COVID-19 Pandemic Committee on June 11th, 2020

[Yves Perron, Bloc, Berthier—Maskinongé, QC]

Today, in the House, we are asking the government to take responsibility, to assume all the costs and to pay the money to producers without them having to take any action. They do not have time to fill out paperwork.

This is a serious situation. That is one point on which I agree with the minister: this is a serious situation. We are talking about human lives and responsibilities. It would be nice if the federal government assumed its responsibilities when they are its responsibilities to assume.

[Marie-Claude Bibeau, Liberal, Compton—Stanstead, QC]

Mr. Chair, if there is one thing we are doing, it is certainly assuming our responsibilities. We have put in place a number of broad measures to help all Canadians, businesses, Canadian workers and foreign workers. We have invested $50 million to help producers and employers of foreign workers in the agriculture sector to enable them to do the 14 days—

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

We will now take a short break to replace the person in the chair.

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

The floor goes to Mrs. Desbiens.

[Caroline Desbiens, Bloc, Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île d’Orléans—Charlevoix, QC]

Madam Chair, today I am representing the Théâtre du Rideau Vert. For the seventh time in 10 years, the Canada Council for the Arts has denied a grant essential to the theatre's future.

I have a question for the Minister of Canadian Heritage, since the Rideau Vert is the oldest francophone theatre in America. It is one of Quebec's jewels. What measures does the minister intend to take to help the Théâtre du Rideau Vert?

[Steven Guilbeault, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Madam Chair, I thank my colleague for her question.

As she knows full well, the Canada Council for the Arts is an independent organization. The organization provides the funding. It is responsible for establishing its programs, free from any political interference or influence. In addition, grants are awarded with the help of a panel of experts in the field, meaning peers, artists, theatre administrators and other arts professionals from across Canada.

[Caroline Desbiens, Bloc, Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île d’Orléans—Charlevoix, QC]

I'm not sure that the cultural community will be satisfied with the answer. Clearly, the Canada Council for the Arts falls under the minister's department. In fact, the Théâtre du Rideau Vert is in his backyard, literally across the street from his riding.

I am sure the minister has the power to do something. If the Council is not making the appropriate decisions, perhaps he can intervene or discuss with those in charge.

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

I thank my colleague for her question.

We have implemented processes to depoliticize the funding system in the arts. What my colleague from the Bloc Québécois is asking me to do is to make those policies more political and more politicized.

I am not sure that is what our artists and artisans in the arts and culture sector are asking us to do.

[Caroline Desbiens, Bloc, Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île d’Orléans—Charlevoix, QC]

Personally, I am convinced that the Canada Council for the Arts would like to recognize the Théâtre du Rideau Vert as a cultural institution. That's the issue here. The theatre is being stripped of its status as a cultural institution, while the community as a whole recognizes that status. Perhaps it's just a matter of changing a few commas and words.

I am sure he can review this with his entire team.

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

As I said, and I repeat, the grants are awarded through a peer review committee. The artists and artisans in the sector may or may not make favourable recommendations for funding. In the case of the Théâtre du Rideau Vert, an expert peer review committee concluded that the grant should not be awarded.

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

Mr. Louis.

[Tim Louis, Liberal, Kitchener—Conestoga, ON]

Madam Chair, I will be sharing my time with the member for Brome—Missisquoi.

In the Waterloo region this past week, there have been numerous rallies and marches of solidarity condemning racism and injustice in all its forms. Peaceful demonstrations like these have highlighted the need to do better and to be better as a community and as a nation. In my riding of Kitchener—Conestoga, I've heard from concerned citizens, community leaders and faith-based leaders who share their emotional stories and are turning to our government to lead the way to a more inclusive society.

Although we are apart, we can stand together, united. Racism can be difficult to discuss, and it will be even more difficult to overcome, but we must have these conversations. We cannot remain silent. We must take action, and we must do what's necessary, even when it's difficult. That is what Canadians do.

Can the Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth explain how we can address these issues head-on, what steps we have taken, and what we can do as a nation to ensure that everyone is treated equally and has the same opportunities here in Canada?

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

The honourable minister.

[Bardish Chagger, Liberal, Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth]

Madam Chair, I thank the member for Kitchener—Conestoga for taking a stand and not choosing silence.

Anti-black, anti-indigenous, anti-Asian—racism exists. It is ingrained in our institutions, and we can no longer choose to ignore it. Keeping silent is to condone racism. The Prime Minister has tasked me to work with colleagues to develop policies that tackle systemic discrimination and unconscious bias, including anti-black racism, within our institutions.

The member asked what we can do. We can listen. We can take these voices seriously. Right now, we have the opportunity to build back better and to advance policies and programs informed by lived experiences. Our institutions have an opportunity to internalize the criticisms and concerns being raised. They can listen and learn from the stories being shared by the many communities speaking out against injustice and become more inclusive.

Additionally, I commend the member for Kitchener—Conestoga for being a strong voice for all of his constituents. This pride season, the LGBTQ2 communities and allies in Kitchener—Conestoga can rest assured that their MP will also stand up for them.

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

I now give the floor to Mrs. Bessette.

[Lyne Bessette, Liberal, Brome—Missisquoi, QC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

The tourism industry opens our beautiful country to the world by showcasing its culture, its diversity, its natural beauty and its unique experiences. Tourism is an important economic driver and a source of pride. It generates local jobs for many communities across Canada, including in my riding of Brome—Missisquoi.

However, this industry is also one of those most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The tourism industry faces unique challenges, and in these exceptional times, we must support it.

Can the minister responsible for tourism tell us more about what the government is doing to support this major industry, which is the livelihood of so many Canadians?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages]

I thank my colleague from Brome—Missisquoi. She represents a magnificent region of Quebec that is populated and run by a number of operators of tourist attractions, hotels and restaurants. Since she is a staunch defender of tourism, let me tell her that we have implemented a number of measures to help those folks.

First, we extended the wage subsidy until August. Second, there is a new agreement with the Government of Quebec to increase support for commercial rent. Third, there is certainly help with the cash flow of those businesses.

However, we wanted to go further. That is why we are going to invest $6.35 million in the beautiful Estrie region, in which the riding of Brome—Missisquoi is located, through the Community Futures Development Corporations (CFDCs). We are also going to support local and regional tourism campaigns across the country by investing $30 million in Destination Canada.

I would also like to tell my colleague that there will be more good news soon for the tourism sector in Quebec. So she can be confident about the future, and she can also pass the message to the residents of her constituency.

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

We now go to Ms. Ashton.

[Niki Ashton, NDP, Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, MB]

Madam Chair, I'd like to split my time with the member for Edmonton Strathcona.

Madam Chair, imagine you're in Pukatawagan, a remote first nation in northern Manitoba. Like every first nation in your region, you are doing everything possible to lock down and keep your community safe. Then, out of nowhere, you find out from the national media that you're getting tents, tents that you never asked for. Then you find out that the government purchased these tents from a company connected to a former provincial Liberal cabinet minister, a Liberal who sat on the government's COVID-19 supply council.

There they go again, another Liberal government benefiting its Liberal friends. What is Indigenous Services doing to get to the bottom of this tent scandal?

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

The honourable minister.

[Niki Ashton, NDP, Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, MB]

Madam Chair, my question was for the Minister of Indigenous Services.

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

The honourable minister.

[Niki Ashton, NDP, Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, MB]

Is the timer being stopped?

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

Yes, it has been stopped.

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, Toronto—St. Paul's, ON]

Madam Chair, thank you.

I thank the honourable member for the question, and I do believe that the understanding of what tents are is a misunderstanding. A lot of the communities have been asking for these very large portable structures that can be put up immediately to be able to isolate infected patients or protect family members. I'm sure that—