COVID-19 Pandemic Committee on June 18th, 2020

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

I want to reiterate that we made a firm commitment. We're speaking with the representatives of these sectors. They also understand that we're currently focusing all our energy on immediately responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, we've taken various measures, including the establishment of the Canada emergency business account, which can amount to up to $670 million for producers.

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

I'm pleased that we're talking about the measures. Currently, almost all the assistance measures lead to farm debt. The farms need oxygen instead. We need the announcement and compensation payments now. The needs are urgent in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Can we have a date? We know about the commitments. We want a date.

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

I'm not in a position to provide a specific date at this time. However, I can assure the member that we remain firmly committed to compensating dairy farmers for the agreement with the United States and Mexico. This also applies to all supply-managed producers for the three agreements.

[The Acting Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

We will go to the honourable member for Bonavista—Burin—Trinity, Mr. Rogers.

[Churence Rogers, Liberal, Bonavista—Burin—Trinity, NL]

Madam Chair, I'd like to begin by stating that I am sharing my time with the member for Davenport.

Madam Chair, in my riding of Bonavista—Burin—Trinity, many individuals and local businesses depend heavily on the fishing industry. We've been struggling since the onset of COVID-19. Many have seen a reduction in income and opportunities as a result of shortened catching seasons and increased costs from purchasing personal protective equipment to keep employees safe as they return to work, among other new and unexpected expenses.

Madam Chair, in April the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans announced a seafood stabilization fund to help processors increase their capacity and access the domestic retail market. This includes funds to improve and expand refrigeration and freezing systems and to purchase or operate manufacturing and automated technologies that improve seafood quality and productivity and will help harvesters and processors for years to come.

Can the minister update this House and the industry on how they can apply for this fund so that it will support the fishing industry and the local economy in my home province of Newfoundland and Labrador and throughout our coastal communities from coast to coast to coast?

[Bernadette Jordan, Liberal, Minister of Fisheries]

Madam Chair, I want to thank the member from Bonavista—Burin—Trinity for the question. Being a member from a coastal community, he knows how important the fish and seafood sector is to our local economies.

Madam Chair, yesterday we were able to announce the opening of the seafood stabilization fund. People will now be able to apply for that fund starting on June 22. This fund of $62.5 million is aimed at processors, who will be able to retool their facilities in order to increase capacity with fridges and freezers as well as make sure that they have available PPE to make sure that their workers stay safe.

We also opened the fish and seafood opportunities fund, which is going to give us an ability to directly market to the domestic market. Seeing as there are challenges in the export market and since we know that the fish and seafood sector is an extremely important part of our economy, we're encouraging Canadians to purchase local, healthy seafood.

Madam Chair, we're going to continue to work with our fish and seafood sector to make sure that they're able to provide for our rural and coastal communities.

[The Acting Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

Now we have the member for Davenport.

[Julie Dzerowicz, Liberal, Davenport, ON]

Madam Chair, pride season is in full swing here in my riding of Davenport, across Toronto, and indeed right across our nation. Many in June celebrate LGBTQ2+ communities from coast to coast to coast for their resilience, spirit and solidarity.

In true Canadian fashion, pride is celebrated year-round, throughout the summer and well into the winter months. This year, you and I may not get a chance to physically take part in the electric vibe of Toronto's streets during the annual pride parade, one of the largest, loudest and most fun parades in the country. We may also not get the chance to join the circus and the burlesque artists, singers, dancers, comedians and all the performers at the Montreal Pride Festival, and in other parts of the country we may not be able to gather to celebrate together as a community.

However, one thing's for sure. No matter where you are, no matter when and no matter how you participate, the message remains the same: Pride is the celebration of a resilient community, the vibrancy of its rich and enduring traditions and its relentless determination to fight for its rights.

Can the Minister for Diversity and Inclusion and Youth tell this chamber what our government is doing to make sure we are continuing conversations and working with LGBTQ2+ Canadians while helping them fight oppression and discrimination?

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

Chair, I thank the member for her commitment to Canada's vibrant and diverse populations, especially in her wonderful riding of Davenport. This pride season we reflect on the resilience, spirit and solidarity inherent in LGBTQ2 communities who have long fought injustice and oppression.

It should be known that pride events were started as a protest against injustice by black and racialized trans women, yet we still continue the battle to fight anti-black racism and other forms of oppression in our country. Our government is committed to supporting LGBTQ2 communities and to achieving equality and inclusion for all.

In 2017, Bill C-16 received royal assent. It enshrines gender identity and gender expression into the Canadian Human Rights Act and tackles discrimination against LGBTQ2 people. This year we tabled Bill C-8 to combat the destructive practice of conversion therapy, and for those who are working relentlessly on the ground, we invested a historic $20 million in community organizations to build capacity.

This pride season, although we are celebrating and reflecting more virtually, we honour the people who have brought us to where we are and we look to where we want to go.

Madam Chair, while I'm on my feet, I'd like to wish all celebrating a happy pride.

[The Acting Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

Mr. Boulerice, you have the floor.

[Alexandre Boulerice, NDP, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

Madam Chair, I'll be sharing my time with the member for Edmonton Strathcona.

Yesterday the Liberal government received quite a slap in the face when it failed to win a seat on the UN Security Council.

Did the Liberal government fail to win the seat because it's completely missing the greenhouse gas reduction targets?

[Karina Gould, Liberal, Burlington, ON]

Madam Chair, I can confirm that Canada is part of the fight against climate change, because it is very important for us. It was also a part of our platform as we sought to win a seat on the United Nations Security Council. We have devoted a lot of effort to it because we feel that the fight is very important.

[Alexandre Boulerice, NDP, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

Did the Liberals fail to obtain a seat on the United Nations Security Council because they forgot Africa and because they put an end to the peacekeeping mission in Mali after only a few months?

[Karina Gould, Liberal, Burlington, ON]

My thanks to my colleague for his question.

Canada is committed to Africa. I have had a number of conversations with our African partners.

As soon as we came to power in 2015, we made the major commitment—

[The Acting Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

Mr. Boulerice, the floor is yours.

[Alexandre Boulerice, NDP, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

Madam Chair, did the Liberals fail at the United Nations because they did not stand up for the rights of the Palestinian people enough?

[Karina Gould, Liberal, Burlington, ON]

Madam Chair, as I have said on a number of occasions, Canada is involved in finding a two-state solution in the Middle East. It is important to be a friend of the people of Israel—

[The Acting Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

Mr. Boulerice, the floor is yours.

[Alexandre Boulerice, NDP, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

Madam Chair, did the Liberals fail at the United Nations just because they continue to sell arms to the kingdom of Saudi Arabia?

[Karina Gould, Liberal, Burlington, ON]

Madam Chair, as I have said on a number of occasions, Canada will always stand up for human rights. We—

[The Acting Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

Mr. Boulerice, the floor is yours.

[Alexandre Boulerice, NDP, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

Madam Chair, did the Liberals fail at the United Nations because the Liberal government's foreign aid is less than it was during the Stephen Harper government, going from 0.34% of GDP to only 0.28% of GDP?

[The Acting Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

Madam Minister, this will be your final answer.

[Karina Gould, Liberal, Burlington, ON]

Madam Chair, I am very proud of our investments in international aid. We have established a new feminist policy based on human rights and gender equality . We are proud—

[The Acting Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

We will go to the honourable member for Edmonton Strathcona.