COVID-19 Pandemic Committee on June 9th, 2020

[The Acting Chair (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès (Brossard—Saint-Lambert, Lib.)), Liberal, Alexandra Mendes]

I now call this meeting to order.

Welcome to the 19th meeting of the Special Committee on the COVID-19 Pandemic.

I remind all members that in order to avoid issues with sound, members participating in person should not also be connected to the video conference. For those of you who are joining via video conference, I would like to remind you that when speaking you should be on the same channel as the language you are speaking.

As usual, please address your remarks to the chair, and I will remind everyone that today's proceedings are televised.

We will now proceed to ministerial announcements.

I understand there are no ministerial announcements today, so we will go to presenting petitions.

Mr. Genuis, you are on.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Thank you very much, Madam Chair.

I'm pleased to be presenting a petition in support of Bill S-204, currently before the Senate, or it will be once Parliament is able to sit. It would make it a criminal offence for a person to go abroad to receive an organ for which there has not been consent. It would also create a mechanism by which someone could be deemed inadmissible to Canada if they're involved in organ harvesting and trafficking. It seeks to respond to the horrific situation where organs have been taken from political prisoners without their consent. In some cases, people from other countries have received those organs via transplant.

I commend this petition for the consideration of the committee. I know the petitioners are hoping to see this Parliament finally pass legislation dealing with organ harvesting and trafficking.

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

Thank you.

We now go to the honourable member for Nanaimo—Ladysmith, Mr. Manly.

[Paul Manly, Green, Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

It's an honour to present a petition for the residents and constituents of Nanaimo—Ladysmith.

Yesterday was World Oceans Day. This petition calls upon the House of Commons to establish a permanent ban on crude oil tankers on the west coast of Canada to protect B.C.'s fisheries, tourism, coastal communities and the natural ecosystems forever.

Thank you.

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

Thank you very much.

We now go to Mrs. Jansen.

[Tamara Jansen, Conservative, Cloverdale—Langley City, BC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I'm pleased to rise today to table a petition concerning conscience rights for palliative care providers, organizations and all health care professionals. The petitioners recognize that palliative care and euthanasia are entirely separate practices, distinct legally, clinically and philosophically.

They were compelled to call the government to action after the Delta Hospice Society faced sanctions from Fraser Health for refusing to offer on-site euthanasia to their patients. This is expressly against the conscience of the hospice.

Bill C-14, which legalized euthanasia, affirms that freedom of conscience and religion is still guaranteed in Canada. This petition calls on the government to do a better job ensuring this is the case. No person or organization should be compelled to act against its own conscience in this country.

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

Thank you.

I see no further petitions. I would like to remind members in the chamber that those who have not yet done so are asked to bring their petitions to the table.

We will now proceed to statements by members.

The honourable Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance has the floor.

[Sean Fraser, Liberal, Central Nova, NS]

With temperatures going up and restrictions coming down, Nova Scotians are looking forward to the summer. Though our communities feel a little different this year, there's no shortage of local activities to enjoy across the entire region.

We are home to world-class beaches along Canada's warmest stretch of ocean on the Northumberland Strait. We also have access to the rugged terrain and white sand beaches of the Eastern Shore along the wild islands that dot the coast.

We have great places and events that allow us to socialize while practising physical distancing, like the new beer garden at the Sober Island brewery in Sheet Harbour, the community food forest in Middle Musquodoboit or the Antigonight art festival in Antigonish.

We have extraordinary trail systems to get outdoors along the East River and Musquodoboit River Valley, near the lighthouses at Cape George and along Trenton Park and Arisaig Provincial Park.

We're even going to be able to take in a movie at the soon-to-be-reopened Highland Drive-In in Westville, so get your popcorn ready.

If I'm going to be stuck anywhere this summer, I'm glad it's at home in Nova Scotia. Join me in supporting our local businesses and organizations so we can be tourists in our own backyard. Most of all, be safe out there and enjoy the summer.

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

Mr. Morrison.

[Rob Morrison, Conservative, Kootenay—Columbia, BC]

Madam Chair, every time we enter this House, I am reminded of my commitment to the constituents of Kootenay—Columbia and the magnitude of the role each of us plays in securing a future for our democratic institutions.

Collette Caron, a constituent in my riding, recently sent me a note that represents the overwhelming sentiment of our area. I will read it. It states:

Mr. Morrison, I would like to know why the Prime Minister participated in an event with thousands of people, where social distancing was not being practiced, and yet continues to postpone recalling parliament over COVID concerns. I would like to know if he understands that at his request and direction we have made enormous sacrifices to follow the rules. Canadians were not allowed to visit their dying loved ones, or hold funerals, and businesses have gone bankrupt. Many folks can’t pay their bills or rent and grad ceremonies and weddings have been cancelled....

Madam Chair, Mrs. Caron is correct. If an event with thousands of Canadians is health-safe for the Prime Minister, then bring the voice of Canadians back to the House by reopening Parliament.

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

Ms. Shanahan.

[Brenda Shanahan, Liberal, Châteauguay—Lacolle, QC]

Madam Chair, ever since the tragic murder of George Floyd, the Black Lives Matter protests have been multiplying, reminding us that police brutality and systemic racism against the black community exist. Now is the time to show our solidarity with our brothers and sisters of colour and to take a symbolic knee.

Even in a community like Châteauguay, which has always opened its arms to newcomers, we've seen regrettable acts of injustice. There is hope, however: four young girls in our community, with the help of their parents and local police, successfully organized a peaceful, responsible and inclusive demonstration. They were expecting 20 or so of their friends to show up this past Saturday, but more than 300 people of all colours came together in solidarity to support the global Black Lives Matter movement.

Each of us has a role to play in abolishing systemic racism.

I would like to thank Maribel, Marilou, Jessika and Audrey for giving us an opportunity to express our support.

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

Ms. Gill.

[Marilène Gill, Bloc, Manicouagan, QC]

Madam Chair, so few workers have access to employment insurance that, in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, the government had to come up with the Canada emergency response benefit, or CERB, to make up for its failings. That's why, today, I am speaking on behalf of the Mouvement Action-Chômage, the Mouvement d'éducation populaire et d'action communautaire du Québec, the councils of the Confédération des syndicats nationaux, chambers of commerce and first nations communities in my region, on the north shore, and elsewhere in Quebec. I am also speaking for dozens of entrepreneurs, elected officials, band councils and worker advocacy groups, from Montreal to Blanc-Sablon.

All of them have written to the federal government today demanding employment insurance reforms so that all workers have access to benefits. They are also calling for the five additional weeks for seasonal workers to be made permanent.

That is vital not just for industries such as fisheries and tourism, but also for the cultural sector. The government must extend the CERB for those workers who will not be going back to their old jobs anytime soon. They need assurance that they will have something coming in to help them through the year ahead, which must not turn into a long-drawn-out EI gap.

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

Mr. Sheehan.

[Kenny Chiu, Conservative, Steveston—Richmond East, BC]

Madam Chair, I have a point of order, please. I have been on the English channel, but unfortunately I was not able to listen to the translation of the honourable member's speech just now.

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

There seems to have been an issue with the translation.

Can we check whether the interpretation is coming through now?

It's fixed.

Mrs. Gill, you can repeat your statement.

[Marilène Gill, Bloc, Manicouagan, QC]

Madam Chair, so few workers have access to employment insurance that, in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, the government had to come up with the Canada emergency response benefit, or CERB, to make up for its failings. That's why, today, I speak on behalf of the Mouvement Action-Chômage, the Mouvement d'éducation populaire et d'action communautaire du Québec, the councils of the Confédération des syndicats nationaux, chambers of commerce and first nations communities in my region, on the north shore, and elsewhere in Quebec. I am also speaking for dozens of entrepreneurs, elected officials, band councils and worker advocacy groups, from Montreal to Blanc-Sablon.

All of them have written to the federal government today demanding an overhaul of the employment insurance program so that all workers have access to benefits. They are also calling for the five additional weeks for the industry to be renewed.

That is vital not just for industries such as fisheries and tourism, but also for the cultural sector, industries that have been hammered because of the pandemic. They receive little, poor or no support. That's why the government must extend the CERB for those workers who will not be going back to their old jobs. We must make sure that they have something coming in to help them through the year ahead, which must not turn into a long-drawn-out EI gap.

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

Mr. Sheehan.

[Terry Sheehan, Liberal, Sault Ste. Marie, ON]

Madam Chair, to mark Italian Heritage Month, I'm proud to tell you about the Italians in Sault Ste. Marie.

Over 16,000 people in the Soo trace their ancestry to Italy, and Italians own and operate countless beloved restaurants and businesses across our community.

I know that Italians in the Soo have been hit particularly hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. I feel deeply for the nonnas and the nonnos across my community who are hoping they can gather with their families again soon.

I feel for the numerous Italian-owned businesses in the Soo, including the best Italian restaurants in Canada, that are suffering due to the pandemic, but I can tell you that the Soo Italians are resilient people who are making a difference each and every day, like Mayor Provenzano.

I also want to highlight another special Italian Canadian from northern Ontario, Mr. Anthony Rota, the first-ever Italian Speaker of the House of Commons. I know he makes Italians in the Soo and Canada proud.

Grazie e buona fortuna.

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

Mrs. Jansen.

[Tamara Jansen, Conservative, Cloverdale—Langley City, BC]

I recently got word that a long-term care facility in my riding was not going to receive Canada summer jobs funding this year, after eight previous years of being approved.

Considering the challenges they faced during COVID-19, that didn't make any sense to me, so I decided to do some digging. What I found out was absolutely appalling. It turns out that although I had prioritized senior care facilities as most in need of Canada summer jobs funding, the national priorities of the current government have changed from previous years, and senior care homes are no longer one of them.

For me, long-term care homes are a 10 out of 10 priority, but this government gives them only two out of 10 in their priority rankings. They're right at the bottom of the list during a pandemic that is having the most devastating impact in long-term care homes.

How are our seniors not a national priority?

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

Ms. Khalid.

[Iqra Khalid, Liberal, Mississauga—Erin Mills, ON]

Madam Chair, municipalities provide the essential services we rely on every day, like police, fire, paramedics. They provide equality-seeking services like housing, transit, community centres and senior care.

As our country fights the spread of COVID-19, municipalities face major shortfalls in financing these essential services. By law, they aren't allowed to run deficits and have had to lay off thousands of staff, and they contemplate deep service cuts to make ends meet.

Municipalities are also excellent incubators of economic growth, and reopening economies post-COVID in partnership with them is an opportunity for us to build back better.

At the federal level, we have provided $2.2 billion with the gas relief fund and continue to try to build consensus among provinces to partner with us on this path to recovery. I encourage our provincial leaders to take this opportunity to strengthen the vital building blocks of our country, our municipalities.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

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

Mr. Fillmore.