Debates of Oct. 22nd, 2020

Public Safety

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

Mr. Speaker, I actually have far too much experience in my life dealing with the families of victims of violent crime, including homicide. I understand the pain of these families. They need answers. That is why we have established an inquiry that will not only determine what happened but will also make recommendations that will help prevent similar tragic events in the future.

Perhaps the member missed my earlier comment, but the inquiry has now begun. By order in council it has been established and the commissioners have begun the work of establishing their secretariat. The newly named commissioner, Kim Stanton, has accepted the position, as I said, and she joins the Honourable J. Michael MacDonald, chief commissioner, and Ms. Leanne Fitch in doing this important work.

Agriculture and Agri-Food

[Larry Maguire, Conservative, Brandon—Souris, MB]

Mr. Speaker, farmers who use private bank accounts are still out in the cold as they await the Minister of Small Business's decision to keep her promise so that they can apply for an emergency business account loan. The government has a terrible record of saying something but taking forever to deliver on it.

When will the Liberals make the necessary changes so that farmers who use private bank accounts can apply for a CEBA loan? It has been over six months.

[Mary Ng, Liberal, Minister of Small Business]

Mr. Speaker, those businesses, farming businesses, are absolutely important to the economy of this country. We are working with over 200 financial institutions to make this loan available to these businesses as soon as possible, as quickly as possible. Very soon we will announce the process to enable those businesses to get access to this important liquidity support through the small business account so that they can get access to this support.

Health

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the rate of suicide across our country is at near epidemic rates. Suicide is now among the leading causes of death in Canada. Today 10 Canadians will end their lives by suicide, and up to another 200 will attempt to do so.

The U.S. has just taken concrete action to combat suicide by passing the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act. Starting in 2022, a simple and easy to remember number, 988, will be the universal telephone number to reach the national suicide prevention hotline. Will the government commit to doing so?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, far too many of us can say that we have been impacted by people who have taken their own lives. I want to tell the member opposite I am very interested in his idea, and I look forward to talking with him later about what that might look like in Canada. He is absolutely right. We have to do more, not just to prevent suicide but to support people who are struggling with their mental health, no matter where they live in this country.

Air Transportation

[Xavier Barsalou-Duval, Bloc, Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC]

Mr. Speaker, after seven months of pressure from the Bloc Québécois, the government finally realized that people who bought plane tickets during the pandemic might like a refund. The government announced that it wanted to help WestJet and Air Canada and that this might include refunds. The Bloc intervened to make sure airlines would refund customers with their own money, not taxpayers' money. Yesterday, WestJet announced that it was going to start refunding customers.

That is a good start, but when will the Minister of Transport show some leadership?

When will he make Air Canada refund its customers?

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, as I said, I realize that folks are very frustrated and they would like a refund. That is why WestJet's decision is a step in the right direction. This issue is important to Canadians, and we expect the airlines to do whatever they can. At the same time, we know that the airlines were hit hard by the pandemic. That is why we are working on measures so we can ensure that Canadians can continue travelling safely and affordably across this country.

[Xavier Barsalou-Duval, Bloc, Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC]

Mr. Speaker, people are frustrated because they feel that the Minister of Transport is nowhere to be found.

Before it gets any taxpayer money, Air Canada must refund customers whose flights were cancelled. Air Canada is being a terrible corporate citizen, and Ottawa is letting it get away with it. Ottawa lets it charge ridiculously high prices while it provides poor regional service, engages in dumping to kill competition, and refuses to serve customers in French. If Ottawa keeps letting it do as it pleases, Air Canada will never refund anyone.

When will the minister finally set a deadline to ensure that people get their money back from Air Canada?

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, as I said, we are working on measures to ensure that Canadians can continue to rely on our airlines, which provide service nationwide, and that all Canadians, whether they live in the regions or in our cities, will always be confident that they can continue travelling safely and reliably across this country.

Veterans Affairs

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Mr. Speaker, the backlog of veterans’ applications for benefits is now over 50,000. Boasting an increase of $10 billion for veterans services is a slap in the face of veterans who have been waiting for years, and continue to wait, to be compensated for their service and the injuries they incurred. The independent, non-partisan Parliamentary Budget Officer predicts VAC’s hiring plan will take two years to reduce the backlog by 10,000, while his recommendation would wipe out the backlog completely in one year. Who should veterans trust?

I ask, “Who's got their six?”

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, veterans truly deserve the compensation that is owed to them. In fact, it is impossible to refund veterans exactly what we owe them, but we have, as my hon. colleague is well aware, announced $200 million that will allow the department to hire new staff and upgrade the process in order to ensure we are able to compensate veterans the way we should compensate veterans. We have and will continue to repay our veterans as best we can. Again, we owe veterans so much.

Justice

[Alain Rayes, Conservative, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Mr. Speaker, first there was the WE Charity scandal, then the $237-million contract given to former Liberal MP Frank Baylis to buy ventilators at double the price, and now there is a new scandal with partisan judicial appointments. The Liberals are up to the same shenanigans as they were with the sponsorship scandal.

Can the Minister of Justice guarantee that there has been no interference in the judicial appointment process, yes or no?

[David Lametti, Liberal, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, our government has implemented significant steps to ensure that the judicial appointment process is transparent. These measures are also designed to encourage greater diversity in the judiciary, and I am proud of the results.

Our process is effective. We have appointed more than 400 judges, and the appointments are more diverse than ever: 53% of the judges appointed are women. We will continue to ensure that the appointment process is merit-based and transparent.

Air Transportation

[Joël Godin, Conservative, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

Mr. Speaker, before the pandemic, many Canadians worked really hard so they could afford a vacation. They paid money to airlines and travel agencies over six months ago, but they never went anywhere, because COVID-19 closed the borders. It is completely unacceptable for these people to be financing the airlines. They are definitely frustrated.

When will the Prime Minister make these companies provide full cash refunds to Canadian workers?

My question is clear: When?

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned, I am very aware that Canadians are frustrated, especially those who would prefer refunds rather than credits. That is why the decision made yesterday by WestJet was a step in the right direction. We encourage the other airlines to follow suit, because we realize that it is important for consumers.

At the same time, airlines and airports have been hit hard by the pandemic. We are working on a comprehensive plan to provide assistance to the airline industry and maintain air service across the country.

Women and Gender Equality

[Anju Dhillon, Liberal, Dorval—Lachine—LaSalle, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we are in the middle of Women's History Month. This year is the 50th anniversary of the Royal Commission on the Status of Women.

Can the Minister for Women and Gender Equality tell the House what our government is doing to support women and advance gender equality, including in terms of the post-COVID-19 economic recovery effort?

[Maryam Monsef, Liberal, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development]

Mr. Speaker, in Dorval, Lachine, Lasalle and across the country women have borne the greatest burdens of this pandemic on the front lines of our care systems, with work hours lost, with increases in unpaid care work and greater vulnerability to gender-based violence. We owe it to those who have come before us to protect their hard-won gains and work with the feminist movement every step of the way.

Our government will ensure that women are working, that they are safe and that their families are cared for. Indeed, it is Canada's only path to a full recovery.

Telecommunications

[John Nater, Conservative, Perth—Wellington, ON]

Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, I received an unprompted email from the office of the Minister of Rural Economic Development, stating, in its entirety, “Just wanted to confirm that if anything comes up on SpaceX or LEOs, even if it mentions rural broadband, it's going to be handled by [the Minister of Industry] in QP. My Minister has no levers on it, and therefore doesn’t have anything to say to this specific issue.”

If the Minister of Rural Economic Development has nothing to say on rural broadband and has no levers on it, is this not further confirmation of the Liberal blind spot to rural Canada?

[Maryam Monsef, Liberal, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development]

Mr. Speaker, is my hon. colleague suggesting that my team and I staying in touch with his is the wrong thing to do? Is my hon. colleague truly suggesting that a member of Parliament for a mixed rural-urban riding does not understand rural Canada? I urge him to put partisanship aside. Rural Canadians are counting on us and our entire government will be there for them.

[Kyle Seeback, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

Mr. Speaker, COVID-19 is exacerbating a problem in rural Canada. Right now, thousands of families are trying to access the Internet. They are having affordability and connectivity issues all across my riding of Dufferin—Caledon and all across the country.

My constituents do not want to hear what has been done. They do not want to hear how more fibre was put in by Stephen Harper or Sir John A. Macdonald. They want an answer, and it is a simple answer. When will rural Canada be connected?

[Maryam Monsef, Liberal, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development]

Mr. Speaker, let me correct the record. More fibre was put into the ground by our Liberal Prime Minister than the previous prime minister.

Every single day our entire team is seized by the challenges that rural Canadians and suburban Canadians experience without access to high-speed Internet and cell service. The investment announced with the Canada Infrastructure Bank will connect three-quarters more Canadians to this essential service, and we will have more to say soon.

Access to Information

[Kelly Block, Conservative, Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek, SK]

Mr. Speaker, earlier this month, I received an email addressed to an employee who has not worked in my office for over three years. It was from an access to information analyst, asking if we were still interested in information requested nearly four years ago.

My question is for the Minister of Transport. In the spirit of openness and transparency, does he think it is reasonable to still be waiting for an answer four years later?

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, President of the Treasury Board]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for the question because it allows me to say two important things.

First, it is important that information flows under normal circumstances, but it is even more important under the circumstances of COVID-19. Second, our public servants have obviously been working very hard since the beginning of the pandemic to meet expectations and needs in information technology, and we will continue to work with them on that.

Small Business

[Pat Finnigan, Liberal, Miramichi—Grand Lake, NB]

Mr. Speaker, as we celebrate Small Business Week, I would like to acknowledge the tremendous contributions that small businesses make to our country. They are the backbone of the Canadian economy and employ thousands of people in my riding of Miramichi—Grand Lake.

From the beginning of the pandemic, our government has been there to help employers and small businesses. Can the Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade tell the House how we will continue to support Canadian businesses during this second wave of the pandemic?

[Mary Ng, Liberal, Minister of Small Business]

Mr. Speaker, Small Business Week is the perfect time to recognize the hard work of SMEs in Miramichi—Grand Lake and across New Brunswick during the pandemic.

Nothing is off the table when it comes to helping our SMEs. Earlier this week, I announced $12 million to support the Canada united small business relief fund.

Our government will be there to help SMEs.