COVID-19 Pandemic Committee on May 14th, 2020

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

One moment, please. We have a point of order.

Who is making a point of order? I'm afraid I can't see.

[Dave Epp, Conservative, Chatham-Kent—Leamington, ON]

The translation and the French are at the same volume on my headset.

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Mr. Epp is having some issues with translation. The buttons, I take, are all put in place. Ms. Jansen is as well.

I think we've solved it. It's important that whenever you're speaking that you be on that channel, as opposed to speaking one language and then switching over and not remembering to change over to the other channel. I've done it before.

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

Mr. Chair, I want to make sure that I am not losing my speaking time.

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

No, he stopped. Do not worry. I'm sorry for wasting your time when I am speaking.

[Some hon. members]

Ah, ah!

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Madam Minister, please continue.

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

Okay. There were some little technical problems. When I was on the French channel, I was hearing the interpreter as well. I just wanted to point that out.

To answer my colleague, the Falardeaus will be able to access their local CFDC or Economic Development Canada for the regions of Quebec. I will be happy to work with my colleague to help the Falardeaus.

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

Mr. Chair, in my riding, as elsewhere in Quebec, a number of companies from the cultural community, such as Les Productions Giard and Animations de l'Est, participate every year in a number of festivals across Canada and in the Lower St. Lawrence. This year, they are being told, and rightly so, that unfortunately they will not be able to take part in those festivals because the festivals will not be taking place.

As owner-operators who pay themselves with dividends, will they be eligible for the new regional relief and recovery fund (RRRF)?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

The purpose of the business assistance program that we announced yesterday is to allow those who do not have access to the wage subsidy and the $40,000 loan to turn to the Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions or other economic development agencies in the country, which can help them get through these difficult times.

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

It's the same thing, I imagine, for non-profit organizations that are supposed to be supported by the programs put in place by the government. Unfortunately, many do not have access to them. Will those organizations have access to support from the RRRF?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

Of course, for-profit companies are targeted. In the case of some not-for-profit companies that do not have access to the fund, we could have some meaningful conversations and try to find solutions.

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

Last week, in Lac-Saint-Jean, a dangerous criminal who had planned the murder of his ex-wife was paroled after serving only one year of his seven-year prison sentence.

Can the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness tell us whether the victim, Johanne Bérubé, was informed of the date and place of her attacker's conditional release? She was not allowed to participate in the hearings leading up to his release.

Why is the government still not taking additional measures before releasing dangerous criminals? Why is it not protecting the rights of victims?

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness]

In the support for victims of these crimes and in the consideration of the release of prisoners, the opportunity for victims to participate and be heard in those processes is an important principle and one that we have worked very hard to maintain, even during this very difficult time of the COVID pandemic. Arrangements have been made to allow victims' voices to be heard in those hearings, first of all, through video conferencing or by telephone or in writing, because although we are trying to keep it safe—

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Mr. Généreux, you only have 25 seconds left. Please keep your question very short.

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

It does not seem that this was the case for Johanne Bérubé in Lac-Saint-Jean, since she was unfortunately unable to speak on the matter during the hearings.

I would like the minister to explain why that was not the case.

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

I will happily look into that particular matter, but I want to assure the member and that particular citizen of Canada that we understand how important their voice is at these hearings and that victims are able to listen to the hearings and to present their statements to the board members for their consideration in decision-making. That was not available to this victim in this case and we'll find out why.

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Our next question goes to Mrs. McLeod.

[Cathy McLeod, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

This week, the Prime Minister acknowledged the failure in our long-term care and senior residences. He noted it was a system with serious and significant challenges that must be strengthened.

If we look back three short years to 2017, the Prime Minister was warned about approving the sale of Retirement Concepts, 22 Canadian seniors facilities, which are now owned by the Chinese government. At the time, the Prime Minister defended the decision by saying that we have a strong regulatory regime that imposes rigorous standards and that the regime ensures that the care our seniors receive is top quality.

My question, through you to the Prime Minister, is this: Did he simply neglect to ensure due diligence, or was he so anxious to respond positively to the Chinese communist government that he put the health and safety of our seniors at risk?

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

The honourable minister.

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I share the member's concerns about the conditions in long-term care homes across the country. We know that this sector and the seniors who live in these homes have been significantly impacted by the outbreak of COVID-19. We've been working closely with the provinces and territories most affected—in fact, with all provinces and territories—to ensure that they have the support to get through this crisis and to save lives. We have committed, as the Prime Minister has noted, to working with the provinces and territories to create stronger standards, and I look forward to that work.

[Cathy McLeod, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC]

In 2017, the Minister of Industry approved the sale under the Investment Canada Act, noting it would provide growth and opportunity for seniors. Two short years later, prior to the COVID pandemic, four of the Chinese government state-owned facilities in Canada had been put under health authority management.

Let me share some of the inspection reports: complaint, a resident went five weeks without a bath; complaint, understaffed by eight registered care aides; complaint, facility was under-staffed and a resident was left in bed with no food, no care.

Although the magnitude of the pandemic was unforeseen, it was inevitable that a virus would spread through these nursing homes. I would like to provide an opportunity for the Minister of Industry to apologize to the residents and families for putting the health and safety of their family members at risk.

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

I agree with the member that the living conditions of seniors in long-term care homes must, first of all, be safe and also afford the dignity that seniors deserve. I know that in the case of British Columbia, where this particular facility is located, the province has been working very diligently to ensure that stronger protections are in place for seniors. I know that all provinces are working to strengthen protections as we get through this pandemic together. I know that all provinces agree that we need to have a stronger network and safety for all seniors as we go forward.

[Cathy McLeod, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC]

In 2017, the industry minister responded to a question about health and safety concerns with respect to the Government of China owning our seniors homes. He stated, “Under the Investment Canada Act, we have a very robust...process that examines all these issues.”

In 2019, another licensing report stated that the operator was “either unwilling or unable to meet” basic requirements.

Under the act, the minister has a responsibility to evaluate the performance 18 months after the acquisition. Was this done and was remediation action required?

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The member is purposely obfuscating both acquisitions and long-term care standards. As she well knows, it's provinces and territories that do inspections in long-term care homes and provide the guidance and standards these homes must fulfill in order to protect the members they serve.

As I've mentioned, all provinces have been working diligently to improve care during this crisis and to ensure we save lives. I know all provinces and territories are interested in strengthening care for seniors who reside in these congregate settings.