Evidence of meeting #17 for COVID-19 Pandemic in the 43rd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was tourism.

A video is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

12:55 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Anthony Rota

If I can pause for a second, Mr. Lake, do you have a headset, by chance? We're having a hard time hearing you.

12:55 p.m.

Conservative

Mike Lake Conservative Edmonton—Wetaskiwin, AB

I do not, actually.

12:55 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Anthony Rota

Okay. We'll work on that.

12:55 p.m.

Conservative

Mike Lake Conservative Edmonton—Wetaskiwin, AB

I'm moving a little closer to the mike.

It's a significantly restricted committee meeting, as everyone knows, and the restrictions are almost entirely applied to opposition members.

If we were to work together to find agreement for the very same members to sit in the very same seats under regular parliamentary rules, would we be safe according to the best available advice?

12:55 p.m.

Liberal

Mary Ng Liberal Markham—Thornhill, ON

Mr. Chair, we take our advice from the Public Health Agency. I can assure the member that what we are doing here is on their advice to keep Canadians and members safe in this House.

12:55 p.m.

Conservative

Mike Lake Conservative Edmonton—Wetaskiwin, AB

That's perfect.

In my understanding, the only meaningful difference between the way people are sitting there right now and sitting as a regular Parliament with full parliamentary functions would be the the location of the Chair.

Is there any scientific evidence that suggests that it's safer for the Chair to be sitting on the floor of the House of Commons at that table, rather than a few feet back in his or her chair?

12:55 p.m.

Liberal

Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC

Mr. Chair, I think the honourable member is sort of skating around the issue.

We have put in place measures that give the opposition more opportunities than ever before to ask questions on any issue.

That said, the ability to vote remotely is a fundamental part of Parliament's work. Does my colleague agree with that?

12:55 p.m.

Conservative

Mike Lake Conservative Edmonton—Wetaskiwin, AB

I'll point out that the opposition does not have the same opportunities on opposition days, because there are none right now. Also, they have no ability to move private members' business legislation because there is no opportunity right now.

Does the evidence from Canadian health experts indicate that it's safe for members of Parliament to be in the House of Commons on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, but unsafe for members of Parliament to be in the House of Commons on Fridays?

12:55 p.m.

Liberal

Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC

Mr. Chair, this is a decision by the House to make sure there's a balance between the role of the opposition, which is fundamental—I was there for years and years, Mr. Chair; remember those days?—while also respecting Health Canada's public health directions. While we were discussing the opposition days, the Conservatives were totally absent from the discussions, and I wonder why.

12:55 p.m.

Conservative

Mike Lake Conservative Edmonton—Wetaskiwin, AB

Mr. Chair, I will ask the whip how many opposition days the opposition has in this arrangement that was passed by the Liberals and the NDP.

12:55 p.m.

Liberal

Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC

I am sorry, but the whip is not in the House, Mr. Chair.

What we're saying here is that we put in place a system that allows the opposition to ask any questions. We checked what was done across Canada in different legislatures, and we're ahead of everybody.

12:55 p.m.

Conservative

Mike Lake Conservative Edmonton—Wetaskiwin, AB

Mr. Chair, can the minister outline the evidence that shows it's less safe for members of Parliament to work in Parliament while maintaining social distancing, but it's more safe for the very same MPs to be out kayaking on Dow's Lake while maintaining the very same physical distancing?

12:55 p.m.

Liberal

Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC

Mr. Chair, I don't know about the kayaking because I'm always here working, as are other MPs, but I can tell you something. There are more occasions for questions in the House. There are questions on any topic. We have nine committees working, more than all the other legislatures, and I wonder why they take more time than less.

12:55 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Anthony Rota

We'll now continue with Mr. Généreux.

12:55 p.m.

Conservative

Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

My questions are for Minister Joly. If she wants to be prepared to answer, that will save us some time.

In Chaudière-Appalaches and Bas-Saint-Laurent, tourism alone accounts for 15,000 jobs and $650 million in economic benefits. This economic sector is vitally important for my riding.

What is Minister Joly's plan to support the industry?

1 p.m.

Liberal

Mélanie Joly Liberal Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC

I thank my colleague for his question. I know he is a strong advocate for the tourism sector in his region, which I've had the opportunity to visit several times.

A series of measures have been put in place, from the Canada emergency wage subsidy to the Canada emergency commercial rent assistance and, more specifically, the assistance provided to Quebec by Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions.

1 p.m.

Conservative

Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC

Mr. Chair, Quebec's tourism industry is currently asking for $650 million.

What is Ottawa's plan to support Quebec's tourism industry?

1 p.m.

Liberal

Mélanie Joly Liberal Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC

As I said, our plan involves putting measures in place, of course. In addition, new funding will be provided through CED.

I will have some good news to announce in that respect in the next few days.

1 p.m.

Conservative

Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC

Mr. Chair, when will we receive this good news?

1 p.m.

Liberal

Mélanie Joly Liberal Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC

Mr. Chair, I understand my colleague's impatience. As I just said, it will be in the next few days.

1 p.m.

Conservative

Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC

Mr. Chair, yesterday, the Treasury Board President said in the House that we need to be transparent and give concrete answers and good answers.

When will the minister make this announcement?

1 p.m.

Liberal

Mélanie Joly Liberal Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC

I'll be announcing some good news in the next few days. I will be pleased to give my colleague the good news—

1 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Anthony Rota

We have a point of order from Ms. Collins.

1 p.m.

NDP

Laurel Collins NDP Victoria, BC

Mr. Chair, Minister Joly's voice was only about as loud as the translation, so it was very hard to make out her answer. I'm wondering if she's on the right channel, or potentially maybe there's some technical difficulty.

1 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Anthony Rota

We'll take a very short pause to check with our technical people and check with Minister Joly to find out if everything is in place.

Thank you very much for bringing that up.