COVID-19 Pandemic Committee on May 12th, 2020

[Carla Qualtrough, Liberal, Minister of Employment]

Mr. Chair, I can clarify that Service Canada will work closely with anybody who transitions either from the CERB to the wage subsidy or from the CERB back to employment to ensure that there's no overpayment, but of course that there's no undue hardship on the individual.

[Alain Rayes, Conservative, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

That announcement was made seven weeks ago. The workers want to know how much they have to reimburse. The companies want to know the situation so that they can make decisions on salary assistance. It seems to me that my question is not complicated: do people have to reimburse $500 for each week they work in a month, or the full monthly amount of $2,000?

[Carla Qualtrough, Liberal, Delta, BC]

Mr. Chair, that will depend on the individual circumstances of the particular worker. That's why Service Canada is reaching out to individuals to make it as seamless as possible for them.

I can assure the member that nobody will be put in a difficult situation. I recognize that there is some uncertainty, but we're trying to address that.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Mr. Rayes, you have 35 seconds left.

[Alain Rayes, Conservative, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

The answers that we are getting today are incredible. This is unacceptable, in my view.

If an employer complies with the hygiene conditions, can employees still refuse to return to work, and therefore continue to receive the CERB?

[Carla Qualtrough, Liberal, Delta, BC]

Mr. Chair, I can assure all Canadians that at the same time as employees have a right to refuse work and employers have an obligation to ensure healthy and safe workplaces, we want all people to be able to go back to work and feel safe.

There are established processes and federal and provincial labour processes for refusal to work, and at the end of the day the CERB is there for workers who aren't working due to COVID-19.

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

We're going to have to go on from here.

The next question will come from Mr. Schmale.

[Jamie Schmale, Conservative, Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON]

Thank you, Chair.

The Wet'suwet'en elected chiefs and community members have been excluded from negotiations on a memorandum of understanding affecting land rights and titles. Only a few hereditary chiefs have been part of these secret negotiations.

The elected chiefs have issued a press release asking for the government to halt the joint announcement scheduled for May 14 on the MOU until the community has had a chance to look at and understand how the MOU will affect them.

Will the minister agree with the democratically elected chiefs and the Wet'suwet'en people they represent and delay any announcement until proper consultation can be completed?

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

The honourable minister.

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations]

I want to reassure the member that communication is ongoing with and between our partners on how to go forward on implementing the Wet'suwet'en rights and title with a Wet'suwet'en-led solution. We encourage the leaders to continue their ongoing, necessary and important conversations with their community on how they want to proceed on a path toward implementing their rights and title.

As we work to rebuild Canada's relationship with the Wet'suwet'en, we need to give them space for these important discussions.

[Jamie Schmale, Conservative, Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON]

Minister, is that a “yes” that the signing will be delayed until the elected chiefs have a chance to look at the agreement?

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, Toronto—St. Paul's, ON]

I believe the elected chiefs have had a look at the agreement. These are very difficult conversations on complex issues around rights and title. This has been outstanding for a long time—

[Jamie Schmale, Conservative, Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON]

The current health crisis should not be used as an opportunity to sideline the Wet'suwet'en people and their elected chiefs. The federal government should be bringing the community together rather than actively excluding Wet'suwet'en members. The chiefs are so concerned that they are now calling for the resignation of the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations for failure to engage in proper consultations, which has stoked divisions within the community.

Will the minister reconsider and put in place a consultation process that honours both their traditional house system and the governance responsibilities of elected chiefs and councils?

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, Toronto—St. Paul's, ON]

Yet again, it's very important the member understand the engagement must take place and be led by the Wet'suwet'en nation. That means the elected chiefs and the hereditary chiefs need to work with all clan members as they determine how they wish to work with Canada and the Province of British Columbia to implement the rights and title of the Wet'suwet'en people.

[Jamie Schmale, Conservative, Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON]

I agree that the Wet'suwet'en should have the opportunity to look at the proposed agreement, but we are still seeing news coming out of the elected chiefs and the people they represent that they have not had a thorough chance to look at this proposed agreement.

Will the minister delay the signing?

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, Toronto—St. Paul's, ON]

I think the member will agree that there's a lot more work to do with all the parties. I believe, in terms of the kind of engagement that has taken place in the feast houses and the notification that took place even before COVID-19, that the work is under way and it will have to be Wet'suwet'en-led in terms of what eventually will be their choice as to how they implement their rights and title.

[Jamie Schmale, Conservative, Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON]

Mr. Chair, for two weeks now the Liberals on the indigenous affairs committee have shut down Conservatives and witnesses every time we mention the word Wet'suwet'en. They don't want to talk about the issue, an issue that is very much aggravated by the COVID-19 crisis.

The Liberals profess to be the advocates for indigenous communities and the champions of reconciliation. Can the minister tell us why the Liberals are determined to shut down discussion and public debate?

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, Toronto—St. Paul's, ON]

I would have to disagree with the member. I don't believe that there's, at any time, an interest in shutting down discussion or debate. I think, though, that at the COVID committee the issues facing indigenous communities, first nations, Inuit and Métis around COVID-19 are very important to them. We need to work with them to make sure they can keep their communities safe.

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Mr. Schmale, you have 30 seconds.

[Jamie Schmale, Conservative, Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON]

I would argue with the minister and challenge her to talk to her committee members. Each time Conservatives have brought up the topic of the Wet'suwet'en and the situation happening with the elected chiefs and the people they represent, we have been shut down every single time.

When will the minister allow the public debate to happen?

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, Toronto—St. Paul's, ON]

Again, in a committee, it is the work of the committee and the decision of the committee. I believe the chair and all members want first nations, Inuit and Métis to be able to keep their communities safe during COVID-19.

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

The next question goes to Mrs. Kusie.

[Stephanie Kusie, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

It has been three months since this pandemic started and the Liberals just got around to announcing help for seniors. Seniors are a priority and should be treated as such.

Why do the Liberals treat seniors as an afterthought?

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

The honourable minister.

[Deb Schulte, Liberal, Minister of Seniors]

Thank you very much.

There is definitely an interest in and support for our seniors. We've been working to support seniors since the very beginning of this pandemic.

I've just had the opportunity to introduce additional measures today wherein we are introducing a one-time special payment for those who receive OAS.