COVID-19 Pandemic Committee on May 21st, 2020

[Carla Qualtrough, Liberal, Minister of Employment]

Madam Chair, let me assure everyone and all Canadians that we amended and improved the Canada summer jobs program this summer in response to COVID-19 and the reality that the jobs that were available in January just aren't available anymore.

We're working really hard, both with MPs and employers, to ensure that there are meaningful opportunities for our young people and that we can reach the target of 70,000 jobs for this summer. We're going to do that. I can also say that when we announced our $9-billion student package, we included an additional 76,000 jobs.

I appreciate that this is perhaps a little burdensome on MPs, but I know they're willing to dig in and help their communities in this time of crisis.

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

Madam Chair, the minister just said that the program had been improved, but when jobs are lost in a crisis, during a pandemic caused by COVID-19, I do not see any improvement.

Can the honourable Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion tell us why this year, in the middle of the pandemic, fewer businesses and organizations are able to hire a student under the Canada Summer jobs program?

[Carla Qualtrough, Liberal, Delta, BC]

I'll offer the clarification that it is not actually the case. We are providing 70,000 jobs through Canada summer jobs. That was our commitment; that remains our commitment.

Perhaps he is referring to the fact that all jobs are now subsidized at 100%, and I can assure him that from the beginning we've budgeted all these jobs at 100%. While we are now increasing subsidies for these jobs, we are providing the exact same number of jobs as we've always committed to doing.

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

What I just heard is not true. I have the same budget in the riding of Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier and there are 40 fewer jobs. So I do not know how the minister did the calculation.

Moving on to another subject, thePrime Minister has often said that all Canadians would receive assistance. I would like to mention two very specific cases in this regard.

To begin with, what would the Prime Minister be able to say to entrepreneurs who have had to shut down their company permanently during the crisis? They have no employment insurance benefits, they do not receive the Canada emergency benefit and have lost their retirement pension.

What has the government provided for business owners like this?

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

Madam Chair, I know how difficult it is for so many of our entrepreneurs and small businesses throughout this difficult period. It's why we've introduced many measures to help our small businesses and our entrepreneurs through this, whether it is the wage subsidy or the small business loan, or just helping them keep their costs low by deferring GST and HST and customs duties. There are a number of measures, many measures.

The work is not done. We're going to keep working to support our small businesses in our country.

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

There is therefore nothing for this entrepreneur.

Now for the second part of my question.

A 63-year-old woman with a chronic illness had to stop working three years ago. She has no employment insurance benefits, is not receiving the CEB and does not have a retirement pension.

What can the Prime Minister say to this honest citizen

[Carla Qualtrough, Liberal, Delta, BC]

Madam Chair, we can tell that citizen that we have her back through the increase in the GIS, through the seniors benefit.

Oh, no, I apologize. The age limit wasn't there. However, I can assure the member that if that citizen is receiving early OAS or GIS, we are there for her.

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

The next question goes to Ms. Wilson-Raybould.

Ms. Wilson-Raybould.

[Jody Wilson-Raybould, Independent, Vancouver Granville, BC]

Thank you.

Race-related crimes are on the rise against persons of Asian descent in Canada. I think we can all agree that there is no place for this in our society.

Having issues with the manner in which the government of another country conducts itself does not give licence for being racist. It has absolutely no bearing on how we expect people to treat one another. For thousands of Asian Canadians, this is their home too.

What is the government going to do to step up actions against hate crimes in this country and send a clear and public message that Canada will not tolerate other countries' failure to respect the rule of law?

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

The honourable minister.

[Bardish Chagger, Liberal, Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth]

I thank the member for that really important question. This is something that we have been seeing. As the member has signalled, there has been an increase in racist and discriminatory acts.

There is no space for this within Canada. We will continue to condemn all forms of racism and discrimination. We have an anti-racism strategy and I hope to get another follow-up question so that I can expand on the work we're doing.

[Jody Wilson-Raybould, Independent, Vancouver Granville, BC]

Thank you.

There is going to be significant cost to some charities and not-for-profit organizations to adopt some of the government health and safety policies in light of COVID-19, not dissimilar to the costs incurred to provide physical security to houses of worship in light of the rise of hate crimes globally.

Will the federal government consider a scenario where there is a new program or update to the security infrastructure program to help cover these costs?

[Bardish Chagger, Liberal, Waterloo, ON]

Mr. Chair, yes, actually, even pre-COVID, we recognized that there was an increase in discrimination, especially when it came to places of worship being attacked. That's why we put in place measures to ensure that places of worship had opportunities to be able to hire security, put in camera infrastructure and so forth. We will continue to ensure that those measures are in place, even post-COVID, because it is essential that every Canadian be able to contribute and do their fair share and do their part.

Unless somebody is indigenous, everyone has immigrated to Canada at some point. It's important that we stand up for each other, and it's important that we call out these racist attacks.

[Jody Wilson-Raybould, Independent, Vancouver Granville, BC]

As many jurisdictions begin lifting restrictions, and as we Canadians adapt to our new normal, we need to be prepared for a second wave of COVID-19. Can the government confirm that it is planning for a second wave? Will the existing aid programs be reinstituted in the event of a second wave? Will there be enough PPE and critical medical equipment? Are we ensuring that we have all the necessary authorities in place to respond quickly and effectively?

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

The honourable minister.

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON]

I thank the member of Parliament for a very important question. In fact, having been able to get through what I would say is our first wave of COVID-19 has allowed us to learn some very important lessons about how to work even more efficiently together at the provincial and territorial levels. It's the work that we need to continue to do to acquire PPE, for example, and to ensure that we have the processes in place to do rapid testing and contact tracing, and to be able to support citizens to adopt healthy behaviours and to help citizens understand that we really are just in the first leg of this and that we're going to need to continue to—

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

We'll go back to Ms. Wilson-Raybould.

[Jody Wilson-Raybould, Independent, Vancouver Granville, BC]

I appreciate that answer.

There's still some time before there's going to be a vaccine, and it's good to see the international cooperation around respect for information sharing. I believe Canada has a significant international role to play.

Will Canada take a strong stand at the World Health Assembly to support vulnerable populations around the world having access to the vaccine and for equitable distribution? What steps is the government taking in this regard?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON]

Absolutely. In fact, it was very important at the World Health Assembly to have Canada's statement presented, which called for a global solution to COVID-19. I'm really grateful for this question because we in fact know that we can't eliminate COVID-19 if we don't act together. We know that Canada has an opportunity to provide leadership, to provide funding, as we have, to organizations like Gavi, for example, which ensures access to vaccines for some of the most vulnerable in our world.

We'll continue to do that work, to encourage our partners all across the world to see this as a true partnership in protecting our citizens.

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

The next question goes to Ms. Qaqqaq.

[Mumilaaq Qaqqaq, NDP, Nunavut, NU]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I'll give just a very quick shout out to the IT team and our interpreters who have been working so hard to get everything working as smoothly as possible for us. It's great to see more and more headsets as we continue with our virtual Parliament.

Pauktuutit, the organization that represents Inuit women of Canada, had identified the lack of transitional and shelter housing as their highest priority leading into 2020, prior to the pandemic.

Across Canada, emergency shelters are well past their limits and tragically turn away Canadians who need help every single night. This is truer for Inuit women. It is also clear that COVID-19 has forced more women into dangerous and abusive positions and situations.

In this moment of crisis, will the federal government commit to supporting critical transitional housing and shelter infrastructure, as Pauktuutit has proposed for Inuit Nunangat and Nunavut?

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

The honourable minister.

[Maryam Monsef, Liberal, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development]

I thank my colleague for her very important question. On behalf of the Government of Canada and, I think, all parliamentarians, I'd also like to express our gratitude to front-line support workers, including those at Pauktuutit, for their work and strong advocacy.

We are absolutely committed to supporting their work in addressing and preventing gender-based violence and are committed to doing so with a whole-of-government approach.

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

The honourable minister.

[Dan Vandal, Liberal, Minister of Northern Affairs]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I want to begin by commending the Government of Nunavut for its hard work during this pandemic. I believe it's because of their hard work and their actions that we have not seen the same outbreak in Nunavut that other regions have seen.

I completely agree that the needs of Nunavut are unique, and that is why Nunavut has received over $30 million to address the immediate health, economic and transportation priorities related to COVID-19, as well as $5 million for air services.

The issue of water for Canadian citizens, north and south, Inuit and non-indigenous, is of tremendous importance to our government. We have committed to making sure that every Canadian, every Inuit citizen, every first nation and every Métis citizen has access to drinking water.