We'll go to Mr. Singh again.
Evidence of meeting #11 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 important.
A video is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #11 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 important.
A video is available from Parliament.
NDP
Jagmeet Singh NDP Burnaby South, BC
Mr. Chair, it is ludicrous to suggest the government is not aware of the countless companies that are registered in offshore tax havens. We have the Panama papers. Every company that's listed in the Panama papers.... For example, recently your own CRA went after Loblaws because Loblaws put money in an offshore tax haven which was found to be legal. Your system has been designed in such a way that companies can put their money in an offshore tax haven and cheat the public.
I'm saying, do what France has done. Do what Germany has done. Do what so many countries have done. Don't give help to a company that is registered in an offshore tax haven. Loblaws and Cargill are two examples.
You're the government; you can figure that out.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Anthony Rota
I'm the chair, not the government. I just want to point that out and remind honourable members to place their questions through me, not to me.
The honourable Deputy Prime Minister.
Liberal
Chrystia Freeland Liberal University—Rosedale, ON
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
While I'm not sure if the member opposite is suggesting that Loblaws and Cargill are in receipt of wage subsidy support, and if he is, I'd like to hear that, but more broadly, I do want to be clear about our government's position, which I'm very proud of. Our government's position is that our house is burning down, and Canadians right now are facing the toughest economic situation since the Great Depression, and our priority is to support every single Canadian worker we can.
NDP
Jagmeet Singh NDP Burnaby South, BC
Through you, Mr. Chair, the government is making it really clear what their position is. Their minister went on TV saying that CEOs could receive a million dollars in bonuses with public money. Is that your government's position? Will you adopt Germany's position and ensure that no CEO receives any amount of public money for their bonuses and that all money goes to workers? Will you commit to that?
Liberal
Chrystia Freeland Liberal University—Rosedale, ON
Well, look, when it comes to bonuses, I don't think the member opposite is proposing that our government should put in place across-the-board restrictions on—
Liberal
Chrystia Freeland Liberal University—Rosedale, ON
—on the salaries of all CEOs across the country no matter what. That would be rather draconian.
When it comes to our LEEFF program of support for large employers, it is absolutely the case that any company that seeks that support will have to agree to very strict —
Liberal
Chrystia Freeland Liberal University—Rosedale, ON
—restrictions on executive pay, share buybacks and dividends.
NDP
Jagmeet Singh NDP Burnaby South, BC
Mr. Chair, will the government commit to not sending public money to CEOs, which is what they're doing right now, and ensure that all money goes to workers? Will they end this idea that a CEO can get a million-dollar bonus and receive help?
Germany has said that there should be no bonuses for CEOs who are seeking to get help from the public. Will you commit to that? Will the government commit to that?
Liberal
Chrystia Freeland Liberal University—Rosedale, ON
Mr. Chair, let me commit to two things.
First of all, our priority absolutely is to support workers. That's what we're doing.
Second of all, companies getting support through the LEEFF program absolutely will face restrictions on dividends, share buybacks and executive compensation.
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Mr. Chair, Prime Minister Trudeau is having a waterfront mansion built at Harrington Lake at taxpayers' expense. This is a multimillion dollar temporary lodging while the other taxpayer-funded mansion at Harrington Lake is upgraded. How many taxpayer-funded houses in the national capital region does the Prime Minister need? We have 24 Sussex, Rideau Cottage, Harrington Lake, the pre-existing guest cottage at Harrington Lake and now an additional cottage.
Canadians are struggling to pay the bills. How much are they paying for this secret mansion?
Pablo Rodriguez LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Chair, I would like to raise a point of order.
Liberal
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
Mr. Chair, once again, although I would like to be creative and very open, I do not understand how this question is related to what was decided by the House of Commons—not the government—by means of a motion. The motion was to the effect that the committee should meet to debate matters pertaining to the COVID-19 pandemic. The question is entirely unrelated to the subject under discussion.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Anthony Rota
The question of relevance is one that has come up a few times in previous meetings. I would remind honourable members that the mandate given to this committee by the House stated that the questions of ministers of the Crown were to be in respect to the COVID-19 pandemic. As noted previously, however, I've seen several instances where questions have been posed to ministers on other topics, and ministers have responded to these questions.
That said, the committee's mandate is clear. Questions and answers should be related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and I would invite all members to ensure that their interventions are consistent with that mandate.
We'll go back to Mr. Barrett.
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Mr. Chair, how much are Canadians on the hook for with this mansion?
Liberal
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
I think that my colleague should abide by the House of Commons decision, namely that the committee should meet to discuss the COVID-19 pandemic.
We are going through an unprecedented and historic period, during which we need to be there to help Canadians. We need to be able to debate and we are prepared to answer all questions from the opposition. We are happy to do so. There are also seven question periods each week, but this question has absolutely nothing to do with the pandemic.
