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.
Conservative
Kenny Chiu Conservative Steveston—Richmond East, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Taiwan has previously held an observer status in the WHO under the name “Chinese Taipei” but was unjustly removed due to the influence of the CCP, the Chinese Communist Party, following its strong response to COVID-19.
Will this Government of Canada acknowledge Taiwan's invaluable contribution to the global community and support it in obtaining observer status independently again?
Liberal
Chrystia Freeland Liberal University—Rosedale, ON
Mr. Chair, yes, indeed, Canada believes that Taiwan's role as an observer in the WHO assembly meetings is in the interest of the international health community and is important to the global fight against pandemic and disease. We have experience working with Taiwan as an economy in APEC, where Canada participates as well.
Conservative
Kenny Chiu Conservative Steveston—Richmond East, BC
All right. Just to follow up, the public officials in Canada have issued praise for China's swift response to COVID-19. What does our government believe it should learn for future crises from China and its response?
Liberal
Patty Hajdu Liberal Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON
Thank you very much.
The extent to which China tried to contain the outbreak from spreading to other countries was noted by public health officials across the world as extraordinary. I think there is lots to learn from all countries. In fact, I think one of the lessons learned for all countries is that we can never let our guard down again and we will have to work even more closely and more collaboratively internationally to prevent future outbreaks.
Conservative
Erin O'Toole Conservative Durham, ON
Mr. Chair, it's good to see our parliamentary democracy back in action.
The government is spending billions of dollars in this health and economic crisis. Much of that is needed to preserve jobs and help Canadians, but much of the support has been too slow and has made the economic crisis worse.
One group of Canadians missed entirely is our seniors. They're on fixed incomes. They're our most vulnerable. They're unable to work, and they've seen skyrocketing prices for drugs and food.
Why did the government choose to give billions of dollars to groups that may help seniors rather than an immediate OAS supplement to help them immediately?
Liberal
Mona Fortier Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
We recognize that OAS and the GIS are an important part of the retirement income of Canadians, particularly lower-income and rural seniors. Our government is committed to ensuring that during this COVID-19 pandemic seniors will continue to receive without interruption the benefits to which they are entitled. We are looking into the ways in which we can support seniors during this very difficult time, and we are also working with partners to help deliver services on the ground.
Conservative
Erin O'Toole Conservative Durham, ON
Mr. Chair, a few weeks ago, the Prime Minister confirmed the temporary closure of our country's borders, including Roxham Road. However, he recently allowed illegal crossings to resume.
A border closed for national security purposes must be 100% closed. It can't be closed halfway. The government made a choice that flies in the face of the public health of Canadians. The government made an ideological choice.
When will the Prime Minister close our border for real?
Liberal
Bill Blair Liberal Scarborough Southwest, ON
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
Unfortunately, in the question the member opposite is simply misinformed. In fact, we implemented very strict reciprocal arrangements with the United States to turn back all irregular migrants crossing our border during this particular medical crisis. During the month of April, not a single person crossed, for example, at Roxham Road.
I believe what the member is referring to is the application of the safe third country agreement, an agreement that has been in place between Canada and the United States since 2004, and its application at points of entry. No one has entered this country illegally at all during any point in time since the implementation of these new measures.
Conservative
Erin O'Toole Conservative Durham, ON
Mr. Chair, the minister just said that we're going to stop illegal crossings just for this health crisis. Will he confirm to the House that after the planking of the curve, they will immediately allow the illegal crossings to continue?
Liberal
Bill Blair Liberal Scarborough Southwest, ON
Let me be very clear. What I said was that we have stopped all irregular crossings at our border during this period of time—and as well non-essential travel—to ensure the safety of Canadians. Those measures have been put in place and they have been very effective throughout this, and we have undertaken, through our agreement with the United States, to continue these measures until they are no longer required.
Conservative
Erin O'Toole Conservative Durham, ON
Mr. Chair, I will let Minister Blair take the time between now and the next sitting to review his first answer and compare it to his second answer.
Thousands of small businesses and farms across the country have been asking their MP to increase the Canada summer jobs. In fact, the Prime Minister suggested there would be more, yet they didn't give any more budget to any of the MPs. They announced $9 billion, Mr. Chair, for students to stay home. Here's a proposal for team Canada: Cut that in half to $4.5 billion. You can have over 400,000 summer jobs for essential services, for farms where students will work, and you can still give them $1,000 tuition credit for half of the cost of their $9-billion plan.
When will they step up, as they did with the wage subsidy when they realized they got it wrong the first time, and heed our advice to fix it now?
Liberal
Carla Qualtrough Liberal Delta, BC
I thank the member for his question, Mr. Chair.
Our student measures include income support, increased job creation, tuition and Canada student loan enhancement, as well as an opportunity for students to serve. This is what we've heard from student organizations and students across the country. We are not disincentivizing work. We are ensuring that students can pay their bills and can actually continue on with their studies in the fall.
With respect to Canada summer jobs, we're creating 70,000 jobs. Last week we added another 76,000 or 116,000, depending on whether you include opportunities to study. We're going to look at what else we can do for students.
Bloc
Yves Perron Bloc Berthier—Maskinongé, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'll share my time with my colleague, the member for Shefford.
It seems difficult to obtain new commitments for the farming community today. I'll give the government the opportunity to easily follow up on the existing commitments. We heard earlier that the Canada-United States-Mexico agreement, or CUSMA, would come into force starting in July rather than in August. This will mean further financial losses. With regard to the compensation for which agreements have been made with certain sectors, but that hasn't been provided yet, can the government commit to making these payments soon?
Conservative
Liberal
Marie-Claude Bibeau Liberal Compton—Stanstead, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Perron, I want to reassure you that we're absolutely upholding our commitments to various supply-managed sectors. As you know, we committed to allocating $1.75 billion to the dairy sector, and the first installment has already been paid. With regard to poultry and eggs, COVID-19 has caused a setback, to say the least. However, I want to assure you that our commitment still stands and that discussions will start again as soon as the situation returns to normal.
Bloc
Yves Perron Bloc Berthier—Maskinongé, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
A number of things can be done to support the farming community. In particular, proposals have been made to increase the credit capacity of the Canadian Dairy Commission so that less milk is thrown out. There are also discussions about implementing a cattle set-aside program, as proposed by the beef producers from the Canadian Cattlemen's Association. COVID-19 is resulting in lower production in slaughterhouses across the country.
Where do things stand on these two issues and when can we expect an announcement in this regard?
Liberal
Marie-Claude Bibeau Liberal Compton—Stanstead, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
We're very supportive of the potential credit increase for the Canadian Dairy Commission, but this would require an amendment to the regulations. The discussion on this issue is ongoing.
Regarding our other commitments, I want to assure you once again that we're continuing our discussions with the various industry representatives to provide the best possible support, given their specific needs and circumstances. I'm thinking in particular of the beef sector.
Conservative
The Acting Chair Conservative Bruce Stanton
Since Mr. Perron was sharing his time, I'll now give the floor to Ms. Larouche, the member for Shefford.
