COVID-19 Pandemic Committee on May 21st, 2020

[The Acting Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

I remind the member to address the question to the chair.

The honourable minister can reply.

[Bernadette Jordan, Liberal, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Madam Chair, we have said all along that no Canadian will be left behind. We are continuing to work with the industry to make sure that we address concerns as we go forward.

[Jack Harris, NDP, St. John's East, NL]

Madam Chair, we know that indigenous Canadians are overrepresented in our federal prisons and that a far higher percentage of them are also serving their sentence in prison rather than in the community, thereby suffering a greater chance of infection from COVID-19.

Why then has the Parole Board cancelled or indefinitely postponed parole hearings for indigenous inmates who wish the assistance of an elder in support of their case, which is the choice of some 40% of indigenous inmates seeking release on parole? Does the government not recognize this as a discriminatory practice?

[The Acting Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

Although the time is up, I'll allow for an answer from the minister.

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness]

I want to assure the member that we do understand the importance of the presence of elders at those parole hearings. Unfortunately, during the COVID pandemic, steps have been necessary to protect the health and safety of the people participating in those entire processes, but we are working very hard to ensure that elder participation can occur virtually until at such time as we are able to do it in person.

We do recognize it's important, so I thank him for a very important question.

[The Acting Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

We will go to the honourable member for Abbotsford, Mr. Fast.

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Abbotsford, BC]

Madam Chair, the COVID pandemic has left many Canadian companies vastly undervalued and therefore vulnerable to foreign takeovers by hostile regimes. Such takeovers represent significant risks not only to our national sovereignty but also to our national security. Even NATO and the European Union have recently warned of this danger as countries like China buy up stressed assets all around the world.

The last time the Investment Canada Act was strengthened was under Stephen Harper, when we placed tougher restrictions on investments from state-owned foreign investors. That was a vast improvement, but times have changed. With the COVID pandemic, the threat of losing our economic sovereignty has only increased.

Will the minister commit today to conducting a full review of the Investment Canada Act, yes or no?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

I'd like to thank the member opposite for his very important question. He raises a very important point that today, at a time when our economy is facing a very difficult situation, Canadian companies are particularly vulnerable. Today is also a time when we have particular reason to pay attention to the sanctity of our supply chains in areas like medical equipment and food security.

Let me assure the honourable member that our government, informed by the work of our excellent intelligence analysts, is very focused on ensuring the safety and sanctity of Canadian companies and on ensuring that they are not acquired inappropriately.

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Abbotsford, BC]

Madam Chair, that wasn't my question. My question was a yes-or-no question.

Will the minister conduct a full review of the Investment Canada Act to prevent Canadian flagship companies and our strategic assets from being bought up by hostile foreign interests, yes or no?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

Let me say that the member points to a very important issue, one that I think should concern all Canadians. It is never right for Canadian companies to be acquired by hostile foreign interests in the world today, where we have more reason than ever to be concerned about our national security. We need to pay particular attention to this concern, and we are.

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Abbotsford, BC]

I notice, Madam Chair, that the minister did not answer the question, a simple yes-or-no question, so I'll ask it this way: Why won't the minister stand up for Canada and protect us against foreign investments that would harm our economy, undermine our sovereignty and threaten our national security?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

I would really like to assure the member opposite, and all Canadians, that our government will always stand up for the national interest. We will always stand up for national security, and that definitely means not allowing hostile interests to buy up our companies.

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Abbotsford, BC]

Madam Chair, as a result of Brexit, our third-largest trade partner, the U.K., has announced that it will be reimposing tariffs on Canadian exports. At the same time, the U.K. has reached out to Canada to begin negotiations on a new free trade agreement that would eliminate those tariffs, but there's a problem. The Prime Minister has repeatedly failed Canadians—whether they're farmers, aluminum workers, auto workers or forestry workers—on the trade file and on the bad NAFTA deal that they negotiated. Now the Prime Minister has an opportunity to rehabilitate his tattered reputation on trade. The U.K. is anxious to negotiate free trade agreements with like-minded partners, including Canada.

Can the minister tells us what steps have been taken to engage with the U.K. on a free trade agreement, and will the minister assure us that this government won't again betray our dairy, egg, and chicken farmers and the aluminum industry the way it did in the new NAFTA?

[The Acting Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

Your time is almost up.

I would ask the Deputy Prime Minister to respond briefly—or the minister.

[Mary Ng, Liberal, Markham—Thornhill, ON]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I want to thank the honourable member for that very good question. Canada is a strong partner for the U.K., as it is with the European Union. I want to assure Canadian businesses and my colleague that CETA will continue to apply to the U.K. during the transition, and that we will continue to work with the U.K. to secure our strong and stable trading relationship going forward to the benefit of the economies in both countries.

[The Acting Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

The honourable member for Calgary Heritage, Mr. Benzen.

[Bob Benzen, Conservative, Calgary Heritage, AB]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Countries worldwide are recognizing the pandemic's terrible effects on their energy industries by scaling back carbon taxes. Norway, for example, has reduced carbon taxes to zero until 2024. Many countries that have a carbon tax have instituted relief measures to help their citizens and producers. Canada's industry is reeling, yet the Liberals are sticking with their tax hike. Why is Canada among the world's outliers on the carbon tax during a crisis?

[The Acting Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

The honourable minister.

[Jonathan Wilkinson, Liberal, Minister of Environment and Climate Change]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Our most urgent priority, obviously, at this time is COVID-19 and the health and safety of Canadians. As we support Canadians through this time, we also have to ensure the long-term economic, environmental and physical well-being of our country and our citizens. Putting a price on pollution is a critical part of Canada's plan to tackle emissions. It's the most affordable and effective way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. I would say that the way we implemented this puts money in the pockets of families. The vast majority of Canadians get more money back than what they pay for with the price on pollution. It's a policy that's good for the environment, and it's a policy that's good for the economy.

[Bob Benzen, Conservative, Calgary Heritage, AB]

Small business owners are flagging problems with the commercial rent relief program. They say it's flawed and inflexible. It favours landlords with mortgaged properties over those with clear titles, and businesses must lose 70% of revenues just to get relief. Our party has proposed including landlords without mortgages and amending the revenue test. Will the government use these proposals to make the program more responsive to need?

[The Acting Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

The honourable minister has 27 seconds for a response.

[Bill Morneau, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

[Technical difficulty--Editor] landlords without mortgages to consider how they can be part of this program. We see that as important.

Unfortunately, I think my Internet connection has just stopped, Madam Chair.

[The Acting Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

It's working fine at this end.

[Bill Morneau, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

Okay. Thank you.

I would like him to know that. Of course, we released the details of this program yesterday are we're looking forward to the take-up of the program and are encouraging landlords to become part of this. Together with the provinces, we'll continue to work on this issue.

[Bob Benzen, Conservative, Calgary Heritage, AB]

Minister of Finance, this Liberal government is spending enormous amounts of money every day, borrowing hundreds of billions of dollars to do it. However, when you borrow money, you need to show your lenders a plan for how you will pay it back.

Minister of Finance, what will you ask Canadians to do to repay this money? Will you raise the GST? Are you going to raise personal income taxes, corporate taxes? What will be the pain for Canadians after this?