COVID-19 Pandemic Committee on June 15th, 2020

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, York South—Weston, ON]

Madam Chair, I want to assure the honourable member that we, of course, value the important role that the Canada summer jobs program plays in all communities, including indigenous communities in Canada.

I will certainly have an off-line conversation with the honourable member, if he so wishes, about a particular issue, but I can assure him that in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have had to assist employers to introduce flexibilities—

[The Acting Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

We will go back to Mr. Yurdiga.

[David Yurdiga, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Madam Chair, in my riding, the City of Cold Lake has been in dispute with the federal government for many years over payment in lieu of taxes. My office has sent many letters over the years regarding the PILT dispute.

Could the Minister of Public Services and Procurement give me a rough estimate of when I will receive a response from the minister's office to my first letter, from 2017, and my letters from 2018, 2019 and 2020?

[David Lametti, Liberal, LaSalle—Émard—Verdun, QC]

Madam Chair, I can assure the honourable member that I will go to the minister, and we will come back with an answer to his question.

[David Yurdiga, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

How much longer does the minister intend to perpetuate the ongoing PILT dispute, which is in excess of $11 million, with the City of Cold Lake?

[David Lametti, Liberal, LaSalle—Émard—Verdun, QC]

Madam Chair, once again, I can assure the honourable member that I will speak with the minister and get an answer to his question.

[David Yurdiga, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Well, do you know what? I've been writing letters to the department for many years. When you say you're going to get back to me, I really have a hard time believing that.

Will the minister agree to follow the prior recommendations of the dispute advisory panel that were accepted by the minister?

[David Lametti, Liberal, LaSalle—Émard—Verdun, QC]

Madam Chair, I can assure the honourable member that I will check with the minister and that she will return to the member in due course.

[David Yurdiga, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Madam Chair, the drug Trikafta has been proven to increase the quality of life for 90% of cystic fibrosis patients.

Two weeks ago, my office sent a letter to the Minister of Health about the boy in my riding named Cael, who through the special access program is able to get Trikafta in Canada. I requested that the minister use her powers to fast-track Trikafta for commercial use, but I have yet to receive a response back.

When will the minister make a decision on Trikafta?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON]

Madam Chair, I'm glad to hear that Cael was able to access Trikafta through the special access program. In fact, that program is very helpful for people who are seeking access to medication that's not currently marketed in Canada.

As the member opposite knows, Vertex has not applied to market Trikafta in Canada, but we look forward to their application, and I encourage him to write a letter to the manufacturer to also encourage them.

[The Acting Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

We will go now to the honourable member for Vancouver Granville, Ms. Wilson-Raybould.

[Jody Wilson-Raybould, Independent, Vancouver Granville, BC]

Thank you, Chair.

I was very troubled to hear that a CBC radio host in the Yukon felt compelled to resign because, as an indigenous person, she could not speak her truth. While we know the Broadcasting Act states that the Canadian broadcasting system should reflect the linguistic duality and multicultural and multiracial nature of Canadian society and the special place of indigenous peoples, it would seem there are some challenges.

Therefore, does the Minister of Heritage share the concern of some journalists that problems of systemic racism in Canada are still existing within the institution of the CBC, and will the government now acknowledge the need to recognize the jurisdiction of indigenous governments?

[Steven Guilbeault, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Thank you, Madame Chair; and I thank the member for this important question.

As stated by the Prime Minister on numerous occasions, our government recognizes that systemic racism exists in Canada, and we have made a commitment to do everything we can to combat it in whichever organization of the Canadian government.

[Jody Wilson-Raybould, Independent, Vancouver Granville, BC]

Thank you.

When I was in the government, and as a minister, I learned the term “red meat” issues. I understand these issues to be ones that challenge societal norms, that are not politically expedient to address because they can lose you votes, even though addressing them is morally right and a smart thing to do. Mostly these are issues addressing inequality and the most marginalized in our society.

In the justice system, examples include mandatory minimum penalties, defunding police, and even investing in restorative justice. Red-meat issues often become defining issues for society and for governments as the world changes. Surely now these issues are politically less of a consideration than the tragic reality of even more slain indigenous Canadians at the hands of police, or thousands of indigenous people still incarcerated or living in poverty.

Will this government please finally commit to the necessary work originally promised in 2015 and repeal in the justice system the vast majority of mandatory minimum penalties, assuring the necessary discretion for judges, and meaningfully invest in restorative justice measures?

[David Lametti, Liberal, LaSalle—Émard—Verdun, QC]

Madame Chair, I thank the honourable member for her question, as well as for her work as Minister of Justice, and indeed my predecessor.

This is an important time. This is a time when we recognize systemic racism. This is a time when we recognize systemic over-incarceration of indigenous peoples, of black peoples, in our criminal justice system. This is a time when we need to look at all potential options to reduce what is a shameful overrepresentation in our criminal justice system. Too often racialized peoples and indigenous peoples have experienced prejudice and systemic discrimination in our justice system, and that has to change.

[Jody Wilson-Raybould, Independent, Vancouver Granville, BC]

I'll go on to another red meat issue. In British Columbia we are in the fifth year of the opioid overdose public health emergency crisis. Sadly, May marks the deadliest month of overdose-related deaths. We are halfway into the year and have currently passed 500 deaths caused by overdose. Many of the deaths are related to COVID-19 measures that have prevented people from accessing supervised consumption sites, so they are overdosing alone. While the provinces welcomed the federal backing of safe supply exemption back in March, it is to expire in September of 2020.

Echoing the call of the chief coroner of B.C. and Dr. Henry, more is needed from the federal government, more action. Will the government provide the necessary supports to the province and help support safe supply initiatives in the provinces?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON]

It's been a pleasure to work with the Province of British Columbia on innovative ways to work on the tragic situation of opioid overdose. I remain committed to working with the province and in fact any province that wants to work towards solutions that treat people who use substances with the dignity they deserve.

Madam Chair, this is a complex issue. We're working closely with our partners to make sure that we can prevent more lives from being lost.

[The Acting Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

We will go to the honourable member for South Okanagan—West Kootenay, Mr. Cannings.

[Richard Cannings, NDP, South Okanagan—West Kootenay, BC]

Thank you, Madam Chair. I'll be splitting my time with the member for Skeena—Bulkley Valley.

In my riding, Theo's in Penticton is a beloved restaurant. They've been serving great food for 40 years, but now they're struggling, because they don't qualify for the emergency wage subsidy.

Why is that? The original owners retired last year and sold it to another operator. The new owner can't use a year-to-year comparison to apply for the wage subsidy because he didn't own the restaurant last spring. He is forced to use receipts from January and February, the darkest doldrums of the restaurant year, to compare with the results from May, traditionally one of their best months. Now he has to compete with other local restaurants that can access the subsidy.

When will the government fix this inequity and let Theo's compete and survive?

[Mona Fortier, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Madam Chair, the Canada emergency wage subsidy is supporting over 2.5 million workers across the country. To help even more businesses support their workers and rehire people as they reopen, our government is extending the CEWS, and we will continue to extend the CEWS for an additional 12 weeks to August 29 to ensure that Canadian workers continue to have the support they need during these very difficult times.

By extending eligibility, our government is ensuring that more Canadian workers in more sectors have the support they need.

[Richard Cannings, NDP, South Okanagan—West Kootenay, BC]

The owner just wants to be able to apply for the wage subsidy, and right now he cannot, and he will not be able to. Thousands of other businesses are hit that way as well.

I'd like to move on to forestry. Canada's forest sector has been declared essential during this pandemic, but it's been hit hard after a very difficult 2019. Despite soft markets and thousands out of work, government support programs have left many Canadian forest product companies behind.

In my riding, the pulp mill in Castlegar is closing for the month of July because local sawmills aren't producing enough wood chips.

What is the government going to do to finally support Canadian forestry workers and communities?

[The Acting Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

The time is almost up, but I will allow for the answer from the honourable minister.

[Seamus O'Regan, Liberal, St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NL]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

We have supported and we will continue to support the forestry sector, including through regional development programs.

In fact, in Quebec, partnering with Les Bois Francs DV Inc., we have widened market access to our products and updated technology systems. In North Bay we've partnered with the Canadian Wood Council to promote the sector. In Vancouver we're working with FPInnovations to create the indigenous forest sector technical support program.

We are supporting the forestry sector and its different needs region by region.

[The Acting Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

Now we go to the honourable member for Skeena—Bulkley Valley, Mr. Bachrach.

[Taylor Bachrach, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I'm going to pick up where my colleague left off, with B.C.'s forest industry.

What we've seen in B.C. are multiple rounds of mill shutdowns and start-ups, and in some cases this has made it difficult for forestry workers to qualify for EI.

My question to the minister is this: Will the minister work to make the EI program more flexible for forestry workers, similar to what this government has done for oil and gas workers?