Debates of Nov. 6th, 2020

Motion in Amendment

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

Mr. Speaker, it is a huge privilege to speak on this bill and also to be able to represent the federal NDP as a critic for small business, tourism and economic development.

Before I get started, I do want to give a huge shout-out to someone special in my life, my mom. It is her birthday. I appreciate the round of applause in the House of Commons.

Speaking about my mom is so relevant today because moms are really so important, as we know, in times of crisis. We see them bringing food to a neighbour if they have been sick, or if they see an injustice in the community, they are the first to rise up.

In times of desperation, when people are in difficult times and in crisis during this pandemic, we expect our government to really take that motherly approach, so it is so relevant that it is my mom's birthday today and we are talking about this important bill. People expect the government to take that “mother bear” approach and make sure that everybody is taken care of and looked after. That is something I appreciate about moms, not just my mom, but moms across this country. We expect our government to take that approach.

Sadly, when this crisis broke out, we saw the government step forward with an initial wage subsidy offering 10%, which was clearly not close to adequate. We saw Ireland, the U.K. and Denmark offering wage subsidies between 70% and 80%. With our pressure, working beyond the normal means of lobbying and advocacy, we worked together with organized labour, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. Our party, our leader and I signed a letter calling on the government to raise that wage subsidy. We were glad to see them do that.

My colleague from New Westminster—Burnaby brought forward a proposal to bring forward a commercial rent program, similar to what they were doing in Australia. I know the government likes to say that it is difficult in the federation of Canada to be able to take on issues like rent, but other countries were able to do that. They were able to work collaboratively to bring forward programs to help people.

Today we are really glad to see the government come back with a fix when it comes to the commercial rent assistance program and extending the wage subsidy, but there are still a lot of unknowns, such as the wage subsidy and what it will look like moving into the new year. We know that for tourism and hospitality businesses, certainty is so important.

I want to give a huge shout-out to Charlotte Bell, of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada, and Keith Henry, from the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada, for their advocacy in calling on the government to extend that wage subsidy.

However, these businesses need certainty, not just on the wage subsidy, but also around financing programs such as the BCAP program, which only 14% of tourism businesses have actually been successful in receiving financing from and 43% have been flat out denied. We know liquidity is going to be a big issue.

These are a lot of issues that have not been addressed. I am going to get into the importance of the government working with everybody, especially during this pandemic.

My big concern is the disconnect of the government not completely understanding the challenges small businesses are facing. We heard last night from the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance that the government is not willing to support our motion, which they flat out denied today, to backdate the commercial rent assistance program to April.

It baffles me that the government understands it had designed a flawed program and admits it made a mistake, which it is willing to fix it here today, moving forward, but it will not backdate it to April 1. By not doing so, there is a serious injustice going on. We heard the Deputy Prime Minister say that the government is forward-thinking, but the debt comes forward for all of those tenants who were denied access to the landlord-driven, flawed program. Basically, many people were not even able to apply because their landlords would not participate. Two-thirds of Canadian businesses were excluded from that program.

This is so unfair because many of these business owners were denied, although their neighbour got access to the program. They will also be responsible, like all Canadians, to paying back the debt that we are accumulating to help save small businesses in this country.

The fact that the Liberal are unable to backdate the program shows the disconnect. It shows they do not understand the debt that these businesses are accumulating and the challenges they are facing. While they talk about being equitable, there is nothing equitable about them not backdating their broken and flawed program.

The Liberals were actually threatening to go to an election without providing these emergency supports, and then there was the delay. Here we are on the final day of three weeks of sitting before a break week fast-tracking legislation to get help to people. It just shows that the government really does not understand how serious this issue is for small businesses.

Many small businesses are watching today. Many of them are steeped in debt or are in arrears with their landlords. They are looking today to see if the government is actually going to backdate the program, or if they are going to have to go file for bankruptcy, because that is what many businesses are looking at.

I remember being self-employed in the 2008 recession, and that does not even pale in comparison to today. I remember the injustice of the government of the day, the Harper government, bailing out the big banks and big corporations and leaving small businesses to hang out to dry. This is unacceptable. We need the government to move much more quickly.

I want to thank so many different groups, but I particularly want to identify one. Savesmallbusiness.ca identified really important opportunities, solutions and flaws in the program. It advocated for rent relief and for the government to fix the program. It identified that there were huge problems such as a slow rollout, over-complicated paperwork and banks being let off the hook. It also identified that the government failed to bring in help.

We look at other countries such as Australia, for example, which commissioned a group of business leaders quickly to come together from various sectors to provide help. The government here also did not listen to real people on the ground and put away the hammer to bring out the scalpel. It needs to listen to people on the ground when it deals with these issues.

As well, the government did not demand more from the financial industry. We saw the big banks once again get off the hook from doing the right thing of contributing and participating.

There are so many things we saw with the rollout of the commercial rent assistance program, including assigning the contract to administer the contract to MCAP, with $84 million for a broken design program.

What breaks my heart is seeing and reading stories about places like the Golestan Bakery in Vancouver. It has been running for 23 years, and it has just been evicted by its landlord. This what we are going to continue to see. This injustice is going to be carried on by the Liberals, who are refusing to fix this program.

I have to give a huge shout-out to all the small businesses that reached out to my office, and to MPs across this country, to organize labour to come together and stand in solidarity with the Canadian Federation of Independent Business and the local chambers of commerce. As I said, savesmallbusiness.ca, Startup Canada, various business organizations, indigenous organizations that were initially excluded from the subsidy because it excluded indigenous-led organizations, and Chief Dennis from Huu-ay-aht, have all stood together.

Here I am rising for the 40th time since the pandemic broke out to speak on small businesses and the commercial rent assistance issue, and it is bittersweet. I am glad to see the changes, but we need to save those businesses that are steeped in debt, in arrears and need help. I am urging and begging the government to get on board, and I am asking the Conservatives to also get on board in pressuring the government to force it to create an opportunity for those who were excluded get access to the funding they so deserve.

I appreciate the opportunity to raise these issues.

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

The hon. member for Courtenay—Alberni will have five minutes for questions and comments when the House next gets back to debate on the question.

Veterans' Week

[Yvonne Jones, Liberal, Labrador, NL]

Mr. Speaker, next week we will mark Veterans' Week across the country. Like many Canadians, I am proud to stand strong in support of veterans, those who have served and sacrificed and those who continue to serve with honour and courage, who protect human rights and democracy and ensure that Canadian values are protected.

I encourage everyone to proudly support our veterans by donating to their fund, purchasing and wearing a poppy, and paying their respects on Remembrance Day through virtual events, prayer and moments of silence. Please encourage others to reach out in gratitude to our veterans and to the men and women who continue to serve. Their contributions to global efforts of peace and a free society will always be remembered. I also acknowledge the contributions of Legions and legionnaires, our veterans and communities, and give them our gratitude as well.

May we always remember. Lest we forget.

Remembrance Day

[Colin Carrie, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

Mr. Speaker, in a year of hardship for many, I want to thank the local Royal Canadian Legion branches 43 and 637 in my riding, as well as our great military service clubs and the city of Oshawa for their coordinated efforts in organizing this year's Remembrance Day memorial on the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and the 70th anniversary of the beginning of the Korean War.

Normally, Remembrance Day in Oshawa is a time we stand together and reflect upon the sacrifices of those who laid down their lives so we can live free. However, with the need to protect our citizens from COVID-19, our veterans groups and the City of Oshawa have come together with Rogers and will be offering an online virtual broadcast of the ceremony, starting at 10:30 a.m. I am thankful for the work of our great community leaders in organizing the ceremony and I look forward to paying my respects as well.

Lest we forget.

West Prince

[Bobby Morrissey, Liberal, Egmont, PE]

Mr. Speaker, today I wish to acknowledge the resilience of the West Prince community in my Egmont riding following awful tragedies that occurred earlier this fall.

Last Friday, I was invited to attend an event hosted by the community of Northport to thank all the volunteers and recognize the families whose lives were changed forever. Whether it be the volunteers who helped in the search or those who kept the boys and their families in their thoughts and prayers, our community rallied around those impacted by these tragedies in such a way that made us all proud to call West Prince home.

I extend a special thanks to DND search and rescue, the Canadian Coast Guard, Fisheries and Oceans, Parks Canada and the RCMP that promptly answered the calls to action in response to these tragedies. When the men and women who serve put on their uniforms each day, they do so knowing that they are putting their lives at risk in order to protect us.

As 2020 has shown us, the resilience of our communities relies on us coming together when it matters most. I am proud of my community for doing just that.

I thank our men and women in uniform, as well as my community.

COVID-19 Emergency Response

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

Mr. Speaker, small businesses across Canada have been closing their doors and struggling to survive since the beginning of the pandemic in March and yet the Liberals have designed their rent relief program so that business owners only take on more debt. CECRA was a deeply flawed and broken program and the Liberals knew that when they launched it. Not only did businesses need to show a 70% revenue loss, but business owners needed their landlords' permission to apply.

To fix their own mistake, they have announced a new tenant-focused program that only offers support to and from the end of September. The Liberals designed a commercial rent subsidy program that left the majority of small businesses behind. I do not understand why they will not make the necessary changes so that commercial renters who were left out the first time can get the retroactive financial support they need to weather this storm.

New Democrats are calling on the government to save the hardest-hit businesses by backdating the rent program to April. This will help them catch up on their rent, rehire the employees they let go and save small business across the country.

Alphonse Pelletier

[Élisabeth Brière, Liberal, Sherbrooke, QC]

Mr. Speaker, as we are presently in the middle of Veterans' Week, which runs from November 5 to 11, I am honoured to take a moment today to mark Remembrance Day.

Remembrance Day is particularly important in my riding. Sherbrooke has two armouries that are home to four regiments, and we are very proud of the work they do. I would like to take this opportunity to highlight the deployment of our reservists as part of Operation Laser to long-term care centres in Montreal. That mission reminds us of the importance of the professional and selfless work done by our troops, even in peacetime.

On Remembrance Day, I will get a chance to meet Alphonse Pelletier, a Korean War veteran from Sherbrooke. I will be awarding him with a medal recognizing his bravery, as well as his life-long commitment and involvement.

Mr. Pelletier, your sacrifice and your dedication to defending Canadian values set a remarkable example for Canadians from coast to coast to coast.

Kenora

[Eric Melillo, Conservative, Kenora, ON]

Mr. Speaker, as the member of Parliament for the riding of Kenora, it is incredibly disappointing to see that the north continues to be overlooked by the Liberal government. From economic development to infrastructure improvements to social supports, our region is clearly not on the priority list of the Liberals. From Pickle Lake to Red Lake, from Sioux Narrows to Sioux Lookout, it is clear the Liberals have no plan to enable the north to prosper.

Luckily, the Conservative Party is here for northerners. We support industries like forestry and mining that spur economic growth. We support tourism. We support small businesses, which the Prime Minister accused of being tax cheats. We recognize the need for improved infrastructure and Internet, and we continue to stand up for law-abiding firearms owners.

The Conservatives are champions for northern prosperity. We are going to continue to fight for the issues that are important to northerners.

Diwali

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

Mr. Speaker, we live in a great country, a country with so much diversity, so it is with great happiness that I wish you, all members and all Canadians a happy Diwali. I believe our heritage is our greatest strength and Canada, as diverse as it is, continues to grow every day with a rich, vibrant heritage.

Historically, Diwali is celebrated by Sikhs, Hindus, Jains and others to recognize different historical events. The common thread seems to be the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, good over evil and hope over despair.

I also celebrate Diwali in my own special way because for me it is a part of Canada's heritage and something I truly believe in.

I ask all members of the House and all Canadians to recognize our heritage and join Canadians from coast to coast to coast in celebrating Diwali.

Happy Diwali.

Holocaust Education Week

[Anita Vandenbeld, Liberal, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

Mr. Speaker, this is Holocaust Education Week. As we remember all those who fought and sacrificed for our freedom from tyranny in World War II, we must not forget the lessons from that war.

Between 1941 and 1945, over six million Jews were systemically murdered in concentration camps in an effort to exterminate an entire people, but recent studies show that up to 22% of young Canadians do not know about the Holocaust. Those who do not remember history are doomed to repeat it. Even today, there are Holocaust deniers who continue to stoke the flames of anti-Semitism, hate and xenophobia.

We cannot take our democracy for granted. We must always be vigilant and call out hatred whenever we see it. We must teach our children about the Holocaust so such evil and darkness never again rises in our midst. We must remember. Only then can we say, “never again”.

Max Ward

[Stephanie Kusie, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

Mr. Speaker, Canada and Alberta lost an aviation pioneer this week. Max Ward passed away on Monday night at the age of 98.

Born in Edmonton in 1921, Max was a veteran of the RCAF, a bush pilot, an entrepreneur and a very savvy businessman.

In 1953, Max founded Wardair in Yellowknife with a 14-passenger, single-engine Otter that operated on wheels, skis and floats. His business grew over time, and through his commitment to his employees and the industry, Wardair eventually became Canada's third largest airline in 1989. In true Alberta tradition, he built his business on a commitment to providing good service for good prices by good people.

The recipient of numerous honorary degrees, Max also received the Alberta Order of Excellence, was inducted into Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame and was made an officer of the Order of Canada.

Max Ward will be deeply missed by his friends, his family, Albertans and Canadians.

Remembrance Day

[Darren Fisher, Liberal, Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS]

Mr. Speaker, let us honour the brave women and men who served, our veterans, for their sacrifice to bring peace and stability to those abroad and here at home.

In Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, crowds usually gather at cenotaphs throughout our community in honour of Canada's veterans, in support of those who serve and in memory of those we have lost.

I always attend the ceremony at Sullivan's Pond, where thousands and thousands of people would normally stand side-by-side in remembrance. Although the COVID-19 pandemic means that we cannot gather in a crowd this year, there are still so many ways that we can give thanks and remember those we have lost.

I encourage everyone who is able to buy a poppy this year from their local Legion. Whether we can make it to our local cenotaph or not, let us please hold Canada's veterans and those who made the ultimate sacrifice in our hearts and in our minds.

Lest we forget.

Léo Major

[Pierre Paul-Hus, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, January 23, 1921, was the birthdate of Léo Major, a great man little known in Quebec but a hero in the Netherlands.

Léo Major was a courageous soldier in the Régiment de la Chaudière during the Second World War. He enlisted at 19, determined to help his country. He lost an eye in Normandy but still participated in the Battle of the Scheldt in 1944.

During the Rhineland Campaign, Corporal Major was again wounded when his vehicle hit a mine. He escaped from the hospital and stayed with a family in Nijmegen, Netherlands, while recovering from his wounds.

April 14, 1945, marked the beginning of the liberation of nearly 50,000 people in Zwolle, Netherlands. One night he attacked German patrols, fooling them into believing Canadian troops were invading, and he single-handedly freed the city. That same night, he lost his best friend, Wilfrid Arsenault.

On April 14, 2005, 60 years to the day after the liberation of Zwolle, he was made an honorary citizen of the city.

That is what I call a real hero. Let us remember Léo and all veterans on November 11.

John Stringer

[John Brassard, Conservative, Barrie—Innisfil, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today, during Veterans' Week, to honour John “Jack” Stringer, who died on October 24 in Barrie just two months after celebrating his 100th birthday.

Jack joined the Canadian Forces in 1940 and was promptly shipped overseas. During World War II, Jack fought in almost every country in Europe and would later serve during the Korean conflict in 1952. Jack retired as chief warrant officer from Canadian Forces Base Borden in 1975 just after he and his wife of 72 years, Regina, would pay a greater price with more than just Jack's service for king and country. In 1974, their son Bruce was one of the “Buffalo Nine”, the nine Canadian peacekeepers killed over Damascus, Syria.

On behalf of a grateful nation, I want to thank Jack Stringer and the hundreds of thousands of Canadians and their families who have served and continue to serve our country with courage, honour, valour and sacrifice.

This Sunday, on Indigenous Veterans Day, and on November 11, I encourage all Canadians to show Canada's veterans, in whatever way they can, how grateful and thankful we are for all they have done for us.

2020 U.S. Election

[Peter Julian, NDP, New Westminster—Burnaby, BC]

Mr. Speaker, this morning is a great morning in America. With the results in Pennsylvania, Georgia, Nevada and Arizona, clearly Joe Biden will become the next President of the United States. This brings an end to the nightmare presidency of Donald Trump, someone who embodies dishonestly, misogyny, racism and xenophobia, and who admires brutal authoritarian regimes.

Now is the time for healing and a chance for all humanity to work together to find solutions to challenges we face, including, above all, the existential crisis of climate change. Americans are our closest friends and neighbours. Our undefended border is a symbol of peace and hope worldwide.

Congratulations to President-elect Joe Biden and Vice-President-elect Kamala Harris. Canadians look forward to working them in the years to come.

Émilie Sansfaçon

[Yves-François Blanchet, Bloc, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness, the sadness that comes with losing a dear friend, that I learned yesterday of the passing of Émilie Sansfaçon after a lengthy battle with cancer.

Until the very end, until our recent contact through her brave father Louis, Émilie remained courageous and kept smiling. Émilie fought for her own health and as a result sacrificed a great deal of her own health in the fight against the inequity, injustice and discrimination that gravely ill people are confronted with in the employment insurance program.

Today, however, is a day of mourning, but also of hope because Émilie would not want it any other way. Émilie has left us, but her fight remains because Émilie would not want it any other way.

Remembrance Day

[Alex Ruff, Conservative, Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON]

Mr. Speaker, as a retired colonel in the Canadian Armed Forces and a proud Legion member, every year I wear the poppy with great pride, taking time to remember those who have served before me, those who still serve and those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

I was shocked and, even more, disappointed to read this morning that Whole Foods Market, in an affront to our veterans, has banned its employees from wearing poppies. I trust this misguided policy will be reversed immediately and Whole Foods will allow its employees to wear poppies again. Without our veterans, Canada would not be the country we are so proud to call home. Other nations, such as the Netherlands, understand this. Why does Whole Foods not?

In this vein, tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Global B.C. will premier the documentary 75 Years Later: The Sounds of Freedom on its YouTube channel to pay tribute to Canadians who took part in World War II, and specifically those who liberated the Netherlands. I encourage all Canadians to watch this broadcast in honour of those who gave their lives for Canada and the Netherlands.

Let us wear the poppy with pride. Lest we forget.

[Darrell Samson, Liberal, Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS]

Mr. Speaker, on Remembrance Day, Canadians will remember those who lost their lives serving in the Canadian Forces, and thank those who served and continue to serve.

From Passchendaele to Kandahar, Canadian soldiers have a proud history of serving in the most dangerous situations, risking their lives to defend the most vulnerable among us.

It is so inspiring to see our communities come up with ways to gather virtually to ensure that we continue to honour members of the armed forces and veterans.

COVID-19 may have stopped us from coming together in person, but it will never stop us from honouring those who risked everything to defend our freedom and democracy here and around the world.

Nova Scotians have witnessed incredibly tragic moments over the past year, yet the strength, resilience and love in our communities only continue to grow.

Today we are gathering to remember those who lost their lives in service to Canada and to thank those who have served and continue to serve.

Lest we forget.

Veterans Affairs

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Carleton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, we are all wearing poppies to honour those who served, those who were wounded and those who never came home, and for the countless mothers who buried their faces in their pillows in the endless anguish of knowing they will never see their daughter or son again. That is why Canadians are so outraged that the billionaire American-owned Whole Foods grocery chain has banned its workers from honouring our soldiers.

Will the government join with Canadians in boycotting Whole Foods, saying that we will not give it our money until it lets its workers give thanks?

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

Mr. Speaker, this is absolutely unacceptable. The poppy is an important symbol of remembrance, and it is more important than ever that everybody supports the Royal Canadian Legion poppy campaign this year.

I know that all my colleagues in the House join me in condemning this move and reinforcing the poppy for everyone to remember and honour the service of the people who have provided our democracy and freedom.

COVID-19 Emergency Response

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Carleton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the government told us it needed to shut down Parliament, to do away with all the distracting questions about its WE scandal and other cover-ups, so that it could focus like a laser beam on a new plan to get our economy back.

The Liberals have had all this time to themselves and they came forward with a rent assistance program that does not pay rent assistance to anyone who cannot afford to prepay their rent. Today they tried to fix it, but they gummed up the procedure and were ruled out of order.

Do they realize that their spectacular incompetence is costing businesses their livelihoods and workers their jobs?

[Sean Fraser, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance and to the Minister of Middle Class Prosperity and Associate Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, I take issue with the hon. member's characterization of our plan. It is because of measures like the wage subsidy, the emergency business account and various supports, including for commercial rent, that millions of Canadians still have a job to go to that allows them to feed their families.

With respect to the Canada emergency rent subsidy, as we enter the second wave of the pandemic across Canada, we have developed a new program that will allow easier access and more targeted benefits to go directly to tenants when their businesses have suffered a loss of revenue. We will be there for Canadians going forward, as we have been through the course of this pandemic.

Finance

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Carleton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Minister of Finance could not tell us the amount of the deficit, the amount of the debt, or the additional cost of a 1% interest hike on our national debt.

She was unable to say when there will be an economic update or a budget. This is the longest we have gone without. She was unable to say if the Auditor General will receive the required funding.

Is it because the government does not know, or because the government does not want Canadians to know?

[Sean Fraser, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance and to the Minister of Middle Class Prosperity and Associate Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, again the hon. member is focused on the wrong thing.

When the Governor of the Bank of Canada attended the finance committee, when both the member and I were present, the governor informed him that the much bigger risk facing the Canadian economy was deflation, not inflation.

I would point the member to the comments of the chief economist of the IMF, who was on leave from the department of economics at Harvard University. She said, “For the many countries that find themselves at the effective lower bound of interest rates, fiscal stimulus is not just economically sound policy but also the fiscally responsible thing to do.”

We will base our decisions on evidence and facts, and we will continue to be there for Canadians through this pandemic.

Aviation Industry

[Stephanie Kusie, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the cat is out of the bag. Finally, after eight months of waiting, we are expecting to see in the coming days a plan for the aviation sector, but I want to ensure that this plan is for the individuals for whom it is intended.

Can the minister assure me that, first, employees will be protected under this plan and that there will be no further layoffs, and second, that these funds will not go to executive compensation?