Evidence of meeting #24 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

1:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Anthony Rota

We'll now go back to Mr. Doherty.

1:05 p.m.

Conservative

Todd Doherty Conservative Cariboo—Prince George, BC

Minister, your inaction on this file has sown division in my riding, even among first nations. It's led to tremendous economic losses for ranchers and business owners. Lodge owners, tourism operators and ranchers can't even get approval to access the roadways to their own operations. These businesses are now worth nothing.

Let me read from a recent letter between one first nation in my riding and a long-standing lodge owner whose business was once valued in the millions of dollars. The letter says, “ We have an appraisal which provides us with a framework in which to develop a reasonable offer. What that appraisal tells us is that because you do not have legal access to your property, the commercial value of your land interest and business is zero.”

Minister, does this sound like good-faith negotiations to you?

1:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Anthony Rota

Once again, I want to remind the honourable member to place the question through the chair.

The honourable minister may reply.

1:05 p.m.

Liberal

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

Through the chair, I want to reiterate to the member that coming to the table in open-minded, open-hearted dialogue is the way we will get through these issues together, and it is the way forward for Canada.

1:05 p.m.

Conservative

Todd Doherty Conservative Cariboo—Prince George, BC

Mr. Chair, the government claims that it does not have control of what a Crown corporation does, even when it goes against the published “Buy in Canada” policy for shipbuilding and ship repair.

Can the minister table with this chamber, at his earliest convenience, the relevant sections of the Marine Atlantic act that prohibit him from requesting that this Crown corporation follow Canadian government policy?

1:05 p.m.

Ottawa—Vanier Ontario

Liberal

Mona Fortier LiberalMinister of Middle Class Prosperity and Associate Minister of Finance

Mr. Chair, I will gladly respond to the honourable member by asking the minister to send a response.

1:05 p.m.

Conservative

Todd Doherty Conservative Cariboo—Prince George, BC

Minister, during the COVID crisis your government was seeking to take control and provide direction to boards of private companies that took loans. If the minister can do this, why can't the minister direct a Crown corporation to follow the “Buy in Canada” policy to create jobs in Canada rather than in eastern Europe?

1:10 p.m.

Liberal

Bill Morneau Liberal Toronto Centre, ON

Mr. Chair, we are certainly not trying to take responsibility for private sector boards of directors.

In putting forth the large enterprise financing facility, we've acknowledged that there may be occasions on which the federal government might want to have an observer status, but that is nothing like taking control of a board of directors.

1:10 p.m.

Conservative

Todd Doherty Conservative Cariboo—Prince George, BC

Can the minister table the documents that prohibit cabinet and the minister from providing direction to the board of Marine Atlantic, given that the minister is proposing $140 million for the Crown corporation in this year's estimates?

1:10 p.m.

Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Westmount Québec

Liberal

Marc Garneau LiberalMinister of Transport

Mr. Chair, in response to the question from my colleague, Marine Atlantic is a Crown corporation and makes its own decisions with respect to the acquisition of ferries.

1:10 p.m.

Conservative

Todd Doherty Conservative Cariboo—Prince George, BC

Mr. Chair, China has now alleged that pests were found in shipments of Canadian logs. Last year the Chinese Communist Party made similar egregious and unfounded allegations against Canadian canola, ultimately blocking shipments and causing devastating hardship for Canadian producers that is still being felt today.

Liberal inaction has already decimated our softwood lumber industry, which cannot afford another blow.

How does the government plan to address these allegations?

1:10 p.m.

Markham—Thornhill Ontario

Liberal

Mary Ng LiberalMinister of Small Business and Export Promotion

Mr. Chair, I want to thank the honourable member for that question.

The excellent quality of Canadian forestry products has allowed Canada to build confidence and trust among buyers around the world. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is committed to protecting Canada's farmers and produce and supporting trade and commerce opportunities.

Canada received notification of non-compliance from China related to the discovery of pests in the shipments of hardwood and softwood logs. Canada—

1:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Anthony Rota

Mr. Doherty, you may have a very brief question.

1:10 p.m.

Conservative

Todd Doherty Conservative Cariboo—Prince George, BC

How many Canadians are currently waiting for airline refunds?

1:10 p.m.

Liberal

Marc Garneau Liberal Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Westmount, QC

Mr. Chair, we do not have an exact number for the number of people who would like to have refunds; however, we are aware of the fact that many would like to have refunds.

In other circumstances I would encourage—and do encourage—the airlines to do the best they can to refund them.

1:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Anthony Rota

We'll now go to Mr. Nater.

1:10 p.m.

Conservative

John Nater Conservative Perth—Wellington, ON

Mr. Chair, the Canada emergency business account is still being denied to far too many small businesses. Under the new non-deferrable expenses stream, expenses such as the purchase of goods for resale are excluded, once again making many small businesses ineligible. Why?

1:10 p.m.

Liberal

Mary Ng Liberal Markham—Thornhill, ON

Mr. Chair, I'm pleased that 669,000 businesses have received this support. More businesses will get this support starting this Friday.

1:10 p.m.

Conservative

John Nater Conservative Perth—Wellington, ON

Mr. Chair, that doesn't answer the question. Under the new stream, many expenses that are normal to businesses, especially farm businesses, aren't eligible.

For example, for farmers and agribusinesses, the costs of livestock feed, seed and fertilizer are not considered non-deferrable expenses for the purposes of the Canada emergency business account.

What farms does the minister know of that don't have livestock feed, seed and fertilizer as expenses?

1:10 p.m.

Liberal

Mary Ng Liberal Markham—Thornhill, ON

Mr. Chair, it is exactly those farm businesses that we want to see helped through the Canada emergency business account, and non-deferrable expenses are exactly the expenses that this account and these loans will help those business with.

I look forward to continuing to work with our farming businesses across the country, and all businesses, so that they are supported through this difficult period.

1:10 p.m.

Conservative

John Nater Conservative Perth—Wellington, ON

Excluding livestock feed, fertilizer and seed from the calculation of expenses is actually excluding these farm businesses. Will the minister change those requirements?

1:10 p.m.

Liberal

Mary Ng Liberal Markham—Thornhill, ON

Throughout this entire time, we have worked steadfastly and then listened to feedback from businesses, and we will continue to do that. Nothing is more important to us than ensuring that our businesses are supported through these difficult times.

1:10 p.m.

Conservative

John Nater Conservative Perth—Wellington, ON

Mr. Chair, let me help the minister. One small change that would have an impact is to allow those without a business chequing account to access the Canada emergency business account. Will she make that change that we've been advocating for months?

1:10 p.m.

Liberal

Mary Ng Liberal Markham—Thornhill, ON

Those small businesses that operate on personal accounts are critical and important. During this difficult time, we absolutely want to ensure that they are supported, and we will—

1:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Anthony Rota

We will go back to Mr. Nater.