COVID-19 Pandemic Committee on May 27th, 2020

[Yves-François Blanchet, Bloc, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

My question is for the Prime Minister.

If the Liberal Party of Canada had not taken advantage of the emergency programs, would it have laid off all its staff?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Papineau, QC]

Mr. Chair, we recognized that a number of organizations and companies were facing difficulties because of COVID-19. People work for those organizations, as accountants, receptionists, assistants or labourers, and those people need to be supported.

We are supporting people all over the country through that program.

[Yves-François Blanchet, Bloc, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

Is the Liberal Party one of those organizations in difficulty?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Papineau, QC]

Any company or organization that can demonstrate a significant drop in its income, whether that be in donations, receipts, profits—

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

The floor goes to Mr. Blanchet.

[Yves-François Blanchet, Bloc, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

Is the Liberal Party of Canada in difficulty, as an organization?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Papineau, QC]

Mr. Chair, we created specific criteria to help organizations in difficulty. Any organization experiencing those difficulties can apply.

[Yves-François Blanchet, Bloc, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

In the Magdalen Islands, fishing companies in difficulty and in need of assistance will not have the money that the Liberals are going to take.

Is the Liberal Party of Canada in difficulty, as an organization?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Papineau, QC]

Mr. Chair, we have invested in assistance for fishers all across the country. We recognize that it is a difficult situation because of COVID-19. We will be here for our fishers and for industries in difficulty.

[Yves-François Blanchet, Bloc, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

I am not catching many answers, it seems to me.

A company in Drummondville that manufactures isolation membranes is in difficulty because a federal program is inadequate.

Compared to that company, is the Liberal Party of Canada in difficulty, as an organization?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Papineau, QC]

Mr. Chair, there are clear criteria for submitting applications under these programs. Companies and organizations that receive money qualify for those programs.

[Yves-François Blanchet, Bloc, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

If the program criteria establish that the Liberal Party is an organization in difficulty, does that mean that the criteria to determine whether an organization is in difficulty are poorly designed?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Papineau, QC]

Mr. Chair, all through this pandemic, our priority has been to be here for workers in difficulty so that they do not lose their jobs. This applies to all organizations and companies in the country to the extent possible. That is what we are in the process of doing.

[Yves-François Blanchet, Bloc, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

Given the answers from the Prime Minister, let me ask this question: is the Prime Minister in difficulty?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Papineau, QC]

No, Mr. Chair. We are doing important work for all Canadians, every day.

[Yves-François Blanchet, Bloc, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

Restaurant owners on rue Ontario in Montreal feel that they will not make it through the crisis and that they will never open their doors again. They are in difficulty.

By comparison, is the Liberal Party of Canada an organization in difficulty that will not open its doors again after the crisis? We can but hope.

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Papineau, QC]

Mr. Chair, we established criteria for that program in order to help those working for various organizations. Any organization that receives the subsidy has qualified for it.

[Yves-François Blanchet, Bloc, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

Is there a consensus in the Liberal Party caucus that the Liberal Party is in difficulty as an organization?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Papineau, QC]

Mr. Chair, we are working every day to help Canadians and workers in difficulty. We are going to continue to do that work.

[Yves-François Blanchet, Bloc, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

Does answering a question put the Prime Minister in difficulty?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Papineau, QC]

Mr. Chair, it is a pleasure to be here in the House and to answer questions from Canadians and from members of the opposition.

[Yves-François Blanchet, Bloc, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

You are going to answer a question from a Quebecker, I hope.

Companies are struggling in Saguenay, in the Gaspé, in Beloeil.

Would those companies not deserve to be saved by the money that the supposedly struggling Liberal Party has taken?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Papineau, QC]

I am always very happy to answer questions from all Canadians currently sitting in the House.

We will be here to help workers in difficulty all across the country, including in Quebec.

[Yves-François Blanchet, Bloc, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

If the Prime Minister is so happy to answer questions, I hope he will be delirious with joy to answer this one.

Is the Liberal Party in difficulty?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Papineau, QC]

Mr. Chair, we established a program to help those working in organizations and who could lose their jobs because of COVID-19. We are here to help workers in organizations and companies all over the country.