COVID-19 Pandemic Committee on June 1st, 2020

[Paul Manly, Green, Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC]

Mr. Chair, this week marks the 31st anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre, and we are currently seeing repression of the democracy movement in Hong Kong. We know that Communist China oppresses minority groups and does not respect human rights.

In spite of this knowledge, the Harper Conservative government signed a lopsided and anti-democratic investment treaty with China in 2012, the Canada-China FIPA. This Conservative deal gave Chinese state-owned corporations extraordinary powers to challenge our democratic decisions through a secretive private tribunal system.

In the years since the FIPA was signed, with no vote in Parliament, Chinese state-owned corporations have been purchasing Canadian assets and resources. These corporations can seek financial compensation from Canadian taxpayers for the loss of potential profit when our laws and policies get in the way of their profit-taking.

Can the government tell us whether any of these Chinese corporations has threatened to use the anti-democratic investor-state provisions of the FIPA to seek financial compensation from Canadian taxpayers?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

As I'm sure the member will know, Canada is setting up with its allies around the world to protect the freedom and democracy that has been enjoyed by the people in Hong Kong. As he knows, we have issued a declaration with a number of allies we have called upon to make sure that measures remain in place to protect the freedom and liberty of the people of Hong Kong.

We know that the one country, two systems treaty system has provided the framework under which the people of Hong Kong have been able to create an economy that is resilient and has made Hong Kong a place where people want to do business, commerce and trade.

Mr. Chair, we have expressed our deep concern. I would refer the member to the joint statement we have issued with the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom. We have spoken with one voice and we have said we have deep concerns that the actions by Beijing, if they were to proceed with this national security law unilaterally, would undermine the bedrock of what has made Hong Kong, and that we will review the impact that—

[The Acting Chair, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

Mr. Manly, you have about 45 seconds left. Go ahead; there's time for a short question.

[Paul Manly, Green, Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC]

That was a trick question, because this anti-democratic agreement states that we wouldn't be able to have permission to disclose that information if there was, in fact, an investor-state dispute.

Unlike NAFTA, which had a six-month period for renegotiation, the Harper Conservatives locked us into a 15-year agreement with the FIPA and this anti-democratic agreement. Will the government re-engage the special committee on Canada-China relations so we can do a thorough investigation of this Conservative sellout of Canadian democracy—

[The Acting Chair, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

We are out of time, Mr. Manly. We'll go to the minister for a response.

[Mary Ng, Liberal, Markham—Thornhill, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Canada will always pursue trade in the interest of Canadians, and we are in the process of reviewing our FIPA agreements so those agreements can provide the right framework for Canadians to trade, with the interests of Canadians always top of mind.

[The Acting Chair, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

We're now going to Ms. Ashton in Churchill—Keewatinook Aski.

Ms. Ashton, go ahead with your question.

[Niki Ashton, NDP, Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, MB]

Mr. Chair, I'll be splitting my time with the member for Victoria.

My question is to the Minister of Fisheries. This pandemic has hit Canadians hard. Import markets for our fish have dried up. This is devastating for inland fisheries. The season opened last week, and fishers are desperate for support. For indigenous fishers, fishing sustains their communities. It is their way of life.

Will the government work with the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation and inland fishers to develop and facilitate the delivery of an emergency package that works for them and find ways to redirect product to domestic markets, including communities facing food insecurity now?

[Bernadette Jordan, Liberal, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

Mr. Chair, we've recognized how hard the pandemic has hit our fishers and our fishing sector. We've made available a number of different measures. One of the things we're doing primarily is the harvesters' benefit, which allows all harvesters to take advantage of a benefit as well as a grant contribution to help them get through. We're also changing EI so they can now qualify for their EI benefits based on previous seasons, not this one, recognizing they're going to face challenges this year.

The Freshwater Fish Marketing Board is a Crown corporation. We know it's been a very difficult time for them. We are continuing to look at ways we can address the challenges within the industry and we'll continue to work with them to make sure we are addressing those needs.

[The Acting Chair, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

Ms. Ashton, we have about one minute left. There's time for a short question. Go ahead.

[Niki Ashton, NDP, Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, MB]

My question is to the Minister of Transport.

Canadians are being ripped off by airlines that are refusing to give passengers their money back. Airlines are profiting off Canadians during a very desperate time. This government has sat by while the Canadian Transportation Agency issued a statement to back up the airlines' appalling actions. What is this government doing to fix this? Why aren't they ensuring that public funds involve reimbursing passengers and an equity stake for Canadians?

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

Mr. Chair, I certainly recognize the very difficult situation and the frustration of Canadians who would have preferred a refund. At the same time, at this point if airlines were required to immediately reimburse all the cancelled tickets, it would have a devastating effect on the airlines. That is why the Canadian Transportation Agency, which is an independent body, recommended that vouchers be issued and that they have a reasonable time to be used—two years.

It is also very important to bear in mind that as we begin to exit this pandemic, we must still have an airline industry in this country.

[The Acting Chair, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

Now we're going to the honourable member for Victoria, Ms. Collins.

Please go ahead.

[Laurel Collins, NDP, Victoria, BC]

Mr. Chair, in Victoria housing and homelessness were at a crisis point long before the pandemic hit, but now people are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19. If you don't have a place to live, you don't have the luxury of following public health advice and staying home. As part of the recovery, will this government be increasing funding to build or buy the housing needed to address homelessness?

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, York South—Weston, ON]

Mr. Chair, very early in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, our government provided $157.5 million directly to 51 community entities to respond directly to the needs of homeless Canadians. We also provided $50 million in additional money to women's shelters. We are continuing with the national housing strategy. We are providing supports to communities and NGOs, as well as municipalities that are moving projects forward.

[Laurel Collins, NDP, Victoria, BC]

Mr. Chair, the federal government allocated just $1.3 million in Reaching Home funds to my region. While the province has stepped up, it cost them $18.5 million to purchase just one hotel in Victoria. The federal funding is clearly inadequate. Is the government going to show some leadership and at least match the provincial funds?

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, York South—Weston, ON]

Mr. Chair, we moved very quickly. The $157.5 million, I must note, was additional money on top of the base funding that we provide every year to address the needs of Canada's most vulnerable. In addition to that, our projects under the national housing strategy are continuing. We are providing leadership. We are trusting the community entities to make the decisions on where the funding goes and to respond in a way that meets the—

[The Acting Chair, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

Ms. Collins, you have about 40 seconds left, which is time for a short question. Go ahead.

[Laurel Collins, NDP, Victoria, BC]

The minister mentioned the national housing strategy. This government's national housing strategy reduces the level of targeted funding for lower-income households, according to the Parliamentary Budget Officer. My question is simple: Coming out of the pandemic in the coming months, is the government going to increase housing funding to address the immediate need, yes or no?

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, York South—Weston, ON]

Mr. Chair, I disagree with the honourable member. Our money is targeted to communities. They have community advisory boards that decide how to spend the money. If the NDP does not trust local communities to make decisions, they should say so.

[The Acting Chair, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

I now invite the hon. member for Joliette, Mr. Ste-Marie, to take the floor.

Go ahead, Mr. Ste-Marie.

[Gabriel Ste-Marie, Bloc, Joliette, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Regardless of the COVID-19 pandemic, the last time I checked, we still had a democratic system and the government had to remain accountable.

The government needs to present a picture of the economic situation and a picture of its overall emergency measures. Does the government intend to extend the measures over the summer? If so, how will it do so? The government must also present its working scenarios for the economic recovery. The government needs to be transparent.

When will the government provide its economic update?

[Bill Morneau, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

Mr. Chair, I would like to thank the hon. member for his questions.

I agree, it is very important to be transparent and to provide the necessary information to Canadians.

Every day, we announce measures, of course, but also the cost of the measures and the amount of the investments. It is very important. The challenge at the moment is the economic situation, which is very fluid. When the situation is more stable, we will have the opportunity to give an economic update.

[Gabriel Ste-Marie, Bloc, Joliette, QC]

In my opinion, Mr. Chair, it will really be too late to do the economic update when things are more stable.

We have been asking for an economic update for the past month. Even the Parliamentary Budget Officer has been urging the government to table an economic update in a timely manner. With only three weeks left in the House before the summer, the clock is ticking.

The Quebec government will table its economic update later this month. Will the federal government follow suit?

[Bill Morneau, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

Mr. Chair, let me confirm that we will continue to be transparent about the investments; it is very important.

Of course, each day we work to make sure we have a solid grasp of the economic situation. As I said, when the situation is a little more stable, we will have the opportunity to explain our situation with an economic update.