COVID-19 Pandemic Committee on June 4th, 2020

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

Again, I thank my colleague for his question.

I'm talking about the present. I'm talking about today. Today, the Canadian Armed Forces are there, and I am proud of its members. I want to thank these women and men, and I think all Canadians should thank them.

I think we all agree that this isn't a long-term solution. I want to assure all Canadians and all members of the House that we are now—

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Mr. Singh.

[Jagmeet Singh, NDP, Burnaby South, BC]

Mr. Chair, it's really clear, based on the military's report, that the conditions in long-term care were horrible, but what was most chilling were the conditions in the for-profit long-term care homes where staff were worried about using equipment because of the cost of that equipment. They were reusing syringes and using expired medication.

Will the government agree that there is no place for profit in the care of seniors, of our most vulnerable?

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

Mr. Chair, I would really like to thank the member opposite for that question.

I have to say that, like him, I feel that some of the most chilling sections of those appalling reports were the ones he just cited. To know that people were reluctant to use the physical material that our elders needed to be cared for because of concerns around the cost should be deeply worrying to all Canadians.

When it comes to the future of long-term care in Canada, I think we need to act with speed but not haste. Clearly, a lot has—

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

We'll go back to Mr. Singh.

[Jagmeet Singh, NDP, Burnaby South, BC]

Mr. Chair, I appreciate the openness, but I want a commitment. Will the federal government agree that profit has no place in the care of vulnerable seniors in long-term care?

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

Mr. Chair, let me agree that no seniors should ever not have the physical materials needed for their care because the people providing that care are worried those materials cost too much. I think we are all rightly appalled by that.

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Mr. Singh, you have about 15 seconds left for a short question.

[Jagmeet Singh, NDP, Burnaby South, BC]

Liberal backbenchers have also agreed and raised this concern that we need national standards, that we need a care guarantee. Will the Liberal government commit to working towards a care guarantee, national standards, to protect our seniors?

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

Mr. Chair, our government will commit to the essential and profound reform of long-term care in Canada, and in that commitment, let me say all options need to be on the table. We need to work collaboratively with the provinces, as we have been doing.

I'd like to thank the provinces—

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

We'll now go on to Mr. Doherty.

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

Mr. Chair, an estimated 47% of small businesses in my riding are ineligible for any form of relief. We've heard for weeks that help is on the way. Our offices are inundated with more calls and messages pleading for help.

When can I tell Roy from C+ ranch, Jack and Sheldon from Central Display, and the hundreds of other seasonal event and tourism-based businesses that help truly is on its way?

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I just want to assure the honourable members that when there is a pause, the time is stopped, and they do get their full time.

We will go to the honourable minister.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Of course, we know that the tourism sector is very deeply impacted by the pandemic and the economic crisis, and that's why the wage subsidy is there until the end of August. That's why there's the CEBA, the $40,000 loans, and that's exactly why there's the rent relief program.

We know we have to do more, and that's why we also announced over the weekend $70 million to support the tourism sector, and more help is on the way.

Thank you.

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

On May 5, Nav Canada quietly announced the closure of 18 flight service stations across Canada, with a disproportionate 11 in my province. Was the minister aware of these closures prior to the May 5 press release?

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Chair, yes, I was very much aware of the decision. It was after a very extensive amount of consultation with Nav Canada that we made the decision that it was possible to do this safely.

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

Was the minister aware that, with these closures, over 75% of British Columbia is now without critical flight information systems during nighttime and inclement weather operations?

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Westmount, QC]

Yes, Mr. Chair, I was very much aware of this. This is for a very restrained period of time, between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

We looked at every airport—

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

We'll go back to Mr. Doherty.

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

Does the minister know how many medevac flights take place daily in British Columbia?

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Westmount, QC]

The number of medevac cases that exist across the country is monitored through Nav Canada, and we make sure that—

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

We'll go back to Mr. Doherty.

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

Does he know how many of these flights will be impacted by Nav Canada's flight service station closures?

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Westmount, QC]

Mr. Chair, we evaluated this very carefully before making our decision with respect to medevacs and also resupply.

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

The flight service stations provide up-to-the-minute critical flight information for our provincial medevac programs. These closures are now putting flight crews and patients at risk. Does the minister know how many medevac flights take place daily in B.C.?