COVID-19 Pandemic Committee on June 11th, 2020

[Richard Martel, Conservative, Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC]

Mr. Chair, the Canada Economic Development Agency, or CED, has traditionally contributed to the development and diversification of the economy in the regions.

Yesterday, the government announced $71 million for SMEs in the regions of Quebec, even though this money had already been announced on May 13, 2020. The icing on the cake is that the minister is taking the money intended for the regions through the regional relief and recovery fund and giving it to Montreal.

Of course, we must be sorry about the major economic impact that the big cities have suffered during the pandemic, but it's inconceivable that subsidies for the regions would be taken away and given to the big cities. It's like stealing from Peter to pay Paul.

According to the government, Montreal's financial health has a direct impact on that of the regions. The regions need winning conditions to attract private investment. The CED must be more flexible to better meet rural needs. That's a win-win situation for Montreal.

Montreal needs the regions, not the other way around.

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Before going to the next statement, I just want to remind all the members of the House, especially the front benches, the government and official opposition, that someone is reading, and we would like some respect for their statement.

We'll go on to Mr. Carrie.

[Colin Carrie, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

Mr. Chair, I want to take this time today to congratulate the City of Oshawa, Durham Region, and our many mental health and addiction support organizations on a successful campaign to relocate many of our homeless citizens to Camp Samac in north Oshawa, where they are better protected from COVID-19.

The lodging for 25 people also includes shower and laundry facilities, meals prepared by our local Durham College culinary program, addiction and mental health support, and on-site connections with the Ontario Works and the Ontario disability programs. Each resident is also being tested on site.

Oshawa has always been a city of the greatest problem-solvers and innovators in Canada, and I'm proud to represent those same people who are changing lives today. Even during a pandemic, the leaders of Oshawa find a way to improve the lives of the most vulnerable.

I'd like to thank Durham Region commissioner of social services Stella Danos-Papaconstantinou, Councillor Bob Chapman and Mayor Dan Carter for their tireless work that has made this initiative a roaring success.

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Mr. Blaikie.

[Daniel Blaikie, NDP, Elmwood—Transcona, MB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

As NDP MPs push for a responsible, caring government response to the pandemic, folks at home in Elmwood—Transcona are connecting with people in need and delivering immediate support.

Volunteers at the Transcona Food Bank kept it going with volunteers like Don and Midge Barry, feeding up to 100 families during the pandemic. Elke Pielahn helped out by sewing reusable masks for all the volunteers, and she kept on sewing and exchanged masks for donations to the food bank.

The Chalmers Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation partnered with Riverwood Church and the Elmwood Resource Centre to deliver frozen meals to seniors in our community.

Volunteers at the Transcona Council for Seniors have been regularly checking in with area seniors and dispatching volunteer drivers to run needed errands.

The Elmwood East Kildonan Active Living Centre has been coordinating volunteers to pick up groceries and medication for shut-in residents.

Above all, kindness and caring will see us through the pandemic. Thank you to everyone in our community who is contributing what he or she can to that effort.

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

We'll continue with Mr. Desilets.

[Luc Desilets, Bloc, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

Mr. Chair, last Saturday was Canadian Armed Forces Day, which annually honours current and former members of the Canadian Armed Forces.

On behalf of the Bloc Québécois, I'd like to recognize the courage and sacrifice of these women and men who work every day to protect our democracy and our values.

I would add that the current crisis has accelerated the need to review the Veterans Affairs disability claims system. Indeed, the complexity and administrative burden means that, as of today, 20,233 files exceed the normal response time of 12 weeks, which corresponds to 19,223 veterans. This is a 17% increase from March 31.

I therefore call on the government to provide a war effort for our veterans by pre-approving all backlogged files. They fought for us, and now it is up to us to fight for them.

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Mr. Cooper.

[Michael Cooper, Conservative, St. Albert—Edmonton, AB]

Mr. Chair, yesterday, in a stunning display of ignorance the Minister of Canadian Heritage stated that the government would be happy to provide the Auditor General with additional resources, if only the Auditor General asked.

Well, news flash to the minister, both the former and current Auditor General have very publicly stated that the office is underfunded by $11 million. As a result, nearly all non-COVID-related audits will be put on hold this year. For a government that is spending more than half a trillion dollars a year, surely it can find $11 million, a rounding error, so that the Auditor General can follow the money and do his job. Canadian taxpayers deserve nothing less.

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Mr. Virani.

[Arif Virani, Liberal, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

Mr. Chair, I'm a brown-skinned Muslim refugee, but any of the barriers I have faced pale in comparison to those faced by black people. These last two weeks have laid bare for all of us the devastating impact of discrimination on the black community. This is not just an American problem.

The very same week of George Floyd's murder, my constituent Regis Korchinski-Paquet, a 29-year-old black woman, died in the presence of police, a death that has galvanized the streets of Toronto. Since that day, repeated incidents of mistreatment of racialized and indigenous persons at the hands of Canadian police have surfaced.

For persons of colour, interacting with law enforcement in this country is often frightening and too often lethal. That's an unacceptable state of affairs that we must change. Change starts with the words we use, so let me be very clear. Racism exists in Canada, systemic racism is real, anti-black racism is pernicious and black lives matter.

Change also means acting quickly to reform our justice and corrections systems and be better allies.

I commit to redoubling my efforts to combat racism and I ask that all of us in this chamber to do the same. George, Regis and all people of colour deserve no less.

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

We will now proceed to the questioning of ministers.

Please note that we will suspend the proceedings twice in order to allow employees who provide support for the sitting to substitute each other in safety.

The first question goes to the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Scheer.

[Andrew Scheer, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Chair, today, the Prime Minister is shamefully misleading Canadians, trying to shirk responsibility for his failures in providing help for people with disabilities. He is letting people with disabilities down. He is the one who waited months before bringing proposals forward to help people with disabilities. Then yesterday, when Conservatives proposed a motion to have Parliament meet to debate this legislation, it was Liberals who said no. Can the Deputy Prime Minister explain why Liberals refused to allow the House to debate this bill yesterday?

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

The honourable Deputy Prime Minister.

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs]

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am very glad to hear that question, because it allows me to make an offer to the Conservative Party to correct what may well have been an honest mistake they made in the parliamentary hurly-burly yesterday.

Yesterday, a clear opportunity was offered to all members of this House to have a vote specifically and narrowly on the question of whether we would offer Canadians with disabilities up to $600 of additional—

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

We'll go back to Mr. Scheer.

[Andrew Scheer, Conservative, Regina—Qu'Appelle, SK]

Mr. Chair, the mistake yesterday was the Liberals shamefully saying no to allowing Parliament to deal with that legislation and then, disgustingly, today trying to play petty politics on the backs of people with disabilities. That's shameful, and Canadians won't forget it.

Mr. Chair, yesterday The Globe and Mail revealed that the Minister of Foreign Affairs had two mortgages on two properties worth over $1 million with the Bank of China, which is owned by the Chinese government.

Does the Prime Minister believe that it's appropriate for his Minister of Foreign Affairs to be personally indebted to the Chinese Communist Party?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

Mr. Chair, what is shameful is to allow partisan politics and procedural manoeuvring to stop Canadians with disabilities who are truly facing additional challenges because of coronavirus. What is shameful, and indeed disgusting, is to prevent those Canadians from getting that $600.

Members of other parties were prepared to support that measure and, in good faith, we would be very prepared to have that vote and allow us all to get that money to Canadians and to fight about other issues.

[Andrew Scheer, Conservative, Regina—Qu'Appelle, SK]

Mr. Chair, she must have been talking about herself and her own party during her response. Conservatives stand ready. The second she wants to recall Parliament, we will be here to get the help that Canadians expect.

The question was about another Liberal minister getting into trouble because of a fancy European property. This time, it's the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Monsieur Champagne, who owns two posh apartments in London and owes an arm of the Chinese government over a million dollars.

Does the Deputy Prime Minister think it's appropriate to have a minister of the Crown owing an arm of the Chinese government over a million dollars?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

Mr. Chair, Minister Champagne disclosed those two mortgages, along with all other liabilities and assets, to the Ethics Commissioner, and they have been placed in the online public registry since the minister entered politics. It has been clearly disclosed. Everyone is aware of it, including all relevant government agencies and our Ethics Commissioner, and Canadians have all the transparency they need and deserve.

[Andrew Scheer, Conservative, Regina—Qu'Appelle, SK]

I have just a simple question for the Deputy Prime Minister. Have Mr. Champagne's mortgages come up for renewal since he has been a member of Parliament?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

Mr. Chair, while I of course am extremely familiar with all the positions our government takes on foreign policy, I'm afraid I'm not familiar with the details of the personal—

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

We'll go back to Mr. Scheer.

[Andrew Scheer, Conservative, Regina—Qu'Appelle, SK]

It's a relevant point, because if he was a sitting member of Parliament when the mortgage came up for renewal and he decided to renew with the bank that is run by the Communist Party of China, the negotiations or dealings around that would be very relevant.

Will the Minister of Foreign Affairs disclose what interest rate he is being charged for the two mortgages on his two London flats?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

Mr. Chair, since the Conservatives have chosen to go into matters of personal finance and property arrangements of members of this House, I might point out that of the two people exchanging ideas right now, one of us lives in government property. When—