Public Safety Committee on March 10th, 2021

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

I'm not answering the questions. I'm like the Speaker that way; I don't answer questions.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Through you, Mr. Chair, am I safe to take that as a “no, the data doesn't exist”?

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

I can't answer that question, and I don't think I should be answering that question.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Through you, Mr. Chair, to the minister, am I safe to take it that that data doesn't exist?

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

No, I don't think that's what I'm saying. What I'm saying is that—

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

So, it does exist.

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

What I'm saying is that research is under way internationally on how best to manage international travel—

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Does that data exist in Canada?

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

As I said, Mr. Chair, it is very important that we understand the addition of variants of concern—

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

So, it doesn't exist in Canada.

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

Mr. Chair, as I said, this question of what the most effective combination is between quarantine and testing—

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

So, it does exist in Canada.

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

—is very important to the Government of Canada and, indeed, international governments around the world as we try—

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

So, it doesn't exist in Canada.

[Angelo Iacono, Liberal, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

I have a point of order Mr. Chair.

I'm finding this to be becoming a bit bullying. I think that if the minister's asked a question, she should be given time to answer it.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

On that point of order—

[Angelo Iacono, Liberal, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

I would appreciate that, while she's answering, she can finish her sentence.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

With regard to this particular point of order, I would argue that the woman who experienced sexual assault at the quarantine hotel due to this lack of data would, in fact, be the woman who would have experienced bullying in this situation.

My question is material, and I would like a yes-or-no answer. Out of respect to that victim, a yes-or-no answer is needed.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

The minister will answer the question in the fashion she chooses to answer the question. Whether or not the member is satisfied with the answer is an entirely different matter. She will have the same amount of time to answer the question as was used to ask the question.

With that, Minister, you have about 10 seconds.

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

Thanks.

I will just say this: The data is incomplete internationally. We are, as a world, trying to figure out what the best approach is to prevent the importation of COVID-19, the combination of quarantine and testing. It is under study.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Is that an admission that this was a political decision to discourage March break travel, as opposed to a data-driven decision that shows that the quarantine hotel program would do better at spreading the variants than at-home quarantines?

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

No. I think it's inappropriate for the member to put words in my mouth. What I said is exactly what I just said, which is that we take our obligation very seriously to ensure that we are doing everything in our power to prevent the importation of COVID-19, particularly the variants of concern.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Where's the data?

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

As I answered previously, the data is incomplete in terms of what combination of measures is needed.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I'll finish with this: Was a gender-based analysis completed for the hotel quarantine program?