Evidence of meeting #125 for Government Operations and Estimates in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was community.
A video is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Jean-Yves Duclos Liberal Québec, QC
Yes, you can make jokes about that, but in the end, it's something that will be very important to 9 million Canadians in total by the time this is fully implemented in 2025. We'll see whether we keep joking or smiling about this particular matter.
The second thing is that, yes, there are priorities that were adjusted over time. One of them is investing in dental care. Your partnership at the NDP was crucial. Without you, we couldn't have done that, because we are in a minority government and the Conservatives are against it—the Bloc is too. The only way to make that real.... It's now real, contrary to the view of Pierre Poilievre, who says this is not in existence. It's there. It's changing the lives of seniors.
Because of your leadership and partnership, we've been able to do that. We'll keep putting in as our priorities the things that matter to Canadians as we move forward.
NDP
Taylor Bachrach NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
It's appreciated by the millions of Canadians who are going to benefit. I think the reason I brought up Mr. Harris' motion was that that was in 2021, and in the three years that have passed between that motion being tabled and voted on and being defeated, and the eventual creation of the dental care program we now see rolling out, thousands of Canadian seniors and people with disabilities and young people needed dental care very much.
While we appreciate that your party has finally recognized the incredible benefits of public dental care, man, it would have been nice to have it start three years earlier and have all those people get the care they need.
Mr. Chair, how many more minutes do I have? I know the time flies. I have two and a half minutes.
I'll shift to the issue of Canada Post. Of course, since your last visit to committee, we've seen the annual report from Canada Post and the fact that the corporation has lost over three-quarters of a billion dollars. I believe that's the greatest deficit in the corporation's history, and at the same time we see in rural Canada some real challenges from the loss of rural post offices. You and I have spoken about this. This is affecting communities right across the country.
Every year you provide a letter of expectation as minister to the head of Canada Post, which is an arm's-length Crown corporation. In those letters of expectation, has the minister responsible ever expressed specific concern about the closure of rural post offices in this country?
Liberal
Jean-Yves Duclos Liberal Québec, QC
Since you spoke about the things we are doing for Canadians, since 2021 we've put into place universal day care in Canada.
NDP
Taylor Bachrach NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
Minister, it's a serious question. It's a very specific question about the letter of expectation. I don't want to hear an answer about child care.
Liberal
Jean-Yves Duclos Liberal Québec, QC
—and engaged you are. It is not that we haven't done anything since 2021.
Liberal
Jean-Yves Duclos Liberal Québec, QC
In many cases, you were supporting or even leading on some of these files. I want to acknowledge that, Taylor, because—
Liberal
Jean-Yves Duclos Liberal Québec, QC
—you're progressive. You're an engaged and credible person.
Now, on post offices and the rural moratorium in particular—
NDP
Liberal
Jean-Yves Duclos Liberal Québec, QC
—and the letter of expectations. Yes, every year there is a letter of expectations that states not only the expectations but also the objectives that we believe Canada Post should be striving for.
Now, we understand that Canada Post is independent and sometimes needs to, as we discussed last time, adjust to situations that are either not predictable or not controllable, such as retirement, deaths and fires, and all of these things that sometimes occur and make it difficult for Canada Post to maintain rural post offices in particular.
However, that's not only the expectation that we are setting for them, but also the....
NDP
Taylor Bachrach NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
Mr. Chair, I know my time is running out. It's probably run out.
NDP
Taylor Bachrach NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
Can I just finish with a couple of words? Since your government put a moratorium in place in 1994, we've lost over 500 rural post offices. My question was a very specific one, and I'm disappointed that you did not provide a clear answer.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kelly McCauley
Thank you, Mr. Bachrach.
We have Mr. Brock for five minutes, please.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
Thank you, Chair.
Minister, over two months ago, on March 20, you appeared at committee, and you and Minister Anand announced to Canadians that collectively you had discovered, through a mix of tips and advanced data analytics, three subcontractors who were engaged in fraudulent billing over 36 separate government departments, totalling close to $5 million. All three had been referred to the RCMP.
Ms. Reza, during one of her last appearances, actually gave us the names of those three subcontractors. They weren't companies per se, but rather individuals.
My question to you is this. I know there's been an ongoing dialogue between you, sir, your department, and the RCMP. Have the RCMP confirmed that those three individuals have been criminally charged, yes or no?
Liberal
Jean-Yves Duclos Liberal Québec, QC
Well, we need to distinguish two things—first, the work of my department and, second, the work of the RCMP. As you noted and summarized quite well, on March 20, it was made public that there were investigations.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
Sir, that's fine. Has the RCMP confirmed with you or a member of your department that the three referrals have resulted in criminal charges, yes or no?
Liberal
Jean-Yves Duclos Liberal Québec, QC
As I was going to say, as for what pertains to the RCMP, it's for the RCMP to answer.
Liberal
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
That's fine.
You indicated back then that this was only the first wave of what you expected to be a series of discoveries. You indicated at that time there were five to 10 further cases being examined.
Of those five to 10, have referrals been made to the RCMP?