Evidence of meeting #9 for Industry, Science and Technology in the 43rd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was businesses.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Clerk of the Committee  Mr. Michael MacPherson
Simon Kennedy  Deputy Minister, Department of Industry
Paul Thompson  Associate Deputy Minister, Department of Industry
Emmanuel Kamarianakis  Director General, Investment and Innovation, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
Kendal Hembroff  Director General, Trade Negotiations, Global Affairs Canada

1:10 p.m.

Associate Deputy Minister, Department of Industry

Paul Thompson

The Department of Finance has led a number of efforts with the banks on the special measures they're extending on relief to mortgages and interest rates, measures like that. The main measure in development right now is rent relief, in conjunction with the provinces, which will provide—

1:10 p.m.

NDP

Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC

I hope that's not a bunch more debt for tenants and landlords. What are the banks going to do in eating interest and coming up with their share?

I want to go back to what the Danish and Polish governments are doing. They're making sure their government doesn't provide aid to companies that register in tax havens, pay out dividends or buy back their shares.

Is the Liberal government asking you to look into making sure that all aid stays in Canada and goes to the people in our country who need it?

1:10 p.m.

Associate Deputy Minister, Department of Industry

Paul Thompson

I repeat my earlier answer that we're going to take that under advisement, and I'd have to pursue that with the Crown agencies that are more directly involved in the lending and the Department of Finance. I unfortunately don't have an answer to that question at present.

1:10 p.m.

NDP

Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC

I'll go back to a question I had earlier for Minister Ng around being eligible for CERB.

The government right now is gauging employment income for proprietors as a barrier. If you have over $1,000 of employment income, even if you're paying rent of $2,600 a month, like a constituent of mine, who's literally losing thousands of dollars a month, she can't apply for CERB. She's closed her store, opened an online store and can't access CERB.

Are you going to fix it so it's based on profit or loss and net profit instead of gross income?

1:10 p.m.

Associate Deputy Minister, Department of Industry

Paul Thompson

As we've indicated, these examples are hugely important and we're passing them on and there's continual reassessment—

1:10 p.m.

NDP

Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC

You're going to walk away.

1:10 p.m.

Associate Deputy Minister, Department of Industry

Paul Thompson

—of the measures, but I would also indicate that other measures are in play—

1:10 p.m.

NDP

Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC

They can't access any of these measures. They can't access CEBA. They're going to walk away. They can't feed their families. They're going to put their hands up. You have to fix this now.

1:10 p.m.

Associate Deputy Minister, Department of Industry

Paul Thompson

There are other supports.

1:10 p.m.

NDP

Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC

They're not accessing them. They can't.

1:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Sherry Romanado

Mr. Johns, I'm sorry. That's all the time we have for today. We've completed the three rounds.

I thank everybody for their patience. To all the witnesses who were here today, the technicians, the clerks, the analysts and the translation services, thank you very much. I know that with practice we will get much better at this.

With that, thank you again, and I hope to see you next week.

The meeting is adjourned.