Bill C-17 (Historical)

An Act respecting additional COVID-19 measures

Part 1 amends the Income Tax Act to revise the eligibility criteria for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy in order to support those employers hardest hit by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Part 2 enacts the Time Limits and Other Periods Act (COVID-19), which addresses the need for flexibility in relation to certain time limits and other periods that are established by or under Acts of Parliament and that are difficult or impossible to meet as a result of the exceptional circumstances produced by COVID-19. In particular, the enactment
(a) suspends, for a maximum of six months, certain time limits in relation to proceedings before courts;
(b) temporarily enables ministers to suspend or extend time limits and to extend other periods in relation to specified Acts and regulations for a maximum of six months; and
(c) provides for the transparent exercise of the powers it confers and for Parliamentary oversight over the exercise of those powers.
Part 3 amends the Income Tax Act to authorize the use by officials, or disclosure to Government of Canada officials, of taxpayer information solely for the purpose of a one-time payment to persons with disabilities for reasons related to COVID-19. It also amends the Children’s Special Allowances Act to authorize the disclosure of information for the purpose of that one-time payment.
Part 4 amends the Canada Emergency Response Benefit Act to, among other things, enhance the administration and enforcement of the Act and allow a review of decisions made under the Act. It also provides that a worker is not eligible for an income support payment if they do not return to work when it is reasonable to do so or decline a reasonable job offer.

An Act Respecting Additional COVID-19 Measures

[Carla Qualtrough, Liberal, Minister of Employment]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-17, An Act respecting additional COVID-19 measures.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

Mr. Speaker, there have been discussions among the parties and I hope there is agreement to proceed in the following manner. I move: That, pursuant to the order adopted on April 20, 2020, Bill C-17, an act respecting additional COVID-19 measures, be disposed of as follows: a. the bill be ordered for consideration at second reading later this day; b. when the House begins debate on the motion for second reading of the bill, two members of each recognized party and a member of the Green Party may speak to the said motion for not more than 20 minutes, followed by 10 minutes for questions and comments, provided that members may be permitted to split their time with another member; and, at the conclusion of the time provided for the debate or when no member rises to speak, whichever is earlier, all questions necessary to dispose of the second reading stage of the bill shall be put without further debate or amendment, provided that, if a recorded division is requested, it shall not be deferred; and c. if the bill is adopted at second reading, it shall be referred to a committee of the whole, deemed considered in committee of the whole, deemed reported without amendment, deemed concurred in at report stage on division, and deemed read a third time and passed on division.

[The Speaker, Anthony Rota]

Does the hon. government House leader have the unanimous consent of the House to move the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

No.

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

Mr. Speaker, there have been discussions among the parties and if you seek it, I hope you will find unanimous consent to adopt the following motion: That Bill C-17, an act respecting additional COVID-19 measures, be divided into two bills; that Bill C-17 be entitled “An Act respecting the disclosure of information for the purpose of a one-time permit to persons with disabilities” and consists of part 3 of the said bill and that Bill C-18 be entitled “An Act respecting additional COVID-19 measures” and consists of all the remaining portions of the said bill; and that Bill C-17 be disposed of as follows:

(a) the bill be ordered for consideration at second reading later this day; (b) when the House begins debate on the motion for second reading of the bill, one member of each recognized party and a member of the Green Party may speak to the said motion for not more than 20 minutes, followed by 10 minutes for questions and comments, provided that members may be permitted to split their time with another member; and, at the conclusion of the time provided for the debate or when no member rises to speak, whichever is earlier, all questions necessary to dispose of the second reading stage of the bill shall be put without further debate or amendment, provided that, if a recorded division is requested, it shall not be deferred; and (c) if the bill is adopted at second reading, it shall be referred to a committee of the whole, deemed considered in committee of the whole, deemed reported without amendment, deemed concurred in at report stage on division, and deemed read a third time and passed on division; Bill C-18 shall be ordered for consideration at second reading at the next sitting of the House; and for the purposes of printing Bills C-17 and C-18, the Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel shall be authorized to make any technical changes or corrections in those bills as may be necessary to give effect to this motion.

[The Speaker, Anthony Rota]

Does the hon. minister have the unanimous consent of the House to move the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

No.

[Andrew Scheer, Conservative, Regina—Qu'Appelle, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I have two unanimous consent motions for which I hope you will find support. The Conservatives, of course, believe that Parliament should be sitting and had we been sitting normally, we could have debated this bill. We could have facilitated the government House leader's request, but the government has refused to allow the House to do its work as it normally would.

Indeed, the proposal that the government has as it relates to people with disabilities was announced several days ago and the House could have been entertaining this legislation as early as Monday.

I ask for the unanimous consent of the House for the following motion in order to allow the House to debate the legislation that the minister introduced today: that notwithstanding any standing order, or special order or usual practice of the House, when the House adjourns, it shall next meet at 3 p.m. later this day.

[The Speaker, Anthony Rota]

Does the hon. member have the unanimous consent of the House to move the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

No.

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. We are here today with a clear opportunity to help people with disabilities. The chance was offered to everybody and the Conservatives said no. That should be noted.

[Andrew Scheer, Conservative, Regina—Qu'Appelle, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I invite the hon. House leader to go back, rewind the tape and listen, because members on this side said yes to the House of Commons meeting later today and it was members of the Liberal Party who said no.

[The Speaker, Anthony Rota]

We are getting to a point where we are debating back and forth. I want to remind hon. members that a point of order is usually something on the Standing Orders that we see as not being followed in the House and I want to hear why it is not being followed.

[Alain Therrien, Bloc, La Prairie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I seek the unanimous consent of the House for the following motion: That the sitting be suspended until such time as the Chair may reconvene the sitting following consultation with the House leaders.

[The Speaker, Anthony Rota]

Is the member for La Prairie seeking the unanimous consent of the House?