MP Aldag Statement on Being Banned from Russia

March 16, 2022 – British Columbia

“Yesterday, Russia announced that 313 Canadians are banned from entering Russia. Among these names are many Members of Parliament, including myself.

“I am not surprised by this announcement. While I am saddened to be banned from a country with a rich history and culture, I am more than proud to be among those banned by Putin — a small sacrifice for standing up for Ukraine.

“I will not allow this to distract me nor our government’s full support for Ukraine and the people of Ukraine, who are suffering greatly. We must not forget that Russia blatantly violated international law, Ukraine’s sovereignty, and is committing war crimes.

“Frankly, the only response from Russia I am interested in is an immediate end to this illegal, unnecessary, and horrific war in Ukraine. Until then, we will continue our coordinated sanctions against Putin and his cronies in Russia and Belarus.

“These are already showing to slow down Russia’s ability to reinforce their military activity. Combined with our military and economic support for Ukraine and Ukrainians’ heroic stand against Russia, we are seeing the Russian military stalling out. This is the purpose of our sanctions and I am hopeful we will see an end to this conflict sooner rather than later.”

Contacts:

Megan Waddington
Constituency Assistant
Office of John Aldag, Member of Parliament
604-575-6595
john.aldag@parl.gc.ca

✔︎ Motion for Confirmation of the Declaration of Emergency

Motion

That, pursuant to section 58 of the Emergencies Act, this House confirm the declaration of a public order emergency proclaimed on February 14, 2022.

Vote

Yea.

Rationale

The Emergencies Act contains several safeguards and safeguards, including parliamentary review. Actions taken under the law must respect the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

The scope of these measures will be time-limited, geographically targeted, as well as reasonable and proportionate to the threats they are meant to address.

The Emergencies Act will be used to strengthen and support law enforcement agencies at all levels across the country. This is about keeping Canadians safe, protecting people’s jobs and restoring confidence in our institutions.

The following six measures have been brought in to bring this matter under control:

- The regulation and prohibition of public assemblies that lead to a breach of the peace and go beyond lawful protest.

- Designating and securing places where blockades are to be prohibited including borders and critical infrastructure.

- Directing persons to render essential services to relieve impacts of blockades on Canada’s economy.

- Authorizing or directing financial institutions to render essential services to relieve impact of blockades, including regulating and prohibiting the use of property to fund or support the blockades.

- Measures enabling the RCMP to enforce municipal by laws and provincial offences where required; and

- The imposition of fines of imprisonment for contravention of any order or regulation made under section 19 of the Emergencies Act

The Emergencies Act also contains a number of significant limits, checks and safeguards. As required by the Act, on several occasions over the past week, the Prime Minister and members of Cabinet consulted with the Premiers and members of their respective governments. Having declared a public order emergency, we tabled the declaration in Parliament.

Result

Passed.

✔︎ Bill C-12 (Support for Seniors)

Bill

Bill C-12, An Act to amend the Old Age Security Act (Guaranteed Income Supplement)

Second Reading.

Vote

Yea.

Rationale

The Old Age Security Act will be amended to exclude any income received under COVID-19 emergency supports including CERB from calculation of the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) and Allowance payable. This ensures that our seniors are protected and their income shielded from deductions based on pandemic support they needed.

Result

Passed.

✔︎ Bill C-10 (Securing Rapid Tests for Canadians)

Bill

Bill C-10, An Act respecting certain measures related to COVID-19

Second Reading.

Vote

Yea.

Rationale

As we transition into the next stage of the pandemic, we will need to rely more on tests to keep each other safe. We are committing $2.5 billion to secure enough rapid tests for all Canadians. This will help us keep people safe, healthy, and businesses open.

Result

Passed.

Statement on Three Dear Friends and Amazing Team Members Passing Away

Mr. Speaker

As politicians, I know we all appreciate those who help us in performing our duties once elected, as well as in getting elected.  Today I’d like to recognize three of those individuals from my team who have passed away since I entered politics in the 42nd Parliament.

Gunraj Gill came to me in 2014 as a campaign volunteer, still a teenager.  I asked what role he wanted to play.  He responded, “Campaign Manager”.  I hired him.  After my election, he came with me to Ottawa and oversaw both my Ottawa and constituency offices.  He had a passion for democracy, and a passion for politics.  Gunraj tragically passed away in July, 2019 as we were preparing for the 2019 election.

Lynn Whitehouse worked for, and managed, the Greater Langley Chamber of Commerce for more than 30 years.  She was a fierce advocate for good public policy that would support the small businesses in our community.  She ran campaigns against governments of all stripes to change what she felt were missing or bad directions for our country.  After Lynn’s retirement, she decided she couldn’t simply stay at home.  She joined my constituency team and was there to ensure I never forgot the needs of our business community.  Lynn lost her battle to cancer just before Christmas of 2021.

 Charity Amouzou, also known as Charity May, was a volunteer on campaigns in 2015 and 2019.  She played a key role with my Religious Leaders’ Roundtables that I ran during the 42nd Parliament, as well as my Youth Council.  She had  a passion for youth, for politics, for law.  Charity lost her battle to cancer in January, 2022, leaving behind her son Malaki, whom she loved more than anything else in the world. 

Thank you for allowing me this moment to recognize these 3 individuals who played a significant part of my political life.  Gunraj, Lynn, Charity – you are all missed daily.

✔︎ Bill C-3 (Healthcare Protections & 10 Days of Paid Sick Leave)

Bill

Bill C-3, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Canada Labour Code

Third Reading.

Vote

Yea.

Rationale

Bill C-3 provides protection for healthcare workers and 10 days of paid sick leave. What does protection for healthcare workers mean? This will make the intimidation and threats to healthcare workers illegal and extends to online threats. It also makes obstructing healthcare workers from doing their job illegal. This includes those accessing health services, including abortion services. It does NOT make peaceful protest or labour action illegal, we are protecting charter rights. What does paid sick leave mean? If you are a federally regulated worker, you will now receive 10 days of sick leave. This is enough in case someone needs to isolate for two weeks and covers almost one million workers.

Result

Passed.

✔︎ Bill C-2, (Targeted COVID-19 Supports)

Bill

Bill C-2, An Act to provide further support in response to COVID-19

Third Reading.

Vote

Yea.

Rationale

Bill C-2 provides more targeted supports as our economy emerges from the depths of this pandemic. This will help both workers and businesses. If you are affected by a local lockdown, the Canada Worker Lockdown benefit will provide $300 a week for the duration of the lockdown. It also provides subsidies to the tourism and hospitality industry and other hardest hit businesses.

Result

Passed.

✔︎ Bill C-6, Appropriation Act No. 4, 2021-22

Bill

Bill C-6, An Act for granting to Her Majesty certain sums of money for the federal public administration for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2022.

Vote

Yea.

Rationale

The Act grants the Head of State, Her Royal Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, certain sums of money toward defraying the various charges and expenses of the federal public administration for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2022.

Passed.

Bill Status

Royal Assent received

Debate on Bill C-3, Protections for Healthcare Workers and Paid Sick Leave

Mr. Speaker, Bill C-3 will protect healthcare workers, Canadians seeking health services, and Canadians deciding between their well-being and paying bills. Delivering protections for healthcare workers and 10 days paid sick leave were top priorities for us. It is why I stand here today, just weeks into the 44th parliament, speaking in favour of bill C-3 so we can ensure Canadians receive the protections their deserve as quickly as possible.

Throughout this pandemic we have commended our healthcare workers. They have been true heroes, working on the frontline tirelessly. Calling healthcare workers heroes and commending their bravery, well entirely deserved, is not enough. We need to provide real protections to them. The amendments to the criminal code in this bill will afford healthcare workers security against obstruction from accessing their workplaces safely.

Unfortunately, we have seen terrible incidents where doctors and nurses have been intimidated, threatened, and in some cases spit on. All because they are saving the lives of COVID-19 patients.

No one should feel unsafe at their workplace and this legislation will provide healthcare workers the confidence and legal protections to safely access their workplaces.

We also know that intimidation can also manifest through online forums, not only in person. We are protecting healthcare workers here as well. In the age of social media and digital technology we know that online threats can be just as real as those faced in front of a workplace. No individual should be able to use fear to stop a health care worker or those who assist them from performing their duties.

Our legislation will not only protect healthcare workers, but those accessing healthcare as well. In many cases, those accessing healthcare are the most vulnerable, particularly during this pandemic. This summer, an individual went to Toronto from Prince Edward Island to wait for a lung transplant, was leaving their hospital after a physiotherapy session. They had to be escorted by police to protect them from an unmasked group blocking access to and from the hospital. We cannot accept this behaviour, which is placing our most vulnerable at risk.

This behaviour is not new either, the pandemic has only magnified it. Those working at, and accessing, abortion services have had to deal with this for many years. Now, under this legislation, will protect these healthcare professionals and their patients from threats and violence.

Before my some of those in the opposition falsely begin calling foul by claiming charter violations or restrictions on labour action. This legislation clearly ensures Canadians have the freedom to voice their concerns and protest in a safe and peaceful manner. It also ensures workers’ freedom to take labour action including picketing. These will be respected by these proposed changes to Canada’s criminal law.

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted a number of issues facing Canadians in their workplaces. Too many Canadians have been forced to choose between staying home when they are sick or being able to afford rent and groceries. Too many health care workers, those who assist them and Canadians seeking medical care have experienced or feared intimidation while attempting to provide or access health services.

This legislation’s other change, 10 days of paid sick leave, will protecting Canadian’s well-being, support them economically, and avoid pressures on our healthcare system. While this only applies to federally regulated workers that is almost 1 million workers and it will contribute to a wider discussion about paid sick leave across the country.

The pandemic has demonstrated the effect that illness can have on our economy and the cost for individuals and families. With isolations and quarantines lasting up to two weeks, workers need to know that if they contract COVID-19 that they can take the necessary time off work without risking losses to their income.

Not only will this ensure workers do not need to choose between their income and their well-being, but this will also avoid spreading COVID-19 or other contagious illnesses in the workplace. There have been too many stories of outbreaks in workplaces that happened because individuals felt they had to come into work because they could not afford to take unpaid time off. This often results in negative economic effects for companies as well.

Not only will this help workers but be a preventive measure for our healthcare system. We have all experienced lockdowns throughout the last 20 months to avoid our hospitals from being overwhelmed by COVID-19 cases. This is another measure to prevent outbreaks at workplaces from driving up case numbers, putting our healthcare system at risk now or in the future.

For Canadians not employed in a federally-regulated industry, our Government will be engaging in consultations with federally regulated employers and workers towards the implementation of this legislation. Additionally, the Government will convene provinces, territories and other interested stakeholders to develop a national action plan to legislate paid sick leave across the country, while respecting provincial-territorial jurisdiction and clearly recognizing the unique needs of small business owners.

10 days paid sick leave is another tool in creating a more resilient economy as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic.

✔︎ Bill C-4 (Ban on Conversion Therapy)

Bill

Bill C-3, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Canada Labour Code

Third Reading.

Vote

Yea.

Rationale

BIll C-4 bans conversion therapy. What does this mean for the LGBT2S+ community? This will strengthen the rights of equality and dignity. As a stronger bill, it will better protect the community by criminalizing:

• Causing another person to undergo conversion therapy

• Removing a minor from Canada to subject them to conversion therapy abroad

• Profiting from providing conversion therapy

• Advertising or promoting conversion therapy

This does NOT criminalize speaking openly and in good-faith about someone's gender or sexual identity. What does this mean for Canada? This bill will ensure we are a country where everyone - regardless of gender expression, gender identity, or sexual orientation - can live equally and freely.

Result

Passed.