COVID-19 Pandemic Committee on June 1st, 2020

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

Let me very clear about one thing, speaking on behalf of our government and on behalf of the Prime Minister. Our government sees as a matter of utmost concern and utmost urgency what has been happening in long-term care homes in our country, and the reports we have received from the brave men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces about facilities in Ontario and Quebec need to be treated as historic documents that—

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Now it's Mr. Rayes's turn.

Mr. Rayes, you have the floor.

[Alain Rayes, Conservative, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Mr. Chair, why is it that employers from industry, businesses and community organizations that have been approved in the Canada summer jobs program still haven't received the money they're entitled to?

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, Minister of Families]

We are ensuring that the Canada summer jobs program is strengthened and enforced. We are making it more available to more students. We have lengthened the time period that the program—

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Mr. Rayes has the floor.

[Alain Rayes, Conservative, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Every day, the Prime Minister makes announcements in front of his residence.

I'll repeat my question.

Given the importance of the program for our youth who are looking to work, how is it that the organizations haven't yet received the money they need to hire students? As we know, there have been some problems with the CESB.

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

Our government is working hard to help employers adapt to the realities of COVID-19. We recognize the important role that the Canada summer jobs program plays in supporting employers and young workers in communities across the country every year. That is why we have introduced flexibilities in the Canada summer jobs program to hire youth while providing more supports to employers.

[Alain Rayes, Conservative, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

The minister can say whatever he wants. Last year, there was no crisis and, as of April, all employers who had been admitted to the program had received the money. We are currently in a crisis. The government is trying to respond quickly to the needs. Right now, community organizations are not receiving the money to which they are entitled to hire students, to put them to work and to give them an employment opportunity.

Why?

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

Mr. Chair, we have managed to introduce flexibilities to take into consideration the difficult environment of the COVID-19 pandemic. As such, the flexibilities we've introduced into the Canada summer jobs program will help with more hiring of youth and more supports to employers, including non-profits and businesses that deliver essential services to Canadians.

These changes will help small businesses hire and keep the workers that they need in the Canada summer jobs program.

[Alain Rayes, Conservative, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

The young people and employers listening to us must be very surprised by what the minister is saying. He mentioned that the rules are now more flexible. However, it is taking a month and a half longer than last year. The money has not yet been given out.

I have done my homework. I went to see what was happening in my riding and in about 10 other ridings. Last year, in my riding, all the money had been deposited before April. Right now, there is a $240,000 shortfall for about 60 student jobs, and the minister has the nerve to tell us that the government has provided more flexibility.

Why is the money not available if the government wants to act quickly, to help the economy recover and to help young people?

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

Mr. Chair, indeed we are acting quickly. We are listening to the needs of the employers to make sure that this program works not only for them but also for youth, and that it gives them the experiences they need. It is adapted better for the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure that youth have the experience they need to gain life and work skills from the program.

It's a great program, and we're making it work not just for businesses but also for non-profits.

[Alain Rayes, Conservative, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Here is the reality. Last week, the owner of a hardware store in a village in my riding had to close his business because he was unable to hire students and had no one to work.

This morning, an employer called me to tell me that his request to hire a student had been accepted, but that the delay meant that he could not proceed with the hiring. This means that one more young person will not have a job. That young person will therefore have to receive the CESB. There is the reality.

When is the government going to release the money required for young people to be able to work?

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

Mr. Chair, I join the honourable member in recognizing that in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic there are some difficulties in terms of structuring the program and making sure that employers are able to access it. That is why we've introduced flexibilities to ensure that employers are able to access the program and that youth are also able to take advantage of the program to gain important work skills, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and especially in providing essential services that serve their fellow Canadians.

It's a great program. We're doing everything that we can to work through some of those obstacles.

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

We'll now continue with Ms. Shin.

[Nelly Shin, Conservative, Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

By its own numbers, PSPC has had to cut the number of N95 masks the government has on order after cancelling contracts with companies that were not able to meet Canadian standards.

We know that companies right here in Canada were willing to step up and fill in the gap. Will the minister commit to making domestic production of PPE, including N95 masks, a priority?

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

The honourable minister.

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Minister of Public Services and Procurement]

Mr. Chair, our priority is to make sure that we get safe and effective equipment and supplies into the hands of front-line health care workers.

We've been running multiple complementary supply chains at the same time. Building up domestic capacity is indeed a priority. We have a contract with Medicom in Montreal for the production of N95 masks and we will continue to work hard to ensure—

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

We'll go back to Ms. Shin.

[Nelly Shin, Conservative, Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC]

Mr. Chair, Novo Textiles, a company in my riding, has retooled its factory to produce surgical masks in response to the shortage of PPE in Canada. Additionally, it will soon be producing quality made-in-Canada N95 masks using Canadian designs and Canadian-made machinery. My constituent has invested his own capital and is in active production supplying front-line workers right now, not just talking about it.

However, the company's application to NGen was recently rejected. Canada needs masks now, masks that meet Canadian standards. Is the government serious about growing domestic production capacity, or is it all talk and no action?

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Oakville, ON]

In reality, we have received 101.3 million surgical masks that are being distributed out to provinces and territories. We have signed 24 contracts with domestic companies for the production of PPE right here at home. We are working very hard, Mr. Chair, to make sure Canadian front-line health care workers have exactly what they need to fight this pandemic.

[Nelly Shin, Conservative, Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC]

Mr. Chair, how many of these have received financial support from the government?

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Oakville, ON]

Mr. Chair, I'm not quite sure what the member is referring to by “how many of these”, but as I said, we have signed 24 contracts with domestic—

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

We'll have to go back to Ms. Shin.

[Nelly Shin, Conservative, Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC]

Where are these manufacturers located?

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Oakville, ON]

Mr. Chair, we have surgical masks being produced right here at home, as well as abroad, being brought into Canada—