jeremy Patzer: this is classic for Liberals. They do not want the facts to get in the way of a good virtue signal. The facts are that under the previous Conservative government, violent crime was down 20%. Under the Liberal government, violent crime is up 32%, and serious, gang-related crime is up 98%. The Prime Minister would rather go on vacation than make sure that violent criminals stay in jail. When will the Prime Minister take a permanent vacation so that Conservatives can fix what he broke?
Government Priorities
Date: 2023_04_28
Chamber: HOUSE OF COMMONS
Ms. Pam Damoff: today the Minister of Public Safety is actually meeting with Secretary Mayorkas and Attorney General Garland from the United States at a cross-border crime forum. This is because we recognize that this issue transcends borders. That is why we have invested in the borders, something the Conservatives voted against. That is why we have invested in law enforcement. It is why we have invested in communities, so that community programs can be put in place to divert kids from gangs. We are taking an overall policy position on this, and I am proud of where we are.
Government Priorities
Date: 2023_04_28
Chamber: HOUSE OF COMMONS
Mr. Bernard Genereux: Canadians in our big cities are feeling less and less safe on the streets and when taking public transportation. The Prime Minister 's soft-on-crime policies are to blame. Violent offenders are back out on the streets the same day they are arrested and others are serving their sentence from the comfort of their living room instead of in prison. Will the Prime Minister and his government finally get back to work so that violent criminals are punished and victims are protected?
Government Priorities
Date: 2023_04_28
Chamber: HOUSE OF COMMONS
Mr. Gary Anandasangaree: Canadians deserve to feel safe and to be safe. Canadians deserve to feel and be safe. All governments have a role to play in this. We will not solve this problem with empty slogans and misinformation. We need to work together. In March, the Minister of Justice met with provincial and territorial counterparts to address the problem of violent repeat offenders. After a very productive FPT, we agreed that our government would table legislation, and we look forward to working with all parties to get to the right solution on this.