COVID-19 Pandemic Committee on June 18th, 2020

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Like all Canadians, I was deeply disappointed to learn that Canada has once again failed to secure a seat on the United Nations Security Council. We failed under Stephen Harper's Conservatives, and Canada has now failed under this government as well.

When the Prime Minister announced in 2015 that Canada was back, it was an acknowledgement of how far Canada had fallen behind in our historical role on the world stage. Despite that proud declaration, this government has done little about it, and this rejection of Canada by UN member nations is a resounding condemnation of the failure of both the Conservatives and the Liberals to understand and seriously commit to a strong international effort.

I have a series of questions for the Prime Minister. You promised to increase Canada's support to UN peacekeeping efforts with 600 military members and 150 policy officers, yet UN figures show there were only 35 Canadians deployed on peacekeeping missions at the end of April. Ireland, with a population equivalent to Alberta, had 473 peacekeepers in the—

[Sylvie Bérubé, Bloc, Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC]

Madam Chair, a point of order. I am not getting the interpretation.

[The Acting Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

Okay.

I will stop the timer.

Are you on the English channel?

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

I am.

[The Acting Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

While we're waiting to fix this problem, I want to also remind the member that she is to address questions to the chair and not to individual members.

Is the interpretation working now?

Who raised a point of order?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages]

I did, Madam Chair.

The problem with the interpretation is not just because of problems with the technology. It's also because people are speaking very quickly. Our interpreters are having difficulty following what they are saying. Out of regard for the official languages and for the bilingualism in the House, but also sparing a thought for the work of the interpreters, I feel that honourable members should take care with their delivery when they are speaking.

[The Acting Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

My thanks to the honourable member for her comment.

We must make sure that the interpreters are able to translate what we are saying. If you have questions that are already written down, it is important to give them to the interpreters.

A number of honourable members do in fact speak very quickly. They must bear in mind that the translation has to be available to all members. To that end, everyone must use the headset they have been given, not the microphone in the computer. Let us move on.

Ms. McPherson, could you wrap up? Only a minute and 15 seconds are left. We did add the additional time, and we stopped the time while the intervention was going on. If you would like an answer—

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Madam Chair, on a point of order, I didn't actually receive the answer to my question.

[The Acting Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

That's right, and now you will want the answer. I am just saying that the answer may end up taking the full time of your question.

The honourable minister may reply.

[Karina Gould, Liberal, Burlington, ON]

Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you to my honourable colleague for her question. I do want to recognize that she has a long history and a long experience in international affairs, and I appreciate that. I know that we share many of the same values and objectives.

When it comes to Canada's role on the world stage, she is right that we had a lot of work to do in terms of rebuilding from the decade when Canada pulled out under Stephen Harper. We had to do a lot of repairing of Canada's reputation, and those are all things we have been working on over the past four and a half years

When it comes to peacekeeping, we were proud to participate in the Mali mission. Earlier this year, in January, I had the opportunity to visit Operation Crocodile and the incredible Canadian personnel who represent our armed forces, work there in leadership positions and are incredibly well received and valued. I know that all of our Canadian Armed Forces members who participate in peace operations are tremendously valued.

Canada has been very much engaged in creating the Elsie initiative to make sure we are supporting, encouraging and increasing the role of women in peacekeeping. When it comes to women, peace and security, Canada has leaned in, both in terms of our national—

[The Acting Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

We will go to the honourable member for Edmonton Mill Woods, Mr. Uppal.

[Tim Uppal, Conservative, Edmonton Mill Woods, AB]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

This government continues to fund projects in Ethiopia. The Prime Minister actually met with the Ethiopian prime minister earlier this year. Were concerns raised about human rights abuses and political violence targeting the Oromo people, or were you more concerned about getting support for your failed UN Security Council bid?

[The Acting Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

I remind the member that he is to address the questions to the chair.

The honourable minister may reply.

[Karina Gould, Liberal, Burlington, ON]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I would remind all members that Canada always stands for human rights, and we raise them at every opportunity, all around the world. We are confident and committed in this endeavour.

I would also say that the work we have done in—

[The Acting Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

We will go back to Mr. Uppal.

[Tim Uppal, Conservative, Edmonton Mill Woods, AB]

Madam Chair, I've heard from several small businesses in Edmonton Mill Woods, and actually right across the country, regarding business bank loans they have that are now up for renewal. Because of COVID, their revenues are down, and the collateral they provide, which is most likely the building they operate out of, may not appraise at the same value. They are concerned that the banks will recall these loans and that they will lose everything.

Has the government had discussions with banks regarding this situation and encouraged them to work with businesses?

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

We've been working throughout this pandemic with the credit unions and the financial institutions to make sure that we provide the supports the businesses need, and we will continue to do that during the next steps.

[Tim Uppal, Conservative, Edmonton Mill Woods, AB]

Madam Chair, the CEO of Cequence Energy stated that the supports for the oil and gas sector are deceitful. He went on to say, “I feel like it was a fanfare by the federal government to try and provide window dressing to an industry that I am not sure it supports.”

Simply put, Madam Chair, more needs to be done to support the oil and gas sector. Will this government provide real support for the oil and gas sector, as it promised to do back in March?

[Dan Vandal, Liberal, Minister of Northern Affairs]

Madam Chair, the oil sector and its workers continue to be affected by COVID-19 and the global surge in oil supply. Our government has taken action, including providing funding to B.C., Alberta, and Saskatchewan, that will clean up as many as 40,000 inactive and abandoned wells while creating thousands of jobs.

In fact, a study by AltaCorp Capital said this money could double the entire market for well abandonment reclamation work in western Canada and is projected to create up to 15,000 to 21,000—

[The Acting Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

We will go back to Mr. Uppal.

[Tim Uppal, Conservative, Edmonton Mill Woods, AB]

Madam Chair, we have heard time and time again that the current support is just not enough. In fact, analogies that many stakeholders are using include “loan sharking” and “payday loans” to describe the conditions for the help that is available.

The government has gutted Alberta's energy sector and taken advantage of its prosperity for far too long, and now, in a time of crisis, it is continuing to show them the cold shoulder.

On what date will this government provide real help to help Alberta's oil and gas sector get back on track?

[Dan Vandal, Liberal, Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB]

Madam Chair, nothing could be further from the truth. Our government understands that businesses in the energy sector are dealing with unprecedented challenges.

Through the BCAP, we are helping SMEs that make up to 85% of the jobs in the sector have access to the liquidity they need to cover operational expenses during this very challenging time.

Many companies are indeed working with their financial institutions—more than 120 financial institutions, I may add—and we—

[The Acting Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

We will go back to Mr. Uppal.

[Tim Uppal, Conservative, Edmonton Mill Woods, AB]

Madam Chair, there's still no clarity surrounding the extension to the emergency wage subsidy. Small businesses still can't plan for their staffing levels because they don't know if they will qualify for the extension.

What will the extension of the emergency wage subsidy look like?

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

Madam Chair, Canadians should be confident that their jobs are safe as we continue to fight the global COVID-19 outbreak. That's why we are working to expand the emergency wage subsidy until the end of August, and we will continue to monitor and—