Evidence of meeting #10 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 economic.
A video is available from Parliament.
Green
Paul Manly Green Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC
Thank you, Madam Chair.
The opposition Conservatives have been raising the potential for fraud with the CERB and other relief programs. An elderly mother and her two disabled children alleged to have received the CERB are being held up as an example of fraudsters in a story published in the National Post. Wouldn't a universal payment such as a guaranteed liveable income be a more dignified way of helping Canadians who were struggling with poverty even before COVID-19 increased their cost of living?
Liberal
Jean-Yves Duclos Liberal Québec, QC
Madam Chair, I would like to congratulate the member of Parliament for his wording on poverty, exclusion, anxiety and vulnerability, all of those things that Canadians face every day in the context of this crisis. We are working very hard. We're happy to have his support in order to put in place these emergency measures, and we look forward to further collaborating with him.
Green
Paul Manly Green Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC
I would like to ask about a very serious long-running scam involving billions of dollars. Executives of over 450 corporations extracted wealth from the oil and gas resources of this country, paid themselves and their shareholders handsomely, and then declared bankruptcy, leaving behind hundreds of thousands of abandoned oil wells to clean up. Taxpayers are subsidizing this cleanup to the tune of $1.7 billion.
Does the government know if any of the people involved in this massive dine-and-dash scam are now involved with any companies that are receiving government funding to clean up these orphan wells?
Liberal
Chrystia Freeland Liberal University—Rosedale, ON
Madam Chair, following the example of my colleague, let me just say that I know the member is very concerned about Canadian working people and understands that today, as we face the coronavirus, we need to be even more concerned about Canadian working people.
The member opposite would agree with members on this side of the House—and I think on the other side of the House—that workers in the oil and gas sector are particularly affected and are facing a double blow. That is why I am extremely proud of the $1.7 billion our government has committed to cleaning up orphan wells. I think this is a program we can all—
Paul Manly Green Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC
I do believe that the workers need help and deserve to have help. What I would like to see is accountability for the executives. I would like to know whether the government knows if the former executives who left behind these orphan wells and stuck the taxpayers with this massive cleanup bill are involved with companies that are receiving these emergency relief benefits.
Liberal
Chrystia Freeland Liberal University—Rosedale, ON
Let me just continue my answer from the previous question, which is to say that our government's priority today is to help Canadian workers whom we know are facing a greater challenge than at any time since the Great Depression. We understand that the workers in the oil and gas sector are facing a double whammy. We also understand the importance of cleaning up Canada's environment, and I think the orphan well program is perhaps one of those rare programs that members on all sides of this House can support.
Green
Paul Manly Green Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC
Indeed, we did support and advocate for cleaning up orphan oil wells. What I would like to know is whether we're going to have accountability for the people who left those orphan oil wells behind. I would like to know whether they've been named in the Panama papers or the Paradise papers that reveal tax cheats.
It's estimated that $19 billion of lost revenue each year goes to tax evasion and tax avoidance. Will the government force companies that use these offshore accounts to change their practices and pay their fair taxes in order to receive these emergency benefits?
Liberal
Chrystia Freeland Liberal University—Rosedale, ON
Let me just say to the member not opposite but on this side of the House that our government absolutely agrees that all Canadians and all Canadian companies need to pay their fair share. We have committed unprecedented amounts of money to the CRA to find examples of tax fraud. Having said that, we also understand that we are facing an emergency right now, and our priority first and foremost is to take care of Canadian workers and not to punish them.
Green
Paul Manly Green Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC
I agree. I think the polluters should pay, and we need to have a way for them to pay.
As a quick question, will the government be extending relief benefits to people who are living on CPP disability?
NDP
The Acting Chair NDP Carol Hughes
We will have a very brief answer.
The hon. President of the Treasury Board.
NDP
NDP
Lindsay Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON
Human trafficking is a horrible crime that is hurting women, girls and marginalized people. Last September the Liberal government announced a $75-million commitment for a national strategy against human trafficking. However, organizations that provide long-term support to trafficked and sexually exploited women and girls are being cut. The London Abused Women's Centre is now forced to shut down its programs.
Where is the funding the government promised, and why is it letting these important programs end?
Liberal
Maryam Monsef Liberal Peterborough—Kawartha, ON
Madam Chair, I want to thank everybody on the front lines of the work to support survivors of gender-based violence, including human trafficking.
My colleague is absolutely right. We put forward a plan with $75 million, and $10 million of that will specifically provide empowerment supports to survivors. To date, over 500 organizations have received emergency COVID funding from our government, in addition to hundreds that had received capacity-building funds.
We're not done yet, Madam Chair, and we will have more to say in the near future.
NDP
Lindsay Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON
Madam Chair, the funding was meant to allow organizations to provide support for victims and survivors of human trafficking.
Why aren't they receiving these funds to continue that important work? Has the government abandoned the fight against human trafficking?
Liberal
Maryam Monsef Liberal Peterborough—Kawartha, ON
The fight against human trafficking is all of our collective fight, and we are committed to addressing this horrendous crime and putting an end to it.
We have a strategy in place. An old program sunsetted, and we're working on better solutions.
NDP
Lindsay Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON
Madam Chair, students with dependants are facing tremendous financial stress, and during this difficult time the government has decided to define a student's dependant as up to 12 years old instead of using the CRA definition of 18 years old.
Why is this government determined to make it harder for Canadians to access the help they need during this pandemic?
NDP
The Acting Chair NDP Carol Hughes
The hon. President of the Treasury Board has time for a short answer.
Liberal
Jean-Yves Duclos Liberal Québec, QC
Thank you, Madam Chair.
This is a very good question, a very good comment, which signals all the important measures we have put into place to help students, to help children, to help families with children, as we're doing today.
Today 3.5 million families are receiving $300 per child due to the increase in the Canada child benefit.
NDP
Lindsay Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON
Vanessa is a single mother to a son who has a congenital heart defect. Two years ago, Vanessa bravely decided to return to school to get her degree. She has looked for summer work so she could earn enough for her and her son to live off of before the pandemic, but now she has to decide between paying rent and buying groceries.
Vanessa applied to the CESB, only to find out that instead of being eligible for $2,000 a month with her dependant, she is only eligible for $1,250 because her son is 13 years old. This won't cover her living expenses.
Will this government change the eligibility for students with dependants from 12 years old to 18 years old?
Liberal
Jean-Yves Duclos Liberal Québec, QC
Madam Chair, the overall objective of our government's mandate in this particular crisis is to help people swiftly and efficiently with measures we have never seen in our country and perhaps we have never imagined, such as the Canada emergency response benefit, the Canada emergency student benefit, the increase in the GST tax credit and today's increase in the Canada child benefit. We know all of these measures are not only deserved but absolutely needed in the context of this important crisis.
NDP
Lindsay Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON
Vanessa and her son can't get by, so you're leaving them behind because of a stipulation.
Does the government consider 13-year-old children capable of working to help support parents who are trying to complete their educations?