COVID-19 Pandemic Committee on May 5th, 2020

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

Mr. Chair, I'm sharing my time slot with the member for Surrey—Newton.

In the wake of COVID-19, so many Canadians have been affected in so many ways. Financial loss and other burdens are having a huge impact on families across our country. I'm proud of how the Government of Canada has been beside Canadians through every step of this pandemic and has supported Canadians when they needed it most.

In Bonavista—Burin—Trinity and across our country, our commercial fishery has seen many challenges and impacts. Last week, my colleague, the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, announced an investment that will ensure resilience of the food system by allowing Canada's fish and seafood processing sector to safely and efficiently process, store, package and distribute healthy, high-quality products on to the plates of Canadians.

The fish harvesters in my riding are fearful of what will happen within this industry and their immediate futures. They are facing a reduction in available markets and market prices. They are asking what our government is putting in place to assist in these extremely challenging times.

When can we expect to hear an answer to our harvesters' requests for assistance?

[Bernadette Jordan, Liberal, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

Mr. Chair, I want to thank my colleague from Bonavista—Burin—Trinity for keeping us well aware of what's happening in his riding with harvesters and with processors. We know how important the fish and seafood sector is to our rural communities, our coastal communities. It's the backbone and the lifeblood of our communities and that's why we want to be there to support them.

We've already taken steps by making sure that the CERB is now able to be accessed by people who are seasonal workers. As well, we are making sure that people who are running out of fishers EI are also able to qualify for it. We also have made an investment of $62.5 million to support our processors to make sure they are able to be ready for the challenges that they are going to face because of COVID-19.

We know there is more to do. We know that the harvesters need support. We are working with our partners across industry to make sure we're hearing what their major concerns are. We know they are going to have some very challenging times this season. We will have more to say about that and what we will be able to do in the coming days.

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

The next questioner is Mr. Dhaliwal.

[Sukh Dhaliwal, Liberal, Surrey—Newton, BC]

Mr. Chair, in my riding of Surrey—Newton, I'm in close contact with businesses that represent all—

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

We have a point of order.

Mr. Kurek.

[Damien Kurek, Conservative, Battle River—Crowfoot, AB]

Sorry, but there seems to be an issue with the audio. I'm unable to hear the honourable member.

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

It is very faint. Mr. Dhaliwal, can you check your audio to make sure everything's working well?

[Sukh Dhaliwal, Liberal, Surrey—Newton, BC]

It was—

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

There we go. It's fine now. I think what happened was the boom had fallen down and it wasn't being picked up. There you go. Very good.

[Sukh Dhaliwal, Liberal, Surrey—Newton, BC]

Mr. Chair, in my riding of Surrey—Newton, I'm in close contact with businesses that represent all vantage points in the supply chain—from manufacturers to retailers, transport companies to warehousing. With provinces and territories moving at different speeds and implementing different protocols for reopening the economy, there is a lot of confusion in my local business community on the timing and logistics of how this will happen. With so many different parts of the supply chain operating in different jurisdictions, and with each business serving unique roles on this spectrum, how can the federal government serve to best coordinate with the provinces and territories so that the supply chain can be implemented smoothly as we embark on our economic recovery?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

Mr. Chair, I'd like to thank my colleague for his question and for his hard work.

One of the most important things the federal government can do when it comes to the reopening of the Canadian economy is to work in close collaboration with the premiers of the provinces and territories. That's why I was so pleased that last week the Prime Minister, together with all the first ministers of the country, was able to issue a statement around the principles that will be guiding our entire country as we move towards a restart.

This is so important because, as my colleague has pointed out, all of our business, our economic activity, happens across the country. It happens across provincial and territorial boundaries.

I would really also like to take this opportunity to thank the first ministers across the country. They belong to different parties, but everyone has really been able to put partisanship aside. We have been able to work together in fighting coronavirus, and we are going to work together in the future to keep on fighting coronavirus and to reopen Canada.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

The next question goes to Ms. McPherson.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair, for the opportunity to represent my constituents virtually during this challenging period of physical distancing.

I'd like to start by asking about supports for workers. In Alberta, meat-packing plants are directly responsible for nearly a quarter of all COVID-19 cases. The government and management ignored the pleas of workers and did not put effective safety protocols in place to deal with COVID-19. Now, two workers are dead, at least six more are in intensive care and COVID-19 is spreading like wildfire through these communities. There are over 1,400 cases.

Yesterday, employees were forced back to work even though their concerns had not been addressed. On March 27, regarding the CERB, the Minister of Finance said that if workers don't feel comfortable in their work, if they decide to stay home, they can apply for the benefit, yet the website says differently.

Will the minister guarantee that every Canadian receiving CERB, EI or the CESB will not lose their benefits if they refuse to return to work or to accept work that is unsafe due to COVID-19?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

Let me thank the member, first of all, for her really very important question. I think all of us share the concern for Canada's essential workers who are keeping us safe, putting food on our tables and often working in difficult conditions.

When it comes to the Cargill plant, this is an issue that our government has been very closely engaged in. My colleague, the Minister of Agriculture, has spoken with her provincial counterpart and the head of the plant. The decisions about suspending and reopening are taken by local and provincial health authorities.

To the question my colleague asked about workers, it is absolutely the case that no Canadian should feel they need to work in an environment that is unsafe, and it is also very much the case that any Canadian who is feeling unwell should stay at home. This is the way that collectively we take care of ourselves and we take care—

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

We will go on to Ms. McPherson for the next question.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

I just want to be clear, because I'm not a hundred per cent sure that I got an answer in that response, so I'll try one more time. Knowing that workers have a fundamental right to refuse unsafe work, can the minister confirm one hundred per cent that if workers refuse unsafe work, they will be able to access the CERB, or was the Minister of Finance incorrect when he spoke on March 27?

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

The honourable minister.

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

I'm sorry, but I was struggling with my mute button. I apologize.

Let me just be very clear. No Canadian worker at any time should feel obliged to go to work in unsafe conditions.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

But then could they access the CERB?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

In a time of coronavirus that is even more the case, and the government of course should not penalize workers for doing the right thing and declining to go to work in unsafe conditions.

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I want to remind the honourable members to place their questions through the Chair to avoid back and forth, just to try to keep some order in the meeting.

Ms. McPherson, please continue.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

I'm sorry, Chair.

I have another question on the protection for workers. At the meat-packing plant, workers are calling for the plant to be shut down. In fact, we know that 85% of workers are afraid for their safety.

If the provincial government won't shut down the plant, will the federal government shut down unsafe plants through the Canadian Food Inspection Agency?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

Mr. Chair, on the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, let me be very clear that my colleague, the Minister of Agriculture, has been in touch with provincial authorities. She has been in touch with the plant.

The duties of the food inspection agency, of course, are to ensure that the food produced at the plant is safe. That is what inspectors are trained to do and what they are focused on.

We are working closely with provincial authorities and with health authorities to ensure that—

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

We will go back to Ms. McPherson.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Mr. Chair, this will be one of my final questions on the meat-packing plant in Alberta.

Can the finance minister please let us know if Cargill, a company that is owned by billionaires, with business in Luxembourg, a known tax haven, has received any federal funding this year for COVID-related support?