Evidence of meeting #7 for COVID-19 Pandemic in the 43rd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was businesses.
A video is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Justin Trudeau Liberal Papineau, QC
Beginning Friday, students will be able to apply for the Canada emergency student benefit. When they apply, they'll all be directed to a job bank that we've set up to make sure they know what jobs are available to get not only the money they need, but also the experience they need for their future, while helping our society in this crisis.
I know we're going to be able to count on young people.
NDP
Jagmeet Singh NDP Burnaby South, BC
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Chair, one of the most devastating outcomes of this COVID-19 crisis has been the impact on seniors. Eighty per cent or more of the deaths during COVID-19 have been seniors living in long-term care homes. The military had to be called in. Out of 14 countries, Canada has been deemed the worst in its care of seniors.
Despite all this, the Prime Minister has said recently that he doesn't feel it's the federal government's responsibility to find a solution. How can he say to families reeling with loss that it's not the federal government's responsibility to play a role in solving this problem?
Liberal
Justin Trudeau Liberal Papineau, QC
Mr. Chair, perhaps the fact that the NDP no longer has many seats in Quebec has caused it to forget the importance of respecting the Constitution and the areas of jurisdiction of provincial versus federal governments. We will be there to work with the provinces as they deal with challenges in their long-term care facilities. We are there as a partner, but we, on this side of the House, will always respect the jurisdiction of the provinces and be there to support them in fulfilling those responsibilities.
NDP
Jagmeet Singh NDP Burnaby South, BC
Everyone across Canada has just heard this Prime Minister double down on the idea that he doesn't feel it's his responsibility, despite the fact that the Canadian military had to go into long-term care homes. There is a role that the federal government can play. Both Liberal and Conservative federal governments have been consistently, for decades, cutting transfers to health care. They can increase those transfers to ensure long-term care is adequately funded.
We could also ensure that there's a national care guarantee, working with provinces to ensure that we are meeting the best standards. We could increase workers' pay. We could ensure that there's no more profiting off the backs of seniors when it comes to long-term care.
Will the Prime Minister commit to some of these care guarantees?
Liberal
Justin Trudeau Liberal Papineau, QC
It will come as exactly no surprise to the vast majority of Canadians that the Liberal Party will always stand up for the Constitution of Canada. We respect the Constitution. We respect areas of provincial jurisdiction.
As I have said from the very beginning of this crisis, we will be there to help the provinces as they manage the challenges they're facing. The federal government does have a role to play, and it is a role to support the provinces in doing the things they need to do during this unprecedented time. We will continue to be there.
NDP
Jagmeet Singh NDP Burnaby South, BC
I am glad to hear the Prime Minister is no longer trying to hide behind jurisdiction.
We know that in long-term care homes, the for-profit long-term care homes have been the site of the worst conditions, where the greatest number of seniors have died. Will the Prime Minister join us in committing to remove profit from the long-term care system? Vulnerable seniors should not be subject to the profits of a company willing to cut services, staffing and quality of care instead of ensuring that seniors get the best care possible.
Liberal
Justin Trudeau Liberal Papineau, QC
I think it has become clear for all Canadians that we need to improve the care offered to our seniors right across the country. We cannot look at these numbers we are seeing and these tragedies hitting so many families and not want to see us as a country do better.
That is why we of course recognize that we will work with other orders of government, particularly the provinces in whose jurisdiction this area rests primarily, to support answering these questions for the long term on how we improve the way Canada supports our elders. This is something really important that we will be there for.
NDP
Jagmeet Singh NDP Burnaby South, BC
At the CHSLD Herron in Dorval, 31 seniors died in one month. The residents were left without food, dehydrated and without care, and those with COVID-19 symptoms were not isolated from the others. Families pay between $3,000 and $10,000 a month for their loved ones to be at the centre.
How can the Prime Minister think that he doesn't have a role to play in finding a solution to this devastating problem?
Liberal
Justin Trudeau Liberal Papineau, QC
Mr. Chair, all Quebeckers and even all Canadians were stunned to learn of the tragedy at the Dorval CHSLD. We were very happy, as citizens, when the Government of Quebec reacted firmly and asked many questions in connection with this situation.
We will support the Government of Quebec in its efforts to find answers and, most importantly, to ensure that, in the long term, the country will better support seniors in all regions.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON
Mr. Chair, how many emergency response benefit cheques have been sent to people whose applications have been flagged as fraudulent?
Jean-Yves Duclos LiberalPresident of the Treasury Board
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'd like to start by quickly saying that a total of 7.7 million Canadians have received the Canada emergency response benefit, which is absolutely essential for—
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON
How many emergency response benefits have been sent out to people whose applications have been flagged as fraudulent?
Liberal
Jean-Yves Duclos Liberal Québec, QC
Mr. Chair, I see that the pace will allow me to give a little bit of information for each question. As we said at the outset, there will be mechanisms—
Liberal
Jean-Yves Duclos Liberal Québec, QC
We're working very hard to ensure the integrity of the mechanism while at the same time taking important steps to help Canadians.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON
How many emergency response benefit cheques have been sent to people whose applications have been flagged as fraudulent?
Liberal
Jean-Yves Duclos Liberal Québec, QC
A total of 7.7 million Canadians have received the Canada emergency response benefit, and the agency is ensuring the integrity of the system.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON
He's now claiming that it's all 7.7 million? That's crazy. The department is reported to have given out 200,000. Is 200,000 the correct number of cheques that have been sent out to people whose applications have been red-flagged as fraudulent, yes or no?
Liberal
Jean-Yves Duclos Liberal Québec, QC
Mr. Chair, I'm pleased to use the opportunity given to me by the hon. member to make the following clarifications. I thank him for it.
First, approximately 7.7 million Canadians have received at least one payment. Second, almost 11 million payments have been made.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON
How many prisoners have received a Canada emergency response benefit cheque?
