COVID-19 Pandemic Committee on June 3rd, 2020

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

Mr. Chair, the member is absolutely right that hair salons and all of the businesses in Quebec and, indeed, across Canada absolutely need support, which is why we introduced the Canada emergency business account. Those criteria have been expanded. Those businesses will get access to that support, and very shortly they will be able to get it through their financial institutions. We're working very hard to make sure that is there for them at this very difficult time.

[Joël Godin, Conservative, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

Mr. Chair, the minister just said “now”. It isn't available now. I agree with her that they're working hard, but it isn't available now.

In the same daily TV drama in front of Rideau Cottage, the Prime Minister informed us that his government is preparing solutions so that business owners and entrepreneurs who use their personal bank accounts rather than a business account can have access to the CEBA. These business people are still waiting.

When will our honest entrepreneurs, who have gone all in, get some help?

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

Mr. Chair, I want to thank the honourable member for his incredible advocacy and for raising that very question on behalf of all of our small businesses.

I want to assure the honourable member and, indeed, all small businesses across this country that we are working hard to make sure that they are going to get this support in addition to the various measures that are already helping many of our small businesses across the country.

[Joël Godin, Conservative, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

I'll move on to another sector.

The tourism industry isn't seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. When will this government put in place a plan to save this industry, which generates over $100 million a year in Canada?

Many countries have a plan to save this sector of economic activity.

When will tourist attraction operators, restauranteurs and hoteliers have the tools to rebuild Canada's tourism industry?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages]

I thank my colleague Mr. Godin for this important question.

I share his concerns about the tourism sector, because we know it's been very affected by the pandemic and economic crisis. That's why we have introduced various measures, including the wage subsidy, commercial rent assistance and the $40,000 loan, about which he asked my colleague questions. We have also provided money through the RRRF program, which is administered by Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, or CED.

We also have money for tourist attraction operators. So, if my colleague would like to share with me some cases in his riding, I would be pleased to work with him on these issues.

[The Acting Chair, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

That completes this round.

We'll now go to Ms. Wilson-Raybould.

[Jody Wilson-Raybould, Independent, Vancouver Granville, BC]

Thank you, Chair.

Today is our 16th COVID committee meeting, and while this committee has certainly been and remains important, so too are all aspects of our democracy and our institutions. I believe, as I have heard from many constituents, that we need to ensure that the House of Commons resumes on September 21. There is no question that there are critical issues that we need to discuss, both domestically and globally.

Will the government commit to taking all necessary steps to ensure that we will meet in Parliament on September 21, whether virtually, in person or in a similar manner as we are today?

[The Acting Chair, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

The honourable minister.

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

Mr. Chair, I thank my colleague for her important question.

All legislatures in Canada have had to adapt to the pandemic. We have done so quickly and collectively while allowing as many questions and exchanges as possible to promote democracy and allow the opposition to play its role.

We want to move as quickly as possible towards what would be called a more comprehensive Parliament, but to do so, we need to be able to vote remotely, and I want to make sure that everyone is prepared to do so.

[Jody Wilson-Raybould, Independent, Vancouver Granville, BC]

While all Canadians can look with shock and horror at the events unfolding south of the border, we cannot be complacent in our own country when it comes to issues of racism against black Canadians, indigenous peoples and other marginalized groups.

With respect to indigenous peoples, we have made strides forward, yet we are only now beginning to come of age as a country. There is still systemic racism. We still have the Indian Act. We still have significant levels of over-incarceration of marginalized people. I know for certain that significant work has been done at the Department of Justice on necessary sentencing reforms and restorative justice measures to address the overrepresentation of indigenous peoples in the justice system, and there is a clear plan for getting rid of the Indian Act through rights recognition.

We know what needs to be done. Will the Prime Minister please tell this country why the government has failed to support these comprehensive and transformative plans? Nice words need to be translated into action. If not now, when? If not us, who?

[The Acting Chair, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

The honourable minister.

[Bardish Chagger, Liberal, Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth]

Mr. Chair, I agree entirely with the member that black communities in Canada, the United States and around the world continue to experience anti-black racism and far too often have to grieve the loss of a life in their communities. I also agree there is anti-indigenous racism. With COVID-19 we have seen anti-Asian racism as well.

Racism exists, and that's exactly why my focus remains in Canada, on Canadians. We have a lot of work to do. The anti-racism secretariat was set up in October 2019, and I look forward to working with the member, because I will be focused on outcomes.

We need to do better, and it's time for outcomes and action now. I'm committed to doing that work.

[Jody Wilson-Raybould, Independent, Vancouver Granville, BC]

Thank you. I definitely agree that we need action and we need it now.

Relatedly, today, as we know, is the one-year anniversary of the murdered and missing indigenous women and girls report and its calls to action. Many ministers of the government have stood in this committee in the last few days and emphasized the importance of hearing the calls for justice from across the country and around the world.

The murdered and missing indigenous women and girls report has 231 calls for justice. Can the government commit today, on the one-year anniversary of the report, to releasing the action plan on MMIWG? More consultation should not be an excuse for inaction.

[The Acting Chair, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

The honourable minister.

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations]

I thank the member for the question and her ongoing work on this.

Today, our hearts are with the families and survivors of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls and the two-spirit and gender diverse people whom we've lost. It is, as the member said, this week that we also need to deal with the issue of racism, which actually is a colonial legacy that we need to undo. What is going on is heartbreaking.

We have put in concrete actions to stop this national tragedy, and we are working with our provincial and territorial partners and indigenous partners to put in place a national action plan that will allow indigenous women and girls and two-spirit, gender diverse people to walk safely anywhere in this country.

[The Acting Chair, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

With that, we'll move on now to Ms. Gazan in Winnipeg Centre.

[Leah Gazan, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

In February 2016, advocates working for the Walk4Justice initiative stopped counting the names of murdered and missing indigenous women and girls and 2SLGBTQQIA people when they got to 4,232. Does this government understand that this is a crisis?

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, Toronto—St. Paul's, ON]

Absolutely, and I thank the member for her ongoing advocacy.

I was very pleased, with Minister Vandal, to speak with the Manitoba coalition this morning. I too have been with Gladys Radek and Bernie Williams and the people on that walk for justice. We've been fighting for a national inquiry for a very long time and are very grateful now that this first-ever national inquiry has meant that the provinces and territories will work with us to respond—

[The Acting Chair, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

We'll now go back to Ms. Gazan.

[Leah Gazan, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

Mr. Chair, the former commissioners of the national inquiry have noted in a letter today that this government has had “one year of inaction... [with] lack of transparency”. If this government agrees this is a crisis, why did they choose inaction to address it?

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, Toronto—St. Paul's, ON]

I have to say to the member that the concrete actions we have put in place as a government are changing the lives of indigenous women and girls, and two-spirit and gender diverse people. Even in the family liaison units in each of the victim services, the customized services offered are making the families feel supported as they seek justice, as they have healing and advise us to put in place the concrete actions that will have no other family—

[The Acting Chair, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

Back to you, Ms. Gazan. Go ahead.

[Leah Gazan, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

Mr. Chair, those weren't my words; those were the commissioners' words.

This government had eight months to act before COVID-19. We have the technology to meet in groups. We are using it right now. They called Manitoba “ground zero” for this crisis, and yet it took the government a full year to meet with the Manitoba coalition of families for murdered and missing indigenous women and girls. This government is using the same excuse to continue to discriminate against first nation children living on reserve. When will the lives of indigenous peoples matter to this government?

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, Toronto—St. Paul's, ON]

I was saying to the member that I think that the changes to child and family services, the legislation that allows nations to take jurisdiction over their own children and youth, is one of the most important things and a true legacy of the concrete actions we are dealing with. It is so important that we listen to the engagement that Pauktuutit has done, that Michif women have done, and the tremendous advice that we have had from that as they were able to get together to advise us on what should be in a national action plan. We will not let the families and survivors down. We will get this done.

[Leah Gazan, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

Mr. Chair, that program has no funding. The Native Women's Association of Canada reported that one in five indigenous women has experienced some sort of violence during COVID—that's one in five. Given the increase in violence due to the pandemic, will this government stop making excuses, properly consult and immediately put in place an action plan, yes or no?