COVID-19 Pandemic Committee on May 27th, 2020

[Bill Morneau, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

Mr. Chair, before accessing the emergency wage subsidy, applicants must meet important criteria. However, as we explained last week, we will be adjusting the wage subsidy until the end of August, and we will be reviewing the criteria.

[The Acting Chair, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

We're going to go to the west coast and the member for Saanich—Gulf Islands.

Ms. May, go ahead.

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

My question is with regard to the urgent problem of mental health crises across Canada. My colleague, Jenica Atwin from Fredericton, held a press conference this morning in which she used the term “echo pandemic”. We will face an echo pandemic. We're already seeing increases in suicides on southern Vancouver Island.

My question to the minister is this: Will we see direct funding to community mental health services as urgently requested by the Canadian Mental Health Association?

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

Mr. Chair, I read the honourable member's colleague's letter just today, and I want to reassure all members that we have invested in mental health supports for Canadians, obviously before the pandemic hit but certainly since we've been living with the pandemic.

I'd like to remind all members to direct their constituents to the wellnesstogether.ca website and portal. There Canadians can find online resources, as well as connections to real and alive counsellors and other professionals who can help them with their various concerns.

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

This question relates to another current emergency: the climate emergency.

This week it was reported that the concentration of greenhouse gases reached 417 parts per million. That's not just unprecedented over thousands of years; that's unprecedented over the last one million years. The temperatures in the Arctic broke 86°F, 30°C in the Arctic circle. The recognized parties in the House have established standing committees to work, but not the committee on the environment. We've asked for this in negotiations.

When will the recognized parties remember the June 2019 emergency resolution that we are in a climate emergency, and start making sure that we hit 2020 commitments under the Paris Agreement to improve our targets?

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Westmount, QC]

Mr. Chair, I appreciate my colleague's questions. I will remind her that we have committed to net-zero emissions by 2050. We've also committed to surpassing the targets that we had originally set for 2030.

We realize that along with the COVID pandemic, which is the major problem that exists in the world today, there is another problem as well that affects the entire planet, and that is the problem associated with climate change. We remain committed to achieving those targets.

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

My next question will be for Minister Blair, but as an aside, I will say that last answer completely fails to meet the legal requirements of the Paris Agreement to file a new target this year.

To save some time, Minister Blair, let's pretend to go back to the questions from my colleague MP Paul-Hus and to your last answer. This is dealt with on a case-by-case basis by CBSA agents. There are thousands of them. They are exercising personal, subjective judgment. This is not acceptable.

I'm begging the minister. Could the minister please put out a directive, advice to every CBSA agent on the ground, that when a non-status entry point sees a non-status direct relative—husband, wife, child of a Canadian citizen—that relative be deemed to be entering Canada for an essential purpose?

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

I'd like to thank the member for bringing this issue forward again. It's an important one.

We have been working very hard to ensure that we do everything possible to keep families together. At the same time, we've been working with the provinces and territories, listening to the concerns of Canadians about ensuring that travel across our international border, particularly with the United States, is limited to essential travel. As I've indicated, I've had a number of important conversations and necessary conversations with our provincial and territorial partners. I believe there is a consensus on the right way forward on this, and we're working very diligently to put it in place. I want to assure the member opposite that we have given very clear direction to our CBSA officers. I believe our border services officers have been doing an extraordinary job for us in the exercise of their discretion. At the same time, they have been doing the important work of ensuring the health and safety of Canadians at our border.

[The Acting Chair, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

We're now going to Ms. Kwan for Vancouver East.

Ms. Kwan, go ahead.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Four out of the five homes listed in the armed forces report were for-profit. It is painfully clear that corporate profits are being put ahead of the well-being of seniors.

Will the minister admit that the for-profit model is failing our loved ones and commit to getting profits out of long-term care?

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

As the member opposite notes, nobody can read that report or hear those stories without feeling absolute horror and disgust and without demanding better for the elders in our lives.

As I have mentioned many times in the House, our government remains committed to working with provinces and territories to ensure that every elder person in our community can age with dignity and in safety.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Minister, if that's the case, I will ask again. Will the minister make sure that the focus of long-term care homes is taking care of seniors and not taking care of owners' bank accounts?

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

As the member will obviously know, long-term care remains in the jurisdiction of provinces and territories, and there is legislation that rules them as such.

As the member also knows, we have stood by Ontario and all of the other provinces and territories throughout this outbreak. The Prime Minister has been very clear—

[The Acting Chair, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

We will go back to Ms. Kwan.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Is the minister refusing to answer the question because she agrees that profit should come before care?

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

I think it's unfortunate that the member is trying to place words in my mouth.

What I do agree with, though, is that long-term care needs to be reformed, and I think all provinces and territories know, and all Canadians know, that we have to do a better job.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

It's simple for the minister. She can just answer the question.

Is she willing to defend for-profit care for our seniors? Is she in favour of for-profit private health care too?

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

What I am willing to defend is the right for all Canadians to age with safety and dignity.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

To the minister, what is the difference? Why sell out the care of our seniors?

Will she commit that she will take profit out of long-term care?

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

Mr. Chair, I think the member opposite knows that the only way to actually reform long-term care is to work with provinces and territories, in fact, all levels of government, to ensure that the people who spent their lives caring for and nurturing us can end their lives with caring and nurturing—

[The Acting Chair, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

We will go back to Ms. Kwan.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

I think the minister knows that what we need is national standards for seniors' care.

The Revera long-term care homes are owned by the Public Sector Pension Investment Board. Since the government owns these homes, has the military been sent in there to see what's happening to seniors under their care?

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

Mr. Chair, we know that it is important to work with all of the provinces and territories under whose jurisdiction it falls to protect the seniors within those care homes. That's what we've been doing since the beginning of the outbreak of the coronavirus, and that's what we'll continue to do to protect the lives of seniors and strengthen their protection.

We will, as I said, Mr. Chair, work with the provinces and territories to have a longer-term plan so that all seniors can age with dignity and safety.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

The government has a clear responsibility here. What is the government doing to ensure the standards of care in these Revera homes that they own?

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

Mr. Chair, as I have repeatedly said, the jurisdiction for care of long-term care homes falls within the provincial and territorial realm. However, that being said, Mr. Chair, we have been there for provinces and territories since the outbreak of the coronavirus, and as the member opposite has clearly or likely heard the Prime Minister say, we will stand with provinces and territories as all elders have the right to age with dignity—