Debates of Nov. 5th, 2020

Income Tax Act

[Eric Melillo, Conservative, Kenora, ON]

Madam Chair, when the Liberals prorogued Parliament, they said they were going to bring forward a new plan to support Canadians, but since then all we have seen is more of the same.

As we have learned how to better deal with the pandemic, and as the public health crisis ends and these programs eventually expire, we must allow our economy to get back on track, or keep on going back, if I can use the Minister of Finance's terms. However, we have not seen any plan except for the status quo.

I wonder if the Minister of Finance can tell us what the plan is to get this economy off of life support.

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance]

Madam Chair, I would like to start with where Canadians are now. I think it is so important for us to appreciate that we are in a second wave of the coronavirus. This is really serious.

Canada is in a lucky position because the virus has hit us later than many other countries, so we can look at their experience. If we look at what is happening with Europe, the situation is really disquieting.

[Eric Melillo, Conservative, Kenora, ON]

Madam Chair, I would like to know if the economic plan, or lack thereof, includes rapid testing.

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

Madam Chair, I just want to emphasize that the second wave is here. It is hitting countries much like ours with a vengeance—

[The Deputy Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

The hon. member.

[Eric Melillo, Conservative, Kenora, ON]

Madam Chair, given that many jurisdictions, including the province of Ontario, have brought forward budgets this year, can the minister tell us when we can expect to see a budget from the government?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

Madam Chair, as I said earlier this evening, I urge colleagues to have patience. We committed in the Speech from the Throne to a fall economic—

[The Deputy Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

The hon. member.

[Eric Melillo, Conservative, Kenora, ON]

Madam Chair, if the government will not bring forward a budget by 2021, could the minister please explain why?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

Madam Chair, as I said, the next important economic moment is going to be our fall fiscal update. I am glad so many members are looking forward to it.

[Eric Melillo, Conservative, Kenora, ON]

Madam Chair, I would like to expand on a letter I actually sent to the Minister of Finance before she became the Minister of Finance earlier this summer. It was an inquiry based on some questions from my constituents.

Our party supported many of the emergency benefits. We supported the border closure measures. We actually called for them long before the government took action, but the lack of certainty from the government and the constant moving of timelines really put a lot of business owners in a difficult position. In my letter I asked if there were any metrics that the government was using to determine when it may move forward from some of these measures, and if it is able to share them.

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

Madam Chair, let me start with the premise of the question, which I think is not quite right. With this legislation, which we are all talking about tonight and voting on tomorrow, we are offering certainty to our businesses. We are saying these essential programs will be in place until the summer. That is really important, and I am glad we all support that.

[Eric Melillo, Conservative, Kenora, ON]

Madam Chair, many business owners have been speaking out about many different problems with various COVID-19 supports throughout the summer, whether they are onerous criteria, inflexible timelines or a lack of clarity. I think this is especially true for many tourism and seasonal operations in my riding and across northern Ontario.

I would like to know if the government has been consulting with these businesses to ensure the amended programs are going to work as they are intended to.

[Navdeep Bains, Liberal, Minister of Innovation]

Madam Chair, we recognize that we need to have sectoral strategies and sectoral supports going forward. That is why, through the industry strategy council, we are engaging with different sectors to better understand their unique challenges and pain points, so we can put forward tailored measures to support them, particularly the tourist sector, which has been hard hit.

[Eric Melillo, Conservative, Kenora, ON]

Madam Chair, our party brought forward many different suggestions very early on in the course of this pandemic. Why did it take the government so long to amend many of these programs?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

Madam Chair, I am grateful for all the great ideas we hear in this House, and I am really glad we are going to support this important legislation.

[Greg McLean, Conservative, Calgary Centre, AB]

Madam Chair, the first question I have for the Minister of Finance is this: How much is budgeted to pay for the rent relief program?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance]

Madam Chair, I am going to be giving specific updates in my fall economic—

[The Deputy Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

The hon. member.

[Greg McLean, Conservative, Calgary Centre, AB]

Madam Chair, I think it was $2.3 billion until December 31. What percentage of that is for municipal taxes to be paid?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

Madam Chair, we have a broad understanding of the relevant expenses that can qualify for the rent subsidy.

[Greg McLean, Conservative, Calgary Centre, AB]

Madam Chair, what percentage is for mortgages to be paid to the banks?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

Madam Chair, as I said, our objective in creating this program has been to reach a broad range of businesses—

[The Deputy Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

The hon. member.

[Greg McLean, Conservative, Calgary Centre, AB]

Madam Chair, has the minister thought about the unintended consequences of the 25% bump-up if a municipality goes into lockdown?

For instance, my municipality of Calgary is getting 90% of municipal taxes and the utility fees for 90% of the utility it owns, so it might be a motivation to actually cut down our economy when we do not necessarily need to. Can the minister respond to that?