COVID-19 Pandemic Committee on June 9th, 2020

[Andy Fillmore, Liberal, Halifax, NS]

On the northern tip of Halifax sat Africville, a village founded by Black Loyalists, slaves freed after the War of 1812 and the American Revolutionary War. In 1960, in an egregious act of racism, Africville was abruptly erased from the map in the name of urban renewal. African Nova Scotians were evicted, and their homes were demolished.

While my city carries the shame for what happened to Africville, it was not an isolated incident in Canada, where racist policies, both implicit and explicit, have shaped the cities we live in today.

This Sunday, I joined hundreds of Haligonians on the reclaimed grounds of Africville for a protest by prayer. It was a stark reminder that the injustices we fight today are built on generations of discriminatory policies.

Today, I call on every member of this House to stand shoulder to shoulder, hand in hand, and together recommit ourselves to the work of naming and changing the ongoing trends of power and privilege that riddle our society and its institutions.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

[The Acting Chair (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès), Liberal, Alexandra Mendes]

Mr. Kurek.

[Damien Kurek, Conservative, Battle River—Crowfoot, AB]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Today I send my congratulations and well wishes to each graduate from Battle River—Crowfoot. I am sure this is not the graduation you expected when you started your final year of school this past September. However, it does not downplay your achievements. If anything, it displays your strength and resilience, something you should be proud of.

These are tough times for all Canadians, and I commend the innovation and ingenuity of both students and faculty. Rural east central Alberta is an amazing place to grow up in, and I know you are ready for all that's to come.

For the dozens of public, Catholic and faith-based schools across Battle River—Crowfoot, the several Bible colleges, and the U of A Augustana Campus, you are all a shining example of how Canadians, when we work together, can overcome adversity.

On behalf of all the constituents of Battle River—Crowfoot, congratulations to the graduating class of 2020. May God bless you and all that's to come.

[The Acting Chair (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès), Liberal, Alexandra Mendes]

Mr. Bratina.

[Bob Bratina, Liberal, Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, ON]

In the coming days, I want to address the tragic death of George Floyd and its aftermath.

Today, Madam Chair, I have prepared comments about my city, Hamilton, which, along with every other community in Canada, is benefiting from the historic and unprecedented investments our government is making during the pandemic.

Our response has put money into the pockets of Canadians. Over $42 billion was paid out to eight million workers through the CERB program, $9 billion in relief to students through the student benefit and grant payments, $2 billion of targeted relief through the GST top-up for the poorest, as well as the OAS, GIS and disability tax credit to help the most vulnerable.

In these difficult times, perfection is elusive, but we are listening and responding to needs the best we can. These programs are the ones that invest directly in individuals who, in a city like Hamilton, number in the tens and hundreds of thousands. Their money goes directly into the local economy.

Businesses struggling through this crisis rely on customers—

[The Acting Chair (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès), Liberal, Alexandra Mendes]

Mr. Shields.

[Martin Shields, Conservative, Bow River, AB]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

The government wants us to debate and vote on $87 billion in new spending next week in just a few hours. Most Canadians would spend longer deciding on a new TV.

Even the Alberta opposition New Democrats have introduced bills in the Alberta legislature, but the federal NDP just wants to get out of here.

I've heard from many constituents who think this is just plain wrong. Many have lost jobs. Others have worked through the pandemic as essential workers. Far too many have fallen through the cracks and could not qualify for government supports. They want their representatives working in Parliament. They want their challenges raised in Parliament and addressed. They don't want government run through order in council like the recent gun law. They want this government to be held accountable as hundreds of billions of dollars of their taxpayer money flows out of the door.

If the government truly wants to do a better job for Canadians, Parliament just needs to work.

[The Acting Chair (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès), Liberal, Alexandra Mendes]

Ms. Rood.

[Lianne Rood, Conservative, Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON]

Madam Chair, I rise today to acknowledge the life and tragic passing of a truly inspiring and kind-natured woman, Joyce Thomas Rood.

Joyce was born and raised on the Kettle and Stony Point First Nation, where she was fostered and adopted by her mother, Flossie Sinopole.

Joyce was proud to be an indigenous Canadian, proud of her people, her culture, and she was proud to be a lawyer who fought for access to justice. She always stood tall and spoke for what she believed was right. Joyce's crowning achievement was opening her law practice in 2018, specializing in human rights, labour, employment and indigenous law.

Joyce attained many achievements during her short life, mentored law students at Western University and volunteered with Community Legal Services and Neighbourhood Legal Services. Joyce was a council member on the OBA and co-chair of the South West Region Women's Law Association, among many other organizations.

A memorial scholarship has been established in Joyce's name at Western University to help an indigenous student who positively contributes to their community. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her, especially her high school sweetheart, husband and best friend, Ryan Rood.

The world is a less enriched place without her.

[The Acting Chair (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès), Liberal, Alexandra Mendes]

Ms. McPherson.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Madam Chair, the Faculté Saint-Jean is at the heart of Edmonton Strathcona's vibrant French-speaking community.

Established in 1908, the Faculté Saint-Jean became a campus of the University of Alberta in 1977. It is the only francophone campus in all of Alberta and serves a vital role in attracting people to our province and in protecting and preserving the French language and the Francophonie.

The faculty's existence is in jeopardy because of the province's numerous cuts to post-secondary education. The federal government made official languages commitments to French-speaking communities.

We need to do more to support the Faculté Saint-Jean and to preserve Alberta's only French-speaking post-secondary institution.

[The Acting Chair (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès), Liberal, Alexandra Mendes]

Mrs. Desbiens, you may go ahead.

[Caroline Desbiens, Bloc, Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île d’Orléans—Charlevoix, QC]

Madam Chair, I am very concerned.

Even during the pandemic, when every cultural sector is at a virtual standstill, the Canada Council for the Arts is refusing to provide financial support to renowned theatres like the Théâtre du Rideau Vert—Canada's oldest French-language professional theatre, headed by none other than the equally renowned director Denise Filiatrault. The theatre's applications for long-term financial assistance have been turned down for the past 10 years.

I will paraphrase Ms. Filiatrault, who put it best: the Théâtre du Rideau Vert has always enjoyed enviable fame, having proven its ability to fulfill its mandate by putting on open-minded theatre productions for everyone.

Madam Chair, I would like the Minister of Canadian Heritage and the Canada Council for the Arts to recognize the Théâtre du Rideau Vert's rightful status as a cultural institution, thereby allowing it to receive the financial assistance it deserves.

[The Acting Chair (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès), Liberal, Alexandra Mendes]

It is now Mr. Généreux's turn.

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

Madam Chair, it is with sadness that we mark the passing, this past week, of an extraordinary woman who left an indelible imprint on Canada's cultural and political landscape. I am, of course, referring to the honourable Andrée Champagne.

Well-known to Quebeckers and the entire francophone world for her portrayal as the lovely Donalda in the television series Les belles histoires des pays d'en haut, she was a woman of countless talents and remarkable skill. She was part of our great Tory family, first as a member for Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot from 1984 to 1993 and, then, as a senator from 2005 to 2014. She will also be remembered for her community involvement as the general secretary of the Union des artistes and her contribution to the Francophonie, where she sought to build relationships and celebrate the richness of francophone cultural heritage throughout the world. I want to extend my deepest sympathies to her son, Patrick, her daughter, Liliane, and her spouse, André Sébastien.

Ms. Champagne, it was a privilege and an honour to have known you. You will be missed. Thank you very much.

[The Acting Chair (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès), Liberal, Alexandra Mendes]

Mr. van Koeverden.

[Adam van Koeverden, Liberal, Milton, ON]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

It's with great sadness that I rise in the House today to honour the life of Robert Walter Elliot. Walt passed away at his Milton home last Thursday, in his 87th year. Walt was a pillar of Milton. He served as the Liberal member of provincial parliament for Halton North from 1987 to 1990 and played a prominent role in every Liberal candidate's campaign, both provincially and federally, since the 1970s.

Walt was actively involved in fundraising and organization for groups including the United Way, Children's Aid Society, the Ontario Agricultural Museum, and our mutual alma mater, McMaster University. Mr. Elliot was also a high school math teacher and principal.

Dear father of Paul and his wife Evelyn, as well as Tina and her husband Joe, he is lovingly remembered by his granddaughters Emily Violet and Katie, and of course his wonderful wife, Anne, with whom he recently celebrated an incredible 60 years of marriage.

Thanks for everything you did for Milton, Walt. You are and will be dearly missed.

[The Acting Chair (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès), Liberal, Alexandra Mendes]

We will now proceed to questions to ministers.

Please note that we will suspend the proceedings every 45 minutes in order to allow employees who provide support for the sitting to substitute each other safely.

The honourable Leader of the Opposition.

[Andrew Scheer, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Madam Chair, last week we learned that Liberal member of Parliament Marwan Tabbara had been arrested on April 9 of this year on a series of charges, including two counts of assault, and we know that one of the victims is a woman.

The Prime Minister said he learned Friday about the charges. Can he tell the House when he first learned about the arrest of Mr. Tabbara, not the charges but the arrest of Mr. Tabbara?

[The Acting Chair (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès), Liberal, Alexandra Mendes]

The right honourable Prime Minister.

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Madam Chair, we learned about this issue—the arrest, the charges, everything that happened—on Friday. We take this issue very seriously. These are serious allegations, and the member has stepped away from the Liberal caucus.

[Andrew Scheer, Conservative, Regina—Qu'Appelle, SK]

On Friday, the Prime Minister took part in a gathering of nearly 7,000 people. He wore a mask, because he could not maintain his physical distance from everyone else. Today, we are here, in the House, keeping a good distance from one another and not wearing masks. Parliament can work that way.

Will the Prime Minister recall Parliament immediately so that it can do its job?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Papineau, QC]

Madam Chair, I am very pleased to be here, today, to answer questions from the opposition. We are very pleased to be able to ensure that Parliament and the democratic process work.

That is not in spite of the pandemic, but because of the pandemic. It is important that we maintain our efforts to be transparent and open, and those measures will remain in place.

[Andrew Scheer, Conservative, Regina—Qu'Appelle, SK]

Except, Madam Chair, this is not actually a parliamentary meeting of the House of Commons. This is a committee. This is not the normal workings of Parliament. We know that the Prime Minister wants to abridge and sideline the role of parliamentary accountability. He met with thousands of people outside on Parliament Hill just a few days ago. Why can we not meet with a fraction of that number inside Parliament Hill to do the work on Canadians' behalf?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Papineau, QC]

Madam Chair, I am pleased to be here in Parliament today answering questions from the opposition. We've been sitting four days a week over the past number of weeks to continue to engage in the kind of back-and-forth that is essential in our democracy.

At the same time, I do want to highlight that peaceful protest is a fundamental right in Canada. Thousands of Canadians spoke out over the past week, and it was important for me to be part of them, to hear them and to demonstrate my support.