Today: February 8, 2022

Today: February 8, 2022

By Andrew Thomson | UPDATED 5:09pmET

PM defends vaccine mandates after Liberal MP criticizes government's "divisive" approach and resigns as Quebec caucus chair; Lightbound calls for roadmap to end COVID-19 restrictions

The federal government needs to quickly offer a road map for the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions, according to Quebec Liberal MP Joël Lightbound, citing mental health concerns from pediatricians and the parents of depressed children, and the inability of many Canadians to earn a living from a "MacBook at their cottage."

Lightbound, the MP for Louis-Hébert, chair of the industry committee, and a former parliamentary secretary to the finance minister, subsequently announced his resignation as chair of the Quebec Liberal caucus (though he remains a caucus member).

Watch Lightbound's full news conference (no interpretation):

In response, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau defended vaccine mandates this afternoon, saying mandates are the best tool to avoid further restrictions -- and that following the best available science and expert advice has proven successful in both economic recovery and health outcomes.

Watch Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and MPs react to Lightbound:

Watch today's question period:

Lightbound said the Liberal government has changed in policy and in tone since last year's election campaign and appears unwilling to adapt to the evolution of the pandemic. 

"Now the approach stigmatizes people and divides people," he told reporters this morning, pointing to the loosening of restrictions in European countries with lower vaccination rates than Canada. 

Lightbound said he raised his concerns to Trudeau within caucus, but owes it to constituents to publicly voice his concerns and is ready for potential political consequences for speaking out.

But, he added, other Liberal MPs share his concerns and the party has historically been "open for dissent and different opinions."

Lightbound wants the federal government to:

  • provide "quantifiable parameters" for current measures such as the threshold for hospitalization
  • publish studies and scientific advice underpinning current measures
  • start negotiating with the provinces on the Canada Health Transfer, calling the federal position "hard to understand" in terms of the timing of negotiations

Lightbound also said demonstrators causing disruption and gridlock in Ottawa need to move, but their concerns need to be addressed. 

On the provincial front, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe announced today an end to the province's vaccine passport program as of Feb. 14, though the masking mandate will remain in effect until the end of February.

Here's Quebec Premier François Legault on the plan to lift most COVID-19 restrictions by mid-March (no interpretation):

Newfoundland and Labrador, meanwhile, announced plans to ease restrictions and gathering limits:

And Prince Edward Island announced a three-step plan for phasing out many of the current public health measures. Restrictions will first be eased Feb. 17, further relaxed in mid-March, and finally removed in the beginning of April. Exact dates will be confirmed by the provincial government as the plan progresses:

WATCH: Federal ministers provide update on response to convoy protests

Ministers Bill Blair (emergency preparedness) and Marco Mendicino (public safety) discuss the ongoing protest in Ottawa and similar demonstrations at border crossings in Coutts, Alta. and Windsor, Ont.

WATCH: Monday's emergency debate in the House of Commons

The Ottawa protest trying to blockade both democracy and the economy "has to stop," according to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who argued during last night's emergency debate that Canadians should be united in fighting the COVID-19 virus instead of each other. 

"The people of Ottawa don’t deserve to be harassed in their own neighborhoods," Trudeau told the House of Commons.

Trudeau said Canadian voters chose vaccines and science in last September's federal election, and that responsible leadership is needed now to protect democracy. 

"We have to make sure that our shared values ... (have) to be here to stay," the prime minister added as he closed his formal remarks. 

Trudeau was in the House chamber for the first time this year, after announcing a positive COVID-19 test result last week as sittings resumed. 

In the House: CP Rail and Saskatchewan, and the Opioid Crisis

The Conservatives have their first opposition day of 2022 -- a call to amend the constitution and eliminate preferential tax treatment given to the Canadian Pacific Railway when Saskatchewan entered Confederation in 1905.

CP is suing the Saskatchewan government for $341 million, claiming an 1880 agreement with the federal government and subsequent legislation exempts the company from provincial taxes. 

The 1881 CPR Act accepted that:

The Canadian Pacific Railway, and all stations: and station grounds, work shops, buildings, yards and other property, rolling stock and appurtenances required and used for the construction and working thereof … shall be forever free from taxation by the Dominion, or by any Province hereafter to be established or by any Municipal Corporation therein.

Read the full Conservative motion:

Whereas on October 21, 1880, the Government of Canada entered into a contract with the Canadian Pacific Railway Syndicate for the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway;

Whereas, by clause 16 of the 1880 Canadian Pacific Railway contract, the federal government agreed to give a tax exemption to the Canadian Pacific Railway Company;

Whereas, in 1905, the Parliament of Canada passed the Saskatchewan Act, which created the Province of Saskatchewan;

Whereas section 24 of the Saskatchewan Act refers to clause 16 of the 1880 Canadian Pacific Railway Contract;

Whereas the Canadian Pacific Railway was completed on November 6, 1885, with the Last Spike at Craigellachie, and has been operating as a going concern for 136 years;

Whereas, the Canadian Pacific Railway Company has paid applicable taxes to the Government of Saskatchewan since the Province was established in 1905;

Whereas it would be unfair to the residents of Saskatchewan if a major corporation were exempt from certain provincial taxes, casting that tax burden onto the residents of Saskatchewan;

Whereas it would be unfair to other businesses operating in Saskatchewan, including small businesses, if a major corporation were exempt from certain provincial taxes, giving that corporation a significant competitive advantage over those other businesses, to the detriment of farmers, consumers and producers in the Province;

Whereas it would not be consistent with Saskatchewan's position as an equal partner in Confederation if there were restrictions on its taxing powers that do not apply to other provinces;

Whereas on August 29, 1966, the then President of the Canadian Pacific Railway Company, Ian D. Sinclair, advised the then federal Minister of Transport, Jack Pickersgill, that the Board of the Canadian Pacific Railway Company had no objection to constitutional amendments to eliminate the tax exemption;

Whereas section 43 of the Constitution Act, 1982 provides that an amendment to the Constitution of Canada may be made by proclamation issued by the Governor General under the Great Seal of Canada where so authorized by resolutions of the Senate and House of Commons and of the legislative assembly of each province to which the amendment applies;

Whereas the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan, on November 29, 2021, adopted a resolution authorizing an amendment to the Constitution of Canada;

Now, therefore, the House of Commons resolves that an amendment to the Constitution of Canada be authorized to be made by proclamation issued by Her Excellency the Governor General under the Great Seal of Canada in accordance with the annexed schedule.

SCHEDULE AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF CANADA

  1. Section 24 of the Saskatchewan Act is repealed.
  2. The repeal of section 24 is deemed to have been made on August 29, 1966, and is retroactive to that date.

CITATION 3. This Amendment may be cited as the Constitution Amendment, [year of proclamation] (Saskatchewan Act).

This evening, the House of Commons holds a take-note debate on Canada’s opioid crisis.

MPs switch to a Committee of the Whole for this style of debate, which looks at broader national issues rather than specific bills. MPs can speak as many times as they wish – 10 minutes at a time.

MPs also vote on a concurrence motion for the ethics committee report on the government's collection and use of mobile data to analyze the pandemic movement of Canadians. 

The entirety of the report:

That the committee call upon the government to suspend the Public Health Agency of Canada's cellular data tender upon adoption of this motion, and that the tender shall not be re-offered until it the committee reports to the House that it is satisfied that the privacy of Canadians will not be affected, and that the committee report the adoption of this motion to the House at the earliest opportunity.

Watch Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet (no interpretation):

In Committee

Edmonton Police Chief Dale McFee, Regina Chief Evan Bray, and Toronto deputy chief Myron Demkiw appear before the public safety committee to discuss gun control, illegal arms trafficking, and gang-related crime. 11am ET / 8am PT

Federal environment commissioner Jerry DeMarco goes before the public accounts committee following his report on Canada's climate change record. 11am ET / 8am PT

CRTC chair Ian Scott appears at the Commons industry committee. 3:30pm ET / 12:30pm PT

Alexander Jeglic, the federal procurement ombudsman, appears at the government operations committee. 3:30pm ET / 12:30pm PT

Also: the House of Commons sergeant-at-arms and senior members of the Parliamentary Protective Service provide an in-camera security briefing to MPs on the procedure committee.

Today in Politics: Mark Sutcliffe and Susan Delacourt

Justin Trudeau speaks out against some of the actions by those taking part in the protest in Ottawa. A proposal is introduced for a cross-jurisdictional meeting to deal with the ongoing protest. And who might challenge Pierre Poilievre for the Conservative leadership?