House of Commons Hansard #47 of the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was content.
Patty Hajdu LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, since 2015, our government has made unprecedented investments to support health care for Canadians.
Over the next five years, an estimated $235 billion in total will be provided to the provinces and territories through the Canada health transfer. We will continue to support the provinces and territories.
Monique Pauzé Bloc Repentigny, QC
Mr. Speaker, we have learned that Ottawa intends to make Quebec pay the carbon tax because Canada is not going to meet the Paris Agreement targets. Quebec's per capita greenhouse gas emissions are two and a half times less than Canada's. The government has missed the mark; we are the leaders. Quebec already has carbon pricing with the carbon tax it created.
Why does the government not encourage the provinces and governments to join the carbon exchange instead of lecturing them?
Peter Schiefke LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my hon. colleague for her question.
Quebec is a leader in the fight against climate change and it put a price on carbon pollution in 2013. We assess provincial systems every year, and will do so until 2022. The Quebec system has met the standards every year.
We will continue to support the provinces, like Quebec, which implement ambitious measures to reduce pollution and leave a cleaner environment for future generations.
Monique Pauzé Bloc Repentigny, QC
Mr. Speaker, in that case, they should join us.
This government purchased a $17-billion pipeline. This government is getting all worked up because the U.S. president-elect is not interested in Keystone XL. This government took advantage of the pandemic to authorize 100 oil drilling projects without an environmental assessment.
After all that, this government is surprised that greenhouse gas emissions are not going down. Come on.
Does this government think it is it in a position to lecture Quebec?
Peter Schiefke LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change
Mr. Speaker, Canadians expect the government to take action on climate change while also growing the economy, and the fall economic statement maintained that commitment.
Under our plan to restart the economy after COVID-19, we will provide grants of up to $5,000 to help Canadians make energy-efficient improvements to their homes. We will accelerate investments in zero-emission infrastructure and invest in science-based climate solutions, such as planting two billion trees. We are doing this for our children and for future generations.
Kristina Michaud Bloc Avignon—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia, QC
Mr. Speaker, despite all the fine words, the federal government has no plan to combat climate change. It introduced a bill to achieve net-zero emissions, but it has yet to set greenhouse gas reduction targets for 2030. Then when it does, it has the power to change the target on a whim in the event that it fails. There is no accountability.
Quebec has a plan. It has a carbon exchange that works well.
Why is the minister changing his mind today and why does he want to impose a failed system on Quebec and interfere in Quebec's jurisdiction?
Peter Schiefke LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change
Mr. Speaker, the fact is that the legislation includes solid accountability and transparency measures for all future governments.
My colleague must be aware that the architectural structure of the Paris Agreement is based on the year 2030, just like British Columbia's plan, Quebec's plan and the plan of countries around the world. What is more, the commissioner of the environment and sustainable development has to report on the progress made in five years and determine whether we are on the right path.
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON
Mr. Speaker, Conservatives warned that the original wage subsidy could potentially be used by corporate profiteers to pay out dividends to their shareholders. The government dismissed our concerns, and what happened? Sixty-eight of those companies did exactly what we originally warned.
Meanwhile, the government goes after tiny micro-business owners who thought they were eligible for the CERB based on their gross income. Now, the government says, “No, we meant net.”
Why is the government picking the pockets of the little guy in order to pad the pockets of the fat cat?
Chrystia Freeland LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, I would like to speak for a moment about the wage subsidy. This subsidy, which was supported unanimously by all members of the House, has supported more than 3.9 million Canadian jobs. Let me be clear: The wage subsidy can only be claimed for employee remuneration. It cannot be used for any other purposes. This is a support measure that is keeping Canadians on the job, keeping Canadians at work. I am pleased that all members of the House supported it.
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON
Mr. Speaker, all the money goes into the same account, so what the business actually uses it for is impossible to say. Sixty-eight companies took money they would have used for wages and instead of paying workers more and keeping them on, they laid them off and effectively used the tax dollars Canadians provided them to pay out wealthy shareholders, just as Conservatives warned would happen.
Other countries brought in controls to protect taxpayers from this kind of abuse. Why did the government not do the same?
Chrystia Freeland LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, let me again remind all members of the House that the wage subsidy is supporting more than 3.9 million Canadians to keep their jobs. That is essential. The wage subsidy includes an accountability requirement in the legislation. An officer in the company must attest to the accuracy of the company's claims when claiming this subsidy.
I know that Canadian business people are honest and responsible and that the vast majority of them play by the rules. However, let me be clear in the House today. We mean it. The rules are there and they will be enforced.
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON
Mr. Speaker, she claims to believe businesses are honest, but this is the same government that was calling small businesses tax cheats not so long ago. When recently the minister said she wanted to “unlock” the savings of Canadians, including small businesses, for a preloaded stimulus, it brought back an awful lot of memories of when the government attempted to impose a 73% tax on the savings of small business people. This is the same party that has threatened to tax the capital gains on primary residences.
Will the minister, yes or no, rule out taxes on capital gains of principal residences, reintroducing the previous small business tax or any other tax increase?
Chrystia Freeland LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, we have all seen that the Conservatives have in recent days been descending into some dark and, indeed, dystopian conspiracy theories, and I think I understand why. The problem is the Conservatives themselves cannot figure out what they stand for. Do they believe in science or do they believe in anti-vaxxers? Do they believe in supporting Canadians and Canadian business or do they believe in austerity? Do they believe in free trade or do they believe in protectionism?
What the Conservatives need to do is figure out what they stand for and let us know once they have made the decision.
Leah Gazan NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
Mr. Speaker, yesterday my motion calling on the government to make greater investments into housing shelterless individuals passed with unanimous consent. In the last two months in Winnipeg Centre, four cases of trench fever have been diagnosed. This is a disease not seen in Canada for almost 100 years. It is a result of extreme poverty. Our community is facing another public health crisis and we need help now.
Will the government commit to making investments now, so people in Winnipeg can have their basic human rights of health and housing met?
Ahmed Hussen LiberalMinister of Families
Mr. Speaker, I join the hon. member in recognizing the urgency of this situation.
We are making the necessary investments and we are committing to future investments. In the fall economic statement, we saw almost $300 million in additional dollars for the federal reaching home program, which tackles head-on issues around homelessness and funds 62 communities on the front lines of the fight against homelessness. Early during the pandemic, we allotted an additional $157 million in funding for reaching home and $50 million more for women's shelters, $237 million—
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
Mr. Speaker, Dave owns Wayward Distillery in my riding. He and his employees produced hand sanitizer for local police, health care workers and community organizations. He gave away tens of thousands of dollars' worth of sanitizer for free and sold some at cost. Even though his profit went down, his revenues show as being up, and the government says that he does not qualify for any emergency support programs.
Why did the Liberals abandon Canadian heroes and give big orders to multinational corporations instead of purchasing from small Canadian businesses like Dave's?
Chrystia Freeland LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, I would be pleased to be in touch with the office of the hon. member and learn more about the particular situation of that business.
We have a wide range of programs in place to support Canadian businesses. The wage subsidy, rent support, additional lockdown support, CEBA, including the new CEBA top-up that became available last Friday, and the regional development agencies are there to fill in the gaps for businesses that, for unique reasons, just do not quite qualify.
I would be happy to work with the hon. member regarding this business.
Pat Finnigan Liberal Miramichi—Grand Lake, NB
Mr. Speaker, I am happy to say that, with help from the federal government, Xplornet is now able to offer its customers in New Brunswick high-speed Internet. This includes customers from Blackville, Baie-Sainte-Anne, Acadieville and St. Margarets in my riding. I know that the government has created a network of resources, including universal broadband funds, that will benefit communities such as ours in getting connected to this essential service.
Can the minister tell the House what else New Brunswickers can expect when it comes to the future of connectivity?
Maryam Monsef LiberalMinister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development
Mr. Speaker, let me thank my hon. colleague for Miramichi—Grand Lake for working so hard to get his community connected to high-speed Internet. It is because of his hard work, and the hard work of members like him, that by the end of this month, 2,973 households in New Brunswick will be connected to this essential service. In the next two years, another 83,000 will have high-speed connectivity.
I urge my colleagues across the aisle to stop spreading misinformation about the program. It is discouraging their communities from applying.
Our government will work with all partners to get every Canadian connected.
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment on behalf of all parliamentarians and thank the doctors, nurses, long-term care workers and lab technicians who have been working overtime, putting their lives and their families at risk throughout the pandemic this year to keep Canadians healthy and safe. We all have an obligation to support their work across partisan lines.
Ahead of the first ministers' meeting this week, will the government commit to increased, stable, predictable and, most importantly, unconditional funding for health care for the provinces?
Patty Hajdu LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, I would like to echo the member opposite's thanks to health care workers across the country, including all of those she mentioned as well as pharmacists and personal support workers who are working in the community. We know that they are bearing the burden for all of us, and one of the best ways that we can help them is to contain the spread of COVID-19.
I encourage all Canadians to continue, even though it is difficult, to take the measures as prescribed to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and support these hard-working health care workers so that they too can get a rest in the near future.
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Mr. Speaker, that is not the answer we are looking for.
It is very simple. The Liberals need to figure out what they believe in. Do they believe in the WE Charity scandal and giving money to their insider friends or do they believe in giving money to long-term care workers? Do they believe in the Aga Khan's island or do they believe in increasing funding for doctors and nurses? Do they believe in SNC-Lavalin or do they believe in stable, predictable, unconditional funds for increased health care transfer payments to the provinces?
Patty Hajdu LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, I am not sure what the member opposite believes in, but what this government believes in all the way is supporting Canadians through the pandemic. Yes, we believe in health care. That is why we transferred $24 billion through COVID-19 safe restart funds to provinces and territories, so they could augment testing, contract tracing and data, and support workers with wage top-ups and in long-term care.
We also created a rapid response program to send in hard-working people through the Canadian Red Cross. We sent the military in to support long-term care homes when they could not manage. Every step of the way, we have been there for Canadians and will continue to do so.
Jacques Gourde Conservative Lévis—Lotbinière, QC
Mr. Speaker, in response to the Prime Minister's call this spring, Canadian distilleries invested heavily in manufacturing disinfectant to fight the pandemic.
We have learned that, while this was going on, the Liberal government awarded contracts to foreign companies for disinfectant without any consideration for Canadian businesses. How does the Prime Minister explain that decision?
