Evidence of meeting #18 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 chair.

A video is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

1 p.m.

Conservative

David Sweet Conservative Flamborough—Glanbrook, ON

Mr. Chair, for 14 years, Huseyin Celil has been in prison in China, and now the two Michaels.

What exactly is the government doing to get their release?

1 p.m.

Liberal

Mary Ng Liberal Markham—Thornhill, ON

Mr. Chair, the two Michaels are Canadians and are our absolute top priority. We will continue to work tirelessly to secure their immediate release and to stand up for them as a Canadian government and as—

1 p.m.

Conservative

David Sweet Conservative Flamborough—Glanbrook, ON

Mr. Chair, the IOC promotes the role of the Olympic Games in advancing human rights. Given the human rights record of the Chinese Communist regime, many are calling for a boycott of the 2022 Olympics. What is the government's position on this?

1 p.m.

Liberal

Mary Ng Liberal Markham—Thornhill, ON

Mr. Chair, our government will always stand up for human rights. We have a record of doing this, and we will continue to do this.

1 p.m.

Conservative

David Sweet Conservative Flamborough—Glanbrook, ON

Mr. Chair, what promises has the Prime Minister made to other nations to have his long shot Security Council seat confirmed?

1 p.m.

Liberal

Mary Ng Liberal Markham—Thornhill, ON

Mr. Chair, I think everyone here will agree that Canada's leadership on the international stage and having an important voice standing up for human rights, standing for predictable global supply chains—

1 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Anthony Rota

Mr. Sweet, you have 30 seconds.

1 p.m.

Conservative

David Sweet Conservative Flamborough—Glanbrook, ON

I'll try one more time.

Two years ago, the House passed a motion to immediately list the IRGC as a terrorist entity. When will that happen? Why is it taking two full years?

1 p.m.

Liberal

Mary Ng Liberal Markham—Thornhill, ON

Mr. Chair, our government has strong sanctions against Iran. We stand against the human rights abuses. We will always stand up against human rights abuses, today and always.

1 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Anthony Rota

We'll now go to Ms. Rood.

1 p.m.

Conservative

Lianne Rood Conservative Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON

Mr. Chair, the Canada-U.S. border is still closed for non-essential travel, which is splitting up spouses and splitting families apart. Families cannot be reunified due to the government's restrictions.

Even if someone can comply with all of the health regulations, why do the current travel restrictions not allow immediate family members of Canadian citizens to be reunited in Canada?

1 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Anthony Rota

The honourable Deputy Prime Minister.

1 p.m.

Liberal

Chrystia Freeland Liberal University—Rosedale, ON

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

As the Prime Minister announced today, we are expanding the understanding of what counts as essential travel into Canada. As the member opposite points out, immediate family members of Canadians and of permanent residents will be allowed to come into Canada provided it is a journey of lasting duration and—

1 p.m.

Conservative

Lianne Rood Conservative Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON

Mr. Chair, the Liberal list of banned weapons is getting longer and longer, with no rhyme or reason to it. The firearms reference table has changed weekly, with the RCMP interpreting it behind closed doors, leaving firearms owners and vendors guessing. Firearm purchases are now being made and even being deemed illegal retroactively.

When will the minister clarify the text of their order in council so that firearms owners and vendors don't have to operate in the dark?

1:05 p.m.

Liberal

Chrystia Freeland Liberal University—Rosedale, ON

Mr. Chair, if I may, I just want to first finish my answer to the first question, because it is very important that all Canadians, all permanent residents and now their immediate family members coming into Canada will be subject to a mandatory quarantine order. I just want to make very clear to them and to all Canadians that it must be followed. It will be enforced. I do want to thank the premiers on their collaboration around these border rules—

1:05 p.m.

Conservative

Lianne Rood Conservative Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON

Mr. Chair, she didn't answer my previous question. Will the minister answer the question, please?

1:05 p.m.

Liberal

Chrystia Freeland Liberal University—Rosedale, ON

Yes, for sure. The border regulations are important. I wanted to be sure there was clarity on that.

When it comes to the ban on military—

1:05 p.m.

Conservative

Lianne Rood Conservative Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON

She still doesn't want to answer the question, but I'll move along. Maybe she can't answer it.

Mr. Chair, farmers are having a tough year with increased expenses and production challenges. With COVID-19 and its restrictions on the economy ongoing, farmers are still facing market disruptions. We've heard from countless farmers that AgriStability just doesn't help them.

Will the minister announce meaningful BRM changes before the July 3 deadline?

1:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Anthony Rota

The honourable minister.

1:05 p.m.

Compton—Stanstead Québec

Liberal

Marie-Claude Bibeau LiberalMinister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I want to assure my colleague that we are working hard to improve the business risk management programs, but since these programs have been changed by the previous government, with significant cuts, it's very hard now to get the agreement of all the provinces to increase the financing.

1:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Anthony Rota

Ms. Rood.

1:05 p.m.

Conservative

Lianne Rood Conservative Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON

It was your government that negotiated the last deal.

Anyway, Mr. Chair, Liberal mistakes have already cost our soy and canola farmers export markets. When Australia spoke out against China, they were slapped with 80% tariffs on their barley. Now, Canadian ginseng farmers are unable to sell their crop to China. Has the minister spoken with her Chinese counterpart to rectify the situation? What concrete actions will this Liberal government take to help these farmers?

1:05 p.m.

Liberal

Marie-Claude Bibeau Liberal Compton—Stanstead, QC

Mr. Chair, restoring full market access for canola seed exports to China is a top priority for us. The issues faced by the canola sector in the last year underscore the critical importance of diversification to reduce risk of market closures or overreliance on a single export market.

1:05 p.m.

Conservative

Lianne Rood Conservative Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON

Mr. Chair, last week in the industry committee, my colleague Michelle Rempel put forward a motion to study the problems of foreign buyouts of Canadian-owned companies that are being hit hard by the pandemic. The non-partisan motion passed despite all the Liberals voting against it.

Keeping national security in mind, why is the government so reluctant to safeguard all Canadian interests and protect Canadian companies?

1:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Anthony Rota

The honourable minister.