Evidence of meeting #23 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.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

1:45 p.m.

NDP

The Acting Chair NDP Carol Hughes

I remind the member that he needs to address the questions and comments to the chair.

The honourable minister may reply.

1:45 p.m.

Peterborough—Kawartha Ontario

Liberal

Maryam Monsef LiberalMinister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development

Madam Chair, in the best of times, life without access to high-speed Internet is hard. During a pandemic, the challenges are that much more pronounced.

Our government's unprecedented investments are already connecting a million more Canadian households to this essential service, but until we achieve universal access our work is not done. We will work with our partners, including provinces across the country, to connect every Canadian household to high-quality Internet access that is affordable and reliable.

1:45 p.m.

NDP

The Acting Chair NDP Carol Hughes

The honourable member has 30 seconds.

1:45 p.m.

Conservative

Scott Aitchison Conservative Parry Sound—Muskoka, ON

I think I can squeeze something in here, then.

I'm wondering, then, Madam Chair, since the Province of Ontario has used the Northern Ontario Heritage Corporation Fund to make this announcement, what about using FedNor to make the same kind of announcement, and partner with the province?

1:45 p.m.

NDP

The Acting Chair NDP Carol Hughes

The honourable minister has a brief answer.

1:45 p.m.

Liberal

Mélanie Joly Liberal Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC

Obviously we believe in the importance of northern Ontario; that's why we nearly doubled the budget of FedNor. We will continue to invest in businesses and people all around Parry Sound, Muskoka and northern Ontario.

If my colleague has specific projects in mind, please come and see me and let's have a conversation.

1:45 p.m.

NDP

The Acting Chair NDP Carol Hughes

The honourable member for Montmagny-L'Islet-Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, Mr. Généreux, has the floor.

1:45 p.m.

Conservative

Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I will continue along the same lines as my colleague. During this pandemic, we are realizing the extent to which reliable high-speed Internet service is needed for Canada's economy. There are still places where telework is not possible today because of the lack of adequate coverage. However, since 2015, the government has committed to addressing the situation through three new programs.

Benoît Pilotto, who is the mayor of Saint-Onésime-d'Ixworth, in my riding, wrote to me a few days ago. That is why I am asking you what concrete results the government plans to achieve for our rural areas by the end of the year.

1:45 p.m.

Liberal

Maryam Monsef Liberal Peterborough—Kawartha, ON

At the best of times, life without high-speed Internet access is difficult. During a pandemic, the difficulties are even greater. Our government's unprecedented investments are already connecting an additional one million Canadian households to this essential service. However, until we achieve universal access, our job is not done. We are working—

1:45 p.m.

NDP

The Acting Chair NDP Carol Hughes

Mr. Généreux, you have the floor.

1:45 p.m.

Conservative

Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC

Madam Chair, I am simply asking the minister to tell me when the mayor of Saint-Onésime-d'Ixworth will be able to tell his residents when the Internet will be available in his municipality. It is not complicated.

What does the government plan to do so that rural municipalities across Canada can have access to the Internet as soon as possible? What is its plan?

1:45 p.m.

Liberal

Maryam Monsef Liberal Peterborough—Kawartha, ON

We are working with partners across the country to ensure that every Canadian household is connected to a high-quality, accessible and affordable high-speed Internet service.

Madam Chair, I assure my colleagues that we share the same goal, and we will work with all our partners across the country to ensure every Canadian household has access—

1:50 p.m.

NDP

The Acting Chair NDP Carol Hughes

Mr. Généreux, you have the floor.

1:50 p.m.

Conservative

Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC

Madam Chair, I am still not getting a specific answer.

According to the government's plan, when will rural Canadian businesses and households be connected?

1:50 p.m.

NDP

The Acting Chair NDP Carol Hughes

I would ask the honourable minister to provide a brief answer.

1:50 p.m.

Liberal

Maryam Monsef Liberal Peterborough—Kawartha, ON

Madam Chair, those plans are under way, and we will have more to share in the coming days.

1:50 p.m.

Conservative

Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC

It seems that the Minister of Rural Economic Development plans to announce a new plan this week. Can she tell us how this program will differ from the Connect to Innovate program, which is already in place?

Can the minister tell us whether her program will solve the problem of the 25 square kilometre hexagonal zones, which unfortunately make many projects ineligible for the CRTC's broadband fund?

1:50 p.m.

Liberal

Maryam Monsef Liberal Peterborough—Kawartha, ON

Madam Chair, I'm pleased to share with my colleague that the model he's referring to, the hexagon model, is no more. Our maps are much more precise now to ensure that we do not leave Canadians behind.

1:50 p.m.

Conservative

Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC

Madam Chair, this year, the Canada summer jobs program is a real fiasco. I think all my colleagues will agree with me.

On May 13, 100 jobs were announced in my riding; on May 20, 16 jobs were announced; on May 27, 13 jobs were announced; on June 3, 12 jobs were announced; and on June 10, only one job was announced.

As we speak, an amount of $100,000 is still to be confirmed in my riding. Can we have an announcement, once and for all?

Let's stop the piecemeal announcements and finally confirm the remaining jobs today so that our organizations can have young people before the summer starts on the weekend.

1:50 p.m.

NDP

The Acting Chair NDP Carol Hughes

We will go to the honourable minister.

1:50 p.m.

Liberal

Ahmed Hussen Liberal York South—Weston, ON

Madam Chair, I thank the honourable member for his question.

We recognize the important role that the Canada summer jobs program is playing in supporting employers and young workers in communities right across the country. Our government is working very hard to help employers adapt to the realities of the COVID-19 pandemic, and at the same time is supporting young Canadians as they begin to look for summer employment. We've introduced flexibilities into the program to ensure that more young workers have opportunities to get employed.

The honourable member also has to understand that we're in the COVID-19 pandemic, and as such it will take some time for businesses to equip themselves to hire students.

1:50 p.m.

NDP

The Acting Chair NDP Carol Hughes

We will go to the honourable member for Nanaimo—Ladysmith, Mr. Manly.

1:50 p.m.

Green

Paul Manly Green Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC

Thank you, Madam Chair.

In the first five months of this year, 554 B.C. residents died from opioid overdoses. They were teachers, construction workers, business owners, family members, neighbours and friends. Addiction is a health and social issue, but criminalization creates stigma, so people hide their drug use and die alone.

Access to a safe supply of drugs and safe injection sites saves lives and puts addicts in daily contact with people who can help them. Will this government end the war on drugs by decriminalizing them, providing a safe supply and reallocating resources from policing addicts to providing treatment for them?

1:50 p.m.

Liberal

Patty Hajdu Liberal Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON

Madam Chair, I think it's really important we make sure that when we speak about people who use substances, we remove stigmatizing language like the word “addict”.

We can stand together, as this government has, with people who use substances and their families to ensure a range of options for people who are struggling with addiction, who are using substances in a way that is harming their health and their communities.

As you know, we have restored harm reduction to the Canadian drugs and substances strategy. We've made it easier for people to access safe supplies of substances. We've increased access to treatment and the variety of treatment through federal transfers to provinces and territories.

Madam Chair, we're working with communities to make sure there are more community-based approaches to treating—

1:50 p.m.

NDP

The Acting Chair NDP Carol Hughes

We will go back to Mr. Manly.