COVID-19 Pandemic Committee on June 4th, 2020

[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.

[Mike Lake, Conservative, Edmonton—Wetaskiwin, AB]

I do not, actually.

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Okay. We'll work on that.

[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?

[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.

[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?

[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?

[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?

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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?

[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.

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

We'll now continue with Mr. Généreux.

[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?

[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.

[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?

[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.

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

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

[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.

[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?

[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—

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

We have a point of order from Ms. Collins.

[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.

[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.