Mr. Gourde, you have the floor.
Evidence of meeting #2 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.
Evidence of meeting #2 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.
1:15 p.m.
Conservative
Jacques Gourde Conservative Lévis—Lotbinière, QC
Mr. Chair, the new guidelines for the Canada summer jobs program, which consist of 100% funding for student salaries without increasing the program's financial resources, will limit the number of jobs for students this summer. Reinvesting in the Canada summer jobs program will allow more students to gain invaluable work experience for the future.
Does the government agree to double the budget of the Canada summer jobs program?
1:15 p.m.
Liberal
Carla Qualtrough Liberal Delta, BC
Mr. Chair, we haven't reduced the number of jobs available through the Canada summer jobs program because we still have the budget to fund all salaries fully. A week ago, we announced the creation of 116,000 jobs through other student employment programs. Of course, we will continue to evaluate our programs to create more jobs.
1:15 p.m.
Conservative
Jacques Gourde Conservative Lévis—Lotbinière, QC
Mr. Chair, the Canada emergency student benefit, with an unlimited budget in terms of the number of recipients, is likely to encourage hundreds of thousands of students to remain at home this summer without jobs. As a result, they won't gain valuable work experience for their future careers. Businesses across the country will lack the human resources needed to get the Canadian economy moving again during this crucial period.
Is the government prepared to consider changes to its program?
1:15 p.m.
Liberal
Carla Qualtrough Liberal Delta, BC
Mr. Chair, I can assure everyone in the House that we're working with all parties to make sure that we do not disincentivize work. Quite frankly, students want to work. They want to contribute. They want to serve. They want to work in their communities. We are doing whatever we can to make sure, through the creation of the student benefit and also through the creation of 116,000 extra jobs, that they have every opportunity to do so.
1:15 p.m.
Conservative
Jacques Gourde Conservative Lévis—Lotbinière, QC
Mr. Chair, the shortage of temporary foreign workers this summer could be offset by the availability of Canadian students. However, work incentives are missing from the new Canada emergency student benefit. Our food sovereignty will be at risk in the coming months if this situation persists.
Is the government prepared to change the Canada emergency student benefit to encourage students to work on Canadian farms?
1:20 p.m.
Liberal
1:20 p.m.
Liberal
Carla Qualtrough Liberal Delta, BC
Mr. Chair, we are looking at ways to ensure that we create incentivized opportunities, particularly in the essential areas like agriculture, for our students.
1:20 p.m.
Conservative
Kenny Chiu Conservative Steveston—Richmond East, BC
Mr. Chair, the Macdonald-Laurier Institute is a non-partisan think tank that champions the values that led to the creation of Canada and its emergence as one of the world's leading democracies, a place where people may live in peace and freedom under the rule of law. On April 19, the Chinese embassy issued a statement condemning the MLI for its publication.
Will the government stand up for Canada and its values against such unreasonable assertions by the Chinese Communist Party?
1:20 p.m.
Liberal
Chrystia Freeland Liberal University—Rosedale, ON
Mr. Chair, this government will always stand up for Canada. This government will always stand up for free speech and freedom of expression in Canada.
Let me say that I personally hold the Macdonald-Laurier Institute in very high regard. I think I've given a speech there. It's a great group.
1:20 p.m.
Conservative
Kenny Chiu Conservative Steveston—Richmond East, BC
Mr. Chair, I'm willing to share 30 seconds of my time for the member opposite to highlight how they are going to do that.
1:20 p.m.
Liberal
1:20 p.m.
Conservative
Kenny Chiu Conservative Steveston—Richmond East, BC
Mr. Chair, in my humble opinion, she didn't. Anyway, let's switch to another question.
WHO officials believe countries were given much time to implement protective measures before its official pandemic declaration in mid-March, and that countries like Canada should not have waited for the declaration to act, given the damage was so apparent in China. However, the Canadian government insisted on delaying a practical response to protect Canadians and relied on the WHO to make their decisions.
Why did this government not act sooner to protect Canadians?
1:20 p.m.
Liberal
Patty Hajdu Liberal Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
The premise that underlies that question is quite frankly incorrect. In fact, in early January, Dr. Tam convened the first of our daily calls to discuss the ongoing outbreak in China and what that might represent for Canada. She also immediately convened the special advisory committee of chief public health officers across the provinces and territories to begin planning for what potentially could become an outbreak in Canada. We also took additional screening measures at the borders, increasingly adding countries as the pandemic grew.
1:20 p.m.
Conservative
Kenny Chiu Conservative Steveston—Richmond East, BC
Mr. Chair, the Government of China has revised the death toll in Wuhan by increasing it by 50%. The health minister says she trusts the data coming out of China. Does she believe the data was right before or after the revision?
1:20 p.m.
Liberal
Patty Hajdu Liberal Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON
Mr. Chair, I will point to the fact that data has been a challenge amongst all countries in this outbreak. In fact, the speed at which infections have occurred and the intensity of the outbreaks in many countries, including some of our closest allies and partners—like Italy, Germany, Spain and the United States—have demonstrated that data is very difficult to gather when you're in the middle of an outbreak.
I know that the World Health Organization—as are many other international organizations—is reviewing the data that's coming out of countries. I will tell you that I'm firmly focused on—