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.
2:05 p.m.
Liberal
Marie-Claude Bibeau Liberal Compton—Stanstead, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
We know that the tourism industry is hard hit by COVID-19. We are working tirelessly on the impacts to the Canadian economy. Strong measures have been put in place to provide support to many Canadian businesses. That is why we are investing $675 million in our six regional development agencies. Over the next 18 months, Destination Canada will also invest $30 million with provincial marketing organizations.
2:05 p.m.
Conservative
The Acting Chair Conservative Bruce Stanton
Ms. Collins, you may ask a very quick question. You have about 20 seconds left.
2:05 p.m.
NDP
Laurel Collins NDP Victoria, BC
Tourism needs specific, targeted support. Has the government considered adapting the wage subsidy program to address the unique challenges that tourism businesses face, or considered additional supports for tourism with linkages to environmental sustainability?
2:05 p.m.
Liberal
Marie-Claude Bibeau Liberal Compton—Stanstead, QC
Mr. Chair, we know how hard hit the tourist industry is. I happen to know the tourism sector well because I worked in it for 20 or so years.
Because we know that, our government is establishing a series of programs designed to help companies in general, and workers. For small businesses, we have invested $675 million through our six regional development agencies. In the next 18 months, Destination Canada—
2:05 p.m.
Conservative
The Acting Chair Conservative Bruce Stanton
Unfortunately, Madam Minister, you have no more time.
Now we're going to Mr. Johns from Courtenay—Alberni.
Go ahead with your question.
2:05 p.m.
NDP
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Chair, The Globe and Mail has reported that only 16,000 landlords have signed up so far for the Canada commercial rent assistance program, while CEBA has had over 630,000 applicants.
In the same small business survey, respondents said that the rent subsidy is most important to saving their businesses. Small businesses are at the mercy of their landlords' applying to the program, and many won't. This program is flawed, and the uptake is low.
Will the government fix it so that small businesses get the support they need?
2:05 p.m.
Liberal
Mona Fortier Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
Mr. Chair, our government has stepped up to provide rent relief to businesses while at the same time helping property owners to retain rental income through this crisis. We are continuing to monitor this program, and we will support landlords and tenants during this very trying time.
2:05 p.m.
NDP
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
Only 16,000 landlords have applied. Why is the government using a 70% drop in revenue as the requirement to access the program instead of the 30% used for the wage subsidy? Why do businesses have to wait until they're in total ruin before the government comes to help them?
2:05 p.m.
Liberal
Mona Fortier Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
Mr. Chair, landlords have been submitting applications, and they represent over 60,000 employees for rent subsidies in the first week of the program. This represents almost $100 million in rent reductions across Canada.
We are inviting property owners to do their part in helping small businesses and their employees to get through these challenging times.
2:10 p.m.
Conservative
2:10 p.m.
NDP
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
Well, they need to listen to the hundreds of thousands of employees who rely on those businesses, who are going to rely on your help and who aren't going to get it.
Many businesses lease retail space from local governments that are not eligible to apply for the Canada emergency commercial rent assistance program. Will you amend it so they can apply, or are they on their own?
2:10 p.m.
Liberal
Mona Fortier Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
Again, Mr. Chair, we are working in collaboration with provinces to offer this program, and we will continue to encourage landlords and tenants to talk to each other and work together to be able to have access to this relief. We will continue to monitor the program as we move along.
2:10 p.m.
Bloc
Monique Pauzé Bloc Repentigny, QC
Mr. Chair, the government wraps itself in virtuous green, but its actions are a different colour entirely. This morning, we learned that the government has approved 100 offshore exploratory oil and gas drilling projects to the east of Newfoundland.
Is the government using the pandemic to pull a fast one?
2:10 p.m.
Liberal
Jonathan Wilkinson Liberal North Vancouver, BC
Mr. Chair, we have always said that the environmental assessment processes must guarantee strong environmental protection but that the processes must also be efficient. The ministerial regulation published today does both. The regulation has established a clear and efficient process; it will be subject to regulatory requirements that meet the strictest environmental standards—
2:10 p.m.
Bloc
Monique Pauzé Bloc Repentigny, QC
Mr. Chair, those 100 exploratory oil and gas drilling projects are exempt from environmental assessments.
What use is the environmental assessment process if we do not use it for 100 offshore oil and gas drilling projects?
2:10 p.m.
Liberal
Jonathan Wilkinson Liberal North Vancouver, BC
Mr. Chair, this ministerial regulation establishes a clear and efficient process for assessing exploratory drilling projects in the Newfoundland and Labrador offshore area. The regulation will guarantee that all drilling projects comply with the strict standards of environmental protection.
2:10 p.m.
Bloc
Monique Pauzé Bloc Repentigny, QC
Mr. Chair, the Minister of the Environment sits on the committee tasked with establishing a green recovery after COVID.
Is this morning's announcement part of the green recovery?
2:10 p.m.
Liberal
Jonathan Wilkinson Liberal North Vancouver, BC
Mr. Chair, I am not sure I completely understand what my colleague thinks of it all, but, like all ministers, I am working on the issues that we are facing. We are discussing the things that we will have to do in the future.
2:10 p.m.
Bloc
Monique Pauzé Bloc Repentigny, QC
Mr. Chair, why did the government choose to make that announcement at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic?
2:10 p.m.
Liberal
Jonathan Wilkinson Liberal North Vancouver, BC
Mr. Chair, this regulation was subject to a lot of consultation. A consultation process was launched in April 2019 and we heard from 81 indigenous groups and 58 stakeholder groups. We conducted another consultation in March and April of this year. Our process has been—
2:10 p.m.
Bloc
Monique Pauzé Bloc Repentigny, QC
Mr. Chair, a number of groups had asked for this most recent consultation to be postponed because of the pandemic.
Is the government also going to take advantage of the pandemic to tear up the Paris Agreement?
2:10 p.m.
Liberal
Jonathan Wilkinson Liberal North Vancouver, BC
Mr. Chair, what my honourable colleague is saying is completely false.
We conducted two consultations that were months long. This year, the March consultation was extended into April to give stakeholders the opportunity to say what they felt was very important.