COVID-19 Pandemic Committee on June 10th, 2020

[Denis Trudel, Bloc, Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, QC]

Madam Chair, I join my colleague in extending my good wishes to you on Portugal's national day.

Apart from the fact that it is probably the most beautiful riding in Quebec, the riding of Longueuil—Saint-Hubert has surely been one of the hardest hit by the pandemic, both in terms of health and the economy. There are industries here, but also many service businesses, including bars, restaurants and theatres.

But we aren't close to being able to go back and see a show by Wajdi Mouawad or Fred Pellerin, and that's a shame. We must work to calm the anxiety of these people. The arts sector was the first to stop its activities and will be the last to resume them. There is a lot of anxiety. The CERB ends on July 4.

Will the government extend the CERB, with an employment incentive?

[Steven Guilbeault, Liberal, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

Madam Chair, I thank my colleague for his question and all the work he's doing in arts and culture.

From the outset, we've been there to support our artists and arts organizations. We introduced the Canada emergency response benefit, for example, but also the emergency wage subsidy, which we made available to non-governmental organizations.

To ensure that people who receive royalties aren't penalized under the Canada emergency response benefit, we have adapted it. We announced a $500 million fund to specifically help the arts and culture sector.

In fact, we understand very well that this sector has been severely affected by the current crisis. We've been there for our artists and artisans, and we will continue to be.

[Denis Trudel, Bloc, Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, QC]

Perfect. Instead of giving a long preamble, I'll ask a very simple question: will the CERB be extended on July 5?

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

The hon. minister has the floor.

[Carla Qualtrough, Liberal, Delta, BC]

Madam Chair, I can assure the member opposite that in July we will be there for Canadian workers.

[Denis Trudel, Bloc, Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, QC]

In my riding, a nice little restaurant called Crêpe Café on St-Charles Street in Longueuil has just closed its doors. It's final; it won't reopen. Another restaurant owner told me that he was going to reopen his restaurant, but he didn't know at what capacity. Would it be at 15%, 30%, 40%? No one knows.

The speed at which the economy will recover is the big unknown. How many hours a week will it be able to offer its employees? Will it be 12 hours, 15 hours, 22 hours? Will employees even want to return to work to put in 12 hours a week? If the CERB isn't adjusted, nothing will happen.

Will the government commit to extending the CERB and providing an employment incentive to get the economy moving again at full speed?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

Madam Chair, I know, of course, that the restaurant sector has been much affected. I have a great deal of empathy for what entrepreneurs and my colleague are going through in his riding. That's why we are currently helping our SMEs. We have money for economic development. The money is available through Canada Economic Development, or CED.

If my colleague wants to work with me to provide support to restaurant owners and other restaurants in Longueuil, I'd be very happy to do so.

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

We will go to Mr. Bragdon.

[Richard Bragdon, Conservative, Tobique—Mactaquac, NB]

Madam Chair, last month, on May 5, I asked the government how it plans to support the agriculture sector. The Liberals announced a $50-million food surplus purchase program as part of the agricultural aid package.

Now, one month later, our farmers, who provide the food we need, are still waiting on funds to be delivered. The New Brunswick potato industry is sitting on a massive amount of last year's crop that, because of the pandemic, has no buyers. When will the Prime Minister and the government step up and deliver the support our farmers so desperately need?

[Marco Mendicino, Liberal, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

Madam Chair, without question we want to continue to support farmers. My colleague Minister Bibeau has introduced hundreds of millions of dollars for farmers. In addition to that, we have provided relief and support for migrant workers, who are ensuring that Canadians have access to safe and affordable food.

[Richard Bragdon, Conservative, Tobique—Mactaquac, NB]

Madam Chair, when support for the agriculture sector was announced on May 4, our agriculture sector had been sounding the alarm for weeks that they needed help to continue to meet Canadians' food needs. It has been over a month since that announcement, and our farmers are still waiting for help.

It is worth noting, Madam Chair, that vegetables like the potatoes in New Brunswick that I previously mentioned are perishable products. Our farmers do not have the luxury of time.

Again, will the Prime Minister and this government make agriculture a priority and provide them with the support they desperately need right now?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

Madam Chair, obviously we believe in the importance of our regions and our rural communities, and that's why we've always made sure that agriculture was at the core of many of the decisions throughout this pandemic. That's why our colleague Minister Bibeau, who is the Minister of Agriculture, has been there providing the right liquidity and the right support through this pandemic.

Of course we want to make sure that we continue to partner with provinces and territories, because we need their help in this context to make sure that all together we show strong economic support for our farmers, who are going through tough times.

[Richard Bragdon, Conservative, Tobique—Mactaquac, NB]

On May 1 the Liberals introduced a sweeping firearms ban through an order in council that outlawed 1,500 firearms. Recent reports show that since then, more and more firearms are quietly being added to the list of banned firearms, including many common hunting rifles and shotguns.

Madam Chair, our hunters, outfitters, dealers and sport shooters are some of the most vetted members of our society. Why does the Prime Minister insist on making criminals out of law-abiding firearms owners instead of dealing with the criminals we already have?

[Marco Mendicino, Liberal, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

Madam Chair, I am very proud of this government's record when it comes to ensuring that we take out of our communities those guns that have one objective only, and that is to kill other people. We will always stand by that record, and we will continue to take the necessary steps to keep our communities safe.

[Richard Bragdon, Conservative, Tobique—Mactaquac, NB]

Madam Chair, the Liberals have said that to compensate firearms owners, they will implement a national buyback program.

Instead of targeting law-abiding firearms owners and their legally purchased private property, wouldn't the estimated quarter of a billion dollars needed to buy back these firearms be better utilized right now in supporting our agricultural sector, the very people who grow our food and literally keep our land?

[Marco Mendicino, Liberal, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

Madam Chair, of course we look forward to saying more about that, but of course we remain committed to taking those guns that have only one objective, and that is to kill people.

The legislation we have introduced and the measures we have taken are designed to keep our communities safe, and of course we will do that. We will also continue to support farmers, introducing hundreds of millions of dollars in support because we know they are providing Canadians with affordable food.

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

Mr. Bragdon, you have time for a short question.

[Richard Bragdon, Conservative, Tobique—Mactaquac, NB]

Madam Chair, many sole proprietors have been hit extremely hard by this pandemic. My office has heard from many who have been in business for nearly 30 years and have submitted hundreds of HST returns, yet still cannot access the CEBA funding because they do not have a business chequing account, as a lot of small business owners use their personal chequing accounts to do their business.

The Liberals offered aid to sole proprietors but attached unnecessary hurdles that prevent many of them from accessing the funds they desperately need to keep their businesses afloat.

When will these unnecessary hurdles be removed so businesses can start to receive the relief they so desperately need?

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

We will have a very short answer from the honourable minister.

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

We believe in the importance of making sure we're supporting our businesses, including sole proprietors. That is why our colleague, Minister Ng, the minister for small business, has been working on this and will continue to make sure we take the appropriate steps to recognize that.

Meanwhile, people can definitely come to the regional development agencies if they don't have access to funding through banks, and that's a good way to make sure there is a backstop.

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

Please note that, pursuant to the Standing Order made on April 20 and May 26, the House has been recalled.

Therefore, the committee will adjourn, and the House will begin sitting at 2:30 p.m. The bells will be rung to call members, and a parade will begin the sitting.

The meeting is adjourned.