COVID-19 Pandemic Committee on June 9th, 2020

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

We'll go back to Mr. Falk.

[Ted Falk, Conservative, Provencher, MB]

Does the Prime Minister actually believe that COVID-19 excuses him from regular parliamentary accountability?

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

Mr. Chair, for four days a week there is an hour and a half of questions. We have nine committees working and being able to ask questions on anything. We are going to meet four times—

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

We're going to go back to Mr. Falk.

[Ted Falk, Conservative, Provencher, MB]

The Prime Minister doesn't seem to respect our parliamentary system. That seems to be in line with his stated admiration of China's basic dictatorship.

Speaking of being above the rules, is it true that the Prime Minister has been found guilty of contravening federal ethics laws?

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

Mr. Chair, I do not see where my colleague wants to go with this.

One thing is clear: every day, the current system allows members of Parliament from across the country, including via videoconference, to ask questions and debate issues fundamental to Canadians. That is what we call democracy.

[Ted Falk, Conservative, Provencher, MB]

Is it true that no other sitting Prime Minister has ever been found guilty of breaking ethics laws?

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

Once again, I do not know where my colleague wants to go with this.

The important thing is we are here to debate the issues—

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

We will go back to Mr. Falk.

[Ted Falk, Conservative, Provencher, MB]

It is true that he has been found guilty. In fact, he's been found guilty twice. Well, Mr. Trudeau promised to do things differently, and I guess that is one promise that he has kept.

During this time of COVID-19 Prime Minister Trudeau said, “Go home and stay home. This is what we all need to be doing and we're going to make sure it happens.” Did the Prime Minister really say that?

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

Mr. Chair, we're gathered here to debate important topics. We're in the middle of a pandemic. We're suggesting solutions to help Canadians, to help our businesses, to help people across the country to move forward and go through this.

[Ted Falk, Conservative, Provencher, MB]

Did the Prime Minister disregard not only provincial regulations but his own directives when he crossed provincial boundaries for his weekend trip to the Quebec cottage?

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

Mr. Chair, once again it allows me to say how important the work we're doing here is for all Canadians. I am so happy to stand up here to answer all the questions from the opposition. I'm having fun. Thank you.

[Ted Falk, Conservative, Provencher, MB]

I guess the answer to that question is “yes”.

For months, Prime Minister Trudeau has been telling us to listen to public health experts and not gather in large groups. Canadians have listened. They have not visited their dying loved ones and they haven't gone to funerals and they haven't gone to church, and now Prime Minister Trudeau has decided to that he can violate his own directives and attend a mass gathering of over 7,000 young people in Ottawa.

Can the Prime Minister tell us why once again the rules don't apply to him?

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

Mr. Chair, it is important to know that public health guidelines tell us to keep at a certain distance and to follow a whole series of other factors. The Conservatives' solution would mean that there would be a lot of people here and that we would not be observing public health guidelines. At the same time, we would have no questions from a great number of members who would not be able to participate, because the whips choose who is here or not. We want everyone to be able to participate.

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

That is all for today.

This meeting is adjourned.