Evidence of meeting #25 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 p.m.

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON

I was asking whether the snapshot would show Canada's $1-trillion debt.

1 p.m.

NDP

The Acting Chair NDP Carol Hughes

You have time to respond briefly, Minister Fortier.

1 p.m.

Liberal

Mona Fortier Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON

Madam Chair, as I was saying, on July 8, the government will provide an economic and budget overview outlining what the national economy and—

1 p.m.

NDP

The Acting Chair NDP Carol Hughes

The honourable member for Carleton.

1 p.m.

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON

For the third time, will the government's financial snapshot show a $1-trillion debt for this year, yes or no?

1 p.m.

NDP

The Acting Chair NDP Carol Hughes

The honourable minister has 11 seconds to respond.

1 p.m.

Liberal

Mona Fortier Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON

As the economies safely recover in Canada and abroad, economic forecasts are expected to keep evolving. Our government—

1 p.m.

NDP

The Acting Chair NDP Carol Hughes

The honourable member for Carleton.

1:05 p.m.

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON

According to MNP, a prestigious company, half of Canadians were $200 away from not being able to pay their bills at the end of each month. This was before the COVID-19 crisis.

Given the significant increase in personal and government debt, how many families would go bankrupt if the interest rate rose by 1%?

1:05 p.m.

NDP

The Acting Chair NDP Carol Hughes

You have time to provide a brief answer.

1:05 p.m.

Liberal

Mona Fortier Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON

From the start, the government has made sure to support families, workers and businesses so that they can get through these difficult times. We'll continue to support them during and after this crisis.

We'll inform Canadians—

1:05 p.m.

NDP

The Acting Chair NDP Carol Hughes

The honourable member for Carleton.

1:05 p.m.

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON

A 1% increase in the interest rate would push how many families into bankruptcy?

1:05 p.m.

NDP

The Acting Chair NDP Carol Hughes

You have 10 seconds, Minister Fortier.

1:05 p.m.

Liberal

Mona Fortier Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON

Once again, no Canadian should have to worry about paying bills or increased child care costs. We'll continue to support them during this crisis.

1:05 p.m.

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON

The Minister of Infrastructure claims that the government funded 52,000 infrastructure projects. Yesterday, the Parliamentary Budget Officer said that about 20,000 projects were missing from the list submitted by the government.

Will the government's financial snapshot provide all the details of each of these projects, yes or no?

1:05 p.m.

Ottawa Centre Ontario

Liberal

Catherine McKenna LiberalMinister of Infrastructure and Communities

Madam Chair, I have decided to make my response in English in response to the misleading words that were spoken in the House yesterday by the member for Carleton. I'd like to believe the member would not deliberately mislead the House, so I would ask that he retract and correct his false claim that the PBO said infrastructure projects are missing. In fact, the PBO report confirms—

1:05 p.m.

NDP

The Acting Chair NDP Carol Hughes

The honourable member for Carleton.

1:05 p.m.

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON

Thank you.

I have a simple question. If they exist, will the minister commit to providing the dates, amounts, locations and all the other details regarding the 52,000 projects, yes or no?

1:05 p.m.

Liberal

Catherine McKenna Liberal Ottawa Centre, ON

I'm asking the member for Carleton in French to correct what he said in Parliament, because it's false. We certainly submitted the 53,000 projects. I'm asking the member to correct what he said.

1:05 p.m.

NDP

The Acting Chair NDP Carol Hughes

The honourable member for Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, Mr. Albas.

1:05 p.m.

Conservative

Dan Albas Conservative Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC

Thank you, Madam Chair.

The Minister of Employment said on Tuesday that the CERB attestation will be changed. Could the government please inform this COVID-19 committee what the new attestation is?

1:05 p.m.

Liberal

Jean-Yves Duclos Liberal Québec, QC

Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm pleased to respond to this question.

The minister, and in fact the whole government, starting with the Prime Minister, did announce that the attestation would be changed. It will be changed soon.

1:05 p.m.

Conservative

Dan Albas Conservative Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC

I asked, Madam Chair, for the new attestation. Would the minister please read out the attestation so Canadians can know what they will be attesting to?

1:05 p.m.

Liberal

Jean-Yves Duclos Liberal Québec, QC

The member is correctly asking for information on that particular matter, and that information will be provided when it is ready.