Evidence of meeting #13 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 chair.

A video is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

12:35 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Anthony Rota

Order. We are returning to Mr. Brunelle-Duceppe.

12:35 p.m.

Bloc

Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC

I don't know how to take it this time. I didn't get it all.

I think it's necessary to stop, eject and throw the tape out, and provide an honest answer to the questions we ask.

Can my colleague across the way answer a very simple question? Are their employees going to be used for political fundraising and so, once again, make the generous wage subsidy they receive work for them, yes or no?

12:35 p.m.

Liberal

Chrystia Freeland Liberal University—Rosedale, ON

Mr. Chair, I want to point out something important when we talk about our work and our economy. The important thing is that we have put in place unprecedented economic measures that are absolutely urgent and necessary.

That's what we'll continue to do.

12:40 p.m.

Bloc

Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC

Mr. Chair, we've already seen a Duceppe who denounces the use of federal programs by the Liberal Party for the Liberal Party.

Can my hon. colleague tell me if she's able to look the entrepreneurs in her riding in the eye and tell them that they don't deserve the wage subsidy, because their loss of income is only 28% or 29%, while her party is dipping into the cookie jar, yes or no?

12:40 p.m.

Liberal

Chrystia Freeland Liberal University—Rosedale, ON

Mr. Chair, I am absolutely willing to look into the eyes of the entrepreneurs and workers in my riding because they know that our government is doing a lot to help Canadians in this historic crisis.

Our economic support program is the largest program in Canada's history—

12:40 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Anthony Rota

We will now continue with Mr. Singh.

12:40 p.m.

NDP

Jagmeet Singh NDP Burnaby South, BC

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Canadian Armed Forces report showed the relationship between equipment costs and the lack of care for our seniors. Will the government admit today that there is no room for profit in the care of our seniors?

12:40 p.m.

Liberal

Chrystia Freeland Liberal University—Rosedale, ON

Mr. Chair, that's a very important question, and I would like to thank the member for asking it.

I think this is a historic week. All Canadians have seen what is happening in Ontario and Quebec. We—

12:40 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Anthony Rota

Order. We'll go back to Mr. Singh.

12:40 p.m.

NDP

Jagmeet Singh NDP Burnaby South, BC

Mr. Chair, experts and advocates have all pointed out that in the for-profit model of care for seniors, there is more emphasis on the bottom line than on care for seniors.

Will the Liberal government admit that there is no place for profit when it comes to the care of our seniors?

12:40 p.m.

Liberal

Chrystia Freeland Liberal University—Rosedale, ON

Mr. Chair, I want to start by saying one thing, and that is to publicly thank, in this House, Brigadier-General Conrad Mialkowski and his team for compiling the assessment that they did of long-term care homes in Ontario. They acted with courage. They acted with compassion. What they did is historic, and we all need to—

12:40 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Anthony Rota

We'll now go back to Mr. Singh.

12:40 p.m.

NDP

Jagmeet Singh NDP Burnaby South, BC

The Canadian Forces, of course, always deserve our thanks. However, they don't need our thanks right now; they need to see some action on what they have pointed out.

The government owns Revera, the second-largest long-term care provider in Canada. It's for profit, and it's facing a $50-million lawsuit for negligence.

What is the government doing to protect seniors in the long-term care homes that they own?

12:40 p.m.

Liberal

Chrystia Freeland Liberal University—Rosedale, ON

Mr. Chair, I agree with the member opposite that after what we have learned this week, all options must be on the table when it comes to how care for our elders will be provided in Canada in the future.

I think it is clear to us all that root-and-branch reform is necessary. We need to act with speed but not haste, and work with our provincial partners.

12:40 p.m.

NDP

Jagmeet Singh NDP Burnaby South, BC

If all the options are on the table, will the Liberal government commit to removing profit from long-term care, particularly in the Revera long-term care homes, the second-largest number in Canada, which the government owns? Will it commit to removing profit from long-term care?

12:40 p.m.

Liberal

Chrystia Freeland Liberal University—Rosedale, ON

What we will commit to do—and I hope with the support of all members of this House—is work very carefully and also very urgently in close co-operation with our provincial partners, under whose jurisdiction this falls, to ensure that these heart-wrenching reports mean that as a country we turn the page—

12:40 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Anthony Rota

We'll go back to Mr. Singh.

12:40 p.m.

NDP

Jagmeet Singh NDP Burnaby South, BC

Mr. Chair, Revera is a Crown corporation owned by the government, so let's not hear excuses. Is the government doing anything to ensure that seniors are cared for? Is it providing for robust inspections, yes or no?

12:45 p.m.

Liberal

Chrystia Freeland Liberal University—Rosedale, ON

Mr. Chair, I want to clarify one point in the member's question. Canadian Crown corporations are not Liberal, not Conservative and not partisan.

One of the strengths of Canada is that we have non-partisan government institutions, and they serve us extremely well. Our—

12:45 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Anthony Rota

We will now go to Mr. Singh.

12:45 p.m.

NDP

Jagmeet Singh NDP Burnaby South, BC

Mr. Chair, right now the current government is responsible for Revera. It is a Crown corporation. Will the government commit to ensuring there is no profit anymore in Revera? As we've seen, it is facing a $50-million lawsuit, and there's been horrible negligence.

12:45 p.m.

Liberal

Chrystia Freeland Liberal University—Rosedale, ON

Mr. Chair, as I said at the outset, the ownership structure of long-term care facilities needs to be on the table. Everything does.

I also want to emphasize how important it is for us to do what we have been doing, which is to work very closely with the provinces, under whose jurisdiction this falls. In just the past 24 hours, I have spoken with Premier Ford, Premier Horgan and Premier Moe, and our conversation included long-term care facilities.

12:45 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Anthony Rota

We'll now continue with Ms. Vecchio.

12:45 p.m.

Conservative

Karen Vecchio Conservative Elgin—Middlesex—London, ON

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Today I join critics from the NDP, the Bloc and the Green Party who deal with women's issues and gender equality to ask where the $75 million toward sexual exploitation and human trafficking has gone. Last week organizations had to close their doors and the programs that help vulnerable women and girls, so the simple question is this: Where is the money?

12:45 p.m.

Scarborough Southwest Ontario

Liberal

Bill Blair LiberalMinister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness

Mr. Chair, let me begin by thanking the member for that very important question.

I agree that human trafficking, which is a crime of coercion and exploitation, is unacceptable, and we have to ensure that we provide the supports necessary to the victims of this crime.

As the member knows, we have launched a new, comprehensive national strategy to combat human trafficking, and we've incorporated a new pillar in that strategy of empowerment to ensure that the focus—