Joanne Thompson
St. John's East, Newfoundland and Labrador · Liberal · Canada
“Mr. Speaker, I can assure all members of this House that when I make decisions as the fisheries minister, they are always balanced, with information through the department and consultations with people in the communities. I am not going to comment on conspiracy theories, but I will say I am proud of the work we do in the department.”
“Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for the opportunity for me to once again say that I have met with stakeholders in B.C., across all perspectives. We are working on the decision. There is space for recreational fishing and commercial, and the need for indigenous harvesting. We will balance the decision.”
“Mr. Speaker, I am proud to stand here today and share with Canadians that 12 million Canadians will benefit from the groceries and essentials benefit. I am proud to talk about the benefits associated with $10‑a‑day child care, which allows families to be able to go into the workplace and know their kids are well cared for.”
“Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to talk about the $8‑billion investment in 5 Wing Goose Bay in Labrador, in my province. I will also take the opportunity to talk about the almost $1 billion in small craft harbours and the funding available to help our young people train in Red Seal industries.”
“Mr. Speaker, I will once again remind the member opposite that when we get people to work, when we invest in our young Newfoundlanders and Labradorians and Canadians with programs like the apprenticeship program, which walks with them throughout the journey to a Red Seal designation, and when we have construction jobs, it enhances our eco…”
“Mr. Speaker, I want to remind my opposition colleague from Newfoundland and Labrador that employment numbers are up in our province. I also want to remind her once again of the almost $1 billion for small craft harbours, growing our rural, coastal and indigenous communities that support our fisheries, an essential part of rural Newfoundla…”
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“Mr. Speaker, I would say to the mom in the member's riding to please ask her member to vote for child care, dental care and the school nutrition program, where a family of two can save $800 a year, and to support the inflation-indexed Canada child benefit, as 46,000 families need that support, along with housing supports. I could go on and on. These are tangible affordability measures. I will never politicize the struggles of moms in my province.”
“Mr. Speaker, instead of repeating the same canned lines, I would ask the member from Newfoundland and Labrador, a Conservative member, to think about what she voted against: $10-a-day child care; food for kids in schools, something that her colleague called garbage; dental care; and the family benefit, which 46,000 families in my riding take advantage of. I ask her to start to work for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.”
“Mr. Speaker, I think it is very important for me to point out that my colleague in the opposition from Newfoundland and Labrador has voted against every opportunity to help Canadians: housing, the school food program, $10-a-day child care, dental care, and on and on. This is nothing but a circle of tired notes. We need to work together. Canadians want us to work together. I will tell my colleague that Newfoundlanders and Labradorians want to see results.”
“Mr. Speaker, I was in my riding last weekend. I served food in a school. In my riding, the educators and the administrators all spoke about how important that program is to the 400 children in that school. I also want to remind the member opposite that I had many meetings in the riding with constituents, with Progressive Conservative business owners. They are thanking me for the budget that is investing in this country, that is building this country. We have solutions. I will not play this political rhetoric game.”
“Mr. Speaker, instead of playing partisan politics, let us focus on Canadians. The member opposite from Newfoundland and Labrador voted against a budget that invests in Canada; invests in our province in rural communities, roads, bridges, schools and hospitals; and invests in families with the school nutrition program's $800 savings a year for a family with two children. There is the family benefit that 46,000 families rely on, and there is an increase. Shame on the member.”
“Mr. Speaker, apart from partisan politics, this member, who is from my province of Newfoundland and Labrador, voted against a budget that invests in Canada and invests in our province. She voted against 46,000 families who will see an increase in the Canada child benefit, families who rely on the food— Some hon. members: Oh, oh!”
“Mr. Speaker, I want to assure my colleague that the work is happening. He needs to look at what has happened in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and other parts of the country. Fisheries officers are on the water. We support their work. They are making a difference. We accept nothing but authorized fishing.”
“Mr. Speaker, unauthorized fishing is unacceptable, full stop. Fisheries officers have many tools they use in the management of unauthorized fishing, from education to charges to fines. Often, their work happens in remote areas and at times of the day when people are not aware of the work they are doing. I want to thank fisheries officers for their outstanding work in keeping our fisheries safe and peaceful.”
“Mr. Speaker, I am so proud to stand today and support a budget that is not only growing this country but also paying attention to rural communities. I can tell members that in Newfoundland and Labrador, investments in roads, bridges, hospitals, houses and communities matter. I ask my Conservative Newfoundland and Labrador colleagues, are they are going to vote for the things that matter to all of the province?”
“Mr. Speaker, I am so proud to stand today, in reference to the question from the opposition member from Newfoundland and Labrador, and talk about the measures we are putting in place for young workers to train in construction, welding and the other work we need in order to build Canada strong. This is happening in my province, and I was so proud to make that announcement last week. That is just one of the many measures, not to mention the programs for children and families. I really hope the member votes for the budget.”
“Mr. Speaker, I want to say this to the opposition colleague from Newfoundland and Labrador: There is no fuel tax. It is an imaginary tax on food. What I want to say clearly is that the measures we have in place in our province, including $10-a-day child care, are allowing moms and dads to stay in the workforce. I was in my riding this weekend and spoke about the importance of the new program in the budget for training workers in construction and health care, getting our young people to work. This is affordability.”
“Mr. Speaker, I want to remind my colleague from Newfoundland and Labrador in the opposition that school nutrition programs are important to a province. We were the first to sign on to this program, because it mattered. The Conservatives voted against it. One Conservative called it “garbage”. It does feed children. It matters. I am asking the member if he is going to vote with us when the time comes.”
“moved: Motion No. 7 That Bill C-3, in Clause 4, be amended by: (a) replacing lines 27 and 28 on page 7 with the following: at least 1,095 days before the person's adoption; or (b) by replacing line 38 on page 7 to line 15 on page 8 with the following: at least 1,095 days before the person’s adoption. (c) ...”
“moved: Motion No. 3 That Bill C-3, in Clause 1, be amended by: (a) replacing lines 36 and 37 on page 3 with the following: 1,095 days before the person’s birth; or (b) replacing line 28 on page 4 to line 6 on page 5 with the following: 1,095 days before the person’s birth.”
“Mr. Speaker, illegal fishing is unlawful. It threatens conservation and has an impact on the livelihood of people in coastal communities. That is why we have strengthened enforcement and added more patrols on the water and at wharfs. We are also working with enforcement partners. This summer, in southwest Nova Scotia, fisheries officers seized vessels and traps. They returned thousands of lobsters to the ocean and stopped black market sales, including 200 crates of lobsters seized last week. Our plan is delivering results, and I will do everything I can to keep fisheries safe and regulated.”
“Mr. Speaker, while my colleague from Newfoundland and Labrador and the opposition want to talk down programs and humiliate Newfoundlanders and Labradorians and all Canadians, I will reassure Canadians that the school food program is feeding children. It is saving families up to $800 a year. This is a policy that works. I will always stand for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians and Canadians.”
“Mr. Speaker, I want to remind my opposition colleague from Newfoundland and Labrador that Newfoundland and Labrador was the first province in Canada to sign on to the school food program. The Conservative Party was the first party in Canada to not vote for that program. Newfoundlanders and Labradorians value this program. Moms, parents and school educators know what this program means. This is affordability, just as the suite of other programs are affordability, and the member voted against every one of them.”
“Mr. Speaker, I would like to again remind my colleague of the benefit of the school food program. I have spoken with moms who are absolutely grateful. Their children now have food in their belly and are not separated from all the other children who can expect the basic right to have food in the morning. I also want to remind my colleague of the importance of the dental program, the child benefit and $10-a-day child care. This is affordability; it is not loose slogans.”
“Mr. Speaker, I welcome this opportunity to share with the member across the way from Newfoundland and Labrador that a single mom in her riding who earns $15,000 a year can now access up to $25,000 because she will automatically get the benefits for her and her children. This is good news, this is affordability and this is not a slogan.”
“Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague in the opposition from Newfoundland and Labrador for the opportunity to celebrate a very successful fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador: northern cod with increased quotas. I visited communities, spoke with harvesters, visited processors and spoke with plant workers. This is an economic boost for rural Newfoundland and Labrador. I would invite the colleague for Long Range Mountains to work with this government to encourage young people to see the fisheries as a viable future. There is so much to celebrate.”
“Mr. Speaker, I would like to say to my colleague across the aisle a repeat of what was said in the last answer: The fact is that Canada is working to protect workers. Rather than slogans, misinformation and negativity, the Liberals are actually doing the work of opening dialogue actively on the ground, to ensure that the workers in Canada are protected. We will have Canadians' backs.”
“Mr. Speaker, I will echo what so many of my colleagues have said today: We are focused on building the economy in Canada, working with premiers in provinces and territories and building a strong Canada so that provinces like mine and the member opposite's, Newfoundland and Labrador, which is rich in natural resources, will be part of the projects that we will get built in record time and that will benefit everyone in this country.”
“Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to say that I was in Nova Scotia for the last couple of weeks. I met with harvesters and lobster fishers, and I want to assure the member opposite that I will continue to do this work. We need to ensure that we have balanced fisheries, and we need to ensure that we support authorised fishing.”
“Madam Speaker, I will repeat what I said earlier, because I do not know if my colleague heard me. It is imperative that we balance the future of stocks. We need to have a fishery to pass on to the next generation. At the same time, we need to understand that this is people's livelihood. We can do both, but we also need to ensure that we have a stock going forward.”
“Madam Speaker, I well know the historical importance of cod to the province, as well as the cultural importance. I also remember the moratorium 30 years ago and remember the absolute devastation to so many communities and individuals. As we begin to move forward and see the stock return to a more healthy zone, it is imperative to ensure that we balance the future generations of fishers in the province with the need of harvesters to be able to have a reasonable livelihood. I will look at both.”
“Madam Speaker, I think it is really important for the member opposite, whom I welcome to the House, to remember that there is a bill that will be tabled later today that is about growing this country, and I am so proud of the work that the new government is doing to ensure that Canada meets this moment. That includes Canada's becoming a world superpower, and I truly hope that the member opposite is going to be there to vote for all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, and for all Canadians.”
“Mr. Speaker, illegal fishing is appalling, and that is why Canada has taken a key role in the fight through Operation North Pacific Guard. Our expertly trained fisheries officers and Canadian Coast Guard crew are currently working to ensure that we disrupt the activities that lead to illegal fishing. I am also pleased to say that the crew of the Sir Wilfrid Laurier is currently engaged in this mission. I wish the crew of the Sir Wilfrid Laurier fair seas and following winds.”
“Mr. Speaker, it is very important in St. John's, and in Newfoundland and Labrador, that we protect children. The school food program was such an important initiative, and I found it so disappointing that the opposition voted against it. I hope that, when there is an opportunity to vote to support this program, which puts food in children's bellies, the opposition and the member across will vote to support food for children.”
“Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the people of St. John's East for continuing to put their trust in me. I also want to congratulate my colleague from across the aisle. This government continues to understand the cultural and economic importance of the fisheries. I can tell members that I am very humbled and proud to be responsible for this file. I can assure the people of Canada, and certainly my colleague across the aisle, that Fisheries and Oceans remains an important ministry in the government. I will do all that I can to ensure that harvesters, the industry and communities are protected.”