COVID-19 Pandemic Committee on June 4th, 2020

[Eric Melillo, Conservative, Kenora, ON]

Mr. Chair, I'm incredibly proud of the generosity of people across the Kenora riding as we face this pandemic together. Throughout our riding, individuals and organizations are stepping up to serve their communities.

Businesses like the Lake of the Woods Brewing Company have overhauled their production to make hand sanitizer. Restaurants such as Quesada, culinary students from Seven Generations, and faith groups like Jubilee Church in Kenora have been providing meals to the homeless. Members of Northern Youth Programs in Dryden are delivering PPE to remote first nation communities. The Ne-Chee Friendship Centre is delivering emergency food hampers and partnering with Dr. Grek to provide job opportunities to the homeless population. True North Aid partnered with Grand Council Treaty #3 to donate furniture to communities in need.

That is in addition to the many charities that operate year-round and the countless volunteers who are the lifeblood of their communities. This public health situation has made their work more challenging and ever more essential.

I would like to express my appreciation to them and encourage all Canadians to follow their example.

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

We'll now go to Mr. Morrissey.

[Bobby Morrissey, Liberal, Egmont, PE]

Mr. Chair, today I wish to acknowledge and thank Canada Post workers across the country and in my riding of Egmont for their commitment to maintaining prompt and friendly service during the COVID-19 pandemic, even as they have experienced unprecedented mail volumes.

While many of us have been asked to stay home, millions of Canadians are still being called into work every day, and we are relying on these front-line workers now more than ever. Canadians, especially in rural communities like mine, often rely on traditional mail systems to receive important documents and medications they need and to continue supporting small businesses through e-commerce. Canada Post's timely and reliable service ensures that these activities remain possible. In my own encounters with Canada Post over the past few months, service has remained commendably stable, with minimal delays.

The hard work of Canada Post workers who are making this happen should not go unnoticed, so the next time you encounter Canada Post workers, don't forget to thank them for keeping Canada connected, even while we're apart.

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

We'll now go to Mr. Brassard.

[John Brassard, Conservative, Barrie—Innisfil, ON]

Mr. Chair, during this time of crisis in Barrie—Innisfil, it has been incredible to see community and faith-based organizations, businesses and individuals step up and mobilize to help people in their time of greatest need, like the Barrie and Innisfil food banks, which have been under enormous pressure for their services; Louise Jones, with The Front Steps Project, promoting physical distancing while raising money for the food banks; the Barrie BIA, for its downtown heroes program; the Rotary Club of Innisfil, supporting the seniors of Sandy Cove; the Barrie and Innisfil community foundations; the Barrie Chamber of Commerce, for its work on behalf of businesses and the people they employ; the OHL Barrie Colts, who have scored in the kitchen supplying 30,000 meals to local social agencies; the David Busby Centre; Women and Children's Shelter; and Barrie Families Unite, a Facebook page now with 9,400 members, created to help the community with information related to COVID-19.

Finally, on behalf of everyone in Barrie—Innisfil, I sincerely thank our front-line workers, health care and first responders. They have sacrificed so much professionally and personally. We are, and forever will be, grateful to them.

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Mr. Paul-Hus, you have the floor.

[Pierre Paul-Hus, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

Mr. Chair, in August 1943, Canada, the United States and Great Britain met in Quebec City to prepare for the Normandy invasion. In the morning of June 6, 1944, 14,000 Canadian soldiers landed on Juno Beach. Of those soldiers, the Régiment de la Chaudière was the only francophone unit in the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division to take part in D-Day.

As the member of Parliament for Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles and former commander of the Régiment de la Chaudière, I have had the privilege over the years of honouring these heroes who sacrificed everything and fought bravely to defend the Canadian homeland and liberate Europe. I am proud to do so again today.

On June 6, 2020, we will celebrate the 76th anniversary of this turning point in the Second World War, and we will commemorate the acts of bravery and the sacrifices of Canadian soldiers. It is our responsibility to instil in future generations respect for this moment that shaped our history. Be proud of all Canadians who fought. Aere perennius.

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

We'll now go to Ms. Ashton.

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

Mr. Chair, we cannot remain silent. George Floyd's murder by police has mobilized people across the U.S., Canada and the world against anti-black racism and hate.

In police violence in April alone, three indigenous people were killed by Winnipeg police, including 16-year-old Eishia Hudson. We must accept that systemic racism is alive and well in Canada and listen to those living it. We must end the overwhelming poverty faced by black and indigenous communities, poverty exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. We must respect the rights of indigenous people defending their lands against corporate greed, like the four first nations that stood up to Manitoba Hydro's work camp operating during a pandemic.

We must speak out against those inciting hatred and violence, including President Donald Trump. His use of military force against the American people must be denounced. Let's be clear: Donald Trump is a racist. He is a fascist. As Dr. Martin Luther King said, “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”

We cannot remain silent.

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Mr. Blanchet, you have the floor.

[Yves-François Blanchet, Bloc, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Tomorrow, we will mark World Environment Day. I would like to celebrate rather than mark it, but the circumstances aren't right.

Today, we learn that the government is taking advantage of the pandemic to quietly authorize 100 oil and gas exploration drilling projects east of Newfoundland. That's 100 drilling projects without environmental assessments. That's 100 drilling projects to support the economy of the past, when the pandemic is giving us an opportunity to focus economic recovery on the future.

However, the government has made a public commitment to a green economic recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic. This cannot be reconciled with allowing 100 oil and gas exploration drilling projects to go ahead without environmental assessments.

The pandemic has proven that the federal government had the means to respond massively when it felt it was facing a crisis. The pandemic has proven that, if the government took the climate crisis seriously, it would be able to act.

It has to make a choice for the future. The public's confidence depends on it, as does the cordiality of its relations with the Bloc Québécois and Quebec.

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Mrs. Kusie, you have the floor.

[Stephanie Kusie, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

Mr. Chair, 31 years ago, more than one million Chinese citizens decided to stand up for their freedoms, which led to the pivotal Tiananmen Square protests. In response, the government brought in 300,000 troops to subdue the protesters. Ten thousand were arrested, and many were killed.

The Government of China has suppressed details about the number of casualties from that day, but groups estimate there were hundreds, if not thousands. The government also continues to censor posts relating to the massacres in China, which means that for a younger generation who didn't live through the protests, there is little awareness about what truly happened.

The rule of law is a foundational principle in Canada and it is protected by our democratic system. Canada must always hold this principle sacred and must commit to defending it both at home and abroad.

As we honour the bravery of those who faced the Chinese military in 1989, we can also be grateful for our freedoms and realize the importance of defending them.

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

We will now go to—

[Louise Charbonneau, Bloc, Trois-Rivières, QC]

Mr. Chair, I rise on a point of order.

I'm not hearing the French interpretation.

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Okay, we'll see if there's a technical problem.

I'll say something in English. Let me know if you can hear the interpretation.

Please let me know if the translation is happening. No?

We will pause while our technical people get everything in place.

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Okay. We will give it a shot. We will try again.

Can everyone hear me?

Great.

We will continue with Mr. Fisher.

[Mona Fortier, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Mr. Chair, the pandemic has been difficult for people all across Canada, but in my home province of Nova Scotia, we've experienced so much heartache.

For a place as friendly and beautiful as Nova Scotia to experience Canada's largest mass shooting is inconceivable. At a time when we would normally join our friends and family to mourn loved ones and fellow Nova Scotians, we were forced to stay apart, but that didn't stop us. We joined each other virtually in song and in spirit to mourn those we had lost.

When we thought our hearts couldn't take anymore, we heard the news that a Cyclone helicopter out of 12 Wing Shearwater had crashed on its way back to HMCS Fredericton. Six lives were lost. Collectively, we mourned.

Then we received news that one of Canada's iconic Snowbirds was down and that Captain Jennifer Casey from Halifax was lost in the crash. Together we mourned.

We will not let tragedy take away our spirit and what it means to be Nova Scotian. “As sure as the sunrise, as sure as the sea, as sure as the wind in the trees, we rise again”.

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

We will now proceed to the questioning of ministers.

Please note that we will suspend the proceedings every 45 minutes in order to allow employees who provide support for the sitting to replace each other safely.

The first question goes to Mr. Poilievre.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Carleton, ON]

Mr. Chair, the government says it has started 53,000 infrastructure projects. The PBO says that 20,000 of them are missing from the list.

Would the government table the list of those 20,000 projects, including the start date, the amount spent, the location and what's being built?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs]

Mr. Chair, as the PBO knows, we have more than 33,000 itemized projects that we provided to his office. These are projects like the 1,550 solar panels installed in the district of Hudson's Hope, B.C., improvements to the Legacy Trail between Canmore and Banff, the rehabilitation—

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Mr. Poilievre.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Carleton, ON]

Mr. Chair, the government claimed that there were over 50,000 projects. Now the Deputy Prime Minister says it's 30,000 projects. That means there are 20,000 missing projects.

Will the government table the full list, including the start date and what's being built for those projects?

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

Mr. Chair, as a reporter, I was always careful not to misquote people, so let me be clear on what I said: There were 33,000 itemized projects that we provided to the PBO. There are also approximately 12,000 municipal projects that have been funded through the gas tax fund.

I encourage the member opposite to speak to mayors across—

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

We'll go back to Mr. Poilievre.