House of Commons Hansard #33 of the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was products.
Pierre Paul-Hus Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC
Madam Speaker, at some point they are going to have stop insulting the public's intelligence. Canadians are no fools.
This morning, the minister said that we would have vaccines in the spring, but now we find out that the provincial premiers knew that Pfizer would have four million doses and that Moderna would have two million doses by March.
Why is the government unable to tell Canadians how many doses will arrive in March, so that we know what to do in the meantime?
Where is the plan?
Darren Fisher LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health
Madam Speaker, in these uncertain times, Canadians have responded to our calls for action making changes to their ways of life. They have seen what works in wave one and they know what will work in wave two. We need to ensure that we do not put our guard down. There is work ahead of us to stop the virus. Our modelling shows us that we are reaching dangerous case numbers into the winter months if we continue current trends. I know these measures are hard, but we cannot afford to stop. We cannot let our guard down. We must continue to do this work until all are safe.
Christine Normandin Bloc Saint-Jean, QC
Madam Speaker, the current debate on the French language reminds us of a historical reality, which is that there are two solitudes in Canada.
The Bloc's proposal is very simple: to obtain citizenship in Quebec, newcomers must demonstrate a basic knowledge of French, just enough to understand what is happening in Quebec society. We are not talking about completing a doctoral thesis. We are just talking about saying hello to a neighbour or asking for service. Just the basics.
Everyone in Quebec thinks this is reasonable, but why is this causing so much discomfort here that the government wants to vote against it?
Soraya Martinez Ferrada LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Immigration
Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for her question.
Our government is proud to defend the French language. I am a proud Quebecker who stands up for francophone values in Quebec. We are working on concrete measures to support the French language and further support francophone immigration.
Thanks to our efforts, particularly our decision to award additional points under the express entry program, there will be an increase in francophone immigration. We will continue to find ways to increase francophone immigration and to support the French language.
Christine Normandin Bloc Saint-Jean, QC
Madam Speaker, we have a solution. Quebec wants to avoid creating two solitudes, one for Quebec society and one for newcomers.
It is a fact that fewer and fewer people speak French at home. It is a fact that newcomers are less inclined to use the common language than they are in English-speaking Canada, and the common language in Quebec is French. It is a fact that without knowing the common language, newcomers struggle to reach their full potential, when that is the very reason they choose to come here.
Does the government realize that by undermining the importance of French, it is hurting the very people it thinks it is serving?
Soraya Martinez Ferrada LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Immigration
Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for her question.
As I said yesterday in my initial comments on the bill introduced by the Bloc, I myself am an immigrant, a child of Bill 101, and a Canadian citizen who did not speak French when she became a Canadian citizen. What matters is offering French language courses, providing support and welcoming immigrants to our country.
Peter Julian NDP New Westminster—Burnaby, BC
÷Madam Speaker, this week, the Liberals voted against the NDP's motion to establish a tax on wealth and excess profits.
While Canadians are struggling to make ends meet, billionaires have become $37 billion richer since the beginning of the pandemic. Yesterday, we learned that 80% of people support a tax on wealth and excess profits. The Liberals are still saying no.
Why does this government always put the interests of billionaires before the interests of ordinary Canadians?
Sean Fraser LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance and to the Minister of Middle Class Prosperity and Associate Minister of Finance
Madam Speaker, I have no doubt the NDP opposition motion was well intentioned, but it was very poorly executed. I point the hon. member to the Speech from the Throne, which committed to finding new ways to tax ultra-wealthy Canadians.
I have a question in return for the member. Why is it that the NDP, when given the opportunity to support a motion that raised taxes on the wealthiest 1% so we could cut taxes for the middle class, voted against it? Why did it refuse to support the Canada child benefit, which sent more money to nine out of 10 Canadian families and stopped sending cheques to millionaires?
We will always defend middle-class Canadians and we are not afraid to ask Canada's wealthiest to pay a little more.
Peter Julian NDP New Westminster—Burnaby, BC
Madam Speaker, the parliamentary secretary for children and families asked very crudely this morning who gives a fuddle duddle about pharmacare. Children, families and over 90% of Canadians care about pharmacare. Canadians know how to pay for it too. Over 80% support a wealth tax and excess profits tax. In this pandemic, billionaires have gotten $37 billion in new wealth and banks have gotten $750 billion in liquidity supports.
Why is it with the Liberals that banks and billionaires always come before Canadians? Why is the message to regular Canadians always, “Fuddle duddle you”?
TaxationOral Questions
The Assistant Deputy Speaker Carol Hughes
I want to remind the members on the Liberal government side to not heckle while someone else has the floor.
The hon. parliamentary secretary.
Sean Fraser LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance and to the Minister of Middle Class Prosperity and Associate Minister of Finance
Madam Speaker, I question the appropriateness of the language used by the hon. member in his question.
In any event, I reiterate my point that we have committed to finding new ways to tax Canada's wealthiest. We will continue to move forward with measures that will support the middle class.
When we raised taxes on the wealthiest 1% to cut taxes for the middle class, the NDP voted against it. When we changed the child care benefit to put more money in the pockets of nine out of 10 Canadian families, the NDP voted against it. What separates us from the NDP members is they are happy to wave their arms to make a point and we will not be satisfied until we advance policies that make a difference.
Michael Chong Conservative Wellington—Halton Hills, ON
Madam Speaker, rapid tests are an essential tool to combatting the coronavirus. Other countries had rapid tests way before Canada did.
The Prime Minister recently said it was not his job to approve rapid tests, implying it was not his fault but rather Health Canada's. The Prime Minister is head of government. It is his job to oversee the regulatory approval process that leads to the approval of these tests.
When will he take action to reform the process and get these tests into the hands of Canadians?
Darren Fisher LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health
Madam Speaker, the member loves to talk about numbers. I will give him some numbers: over 4.6 million rapid tests have been sent to provinces and territories to date with over two million to Ontario, 1.2 million to Quebec, 354,000 to B.C., 327,000 to Alberta and 200,000 to Manitoba. The member speaks about moving rapid tests across the country. We have done that.
Michael Chong Conservative Wellington—Halton Hills, ON
Madam Speaker, the government can rattle off statistics all it wants. The reality is it was late in approving rapid tests and now we are late in delivering them to Canadians. There is a pattern here.
The Deputy Prime Minister went out of her way in September to say that the government would not lean on scientists to get a move on rapid tests. We need rapid tests at our borders. It is so important to our airline industry. Air Canada and WestJet have laid off over 30,000 people and are losing tens of millions of dollars a day.
When will the government take action to reform the process to get these tests into the hands of Canadians?
Darren Fisher LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health
Madam Speaker, one minute the member asks for numbers. I give him numbers, I give him facts, I give him stats and then he ridicules me for giving him what he asked for.
We know the importance of having quick access to test results. Our department is fast-tracking the review of COVID test results, including rapid response test kits. We will continue our work with our partners, the provinces and territories, to ensure that people who need to be tested are able to be tested.
Michael Chong Conservative Wellington—Halton Hills, ON
Madam Speaker, the FDA had approved five tests last August. Other countries had approved rapid tests way before Canada and have rolled them out across their countries at their borders, at their airports. Canada has yet to do so, and as a result, our airline industry is failing and tens of thousands of jobs have been lost. The airlines are at risk of failure. The government has failed to act on rapid tests to ensure their survivability.
When will the government take action, fix the process and get these tests into the hands of Canadians?
Darren Fisher LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health
Madam Speaker, I clearly told the member earlier that we have taken action. Testing, and we realize this, is one of the most important tools we have to respond to COVID-19. Our officials, and I want to thank the Health Canada officials, are working around the clock to review and approve new testing technologies. We have approved six of these tests and we can expect more as the technology develops.
Gérard Deltell Conservative Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC
Madam Speaker, all year long, responsible countries have taken direct action to approve and authorize rapid tests quickly. Unfortunately, our Liberal government took its sweet time.
This week, the Prime Minister said that it was not his job to deal with that and that the government was just following procedure. A real head of state makes those kinds of high-level decisions when the future of the whole country is at stake, as it is now. That is what is going on with rapid tests.
Why did the Liberals take so long to approve the rapid tests that are so important to our economy and the health of Canadians?
Darren Fisher LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health
Madam Speaker, I guess I need to reiterate some of these numbers.
To this date, over 4.6 million rapid tests have been sent to provinces and territories: over 2 million to Ontario; 1.276 million to Quebec; 354,000 to B.C. I will go down the list: Manitoba, 200,000; Nova Scotia, 71,000; Saskatchewan, 87,000.
That is action right there. Our department is working around the clock to do what Canadians need to keep them healthy and safe.
Gérard Deltell Conservative Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC
Madam Speaker, the action the parliamentary secretary referred to came too late. Other countries, whether our neighbours, the United States, or countries in Europe and Asia, approved rapid tests this summer.
On July 7, 2020, only 172 new cases were reported in Canada, the lowest ever level. Yesterday there were 4,645 new cases. If the government had actually done the right thing back in March and approved the rapid tests as early as possible, we could have administered them this summer and prevented new cases. Why did the government drag its feet yet again?
Darren Fisher LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health
Madam Speaker, I will take Canada's response to this COVID-19 pandemic over just about any country in the world.
To speak to the fact of politicians making decisions or overruling Health Canada officials, on this side of the House, we believe in science, we believe in evidence and we always will.
Gérard Deltell Conservative Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC
Madam Speaker, history will tell if Canada did well in this situation compared to our neighbours.
That is because the United States did not waste any time. That country approved rapid tests this summer, while the Canadian government was dragging its feet.
The Prime Minister has shamefully said that that is not his job. The head of state must take responsibility and take the necessary steps to save the lives of Canadians. Why did the Liberal government drag its feet?
Darren Fisher LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health
Madam Speaker, on the contrary, the government did not drag its feet.
Again, I will reiterate that I will take the Canadian response to COVID-19 over most countries' responses to COVID-19 any day of the week. Again, I can go over the statistics, I can go over the data and I can read these over again. If members ask the same question, the answer will be the same.
Gabriel Ste-Marie Bloc Joliette, QC
Madam Speaker, I know we are in a pandemic, but it makes no sense at all that there has not been a budget since the election.
Never in its history has the federal government spent so much with so little transparency. It has been 19 months since the government has accounted for its spending. The Bloc called for a budget and the Minister of Finance refused, but she has been promising for months that there would be an economic update in the fall. We are now at the end of November. When will we have this economic update? I want a date.
Sean Fraser LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance and to the Minister of Middle Class Prosperity and Associate Minister of Finance
Madam Speaker, the suggestion that the government has not been transparent with respect to our pandemic response is ludicrous. The reality is that from the very beginning, under exceptional circumstances, we made a process, in agreement with other parties, to provide regular updates. In fact, I attended as a witness before the finance committee, where I believe that hon. member was personally in attendance.
We have provided regular information. We will be providing a fiscal update in the very near future. I look forward to sharing the details, including the measures included in that document, with that member and all members of the chamber.