COVID-19 Pandemic Committee on May 13th, 2020

[Michael Chong, Conservative, Wellington—Halton Hills, ON]

Will the minister commit to making the results of this investigation public?

[Navdeep Bains, Liberal, Mississauga—Malton, ON]

Mr. Chair, the member opposite knows full well that there are proper processes and protocols in place when it comes to such sensitive matters, and we will ensure that those processes and protocols—

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Mr. Chong.

[Michael Chong, Conservative, Wellington—Halton Hills, ON]

Mr. Chair, I hope there is no double standard for ministers' offices and the public service, because it was only about 13 years ago that a public servant was criminally charged and convicted for using top secret information in the markets.

I hope that in this investigation, and in the release of the information concerning this investigation, ministers' staffers aren't held to a different standard than the public service has been held to.

This leak speaks to the integrity of the government. Intelligence at the Five Eyes.... Our four allies have been telling us for years that one of the top two or three threats that democracies are facing is declining public confidence in our key institutions. Democracies have been blindsided by misinformation, disinformation and cyber-attacks, and now we are being blindsided by the misuse of information by this very government.

That doesn't even.... The government's own national statistics-gathering agency doesn't trust this cabinet or this government, and that's why they announced several days ago that they would suspend the pre-release of information to the cabinet.

What is the government going to do to restore public confidence in our institutions?

[Navdeep Bains, Liberal, Mississauga—Malton, ON]

Mr. Chair, our government has remained steadfast in its support for Statistics Canada. I'd like to remind my honourable colleague that we are the government that brought forward legislation to strengthen the independence of Statistics Canada. We're the government that brought forward measures to make sure they have additional monies for conducting the proper mandatory long-form census as well.

When it comes to the leak that the member opposite is talking about, we're not going to prejudge the outcome. We have been very clear that the proper processes and protocols that are in place will be followed.

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

You have time for a very brief question, Mr. Chong.

[Michael Chong, Conservative, Wellington—Halton Hills, ON]

Mr. Chair, I hope the government will call the RCMP and notify them about what appears to be a criminal breach of the Statistics Act, because it was a previous Liberal minister who himself was subject to a lot of misinformation and was a target of improper allegations about his office's use of information that leaked about the income trust changes that the previous Liberal government had brought in. The RCMP began an investigation and, in the course of the investigation, they charged a public servant who was ultimately convicted of breaching that secret information.

I hope the minister holds his office and the offices of his cabinet colleagues to the same standard, calls in the RCMP and makes them aware of what appears to be a criminal breach of the Statistics Act.

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

The honourable minister, in 30 seconds or less, please.

[Navdeep Bains, Liberal, Mississauga—Malton, ON]

I'm sorry. How much time do I have, Mr. Chair?

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

We're over the time, but I'm allowing 30 seconds so we can get a full—

[Navdeep Bains, Liberal, Mississauga—Malton, ON]

I appreciate that very much.

Again, I want to take this opportunity to say that leaks of this nature are completely unacceptable. We've been very clear that we are going to take the appropriate steps. Statistics Canada is taking the appropriate steps.

I want to remind the member opposite that we're not going to prejudge any outcome at this stage. Again, it is our government that has been consistently supporting Statistics Canada in its work through the previous years.

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Thank you.

We'll take a short break to allow our console operators to switch in a healthy way.

While we're doing that, I'm going to mention something. It happens at the end of a question. When there's less than a minute left and the question goes over half the time left over, I'll just indicate to the person asking the question that we've reached the limit so that the other side can answer with the same amount of time and we have a fair playing field.

We're ready to go again.

The Honourable Member for Beloeil—Chambly has the floor.

[Yves-François Blanchet, Bloc, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

We are making progress, but unfortunately, I'd like to hear it in French as well.

I will address my question to the Prime Minister.

First, let me remind you that, on March 12, the government announced a first series of measures of about $1 billion to adapt to what was at the time the beginning of the coronavirus crisis, including $500 million in transfers to the provinces, with about $100 million going to Quebec. Since that time, the commitments from the government have reached very probably around $300 billion, making those first $500 million pale by comparison. Of course, the crisis became longer and it is not over yet.

In that context, and given what I heard the Prime Minister say a little earlier about respecting the areas of jurisdiction of the provinces, and of Quebec, can we expect a speedy increase in health transfers to Quebec and the provinces, an increase that would be permanent, and, of course, without conditions?

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

The honourable minister has the floor.

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

We've increased health transfers to provinces and territories significantly since we first came into government in 2015. We continue to work with provinces and territories on a regular basis to make sure they're supported not just in the outbreak of this pandemic, but in the increased cost overall to health care across the country.

Our investments have included investments for mental health, for home care and for the additional expenses that provinces and territories face as a result of an aging population.

We'll continue to work with provinces and territories to ensure those health care needs are met.

[Yves-François Blanchet, Bloc, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

With all respect, Mr. Chair, that is a little disappointing.

While the leader of the NDP wants the federal government to interfere massively in provincial jurisdiction over health, the Prime Minister replies in English. That is perfectly legitimate in this Parliament, but his reply in English is, no, the government absolutely respects provincial jurisdiction. That made me happy for a brief moment, and I am asking the Prime Minister, without wanting to interrupt his precious reading, to please repeat in French was he said just now in English, that he absolutely respects provincial jurisdiction over health, which is exclusive.

So could you please provide that music to my ears?

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

Mr. Chair, just as I respect the member opposite's right to speak in his first language, I hope that he understands that I am trying to learn our second official language in a high-pressure situation, and it often creates anxiety.

I will tell him, though, that we fully respect the jurisdiction of provinces and territories to address the needs of their constituents and their members, and we work very closely with Quebec and with all provinces and territories to make sure that the funds we transfer from the federal government can be utilized in a way that best meets the needs of their constituents.

[Yves-François Blanchet, Bloc, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

Let's not get into that. It says to me that French is the second official language. Well, it's my first official language and it's the first one in Quebec. I would like to have heard that in French. I would like to have heard it from the Prime Minister, because it's a constitutional issue. Basically, you could say that it's our heritage. So that is what I would like to have heard.

Let me proceed with a short and simple question: is health in the exclusive jurisdiction of the provinces in the current crisis management situation?

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Chair, I would like to tell my colleague that we have no first or second official language. We have two official languages. They have the same value and the same importance. They deserve the same respect in the House and in the institutions of the government.

We are always happy to collaborate with the provinces and to respect their jurisdictions.

[Yves-François Blanchet, Bloc, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

Hearing that we have no first or second official language is better already. Between friends, let's say that they are equal.

Let us take it one step further: is health in the jurisdiction of Quebec and the provinces?

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

Mr. Chair, we live in a federation where we work closely together with provinces and territories so that we can reach our mutually important goals, one of which is that all citizens of Canada, all members of Canada, have access to a public health care system that meets their needs.

We continue to work within the constitutional framework—

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Excuse me, but I have to interrupt you.

Mr. Blanchet, you have 21 seconds left.

[Yves-François Blanchet, Bloc, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

The answer could be even shorter than the question.

Is health in provincial jurisdiction?

Will there be an increase in the health transfers and will they come without conditions?

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

Mr. Chair, I am sure the member would argue that it is important to work together. The federal government transfers money to the provinces, as he is well aware, to deliver health care, which is within each province's and territory's jurisdiction.

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

We now move to Mrs. Gill.