Debates of Nov. 6th, 2020

Aviation Industry

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, we are looking at all the things that my hon. colleague brought up.

The Government of Canada has provided $1.3 billion in assistance to the air sector through the supplementary wage program. We have also provided about $192 million for companies serving remote areas of our country. Therefore, we have actually put some plans in place, not to mention the rent holiday for 21 airports during 2020. We are working on a long-term solution.

[Stephanie Kusie, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

Mr. Speaker, that sounds like the same old empty Liberal promises: lots of words but no action.

I have two more questions for the minister. Will the minister commit to restoring all regional routes across Canada?

Secondly, will he ensure consumer protection, that the tens of thousands of Canadians across Canada get their money back for the flights they purchased?

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, in response to my colleague, I will mention the Speech from the Throne, which I am sure she was enthralled listening to.

We did mention in the throne speech that we were going to ensure that regional routes would be maintained in Canada because we feel it is absolutely essential to treat people living in regions the same way as we treat people living in the large cities. They have as many rights as others, so we are working on that.

With respect to the question of consumers and vouchers, we are encouraging the airlines to refund where possible.

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

Mr. Speaker, today we are voting on assistance measures for businesses. It is absurd that there is still nothing for the industries that have been hit the hardest by the pandemic.

There is nothing in the bill we are going to adopt that will save air transportation. Planes are stuck on the tarmac, airports are empty and left to deal with their fixed costs on their own, regional services have been cut, carriers like Air Canada are on the brink of bankruptcy and workers are being laid off.

When will the government take action to save the air transportation sector?

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question, which he asks fairly often.

In response, as I say fairly often as well, I will say that we are working on a comprehensive program to protect our airline industry, which is essential to our country. We are working on solutions.

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

Mr. Speaker, we have been waiting and waiting.

The Minister of Finance has shown that she has no desire to provide assistance to airlines. That explains why, eight months into the pandemic, the government still has no plan. There is no plan for regional service and no plan for airports. Planes need somewhere to land. There is no plan to refund passengers and no plan to protect jobs. All Ottawa does is give Air Canada money with no strings attached, which hurts its competitors.

When will there be a plan for the entire industry?

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned, we are working on a comprehensive plan for the airline industry, which includes airports and, obviously, airlines. I am working with my colleague, the Minister of Finance, who is well aware of the situation. She has publicly acknowledged that the airline industry is facing serious challenges.

Canadian Heritage

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

Mr. Speaker, the whole world was watching the U.S. election this week.

The election highlighted the country's social divisions and tensions exacerbated by social networks. Meanwhile, the Minister of Canadian Heritage introduced his bill, and it does not include anything about content sharing platforms like YouTube. It is well documented that social networks fuel viral content, even if that content is false or promotes hate.

Will the minister introduce a bill to address this issue?

[Julie Dabrusin, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, this week, we tabled legislation that will modernize the Broadcasting Act. It is the first time this has been done since 1991.

The changes have been welcomed by Canadian creators and those working in the industry. In fact, Jerry Dias of Unifor, which represents many media workers, said, “The fact is, this would be a huge boost for Canadian media, and media workers and their families”.

The Minister of Canadian Heritage recently spoke with his French and Australian counterparts on the measures the two countries are putting in place to support their news publishers. We know the importance of local media, and we will continue to work to support them.

Indigenous Affairs

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the children in Neskantaga are now in their third week of a forced evacuation. Let us run through the minister's lame rolodex of excuses for not helping.

First, he said the Liberals have spent record funding on Neskantaga. Is he serious? Then he said that at least the Liberals have done more for Neskantaga than Stephen Harper. Here is the thing: Neskantaga did not have any clean water under Stephen Harper, and now they have no water under the Liberals. When the minister talks about making progress, he means the progress of going from having no water back to boiled water.

Why has the minister completely failed the people of Neskantaga and their children?

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Minister of Indigenous Services]

Mr. Speaker, first I would like to acknowledge the unacceptable situation in Neskantaga. I would like to update the House on the current discussions we are having with the chief. The plan forward involves a staged path of opening up the new plant, which we have invested $16.5 million in. We will not rest until we can repatriate members of Neskantaga to their community in a safe, COVID—19-free way. That is what we are proceeding with in partnership with the chief.

National Defence

[James Bezan, Conservative, Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB]

Mr. Speaker, the defence minister has been secretive about his plans to establish a new defence strategic communications group. Concerns have been raised by the media about the mandate of this group and whether dossiers on journalists are being collected by his department.

Canadians have trust and confidence in our Canadian Armed Forces, but this minister is stoking fear with his failure to give a straight answer. The minister needs to be clear.

Has the Canadian Armed Forces stood up a new defence strat comms group, yes or no?

[Anita Vandenbeld, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, I will be very clear. The Canadian Armed Forces does not conduct influence operations on our citizens. No such plan has been approved, nor will it be. This training is important for international operations because influence activities are used by our adversaries. We must be prepared to respond to malicious foreign actors. This type of training is on pause, as the minister has directed, while the Canadian Armed Forces conducts a thorough review.

[James Bezan, Conservative, Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB]

Mr. Speaker, the parliamentary secretary did not answer the question on whether or not defence strat comms has been stood up.

Canadians are proud of our Canadian Armed Forces and support them in defending against disinformation operations by malicious foreign actors, but they also expect the defence minister to do his job and reassure them that defence strategic communications will not be politicized by the Liberal government.

I will ask this one more time. Will the defence minister guarantee he will never weaponize and use military public affairs, and specifically defence strategic communications, against Canadians?

[Anita Vandenbeld, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, yes, the minister and I have been very clear, and continue to be clear, that we do not conduct influence operations on Canadian citizens. Military communicators will always respect the privacy of Canadians and our allies, and we will always adhere to applicable laws, policies and directives. This is very clear. The minister has made it clear, as I am doing today.

Health

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

Mr. Speaker, Canadians need to protect themselves against the approaching flu season, but we have learned that Canada only has enough vaccines for 37% of Canadians. The last time the government tried to procure vaccines for Canadians, it signed a strange agreement with the Chinese communist regime, but that fell through.

We are in the middle of a pandemic, and these vaccines are more important than ever to prevent our hospitals from becoming overwhelmed.

My question is simple. Will Canada be able to supply the provinces with enough vaccines to combat seasonal flu?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for his question about flu season.

We have delivered in the timely order that is expected by Canadians, and over 97% of flu vaccines have been delivered to provinces and territories. Many provinces and territories have ordered extra flu vaccines to be prepared, but, in fact, the demand has exceeded even their expectations, so we will continue to work with them on other sources to access additional doses of the flu vaccine.

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

Mr. Speaker, that is hard to believe, since the government has been slow to make almost every decision on the COVID-19 crisis.

It was slow to close the border. It is slow to deliver on a COVID-19 vaccine, since it chose to sign an agreement with the Chinese communist regime, which fell through.

It is now behind on getting flu vaccines, which is normally an easy thing for a government to plan. The government does not seem to grasp the urgency of keeping Canadians healthy, even during this crisis.

When will the government learn from its mistakes and protect Canadians properly?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, we have been working with provinces and territories to prepare for flu season. So far, we have seen very low flu activity, and that is good news.

I thank all the Canadians who are stepping forward to get their flu vaccinations this year. It is certainly an important year to make sure that we protect our health care systems and our families. Ninety-seven percent of the flu shots ordered by provinces and territories were released well ahead of schedule, and we will continue to work with provinces and territories to look for other sources of additional doses of the vaccine.

Again, I thank Canadians for taking this responsibility so seriously.

Foreign Affairs

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has been living in the land of Care Bears for so long that he would go so far as to limit freedom of expression in order not to offend anyone. The members of his caucus and his cabinet ministers all blindly supported his unacceptable comments on freedom of expression.

Do all the Liberals agree with the Prime Minister, who clearly said that freedom of expression is not without limits?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

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

It is rather unfortunate that some members are trying to politicize an issue like this when the Prime Minister was clear. All Canadians were appalled by the attacks. We expressed our deep, sincere and concrete solidarity with our French friends. The day after the attacks, we expressed our solidarity with them.

The world recognizes that Canada is one of the great defenders of freedom of expression. We will continue to defend free speech around the world.

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

Mr. Speaker, with all due respect, I would like to remind the Minister of Foreign Affairs that he is not the Prime Minister.

His messages do not carry the same weight. After the conversation between French President Emmanuel Macron and Quebec Premier François Legault basically made him the laughingstock of the diplomatic community, the Liberal Prime Minister finally got a chance to talk to the French President himself.

Was he honest with him? Did he repeat what he said here, namely, that he believes that freedom of expression is not without limits? We are waiting for the tweet.

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, by international standards, when I speak, I do so on behalf of the Canadian government.

That is what we did in the hours that followed. We were very clear. The Prime Minister reiterated the message. Everything is clear. What worries me today is that people are trying to politicize the issue even though I truly believe that every member of the House wants to defend freedom of expression.

It is very clear on this side of the House. We expressed that on behalf of the Government of Canada. I spoke to the French authorities. We will always be there to defend freedom of expression, as will all parliamentarians.

Aerospace Industry

[Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay, Bloc, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC]

Mr. Speaker, today we are voting for measures to help businesses, and it blows my mind that there is still nothing for those industries hardest hit by the pandemic.

There is nothing in what we are about to adopt that will help the aerospace industry. There was nothing in the throne speech either. It is as if Ottawa is oblivious to Quebec's leading export sector. What aerospace sector?

The pandemic has completely paralyzed the industry, and 43,000 people in Quebec are worried about losing their jobs. When will Ottawa come up with a plan for the aerospace sector?

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

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

When I talk about a comprehensive plan for the air sector, I also know that the aerospace sector has been affected, because it really is the supply line for the air sector. We are well aware that it has been affected by this pandemic, and we are taking that into account.