COVID-19 Pandemic Committee on May 27th, 2020

[Harjit S. Sajjan, Liberal, Vancouver South, BC]

Mr. Chair, when it comes to looking after Canadian Armed Forces personnel, yes, we are actually in the process as we speak of making sure that our members have the appropriate hazard pay. This is currently being drafted, and we will have more to say on this shortly.

[James Bezan, Conservative, Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB]

I hope that means it's a yes. I do encourage the government to provide that compensation to our soldiers and troops serving in Operation Laser.

I would finally like to come back to the issue of the timeline from May 14 to May 21, when that report was in the department for one week.

Under our parliamentary system, ministers are accountable for the conduct of their departments. Will the minister take responsibility for that report sitting on someone's desk for seven days and not being turned over to the proper authorities?

[Harjit S. Sajjan, Liberal, Vancouver South, BC]

Mr. Chair, I want to make it very clear: When it comes to the observations that were made, those were immediately reported to the appropriate management of the care facilities and to the appropriate links within the province.

At the same time, this report was being compiled and pushed up to the chain of command, and they did their due diligence. As I stated, it was given to us, and on the same day it was forwarded to the Minister of Public Safety, who immediately then sent it to the provincial authorities.

[James Bezan, Conservative, Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB]

Was one of those authorities that this was sent to the RCMP?

[Harjit S. Sajjan, Liberal, Vancouver South, BC]

Mr. Chair, as stated, this will not only be given to the proper authorities but the appropriate steps will be taken now.

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

We'll now go to Ms. Falk.

Ms. Falk.

[Rosemarie Falk, Conservative, Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK]

Thank you, Chair.

Yesterday it was revealed that the Minister of Digital Government has been promoting a fundraising campaign to sue Global News for their story criticizing the Chinese Communist Party. Why is the minister using her authority to support the Communist Party of China and threatening our media and freedom of expression?

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Minister of Digital Government]

Mr. Chair, we value the important work of media right across the country. Attacking the integrity of hard-working journalists is simply not acceptable. Like many members on all sides of the House.... WeChat is a social media platform used to engage and share information with—

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Now we'll go back to Ms. Falk.

Ms. Falk.

[Rosemarie Falk, Conservative, Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK]

Is the minister aware of the efforts that the United Front carries out on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party to influence how Canadians view the People's Republic of China?

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Thank you for that question.

Mr. Chair, I want to just be clear. The participation in the WeChat group, much like Facebook, is guided by posted—

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

We'll now go back to Ms. Falk.

[Rosemarie Falk, Conservative, Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK]

Is the minister an active participant in the efforts by the Communists to muzzle a Canadian journalist and deprive Canadians of the facts about China?

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Muzzling journalists is never acceptable, and our government is very clear on that. I will say that the individual in question posted something outside of the guidelines of my WeChat group and is no longer—

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

We'll now go back to Ms. Falk.

Ms. Falk, I just want to point out that we do have interpreters listening and trying to interpret. They'd appreciate it....

[Rosemarie Falk, Conservative, Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK]

My questions are short. That's probably what it is.

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Take a deep breath.

[Rosemarie Falk, Conservative, Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK]

Chair, the Liberals can't shrug this off. The minister admitted to theBreaker that her own political staff manages this WeChat. This is someone who is paid by Canadian taxpayers. Why is the minister using tax dollars to help China attack Global News and freedom of expression?

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

I think the member knows very well that the people who post on WeChat are free to post what they choose within certain guidelines. Those guidelines were ignored. That person is no longer part of my WeChat group. The post was completely unacceptable, and I do not share the views of the individual.

[Rosemarie Falk, Conservative, Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK]

Chair, Sam Cooper is an investigative Canadian journalist who has uncovered many different criminal rackets that can be linked back to Beijing. Has the minister apologized to Sam Cooper for attempting to shut down his work?

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

As we all know, community outreach is a very important part of the work of a member of Parliament. WeChat is one of many social media sites regularly used by members—

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

We go back to Ms. Falk.

[Rosemarie Falk, Conservative, Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK]

Chair, when will the minister apologize to Sam Cooper and Global News?

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Mr. Chair, I have been very clear that I do not share the views of the person who posted on my WeChat site, who operated outside of my—

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

We'll now go back to Ms. Falk.