COVID-19 Pandemic Committee on May 7th, 2020

[Bill Morneau, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Chair, I want to let the member know that we are working to make sure that the details of the emergency program for rent are out there so that both tenants and landlords can understand the situation.

We're seeing a significant number of both landlords and tenants coming forward to register for this program, and we are convinced that it will be in the best interests of landlords to move forward and give tenants this relief.

[James Cumming, Conservative, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Mr. Chair, we've been hearing, however, from small business owners that their landlords don't find the government's rent relief program appealing enough.

Can the government confirm, given the program's low eligibility rate, that the program will be expanded and be more efficient in helping tenants?

[Bill Morneau, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

Mr. Chair, we recognize that it's critically important that all of the details of this program be out there for landlords and tenants to understand. Those details are being worked on right now. This is a program that we've put out within the last week, and we are confident that it's in the best interests of tenants and landlords.

[James Cumming, Conservative, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Mr. Chair, during these trying times for small businesses, small businesses need all the help they can get. One easy way to do that would be to expand the Canada summer jobs program to businesses with over 50 employees.

Will the government consider doing so to allow students to gain that very valuable work experience over the coming months?

[Carla Qualtrough, Liberal, Minister of Employment]

Mr. Chair, we are very excited about the uptake of the Canada summer jobs program this year. The second uptake provided employers across the country with the ability to add their needs for students to the mix. I'm looking forward to announcing a possible expansion of this program in the coming days.

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

The next question session will go to Mr. Dowdall.

[Terry Dowdall, Conservative, Simcoe—Grey, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

During this pandemic, the government has consistently called for a team Canada, non-partisan approach, and I was glad to hear that said a little earlier today. In fact, the public has called for that approach as well. However, at the same time, the current government has used a parliamentary back door to launch a poorly thought out gun ban.

We have a government that didn't win the popular vote, and I'm just wondering how I explain to my residents, because I'm getting so many calls, that this is not a bloated response because, quite frankly, it is.

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

First of all, Mr. Chair, I think the honourable member can explain to his constituents that the forming of regulations through order in council is actually the process prescribed in law in Canada under section 117.15 of the Criminal Code.

I would also invite the member to advise his constituents that way back in 1991, when there were some Conservatives who called themselves “Progressive”, the Mulroney government brought forward, in Bill C-17, the authority under that section for an order in council to prescribe specific makes, models and variants of military firearms as prohibited or restricted.

The Harper government used the same tool—

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

We'll go back to Mr. Dowdall.

[Terry Dowdall, Conservative, Simcoe—Grey, ON]

I'm not sure, but I'm hoping, that I'll get an honest answer on this question from the minister, who has everything from rocket launchers to basically toy guns on the ban list.

When will we get the cost of this buyback program?

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I want to remind the honourable members to please be careful in their language when they are referring to others. I won't comment on this one particularly, but I want all of you to be very, very careful when referring to other members.

The honourable minister.

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

It's a good opportunity, Mr. Chair, to respond to some of the obfuscations and deceptions that have been put out there. We're not banning any toys and we're not banning shotguns. That's all misinformation that's being put out.

I think it's very clear, and I invite the member to look at the list of weapons that are—

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

We'll go back to Mr. Dowdall.

[Terry Dowdall, Conservative, Simcoe—Grey, ON]

Thank you.

What will be the cost of the buyback program, please?

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

Actually, I'm very much looking forward to bringing forward legislation as soon as the House resumes. We will have a vigorous debate in Parliament about the form a buyback will take and we will bring forward a budget at that time.

[Terry Dowdall, Conservative, Simcoe—Grey, ON]

Will those with illegal weapons be eligible for the buyback program?

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

If people are illegally in possession of the weapons and they're committing a crime, they will be dealt with for the crimes they commit.

[Terry Dowdall, Conservative, Simcoe—Grey, ON]

Okay. I'm going to switch it over.

Canadians in my riding who suffer from cystic fibrosis are among the most vulnerable to COVID-19 infection. While these Canadians with existing lung conditions are incredibly worried about a virus that attacks the ability to breathe, the good news is that there are life-saving medicines for those with CF. The problem is with the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board and its restrictive guidelines.

I am wondering if and when the government will correct these guidelines and give access to life-saving medicines for our most vulnerable.

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Chair, as you know, the government has been very committed to improving access and affordability for prescription medications for all Canadians. The PMPRB regulatory amendments will help Canadians be able to afford their prescriptions, and Canada will continue to be an important market for new medicines.

In fact, many countries with much lower medicine prices gained access to new medicines in the same time frame as Canada frame, or even faster, so we are excited to do this work.

[Terry Dowdall, Conservative, Simcoe—Grey, ON]

Mr. Chair, our seniors are being particularly hard hit right now during this pandemic, yet seniors have not been given any direct support. It's one of the number one calls I'm getting in my office. Funding to charities like the United Way is being labelled as support for seniors, but most won't see any of this support. Seniors in my riding have asked for an increase in their CPP and OAS, and to be able to make untaxed bulk withdrawals from their RRSPs while they still have some value.

Can the minister confirm when these real and direct supports for seniors will be forthcoming?

[Deb Schulte, Liberal, Minister of Seniors]

I want to assure the honourable member and Canadians that our government has been working extremely hard on how best to support and serve seniors during this pandemic. He mentioned [Technical difficulty—Editor].

I'm not quite sure what's happening with my machine. I apologize.

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

You might want to try your space bar and keep it down while you're speaking. That might solve the problem.

[Deb Schulte, Liberal, King—Vaughan, ON]

Okay, I'll try that. Thank you very much.

I want to assure the honourable member and Canadians that our government has been working extremely hard on how best to support and serve seniors during this pandemic. We have introduced a supplementary GST payment for low- and modest-income seniors. We've reduced the minimum RRIF withdrawal by 25%, and we've made the CERB available to working seniors who have lost their jobs due to the COVID pandemic.

We know there's more work to do, and we'll have more to say in the future.

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I want to remind honourable members that if there are issues, we are taking note of them, and we'll hopefully resolve them by the next meeting. We are getting much better, and we're all new at this. Thank you for your patience.

We'll now go to Ms. Gaudreau.

[Marie-Hélène Gaudreau, Bloc, Laurentides—Labelle, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

My first question is for the Prime Minister.

We've heard a lot about contact tracing apps. Several provinces have already made announcements on this, and others want to follow suit. Today, I'd like to know where the government stands on this. We've been talking about a national strategy for some time.

Where are we now?