Debates of Oct. 22nd, 2020

COVID-19 Emergency Response

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, yet again, we hear from the opposition a demeaning of the civil servants, who I can attest have been working around the clock to ensure that they have what we need for Canadians as we respond to this pandemic. We have used every available resource to make sure that Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada have what they need so that they can support provinces, territories and Canadians. We will continue to put the health and safety of Canadians first and foremost in our response.

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

Mr. Speaker, it is this incompetence that is costing Canadians their lives. It is these excuses that are keeping businesses shut. It is this lack of disregard for Canadians' lives, and our plan forward, that is keeping women out of the workforce, because day cares are closed, because we do not have rapid tests.

This has to stop. The motion that we have before Parliament today is non-partisan. It is getting information that Canadians need, so that we can move forward out of this pandemic. What timeline is the minister proposing to produce these documents?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, I have spoken to hundreds, if not thousands, of Canadians since the pandemic was first announced, when COVID-19 arrived on our shores. In fact, not once has a Canadian asked me to put more resources into freedom of information officers. What they have asked me for is to ensure that all the resources of Canada are devoted to one thing, and that is the health, safety and economic prosperity of our country. We are going to continue to make sure that Canada has the most robust response possible.

Public Services and Procurement

[Alain Therrien, Bloc, La Prairie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, everyone knows that the Liberals are using COVID-19 to line their friends' pockets.

When there was a ventilator shortage during the first wave, the Liberals wanted to get Frank Baylis to make some, but they knew that would look bad. The guy was a Liberal MP just last year. He is a buddy of theirs.

No, they did not give the money directly to their buddy Frank. Even they thought that would be wrong, so instead, they gave $237 million to FTI, a shell corporation created just seven days earlier.

The problem is that FTI does not make ventilators, so—surprise, surprise—it hired Frank as a contractor. What a bunch they are.

Come on. How stupid do they think we are?

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Minister of Public Services and Procurement]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question.

In the early days of the pandemic, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada asked Canadian manufacturers for their help in addressing our urgent need for medical equipment.

Following a thorough review by a panel of experts, the government awarded five contracts for domestic production of ventilators. There is no contract with Baylis Medical.

[Rhéal Fortin, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

Mr. Speaker, that is what we are saying.

The Liberals awarded a sole-source contract, something that has come up a lot lately, worth $237 million to FTI Professional Grade, a company that had not existed seven days earlier. They told us it was to manufacture ventilators. However, FTI does not manufacture ventilators. It told the Liberals that it knew a guy who knew a guy who makes them. The Liberals said that would work, and they wrote a cheque. By a curious coincidence, the guy in question is a former Liberal MP.

If I pay the fee to incorporate a company this afternoon, can I collect my cheque for $200 million next Thursday, or does that only work for Liberal cronies who are in the Liberalist database?

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Minister of Public Services and Procurement]

Mr. Speaker, I want to reiterate that our government has stepped up to ensure domestic production of ventilators when, at the beginning of this pandemic, there was no domestic production of ventilators here in Canada. The president of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association said, “Firms from across the country dropped everything to help save lives by making critical medical goods.... Every political stripes, we all did this together.” This is important, this is Canada and this is domestic production.

[Rhéal Fortin, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals knew it would look bad to give $237 million to Liberal Frank Baylis, so they used a shell company, which transferred the money. They also knew that it would look bad to award a $900-million program to their friends at WE Charity when the organization was up to its eyeballs in debt, so they did the same thing. They signed an agreement with WE Charity Foundation, a shell company that did not have any debt because it did not have any operations. The Liberals are using shell companies to award contracts to their cronies.

I will repeat my House leader's question. How stupid do the Liberals think we are?

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Minister of Public Services and Procurement]

Not at all, Mr. Speaker.

Our government ensured domestic production of ventilators and PPE. We will keep doing so because it is very important to Canadians.

Health

[Raquel Dancho, Conservative, Kildonan—St. Paul, MB]

Mr. Speaker, because the Liberal government is taking so long to provide rapid testing to Canadians, the Manitoba government took the initiative to procure these rapid tests for Manitobans on its own, but the Liberal government blocked it from doing so. It would not allow it. Meanwhile, John Pritchard School and Bird's Hill School in my riding in the Winnipeg area have had large COVID-19 outbreaks. Manitobans deserve and need rapid testing now and we just learned this week that the Liberals have received 100,000 rapid tests.

Therefore, I want to know how many of these tests are going to Manitoba and when?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, one of the things that has really helped Canada in our response to the pandemic has been the collaboration with provinces and territories and the work that we have done together to prioritize and to distribute PPE, tests and other equipment to Canadians. In fact, through the table of health ministers, we have managed to work out sharing agreements every single time that work for provinces and territories, that address the needs in their communities and that ensure that we have the capacity no matter what COVID-19 throws at us.

[Rob Morrison, Conservative, Kootenay—Columbia, BC]

Mr. Speaker, Air Canada, on October 1, purchased 25,000 rapid-testing kits approved by Health Canada so that Air Canada could test international travellers and, when negative for COVID, there would be no 14-day quarantine.

Canada relies significantly on tourism from outside the country. Can the minister explain why the government has not given Air Canada approval for this Health Canada-approved rapid testing, moving forward with economic recovery safely?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, there are a lot of presumptions in that question that might not be quite accurate.

In fact, Air Canada is actually conducting a research study with McMaster University right now on trying to determine when someone could receive a test in order to reduce the 14-day quarantine period. It is exciting to note that the Province of Alberta is working in partnership with the Government of Canada on a very similar research project, which was just announced today. These kinds of research projects are going to help us ensure the goal of reducing importations while also looking at ways that we can reduce the quarantine.

I will remind Canadians, though, that the 14-day quarantine still applies today.

[Tracy Gray, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Mr. Speaker, a local constituent reached out to me about how their family's lives have been on hold due to COVID-19 testing. The dad called the testing centre on October 3. They went in for testing on October 6, the first available day. The dad received his test results on October 7 and the daughter's came in on October 12. This was a 10-day process for this family. The daughter was not able to go to school, and the dad was not able to work.

This is unacceptable. When are regions like the Okanagan Valley and the Lower Mainland going to receive rapid testing?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, I have been in regular conversations with medical officers of health across the country, including Dr. Henry. I have to congratulate B.C. It has had an incredible testing strategy, but it obviously has challenges, just like every other province and territory. I would encourage the member opposite to get in touch with her MLA and ask about B.C.'s testing strategy and how it is evolving.

Post-Secondary Education

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Mr. Speaker, students and graduates in my riding of Edmonton Strathcona are struggling to make ends meet. Students could not get summer jobs because of COVID-19, and recent graduates cannot get jobs to kick-start their futures. This Liberal government promised close to $1 billion to help students, instead it helped its friends at WE, and the students have received none of this money.

This government could help students right now with rent, tuition fees and groceries. Liberals owe students this money. When will they ensure that the funding goes to students who need it the most?

[Bardish Chagger, Liberal, Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth]

Mr. Speaker, I should remind all Canadians and all members that it was actually a $9-billion plan that our government put forward for students and youth. That plan included the Canada emergency student benefit, and 700,000 students were able to obtain that benefit.

Canada summer jobs were increased, with 84,000 jobs approved and still ongoing until February. I would encourage students to keep applying.

We doubled Canada student grants for full- and part-time students. We instituted a six-month moratorium for interest as well as payment on Canada student loans. We made investments to ensure that—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

The hon. member for Churchill—Keewatinook Aski.

Airline Industry

[Niki Ashton, NDP, Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, MB]

Mr. Speaker, it is not enough for the transport minister to abandon workers, but he also has to gaslight passengers. He tweeted his congratulations to WestJet for issuing refunds to some passengers with cancelled tickets, when he literally spent seven months backing up the airlines. Thousands of passengers have been left waiting. The agency he is responsible for issued a statement on vouchers that rips passengers off directly.

That is enough with the hypocrisy. Will the government finally take action and step up to defend the rights of all passengers and Canadian consumers?

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, I am certainly aware of the frustration that many passengers have felt. The action taken by WestJet is a good step in the right direction. I know it is an important issue for Canadians. At the same time, the pandemic has hit the air sector hard and that is why we are working on measures to try to ensure Canadians will be able to continue travelling safely and affordably across this country.

For the information of my colleague, the Canadian Transportation Agency does not come under Transport Canada.

Small Business

[Lloyd Longfield, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

Mr. Speaker, we have seen employment numbers in my riding rebound to 75% of prepandemic numbers. We have witnessed small businesses changing and innovating their delivery models to continue serving their customers and our communities. At the same time, we know more support will be needed in 2021.

Could the Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade update the House on our government's work to support small businesses in the coming months as we celebrate Small Business Week?

[Mary Ng, Liberal, Minister of Small Business]

Mr. Speaker, during Small Business Week, small businesses in Guelph and across the country have shown incredible resilience and are working hard in their communities. We are helping thousands of small businesses enhance their digital and e-commerce capabilities. Going digital will enable our small businesses to access global markets, to export, to find new customers and to take advantage of Canada's free trade agreements. We are going to do what is right to keep supporting our small businesses during these very difficult times.

Public Safety

[Shannon Stubbs, Conservative, Lakeland, AB]

Mr. Speaker, after more than six months, the public inquiry into the Nova Scotia mass murder still has not started. In all of their grief and loss, victims' families are still pleading with the government. A Nova Scotian says that it is “another unkind injury to those surviving from the awful shooting”. Families are being ignored and abandoned by the Liberals. Now they are forced to ask for the inquiry to include the reasons for the delay that has victimized them even more.

Will the minister commit to families that they will get the answers they deserve or will he make them struggle through pain and even more delays?

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

Mr. Speaker, this is a very timely question because the Government of Canada and Nova Scotia announced their intent to establish a comprehensive joint public inquiry on July 28, and today, that inquiry has now been established by order in council and the commissioners have begun their work.

The joint public inquiry commissioners' first task is setting up their secretariat, which will be located in Nova Scotia. It includes hiring support staff, establishing a budget and creating a work plan. They have been asked to submit two reports to the Government of Canada and Nova Scotia on their findings, lessons learned and recommendations, with an interim report by May 1, 2022.

I am pleased to also announce that the name of the third commissioner appointed to undertake this inquiry has been named. Dr. Kim Stanton has accepted the position of inquiry commissioner.

[Shannon Stubbs, Conservative, Lakeland, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I do not know if the minister has been the loved one of a murder victim, but I have. He should be ashamed that these victims' families have had to struggle and to wait so long. It has increased their harm and their hurt, and he did not answer the question.

If he will not give a straight answer to Conservatives, will he at least tell the families of these murder victims on what date exactly the inquiry will start and will it include all of the reasons for the delays that have victimized them even more?