COVID-19 Pandemic Committee on May 6th, 2020

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

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you to our colleague for mentioning inequalities in her question, because one of the impacts of a crisis like this one is not only to make previous inequalities even worse, but also to generate new inequalities. That is why we introduced those very important measures, very quickly, very efficiently and in a manner that was equitable and targeted to those individuals, many of the millions of Canadians who have unfortunately lost or still don't have any income to make ends meet.

That's why we have moved quickly, and 7.5 million Canadians are now in receipt of the Canada emergency response benefit. We know there is more to do, and that's why we will continue to work.

[Mumilaaq Qaqqaq, NDP, Nunavut, NU]

Madam Chair, it's really frustrating to have to stand here and say the same things over and over again, and continuously hear over and over again, “We know there are inequalities.” Where is the action? We hear nice words. Where is the backup for decreasing those gaps and eliminating these barriers?

We're talking a lot about business. In my riding in particular, we rely very heavily on airlines. That's our transportation. It brings in our medical supplies. It brings in essential workers. It's our lifeline.

Canadian North alone is spending between $1.5 million and $2 million a week, and the government has said that it will contribute $5 million. That barely covers about two weeks when you look at the numbers.

It would be absolutely great to see what the Liberal government plans on doing to support northern airlines.

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC]

I thank the member for her question.

As she knows, and as all Canadians should know, air transport to the north is an essential service. To that end, the Government of Canada provided up to $17.3 million to the governments of Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut to support northern air carriers and the continuance and consistency of flights and travel into the territories to provide an essential service that we take for granted here in the south.

That included $3.6 million for Yukon, $8.7 million for Northwest Territories and $5 million for Nunavut, and I'm pleased to say, Madam Chair —

[The Acting Chair (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès), Liberal, Alexandra Mendes]

We recognize Mr. Shields.

[Martin Shields, Conservative, Bow River, AB]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

It's a privilege to be in the House again. It's where my constituents believe we should be. This type of session we are having should be happening more often, because that's what my constituents are demanding of me. It's a privilege and an honour to be here, and at my age, I value every minute I can get here.

The government has known for a long time that the business risk management programs for the agriculture sector need to be reformed. With less than 31% of them buying in and an insurance program with very high rates and very low returns, it is broken.

Will the minister acknowledge that there is a problem with the business risk management programs?

[The Acting Chair (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès), Liberal, Alexandra Mendes]

The honourable minister has the floor.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I can reassure my colleague. It is important to remember that risk management programs are cost shared. The federal government's contribution accounts for 60%, and the contribution of provincial governments accounts for 40%. Since July of last year, we have been working together to find solutions and improve our risk management programs.

[Martin Shields, Conservative, Bow River, AB]

Would the minister commit to a timeline by which it needs to be fixed?

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

Madam Chair, once again, it is a matter of establishing an agreement with all the provinces and territories to make changes to the risk management program. In the meantime, we have made certain improvements in terms of administration, and to the AgriRecovery program just yesterday.

[Martin Shields, Conservative, Bow River, AB]

You've announced a new program. It's for livestock feeders. This is really critical. There are hundreds of thousands of animals at risk. How will the producers apply? When will they get the money?

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

Madam Chair, the AgriRecovery program is administered by the provinces. So the amounts we announced yesterday—$50 million for beef producers and $50 million for pork producers—will be administered by the provinces. The exceptional thing about what we did was accepting to open the program in all the provinces and territories. The Government of Canada's 60% contribution has been accepted. Each province must now confirm its contribution. In all the cases, Canada will provide its contribution.

[Martin Shields, Conservative, Bow River, AB]

Madam Chair, with hundreds of thousands of animals at risk today, that has to move, because they are in the process of euthanasia. Leverage that. Move it. You are saying it is a partnership; well, then you need to exert your level to make that partnership work.

Since new PMPRB regulations were proposed, companies have held off applying for Canadian approval for life-saving drugs. Health Canada registrations for new clinical trials have dropped dramatically. Would the minister acknowledge that drop in applications?

[The Acting Chair (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès), Liberal, Alexandra Mendes]

The floor belongs to the honourable Minister of Health.

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON]

Madam Chair, we know that during this unprecedented time of coronavirus, the entire world has turned its attention to drugs that will help treat this disease. We know that it's a challenging time for drug manufacturers as well, as they search for a cure to COVID-19.

Certainly we're keeping our eye on the applications to Canada and we are working to ensure that Canadians will always have access to the drugs that they need and deserve.

[Martin Shields, Conservative, Bow River, AB]

Diseases like cystic fibrosis desperately need drugs that are available and approved now in other countries. Will this government stop those PMPRB changes before the July 1 implementation date?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON]

Madam Chair, as I responded to his colleague, we are focused on ensuring that Canadians have affordable medication that meets their needs and that can be delivered at a cost Canadians can afford, and so we continue the work that we started in our previous mandate.

In regard to the specific drug that I assumed the member is referring to, that applicant has yet to apply to Canada to market its drug here.

[Martin Shields, Conservative, Bow River, AB]

Under a program the government announced for those with property and lease and rental, you have to have a mortgage. I have a construction company and an owner who has two strip malls within blocks of each other. On one, he has paid the mortgage, and the other he hasn't. One lease is going to qualify and the other doesn't.

Is that gap going to be corrected?

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

Madame Chair, as Canadians take action in the fight against COVID-19, we know that many small businesses are worried about being able to pay rent. In recognition of this challenge, our government has reached an agreement with provinces and territories to implement the Canada emergency commercial rent assistance for small businesses, and we will be delivering this with the provinces and territories.

[The Acting Chair (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès), Liberal, Alexandra Mendes]

The Chair recognizes Mr. Morrison.

[Rob Morrison, Conservative, Kootenay—Columbia, BC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I understand a criminal with COVID-19 was released from prison. He was convicted of 10 gun offences. I wonder why violent criminals are being released. Like the minister, I know from experience in law enforcement that stats are a baseline for decisions. Decisions can be based on number of homicides, the number where guns were used, and lastly the number of individuals responsible who were in possession of an acquisition licence and a legal gun.

Madam Chair, I did some research, and I'm sure the minister did as well, to determine the number of legal gun owners responsible for these crimes. It is a very small number.

Can the minister tell us the percentage of those with a legal PAL versus the individuals with no PAL who used illegal guns when committing the offences?

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

Madam Chair, I think it's very important that we recognize the weapons that were prohibited by our actions last week. These are weapons that were not designed for any other purpose than for soldiers to kill soldiers. They were intended to be used for killing, they're designed for killing and they have been used for killing. They have been used in Canada at École Polytechnique. They have been used in Quebec at the Quebec mosque, they've been used in Moncton to kill RCMP officers, they've been used in Fredericton to kill other police officers, and very tragically, just in the past few weeks, they've been used yet again, so we have acted.

In the time of COVID there are many things that have changed in this country, but some things have not, and it does not diminish our responsibility to take action necessary to keep people safe. We know that gun violence has not decreased during this period of pandemic. We know that domestic violence has actually increased across this country. We were reminded only a few weeks ago that leaving these types of weapons in the wrong hands can end in terrible death and tragedy.

[Rob Morrison, Conservative, Kootenay—Columbia, BC]

Madam Chair, not providing an answer is what I expected.

As the number is so low, would the minister agree the buyback program funding would be, based on these low stats, better put into funding for the RCMP integrated border enforcement team and the CBSA to enhance border enforcement, to reduce the trafficking of illegal firearms and to once and for all target gangs and organized crime, as they are the individuals who are committing these crimes?

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

This was before the member joined this House, but I would remind him that back in 2013, a former Conservative government cut hundreds of millions of dollars and thousands of staff positions from both our border services and the RCMP. They ended the funding that was available to municipal police services. When we came into government, we introduced a program to allow $347 million for law enforcement across this country to deal with guns and gangs. His new colleagues voted against that. They voted against the $89 million we put into stronger border measures.

I look forward, given the member's comments, to his support for the measures that we will bring forward in the near future to strengthen gun control and to strengthen our border measures.

[Rob Morrison, Conservative, Kootenay—Columbia, BC]

Madam Chair, Canada has more than 1.1 million small businesses. They employ 8.3 million people. This sector contributes 40% of Canada's entire economic output, yet every day I'm hearing too many stories of businesses falling through the government's process cracks.

One story is about Finley's Bar and Grill, a restaurant in the mountain town of Nelson, B.C. It employed over 50 people prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. It has recently begun to rehire based on a promise of a 75% wage subsidy. However, of the 12 employees it was able to hire, only five qualified for a wage subsidy. The remaining seven did not qualify due to a technicality created by this government.

Madam Chair, when will the government move to secure a future for small businesses, and the workers they employ, by removing criteria such as a 14-day clause and a payroll test?

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

Madame Chair, since day one we have been providing an economic response to support small businesses across the country. I had the privilege of talking with many of the chambers of commerce to try to find solutions to help those businesses.

The Canada emergency wage subsidy supports businesses. We know they are the hardest hit. The subsidy covers 75% of an employee's wages for employers of all sizes and across all sectors that have been hard hit by COVID-19.