Statement by the Deputy Prime Minister on the final report from the Canada-British Columbia Expert Panel on the Future of Housing Supply and Affordability

On May 19, 2021, in Surrey Provincial Court, the Honourable Judge Satinder Sidhu found recreational crab harvester Laird Goddyn guilty of violations of Canada’s Fisheries Act. Justice Sidhu fined Mr. Goddyn $7,500 and banned him from holding tidal and non-tidal fishing licences for a period of 5 years. Mr. Goddyn’s fishing vessel, which was seized as evidence, was ordered returned to Mr. Goddyn, subject to a $4,638.48 storage fee.

Today, Ken Hardie, Member of Parliament for Fleetwood—Port Kells, on behalf of the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, and the Honourable Mike Farnworth, British Columbia’s Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, announced funding to upgrade ten fire halls across the province. They were also accompanied by Ron Richert, Fire Chief for the City of Quesnel.

Lieutenant-General Wayne Eyre, Acting Chief of the Defence Staff, has announced additions to the list of Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) General and Flag Officer senior appointments and promotions for 2021.

As Canada works to finish the fight against COVID-19, a full economic recovery will require the participation of all Canadians, including women, Indigenous peoples and racialized communities.

The Minister of Indigenous Services, the Honourable Marc Miller, on behalf of Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, will announce funding in support of numerous Indigenous community projects to strengthen their food security and agricultural economic development. Joining him will be some of the recipient Indigenous partners.

Through Strong, Secure, Engaged, the Government of Canada is modernizing its military equipment to support the Canadian Armed Forces and keep Canadians safe.

Today, Canada convened the International Donors’ Conference in Solidarity with Venezuelan Refugees and Migrants in collaboration with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and the International Organization for Migration. The conference increased the international visibility of the second-largest displacement crisis in the world and mobilized additional resources to support the response.

Farmers and agri-businesses in British Columbia and across Canada are leaders in climate-smart agriculture, finding new ways to make their operations more sustainable. To help them continue towards a low-carbon economy, the Government of Canada is supporting the research, innovation and adoption of clean technologies, with a focus on those that advance the bioeconomy.

Atlantic Canada’s tourism industry is vital to the region’s economy and supports thousands of local jobs and businesses. That is why the Government of Canada is investing to help the Valley Regional Enterprise Network (REN) improve and expand local tourism experiences in the Annapolis Valley and identify new opportunities for tourism development.

Public Services and Procurement Canada is restoring and modernizing the Centre Block, Canada’s main Parliament Building, so that it meets the needs of a 21st-century Parliament and is accessible to Canadians and visitors for generations to come.

Members of the media are invited to attend an important infrastructure event with the Honourable Mark Holland, Member of Parliament for Ajax, on behalf of the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Federal Minister of Infrastructure and Communities; Rod Phillips, Member of Provincial Parliament for Ajax, on behalf of the Honourable Laurie Scott, Ontario’s Minister of Infrastructure; and His Worship Shaun Collier, Mayor of the Town of Ajax.

On June 17, 2021, Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer, issued the following statement on COVID-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected the lives of persons with disabilities in Canada and around the world. It has also shed a light on the long-standing inequities that negatively affect their health, financial security and social well-being This week, countries from around the world gathered virtually at the Conference of States Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough, led Canada’s delegation and shared plans to build back better and further the inclusion of persons with disabilities in recovery efforts.

Members of the media are invited to attend an important green infrastructure announcement for Nova Scotia with the Honourable Bernadette Jordan, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard and Member of Parliament for South Shore—St. Margarets, on behalf of the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities; the Honourable Suzanne Lohnes-Croft, Member of Legislative Assembly for Lunenburg; Her Worship Carolyn Bolivar-Getson, Mayor of the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg; and His Worship David Mitchell, Mayor of the Town of Bridgewater.

Today, Vice-Admiral Bob Auchterlonie assumed leadership of the Canadian Joint Operations Command (CJOC) from Acting Commander Major-General Bill Seymour.

Today, Irek Kusmierczyk, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion and Member of Parliament for Windsor─Tecumseh, on behalf of the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Federal Minister of Infrastructure and Communities; Rick Nicholls, Member of Provincial Parliament for Chatham-Kent-Leamington, on behalf of the Honourable Laurie Scott, Ontario’s Minister of Infrastructure; and Amanda Gellman, President of the Windsor Centre for Film, Digital Media and the Creative Arts, announced funding for a new Media Arts Centre in Windsor.

The Government of Canada is deeply concerned about the increase in use of methamphetamine and the risks it poses to the health and safety of communities and Canadians. To improve access to and the quality of care for people struggling with methamphetamine use, the federal government is providing $6,665,392 for 13 projects across Canada.

Today, on behalf of the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Health, Jennifer O'Connell, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health, announced nearly $7 million in federal funding for 13 projects to help people and communities address methamphetamine use and reduce the harms associated with it in Western and Central Canada. Seven of the funded projects focus specifically on the needs of Indigenous communities.

Government of Canada to announce support for Gaelic culture

Hydrography is the science of surveying and charting waters. It’s a form of science that protects our lives, property and the environment. It informs the nautical charts that help mariners navigate safely, boosts global economic prosperity by enabling the movement of goods, and helps us map the sea’s hidden features. June 21st marks World Hydrography Day – a day to celebrate hydrography and the ways it enriches our lives.

Members of the media are invited to attend an important green infrastructure announcement with Mike Kelloway, Member of Parliament for Cape Breton–Canso, on behalf of the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities; the Honourable Iain Rankin, Premier of Nova Scotia; the Honourable Lloyd Hines, Minister of Transportation and Active Transportation, on behalf of the Honourable Chuck Porter, Minister of Energy and Mines; and Her Worship Brenda Chisholm-Beaton, Mayor of Port Hawkesbury.

Today, Member of Parliament, Scott Simms, on behalf of the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Health, announced funding for Toward Prevention, which will increase awareness of FASD, prevent alcohol use in pregnancy, and improve the health and social outcomes for those affected by FASD.

Today, the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, joined Vance Badawey, Member of Parliament for Niagara Centre and Chris Bittle, Member of Parliament for St. Catharines to announce federal funding for projects in the Niagara Region as part of the Canada Healthy Communities Initiative. Also in attendance were Sarah Kaufman, Managing Director and Curator of the Niagara Historical Society/Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum; Rita Di Marcantonio, Manager of Branch Services at St. Catharines Public Library; Marianne Matthews, President of the Royal Canadian Legion (Branch #230); Elisabeth Graham, Executive Director of Heartland Forest Nature Experience; BJ Judy Armstrong, President of The Gallery of Players Niagara; and, Bryan Rose, Executive Director of the Niagara Community Foundation. Projects announced today are among the more than 250 that are receiving funding following the first round of applications.

Today, Andy Fillmore, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities and Member of Parliament for Halifax, on behalf of the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, the Honourable Kelly Regan, Deputy Premier of Nova Scotia, on behalf of Energy and Mines Minister Chuck Porter, and his Worship Mike Savage, Mayor of the Halifax Regional Municipality, announced funding to support planning for the Bedford Ferry Route. The Honourable Geoff Regan, Member of Parliament for Halifax West, and Rafah DiCostanzo, Member of the Legislative Assembly for Clayton Park West, were also in attendance.