COVID-19 Pandemic Committee on June 2nd, 2020

[Mel Arnold, Conservative, North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC]

Mr. Chair, I continue to hear from constituents in the North Okanagan—Shuswap who are unable to access supports under the Canada emergency business account or the emergency commercial rent assistance program. Business owners have also lost employees and can't get them to come back to work because of the lack of flexibility in the emergency response benefit and the emergency student benefit.

When the Liberals shut down Parliament, they removed our ability to amend legislation and fix their failures. When will the government fix these problems and the programs?

[Bill Morneau, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

Mr. Chair, we continue to look at the programs we've put out to support Canadians to make sure that they are actually having the desired impact. As we've moved along, we have said that we need to make amendments. We've committed to extending the wage subsidy, and of course we're looking at all the measures we've put out so we can ensure that people have the support they need during this crisis.

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

We'll now go to Mr. Viersen.

[Arnold Viersen, Conservative, Peace River—Westlock, AB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Chair, an April 1 letter confirms that Deloitte Canada has been contracted to help supply PPE. Was this a sole-source contract?

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

Mr. Chair, the honourable member is correct that we have contracted with Deloitte to assist us with our operations on the ground in China in order to have an A-to-Z procurement approach to delivering goods—

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

We will go back to Mr. Viersen.

[Arnold Viersen, Conservative, Peace River—Westlock, AB]

Can the minister confirm that this was, indeed, a sole-source contract?

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Oakville, ON]

Mr. Chair, there are a number of goods that need to be procured for Canadian health care professionals to be safe, and that's exactly—

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

We'll go to Mr. Viersen.

[Arnold Viersen, Conservative, Peace River—Westlock, AB]

Yes or no, was this a sole-source contract?

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Oakville, ON]

Mr. Chair, I will take that question back to my department and come back to the member with a further, fuller response.

[Arnold Viersen, Conservative, Peace River—Westlock, AB]

Mr. Chair, is Deloitte of Canada able to speak on behalf of PSPC?

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Oakville, ON]

Mr. Chair, not at all. The contracts that we are entering into are made by us—

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

We will go back to Mr. Viersen.

[Arnold Viersen, Conservative, Peace River—Westlock, AB]

What is the value of the contract with Deloitte?

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Oakville, ON]

Mr. Chair, again, that is information that we are not going to release at this time. When the time is right, we will do so.

[Arnold Viersen, Conservative, Peace River—Westlock, AB]

Many of the suppliers that are in contact with Deloitte of Canada are indigenous contractors. Has the government secured any contracts with indigenous suppliers?

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Oakville, ON]

Mr. Chair, we are in touch with indigenous suppliers, as we are with many suppliers across Canada and internationally. We are working hard to make sure that we have diverse supply chains across the board, and that means including indigenous suppliers in that mix.

[Arnold Viersen, Conservative, Peace River—Westlock, AB]

Many of these indigenous suppliers have previously been vetted by the federal government and are certified vendors. Is it appropriate for Deloitte to be recertifying these vendors?

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Oakville, ON]

Mr. Chair, the honourable member appears to have information regarding Deloitte's certification processes, which would not be outside what the government itself is doing. I encourage him to come forward with a question that actually responds to fact before—

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Go ahead, Mr. Viersen.

[Arnold Viersen, Conservative, Peace River—Westlock, AB]

Does the minister think that re-vetting suppliers is a good use of resources?

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Oakville, ON]

Mr. Chair, I'll tell you what I think. I believe that Canada is in a crisis, and I am making every effort to order PPE as Canadian health care workers require.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear!

[Arnold Viersen, Conservative, Peace River—Westlock, AB]

Mr. Chair, indigenous suppliers stand at the ready to supply PPE to Canada. Has the minister contracted with any indigenous suppliers?