COVID-19 Pandemic Committee on June 4th, 2020

[Catherine McKenna, Liberal, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Mr. Chair, I'd like to thank the member opposite for the question.

We're proud of the historic investments our government is making in infrastructure. We provided more than 33,000 itemized projects to the Parliamentary Budget Officer's office. In addition, there are also approximately 8,500 CMHC projects related to housing, which we do not make public for reasons of privacy and security.

In addition, there are approximately 12,000 municipal projects that have been funded through the gas tax. I invite the member opposite to discuss with mayors across the country, including in his own riding, how—

[The Acting Chair, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

We'll return to Mr. Bachrach.

[Taylor Bachrach, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Mr. Chair, I'm going to ask the question again.

Has the PBO received the information on thousands of infrastructure projects that this government has funded, information that he is clearly seeking?

[Catherine McKenna, Liberal, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Mr. Chair, as I have said, we have provided more than 33,000 itemized projects to the PBO's office. In addition, there are CMHC-funded projects related to housing for which there are privacy and security concerns, including with relation to women's shelters. In addition, there are also approximately—

[The Acting Chair, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

We'll go back to Mr. Bachrach.

[Taylor Bachrach, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Mr. Chair, with regard to the municipal projects, these are projects that this government has funded. Does this government not keep track of the details of the projects that it funds?

[Catherine McKenna, Liberal, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Mr. Chair, I had hoped to save this response for the Conservatives, but the current 10-year gas tax agreement, which does not require municipalities to provide us with an itemized list, was negotiated and signed by the Conservatives in 2014.

[Taylor Bachrach, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Mr. Chair, can the minister please provide this House with an assurance that the Auditor General will not run into similar difficulties when the audit of this government's infrastructure program is conducted?

[Catherine McKenna, Liberal, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Mr. Chair, we've been very clear. We are transparent with the projects that we are funding. We have provided the information for the over 33,000 projects. We will continue doing that going forward.

[Taylor Bachrach, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Mr. Chair, Canadians clearly want a low-carbon future, yet this government's climate lens only applies to a portion of the infrastructure projects it funds. Can the minister please explain why?

[Catherine McKenna, Liberal, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Mr. Chair, we believe that we need to make sure that we take climate change into account when we do infrastructure projects. It's critically important. It makes a real difference when we invest in projects that lower emissions, that are more sustainable, that build a more resilient future. We will continue to do that. We have built projects across this country, from renewable energy to public transit projects to projects that reduce emissions.

[The Acting Chair, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

That will conclude the two and a half minutes.

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

I have a point of order.

I'd appreciate some clarity, Mr. Chair. I know that we're not operating under normal parliamentary rules, so I can't point to the standing orders that object to the interruption of speakers during the time when they're posing or answering a question. I find that during interruptions—like “What are kayaks made of?” and “Were you out kayaking?”—I have trouble hearing the honourable minister. I'm having trouble hearing the answers. Do those points of order apply in the committee format, or are they only when we're meeting as a House as a whole?

I don't appreciate being heckled as I try to object to heckling.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear!

[The Acting Chair, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

I thank the honourable member for her intervention.

Members will know that as Ms. May indicated, the regulation for this committee is unique. It is specific to the operations of the Special Committee on the COVID-19 Pandemic. As such, there is an expectation that the normal rules of comportment for these proceedings apply, and we're certainly at the behest of members to do our best to make sure we conform to that. The interruptions, of course, are tolerated. However, members are asked to ensure that when a member has been recognized to speak and has the floor, that member should be able to deliver his or her remarks without obsessive or unnecessary interruptions so that other members, who will surely want to hear what the member has to say, will not be interrupted in the course of doing so. Let's proceed with that

We're finished with the two and a half minutes. We're now going to Mr. Boulerice.

I invite Mr. Boulerice to take the floor. He has two and a half minutes.

[Alexandre Boulerice, NDP, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Does the minister realize that municipal employees provide essential services to our fellow citizens?

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

I thank my colleague for his question.

Absolutely.

[Alexandre Boulerice, NDP, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

Is the Deputy Prime Minister also aware that, because of the current crisis, cities are on the verge of a major financial collapse?

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

Absolutely. We understand that municipalities are essential to our country, especially today when we are going through a major crisis because of the coronavirus.

[Alexandre Boulerice, NDP, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

What measures is her government taking to support our cities in this current crisis?

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

As the Prime Minister said on Monday, this government has already taken concrete action by advancing money that municipalities—

[The Acting Chair, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

Mr. Boulerice has the floor.

[Alexandre Boulerice, NDP, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

Does the Deputy Prime Minister realize that advancing the delivery of a cheque is not the same thing as releasing new funds to help municipalities?

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

I realize that, absolutely. It's a good thing, it's important, and it's going to help the municipalities. I also understand that it is not enough. We are going to do more.

[Alexandre Boulerice, NDP, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

I have a suggestion. Since public transit companies are under tremendous pressure, why not give them access to the Canada emergency wage subsidy?