COVID-19 Pandemic Committee on May 21st, 2020

[The Acting Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

I want to remind the member that he has to address the question directly to the chair and not the individual member.

The honourable minister has 30 seconds to respond.

[Bill Morneau, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

Madam Chair, we believe it's absolutely imperative that we support individuals and businesses through this particularly challenging time. We recognize that the investments we are making are extraordinary. We have no plans to raise taxes. When we come out of this, we'll need a strong economy to get back to the growth that will support our long-term opportunities.

[Bob Benzen, Conservative, Calgary Heritage, AB]

The RCMP laboratory has been revising the list of newly prohibited firearms continuously since the order in council. Many 12-gauge, pump-action shotguns have been added, and they are still being added as we speak. The RCMP seem to consider them variants of the AR-15.

Would the minister provide the recognized definition of “variant” as found in legislation so that the citizens of Canada can have some clarity around whether their 12-gauge shotguns have suddenly become prohibited firearms?

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

I think our list is quite clear. It contains over 1,500 models and variants of various weapons that are now prohibited.

In addition, the AR-15 frame and model is also clearly prohibited on this list, and is therefore subject to prohibition decisions made by the RCMP. That clarity is crystal clear. As we have stated from the outset, those weapons have no place in our society, and are quite appropriately prohibited.

[Bob Benzen, Conservative, Calgary Heritage, AB]

The firearms reference table standards define the bore of a firearm as the inside of the barrel. These standards measure the bore without the choke mechanism attached. The 12-gauge shotgun's 20-millimetre bore would be banned.

Was the minister intending to ban these shotguns for all law-abiding—

[The Acting Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

A brief answer from the minister.

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

The answer to the member's question is absolutely no.

A 10-gauge shotgun has a bore of 19.69 millimetres. That's recognized by the regulations, and 10-gauge shotguns are not prohibited.

[The Acting Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

A reminder that when we call for a brief question, I would ask the members to ask the question and not go into further detail. It will be a lot quicker to get the answer done and respect the time.

The honourable member for Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, Mr. Vidal.

[Gary Vidal, Conservative, Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK]

I have recently received a number of emails from indigenous constituents expressing confusion, fear and even anger regarding the new gun ban.

Can the minister please clarify how this ban will impact indigenous people in my rural and remote northern Saskatchewan riding where people use these weapons to feed themselves and their families during this pandemic?

[The Acting Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

The honourable Minister of Public Safety.

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

I understand the confusion because the gun lobby and many of their supporters have purposely been spreading a lot of misinformation about what has been prohibited. I think it is also clear to explain that a two-year amnesty has been put in place as part of this prohibition. It clearly recognizes section 35 constitutional indigenous hunting rights and allows the indigenous members to continue to use the weapons that were previously allowed for hunting for that purpose during the amnesty period.

[Gary Vidal, Conservative, Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK]

I appreciate the minister's acknowledging that these newly banned guns are used by hunters and are critical to food security in my riding.

Before the COVID pandemic, first nation leaders in my riding were having checkpoints set up at the entrances of their communities to address safety concerns related to violent gang activity. Gang activity is a major source of concern for these first nations and many rural areas in my riding. The government's gun ban will do nothing to address this problem.

From a first nations perspective, whom did you or your government consult before issuing the order in council?

[The Acting Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

I want to remind the member he's to address the question to the chair.

The honourable minister has about 40 seconds to respond.

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

There was very extensive consultation on this issue with Canadians from coast to coast, including indigenous communities. I would also remind the member that in the last Parliament, our government invested $347 million in policing right across the country. That money is available. Some $214 million has been made available to the provinces for distribution to municipal and indigenous police services to deal with gun and gang issues.

The member's party voted against those measures, but we'll continue to work hard to keep communities safe and to make the investments that will achieve that safety.

[Gary Vidal, Conservative, Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK]

Madam Chair, the government was elected on a promise of reconciliation and consultation. In doing that, it agreed to an MOU behind the backs of the elected chiefs and the members of the Wet'suwet'en people.

John Horgan, the premier of British Columbia, acknowledged last Wednesday, on the eve of the signing, that the consultation process had fallen short of his expectations. Does the minister agree with Premier Horgan that the government has fallen short on the consultation process?

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations]

In 1997, the Supreme Court of Canada strongly encouraged parties in its Delgamuukw and Gisday'wa decision to pursue good faith negotiations regarding aboriginal rights.

The MOU we signed breathes life into that decision by marking an important step in our shared work. It lays the path for substantive discussions toward the final agreements, which would then describe the future governance and implementation of Wet'suwet'en rights and title. It's not an agreement on the implementation of the rights but a shared commitment to begin that work.

[Gary Vidal, Conservative, Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK]

Madam Chair, the March 1 news release announcing the MOU says, “If ratified, Minister Fraser and Minister Bennett have agreed to return to Wet'suwet'en territory to sign.”

Why did the minister, when she knew that the elected chiefs and Wet'suwet'en people were not consulted and there was in fact no ratification process, proceed with signing this agreement anyway?

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, Toronto—St. Paul's, ON]

Any agreement going forward would have to be taken back to all the Wet'suwet'en people for approval through a process that must clearly demonstrate the consent of the members of the nation. It was important that we begin, and with the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak it was impossible to do that in person.

[The Acting Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

We will have a brief question by Mr. Vidal. There are only 30 seconds left.

[Gary Vidal, Conservative, Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK]

I appreciate that, Minister, and that's my whole point on the Wet'suwet'en issue.

At committee, we have been consistently shut down for discussing this issue, and you just used the reason that due to the pandemic, the consultation process was not allowed to be carried out appropriately.

Again I ask why you signed this agreement when there wasn't proper consultation.

[The Acting Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

Again I remind Mr. Vidal that he's to address the questions to the Chair and not to individual members.

The honourable minister may give a brief answer, please.

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, Toronto—St. Paul's, ON]

I think the member misrepresented what I said. Because of COVID, it was impossible to go back to do the signing, but we believe the work of the hereditary chiefs and the work that will happen now with the elected chiefs will go forward because of the MOU that was signed.

[The Acting Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

The honourable member for Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier.

[Joël Godin, Conservative, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

Thank you, Madam Chair

ThePrime Minister announced the Canada Summer Jobs program a few months ago. He tried to get us to believe that there were 70,000 new jobs. Then he announced the Canada emergency student benefit, encouraging our young people to put their feet up and relax.Now, he is withholding confirmations for jobs under the Canada summer jobs program. Total confusion!

Businesses and organizations are waiting for the Canada summer jobs program confirmations in order to hire students. In Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, only 57 jobs have been confirmed out of the 140 that were already pre-approved. Why the delay in confirming the others?

This is a month behind schedule. Young university and college students are idle and prepared to work. The government's inconsistency is inexplicable.

Can the government confirm all these jobs immediately to help our companies and organizations, and allow our students and young people to take part in the economic recovery following COVID-19?

[The Acting Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

We'll go now to the honourable Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion.