COVID-19 Pandemic Committee on May 28th, 2020

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

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

[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?

[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.

[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?

[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—

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

We will now continue with Mr. Singh.

[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?

[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—

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

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

[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?

[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—

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

We'll now go back to Mr. Singh.

[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?

[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.

[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?

[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—

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

We'll go back to Mr. Singh.

[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?

[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—

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

We will now go to Mr. Singh.

[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.

[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.

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

We'll now continue with Ms. Vecchio.

[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?

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Minister 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—