Evidence of meeting #1 for COVID-19 Pandemic in the 43rd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was point.
A video is available from Parliament.
2:35 p.m.
Liberal
2:40 p.m.
NDP
Leah Gazan NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
Mr. Chair, through you, I would like to ask the Minister for Women and Gender Equality a question.
On April 27, the Minister for Women and Gender Equality acknowledged that since COVID-19, calls for help to respond to domestic violence have gone up 400% in some places. I also want to point out that the Women's National Housing and Homelessness Network recently placed urgent calls for the government to support barrier-free, 24-7 safe spaces for women 2SLGBTQ+ in response to COVID.
In light of a clear recognition of a growing crisis of domestic violence, does the government support 24-7, barrier-free spaces for women and 2SLGBTQ+ individuals who often do not fit into traditional shelter systems, yes or no?
2:40 p.m.
Liberal
Maryam Monsef Liberal Peterborough—Kawartha, ON
Mr. Chair, to my hon. colleague, we have invested, pre-pandemic, in over 7,000 shelter spaces and we recognize that more needs to be done. We are working with our provincial and territorial counterparts to fill the gaps.
2:40 p.m.
NDP
Leah Gazan NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
Mr. Chair, although the minister has acknowledged a massive increase in violence and clear calls to action from the Women's National Housing and Homelessness Network, just last week the government categorically refused to fund a 24-7 safe space for women, girls and 2SLGBTQ+ individuals in Winnipeg with the knowledge that we are one of the only urban centres without one.
I'd like to know if the government feels their decision is in the best safety interests of women, children and 2SLGBTQ+ individuals who do not fit into regular shelter spaces, especially in places like Winnipeg where we often experience twice the national average of domestic violence cases for women and 2SLGBTQ+ individuals.
2:40 p.m.
Liberal
Maryam Monsef Liberal Peterborough—Kawartha, ON
Mr. Chair, I appreciate my colleague's advocacy, though I reject the premise of her question, and there was no categorical denial of any such request. We have put forward over $150 million to support community entities through the reaching home initiative. These entities are in communities and make decisions to support organizations on the ground. That's in addition to the $50 million we have been—
2:40 p.m.
NDP
Leah Gazan NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
Mr. Chair, on a point of order in respect of time, I have many more questions and would like to ask a further question. Just in respect for some of the agreements that we've made on process, I'd like her to wrap up her response so I can continue with questions.
2:40 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Anthony Rota
We'll let the honourable minister finish. Normally, we try to make the answer as long as the question was, so the honourable minister could answer in that timeline. I appreciate your wanting an answer to the question.
I'll let the honourable minister finish very quickly and I will then come back to Ms. Gazan.
2:40 p.m.
Liberal
Maryam Monsef Liberal Peterborough—Kawartha, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
As I was responding to my colleague, we are working to support organizations on the ground. We recognize that more work needs to be done. We are working with our provincial and territorial colleagues to fill the gaps. If my colleague would like to continue the conversation offline, just as my team and I have been in touch, we are happy to do so.
2:40 p.m.
NDP
Leah Gazan NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
Mr. Chair, the minister has not acknowledged her government's failure to respond to the calls for justice of the national inquiry. Her placing the onus of funding on the reaching home initiative, which is geared solely to funding indigenous peoples, makes the assumption that domestic violence only occurs in indigenous communities. That is both racist and misinformed. We need a safe space for women, girls and 2SLGBTQ+ individuals who do not fit into the regular shelter system.
I want to ask my respected colleague if she is willing to work with me to fund a 24-7 safe space in Winnipeg, or whether the government will continually turn a wilful blind eye to violence without taking real action.
2:40 p.m.
Liberal
Maryam Monsef Liberal Peterborough—Kawartha, ON
Mr. Chair, my team has been in touch with my honourable colleague. We have indicated that we are happy to work with her on the challenges faced in her community. Domestic violence and gender-based violence, particularly in times of a pandemic, are issues that were problems before the pandemic and are heightened now. As always, we are happy to work with her and others across the country to address the gaps and the violence.
2:45 p.m.
Liberal
2:45 p.m.
Bloc
Alain Therrien Bloc La Prairie, QC
Good afternoon, everyone. Mr. Chair, as you can see, I wore my tie, as promised.
Canada has spent a great deal of money to help businesses affected by the pandemic. Everyone agrees on this. We're talking about $73 billion in wage subsidies alone. A number of countries have done the same thing, including Denmark. Denmark helps businesses, but the businesses that have put money in tax havens don't qualify for help from the government.
My question is very straightforward. Why aren't we doing the same thing as Denmark? Why aren't we telling businesses that use tax havens that they don't qualify for help from the government?
2:45 p.m.
Liberal
2:45 p.m.
Liberal
Diane Lebouthillier Liberal Gaspésie—Les-Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I want to answer my colleague's important question.
We expect to receive almost one million applications from businesses for the Canada emergency wage subsidy. Of that number, 100,000 businesses generate annual revenues of over $5 million. Each application from these 100,000 businesses will be checked manually by auditors.
We'll take all the necessary measures to maintain the integrity of the tax system and to ensure that everyone pays their fair share of taxes. It should also be noted that the wage subsidy implemented by our government is really designed to protect employees, not businesses.
2:45 p.m.
Bloc
Alain Therrien Bloc La Prairie, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
That's a fairly long response, but it doesn't answer my question. I'll start again.
You said that you spent $1 billion on this. You should be able to identify them. Can you say that, if a company has money in tax havens, it won't receive any help from the government? Can you tell me that? I'd like a straightforward answer, Minister Lebouthillier.
2:45 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Anthony Rota
You're on mute, Minister Lebouthillier. Please turn your microphone on.
2:45 p.m.
Liberal
Diane Lebouthillier Liberal Gaspésie—Les-Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'll give a straightforward answer to my colleague so that he understands the response. Tax evasion and tax avoidance are really a priority for our government. Since 2015, we've invested almost $1 billion to fight these issues.
With respect to tax evasion abroad, as a result of our leadership, the agency has conducted twice as many audits in three years as it conducted in 10 years under the Conservative government.
Currently, there are over 50 criminal investigations related to international tax evasion. We've given the agency the tools that it needs to do its job effectively. We'll continue to work to maintain the integrity of the tax system, Mr. Chair.
2:45 p.m.
Bloc
Alain Therrien Bloc La Prairie, QC
My questions are straightforward, and I'd like equally straightforward answers.
She's comparing herself to the Conservatives, but they're at the back of the pack when it comes to fighting Canadian tax evasion. She likes to compare herself to the worst and she's satisfied with this.
I'll repeat my question. Will the minister ensure that people who have put money in tax havens won't receive any help from the government, from taxpayers' money? The question is straightforward, and I want a straightforward answer.
Mr. Chair, I'd like her to have 10 seconds to answer the question.
2:45 p.m.
Liberal
Diane Lebouthillier Liberal Gaspésie—Les-Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
As we said, tax evasion and tax avoidance are a priority for our government. We made historic investments of $1 billion to fight these issues. We have agreements with countries and we conduct country-by-country audits each year. We tightened the rules of the voluntary disclosures program and we're working with the OECD. We're implementing measures. We've given the agency the tools that it needs to fight tax evasion. We'll continue working along exactly the same lines, Mr. Chair.