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.
NDP
The Acting Chair NDP Carol Hughes
The hon. member for Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes-Verchères has the floor.
Bloc
Xavier Barsalou-Duval Bloc Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC
Thank you very much, Madam Chair.
For a number of weeks and even months now, I have been receiving emails and calls from constituents who are angry about not being able to get a refund for a trip they did not take. Why can't they?
Liberal
Jean-Yves Duclos Liberal Québec, QC
Madam Chair, I thank my colleague for raising this matter. Yes, it is quite frustrating for many people to not be able to get a refund for a ticket when they paid for it and booked it. That said, we are also aware of the difficult situation facing airlines. That is why we will continue to monitor the situation.
Xavier Barsalou-Duval Bloc Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC
Knowing that a company like Air Canada has $6 billion set aside and that $2.6 billion of that money belongs to its customers, can we really believe that it will be forced into bankruptcy if it reimburses its customers?
Liberal
Jean-Yves Duclos Liberal Québec, QC
Madam Chair, once again, I would like to acknowledge that the hon. member is right. It is difficult for clients who have booked and paid for a ticket to face the current situation. It is certainly frustrating not to be able to get a refund. We recognize that this is a difficult situation for all airlines and we encourage them to follow the regulations and the law on this matter.
Bloc
Xavier Barsalou-Duval Bloc Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC
Madam Chair, I hear the minister telling me about the financial health of the airlines. I understand that, but there is also the financial health of those who are being held hostage by the situation and who have bills to pay.
What is his plan for those people?
Liberal
Jean-Yves Duclos Liberal Québec, QC
Madam Chair, once again, the financial situation of Canadian households is an extremely important issue. If I had much more time, I could explain to the hon. member the measures we have put in place and will continue to put in place to help families across the country.
Bloc
Xavier Barsalou-Duval Bloc Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC
In the United States and in Europe, airlines must reimburse cancelled flights. Why, in Canada, can they not do the same?
Liberal
Jean-Yves Duclos Liberal Québec, QC
Madam Chair, I would like to point out that the assistance that the Government of Canada provides to Canadian families and businesses is among the highest of all developed countries. In an emergency such as the one we are experiencing right now, the Canadian government is doing at least as well as any other country in the world.
Bloc
Xavier Barsalou-Duval Bloc Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC
Madam Chair, I would like to know why a company that has one year's worth of cash does not have to reimburse its customers for a service it did not provide, when it is required to do so by law.
Just because the company is called Air Canada, does that mean it is entitled to special treatment?
Liberal
Jean-Yves Duclos Liberal Québec, QC
Madam Chair, the hon. member is right again. All companies must follow the laws and regulations. In spite of the difficult circumstances we are experiencing, we expect all companies, be they airlines or others, to follow the laws and regulations of the country.
Bloc
Xavier Barsalou-Duval Bloc Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC
Madam Chair, I am pleased to hear the minister tell me that he would like companies to follow the laws and regulations of the country.
In Quebec, we have the Civil Code of Quebec and the Consumer Protection Act. They state that, even if the circumstances are exceptional and beyond a company's control, customers must be reimbursed for a service not rendered.
Will the government enforce the laws?
Liberal
Jean-Yves Duclos Liberal Québec, QC
Madam Chair, those two comments are also relevant.
First, any company, whatever it may be, has an obligation to comply with the laws and regulations. Second, people can turn to certain services to ensure that the laws and regulations are adopted and upheld by the companies in question.
Bloc
Xavier Barsalou-Duval Bloc Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC
Thank you, Madam Chair.
The Canadian Transportation Agency told the airlines that they were not required to reimburse their customers and that they could simply give them a credit, valid for 24 months. This is contrary to the laws of Quebec.
How does the government feel about a federal institution telling companies not to follow the laws of Quebec?
Liberal
Jean-Yves Duclos Liberal Québec, QC
Yes, upholding the law is the responsibility of both citizens and businesses. We therefore expect all companies, whether or not they are in the air transport sector, to follow the laws and regulations of the country.
Bloc
Xavier Barsalou-Duval Bloc Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC
Madam Chair, I am discouraged.
We simply have to reimburse the customers. It is not complicated. It's the law. Period.
Liberal
Jean-Yves Duclos Liberal Québec, QC
I thank my colleague. I will be delighted to continue the discussion, despite the short time we will have in the House to do so.
NDP
Liberal
Francis Drouin Liberal Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON
Thank you, Madam Chair.
I'd like to inform you that I'll be sharing my time with the hon. member for Saint-Laurent.
Since this is the first time I'm speaking here, I want to acknowledge the work of the people in the riding of Glengarry—Prescott—Russell who work in the health care field, as well as the businesspeople, our farmers and the people who work in the grocery stores. I thank them from the bottom of my heart.
My question is about what the government is doing to support families with children during these difficult times. As we know, COVID-19 has a significant impact on parents and children. I've spoken to several families in Glengarry—Prescott—Russell. Many of them are facing the challenges that come with working from home, the uncertainty about their jobs and having to care for children who can no longer attend school or day care.
Many parents in my riding have told me that they need our support, which is why I was pleased to see the government present many measures that will support parents and children. As in the case of the Canada emergency student benefit, new investments in Canada summer jobs, the Canada emergency wage subsidy, and the Canada emergency response benefit, I've seen the government step up its efforts to support Canadians.
My question is for the Treasury Board President. Could you let us know what the government is doing currently to support parents and children specifically?
Liberal
Jean-Yves Duclos Liberal Québec, QC
I'd like to thank Mr. Drouin for everything he just said. His words are imbued with empathy and solidarity.
He's right to mention the difficulties that our families and our workers are experiencing. He's also right to mention that the Canada child benefit, which on the 20th of each month, when the payment is made, reduces child poverty in this country by 40%. He's right to mention that just today, May 20, $300 per child is being paid to 3.5 million families. He's also right to point out that, as of July 20, there will be a new indexation of the Canada child benefit. Once again, families will be able to receive the help they need to care for the children who, of course, are our future.
NDP