COVID-19 Pandemic Committee on June 18th, 2020

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

Its own departmental plan stated that transparency. I'm sure Jared from Subway would be very proud of that answer.

The departmental plan for the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions, also known as OSFI, signed by Minister Morneau, states its mandate is to protect, strengthen and stabilize the financial environment for taxpayers.

Another Order Paper question we have shows that the money spent on office furniture for OSFI over the last four years was almost $2 million for brand new furniture, despite the fact that PSPC has warehouses full of furniture available in Ottawa. How does almost $2 million in furniture for a small department of barely 400 people strengthen the financial environment for taxpayers?

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

Mr. Chair, since the beginning of this crisis we've put the priority on Canadians' health and safety. We're continuing to make sure we provide those services and programs. We have been concentrating on making sure businesses and workers are being supported effectively. We will continue to do this, and we want to prioritize the health and safety of Canadians.

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

That is laughable.

Does the minister realize that OSFI, in violation of Treasury Board Secretariat rules, broke up individual furniture purchases to just pennies under $25,000 per purchase order so it could sole-source purchases and not go to competitive bidding?

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, Québec, QC]

I will answer that question because it is about the Treasury Board.

Clearly, all Treasury Board policies must apply both in normal times and in times of emergency.

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

Does arranging purchases to avoid competitive bidding protect the financial environment for taxpayers, as noted in OSFI's departmental plan?

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, Québec, QC]

Mr. Chair, I can answer on behalf of the minister concerned and assure my colleague that all the rules in effect and currently known in the government are rigorously applied—

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

The President of the Treasury Board said all rules were in place.

There were four purchases made on December 30, from the exact same company, on the exact same day, every one of them pennies under the $25,000 mark to avoid going to a competitive bid. Does the President of the Treasury Board consider that to be following the regulations and the rules?

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, Québec, QC]

Mr. Chair, I can assure my colleague that the robust and regular processes apply in all circumstances, including in a time of emergency such as the one we have been experiencing for some weeks.

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

I'm going to quote for the Treasury Board president from his own rules, because he apparently doesn't realize them. The Treasury Board guidelines state, “Contract opportunities for goods over $25,000...must be advertised via the tendering service.”

OSFI has clearly violated this with 75 individual purchases, at pennies below the $25,000, often to the same company on the same day. Would the President of the Treasury Board perhaps consider doing his job and commit to taxpayers today that he will look at this disgraceful conduct of OSFI?

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, Québec, QC]

Mr. Chair, this allows me to express my full confidence in the thoroughness and rigour of the public servants in the Treasury Board, who are doing the work we expect of them and who will continue to do so.

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

We'll now continue with Ms. Atwin.

[Jenica Atwin, Green, Fredericton, NB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The cruel impact of systemic racism is not only felt through law enforcement; research, data and lived experiences have made it unequivocal. Racial discrimination immensely impacts the health of racialized and indigenous peoples. In some cases, it's an issue of life or death. Morever, the intersection of gender and racism amplifies the consequences—for instance, the documented practice of forced sterilization of indigenous women; undiagnosed endometriosis, where symptoms were dismissed or ignored for years far more often for women of colour; and the persistence of transphobia in how the hospitals are caring for our 2SLGBTQ+ community.

The government made a commitment last fall to work to support studies that take diversity, race and gender factors into account to improve women's health care.

My question is for the Minister of Health. When will we see action on this commitment in an effort to eliminate racism and systemic barriers in the health care system?

[Bardish Chagger, Liberal, Waterloo, ON]

Mr. Chair, I appreciate the question and the importance of this conversation. This is work that our government started doing when we were elected in 2015, and we will continue to build upon that work.

I agree with the member that there is more work to do, and that's exactly why I'm working with all departments and all agencies to make sure this work is happening. It's not just about public safety, it's also about health, it's also about equality and equity. It's about making better decisions informed by lived experiences. I can promise you that we are not only listening but engaging, and we're committed to actions and outcomes. This government, with everyone's help, will get it done.

[Jenica Atwin, Green, Fredericton, NB]

Mr. Chair, Fredericton is a riding crossed by a river. On an official map, I will read that its name is the Saint John, but for the Wolastoqiyik people, it's name is Wolastoq, meaning the beautiful and bountiful river. It is indeed beautiful.

For centuries, the river has been a source of friendship, trade and identity. We are witnessing here and around the world a movement to reclaim spaces. Colonial stories have been imposed on mountains, statues, streets and rivers across Canada in an effort to erase and rewrite.

If we want a culture to not only survive but thrive, it must be an integral part of our environment. Indigenous names of spaces are a powerful way to inscribe the landscape with meaning and show reverence.

My question is to the heritage minister. By working with first nation communities and respecting their jurisdiction and priorities, will his government lead initiatives to create public policies in recognition of indigenous place names?

[Steven Guilbeault, Liberal, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

I thank the member opposite for her question and advocacy in this matter.

As she well knows, in the last mandate we adopted a new bill, the Indigenous Languages Act, to help save, promote and foster indigenous languages and the revitalization of those languages. We are doing so in partnership with indigenous communities across the country and we will continue to do so, Mr. Chair.

[Jenica Atwin, Green, Fredericton, NB]

Mr. Chair, there are approximately six million people living with a disability in Canada. Before the pandemic, they were already struggling with inclusion, accessibility and poverty, and those issues have only been exacerbated.

This government prides itself on growing the middle class, but we must not forget that the true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members.

Can the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion share exactly how the government plans to support people living with a disability in the following months?

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, Québec, QC]

This is a very important question. We are all mindful of the additional and significant barriers that people living with disabilities have to fight and to live with in their particular circumstances. That's why we announced just a few days ago that we would be sending up to $600 of additional assistance to people living with disabilities.

Unfortunately, we didn't obtain the opportunity of debate on that last week—

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

We go back to Ms. Atwin.

[Jenica Atwin, Green, Fredericton, NB]

Will there be a new bill tabled in the near future that people can count on?

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, Québec, QC]

Mr. Chair, Canadians and all members of this House can count on the clear dedication and commitment of this government to support people with disabilities. We're going to look at all possible—

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

We go to Ms. Atwin.

[Jenica Atwin, Green, Fredericton, NB]

For my last remaining time, I'd just like to wish everyone a happy Father's Day. To my father Bob, to my husband Chris, and my stepfather Ronnie, thank you for all that you do.

Happy Fathers' Day!

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

We'll now go on to Ms. Kwan.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

I'll be sharing time with MP MacGregor.

There is massive confusion in the public about the eligibility rules for CERB. In the rules on the government's website, it says “are or expect to be without employment income or self-employment income for at least 14 consecutive days in the initial four-week period”, yet Parliamentary Secretary Adam Vaughan tweeted “apply.... you don't need to prove 14 days without any income.”

For those who followed Adam Vaughan's advice, can the Prime Minister confirm that they will not be penalized and criminalized under Bill C-17?

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, Québec, QC]

That's a very relevant question, because it does allude to the important role of the CERB, the Canada emergency response benefit that has helped eight million Canadians in the last few weeks to put bread on the table.

We're going to continue doing this, knowing that there are challenges ahead, and still ahead, unfortunately, for millions of Canadians.