Fractured: Tales of the Canadian Post-Apocalypse(19)
Ken? He’s really stressed out. His folks haven’t answered his calls and every time we lose a station he gets really high-strung. He says he’s heard the noise after only a few seconds but I think it’s just – huh, really? Maybe he is more sensitive, then. I sent him down to the pantry to bring up some more cans just before I called you. He should be done by now.
Oh, I hear him coming up the stairs. I’ll pass him the phone when he gets here. He’d like to talk to another dude, I’m sure.
Hey, Ken, George’s on the line. Do you want to talk to him for a bit?
Ken?
No, he’s not usually so quiet. Hold on a sec, George. I’ll be right back.
EDITED HANSARD 116
Miriam Oudin
55th PARLIAMENT, 1st SESSION
EDITED HANSARD ? NUMBER 116
Tuesday, May 18, 2027
Speaker: The Honourable Katherine Elk Hoof The House met at 10 a.m.
Prayers
ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS
Support for Families of the Lost Act
Mr. Felix Tall Bear (Batoche—One Arrow, NDP) moved for leave to introduce C-61, Support for Families of the Lost.
He said: Madam Speaker, I am very proud to introduce a bill concerning financial support for the immediate families of those lost in the recent tragedies. Though we have all for good reason been concerned with addressing the continuing crisis itself, it is my hope that my colleagues turn their thoughts for a moment to the families left behind, particularly in my home province of Saskatchewan and her neighbouring province of Alberta, though I know that the ripple effects have spread to all Canadians, including many of my colleagues in this room.
(Motion deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed.) Petitions
Wall Surrounding the Black Zone
Ms. Evelyn Carew (Cardigan, CPC): Madam Speaker, I would like to present a petition signed by 37 people from Prince Edward Island.
The petitioners are calling for a promise from the government to build a wall around the black zone.
Goods from Alberta and Saskatchewan
Mr. Lo?c Coulombe (Wendake—Loretteville, Lib.): Madam Speaker, I have in front of me a petition from a number of my constituents who are asking the government to put a moratorium on distributing fruits, vegetables, and meats from Alberta and Saskatchewan to elsewhere in the country.
The fact is, we don’t know whether there is contamination of some sort, whether there might be something in the soil or water that could damage plant or animal life that it comes into contact with. My constituents are concerned that there might be carcinogens or other health risks. The temporary lag in business is a small price to pay for certainty that the foods we feed our families are safe.
GOVERNMENT ORDERS
Pursual of Absent Persons Act
Bill S-2—Time Allocation Motion
Hon. Harshad Ram (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, CPC) moved:
That, in relation to Bill S-2, An Act respecting the so-called “Absent,” which is to say those who have not returned from the Athabascan oil sands since the troubles there began, not more than five further hours shall be allotted to the consideration of the third reading stage of the bill.
The Speaker:
Under Standing Order 67.1, there will now be a 30-minute question period.
Mr. Vasily Sénéchal (Leader of the Opposition, Lib.): Madam Speaker, I would like to express my grave disappointment at the Conservative party’s attempt to shut down conversation about this very important issue. I don’t think there is anyone in this chamber who does not want our fellow Canadians to return safely from the black zone. But ramming a piece of ill-thought legislation through the House is not in anyone’s best interest. Nor is sending more soldiers and police to their deaths. It is critical that we consult with experts: disaster recovery consultants, geologists, xenobiologists, xenobotanists, communications specialists. My colleague would do well to remember that we can watch streaming video from Mars but we can’t see anything that’s happening in Alberta north of 54. Sending more personnel into the black zone is literally more dangerous than sending them to another planet, and for some reason the Conservative party seems unwilling to spend more than five hours talking about that.
Hon. Nurul Huda Abidi (Newmarket—Aurora—King, CPC) Madam Speaker, the hon. member is deeply mistaken about this party’s motivations in bringing forward a time allocation motion. By preventing further speechifying in the House, this government can finally move ahead and act to save the lives of our fellow Canadians, including the civilians who made their homes in Fort McMurray and the frontline workers from the energy companies who first disappeared, the police who sought to extract them, the EMTs and other first responders, and the armed forces personnel who we have since lost contact with. We want all of them to come home. They cannot come home unless we stop talking about this bill and enact it. Calling a bunch of university professors and asking for their opinions on something that none of them have dealt with before is a complete waste of time. Xenowhateverologists are no better equipped to deal with this than we are. We all pray that our fellow Canadians are still alive, and if they are alive, they need our help and forward action, they don’t need us sitting around making phone calls to academics.
Ms. Helen Waterfall (Ermineskin—Hobbema, GP): Madam Speaker, I find it ironic that the hon. members are so sure that they know what’s best for my province when neither of them, so far as I am aware, have been west of Etobicoke so far this decade. Have you done a flyover and seen the churn that’s currently consuming Athabasca? Have you felt that satanic mud pull on your boots even in the supposedly safest parts of central Alberta? Have you?